Review: Flawed
Rating: 2 out of 5
Date: 06 24, 2014
I love MM Romance, but gosh I had trouble with this book.  I had trouble getting and staying in it.  I had trouble connecting with the secondary characters.  And even though I loved the two leads together, I was left wanting so much more from them.On the positive side, the quality of the writing is excellent, and Mackenzie is fully developed and wonderfully snarky as the narrator and main character.  I could "listen" to him all day, he is just so entertaining.  The breezy tone of the story and vibe of the Florida setting are also consistent and felt good to me.  And, as Mackenzie's love interest, Jordan had a strong, sexy energy about him.HOWEVER, Jordan is a man who has been living a hetero lifestyle his whole life--who's engaged to a woman and has never even been attracted to a man as far as the reader knows until Mackenzie comes into his life.  So how come this dramatic awakening and shift in sexual identity felt glossed over?  Where were the scenes of Jordan's struggle and eventual acceptance of his bi- or homosexuality?  It just seemed that he made the jump too easily.  I felt some heartfelt discussions and angst were missing.  As happy as I was that Jordan fell for Mack, I wanted to know much more about his journey to acceptance and love.The secondary characters were bland.  This wouldn't have been an issue if Mack hadn't spent so much more time with the secondary characters than he did with Jordan.  In fact, I'd say two-thirds of the book were focused on Mack's P.I. job and interactions with friends, family, and ex-boyfriends.  Reading a romance where the two leads only spend about 1/3 of the book together just doesn't cut it for me.  I was very frustrated.  Mack and Jordan are GREAT together.  I wanted so much more of that.  Why didn't the author want the same thing???  I don't get it.  Wasted opportunity.Overall, there were some enjoyable moments.  But not enough, now that I think about it, for me to recommend this book.  And i hate not being about to support the effort of someone whom I can see has talent.  But this story needed more work.  I wish the author had stepped away from it for awhile and then come back with fresh eyes to see that it was missing "something" before it went out for publication.  Yes, that's what i wish.