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Deputy Joe #2
Spin Out
Right guy.
Wrong time.
Deputy Joe Peterson understood the risks when he got involved with ex-con Kabe Varghese. He didn’t, however, see fit to warn Kabe. Now, in the middle of searching for the killer of a local boy, he has to contend with his career and his relationship spinning out of control. Solving the case may be easier than repairing broken trust.
Wrong time.
Deputy Joe Peterson understood the risks when he got involved with ex-con Kabe Varghese. He didn’t, however, see fit to warn Kabe. Now, in the middle of searching for the killer of a local boy, he has to contend with his career and his relationship spinning out of control. Solving the case may be easier than repairing broken trust.
284 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 14, 2011
7 people are currently reading
399 people want to read
About the author
James Buchanan
136 books381 followersJames Buchanan, the author of over ten gay novels and single author anthologies, lives in a 100 year old Craftsman in California with SexyGuy, two demon spawn and a heard of adopted dogs, cats, rats and fish. Between managing a law practice with SG, raising kids and writing books, James volunteers with the Erotic Author's Association, Liminal Ink, the EPIC Awards Committee as well as coordinates the newsletter for the ManLoveRomance Author's co-op. James has spoken and read at conferences such as Saints & Sinners and the Popular Culture Association. In the midst of midlife crises, James bought and learned to ride a Harley - it went with the big, extended cab pickup. James has been a member of CorpGoth since 1993 and been know to wear leather frock coats to court.
If you don't find James at the computer working on the next book, you probably won't find the bike in the garage.
Visit James at http://www.james- buchanan. com for more information on recent and upcoming releases.
If you don't find James at the computer working on the next book, you probably won't find the bike in the garage.
Visit James at http://www.james- buchanan. com for more information on recent and upcoming releases.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
August 18, 2016
Written December 12, 2014
4.2 Stars - Once again a sense of something new and slightly different. A perfect mix of love and crime.
Book #2
Spin Out is the second book about the Mormon Sheriff's Deputy, Joe Peterson who is living in a small Utah town near the big mountains. A series (Deputy Joe) all my friends in the the crime-MM-romance girls gang, talked about last spring and summer.
I relly liked the first book #1 - Hard Fall (4 stars) (You were all right ladies!) and was glad to start this one as a BR book with Vivian (her review), a M/M reading friend far away in a sunny California.
An heartwarming and great sequel
..About a still rather fragile new love-relationship and a well-told police investigation, all happening up there in the Utah mountains. What a fantastic setting.
~ ~ It took me (the "BR-snail") over a week (nothing to do with this story) to read this book (Sorry Vivian!!) but I must point out that my feeling was all the way that Spin Out was another great part in a well-done, slightly luminous and unique, romantic M/M crime series.
***********************************************
The Utah Deputy Joe Peterson (32), from the Garfield County Sheriff grew up in the Mormon movement, he is faithful and has lived according to the rules. His feelings and attraction for men was therefore hidden and partly neglected deep down in the 'gay-closet'.
Then Joe meet the ex-con Kabe Varghese (24), a younger beautiful man who is staying with relatives in the town on parole. When a tourist falled off the mountain did Joe need help from this cliff climbing adrenaline junky to solve the crime case. So started also a steaming hot (love) story in the first book.
There is an element of light D/s play between Joe and Kabe, but not in a traditional way so we'll see now what it all wears with their still fairly new relationship.
***********************************************
Utah in the December winter - four months later...
Under an elk-hunt on hourses, up in the winter snowy mountains, happens Kabe to step on a frozen arm. There is a corpse under the snow. ~ A new death and maybe a crime mystery for Deupty Joe and his 'various' kinds of police colleagues,
To be openly gay are often not that easy in real life.
In a small town like Panguitch in Utah Mormon land is it maybe even worse. Joe is so very brave. Although his church and some old 'friends' are turning their backs on him now, after Kabe, is he convinced that he has done absolutely the right thing.
Joe's desire and love for this cheeky tempting young boy (Joe's word) in his life is explained so nicely in these lines:
The theme of this second book is therefore quite natural trust and confidence. Thoughts of one's own feelings, honesty, and to let in someone else very close. ~ This 'reletion-stuff' isn't all that easy for a big strong Joe-Man. He makes mistakes and he is perhaps a kind of coward in some respects. However, most often you later have to pay back, the hard way, for your mistakes. ...You learn!!
***********************************************
...a sense of something new and slightly different
For me feels these main characters genuinely real and their relationship are quite realistic. Those surrounding circumstances, the Mormon culture impact, to actually be living in a sparsely populated very small community, and two men of such different backgrounds, age, upbringing, personal style etc just makes it that much better.
Joe and Kabe could be two guys from different planets. Two different species, which both need and want each other so much - but have that huge male problem of communicating. I only say: Talk more, please !!
***********************************************
Joe and Kabe has one of the more interesting gay-relations in all the various crime series I'm reading right now. Their home variant of D/s sex makes it even more exciting. I look forward to pick up the third book (#3 - Laying Ghosts).
I LIKE - Yea - "Jo" as these northerners say it over here
****
# The Deupty Joe series. So far three novels and a short novella.
# Pics from Joe's town, Panguitch in Utah (population 1.623):
4.2 Stars - Once again a sense of something new and slightly different. A perfect mix of love and crime.
Book #2
Spin Out is the second book about the Mormon Sheriff's Deputy, Joe Peterson who is living in a small Utah town near the big mountains. A series (Deputy Joe) all my friends in the the crime-MM-romance girls gang, talked about last spring and summer.
I relly liked the first book #1 - Hard Fall (4 stars) (You were all right ladies!) and was glad to start this one as a BR book with Vivian (her review), a M/M reading friend far away in a sunny California.
An heartwarming and great sequel
..About a still rather fragile new love-relationship and a well-told police investigation, all happening up there in the Utah mountains. What a fantastic setting.
~ ~ It took me (the "BR-snail") over a week (nothing to do with this story) to read this book (Sorry Vivian!!) but I must point out that my feeling was all the way that Spin Out was another great part in a well-done, slightly luminous and unique, romantic M/M crime series.
***********************************************
The Utah Deputy Joe Peterson (32), from the Garfield County Sheriff grew up in the Mormon movement, he is faithful and has lived according to the rules. His feelings and attraction for men was therefore hidden and partly neglected deep down in the 'gay-closet'.
“...a big old muscly-beary part of the décor..”
Then Joe meet the ex-con Kabe Varghese (24), a younger beautiful man who is staying with relatives in the town on parole. When a tourist falled off the mountain did Joe need help from this cliff climbing adrenaline junky to solve the crime case. So started also a steaming hot (love) story in the first book.
There is an element of light D/s play between Joe and Kabe, but not in a traditional way so we'll see now what it all wears with their still fairly new relationship.
***********************************************
Utah in the December winter - four months later...
Under an elk-hunt on hourses, up in the winter snowy mountains, happens Kabe to step on a frozen arm. There is a corpse under the snow. ~ A new death and maybe a crime mystery for Deupty Joe and his 'various' kinds of police colleagues,
To be openly gay are often not that easy in real life.
In a small town like Panguitch in Utah Mormon land is it maybe even worse. Joe is so very brave. Although his church and some old 'friends' are turning their backs on him now, after Kabe, is he convinced that he has done absolutely the right thing.
Joe's desire and love for this cheeky tempting young boy (Joe's word) in his life is explained so nicely in these lines:
‘But I couldn't have stayed away from Kabe if'n I tried. Beyond the looks, and there was a good bit of looking that could be don on Kabe, he and I just meshed. Our souls got woven together somewhere up along the face of a cliff. I recognized how much I loved the mountains shining out of a set of eyes that stole from the forest for their color. Kabe may have been born and bred a city boy, but the wild wind flowed in his veins same as it did mine.’
The theme of this second book is therefore quite natural trust and confidence. Thoughts of one's own feelings, honesty, and to let in someone else very close. ~ This 'reletion-stuff' isn't all that easy for a big strong Joe-Man. He makes mistakes and he is perhaps a kind of coward in some respects. However, most often you later have to pay back, the hard way, for your mistakes. ...You learn!!
***********************************************
...a sense of something new and slightly different
For me feels these main characters genuinely real and their relationship are quite realistic. Those surrounding circumstances, the Mormon culture impact, to actually be living in a sparsely populated very small community, and two men of such different backgrounds, age, upbringing, personal style etc just makes it that much better.
