Textual Relations by Cate Ashwood: #Review #Excerpt @cateashwood

Cover Artist: Cate Ashwood

Textual Relations

by Cate Ashwood

Genres: Contemporary, Gay (M/M), Romance

Length: 122 pages

Evolutionary psychology professor Henry Hathaway is ready to spend his birthday the same way he does every year: a good teeth cleaning followed by dinner with his brother. But when he receives a wrong-number text confirming the details of a date, he does what any considerate person would—he goes to meet them and explain why they've been stood up. 

Asher Wescott hadn't expected his blind date to go well, because when do they ever? Henry shows up instead, and things are suddenly looking up. Socially awkward and attached to his routines, Henry is nevertheless one of the most charming and kind men Asher has met in a long time. 

Too bad he's not Henry's type. 

An accidental date, an impulsive kiss, and a few conflicted feelings later, can Asher get Henry to see the world—and him—in a different light?

    "Any objections to trying something new?"

     Oh god. I hated trying new things. At thirty-two years old, it had taken me this long to find things I liked, and once something fit, I saw no reason to change.

    The pub off campus had the steak sandwich I liked best and the good wine to go with it. There was no need to go elsewhere. I was comfortable with the faded blue fabric of the seats and matte black tabletops. I liked that the music wasn't too loud and the servers knew my order.

    The kiosk near my office on campus was where I liked to buy tea on the way to class in the morning. They had the creamy Earl Grey blend I preferred and served it at the perfect temperature.

    Any attempt I had ever made to deviate from the places and routines I found most appealing had always been met with disappointment. The steak sandwich at the diner near my brother's house was tasteless and overcooked. The tea from the place near Green Lake was too hot and the flavour was bitter.

    Tried and tested was safe, comfortable, and stepping away from that always made me a little nervous.

    I hesitated.

    "Come on. It'll be fun. When's the last time you did something spontaneous?"

    Never. That's when. Spontaneous wasn't in my nature. In fact, it went against everything I stood for, but the way Asher was looking at me, so expectantly, had me opening my mouth before actually formulating a coherent response.

    "Sure. Yeah, okay."

    Asher laughed. "Is that a yes? You don't sound so sure."

    I chuckled. "It's a yes. Something new sounds like fun. Where are we going?"

    Asher shrugged and grinned mischievously at me. "No idea. You got a quarter?"

    I seriously hoped I wasn't going to regret this.

5 of 5 stars

Irresistible

Sweet and sexy, Textual Relations is a delicious short romance wherein opposites attract in the best of ways. Henry Hathaway's steading personality is the perfect foil for Asher Wescott infectious nature. A must read for those who love a lot of heart intermixed with passionate chemistry!

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Cate discovered her love for books of all kinds early on, but romance is where her heart truly lies. She is addicted to the happily ever afters and the journey the characters take to get there. Currently residing in White Rock, B.C, Cate loves living just a stone's throw from the ocean. When she's not writing, she can be found consuming coffee at an alarming rate while wrangling her children, her husband, and their two cats.

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