Wanted Dead or Alive is the first in the Slippery When Wet series. I actually read first the second book, didn't realize it was a series and when I read the third I made the connection. The series follows the lives of four former con mate, Dan, Logan, Damien and Snake; when they were in prison, they helped another man, Joe, and this put them on the wrong side of another prisoner, Felix, who has the right connection to make their life very difficult when they will finally go out. Another thing that links them is that they are all petty criminal (at least I believe, I haven't yet read Snake's story) and that they are all gay... and they were gay even before going into jail.

Of all the three life stories, that of Dan is probably the more easy and also sad. He was in the wrong place at the wrong moment with the wrong friend. His friend almost killed a man, and Dan was young and stupid enough to try to run away instead of facing the law. And he did 8 years of jail for that. During the time he even befriended the man who almost was killed, and when he went out, he still had a sister who was willing to help him. And after only two days he even finds a boyfriend, Trey... life seems good, isn't it? But his old enemy doesn't forget, and Dan is framed for a crime he hasn't committed. And again he runs away, but this time realizes soon enough that running away is not the solution to his problem.

I have the feeling that Dan is real young, I don't know exactly how many years he has, he did 8 years in prison, so he has to be at least 26 years old if not more, but probably he still thinks like a scared teenager. And even if Trey is really a wonderful man, caring and gentle, I think he is not an imposing figure. In a way it's better like that, Dan has always proved to not be keen of the male role figure, and in fact, with Trey, it's Dan who takes the lead, even if the first move was made by Trey. All in all I think that this time Dan was lucky, he met a man who is average enough, and faulty enough, to be at his same level, and so Dan is willing to listen and take in account his advice. It's interesting, Trey is the perfect man for Dan since he is not a perfect man.

Oh, I almost forgot: I found another point in common with all the stories... all the men have a quite steamy shower alone but fantasizing of the man they have just met... a coincidence or that Slippery When Wet in the title of the series means something more than the title of the LP collecting all the songs from with the books borrow the titles?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1606595334/?tag=elimyrevandra-20