Joe and Kabe could be two guys from different planets. Two different species, which both need and want each other so much - but have that huge male problem of communicating. I only say: Talk more, please !!
‘...“when you smiled at me right then, I saw something.” I'd seen more than just something, I'd seen a possibility of everything.’
***********************************************
Joe and Kabe has one of the more interesting gay-relations in all the various crime series I'm reading right now. Their home variant of D/s sex makes it even more exciting. I look forward to pick up the third book (#3 - Laying Ghosts).
I LIKE - Yea - "Jo" as these northerners say it over here
****
# The Deupty Joe series. So far three novels and a short novella.
# Pics from Joe's town, Panguitch in Utah (population 1.623):
February 5, 2018
4.5 stars
This is, so far, my favorite title from James Buchanan. What I like most about James's books is how his characters are always (forgive me, if this make me sound condescending) guys' guys, you know? Sure, I like my m/m romance to be romantic and lovely. But most of the times, I prefer strong voice of the narrators, where the love is real and intense but not bordering to sickly saccharine. That is what I get when I read James's books.
This story is taken timeline about few months after Hard Fall. Deputy Joe Peterson has been together with Kabe Varghese for four months. There are two significant plots in this book.
One is the repercussion of Joe hooking up with Kabe. He is facing an administrative law hearing regarding the violations of the prohibitions against Custodial Sexual Misconduct, which will result in his status of POST qualification. Second, a dead body of a missing teenager, first thought of as suicide only later investigation by Joe proves to be a rather different story.
Joe has become my favorite character from James's stories. His voice reaches out to me like a friend. I feel comfortable reading his narration about his feeling for Kabe, his job, his fears and worries, and his faith. When Joe "talk", I "listen" -- which is kinda funny considering that Joe is described as someone who don't talk much. But how can you stop from listening when his words are vividly real?
For example, he might not be romantic, he might not say "I love you" outright, but the way Joe describes his feeling for Kabe just knocks my chest, grabs my heart, and squeezes it tight.
Among Mormons, when you got married, you stood in front of a dozen mirrors and looked into eternity with your chosen. “I don’t see you as a gal…but I see you as a commitment.” And, even though I’d never get that out of my former Church, the sealing my soul to someone else’s, I could see eternity next to him. (page 223)
This book just makes me keep going. From the hearing that brings a serious fight between Joe and Kabe -- Joe is being stupid, of course, trying to protect Kabe without thinking that Kabe wants to be equal in the relationship -- and the investigation towards the dead teenager (which later on brings a climax worthy of a TV scene, which involving some serious car crash!) I cannot take my eyes off my Kindle.
Sure, I might still get some issues regarding some technical terms here (the words during the hearing just fly me by 'cause they're too "law" wordy :p). But I just power through it. I need to know what is going on. I need to know how it ends. Of course, James throws some HOT sex in between (which lets us to see how silent Joe can be dominant Joe in private :p)
I wish James can write more books. Then again, I prefer to have 1-2 books a year if they are THIS good than several mediocre ones ...
This is, so far, my favorite title from James Buchanan. What I like most about James's books is how his characters are always (forgive me, if this make me sound condescending) guys' guys, you know? Sure, I like my m/m romance to be romantic and lovely. But most of the times, I prefer strong voice of the narrators, where the love is real and intense but not bordering to sickly saccharine. That is what I get when I read James's books.
This story is taken timeline about few months after Hard Fall. Deputy Joe Peterson has been together with Kabe Varghese for four months. There are two significant plots in this book.
One is the repercussion of Joe hooking up with Kabe. He is facing an administrative law hearing regarding the violations of the prohibitions against Custodial Sexual Misconduct, which will result in his status of POST qualification. Second, a dead body of a missing teenager, first thought of as suicide only later investigation by Joe proves to be a rather different story.
Joe has become my favorite character from James's stories. His voice reaches out to me like a friend. I feel comfortable reading his narration about his feeling for Kabe, his job, his fears and worries, and his faith. When Joe "talk", I "listen" -- which is kinda funny considering that Joe is described as someone who don't talk much. But how can you stop from listening when his words are vividly real?
For example, he might not be romantic, he might not say "I love you" outright, but the way Joe describes his feeling for Kabe just knocks my chest, grabs my heart, and squeezes it tight.
Among Mormons, when you got married, you stood in front of a dozen mirrors and looked into eternity with your chosen. “I don’t see you as a gal…but I see you as a commitment.” And, even though I’d never get that out of my former Church, the sealing my soul to someone else’s, I could see eternity next to him. (page 223)
This book just makes me keep going. From the hearing that brings a serious fight between Joe and Kabe -- Joe is being stupid, of course, trying to protect Kabe without thinking that Kabe wants to be equal in the relationship -- and the investigation towards the dead teenager (which later on brings a climax worthy of a TV scene, which involving some serious car crash!) I cannot take my eyes off my Kindle.
Sure, I might still get some issues regarding some technical terms here (the words during the hearing just fly me by 'cause they're too "law" wordy :p). But I just power through it. I need to know what is going on. I need to know how it ends. Of course, James throws some HOT sex in between (which lets us to see how silent Joe can be dominant Joe in private :p)
I wish James can write more books. Then again, I prefer to have 1-2 books a year if they are THIS good than several mediocre ones ...
![Profile Image for annob [on hiatus].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1674812294i%2F68231680._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
June 10, 2020
4.5 stars. This series is so good!
My infatuation with Joe continues and seeing him and Kabe evolve as a couple was highly enjoyable. They come across incredibly real and believable, which can only mean the writing technique is top notch. And most amazingly without being boring or predicable at this stage in their (somewhat) already established relationship.
I'm not much of a crime or mystery reader but the criminal case which runs along the romance in the story worked very well in keeping my interest up throughout. This book is a superior blend of the ups and downs of everyday events in Joe's life, small town drama, romance, sex and crime investigation. I'm gonna hit the refill button by reading book 3 right away, 'cos I want more of Joe.
My infatuation with Joe continues and seeing him and Kabe evolve as a couple was highly enjoyable. They come across incredibly real and believable, which can only mean the writing technique is top notch. And most amazingly without being boring or predicable at this stage in their (somewhat) already established relationship.
I'm not much of a crime or mystery reader but the criminal case which runs along the romance in the story worked very well in keeping my interest up throughout. This book is a superior blend of the ups and downs of everyday events in Joe's life, small town drama, romance, sex and crime investigation. I'm gonna hit the refill button by reading book 3 right away, 'cos I want more of Joe.
December 12, 2014
Nice follow on to Joe and Kabe's story. Whole new crime to solve and the problems seem to rack up as soon as they're cleared for Joe. Of course, blindsiding Kabe is never a good idea and the guys find a bit of review is necessary. But, hot diggity are they smoking--wicked hot. No one's quite like Joe, and both he and Kabe want to make this thing they've found work.
Work, work, work. Interesting solution to the mystery, swap out one problem for the next, push Kabe and Joe emotionally forward and expand on the circumstances surrounding them to embroider the edges--yeah, well done.
Overall, solid romance with a side serving of crime solving.
***************
Buddy read with Ingela-- 10 hour time difference won't stop us.
Work, work, work. Interesting solution to the mystery, swap out one problem for the next, push Kabe and Joe emotionally forward and expand on the circumstances surrounding them to embroider the edges--yeah, well done.
Overall, solid romance with a side serving of crime solving.
***************
Buddy read with Ingela-- 10 hour time difference won't stop us.
October 25, 2014
I LIKE JOE. And I like Kabe. And I like almost everything about the series. It has a very high risk of addiction.
And I willingly go FOR IT. FOR HIM. I LOVE YOU, JOE.
But I loved Joe in the book 1 more.
Don't get me wrong-it is not a critic. It is my declaration of love.
BUT.
Why I liked the first book a bit more:
* I'm a BEGINNER junkie, I love the begin of every relationship, all this sexual tension, the first touch, the first kiss, the first fuck- if you want. At the beginning there is something of the forbidden fruit - bitter and sweet at at the same time...I JUST CAN'T HAVE ENOUGH OF IT.
* I hate all kind of misunderstandings. I know...all these Oh/Ah/WTF, all these sudden angst, pains, sufferings + HOW COULD YOU/WHY DIDN'T YOU-moments give us the possibility to know the MCs from the other perspective. Nice. And HERE it was also good written. Excellent dialogues, beautiful thoughts. But I still wasn't able to understand the Kabe's reaction. Maybe it is the reason why I couldn't like him as much as I liked him in the first book. But it is in the first place about Joe. And he was absolutely irresistible with his explanations.
