Review: Gabe & Harvey make me wanna hug my Kindle
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 21, 2014
Gabe & Harvey met in the fantastic Spirit Sanguine.Gabe's a vampire slayer. Harvey's a Buddhist, vegetarian vampire.Gabe tries to kill Harvey but is felled by Harvey's incredible peach-like bottom.Okay, there's slightly more to it than that, but Harvey's bottom is all that really matters.Well, that and Gabe's rather intense hunkliness.Lou Harper is one of my favorite MM authors and Gabe & Harvey are one of my top favorite couples. Actually, at this moment I have a hard time imagining a couple I love more. They're complete opposites but they're so good together I just want to hug my Kindle since I can't hug Gabe & Harvey. Which is less than fulfilling, but whatever.*Deep breath, Rosa*Ugh, I hate, HATE, saying this but I did not find "Temper Sanguine" quite as enjoyable as "Spirit." I've been looking forward to this book since roughly forever (read: February 2014) and I think that's where my relationship with it stumbled. This is my absolute favorite series by Harper and my expectations were too high. Unfortunately, the poor book suffered for it. I'm sorry, book! I still love you, baby!One of things I love about Lou Harper's books are her understated romances. They still qualify as romances, but it's subtle. Like the best authors, she has a way of expressing emotion without, you know, SLOBBERING. There may be an "I love you" but it's never <i>ohmagah you are my soul mate and I will never ever leave you and rocks may fall on my head but I will still whisper your name with my dying breath which will be slightly before you commit suicide because you love me so hard as well</i>. Her characters may love intensely but they express themselves through subtle touches, glances and hesitant words rather than the glut of sugar described above. It's a relief to read a Harper book after reading something more dramatic. She's like a nice Perrier with a twist of lemon after chugging a 2 liter bottle of Coke. Not that I do that, of course.However, since I enjoy being contrary, I wish there had been more Gabe & Harvey lovey dovey stuff in the first part of the story. They were almost constantly together, and I love that, but a great deal was taken up with info dumping & setting up for the last part of the book. However, I don't blame Lou Harper for all the extra info. It seems like publishers (at least I assume it's the publishers) want readers to be able to pick up a book anywhere in a series and be able to keep up. So readers like me, who view reading books out of order as verboten, have to reread info they've already read & remember.The book also suffers from a slight lack of relationship tension found in the first book. In "Spirit" there was a will they or won't they, or will they stay together or won't they, tension. In "Temper", although there is still tension between Gabe & Harvey, & some important relationship strain to resolve, it isn't quite as strong. This is a problem found in a lot of sequels, though.Thank god, that's the end of any criticism I have. The relief is staggering.The story, both the romance & the adventure, really picks up in the second part of the story when Gabe & Harvey chase an evil vampire to Hungary. There is an especially hawt role playing scene where they pretend to be "two spies from opposite sides of the Iron Curtain." Gabe plays the Hungarian spy who must [make passionate love to] British Harvey into submission."Harvey put up a struggle, but with the weight pressing down on him and Gabe holding his hands above his head, he had little freedom to move. "You have no right to treat me this way. I'm a cultural attache. Check my credentials." As he said the last word, he thrust his hips upward and ground his groin into Gabe's........Before Harvey could realize what was happening, Gabe flipped him over and slipped down between his legs, spreading them wide apart. "This is a breach of international law!" Harvey protested, even as he pushed his butt up in the air."Oh yes, a breach indeed," Gabe said, parting Harvey's cheeks and plunging his tongue inside."MORE PLEASE, LOU.Also, I just loved when Harvey got pissed at Gabe for putting himself in danger. So. Sweet. Even more sweet is the humor Gabe & Harvey share. They may be opposites, but they really enjoy each others company and that makes me feel comfortable & happy.In the end I did enjoy this book and think it's a good follow up to "Spirit". Now that I've read it once I know what to expect, obviously, so on my second read (and there will be one, believe you me) I'll enjoy it more. I'm also happy to say that Lou Harper left several plot threads hanging so I'm willing to bet there will be a third book.And I am perfectly willing to hurt anyone who thinks they can stand between me and a new Lou Harper book.