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bookjunkie1975's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
elyxyz's review
5.0
Questo è il primo libro di S.E. Harmon ad arrivare in Italia, ma già non vedo l’ora che traducano il successivo, perché mi è piaciuto davvero tanto!
La narrazione della storia è affidata a Mackenzie ‘Mac’ Williams, il nostro scanzonato protagonista dal caratterino niente male: impulsivo, inaffidabile, con uno scarso istinto di sopravvivenza (se di mezzo c’è cibo da sgraffignare) e con una linguaccia troppo lunga… oh, è anche dannatamente ironico e intrigante, ma non diteglielo, perché il suo ego è già troppo grande così.
Mac è un ex poliziotto che si è reinventato detective privato, dopo che un incidente lo ha segnato in modo permanente ad una gamba rendendolo inabile al servizio.
Il suo socio in affari è il morigerato Drew (che, per la cronaca, è il protagonista del prossimo volume): un ex militare che è il suo esatto opposto in tutto, per questo sono un’accoppiata perfetta.
Durante uno degli appostamenti consueti – scovare mogli e compagne fedifraghe è il loro pane quotidiano – Mac e Drew si imbattono in Jordan Channing, un affascinante avvocato che potrebbe fare anche il modello. Mac finisce per offrirgli i suoi servigi, perché Jordan sospetta che la fidanzata lo tradisca, e così i due uomini iniziano una strana amicizia, anche se Mac è consapevole di essere terribilmente attratto da Drew e sa che non ha futuro, visto che il suo cliente è etero… fino a quando non riceve segnali contrastanti, che lo mandano in totale confusione.
Il povero Mac, infatti, è bravissimo a collezionare storie disastrose con amici, che poi diventano fidanzati e poi ex. Nasconde dentro di sé un mare di insicurezze che hanno radici profonde, legate al suo passato, ma lui cerca sempre di camuffare tutto con arroganza e sorrisi sfacciati, oppure scappando a gambe levate davanti ai problemi.
Anche Jordan avrà il suo bel daffare a chiarire i propri dubbi, a rivedere le priorità e a mettere in discussione sessualità e pulsioni che sente – per la prima volta in vita sua e sempre più forti – verso un uomo. È Jordan stesso a domandarsi se all’improvviso gli piacciano i maschi, o piuttosto se valga solo per un maschio in particolare. Direi che la storia potrebbe tranquillamente rientrare nel filone ‘Gay for you’, per quelli che lo apprezzano.
Di contorno ai nostri protagonisti, ci sono diversi personaggi secondari molto interessanti, alcuni positivi e altri un po’ meno; ma tutti arricchiscono in qualche modo la vicenda, rendendola nient’affatto scontata fino all’ultima – sospirata – riga.
La storia parla di vari temi, dal tradimento al coming out, passando per l’abbandono, la disabilità fisica e molto altro ancora, ma i toni non sono mai cupi. Offre molti spunti interessanti e i sentimenti sono raccontati con maestria, sia nei momenti seri sia in quelli comici e ironici. A incorniciare il tutto, ci sono numerose scene molto, molto hot e buone punte di romanticismo.
La traduzione italiana è scorrevole e coinvolgente, si perdona facilmente qualche piccolo refuso sfuggito, che non intacca il piacere della lettura.
Se cercate una bella storia, questa è assolutamente consigliata!
La narrazione della storia è affidata a Mackenzie ‘Mac’ Williams, il nostro scanzonato protagonista dal caratterino niente male: impulsivo, inaffidabile, con uno scarso istinto di sopravvivenza (se di mezzo c’è cibo da sgraffignare) e con una linguaccia troppo lunga… oh, è anche dannatamente ironico e intrigante, ma non diteglielo, perché il suo ego è già troppo grande così.
Mac è un ex poliziotto che si è reinventato detective privato, dopo che un incidente lo ha segnato in modo permanente ad una gamba rendendolo inabile al servizio.
Il suo socio in affari è il morigerato Drew (che, per la cronaca, è il protagonista del prossimo volume): un ex militare che è il suo esatto opposto in tutto, per questo sono un’accoppiata perfetta.
