A Reason To Believe in Read with Pride Northwest

Sep 13, 2012 ttg rated it really liked it

Shelves: m-m, reviews, challenge-read

4-4.5 stars – This was a very good read that successfully wove together an interesting mystery, spooky paranormal elements, and a nicely developed and satisfying romance.

The story follows Matt, a police detective who is called in to investigate the disappearance of a little girl early Christmas morning. Matt is very by-the-book, so is understandably shocked when the girl’s ghost appears before him (and only him) and helps him find where her body is hidden. What the ghost can’t tell him though is 4-4.5 stars – This was a very good read that successfully wove together an interesting mystery, spooky paranormal elements, and a nicely developed and satisfying romance.

The story follows Matt, a police detective who is called in to investigate the disappearance of a little girl early Christmas morning. Matt is very by-the-book, so is understandably shocked when the girl’s ghost appears before him (and only him) and helps him find where her body is hidden. What the ghost can’t tell him though is who murdered her. Fortunately, a famous (and very hot) medium is in town on tour, and is interested in helping Matt out (and is also interested in Matt). Even though he’s skeptical about the whole “talking to ghosts” thing, he can’t help but start to believe in both Kieran’s ability, and the possible future they might have together.

What I liked: Matt and Kieran had great chemistry together, and it was very nicely developed over the novel. (There’s also some nice UST as they dance around their attraction, and no real sexy times start until over halfway through.) Even though there is some sexy times, there are only a couple scenes in the whole novel, and the focus is really on their relationship and growing level of trust, friendship, and intimacy. It was very nicely developed and their back-and-forth was a pleasure to read, as was Matt’s growing reliance on having Kieran around after spending so much time on his own following the tragic loss of his partner.

The mystery was also very good. I pinpointed the culprit partway through, but had no idea of the motivation or how things would work out, so overall, this was a nicely suspenseful read. The paranormal elements with Abby, the little girl, were also a nice touch.

The only things I didn’t like: Probably a few dialogues or bits could have been edited down. (e.g. Kieran’s “handsome face” is repeated a lot, so some of those probably could have been culled.)

The most annoying thing was Matt’s sister-in-law Sheila, who popped up a lot, and was a very pushy, intrusive character. Most of the time, she was either demanding Matt to stop and explain things to her (with multiple instances of her saying, “What’s going on? You better tell me what’s going on!”), or she was making knowing looks at Matt about his attraction to Kieran or comments about how he should say something or if he’s fucked him yet, etc. She was even part of the sister-cock-block half-way through when she and Kieran’s sister came into the kitchen while they’re making out. (She then stuck around for dinner and after to give Matt more knowing looks!)

I was fine with the author incorporating a family member for Matt who knew him well, but I kind of wish her character was toned down a little, because she was incredibly grating in every scene she was in. (Matt often would yell at her to leave it alone or at one point, “put a sock in it,” and I really felt for him, because I wish she would too. Like, seriously, lady. Back off. At times, she also fell into the “support system” female friend stereotype, and didn’t always feel like her own separate character.

So, my main beef was one of the side characters. Overall though, the MCs, their relationship, the mystery, all that was very good. And I think it you’re looking for a good mystery-romance read, this should really fit the bill. It was tense, interesting, and had a really nice romance.

If there was a sequel with these characters, I’d definitely read it (even with Sheila popping in, although I vote for her and her family to go to Disneyland during the next mystery.)

Plus, the kindle version is priced very competitively at $1.99. That’s a really nice deal for a very good full-length novel. ...more

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Oct 15, 2012 Kelly (Maybedog) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: how-ebook, what-modern-fantasy, what-peril, where-grr-mine, why-favorite, what-mystery, what-lgbtqia, what-ghosts, what-male-protagonist, what-uniforms-and-investigations

This was a wonderful story, the type that the adrenaline junkie I am just can't get enough of. It had a disconcerting start because the plot is based on an ill-disguised version of the Jon-Benet Ramsey murder down to the fact of it happening late Christmas Eve/early Christmas Day. But the scenes were well done, and it worked for me. The funeral and the scenes leading up to it worked so well, I actually teared up at points.

I also found myself with wet eyes when Matt thought about his partner who This was a wonderful story, the type that the adrenaline junkie I am just can't get enough of. It had a disconcerting start because the plot is based on an ill-disguised version of the Jon-Benet Ramsey murder down to the fact of it happening late Christmas Eve/early Christmas Day. But the scenes were well done, and it worked for me. The funeral and the scenes leading up to it worked so well, I actually teared up at points.

I also found myself with wet eyes when Matt thought about his partner who died. I really dislike the widower stories. It's not as common as novels would have us believe, nor is the horrible ex who destroyed the main character. I wish authors would pen more stories where there's an ex that's just that, an ex with whom life just didn't work. But this one somehow worked for me. It fit with the theme of the novel.

The novel evolved into a suspense thriller, with action, drama, danger, fear, and all that. The pacing was excellent as was the distribution of thrills and down time. The book was fun and exciting and I desperately wish there were a sequel. The characters were interesting and complex, including the women, something that is often lacking in this genre. I particularly liked Matt's shrewd sister in law, Sheila. Her banter with Matt was very realistic as well as entertaining. Her comments about her husband were quite amusing as well and not to be taken seriously as her love for him was obvious.

It didn't hurt the book at all that there was some hot sex. There was a very hot sex scene which involved dry humping. It was smokin', I swear. Matt and Kiernan also found ways to compliment each other during sex that were slightly different than the standard fare.

There were some minor details that bothered me that perhaps should have been addressed. For example, Matt didn't wear glove or wrap his hand before touching things at the scene of the crime. He also had condoms on hand even though he hadn't been sexually active in a VERY long time. There were also an occasionally physical impossibility like one MC opened his mouth and in the next sentence opened his mouth again. Another was when they were having sex "doggy style" and referred to the top's balls hitting the bottom's ass.

The random t-shirts with funny quotes isn't a unique idea, but it never fails to amuse me. Although I'm sure it's an old joke, one of my favorites in this story was "I'm Not Short, I'm Fun-sized." I need one. My absolute favorite, though, was one with a police car on the front that said, "The Police Never Think It's As Funny As You Do." I know a number of teenagers who would find that hilarious. I guess I'm less mature than I thought I was.

This book was so good, I'm adding it to my M/M favorites shelf. I highly recommend it. Now I'm off to see what else this author has written. ...more

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Jul 23, 2013 Annabeth Albert rated it really liked it

Shelves: m-m-favorites, dark-heroes

This is one of the better m/m romantic suspense novels I've read. I did guess the bad guy very early on, but that may just be that I've read A LOT of mystery. I thought the romance had a nice, slow build and I really liked the second-chance-at-love arc, especially that the first love wasn't marginalized or some magical realization that it wasn't "real" love. It's also a nice meaty length. I'm not the most on the ghost aspect, but it was a great touch, and people who like the hint of the magical ...more

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May 10, 2013 Felicia (Ferishia) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: m-m, contemporary, lgbt-rom-susp, audible-purchase, pr-psychic, law-enforcement, romance, pr-ghost, finished-listening, celebrities

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Dec 05, 2013 Jade rated it it was amazing

Shelves: m-m, urban-fantasy, i-own

My advice-READ THIS XD

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Dec 25, 2012 OkayKim rated it it was amazing

Shelves: amazon

I started out listening to the audio while commuting to work, but it was such an engrossing story that I ended up reading the ebook when I returned home.
All I can say is Wow!
I'm not one who likes to reveal anything about a book so as not to spoil the fun for others, but
would highly recommend it to my fellow romance mystery readers! ...more

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