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REVIEW: Is It Over Yet? by L.A. Witt
Is It Over Yet? – L.A. Witt
Rhys Powell and Derek Scott are divorcing. Mistakes have been made, lines have been crossed, and there’s no going back. Both men are exhausted and ready to move on.
But their daughter is getting married soon. In the name of not putting a damper on her wedding, Derek and Rhys agree to keep the divorce on the down-low and show up as the happy couple everyone still believes they are.
And between a roller coaster of a road trip and the love and joy surrounding the wedding… Derek and Rhys just might remember why they fell for each other in the first place.
Are they only kidding themselves? Or can a rekindled spark really light the way to forgiveness?
Most romance novels I’ve read go out of their way to avoid cheating. I automatically DNF a book when there’s cheating involving the main couple. So a story that revolved around the issue of cheating and divorce? I don’t think so.
But this is L.A. Witt we’re talking about here and she specializes in making her MCs go through rings of fire before giving them their HEAs. This is as tough a hurdle as it can get. Despite myself, I was really intrigued. How is she going to convincingly pull off a happy ending for a premise like this?
Is It Over yet? is about two married men about to split up but hesitated to tell their daughter because they don’t want to ruin her upcoming wedding. The cheating part is off-page and happened months before the story started. I appreciated that the author spared us the details. We only know that this happened when Rhys was at a low point and their marriage was on a rocky patch at that time.
My knee-jerk reaction to this was to hate the cheater. I was even prepared to do so. But I couldn’t hate Rhys. He didn’t justify his actions. Derek didn’t catch him or even suspected. He confessed voluntarily. Since then, he was beating himself up for his mistake. It was very significantly pointed out that he was sorry for what he did, not because he was caught. I knew his heartfelt apologies were sincere.
Derek was hurt and angry as to be expected but it was pretty obvious that they still love each other. The ‘romance’ here is certainly different. The USTs have a different vibe from what I’m used to. Not exactly love/hate because I didn’t feel they hated each other. So how do you describe that thing where you want nothing more than to separate from your cheating husband because if not you will end up killing each other but you still find him attractive as fuck?
The story is a journey to forgiveness. Witt takes us on this very bumpy, highly emotional road trip complete with a playlist and drunken motel sex. I liked both MCs and I was rooting hard for them. They didn’t make it easy for themselves though. They tried truces after truces but always end up at each other’s throats.
How they finally reach their destination, that of forgiveness and a new beginning, was satisfying and more importantly, convincingly done. I liked that the epilogue was a realistic portrayal of lessons learned and making it work.
Cheating is still a hard line for me but Is It Over Yet? did a great job making me not only read a book about a broken relationship but also making me enjoy the story. It made me sympathized with the characters. I felt each heightened emotion. I was cheering when they finally danced at the wedding. I have no doubts Rhys and Derek will eventually have their HEA.
I wouldn’t say I recommend this because this might not be everyone’s cup of tea but do give it a try if you are looking for a second chance romance where the head wants to go but the heart wants to stay.
P.S.
L.A. Witt books here
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Everything Else Has Gone Wrong
Artist: Bombay Bicycle Club
Album: Everything Else Has Gone Wrong -
NEW RELEASE BLITZ: Santa’s Last Gift by Sandine Tomas (Giveaway)
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REVIEW: Torch by Jocelynn Drake & Rinda Elliott
Unbreakable Bonds: Torch – Jocelynn Drake & Rinda Elliott
Nine months ago, Rowan Ward thought he had it all. Now he’s fighting to pull his shredded life together, buried in work and battling the kind of grief that destroys a man’s soul. When fires spring up around Cincinnati threatening Rowe’s friends and clients, he’s thrilled to find his old Army buddy, Noah Keegan in town. They were a hell of a team when they served together, so in-sync, it was rumored they could read each other’s minds.
Noah thought devoting his life to the Army would be enough. Then he realized he had no family and only one friend he cared about. When his enlistment was up, he found himself standing on Rowe’s doorstep, looking only for friendship but secretly hoping for more. He needs to know if their one unbelievable night together years ago wasn’t a mistake.
