KING PERRY by Edmond Manning

A book in the Lost & Found Series
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Date published: February 26th, 2012
ASIN B007E558OW
Contemporary Gay (M/M)
E-book
Reviewed by Dawn
Obtained by Publisher


When out of towner Vin Vanbly witnesses an act of compassion, he impulsively offers the young man, Perry Morgan, a mysterious offer-give Vin one weekend of submission and Vin will restore Perry’s ‘Kingship’. Perry is confused yet intrigued by the offer. What happens in that weekend will change Perry-and in a roundabout way Vin as well- in ways he never anticipates. But what happens when Sunday rolls around? Will Perry be able to be ‘King Perry’ after Sunday? And just who is this mysterious yet enigmatic man, Vin Vanbly?

Picking up KING PERRY, I was unsure what the book was really about. In his debut story, Edmond Manning delivers a powerful story that will take you on a ride from start to finish. Yes, it starts out slow but stay with it and you will find a powerful story waiting to show itself. Edmond Manning is a very good storyteller, one who knows how to draw his reader in, let them wonder what is going on and deliver some plot twists that leaves them going “OH MY!”. The writing is tight, characters are very well written, so that I was expecting to meet them on the corner of my street. For being a debut book, I was literally stunned speechless when I finished KING PERRY. The sheer emotions you experience along with Perry are one I have no words to describe. You are intrigued, confused, mystified and hopeful as Perry finds that man who is inside him. I do have to caution you that if you are expecting a happily ever after, you won’t find it here. Love doesn’t conquer the mighty monsters but will help you deal with them in ways you never imagined in KING PERRY.

Meet Perry Morgan, a man who finds himself given a unique and yes odd, message by a stranger. Give this man one weekend of complete submission in order to be the person you are meant to be. What hogwash yet what an intriguing concept. Perry is leery yet intrigued and when he meets Vin again, he finds that he wants to do this. But what happens after Sunday comes? Will Perry be able to find that inner man who has struggled to come out in the open and embrace him? Can Perry forgive-and love-himself? Edmond Manning is a sly, witty writer who created two characters who are unique and yet ordinary. Vin is part magician, part pain in the rear & part guide. Perry is man who is hiding from his true self and with this journey, he will find that forgiveness and self-love are just the tip of the iceberg. This author lets his characters shine and shine they do. Vin is an intriguing and complex man, one who knows things about Perry no one else should know. Perry finds his heart needs healing and in the process, finds himself again.

Edmond Manning delivers a timeless tale that will leave you breathless in the end. Perry must overcome his past in order to become the man he is meant to be. You will ride the roller coaster of emotion with this one and I, for one, sat after the last page was read and just wept. It’s a unique story, a powerful one and it is also sad, happy and very beautifully written. Edmond Manning is on track to becoming one of those authors I expect to see on the New York Times list one day. I look forward to seeing what else this author has coming in the future.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.