Review: An engaging story with an interesting mystery element
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 03 17, 2014
4.25 starsFor a “reasonably good-looking and generally pleasant guy”, twenty-six year old Jeremy “Jem” Mitchell’s love life was, well, pretty much non existent. Convinced he was cursed by an employee LA Department of Transportation, Jem has resigned himself to waiting out its effects. So when spots a hunky cop guarding a film set on his way to work, Jem hardly expects for him to walk into Fred’s Trade Post, the local grocery store where Jem works, never mind come back again the following week. And the one after that. And the one after that as well. In fact, in no time Detective Nick Davies is a regular, whenever Jem’s working the register. After several weeks of this, his cop finally asks him out for coffee. After a lovely time, they arrange to meet for lunch. Then dinner. Then they end up in bed. Of course, that’s when it all goes pear shaped.A mortified Jem runs when Nick recognises the tattoo on his back. The one he saw as he was arresting a seventeen year old Jem for solicitation. It seems love isn’t quite done with Jem, though. He finds a red envelope containing photo of his wild, younger, naked self in the door jamb of his front door, he jumps to the conclusion that Nick left it there to embarrass and humiliate him. Jem races over to Nick’s ready for a heated confrontation. Instead he gets a calm Nick informing him that he had nothing to do with it. When a second, even more explicit photo appears Jem’s thoughts turn to his childhood friend and main instigator of their often drug and alcohol fuelled escapades, Riley. Believing that Riley is playing games, Jem goes over to deal with his former love and tell him in no uncertain terms that they are through. That Jem has no interest in that life. After a heated argument, Jem leaves. The following day a detective knocks on the door and informs Jem that Riley has been found strangled. As the mystery unfolds, Nick and Jem grow closer.I have to say, I really enjoyed this short novella. The MC was interesting, quirky, likeable and fun. Nick made a good foil for Jem and I could really see how they’d work together as a couple long term. Great character development and wonderful secondary characters made it very easy to care about them and become invested in their tale. I don’t know why the scene where Jem confronts Riley got to me so much, but I found myself in tears. Both for Jem and for Riley. It was so sad seeing Riley stuck in his past, incapable and unwilling to see what his lifestyle was doing to him. The sex scene may have been fairly short, but it was pretty hot! I really liked those two together. I also liked Jem’s humour. The pace trotted along nicely, with an engaging story and a mystery element that kept things interesting.Read the full review at Live Your Life, Buy The Book