The Cat in the Cradle by Jay Bell

The Cat in the Cradle by Jay Bell
Stars: 4.5/5

Overall
I've had this book on my to-read list for a long time, and I kept promising myself that it would be next. But I kept putting it off because I'd heard such good things and I hate when my fantasies (no pun intended) are dashed. At one point I started it, but was distracted by a sexier, faster-moving book. I didn't know what to expect from this book going in, but I was pleasantly surprised by what I found there. Although the writing isn't amazing, it doesn't distract from the story telling either, which is vital, especially to this story.

Strengths
World building. While everything in the world was relatively simple, it was also in an odd way beautifully constructed. I loved the oligarchies with their primary and secondary abilities. I wish we could have found out more about the world (like how many people have powers? We see Green's workers, but very little else), but I'm also glad the story didn't get bogged down with trying to get too much information across even though I'd love to see more in this world!

Characters/plot. There was nice variety in the types of people that our heroes meet, and there was nice mix among the heroes. In the same vein, we had the main plot (stop the big bad) and then we had some other smaller plots that tied up in the end without overwhelming the rest of the story or distracting from the main purpose.

Resolution. I won't say much, but I like how everything turned out. It felt good.

Weaknesses
The writing is probably the weakest part of this novel, and it's by no stretch of the imagination bad. It's simple and direct, which once and a while came across clunky, but for the majority was fine. I think it worked to give the book a more "young adult" feel, and whether that was intended or not, I don't know. (Note, I'm not implying young adults can only read books with simple language, I'm just saying that it gives this book that feel.)

Points of view. While it didn't bother me like it normally does, we are once again treated to somewhat random head hopping. While I can understand the reasoning behind it, and I by all means enjoyed seeing what was happening, it was inconsistent, which pokes my button. I'm torn on the matter because it was used for some good reasons, but I also wonder if it could have been worked around. And then I think about not meeting the god of cats and I'm torn again, which is why this 'weakness' didn't diminish the score.

"Paying Forfeits" by Angelia Sparrow and Naomi Brooks

"Paying Forfeits" by Angelia Sparrow and Naomi Brooks
Stars: 1/5

Maybe this just isn't my type of book, but I enjoyed nothing about it. The basic premise is two lovers (Sam and William) have a game they play every Friday. Every Friday it's a different game, and each week they place forfeits--what they get if they win and what they'll give if they lose. I can get around that, it's fun and makes for plenty of sex.

But I didn't enjoy the sex. It was PWP and it wasn't written well enough to be enjoyable for me. And that's just the beginning. I was willing to give it a chance, because sometimes stories just start off rough. And then a third man (Billy, William's nephew) is introduced.

While threesomes are difficult for me to understand, if well written, I can accept them. But here Billy is thrown into the mix without a moment's thought, he forces Sam to have sex with him while he's in a Sub position (not that Sam couldn't have said 'No') and then Sam gets punished far more thoroughly than Billy. (Regardless if he "enjoys" it or not.) First point of contention. Sam is jealous (I would be too), but begins to cope with these feelings, although they never really seem to leave. Even by the end there is a fight between Sam and William! Finally, facing the drama! But no, Billy threatens to leave, Sam says it's his fault that he's jealous and he'll work through it and thus ends the story.

In addition to not enjoying the "storyline," I also found the writing to be awkward, clunky and more what you'd find in porn than erotica. I really didn't enjoy this piece, but I'm still going to give "Thigh to Thigh" a chance, both because I already have it and because maybe I'll find some of the resolution I'm looking for. If you're interested in reading "Paying Forfeits," you can have my copy.

Movies for review!

Another selection of movies for review!
Touch of Pink - (Rent) A British/Canadian flick that deals with a Muslim family and the gay son who has moved to London in order to be himself. Mixed in are references to classic/old movies which the lead male loves to watch and has created a figment of his imagination in the image of Cary Grant. While somewhat enjoyable, I didn't really connected too deeply with the characters and the story moved around a lot locationwise. It is filled with flawed characters who are richly human though, so as a study of people being people, it works well.

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Bear Cub (Spanish) – (Rent) Although it starts with some rapid Spanish, the language balances out and slows down as the main cast takes center stage. A look at a gay man raising his nephew while dealing with a nosy grandmother, his life from before, and his reason for living an isolated life emotionally. This movie is slow moving as we are introduced to characters, the situation, and then everything is turned on its head without really increasing its tempo. The movie looks at topics such as what makes a fit parent, "Am I gay?", family dynamics, and love. Some non-explicit sex occurs, so be comfortable with seeing shirtless bears of the less hairy variety.

