Release Day Review: Swann's Revenge by Shira Anthony #Review #Giveaway

Author: Shira Anthony
Title: Swann's Revenge
House Line: Dreamspun Desires
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Aaron Anderson
Publication Date: February 6, 2018
Length: 224

Synopsis

Can a swan make peace with his ugly duckling past? 

Chubby geek Jimmy Zebulon’s heart broke the day his high school crush, Danny Parker, looked on as his teammates tormented Jimmy. Fifteen years later, Jimmy is long gone, and from his ashes has risen Graham Swann, a movie-star-handsome law firm owner. Graham thinks Jimmy and his past are long forgotten—until attorney Dan Parker shows up for his first day of work. 

Getting injured playing college ball was the best thing that ever happened to Dan. It turned his future in a better direction and allowed him to emerge from the closet that trapped him.

Graham wants to believe his childhood dream can come true, but he can’t bring himself to tell Dan who he really is—and their pasts might ruin any chance for a happily ever after….

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Review

I think we’ve all had that fantasy where we get to be with the high school athletic star.  I know I did.  I used to sit and stare at Jeff ***** (last name withheld to protect his anonymity) and wonder what it would be like if he asked me to the high school prom instead of whats-her-name.  We rarely get the chance to live out those fantasies.  But what if we did?

That’s the central question of “Swann’s Revenge.”  In high school, Graham Swann (formerly James Zebulon) had a crush on football player Danny Parker.  Danny wasn’t always like the other player on the team, who took great pleasure in tormenting James.  Years later, James has remade himself into an incredibly successful attorney, opening his own law firm.  Without realizing who either realizing who the other man is, Danny (now Dan) accepts a position within the same law firm.  But as luck would have it, he starts his new position after almost hooking up with Graham.

Dan has issues of his own to deal with.  Unfortunately, to discuss those would be to give away spoilers that are important to the story

I think one of the things that drives us as members of the LGBTQ community is the need to be successful.  In the back of our minds, there’s always the voice of our bullies that drives us to be better, to show them that we are better.  That drive is very prevalent in Graham, that need to be someone other who his tormentors thought he was.  And at times, the memories of his tormentors resurface, forcing him to create barriers between himself and the outside world.

I really enjoyed this story.  It wasn’t bogged down by over the top dramatics.  And the themes that it touched upon are relatable to a lot of people within the community.  Lately, it seems I’ve been on a winning streak with finding new authors, and that’s a good thing.  

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