Durante uno degli appostamenti consueti – scovare mogli e compagne fedifraghe è il loro pane quotidiano – Mac e Drew si imbattono in Jordan Channing, un affascinante avvocato che potrebbe fare anche il modello. Mac finisce per offrirgli i suoi servigi, perché Jordan sospetta che la fidanzata lo tradisca, e così i due uomini iniziano una strana amicizia, anche se Mac è consapevole di essere terribilmente attratto da Drew e sa che non ha futuro, visto che il suo cliente è etero… fino a quando non riceve segnali contrastanti, che lo mandano in totale confusione.
Il povero Mac, infatti, è bravissimo a collezionare storie disastrose con amici, che poi diventano fidanzati e poi ex. Nasconde dentro di sé un mare di insicurezze che hanno radici profonde, legate al suo passato, ma lui cerca sempre di camuffare tutto con arroganza e sorrisi sfacciati, oppure scappando a gambe levate davanti ai problemi.
Anche Jordan avrà il suo bel daffare a chiarire i propri dubbi, a rivedere le priorità e a mettere in discussione sessualità e pulsioni che sente – per la prima volta in vita sua e sempre più forti – verso un uomo. È Jordan stesso a domandarsi se all’improvviso gli piacciano i maschi, o piuttosto se valga solo per un maschio in particolare. Direi che la storia potrebbe tranquillamente rientrare nel filone ‘Gay for you’, per quelli che lo apprezzano.
Di contorno ai nostri protagonisti, ci sono diversi personaggi secondari molto interessanti, alcuni positivi e altri un po’ meno; ma tutti arricchiscono in qualche modo la vicenda, rendendola nient’affatto scontata fino all’ultima – sospirata – riga.
La storia parla di vari temi, dal tradimento al coming out, passando per l’abbandono, la disabilità fisica e molto altro ancora, ma i toni non sono mai cupi. Offre molti spunti interessanti e i sentimenti sono raccontati con maestria, sia nei momenti seri sia in quelli comici e ironici. A incorniciare il tutto, ci sono numerose scene molto, molto hot e buone punte di romanticismo.
La traduzione italiana è scorrevole e coinvolgente, si perdona facilmente qualche piccolo refuso sfuggito, che non intacca il piacere della lettura.
Se cercate una bella storia, questa è assolutamente consigliata!
j_bookaholic's review against another edition
3.0
This took me several sittings to read. I just kept losing interest. I liked the voice of Mackenzie, he was snarky and ridiculous, a personality that I thoroughly enjoy. It was well written. I had some issues with Jordan's early behaviour. He hires a PI to see if his fiancee is cheating and what does he do... cheat. I think it came down to the fact that I didn't like the actions of the MC's and it affected my enjoyment. For those who have no probs with cheating, I am sure you will enjoy this one.
Re-read 05 April 2016
For some reason I thought I have this 5 stars so decided to re-read it before I read the next in the series. The whole way through I was thinking, 'I thought this was 5 stars??'. Now I know I wasn't losing my mind, just not checking reviews properly!
I still really liked the 'voice' here.
Re-read 05 April 2016
For some reason I thought I have this 5 stars so decided to re-read it before I read the next in the series. The whole way through I was thinking, 'I thought this was 5 stars??'. Now I know I wasn't losing my mind, just not checking reviews properly!
I still really liked the 'voice' here.
monalisalisa's review against another edition
2.0
I don’t know what it is about S E Harmons books but I never really sympathize or really care about the characters. I’m not sure if she’s trying to make the characters unlikable or if she is just trying to show ‘good’ people make poor decisions. I didn’t like they she tried to make us sympathize with these characters while they are obviously doing wrong things.
I did not like the aspect of cheating in this book. Both characters know that what they are doing is wrong but they are doing it anyway and I know that that is a human thing but when you try to justify it as just him trying to ‘figure’ himself out it doesn’t work. He was just using the excuse that he is not sure if he actually is gay or likes men so I’m just going to experiment with you while I have a fiancé.
I also feel like they way the story line with the fiancé ended was just wack. They just brushed over it. Oh she cheated so we broke up. What a hypocrite because he was also cheating! And we never got clarification if the baby was his and if he ended up telling her that he cheated on her too.
Oh well
I did not like the aspect of cheating in this book. Both characters know that what they are doing is wrong but they are doing it anyway and I know that that is a human thing but when you try to justify it as just him trying to ‘figure’ himself out it doesn’t work. He was just using the excuse that he is not sure if he actually is gay or likes men so I’m just going to experiment with you while I have a fiancé.
