Men Who Love Men

I agree with a number of the other reviewers in that while this third instalment did tend to get a bit wordy and at times trite, overall it wasn't bad as a summer read. The story holds your interest; it's set in P'town in the late summer; and the characters are familiar (if you read his prior works). I personally find quick happy resolutions unrealistic myself, and sometimes the novel worked too hard to have current trends referenced (such as camo shorts and Abercrombie, etc.) -- that will date the novel in my opinion. But those are small shortcomings. So few novels and authors in this genre have proven to be strong storylines or writers, and I still believe William Mann has strong potential. If you have read his earlier novels, by all means read this one too. A. Burroughs, Michael Thomas Ford, and Mann are three pretty good authors. I've recently read some of Jay Quinn's work too, and liked it. As an older man (Henry Weiner would call me old at least) it's refreshing to find works that don't deal with "coming of age" stories or are just simple sex 'n fluff confections. Keep up the good work William. I was in Provincetown this summer, wish I would have ran into you!

A gay man mourns the fact that he's single before eventually "re-evaluating" his possibilities and choosing a man he previously thought was too old.

I usually agree with Paul Minifri's reviews, but I don't entirely agree with him on this one. Mann is clearly an incredibly talented writer; his characterizations in this novel are good, it's just that the major characters are all flawed. And in this novel, all the flaws come out all over the place. Henry IS clearly a whiner ("why can't I find someone who loves me?" we've all wondered that, unless/until finding one's own partner). Jeff is a slut (though he actually shows some strength of character in this one). Lloyd is too preachy (and has his own slut hidden inside). Still, except that Henry's whines get to the reader at times, they're reasonably likeable protagonists and this reader rooted for them to get it all together. Paul's comment that Henry's self-realization came too quickly IS accurate and is the main reason that I gave the book four stars instead of five (that and I got tired of Henry's whines late in the book).

After I read THE MEN FROM THE BOYS and WHERE THE BOYS ARE, I wondered if author William J Mann would ever return to further explore the lives of Jeff O'Brien and Lloyd Griffith, the passionately non-monogamous couple featured in the novels. I am thrilled to report that MEN WHO LOVE MEN provides a more than satisfying third act to this interesting and dramatic relationship. This time, however, the story unfolds through the voice of Henry Weiner, a former escort, and Jeff and Lloyd's best friend. Jeff and Lloyd have had many ups and downs in their sixteen years together. Much of their time has been spent apart, as each searched for his place in the world. They've experienced the AIDS crisis, new age spirituality, and circuit parties, all in the name of finding themselves. But through it all they have always understood that they were meant for each other. Now that they are past the age of forty and both successful in their chosen careers, Jeff is a best selling author and Lloyd owns one of Provincetown's most popular inns, they want to get married. They want Henry to be their best man. Henry is 33, and manages the inn owned by Lloyd. Henry is both excited and suspicious of his friend's decision to marry. Jeff and Lloyd have always had roving eyes and Henry questions their ability to totally commit to each other. Henry actually had a brief affair with Lloyd years ago, and he wonders if marriage will work for them. In Henry's opinion marriage equals monogamy, and Jeff's and Lloyd's openness seems in direct conflict with their decision. Henry is lonely. He's never had a lasting relationship, and he can't deny his jealousy over the upcoming wedding. Henry wants a boyfriend too, and through the course of the book several characters present themselves as possibilities. There is Luke West, a mysterious young writer who comes on to Henry but seems obsessed with Jeff. Is he using Henry to get to Jeff, or does Luke really care for Henry? There is also Evan and Curt, a couple from New York looking to add a third member to their relationship, Gale a hottie from the gym who likes Henry but won't go further than first base, Martin a solid thoughtful carpenter who at 45 seem too old to Henry, and Shane the one man who loved Henry devotedly, but is now engaged to someone else. I've enjoyed all the books in Mann's Provincetown trilogy, and while all are exceptional, MEN WHO LOVE MEN is definitely the best of the three in my opinion. This novel explores many facets of modern gay life, from same sex marriage to child rearing with passion and realism. The ability to trust ones own heart proves itself to be the most desirable quality here. Read this book, in fact read all three. You'll be extremely glad you did.

Mann, William J. "Men Who Love Men." Kensington Books, 2007. Real Fantasy Amos Lassen and Literary Pride We have not heard much from Kensington Books lately but my friend Craig Bentley sent me a box of the new releases and I can tell you that from what I have read so far, Kensington is still a quality publisher of gay fiction. Due out in April is William J. Mann's "Men Who Love Men" and I can tell you that if you liked his other books this is a must read. Mann writes about the men of Provincetown and does so in a way that you feel you are there among them. The theme here is the reality of fantasy and the book lets you know that "fantasy is as real as you want to make it. And reality can be every bit as fantastic as you want it to be. It is your choice". "Men Who Love Men" picks up where "Where the Boys Are" left off although you do not have to have read the predecessor to enjoy this book. Jeff and Lloyd, our main characters, run a bed and breakfast in Provincetown and we meet them as they are preparing for their wedding ceremony and raising Jeff's nephew who is ten. These two guys are the most non-monogamous guys and we wonder if they truly enter into a marriage and remain true to one another. Jeff feels as if everything in his life is about to fit into place. He has managed to become a bestselling author and he is in love with Lloyd Griffith his lover and soon to be legal spouse. The two men are now forty years old and they are still hunky and good looking. The two have everything a gay couple could possibly want. Their friends are coming from all over to their wedding. Henry Weiner, the guy's best friend, a former escort, yearns to have what his friends have, Younger than his friends, he just can't seem to find the true love he wants so badly. Just when he thinks all is lost, he meets someone at Tea Dance and everything changes for him. Luke West, is young, handsome, and seductive and lives in a dream world...or does he? He tells everyone that the reason he has come to Provincetown is to find himself--as a person and as a writer. However, this seems not to be the case at all and he worms his way into the guys' lives and he suspicions are raised all over the resort.. Henry really wants Luke but he feels something is not quite right but he is unable to prevent himself to falling for Luke's charms over and over again. He is determined to find out what Luke is hiding but instead the knowledge he gains about Luke forces him to confront himself, his loneliness and the fact that he has been n this endless quest for real love. "Men Who Love Men" looks at the three friends as they revel on the beach, at the resort and at the parties of very gay Provincetown. They do not realize that they are about to face the biggest challenge of their lives. They close the door on the past and open the door on new life and love. Mann has the ability to create characters that become etched in the memory of the reader. His characters live and breathe and personif