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The Winter Dark
Veteran police chief Eli Gallagher doesn’t ask for much, but he does insist that his officers uphold the “serve” part of “serve and protect.” Conscientious young Deputy Stan Leach takes Eli’s moto to heart, maintaining a high standard of personal accountability.
When Eli’s long-distance boyfriend, Gilbert Nees, telephones from Philadelphia, Eli thinks he intends to further cement their relationship. Unfortunately, Gilbert’s news is anything but good. But Eli doesn’t have time to wallow, because a violent act results in murder in the small town of Morristown, Mississippi.
But as Eli and Stan uncover evidence, their personal lives begin to unravel. Stan, working closely with Chief Gallagher, grows increasingly attached to Eli and learns what it really means to be an advocate of justice.
When Eli’s long-distance boyfriend, Gilbert Nees, telephones from Philadelphia, Eli thinks he intends to further cement their relationship. Unfortunately, Gilbert’s news is anything but good. But Eli doesn’t have time to wallow, because a violent act results in murder in the small town of Morristown, Mississippi.
But as Eli and Stan uncover evidence, their personal lives begin to unravel. Stan, working closely with Chief Gallagher, grows increasingly attached to Eli and learns what it really means to be an advocate of justice.
104 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 10, 2014
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56 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
February 11, 2015
I read this a while ago, and Emma was kind enough to remind me what said book was! Yay!
That being said...
People seemed to dislike this book. I, actually, didn't. 3.5 stars from Natasha.
I thought the plot was interesting, if a bit slow at the beginning. The romance wasn't extremely romantic, but I like books that aren't romance. The actual mystery happened so far into the story, I thought it was kind of interesting. Different.
Some gruesome parts, which I really liked.
I've read a lot of mm, and this was a different formula. Most romance, by now, is a tad predictable, at least as far as plot progression goes.
I liked it. I really did.
That being said...
People seemed to dislike this book. I, actually, didn't. 3.5 stars from Natasha.
I thought the plot was interesting, if a bit slow at the beginning. The romance wasn't extremely romantic, but I like books that aren't romance. The actual mystery happened so far into the story, I thought it was kind of interesting. Different.
Some gruesome parts, which I really liked.
I've read a lot of mm, and this was a different formula. Most romance, by now, is a tad predictable, at least as far as plot progression goes.
I liked it. I really did.
April 16, 2017
3 stars for what had the potential to be so much more....but...
I needed more for that to happen.
Ok before I get into the actual story I'm going to deal with the audio. K. C. Kelly was the narrator for this book and he's a new to me narrator and one that I'm definitely going to keep an eye on. I really enjoyed his narration on this book but I've also taken the time to listen to some samples of other books he's narrated and I have to say I want to listen to a few of them. I like his voices they're filled with personality and life adding both depth and emotion to the story. So the audio portion gets 4 stars from me.
I love a good romantic thriller and this one had all the hallmarks of being just that. Sadly that didn't happen. In short order this story was too short. It almost felt like a detailed story outline rather than a complete story. It felt to me like there were a few opportunities for this story to be fleshed out and turned into a far more detailed novel or novella at the very least.
The setting is small town Mississippi and our MCs are the sheriff Eli Gallagher and his deputy, Stan Leach. I liked these characters and I very much enjoyed the story that was there. The book starts with both Eli and Stan involved with other people. We quickly find out that Eli's current interest is...to put it bluntly a bag of dicks. Seriously this guy is so full of himself it's pitiful and laughable so I did...laugh that is. This was also what made me like Gallagher. Gallagher basically showed himself to be a class act...while Gilbert, Eli's love interest, (or BoD...Bag 'o' Dicks as I lovingly came to think of him...add copious amounts of sarcasm here please) proved himself to be a totally pompous, pretentious, self-absorbed BoD.
Seems good old Gilbert wants to get married to a woman because 'it's time to settle down'...no spoiler here it's in the blurb. Seriously this part of the story left me trying to get my jaw off the floor with how astoundingly oblivious and full of himself our man Gil proved himself to be. I was very entertained with how the author wrote this part of the story...loved it.
