Rating: 5 stars
Buy Link:
Amazon | iBooks | Amazon UK
Length: Novella


Noah lives at home with his parents, and doesn’t go anywhere or do anything unless it involves work. Most importantly, he’s so far in the closet he may as well be eating Turkish Delight in Narnia. One night, while looking at photos of naked men on the internet, Noah comes across the blog of one of the most beautiful men he’s ever seen.

Fisher is a former firefighter who was badly burned. He had been ashamed of the scars, but he decides to get over it, and part of that involves posting naked photos of himself on his blog. He tries to help people be themselves, imperfections and all. Something about Noah speaks to him, and he reaches out.

Fisher and Noah begin Skyping as friends and very soon, they’re having online “dates.” Fisher even begins talking about Noah on his blog (no names mentioned, of course). As it gets more and more serious, Noah has a decision to make. Does he stay in the closet and remain safe in his small town? Or will he take a leap of faith and step out of his comfort zone to be able to have a relationship with Fisher?

Oh my goodness, but this is one of the sweetest stories I’ve ever read. Let me start with their online relationship. I’m not sure if I mentioned this before, but my spouse and I met and “courted” online, so I really enjoy being able to find something like The Naked Remedy. It’s so perfectly written. It brought back some memories about how exciting it was to get an email or chat in our own private chat room (this was 20 years ago…no Skype). My stomach fluttered just as much as Noah and Fisher’s.

Noah and Fisher are such wonderful characters. They’re such good men…sweet, smart, well spoken, and most important, they’re willing to open their hearts to each other without being in the same room. The story is on the short side, but the author is able to give the feeling of a slow burn. Also, when the two of them decide to meet in person, a certain kind of tension begins to burn. I could literally FEEL their excitement (once again…remembering what it was like when they walked off the plane). Once again, that’s some excellent writing!

Now, you have an idea about what The Naked Remedy is about. I don’t want to tell you the whole story, or I’ll ruin it for you. I will tell you that Noah meets a really great woman, Dez, who becomes his closest friend and confidante. She helps to encourage Noah to start really living instead of simply existing. I know I keep saying it, but Vivien Dean writes Dez perfectly. She’s not one of those overbearing friends like you so often see. She wants the “deets” (that’s how she says it.), but she is only concerned with making sure Noah is safe.

I do want to quickly tell you there is no sex in this story. The men do get to spend some time together…only a few hours. Still, Noah and Fisher have such amazing chemistry. They way they talk, hold hands, and just be for a little while was really sexy. It’s hard for me to explain, but I just have the feeling that when they finally do become intimate, there will be fireworks and a big brass band playing Sousa marches.

I can’t recommend The Naked Remedy enough. It’s a lovely story about two delightful men. I was sucked in from the very beginning, and because it didn’t take long to read, and I loved it so much, I read it again! Please do yourself a favor and pick this one up. You’ll be as charmed by Noah and Fisher as I am.