Review: A MATTER OF NECESSITY by T. D. McKinney
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 04 29, 2008
First of all, let me preface my review by letting you know up front that I don't consider A MATTER OF NECESSITY to be a romance.  It is a fictional FBI crime novel that just happens to feature two men in love.  The crime solving is the central plot, and the romance happens offstage.  Even the sex happens offstage.  In fact, at times it felt like everything in this book happened offstage.  Throughout the entire book I felt like I was reading a summary of a story, not the actual story itself.My problems with this book come from the fact that I never felt as though I was invited inside the story.  It was a very odd feeling.  The author's offstage style is such that I felt like I was reading the Cliffs Notes or watching bits and pieces of the story through a closed window, which was a real shame.  I absolutely adored the characters and I wish I had been allowed to experience their romance and their blossoming relationship first-hand rather than from behind closed doors.  Alex was surprisingly accepting of his love for his best friend and the social consequences that came with admitting he was gay.  Shawn was determined to show Alex how much he loved him and was willing to do anything for Alex's love.  How sweet is that?This is an entertaining book and very worthy of three stars, but I could have easily given it five stars if I'd been invited into the story and allowed to witness the tender romance between Alex and Shawn firsthand.  I recommend this book to fans of M/M cop drama, but romance fans may feel short-changed.