Secrets and High Spirits

Secrets #4

by Lou Harper

Their love is an explosive cocktail—stirred, shaken, and served with a twist.



Secrets, Book 4

Teag and Bruce dream of opening their own bars, but that’s where the similarities end.

Teag, a popular bartender at West Hollywood’s hottest club, is willful, opinionated, and likes to take charge. He envisions his future bar as a boozy oasis for craft cocktails. Unfortunately, while he’s big on ideas, he’s short on funds.

Bruce, on the other hand, is a tower of pirate-tattooed muscle with a laid-back attitude. While he’s good with people, he’s a walking paradox—a wannabe boss with a weakness for bossy men.

Their partnership is a natural fit, but every time they meet, sparks fly as they rub each other the wrong way. Or is it the right way? In the heat of the moment, it’s hard to tell.

Between renovation pitfalls, meddling friends, and miles of police tape, Teag and Bruce struggle to keep their venture—and their budding relationship—from going up in flames. And not the good kind. More like the one on the top of a B52 shot.



Contains a whipcord-lean and whip-smart bartender who knows what he wants—and how hard he wants it—and a go-with-the-flow bar manager who secretly likes to be told how hard to give it.

Genres: M M Romance, Contemporary, Romance, Paranormal, Gay, Mystery, LGBT

137 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 27, 2015

About the author

Under a prickly, cynical surface Lou Harper is an incorrigible romantic. Her love affair with the written word started at a tender age. There was never a time when stories weren't romping around in her head. She is currently embroiled in a ruinous romance with adjectives. In her free time Lou stalks deviant words and feral narratives.

Lou's favorite animal is the hedgehog. She likes nature, books, movies, photography, and good food. She has a temper and mood swings.

Lou has misspent most of her life in parts of Europe and the US, but is now firmly settled in Los Angeles and worships the sun. However, she thinks the ocean smells funny. Lou is a loner, a misfit, and a happy drunk.

Blog: http://louharper.blogspot.com

Book cove designs: http://lharper.deviantart.com/gallery

Reviews

[Ami · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

While the Secrets series might not be my favorite from Lou Harper (I prefer Dead Man and L.A. Paranormal), I liked the previous three books enough that I wanted to read this one as well. Harper wrote at her website that this would be the last installment in the series (for now). Teag was friend and roommate of Dylan, the hero from book #3. In my review for that one, I said that I was curious about Teag and would love to read his story.

Alas, apparently, Teag was the reason for me to not liking this book much. See, I found Teag to be irritable, uptight, and very defensive, it became offensive. I usually can warm myself towards bad-tempered characters because I deal with these people in real life just fine, but I had a difficult time making that connection towards Teag. Maybe because I also found Teag to be pretty judgmental, not only towards Bruce but his friends. It made him slightly unlikable for me. Bruce could be the antidote to counteract Teag's prickly behavior, however, he was too plain to be able to entice me.

I thought that Teag and Bruce didn't have the chemistry for me to care. Bruce was laid-back, he involved in Ren Faire, he betrayed his physique and actually liked being bossed around sexually, while Teag was determined and wanted to be in control of things -- it should matched up nicely somehow in opposite-attracts kind of way, but for me it just felt off, including the D/s tone. Their relationship slowly progressed - Teag's attitude majorly contributed to it -- and I usually like slow-burnt romance, but this one didn't make me feel like wanting to root for them. Heck, I thought this story barely passed as a romance. It was frustrating.

In addition, even until half-way through, I still had no idea where the book was going. It felt meandering. Yes, Teag and Bruce were busy restoring the bar and make it their own, but the sense of something more interesting just wasn't there. The blurb mentioned "miles of police tape" which somehow promised a crime happening or mystery looming, but I guess it arrived a little bit too late to keep me interested. It wasn't even the focus because the detective took care of that and not our main characters. There was also part mentioned about ghost and a probable satanic ritual, which made me go, HUH?

Bottom line, this is my least favorite of the whole series, sadly. Only my attachment towards Harper's writing style that helped me finish reading this book.