Caught in a dangerous game of fire and bullets, neither expects the inferno of emotion that ignites between them. One Rowe isn’t prepared to accept. One that could break Noah…
Unbreakable Bonds is centered around four men who have deep connections with each other. Lucas Vallois, the alpha and the center who holds everything together. Ashton ‘Snow’ Frost, dark and brooding, is a trauma surgeon and the one Lucas considers his brother. Rowan ‘Rowe’ Ward, laid back and goofy, they met him during basic military training. He is their warrior. Their heart is Ian Pierce, a talented chef. He’s adorable, the type you want to put in your pocket to keep safe. Well, I want to put them all in my pocket really. I love these guys! ♡
Torch is Rowe rekindling that spark.
Rowan ‘Rowe’ Ward, owner of Ward Security, is dealing with a security breach of his system which caused fires in his friends’ and clients’ properties. Normally full of jokes and pranks, he has become less than his normal goofy self and this had his friends worried. He’s trying to cope with the loss of his wife, Melissa this past year. Rowe loved his wife wholeheartedly but sometime in his army ranger days, he had something going on with his best friend that he buried deep.
Enter Noah Keegan, army ranger and Rowe’s bestfriend after Lucas and Snow retired from the military. Noah, now also retired, always had feelings for Rowe and could never forget that one night they spent together. He is as easy-going and just as much of a prankster as Rowe. He came in, regaled everyone with his stories and won over Lucas, Snow and Ian. He also won me over with his patience and understanding of what Rowe was going through. He’s steady and dependable. He always had Rowe’s back even though every time they slept together, Rowe bolts. Most importantly he loved Daisy, Igor and Vlad. ∪＾ェ＾∪
Truth be told, I was hesitant about Rowe’s story. I liked Mel and grieving spouse stories are not really my thing, they’re painful to read. Here, I could feel Rowe’s grief and pain but the story didn’t feel heavy. Mel’s presence was strong but it wasn’t overwhelming. I get a kick every time one of Rowe’s friends say Mel would be happy for the two men and as Snow wickedly added, would even demand a video. The woman was a certified fujoshi.
At the same time Noah brought joy and relief to Rowe that was palpable. Rowe deserved this second chance. He just needed to stop running away.
He couldn’t lose Noah. Mel’s death had destroyed his life, but Noah had given him balance and laughter again. He lifted him out of the abyss and made him feel alive. He had to find a way to meet Noah…at least part of the way. After years of loyalty, patience, and unwavering love, Noah deserved at least that.
Rowe finally stepping up! He and Noah had such great chemistry.
We all know Rowe moving on from the past into his present life with Noah can’t be easy. The authors did a great job of portraying all the complicated feelings involved. And we get to see Rowe as so much more than the goofy one of the family.
Torch has the most shocking revelation so far. The fires were obviously caused by arsonists and the hunt for these criminals relates to the overarching thread regarding the men’s past with Boris Jagger, a criminal mastermind, also a pederast who abused Ian many years ago. When the arsonists were caught, they revealed the main reason why Jagger was targeting them. And I was as shocked as the rest of them. My heart skipped a beat! Poor Lucas can’t handle it.
It also has some of the funniest scenes in the series. Witness Rowe and Snow getting plastered:
Snow was silent long moments. “I thought it was something like that. We’re all scared of giving our hearts, Rowe. Sometimes, we have no choice. Sometimes a person comes along who completes you in a way you can’t imagine being able to breathe without them. We have to take that chance then. We have to revel in the good times. Cherish them. Being in love makes you feel so damn alive.”
Rowe stared at him. “Who the hell are you?”
“I have no fucking idea.”
Snow and Jude got a kitten named Sargeant. How freakin’ adorable is that!! Again, Jude gets a medal for domesticating the General.
