Scan barcode
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.
caitlinbramwell's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
audiobook_chaos's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Mac hasn’t had it easy his last partner left him for a woman and now he’s got feeling for a straight guy. Jordan wants Mac to follow his fiancé as he suspects she’s cheating but he can’t understand the feelings he’s got for Mac. I’m so glad Mac & J works things out Mac is his own worst enemy sabotaging his relationship before he can get hurt .
casadilla12's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
meatloafqueen's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this! Mackenzie is hilarious. I love snarky, sometimes bitchy, characters like him. The jokes & banter made me GOL (giggle out loud)
I really like how SE Harmon writes confused first-time-gay guys. I love the frustrating, push-pull tension between the MCs. Then when they do get together.. woo-eee is it hot!
I could tell this was an earlier work by this author, and that it was written in 2014. Many dated pop culture references
I really like how SE Harmon writes confused first-time-gay guys. I love the frustrating, push-pull tension between the MCs. Then when they do get together.. woo-eee is it hot!
I could tell this was an earlier work by this author, and that it was written in 2014. Many dated pop culture references
leelee68's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this one and since it's first person we get Mackenzie who is very sarcastic and snarky which worked with him. Once him and Jordan meet it's great, their chemistry was hot and every time they were together the pages sparked. The only thing about first person though you're only in one Mc's head and you end up missing and wishing you could get inside of the other Mc's head. That wasn't a deal breaker for me though, I still enjoyed it.
teresab78's review against another edition
3.0
This started out so well, it had a good tone, humour, it was going places. Then I had a hard time liking Jordan after that, or even Mackenzie for that matter. The sex was hot, it had elements I liked. I could have liked this a whole lot more.