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The Good Thief
What if the wrong guy, turns out to be the right guy for you? Caesar Serrano thought he screwed up when he landed in the bed of LAPD Officer Nathan Reilly. But when Caesar breaks into the wrong house and stumbles upon a heinous crime, implicating a high ranking LAPD officer, Nate is the only person he knows to turn to. The resulting investigation throws the Blue Brigade into panic. Now he's running for his life and Nate is his only hope for survival. Can two men, on opposite sides of the law, come together to bring a monster to justice?
289 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2008
27 people are currently reading
1295 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 181 reviews
May 8, 2018
Action, hot sex scenes, and an interracial couple. Yup, I was happy with this book!
February 14, 2012
Oh, wow! How have I never seen this book before? Why have I not read James Buchanan before this??
This story was just perfect for me! Yeah, I was a little worried that I would quickly get bored when they were already having sex 5% into the book, but holy hell Nate and Caesar were so hot for each other, and so hot together. Hot assholes having a lot of hot angry sex! I was never bored. This was somewhat enemies-to-lovers with the cop-falls-for-thief--thief-falls-for-cop theme. The thief (Caesar) and the cop (Nate) were totally and completely dangerous for each other, but in the end the chemistry was just too good to let that get in their way. Speaking of the end, it was so adorably sweet...
In between all the hotness, there was even some funniness and I found myself laughing and smiling a lot. Every scene with Ponchito, Caesar's little slut-whore rat-dog, made me smile... I like how he was actually a main character in the story and not just left in the background.
I loved the style and writing of this book and look forward to starting Taking the Odds series
next.
Ok, enough gushing for now...this review is crap and no where near reflects how much I enjoyed reading this book.
Recommeded for anyone in the mood for very little angst and a lot of hot sex!
This story was just perfect for me! Yeah, I was a little worried that I would quickly get bored when they were already having sex 5% into the book, but holy hell Nate and Caesar were so hot for each other, and so hot together. Hot assholes having a lot of hot angry sex! I was never bored. This was somewhat enemies-to-lovers with the cop-falls-for-thief--thief-falls-for-cop theme. The thief (Caesar) and the cop (Nate) were totally and completely dangerous for each other, but in the end the chemistry was just too good to let that get in their way. Speaking of the end, it was so adorably sweet...
"Caesar, what does it mean when you say I'm half an orange. It can't be literal."
Caesar tensed, like he'd been caught backing out of someone's window. He swallowed. "I forgot, you speak Spanish."
"Un poco, puedo son pobre." Nate smiled, catching Caesar's hand and bringing it to his lips.
"It means," Caesar paused and shook his head, almost like he was embarrassed to continue. Finally he answered in a near whisper, "It means you are my other half, you complete me."
In between all the hotness, there was even some funniness and I found myself laughing and smiling a lot. Every scene with Ponchito, Caesar's little slut-whore rat-dog, made me smile... I like how he was actually a main character in the story and not just left in the background.
I loved the style and writing of this book and look forward to starting Taking the Odds series
next.
Ok, enough gushing for now...this review is crap and no where near reflects how much I enjoyed reading this book.
Recommeded for anyone in the mood for very little angst and a lot of hot sex!
November 13, 2008
The Good Thief had me hooked from the first page. This book has it all. Handsome heroes, fast-paced storyline and a very sweet romance.
When Ceasar Serrano and Nathan Reilly meet at a hollywood party, they are immediately attracted to one another. So it was natural for them to hook up and end up at Nathan's home before the night was over.
When Nathan gets a phone call and must rush out to work, he is abrupt with Caesar. Not wanting to look like a fool, Caesar goes to leave, he notices Nathan's police badge. Knowing he made a grave mistake, he sneaks out...hoping to never see Nathan again.
Caesar knows that because of his criminal background, anything beyond a one-night stand is out of the question, but he can't seem to get the charming Nathan out of his mind. He is more than a little surprised when Nathan appears on his doorstep with a sweet smile and apologies from his lips for being so abrupt with Caesar. Nathan tries to convince Caesar that they should go out again and because the chemistry is so strong between them.
Caesar is not convinced. He knows when Nathan finds out he was/is a professional theif, Nathan will no longer want to see him.
I loved this story. There is a great storyline which brings the two heroes together (you must read it to see)
Both characters were likable. They are sexy, headstrong and so right for one another...despite their career choices.
If you are offended by explicit sex and harsh language this book is not for you.
When Ceasar Serrano and Nathan Reilly meet at a hollywood party, they are immediately attracted to one another. So it was natural for them to hook up and end up at Nathan's home before the night was over.
When Nathan gets a phone call and must rush out to work, he is abrupt with Caesar. Not wanting to look like a fool, Caesar goes to leave, he notices Nathan's police badge. Knowing he made a grave mistake, he sneaks out...hoping to never see Nathan again.
Caesar knows that because of his criminal background, anything beyond a one-night stand is out of the question, but he can't seem to get the charming Nathan out of his mind. He is more than a little surprised when Nathan appears on his doorstep with a sweet smile and apologies from his lips for being so abrupt with Caesar. Nathan tries to convince Caesar that they should go out again and because the chemistry is so strong between them.
Caesar is not convinced. He knows when Nathan finds out he was/is a professional theif, Nathan will no longer want to see him.
I loved this story. There is a great storyline which brings the two heroes together (you must read it to see)
Both characters were likable. They are sexy, headstrong and so right for one another...despite their career choices.
If you are offended by explicit sex and harsh language this book is not for you.
September 15, 2014
Hm. Well. Hm.
I cannot make up my mind about this book.
First allow me to summarize the complicated plot for you:
Cop and thief meet cute, fuck hard, argue, fuck hard, thief discovers crime, fuck hard, run from baddies, fuck hard, play with dog, fuck hard, confront baddies, fuck hard, find love, fuck hard.
Yay! Good times! I liked both Nate (a beat cop) and Caesar (the thief). I liked that while they had the issue of their respective careers against them, the book wasn’t overrun with tears and angst. (However, I am highly doubtful that a relationship between a cop and a felon on probation is in any way realistic. But whatever! La dee dah!) I enjoyed learning new swear words in Spanish. I loved the dog, Poncho. But what I enjoyed most was that I had the same reaction to the book as I have to action/thriller movies. You know -- Don’t go up the stairs, bitch! Or What the fuck are you doing? You don’t go shopping for condiments when a serial killer is after you! Or For fuck’s sake! Get your dick out of his ass – the BAD GUYS are COMING! Yelling at movies on Netflix is a good time. Yelling at my Kindle? Even awesomer.
Not so awesome? The nature of the crime Caesar discovers. I thought he was going to find something simple that we’ve seen in a million mystery novels and TV shows. But it was way more complicated than that and much more heinous. Although it's a trigger issues for me, for about 90% of the book I thought it was a very clever choice on the author’s part and that the nature of the crime and who committed it helped ratchet up the tension.
But then we get to the last 10%. To avoid spoilers I’ll just say that the bad guy did not get what he deserves. And then there are several questions that went unanswered. First of all, who planned Caesar’s protection? Because that guy needs to be fired. Did the bad guy work alone or were there a whole group of bad guys? Who knew about the crime? Was there a cover up? And then there are two minor bad guys – were they really minor bad guys? Did they take part in the crime or were they just trying to cover up for the big baddie? What happened to them? Were they arrested? I don’t know ‘cause it’s never mentioned. What is mentioned is that the cop and the thief find love. And you know what? That’s great. I eat that shit up.
