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Snakes Among Sweet Flowers
Two-time ex-con Camden Sanders has decided that Hog Mountain—an isolated community on the outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia—is the perfect place to continue running small scams without the threat of more prison time. But there are a few problems with this plan. One is the neighborly citizens of Hog Mountain thwarting his dirty dealings at every turn with their kindness. Another is Jackson Rhodes, a closeted Hog Mountain police officer who can see right through Cam’s good ol’ boy act and plans to catch him red-handed despite the attraction they both can feel. But the biggest problem of all is that Cam’s past is threatening to catch up with him, and it could mean trouble for more than just himself.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 20, 2016
10 people are currently reading
486 people want to read
About the author
Jason Huffman-Black
5 books324 followersJason Huffman-Black could be described as the porn star alter ego of the mild-mannered editor for several LGBT publishers. By day, Jason edits and writes in a cozy chair, while Mr. Huffman-Black travels the globe on such adventurous excursions as wrestling the one-eyed spitting serpent of Tangiers, ass-spelunking into the hidden tomb of King CockTut, and most recently, sharing a prison cell in a small third-world nation with a rather sweaty fur-covered hulk of a man named Javier.
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June 28, 2016No official rating. I'd rather review than rate it. Review posted June 28, 2016
“Man, I don’t know who you banged last night, but it must have been epic. I’ve never heard anybody that loud during sex. If you do that chick again, I suggest a ball gag or something. People are trying to sleep, you know?”
Tom seemed unconcerned and gave a large yawn that showed sharp fangs to convey his sentiment.
“Look, I feed you, asshole. At least act embarrassed that I had to be privy to your man-whorin’,” Cam scolded without heat and offered another scratch before getting up and heading down the steps toward the banged-up Silverado beside the house.
Same as 2,897,341 other romance books.
There was plenty of chuckling, eating (if you're hungry, just knock at their door and ask for a casserole), talk about buying and eating food, sitting on the porch and listening to bugs and enjoying the silence. And, honestly, I have no clue how Cam is going to make a living when he never earns any money with his new business. But, hey, he has stashed away a bunch of bills that will keep him afloat - maybe for the rest of his life? ETA: Just at the end of the story Cam conveniently seemed to reel in some customers who will pay for some pricey work.
Oh, and speaking of romance…this is supposed to be a romance, right? Around the 35% mark, there is a sex scene that made me want to call my ob-gyn to book my preventive checkup. Frankly, I dislike that checkup, but it must be more exciting and less mechanic than clinical couch potato sex. And what left me totally miffed was the fact that up until the 40% mark there was no relationship development between the two main protags. None whatsoever. To sum it up in two sentences: I was bored and struggled through till the end. Though I shouldn't have done that.
Anyhoo…
I have no clue why the two main characters felt attracted to each other in the first place because I never felt any palpable chemistry and the sex wasn't great either. The suspense was not really there and rather lame; the bad guy performed his evil deeds off page (that's rather handy, isn't it?) and Cam acted like a bunch of disoriented chickens stumbling around the scenery when it did matter the most. Where was the badassguy antihero who should have been at the top of his game? The was totally predictable and the author killed two birds with one stone when he How convenient was that?
Also, it rubbed me the wrong way that Jackson, who is a grown man after all, called his father daddy. Daddy here and daddy there and daddy everywhere. Daddy and Momma were oh-so sweet. All that sweet talk made my teeth hurt. It came off as stilted and exerting. Sorry, but that was just too much. Well, at least they didn't tell him to go potty. Another pet peeve of mine is sex that *cue eye roll* I skimmed/skipped the come-to-Jesus part and the because it didn't really hold my interest. Everything was wrapped up fast with a nice bow, and as if that wasn't enough, let's add some OTT sugar and finish with a needless And they lived happily ever after. I have never been enamored with Snakes Among Sweet Flowers but the final 20% ruined the entire story.
Bottom line, I really liked the cat, the cover and the premise. Unfortunately, though, it's yet another let down and I couldn't for the life of me feel the hype. What else is new, right?
“Man, I don’t know who you banged last night, but it must have been epic. I’ve never heard anybody that loud during sex. If you do that chick again, I suggest a ball gag or something. People are trying to sleep, you know?”
Tom seemed unconcerned and gave a large yawn that showed sharp fangs to convey his sentiment.
“Look, I feed you, asshole. At least act embarrassed that I had to be privy to your man-whorin’,” Cam scolded without heat and offered another scratch before getting up and heading down the steps toward the banged-up Silverado beside the house.
Same as 2,897,341 other romance books.
There was plenty of chuckling, eating (if you're hungry, just knock at their door and ask for a casserole), talk about buying and eating food, sitting on the porch and listening to bugs and enjoying the silence. And, honestly, I have no clue how Cam is going to make a living when he never earns any money with his new business. But, hey, he has stashed away a bunch of bills that will keep him afloat - maybe for the rest of his life? ETA: Just at the end of the story Cam conveniently seemed to reel in some customers who will pay for some pricey work.
Oh, and speaking of romance…this is supposed to be a romance, right? Around the 35% mark, there is a sex scene that made me want to call my ob-gyn to book my preventive checkup. Frankly, I dislike that checkup, but it must be more exciting and less mechanic than clinical couch potato sex. And what left me totally miffed was the fact that up until the 40% mark there was no relationship development between the two main protags. None whatsoever. To sum it up in two sentences: I was bored and struggled through till the end. Though I shouldn't have done that.
Anyhoo…
I have no clue why the two main characters felt attracted to each other in the first place because I never felt any palpable chemistry and the sex wasn't great either. The suspense was not really there and rather lame; the bad guy performed his evil deeds off page (that's rather handy, isn't it?) and Cam acted like a bunch of disoriented chickens stumbling around the scenery when it did matter the most. Where was the badass
Also, it rubbed me the wrong way that Jackson, who is a grown man after all, called his father daddy. Daddy here and daddy there and daddy everywhere. Daddy and Momma were oh-so sweet. All that sweet talk made my teeth hurt. It came off as stilted and exerting. Sorry, but that was just too much. Well, at least they didn't tell him to go potty. Another pet peeve of mine is sex that *cue eye roll* I skimmed/skipped the come-to-Jesus part and the because it didn't really hold my interest. Everything was wrapped up fast with a nice bow, and as if that wasn't enough, let's add some OTT sugar and finish with a needless And they lived happily ever after. I have never been enamored with Snakes Among Sweet Flowers but the final 20% ruined the entire story.
Bottom line, I really liked the cat, the cover and the premise. Unfortunately, though, it's yet another let down and I couldn't for the life of me feel the hype. What else is new, right?
June 24, 2016
Move along, move along. Nothing to see here.
Really, move along!
One of the first things you realize about the book I’ve just read is that my kindle is totally hightlighed. And if you begin reading all those quotes I decided to emphasize, you notice very few are emotive sentences or poetic paragraphs. They are not at all wise nor epic. No, what I underlined here were thoughts, dialogues, actions… that really made it for me. Because they were clever, spot-on, neat and they followed my train of thought. They put into words exactly what I was thinking at the same pace I was forming them.
It’s as if the author was a step ahead of my mind and noting down exactly what I was going to say. Every remark that threatened to come out of my mouth was suddently silenced with ink.
(I meant kindle ink, of course)
It may sound creepy but in truth I love it when an author doesn’t treat me like an idiot. When he doesn’t expect me to buy the story blindly and be content with accepting what’s being thrown at me for me to pick it up and say “Well, if you say so…”. No, he kept giving me reasons, here and there, about WHY I should go on. He kept giving reasons, not hoping for me to overlook the corniness or the idyllic life in Pleasantville or the gradual change of a twice reo and oportunistic scammer and the development of that closeted boy-next-door local policeman.
This was damn good stuff indeed.
Yes, I admit the book got me curious due to the cover. Nobody can blame me, right? It’s the first I’ve read of this author and that’s always risky, but the pull was strong nonetheless. When I began the reading, I instantly noticed one thing: the quality. It was quite obvious since the very beginning this wouldn’t another clumsy try of a novel. This was indeed a solid novel. It’s like being given a piece of bread to dip it in the yellow liquid on the dish and recognizing virgin extra olive oil instantly, with no doubt whatsoever. I don’t consider myself an expert taste-tester, and surely my taste buds are different from everyone else’s, but I could easily foresee this would be something big. That’s when Jason really got my attention and I’m pleased to say it didn’t fade ever since.