"Lord knows you tease me about my faith...but I don't have to hide it from you. I can just be Joe, all the parts of Joe around you. And that was worth more than my church or my job to hold onto."
* A BDSM aspect. I am not a fun of any BDSM relationship in my books. And I still don't refer their relationship as a BDSM one. Though in spite of really really HOT sex scenes I found the presence of pain during sex not very appealing: I know, it's me, you'll find it probably very exciting. And from the other side, well, Kabe was happy, Joe was happy, I was happy reading the scene, so...it was not THAT BAD.
*The mystery part. For being NOT MORE in the background it was not good enough to be in the main focus of the story.
And now just ignore me.
BECAUSE.
*Joe is the biggest romantic and I like his beautiful mind. To be in his head all the time is a great pleasure.
* This series is one of my favourite MM-series.
* Joe-is one of my all time favourite protagonists.
* James Buchanan belongs WITHOUT ANY TINY DOUBT to the best MM-writers that a genre has to offer.
Thanks GOD for sending them to me!
October 17, 2014
Spin Out starts off a few months after the events of Hard Fall. Joe and Kabe are in a relationship which has several consequences for Joe. He has been excommunicated from the Mormon church, he's lost the respect of some of his community and he suffered some disciplinary action on his job for having sex with Kabe when he was a "person of interest" in Joe's case. All of which Joe has accepted because he's with a guy he can see a future with.
The conflict in this book comes from the fact that Kabe is on probation and it's illegal in the state of Utah for a law enforcement officer to have sexual relations with a person in custody, which Kane's probation falls under. Something Joe knew but never told Kabe. Now Joe is being investigated for sexual misconduct and could possibly lose his job. Kabe is subpoenaed to testify at Joe's hearing and Joe convinces him that it's no big deal. This leaves Kabe completely unprepared for the turn the questions take and is left feeling blindsided. Joe seriously can't understand why Kabe is so furious with him, after all he was trying to protect Kabe from worrying about things that are Joe's problems not his. In between all this, Joe is trying to solve a murder. The case in this one is much more interesting than in the first book, but really not what's important.
What this story is really about is Joe learning to be in a real relationship. It's not enough to want to be with Kabe. He has to open up and let him into his life. He has to admit to himself that what he did to Kabe was wrong, and that it was more than trying to protect Kabe. It was about shutting him out, taking his trust but not giving any back. His journey to that realization, after being a completely stubborn ass, is what's great to watch.
I still love being in Joe's head. His dialect and just way of speaking makes him feel so real. He may act like a hick and talk like a hick, but Joe is not stupid. I also love the depth of his feelings for Kabe. I tried to tame that whole whirlwind into a sentence, “when you smiled at me right then, I saw something.” I’d seen more than just something, I’d seen a possibility of everything. Kabe is difficult to read because we're never in his head but I understood his insecurities about himself and about being with someone like Joe. The short story after this is from Kabe's POV, so I might get to know him a bit better. I'm also really looking forward to seeing where their relationship goes from here. But I wanted to make sure he understood I got that this was our life-together.
Thanks to Sofia for the BR!
The conflict in this book comes from the fact that Kabe is on probation and it's illegal in the state of Utah for a law enforcement officer to have sexual relations with a person in custody, which Kane's probation falls under. Something Joe knew but never told Kabe. Now Joe is being investigated for sexual misconduct and could possibly lose his job. Kabe is subpoenaed to testify at Joe's hearing and Joe convinces him that it's no big deal. This leaves Kabe completely unprepared for the turn the questions take and is left feeling blindsided. Joe seriously can't understand why Kabe is so furious with him, after all he was trying to protect Kabe from worrying about things that are Joe's problems not his. In between all this, Joe is trying to solve a murder. The case in this one is much more interesting than in the first book, but really not what's important.
What this story is really about is Joe learning to be in a real relationship. It's not enough to want to be with Kabe. He has to open up and let him into his life. He has to admit to himself that what he did to Kabe was wrong, and that it was more than trying to protect Kabe. It was about shutting him out, taking his trust but not giving any back. His journey to that realization, after being a completely stubborn ass, is what's great to watch.
I still love being in Joe's head. His dialect and just way of speaking makes him feel so real. He may act like a hick and talk like a hick, but Joe is not stupid. I also love the depth of his feelings for Kabe. I tried to tame that whole whirlwind into a sentence, “when you smiled at me right then, I saw something.” I’d seen more than just something, I’d seen a possibility of everything. Kabe is difficult to read because we're never in his head but I understood his insecurities about himself and about being with someone like Joe. The short story after this is from Kabe's POV, so I might get to know him a bit better. I'm also really looking forward to seeing where their relationship goes from here. But I wanted to make sure he understood I got that this was our life-together.
Thanks to Sofia for the BR!
August 20, 2011
Deputy Joe Peterson has to be one of my favorite characters in M/M romance. I love his narrative voice. Some people have found his colloquial country-boy tone annoying (one reader on Amazon complained about all the 'typos') but I like it; it sounds right in my head. About his relationship with Kabe, Joe says, "My heart decided to go and I didn't have much choice but to follow." It's that simple, but not that easy. This installment is just as good as the first one, and Kabe becomes a little more fleshed out as a character.
June 12, 2014
Woohoo, just saying. One hell of a ride. I really loved this second part of the story. Being with Joe as he goes through the jumbled up mess, his life has become. Watching him make mistakes, owning up to them and doing something about them, that endorses him more to me.
After the first book, I knew this story was going into hurt territory and it did. Being part of a community as Joe was and then suddenly that ‘being part of’ is questioned and you look at those who stand up to be counted and acknowledge them. The rest, are those whose snubs, snide comments are the paper cuts of everyday life, that cut you up and leave you bleeding.
As we read along we come to know Joe and how he came to be. The writing is interspersed with memories, feelings which give us a feel of Joe's past and how he became to be the man he is. Nothing intrusive just interesting like when you are walking along with someone and you see something which reminds you of that delicious ice cream you had once and you mention it with a smile on your face.
I find Joe and Kabe beautiful together. Joe’s realisation that this was something beautiful, something more, something he had never allowed himself to hope for and something that now he couldn't do without and something he did not want to do without regardless of the price he was paying.
"when you smiled at me right then, I saw something." I'd seen more than something, I'd seen a possibility of everything.
On to the next one.
BR with Otila (thanks for the company Otila)
August 19, 2015
I just love the way Buchanan writes BDSM. It's nothing fancy, there are no floggers or ball gags or pretty toys,no big scenes or clubs, "yes, sir", etc etc, instead the characters use common items, such as bungie cords and carabeeners and the bed frame. It feels less like a Lifestyle Choice, and more just a way of life for these characters.
July 11, 2018
SPOILERS for the previous book and this one. I’ll try to use the spoiler tags for the big spoilers (things not mentioned or implied in the blurb) about this book, but you’ve been warned.
This could be called “the book in which Joe learns how to be a boyfriend and not a clueless idiot”.
If you’ve read the first book, you’ll probably be surprised because...really? The guy who got all mesmerized the first time, and every other single time since, Kabe smiled at him? The same guy who jumped into their relationship with both feet and didn’t regret it once, even when he was outed and kicked out of his Church? Yes, that would be him.
And, let me tell you, he takes his time learning too. I kept going back and forth between shaking my head and chuckling for how clueless he was and wanting to smack him upside the head for the same reason.
Joe isn’t stupid and the things he thinks about his Kabe (he calls him that inside his head most of the time and I melted a little every. single. time) would be sappy and ridiculous if it was any other character but him thinking them, but the man needs a crash course on how a romantic relationship works.
Spoiler-not-really-a-spoiler: Kabe got him one of those for Christmas.
This book was a train wreck waiting to happen and the best thing was that Joe was so completely unaware of where he was headed, that he managed to make me unaware, at least to a certain degree and about different things, but still.
Joe’s very good at lying to himself or at least not thinking about things he’d rather avoid, so, while I did realize that he was acting like an idiot (), I never fully grasped the magnitude of . In a way, I was taken by surprise almost as much as .
I fully understood why though, which is more than you can tell about Joe.
And when he I would’ve gladly smacked him upside the head a couple of times then, but Joe being Joe I did understand his reasoning (), so I was only slightly entertained when and Joe still didn’t have a clue about what was wrong about it.