The ARC is provided by the publisher via Netgalley for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.

[BWT]

DNF at 63%

I gave this a good shot but I cannot continue. I have absolutely no connection to the characters. Bruce was okay, but so laid back it was as if his personality was muted and Teag's defensiveness and prickly exterior just never lightened up. I kept waiting for their "romance" to heat up...or for them to have more of a conversation than a few words...neither of which had happened by the 63% mark.

Once you add in a mysterious previous owner of their building from the sixties, a possible ghost, a cocktail shaker buried under the floorboards, a body in the bar, and...just...what?



Perhaps it's that this is the fourth book in a series I've never read? Even though we are assured this is a standalone novel I never felt like I was in the loop. I didn't feel like I really got to know the group of secondary characters and how or why they were there.



I think readers of the series will enjoy this and catching up with the characters they already know and love. As a new reader I just felt like I was never really brought into the fold.

Not Recommended for new readers.

Advanced Review Copy generously provided by Samhain Publishing, Ltd. in exchange for an honest review.

[Anne Bollmann (Annelise Lestrange) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review originally posted on The Book Adventures of Annelise Lestrange :)

I received this copy through NetGalley in exchange of an honest review. Let's go :D

The Story

Teag and Bruce only saw each other once in their lives, but the experience was a mess: Bruce was irritated and was an ass with Teag and his friend. Since the episode, Teag hates Bruce and all his “type” of gay men: over gym worked, all tattooed and cocky. Bruce, in the other hand, doesn’t understand why can’t Teag just accept an apology, so he is a bit indisposed with him too.

All was well, as they thought they would never see each other again… Until they meet again, evaluating the same place to buy and build a bar – a shared dream they later discover to possess. Bruce soon sees a good opportunity on the rise: Teag was a hell of a showman and Bruce was better off administrating bureaucratic stuff. They were the perfect match to build a bar together, if only Teag could let go of their first encounter… And maybe accept the maddening and undeniable sex tension between them.

Soon enough, both men discover that the place they were planning to build their bar on had a bizarre history and that even weirder things started to happening when no one of them was around. Was it just a big joke on top of the supposed haunted place’s reputation or, despite their personal problems, could Teag and Bruce be dealing with a real ghost…?

The Analysis

Just remembering that those were my impressions and opinion as a reader :)

I make no secret that I really love gay romances, a lot. Specially a men x men one, like this one. I requested it on NetGalley because the blurb put my head (and other parts) on fire with curiosity. I have even mentioned before how I love when the characters passions are born out of hate: man, it gets darn strong and hot, omg. Anyway, I guess I expected too much from the book. The plot had so much potential that I didn’t even noticed how short the ebook was (my edition was 137 pages long). It was a good book, amusing and all, but I got disappointed at its wasted potential. Harper had such a brilliant idea on her hands and I felt it all was so rushed, you know? And there were another small things that bothered me, but all in due time. It is not a bad book, but as a whole work, it is a three stars book.

The narrative had a very good pace – not overly fast, but it didn’t dwelled on needless points of the plot. It was made on third person, alternating Teag and Bruce’s point of view. This is my favorite kind of narrative, overall, because it usually avoids loose ends. Of course that, sometimes, it happens and it has happened here as well, but as this book is part of a series, I didn’t take off stars because of that. Maybe Harper is planning on writing another volume, maybe some of the missing info I would get reading the series since book one, like I should have (oops!), I don’t know, so Harper is safe here with me, haha! One thing that really bothered me on the narrative was the narrator’s use of idiomatic expressions. I mean, it is okay for me the character, on his speech or thought, say things like “helluva”, but is not when it is the third person narrator doing so. It made the book vulgar on my conception. The beginning is worse, as Harper dives into the story and slowly eases the use of this kind of word and similar expressions – for which I was very grateful. I also would like to make it clear that I’m ok with swearing and low class words, for say, but from the third person narrator. I think Harper tried to make the text more palatable, but I don’t think it was a good way :(

