Luke Hartwell's fourth novel, Desire, is a penetrating, subterranean magnum opus that combines leitmotifs from his earlier work with unexpected new ones. Characters include Layton, a handsome bartender who has trouble keeping his mouth shut; the fetching and coltish young brothers in love, Ryan and Steve; the gorgeous and graceful boy, Ali; and two men who once explored an intense metaphysical relationship--alongside a sexy physical one--when they were teens. The novel contains an abundance of surprises, all delightful, some stunning. The interchanging relationships between characters form the bulk of the story, providing a magical mélange of friendship, loyalty, humor, truth, illumination, and the provocative, intoxicating, and overwhelming power of desire.