The most amusing thing? Everyone, every single secondary character privy to the details, was aware that Joe messed up and made sure to tell him and he still couldn’t wrap his head around it.
He did learn in the end and, knowing Joe, I'm reasonably certain that he won't make the same mistake again. I'm looking forward to see what'll be the next one. :)
To make it simple, this book was an awesome example of slow but effective character growth, Kabe and Joe are great together and I loved how their relationship progressed. The investigation was a lot better than the one in the first book, bonus points for that too.
I still haven’t warmed up to Joe and Kabe’s brand of BDSM but it works for both of them and it doesn’t bother me, so I can easily ignore it for now and enjoy the rest.
This could be called “the book in which Joe learns how to be a boyfriend and not a clueless idiot”.
If you’ve read the first book, you’ll probably be surprised because...really? The guy who got all mesmerized the first time, and every other single time since, Kabe smiled at him? The same guy who jumped into their relationship with both feet and didn’t regret it once, even when he was outed and kicked out of his Church? Yes, that would be him.
And, let me tell you, he takes his time learning too. I kept going back and forth between shaking my head and chuckling for how clueless he was and wanting to smack him upside the head for the same reason.
Joe isn’t stupid and the things he thinks about his Kabe (he calls him that inside his head most of the time and I melted a little every. single. time) would be sappy and ridiculous if it was any other character but him thinking them, but the man needs a crash course on how a romantic relationship works.
Spoiler-not-really-a-spoiler: Kabe got him one of those for Christmas.
This book was a train wreck waiting to happen and the best thing was that Joe was so completely unaware of where he was headed, that he managed to make me unaware, at least to a certain degree and about different things, but still.
Joe’s very good at lying to himself or at least not thinking about things he’d rather avoid, so, while I did realize that he was acting like an idiot (), I never fully grasped the magnitude of . In a way, I was taken by surprise almost as much as .
I fully understood why though, which is more than you can tell about Joe.
And when he I would’ve gladly smacked him upside the head a couple of times then, but Joe being Joe I did understand his reasoning (), so I was only slightly entertained when and Joe still didn’t have a clue about what was wrong about it.
The most amusing thing? Everyone, every single secondary character privy to the details, was aware that Joe messed up and made sure to tell him and he still couldn’t wrap his head around it.
He did learn in the end and, knowing Joe, I'm reasonably certain that he won't make the same mistake again. I'm looking forward to see what'll be the next one. :)
To make it simple, this book was an awesome example of slow but effective character growth, Kabe and Joe are great together and I loved how their relationship progressed. The investigation was a lot better than the one in the first book, bonus points for that too.
I still haven’t warmed up to Joe and Kabe’s brand of BDSM but it works for both of them and it doesn’t bother me, so I can easily ignore it for now and enjoy the rest.
August 7, 2020
3.5 stars
May 7, 2015
Spin Out continues not long after Hard Fall leaves off. Joe is out, though I don't see him hitting the pride parades any time soon. Kabe is working on getting his EMT certs and things seem pretty good between them.
But, Joe is still dealing with the aftermath of his relationship with Kabe becoming public. Or rather he isn't dealing with it at all, figuring it will all just go away. And to make matters worse, Joe keeps the possible consequences of their relationship from Kabe and when the feces hits the oscillator, it nearly ends their relationship for good. Kabe, rightly, feels like Joe isn't invested in their relationship. Joe's insistence on taking everything on his shoulders isn't healthy.
Overall, Joe and Kabe go through quite a lot in this book. Joe is learning what it really means to be in a relationship and is learning to deal with having been excommunicated. I wanted to smack him a fair amount, for taking Kabe for granted and generally being an ass, but he eventually gets there. Kabe is learning how to deal with Joe's high handedness while also working toward bettering himself. Neither of them have it easy.
The suspense part of the plot actually melds rather well with Joe and Kabe's relationship and their personal issues, and I don't feel like it detracted at all. All in all, I thought this was a worthy follow up to Hard Fall, and I look forward to continuing on with the series.
But, Joe is still dealing with the aftermath of his relationship with Kabe becoming public. Or rather he isn't dealing with it at all, figuring it will all just go away. And to make matters worse, Joe keeps the possible consequences of their relationship from Kabe and when the feces hits the oscillator, it nearly ends their relationship for good. Kabe, rightly, feels like Joe isn't invested in their relationship. Joe's insistence on taking everything on his shoulders isn't healthy.
Overall, Joe and Kabe go through quite a lot in this book. Joe is learning what it really means to be in a relationship and is learning to deal with having been excommunicated. I wanted to smack him a fair amount, for taking Kabe for granted and generally being an ass, but he eventually gets there. Kabe is learning how to deal with Joe's high handedness while also working toward bettering himself. Neither of them have it easy.
The suspense part of the plot actually melds rather well with Joe and Kabe's relationship and their personal issues, and I don't feel like it detracted at all. All in all, I thought this was a worthy follow up to Hard Fall, and I look forward to continuing on with the series.
May 17, 2015
No time for a proper review because I want to start the third book :) I enjoyed this one even more than the first. I'm not sure if I said this in my review of book 1, but what I love about this series is that the characters are so down to earth and real. Even though there is more angst in this book, it didn't feel out of place or thrown in for effect. . Joe can be one stubborn SOB, but I love how his character is developing. This book shows even more layers to him and I can't wait to start book 3.
September 29, 2011
This review was originally written for The Romance Reviews and can also be found there.
Reviewing a sequel usually means you're carrying some baggage left over from the previous book. You either loved it and expect the same or more from the next one, or you disliked something and are fretting about what exactly did the next book in the series keep and what did it discard.
I was one of those who expected a lot. I needed all of the elements I liked in the first book to still be in this one and I needed that something extra which would make it better. Well, I got what I wanted and let me just tell you about it.
Joe made his life very difficult by choosing Kabe. He got shunned by his church, some people in town are taking the relationship as a personal insult and to make things worse, as an officer of the law, he's facing an administrative hearing regarding his sexual relationship with a man on probation. Things are not looking good, but instead of finding strength in his partner, Joe keeps it all inside, thinking of all the issues as his own. While it might have started as a way of protecting Kabe from all the hurt, in reality it came down to withholding information from the only person in Joe's life who really mattered.
Our Deputy is a man of many flaws and a man of strong beliefs. While he tries to do the best thing, he doesn't always see mistakes that might come with it. It's not entirely his fault, of course. You can't be perfect in something you've never experienced before, and that is exactly where Joe stands. He's with Kabe, both his heart and soul invested in that one man, but he doesn't see it as clearly as we reading his thoughts might. Precisely for that reason, I loved him.
I did miss Kabe's voice every once in a while, but most of the time I didn't even think about it. Joe is such a strong character he overshadows the rest of them, and in the end, I was fine with that. Joe, or rather the author, gives us the perfect ratio of plot, love relationship and character. All bases are covered and all curiosity satisfied.
The story did move slowly at times, some things taking precedence over others I might have been more interested in, but when looking at this book as a whole, it was done brilliantly. I wasn't overwhelmed with the facts of Joe's investigation, but still all angles were covered and all questions answered. The relationship was talked about and in a certain way it was the main focus, but again, it's not something that's in your face. That made me enjoy every interaction more, and the absolutely amazing not-to-mention hot sex scenes forced me to pay attention and almost beg for more. Well, I did beg, just not publicly.
So page-by-page, I read through the story. I felt my heart almost break for Joe and I felt it skip a beat from fear at one point. I can't say I hated Kabe, but he made me frown at times although I understood him. These things are something you just can't help, because although Joe is a quiet man, when he feels and when he speaks, you experience every emotion and every single word right there with him. By the end I realized I felt sorry for needing to let these characters go and all those read pages behind me, were just too few.
Reviewing a sequel usually means you're carrying some baggage left over from the previous book. You either loved it and expect the same or more from the next one, or you disliked something and are fretting about what exactly did the next book in the series keep and what did it discard.
I was one of those who expected a lot. I needed all of the elements I liked in the first book to still be in this one and I needed that something extra which would make it better. Well, I got what I wanted and let me just tell you about it.
Joe made his life very difficult by choosing Kabe. He got shunned by his church, some people in town are taking the relationship as a personal insult and to make things worse, as an officer of the law, he's facing an administrative hearing regarding his sexual relationship with a man on probation. Things are not looking good, but instead of finding strength in his partner, Joe keeps it all inside, thinking of all the issues as his own. While it might have started as a way of protecting Kabe from all the hurt, in reality it came down to withholding information from the only person in Joe's life who really mattered.
