cover image ONE NIGHT STAND

ONE NIGHT STAND

Ben Tyler, . . Kensington, $23 (294pp) ISBN 978-0-7582-0683-1

Tyler (Gay Blades, etc.) puts a sunny spin on the rent-boy business in this sex-filled rags to riches tale. Barely making ends meet waiting tables at a trendy L.A. eatery, young, gorgeous Derek Bracken finds himself unemployed when the restaurant closes. Penniless and panicky about his seriously overdue rent, Derek believes he'll earn fast cash as a "legitimate" masseur, but his suggestive newspaper advertisement attracts a host of unsavory customers. The exception is Tom, a handsome lawyer, who invites Derek to a flashy party at a closeted Hollywood star's mansion. Tom, as it happens, isn't just out for a good time. His plan is to pimp Derek to the star, Brent Richardson, for $5,000, introducing reluctant Derek into the lucrative L.A. escort world. Soon, Derek moves in with Brent and proceeds to sleep with every celebrity who stops by. Scruples banished and ambition roused, Derek opens his own no-holds-barred escort service, called One Night Stand, posing a direct threat to Fraker, the sadistic, reigning Beverly Hills "male madam." Fans of gay erotica will savor Tyler's hyperdescriptive, stimulating prose, peppered with smart notions of safer sex. With a solid dramatic plot, brisk storytelling and plenty of vigorous play between the sheets, this is Tyler's best novel yet. Agent, Jenny Bent. (Dec.)