But I wanted to watch that motherfucker BURN. Or at least be told that he admitted to his crimes, sat in jail for a few days and then got shanked. Is that really too much to ask?
In the end, I would’ve enjoyed the book more if Buchanan had gone with a more predictable crime. Or if Buchanan had gone with the same crime but made the plot less about two crazy kids fucking their way to love.
However the fucking was hawt, though occasionally over the top:
That prick looked stiff enough to burst. Thick veins stood out in hard relief under light brown skin. Nate’s dick was about a shade darker than the rest of his body. It contrasted so nicely with the blond curls spilling out of his jeans.Now, is it just me, or do you imagine Jon Bon Jovi’s 80s hair sticking out of Nate’s zipper?
BR with Sofia. Thanks, sweet cheeks!
February 19, 2020
DNF at 82% - 1.5 stars
I loved the Deputy Joe series by the same author, so I thought this book would be a safe enough bet. Imagine my surprise when I started it and the writing felt...off, somehow. A bit mechanical, with short sentences in quick succession. It made it difficult to connect with the story and the characters. I didn’t like that. It’s not the kind of writing I look for in a book. Maybe it works for others, but not for me. (See what I did here? Now imagine an entire book like that or close to that.)
I had a lot of trouble connecting with the characters, actually I never did, but when I was ready to give up, the plot grabbed my attention. And then it lost my attention and then it kind of grabbed it again. And then...you get the gist. Let’s say I was marginally invested in the outcome of the investigation and that kept me reading, but soon that aspect also lost me, with a plot that was all over the place and kind of ridiculous. At one point I realized it seemed tailored to get the MCs an excuse to be in close contact together. Which normally wouldn’t bother me, on the contrary, forced proximity is one of my favorite tropes, but here it was just over-the-top.
What killed any remaining chance I had of caring about the “romance” was the amount of sex.
God, I was drowning in sex scenes. I counted 3 by 30%, 5 by 50%, 9 by 82%, and I’m sure there must be at least two more by the end of the book, going by those numbers.
And the writing didn’t improve when it came to the sex. Most of the scenes weren’t even overly long, they were just clinical, mechanical, I didn’t feel a spark of anything coming out of the pages. Granted, I may have appreciated them more if I felt any interest for the characters, individually and/or as a couple, but they never came alive for me. Not even the dog could save the day (or the book) and by 82% I was skimming so much that I decided I might as well save myself the 10 minutes I’d need to skim until the end.
I loved the Deputy Joe series by the same author, so I thought this book would be a safe enough bet. Imagine my surprise when I started it and the writing felt...off, somehow. A bit mechanical, with short sentences in quick succession. It made it difficult to connect with the story and the characters. I didn’t like that. It’s not the kind of writing I look for in a book. Maybe it works for others, but not for me. (See what I did here? Now imagine an entire book like that or close to that.)
I had a lot of trouble connecting with the characters, actually I never did, but when I was ready to give up, the plot grabbed my attention. And then it lost my attention and then it kind of grabbed it again. And then...you get the gist. Let’s say I was marginally invested in the outcome of the investigation and that kept me reading, but soon that aspect also lost me, with a plot that was all over the place and kind of ridiculous. At one point I realized it seemed tailored to get the MCs an excuse to be in close contact together. Which normally wouldn’t bother me, on the contrary, forced proximity is one of my favorite tropes, but here it was just over-the-top.
What killed any remaining chance I had of caring about the “romance” was the amount of sex.
God, I was drowning in sex scenes. I counted 3 by 30%, 5 by 50%, 9 by 82%, and I’m sure there must be at least two more by the end of the book, going by those numbers.
And the writing didn’t improve when it came to the sex. Most of the scenes weren’t even overly long, they were just clinical, mechanical, I didn’t feel a spark of anything coming out of the pages. Granted, I may have appreciated them more if I felt any interest for the characters, individually and/or as a couple, but they never came alive for me. Not even the dog could save the day (or the book) and by 82% I was skimming so much that I decided I might as well save myself the 10 minutes I’d need to skim until the end.
August 16, 2014
3.5 stars
Buchanan made me forget that this was a romance and therefore with a happy ending and got me all hot and bothered about what was happening to Nate and Caesar. Loved these guys, so hot together.
OK I have to admit that half of the book was spent in sex, even in the most improbable of moments, but did I care, no, not really. Just enjoyed the writing, the guys, the story and the sex as well. I did wonder how Buchanan was going to make the relationship work and it did work out. Still have my doubts about the ever after but truth be told that can never be guaranteed can it.
BR with Rosa - sorry for speeding ahead on our go slow read :D
September 14, 2013
3.5 stars
Pros:
-Two strong protagonists: Caesar (construction worker and part-time home robber) and Nate (LAPD cop)
-Seriously steamy sex scenes
-Some diversity (Caesar is Hispanic)
-Cute dog with a big personality
Cons:
-Los Angeles setting (I know, I know; this might be a con only for me, but I lived in that city for too many years and loathe it with every cuticle)
-Absurdly contrived crime investigation involving dirty cops, coercion, and a child-porn ring (maybe? It's never really clear as to why the other cops don't want Nate investigating the case, except that the perp is a cop)
-A fly-by-night attitude toward the legal system (major cases like this are NOT tried in a month!), surprising considering the author bio claims that Buchanan works in law
Overall, this was an enjoyable read, nothing earth-shattering but fun and quick paced.
Pros:
-Two strong protagonists: Caesar (construction worker and part-time home robber) and Nate (LAPD cop)
-Seriously steamy sex scenes
-Some diversity (Caesar is Hispanic)
-Cute dog with a big personality
Cons:
-Los Angeles setting (I know, I know; this might be a con only for me, but I lived in that city for too many years and loathe it with every cuticle)
-Absurdly contrived crime investigation involving dirty cops, coercion, and a child-porn ring (maybe? It's never really clear as to why the other cops don't want Nate investigating the case, except that the perp is a cop)
-A fly-by-night attitude toward the legal system (major cases like this are NOT tried in a month!), surprising considering the author bio claims that Buchanan works in law
Overall, this was an enjoyable read, nothing earth-shattering but fun and quick paced.
February 25, 2008
I always love Buchanan's characters. They are always so real; guys you can imagine walking around out in the great big world. In The Good Thief, it's the same way. I really dug Nate, the cop. What was so great about him was that he wasn't a dashing homicide detective or an impressive FBI agent. No, he was a uniform cop. One of the guys who shows up to, as he says, "put out the fires". The cops that most of us have experience with. I loved him for that. He's truly a good guy.
Ceasar was a bit harder to get a handle on, but still just as enjoyable. I think what made him a bit tough to understand is that I saw him as a good guy, too. So when he did bad things, it made his image shake in my head. I've met guys like him in my life, but never been there for both the good and the bad. It was jarring. But I loved the way he moved in the story, the way he was portrayed.
Once again, Buchanan used the setting as a major character. I love the way the L.A. area was used. You honestly couldn't have this story anywhere else. It is embedded within the cities it takes place in. It breathes the Southern California air.
My only quibble with this story is that I thought there were times in which it read more like a technical manual than a fictional story. Bits of police and legal procedure made sections a bit... dull. Not boring, but I was beginning to skim a bit to get back to the story. I also thought the climax was a bit diluted. I suppose that might be my own preconceived notions about a cops and robbers story. No CHiPs styled explosion and relieved smiling ending here. It was more realistic, which would be up to the individual reader how they like it.