Meanwhile Stan suddenly finds his hands full with Harvey Faber until they're not...this would be one of those chances to fill out the story...oh well opportunity knocked and no one answered the door. This was another part of the story that I really enjoyed I liked how Stan was with Harvey. It was sweet and kind.
So at the end of it all my biggest problem with this story wasn't that I didn't like it. It was that I did. I liked it enough that I really wanted the author to give me more story. More background on both of these men and definitely more relationship time between Eli and Stan because yeah, I liked these two as a couple and I would have loved to have had more time with them both while they're getting together and after they become a couple. By the way everyone did I mention...AGE GAP!!! That's right there's about 15 years between these two and I didn't care...I think I'm cured.
Simply put at the end of it all I wanted more. I needed more to take this from 3 "It's ok, I liked it" stars to possibly 5 "HOLY Crap! This was great stars. I definitely feel the need to check out more of this author's books and K.C. Kelly is a yes on my audio narrator list. So while the book wasn't as good as it could have been I'd say this one was a win and if there's ever second release that gets notably revised I think I'm on board for a re-read...eeeerrr...re-listen on this on.
*********************
An audiobook of 'The Winter Dark' was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I needed more for that to happen.
Ok before I get into the actual story I'm going to deal with the audio. K. C. Kelly was the narrator for this book and he's a new to me narrator and one that I'm definitely going to keep an eye on. I really enjoyed his narration on this book but I've also taken the time to listen to some samples of other books he's narrated and I have to say I want to listen to a few of them. I like his voices they're filled with personality and life adding both depth and emotion to the story. So the audio portion gets 4 stars from me.
I love a good romantic thriller and this one had all the hallmarks of being just that. Sadly that didn't happen. In short order this story was too short. It almost felt like a detailed story outline rather than a complete story. It felt to me like there were a few opportunities for this story to be fleshed out and turned into a far more detailed novel or novella at the very least.
The setting is small town Mississippi and our MCs are the sheriff Eli Gallagher and his deputy, Stan Leach. I liked these characters and I very much enjoyed the story that was there. The book starts with both Eli and Stan involved with other people. We quickly find out that Eli's current interest is...to put it bluntly a bag of dicks. Seriously this guy is so full of himself it's pitiful and laughable so I did...laugh that is. This was also what made me like Gallagher. Gallagher basically showed himself to be a class act...while Gilbert, Eli's love interest, (or BoD...Bag 'o' Dicks as I lovingly came to think of him...add copious amounts of sarcasm here please) proved himself to be a totally pompous, pretentious, self-absorbed BoD.
Seems good old Gilbert wants to get married to a woman because 'it's time to settle down'...no spoiler here it's in the blurb. Seriously this part of the story left me trying to get my jaw off the floor with how astoundingly oblivious and full of himself our man Gil proved himself to be. I was very entertained with how the author wrote this part of the story...loved it.
Meanwhile Stan suddenly finds his hands full with Harvey Faber until they're not...this would be one of those chances to fill out the story...oh well opportunity knocked and no one answered the door. This was another part of the story that I really enjoyed I liked how Stan was with Harvey. It was sweet and kind.
So at the end of it all my biggest problem with this story wasn't that I didn't like it. It was that I did. I liked it enough that I really wanted the author to give me more story. More background on both of these men and definitely more relationship time between Eli and Stan because yeah, I liked these two as a couple and I would have loved to have had more time with them both while they're getting together and after they become a couple. By the way everyone did I mention...AGE GAP!!! That's right there's about 15 years between these two and I didn't care...I think I'm cured.
Simply put at the end of it all I wanted more. I needed more to take this from 3 "It's ok, I liked it" stars to possibly 5 "HOLY Crap! This was great stars. I definitely feel the need to check out more of this author's books and K.C. Kelly is a yes on my audio narrator list. So while the book wasn't as good as it could have been I'd say this one was a win and if there's ever second release that gets notably revised I think I'm on board for a re-read...eeeerrr...re-listen on this on.
