OUTSIDE THE LINES

The 22nd installment of the Bluewater Bay series, a LGBTQI romance series set on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, sticks to its winning formula of character, relationships, and sensuality.

Once a quiet logging town, Bluewater Bay became a mecca for tourists when a popular paranormal television series, Wolf’s Landing, began filming there. This is a small-town romance series with two twists: all of its stories feature queer characters, and they all touch on the intersection of small-town living and Hollywood dazzle. Ian Meyers is a miniature artist whose set was destroyed in a freak on-set accident. Luckily a local comic and gaming shop owner, Simon Derry, has the materials and skills to help Ian meet his tight timeline. Ian is thrilled by their instant mutual attraction, until he learns that Simon is bisexual and happily married to Lydia. When Simon explains that he and Lydia are polyamorous, Ian is only too happy accept their invitation. But as Ian’s lust turns to love for Simon, and genuine affection for Lydia, he doesn’t know how to settle into his feelings or live his life as one partner in an open relationship: “I didn’t think he was lying when he said he loved me—but I knew that he couldn’t love me like I wanted.” Ian makes defensive moves that hurt both Simon and Lydia, although the conflict feels contrived. Like most other books in the series, the plot is inconsequential, though the author takes pains to create a believably interesting depiction of fantasy miniaturists.

Fans will enjoy returning to the sensual comforts of Bluewater Bay, although the lack of conflict and plot may leave some wanting more.