Review: Good start for an enjoyable series...
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 08 6, 2013
Less fantastic than her "Sea Full of Stars" series, Nicole Kimberling's "Bellingham Mysteries" series offers a smartly written, likable group of novellas set in a charming small city in the Pacific Northwest.  The chief charm in book one, "Primal Red," is its introduction of Peter,a wry, ambitious young journalist; and Nick, an unexpectedly shy ex-soldier artist with a notorious past. They both soon realize that stumbling across each other in the midst of a bloody murder is perhaps not the best way to launch a relationship.Peter and Nick are not archetypes - although they do have the requisite good looks that are a sine qua non in the m/m romance genre. Both have their quirks, but in this series it is not their flaws that draw the guys together, but the ongoing discovery of how much they simply like being together.  Not that sex doesn't figure into it, but Kimberling manages to telegraph a good deal of information, subtly building our picture of these two men as they discover that beyond physical attraction lurks - OMG! - liking.  I know that sounds dumb, but it was a pleasurable note in this narrative. It's not all about nipples and treasure trails - it's about intelligence and shared interests and a willingness to be open to someone else's life.The mysteries provide a crucial framework in which the romance happens - but they have their own interest, as Peter's journalistic nose and Nick's military courage draw them into situations that challenge their safety as well as their understanding of each other.I've already started book two, "Baby It's Cold Outside," and it's looking good.