Book 715: Cam Boy (Murmur, Inc. #3) – Quinn Anderson

Coming on the heels of Hotline and Action, Anderson gives us the final installation of her Murmur, Inc. trilogy.

In Cam Boy we are re-introduced to Josh, the barista coworker who started to give Pete trouble in Hotline, as he stumbles his way into the porn industry. His fellow protagonist, Mike Harwood, is a porn pro who’s starred in dozens of films and is keen on making an even bigger name for himself.

They meet and after one intense sex scene shot as a promo for a feature length porn, go their separate ways. Josh realizes being in front of a camera and dozens of people isn’t his style so he switches to a livecast self operated model, camming on the internet.

The real drama, and real life aspect, of the book comes pretty early on when Mike is informed that a performer he’d shot with previously has come out as HIV+. This causes a ripple effect of various performers having to contact each other and let them know there’s a chance they’re positive and have to be tested. Mike takes the high road and personally contacts Josh because he can’t get him out of his head.

In spite of this scare and conversation, Josh wants to stay in porn and moves forward with his cam site. Mike, still obsessing over Josh in his down time not being able to film because of the scare, stumbles across Josh’s channel and surreptitiously helps him learn the ropes of what he is and isn’t allowed to say, playing the mentor/protector.

Well you can imagine where this leads, they get off a few times and Mike uses the cam site as a way to gauge Josh’s interest in him and ultimately asks him out on a date. After their first date he reveals who he is and there’s some drama, but not that much.

“The collective gasps from his friends were every bit as over-dramatic as he’d expected. Monica even pretended to swoon into Ashley’s already-waiting arms. Relationship goals.” (118)

I found that Anderson’s writing improved again going from the last novel to this one. She spent less time over describing stuff and more time on the characters and their relationship. Someone either told her or she figured out on her own that a lot of the fluff she added in the first novel wasn’t necessary.

The only minor character that I can recall was Collette, the Murmur, Inc., CEO (I think), who frankly needs her own book and history the way she talks! I loved how frank she was in all the books and yet secretly rooted for her stars as their relationships developed even at her loss.

Recommendation: I would say skip the first two (Hotline and Action) and just read this one. The sex scenes weren’t as intense, but Anderson grew as a writer from the first to the last in the series and there’s just something endearing about the way Josh stumbles through the whole book.

Opening Line: “‘Someone call for a plumber?’ grunted a burly man in blue coveralls that barely contained his bulging muscles. ‘I’m here to snake your drain.'”

Closing Line: “‘All right.’ Mike’s grin, as devilish and playful as ever, swept across his handsome face. ‘Let’s show them how it’s done.'” (Whited out to avoid spoilers, highlight to read.)