Grey has been somewhat unhappy with his life so he decides to get in touch with his old boyfriend from grad school – Paul. What starts as a friendly letter looking for someone to talk to slowly evolves into a mild flirtation and then into professions of love. Grey has never quite forgotten Paul and given the dearth of companionship in his life in the small college town where Grey teaches, Paul’s interest in picking up where they left off has Grey hoping for an ideal and romantic reunion.

Paul is quite surprised when he gets a letter from Grey after being out of touch for the last five years. However, he can’t ignore Grey’s attempt to restart their friendship, especially as he has never forgotten Grey either. But when things start getting serious between them it leads to misunderstandings and complications that neither is quite ready to tackle. Will they ever manage to move past the walls they have built to protect their hearts or will the letters serve to let them express their feelings more clearly and connect on a deeper level than they ever did in the past?

Rough Draft is a magnificent love story that clearly displays how love can be felt deeply, even after the passage of time. Chris Owen and Jodi Payne demonstrate how well they can collaborate to create a love story that is masterful and feels real, yet manages to deliver all the romance a reader could want. Gray travels a gamut of emotions that will capture the reader from the first page. He demonstrates incredible vulnerability in his letters to Paul, yet manages to hide enough of himself to create stumbling blocks in establishing the relationship he says he wants with Paul. Paul, on the other hand, is skittish from the start about his relationship with Grey and Grey’s “love” for him, but the depth of his emotion is clearly felt.