The year is 1969 and the setting New Orleans. Jude Carmichael is a college senior at St. Dymphna’s College for Men, and he’s an aspiring playwright. When his play is selected by the school for their annual Spring production, Jude faces a quandary. He has been unable to finish the last scene, and he seems to have no muse.During auditions Jude encounters a young woman named Gill who is reading for the female lead in the play. Instantly he is taken by her, and it confuses him. Jude has already identified as gay, and he’s comfortable with his same-gender attractions. The fact that he is so drawn to this young lady perplexes him. When he offers her the lead role in the play, things begin to heat up. He soon discovers that Gill is not a woman at all. Gill is really Declan, the son of the college president at Southern Memorial, which is the chief rival of St. Dymphna’s.This is not the first story by Ryan Field that I have read, and I must readily admit that it won’t be the last. He demonstrates a certain quality in his writing that is appealing to me. I guess I would have to describe it as being fluid. His prose is very smooth—very readable. What I especially enjoyed about this particular story was the characterization of the protagonists, Jude and Declan. Jude is presented as a protective and heroic figure, while Declan is sensitive and delicate—a damsel in distress, so to speak. This is my absolute favorite type of love story. I most enjoy a gay romance where the central characters are not presented as physical and emotional equals, but rather where they each have needs and attractions which are fulfilled by their contrasting partner.It was impossible not to fall in love with the sweet and soft-hearted Declan, and to yearn for him to develop his self-esteem and a little backbone. Contrarily, it was quite delicious to see the raunchy bad-boy persona of Jude and to envision his big biceps and cocky swagger. I understood completely why Declan was so taken by him, and I was a bit swept off my feet seeing the way that Jude became obsessed with claiming Declan as his own.The story was classically comedic in that the central characters faced the judgment and militaristic control of an oppressive establishment. The primary nemesis in the story was Declan’s father, and he of course did not approve of his son’s relationship with Jude nor of his involvement in the school play. Shakespeare’s Lover by Ryan field is a beautiful romance which contains sizzling hot erotica which is presented tastefully and romantically. Some of the dialogue in the story is a bit over-the-top, but I’m of the opinion that this hyperbole was intentional. The vernacular of the 60’s sometimes sounds rather cheesy by today’s standards. While some of the secondary characters seem a bit outlandish and overblown, they add spice and humor to the story, and their exaggerated personalities are easily forgivable because of what they add to the plot.Generally speaking, I loved the book and recommend it highly. Shakespeare’s Lover by Ryan field is a touching and romantic story by a truly impressive author. ( )