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Common Powers #2
Rush in the Dark
Brian Russell watched his best friend find love and happiness with a hot young man, and now he wants some of that happiness for himself. While on a job, he meets Rush Weston, the cowboy of his wet dreams in a dark Houston alley. They begin a relationship, having hot phone sex during the week and even hotter dates on Friday nights.
Rush has never had a relationship with a man, never gone on dates, never given his heart to anyone, just had anonymous encounters and a string of one-night stands.
Brian's relationships have always been safe and conventional, if not a little boring, and his heart's been broken too many times to count. But with Rush, Brian is doing things he never thought he'd do--like getting carried away in the front seat of a truck in broad daylight. Rush's fears and clumsiness with Brian threaten to ruin everything, but Brian sees something worth fighting for in the big cowboy.
Both men have found "the one," but Rush won't leave his ranch. Not even for Brian. Brian's only choice is to give up on Rush, or give Rush time and hope he'll be brave enough to admit to everyone that he's gay so they can be together because Brian refuses to go back in the closet. Not even for Rush.
So, what are a hunky P.I and a sexy as hell cowboy to do?
If they're going to have a life together, something's gotta give.
Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Anal play/intercourse, male/male sexual practices, menage.
Rush has never had a relationship with a man, never gone on dates, never given his heart to anyone, just had anonymous encounters and a string of one-night stands.
Brian's relationships have always been safe and conventional, if not a little boring, and his heart's been broken too many times to count. But with Rush, Brian is doing things he never thought he'd do--like getting carried away in the front seat of a truck in broad daylight. Rush's fears and clumsiness with Brian threaten to ruin everything, but Brian sees something worth fighting for in the big cowboy.
Both men have found "the one," but Rush won't leave his ranch. Not even for Brian. Brian's only choice is to give up on Rush, or give Rush time and hope he'll be brave enough to admit to everyone that he's gay so they can be together because Brian refuses to go back in the closet. Not even for Rush.
So, what are a hunky P.I and a sexy as hell cowboy to do?
If they're going to have a life together, something's gotta give.
Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Anal play/intercourse, male/male sexual practices, menage.
247 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2008
About the author
Lynn Lorenz
67 books316 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
(1)gay romance
I’m from New Orleans, that’s N’awlins for those of you who speak the language. I grew up in the Riverbend, or Carrollton, for the old timers, but was a Quarter rat from the age of 11, taking 3 buses to go to art class on Burgundy Street at the Cabrini Doll Museum and NORD center. I attended University of New Orleans and have a BA in Fine Art. My mother worked at Tulane University, six blocks from our house and when we were kids my brother and I parked cars in our driveway for the Saints games at Tulane Stadium. We could get six cars down the drive, two on the front lawn, and two on the street and we only charged $2 a car. We made enough to buy a coupla roast beef po’boys at Comeaux’s on Hickory St. and a snowball over at Williams Snow Ball Stand. We lived 1/2 a block from a cemetery, but doesn’t everyone in N’awlins? We used to watch jazz funerals from our front porch.
Now, my family lives in Katy, Texas. I have a “real” job, a truly supportive and understanding husband, two incredible kids, and a slightly neurotic dog. We used to have a guinea pig, but the dog killed it. Did I say slightly?
My son is 15 and has Asperger’s Syndrome (high functioning Autism) and Crohn’s Disease, and is a constant lesson in patience, acceptance and managing expectations. He’s super smart, loves video games, fencing, movies, building with legos, and hanging around the house. Like me, he believes that it’s all about him. Sometimes, I wonder if I don’t have Asperger’s, too. Oh, and he’s very handsome.
My daughter, 13, is so creative it’s scary- she loves to paint, draw manga and anima, build dioramas with any box she can get her hands on, create worlds with legos and then make movies with them, sculpt people, animals and objects with those little twist ties from the grocery store, does pottery, and wants to be a lifeguard. And she’s smart, too. And
beautiful, inside and out.
I write for a few hours in the evenings and on weekends as much as I can, without neglecting my family. (That laughter you hear is my husband) I attend a critique group, and do whatever the kids are into at the time.
(1)gay romance
I’m from New Orleans, that’s N’awlins for those of you who speak the language. I grew up in the Riverbend, or Carrollton, for the old timers, but was a Quarter rat from the age of 11, taking 3 buses to go to art class on Burgundy Street at the Cabrini Doll Museum and NORD center. I attended University of New Orleans and have a BA in Fine Art. My mother worked at Tulane University, six blocks from our house and when we were kids my brother and I parked cars in our driveway for the Saints games at Tulane Stadium. We could get six cars down the drive, two on the front lawn, and two on the street and we only charged $2 a car. We made enough to buy a coupla roast beef po’boys at Comeaux’s on Hickory St. and a snowball over at Williams Snow Ball Stand. We lived 1/2 a block from a cemetery, but doesn’t everyone in N’awlins? We used to watch jazz funerals from our front porch.
Now, my family lives in Katy, Texas. I have a “real” job, a truly supportive and understanding husband, two incredible kids, and a slightly neurotic dog. We used to have a guinea pig, but the dog killed it. Did I say slightly?
My son is 15 and has Asperger’s Syndrome (high functioning Autism) and Crohn’s Disease, and is a constant lesson in patience, acceptance and managing expectations. He’s super smart, loves video games, fencing, movies, building with legos, and hanging around the house. Like me, he believes that it’s all about him. Sometimes, I wonder if I don’t have Asperger’s, too. Oh, and he’s very handsome.
My daughter, 13, is so creative it’s scary- she loves to paint, draw manga and anima, build dioramas with any box she can get her hands on, create worlds with legos and then make movies with them, sculpt people, animals and objects with those little twist ties from the grocery store, does pottery, and wants to be a lifeguard. And she’s smart, too. And
beautiful, inside and out.
I write for a few hours in the evenings and on weekends as much as I can, without neglecting my family. (That laughter you hear is my husband) I attend a critique group, and do whatever the kids are into at the time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
May 24, 2010
It was difficult for me to like Rush and I was relieved he redeemed himself towards the end. It just took a lot to get him to that point and I, the reader, was losing whatever sympathy I had at the start. As a result, the romance between Rush and Brian did not command the same attention as Brian's assignment to locate Sammi's family and uncover his past. I'd commented that I didn't care for the phone sex and so I skipped all of those. I was itching for more 'action' on the developing relationship face-to-face rather than quickies over the phone.
Having enjoyed Sammi's and Mitchell's book, I was happy to see they figured prominently in this second instalment and agree with one of the reviewers that they almost stole the show. As far as I'm concerned they did as most of the time I was wishing Brian would dump Rush and the book would continue with Sammi's story.
Anyway, boring phone sex and the cowardly repetitive Rush aside, Brian's investigation helped me turn the pages. Suddenly, towards the end when I was rather happy about the resolution to the protag's dilemma (will Rush come out for Brian? Will Brian give in and go back in the closet for Rush?) I go " - what the hell?!!!".
Inserted in-between the protags' resolution and the winding down towards the HEA, is the oddest piece of writing I've read so far in romance. There was no build-up of any attraction or desire between the four men, except between the respective couples but the author has them engaging in group sex. Why? Why drop something so out of the left field? If Sammi and Mitchell had been portrayed as a couple open to including others and if we'd known Sammi and Mitchell were attracted to Brian way back in the first book, if Sammi and Mitchell are also shown to lust after Rush and have hopes for a foursome, then when it happened, it wouldn't have been so weird and out of place...yet if we had all that background already written in then Common Powers would have been a vastly different type of book.