*********************
An audiobook of 'The Winter Dark' was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
March 17, 2017
Honestly, I picked up this audiobook because it was narrated by K.C. Kelly and I always enjoy him. I guess I should have read some of the reviews first. It wasn't a bad story, just kind of awkward. We spent the first 60% of the book getting to know the MCs in relationships with other people. By the time they got together, it was way too rushed. There was hardly any time to connect with them as a couple and then suddenly we were at the epilogue.
August 20, 2022
Note-perfect Southern story (to the ear of this Yankee with eight years logged in Georgia and Virginia). Short but sweet; very accomplished writing. Intend to read everything else Cook has written.
Re-read 8/22
Bumped up to all the stars because so satisfying the second time. My favorite Cook so far.
Re-read 8/22
Bumped up to all the stars because so satisfying the second time. My favorite Cook so far.
dnf-not-4-me
October 11, 2014Reviews are terrible.
April 9, 2017
Audio Version
This was just alright. I'm not sure the point of the story tbh. It shows two police officers in a small town who are involved with other people. Most of the book is showing them in those relationships and then shows those relationships fail. We get some glimpses that the two men find each other attractive throughout that time. Then at the end they work a case together and sleep together. Then it jumps to the epilogue which caps off a hea but we have no idea how they got there. It wasn't a bad book but it wasn't that interesting. I don't want to spend 90% of a book watching relationships fail. Why not make at least half of the book about these two together and falling for each other??
The narrator did a good job.
This was just alright. I'm not sure the point of the story tbh. It shows two police officers in a small town who are involved with other people. Most of the book is showing them in those relationships and then shows those relationships fail. We get some glimpses that the two men find each other attractive throughout that time. Then at the end they work a case together and sleep together. Then it jumps to the epilogue which caps off a hea but we have no idea how they got there. It wasn't a bad book but it wasn't that interesting. I don't want to spend 90% of a book watching relationships fail. Why not make at least half of the book about these two together and falling for each other??
The narrator did a good job.
March 21, 2021
I was not a huge fan of this. It takes place in Mississippi so I can understand some twang and accent, but I had to double check and make sure it wasn't a historical book because it felt like the dialogue took place 100 years ago. Half (if not more) was about the MC's with other people, and when they did finally get together, I wasn't able to figure out why it even happened. Eli is Stan's police chief. It didn't seem like something that would happen so spontaneously, especially since the guys didn't even seem to have any personal connection at all. By then end, I just sat feeling like I missed a big chunk of story to help me wrap my head around it all. There was "mystery" (not in a who dun it kind of way, but a police thing), and it felt unnecessary to me.
March 14, 2015
Reviewed by Brandilyn for Prism Book Alliance. Novellas are a hard format to write well. You have to balance the needs of the story with the restrictions of the word count. Some authors excel at the novella format (Harper Fox comes to mind). Unfortunately, more often than not a novella is lacking... something... You know what I mean, right? That "something" that makes a story resonate with you, the reader. You don't have room for a lot of backstory in a novella so what you do show the reader needs to be rich and complete. Find the whole review at http://www.prismbookalliance.com/?pos...
August 3, 2016
Disorganised is the best word I can find to describe this book. It felt very messy. Also, I'm a little pissed off that the MCs spent most of the story with other people then, when they got together, there was no chemistry and the story just stopped before any could develop. :(
October 24, 2016
I'm not sure what to think about this novella. I think if it had been longer I would have liked it better, but the first 60% of the novella was spent with the main characters having sex with other people. There was no mention of the MCs having any sort of attraction to each other and Eli seemed to think of Stan like a young kid. It was completely out of left field when they got together, though it seemed to me that it was more that they were the only two gay men in their small town and it was a matter of convenience to them to be together. The proposal tacked onto the very end of the story seemed really out of place.
It was also distracting to have one of the main characters be referred to as Gallagher (Eli's last name)and the person he was seeing be referred to as Gilbert (his boyfriend's first name). I had to keep looking back in the chapter to find out who was who. Then, in the same scene, the main character was referred to by his first name Eli before being called Gallagher again while his boyfriend was called by his last name Nees.