All in all, this book kept my attention for a few days and left me pretty damn satisfied. And bonus: I loved the cover. Excellent.
Ceasar was a bit harder to get a handle on, but still just as enjoyable. I think what made him a bit tough to understand is that I saw him as a good guy, too. So when he did bad things, it made his image shake in my head. I've met guys like him in my life, but never been there for both the good and the bad. It was jarring. But I loved the way he moved in the story, the way he was portrayed.
Once again, Buchanan used the setting as a major character. I love the way the L.A. area was used. You honestly couldn't have this story anywhere else. It is embedded within the cities it takes place in. It breathes the Southern California air.
My only quibble with this story is that I thought there were times in which it read more like a technical manual than a fictional story. Bits of police and legal procedure made sections a bit... dull. Not boring, but I was beginning to skim a bit to get back to the story. I also thought the climax was a bit diluted. I suppose that might be my own preconceived notions about a cops and robbers story. No CHiPs styled explosion and relieved smiling ending here. It was more realistic, which would be up to the individual reader how they like it.
All in all, this book kept my attention for a few days and left me pretty damn satisfied. And bonus: I loved the cover. Excellent.
November 27, 2012
The Good Thief is a pretty good romance suspense about Caesar who works construction during the day, a job that allows him to case neighborhoods to find easy houses to rob. One plum robbery quickly shifts from easy to serious when he finds the owner’s dark secrets hidden away. Not knowing what else to do, Caesar turns over his findings to Nate, a cop he recently met (and had a hot one-night stand with.) But doing the right thing isn’t always easy, especially when Nate and Caesar figure out that the right thing means turning in another cop.
This is the first time I read a book by Buchanan, and overall I really liked the writing style--very readable, clean, and clear. There was only a few instances when Buchanan used a noun instead of a pronoun (e.g. “The thief”, etc) which I think stood out more because everything else read fine. Caesar and Nate had great developing chemistry, and I appreciated that neither were as they might first appear to be. Caesar might be a professional thief, but he’s also a caring and easy-going guy who’s had to take care of himself since he was young, and has a deep affection for his littler terrier dog Ponchito. Nate might be that big burly police officer and a total straight-arrow, but he doesn’t hide being gay, has battled prejudices from both work and family, is a demanding bottom, and thinks Caesar is the sexiest thing to walk in with steel-toed boots.
As the case gets more dangerous and the men get more embroiled with each other, both think that the other is total bad news, that a cop and a thief could never be together, but they find themselves working in spite of themselves and in spite of their fears, and when things start getting deadly, they realize that they can actually use their respective skill sets to help protect one another.
My one beef is that in the third quarter, things slow down to what I can only describe as “ruminations and sex”. Basically both guys ponder over and over if they should be with each other, and then have some sex, some more sex, and then ruminate some more. On the plus side, neither of them acted “too stupid to live” when things get tense, but I wish things had been tightened a bit here. (Blasphemy, I know, but I would have been fine during this section if the sex was fade to black.)
But overall, a solid read, and I’m looking forward to checking out more from this author. Recommended if you’re looking for a suspenseful read with interesting characters (and a really cute dog.)
This is the first time I read a book by Buchanan, and overall I really liked the writing style--very readable, clean, and clear. There was only a few instances when Buchanan used a noun instead of a pronoun (e.g. “The thief”, etc) which I think stood out more because everything else read fine. Caesar and Nate had great developing chemistry, and I appreciated that neither were as they might first appear to be. Caesar might be a professional thief, but he’s also a caring and easy-going guy who’s had to take care of himself since he was young, and has a deep affection for his littler terrier dog Ponchito. Nate might be that big burly police officer and a total straight-arrow, but he doesn’t hide being gay, has battled prejudices from both work and family, is a demanding bottom, and thinks Caesar is the sexiest thing to walk in with steel-toed boots.
As the case gets more dangerous and the men get more embroiled with each other, both think that the other is total bad news, that a cop and a thief could never be together, but they find themselves working in spite of themselves and in spite of their fears, and when things start getting deadly, they realize that they can actually use their respective skill sets to help protect one another.
My one beef is that in the third quarter, things slow down to what I can only describe as “ruminations and sex”. Basically both guys ponder over and over if they should be with each other, and then have some sex, some more sex, and then ruminate some more. On the plus side, neither of them acted “too stupid to live” when things get tense, but I wish things had been tightened a bit here. (Blasphemy, I know, but I would have been fine during this section if the sex was fade to black.)
But overall, a solid read, and I’m looking forward to checking out more from this author. Recommended if you’re looking for a suspenseful read with interesting characters (and a really cute dog.)
March 12, 2015
Lots of hot sex, two likeable MC's Nate and Caesar, and my vote for star of the show was Ponchito, Caesar's little dog. The plot?? Well, to say that LAPD's finest Nate was a tad thick is an understatement; having said that, if I'd been distracted by Caesar's gloriously hot bod, then maybe I wouldn't have thought about the possibility of a tracker under the car either, hehe.... Anyhoo, I did find the storyline a little tenuous...surely it's not usual for a case as high profile as this one was to get to court in less than a month?? And the cops that beat Caesar up...what about them?? No mention of them after the child porn cop did everyone a favour....3.5 stars from me.
December 6, 2009
When it comes to gay-romance, my kind of book is the one that actually have a story in between the romp around the sheet/kitchen/living room or any area the two guys can find. This one is one of those. Nate and Caesar are two very likeable protagonists. The first one is an LAPD and the later is a thief who is try to do right after finding very disturbing photos of child pornography in one of the houses he robs. Sure there are many sex scenes but there is something actually going on around it. Adds a very cute dog by the name of Poncho, well, I just fall in love with the story :)
March 13, 2015
This was ok. It started off pretty well. Nate is an idealistic cop who meets Caesar at a party and then finds out that Caesar's side business is breaking into houses, which is quite the problem for the cop. Caesar and Nate end up in the middle of a dangerous investigation. I really enjoyed the first 50%-60% of the book. There was suspense and action, but unfortunately it fell flat after that. Most of the second half of the book was all sex and then all we got was a nice neat wrap up for the ending. Even though I liked both Nate and Caesar, I was bored by the end.
May 10, 2012
The first half of this book was a solid 4 star. I really liked the MC's, and the plot was promising. Then somewhere around the 60% mark it all turned into a long sex scene with random short breaks here and there to move the plot along. It could have been so good, but it turned out just ok.
Read
April 14, 2009Well I think this book is my preferrend among James Buchanan's books I have read.
Caesar is a "good" thief: he is a burglar but he is a good guy inside. From the Ispanic side of the city, like a lot of guy like him he hasn't had a chance to become a good next boy door. From little thefts to big housebreaks the step is short and it passes through some convictions. But Caesar is also a very handsome guy. So he has his share of adventures and one of them leads him to Nate, a fair hair All American Boy he meets at a party.
Caesar has always had one night stands or little more (for him a long relationship is a guy who lasts three appointments) and so he delves into the chance to spend one night with Nate. But when the morning after he finds out that Nate is a cop, he leaves in an hurry. But then an accidental encounter with Nate leads to another hot sex session. And two. Nate is quickly becoming a long last relationship...
So when Caesar, during one of his "cleaning home work", finds some child pornography material, he can't ignore the thing and the first person he searches for help is Nate. But Nate is a cop and he has to do the right thing, and Caesar is a thief...