Meanwhile, Lucas ‘Grumpy’ Vallois finally managed to say the L-word and Andrei got a big promotion. Later on, when the Jagger bombshells were dropped, Lucas shut down and practically avoided his poor boyfriend. No dammit!･ﾟ･(｡>ω<｡)･ﾟ･
Ian meets Hollis again. The detective disappeared and resurfaced to give Ian warning. The younger man wasted no time in letting his feelings known. Attaboy!
Overall, it was a pleasant surprise that Rowe’s story was as enjoyable as Snow’s. Torch is a wonderfully executed second chance romance and a grieving spouse trope that gave justice to both past and present loves. Despite Rowe’s grief, fears and push/pulls, it wasn’t as emotionally draining as I expected. It has many somber moments yet it felt hopeful, optimistic and eventually, cathartic.
P.S.
Ian’s next. Boy is desperate to get some.
This is not a standalone. Unbreakable Bonds should be read in order (here).
Jocelynn Drake books here.Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Torch
Artist: The Sisters of Mercy
Album: Floodland -
Review: Falling Sky Duology by L.A. Witt
I didn’t have much expectations when I went into this, other than it’s L.A. Witt. Her specialty is stacking the odds so high it seems impossible for the MCs to be together. Then by some miracle she brings them together in the most delicious way.
In the Falling Sky Duology, betrayal was what kept Liam Lansing and Daniel Harding apart. The need to survive and change the world was what bought them together. Everything in between was bullets, explosions, death-defying heights and one father hell-bent on having his son killed.
The books are a seamless blend of action, sci-fi and paranormal. They’re a great example of unputdownable reads that hit the ground running full speed. It’s pretty much guaranteed you’ll be picking up that second book right after the first.
1. A Chip In His Shoulder – L.A. Wit
“Contract killer” is a fitting job for a vampire, and it suits Liam just fine. Cast down from the wealth and status of the Sky for taking a human lover, Liam lurks in the poor and pollution-choked Gutter, killing to survive. Between his natural strengths and his Cybernetix mods, no mark has ever escaped him.
Liam’s ex-lover Daniel is the heir to Cybernetix—and its greatest threat. Horrified by people less man than machine and the exploitation of Gutter factory workers, he’d rather destroy Cybernetix than inherit it . . . if his father doesn’t destroy him first.
Years of anger and a heap of mods have kept Daniel and Liam apart. When Liam is hired to slaughter a man in his glass Sky tower, he walks right into a Daniel-shaped trap. Daniel’s father has betrayed them both, and only by working together can Daniel and Liam survive the coming day. They have no reason to trust each other, but as the dawn looms, a bargain that began with the simple urge to live soon reminds them of the love they once shared. Can they find each other again, or will the Cybernetix assassins find them first?
A Chip In His Shoulder is told from Liam’s POV. He receives a call from Daniel’s father contracting him to kill his son. Liam does not want to pass up on the opportunity to kill the ex-lover who betrayed him so he said yes.
The thing is, the blurb for the first book is spoiler-ish. I’m glad I went into this blind so the twists were quite effective. Obviously, had I known about the set-up beforehand I would have different expectations but I would still be curious how L.A. Witt would make it work since we all know Liam and Daniel would get back together again. It wouldn’t be MM if they didn’t.
I loved how she did it!
There was a standoff and words were exchanged.
“Oh, fuck you Daniel. Why don’t you come down off your goddamned high horse for a minute. I mean, do you have any idea what it’s like to be in hell and hold that person who fucked you over might give enough of a shit to at least try to save you?”
“Probably feels a lot like finding out the man you still love is willing to fucking kill you.”
Bam! Crackle and zing all over the place!
And then Daniel shot Liam.
Thankfully, it’s didn’t end there. More shots were fired, a heart pounding car chase and suddenly Daniel found himself somewhere he thought he would never be.
This is a short book so things happened fast. The tension was tight from the get go and the suspense never let up. The world building flowed smoothly along with the action with just the right amount of details to feel complete and build the foundations for the next book. I was completely hooked on the story. Daniel and Liam’s second chance romance was a beautiful thing to witness and they’re now up there on my fave couples list.