The murder that was mentioned in the story's blurb didn't occur until the 75% mark and the description of the crime scene, the dead body, and the gory autopsy seemed to have more page time than the so called romance between the two main characters. I normally have a strong stomach (I am a nurse) but I found myself skimming over these descriptions with a queasy stomach; I think because it was so unexpected in such a short story. The main characters finally got together at the 82% mark but by then it seemed anticlimactic. I think 77 pages was too short to really develop the story where it needed to be for the relationship between the MCs. The murder was not much of a story line since they knew who the killer was and he seemed to be apprehended fairly quickly. The writing was very good and I wanted to like this story more than I actually did.
It was also distracting to have one of the main characters be referred to as Gallagher (Eli's last name)and the person he was seeing be referred to as Gilbert (his boyfriend's first name). I had to keep looking back in the chapter to find out who was who. Then, in the same scene, the main character was referred to by his first name Eli before being called Gallagher again while his boyfriend was called by his last name Nees.
The murder that was mentioned in the story's blurb didn't occur until the 75% mark and the description of the crime scene, the dead body, and the gory autopsy seemed to have more page time than the so called romance between the two main characters. I normally have a strong stomach (I am a nurse) but I found myself skimming over these descriptions with a queasy stomach; I think because it was so unexpected in such a short story. The main characters finally got together at the 82% mark but by then it seemed anticlimactic. I think 77 pages was too short to really develop the story where it needed to be for the relationship between the MCs. The murder was not much of a story line since they knew who the killer was and he seemed to be apprehended fairly quickly. The writing was very good and I wanted to like this story more than I actually did.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 24, 2016
This book feels like we got the first couple of chapters, then someone cut out the middle then left a sloppy end. It was set up and felt like a slow burn sort of story. But two seconds after their relationship dramas it's spring, they get together, then the end. Where is the rest of the book? The summary said "But as Eli and Stan uncover evidence, their personal lives begin to unravel. Stan, working closely with Chief Gallagher, grows increasingly attached to Eli and learns what it really means to be an advocate of justice." But there was none of that. It was pages and pages of relationships that died or just vanished conventionally after accomplishing nothing, and what should the meat of the story was a wham bam thank you ma'am.
And frankly the shitty crack about the waitress who liked sleeping with different men being a Popsicle licked too many times was gross slut shaming bullshit that made me hate Stan anyway.
And frankly the shitty crack about the waitress who liked sleeping with different men being a Popsicle licked too many times was gross slut shaming bullshit that made me hate Stan anyway.
September 12, 2018
The Winter Dark was released in audiobook edition, and because of that I decided to give this story once more chance. Second time around I could accept the story line, but personally it was to short and undeveloped. Everything happen to fast and I simply couldn't enjoy the romantic part in this story.
2014/September/12 - 1 star rating
Wow, this story was definitely to weirdly written and plotted. I have only one question, why was this even released? Personally, it's an empty, cold story without everything.
2014/September/12 - 1 star rating
Wow, this story was definitely to weirdly written and plotted. I have only one question, why was this even released? Personally, it's an empty, cold story without everything.
February 24, 2017
I feel really weird about this story. I feel like it had all the elements of a good book but execution was awful, and editing was almost non-existent.
Was this part of a series and I just didn’t get the memo? And what ethnicity/race was Gilbert b/c they started talking about white vs black or white vs other races and all this time I thought Gilbert was white --?
And why did Eli all of a sudden start thinking about Stan?
And what --?
And then why were there such gruesome details about domestic abuse and murder ALL OF A SUDDEN?? This story was all over the fucking place.
Was this part of a series and I just didn’t get the memo? And what ethnicity/race was Gilbert b/c they started talking about white vs black or white vs other races and all this time I thought Gilbert was white --?
And why did Eli all of a sudden start thinking about Stan?
And what --?
And then why were there such gruesome details about domestic abuse and murder ALL OF A SUDDEN?? This story was all over the fucking place.
