Review: Single Use Only by Pender Mackie

Reviewed by Whuppsy
Single Use Only by Pender Mackie
Loose-Id
Novel: 257pgs
4 Pants Off

Blurb:
Mike Strenton is tired of the hook-up scene. All the men he meets in the Las Vegas gay bars are interested in only one thing and only one night. Been there done that. About to turn thirty-eight, Mike avoids casual sex until his need for contact is too great to ignore. He secretly longs to meet someone who sees beyond his laugh lines and broad shoulders to the sensitive lover underneath. A man who’ll choose him over the early morning walk of shame. 

Twenty-seven year old Chris Bennington has never even been to a gay bar though he’s into men as well as women. He sees the funny side of just about everything, even his first time with Mike. Chris wants a lover who doesn’t have a problem with his quirky sense of humor, his inability to cook or his bisexuality and he thinks Mike fits the bill. All he has to do is convince the big guy he’s not just sticking around for breakfast.

Review
This is the story of Mike Strenton and Chris Bennington.  Mike works as a Stage Manager of a Male Revue in Las Vegas.  He’s getting older and realizing that he wants more than a cheap one night.  He wants the relationship that he’s seen happen to a couple of friends of his.  He wants to find His One!!  He’s done his partying and realizes that it’s not the life that he wants to continue.

Chris Bennington works as a Blackjack Dealer at one of the Casinos and is the former roommate to a mutual friend, Jesse.  Jesse had found his One and moved to New York, however, he’s left some of his costumes from working at the Revue that Mike works at in the apartment.  Chris finally decides to take the costumes to the Revue and he meets Mike.

Now, there are sparks of attraction between the two of them, but they both miss the chance to exchange numbers. But our intrepid Chris doesn’t let it stop him, he goes back to get Mike’s number or Mike, whatever.  They start off just being attracted to each other and it becomes more. There are some miscommunications at first, but things eventually even out and they settle into dating each other and being a couple.

There is of course the one person who does not want to see them together.  His name is Devan.  He works with Mike as a bartender at the Revue and boy does he have a thing for Mike.  He keeps trying to get into Mike’s pants and failing. Mike isn’t having any of that noise.  Mike is fully committed to Chris and their relationship.  Not on is Devan trying to voice an opinion regarding Chris and Mike’s relationship.  Jesse also adds his two cents in as well.  However, where Jesse’s concerns stem from a place of caring, Devan’s come from a place of selfish wants.

I liked this book.  It was sweet and funny and it made me smile.  It also made me upset when Devan was trying to hurt my guys.  I felt like these two guys belonged together and they made such a great couple.  I didn’t read the first of the two books, but this was a great standalone book if you didn’t read the first one.  I loved the characters and how they worked through their issues.

I would definitely recommend this book. You’ll enjoy the relationship between Mike and Chris. You’ll love the way that they make mistakes and find their way back to being a couple.  How they wanted to be together and made sure that they stayed that way.

4 Pants Off