Our Deputy is a man of many flaws and a man of strong beliefs. While he tries to do the best thing, he doesn't always see mistakes that might come with it. It's not entirely his fault, of course. You can't be perfect in something you've never experienced before, and that is exactly where Joe stands. He's with Kabe, both his heart and soul invested in that one man, but he doesn't see it as clearly as we reading his thoughts might. Precisely for that reason, I loved him.
I did miss Kabe's voice every once in a while, but most of the time I didn't even think about it. Joe is such a strong character he overshadows the rest of them, and in the end, I was fine with that. Joe, or rather the author, gives us the perfect ratio of plot, love relationship and character. All bases are covered and all curiosity satisfied.
The story did move slowly at times, some things taking precedence over others I might have been more interested in, but when looking at this book as a whole, it was done brilliantly. I wasn't overwhelmed with the facts of Joe's investigation, but still all angles were covered and all questions answered. The relationship was talked about and in a certain way it was the main focus, but again, it's not something that's in your face. That made me enjoy every interaction more, and the absolutely amazing not-to-mention hot sex scenes forced me to pay attention and almost beg for more. Well, I did beg, just not publicly.
So page-by-page, I read through the story. I felt my heart almost break for Joe and I felt it skip a beat from fear at one point. I can't say I hated Kabe, but he made me frown at times although I understood him. These things are something you just can't help, because although Joe is a quiet man, when he feels and when he speaks, you experience every emotion and every single word right there with him. By the end I realized I felt sorry for needing to let these characters go and all those read pages behind me, were just too few.
October 30, 2014
3.8 stars
Spin Out was the opposite of Hard Fall, in my opinion.
Some things better, some worse, but it felt different in almost every way.
In this instalment, Joe annoyed me more often than not, but I got to love Kabe more. Despite being ten years younger, he appeared to be more reasonable than Joe.
The mystery part was much better thought out, and I enjoyed puzzling over who's done what. In fact, I was so focused on that, the MC's relationship became almost secondary.
For the first half of the book I just didn't feel as invested into the story as I've been while reading Hard Fall. In fact, the whole misunderstanding between Joe and Kabe bothered me to the point where I just wanted to move on. Then, luckily, some things happened in the middle of the book, and I was back on track.
Another difference - I didn't enjoy the sex scenes in Spin Out. The mild BDSM that is going here is probably supposed to spice things up, but with me it had the opposite effect. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not a vanilla kind of girl, and like some kink from time to time, but after reading so many BDSM books in the past, I think it all starts to blur after a while. And it needs that little something to pick my interest, something like in the first book. That was edgy and risky and wild - exactly what's needed for the wicked Dom/Sub's encounters. Otherwise, it gets old quickly.
However, overall, it was an enjoyable read. There were a few characters that grew on me even more since the first book. You can't help but love Nadia and Sheriff Simple for their support and friendship. It's always nice to see that some people care and stick by you no matter what hardships you face in life. Joe is lucky to have them.
The ending was nice too. I could finally feel some real feelings between Joe and Kabe building, and the promise of a long-lasting relationship.
And that gives me hope ;)
Spin Out was the opposite of Hard Fall, in my opinion.
Some things better, some worse, but it felt different in almost every way.
In this instalment, Joe annoyed me more often than not, but I got to love Kabe more. Despite being ten years younger, he appeared to be more reasonable than Joe.
The mystery part was much better thought out, and I enjoyed puzzling over who's done what. In fact, I was so focused on that, the MC's relationship became almost secondary.
For the first half of the book I just didn't feel as invested into the story as I've been while reading Hard Fall. In fact, the whole misunderstanding between Joe and Kabe bothered me to the point where I just wanted to move on. Then, luckily, some things happened in the middle of the book, and I was back on track.
Another difference - I didn't enjoy the sex scenes in Spin Out. The mild BDSM that is going here is probably supposed to spice things up, but with me it had the opposite effect. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not a vanilla kind of girl, and like some kink from time to time, but after reading so many BDSM books in the past, I think it all starts to blur after a while. And it needs that little something to pick my interest, something like in the first book. That was edgy and risky and wild - exactly what's needed for the wicked Dom/Sub's encounters. Otherwise, it gets old quickly.
However, overall, it was an enjoyable read. There were a few characters that grew on me even more since the first book. You can't help but love Nadia and Sheriff Simple for their support and friendship. It's always nice to see that some people care and stick by you no matter what hardships you face in life. Joe is lucky to have them.
The ending was nice too. I could finally feel some real feelings between Joe and Kabe building, and the promise of a long-lasting relationship.
“I don’t need you…but, boy, I need you.”So, he finally admits it!
And that gives me hope ;)
April 7, 2013
Likes:
1. Joe's narrative. It's hicky, it flows, and it's him personified. What more can you ask of a narrative?
2. Kabe. Because attitude. Because addiction to social website. Because one second he'll be like ATTITUDE, FUCK YOU, and then the next he'll be updating his Facebook to 'In a Relationship' with Joe and the mental image of that is just too cute.
3. I don't think they ever said 'I love you' even once, but it radiates from the pages.
4.EMOTIONS! When their relationship hit a rough patch I feel like screaming, strangling, and beating them into a pulp. And then I want to read at the speed of light so they'll get back together already. Then I want to beat the both of them up for making me a nervous wreck. Then I want to beat up the author too for making me a nervous wreck and I'm so
AALKSDLJKJL *beats pillow and screams*
I swear Buchanan is the only person who can make me so pissed off FOR people but still like the book for pissing me off.
Did not likes:
1. It made me an emotional wreck
2. The 'mystery' is not a real mystery at all, at least in the 56 clues way. Basically an interview of character after character, and you pretty much know - and will be told - the identity of the criminal halfway through the book. It makes the whole non-romance part of it perfunctory and frankly, rather pointless.
1. Joe's narrative. It's hicky, it flows, and it's him personified. What more can you ask of a narrative?
2. Kabe. Because attitude. Because addiction to social website. Because one second he'll be like ATTITUDE, FUCK YOU, and then the next he'll be updating his Facebook to 'In a Relationship' with Joe and the mental image of that is just too cute.
3. I don't think they ever said 'I love you' even once, but it radiates from the pages.
4.EMOTIONS! When their relationship hit a rough patch I feel like screaming, strangling, and beating them into a pulp. And then I want to read at the speed of light so they'll get back together already. Then I want to beat the both of them up for making me a nervous wreck. Then I want to beat up the author too for making me a nervous wreck and I'm so
AALKSDLJKJL *beats pillow and screams*
I swear Buchanan is the only person who can make me so pissed off FOR people but still like the book for pissing me off.
Did not likes:
1. It made me an emotional wreck
2. The 'mystery' is not a real mystery at all, at least in the 56 clues way. Basically an interview of character after character, and you pretty much know - and will be told - the identity of the criminal halfway through the book. It makes the whole non-romance part of it perfunctory and frankly, rather pointless.
September 14, 2015
This was a good follow up to Hard Fall and continues the story of Joe and Kabe approximately 3 months after the end of the first book.
Their relationship continues to intensify, as do the consequences of Deputy Joe becoming involved with Kabe, who is currently on probation. Joe is looking at further disciplinary proceedings which could wind up costing him his job and Kabe is settling in to his life in Utah. They know that being together is not going to be easy and Joe, who has never been in a relationship, really struggles. The pain play and D/s nature of their relationship ramps up a bit in this book as well.
The mystery is more a part of this book than it was in the first one, but the main focus is really on Joe and Kabe trying to move the relationship forward while dealing with the serious outside factors that affect it.
I'd love to see the next book focus a bit more on Kabe. So far we have a good grasp on Joe, but only fleeting knowledge of where Kabe is coming from. He is such a fresh, fun character and I would really like to get to know him better.
Their relationship continues to intensify, as do the consequences of Deputy Joe becoming involved with Kabe, who is currently on probation. Joe is looking at further disciplinary proceedings which could wind up costing him his job and Kabe is settling in to his life in Utah. They know that being together is not going to be easy and Joe, who has never been in a relationship, really struggles. The pain play and D/s nature of their relationship ramps up a bit in this book as well.
The mystery is more a part of this book than it was in the first one, but the main focus is really on Joe and Kabe trying to move the relationship forward while dealing with the serious outside factors that affect it.