Caesar is the classical bad boy you can't resist. He sweats sex from every pore and he is also very nice (he has a very cute little dog who helps him to play the role of bad boy with heart). He doesn't hesitate a bit to do the right thing, even if it could be the wrong thing for his life. He is funny and has a easy way to approach life, but he is not selfish.
Nate is the good boy. Right family, right side of the street, maybe not a "straight" guy, but he has a family which supports him (even if we can read a bit of tension with his father, ex-cop). He doesn't hide his homosexuality, but he doesn't flaunt it. He works out, so when his colleagues see him, they see a big and tought man, and nobody has the courage to trouble him. But he can't prevent what is said behind his shoulders... and he heard them. So he is not at all easy with his sexual life, but he can't deny what he feels for Caesar, it's a too strong feeling. And like a good boy he doesn't hide nothing.
I like both Caesar then Nate, but maybe I have a soft spot for Nate, this big guy who is so sure of himself that has no problem to be a total bottom in bed, but only in a sexual way, cause Caesar and Nate are two very balanced characters in the day to day life.
The plot is a good mix of detective story, funny elements (don't miss the dog), good and health sex, and romance.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1934531448/?...
Caesar is a "good" thief: he is a burglar but he is a good guy inside. From the Ispanic side of the city, like a lot of guy like him he hasn't had a chance to become a good next boy door. From little thefts to big housebreaks the step is short and it passes through some convictions. But Caesar is also a very handsome guy. So he has his share of adventures and one of them leads him to Nate, a fair hair All American Boy he meets at a party.
Caesar has always had one night stands or little more (for him a long relationship is a guy who lasts three appointments) and so he delves into the chance to spend one night with Nate. But when the morning after he finds out that Nate is a cop, he leaves in an hurry. But then an accidental encounter with Nate leads to another hot sex session. And two. Nate is quickly becoming a long last relationship...
So when Caesar, during one of his "cleaning home work", finds some child pornography material, he can't ignore the thing and the first person he searches for help is Nate. But Nate is a cop and he has to do the right thing, and Caesar is a thief...
Caesar is the classical bad boy you can't resist. He sweats sex from every pore and he is also very nice (he has a very cute little dog who helps him to play the role of bad boy with heart). He doesn't hesitate a bit to do the right thing, even if it could be the wrong thing for his life. He is funny and has a easy way to approach life, but he is not selfish.
Nate is the good boy. Right family, right side of the street, maybe not a "straight" guy, but he has a family which supports him (even if we can read a bit of tension with his father, ex-cop). He doesn't hide his homosexuality, but he doesn't flaunt it. He works out, so when his colleagues see him, they see a big and tought man, and nobody has the courage to trouble him. But he can't prevent what is said behind his shoulders... and he heard them. So he is not at all easy with his sexual life, but he can't deny what he feels for Caesar, it's a too strong feeling. And like a good boy he doesn't hide nothing.
I like both Caesar then Nate, but maybe I have a soft spot for Nate, this big guy who is so sure of himself that has no problem to be a total bottom in bed, but only in a sexual way, cause Caesar and Nate are two very balanced characters in the day to day life.
The plot is a good mix of detective story, funny elements (don't miss the dog), good and health sex, and romance.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1934531448/?...
April 22, 2011
It was a really nice story. I enjoyed reading it and it left me in a good mood after finishing it.
Caesar and Nate are the kind of men I like. Strong willed, in great shape and just rightly masculine. Their relationship (their sexual one) was rather well balanced. Nate might have been bottoming, but you never got the sensation that he wanted to play the submissive role, more like he enjoyed giving himself to Caesar, while still controlling the situation. I suppose his physique also helped with that.
I liked that both men were dedicated to their occupations and that the author gave enough attention and detail to how they performed their work. It helped create the characters. Caesar was living the only life he thought he was entitled to, not daring to hope for a chance at a different work or a chance at love. Nate was too occupied with holding up the image he had created at work of a dependable gay police man that he had no time to find love. Certainly not in the arms of a formerly convicted felon.
And yet, they made it work. Lust and passion ignited things between them, then the death threats and whole scandal offered them the possiblity to know each other better and see behind the first impression, find all the ways in which a relationship between them could work. I liked that Caesar as well as Nate were gruffy men, unable to say out loud that they had feeling for each other, though their body language spoke volumes.
I truly enjoyed the story! It had its funny moments, exciting paraghraps and most erotic moments! Very good story.
Caesar and Nate are the kind of men I like. Strong willed, in great shape and just rightly masculine. Their relationship (their sexual one) was rather well balanced. Nate might have been bottoming, but you never got the sensation that he wanted to play the submissive role, more like he enjoyed giving himself to Caesar, while still controlling the situation. I suppose his physique also helped with that.
I liked that both men were dedicated to their occupations and that the author gave enough attention and detail to how they performed their work. It helped create the characters. Caesar was living the only life he thought he was entitled to, not daring to hope for a chance at a different work or a chance at love. Nate was too occupied with holding up the image he had created at work of a dependable gay police man that he had no time to find love. Certainly not in the arms of a formerly convicted felon.
And yet, they made it work. Lust and passion ignited things between them, then the death threats and whole scandal offered them the possiblity to know each other better and see behind the first impression, find all the ways in which a relationship between them could work. I liked that Caesar as well as Nate were gruffy men, unable to say out loud that they had feeling for each other, though their body language spoke volumes.
I truly enjoyed the story! It had its funny moments, exciting paraghraps and most erotic moments! Very good story.
August 1, 2013
I don't know why it took me so long to read a book by James Buchanan. His writing style (or at least this book) reminds me a lot of that of my favorite A.M. Riley.
I loved the chemistry between Nate and Caesar. The sex was really hot but after a while it became "too much sex" for me. I had to skim the last two scenes.
I liked that the police investigation did not take over the book and it was more like an aside to what was going on between Nate and Caesar. It is nice to get a romance with a bit of "meat" behind it.
I loved the chemistry between Nate and Caesar. The sex was really hot but after a while it became "too much sex" for me. I had to skim the last two scenes.
I liked that the police investigation did not take over the book and it was more like an aside to what was going on between Nate and Caesar. It is nice to get a romance with a bit of "meat" behind it.
March 15, 2013
HOLY SMOKES!! Hello James Buchanan!! This was my first novel by him and I immediately bought "Hard Fall" after I finished this one in only two dayS. The story is unbelievable, so captivating. It pulls you in from the first chapter. Thier chemistry and story is real and believable; you find yourself pulling for them. I was on the edge of my couch with this one. Its definitly a MUST READ!!
January 28, 2009
This is one of my favorite M/M love stories I have read in a long time. I loved the storyline and both heroes were so sexy!
November 2, 2019
Loved this book so much - definitely a recommended read! I would love a sequel as I feel even though the author rounded the story up , theres totally a lot more to be explored with Caesar and Nathan... Or maybe I just didn't want the story to end.
I've been in a massive book rut lately, and keep half reading books, loosing interest or reading ones that aren't quite there. But this one was totally worth it, and was hiding away collecting dust in my 'to-read' pile. Really glad I dug it out!
I've been in a massive book rut lately, and keep half reading books, loosing interest or reading ones that aren't quite there. But this one was totally worth it, and was hiding away collecting dust in my 'to-read' pile. Really glad I dug it out!
April 24, 2020
So many sex scenes!!! I swear this book is like 90% sex scenes and 10% everything else. Why do authors do this? :(
I think somebody really needs to reread this book. A lot of words are in italics, which is fine, but there's rarely a space between those words and the next words. So we end up with phrases like, “Somebody should have given me a whata long time ago?”. I wouldn't have minded if it happened once or twice, but it became annoying after a while.