Rating:
4.5 Stars – perfection is only half a step awaySoundtrack: Falling Sky
Artist: Red
Album: Of Beauty And Rage
2. Something New Under The Sun – L.A. Witt
Liam Lansing is heir to a prominent family of bio-modified vampires. That is, until he chooses the wrong lover and is cast down to the Gutter to scrape for his life.
Daniel Harding is heir to Cybernetix and a prince of the corporate Sky. That is, until his ideology drives his father to put a price on his head, forcing him into the Gutter.
But Daniel and Liam won’t vanish meekly into the smog. Together, they plan to rip open the hidden corruption that runs the Sky—for vengeance, for justice, and for hope. They strike against the corporations in a daring raid. When everything goes wrong, Daniel must betray his core beliefs to save the man he loves and protect his dangerous secret. Only through courage in the face of death—or worse—might he and Liam change the world they live in and create something new under the sun.
Something New Under The Sun continues Liam and Daniel’s struggle to take down Daniel’s evil father. It picks up 24 hours after the events of the first book. Liam takes Daniel to meet his friend, Gizmo, the tech genius who gives him his mods and Daniel takes Liam to meet other members of his anti-mod movement, Venus and Felix. With their help they plan a strategy to obtain the UV mod and other evidence of Cybernetix’s corrupt practices.
The UV mod is something that can give vampires immunity to sunlight. The company is withholding its release in order to get more research funding from the vampires. They are also creating a virus that is harmful to vampires and then plan to create a solution to a problem they invented. All of these to bleed vampire wallets dry.
There is also the problem of unethical working conditions of workers from the Gutter who work in mod factories that the anti-mod movement wanted to stop. Since Cybernetix is one of the biggest tech factories, taking them down is the way to go.
This was as thrilling as the first book, perhaps even more so. The stakes are higher, the couple will need to infiltrate the company headquarters. They needed to sneak into Cybernetix not just once but a couple more times. First to steal the UV mod, second to get a passcode and third to rescue a hostage close to Daniel’s heart. It was one heart pounding moment after another and the close calls were too damn close.
I loved that this is written in Daniel’s POV because we can see how badass and cocky Liam really is. Daniel, who has fear of heights, struggled to keep up, but he came through 101% when Liam needed his help.
This was almost non-stop action from start to finish so their downtime was even more precious. I usually skip sex scenes but Liam and Daniel’s moments were short but beautifully written and you can really see their love for each other shining though. I like that their romance was compelling but didn’t take over the story.
Like most LAW stories, it felt like our MCs would never get peace, much less an HEA with all the explosions and mayhem she threw their way. But Liam and Daniel were nothing if not resilient and they manage to claw their way into a position that can bring Cybernetix down. It was one hell of a fight and the peace that followed made it all worth it.
Rating:
4.5 Stars – perfection is only half a step awaySoundtrack: Begin The Begin
Artist: R.E.M.
Album: Life’s Rich Pageant -
REVIEW: Key Of Solomon: Amber Moon by Hurri Cosmo
The Key Of Solomon: Amber Moon – Hurri Cosmo
Lucas has a low-paying, dead-end job, lives in a tiny apartment, and can count his close friends on one hand. Well, one finger actually, and for all the sympathy she has, it may as well be the middle one. No, Lucas’s life is not one any would truly strive for. However, it keeps him from thinking too much about his distant past and the one man who had gently held his heart… but then ripped it right out of his chest and crushed it under his expensive leather Gucci’s. As a teenager not even out of the closet yet, surviving the fallout became unbearable so Lucas did the only thing he could. He disappeared.
Fourteen painful years later and Lucas is ready to move on. He’s going to finally kill his unrequited love for Ryder once and for all.
That’s when the magic of Solomon and his galactic bar sweep in. Seems Lucas had the audacity to query the gods in the form of a fist to the sky. The cosmic bartender couldn’t resist taking up the challenge. Mainly because Solomon holds many keys and one of them just happens to be to Lucas’s happiness. He only needs to convince Lucas of that.
