Being the start of a new week, Monday's are also a good time to take a look at some of the different stories that can be found on Gay Authors. With so many great works, it can be easy to overlook one and Monday's provide an opportunity for us to help make one of them stand out and maybe catch your interest. Today, we're bringing you a review by Timothy M. of Puppilull's story Thaw. Enjoy!

I like blond hunks with blue eyes, and even better if they’re upright and silent men in uniform. Naturally, I was hooked immediately when I started reading Thaw which is set in the northern part of Sweden and features a strong, tall, lonely policeman named Joel. After the first chapter readers were wondering who Puppilull would find for the man who’s also a talented hockey player. If I had been 25 years younger, I’d volunteer to travel to Kiruna near the Polar circle.

The second chapter introduces chatty, charming Lucas, a lawyer from the US, who ends up in Kiruna after a string of unlucky circumstances. I’m not going to tell you how he meets Joel, but there something very Scandinavian involved. As a Dane I can understand the few Swedish phrases Puppilull has sprinkled around the text to give it that unique local flavor, but don’t worry, you’ll be fine even if you only know the word IKEA.

At first, Joel and Lucas dance around each other, wondering whether the other man is gay and attracted too. It takes a hot sauna and some determination on Lucas’ part to get things going, and then the scene is set for various surprising developments. I’m not going to tell you any details, to avoid spoiling the story, but there is snow, a dog, beer, lube, hockey, painting, Northern lights and boots involved. The boots and other interesting matters are included as a courtesy to or teasing of the GA author who inspired Puppilull to write Thaw. She even managed to make him blush !

There are several reasons I like this story, apart from the fact it was written by a fellow Scandinavian, Meta Wolf addict and GA friend. The contrast in character in the two men, although they both have the same core of ‘lawful good’ inside. The fact they are both out and accepted by family, friends and colleagues, but still manage to fumble around when it comes to flirting and relationships. The writing is good, sensible and without unnecessary angsty drama – in spite a couple of cliff hangers which made us fans moan and grumble. The sex – well, I’ll let you discover those parts for yourself, but at least one reader had to buy a new laptop because the hotness made her old one melt.

Go make the acquaintance of Joel and Lucas, I promise you won’t regret it. When you are done with Thaw, you’ll be happy to know the sequel Frost has already started to post. There is a joint story topic where you can ask questions, discuss with fellow readers, and give Puppilull ideas about what you would like to see in the ongoing saga of the Swedish policeman and his playful American visitor. She loves getting reviews and always replies, and I think she deserves them too, what with being 9th on the list of Most Prolific Reviewers. But of course most of all for writing a story which engages our hearts, making us laugh, cry and rant.