Also, when you have characters whose native/second language is not English, I think it would be a good idea to get a native speaker to proofread it. Some of the sentences in Spanish sounded so weird. I feel like I could have done a better job, and that's saying a lot. Also, I've never seen hors d'oeuvre written as "shall I make hors devours? " 😳 Or at least I'm assuming that's what the author was trying to say.
I think somebody really needs to reread this book. A lot of words are in italics, which is fine, but there's rarely a space between those words and the next words. So we end up with phrases like, “Somebody should have given me a whata long time ago?”. I wouldn't have minded if it happened once or twice, but it became annoying after a while.
Also, when you have characters whose native/second language is not English, I think it would be a good idea to get a native speaker to proofread it. Some of the sentences in Spanish sounded so weird. I feel like I could have done a better job, and that's saying a lot. Also, I've never seen hors d'oeuvre written as "shall I make hors devours? " 😳 Or at least I'm assuming that's what the author was trying to say.
December 20, 2012
This is an awesome read. I loved Caesar from the start, but Nate grew on me. By the end, I loved them both and didn't want the story to end. How can you not love an officer and a thief? It worked, it worked very well.
" Really," Ceasar's touch danced along Nate's arm before he purred "Solamente mio. Mi's media naranja."
Only his, in a very possessive way and it was so very true. Then there was that other phrase again too. "Caesar, what does it mean when you say I am half an orange. It can't be literal."
Caesar tensed, like he'd been caught backing out of someone's window. He swallowed. "I forgot you speak Spanish."
"Un poco, puedo son pobre." Nate smiled, catching Caesar's hand and bringing it to his lips.
"it means," Caesar paused and shook, his head , almost like he was embarrassed to continue. Finally, he answered in a near whisper, "It means you are my other half, you complete me."
If you don't read this, you lose big time.
" Really," Ceasar's touch danced along Nate's arm before he purred "Solamente mio. Mi's media naranja."
Only his, in a very possessive way and it was so very true. Then there was that other phrase again too. "Caesar, what does it mean when you say I am half an orange. It can't be literal."
Caesar tensed, like he'd been caught backing out of someone's window. He swallowed. "I forgot you speak Spanish."
"Un poco, puedo son pobre." Nate smiled, catching Caesar's hand and bringing it to his lips.
"it means," Caesar paused and shook, his head , almost like he was embarrassed to continue. Finally, he answered in a near whisper, "It means you are my other half, you complete me."
If you don't read this, you lose big time.
July 3, 2016
4.0 Stars
I liked this a whole lot more than I thought I would given that I haven't read many books by this author. (I know; I've been living under a rock, I guess.) The style and pacing was right up my alley and I was drawn in by both the characters and the plot. A title like this could have been much more drawn out and convoluted but other than a handful of odd typ0s this was a well-edited book, too, with nothing extraneous detracting from the story.
Plus, the sex was hot - a cop and a thief. I love that kind of opposites attract dichotomy. (I blame all the deliciously dirty White Collar Neal/Peter fanfic.)
And the ending was perfectly played; after all, Caesar did mention how easy it was to break in and rip off people who are away from home for extended periods of time. Of course he'd have to move in with Nate to avoid being a target himself! It only makes sense...
I liked this a whole lot more than I thought I would given that I haven't read many books by this author. (I know; I've been living under a rock, I guess.) The style and pacing was right up my alley and I was drawn in by both the characters and the plot. A title like this could have been much more drawn out and convoluted but other than a handful of odd typ0s this was a well-edited book, too, with nothing extraneous detracting from the story.
Plus, the sex was hot - a cop and a thief. I love that kind of opposites attract dichotomy. (I blame all the deliciously dirty White Collar Neal/Peter fanfic.)
And the ending was perfectly played; after all, Caesar did mention how easy it was to break in and rip off people who are away from home for extended periods of time. Of course he'd have to move in with Nate to avoid being a target himself! It only makes sense...
February 16, 2012
3.5 Stars. I enjoyed both Caesar and Nate, one a thief and one a cop, two very unlikely people to hook up. They were some hot scenes with them and Caesar's dog was just adorable. While this was well written and enjoyable, there were parts of the story that seemed rushed and would just jump to the next part, the flow of the story just seem off to me and it left me feeling like pieces were missing. Overall enjoyable.
February 28, 2017
Story:
Nachdem der Einbrecher und Dieb Caesar Serrano mitbekommt, dass er eine leidenschaftliche Nacht mit dem LAPD Officer Nathan Reilly verbracht hat, nimmt er sich vor, den gutaussehenden Mann nicht mehr wiederzusehen. Als er jedoch bei einem Beutezug in einer Villa auf kinderpornografische Fotos stößt, wendet er sich an Nathan der ihm seine Unterstützung verspricht. Gemeinsam gehen sie zur Polizei, wo Caesar für seine Aussage einen Deal mit der Staatsanwaltschaft heraushandeln kann. Kurz darauf überschlagen sich die Ereignisse, denn die Villa gehört nicht nur einem hohen Tier der Polizei, jemand versucht auch Caesar auszuschalten, um dessen Aussage vor Gericht zu verhindern. Gemeinsam mit Nathan, der von seinem Vorgesetzten zu Caesars Leibwächter berufen wird, flieht der junge Dieb aus der Stadt …
Eigene Meinung:
James Buchanan ist einer der bekanntesten englischsprachigen Autoren im Gay-Genre und hat sich mit Dutzenden Reihen und Einzelbüchern einen Namen gemacht. Mit „Der ehrenwerte Dieb“ legt deadsoft erstmals eines seiner Werke in deutscher Sprache vor.
Die Geschichte verspricht einen spannenden Krimi, der mit der Liebesgeschichte zweier ungleicher Männer gewürzt ist. Leider hält das Buch überhaupt nicht, was man sich vom Klappentext verspricht – statt Spannung, Action und eines ausgeklügelten Krimis bekommt man vorwiegend Sex! Denn viel mehr machen Nathan und Caesar nicht, wenn sie allein in einem Raum sind – selbst in den unmöglichsten Situationen haben sie nichts Besseres zu tun, als es miteinander zu treiben. Da wundert es nicht, dass Nathan während der Flucht zu keiner Sekunde auf die zündende Idee kommt, wie ihre Häscher sie jedes Mal so schnell finden können (etwas, was dem Leser schon nach wenigen Seiten klar ist). Auch sonst dreht es sich bei „Der ehrenwerte Dieb“ eher um Erotik und platten Sex, als um die Rahmenhandlung. So interessant die Grundidee ist und so viel man aus der eigentlichen Krimihandlung hätte machen können – der Autor setzt nichts davon um. Stattdessen konzentriert er sich auf die ausufernden Sexszenen, die man nach dem vierten Mal (im ersten Drittel) gelangweilt überblättert. Auch ist es nicht verwunderlich, dass die Lösung des Krimis und die ganze spannende Handlung lediglich am Rande abläuft und die Figuren keinerlei erwähnenswerten Einfluss mehr darauf haben – vieles wird am Ende in wenigen Sätzen zusammengefasst, um wenigstens das wichtigste der Grundidee zu klären.
Das macht James Buchanans Roman ungemein langweilig und unspektakulär, wenngleich die Nicht-Sex-Szenen gut beschrieben und in sich logisch sind. Das betrifft sowohl Caesars Einbruch, als auch die Befragung der Polizei und die Mühlen der Justiz. Hier hat man das Gefühl, dass sich der Autor durchaus mit den Grundlagen beschäftigt oder entsprechend tiefgehend recherchiert hat.
