Title:
Author: Teresa Noelle Roberts
Cover Art: Angela Waters
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Buy Link: n/a
Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance / Paranormal
Length: Novella
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 rating stars
A Guest Review by Raine
Summary Review: M/M prequel to later m/m/f book – a pleasant shifter/magic alternative world romance, with nice main characters but all a bit over explained and overheated for me.
Blurb: What happens in Vegas lasts forever…if you’re lucky.
A Duals and Donovans Story
Las Vegas is the wrong place for an inexperienced witch like Paul Donovan. But he has no choice; his family owes a debt of honor to a half-fae casino owner, whose guests have been dying under mysterious circumstances. The normy police haven’t connected the dots between the deaths, and the owner has called in his marker.
When Paul literally runs into fox dual Taggart Ross, the instant, powerful attraction between them bristles with red flags. Not only should there be no sparks between him and this “hillbilly with a tail”, the fact is a dual couldn’t have committed murder-by-magic. But until he’s got proof, caution rules.
Tag’s own suspicions are on high alert. Magic killed his favorite uncle, and Paul, who senses Tag’s dual nature way too easily, should be a prime suspect. Except Tag’s libido responds to the witch in a way that shouldn’t happen.
Whatever this thing is between them, the raw sexual energy feeds a power that becomes their best hope of drawing out the killer out before he, she, or it strikes again. Until love gets involved, and things get real complicated, real fast…
Product Warnings
Sly foxes, smoky Southern drawls, sex magic, dangerous demons, tacky Las Vegas glitz, and did we mention the hot guy-on-guy sex?
Review:
I found this light hearted book written with some verve eventually became a bit of a disappointment for me. There were things I enjoyed and in particular the main characters were well imagined. Tag was a lot of fun, his fox dual nature added a lot both to the story and to balance his fast growing relationship with Paul, a powerful but inexperienced witch with powerful red or sex magic. I really liked the Las Vegas setting as it added appropriate atmosphere to the mystery and an extra element to Tag and Paul’s relationship.
However the author’s terminology for her world seemed a little forced to me, I appreciate the wish to perhaps avoid well worn descriptions, but when Tag talked of his ‘ wordside ‘ for his humanity, I kept thinking it was a misprint. In fact the world building complete with deity expletives was rather up front all the time. I found the treatment of the story a little overheated, as the erotica intruded into most aspects of the book. I got that Paul’s power was all about the sex magic which manifested itself with integrity because he is a good witch, but for me there was just a bit too much overwritten, read it before, sex on the page. There was also one would be dramatic scene where he used something as a wand which really shouldn’t be used in that way – even with in character humour- unless giggles are the result the writer wants.
The plot was straightforward but avoided the obvious cliches of a super villain, in fact the way the killer was dealt with was a nice touch. I liked the way Paul and Tag talked and worked together without obvious sacrificial heroics. Consequently I was dissatisfied by the obligatory separation Paul somehow felt was necessary.
I only found out that this was a prequel to a previous m/m/f book in this Duals and Donovan’s series, after I’d finished it and saw the extract from the earlier book. Given that an important latter part of this book concerned the monogamy issues Paul had and the emphatic reassurances by Tag of not needing to conform to the usual fox dual multi partnerships, I felt disappointed. It definitely undermined the strong relationship the whole book had built up for me- but other readers may have no problems with this.
I have to apologise as I had a Brit moment and thought this book was available on the 7th, – 7.17.2012…….sorry. However it is available for preorder from Samhain.
I read her other books, which came out quite a while ago, and liked them a lot – found them very unique. I’m going to try this one.
Oy. I wanted to try this author, but I doubt this one would be for me. What say you? 😀
A fox shifter? It sounded right up my alley until I saw it was a prequel to a m/m/f book. Could this be viewed as a standalone and I could skip the second book or does the OFC come into play int his too? Thanks, Raine.
Hi Lasha,
I know- a fox shifter is just so appealing and Tag is very nice guy!
It is a standalone- but I just found the relationship became diluted when I found out about the m/m/f that followed. The book does make it clear both guys are bi, but it didn’t really register for me in the context of their relationship so I was still miffed by this future outcome.
What is OFC? 😀
OFC= Original Female Character
Thanks!