I also feel like they way the story line with the fiancé ended was just wack. They just brushed over it. Oh she cheated so we broke up. What a hypocrite because he was also cheating! And we never got clarification if the baby was his and if he ended up telling her that he cheated on her too.
Oh well
bitchie's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book so much, and it was SO close to being a 5 star read for me.
Mac is a PI with a pretty bad record in things of love. He has a habit of going after unavailable men, and running when things get tough. This all goes back to a mom who walked out on the family when he was a kid. Then he meets Jordan, a guy who actually hires him to follow his fiance, Rachel, because he thinks she might be cheating on him. And so we begin!
The chemistry between Mac and Jordan is great, and Mac can't help but wonder about all the signals Jordan keeps sending out. Eventually, they act on their feelings, and fall into a relationship, and boy is it hot.
The whole story is told in Mac's first person POV, and while I loved Mac and could happily read more of his neuroses and fears, I did feel that this kept the reader from really getting to know Jordan. What made him think Rachel was cheating on him? Had he ever had feelings for a guy before? How did he react to the idea of having the hots for his PI? Did he go home and wank to gay porn? Did he spend any time angsting over things, or did he just go with it? When exactly did he break things off with Rachel, before or after starting things with Mac?
Having both POVs are always nice, but for me it's especially important with this type of GFY story, to get a feel for the GFY character and how he's feeling and reacting with all the changes in his life. That's what I felt was missing in this story, and why I bumped it from 5 down to 4 stars.
The attraction to Mac SEEMED out of left field, but the reader only really knows what Mac knows, so I'm just not sure. I do know that Jordan seemed AWFULLY comfortable with the gay sex for a first timer. He rimmed the guy first thing! Had NO hesitation at giving a blow job, no hesitation about anything really, other than being fucked the first time, and even that eventually went peachy.
Time also seemed to skip around a bit at a couple of points, in such a way that I wasn't sure how much time had passed.
I hope we get a sequel, there seemed to be a lot of things unresolved, Mac is still a flight risk, IMO, and Jordan still needs to come out to his family and friends, and there is still that unfinished business with Rachel. Hopefully, if we get a sequel, it's in Jordan's POV this time. I'd also like to see stories about Mac's partner, Drew and about Mac's fuck buddy, Asher. (not necessarily together)
Mac is a PI with a pretty bad record in things of love. He has a habit of going after unavailable men, and running when things get tough. This all goes back to a mom who walked out on the family when he was a kid. Then he meets Jordan, a guy who actually hires him to follow his fiance, Rachel, because he thinks she might be cheating on him. And so we begin!
The chemistry between Mac and Jordan is great, and Mac can't help but wonder about all the signals Jordan keeps sending out. Eventually, they act on their feelings, and fall into a relationship, and boy is it hot.
The whole story is told in Mac's first person POV, and while I loved Mac and could happily read more of his neuroses and fears, I did feel that this kept the reader from really getting to know Jordan. What made him think Rachel was cheating on him? Had he ever had feelings for a guy before? How did he react to the idea of having the hots for his PI? Did he go home and wank to gay porn? Did he spend any time angsting over things, or did he just go with it? When exactly did he break things off with Rachel, before or after starting things with Mac?
Having both POVs are always nice, but for me it's especially important with this type of GFY story, to get a feel for the GFY character and how he's feeling and reacting with all the changes in his life. That's what I felt was missing in this story, and why I bumped it from 5 down to 4 stars.
The attraction to Mac SEEMED out of left field, but the reader only really knows what Mac knows, so I'm just not sure. I do know that Jordan seemed AWFULLY comfortable with the gay sex for a first timer. He rimmed the guy first thing! Had NO hesitation at giving a blow job, no hesitation about anything really, other than being fucked the first time, and even that eventually went peachy.
Time also seemed to skip around a bit at a couple of points, in such a way that I wasn't sure how much time had passed.
Spoiler
Did Mac really go steal his dog back from Trevor, buy a new car, get rid of his truck, and leave town all the morning after Rachel's big pregnancy reveal?I hope we get a sequel, there seemed to be a lot of things unresolved, Mac is still a flight risk, IMO, and Jordan still needs to come out to his family and friends, and there is still that unfinished business with Rachel. Hopefully, if we get a sequel, it's in Jordan's POV this time. I'd also like to see stories about Mac's partner, Drew and about Mac's fuck buddy, Asher. (not necessarily together)
a_reader_obsessed's review against another edition
3.0
3 Stars
Dubious at best.