Jason is like the voice that spoke directly to me, no bullshit and no excuses getting in the middle, just brutal honesty and neat smartness. That’s the word, this book is smart, in every sense that matters.
It may be shocking to say I laughed a lot here. But, oh my God, I really laughed. Constantly. I was so delighted and happy as a clam, you wouldn’t believe. It’s not a humorous book, if that’s what you are thinking. In truth there is nothing hilarious per se here. Just the opposite, serious matters are at stake for the most part of the novel. No. It’s just that I felt so in sync with the characters that every thought of theirs hit the exact target within me and I couldn’t hold my joy and exhilaration for too long. I was a total fan of them, I was in the first row in the threatre, cheering them up and fangirling in an embarrassing way.
I even feigned a faint.
Yes, I know, I have no dignity.
Shut up.
And then we have to talk about the chemistry… and the I-hate-you-on-sight banter. Best aphrodisiac ever, it promised that when this animosity between them “solved”, there would be a long delicious catch-up and THAT’S when I would of course grab my tons of bread I had been preparing awhile in order to dip it into all that mouth-watering olive oil served on a silver platter for my enjoyment only. And I don’t mean the sex. Well, that’s not the only reason, at least.
Ñam ñam (Why the “ñ” here, girl? Was it really necessary? Shut up.)
I loved the characters. They were real, they were clearly defined and totally believable and with depth. Jackson is fantastic. The ideolised golden boy everybody adores but whose life is not as perfect as everybody is lead to believe. He’s scared of coming out and he doesn’t exactly have it in his agenda to be honest about it publicly. Oh no, that’s the last thing on his list.
(The Spanish flag? Seriously? What the fuck is wrong with you, girl? *whistles*)
However, I have to admit Cam was the one for me. He is this distrustful shady guy who believes the world’s only goal is to make him harm. His attitude, his tattoos, his do-not-fuck-with-me expression don’t exactly invite people to confide in him, but, surprisingly, everybody trusts him (above all when he’s willing to be charming and seductive, and at this stake nobody can resist him) which shocks and frustrates him to no end. When he comes toPleasantville Hog Mountain, everybody seems so nice and neighborly he doesn’t know how to respond. In the beginning he rubs his hands with greed realizing the has endless chances to take an advantage of all this guileness. Piece of cake! But bit by bit, these “pieces of cake” begin conquering him, and he’s more and more prompted to bring good and keep at bay all the muddy ugliness of his past. His evolution is paced and credible, and I followed all his steps, his confusion and all those longings he starts to let himself have. He’s the one that made me laugh the most. We truly were on the same page *bumps fist*.
So here we are, a policeman that takes no bullshit from Cam and watches every step Cam makes waiting for the smallest of mistakes or any slip-up he can find, and an exreo who knows exactly what Jackson is doing and tries to push every button of his and find every reason to drive Jackson mad. When the shit finally hits the fan and an unexpected turn of events drives the plot to a different direction, things are put in their place and everything begins to fit between them. I liked how natural their relationship is, no forced nor rushed conclusion whatsoever, but a nicely done ending I found more than satisfying. I could perfectly picture them both happily together in the following years.
I even loved the secondary ones, even when they are going to be sappy, they were not. When someone was going to fit into a certain stereotype, they demonstrated they weren’t going to. When I thought the rhythm of the story would get stuck there was yet another surprise that kept the action going. When I believed the scene was going to be overstretched, more material was given, so it never got drained.
So, all in all, this was a winner.
I agree wholeheartedly.
*****
More yummy pics...
*****
BR with Ann!
***Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.***
Really, move along!
One of the first things you realize about the book I’ve just read is that my kindle is totally hightlighed. And if you begin reading all those quotes I decided to emphasize, you notice very few are emotive sentences or poetic paragraphs. They are not at all wise nor epic. No, what I underlined here were thoughts, dialogues, actions… that really made it for me. Because they were clever, spot-on, neat and they followed my train of thought. They put into words exactly what I was thinking at the same pace I was forming them.
It’s as if the author was a step ahead of my mind and noting down exactly what I was going to say. Every remark that threatened to come out of my mouth was suddently silenced with ink.
(I meant kindle ink, of course)
It may sound creepy but in truth I love it when an author doesn’t treat me like an idiot. When he doesn’t expect me to buy the story blindly and be content with accepting what’s being thrown at me for me to pick it up and say “Well, if you say so…”. No, he kept giving me reasons, here and there, about WHY I should go on. He kept giving reasons, not hoping for me to overlook the corniness or the idyllic life in Pleasantville or the gradual change of a twice reo and oportunistic scammer and the development of that closeted boy-next-door local policeman.
This was damn good stuff indeed.
Yes, I admit the book got me curious due to the cover. Nobody can blame me, right? It’s the first I’ve read of this author and that’s always risky, but the pull was strong nonetheless. When I began the reading, I instantly noticed one thing: the quality. It was quite obvious since the very beginning this wouldn’t another clumsy try of a novel. This was indeed a solid novel. It’s like being given a piece of bread to dip it in the yellow liquid on the dish and recognizing virgin extra olive oil instantly, with no doubt whatsoever. I don’t consider myself an expert taste-tester, and surely my taste buds are different from everyone else’s, but I could easily foresee this would be something big. That’s when Jason really got my attention and I’m pleased to say it didn’t fade ever since.
Jason is like the voice that spoke directly to me, no bullshit and no excuses getting in the middle, just brutal honesty and neat smartness. That’s the word, this book is smart, in every sense that matters.
It may be shocking to say I laughed a lot here. But, oh my God, I really laughed. Constantly. I was so delighted and happy as a clam, you wouldn’t believe. It’s not a humorous book, if that’s what you are thinking. In truth there is nothing hilarious per se here. Just the opposite, serious matters are at stake for the most part of the novel. No. It’s just that I felt so in sync with the characters that every thought of theirs hit the exact target within me and I couldn’t hold my joy and exhilaration for too long. I was a total fan of them, I was in the first row in the threatre, cheering them up and fangirling in an embarrassing way.
I even feigned a faint.
Yes, I know, I have no dignity.
Shut up.
And then we have to talk about the chemistry… and the I-hate-you-on-sight banter. Best aphrodisiac ever, it promised that when this animosity between them “solved”, there would be a long delicious catch-up and THAT’S when I would of course grab my tons of bread I had been preparing awhile in order to dip it into all that mouth-watering olive oil served on a silver platter for my enjoyment only. And I don’t mean the sex. Well, that’s not the only reason, at least.
Ñam ñam (Why the “ñ” here, girl? Was it really necessary? Shut up.)
I loved the characters. They were real, they were clearly defined and totally believable and with depth. Jackson is fantastic. The ideolised golden boy everybody adores but whose life is not as perfect as everybody is lead to believe. He’s scared of coming out and he doesn’t exactly have it in his agenda to be honest about it publicly. Oh no, that’s the last thing on his list.
(The Spanish flag? Seriously? What the fuck is wrong with you, girl? *whistles*)
However, I have to admit Cam was the one for me. He is this distrustful shady guy who believes the world’s only goal is to make him harm. His attitude, his tattoos, his do-not-fuck-with-me expression don’t exactly invite people to confide in him, but, surprisingly, everybody trusts him (above all when he’s willing to be charming and seductive, and at this stake nobody can resist him) which shocks and frustrates him to no end. When he comes to
So here we are, a policeman that takes no bullshit from Cam and watches every step Cam makes waiting for the smallest of mistakes or any slip-up he can find, and an exreo who knows exactly what Jackson is doing and tries to push every button of his and find every reason to drive Jackson mad. When the shit finally hits the fan and an unexpected turn of events drives the plot to a different direction, things are put in their place and everything begins to fit between them. I liked how natural their relationship is, no forced nor rushed conclusion whatsoever, but a nicely done ending I found more than satisfying. I could perfectly picture them both happily together in the following years.
I even loved the secondary ones, even when they are going to be sappy, they were not. When someone was going to fit into a certain stereotype, they demonstrated they weren’t going to. When I thought the rhythm of the story would get stuck there was yet another surprise that kept the action going. When I believed the scene was going to be overstretched, more material was given, so it never got drained.