As it now stands, Rush in the Dark is an aberration because each book is about the couple who are in an exclusive relationship. Unless in Edward Unconditionally, all six of the protags get together? I detested this group sex portion, to be frank, because it just didn't fit the story.
I now have to "correct" that by reading a book which is about group sex. Maybe A J Llewellyn's Deep Probe?
Having enjoyed Sammi's and Mitchell's book, I was happy to see they figured prominently in this second instalment and agree with one of the reviewers that they almost stole the show. As far as I'm concerned they did as most of the time I was wishing Brian would dump Rush and the book would continue with Sammi's story.
Anyway, boring phone sex and the cowardly repetitive Rush aside, Brian's investigation helped me turn the pages. Suddenly, towards the end when I was rather happy about the resolution to the protag's dilemma (will Rush come out for Brian? Will Brian give in and go back in the closet for Rush?) I go " - what the hell?!!!".
Inserted in-between the protags' resolution and the winding down towards the HEA, is the oddest piece of writing I've read so far in romance. There was no build-up of any attraction or desire between the four men, except between the respective couples but the author has them engaging in group sex. Why? Why drop something so out of the left field? If Sammi and Mitchell had been portrayed as a couple open to including others and if we'd known Sammi and Mitchell were attracted to Brian way back in the first book, if Sammi and Mitchell are also shown to lust after Rush and have hopes for a foursome, then when it happened, it wouldn't have been so weird and out of place...yet if we had all that background already written in then Common Powers would have been a vastly different type of book.
As it now stands, Rush in the Dark is an aberration because each book is about the couple who are in an exclusive relationship. Unless in Edward Unconditionally, all six of the protags get together? I detested this group sex portion, to be frank, because it just didn't fit the story.
I now have to "correct" that by reading a book which is about group sex. Maybe A J Llewellyn's Deep Probe?
September 12, 2014
My friend ElaineY took all that I wanted to say about this book from out of my mouth :p. Her review was spot on, so I felt like I was just going to repeat a couple of things she already said. Though she was still a bit generous than me, as I gave this one star less than she was.
1) Rush doesn't come as a character I end up liking. Funny thing, when he first appears, he seems like one confident cowboy; approaching Brian the way he does, and even gives Brian the phone number. Then, he ends up being someone who is very afraid of coming out AND involved in a public/out relationship; that just turns me off.
2) Rush hurts Brian. And I dislike him for it. Not even the last pages I think he redeems himself in my eyes. It comes to the point where I wishes Brian ends up with someone else, who can appreciate him more than Rush does.
3) Rush and Brian's relationship does not have the same engaging element like Sammi and Mitchell. The phone sex and jerking off sessions are boring the hell out of me, I skim through it A LOT. I'm more interested on Brian's attempt to uncover Sammi's background.
4) And I have to ACCEPT that the group sex in the end is the PERFECT gift that Sammi has to thank Brian ... by lending his power, by ALSO participating in touching men OUTSIDE of his partner?? OH HELL TO THE NO!! I'm NOT a fan of any group sex or m/m/m stories and prefer to stay away from it -- except if there is a very good or valid reason. Unfortunately, this one is not.
PS: Although "darlin'" is a more acceptable terms of endearment for me, compared to "baby", reading 59 darlin' in one story, where each of Rush's sentence seem to have to include this word, is a bit annoying. I know, I know, blame me with my obsession of the favorable terms of endearment as well as the right amount of it being used in a book. It's just that one itty little thing that matters for me
1) Rush doesn't come as a character I end up liking. Funny thing, when he first appears, he seems like one confident cowboy; approaching Brian the way he does, and even gives Brian the phone number. Then, he ends up being someone who is very afraid of coming out AND involved in a public/out relationship; that just turns me off.
2) Rush hurts Brian. And I dislike him for it. Not even the last pages I think he redeems himself in my eyes. It comes to the point where I wishes Brian ends up with someone else, who can appreciate him more than Rush does.
3) Rush and Brian's relationship does not have the same engaging element like Sammi and Mitchell. The phone sex and jerking off sessions are boring the hell out of me, I skim through it A LOT. I'm more interested on Brian's attempt to uncover Sammi's background.
4) And I have to ACCEPT that the group sex in the end is the PERFECT gift that Sammi has to thank Brian ... by lending his power, by ALSO participating in touching men OUTSIDE of his partner?? OH HELL TO THE NO!! I'm NOT a fan of any group sex or m/m/m stories and prefer to stay away from it -- except if there is a very good or valid reason. Unfortunately, this one is not.
PS: Although "darlin'" is a more acceptable terms of endearment for me, compared to "baby", reading 59 darlin' in one story, where each of Rush's sentence seem to have to include this word, is a bit annoying. I know, I know, blame me with my obsession of the favorable terms of endearment as well as the right amount of it being used in a book. It's just that one itty little thing that matters for me
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 1, 2009
A sweet romantic story! But you won't be bored...
The interactions between the two lovers are really realistic with Brian and his "i don't want to be treated like a booty call" but can't help himself from forgiving Rush the unforgivable! He is gay and proud to be, romantic and likes sex a lot. He wants a real opened relationship and is ready to fight for it.
He is patient but with his ability, you can't fool him...
Rush is Mr "I'm always screwing up" : he is so much in love but so much scared, so much in the closet.
Like Brian, i don't understand why i can't hate him when he's acting like a A-grade a***
I really liked this story and the involvement of the main characters of "Soul Bond" was not bad. I like them more in this sequel and their presence in this book is both physical and emotional.
I give only 4 stars because at some point i thought that they were stealing the show from Brian and Rush.
Let's just say that i enjoyed watching Rush and Brian falling in love and trying to understand each other.
The interactions between the two lovers are really realistic with Brian and his "i don't want to be treated like a booty call" but can't help himself from forgiving Rush the unforgivable! He is gay and proud to be, romantic and likes sex a lot. He wants a real opened relationship and is ready to fight for it.
He is patient but with his ability, you can't fool him...
Rush is Mr "I'm always screwing up" : he is so much in love but so much scared, so much in the closet.
Like Brian, i don't understand why i can't hate him when he's acting like a A-grade a***
I really liked this story and the involvement of the main characters of "Soul Bond" was not bad. I like them more in this sequel and their presence in this book is both physical and emotional.
I give only 4 stars because at some point i thought that they were stealing the show from Brian and Rush.
Let's just say that i enjoyed watching Rush and Brian falling in love and trying to understand each other.
December 9, 2012
This book should be called...
Phone Sex and Long Distance Relationships for Dummies.
1. Find someone to have phone sex with
Preferably someone who is honest and straightforward about how you smell, because you always want your significant other to be sincere and honest with you.
Then procrastinate a bit. Wait anywhere from 3 days to one week for no apparent reason other than to make yourself and the guy nervous. Cultivate feeling of unease and low-confidence levels. If you are a man, disregard the fact that you should have some balls about this kind of thing.
At the end of 7 days, call him and have great phone sex. Repeatedly. All the time. But don't do like your best friend's boyfriend and call him when he's at work and get him fired or anything stupid like that.
