I sorta stumbled upon the books of William J. Mann a couple of years ago. I think it was after reading a review in The Advocate. I quickly became drawn into the lives of his characters that people his books. They are rich, three-dimensional, and still sorting out where they want to go in their lives.

My favorite books of his center around Provincetown with Jeff O'Brien and his boyfriend Lloyd Griffith as the primary characters. This is the third novel in the series, and it shifts the focus to their friend Henry. Henry is a manager at their bed and breakast. He has been friends with Jeff for years. In fact, it was Jeff who helped him finda a way to go from shy, gawky Henry to Hank, a studly hunk of a guy who had no trouble meeting guys on the circuit and a new career as an hustler. Hank lasted for only a short while before Henry realized he wanted his life to focus on other things.

Henry is now feeling down on himself. He is hitting 33, and the realization that he still has not found love is a problem for him. He has had a series of relationships where he thought he had met "The One" only to see each of them crumble. He is not going to let him stop from searching, but he does find his hopes getting dashed again and again.

We join him as he continues his search for Mr. Right. During the summer he meets a series of guys: Luke, a young guy who seems to be trying to meet his novelist idol Jeff; Martin a 45-year-old guy Henry meets on the docks; Gale, a bodybuilding hunk who is searching for the perfect boyfriend; and a couple looking to expand their relationship into a trio.

Jeff and Lloyd have decided to get married after many years of being together, and this just makes the fact that he is all alone even worse for Henry. He wants to be there for his friends, but he is also torn by the fact that they don't seem to have the dedication he wants.

Jeff's young nephew J.R. is also struggling with growing up. He is moody and troubled by something, but no one can seem to get the 9 year old to talk about it.

I found myself getting drawn into the story as usual. I just love these characters. The writing is as rich as Mann's novels always seem to have. The only trouble is that some of the major plot points that make up the climax are not really the surprise they are probably supposed to be. it doesn't prevent the novel from being good, though.