Title: I’ve Got This
Author: Louisa Masters
Genre: Contemporary
LGBTQ+ Category: MM Gay
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Pages: 200
Reviewer: Pat
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About The Book
Derek Bryer loves his life. His job as an assistant director at Joy Universe, the second-largest theme park complex on the planet, makes him indirectly responsible for bringing joy (pun intended) to millions of people. So what if none of his relationships are that close? Everyone he meets loves him.
Except Trav Jones. For some reason, the visiting Broadway performer would rather Derek just go away. He appreciates Derek’s work ethic, though, and after Trav steps up when Derek desperately needs someone to fill in for his sick staff, Derek seizes the chance to convince Trav he’s not such a bad guy.
Falling in love while distracted by a murder at the park, food poisoning, and colleagues laying bets on their relationship won’t be easy, but between the two of them and with the magic of Joy Universe, they’ve got this.
The Review
Every once in a while, a book comes along that is so enjoyable that I just want to have access to billboards around the world so that I can shout to everyone riding by: READ THIS BOOK! YOU’LL LOVE IT!
When I stop to think about the millions of readers out there, however, I realize that not everyone will love this book as much as I do. (But they should. Just kidding, sort of.)
So maybe I should amend my statement to be something like, “If you like the kinds of books I do, you’ll adore this book.”
But really, what’s not to like?
Charismatic Derek Bryers, an assistant director at Joy Universe, the second-largest theme park complex in the world (think second to the Disney empire), is having an exceptionally miserable day. First, a woman has brutally murdered her husband in a cabin in the part of the park he runs. Then he finds out almost all the entertainers in his part of the park have suffered food poisoning from a celebration off-site.
Derek is nothing if not organized, so he jumps into action. Readers get everything they need to know about his dedication to his job, his expert and kind handling of employees and coworkers as well as guests, and his quick thinking when others in charge are floundering.
He can’t do anything about the murder except give the police whatever they need to get their job done—which granted isn’t much. But he can work to solve the park’s entertainment crisis by drawing on all the available talent in the area, both professional and amateur.
Into Derek’s life dances Trev Jones, who unlike just about everyone else in the vicinity at first reacts negatively to Derek’s stunning good looks and affability in the face of disaster. His antipathy stuns Derek who has a good handle on how charming he is and how to use it to his advantage.
Although they start off on the wrong foot, it’s only a question of ironing out the misunderstanding, which author Masters handle right away without drawing it out. With that done, the story becomes a charming and unusual (because it’s so often not done) story about how to completely different men can realistically come together and make their relationship work.
A wonderful cast of supporting characters give the story flesh and blood, many of which are just begging for their own romances. Fortunately, this book is billed as the first of a series.
I fell in love with Derek and Trev and think every other reader will too. If the rest of the Joy Universe books are as beautifully written as I’ve Got This, author Masters will rightly amass many new readers and those of us who already enjoy her work will be very happy campers.
The Reviewer
Pat Henshaw:
- Is a she, not a he.
- Writes MM romances.
- Has interviewed Arlo Guthrie, Big Bird, Fred Rogers, Liberace, and Vincent Price.
- Has lived and worked on all three US coasts and in the middle of the country, too.
- Has been a reviewer, costumer, librarian, and teacher.
- Has ridden an elephant, touched the pyramids, and stood at the edge of a volcano.
- Believes love is essential to everyone’s happiness.
- She wants you to remember: Every day is a good day for romance!
