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8 of 9 found the following review helpful:
 Scott & Scott heading in the wrong direction Aug 14, 2006
By Carol
Surf and Turf is evidence of a wrong turn in Scott & Scott's writing journey. It's so unrealistic that you have a hard time suspending disbelief and getting into the Seaside world. In addition, the romance is not focused on enough - too many pages about how awful the Queenies and the Meanies are, and not enough about the relationship between our two heroes. Yeah, we know they're a bunch of a**holes! Enough already! Also, there's not enough sex! The previous Romentics novels were much better - perhaps they didn't have the aspirations to high drama that Surf and Turf has, but they were more satisfying reads. More realistic, focusing more on the difficulties of getting the two heroes together, and keeping them that way.
I go into these novels expecting an interesting journey through the hearts and minds of two likeable characters. Scott and Scott, you've said repeatedly that you want your novels to be consistent, so readers always know what to expect when they pick one up. This novel fails in that respect, going WAY beyond the limits of what I would expect from this genre. Very silly and not true to life at all. Scott and Scott, you've fallen short in your mission to provide satisfying, predictable romance for gay men (and the straight women who adore them). Please, please, don't let this most recent of your novels set the trend for the future. Go back to your romantic roots. I've loved all of the previous Romentics novels (with the exception of Nothing Personal, which was too political for me). Please continue providing the passionate, sexy, interesting, relationship-focused work that's thrilled us in the past.
Also, all the Romentics books, including this one, have WAY too many grammatical, spelling and punctuation errors. Don't you guys have *one* friend who's good at that stuff? Send it to me before you publish it, if you want - I'll take care of it! These things just detract from the flow. You're peacefully reading along, immersed in the story, when BAM! a stupid mistake jumps out at you and makes you remember you're not really in the world of the book. I'm glad that the phenomenon of self-publishing exists, but there are drawbacks.
4 of 5 found the following review helpful:
 Silly Premise Mar 03, 2007
By K. Peoples
Two stars. This book was a deep disappointment for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the first four of the Romentics novels; the fifth was OK. This one was not even OK. The two main characters (lovers) were not objectionable, though I'd have liked to have seen more development of them and their romance. Several of the supporting characters were interesting, though several of the more colorful ones could have been LESS important in the story. The main problem, however, was that the whole premise of the book, a rivalry between a gang of queeny drag-queens and a biker gang of S/M afficienados who, between them, harassed and bullied the two lovers was simply SILLY! Not campy, just silly. These two authors have some real talent, as they've already shown, but this is not one of their better efforts. I hope their future efforts come back to earth and focus on the things they do best: developing a serious romantic relationship between two sexy dudes. I beg them to avoid trying to be campy or funny in future works.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 Just plain fun Jun 21, 2009
By B. D. Whitney
"BookWenches"
Every once in a while, I run into a story that is just plain fun and that truly makes my day, and that is what I have found in Scott & Scott's novel Surf `n' Turf. I picked this story up and got so caught up in the humor and drama of the situation that the two main characters find themselves in that I could hardly put it down. And I think I had a silly grin on my face the entire time I read it. This is a combination of a gay West Side Story without the singing and dancing and Romeo and Juliet without the tragic and bloody finale. It is well written, a little outrageous and utterly entertaining.
The authors have created two sets of antagonists who are larger than life and so colorful as to be almost blinding. The Queenies glitter like exotic birds, but these birds hiss and strike with all the innocence and good intention of a cobra. The Meanies, with their unseasonal leather and their overblown attempts to look and act as mean as possible, don't project quite the amount of venom that their rivals do, but they are just as instrumental in creating misery for the two heroes. These are characters that you love to hate, and their over-the-top antics frequently left me shaking my head and laughing.
Robert and Blakely contrast completely with these two gangs. They are just two guys - two normal, nice guys - who are trying to escape for a little while. Next to the Queenies and the Meanies, they look like bewildered innocents dropped unexpectedly into a twisted Wonderland. One can't help but sympathize with them even while chucking at their strange situation.
Surf `n' Turf is overtly humorous, but the story also takes a step back and looks at the entire Seaside scene from a scientific and anthropological angle. We may laugh at the comic nature of these rival gangs, but they also exhibit the potential dangers of anonymity and the mob mentality. The men in these two gangs may just be play-acting thugs, but at what point does a game of make-believe get out of control and step over into reality?
I'm not sure when I've had as much fun as I had while reading Surf `n' Turf. Scott & Scott have given us a gem in this story. I was sorry to leave the little community of Seaside and its residents behind when it was over, because the time I spent with them was pure delightful escapism. Thank you, gentlemen.
3 of 4 found the following review helpful:
Nothing is as it seems in Seaside... Jul 15, 2006
By E. Conley
"Betty's Books"
A light, fun summer read. Set in a summer tourist town, a seemingly unrealistic scenario is keeping our star crossed lovers, Blakley and Robert, apart. As the story of their *forbidden* romance unfolds, we learn that the silly scenario is actually anchored in reality...sort of. Surf and Turf is a fun, light, and yes, even happy read, just made for the beach. If you want to smile, Surf and Turf is a good choice.
1 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 A sweet and tart tale of a summer love! Nov 03, 2006
By Suzako-Akemi
"radarvictory"
What happens when you take the familar tale of two rival gangs fighting over the right to keep two new lovers apart? This sweet tale is one good summer read that can be opened during the rest of the year to warm the heart and body during the cooler nights. Scott and Scott have done it again and this lady is glad they did! I look forward to reading more of their future books!
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