2. Ask yourself: Is he the one?
Throw out all your generic lists, because those stuff just won't cut it for your brand new phone-sex-and-long-distance-relationship candidate. What you need is to really look into him, see the great things that make up the person he is. Here's a list of things to help you start out:
a) Is he an asshole?
A man that's rude to you, treat you like thrash and/or a casual hook up while simultaneously proclaiming your specialness is someone you want to spend your life with. Out of five meetings with him, at least three of it should end up with one of you bleeding, hurt, angry, or upset. You know what the gay men say: I wouldn't love you if you didn't have an asshole! That applies to personality too!
b) Is he in the closet?
A gay man in the closet is a true prizewinner. You'll never have to suffer the indignity of actually having a relationship, visits to his home, be on his medical card, much less be seen on the streets with him. A closeted gay man can provide the ultimate relationship for you; it's a relationship without the relationship! The most important thing under this clause is that he should not only be closeted, but violent about it. Remember, emotional strength is key.
c) Does he have a completely useless superpower?
A man with a useless superpower will never upstage your own infinitely more useful superpower of premonition. You won't ever have to worry that he'll get more applause for his party tricks. In fact, you should ideally be able to think of only one use for his superpower... He could like, be a safari tour guide or something.
3. Have a long distance relationship!
Congratulations! You've found the one for you! Continue having phone sex multiple times a week with him; eventually he'll come around to your way of thinking and you'll get to spend the rest of your life with your very own closeted asshole! But don't worry too much if you don't like that, because eventually he'll come around to being a better person.
Maybe.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Okay, joking aside: I like this book. It wasn't great, but I adored Rush (What can I say, I just love assholes. Mmmm. Wait, no, what did I say?) and Brian. They're lovely, as far as heroes go. I even love all the angst, all the... assholery! It was just brilliant.
Of course, I can't understand why Brian's stuck around for someone like that. He must have used his powers of premonition to predict that Rush's going to do a 360 degree change in the end.
On the writing: it's decent, standard Lynn Lorenz. If you like displays of alpha male behaviour, jealousy, and pointless heartache you know they'll overcome anyway, then by all means - read it.
The one thing I detest about the series is the superpowers: this series would have been great as normal contemporary pieces. But no, LL has to insert these unexplained supernatural things that usually appear only in 5 pages (or in Brian's case, mentioned and then completely dismissed) and then disappear forever.
Most of the things could be circumvented with normal explanations too: Edward from book three could have arrived in town to spend time with his grandma instead of healing her, and Rush's power, as I mentioned, was completely pointless. It got like what - one page of limelight, total? Utterly pointless.
That said, it's still a good series. Try it if you're in for a warm, fluffy and mostly contemporary read.
Phone Sex and Long Distance Relationships for Dummies.
1. Find someone to have phone sex with
Preferably someone who is honest and straightforward about how you smell, because you always want your significant other to be sincere and honest with you.
Then procrastinate a bit. Wait anywhere from 3 days to one week for no apparent reason other than to make yourself and the guy nervous. Cultivate feeling of unease and low-confidence levels. If you are a man, disregard the fact that you should have some balls about this kind of thing.
At the end of 7 days, call him and have great phone sex. Repeatedly. All the time. But don't do like your best friend's boyfriend and call him when he's at work and get him fired or anything stupid like that.
2. Ask yourself: Is he the one?
Throw out all your generic lists, because those stuff just won't cut it for your brand new phone-sex-and-long-distance-relationship candidate. What you need is to really look into him, see the great things that make up the person he is. Here's a list of things to help you start out:
a) Is he an asshole?
A man that's rude to you, treat you like thrash and/or a casual hook up while simultaneously proclaiming your specialness is someone you want to spend your life with. Out of five meetings with him, at least three of it should end up with one of you bleeding, hurt, angry, or upset. You know what the gay men say: I wouldn't love you if you didn't have an asshole! That applies to personality too!
b) Is he in the closet?
A gay man in the closet is a true prizewinner. You'll never have to suffer the indignity of actually having a relationship, visits to his home, be on his medical card, much less be seen on the streets with him. A closeted gay man can provide the ultimate relationship for you; it's a relationship without the relationship! The most important thing under this clause is that he should not only be closeted, but violent about it. Remember, emotional strength is key.
c) Does he have a completely useless superpower?
A man with a useless superpower will never upstage your own infinitely more useful superpower of premonition. You won't ever have to worry that he'll get more applause for his party tricks. In fact, you should ideally be able to think of only one use for his superpower... He could like, be a safari tour guide or something.
3. Have a long distance relationship!
Congratulations! You've found the one for you! Continue having phone sex multiple times a week with him; eventually he'll come around to your way of thinking and you'll get to spend the rest of your life with your very own closeted asshole! But don't worry too much if you don't like that, because eventually he'll come around to being a better person.
Maybe.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Okay, joking aside: I like this book. It wasn't great, but I adored Rush (What can I say, I just love assholes. Mmmm. Wait, no, what did I say?) and Brian. They're lovely, as far as heroes go. I even love all the angst, all the... assholery! It was just brilliant.
Of course, I can't understand why Brian's stuck around for someone like that. He must have used his powers of premonition to predict that Rush's going to do a 360 degree change in the end.
On the writing: it's decent, standard Lynn Lorenz. If you like displays of alpha male behaviour, jealousy, and pointless heartache you know they'll overcome anyway, then by all means - read it.
The one thing I detest about the series is the superpowers: this series would have been great as normal contemporary pieces. But no, LL has to insert these unexplained supernatural things that usually appear only in 5 pages (or in Brian's case, mentioned and then completely dismissed) and then disappear forever.
Most of the things could be circumvented with normal explanations too: Edward from book three could have arrived in town to spend time with his grandma instead of healing her, and Rush's power, as I mentioned, was completely pointless. It got like what - one page of limelight, total? Utterly pointless.
That said, it's still a good series. Try it if you're in for a warm, fluffy and mostly contemporary read.
Read
November 3, 2013I dunno what to say :/
I liked Brian and his investigation about Sammi's past. Like several other readers mentioned it really helped to turn pages at times. I liked the start of Brian and Rush relationship I thought it'd be just as good as the first story, but well - it wasn't for me.
First of all the amount of phone sex was frightening, to be honest. The first couple of times were fun, but it got boring fast and I skimmed a lot. I also thought the amount of unrealistically exaggerated sexual tension and totally cheesy remarks were frustrating. Seriously both guys're in their middle thirties why they're popping hard-ons right and left like only catching a sight of one another - and voila. Excessive use of 'darlin' got on my nerves too.
Rush's repeating cowardice was too much. I started liking him, but at the and he only barely redeemed himself in my eyes and most of the book I just wished Brian'd just dump him and move on with someone who'd have a little more respect for him. I get Rush's moteves, but still he ended up almost being an unsympathetic character.
Oh and don't get me started about the final OUT OF THE BLUE group sex with Brian and Rush and Sammi and Mitchell. WTF was that about??? So out of place and out of character for Sammi. I hated that part :/
All in all, the book had a lot of potential, but unfortunately it didn't live up to it, in my opinion.
I liked Brian and his investigation about Sammi's past. Like several other readers mentioned it really helped to turn pages at times. I liked the start of Brian and Rush relationship I thought it'd be just as good as the first story, but well - it wasn't for me.