January 9, 2016
Too short and incomplete. No real romance at all. The blurb doesn't really fit the story
May 14, 2017
3.5/5 - pretty good book for an afternoon quick read, and I'm pretty sure K.C. Kelly has just ruined me for any other narrator.
This book starts off like a wet dream, literally. Eli's having some pretty nice dreams of being in his patrol car with a very hands-on partner, and I loved him from that point on. He was quirky and snarky in all the right ways with quite the mouth on him. And Stan, despite not being my favorite, really pulled through in the end.
This is one of those books that starts off great and would have really benefited from maybe one more editor or beta reader. It started off slow and steady but somewhere along the way you realize you're on a rollercoaster at the top of a hill, everything is winding up and you're getting ready for that drop that'll scare you shitless, but then you roll down the hill at a snail's pace. It's just... uneventful. There were some parts that were lacking in details and others were far too detailed. But the plot was good, I liked the characters, and I really didn't mind listening to K.C. Kelly talk, so it was worthy of 3.5 stars.
Rarely does a narrator outshine the book they're reading, but I think in this case, that's exactly what happened. The narrator is really what made this book for me. I'm 100% positive that my overall rating would be lower with a different narrator, but there was something about this book and this narrator that just meshed. He had that slight southern drawl and deep raspy voice. Oh yes, I likey very very much. I'll probably end up re-listening to this book a few times just for the narrator.
Overall, decently good book, fantastic narrator, pretty good pairing, and I'm off to find more K.C. Kelly narrations.
Reviewed by Jordan at Alpha Book Club.
Disclaimer: This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own and not influenced by the author or the publisher in any way.
This book starts off like a wet dream, literally. Eli's having some pretty nice dreams of being in his patrol car with a very hands-on partner, and I loved him from that point on. He was quirky and snarky in all the right ways with quite the mouth on him. And Stan, despite not being my favorite, really pulled through in the end.
This is one of those books that starts off great and would have really benefited from maybe one more editor or beta reader. It started off slow and steady but somewhere along the way you realize you're on a rollercoaster at the top of a hill, everything is winding up and you're getting ready for that drop that'll scare you shitless, but then you roll down the hill at a snail's pace. It's just... uneventful. There were some parts that were lacking in details and others were far too detailed. But the plot was good, I liked the characters, and I really didn't mind listening to K.C. Kelly talk, so it was worthy of 3.5 stars.
Rarely does a narrator outshine the book they're reading, but I think in this case, that's exactly what happened. The narrator is really what made this book for me. I'm 100% positive that my overall rating would be lower with a different narrator, but there was something about this book and this narrator that just meshed. He had that slight southern drawl and deep raspy voice. Oh yes, I likey very very much. I'll probably end up re-listening to this book a few times just for the narrator.
Overall, decently good book, fantastic narrator, pretty good pairing, and I'm off to find more K.C. Kelly narrations.
Reviewed by Jordan at Alpha Book Club.
Disclaimer: This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own and not influenced by the author or the publisher in any way.
June 19, 2017
"I'm so confused."
What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?
A better storyline and a more coherent narration.
What could J.S. Cook have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?
Maybe actually reading this book might have been better. I was very confused, more than once, who's pov I was in. The majority of the book, which is a novella already, the two MC's were with other people. When they did finally get together I wasn't even sure why and then the book was over.
Would you be willing to try another one of K.C. Kelly’s performances?
The backdrop of the book was Mississippi and I've lived in Mississippi, they do NOT sound like whatever dialogue Kelly was using that sounded more like an audition to read the credits for the movie Deliverance!
What character would you cut from The Winter Dark?
All of them?
Any additional comments?
Yeah, sorry, I tried I promise. I listened to the entire book thinking "Okay, next chapter they'll get together and the story will iron itself out." Nope. I don't like having to hunt down my characters and that's how I felt this story was conveyed.
What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?
A better storyline and a more coherent narration.
What could J.S. Cook have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?
Maybe actually reading this book might have been better. I was very confused, more than once, who's pov I was in. The majority of the book, which is a novella already, the two MC's were with other people. When they did finally get together I wasn't even sure why and then the book was over.