The blurb doesn’t lie to you.
Mac is a private investigator. He’s kinda a slacker who’s really his own worst enemy as he’s unable to move on from a recently failed relationship and makes questionable choices in his life, the main one falling for a client who’s engaged.
To. A. Woman.
I wouldn’t typically read such fare but this is SE Harmon and the gal can write. There’s no lie about that.
So just prepare yourself for Mac being unable to stop himself from pursuing Jordan, and Jordan cheating on his fiance who he hired Mac to prove she was cheating on him first (which she was). The constant struggle to stay away from temptation, not being able to say no, and an inability to really talk about issues and feelings run rampant for both these men.
I shook my head and cringed because it was just this side of uncomfortable and straddles the line quite often, and romantic purists may balk hard.
Regardless, Harmon knows snark. She definitely knows UST and smexy smex.
Mac and Jordan obviously have an intense addictive connection to each other despite how hard they deny and ignore so many things, and they do eventually get a strong HFN. Uh, where’s my fucking epilogue?!
Narrated by Michael Stellman, he doesn’t do voice distinction which can make the listen a bit difficult but the emotions and nuance were spot on. Again, this was far from a home run, but the good stuff eked out a compelling enough read despite all my niggles.
Dubious at best.
The blurb doesn’t lie to you.
Mac is a private investigator. He’s kinda a slacker who’s really his own worst enemy as he’s unable to move on from a recently failed relationship and makes questionable choices in his life, the main one falling for a client who’s engaged.
To. A. Woman.
I wouldn’t typically read such fare but this is SE Harmon and the gal can write. There’s no lie about that.
So just prepare yourself for Mac being unable to stop himself from pursuing Jordan, and Jordan cheating on his fiance who he hired Mac to prove she was cheating on him first (which she was). The constant struggle to stay away from temptation, not being able to say no, and an inability to really talk about issues and feelings run rampant for both these men.
I shook my head and cringed because it was just this side of uncomfortable and straddles the line quite often, and romantic purists may balk hard.
Regardless, Harmon knows snark. She definitely knows UST and smexy smex.
Mac and Jordan obviously have an intense addictive connection to each other despite how hard they deny and ignore so many things, and they do eventually get a strong HFN. Uh, where’s my fucking epilogue?!
Narrated by Michael Stellman, he doesn’t do voice distinction which can make the listen a bit difficult but the emotions and nuance were spot on. Again, this was far from a home run, but the good stuff eked out a compelling enough read despite all my niggles.
rosska22's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to strangle Mac for practically this entire book. Jordan was equally as frustrating, in all the opposite ways.
There were weird plot pacing issues (mainly, the plot was, shall we say, lacking) and I was NEVER clear on how old Mac was supposed to be. He talked about being a cop like he'd done it for ages, and his younger brother is old enough to be the father of a teenager, but then Mac says something about being "nearly 30" and I had to put the book down and try and puzzle through a timeline on that one. I never figured it out. I'm SUPER unclear on the time-span this book takes place. Is it weeks? Is it months? I have no idea. Mac meets Jordan, within (2?) weeks has gone to his house for a backyard party, is mad that Jordan doesn't seem into cheating on his fiancee, makes it all about Jordan being homophobic, and then throws a hissy fit when he gets what he wants. There's some sort of time jump wherein Jordan and Mac have been "seeing each other" for "a few weeks". During that time, Jordan Messy, hard to follow, and overall distressing.
This read a little bit like the author watched a lot of Suits and a lot of Burn Notice and then thought "you know...I could do that." I kept expecting there to be some sort of plot point that kept drawing them together, but there was a barely visible "Mac following Rachel" thing that sort of...puttered out. The book was really just the reader following Mac around while he moped and lashed out and had a lot of sex. That would be fine, if Mac were at all likable, reasonable, or had a coherent narrative structure to his person.
