“I don’t always think writing LGBT fiction is as simple as it looks. There’s a difference that I can notice since I’ve read so much of it, but maybe if this is your first dip into the pool, it might work better for you than it did for me. Unfortunately, I think Kaye just tried to dump too much all into one story.” ~ Under the Covers
As you can probably tell by the cover this is Laura Kaye’s M/M novella for Jeremy and Charlie. As a massive M/M reader you can definitely say that I was excited for this story. I think any author who can give LGBT fiction a little spotlight in their series is wonderful. However something just didn’t click with me for this book.
If you’ve read the last book in the series, then you already know Charlie. He was the recent kidnapping victim and he’s probably better at handling computers than he is at handling people. This is especially true when it comes to Jeremy. Now what I like about this book is almost kind of what I hated… Laure Kaye spends a lot of time setting up another elaborate suspense plot in this story. While this is great for a full length novel, it’s not so awesome for a novella length story.
That being said, the romance doesn’t even start until 20-30% of the book and given who Charlie and Jeremy are, the nature of their relationship progresses way too quickly. There’s only a smidgen of tension as all the other characters are involved in the suspense plot, drawing it unnecessarily out and then bam, suddenly their first alone time together results into some dirty talk and steaminess. While I think that Kaye had all the elements of a good story present, there just wasn’t enough time to see it all play out. All this is a bit disappointing because I was hoping for something good for these two.
I would rather just have a focus on the romance than the suspense because to me, if you’re going to bother with writing M/M for the first time, it better be epic or it kind of just falls to pieces. I don’t always think writing LGBT fiction is as simple as it looks. There’s a difference that I can notice since I’ve read so much of it, but maybe if this is your first dip into the pool, it might work better for you than it did for me. Unfortunately, I think Kaye just tried to dump too much all into one story.
*ARC provided by publisher
[about-author author=”Laura Kaye”]
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I haven’t read it but agree with “…if you’re going to bother with writing M/M for the first time it better be epic…” totally agree…thanks Annie
I do admire the author for trying though. 🙂
Hmm sorry to read that this wasn’t that great… thanks annie
I’ll agree – finished the book last night and was REALLY disappointed. Love the series, but not this book. 2 stars is accurate…
Hi, Carol!
I quite like the others in the series but something about this one just felt all over the place and rushed.
I haven’t started this series but I do have the first few books on my TBR pile and as a lover of M/M stories I was excited to see Ms. Kaye branching out to M/M. It’s a bummer it didn’t work for you.
Yes, Amy. It was a bummer for me too but as a whole the rest of the series is fun and exciting.
I totally agree with your review. I love M/M and was excited for Jeremy’s story. Since it was a novella and she just jumped right in, I wish she would have been building the attraction slowing in the rest of the series. It felt forced and I am so disappointed.
Hi, Samantha!
I think she tried to keep the suspense alive in this novella. While I can admire that and understand that it’s a huge part of the series, it put the romance in the backseat. Even if it wasn’t M/M and just another couple, I don’t think it was as strong than if she took her time and built up the romance like in her other books. I’m glad I’m not the only one who feels this way!