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Small Town Gay Bar (documentary) - (Rent) While this documentary focuses on gay bars in small towns, it's ultimate look is at the lives of gay individuals and couples in those towns and what they struggle with as they try to balance their conservative (and sometimes ignorant) surroundings with who they are. The bars become a focal point where they can gather without fear of being judged for who/what they are. The footage and style is very raw and shows people as they are without the glitz and glam that some documentaries add. I didn't feel like the information was anything new or groundbreaking, but it was an interesting glance into these people's lives.

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A Single Man - (Rent/Buy) Two different ratings for this, because it will largely depend on personal preference on how much you enjoy this movie. The main portion of the story takes place over the course of one day in the life of narrator as he continues to struggle over the loss of his lover of 16 years. The day is interrupted with him experiencing flashbacks to his time with his lover and the sweet (and sometimes mundane) moments they had together. The movie is slow moving, but I still found it enjoyable as it explores his struggle and his relation to the people around him. The ending is ultimately a little sad and a little happy as he has an epiphany about life in general. If you like artsy films, this will probably be right up your alley.

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Adam and Steve - (Rent) An awkward comedy about two guys who meet, neither recalling that they've met 17 years prior under less auspicious circumstances. Although the beginning started off a little rocky, the movie plays up a little camp and cliche to eventually come to a satisfying ending. And don't worry, the cliche isn't just in the gay crowd either. It was definitely funny, but probably not something I'd watch again.

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Dream Boy – (Meh/Rent) I actually had to stop this one before the end, but I had already read the book, so I think they ended similarly. I wasn't a fan of the book, which should lead you to wonder why I rented the movie. I guess I was just curious about where they would head with it. I think they stayed pretty true to it, for better or worse. I didn't stop because the movie was bad, but I knew a creepy part was coming up and it was later at night. Not a good combo, and the movie wasn't amazing enough to want to see through to the end, especially knowing the ending. Different people may react differently.

Duck! by Kim Dare

Duck! by Kim Dare
Stars: 5/5

Overall
While Ori's shifter species is unknown, there's no question of whether he's a submissive or not, and Raynard is just the hawk to help him find out what it really means to give yourself over to someone. The plot and story are well told in this very different retelling of the Ugly Duckling, and while the characters may not deeply drawn, they still connect to the readers and invite an emotional connection.

Strengths
Aside from one writing qualm (see below), I enjoyed Dare's writing style. It was simple, but pulled emotions from me as the reader. She was able to connect me to two characters who were very different, and able to redeem a third character who was a jerk in the beginning. In addition, even knowing this is the story of the Ugly Duckling, I looked forward to seeing the events unfurl and I enjoyed the build up between them as their relationship evolved from master-servant to master-submissive to something else.

Story. A lovely re-make of The Ugly Duckling, although the story in general has very little in common with the original aside from the basic premise. I enjoyed every step of the way and actually put aside other things I should have been working on in order to finish the book. While the tale wasn't complex, it was emotionally packed and I fell in love with the characters and was invested in what happened to them.

Overall. While I try not to use this as a point of strength, in this story it was especially true. I just enjoyed it, and even though I was reading it for the first time, it felt familiar and good, like meeting with an old friend. I think this overall enjoyment of the story helped me ignore any of he other little things that may have annoyed me otherwise.

Weaknesses
In my initial read, I didn't really feel there were "weaknesses" in the story, and only one peeve in the writing. In looking around, I know some people have had complaints about a lack of character building for Ori and Raynard, but I had no problems with them. It was pointed out that they are rather flat characters, only really taking on the role of submissive and Dom. I love deep, fleshed out characters, but this two, while single-minded, didn't seem completely flat. They weren't what you'd call deep, but they were what they were. Raynard was a hawk, a dominant in all things. Ori was...well Ori, a submissive in all things. While that's simplifying who they are, it seems to drive home the point of the book.

One issue I did take in this book was Dare's attempt to not abuse pronouns or names. In trying to not overuse names, or making sentences confusing with too many "he"s, she tried using alternatives like "the dominant," "the submissive," "the hawk," and "the fledgling." While I can get behind Raynard referring to Ori as "the submissive" or "the fledgling" when we are in his perspective, I can't see Ori calling himself "the submissive." Since the narration switches between the two men in a limited 3rd person perspective, the words should have adjusted accordingly.

