All I know about tennis is grunting people with rackets try to get a fuzzy yellow ball over a net until someone hits the net or the ball goes over the white line, then the court-side lifeguard in the tall chair tells you who won. I know historic players like Martina Navratilova and Billie Jean King because they’re rainbow family, Patty Smyth (a fav diva) is married to John McEnroe, and more recently the Williams sisters.
No, not those William Sisters…Serena and Venus
Last month I went to Chip Pons‘ book event in Brooklyn. Edward Schmit co-moderated with Peyton Corinne and I got his new book signed as well.
Edward, Chip & Peyton at The Ripped Bodice!
“The Open Era” is a sweet love story set around the US Open’s Grand Slam (isn’t that a meal at Denny’s) tennis tournament. Austin Hardy is the first openly gay guy to compete at the US Open and Diego Cruz is his dreamy crush and fellow competitor. Over the weeks they bond as feelings develop until they’re forced to play against each other.
“The Open Era” is my type of romance, a slow burn without chapters upon chapters of tired sex scenes. Who needs that? I’m not Amish, I have the internet. In my gay opinion, it’s a great story with characters who are flawed but endearing and you don’t need to be a fan of tennis to enjoy it. I loved the book but not enough to run out and buy skimpy white shorts and sweat bands…if Olivia Newton John’s “Physical” couldn’t convince me to, nothing will, but it did make me a fan of Edward and I look forward to his next book.