Would you be willing to try another one of K.C. Kelly’s performances?
The backdrop of the book was Mississippi and I've lived in Mississippi, they do NOT sound like whatever dialogue Kelly was using that sounded more like an audition to read the credits for the movie Deliverance!
What character would you cut from The Winter Dark?
All of them?
Any additional comments?
Yeah, sorry, I tried I promise. I listened to the entire book thinking "Okay, next chapter they'll get together and the story will iron itself out." Nope. I don't like having to hunt down my characters and that's how I felt this story was conveyed.
September 17, 2017
This was intersting book with a strong premise but tried to do too much in a novella.
It reads as a book of two parts not fully integrated.
In the first part we get to see parts of Chief of Police Eli and his young deputy's Stan experience of personal relationships before they come together.
The second part sees their relationships develop through having to manage a brutal murder. In this section there is meditation on domestic violence and the reslience required of emergency responders.
I think the book would have worked better if we received the background of how previous relationships had formed them interwoven into to how they negotiated their burgeoning relationship.
N.B. The murder scene is not for squeamish. Also have to Give KC Kelly a 4 for his audible narration.
It reads as a book of two parts not fully integrated.
In the first part we get to see parts of Chief of Police Eli and his young deputy's Stan experience of personal relationships before they come together.
The second part sees their relationships develop through having to manage a brutal murder. In this section there is meditation on domestic violence and the reslience required of emergency responders.
I think the book would have worked better if we received the background of how previous relationships had formed them interwoven into to how they negotiated their burgeoning relationship.
N.B. The murder scene is not for squeamish. Also have to Give KC Kelly a 4 for his audible narration.
October 2, 2020
So, I liked this very much, up until the epilogue, which came from nowhere and, at least to me, made no sense.
The rest of the story, though? I loved it. It reads like a vignette of the life of two gay cops in Missouri and yes, it's a bit dark and a bit gritty, with a sense of melancholy but also hope.
As I said, the happy-happy epilogue was the one thing that I didn't like. I would have loved to see a couple of books dealing with these two men before that one happening, but then, that's just me :P
The rest of the story, though? I loved it. It reads like a vignette of the life of two gay cops in Missouri and yes, it's a bit dark and a bit gritty, with a sense of melancholy but also hope.
As I said, the happy-happy epilogue was the one thing that I didn't like. I would have loved to see a couple of books dealing with these two men before that one happening, but then, that's just me :P
October 12, 2022
Không có 0 sao trên đây nên mình sẽ đánh cuốn này là 1. Điểm thật sự của nó là 0.
Tác giả không biết gì về luật cơ bản của cảnh sát.
Nhân vật trong truyện này vô lý, vô trách nhiệm, cậy quyền và đạo đức giả vãi lờ.
Và mình drop cuốn này. Bình thường mình drop sẽ không bao giờ đánh giá điểm, nhưng cuốn này đụng phải điểm ngứa mắt của mình.
Tác giả không biết gì về luật cơ bản của cảnh sát.
Nhân vật trong truyện này vô lý, vô trách nhiệm, cậy quyền và đạo đức giả vãi lờ.
Và mình drop cuốn này. Bình thường mình drop sẽ không bao giờ đánh giá điểm, nhưng cuốn này đụng phải điểm ngứa mắt của mình.
October 22, 2018
Great detail and character development. Wonderful imagery. Some section were a little brief and the timeline lurches but the story moves right along. I love the epilogue; the gruff Chief of Police goes from "tell anyone and I'll kill you" to "marry me". Happy sighs.
August 6, 2017
Review to be posted.
August 14, 2015
I have no idea what I just read. It's not the book described in the summary. The summary and novella do share some similarities, but they're all out of order, cause and effect between events is non-existent, and the "horrific murder" doesn't even happen until 3/4 of the way through the book.
Directly from the summary:
The MCs spend the first 50+% of the book with other people, having detailed sex with other people. And then those relationships don't work out, those people vanish, and the MCs get together. I guess?
