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Latter Days by C. Jay Cox
The screenwriter who penned the script for the romantic comedy film Sweet Home Alabama explores a different culture clash in this humorous and heart-wrenching story of boy meets boy.
With stylish dark hair, a toned athletic body, mysterious brown eyes and clothes to highlight all his best features, Christian Markelli seems to have instant chemistry with almost every man he meets. Outside of playing basketball on the local court, working out at the gym, dancing at the L.A. clubs and meeting Hollywood types at the trendy restaurant where he works, Christian is mainly concerned with finding his next hookup and documenting his conquests on his handheld journal.
When Aaron Davis and three other young men move into an apartment next door, Christian is thrilled – until he realizes that the four young men are Mormon missionaries sent to Hollywood to spread the message of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Aaron knows he likes men, but he hides that fact from his three loud, immature and unhygienic fellow missionaries. When he keeps bumping into Christian around the apartment complex, he can’t deny his attraction to the handsome hunk, but he resists the temptation because his religion forbids homosexuality.
Christian originally flirts with Aaron as part of a bet with his friends, who encourage Christian’s sexual prowess. As Christian and Aaron talk to each other, both begin to have doubts about what they believe in. While Christian accuses Aaron of being too committed to a religion that condemns his sexual orientation, Aaron accuses Christian of not believing in anything except his own vanity. Christian’s friends and Aaron’s family put pressure on the relationship as both men search for answers.
Reading this boy-next-door romantic comedy is like watching a movie, with a series of scenes that advance the story, some suspense to keep things interesting, and well drawn characters that will have the reader hoping for a happily-ever-after ending.
Reviewed by Lissa Staley