Spice 'n' Solace by K.C. Burn

Spice 'n' Solace by K.C. Burn
Stars: 2.5/5

Overall
With a fairly strong beginning, and a relatively enjoyable story, the final 15% of the book was disappointing as it too easily fixed issues and solved everything. Although I enjoyed the interactions between Jathan and Kazha, the events that happen outside of the apartment do very little to hold my interest. Jathan's work in negotiations is interesting but brushed over, which is understandable to avoid a politically heavy book, but there was something happening with R'Kos that were hinted at but never developed and make me wonder if there is going to be a story about him. The writing was fairly good, although a few word choices left me wincing (eg, joy button). I enjoyed the novella until the end, wondering where the author was going and how things would be resolved, but was ultimately unsatisfied.

Strengths
I really enjoyed the varied characters, including some of the smaller characters such as the guard Sven. The characters really came to life and weren't flat, although sometimes when under pressure they behaved outside the norm, this could be chalked up to the stress. I connected with the main characters and were drawn into their plight--I wanted them to find happiness.

Pacing. Except for the final 15%, the pacing was very good. The introduction of the characters and their eventual meeting aren't rushed, and although there is a time skip in the days they are together, it doesn't feel like we skipped anything vital to the development of the characters. Their relationship is definitely Lust at First Sight and quickly translates to Love, but even this is forgivable within the genre and the hints that they are "mates," which the alien culture deems important.

Weaknesses
Some of the word choices during the sex scenes felt almost porny and threw me out of the story.

The Gay Taboo. For a story that supposedly takes place in the future, there is still plenty of bias against homosexuals. While they can marry and it is recognized by the government, among Kaz's friends it is seen as a weakness. The amount of bigotry still existing was surprising. While I can understand things fluctuate in how society accepts them, there was no reason offered for why it's not accepted when the reader lives in a world where it is slowly becoming more accepted. All I needed was a reason.

***WARNING: SPOILERS***
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The end. The end really annoyed me. The reader is taken on this journey through a dark, seedy world and comes out the other side sparkling clean and glittery. I think if it had been stretched out and explored, the end may have worked, but it as rushed and tacked on. Huge issues that hang over the heads of our protagonists are solved in an easy one-two. He's a bad guy who's trying to take over your company? Nope, it was just a misunderstanding. Can't marry a man because of requirements of your position? Nope, just another misunderstanding. Vaughn aside, I felt the final chapter added enough closure that the epilogue was unnecessary and possibly the worst part for me.

In addition, multiple characters seem to have dramatic personality changes and Jay and Kaz, while wonderfully in love, seem to become members of the Brady bunch who happen to like a bit of dom/sub behavior. The epilogue oozed cheese (and not the delicious kind that goes on nachos). I feel that if the changes that needed to happen for them to be together had been thoroughly fleshed out, I wouldn't have had problems. Instead, everything is solved neatly and tied in a pretty bow without us seeing how it all came to be and the struggles they dealt with to get there. It felt too easy, and while I understand not all of life is a angst-filled struggle, in a world as darkly described as the one this book exists in, the end felt false.

Selected Short Stories by Ann Somerville

Selected Short Stories by Ann Somerville
Stars: 4/5

Overall
As a collection of short stories, this was a nice mix. It allows new readers to get a varied taste of what Somerville is capable of, and for free to boot! I read these out of order (skipping the first two then going back to read them, merely because of time constraints at the time). Two of the stories are merely a snapshop of a scene or a element of a man's life and are enjoyable but leave more questions asked than answered, which isn't a bad thing considering what they're made to do. Three of the stories are a medium length with enough time to develop a small plot and a few characters and evoke some powerful emotions. There is one long story, which is the first of the bunch. I break down my thoughts on them below. PS. A simple and yet lovely cover.

Time Out
If I were ranking this story alone, it probably would have earned 3 stars. While I enjoyed Sean's perspective and Somerville's writing, there were a few things that didn't speak to me. One, while a fan of BDSM, there was one extended scene (the last one) that I had to quickly skim over because it's just not to my taste (that is no fault of the author). Afterward, Somerville amends any squiggled hearts (that'd be mine) and it's okay. The events fit with the characters and what the characters want/need, but it's a personal thing. Also, the narrator constantly uses more official/medical terms, which could be because he's a nurse, but I still blinked every time. (Odd how when you spend time in a genre it's the proper name for things that make you blink.)

