*This is my portion of a GGST (GayGuyStraightGirl) c0-review written with GR member, OJCast*
INTITIAL THOUGHTS
I think I've found a new series to fol~~~
*This is my portion of a GGST (GayGuyStraightGirl) c0-review written with GR member, OJCast*
INTITIAL THOUGHTS
I think I've found a new series to follow. A character driven murder mystery that captivated me more with relationship development than plot, but it all fit well together.
THE CHARACTERS
Both of these guys are surprisingly fresh. They are believable, unique and flawed. The romantic relationship surprised me over and over. It isn't perfect and that made it special.
"We keep finding the most inappropriate places to make out, you know."
Dr. Ilmarinen Gale (Mari) - What a name, right? And right from the start I liked him. He's flamboyant, flirtatious, continental, mouthy, brilliant and secretly reserved. Fabulous contrasts in his character. His gift: Human-cyber Interface
Sometimes it was a pain in the ass to be both a psychic and a skeptic.
Jake Chivas - Sturdy, solid, steady, stable, SEXY and quite un-confident. American. Not Mari's typical pick. His gift: Psychometry, clairvoyance.
And I just love Mari's mom!
THE STORY
Dr. Ilmarinen Gale and former detective, Jake Chivas are pressured to collaborate on a work related mystery. The two men have previously "noticed" each other running in the park and after a brief but flirty encounter they are both uncomfortable being put on such a task. But when the big boss makes the request it's hard to say no. They're just going to be professional, do the minimum, and get back to their normal routines. Yeah. Right.
As they delve deeper into a mysterious disappearance, they also delve deeper into each other's pants. The mystery pales in the background for a good portion of the book while we get to explore these men and they explore each other. But it picks up eventually and it winds along with a couple of twists and turns. I can't say it was this aspect of the book that riveted me, but that's okay, because the relationship development held my interest. To be clear, the mystery was fine, fully fleshed,just not earth-shattering. The characters though, they rocked my world.
THE WRITING
A straightforward and uncomplicated writing style made this a readable read. It wasn't heady by any stretch. I particularly like the believable complexity the authors added to the sex scenes. I wasn't expecting to find something surprising there. Well done.
No doubt about it, I'll be looking for the next book in the series.
I would like to thank Pride Publishing for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest review.
Wow, that’s a pretty big statement to make, isn’t it? But if it’s true, it’s true. Ms. Castle took her characte~ ~ ~
THE BEST BOOK I’VE READ ALL YEAR!
Wow, that’s a pretty big statement to make, isn’t it? But if it’s true, it’s true. Ms. Castle took her characters and her storyline from Chance AssassinMy Review Here, made them more damaged, more fragmented, more cracked, and then she doused them with even more of the peculiar and hilarious depravity that she alone can dispense. Every page, every line, was pure entertainment.
Frank � Poor, beautiful, guilty and sometimes clueless Frank. It’s all on his back. Everything. Maybe if he’d get V on his back everything would be better already.
Because the guilt he felt was never over killing. It was the lack of it, the remorselessness, which spoke of true evil.
Vincent (V) � The most spoiled, conceited, outrageous brat in M/M fiction, and he deserves every damned spanking he asks for.
That was what made Vincent so perfect. His raison d’être. He was feminine to the point of being non-threatening, and masculine enough to prove Frank was homosexual after all. Not to mention obscenely beautiful.
Casey � Innocence incarnate. Beautiful, sweet, gifted. Throughout the book I wanted to protect him from anything dangerous or obscene, but he’s surrounded by it constantly. In book 1 I may have thought Casey simple. Here he’s alive, bright and fantastic!
He was a mere boy with a crush. Hardly even handsome, with his silly long hair. He was androgynous the way models had become, with an interesting more than attractive face, and a thin sexless body. And he was an artist for fuck’s sakes. He probably didn’t even have a criminal record.
Bella � Barely five feet tall, bitchy, deadly and so damned funny I couldn’t help but fall in love with her. It takes a lot for me to fall for a female character these days, but I’d be Bella’s bitch any day. She’d cut me though. But who cares, ‘cus she’d wrap me in mink, kiss my head and then kick me.
She applied lipstick as she walked, her Manolo Blahnik stiletto boots leaving holes in the snow like stab wounds.
THE STORY
“Vincent thinks we should kill all five of them. He’s bored.� Frank was also bored, but unlike Vincent, he had chosen retirement. And that decision, along with the reasons behind it, continued to put a strain on their relationship.
Full of snappy, self-aware immorality.
Frank and Vincent have retired to the French countryside to live out their days as normal citizens. Aww, can you hear the birds singing in the trees and the dogs wagging their tales? Well, you could if it weren’t for Vincent shooting at raw meat nailed to the trees to stay in shape. Fortunately for us they aren’t normal, at all, and retired life won’t suit them for long.
Casey, Frank’s brother, his mother and stepdad have come to visit and�.well never mind because that doesn’t matter at all. What does matter is that Casey meets the most debauched and coutur'd female in existence. Enter Bella, Frank’s sister, dripping from head to toe in Versace and weapons, she is the rudest, foulest, meanest, most wonderful character I’ve had the pleasure of falling for. Yep, you heard me, I fell for the female lead. Even more impossible is the dubious and unique pairing of Casey and Bella. For one minute I thought this het-couple might steal the show and I was worried because this is MY gay romance dammit.
OH Yeah. There is a huge, twisted mystery packed with murder, assassins, blood, death, sex and intrigue. In fact there’s so much going on in this story from every angle that it’s going to work your head. Most of this book reads like the exciting ending of other books. The energy and wit run throughout. Bring your thinking cap, ‘cus Ms. Castle is going to throw a lot your way.
THE WRITING
First off you need to know that this book is written with alternating POV’S which differs from Chance Assassin’s first person, present tense writing. This matters because it isn’t just Vincent’s thoughts that we need to see in this book. For me, it didn’t matter whether we were in V’s, Frank’s, Casey’s or Bella’s head, it was all great and I just wanted more of each one, unlike when an author slips you into a POV that you just don’t care about.
Secondly, and maybe more importantly, is how much this author has improved her writing. It’s miles beyond her work in the first book. Her already colorful characters are not only instantly memorable, but they’re also more endearing. Endearing assassins you say? Yes. I do say.
Lastly, I’m putting Nicole Castle on my quirky authors pedestal with my favorites, Douglas Adams and Jasper Fforde. Her creation of outlandish assassins tearing at your heartstrings deserves no less.
~ ~ ~
I would like to thank Nicole Castle for providing me with an ARC/Review Copy in exchange for my honest review.
~ ~ ~
Take a look at my Male/Male Romance Book Blog: ...more
Lisa Arbitrary - AttentionIsArbitrary M/M Blog
>
Books:
mystery
(4)
Loading...