So, all in all, this was a winner.
“You are a lot different than I thought you would be. A pleasant surprise.”
I agree wholeheartedly.
*****
More yummy pics...
*****
BR with Ann!
***Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.***
June 28, 2016
~2.5~
I am most definitely in the minority here, but this book didn't really work for me.
Cam, a former petty criminal, moves to a small town, buys an old garage, and begins working as a mechanic. He scams people because he's a smooth operator and doesn't think much about anyone but himself.
Jackson, a police officer, gets word of Cam's magical repair jobs, not to be confused with magical blow jobs, and begins to check up on Cam. Jackson is a nice guy but judgmental. He decides Cam is no good before he really gets to know him.
The book moseys along, and I do mean mosey. Almost nothing happens for the first half of the story. Jackson visits with town people. Cam takes care of his cat.
The prose is plain, straightforward, and stripped down. That seems to appeal to many readers, but the lack of evocativeness and tension bored me. I couldn't connect with the setting or the characters.
At 37 percent, Cam has sex on page with a secondary character. That pretty much killed the story for me.
Cam slowly changes and comes to care for people, and Jackson realizes that Cam has a kind heart hiding beneath the tats and bad boy persona.
The focus of the story is how Cam finds acceptance in the small community of Hog Mountain. The romance is not absent but certainly sparse; the men don't even become a couple until the 70 percent mark.
I was expecting more passion—not more steam necessarily, but a deeper connection between the men. Alas, there is some serious melodrama fuckery at the end when Cam's past comes back to bite him in the arse, but this wasn't exciting as much as annoying.
I think this is a case of it's ME, not you; read the positive reviews and give this one a go if the blurb strikes your fancy.
I am most definitely in the minority here, but this book didn't really work for me.
Cam, a former petty criminal, moves to a small town, buys an old garage, and begins working as a mechanic. He scams people because he's a smooth operator and doesn't think much about anyone but himself.
Jackson, a police officer, gets word of Cam's magical repair jobs, not to be confused with magical blow jobs, and begins to check up on Cam. Jackson is a nice guy but judgmental. He decides Cam is no good before he really gets to know him.
The book moseys along, and I do mean mosey. Almost nothing happens for the first half of the story. Jackson visits with town people. Cam takes care of his cat.
The prose is plain, straightforward, and stripped down. That seems to appeal to many readers, but the lack of evocativeness and tension bored me. I couldn't connect with the setting or the characters.
At 37 percent, Cam has sex on page with a secondary character. That pretty much killed the story for me.
Cam slowly changes and comes to care for people, and Jackson realizes that Cam has a kind heart hiding beneath the tats and bad boy persona.
The focus of the story is how Cam finds acceptance in the small community of Hog Mountain. The romance is not absent but certainly sparse; the men don't even become a couple until the 70 percent mark.
I was expecting more passion—not more steam necessarily, but a deeper connection between the men. Alas, there is some serious melodrama fuckery at the end when Cam's past comes back to bite him in the arse, but this wasn't exciting as much as annoying.
I think this is a case of it's ME, not you; read the positive reviews and give this one a go if the blurb strikes your fancy.
June 22, 2016
As I'm seeing dozens of 5-star reviews for this book, I can't help but wondering what I'm missing. I mean, I enjoyed this story, but I'm not raving over it like some of the other reviewers.
I love a book that features an antihero, and that is certainly what we have here. Cam is a small-time crook who moved his con to a rural town in the hopes of escaping his enemies and starting over. He isn't looking to reform his bad boy ways, and at the start of the story, I promise you that you will want to smack him. He begins the book as a callous man, and I really enjoyed watching him slowly transform into something... maybe not softer, but more caring. I liked the overall story arc a great deal, even if I had some issues with how the ending went down (melodrama, alert!).
However, I think my main sticking point was the writing style. While other people seem to enjoy the straightforward way that Jason Huffman-Black writes, I found his style to be blunt and too simplistic. He writes very direct prose, and while that may appeal to some readers, I found myself wanting something more evocative. It isn't that Jason Huffman-Black's style is bad, it's just that I didn't find it to be a good fit for my reading tastes.
The romance was there, but I wasn't blown away by it. This book is pretty far from a mushy romance, with most of the feelings between the two MCs going unsaid during the story. While I appreciated that the romance was different from a lot of romance novels that I've read, I found myself wanting a deeper connection there. I think part of the reason that I wasn't feeling the connection as much was because Cam doesn't reveal a lot of his emotions to the readers, even though we have his POV.
I totally understand why people love this book. It was a good story about a man who finds acceptance and love in a small town (side note: the supporting characters are all fabulous in this story). However, it wasn't a story that I'll be thinking about days from now.
**Copy provided in exchange for an honest review**
I love a book that features an antihero, and that is certainly what we have here. Cam is a small-time crook who moved his con to a rural town in the hopes of escaping his enemies and starting over. He isn't looking to reform his bad boy ways, and at the start of the story, I promise you that you will want to smack him. He begins the book as a callous man, and I really enjoyed watching him slowly transform into something... maybe not softer, but more caring. I liked the overall story arc a great deal, even if I had some issues with how the ending went down (melodrama, alert!).
However, I think my main sticking point was the writing style. While other people seem to enjoy the straightforward way that Jason Huffman-Black writes, I found his style to be blunt and too simplistic. He writes very direct prose, and while that may appeal to some readers, I found myself wanting something more evocative. It isn't that Jason Huffman-Black's style is bad, it's just that I didn't find it to be a good fit for my reading tastes.
The romance was there, but I wasn't blown away by it. This book is pretty far from a mushy romance, with most of the feelings between the two MCs going unsaid during the story. While I appreciated that the romance was different from a lot of romance novels that I've read, I found myself wanting a deeper connection there. I think part of the reason that I wasn't feeling the connection as much was because Cam doesn't reveal a lot of his emotions to the readers, even though we have his POV.
I totally understand why people love this book. It was a good story about a man who finds acceptance and love in a small town (side note: the supporting characters are all fabulous in this story). However, it wasn't a story that I'll be thinking about days from now.
**Copy provided in exchange for an honest review**
January 25, 2020
4.5 stars. I loved this book! Set in a small friendly southern community, Snakes Among Sweet Flowers tells the story of two men from very different backgrounds - Cam Sanders, who had an abusive childhood and spent most of his adult live in jail and Jackson Rhodes, raised by two loving parents and following his beloved daddy's career in law enforcement.
When Cam moves to Hog Mountain, Jackson has a hard time believing that Cam has turned over a new leaf ... and at first he's partially correct. Cam may joke that he had his conscience surgically removed, but he finds himself caring - deeply - about Sadie May and Junior's three oldest, whom he hires to help fix up the old farmhouse he purchased. He becomes a better man with the help of Ida and Charles who, oh so lovingly and kindly, help him to do the right thing. He learns to enjoy the simple pleasures of a good life - clean soft sheets, sitting on the porch at night, being content at the end of a hard day of work.
Cam and Jackson move past enemies to begrudging acquaintances to friends, and it takes a while for them to connect in a slow delicious burn. I'd have liked a bit more about just Cam and Jackson since I felt I didn't get to know Jackson as well as Cam, but I liked how their relationship developed and grew, without any Huge Misunderstandings or Miscommunication.
And Loved the ending, especially that sermon the minister gave to his flock:
Well done!
I received an ARC of this book from IndiGo Marketing in exchange for an honest review.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
When Cam moves to Hog Mountain, Jackson has a hard time believing that Cam has turned over a new leaf ... and at first he's partially correct. Cam may joke that he had his conscience surgically removed, but he finds himself caring - deeply - about Sadie May and Junior's three oldest, whom he hires to help fix up the old farmhouse he purchased. He becomes a better man with the help of Ida and Charles who, oh so lovingly and kindly, help him to do the right thing. He learns to enjoy the simple pleasures of a good life - clean soft sheets, sitting on the porch at night, being content at the end of a hard day of work.
Cam and Jackson move past enemies to begrudging acquaintances to friends, and it takes a while for them to connect in a slow delicious burn. I'd have liked a bit more about just Cam and Jackson since I felt I didn't get to know Jackson as well as Cam, but I liked how their relationship developed and grew, without any Huge Misunderstandings or Miscommunication.