Things I liked about this story include the writing, the characters (Tom and Sean are lovely!), and the little things that let the reader see how much they care without having to say it aloud. Sean's insecurities that are just under the surface but don't bubble up too often, Tom's protectiveness that never becomes overwhelming, their date out on the town and their first two scenes, one of which involves creative use of ginger. (You'll have to read to find out ;))

I was curious about the time period of the stories. I know they take place after 2001, but they feel like they belong in a more conservative realm. Of course, I'm not as familiar with London/England as I am with U.S. perspective on everything, so I'll plead ignorance (sorry). I suppose I assume that European countries are more advanced than us...

Tom and Sean
This story throws us into a time with Tom just before he meets Sean, when he is rather lonely, out of a bad relationship, and too busy working for a relationship. He accidentally meets Sean, who is nothing what he expects and he's perfectly happy with it. It was nice, after seeing how their relationship has progressed and how stable they are, how everything got started. One hot sex scene that indulges both their needs and hints at what more is to come.

Autumn Rains
A very short story focused around a rainy picture and an umbrella, the story mainly deals with the narrators frustrations over an umbrella he lost and the man he lost with it. The end left me wiggling and wanting more (in a good way), although I imagine nothing more will be coming of this. The narrator was fun and a little flamboyant, adding some light to a rather sad story...although there is always potential for a happy ending, isn't there?

Fire, Fire
Probably the oddest of the bunch, this one switches perspectives every so often as it follows a group of people who approach a man standing at a fire barrel. Although we learn little to nothing of the man, we see a varied bunch of people who he meets. A good study of humanity.

Going Away
While this one toes the line of the classic dead-boyfriend trope, it was handled well and short, and sweet, enough that we aren't bored.

The Gift of Giving
This is my favorite, which may just show that I'm a sap for sweet Christmas stories. Regardless of my sap situation...we are introduced to our not-Scrooge narrator, who is alone for Christmas, like he is every year. A chance meeting at a museum leaves him curious about a handsome and artistic man whom he follows to a soup kitchen. While this story could come across as heavy handed, I never found it that way. The characters have clear motivations and are lovely and tender and hopefully willing to grow into their feelings for each other. I can imagine them having many happy Christmases in the future (you know, not to spoil you, but it is a Christmas story).

Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay

Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay
Stars: 3/5

Overall
While this novel has an interesting premise and a selection of interesting characters, the eventual plot-line (and consequential ending) left me tepid. The writing, which felt beautiful and strong in the beginning, began to wear on my patience as the novel progressed. I enjoyed Dexter's "emotional" dilemma at the end, but the rest of the ending left me going..."oh. Meh." Most of it I saw coming and the rest left me feeling like it was TOO prepared to be a series.

Strengths
A creative idea. The idea of writing a book from the perspective of a "good guy" serial killer is interesting and is what drew me in.

Writing. My initial feeling is that the writing is good, but sometimes it does become a little "full of itself." It's very descriptive and sometimes stream of Dexter's consciousness, which gives the reader a good idea about what kind of person Dexter is and how attentive he is--and what kinds of things he's attentive to.

Weaknesses
The resolution, if we can call it that, didn't work for me. The author requires us to take too many leaps of faith that seem untrue to his characters. Also, because this is a series, it leaves multiple of threads unfinished, which is understandable. However, the main thread of the book is also left unfinished, which seems cheap to me.

Be sure to check out my other reviews on my blog.

Outcast Mine by Jamie Craig

Outcast Mine by Jamie Craig
Stars: 5/5

Overall
The romance in this novel almost seems secondary to the politics and plot, but this doesn't weaken the story or the romance. The relationship of the two lead males grows slowly over time, starting as a forced bond and evolving as they face dangers together and begin to come to terms with how they feel and how it relates to the prison they are in both literally and emotionally. A strong world creation, good characters and interesting plot all work to make this an enjoyable novel.

Strengths
Characters. Strong characters with a good dynamic. Jasak and Aleron are very different: To Jasak, honor (and the rights all sentient creatures have) is the most important thing, while Aleron just wants to survive and has gone through life with that mindset. Together, they help one another learn there is more beyond what they've known. Their give and take relationship worked well, and they constantly didn't know where they stood with each other, which was fitting since one was a prisoner and the other his guard. Also amused that the token female was very useful!

