Kensington sticks to the tried-and-true with another entertaining, deliciously trashy and decidedly lowbrow anthology for a gay male audience (after 2002's Summer Share
and 2003's All I Want for Christmas
). The four novellas, as the title suggests, focus on fantasy men; there's the pro athlete, the well-endowed rock star, the hot Spaniard and the best friend's sexy father. The pieces work best when the authors abandon any literary pretensions and just have fun—after all, fantasy fulfillment, not realism, is the point here. David Benbow's "Out of Bounds" is the story of boyhood friends who cross paths later in life. Grant, a former "fattie," is now a perfect-bodied but single real estate agent in Los Angeles, while Colton Jennings (a name straight out of porn) is a closeted star NFL quarterback, "that great combination of physical beauty, rugged strength and raw manliness." When they reconnect and the sparks fly, Benbow illustrates his skill in crafting high-charged sex scenes—a trait shared by all of these writers. The stories by Tyler and Wolfe could have been tightened with better editing, but they satisfy on an erotic level if not a literary one. The best novella in the book is Jeffrey's "Sex and the Single Rock Star," about a journalist sent to interview "the Colin Farrell of rock." The novella manages to be ridiculous, sexy, hilarious and expertly plotted to boot. This collection, though far from perfect, should satisfy readers looking for a fun—and steamy—read. (Feb.)
