Socks for an Otter
Posy Roberts
Publication date: December 17th 2019
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
He fell from his ivory tower and landed in the gutter.
But Sebastian would rather be homeless and hungry than clueless.
On his way to the food pantry, a guy on his cell phone runs into him and triggers his prickly side. As a sign of goodwill, Louis offers to cook for him. But all Sebastian sees is the privilege he used to have.
This isn’t a fairytale. Louis isn’t Prince Charming. And Sebastian can make it on his own.
But it’s been days since he’s had a hot meal. And a blizzard is coming.
Will Sebastian’s pride be his appetizer?
____
Socks for an Otter is a heartwarming riches-to-rags MM romance brewed with hurt/comfort, comedy, a second chance at love, age gap, millionaires, and men from different worlds who will give you all the feels.
—
MMy Thoughts and Review
Once upon a time an oppressed and hungry Otter and a dejected lone Wolf bumped into each other, quite by accident (unless you believe in fate) and began a slow mating ritual that would inspire others in their natural habitat…
The otter, aptly named Bash, because of his fighting spirit was pushed from his home by his parents and forced to make a new home among strangers in a place far away, where conditions were hard for someone who grew up with all the comforts afforded the son of a billionaire. Now Bash lives under a bridge with the rest of the homeless in Washington D.C.. His home consists of cardboard boxes and a tarp. A long way from NYC’s upper East side.
Our wolf, Louis, let’s his work consume his life. He works hard to help put policies in place to help those like the otter. When he is not working on policies, he volunteers in soup kitchens, or shelters. Anywhere he can be useful. He knows what it means to have nothing, so he wants to always give back.
When Louis and Bash first meet, it is not a good meeting. Tensions run high, but Louis can sense some of the pain, and humor hidden behind the mask the beautiful little otter wears.
Pushed together by a dinner invitation, and the vouching for each other’s safety from a mutual friend, the two begin a friendship that over some days turns into much more.
This was a very charming story with a VERY relevant message for today. Homelessness is still a devastating issue in our nation. Especially among the lgbtq+ youth who have been shunned by their families and communities. Even as I write this book review I am sitting in my warm house, and have no clue how these precious people feel, and that both breaks my heart and makes me feel ashamed at the same time. Sure I can help, and I do, but until every last soul has a warm bed and food in their bellies, there is more to be done.
While poignant the message was also uplifting because it showed the strength and determination of the human spirit. It showed how when someone sets their mind to something, no matter their circumstances, they can turn the course of their life in a new direction.
While I personally felt the parents ending was too easy, I need to keep my stones to myself. Glass houses, ya know.
I loved this story, how transparent the characters were, and how real tent city became for me. Where I live we have one, a large one I have been told. While I am not ambulatory much, I can still do more, and this has inspired me to do just that. I recommend this to anyone who could use a smile and perhaps some inspiration of their own.
I have found a new author in Posy. I will be bAck for more! 💖
4.5 under-the-bridge-falling-stars🌟🌟🌟🌟•✨
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
EXCERPT:
As Louis balanced the cooler on a hip and tried to find the End Call button through his tears—caused by the biting wind, of course—he slammed into something.
“Shit. Watch where you’re going, asshole. Am I invisible?”
Or someone.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you through my—”
Words failed Louis as the angry young man faced him, but his words didn’t fail him because of the rage directed his way. No, it was the man’s serious eyes, his innocent face hidden behind a mask of facial hair that reminded Louis of the first and only guy he’d kissed, the guy who changed how Louis defined his sexuality.
“I’m seriously sorry. I was distracted.” He presented the cooler. “Here. Do you like blue crab? Have some. I have a whole cooler full and it needs to be eaten soon.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?”
“I’m not. Here. It’s worth a lot on the market. At least a couple hundred.”
“You’re fucking with me now, right?” the guy said as he took a step closer.
Louis took a step back.
“I’m not into the illegal seafood trade. Do I look like I am?”
“No.” Louis shook his head. “I’m sorry. I’m flustered. Sorry for running into you. I was on the phone with my—”
The guy held up his hand. “I get it. You’re distracted by your perfect life. You feel bad, so you’re offering me something of value. But you see, your precious blue crab is valueless to me right now. More than anything, I want cheese and soup and something that sticks to my ribs and gets me through this fucking storm. The few bites of meat I’d get from one of your pretty crabs wouldn’t cut it. What else you got in there? Roe? Escargot? Fucking oysters? ’Cause if I find a pearl, then maybe I can eat for more than a day or two.”
“I’ll cook for you,” slipped out before Louis could stop himself. “Come back to my place. Eat as many as you want. I’ve got more at home. You can help me eat them. As many as you want.”
Louis hoped the guy read the tears in his eyes as wind-inspired rather than what they really were: the realization of just how pathetic his life had become.
Louis was so fucking lonely, he’d just begged a stranger to let him cook for him. All so he wouldn’t be alone.
The guy spun on his heel and stalked away, tucking his chin deeper into his coat. With each step, the sole on his right shoe slapped. It was unglued and looked like it wouldn’t make it through the night.
Slap. Slap. Slap. Slap.
Louis was that shoe.
Guest Post
What is an otter and why is that in a romance title? An otter is a lean and hairy man in the gay tribe. Not as hairy as a bear, not as lean or boyish as a twink, but somewhere in between. In Socks for an Otter, Sebastian is an otter and also the cover model. And socks actually means socks. Sebastian is homeless, and the number one requested donation at homeless shelters is socks.
Sebastian is fairly new to living on the streets. He used to live in a penthouse on the Upper East Side, but he was turned out and cut off. Riches to rags. Now he’s living on the streets of Washington DC and trying to find a way to make it through his first blizzard.
Louis, the other man in this story, is a widower. His wife died three years ago, and he’s a very sad, lonely man who tries to find meaning in his life by doing things he and his wife used to do like donating to the food pantry. On his way there, he literally runs into Sebastian. It’s a Meet Ugly that looks like it has no hope of redemption, but Sebastian swallows his pride and takes Louis up on his offer of a home-cooked meal that leads to so much more.
This is a story about kindness, respect, and falling in love when you least expect it.
Author Bio:
Posy Roberts started reading romance when she was young, sneaking peeks at adult books long before she should’ve. Textbooks eventually replaced the novels, and she somehow existed without reading for fun. When she finally picked up a romance years later, it was like slipping on a soft hoodie . . . that didn’t quite fit right. She wanted something more.
She wanted to read about men falling in love with each other. She wanted to explore beyond the happily ever after and watch characters navigate the unpredictability of life and create a happy home. So Posy sat down at her keyboard to write the books she wanted to read.
Her stories have been USA Today’s “Happily Ever After” Must-Reads and Rainbow Award finalists. When she’s not writing or editing, she’s spending time with loved ones and doing anything possible to get out of grocery shopping and cooking.
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