Cub

I've been a fan of Jeff Mann since reading his harsh, but stunningly beautiful "Purgatory," seizing on every new thing he's written as I can. There are few writers of male romance/erotica who can bring the writing skills and poetry to a story that Mann brings. His description is sumptuous, his characters live vividly as real people. Such is the case with "Cub," a story of love awakening between two young men coming to see themselves as "bears," that subculture of gay men who are ultimately so much more realistic than the "twinks" so often portrayed in gay fiction. Travis and Mike live and breathe and you feel everything they feel as they pick their way through the uncharted waters of romance and the minefield of small town homophobia. This book could be a godsend for young guys just coming to grips with their homosexuality, something to give them hope along with understanding. It's beautiful, sad, and sexy without ever being vulgar. Just a beautiful book in every sense!

As someone who is a huge fan of Jeff Mann's Civil War BDSM romance "Purgatory," I eagerly purchased his new novel, "Cub." The focus is on Travis, a husky, bookish high school senior in a small town in West Virginia who comes to terms with being gay and having BDSM desires while falling in love with Mike, a ex-football player, mechanic, and senior at the local vocational-technical school. While the settings, the characters and the BDSM angle is certainly novel for a "coming out" tale, the story frustratingly runs out of steam midway through and I found myself fighting to stay interested to the end. Essentially, there's no tension here, just the characters inner fears, and, sadly, Mann doesn't convincingly portray this aspect (it's especially frustrating since it's clear there is a great deal of auto-biography in the book) and the narrative thrust -- which was spellbinding in "Purgatory" -- is missing as Mann emphasizes the dialogue, which seems far too clunky and unreal. Young gay men who are budding cubs and live in small towns may find much to interest this here, but overall I found the book to be quite disappointing.

I love a good story! Mr. Mann can easily mold you into falling in love with his characters, and after reading Purgatory and Salvation he has done it again. BUT, I was sad when I read the ending, not the ending I would have loved to read, but I do understand why he wrote the ending in the direction (not telling you the ending-read Cub for yourself--you will love it!!). Waiting for a sequel and hoping (really hard) Mike and Travis end up together- MARRIED to each other. Ah, I love a good romance!! To the young gay men out there - dreams DO come true and love can last forever!! Thank you Jeff Mann for another GREAT novel!!!!!!

I've waited for this book a long time. As an Appalachian gay male, I've longed for literature that shows people like me. I’ve waited for a book that presents gay men in a way other than as if they stepped off the cover of GQ magazine and Mann has done exactly that with this book. This is a great book. The characters are multidimensional and likeable. It has a great story line. There were times I felt like I was at the table with Travis, the main character, and his Nanny. I recommend this book without hesitation and give it five stars.

I finished the book in a couple of days, which means it held my interest. Being set in the 90's, I think it was a good reminder of how different/harder it was to come out 20-25 years ago. I thought the author captured the joy and passion of first love, the mood swings of teenagers, and how it seemed like the world was coming to an end with their 4 year pending separation. I had 2 issues with the book: The whole bondage theme was a bit creepy to me, considering the boys were only 16/17 in the beginning of the book. I totally understand their attraction to "like type" bears/cubs, etc, but the leather and ropes and pain, etc seemed beyond age appropriate. Issue 2- the end left me hanging a bit, so it seemed like this book was a set up for a sequel.

Tender and challenging story of coming out and love. Yet, it challenges me to come out, more and more, and explore the chances of love, even as an older man. The story recalls the struggles so many still face daily in life as gay folk: hatred, expectations of straightness, bigotry that passes for religion. Jesus weeps. From it I see the importance of life-giving friendships which we queer-folk need so desperately as we navigate in a straight world. Warm, sexy, tender, challenging.

A 'coming of age' novel by an excellent novelist. Holds your interest through out. My next consideration ? what would happen "four years"later (after 'The Boys" have seen the world!) I highly recommend reading.

This tale of two young cubs exploring each other and their lives is tender and refreshing. No disasters, tragic endings...just a lot of hope. Excellent read...waiting for the next part of the story.

This is a niche novel, so the appeal is likely to be limited. The plot was reasonable but the supporting characters were either one dimensional or lacking credibility. The granny would have have to have been one of the three wise monkeys for starters. I did not find it flowed very well and the dialogue l found wooden. At the end it just stops.

Loved this story with it's homeliness and earthiness-the love of nature, paganism and hot men with beards was great. Really hoping there is a sequel.

Jeff Mann has created a story so fresh, so involving and so important that anyone in interested in gay literature should include this in their library. We are not all alike, we are not even all, like, 'fabulous', or want to be. Thanks, Jeff Mann. I will gift this to several friends.