The plot was my biggest disappointment. It had SO MUCH FREAKING POTENTIAL. Harper had an awesome idea for a contemporary gay romance, she brought to light so many things that need to be discussed in society, like the prejudice – Teag is a gay man that is made purely of prejudices against everything and everybody, for example – but it went too fast. It seemed like she was so worried about finishing the book that she forgot to savor the act of writing it. I like her descriptions, but they were a bit bipolar: I spent half of the book without knowing how Teag looked like, but I could draw Bruce, as he was described in details all the time. This is applicable also on scenario descriptions. I understand that this is the fourth book in a series, but it is always good to give a brief explanation on each new book, as we never know which nut kind can catch the train when it is already running (like I did, haha!). Another point is the paranormal element of the book: if you ask me, there is none. I mean, there is a ghost, but it being and not being there is the same thing thanks to the plot development and that’s a shame. It gets obvious too soon that the ghost has nothing to do with the mystery going on at the bar and the characters say so many times during the story. A pity.

Now, I really liked how Harper can build a character. They all have such a real presence that you don’t forget not even the secondary ones. It was amazing, really. Bruce, for example, became another bookish boyfriend for me (I will need to create a boy alter ego for myself one of these days, as I have so many gay bookish boyfriends, omg) even with his flaws. Sometimes, I could even picture Teag’s lectures, it was so funny, haha! And his sister Helen is a genius. There is this scene on the book that she admits messing up Teag’s toys when they were kids just to see how big would be his scandal, haha! Priceless <3

I also feel the need of commenting the sex scenes on the book. Bruce and Teag’s attraction is strong, palpable, real, so I expected a filled with hot sex book. Eh, no. I can’t complain about the actual scenes, but they were so few that my heart sank. Teag and Bruce had so much chemistry on the bed, it was a shame not exploring this further – and Harper can do a sex scene, all right! *breathless*

So, some of the strong points on the book are the character construction and the fact that it is a part of a series, so I can now meet the other couples that are mentioned on this volume, haha! Oh, and the sex scenes <3

Overall, I can’t complain about this book, as it was a pleasant pastime on the two days that took me to finish it :)

That’s it, thanks for reading <3

[Veronica of V's Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in a series, but can be read as a standalone.

3.5 Stars

Teag is a mixologist wanting to open his own bar so he can sell classically crafted drinks--far more outre than the swill he slings as a bartender at the trendy West Hollywood meat market Purlieux. He checks out a crumbling mess of a building and runs into a fellow bartender, Bruce, who rubbed Teag all the wrong ways when Teag popped into the Glitter Lounge, which Bruce manages.

Bruce wants his own bar, and he's not that picky about it. He doesn't have the funds to renovate The Blue Parrot, but if he and Teag work together, they could become their own bosses. And, if Bruce finds bossy Teag pushes all his sexy buttons, well that's jsut a bonus.

This is a gay romance, sorta. Teag is prickly and nasty to Bruce, and Bruce takes this abuse with good humor. Bruce is a big guy who dons priate garb for Ren Faire and wanted to be a stage actor once upon a time, while Teag fights his twink looks--wanting to build a real career before he's not attractive enough to make any real tips.

There are some interesting bits in the book--mostly revolving around Dylan, from SECRETS AND BOW TIES, who unfortunately stole the show. Teag fights his growing attraction to Bruce, while Bruce (too) patiently waits for Teag to come around. Their few scenes together are less romantic and more...pushy, than I tend to enjoy.

The writing is solid, but the story is more about why these two aren't together than why they should be. I did like Bruce a lot, and Teag's attitude toward him tended to tick me off.

I received a review copy via NetGalley.

[Vanessa theJeepDiva · Rating 3 out of 5]

High spirits are one of the many things found inside Secrets and High Spirits. Bruce and Teag are total opposites and that tries to give them a fun story. Their love of mixing drinks and desire for owning their own bar brings them together several times before they figure out that the powers that be seems to want them together.

The romance and the pursuit of this romance felt awkward to me. Bruce wants Teag. Teag hates that he is attracted to Bruce. For them to go from acquaintances, to business partners, to the bed together didn’t have any romantic progression. They were together getting the business up and running and then they started fooling around. I didn’t feel any emotions in this. In fact it almost feels like a thing of convenience. Not what I want in my romances.