Writing. The writing was excellent, from the descriptions of their conditions and appearances to the dialogue, I could easily imagine being there. The creativity in the residents of the world and the politics helped form a world that was completely believable.

Plot. Good, strong plot that takes some hills and valleys to reach the final mountain. Because of the length it takes to build up to the climax, some may find that the story drags for them, but persistence will pay off.

Weaknesses
PoV. Another case of the author(s) suddenly deciding to sneak into the minds of others. This is a pet peeve of mine, I know, and while it was handled well here, it still annoyed me a tad. For the majority of the novel we skip between Aleron and Jasak, but at some point we begin seeing another inmate's, another guard's, and the medic's view. It was handled well, and it did explain a good portion of those character's motivations, but I think the book could have been written without those jumps.

Not a weakness, but some may find ethical/moral fault in the ending.

Book Review: A Strong Hand by Catt Ford

A Strong Hand by Catt Ford
Stars: 3.5-4/5

Overall
A long, mellow story that explores BDSM and photography. While not plot heavy, this detailed book gently rocks the reader through each page to the conclusion. With a third-person perspective, the author hops around views freely, giving an almost-omniscient feel although each view is limited. If you want sex and a study of characters, this would be a good book to pick up. Although the scenes are sexy, I wouldn't call them hot and heavy, because the amount of detail often makes them more sensual than sexual. Be ready for a longer read that is lengthened by its slow and steady pace.

Strengths
Characters. While the characters weren't amazing (okay, Ashley was a little), they are consistent and comfortable (like my favorite pair of shoes) and you take them everywhere. As the story progresses, we see them evolve from what they think is a fine way to exist, to slowly opening up to one another and making mistakes with one another and finding happiness.

Although nothing stands out as something that was done amazingly well, I still found myself enjoying the book. Enjoying it enough to give it a rather strong rating. (It probably would have been a 3.5, but the cover bumped it to 4. It's just so relevant!)

Weaknesses
Not much happened. The plot could be summarized in five sentences without leaving anything out, which can make this a very slow moving book. While it's more a study of character and relationship (and lifestyle), I hope all of Ford's books aren't like this. I enjoyed it, but it wasn't what you'd call 'meaty'.

Limited characters. This is a rather long book and we are introduced to about eight characters (who have talking roles). Most of the time there are only two or three who are really doing anything. The rest are just shadows filling the space, which for the most part works. My only qualm with this is Nick's family. I wanted to see them, and I especially wanted to see their reaction to his change and his relationship with Damian. This is addressed, briefly, but I felt like I wanted to actually see the family that seemed pretty important to him.

Movie Reviews

Instead of a star rating, which feels rather arbitrary depending on my mood anyway, I'm going to rate movies differently. These ratings are obviously dependent on preference, so take my suggestions based on a grain of salt in correlation with my review:
Meh: Don't bother watching; Rent: Good, but only worth the rental fee; Buy: Worth watching again, highly enjoyable

The Best of Boys in Love (series of shorts) - (Rent) Like most anthologies, this had the Good (Murder in Venice, CA), the Bad (Dirty Baby) and the Ugly (something to do with aliens on a lakeside). It starts with a black and white film: A young man is lingering outside a leather bar, watching a biker head in. The biker sees him, but goes in, knowing he'll follow. The film is mostly silent as the young man tries to take in what's happening inside the bar...and then they break into song. It was WEIRD, but it was meant to be. It was screwed up and I kind of loved it for that reason. But my absolute favorite was "Murder in Venice, CA", where a man is struggling not to be what he is and he has to deal with the ramifications of his actions. Overall the bad shorts outnumbered the good, but only two really made me raise a brow.


Latter Days - (rent first) I've seen this movie three times, read the book, own the book, and still am not sure how I feel about the movie. I enjoy it (obviously), but it doesn't grab me and make me want to watch it again and again, although I enjoy it each time I watch. The basic story is a flamboyant gay man meets a trying-not-to-be-gay Mormon. There is flirting, a bet, a kiss, an airport, a night in a hotel, and a small series of steps where characters have to reconcile who they are and who they want to be. While a movie about being gay, it's more about community and how everything in life works together to form the bigger picture.