And Loved the ending, especially that sermon the minister gave to his flock:
“As far as I can see, we have not done unto others as we would have them do unto us, have we? No, children, we have not. Our behavior has been shameful. Shameful and unworthy of the people we hold ourselves to be, both to the Lord and to each other. If we judge, then should we not be judged?” Pastor Brown pointed out into the audience. “What if your son or your daughter should grow up to be different? What if their child sees love in a different way? Will you disown them? Damn them as something unholy?”
Well done!
I received an ARC of this book from IndiGo Marketing in exchange for an honest review.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
June 27, 2016
3.5 Stars!
I liked this one. But I don't think I loved it.
I found this to be a sloooooooow burn. And up until around 50% the MCs only have a handful of interactions with each other.
And even after the 50% mark, they aren't a "couple" until the very end.
I liked the story-line - and the second chance theme. But I really felt like this book was more about that then the actual romance between Jackson and Cam.
There is very little steam in this book. maybe 2-3 scenes....with the big finale happening literally on the last pages of the book. I wasn't terribly up in arms about this.
I did like both Cam and Jackson.
I think the slower moving plot (especially in the first half) combined with the lower levels of romance I just couldn't love this one.
Still a good read and I'll definitely read more from this author.
I liked this one. But I don't think I loved it.
I found this to be a sloooooooow burn. And up until around 50% the MCs only have a handful of interactions with each other.
And even after the 50% mark, they aren't a "couple" until the very end.
I liked the story-line - and the second chance theme. But I really felt like this book was more about that then the actual romance between Jackson and Cam.
There is very little steam in this book. maybe 2-3 scenes....with the big finale happening literally on the last pages of the book. I wasn't terribly up in arms about this.
I did like both Cam and Jackson.
I think the slower moving plot (especially in the first half) combined with the lower levels of romance I just couldn't love this one.
Still a good read and I'll definitely read more from this author.
June 17, 2016
If you think the covers good...wait until you read the book!
I admit it. I took one look at this cover and it was lust at first sight. My brain screamed that I needed to read this book and then I did the worst thing I could possibly do I read the blurb...well that was it, I was finished. I needed this book. Sometimes cover lust is a good thing and in this case it was an awesome thing.
'Snakes Among Sweet Flowers' is a book about second chances, finding love where you least expect it and learning that home is more than just a place.
Camden Sanders needs to start over and he knows that if he stays in Atlanta he's just going to end up back down that rabbit hole that leads to prison. So he does what any intelligent man would he runs until he ends up in Hog Mountain because no ones going to look for him in some podunk, backwater nowhere town called Hog Mountain.
What he doesn't count on is attracting the attention of one Officer Jackson Rhodes and not in a good way. Jackson's sure that Cam's running a scam and taking advantage of the good citizens of his community and he's determined to catch him. And as if that's not enough to deal with Cam just doesn't understand why everyone is being so damned nice to him. From Dotty who brings him homemade pecan pie to Tom the cat, who seems to have come free of charge Cam's house and garage.
Add to all this the fact that everyone seems to have secret's Cam's got secrets he doesn't want anyone to know the whys and hows of his ending up in Hog Mountain for starters, Jackson's got secrets...he's so far in the closet he can't even see the light under he door. Then there's the local veterinarian who seems to not only have secrets of his own but everyone else's, hell even the cat's got a secret.
Cam finds his life spiraling out of control as he goes from 'what's in it for me?' to 'why are you all being so nice to me?' to 'what can I do for you?'
I love books that are set in small towns or even neighborhoods that have a strong sense of community. I know it's about the familiar for me. I grew up and have lived most of my life in small communities, but when I find a book that not only has this setting but the author just knows it and gets it right...well, I'm over the moon in love and this author seriously did it right. There was more than once that my hubby had me bouncing in my chair and saying "Ohmygod!!! Listen to this and then I'd read a passage to him." and we'd both be sitting there laughing and agreeing that this was so accurate, so small town life. Don't get me wrong this is by no means a criticism, like i said I was over the moon in love with this. I knew this, I've lived in this town...well, not this town but ones like it.
Needless to say I curled up with this book and the rest of the world just had to either go away or wait until I was done with Cam and Jackson and the town of Hog Mountain. Sadly, I did get to the end of the book and while I would have loved more I can honestly say it wasn't needed, I was just being greedy.
For an author to be able to breath life into not just a couple of characters but an entire community and to do so on their first novel...well, let's just say you can color me impressed. I will be watching for more by this author and am truly looking forward to reading what comes next from him.
'Snakes Among Sweet Flowers' was well worth waiting for and totally worth reading. I strongly recommend it to anyone who likes to read.
********************
A copy of this book was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I admit it. I took one look at this cover and it was lust at first sight. My brain screamed that I needed to read this book and then I did the worst thing I could possibly do I read the blurb...well that was it, I was finished. I needed this book. Sometimes cover lust is a good thing and in this case it was an awesome thing.
'Snakes Among Sweet Flowers' is a book about second chances, finding love where you least expect it and learning that home is more than just a place.
Camden Sanders needs to start over and he knows that if he stays in Atlanta he's just going to end up back down that rabbit hole that leads to prison. So he does what any intelligent man would he runs until he ends up in Hog Mountain because no ones going to look for him in some podunk, backwater nowhere town called Hog Mountain.
What he doesn't count on is attracting the attention of one Officer Jackson Rhodes and not in a good way. Jackson's sure that Cam's running a scam and taking advantage of the good citizens of his community and he's determined to catch him. And as if that's not enough to deal with Cam just doesn't understand why everyone is being so damned nice to him. From Dotty who brings him homemade pecan pie to Tom the cat, who seems to have come free of charge Cam's house and garage.
Add to all this the fact that everyone seems to have secret's Cam's got secrets he doesn't want anyone to know the whys and hows of his ending up in Hog Mountain for starters, Jackson's got secrets...he's so far in the closet he can't even see the light under he door. Then there's the local veterinarian who seems to not only have secrets of his own but everyone else's, hell even the cat's got a secret.
Cam finds his life spiraling out of control as he goes from 'what's in it for me?' to 'why are you all being so nice to me?' to 'what can I do for you?'
I love books that are set in small towns or even neighborhoods that have a strong sense of community. I know it's about the familiar for me. I grew up and have lived most of my life in small communities, but when I find a book that not only has this setting but the author just knows it and gets it right...well, I'm over the moon in love and this author seriously did it right. There was more than once that my hubby had me bouncing in my chair and saying "Ohmygod!!! Listen to this and then I'd read a passage to him." and we'd both be sitting there laughing and agreeing that this was so accurate, so small town life. Don't get me wrong this is by no means a criticism, like i said I was over the moon in love with this. I knew this, I've lived in this town...well, not this town but ones like it.
Needless to say I curled up with this book and the rest of the world just had to either go away or wait until I was done with Cam and Jackson and the town of Hog Mountain. Sadly, I did get to the end of the book and while I would have loved more I can honestly say it wasn't needed, I was just being greedy.
For an author to be able to breath life into not just a couple of characters but an entire community and to do so on their first novel...well, let's just say you can color me impressed. I will be watching for more by this author and am truly looking forward to reading what comes next from him.
'Snakes Among Sweet Flowers' was well worth waiting for and totally worth reading. I strongly recommend it to anyone who likes to read.
********************
A copy of this book was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
July 8, 2016
Can I tell you a secret?
I was afraid of this book. Which sounds completely irrational when I say that out loud, but we’re all friends here, right? So I know you won’t judge me when I tell you I really really wanted to read this story but I was chewing my lip before chapter one was over. I was nervous it might be too dark for my mood; I was scared I wouldn’t like the tarnished MC, and I figured it was going to swerve sharply one way or the other at the love hate intersection. Barely a quarter in and all my fears came true. I wasn’t that I just didn’t like Cam but I despised him. My throat was tight, my stomach roiled and I thought about taking a break. However, the writing was smooth and I held onto the hope that it was clever craftiness of the author which made me feel so ill.
Bravo.
If the goal was to have me hate Camden Sanders, it was a success.
And then it happened. My favorite thing!! Huffman-Black twisted my disgust into affection and before I knew it, I was picking up my pom-poms and cheering for Cam.
People can change.
Faith, trust and love are powerful and a potent combination.