First of all the amount of phone sex was frightening, to be honest. The first couple of times were fun, but it got boring fast and I skimmed a lot. I also thought the amount of unrealistically exaggerated sexual tension and totally cheesy remarks were frustrating. Seriously both guys're in their middle thirties why they're popping hard-ons right and left like only catching a sight of one another - and voila. Excessive use of 'darlin' got on my nerves too.
Rush's repeating cowardice was too much. I started liking him, but at the and he only barely redeemed himself in my eyes and most of the book I just wished Brian'd just dump him and move on with someone who'd have a little more respect for him. I get Rush's moteves, but still he ended up almost being an unsympathetic character.
Oh and don't get me started about the final OUT OF THE BLUE group sex with Brian and Rush and Sammi and Mitchell. WTF was that about??? So out of place and out of character for Sammi. I hated that part :/
All in all, the book had a lot of potential, but unfortunately it didn't live up to it, in my opinion.
March 11, 2022
This is book two in Lynn Lorenz's series 'Common Powers' and I was super jazzed to read this. I had met Brian in book one and was very impressed with the guy who was so loyal to his friend and just an all around good guy. The fact that Brian finds cowboys as hot as I do didn't hurt, either. I wanted Brian to get his happy ever after with the cowboy of his dreams and since I already adore this author's stories, I was sure this would be a great one. Yep, I wasn't wrong.
Brian is a private investigator and on a Friday night lurking in an alley behind a disgusting Dumpster he doesn't expect to see the cowboy of his dreams. Brian had that "feeling" all day, though, that something life changing was going to happen that night. So when he sees the gorgeous cowboy come out of the back of the bar, Brian figures fate is lending him a hand. When the cowboy gives Brian a business card and tells him to call, even though Brian stinks from Dumpster diving on his case, Brian knows the powers that be are telling him something. So why does it take him a week to gather his courage and call? Because Brian knows that Rush is The One and that scares him.
Please find my full review at Rainbow Book Reviews
Brian is a private investigator and on a Friday night lurking in an alley behind a disgusting Dumpster he doesn't expect to see the cowboy of his dreams. Brian had that "feeling" all day, though, that something life changing was going to happen that night. So when he sees the gorgeous cowboy come out of the back of the bar, Brian figures fate is lending him a hand. When the cowboy gives Brian a business card and tells him to call, even though Brian stinks from Dumpster diving on his case, Brian knows the powers that be are telling him something. So why does it take him a week to gather his courage and call? Because Brian knows that Rush is The One and that scares him.
Please find my full review at Rainbow Book Reviews
May 1, 2014
I didn't expect such a failure... I liked the 1st book, loved the 3rd...sadly, this one was an utter disappointment. The rinse-repeat cycle of heroes having phone sex/sex in person and talking about sex throughout the whole book bored me really soon. The only pros of this book were Brian's investigation of Sammi's past and seeing John as he was before Edward.
Rush was an absolute jerk..I was shocked at his actions, truly. I can't decide whether Brian was a doormat or a saint for putting up with that attitude. And the whole paranormal angle just blurs the lines. 'Cos, you know, it's okay to have insta-love, and all kinds of implausible stuff in a paranormal book..but it all rubbed me the wrong way.
And was it that necessary to have a sorta menage-I-dunno-what in the end? Couldn't Brian&Rush do without experiencing the whole mind-merging during sex? Not that I'm a prude, but it all came out of the blue..There wasn't any hint in the previous book that Brian was attracted to Mitch..and there wasn't any mention of Mitch's deceased partner with whom Brian was actually in love.. And Sammi going when he met the guy just that day...ummm. Weird.
Overall, meh.
Rush was an absolute jerk..I was shocked at his actions, truly. I can't decide whether Brian was a doormat or a saint for putting up with that attitude. And the whole paranormal angle just blurs the lines. 'Cos, you know, it's okay to have insta-love, and all kinds of implausible stuff in a paranormal book..but it all rubbed me the wrong way.
And was it that necessary to have a sorta menage-I-dunno-what in the end? Couldn't Brian&Rush do without experiencing the whole mind-merging during sex? Not that I'm a prude, but it all came out of the blue..There wasn't any hint in the previous book that Brian was attracted to Mitch..and there wasn't any mention of Mitch's deceased partner with whom Brian was actually in love.. And Sammi going when he met the guy just that day...ummm. Weird.
Overall, meh.
March 25, 2012
Okay, so I gave the first book two stars knowing that there were more books in the series and hoping that some of the things introduced in the first book would be explored in the sequels. No such luck. The reader is never told things like why these men have special powers, why none of them has ever felt the need to find out why they have special powers, or what--if anything--they try to do with their special powers.
At one point the special powers are used as an excuse for an orgy, which could possibly explain why they were included in the books at all, except that as soon as the men decided the powers had worked, the orgy was called off and they all went happily on their ways again... with no explanation.
The other reason the first book got its second star was because I actually liked Sammi, in spite of everything. I didn't like the two mc's in this book. And I really didn't like them together.
It's almost like the author was trying for both urban fantasy and erotica at the same time and ended up failing spectacularly at both. Would not recommend.
At one point the special powers are used as an excuse for an orgy, which could possibly explain why they were included in the books at all, except that as soon as the men decided the powers had worked, the orgy was called off and they all went happily on their ways again... with no explanation.
The other reason the first book got its second star was because I actually liked Sammi, in spite of everything. I didn't like the two mc's in this book. And I really didn't like them together.
It's almost like the author was trying for both urban fantasy and erotica at the same time and ended up failing spectacularly at both. Would not recommend.
January 9, 2010
Overall this is a good story. It is filled with angst and a lot of frustration for both parties. After a while I got a little tired of Rush and his denial issues. However, I figure if an author can get you that frustrated at a fictional character and yet you continue to read, then obviously they are doing a good job.
May 9, 2016
Rush in the dark
This was a terrible, terrible book.
I should have closed the book and moved on when on the first or second page I read, "Brian didn't smoke, but damn, if this cowboy didn't make it the hottest thing he'd ever seen." Seriously? Yes, let's return to the dark ages when not just marginalized adolescents thought smoking was sexy and the Marlboro Man hadn't yet made his anti-smoking statement as he was dying of lung cancer.
It was full of trite, cliched, stereotyped people and situations. Neither MC was particularly likeable overall. Rush (yes, you guessed it, the manly Marlboro man--just once I want to read about a cowboy named Kevin) was a complete asshat to Brian over and over again and Brian kept taking him back. Brian therefore was a complete doormat, and also completely clueless and not very understanding about how hard it is for someone in Rush's situation to be out. Instead of working with Rush to maybe help him get part way or understand how it could be, he just let it be (as did Rush--their communication was nonexistent unless it involved the phone and sex) until he did major things without talking to Rush and everything exploded.
The instalove was beyond even usual shifter level as they were both convinced the other was their soulmate and "the one" before they'd even had a conversation that wasn't phone sex. I find phone sex hot but somehow, this phone sex, which was prolific, was really boring. This book was almost a PWP except there was a plot completely unrelated to their relationship. It was about Sammi from the first book finding out who he was. That part was at least entertaining despite the ridiculousness of the whole thing.
Like Brian was able to get foster care records by just walking in and asking for them. He was allowed to go back in the archives and research by himself for hours where he look at anything and anyone. In the real world, it took lawsuits for foster parents to even be allowed to attend dependency hearings and to get the updates kids, attorneys and social workers get. But even that has a lot of information omitted. There is so much I can't touch even to help my kids. This stuff is protected almost the same as adoption records. I understand it was a plot point, but the author could have at least made it difficult.