I'd love to see the next book focus a bit more on Kabe. So far we have a good grasp on Joe, but only fleeting knowledge of where Kabe is coming from. He is such a fresh, fun character and I would really like to get to know him better.
October 7, 2017
4.5 Stars
Well, that was AWESOME! In book two, Deputy Joe managed to ... well, majorly f*ck up ... while being an incredibly stand-up guy. He f*cked up vis-a-vis Kabe. (Ruh roh.) But he was an incredibly stand-up guy because ... well, Joe is just plain honest and true. He's one to "take his medicine." I can't tell you how refreshing that is! I have been reading m/m for the better part of the past 1.5 years and, m/f for years before that. I LOATHE characters (and it's all too common) who perceive the admission of fault or acceptance of blame as weakness. I. Loathe. Them. Because, I see it opposite: personal accountability shows strength of character. And, they don't come much stronger than Deputy Joe.
Again, I loved his voice. He was hard-headed and stubborn as all get out but he came around ... once Nadia gave him a swift kick in the butt. I adore her. And Kabe. Ah, Kabe. I'm still lovin' him. Poor thing. But in the end, he gets Joe. And that's oodles more than most.
Bottom line: I can't get enough of this series. On to book 3!
Well, that was AWESOME! In book two, Deputy Joe managed to ... well, majorly f*ck up ... while being an incredibly stand-up guy. He f*cked up vis-a-vis Kabe. (Ruh roh.) But he was an incredibly stand-up guy because ... well, Joe is just plain honest and true. He's one to "take his medicine." I can't tell you how refreshing that is! I have been reading m/m for the better part of the past 1.5 years and, m/f for years before that. I LOATHE characters (and it's all too common) who perceive the admission of fault or acceptance of blame as weakness. I. Loathe. Them. Because, I see it opposite: personal accountability shows strength of character. And, they don't come much stronger than Deputy Joe.
Again, I loved his voice. He was hard-headed and stubborn as all get out but he came around ... once Nadia gave him a swift kick in the butt. I adore her. And Kabe. Ah, Kabe. I'm still lovin' him. Poor thing. But in the end, he gets Joe. And that's oodles more than most.
Bottom line: I can't get enough of this series. On to book 3!
December 16, 2012
Sequel to and set several months after Hard Fall, Spin Out tells the continuing story of Deputy Joe as he faces the repercussions of his actions from the summer, finds a new murder case on the mountain, and works through the kinks (sexual and otherwise) in his ongoing relationship with ex-con Kabe.
Like in Hard Fall, I really enjoyed reading Joe’s very distinctive narrative voice, and I give props to Buchanan for doing such good job with it and making it read so consistently “Joe” throughout. (I’m not sure how to describe it…”Realist folks-y”?) The mystery that he and Kabe (literally) stumble upon on the mountain was interesting and layered, and I appreciated following Joe as he pieced things together.
Kabe and Joe’s chemistry is also still pretty hot. (I'm not so into the pain play that Kabe digs, but I do find it hilarious that Joe is basically taking on the Dom role without really knowing anything about it--he just naturally gravitates towards it, so in that way, they're very compatible.) It’s also nice to see how their relationship deepens along with how each of them grows, like with Kabe finding work while also training to be an EMT. At the same time, you see Joe struggling with how to be in a relationship, something he’s never really had before, and his attempts to shield Kabe from his worries are admirable, but ultimately unsuccessful. Thankfully, spitfire Kabe is just as stubborn, even when he’s feeling hurt.
Between the two books, I think Hard Fall is still my favorite, although I’m hard-pressed to explain why. But the mystery seemed better balanced with the main story in this book, and I liked how Kabe played a part in Joe’s investigation. It made me feel that they really are in each other’s pockets, even when they’re mad at each other.
So, if you enjoyed Hard Fall, you’ll probably dig this continuation of Joe and Kabe’s story. I would not recommend Spin Out if you haven’t read the first book though--you probably could get by, but you would be missing a lot of the “reasons” for what results you see laid out here. Anyways, I’ll looking forward to checking out the forthcoming third book, and hey, there’s even a Joe&Kabe Christmas story still to read. How festive!
Like in Hard Fall, I really enjoyed reading Joe’s very distinctive narrative voice, and I give props to Buchanan for doing such good job with it and making it read so consistently “Joe” throughout. (I’m not sure how to describe it…”Realist folks-y”?) The mystery that he and Kabe (literally) stumble upon on the mountain was interesting and layered, and I appreciated following Joe as he pieced things together.
Kabe and Joe’s chemistry is also still pretty hot. (I'm not so into the pain play that Kabe digs, but I do find it hilarious that Joe is basically taking on the Dom role without really knowing anything about it--he just naturally gravitates towards it, so in that way, they're very compatible.) It’s also nice to see how their relationship deepens along with how each of them grows, like with Kabe finding work while also training to be an EMT. At the same time, you see Joe struggling with how to be in a relationship, something he’s never really had before, and his attempts to shield Kabe from his worries are admirable, but ultimately unsuccessful. Thankfully, spitfire Kabe is just as stubborn, even when he’s feeling hurt.
Between the two books, I think Hard Fall is still my favorite, although I’m hard-pressed to explain why. But the mystery seemed better balanced with the main story in this book, and I liked how Kabe played a part in Joe’s investigation. It made me feel that they really are in each other’s pockets, even when they’re mad at each other.
So, if you enjoyed Hard Fall, you’ll probably dig this continuation of Joe and Kabe’s story. I would not recommend Spin Out if you haven’t read the first book though--you probably could get by, but you would be missing a lot of the “reasons” for what results you see laid out here. Anyways, I’ll looking forward to checking out the forthcoming third book, and hey, there’s even a Joe&Kabe Christmas story still to read. How festive!
August 28, 2012
I love Joe.
I'd like this to be my review.
But if I don't bore myself and everybody else with my thoughts, I don't feel like I've really done the book justice. Or maybe I should shut the hell up. Anyway:
Joe's voice is enthralling, even if it's a bit hard to pick it up for a foreigner like me, but then it just keeps you glued to the screen. It seems all that's good and genuine in Joe comes out in his way of telling events. Genuine, real, concrete, I don't know, it seems as though I could end up in his little corner of the world and meet him. Like in the first book, his sexual dominance really seems just like a trait of his personality and it suits him perfectly, it spills in his bedroom in a natural way. Outside of the bedroom, he's a regular guy doing his job and trying to follow his principles and be just, not simply playing lip-service to abstract religious principle. He doesn't drink, he doesn't cuss, he doesn't beat to surrender everyone he meets with his animal magnetism, but when he's with his Kabe, well, he's scorching hot. I think I expressed this concept thoroughly.
In this installment, he's facing the problems he caused by himself after hooking up with Kabe during the investigation of the first book. He has to go in front of a commission and have his behaviour analyzed and judged and he could risk a lot. He doesn't want Kabe to be involved in this, but eventually it happens. Joe meant good, but he hasn't really understood that Kabe wants to be an equal in their relationship, he wants to be there as a partner, not as the boy Joe orders around in the bedroom. I really felt for Joe and I sympathized with him for not being able to see how he was hurting Kabe by trying to shield him for the nastiness of the IA investigation.
The subplot around the mystery investigation was unsettling. The bullying that transpires is heartbreaking, even if the author didn't make this a central theme, but it niggled my mind quite a lot.
So: excellent. I hope for other books along the way, because Joe has still a lot to face in the future, especially in his community and within his family.
I'd like this to be my review.
But if I don't bore myself and everybody else with my thoughts, I don't feel like I've really done the book justice. Or maybe I should shut the hell up. Anyway:
Joe's voice is enthralling, even if it's a bit hard to pick it up for a foreigner like me, but then it just keeps you glued to the screen. It seems all that's good and genuine in Joe comes out in his way of telling events. Genuine, real, concrete, I don't know, it seems as though I could end up in his little corner of the world and meet him. Like in the first book, his sexual dominance really seems just like a trait of his personality and it suits him perfectly, it spills in his bedroom in a natural way. Outside of the bedroom, he's a regular guy doing his job and trying to follow his principles and be just, not simply playing lip-service to abstract religious principle. He doesn't drink, he doesn't cuss, he doesn't beat to surrender everyone he meets with his animal magnetism, but when he's with his Kabe, well, he's scorching hot. I think I expressed this concept thoroughly.