I was completely intrigued by the Blue Parrot and its history. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Bruce collecting facts and digging up anything he could from the bar’s past.

This fourth installment in the Secrets series can easily be read as a stand-alone. I’ve read the first book in the series but not the other two. The three couples from the previous three books have very minor roles here. Half of those couples are friends of Teag’s.

[Catherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

*** 2.5 Stars ***

I remember Teag and Bruce butting heads at the end of a previous book and looking forward to them getting their own slice of romance in the city of starlets and excess. So, when I started this one, I had high hopes.

I found myself immediately smitten with Bruce and all of this eccentricities - a rough and tumble, tattooed bear with a thing for Ren Faires, LARPing, and subtle submission? Yes, please! I'll take a double scoop of that. Teag, on the other hand, turned out to be a big disappointment. He was just dull and unappealing. I really couldn't see how both Leo and Bruce would have found him irresistible. And, quite frankly, I feel like Bruce, as a unique and far more likeable character, was wasted on him as a love interest.

Not a favourite by this author.

[Beth doesn't write enough reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved it but...

Really, it's a great story but expect more from Lou. For the most part I was entertained but didn't get involved like I usually do. The tension between Teag & Bruce was forced and I didn't really feel or believe the change in attitude of Teag toward Bruce.

The problem they encountered getting the bar opened wasn't at all dangerous and the resolution and reveal was boring and not at all imaginative.

Combine that with glaring editing problems and I feel let down by the author. This has a rushed and pushed through feel to it.

[Morgan Skye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teag used to be roomies with Dylan (from book 3), now he’s on his own. He’s a bartender who you could call a “purist”, he knows the “real” way to make every drink and is really into the mixing of being a bartender.

Bruce is a beefy bartender who likes to go to renaissance festivals and dress up like a pirate and though he’s big he likes to be told what to do.

At first there is a misunderstanding between the two and they fight, then they show up later at the same empty building thinking the same thoughts about opening their own bar.

The first half is both guys deciding what they want from life, the next half is them dealing with the bar and renovations and the mystery.

What I liked:
Harper is a great writer. She makes really great characters. Uses an economy of words to make her point. Creates interesting and fun mysteries. Describes LA perfectly.

I loved that Teag was the top to Bruce’s bottom. I loved that Bruce only had sleeves because he didn’t want to wax. I loved that Teag was fussy about every little thing. I loved the “ghost”.

What I didn’t love: the romance was a small blip in this book. Easily 90% of the book was simply about the bar and the mystery and the romance felt like it almost fell out of the running. I couldn’t really buy their success as a couple because I never saw the romance between them develop. I hope it will work, they complement one another well, but I needed more page time with them “working it out”.

So… if you love a romantic mystery with a teeny tiny paranormal aspect to it – this is for you! If you want a romance with a mystery attached, you might want to keep looking.

(I do love these covers! We do see a lot of Dylan and Simon in this one – fun!)

[Christi Snow · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Review:
This book started off really strongly. I liked how seemingly opposite Bruce and Teag were even though they are after the same dream. Bruce is a big, tattooed bear whereas Teag is more of a curmudgeonly pretty-boy. But they are so much better suited than they seem. See, they both have this dream of starting a bar of their own. While Teag is a class-A jerk in the beginning, Bruce approaches him about joining efforts.

Like I said, the book started off really strongly. I loved the two guys together and how they worked even when it felt like they were at crossed-paths. I liked the chemistry they had.

But about 2/3 of the way through the story lost something. That was the point when the mystery somewhat ramped up. There's been a thread of supernatural/ghost/witch theme that has lightly run throughout this series and this book was no different. While I loved the added lore of the old Blue Parrot bar and the nostalgia it added to the story, the rest...the Boys, Leo, Mme...all seemed to detract from the story.