Then there was that thing in chapter 22 that was so out of the blue and so out of character that pretty much every review about the book mentions it negatively.
Most of my rant in the spoiler below is about how dumb everything is because there were so many people and situations that were just idiotic.
1 grudging star goddamnit.
This was a terrible, terrible book.
I should have closed the book and moved on when on the first or second page I read, "Brian didn't smoke, but damn, if this cowboy didn't make it the hottest thing he'd ever seen." Seriously? Yes, let's return to the dark ages when not just marginalized adolescents thought smoking was sexy and the Marlboro Man hadn't yet made his anti-smoking statement as he was dying of lung cancer.
It was full of trite, cliched, stereotyped people and situations. Neither MC was particularly likeable overall. Rush (yes, you guessed it, the manly Marlboro man--just once I want to read about a cowboy named Kevin) was a complete asshat to Brian over and over again and Brian kept taking him back. Brian therefore was a complete doormat, and also completely clueless and not very understanding about how hard it is for someone in Rush's situation to be out. Instead of working with Rush to maybe help him get part way or understand how it could be, he just let it be (as did Rush--their communication was nonexistent unless it involved the phone and sex) until he did major things without talking to Rush and everything exploded.
The instalove was beyond even usual shifter level as they were both convinced the other was their soulmate and "the one" before they'd even had a conversation that wasn't phone sex. I find phone sex hot but somehow, this phone sex, which was prolific, was really boring. This book was almost a PWP except there was a plot completely unrelated to their relationship. It was about Sammi from the first book finding out who he was. That part was at least entertaining despite the ridiculousness of the whole thing.
Like Brian was able to get foster care records by just walking in and asking for them. He was allowed to go back in the archives and research by himself for hours where he look at anything and anyone. In the real world, it took lawsuits for foster parents to even be allowed to attend dependency hearings and to get the updates kids, attorneys and social workers get. But even that has a lot of information omitted. There is so much I can't touch even to help my kids. This stuff is protected almost the same as adoption records. I understand it was a plot point, but the author could have at least made it difficult.
Then there was that thing in chapter 22 that was so out of the blue and so out of character that pretty much every review about the book mentions it negatively.
Most of my rant in the spoiler below is about how dumb everything is because there were so many people and situations that were just idiotic.
1 grudging star goddamnit.
July 8, 2017
This is book two in the series but each book appears to readable as a stand alone as they are about the stories of each individual couple, so the fact that I had not read the first book did not make a difference here. It just means I hadn't met Sammi and Mitchell before as book one told us their story. Sadly, I wished that this had been their story because I liked this couple way more than our two MC's Brian and Rush. The book started off well and their first encounter seemed promising but what on earth happened to that bolshy character Rush?! His fear and continual running away was too much and don't get me started on his repeated usage of the pet name "Darlin'" - it was creepy rather than endearing. I wanted Brian to walk away but the pair acted like adolescents because they suffered from insta-love.
Brian's work as a private investigator was the most interesting part of the story. His search to find out all he could about Sammi's background and find out who his real parents were was the highlight of the book for me.
Rush starts up a conversation about Brian and his relationship with his best friend Mitchell. Seriously, who asks their lover to go into detail about how their fantasy involving their best friend would play out?! No! Just No! Sammi and Mitchell are a disgustingly, blissfully in love couple, living in their own little bubble so when what happens between Sammi, Mitchell, Rush and Brian happens, my head exploded. It just wouldn't happen. Nope. Never. I so wanted to like this story about these quirky characters and their strange 'abilities' but I couldn't take to our two MC's. It's an easy enough writing style to follow and had so much potential but Rush ruined it for me.
Copy received from publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Cheryl from Alpha Book Club
Alpha Book Club
All Alpha Males Accepted
alphabookclub.org
Brian's work as a private investigator was the most interesting part of the story. His search to find out all he could about Sammi's background and find out who his real parents were was the highlight of the book for me.
Rush starts up a conversation about Brian and his relationship with his best friend Mitchell. Seriously, who asks their lover to go into detail about how their fantasy involving their best friend would play out?! No! Just No! Sammi and Mitchell are a disgustingly, blissfully in love couple, living in their own little bubble so when what happens between Sammi, Mitchell, Rush and Brian happens, my head exploded. It just wouldn't happen. Nope. Never. I so wanted to like this story about these quirky characters and their strange 'abilities' but I couldn't take to our two MC's. It's an easy enough writing style to follow and had so much potential but Rush ruined it for me.
Copy received from publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Cheryl from Alpha Book Club
Alpha Book Club
All Alpha Males Accepted
alphabookclub.org
February 19, 2018
2.5 heart review for Love Bytes Reviews
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. This review was originally posted at Love Bytes Reviews, please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, interviews, and giveaways!
We met Brian in book one of this series, as Mitchell’s best friend. He’s a private investigator, working for himself. In this story, he agrees to help find Sammi’s history, since Sammi has no idea who he is. We actually see him working on another case as this book starts, hiding in an alley watching for employees steeling video games. He encounters the man of his dreams, while covered in garbage!
Rush is a cowboy from a small town, now running his family ranch. He’s gay, but so far in the closet he can’t even see the door. He heads to Houston periodically to have sex, and is very attracted to the man he sees in the alley behind a club. He goes against his usual routine and gives the man his business card, hoping he’ll call.
This starts off the so-called relationship between Brian and Rush…. Really it’s chapters of them jerking off on their own, sometimes while on the phone together. It also starts off my hatred of Rush. Rush is certainly attracted to Brian, but he doesn’t want a relationship since he’s not willing to come out for anyone. Brian is instantly in love with Rush, and lets him treat him like shit for most of the book. Rush shows up, fucks and runs, several times. Brian gets pissed, decides he’s done, then lets him do it again. I had no respect for Brian! He’s worth so much more than that.
I get that this is a redemption story for Rush. He’s meant to start out as a scared closeted man, meet the love of his life, fight an internal battle about his sexuality and his father’s homophobia, then have his redemption moment, come out for the man who he loves. And basically that does happen, but in the meantime, Rush is too horrible for me to like at all. His redemption moment comes way too late, and there is little time for them to enjoy their time together after that moment, before the book ends. It was too little, too late for me.
The part that I loved about this book, was Brian’s search for Sammi’s history. That is what saved this book for me. I admit to skipping over the endless jerk-off scenes but I gobbled up the details about Sammi. I was much more interested in Brian as a PI than Brian as Rush’s lover. When Brian wasn’t being a doormat for Rush to stomp on, he was a great guy. He actually attempts to change his life to accommodate Rush, I did like that part as well. There were some good sex scenes too, when Brian and Rush finally get in bed they are good together. Then there is Rush’s “power”…. Only mentioned a few times and seemed kind of pointless. It didn’t add much to the plot, other than one scene at the end.
I feel bad about this one… I did read these books several years ago and I remembered enjoying them, but this one just didn’t do it for me. I did like parts of this, Brian’s search for Sammi’s past, some of the sex scenes, and Brian’s willingness to change. Unfortunately I didn’t like Rush as a character, so that brought the whole book down for me. He may be fine for others though, so if you like tough cowboys, and lots of jerking off, maybe give this book a try.