Die Charaktere sind durchaus sympathisch und können beide überzeugen – wenn man von dem übermäßigen Sextrieb einmal absieht. Caesar ist ein starker Charakter, der aufgrund seiner Herkunft und seines bisherigen Lebens eine spannende Grundlage bietet und sich im Laufe der Geschichte durchaus weiterentwickelt. Auch Nathan als offen schwuler Polizist ist gut in Szene gesetzt und überzeugt mit seiner loyalen und sympathischen Art.
Stilistisch ist der Roman gut und solide – James Buchanan weiß wie man schreibt und hat ein Händchen für Beschreibungen von Stadt und Land. Gerade L.A. ist sehr stimmungsvoll und atmosphärisch beschrieben – man kann sich die Stadt sehr gut vorstellen. Auch die Dialoge sind gut umgesetzt, ebenso die Erotikszenen, wenngleich sich diese mit der Zeit auch sprachlich wiederholen. Ein großes Manko ist jedoch die deutsche Übersetzung – das Buch wimmelt vor Rechtschreibfehlern, mangelhafter Zeichensetzung und fehlenden Worten. Hin und wieder werden auch Verben in Sätze eingebaut, die überhaupt nicht zum Kontext passen, so dass einige Abschnitte keinen Sinn mehr ergeben. Hier fehlt definitiv ein Korrektor, der zumindest die gröbsten Schnitzer entfernt und den Sätzen einen Sinn gibt. Wer sich bei Fehlern schnell aus dem Konzept bringen lässt, sollte sich vorab überlegen, ob er „Der ehrenhafte Dieb“ unbedingt im Regal braucht – das Buch bietet leider nicht die gewohnte deadsoft-Qualität und vergällt den Spaß am Lesen.
Fazit:
„Der ehrenwerte Dieb“ verspricht inhaltlich viel, kann jedoch nur wenig halten – die Geschichte ist zu sexlastig, was auf Kosten der Logik und der Spannung geht. Der Krimiplot bleibt zu 90% auf der Strecke und wird nur am Rande behandelt, stattdessen bekommt man alle 10 Seiten eine ausufernde Sexszene präsentiert. Da können auch die sympathischen Figuren nicht mehr viel retten, was sehr schade ist. In Kombination mit den vielen Fehlern innerhalb der deutschen Übersetzung, kann ich dieses Buch nur Lesern empfehlen, die auf viel Erotik und Sex aus sind. Wer einen spannenden Krimi sucht, ist bei diesem Buch falsch – leider nicht zu empfehlen.
Nachdem der Einbrecher und Dieb Caesar Serrano mitbekommt, dass er eine leidenschaftliche Nacht mit dem LAPD Officer Nathan Reilly verbracht hat, nimmt er sich vor, den gutaussehenden Mann nicht mehr wiederzusehen. Als er jedoch bei einem Beutezug in einer Villa auf kinderpornografische Fotos stößt, wendet er sich an Nathan der ihm seine Unterstützung verspricht. Gemeinsam gehen sie zur Polizei, wo Caesar für seine Aussage einen Deal mit der Staatsanwaltschaft heraushandeln kann. Kurz darauf überschlagen sich die Ereignisse, denn die Villa gehört nicht nur einem hohen Tier der Polizei, jemand versucht auch Caesar auszuschalten, um dessen Aussage vor Gericht zu verhindern. Gemeinsam mit Nathan, der von seinem Vorgesetzten zu Caesars Leibwächter berufen wird, flieht der junge Dieb aus der Stadt …
Eigene Meinung:
James Buchanan ist einer der bekanntesten englischsprachigen Autoren im Gay-Genre und hat sich mit Dutzenden Reihen und Einzelbüchern einen Namen gemacht. Mit „Der ehrenwerte Dieb“ legt deadsoft erstmals eines seiner Werke in deutscher Sprache vor.
Die Geschichte verspricht einen spannenden Krimi, der mit der Liebesgeschichte zweier ungleicher Männer gewürzt ist. Leider hält das Buch überhaupt nicht, was man sich vom Klappentext verspricht – statt Spannung, Action und eines ausgeklügelten Krimis bekommt man vorwiegend Sex! Denn viel mehr machen Nathan und Caesar nicht, wenn sie allein in einem Raum sind – selbst in den unmöglichsten Situationen haben sie nichts Besseres zu tun, als es miteinander zu treiben. Da wundert es nicht, dass Nathan während der Flucht zu keiner Sekunde auf die zündende Idee kommt, wie ihre Häscher sie jedes Mal so schnell finden können (etwas, was dem Leser schon nach wenigen Seiten klar ist). Auch sonst dreht es sich bei „Der ehrenwerte Dieb“ eher um Erotik und platten Sex, als um die Rahmenhandlung. So interessant die Grundidee ist und so viel man aus der eigentlichen Krimihandlung hätte machen können – der Autor setzt nichts davon um. Stattdessen konzentriert er sich auf die ausufernden Sexszenen, die man nach dem vierten Mal (im ersten Drittel) gelangweilt überblättert. Auch ist es nicht verwunderlich, dass die Lösung des Krimis und die ganze spannende Handlung lediglich am Rande abläuft und die Figuren keinerlei erwähnenswerten Einfluss mehr darauf haben – vieles wird am Ende in wenigen Sätzen zusammengefasst, um wenigstens das wichtigste der Grundidee zu klären.
Das macht James Buchanans Roman ungemein langweilig und unspektakulär, wenngleich die Nicht-Sex-Szenen gut beschrieben und in sich logisch sind. Das betrifft sowohl Caesars Einbruch, als auch die Befragung der Polizei und die Mühlen der Justiz. Hier hat man das Gefühl, dass sich der Autor durchaus mit den Grundlagen beschäftigt oder entsprechend tiefgehend recherchiert hat.
Die Charaktere sind durchaus sympathisch und können beide überzeugen – wenn man von dem übermäßigen Sextrieb einmal absieht. Caesar ist ein starker Charakter, der aufgrund seiner Herkunft und seines bisherigen Lebens eine spannende Grundlage bietet und sich im Laufe der Geschichte durchaus weiterentwickelt. Auch Nathan als offen schwuler Polizist ist gut in Szene gesetzt und überzeugt mit seiner loyalen und sympathischen Art.
Stilistisch ist der Roman gut und solide – James Buchanan weiß wie man schreibt und hat ein Händchen für Beschreibungen von Stadt und Land. Gerade L.A. ist sehr stimmungsvoll und atmosphärisch beschrieben – man kann sich die Stadt sehr gut vorstellen. Auch die Dialoge sind gut umgesetzt, ebenso die Erotikszenen, wenngleich sich diese mit der Zeit auch sprachlich wiederholen. Ein großes Manko ist jedoch die deutsche Übersetzung – das Buch wimmelt vor Rechtschreibfehlern, mangelhafter Zeichensetzung und fehlenden Worten. Hin und wieder werden auch Verben in Sätze eingebaut, die überhaupt nicht zum Kontext passen, so dass einige Abschnitte keinen Sinn mehr ergeben. Hier fehlt definitiv ein Korrektor, der zumindest die gröbsten Schnitzer entfernt und den Sätzen einen Sinn gibt. Wer sich bei Fehlern schnell aus dem Konzept bringen lässt, sollte sich vorab überlegen, ob er „Der ehrenhafte Dieb“ unbedingt im Regal braucht – das Buch bietet leider nicht die gewohnte deadsoft-Qualität und vergällt den Spaß am Lesen.