But the story at that point seemed to lose it's close connection to the inner workings of Bruce's POV, too. And honestly, I think it was Bruce who kept this story going. When Teag was not the most lovable of characters, I could still like him because Bruce did. I would have loved to have seen more play with their power shifts, too...because there were some definite sexy possibilities there that were then just kind of washed over.

So somewhat of a mixed review. It wasn't Lou Harper's best book, but I still enjoyed reading it overall.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.

[Lauren at Live Read and Breathe Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars!

Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy Samhain Publishing via of NetGalley
Genre: MM Romance with some BDSM
Part 4 of a series

My Secrets and High Spirits Review ...

I read this forever but it was one of the books that I got behind on for posting my reviews years ago :(.

Teag and Bruce had a similar dream of owning a bar but couldn't be more opposite from each other. Their first meeting brought out the worse in Teag and his inner snob and judgemental self.

Bruce is brawn on the outside but sweet and inner geek on the inside. He likes bossy men and Teag fits the bill but he needs him more than for that.

I liked the shenanigans that Teag's friends get into and also that they help Teag get his head out of his ass. I liked that Bruce doesn't fit into a stereotypical role when it comes to his sexual needs. Though the name Bruce is hard to hear during sex scenes though that could be just me.

I liked the storyline. I liked the pace and I like the air of mystery with all the things that were happening to the bar and where at the same time we getting the history of the bar which was neat.

[Alisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bruce and Teag are both looking to buy their own bars. A confrontational meeting doesn't do much to make them like each other but financial hardship and practicality make them decide to work together. As a current mystery and one of long dead men unfold the two find out that they're meant to be more than just business partners.

I enjoyed the mystery part of this story. Especially the older mystery that involved the original owners of the bar. I also enjoyed both of the main characters. Most of the characters from the first three books were present in quite a few scenes which was also nice. The love story though was very minimal and the guys are just friends through most of the book. It wasn't a bad book by any means but it really wasn't what I expected. I've read the previous three books and I was expecting more romance than was in this.

This is the fourth book in the series but can be read as a stand alone. A nice solid read with an interesting historical based mystery, two guys falling in love and a ghost.

[Pati · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though I hate to do it, I can't give this book more than a 2 star rating. I was sadly disappointed all the way around. Not only was there way too much telling and very, very little showing but there were time jumps when we really needed to see things for ourselves. As far as romance goes I would certainly not call this one. Robbed of the chance to witness the main characters get to know each other, I just did not get to see the connection. Furthermore not even sharing a kiss until 83% into the story was a big let down.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun! Love the characters.

[Jes Jester · Rating 4 out of 5]

I missed a few in between with this series, but I caught on for this installment without much difficulty. I liked the back story and history of the bar the two MCs opened together.

[Lena Grey · Rating 3 out of 5]

“It's pointless to judge somebody when you have no idea where they've come from or what they have been through. A person is not the sum of their appearance they are the sum of their experience.” ~ Unknown

The first time Teag, of 'Secrets and High Spirits’ by Lou Harper, met Bruce they didn't get off to a good start. In fact, Teag later describes him as a tattooed moron; he and Bruce hardly talked at all, but because Bruce is a big man and has tattoos, Teag judges him by his appearance without even knowing him. When Teag decides he's ready to seriously look for a place to open a bar, they run into each other again and Teag is every bit as rude as before. Fortunately, Bruce has a forgiving nature and a strong desire to run his own place. When it comes down to it, Teag knows he doesn't have the money to be able to follow his dream. When a partnership is offered between him and Bruce, he reluctantly takes the offer.

Teag can be charming when he needs to be, but there's a bad temper behind that amiable nature and it doesn't take much to set it off. I think he is best described by Ella, Bruce's realtor: “He’s laced tighter than a tavern wench’s girdle.” Surprisingly, things start falling into place. As they work together, Teag and Bruce get to know each other and see that their preconceived notions of each other are wrong. Both men contribute their knowledge and connections to make the bar into a business they both want and, like it or not, have “the back alley boys”, Teag's friends and former roommates, help.