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. This review was originally posted at Love Bytes Reviews, please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, interviews, and giveaways!
We met Brian in book one of this series, as Mitchell’s best friend. He’s a private investigator, working for himself. In this story, he agrees to help find Sammi’s history, since Sammi has no idea who he is. We actually see him working on another case as this book starts, hiding in an alley watching for employees steeling video games. He encounters the man of his dreams, while covered in garbage!
Rush is a cowboy from a small town, now running his family ranch. He’s gay, but so far in the closet he can’t even see the door. He heads to Houston periodically to have sex, and is very attracted to the man he sees in the alley behind a club. He goes against his usual routine and gives the man his business card, hoping he’ll call.
This starts off the so-called relationship between Brian and Rush…. Really it’s chapters of them jerking off on their own, sometimes while on the phone together. It also starts off my hatred of Rush. Rush is certainly attracted to Brian, but he doesn’t want a relationship since he’s not willing to come out for anyone. Brian is instantly in love with Rush, and lets him treat him like shit for most of the book. Rush shows up, fucks and runs, several times. Brian gets pissed, decides he’s done, then lets him do it again. I had no respect for Brian! He’s worth so much more than that.
I get that this is a redemption story for Rush. He’s meant to start out as a scared closeted man, meet the love of his life, fight an internal battle about his sexuality and his father’s homophobia, then have his redemption moment, come out for the man who he loves. And basically that does happen, but in the meantime, Rush is too horrible for me to like at all. His redemption moment comes way too late, and there is little time for them to enjoy their time together after that moment, before the book ends. It was too little, too late for me.
The part that I loved about this book, was Brian’s search for Sammi’s history. That is what saved this book for me. I admit to skipping over the endless jerk-off scenes but I gobbled up the details about Sammi. I was much more interested in Brian as a PI than Brian as Rush’s lover. When Brian wasn’t being a doormat for Rush to stomp on, he was a great guy. He actually attempts to change his life to accommodate Rush, I did like that part as well. There were some good sex scenes too, when Brian and Rush finally get in bed they are good together. Then there is Rush’s “power”…. Only mentioned a few times and seemed kind of pointless. It didn’t add much to the plot, other than one scene at the end.
I feel bad about this one… I did read these books several years ago and I remembered enjoying them, but this one just didn’t do it for me. I did like parts of this, Brian’s search for Sammi’s past, some of the sex scenes, and Brian’s willingness to change. Unfortunately I didn’t like Rush as a character, so that brought the whole book down for me. He may be fine for others though, so if you like tough cowboys, and lots of jerking off, maybe give this book a try.
January 14, 2013
4.0 Stars
Brian Russell is a private investigator. His best friend (Mitchell) recently found love and happiness with Sammi and Brian wants to find his special someone too. While working a job one night, Brian meets Rush Weston, a super hot cowboy, in a dark Houston alley. They begin a relationship, having hot phone sex during the week and even hotter dates on Friday nights. Rush owns his family's ranch and has never been out with a man. Totally in the closet, Rush's past has been nothing but anonymous encounters and a string of one-night stands. Although both men feel that they have found "the one," Rush is afraid to come out of the closet or give up his ranch. And, despite his love for Rush, Brian refuses to go back in the closet. Rush in the Dark is their story of love and finding the courage to follow your heart.
I really liked this story. Yes, Rush was an ass. Yes, he hurt Brian and I loathed him for it. But, he did his best to make amends and do right by him. Rush was cruel at times but his behavior was ultimately a product of fear. He always apologized and owned his mistakes. Rush's coming out was a difficult journey and I, for one, rooted for him all the way. (Even though I wanted to throttle him many a times!) Brian was totally loveable and I just adored him. I give him credit for being strong enough to stick it out with Rush. I think I would've cut my losses before Rush had the guts to turn things around.
A couple downers for me: "Darlin'." As a term of endearment, it just didn't work for me. And, Sammi's thank you at the end.
Bottom line: Except for a couple irritants, I really liked this sequel.
Brian Russell is a private investigator. His best friend (Mitchell) recently found love and happiness with Sammi and Brian wants to find his special someone too. While working a job one night, Brian meets Rush Weston, a super hot cowboy, in a dark Houston alley. They begin a relationship, having hot phone sex during the week and even hotter dates on Friday nights. Rush owns his family's ranch and has never been out with a man. Totally in the closet, Rush's past has been nothing but anonymous encounters and a string of one-night stands. Although both men feel that they have found "the one," Rush is afraid to come out of the closet or give up his ranch. And, despite his love for Rush, Brian refuses to go back in the closet. Rush in the Dark is their story of love and finding the courage to follow your heart.
I really liked this story. Yes, Rush was an ass. Yes, he hurt Brian and I loathed him for it. But, he did his best to make amends and do right by him. Rush was cruel at times but his behavior was ultimately a product of fear. He always apologized and owned his mistakes. Rush's coming out was a difficult journey and I, for one, rooted for him all the way. (Even though I wanted to throttle him many a times!) Brian was totally loveable and I just adored him. I give him credit for being strong enough to stick it out with Rush. I think I would've cut my losses before Rush had the guts to turn things around.
A couple downers for me: "Darlin'." As a term of endearment, it just didn't work for me. And, Sammi's thank you at the end.
Bottom line: Except for a couple irritants, I really liked this sequel.
July 24, 2010
In Rush in the Dark, we revisit Brian Russell. He is a PI in Houston and we met him in Soul Bonds because he is best friends with Mitchell. Now he has found success in his PI business and he is also helping Sammi find out who he really is. While out on the case of some stolen video games, knee deep in a dumpster digging through trash, he meets Rush Weston, the cowboy of his dreams. Rush runs a ranch 2 hours away and is deeply in the closet in his small town and just comes in to Houston to have one night stands with men. But as soon as these 2 meet, they both know that this is it. The only problem is figuring out how to make it work.
I liked this book better than Soul Bonds, but once again I found that things are hot and heavy in the first few chapters then there is a dry spell and then suddenly we are ending the book with a totally out of place sex scene... it's weird. It was one of those situations where I just wanted people to talk to each other! So much could be solved if they just did that.
Once again they both have "powers". That's my biggest problem here. The powers are introduced but not really used or explored. I mean it feel like and after thought as a way to maybe make the book a paranormal romance instead of a contemporary romance. Really it just acts as a speed bump for an already rocky storyline. Also, it seems a way to validate the romances that go from strangers to "I love you" in one meeting.
I'm going to admit right now that I have a problem picking up a book from a series out of order. This series has 3 books, the 3rd of which I've heard great things about and since I seem to be really taking the M/M group's book of the month theme to heart this month it is also a gay-for you book. So, I needed to read the first 2. I have hopes for the 3rd and I can't wait to read it.
Oh but overall this second book... well to me it felt like a 2nd book... better than the first and (hopefully) not as good as the 3rd.
I liked this book better than Soul Bonds, but once again I found that things are hot and heavy in the first few chapters then there is a dry spell and then suddenly we are ending the book with a totally out of place sex scene... it's weird. It was one of those situations where I just wanted people to talk to each other! So much could be solved if they just did that.
Once again they both have "powers". That's my biggest problem here. The powers are introduced but not really used or explored. I mean it feel like and after thought as a way to maybe make the book a paranormal romance instead of a contemporary romance. Really it just acts as a speed bump for an already rocky storyline. Also, it seems a way to validate the romances that go from strangers to "I love you" in one meeting.