Shouldn’t be too difficult… right?
There must have been trigger warnings on bullying and homophobia somewhere or may I didn’t read the blurb carefully. The story was about putting the past behind and second chances. I know Lucas had a tough time in high school, I just wasn’t prepared for all the hate and negativity which significantly dampened my enjoyment of the story.
Lucas was miserable and I couldn’t blame him. He was putting himself down too much and I think he really deserved a clean break from the past. I’m not too sure whether it was Ryder he should be facing or Amber. Amber was the one who hurt him the most and who later became a sort of boogeyman, keeping him from doing what he loved. But a second chance was what he needed and that’s what he needed to let himself have.
With Solomon’s magic, mysterious objects appeared and their significance gradually unfolded. The ones with the artwork was particularly poignant especially when their meaning was later revealed. This was the part that finally convinced me 100% that Ryder does deserved Lucas.
I like the idea of Solomon and his magical bar which reminded me vaguely of the anime, Death Parade. Although, I expected there should be a prologue or a book 0 giving us an introduction to what the whole set up is all about because Solomon literally came out of nowhere. I suppose the mystery is part of his appeal but some backstory would be nice.
Overall, not the strongest first book but still a very interesting concept for a series. This is the kind of world where you can do all sorts of creative twists and I would love to see where the author would take us next.
P.S.
Thank you to IndiGo for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Rating:
3 Stars – not exactly setting my world on fire but I liked itSoundtrack: Empire Builder
Artist: Laura Gibson
Album: Empire Builder -
REVIEW: Parallel Larry by Jacqueline Rohrbach
Parallel Larry – Jacqueline Rohrbach
Larry’s search for love didn’t include Greg, his regular waiter at his favorite restaurant. Always too busy daydreaming about a handsome doctor, Larry fails to notice Greg’s shy advances. But when Greg finally finds the courage to ask Larry out, he’s suddenly killed in a freak car accident. Only then does Larry realize how perfect they could have been together.
No one gets a second shot at true love. Or do they?
Inexplicably, Larry is drawn into a parallel reality, and in this new timeline, Greg is still very much alive. Here, the shy young waiter Larry knew from before has managed to live out many of his dreams. All except one: he hasn’t found love. Larry gets one more shot after all!
There are a few problems. One, Larry’s time is limited. Two, Greg has already dated the parallel reality’s Larry, and he was a real jerk. Now Larry has to prove he’s nothing at all like his evil doppelganger and that he is willing to risk everything to protect the man he loves.
He’s found Greg again. To keep him, Larry will have to stop daydreaming and fight himself—literally—not just metaphorically.
This is partly what I expected.
Parrallel Larry’s premise of a second chance romance involving a dimension jump is really interesting. Being no stranger to bizaarre and seemingly random sci-fi stories like the anime, Space Dandy, I totally buy the multi-dimensional verse, the toaster portal and the eighties obsession. I also expected it to be fluffy and cute and on those points, it delivered.
What was hard to believe was how things seemed to be too conveniently set up, like suddenly Larry had a knife in his boots or staying in the new dimension was as simple as inserting a microchip that didn’t really do anything. Don’t their government have other, more conclusive methods? While I am not really expecting something profound, I felt the story lacked a certain oomph, and its fluff and cute seemed shallow. Greg and Larry were both likable people and their romance would have been more heartfelt had it had more depth.
Overall, the execution could use some work but I think the set-up has a lot of potential and can be expanded. I am all for amping up the offbeat elements, and creating a series where multi-dimensional jumpers find love in other universes.
P.S.
I received a copy of Parallel Larry from Nine Star Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Rating:
2.5 Stars – far from hate but not quite a likeSoundtrack: You’re Mine
Artist: A Flock of Seagulls
Album: The Light At The End Of The World -
REVIEW: Baby, It’s Cold by Josh Lanyon
Baby, It’s Cold – Josh Lanyon
Talk about Kitchen Nightmares! TV Chef Rocky and Foodie Blogger Jesse have been pals forever, so it should have been the most natural thing in the world to kick their relationship up a notch. Instead, it turned out to be a disaster. But Christmas is the season of love, and someone’s cooking up a sweet surprise…
Rocky said it best, it was a convoluted mess. The whole charade fell flat in so many ways and I don’t understand why Jesse didn’t simply invite Rocky to dinner instead. It would have been the more honest and sincere approach for rebuilding that bridge. The introduction of Rocky’s agent to the affair didn’t help much either.