Fazit:
„Der ehrenwerte Dieb“ verspricht inhaltlich viel, kann jedoch nur wenig halten – die Geschichte ist zu sexlastig, was auf Kosten der Logik und der Spannung geht. Der Krimiplot bleibt zu 90% auf der Strecke und wird nur am Rande behandelt, stattdessen bekommt man alle 10 Seiten eine ausufernde Sexszene präsentiert. Da können auch die sympathischen Figuren nicht mehr viel retten, was sehr schade ist. In Kombination mit den vielen Fehlern innerhalb der deutschen Übersetzung, kann ich dieses Buch nur Lesern empfehlen, die auf viel Erotik und Sex aus sind. Wer einen spannenden Krimi sucht, ist bei diesem Buch falsch – leider nicht zu empfehlen.
March 23, 2010
I'm totally loving James Buchanan lately. Everything I've read from her is just great, and The Good Thief is no exception.
This story centers on a cop and a thief who initially meet and hook up without knowing the other's profession. Once they figure it out, they try to avoid each other like the plague, but (obviously) do not succeed. They are in fact forced together after the thief uncovers some damning evidence during a burglary and then decides to bring it to the cop's attention. As a result, they are both swept into a bigger investigation, with big players and dangerous consequences. Drama and suspense ensues.
So what makes James Buchanan's writing so great? First, her novels contain what I think to be an almost perfect ratio of plot and sex for what I'm looking for in an erotic gay romance. The sex is hot, a little rough, and plentiful enough to satisfy your erotic cravings without becoming repetitive or overpowering the story-line. The plot is solid and developed, capturing the reader's attention and keeping it until the end.
But of course we can't forget about the romance, and Buchanan never does, keeping the characters and their relationship front and center. What's special about the romantic component of this novel (and Buchanan's work in general) is its refreshingly masculine feel. The characters are very normal, down-to-earth guys - the kind of men who drink beer, wear flannel, own a dog, and have two pieces of crappy furniture in their living rooms. Good looking, yes, but with manly attitudes, everyday speech, and blue-collar vocations. No one is professing his undying love, or treating his man like a delicate china doll, or whispering sweet nothings in his boyfriend's ear. And thank goodness for that, because it makes for a romance that develops a little more subtly, reluctantly, and perhaps more realistically.
As usual, James Buchanan has excelled at writing a piece of quality homoerotic fiction, or what I would describe as "gritty gay romance with a definite plot and a masculine feel." It's certainly very different (in a good way) from the typical gay romance novel, and that is exactly why I will keep coming back for more.
This story centers on a cop and a thief who initially meet and hook up without knowing the other's profession. Once they figure it out, they try to avoid each other like the plague, but (obviously) do not succeed. They are in fact forced together after the thief uncovers some damning evidence during a burglary and then decides to bring it to the cop's attention. As a result, they are both swept into a bigger investigation, with big players and dangerous consequences. Drama and suspense ensues.
So what makes James Buchanan's writing so great? First, her novels contain what I think to be an almost perfect ratio of plot and sex for what I'm looking for in an erotic gay romance. The sex is hot, a little rough, and plentiful enough to satisfy your erotic cravings without becoming repetitive or overpowering the story-line. The plot is solid and developed, capturing the reader's attention and keeping it until the end.
But of course we can't forget about the romance, and Buchanan never does, keeping the characters and their relationship front and center. What's special about the romantic component of this novel (and Buchanan's work in general) is its refreshingly masculine feel. The characters are very normal, down-to-earth guys - the kind of men who drink beer, wear flannel, own a dog, and have two pieces of crappy furniture in their living rooms. Good looking, yes, but with manly attitudes, everyday speech, and blue-collar vocations. No one is professing his undying love, or treating his man like a delicate china doll, or whispering sweet nothings in his boyfriend's ear. And thank goodness for that, because it makes for a romance that develops a little more subtly, reluctantly, and perhaps more realistically.
As usual, James Buchanan has excelled at writing a piece of quality homoerotic fiction, or what I would describe as "gritty gay romance with a definite plot and a masculine feel." It's certainly very different (in a good way) from the typical gay romance novel, and that is exactly why I will keep coming back for more.
November 10, 2012
The love story between a crook and a cop definitely reeled me in, hook, line and sinker. This book didn't disappoint. It's all here - good writing, great descriptions, convincing procedures, and of course, a great romance.
What I liked:
1. The characters were well-written. Caesar and Nate didn't read like girls in pants; They read like men. Bad at cooking, awful jokes, they're definitely not the diabetes-inducing kind of guys that tend to populate the genre.
They fit their roles to a T: Caesar is a crook and behaves like one - he's unrepentant, unashamed. He doesn't make any excuses for who he is, and suffers no attack on the conscience. Best of all, Buchanan didn't give him a Robin Hood tendency either.
2. The plot and the case was interesting enough without being melodramatic. That's one of the problems with books featuring crimes: there's hardly ever simple cases like this one. Drug lord busts, human trafficking, kidnapping, assassination... Everything has to be big and explodin' to make it cool.
Not here. The case feels like a plot device to move the romance forward, and normally I'd be prickly about this but it's incorporated into the story and detailed well enough that it's part of the plot instead of some touch-and-go plot device meant to get them into each others' pants.
3. Poncho. The thing is a slut for food and 500% of adorable. I need a dog like that.
What I didn't like:
Sex. So much sex. As soon as they're done having sex and I groaned with relief, they'll wake up and have more morning sex. None of that dot dot dot/black-out sex either. Every twenty or thirty pages there's ten pages of sex. The sex is vanilla and better than most MM romances (I did like their bed talk, which was amusing), but it's still sex, and it got really boring.
I'd rather the author trimmed them all out and replace them with bonding sessions between the MCs, or just trim them outright. But that's just my personal preference. I'm sure someone else might love it.
That's it. Verdict: A good, solid MM romance featuring crime, mystery, and men behaving like men. If you like crook-and-cop stories, then this is definitely one you should pick up.
What I liked:
1. The characters were well-written. Caesar and Nate didn't read like girls in pants; They read like men. Bad at cooking, awful jokes, they're definitely not the diabetes-inducing kind of guys that tend to populate the genre.
They fit their roles to a T: Caesar is a crook and behaves like one - he's unrepentant, unashamed. He doesn't make any excuses for who he is, and suffers no attack on the conscience. Best of all, Buchanan didn't give him a Robin Hood tendency either.
2. The plot and the case was interesting enough without being melodramatic. That's one of the problems with books featuring crimes: there's hardly ever simple cases like this one. Drug lord busts, human trafficking, kidnapping, assassination... Everything has to be big and explodin' to make it cool.
Not here. The case feels like a plot device to move the romance forward, and normally I'd be prickly about this but it's incorporated into the story and detailed well enough that it's part of the plot instead of some touch-and-go plot device meant to get them into each others' pants.
3. Poncho. The thing is a slut for food and 500% of adorable. I need a dog like that.
What I didn't like:
Sex. So much sex. As soon as they're done having sex and I groaned with relief, they'll wake up and have more morning sex. None of that dot dot dot/black-out sex either. Every twenty or thirty pages there's ten pages of sex. The sex is vanilla and better than most MM romances (I did like their bed talk, which was amusing), but it's still sex, and it got really boring.
