Review Tuesday Moved to Thursday: Hand Job by Spencer Dryden

Hand Job by Spencer Dryden

Fireborn Publishing, 2014

Jack Reed, the hero of Spencer Dryden’s Hand Job, is an accomplished handyman, an aspiring author, and a typical guy—frequently horny, but shy and somewhat clueless in the face of female allure.

Like many journeyman authors, he’s a regular in a local coffee shop, where he works on his writing. The barista Jodie is always friendly, but in real life she’s a good deal more reserved than in Jack’s fantasies. Then one day Jodie reveals that she has a second business, as a palmist, and invites Jack to her shop for a reading. Her suddenly flirtatious demeanor has Jack’s head spinning, but he’s not going to pass up the opportunity to get to get closer to the lovely Jodie—or Madam Charise, as she calls herself in her alternative profession. In his wildest dreams, though, Jack never imagined things could get as hot and heavy as they do when Jodie takes control.

Hand Job is a lively, light-hearted tale about fantasies fulfilled. Jack’s wry humor and fundamental respect for women make him a very appealing character.

She showed the figure, the youthful energy, and sunshine of a thirty-something. But the lines on her throat, creases at the edge of her smile, and the small crows' feet at the corners of her eyes told of a woman probably in her mid to late forties. She was easily ten years older than me, still a fine looking woman, but not a child. And with an exotic moniker, Madam Charise, embossed on the card in a swirling scroll. Now she was a woman with two first names and still no last name. I couldn't imagine creating an identity for myself as a writer or a handyman with just one nme. Neither—Jack nor my last name, Reed—had much pop standing alone. Together as Jack Reed they generated all the excitement of a bowl of macaroni. Both her names excited me. She exuded a confident sexuality. Like me, I think the other male patrons came in as much for a shot of fantasy as a shot of espresso.

Meanwhile, Jodie is a chameleon, presenting a different persona in each of her roles: coffee shop employee, fortune teller and home owner. Mr. Dryden manages to paint a picture of a surprisingly complex character despite the tale's brevity.

There’s lots of lusty, mutually enjoyable sex in this book as well, much of it initiated by the older and more experienced Jodie. Wisely, Jack follows her lead. Meanwhile, the chapter where Jack allows himself to write Jodie into one of his novels is absolutely hilarious.

On Sunday, back at my apartment, I honored my day with her the best way I could as a writer. I inserted her into my latest story, opposite the super spy and brazen hunk, Rex Lowe. Cast as his Eastern European contact, Britta Sundstrum, they were closing in on a terrorist network based out of Munich. Britta possessed all of Jodie's allure but projected a bit more edge. Of course, Britta had to be younger and have bigger breasts. Rex hasn't been enlightened yet, as I have, about the pleasures of an older woman.

I added a few fantasies of my own. At their first meeting at a posh restaurant, sparks flew between Britta and Rex. It ended with a bang in the cloak room. Easy access to her sex was provided by the crotchless pantyhose she wore beneath her otherwise unrevealing navy blue skirt and jacket.

As you might guess, things get wilder from there.

Hand Job will take you on a roller coaster ride through the male erotic imagination. I guarantee you’ll enjoy yourself.