Make the Yuletide Gay - (buy) Definitely rent this before you go out and buy it, because it's 98% campy craziness and 2% coming out story. The basis is an out college student goes home for the holidays, where he is most assuredly not out. When his boyfriend surprises him by stopping by, there is a huge amount of conflict as our leading male tries to make everyone happy. While not for everyone, I found it charming, funny and sweet. The acting was mediocre in some parts, but that could have been related to the amount of cheese the director was going for. If you go in wanting a serious movie, this will fail completely, but if you go in accepting what's given, it will be a funny adventure.



Death at a Funeral (remake) - (meh) I was a fan of the original, but willing to give the American remake a chance, because while I enjoyed the British one, I wasn't madly in love. So I started watching this while multitasking. I think I made it about half way when I gave up. It was pretty much the same as the original, minus the British humor, lovely accents, and did I mention the humor? Instead it replaced it with an American humor that was mediocre at best and left me wanting. People unfamiliar with the original may have a different take, but I wasn't terribly amused.




Philadelphia - (Rent) I know this is a classic in gay film, but while I could respect it's importance, it didn't really do anything for me. The story of a gay lawyer who is fired for having AIDS, this movie touches on important topics such as equality, the disability act, biases, family and, ultimately, death. The progression of the court case is secondary to the progression of the friendship between the two main characters played by Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington. Enjoyable, overall.






The Broken Hearts Club - (buy) If everyone in the show Friends had been gay, then it would have been this movie. Well, sort of. There is a similar feel with friends living together, couples moving among groups of friends, while always wondering why their group is friends at all. Overall the movie looks at what it means to be gay, to be out, and to be in a relationship, while also looking at taking responsibility and doing something with your life. A good, varied cast play up the funnier parts of life, while also addressing the more serious aspects. I was surprised to enjoy this one so much.




In & Out - (Rent/Buy) While I enjoyed this movie, it wasn't good enough that I'd run out and buy it. It was quaint and more mainstream, which I appreciate, but didn't do anything fresh that grabbed me. An amusing comedy about an English teacher who is engaged to be married within the week when one of his previous students outs him as gay at an awards ceremony. As he struggles to deal with reporters, his neighbors and his sexuality, we watched with humor and a little bit of tenderness at the reactions of his family and his community, and perhaps finally, most importantly, his students.




A Love to Hide - (Rent) While the central focus of this story is on homosexuals and Jews in occupied France during WWII, there is more to it than that. Aside from the almost over-the-top behavior of some of the Nazis and the fact that I never really connected with any of the characters except Phillippe, this was an interesting movie. This film touches on topics of family, love and being who you are. Although sometimes heavy handed, some of the characters, like Jacques, are villains who you can relate to, even if you can't approve of his actions (and I hope that you can't!). It's sometimes slow moving and the very end seemed unnecessary to me, but I can see why it was added.

Love Means … No Fear by Andrew Grey

Love Means … No Fear by Andrew Grey
Stars: 3/5

Overall
Fans of Grey's work will find another story that fits the bill of the Farm series. While the characters aren't as memorable as Geoff and Eli, Raine and Jonah have a sweet, if not somewhat predictable, romance. You may know the ending, but fans will still enjoy the journey there.

Strengths
Although I don't think this is his best writing, Grey is consistent in his ability to guide a reader through the story with ease.

Different happy ending. While we expect a happy ending with Grey's stories, I think he gave the reader a slightly different happy ending than we are used to, and it was a nice change of pace from the cliche.

Overall an enjoyable story. Should not be the first read in the series though.

Weaknesses
The final resolution of Raine's attacker and all the facts related to it were unsatisfactory to me. While I could appreciate the tension the situation brought for the characters, in the end it didn't feel like it furthered the characters at all. Neither Jonah nor Raine grew as a result of the event, and while I can understand the initial event haunting Raine, I think the continuation didn't need to happen, or could have happened in other ways. I suppose Grey needed for Raine to remain on the farm longer in order for his relationship with Jonah to evolve, but it felt very strawman to me.

Speed. Raine and Jonah's relationship moved too quickly for both characters. Raine promises himself that he's going to go nice and slow with Jonah, and while Jonah is all for going to bed, the resistance Raine put up wasn't very strong (though I suppose who would resist when a cute guy is all over them?). Which brings me to Jonah, who goes from shouting "You're sodomites!" to bed with Raine in a couple weeks. I'm pretty sure they progressed faster than Geoff and Eli, and Eli was more comfortable with the general idea and more aware of his feelings previously. Not that different people can't react differently...I just didn't buy it.