In this installment, he's facing the problems he caused by himself after hooking up with Kabe during the investigation of the first book. He has to go in front of a commission and have his behaviour analyzed and judged and he could risk a lot. He doesn't want Kabe to be involved in this, but eventually it happens. Joe meant good, but he hasn't really understood that Kabe wants to be an equal in their relationship, he wants to be there as a partner, not as the boy Joe orders around in the bedroom. I really felt for Joe and I sympathized with him for not being able to see how he was hurting Kabe by trying to shield him for the nastiness of the IA investigation.
The subplot around the mystery investigation was unsettling. The bullying that transpires is heartbreaking, even if the author didn't make this a central theme, but it niggled my mind quite a lot.
So: excellent. I hope for other books along the way, because Joe has still a lot to face in the future, especially in his community and within his family.
October 17, 2014
Read the Hard Fall first.
I love how James Buchanan stays with the way Joe speaks. That says much for his writing skills. I enjoy his prose. There is something about this series that reminds me of Hansen"s Brandstetter series gone modern. No it is not the poetic prose of Joseph Hansen, but it is real and quiet with a hero who has honor and no pretense like his books.
Joe is still experiencing the ostracism of his being gay in Utah and being excommunicated from the Mormon (LDS) church for it. Joe is learning who his true friends are. Joe is still with Kabe and sees a future with him. They have their problems and with a great lack of communication on Joe's part these problems become a mountain. One of those communication problems centers on Joe's state disciplinary hearing over that same relationship with Kabe. Another is the appearance of an old friend, a friend with benefits. Kabe's trust is tested and not successfully. Joe's feelings for Kabe are also tested.
As in the first book the mystery is not the center of the book. (I know not like Hansen's books, but there is just something that keeps bringing Hansen to mind.) It is important in that the investigation gives us readers another peek at who Joe is and why being a cop is almost as important as being with Kabe. Joe being with Kabe is hot and intense. The supporting cast of characters is always good in one of Buchanan's novels and this one is no exception.
Of course I want more of kabe and Joe.
I love how James Buchanan stays with the way Joe speaks. That says much for his writing skills. I enjoy his prose. There is something about this series that reminds me of Hansen"s Brandstetter series gone modern. No it is not the poetic prose of Joseph Hansen, but it is real and quiet with a hero who has honor and no pretense like his books.
Joe is still experiencing the ostracism of his being gay in Utah and being excommunicated from the Mormon (LDS) church for it. Joe is learning who his true friends are. Joe is still with Kabe and sees a future with him. They have their problems and with a great lack of communication on Joe's part these problems become a mountain. One of those communication problems centers on Joe's state disciplinary hearing over that same relationship with Kabe. Another is the appearance of an old friend, a friend with benefits. Kabe's trust is tested and not successfully. Joe's feelings for Kabe are also tested.
As in the first book the mystery is not the center of the book. (I know not like Hansen's books, but there is just something that keeps bringing Hansen to mind.) It is important in that the investigation gives us readers another peek at who Joe is and why being a cop is almost as important as being with Kabe. Joe being with Kabe is hot and intense. The supporting cast of characters is always good in one of Buchanan's novels and this one is no exception.
Of course I want more of kabe and Joe.
March 16, 2017
4.1 Stars
Joe's folksy dialogue and wonky grammar started grating on me in this installment, probably because it's the third one in three days to read/sound that way and it got annoying. Other than that, I liked the story a lot. Good case, but nothing too extravagant; no red-herrings or wild goose chases. Just good old fashioned police work and a little bit of luck. You know, like in real life.
Speaking of: HALLELUJAH! I can't tell you how many books I've read that have a LEO involved with a person of interest (or even an actual suspect) and there's not a word mentioned about how inappropriate that is, not during the case or afterwards when an investigation would be warranted. So, Utah having those strict POST guidelines really was a refreshing dose of realism; even acknowledging the inherent power imbalance between someone on probation or parole (who is considered "in custody") and a LEO was more than I expected...to have a hearing, or more consequences levied, was...I just never expected to see such a thing in the genre. So, bravo for that, Author.
Finally, as was the case previously, the sex was smoking hot. OMG that last sex scene with the bungee cord? Holy shit.
Joe's folksy dialogue and wonky grammar started grating on me in this installment, probably because it's the third one in three days to read/sound that way and it got annoying. Other than that, I liked the story a lot. Good case, but nothing too extravagant; no red-herrings or wild goose chases. Just good old fashioned police work and a little bit of luck. You know, like in real life.
Speaking of: HALLELUJAH! I can't tell you how many books I've read that have a LEO involved with a person of interest (or even an actual suspect) and there's not a word mentioned about how inappropriate that is, not during the case or afterwards when an investigation would be warranted. So, Utah having those strict POST guidelines really was a refreshing dose of realism; even acknowledging the inherent power imbalance between someone on probation or parole (who is considered "in custody") and a LEO was more than I expected...to have a hearing, or more consequences levied, was...I just never expected to see such a thing in the genre. So, bravo for that, Author.
Finally, as was the case previously, the sex was smoking hot. OMG that last sex scene with the bungee cord? Holy shit.
March 27, 2014
4.5 stars
Continuing immediately after Hard Fall, Joe and Kabe work through some real issues in their relationship here. I liked Joe's slowly unfolding realization of Kabe's part in their relationship - Joe learns a lot about himself and his issues with opening up to his partner. This really rang true to me and I loved the story-telling here. Kabe feeds a real need in Joe and that is beautifully expressed in this story. Please, please can we have some more?
January 6, 2013
Really liked this book and so glad I read it after finding the first book in the series only so-so. This story really focuses on the characters and has excitement as well as hot sex. There are complications regarding old friends, work related disciplinary action, misunderstandings, accidents and a murder to be solved. Definitely better than book 1 Hard Fall.
November 10, 2011
Another super enjoyable book from James Buchanan. Spin Out has all the elements I really enjoyed from the first Deputy Joe book: good characters, good conflict, good sex & romance, good sense of place and time, and I feel like she even managed to tell a better integrated story than the previous outing (not that Hard Fall was at all bad).
Ironically enough, I read both books while on a plane, but with Spin Out, I hadn't quite reached story's end by the time the plane landed and, though on a vacation I was really looking forward to, I found myself chafing for the moment I'd be back in the hotel and could continue reading and finish the story. That's how much I enjoyed Spin Out.
First of all, Buchanan tackles one of MY favorite romance tropes: "Okay, now we're together, now how do we make this all work?" Though first time, get together stories can be great, I'm always so much more interested in stories about people trying to make their relationships work, and Buchanan really delivers with Kade and Joe, two people who never thought they'd find themselves in a relationship and aren't one hundred percent sure that they are, let alone how to make it work.
Even more so than in Hard Fall, Buchanan also imbues Spin Out with a powerful and vivid sense of place and community. Much as Stephen King does with his home state of Maine, Buchannan paints a strong picture of Utah, its beauty and its isolation and its small, close-knit communities, with their faults and virtues. One thing that I also find refreshing in both books is how Buchanan deals with Joe, as an excommunicated, gay Mormon character. I think it's very easy--and very popular--to write characters of faith and the faith itself (and pick your poison, there) as huge monolithic villains and the people who subscribe to that faith as fatuous fools. And, while pretty much any organized religion has its share of jerks, assholes, and bigots bolstered by picked and chosen elements of their faith, it's not a complete picture and it gets completely tedious and overworked. So it's refreshing to have a character like Joe who has definitely suffered at the hands of his faith and yet still finds the tenacity and faith within himself to find something meaningful in it all. And, as before, Joe's lack of existential angst about reconciling his faith with his queerness is just...it's different than most other books with similar elements and the fact that Buchanan doesn't tread this same, boring territory is delicious.
Looking at my review for Hard Fall, I noticed I didn't even really mention the central "mystery" of the story...and there's a good reason for that. It's a device, but it's not the main focus of the story. I feel like that's still the case with Spin Out, especially because Kade is less involved in this case, but I do think Buchanan does a much better job of integrating Joe's job as a whole into the flow of the story, showing how the relationship with Kade both is and isn't the center of his existence, showing how what's happening in one affects the other (in both directions) and addressing the ongoing consequences of a cop and an ex-con trying to have an HEA.
If I have a complaint about Spin Out, or the series as a whole, it's that Kade is still a bit of a mystery to me. Joe is such a larger than life character and it's all told from his POV and he can be kind of a lunkhead at the best of times, which means I don't feel like we know Kade as well as we know Joe so intimately...but their relationship is such a realized and genuine one, that the loss of Kade's POV is not as dire as it might be coming from a different author. I really hope Buchanan continues this series; it's such a unique and wonderful voice in the genre.