I'd rather the author trimmed them all out and replace them with bonding sessions between the MCs, or just trim them outright. But that's just my personal preference. I'm sure someone else might love it.
That's it. Verdict: A good, solid MM romance featuring crime, mystery, and men behaving like men. If you like crook-and-cop stories, then this is definitely one you should pick up.
August 26, 2012
2.5 stars. Rounded up for Goodreads because I'm feeling generous today.
I was disappointed in this book. The blurb seemed to promise a lot of adventure, maybe some shoot-outs, or a car chase, or something exciting. Instead, this was actually a fairly slow-paced novel interrupted by far too many repetitive sex scenes. I didn't feel like I got to know the characters very well, possibly because they spent so much of their time sexing instead of talking or doing anything. This is too bad, because both Nate and Caesar had the potential to be very complex characters. Both characters should have struggled more with the positions they found themselves in. Both should have spent more time reevaluating their own choices and the complexities of issues they previously perceived in black-and-white. Instead, all they seemed to think about was sex.
The editing in this ebook should have been much, much better. I'm used to overlooking a few problems here and there in ebooks, but there seemed to be a typo or missing punctuation on every page or so. Also, Buchanan's writing style was a bit repetitive. For instance, Caesar "hit pay dirt" twice within a few paragraphs in Chapter 7. An editor should have picked up on that. I was also mildly irritated by the fact that Caesar's dog was alternately called "Poncho" and "Ponchito" throughout the text. I'm guessing Ponchito is a sort of affectionate form of Poncho, but it was still distracting.
In spite of all the foregoing complaints, The Good Thief wasn't a terrible read by any means. A few scenes were really well constructed, and I liked the dialog between Caesar and Nate. I just felt like this book didn't come close to realizing its full potential. That said, I would be willing to try another book by James Buchanan.
I was disappointed in this book. The blurb seemed to promise a lot of adventure, maybe some shoot-outs, or a car chase, or something exciting. Instead, this was actually a fairly slow-paced novel interrupted by far too many repetitive sex scenes. I didn't feel like I got to know the characters very well, possibly because they spent so much of their time sexing instead of talking or doing anything. This is too bad, because both Nate and Caesar had the potential to be very complex characters. Both characters should have struggled more with the positions they found themselves in. Both should have spent more time reevaluating their own choices and the complexities of issues they previously perceived in black-and-white. Instead, all they seemed to think about was sex.
The editing in this ebook should have been much, much better. I'm used to overlooking a few problems here and there in ebooks, but there seemed to be a typo or missing punctuation on every page or so. Also, Buchanan's writing style was a bit repetitive. For instance, Caesar "hit pay dirt" twice within a few paragraphs in Chapter 7. An editor should have picked up on that. I was also mildly irritated by the fact that Caesar's dog was alternately called "Poncho" and "Ponchito" throughout the text. I'm guessing Ponchito is a sort of affectionate form of Poncho, but it was still distracting.
In spite of all the foregoing complaints, The Good Thief wasn't a terrible read by any means. A few scenes were really well constructed, and I liked the dialog between Caesar and Nate. I just felt like this book didn't come close to realizing its full potential. That said, I would be willing to try another book by James Buchanan.
August 29, 2024
Thank goodness for Goodreads challenges!!! Read this as part of the M/M group bingo challenge. I never would read this yummy nugget if not for that challenge. Yes, it was on my TBR but so are over 2000 other books! Caesar and Nate are two strong, sexy MCs with crazy chemistry. They meet at a party and have a one night stand then Nate kicks Caesar out because he has to go to work. They meet again under rather odd circumstances and each time they rock each other's world. When they find out what each does for "a living," all bets are off. Now crime/romances are hard for me since I need the balance of the bad guys vs. good guys and the romance. Funnily enough the whole crime/bad cops thing was a little weak, particularly toward the end. But I didn't care. I loved these two guys together! On my gosh, over the top sex (almost too much), that feeling you get when you read two guys falling in love with each other - the feeling is almost palpable and I got that with Nate and Caesar. And the dog! Great touch. This is a first time author for me and though there were a few typos, it did not take me out of the story. I especially like this trope. Similar to one of my favorite M/M reads
. Will definitely check out the author's other reads.
Re-read: 8/27/2024 - So read this back in 2016 and sadly, did not remember much. But so what!! Very much a 5 star read this time around. Caesar and Nate stole my heart again. Two guys who had absolutely no business being together but are addicted to each other. Loved Ponchito! This just reinforces my love of this trope - bad guy/cop - the angst, the desire for the cop to adhere to the rules that guide his job and how that clashes with his feelings about someone who is essentially a rule breaker. Though I said the same thing in 2016, definitely have to seek out this author's other reads.
. Will definitely check out the author's other reads.Re-read: 8/27/2024 - So read this back in 2016 and sadly, did not remember much. But so what!! Very much a 5 star read this time around. Caesar and Nate stole my heart again. Two guys who had absolutely no business being together but are addicted to each other. Loved Ponchito! This just reinforces my love of this trope - bad guy/cop - the angst, the desire for the cop to adhere to the rules that guide his job and how that clashes with his feelings about someone who is essentially a rule breaker. Though I said the same thing in 2016, definitely have to seek out this author's other reads.
February 13, 2012
Specification: 4.5 stars
I loved this book a lot. Part of the reason is because I have a thing for thieves falling in love with cops and vice versa books. And this one was executed perfectly. I loved the relationship between the MCs throughout the whole book; how after finding out each other's job they tried to stop what they had going on, but they just couldn't stay away from each other... and then slowly falling in love. Usually I don't like books that have a sex scene that early in the book (here it was at 5%) but it just worked in this case. I also don't like books that have too much sex... and let me tell you, these two had a lot of sex... they just couldn't get enough of each other, but again, somehow in this book it just worked and it didn't bother me at all. Probably because of how hot they were together.
The only reason I'm giving it a 4.5 stars is because there were some slow parts that I didn't quite enjoy as much as the rest of the book. But otherwise everything was perfect.
I loved this book a lot. Part of the reason is because I have a thing for thieves falling in love with cops and vice versa books. And this one was executed perfectly. I loved the relationship between the MCs throughout the whole book; how after finding out each other's job they tried to stop what they had going on, but they just couldn't stay away from each other... and then slowly falling in love. Usually I don't like books that have a sex scene that early in the book (here it was at 5%) but it just worked in this case. I also don't like books that have too much sex... and let me tell you, these two had a lot of sex... they just couldn't get enough of each other, but again, somehow in this book it just worked and it didn't bother me at all. Probably because of how hot they were together.
The only reason I'm giving it a 4.5 stars is because there were some slow parts that I didn't quite enjoy as much as the rest of the book. But otherwise everything was perfect.
December 12, 2014
Not great, but a decent read.
I liked both Nate and Caesar. I liked that Caesar wasn't all down on himself, he didn't see himself as some worthless asshole or anything, he simply was who he was and did what he did.
The sex was good, and there was a ton of it! Good lord.
I felt badly for Nate. I would have liked to get a little more about the thing with his dad.
While I like Nate and Caesar together, I felt like there was something missing, I can't exactly put my finger on it. They did talk a little in between the sex, and there was some sharing, but maybe there could have been a little more emotion involved and I would have felt better about things.
I don't even know what to say about the whole cop thing...there were times when i was shaking my head like WTF, maybe there wasn't enough detail for me or I wasn't really feeling these other assholes, I just felt almost like I was missing something.
Overall, a decent read, I liked it well enough. Would read more from this author.
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