It’s not without it’s good points. The setting was cozy, the lovely meal Jesse prepared was a success and the whole story gave off fluffy, quirky vibes that earned it an extra star.
Baby, It’s Cold might not be Lanyon’s best short story but it is enjoyable enough once you get past dinner. It started picking up when Jesse caught the flu and he and Rocky had their Big Fight where Rocky pretty much hurled everything he had been bottling up inside out in the open. I’m with Rocky on this one. I love that he even made sure Jesse got his fluids despite everything. Jesse seemed unlikable and it was mostly his fault, IMO. Though I am glad they had their second chance, I still have a few niggles. Better make it work this time, guys!
Rating:
3 Stars – not exactly setting my world on fire but I liked itSoundtrack: Merry Christmas (I Don’t Wanna Fight Tonight)
Artist: Ramones
Album: Brain Drain -
Green Creek: Ravensong – T.J. Klune
Gordo Livingstone never forgot the lessons carved into his skin. Hardened by the betrayal of a pack who left him behind, he sought solace in the garage in his tiny mountain town, vowing never again to involve himself in the affairs of wolves.
It should have been enough.
And it was, until the wolves came back, and with them, Mark Bennett. In the end, they faced the beast together as a pack… and won.
Now, a year later, Gordo has found himself once again the witch of the Bennett pack. Green Creek has settled after the death of Richard Collins, and Gordo constantly struggles to ignore Mark and the song that howls between them.
But time is running out. Something is coming. And this time, it’s crawling from within.
Some bonds, no matter how strong, were made to be broken
T.J. Klune wasn’t kidding when he said that Ravensong was “bigger, more hardcore, darker and shit blows up”.
In the first book, Wolfsong, we meet Ox and Joe, and the Bennett pack. The boys grew up together then fell apart. The book closed with the pack once again united. Now it’s Gordo’s story to tell.
Once, there was a boy.
Once, there was a wolf.
He had sat with his back against a tree.
His bare feet were in the grass.
The boy leaned forward and kissed the wolf.
And knew then that nothing would ever be the same.Ravensong is Gordo’s past, present and future. The first several chapters jumps back and forth from his childhood, growing up with his dad inking magic into his skin, running with the pack, his adventures with Rico, Chris and Tanner, and his encounters with Mark up to his life on the road with Joe, Kelly and Carter on the trail of Richard Collins.The rest of the book deals with the town’s lockdown and the war with Elijah.
The hurt. The grief that never entirely goes away. The rage. The hate. The push and the pull. The love. SO.MUCH.FEELS.
The funny thing about hate is the razor-thin line that separates it from something else entirely
Gordo has been burned time and time again and he doesn’t forgive easily.
I don’t believe your promises anymore.
He also can’t stay away.
Here, in the dark, hearing him laugh reminded me of the way things once had been. And the way things could be…
The atypical prose perfectly captures all the raw, hard-edged emotions. Nobody comes out unscathed.
There were bright spots of irreverent, self-aware humor inserted at just the right places because Team Human is gold. They say out loud the things I’m thinking.
The entire Bennett pack is precious. I live for the wolves and the humans. Protect them at all cost!
It took almost the entire book for Gordo to get his head out of his ass. All while, nobody hesitated to tell him he’s being an asshole. I love it! He and Mark deserved their home.
I know Wolfsong was epic and awesome but Ravensong was all that and more. I wholeheartedly recommend the Green Creek series even to those who are not fans of shifter stories because I am also not a fan of shifter stories but T.J. Klune had me howling with his wolves.
All my stars for the Bennett pack.