And curve balls flying out of books kick ass.
Right or wrong. Good or evil. Perhaps I should exchange the ‘or’ for ‘and’ because I believe we all own both good and bad. Cam Sanders has made many mistakes in his life but his biggest mistake was thinking he could continue to feed his wicked side while surrounded by goodness. It was easy to lie, cheat and steal when his backyard was vast and unknown but when he decided to plant roots in a small quiet town his entire world shifted on its axis. Trusting old ladies should be an easy mark, dirty kids with an empty belly should be an annoyance, and the local boy in blue should be anything but a magnet. Should, should, should. Nothing is going according to his plan. He had a great plan, right? Keep his head down, keep running his shifty schemes and hide from his past. Too bad his past is like a pesky shadow he can’t shake.
Jackson loves his town and the people in it. Admiring his father and his work it only seemed natural for him to follow his daddy’s footsteps in law enforcement. The crime rate in Hog Mountain has always been at a barely there mark and this suits Jackson just fine. When a sexy heavily inked stranger moves into town, Jackson itches with unease. He can’t tell if his assumptions are justified but he sure as hell can’t deny his fierce attraction to this ‘bad boy’. For a town with no secrets, he’s successfully hidden his and has no plans to reveal it. But sometimes secrets have a way of slipping out regardless of our desires.
What's to like: I can close my eyes and see Hog Mountain. It’s created with such fine detail I feel like I know it, as if I’ve been there. I adore the nosy neighbors and overbearing family. I love the lessons and the unconditional love. I’m so happy Cam mistook this community as one to vanish into because fortunately for him, nothing goes unnoticed in Hog Mountain. It was pure circumstance that brought him into the limelight and then his conscious got the better of him. I loved watching him squirm. Babysitter? Caretaker? What! Who do these people think he is? Turns out, they know him better than he knows himself.
What's to love: Opposites collide (as clothes are destroyed), good overcomes evil (in a heart stopping way), and love prevails (by the skin of their teeth). The storytelling blew me away. It’s not an easy feat turning my stubborn feelings from one corner of the ring to the other. I was angry and anxious and finally awestruck. What a phenomenal debut novel! It was an intense emotional roller coaster. Count in me for whatever’s next to come in JHB’s bookshelf. And…a big shout out for the gorgeous cover!
Beware of: The snake in the garden. Don’t forget that snakes shed their skin and have the uncanny ability to start anew. A touch of religion plays a small part but it’s neither overbearing or oppressive. I’d also advise you to hang on tight, for shocking scenes may induce book/kindle/nook dropping.
This book is for: Bad boy lovers, good boy lovers and those that believe change is possible…even when we least expect it.
Book UNfunk
I was afraid of this book. Which sounds completely irrational when I say that out loud, but we’re all friends here, right? So I know you won’t judge me when I tell you I really really wanted to read this story but I was chewing my lip before chapter one was over. I was nervous it might be too dark for my mood; I was scared I wouldn’t like the tarnished MC, and I figured it was going to swerve sharply one way or the other at the love hate intersection. Barely a quarter in and all my fears came true. I wasn’t that I just didn’t like Cam but I despised him. My throat was tight, my stomach roiled and I thought about taking a break. However, the writing was smooth and I held onto the hope that it was clever craftiness of the author which made me feel so ill.
Bravo.
If the goal was to have me hate Camden Sanders, it was a success.
And then it happened. My favorite thing!! Huffman-Black twisted my disgust into affection and before I knew it, I was picking up my pom-poms and cheering for Cam.
People can change.
Faith, trust and love are powerful and a potent combination.
And curve balls flying out of books kick ass.
Right or wrong. Good or evil. Perhaps I should exchange the ‘or’ for ‘and’ because I believe we all own both good and bad. Cam Sanders has made many mistakes in his life but his biggest mistake was thinking he could continue to feed his wicked side while surrounded by goodness. It was easy to lie, cheat and steal when his backyard was vast and unknown but when he decided to plant roots in a small quiet town his entire world shifted on its axis. Trusting old ladies should be an easy mark, dirty kids with an empty belly should be an annoyance, and the local boy in blue should be anything but a magnet. Should, should, should. Nothing is going according to his plan. He had a great plan, right? Keep his head down, keep running his shifty schemes and hide from his past. Too bad his past is like a pesky shadow he can’t shake.
Jackson loves his town and the people in it. Admiring his father and his work it only seemed natural for him to follow his daddy’s footsteps in law enforcement. The crime rate in Hog Mountain has always been at a barely there mark and this suits Jackson just fine. When a sexy heavily inked stranger moves into town, Jackson itches with unease. He can’t tell if his assumptions are justified but he sure as hell can’t deny his fierce attraction to this ‘bad boy’. For a town with no secrets, he’s successfully hidden his and has no plans to reveal it. But sometimes secrets have a way of slipping out regardless of our desires.
What's to like: I can close my eyes and see Hog Mountain. It’s created with such fine detail I feel like I know it, as if I’ve been there. I adore the nosy neighbors and overbearing family. I love the lessons and the unconditional love. I’m so happy Cam mistook this community as one to vanish into because fortunately for him, nothing goes unnoticed in Hog Mountain. It was pure circumstance that brought him into the limelight and then his conscious got the better of him. I loved watching him squirm. Babysitter? Caretaker? What! Who do these people think he is? Turns out, they know him better than he knows himself.
What's to love: Opposites collide (as clothes are destroyed), good overcomes evil (in a heart stopping way), and love prevails (by the skin of their teeth). The storytelling blew me away. It’s not an easy feat turning my stubborn feelings from one corner of the ring to the other. I was angry and anxious and finally awestruck. What a phenomenal debut novel! It was an intense emotional roller coaster. Count in me for whatever’s next to come in JHB’s bookshelf. And…a big shout out for the gorgeous cover!
Beware of: The snake in the garden. Don’t forget that snakes shed their skin and have the uncanny ability to start anew. A touch of religion plays a small part but it’s neither overbearing or oppressive. I’d also advise you to hang on tight, for shocking scenes may induce book/kindle/nook dropping.
This book is for: Bad boy lovers, good boy lovers and those that believe change is possible…even when we least expect it.
Book UNfunk
June 20, 2016
Received from the author for an honest review.
This was one of the best books I've read this year. It's a story of redemption set in small town Hog Mountain. Written with a southern style and charm, it just invites you to set spell, kick your shoes off and grab a glass of iced tea. Camden Sanders has been a con man and a thief all of his adult life in Atlanta. Spent two terms in prison, he is looking to avoid a third stay by breaking from the gang he ran with. Hog Mountain seems just like the perfect place to set up shop and start running small auto repair scams on the local rubes. What Cam doesn't count on is the small town friendliness missing in the city, deputy Jackson Rhodes sharp eye and three wonderful kids. Jackson came on strong which put me off him at first with his tough cop attitude. He was the town's golden boy but I came to like him once I got past the facade.
I grew up in a community like Hog Mountain and reading this beautifully written story was a bit of going back home. I laughed, shed a few tears and just felt a little sad when it ended. Mr. Huffman-Black created two fun main characters in Camden and Jackson and used his magic to bring them from enemies to lovers. The secondary characters are well developed and fleshed out. The story is well paced and definitely character driven. It's a story to get lost in and one I'll definitely read again. I am anxiously waiting for Mr. Huffman-Black's next novel.
This was one of the best books I've read this year. It's a story of redemption set in small town Hog Mountain. Written with a southern style and charm, it just invites you to set spell, kick your shoes off and grab a glass of iced tea. Camden Sanders has been a con man and a thief all of his adult life in Atlanta. Spent two terms in prison, he is looking to avoid a third stay by breaking from the gang he ran with. Hog Mountain seems just like the perfect place to set up shop and start running small auto repair scams on the local rubes. What Cam doesn't count on is the small town friendliness missing in the city, deputy Jackson Rhodes sharp eye and three wonderful kids. Jackson came on strong which put me off him at first with his tough cop attitude. He was the town's golden boy but I came to like him once I got past the facade.
I grew up in a community like Hog Mountain and reading this beautifully written story was a bit of going back home. I laughed, shed a few tears and just felt a little sad when it ended. Mr. Huffman-Black created two fun main characters in Camden and Jackson and used his magic to bring them from enemies to lovers. The secondary characters are well developed and fleshed out. The story is well paced and definitely character driven. It's a story to get lost in and one I'll definitely read again. I am anxiously waiting for Mr. Huffman-Black's next novel.
