OutBoise Magazine March 2015 | Page 14

14  |  OutBoise Magazine  | NEWS OutBoise.com | Issue 5.2 | March 2015 Reading Rainbow: 10 LGBT Books to Bide Your Time Until Summer author Mary McKinley’s debut young adult novel that confronts several topical issues like obesity, bullying and being gay. When the going gets tough, Rusty Winters – a sarcastic but vulnerable girl with a wicked wit – finds solace in her friends, including new kid Beau Gales, whose welcome to town isn’t so warm, as they set off on a road trip to escape the harsh realities at home. ‘The Conscious Sexual Self Workbook’ by Melissa Jebian Fritchle By Mikey Rox Since Punxsutawney Phil went and ruined all our plans for an early spring, we’ve got a couple more weeks of winter to endure. That makes this the perfect time to stay indoors, curl up on the couch, and whisk yourself away to Fantasy Land with these fresh LGBT literary finds. ‘Illusions’ by S.A. Ozment Does coming out in Hollywood hurt your career? Some stars say yes (Rupert Everett will talk your ear off about it), while others have gracefully transitioned from working actor in the closet to still-working actor (with even better roles) out of it. That’s just one of the facets of “Illusions,” a story about television star Skylar Murphy who’s poised to make it big – but not without a few complications along the way. Skylar’s life is turned upside down when he meets Aiden Moore, an openly gay firefighter, at a launch party for his new show. But while Aiden initially rejects Skylar (something he’s not used to), fate keeps their paths crossing when Skylar is the victim of an arson that sets of a threatening chain of events. ‘Beau, Lee, the Bomb, & Me’ by Mary McKinley Snow day have your teen stuck inside? Hand them a copy of “Beau, Lee, The Bomb, & Me,” Consider “The Conscious Sexual Self Workbook” an anti-“Kama Sutra.” Because rather than focus on the sexual relationship between you and your partner, this handy guide encourages you to explore your own sexual history, values and desires. Are you truly in tune with what you want from the intimacy you experience? Are you missing out on erotic situations because you’re embarrassed or hesitant to explore? Let your guard down and pursue a better sex life that starts with you. ‘Ladyboy and the Volunteer’ by Susanne Aspley Susan is like any other new graduate who jets off to Southeast Asia to “find herself” – naïve. Initially she fills her downtime while volunteering in Thailand with typical American recreation – drinking; trying to find a tall, dark and handsome Western man in a sea of shorties – but when she crosses paths with transgender Thai prostitute Christine, her world gets a whole lot bigger as the two embark on adventures with a cast of quirky characters and life-changing events. ‘Now and Yesterday’ by Stephen Greco Much is made about romantic relationships between partners with a noticeable generational gap – can we stop calling the older guy “daddy” already, please? – and Stephen Greco’s new novel explores the modern nuances of these gay partnerships and what it takes for them to succeed. The reader hears both sides of the fictional love story of 28-year-old literary hopeful Will and the getting-up-there Peter within the backdrop of New York City past and present.