P.S.
To fully enjoy Ravensong, it’s best to read Wolfsong first. The books are not standalones.
A succinct review of Wolfsong here
T.J. Klune and narrator Kurt Graves’ interview on Jeff and Will’s Big Gay Fiction Podcast here.
Rating:
5 Stars – absolutely perfect
Soundtrack: Raven Chant
Artist: Of The Wand & The Moon
Album: Nighttime Nightrhymes(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35114241-ravensong)
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Laws of Attraction: Damage Control – Kate McMurray
Senate candidate Parker Livingston chose his political dreams over a future with the man he loved. He lives with constant regret about not having Jackson Kane in his life. Or his bed. And when a strange woman is found murdered in Parker’s apartment, Jackson is the only person Parker trusts to help clear his name.
Jackson never forgave Parker for the way their relationship ended. He moved on, built a name for himself as a criminal defense attorney and swore he’d never let heartbreak back in. But when Parker shows up on his doorstep, wild-eyed and handsome and desperate for his help, Jackson can’t say no. Parker is a lot of things, but he’s no murderer.
Forced back together, searching for answers, their attraction returns with a vengeance. Any distraction—personal or professional—could be deadly. The murderer is still at large, and he’s made it clear one of them is his next victim.
If I get a dollar for every failed I’m-not-gonna-sleep-with-him self-promises these book people have, I would have enough money to replace this 8-year-old laptop with the latest Apple Macbook Pro. But then again, it’s not really a matter of if but of how many pages these people would last until they finally lose it.
Jackson Kane lasted until page 83 (213 page ebook version) and should have already been disbarred from law practice for getting involved with his ex, Parker Livingston’s case. Everybody, including Jack himself, was saying it was a terrible idea. Funny, Jack didn’t suffer any harmful consequences; nobody called him out plus he even got the love of his life back. But as somebody purported to be a damn good lawyer, his integrity is very questionable.
Park is the scion of the Livingston family, one of the oldest and wealthiest in New York. He has political ambitions, has funky dress sense and is good at handling media attention. He is also whiny and has “dabbled in pretty much every martial art that offers classes in New York City” but couldn’t even defend himself properly. Sure, the assailant has a gun but I’m pretty sure there’s some nifty krav maga move he can use to disarm him.
Murky ethics and wimpy-ass rich boys aside, this is a heartwarming story about first loves and second chances. Jack and Park were each other’s firsts and were in a committed relationship for eight years. One day, Park walked out of Jack’s life, his reasons for doing so remained unconvincing until the end. Park and Jack never entirely got over each other and the attraction remained mutually strong when they saw each other again after five years.The two were on the opposite side of the political spectrum. In addition, Jack was out while Park was back in the closet. Kate McMurray did a good job rekindling their romance as well as resolving these two conflicts so I’m sold on the romance part of the story.
The politics, I cannot comment on because I don’t know American politics but a look at the inner workings of a political campaign was interesting. This is something Strange Bedfellows, a similar book on gay politicians, failed to do, so I’m giving Damage Control extra props for showing me this side of political life.
The murder mystery was intriguing for the most part but the villain was as generic as they come. I wish the suspect has a more compelling motive for doing what he did. It would have added an extra layer of complexity had this part been made more sophisticated. .
I say this book is best enjoyed with liberal suspension of disbelief and tolerance of other people’s political stance. It is a romance novel at its core and at that point it, delivered a touching love story. Whether the rest of it works, depends entirely on your taste.
P.S.
I think Reed and Gavin deserves their own story. I liked these two so I’m hoping for a gay-for-you story for them.
Rating:
3.5 Stars – that place between like and loveSoundtrack: Second Chance
Artist: Sounds Like Sunset
Album: We Could Leave Tonight.(source; https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39777837-damage-control)
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[spotify id=”spotify%3Atrack%3A1x9cOnNQ4QPi8H3BFa167r&view=coverart” width=”540″ height=”620″ /]Soundtrack to Laws of Attraction: Damage Control by Kate McMurray