There were weird plot pacing issues (mainly, the plot was, shall we say, lacking) and I was NEVER clear on how old Mac was supposed to be. He talked about being a cop like he'd done it for ages, and his younger brother is old enough to be the father of a teenager, but then Mac says something about being "nearly 30" and I had to put the book down and try and puzzle through a timeline on that one. I never figured it out. I'm SUPER unclear on the time-span this book takes place. Is it weeks? Is it months? I have no idea. Mac meets Jordan, within (2?) weeks has gone to his house for a backyard party, is mad that Jordan doesn't seem into cheating on his fiancee, makes it all about Jordan being homophobic, and then throws a hissy fit when he gets what he wants. There's some sort of time jump wherein Jordan and Mac have been "seeing each other" for "a few weeks". During that time, Jordan
Spoiler
apparently breaks up with Rachel, which gets NO screen time or discussion. I was in fact under the impression that he was still engaged to her the whole time he was seeing Mac until and offhand comment at nearly the end of the book.This read a little bit like the author watched a lot of Suits and a lot of Burn Notice and then thought "you know...I could do that." I kept expecting there to be some sort of plot point that kept drawing them together, but there was a barely visible "Mac following Rachel" thing that sort of...puttered out. The book was really just the reader following Mac around while he moped and lashed out and had a lot of sex. That would be fine, if Mac were at all likable, reasonable, or had a coherent narrative structure to his person.
bhavyamarya's review against another edition
3.0
“They’re hazel. And they’re beautiful. Everything about you is beautiful. And I can’t believe you’re mine.”
I went into this expecting some laugh-out-loud moments and some steam. Well, I got one of those things. So many reviewers said this book was funny. And while I will concede that Mack's sarcasm is top notch, it wasn't enough to make me full on enjoy the book. I think my expectations kinda got the better of me.
Mac was flawed and interesting to get to know throughout the course of the book but I wish we could have gotten Jordan's POV. Half the book is just Mac's inner monologue. It annoyed me a little. And it also felt like the story was left incomplete. I was waiting for an epilogue and it didn't come. I feel like my biggest pet peeve in romance novels is not having an epilogue.
One thing I liked about the book is the couple. The author really made me believe in them and showed us through her words that they belong together. Their relationship development felt natural. I was fully rooting for them by the end of the book.
Despite feeling like this is not the kind of book that's going to stay with me, I could see how so many people loved it. I'm still gonna check out some of the author's other books because they do sound kind of interesting.
I went into this expecting some laugh-out-loud moments and some steam. Well, I got one of those things. So many reviewers said this book was funny. And while I will concede that Mack's sarcasm is top notch, it wasn't enough to make me full on enjoy the book. I think my expectations kinda got the better of me.
Mac was flawed and interesting to get to know throughout the course of the book but I wish we could have gotten Jordan's POV. Half the book is just Mac's inner monologue. It annoyed me a little. And it also felt like the story was left incomplete. I was waiting for an epilogue and it didn't come. I feel like my biggest pet peeve in romance novels is not having an epilogue.
One thing I liked about the book is the couple. The author really made me believe in them and showed us through her words that they belong together. Their relationship development felt natural. I was fully rooting for them by the end of the book.
Despite feeling like this is not the kind of book that's going to stay with me, I could see how so many people loved it. I'm still gonna check out some of the author's other books because they do sound kind of interesting.
tinkcourtney's review against another edition
4.0
Fun snark, not-so-fun drama
I really love the Principles of Spookology series and wanted some more snarky fun from the author, so I decided to try this one out that’s been sitting on my TBR for a long while.
It delivered on the snark, but it also had things I personally don’t enjoy. ***some spoilers ahead***
While I can understand a guy who previously thought he was straight needing some time to come out of the closet, I don’t like the fact that he cheated on his fiancée while starting up something with a guy (yes, she was cheating first, but hypocritical much? Also, the breakup happened off page and we don’t even know at what point). Then the ex came back with some drama, he lied, and I can’t really blame poor Mac for bailing. Things didn’t resolve between them until there was less than 5% of the book left.
The writing and editing was great, the drama not to my taste. Probably 3.5 stars rounded up for this one.
I really love the Principles of Spookology series and wanted some more snarky fun from the author, so I decided to try this one out that’s been sitting on my TBR for a long while.
It delivered on the snark, but it also had things I personally don’t enjoy. ***some spoilers ahead***
While I can understand a guy who previously thought he was straight needing some time to come out of the closet, I don’t like the fact that he cheated on his fiancée while starting up something with a guy (yes, she was cheating first, but hypocritical much? Also, the breakup happened off page and we don’t even know at what point). Then the ex came back with some drama, he lied, and I can’t really blame poor Mac for bailing. Things didn’t resolve between them until there was less than 5% of the book left.
The writing and editing was great, the drama not to my taste. Probably 3.5 stars rounded up for this one.