June 23, 2016
Second chances. Not at love, this time, but life. And sometimes, you don't even realize you want to change, until you find yourself doing it, anyway. And that is what I loved about Snakes Among Sweet Flowers.
Camden Sanders thinks he doesn't have much of a conscience (he also lies to himself). He does have lines he won't cross, though, and because of that, Cam decided he needed a change of scenery, STAT. He's charming, but still looks like (and is) a bad boy. His specialty is small time cons. When he moved to Hog Mountain to open up his own garage, he fully intended to take advantage of what he saw as small-town backwater people. And he starts out doing just that. However, once he starts getting to know the people, it gets harder and harder to do what he has always done. Of course, it doesn't help matters that a hot cop is watching him like a hawk.
Jackson Rhodes would be the hot cop that just doesn't trust the Cam. Jackson just knows the man is up to no good, and he'd be right. But even more distressing to Jackson, is the attraction he feels toward Cam. Jackson is firmly in the closet, with no plans to ever come out. Part of Jackson, I think, also wanted to give Cam a chance to prove himself, and that surprised no one more than Jackson.
I really loved seeing Cam become the man he needed to be. He did have some trouble, at first, breaking his old habits, but he more than made up for the mistakes he made. He found himself actually caring for people and that was good to see. And I loved watching his relationship with Jackson evolve from distrust to cautious allies to friends to lovers. The progression felt natural and I really felt that both men benefited from being together.
There is some conflict, of course. The local veterinarian (and skanky ho), Grant, is jealous that Cam won't give him the time of day once Cam and Jackson become friends. In fact, the only scene in the book I really wished had not been on-page involved Grant and Cam. The rest of the conflict came from Cam's past. Things do have a way of catching up with a person, and some of Cam's previous associates aren't too happy he left. But I love how it was handled and how it ultimately played out.
I am truly looking forward to reading more books by Jason Huffman-Black. Snakes Among Sweet Flowers impressed me!
------------------------
ARC of Snakes Among Sweet Flowers was generously provided by the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
Camden Sanders thinks he doesn't have much of a conscience (he also lies to himself). He does have lines he won't cross, though, and because of that, Cam decided he needed a change of scenery, STAT. He's charming, but still looks like (and is) a bad boy. His specialty is small time cons. When he moved to Hog Mountain to open up his own garage, he fully intended to take advantage of what he saw as small-town backwater people. And he starts out doing just that. However, once he starts getting to know the people, it gets harder and harder to do what he has always done. Of course, it doesn't help matters that a hot cop is watching him like a hawk.
Jackson Rhodes would be the hot cop that just doesn't trust the Cam. Jackson just knows the man is up to no good, and he'd be right. But even more distressing to Jackson, is the attraction he feels toward Cam. Jackson is firmly in the closet, with no plans to ever come out. Part of Jackson, I think, also wanted to give Cam a chance to prove himself, and that surprised no one more than Jackson.
I really loved seeing Cam become the man he needed to be. He did have some trouble, at first, breaking his old habits, but he more than made up for the mistakes he made. He found himself actually caring for people and that was good to see. And I loved watching his relationship with Jackson evolve from distrust to cautious allies to friends to lovers. The progression felt natural and I really felt that both men benefited from being together.
There is some conflict, of course. The local veterinarian (and skanky ho), Grant, is jealous that Cam won't give him the time of day once Cam and Jackson become friends. In fact, the only scene in the book I really wished had not been on-page involved Grant and Cam. The rest of the conflict came from Cam's past. Things do have a way of catching up with a person, and some of Cam's previous associates aren't too happy he left. But I love how it was handled and how it ultimately played out.
I am truly looking forward to reading more books by Jason Huffman-Black. Snakes Among Sweet Flowers impressed me!
------------------------
ARC of Snakes Among Sweet Flowers was generously provided by the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
August 11, 2018
Re-read - still hoping for more by this author.
-- --
This book has a definite accent and once I fell into that I was hooked. Forget purple prose this is unfancy story telling though not without colour and feelings. The children for example we get to know well enough not to want harm to come to them but they don't have much in the way of individuality. From the first visitor to Cam I had an idea where I expected the story to go and was pleasantly surprised to be wrong.
Cam at the start is a crook, no hiding that. I was warned he starts of 'not nice' and that's very true. What's also true are the layers, sometimes brutal honesty no glossing over things. Somehow I was drawn in and could see and believe Cam as a crook but was still rooting for him to choice the better path. There's glimpses of vulnerability and emotions though he keeps them well hidden and never sinks to angsty gushing. Even when he makes better decisions there's a grumpiness to it that felt real. He's always going to have an ornery core, but can be a sap too. His progress felt real, an adaption he'll be more honest in his dealings but still the same person.
Jackson the golden boy cop's first reaction was distrust, which shows sense though it warred with attraction. He has his own issues with expectations and facing coming out in a small town. I liked the clash between them and how it developed. They both felt real and bounded larger than life off the page.
And the cat. The cat was cute.
Worth mentioning Cam has sex with another character on page. It's true to who he was but might put people off. This is before getting together with Jackson.
Secondary characters were interesting, maybe some weren't entirely believable but I wanted them to be. The plot ups pace and gets exciting, not entirely believable I could pick a dozen holes in it, but it gripped me and kept me reading. For a good while I got seriously worried about the cat.
Impressed at this being a first book, will definitely be on the look out for more by this author. I enjoyed it a great deal. But there should be a little extra somewhere with kittens! Just saying ;)
-- --
This book has a definite accent and once I fell into that I was hooked. Forget purple prose this is unfancy story telling though not without colour and feelings. The children for example we get to know well enough not to want harm to come to them but they don't have much in the way of individuality. From the first visitor to Cam I had an idea where I expected the story to go and was pleasantly surprised to be wrong.
Cam at the start is a crook, no hiding that. I was warned he starts of 'not nice' and that's very true. What's also true are the layers, sometimes brutal honesty no glossing over things. Somehow I was drawn in and could see and believe Cam as a crook but was still rooting for him to choice the better path. There's glimpses of vulnerability and emotions though he keeps them well hidden and never sinks to angsty gushing. Even when he makes better decisions there's a grumpiness to it that felt real. He's always going to have an ornery core, but can be a sap too. His progress felt real, an adaption he'll be more honest in his dealings but still the same person.
Jackson the golden boy cop's first reaction was distrust, which shows sense though it warred with attraction. He has his own issues with expectations and facing coming out in a small town. I liked the clash between them and how it developed. They both felt real and bounded larger than life off the page.
And the cat. The cat was cute.
Worth mentioning Cam has sex with another character on page. It's true to who he was but might put people off. This is before getting together with Jackson.
Secondary characters were interesting, maybe some weren't entirely believable but I wanted them to be. The plot ups pace and gets exciting, not entirely believable I could pick a dozen holes in it, but it gripped me and kept me reading. For a good while I got seriously worried about the cat.
Impressed at this being a first book, will definitely be on the look out for more by this author. I enjoyed it a great deal. But there should be a little extra somewhere with kittens! Just saying ;)
June 22, 2016
I’d read the authors short stories previously and was really anxious to get my hooves on his debut novel. His writing is incredibly smooth and easy to read (the kind where you don’t even realize you’re reading because you’re so engrossed in the story and then you look up and two hours have passed) and his style transitioned from short story to novel easily. I couldn’t believe how quickly the 240 pages went by and I wasn’t even close to ready to let the characters go.
And oh my, the characters . . . Cam is so flawed yet so amazing I was rooting for him from the beginning. Even when he disappointed me, I still rooted for him. And I think that’s what made him so memorable, the author didn’t try to sugarcoat his shortcomings or excuse them in any way. Cam knew what he was about and he wanted to change, but didn’t really know how, and was a little lost in the town of Hog Mountain. Some of my favorite moments were when he would get angry when people were being nice to him. His confusion was just so darn cute yet completely understandable. He didn’t exactly grow up in a friendly environment and being that he actually had a conscience (a tough thing to have for a con) it made me believe his evolution from predator to neighbor throughout the book.
