Sandra @ My Fiction Nook

3.75, rounded up. A little uneven in places, and the dub-con scene in the beginning pissed me off. I realize why it was included, but I still hated Gary. I know why it had to be there - it established the character and backstory for Evan - but I hated it nonetheless. Nobody should have to endure that sort of thing, and it served as a reminder that this sort of act can be perpetrated within a relationship. No means no, no matter the circumstances.

Okay, I'll get off my soapbox now. 

I liked the story overall, with the slow burning romance between Wes and Evan, the inclusion of horse facts and horse racing, and even the mystery was interesting even though I had figured out about halfway who was involved, and why. 

I liked how the author touched on realistic themes, what with Wes being an actor and gay, and Hollywood execs not being too fond of that, but the resolution seemed almost too hopeful, too clean. Though that may just be because I'm a wee bit too cynical on occasion. I could buy that public opinion might sway the mindset there a bit, and with events in recent years leading the way, this might actually eventually become a reality.

The writing was lovely, though I found a couple of instances where the proofreader missed some things (one of them a pet peeve - it's try to, not try and; I will forgive that in dialogue but not in narration), but the story flowed well, and I stayed interested and invested. 

The supporting cast was okay - not a lot of depth to them, except for perhaps Vanessa, who despite appearing to be a ditzy, pleasure-seeking Hollywood rich girl at first actually turns out much differently. I liked Julia for a long time, but she sort of ticked me off too. The characters at the stables all were nice, though they didn't play a huge role in the overall plot and thus weren't fully multi-dimensional.

I can appreciate the research that went into this book, and the author did a fabulous job with that. 

I giggled a few times at the humorous banter between Evan and Wes - those two really fit well together and seemed to really enjoy each other's company, both finding something they'd been missing for a long time. It was a pleasure to see Evan begin to trust, despite the setbacks, and Wes' gentle persistence even in the face of losing his livelihood. The emotional connection between the two of them was evident from early on, and only increased through the rest of the novel. 

Not bad, Ms. Lynley, not bad at all. 


** I received a free ARC from the publisher. A positive review was not promised in return. **