The Night We Met by Rob Byrnes

We have probably all met a guy who's perfect except for his crazy family, but what happens when that family is the mafia? Andrew Westlake finds out when he's dragged to New York's newest gay club, Benedick's, for a Halloween party and meets the owner, Frank DiBenedetto Jr. Of course, at the time, Andrew is in drag as Belle Bacall, so does Frank want him as a guy or does Frank think he's just a hot Demi Moore lookalike? That's just the first question Andrew has to answer as this relationship spirals out of control, aided along the way by the cops and the feds investigating Frank, by Andrew's publisher, by Andrew's ex, by Frank's fiance, by Frank's fiance's father... its a madhouse, but it shows just what we're willing to go through to find true love.

Andrew's been out and proud in New York City for a long time, and even though he hasn't made it a writer yet, he has had some small success. Even though he had found true love, he also found out true love can be knocked aside for a younger version. His life isn't going anywhere particular so when his friend and publisher David drags him (pun intended) out for Halloween and he meets the sexy, charming, and clumsily romantic Frank, he falls hard and fast. Against the advice of said friend and publisher, as well as his other friend Denise, and his new (and very needed) legal counsel, Andrew becomes increasingly involved in Frank's world, which has a dark side to it. A dark side that threatens to upset Andrew's smooth, if boring world.

We get a lot of fiction about gay people, and coming out, and safer sex, and HIV, and homophobia. This book touches on that but it's buried in the action, romance, and comedy that happens when you pair up a sassy gay writer with an just-coming-out mobster. Light, entertaining, and exciting, this book was hard to put down, as you wonder how Andrew will get himself out of the latest mess, all building up to an explosive climax.

It's time to meet The Night We Met.

This has been a bobert review.