“Cam left the restaurant with a grumble at the unexpected customer service. Sean called out a sincere ‘Have a great day!’ as the door was swinging closed behind him. What was wrong with these people? Not that it wasn’t great to have an entire town full of suckers who thought being neighbors meant being neighborly. But did they have to be so nice about it?”
Jackson is the golden boy cop who grew up in Hog Mountain and is very protective of the townfolk. He doesn’t trust Cam from the get-go and with good reason. The banter back and forth between the two of them was fun to read. There was an obvious attraction, but there was nothing forced to move the story along. The relationship evolved as Cam’s enlightenment did making the hard earned ground the two made that much more satisfying to read. Jackson is deep, deep, deep in the closet and my heart broke for the guy and the life he couldn’t live because of it.
Cam’s past comes back to him and the dude is hella scary with no compunctions about taking out his frustrations with Cam on the small town that Cam has begun to think of as home. Before Harold wreaks havoc on Hog Mountain though, Cam has been ingrained into the fabric of everyday life, really by accident and honestly, this was my favorite theme throughout the book. I really appreciated how the author handled small town life.
So often the small town becomes a caricature of a place that the reader expects instead of another character in the book that adds to the depth of the story. Yes, Hog Mountain is a small town, but the people who live there are not just small town yokels with backwards sensibilities and a permeating homophobic bent throughout. Not that Cam, and Jackson for that matter, knew otherwise. Hog Mountain is no different than any other place in that there are a myriad of personalities and beliefs, just like in the city, but because there are fewer bodies, gossip travels faster and some attitudes are magnified just from the sheer lack of human traffic. But, the author didn’t rely on that trope to build the setting, he let the citizens have their voices and let them share their experiences with Cam and Jackson, giving the whole town dimension and personality.
The towns’ older generation was brilliant. Sure, maybe just a smidge too good, but they embodied what we should all strive to be like in our golden years. Church was a big part of their lives (not that the story had a lot of religious undertones, but just enough to make the small town aspect believable and the attitudes relevant) and for the most part they heeded the adage, “Do to others as you would have them do to you”. The characters that became part of Cam’s life remembered their own past mistakes and regrets, shared them with Cam and really showed him that change and redemption was attainable. I could feel the hope radiating off of Cam in those moments. There was no “telling” Cam what to do, there were meaningful anecdotes, kindness and respect, and then letting Cam do with them what he would. And, because Cam really was a good guy with a conscience, he did the right thing. It wasn’t easy, but it was important and it was meaningful. The author really did an amazing job with those secondary characters and their interaction with Cam and Jackson.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention how much I LOVED Cam in full snark mode. He loved stirring up shit when said shit needed stirring, and it was hilarious. It drove Jackson nutters, but that was part of the fun. Hog Mountain needed a little stirring and Cam’s brand of forthright dialog was perfectly shocking while still being respectful enough to throw his target off their game. Also, the kids the author wrote were well done for their ages and experiences. They weren’t precocious mini-adult attention whores, they were regular kids and the story was better for their presence. Sure they were a vehicle for Cam’s change and his journey towards becoming a responsible citizen, but they were by no means an afterthought. The family was fully fleshed out and just as important to the story overall as they were to Cam.
I would love to read more about Jackson and his experiences with the town and his family. That’s not what this story was mainly about and too much detail would have been overall too much given all the shit that got real in the end. But, I loved his heart and the scene towards the end in the Church and the sermon killed me to death in the best way.
I can’t wait to see what the author comes up with next. It will be an auto-buy for me.
Buddy read and full review with fellow Uni Sheziss!
**a copy of this story was provided for an honest review**
And oh my, the characters . . . Cam is so flawed yet so amazing I was rooting for him from the beginning. Even when he disappointed me, I still rooted for him. And I think that’s what made him so memorable, the author didn’t try to sugarcoat his shortcomings or excuse them in any way. Cam knew what he was about and he wanted to change, but didn’t really know how, and was a little lost in the town of Hog Mountain. Some of my favorite moments were when he would get angry when people were being nice to him. His confusion was just so darn cute yet completely understandable. He didn’t exactly grow up in a friendly environment and being that he actually had a conscience (a tough thing to have for a con) it made me believe his evolution from predator to neighbor throughout the book.
“Cam left the restaurant with a grumble at the unexpected customer service. Sean called out a sincere ‘Have a great day!’ as the door was swinging closed behind him. What was wrong with these people? Not that it wasn’t great to have an entire town full of suckers who thought being neighbors meant being neighborly. But did they have to be so nice about it?”
Jackson is the golden boy cop who grew up in Hog Mountain and is very protective of the townfolk. He doesn’t trust Cam from the get-go and with good reason. The banter back and forth between the two of them was fun to read. There was an obvious attraction, but there was nothing forced to move the story along. The relationship evolved as Cam’s enlightenment did making the hard earned ground the two made that much more satisfying to read. Jackson is deep, deep, deep in the closet and my heart broke for the guy and the life he couldn’t live because of it.
Cam’s past comes back to him and the dude is hella scary with no compunctions about taking out his frustrations with Cam on the small town that Cam has begun to think of as home. Before Harold wreaks havoc on Hog Mountain though, Cam has been ingrained into the fabric of everyday life, really by accident and honestly, this was my favorite theme throughout the book. I really appreciated how the author handled small town life.
So often the small town becomes a caricature of a place that the reader expects instead of another character in the book that adds to the depth of the story. Yes, Hog Mountain is a small town, but the people who live there are not just small town yokels with backwards sensibilities and a permeating homophobic bent throughout. Not that Cam, and Jackson for that matter, knew otherwise. Hog Mountain is no different than any other place in that there are a myriad of personalities and beliefs, just like in the city, but because there are fewer bodies, gossip travels faster and some attitudes are magnified just from the sheer lack of human traffic. But, the author didn’t rely on that trope to build the setting, he let the citizens have their voices and let them share their experiences with Cam and Jackson, giving the whole town dimension and personality.
The towns’ older generation was brilliant. Sure, maybe just a smidge too good, but they embodied what we should all strive to be like in our golden years. Church was a big part of their lives (not that the story had a lot of religious undertones, but just enough to make the small town aspect believable and the attitudes relevant) and for the most part they heeded the adage, “Do to others as you would have them do to you”. The characters that became part of Cam’s life remembered their own past mistakes and regrets, shared them with Cam and really showed him that change and redemption was attainable. I could feel the hope radiating off of Cam in those moments. There was no “telling” Cam what to do, there were meaningful anecdotes, kindness and respect, and then letting Cam do with them what he would. And, because Cam really was a good guy with a conscience, he did the right thing. It wasn’t easy, but it was important and it was meaningful. The author really did an amazing job with those secondary characters and their interaction with Cam and Jackson.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention how much I LOVED Cam in full snark mode. He loved stirring up shit when said shit needed stirring, and it was hilarious. It drove Jackson nutters, but that was part of the fun. Hog Mountain needed a little stirring and Cam’s brand of forthright dialog was perfectly shocking while still being respectful enough to throw his target off their game. Also, the kids the author wrote were well done for their ages and experiences. They weren’t precocious mini-adult attention whores, they were regular kids and the story was better for their presence. Sure they were a vehicle for Cam’s change and his journey towards becoming a responsible citizen, but they were by no means an afterthought. The family was fully fleshed out and just as important to the story overall as they were to Cam.
I would love to read more about Jackson and his experiences with the town and his family. That’s not what this story was mainly about and too much detail would have been overall too much given all the shit that got real in the end. But, I loved his heart and the scene towards the end in the Church and the sermon killed me to death in the best way.
I can’t wait to see what the author comes up with next. It will be an auto-buy for me.
Buddy read and full review with fellow Uni Sheziss!
**a copy of this story was provided for an honest review**
July 24, 2016
After RL got in the way, I finally got to read this book one month later than I had planned. By this time, I was a bit afraid because I wanted to read Snakes Among Sweet Flowers as soon as I heard about its release and I thought that my expectations might be too high after having to wait for a chance to read it. You know what it is like, right? You are waiting (im)patiently to finally have the time to do something you desperately want to do, thinking about what it will be like, anticipating it, imagining it in all its details and when the time comes you end up being disappointed because in your mind you made that something so much bigger than it really is.
Well, I needn't have to be afraid. Snakes Among Sweet Flowers has been everything I had hoped it would be.