Bruce gets tired of Teag holding back and not saying what he's feeling and dares him to say exactly what he means, which has startling results when Teag starts ordering him around. As big as he is, bossy men really turn Bruce on so he does exactly what Teag says and loves it, until Teag bursts his bubble by telling Bruce that their encounter is a one-time thing. Bruce reluctantly agrees. He's trying so hard to please Teag; he even lets him be 'boss' although it's a joint project. While doing the restoration, they find lots of interesting things. In an effort to get perspective, Bruce does a lot of research about the bar, including finding a man who frequented the bar when the former owner was there. Bruce gets a lot of valuable information from him and he's more than happy to come to the bar and see what they have done with it.

This story is well written with the awesomely eccentric and well-developed characters Lou so deftly creates. I was entertained even though, personally, I had hoped for more magic. I was happy to see Madam Layla (Bran's Mother from Lou's 'Dead Man and High Spirits' series) and the touch of magic she brought with her. It made me smile. I also enjoyed seeing some of the quirky characters Lou brought in from some of the other stories in the series. They added some much appreciated comedic relief, in true Lou Harper style. I loved Bruce and tolerated Teag. I'm still having trouble seeing them together, but often, there's no rhyme or reason as to whom we love. This is the fourth and final book of the series; it can be read alone or as part of the series, which will add details that will make the book more enjoyable. If you like stories about magic spells, quirky but loyal friends, mystery, suspense, and hard-earned love, then you may enjoy this story.

NOTE: This book was provided by Samhain Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

[Chris, the Dalek King · Rating 4 out of 5]

To say that Teag and Bruce got off to a rough start would be fairly accurate. Teag drops the bomb that the bar where Bruce is currently working is getting sold off, and Bruce is less than tactful in response. But that really should have been the end of that relationship…till Teag and Bruce bump into each other while touring the same building for sale. Neither of them can actually afford to buy and fix the place up, but if they put their wallets together, maybe. Too bad Teag thinks Bruce is nothing more than muscles and tattoos, and Bruce thinks that…well, that Teag would look quite lovely standing over him and ordering him to such his cock.

I’ve never been very silent on my enjoyment of Lou Harper books in general. They are always fun to read and I don’t think this one is any different. Though I must say that the few scenes (and really, I do wish there had been many many more) where Teag and Bruce finally get around to, well, common purposes, are by far my favorite parts of this book. Teag is just so deliciously bossy, and Bruce (and I) seem to have enjoyed that very much.

The mystery aspect of this book did seem a bit, um, just thrown in there. I didn’t really expect it, and the way it was mixed into the rest of the story seemed to not really fit. It was interesting, but unlike some of the other books in this series, I do believe that this book would have been better without the dead-body aspect. The heat between the two MCs was the real motivating force in this book, and the mystery–-which was hardly a mystery at all–-was just superfluous.

I enjoyed seeing some of the other MCs from previous books, and I certainly would be interested in seeing more of everyone at a later date as well. Great story, but it would have got a higher rating from me if we got more scenes after Bruce and Teag get their sticks out of…um…well, lets just say that while I love a good slow burn, this could have done with some more time on boil.


This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.

[El · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Just Love Romance.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

I completely fell in love with this book! I'd read Lou's short story "One Hex Too Many" in the Charmed & Dangerous anthology, but this book was definitely not what I expected! Enemies to lovers, a cast of delightful characters, and a mystery with a touch of paranormal... this book was a delicious cocktail of mystery and tension with a cherry-on-top romance!

Recipe for one Romance Cocktail:
2 men
1 bar
1 ghost
3 friends
a healthy dash of sexual tension
Shake (don't stir) and serve hot. I mean hot. Best consumed in bed.

Bruce and Teag get off to a bad start when they first meet, and Teag takes that first impression to heart. He refuses to be charmed by Bruce, even though everyone around him seems more than happy to talk tattoos and booze with the friendly bartender. But then Teag starts to learn more about Bruce, and... well, you can guess what happens next ;)

The sexual tension here is just off the charts! Both men are a natural fit, both in bed and in business. Teag's stubbornness gets in the way at first, but eventually even he can't deny the chemistry between them.