Ironically enough, I read both books while on a plane, but with Spin Out, I hadn't quite reached story's end by the time the plane landed and, though on a vacation I was really looking forward to, I found myself chafing for the moment I'd be back in the hotel and could continue reading and finish the story. That's how much I enjoyed Spin Out.
First of all, Buchanan tackles one of MY favorite romance tropes: "Okay, now we're together, now how do we make this all work?" Though first time, get together stories can be great, I'm always so much more interested in stories about people trying to make their relationships work, and Buchanan really delivers with Kade and Joe, two people who never thought they'd find themselves in a relationship and aren't one hundred percent sure that they are, let alone how to make it work.
Even more so than in Hard Fall, Buchanan also imbues Spin Out with a powerful and vivid sense of place and community. Much as Stephen King does with his home state of Maine, Buchannan paints a strong picture of Utah, its beauty and its isolation and its small, close-knit communities, with their faults and virtues. One thing that I also find refreshing in both books is how Buchanan deals with Joe, as an excommunicated, gay Mormon character. I think it's very easy--and very popular--to write characters of faith and the faith itself (and pick your poison, there) as huge monolithic villains and the people who subscribe to that faith as fatuous fools. And, while pretty much any organized religion has its share of jerks, assholes, and bigots bolstered by picked and chosen elements of their faith, it's not a complete picture and it gets completely tedious and overworked. So it's refreshing to have a character like Joe who has definitely suffered at the hands of his faith and yet still finds the tenacity and faith within himself to find something meaningful in it all. And, as before, Joe's lack of existential angst about reconciling his faith with his queerness is just...it's different than most other books with similar elements and the fact that Buchanan doesn't tread this same, boring territory is delicious.
Looking at my review for Hard Fall, I noticed I didn't even really mention the central "mystery" of the story...and there's a good reason for that. It's a device, but it's not the main focus of the story. I feel like that's still the case with Spin Out, especially because Kade is less involved in this case, but I do think Buchanan does a much better job of integrating Joe's job as a whole into the flow of the story, showing how the relationship with Kade both is and isn't the center of his existence, showing how what's happening in one affects the other (in both directions) and addressing the ongoing consequences of a cop and an ex-con trying to have an HEA.
If I have a complaint about Spin Out, or the series as a whole, it's that Kade is still a bit of a mystery to me. Joe is such a larger than life character and it's all told from his POV and he can be kind of a lunkhead at the best of times, which means I don't feel like we know Kade as well as we know Joe so intimately...but their relationship is such a realized and genuine one, that the loss of Kade's POV is not as dire as it might be coming from a different author. I really hope Buchanan continues this series; it's such a unique and wonderful voice in the genre.
July 25, 2011
James Buchanan always delivers. ALWAYS. The writing is fresh and there is a reasonable conflict within the story. Buchanan works to portray the men in her story as guys, realistic (within the confines of the story, of course) but just normal guys who could possibly exist in the world Buchanan has created.
I like a wide range of story types but my best reading... my favourite reading comes from a storyteller who takes the time to flesh out characters and provide an in-depth plot with a true-to-life situational base to it. I enjoy the almost-reality of a good book and Buchanan provides that in spades.
"Deputy Joe #2" is a long-awaited sequel for me. Without breaking into spoilers, the writing here is concise and heart-rending at times. Just enough emotion in it to feel the pain someone might run into once life gets complicated but enough perspective so it isn't a drowning pool of angst.
Both of the main characters are fully drawn, giving the reader an delightful insight into their lives. Kabe Varghese is a great foil for the more serious and intrinsically pious Joe Peterson. That piety is a personal moral system and doesn't come off as restrictive, something I enjoy in this book. Joe balances the guidance in his life with the physical needs he has perfectly and there's no apologies given for those choices. A refreshing take on a gay man's outlook on his life. Not to say Joe doesn't have quandrys, both personal and professional, but they are handled with a delicate hand and Buchanan wields a beautifully wrought pen.
Pick up the first book "Hard Fall" then head on over to "Spin Out". And be glad you didn't have to wait like I did.
I like a wide range of story types but my best reading... my favourite reading comes from a storyteller who takes the time to flesh out characters and provide an in-depth plot with a true-to-life situational base to it. I enjoy the almost-reality of a good book and Buchanan provides that in spades.
"Deputy Joe #2" is a long-awaited sequel for me. Without breaking into spoilers, the writing here is concise and heart-rending at times. Just enough emotion in it to feel the pain someone might run into once life gets complicated but enough perspective so it isn't a drowning pool of angst.
Both of the main characters are fully drawn, giving the reader an delightful insight into their lives. Kabe Varghese is a great foil for the more serious and intrinsically pious Joe Peterson. That piety is a personal moral system and doesn't come off as restrictive, something I enjoy in this book. Joe balances the guidance in his life with the physical needs he has perfectly and there's no apologies given for those choices. A refreshing take on a gay man's outlook on his life. Not to say Joe doesn't have quandrys, both personal and professional, but they are handled with a delicate hand and Buchanan wields a beautifully wrought pen.
Pick up the first book "Hard Fall" then head on over to "Spin Out". And be glad you didn't have to wait like I did.
February 19, 2016
*** 3,5 Joe and Kabe stars ***
This was a good follow up from the excellent #1 Hard Fall. The story picks up about three months after #1.
Deputy Sheriff, Joe Peterson (32) and Kabe Varghese (24) are still new to this "relationship stuff", but are finding their way together. Or together might be too strong a word. Joe has problem sharing his thoughts and feelings, especially concerning the upcoming disciplinary hearing concerning his job, and relationship with Kabe. He totally
There is a criminal case that Joe is trying to solve in this book as well, like the first one. In #1 the criminal case takes a bit of back seat, since the simmering relationship between Joe and Kabe is front and center, which also made that book awesome. In this one, though, the criminal case has the front row. The case, the investigation and the solve of the case is all very interesting, but Joe and Kabe's relationship aren't that pronounced. Mostly because they I was definitely hoping for more "making up".
Overall, a good follow up of the first book. I like Joe and Kabe! I liked finding out about the criminal case. Everything didn't wow me, like #1 did. But I'm continuing with the series.
Deputy Sheriff, Joe Peterson (32) and Kabe Varghese (24) are still new to this "relationship stuff", but are finding their way together. Or together might be too strong a word. Joe has problem sharing his thoughts and feelings, especially concerning the upcoming disciplinary hearing concerning his job, and relationship with Kabe. He totally
There is a criminal case that Joe is trying to solve in this book as well, like the first one. In #1 the criminal case takes a bit of back seat, since the simmering relationship between Joe and Kabe is front and center, which also made that book awesome. In this one, though, the criminal case has the front row. The case, the investigation and the solve of the case is all very interesting, but Joe and Kabe's relationship aren't that pronounced. Mostly because they I was definitely hoping for more "making up".
Overall, a good follow up of the first book. I like Joe and Kabe! I liked finding out about the criminal case. Everything didn't wow me, like #1 did. But I'm continuing with the series.
July 31, 2011
It's hard for me to say much about the book because I like it so much, but I can say this... Joe is now seriously competing with Nicky (from Taking the Odds series) for the title of my favorite Buchanan's character and that is saying something, because Nicky was a tough act to follow. There aren't many characters in m/m romance who are as well drawn, as complex, as alive as Joe. I feel these characters still have more to say and, if I'm not mistaken, there are some hints in Spin Out that there might be another novel in the future. I certainly hope so. If not, Spin Out is definitely rereading material.
September 13, 2014
This series keeps on getting better. Mr. Buchanan has rolled a mystery, police procedural, romance, contrary religion, hot sex and real flawed characters all into one excellent story. Some of the backwoods language may put some people off but the story takes place in small town Utah. I have to admire Joe for adhering to his religious convictions even after being excommunicated. The personal tension between Kabe and Joe was well played out throughout the story. The mystery also wasn't a quick fix "gotcha" bit but was a real mystery. Some BDSM play just incase you're easily offended. Highly recommended.
February 4, 2014
In the second book in this series the mystery is extraneous in my opinion. The relationship between Deputy Joe and Kabe is the real heart of this story. It was a real treat to see them working out the dynamics of their lives together. There was a little less of Joe's Mormon upbringing which was fine with me.
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