I'm going to admit right now that I have a problem picking up a book from a series out of order. This series has 3 books, the 3rd of which I've heard great things about and since I seem to be really taking the M/M group's book of the month theme to heart this month it is also a gay-for you book. So, I needed to read the first 2. I have hopes for the 3rd and I can't wait to read it.
Oh but overall this second book... well to me it felt like a 2nd book... better than the first and (hopefully) not as good as the 3rd.
August 7, 2014
I'm not sure what happened to my review. It didn't save for some reason. I don't do well without doing it immediately, especially if I've already read something else. I know I was very frustrated with this story and how lightly a serious issue was taken again. I know I wondered what adult person, who claims to not want to out their lover, thought it was a good idea to show up at a ranch he was asked not to visit. Then, he acts the victim after suddenly showing up and it's not well received. Oh by the way, this is just after a couple of weeks not months even. After two weeks a grown man thinks Rush should risk his multi-generational ranch business in a VERY small town by coming out. He was never lied to or made promises. A man smart enough to build a successful business thinks it's a good idea to quit this job and get a job in Rush's small town. He does all this knowing Rush is scared, then gets mad at him for not being thrilled. That's emotional blackmail and borderline crazy. Give the man time to come to terms.
September 22, 2012
I love books where people have special powers. But here it hardly mattered, because it was mostly dirty talk and sex. The idea of the book is nice, but it still didn´t work for me, I wanted more story. Brian loves Rush (and Rush loves Brian), but if I had been Brian´s friend, I would have told him to let go after the first couple of times that Rush hurt him. No one deserves to be yo-yoed like that.
August 8, 2012
I had hoped this book would be more like book 3 rather than book 1, but unfortunately it was more like 1.
It was fairly tropey and I did not care for the character of Rush. He did several things that I would have said "screw you".
But I was ready to give it a 3 until the ending. I completely said WTF! The third book is certainly my favorite.
It was fairly tropey and I did not care for the character of Rush. He did several things that I would have said "screw you".
But I was ready to give it a 3 until the ending. I completely said WTF! The third book is certainly my favorite.
September 6, 2015
Fun read. I've read the first in the series and the third, don't know how that happened. I've enjoyed the whole of the series. Have loved all the characters, they have real reactions. I enjoy the story line as well.
June 16, 2013
Boring. Stupid reasons to start not talking to one another and odd mix of plot devices. Supernatural abilities just thrown in for fun, but nothing really relevant is involved regarding them.
I just didn't enjoy it.
I just didn't enjoy it.
October 15, 2011
It was okay but didn't quite work for me. Hated what happened between the four of them at the ending....hated it.
November 14, 2017
Book two in Lynn Lorenz’s Common Powers series is even better than the first book, which was excellent.
Brian is a PI whom we met in book 1. His job is definitely not a picture perfect job, what with hiding in dumpsters and alleys, but Brian’s power is that he gets “feelings” that he knows indicate something is going to happen. On the job one night he gets a feeling when a cowboy comes out the backdoor of a bar. Brian catches the bad guys (or at least leads the cops to them) on this job but he can’t forget the big cowboy. The only problem is Brian can’t get it together to call the cowboy, who left his card with Brian.
Rush is that cowboy, the real thing, and the reason he knew Brian was out there in the pitch blackness is because Rush also has a power. He can see in the dark.
Rush and Brian’s relationship is a slow starting one but it builds into something that is permanent. Brian is my favorite character, and once you’ve read more of the books I think you will agree he’s a favorite throughout the series.
Brian is a PI whom we met in book 1. His job is definitely not a picture perfect job, what with hiding in dumpsters and alleys, but Brian’s power is that he gets “feelings” that he knows indicate something is going to happen. On the job one night he gets a feeling when a cowboy comes out the backdoor of a bar. Brian catches the bad guys (or at least leads the cops to them) on this job but he can’t forget the big cowboy. The only problem is Brian can’t get it together to call the cowboy, who left his card with Brian.
Rush is that cowboy, the real thing, and the reason he knew Brian was out there in the pitch blackness is because Rush also has a power. He can see in the dark.
Rush and Brian’s relationship is a slow starting one but it builds into something that is permanent. Brian is my favorite character, and once you’ve read more of the books I think you will agree he’s a favorite throughout the series.
April 7, 2018
Loved this book!
October 6, 2017
A Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Review An Alisa Review:
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
I enjoyed this story just as much as I did the first one in the series however this one really gave more time for the characters to work on building their relationship. Brian has pretty much lived his life alone for years and meeting Rush makes him want to break his own rules. Rush has never had anything other than one night stands but no matter what he does he can’t get Brian out of his head.
I loved how Brien was willing to hurt himself because he didn’t want to be hurt more later by Rush’s insecurities. He continues to do his work and help Sammi find out some information about his past so that his friends can have the best chance to continue building their life.
Rush is constantly doing the wrong thing in regards to Brian and their relationship. It takes a lot of soul searching for him to finally let his guard down enough to really let Brian into his life. I could feel his father’s words and actions still hurting him even years after his death.
The cover art by Posh Gosh is nice and continues the pattern for the series.
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
I enjoyed this story just as much as I did the first one in the series however this one really gave more time for the characters to work on building their relationship. Brian has pretty much lived his life alone for years and meeting Rush makes him want to break his own rules. Rush has never had anything other than one night stands but no matter what he does he can’t get Brian out of his head.
I loved how Brien was willing to hurt himself because he didn’t want to be hurt more later by Rush’s insecurities. He continues to do his work and help Sammi find out some information about his past so that his friends can have the best chance to continue building their life.
Rush is constantly doing the wrong thing in regards to Brian and their relationship. It takes a lot of soul searching for him to finally let his guard down enough to really let Brian into his life. I could feel his father’s words and actions still hurting him even years after his death.
The cover art by Posh Gosh is nice and continues the pattern for the series.
November 3, 2012
Better than the first volume in the series
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 7/10
PROS:
- Good depiction of the mental anguish involved with being out of the closet yourself and falling for someone who isn’t out yet--and who seems unlikely ever to come out.
- Fairly routine, vanilla sex scenes, but I still enjoyed them. I read this right after having read the first volume in the Common Powers series, and the sex scenes in this book are much more frequent, detailed, and passionate. All of the initial encounters are phone sex, so when the characters finally get together, their joining involves more emotion than a round of sex between two people who are simply physically attracted to each other.
- Characters from Soul Bonds make an appearance in this volume and are almost more endearing and interesting than they were in their own book. I’m not sure how much time passed between the writing of the first and second volumes, but Lorenz improved quite a bit with this second one. The story here has a whole lot more depth than that of the first book.
CONS:
- There’s a frustrating back-and-forth movement throughout the book in which one character screws up over and over again in every imaginable way and the other struggles with a) forgiving him because of their mutual attraction or b) letting him go because he’s so far beyond saving. It’s true to life, I suppose, but my goodness. After a while, I thought, “Surely at some point he’ll start to learn from these mistakes he’s making.” And he does, but not until after I’d grown weary of it all.
- The book’s final sex scene was disappointing to me. It’s well enough written, but the angle Lorenz takes in order to deliver the erotic punch I’m sure she was going for felt contrived and unnecessary to me. Plain vanilla sex works for some couples, and unless you’ve hinted throughout the book that they’re up for something more, bringing “something more” into it at the end doesn’t always work.
