Blank Spaces

Vaughn Hargrave is a gallery assistant whose world revolves around art. Without the distraction of sex or romance, he's free to focus on work friends and creating a comfortable life for himself. Jonah Sondern is his exact opposite. His life revolves around the gym, the club, and hot, anonymous, sex.Jonah is an investigator for the insurance company hired by the gallery where Vaughn works. When Vaughn doesn't return his subtle passes, Jonah writes him off as a rich brat playing artist and expects never to see him again. Unfortunately, later that night Vaughn catches Jonah in a compromising situation in a club. Jonah pulls Vaughn aside to make sure he's safe from potential blackmail. After that the world of art theft and insurance make sure they're constantly in contact, and a bit of prying from Jonah's well-meaning friend has the two hanging out socially. There's a connection between the two, but sex is off the table for Vaughn, and it seems to be primarily where Jonah's interest lies. At a party, Vaughn overhears a conversation about asexuality, which seems to be the word he's been looking for all his life. Armed with a label, he learns all about his newfound identity via the internet and finally has an explanation to offer Jonah while they're searching for a way to navigate their new relationship. If this bit is a little heavy-handed, readers will likely forgive the author, since asexuality--especially in the romance genre--is still a little obscure. It gets Jonah and Vaughn to where they need to be in the end, which is what counts. An unlikely romance between two beautifully written characters will leave readers swooning. COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

September 15, 2016
Much to the insurer's dismay, major works have been stolen on three separate occasions from the Delphi Art Gallery in spite of its security system. Insurance investigator Jonah visits, and although the Toronto police report is complete, the claim payment is delayed because the insurance policy covers theft by a third party. . . . The theft has been established, but not the third party. An inside job is suspected. Jonah likes gallery assistant Vaughn's cute butt as much as he dislikes this case and the privileged class to which this Gallery Guy seems to belong. As for Vaughn, he no longer dates, finding hook-up culture tawdry, and Jonah is impolite to the point of crass rudeness. Besides, he's a total slut, as witnessed by Vaughn himself at a club where he'd gone to dance and relax. Can their differences and their disconnectedness from others be overcome? And what about the thefts? Lennox's story of attracted opposites, enhanced by her engagingly wry humor, progresses rapidly, keeping readers absorbed and entertained.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)