Lou did a really amazing job of writing the relationship naturally, especially from Teag's point of view. And Teag's friends ("The Boys", who appear in their own novels earlier in the series) are seriously delightful and a blast to read.

The paranormal aspect wasn't very prominent, but gave just a touch of spooky mystery, which added another level of flavor to the novel.

Overall this was a fantastic novel, and I'm definitely going to go back and read the first three in the series right away!

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

3 stars

This book’s plot focuses on the mystery surrounded the origins of the bar that Bruce and Teag are renovating. Tearing down the interior walls, they come across an old drink shaker. Opening the shaker, they unleash some majorly bad mojo, requiring them to bring in a woman to “cleanse” the bar, only to have her take the shaker and leave quickly. Afterwards, a dead body and talk of past satanic rituals abound. For me, while the mystery part of the book was interesting, I was disappointed somewhat because it wasn’t something Teag and Bruce investigate – there is a police detective who does the investigating.

The romance part of the story just didn’t seem to be there. The two main characters are like night and day. Bruce may be tattooed, heavily muscled, and plays the role of a pirate for the Ren-faire every year, but he’s laid back and has a weakness for bossy men. Which is a good thing since Teag is about as bossy as they come. A sexy twink, Teag’s realized that his good looks are only going to get him so far. Despite this, he is probably one of the most irritating main characters ever. Obnoxious is too good of a word for him.

Read Wendy’s review in its entirety here.

[Pete W · Rating 3 out of 5]

The overall quality of both the story and the editing itself were lower than previous books for me. There were various interesting tidbits but it didn't felt like it blended together with the romance part of the book.

Not to mention various mistakes peppered through out the book. I think I counted five, from assigning the wrong name, a bit of continuity issue (Bruce was said to be balded and yet Teag had grab hold of Bruce's hair at one point... Unless Ms. Harper meant the goatee but I don't think it fit...) The book alternate POVs between Teag and Bruce, the switching was clean but I would prefer there will be something like **** to signify the switch.

The plot was interesting here and there. But Bruce and Teag seems to... Lacking something... Maybe because Teag spend the majority of the book bitching and judging Bruce (undeservedly)... And they didn't get to had the actual talk until much later in the book.

The history and the mystery of the old "Blue Parrot" was interesting. The mystery was left hanging. I wonder if Ms. Harper will follow that up in another book.

Personally, I felt less warm with this series with each passing books... This seems to conclude the series well enough.

[Bookish · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series. The first book in this series is still the best, and I have to admit that the other books are influencing me in liking this more than I would have if it had been a stand-alone. There's not enough in the plot in terms of suspense or mystery or unexpected developments to make this an excellent story. It feels a bit predictable, with just questions of the wall color and where the ottoman should go left to wonder about. We know where the sofa is going to be, to completely butcher a metaphor. That said, I still love all the characters in this book, and I wanted things to come out all right for all of them in the end. The only other nit: I really do not understand why some women think baldness is attractive. I suppose it is to some people, but not this reader.

[Lily · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. I am rather disappointed by this book, mainly because the story suddenly cut off and ended when things were becoming interesting. I am also not sure why Bruce and Teag remained at the stage of partners with benefits, with hardly any character development regarding Teag...

[Natalija · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this book. I didn't care for the bar or its history, and the suspense element felt like something of an afterthought. I would have liked to see more of Bruce and Teag's relationship. It just wasn't explored enough and left me wanting for more.

[Katy Beth Mckee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mysteries old and new meet as dreams come true. Bruce & Teag start off on bad footing but as they work to open their bar. They also open their minds and find new possibilities. Great story where the romance almost takes a back seat to the action.

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Nur · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Michela Walters · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story dragged a bit and meandered in a way that wasn't quite fleshed out. It was part mystery and part romance but neither was sufficiently robust. Just an OK read for me

[Theodora IK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book to read. I especially loved the back alley boys, LOL. There were a few naming mistakes, but not that bad.

[Sherry F · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better editing needed, i.e. some names were mixed up.