Overall comments: I enjoyed this volume more than the first, Soul Bonds, because it examines the characters’ emotions and motivations in more depth. It doesn’t have a hair-raising plot, but the sex scenes are decently written and pretty regular.
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 7/10
PROS:
- Good depiction of the mental anguish involved with being out of the closet yourself and falling for someone who isn’t out yet--and who seems unlikely ever to come out.
- Fairly routine, vanilla sex scenes, but I still enjoyed them. I read this right after having read the first volume in the Common Powers series, and the sex scenes in this book are much more frequent, detailed, and passionate. All of the initial encounters are phone sex, so when the characters finally get together, their joining involves more emotion than a round of sex between two people who are simply physically attracted to each other.
- Characters from Soul Bonds make an appearance in this volume and are almost more endearing and interesting than they were in their own book. I’m not sure how much time passed between the writing of the first and second volumes, but Lorenz improved quite a bit with this second one. The story here has a whole lot more depth than that of the first book.
CONS:
- There’s a frustrating back-and-forth movement throughout the book in which one character screws up over and over again in every imaginable way and the other struggles with a) forgiving him because of their mutual attraction or b) letting him go because he’s so far beyond saving. It’s true to life, I suppose, but my goodness. After a while, I thought, “Surely at some point he’ll start to learn from these mistakes he’s making.” And he does, but not until after I’d grown weary of it all.
- The book’s final sex scene was disappointing to me. It’s well enough written, but the angle Lorenz takes in order to deliver the erotic punch I’m sure she was going for felt contrived and unnecessary to me. Plain vanilla sex works for some couples, and unless you’ve hinted throughout the book that they’re up for something more, bringing “something more” into it at the end doesn’t always work.
Overall comments: I enjoyed this volume more than the first, Soul Bonds, because it examines the characters’ emotions and motivations in more depth. It doesn’t have a hair-raising plot, but the sex scenes are decently written and pretty regular.
August 3, 2013
Sex, cowboys, law enforcement all in one book. What's not to like? Actually, I didn't like this as much as books 1 and 3 but I did like it and the true mark of getting involved for me is that I wanted to punch Rush in the head a few times. Sigh. What a jerk.
Rush is a deeply closeted cowboy/ranch owner and we learn of his father's reaction and why he's so paranoid about coming out later in the story. Brian is a PI who meets rush in a dark alley when he's standing in a dumpster gathering evidence for a case.
Although eye sex happens, they don't have time to get together and Rush gives Brian his phone number for later contact. When the contact happens the two have hot and heavy phone sex for a number of days before they get together for in-person hot and heavy sex. Actually Rush breaks Brian's heart -- repeatedly. Brian really should have changed his phone number because this happens so frequently. But true love prevails at the end.
I'd give this 3.5 stars and almost knocked that down to 3 because of the bizarre four person almost-sex scene at the end. I guess it was needed to make the "soul" connection, but I didn't care for it. I'm round to 4 stars because of how much I liked the couple once they were finally together and how nicely this book fit into the rest of the series.
Rush is a deeply closeted cowboy/ranch owner and we learn of his father's reaction and why he's so paranoid about coming out later in the story. Brian is a PI who meets rush in a dark alley when he's standing in a dumpster gathering evidence for a case.
Although eye sex happens, they don't have time to get together and Rush gives Brian his phone number for later contact. When the contact happens the two have hot and heavy phone sex for a number of days before they get together for in-person hot and heavy sex. Actually Rush breaks Brian's heart -- repeatedly. Brian really should have changed his phone number because this happens so frequently. But true love prevails at the end.
I'd give this 3.5 stars and almost knocked that down to 3 because of the bizarre four person almost-sex scene at the end. I guess it was needed to make the "soul" connection, but I didn't care for it. I'm round to 4 stars because of how much I liked the couple once they were finally together and how nicely this book fit into the rest of the series.
March 25, 2014
My first impression of Rush was of someone confident and comfortable in their skin. Well hold your horses, because in reality he’s actually one of the biggest closet cases I’ve run across in a while and that led to lots of mess ups and apologies – not really what I was expecting. I loved that Brian stood by his beliefs and wouldn’t back down or head back to the closet even for Rush. I also loved reading about the case the Brian was trying to solve for his friend Sammi.
The un-“common powers” aspect of the story came into play a few times. It didn’t dominate the story – it felt more like a one-off kind of thing for the most part. However, that whole “connection” thing going on at the end of the book was quite unexpected and a little pervy in a weird way. I rolled with it once things got going, but it definitely made me go “huh?” It will be interesting to see how this theme plays out in the third book.
The un-“common powers” aspect of the story came into play a few times. It didn’t dominate the story – it felt more like a one-off kind of thing for the most part. However, that whole “connection” thing going on at the end of the book was quite unexpected and a little pervy in a weird way. I rolled with it once things got going, but it definitely made me go “huh?” It will be interesting to see how this theme plays out in the third book.
June 7, 2012
Ho-Hum. Not bad,all in all. The sexual scenes are all right, nothing mind-numbing (not even close) but nice. The relationship development is ridiculous, and is the black mark upon this book and its plot for me. What the crap? Falling in love in no time, with no more than phone-sex and a tumble preceded by very little getting-to-know-you time? And, Good God, they started talking dirty to each other almost form the first moment, probably a minute into that first phone call. Silly, unrealistic, rushed. But the angst and drama were very satisfying for me, and the story is pretty nice and interesting, and those things are the only reason for my 3-star rating (the side-story bits were okay at best). Conclusion: nice enough to read once.
March 10, 2010
Three and a half stars. It didn't really draw me in enough. There were a few errors and the numerical and physiological ones were unfortunately more interesting than the plot at those points, I had to drag myself back to the story. The secondary plot of finding Sammi's family was good. I just had trouble accepting that the main romance between Rush and Brian was more than just sex. The sex scenes were frequent and varied, but they were sex scenes not making love. I couldn't really make myself like Rush very much.
June 16, 2013
This one was better than the first, in my opinion. I just adored Brian! I loved how he didn't sleep around. No bathroom/back room sex, no anonymous sex, just sex with his partners and that was it. To me, I think that made me love him more.
I kind of wish he used his powers more though. Didn't seem like he got a lot out of it.
Rush, well, what can I say. I can see he tried and I am glad he was good at groveling. I am happy that Brian put his foot down a lot and didn't take the BS Rush was spewing.
Overall, I need myself a cowboy ;)
I kind of wish he used his powers more though. Didn't seem like he got a lot out of it.
Rush, well, what can I say. I can see he tried and I am glad he was good at groveling. I am happy that Brian put his foot down a lot and didn't take the BS Rush was spewing.
Overall, I need myself a cowboy ;)
September 21, 2014
There was a glimmer of a plot in there... somewhere amongst the sex ad nauseam (phone sex almost as soon as they meet..then again... and again...and...ugh!). And acted upon insta-lust just doesn't work for me. I was looking forward to reading this one because I really enjoyed "Edward Unconditionally." I wish the author had replaced the pages and pages and pages of sex to actually flesh out the plot points and characterizations. Ridiculous, out of the blue group sex at the end, and grown men acting and sounding like adolescents...? Truly annoying.
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