The book seems to be written in tight third person POV, except how often do you change how you refer to yourself in your head? Sometimes Eli is referred to as Eli, sometimes Gallagher. Mostly Stan is Stan, which is good (although Eli refers to him as both). But Eli's first boyfriend was sometimes Nees and sometimes Gilbert. The two "G" names was confusing enough--flipping how the characters are named in the story is a huge no-no.
Apparently the aforementioned first boyfriend (Gilbert Nees) was black, and this becomes something of an issue (as much as anything is in this story), but we aren't explicitly given that information by the author. I guess we're supposed to deduce it because he's a cop from Philadelphia and his name is Gilbert? There is literally no other way that we would figure out that he's black. Gross stereotyping much? Please, please, please describe your characters so we know what they look like, particularly if skin color actually becomes an issue. Your reader is not a mind reader. Why is race even an issue if you're not comfortable writing about it??
Stan is not the same person in his head as he is when we see him from Eli's point of view. Talk about terrible characterizations. Dialogue throughout the book is unbelievable. As are some of the situations. The chief isn't hesitant to sleep with one of his officers at all? There might not be an HR department, but please. He's not a dummy. Except maybe he is, because he didn't hesitate to roll over a dead body without first taking photos of the crime scene. So...
There is so much random crap in this story that doesn't make any sense. The sex scenes were completely formulaic--not a hint of emotion. And the end?! The end???!! Hahaha. Just... I don't even know. I will say that the technical aspects of the writing weren't awful, but in the grand scheme, that doesn't save the book.
Directly from the summary:
By his side is conscientious young Deputy Stan Leach. Together they work to discover the killer. But as they uncover evidence, their personal lives begin to unravel. Eli’s long-distance boyfriend telephones saying he’s getting married to a woman. Stan learns that the man he helped shelter wants to move on. When the clues unveil a history of abuse, the two men pull together to bring the murdered woman justice and maybe find the answers to the other questions in their lives.NONE OF THIS HAPPENS LIKE THIS. It's like someone wrote a good summary and then 15 people played telephone and the actual summary is the result.
The MCs spend the first 50+% of the book with other people, having detailed sex with other people. And then those relationships don't work out, those people vanish, and the MCs get together. I guess?
The book seems to be written in tight third person POV, except how often do you change how you refer to yourself in your head? Sometimes Eli is referred to as Eli, sometimes Gallagher. Mostly Stan is Stan, which is good (although Eli refers to him as both). But Eli's first boyfriend was sometimes Nees and sometimes Gilbert. The two "G" names was confusing enough--flipping how the characters are named in the story is a huge no-no.
Apparently the aforementioned first boyfriend (Gilbert Nees) was black, and this becomes something of an issue (as much as anything is in this story), but we aren't explicitly given that information by the author. I guess we're supposed to deduce it because he's a cop from Philadelphia and his name is Gilbert? There is literally no other way that we would figure out that he's black. Gross stereotyping much? Please, please, please describe your characters so we know what they look like, particularly if skin color actually becomes an issue. Your reader is not a mind reader. Why is race even an issue if you're not comfortable writing about it??
Stan is not the same person in his head as he is when we see him from Eli's point of view. Talk about terrible characterizations. Dialogue throughout the book is unbelievable. As are some of the situations. The chief isn't hesitant to sleep with one of his officers at all? There might not be an HR department, but please. He's not a dummy. Except maybe he is, because he didn't hesitate to roll over a dead body without first taking photos of the crime scene. So...
There is so much random crap in this story that doesn't make any sense. The sex scenes were completely formulaic--not a hint of emotion. And the end?! The end???!! Hahaha. Just... I don't even know. I will say that the technical aspects of the writing weren't awful, but in the grand scheme, that doesn't save the book.
January 2, 2023
Lately it appears I'm reading a number of new to me authors, and I can't begin to tell you how much I love that. It's so exciting to find a new voice and then look into reading more of their works. 'The Winter Dark' by J.S. Cook is a murder mystery with a little love thrown in, not a bad way to spend an afternoon, in my opinion.
Morristown, Mississippi in the middle of winter is having unseasonably cold temperatures. Like in the minus digits, which, frankly, if you know anything about the Deep South, then you know how rare that is. This is not a big city, filled with a lot of poor people, struggling to get by. Officer Stan Leach runs across Harvey trying to break into a pool hall just to get warm. Harvey is twenty-one, still lives at home with his mother, but his mom's boyfriend uses him like a punching bag. Stan lets him come and stay at his house to have somewhere safe, warm, and with food to eat. Meanwhile, Chief of Police Eli Gallagher, has gone north to visit his long-distance boyfriend, only to find, after they've had sex, that Gilbert is going to marry a woman and have kids, but he'd like to keep Eli on the side. What? Yeah, Eli ain't too happy about that development either. Eli heads home with that relationship ended while Stan learns that Harvey got accepted to college and he's leaving.
Spring comes along and life is back to routine and loneliness for both men, until they get a call regarding a dead woman found in her trailer. The same woman they'd taken to the hospital earlier to get treated for damage her husband caused, but whom she refused to press charges against. Investigating this murder brings Eli and Stan together, but it's their wants and desires that hold them that way.
This is a good novella, but in my opinion, the relationship between Eli and Stan could've developed over more time, and I certainly would have liked to see that. If you're familiar with the South, then the rhythm of this small, poor area will be comforting.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Morristown, Mississippi in the middle of winter is having unseasonably cold temperatures. Like in the minus digits, which, frankly, if you know anything about the Deep South, then you know how rare that is. This is not a big city, filled with a lot of poor people, struggling to get by. Officer Stan Leach runs across Harvey trying to break into a pool hall just to get warm. Harvey is twenty-one, still lives at home with his mother, but his mom's boyfriend uses him like a punching bag. Stan lets him come and stay at his house to have somewhere safe, warm, and with food to eat. Meanwhile, Chief of Police Eli Gallagher, has gone north to visit his long-distance boyfriend, only to find, after they've had sex, that Gilbert is going to marry a woman and have kids, but he'd like to keep Eli on the side. What? Yeah, Eli ain't too happy about that development either. Eli heads home with that relationship ended while Stan learns that Harvey got accepted to college and he's leaving.
Spring comes along and life is back to routine and loneliness for both men, until they get a call regarding a dead woman found in her trailer. The same woman they'd taken to the hospital earlier to get treated for damage her husband caused, but whom she refused to press charges against. Investigating this murder brings Eli and Stan together, but it's their wants and desires that hold them that way.
This is a good novella, but in my opinion, the relationship between Eli and Stan could've developed over more time, and I certainly would have liked to see that. If you're familiar with the South, then the rhythm of this small, poor area will be comforting.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
August 20, 2015
Dang this was the flip of the script with Gilbert being the stuck up bigot, and Eli being the butt end of discrimination. I thought Harve gettin into college was the best ever. But, I didn't really understand how Eli and Stan didn't just get together beforehand. Its not like they didn't have a professional attraction, and why does Eli want to keep their sexual prowess a secret if he was seekin a relationship? Like, didn't you see how Gilbert tried to make you his sidepiece lil secret. Well anyway I'm glad they found each other!
June 24, 2020
I liked this little story set in a little town. There were so many characters and relationships stuffed into this novella. Can't be called a romance or mystery, just events that happened to people. Its a feel good HEA book. I want to know what happens next.
August 25, 2015
I enjoyed this one. Not too long and a lot simple that I had tought.
October 30, 2015
An okay read, but I really felt the ending was rushed.
July 25, 2023
3.25 stars
March 26, 2016
Very disjointed. Disappointing as it had started out so well.
March 29, 2017
Wait, what just happened?
While I liked both characters, it seemed like they just got mushed together at the end.
They both had other partners during most of the story. They just didn't get enough page time together for me to feel the feelz for them as a couple.
While I liked both characters, it seemed like they just got mushed together at the end.
They both had other partners during most of the story. They just didn't get enough page time together for me to feel the feelz for them as a couple.
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