I started this book yesterday, just before I heard about the shooting that took place in Munich and ended with the death of 10 people, including the attacker, and many more injured. I had to set the book aside because I couldn't concentrate on it as much as I wanted to. I was too upset and unsettled. After going to bed and finding myself unable to sleep because my mind wouldn't quiet down, I picked this book up again and continued reading and it has been the best decision I could have made.
I read some of Jason Huffman-Black's short stories and I've always been surprised by how much his vivid writing would grab me, suck me in, and not let me go until I turned the last page. Snakes Among Sweet Flowers has been the same and I soon found myself absorbed in Cam's and Jackson's story to the point where I couldn't think about anything else but the events unfolding in Hog Mountain. I thought I could feel the sweltering heat, hear the cicadas at night, taste the sweet tea (which I have to say is too sweet for me, lol), and smell the food cooking in a Crock-Pot.
I really appreciated the fact that we got to see Cam's transformation from a scamming ex-con who isn't above stealing money from an elderly couple to someone who cares deeply about the people he found in this close-knit community he now lives in. This becomes especially apparent when the shit hits the proverbial fan and he does everything he can to keep those people safe.
At first, Cam is bewildered by the way of living in a small town in comparison to life in a big city where he came from. Big cities often have an anonymity to them, huge apartment complexes where you know your neighbors only by the name on their mailboxes, and where everyone cares only for themselves. Not so in Hog Mountain where everyone is involved with the other's lives. But, as different as it is from all he has previously known, Cam soon finds that he likes it and gets more and more comfortable in his old house that he sets out to turn into a home. And the more he likes it the more he finds himself unable to continue his scams. You see, Cam is not really a bad guy IMO. Despite the crimes he committed in the past, he has some morals and conscience left. For him, it has been easier to steal from people he didn't know than from people who invite him to dinner and tell him about their lives. And with the kindness, trust, and yes, nosiness, the good people of Hog Mountain heap on him he doesn't have much of a choice but to get to know them.
Then there is Jackson, the town's officer and golden boy, who is protective of his hometown and its citizens, and suspicious of the newcomer who served time in prison. Jackson doesn't trust Cam, wants to keep an eye on him in case he plans something shady, and Cam is wary of Jackson because of the experiences he has made with other law enforcements. However, over time Jackson realizes that it is possible for a person to change their way when they really are determined to do so and Cam has to admit that Jackson is not the bad cop trying to abuse his power who Cam imagined him to be.
Both MCs felt real to me with their different backgrounds, flaws, struggles, and even their transformation into the kind of person they want to be. There was no magical solution to the enemies-to-lovers-relationship and nothing easy and fluffy about it. It all came down to getting to know the other, overcoming their own prejudices, and learning to trust each other. Not something that happens overnight and certainly not something that happens without stepping out of your comfort zone. The author portrayed that very well IMO without the need to implant a huge case of miscommunication that is so often used. The undeniable lust that sparked between them almost from the beginning certainly wasn't a hindrance. But the fact that both men despised and ignored it at first, gave us the opportunity to witness a delicious slow burn.
Another fact I really liked and found refreshing was that in this story the Bible and the belief in God weren't used to condemn homosexuality like we get to see in some 'pray-the-gay-away'-stories but to show that God makes no distinctions no matter who you love.
Add to all this an amazing cover, a great host of secondary characters and a 'What-the-hell-just-happened'-moment I didn't see coming, and you have a wonderful book about second chances in life and finding love that is very well written and will make you feel like you are sitting on a porch with a glass of chilled sweet tea while you listen to the sounds of the night around you.
Well, I needn't have to be afraid. Snakes Among Sweet Flowers has been everything I had hoped it would be.
I started this book yesterday, just before I heard about the shooting that took place in Munich and ended with the death of 10 people, including the attacker, and many more injured. I had to set the book aside because I couldn't concentrate on it as much as I wanted to. I was too upset and unsettled. After going to bed and finding myself unable to sleep because my mind wouldn't quiet down, I picked this book up again and continued reading and it has been the best decision I could have made.
I read some of Jason Huffman-Black's short stories and I've always been surprised by how much his vivid writing would grab me, suck me in, and not let me go until I turned the last page. Snakes Among Sweet Flowers has been the same and I soon found myself absorbed in Cam's and Jackson's story to the point where I couldn't think about anything else but the events unfolding in Hog Mountain. I thought I could feel the sweltering heat, hear the cicadas at night, taste the sweet tea (which I have to say is too sweet for me, lol), and smell the food cooking in a Crock-Pot.
I really appreciated the fact that we got to see Cam's transformation from a scamming ex-con who isn't above stealing money from an elderly couple to someone who cares deeply about the people he found in this close-knit community he now lives in. This becomes especially apparent when the shit hits the proverbial fan and he does everything he can to keep those people safe.
At first, Cam is bewildered by the way of living in a small town in comparison to life in a big city where he came from. Big cities often have an anonymity to them, huge apartment complexes where you know your neighbors only by the name on their mailboxes, and where everyone cares only for themselves. Not so in Hog Mountain where everyone is involved with the other's lives. But, as different as it is from all he has previously known, Cam soon finds that he likes it and gets more and more comfortable in his old house that he sets out to turn into a home. And the more he likes it the more he finds himself unable to continue his scams. You see, Cam is not really a bad guy IMO. Despite the crimes he committed in the past, he has some morals and conscience left. For him, it has been easier to steal from people he didn't know than from people who invite him to dinner and tell him about their lives. And with the kindness, trust, and yes, nosiness, the good people of Hog Mountain heap on him he doesn't have much of a choice but to get to know them.
Then there is Jackson, the town's officer and golden boy, who is protective of his hometown and its citizens, and suspicious of the newcomer who served time in prison. Jackson doesn't trust Cam, wants to keep an eye on him in case he plans something shady, and Cam is wary of Jackson because of the experiences he has made with other law enforcements. However, over time Jackson realizes that it is possible for a person to change their way when they really are determined to do so and Cam has to admit that Jackson is not the bad cop trying to abuse his power who Cam imagined him to be.
Both MCs felt real to me with their different backgrounds, flaws, struggles, and even their transformation into the kind of person they want to be. There was no magical solution to the enemies-to-lovers-relationship and nothing easy and fluffy about it. It all came down to getting to know the other, overcoming their own prejudices, and learning to trust each other. Not something that happens overnight and certainly not something that happens without stepping out of your comfort zone. The author portrayed that very well IMO without the need to implant a huge case of miscommunication that is so often used. The undeniable lust that sparked between them almost from the beginning certainly wasn't a hindrance. But the fact that both men despised and ignored it at first, gave us the opportunity to witness a delicious slow burn.
Another fact I really liked and found refreshing was that in this story the Bible and the belief in God weren't used to condemn homosexuality like we get to see in some 'pray-the-gay-away'-stories but to show that God makes no distinctions no matter who you love.
"Whether homosexuality is a sin or not, if a man or woman believes that Jesus is the son of God, he or she is going to be in heaven right beside you, sitting at the Lord’s feet. And if God loves them enough to welcome them into heaven, who do you think you are to turn them away from your own home or community?"
"If we judge, then should we not be judged?" … "What if your son or your daughter should grow up to be different? What if their child sees love in a different way? Will you disown them? Damn them as something unholy?"
Add to all this an amazing cover, a great host of secondary characters and a 'What-the-hell-just-happened'-moment I didn't see coming, and you have a wonderful book about second chances in life and finding love that is very well written and will make you feel like you are sitting on a porch with a glass of chilled sweet tea while you listen to the sounds of the night around you.
June 21, 2016
4.25 stars
What I liked most about this was watching how the town, Jackson and the kids all helped Cam transform. I love stories where people can actually change for the good. I also adored Cam and Jackson together. I especially liked how their relationship developed slowly and that they had all of that quiet time together just listening to the crickets at night.
There were a few things I didn't like as much. I thought Grant was a little OTT and almost unbelievable (like the football scene?) and I wasn't sure what he added to the story. I also had some questions about the action and suspense part.
Overall, though, a very enjoyable read.
What I liked most about this was watching how the town, Jackson and the kids all helped Cam transform. I love stories where people can actually change for the good. I also adored Cam and Jackson together. I especially liked how their relationship developed slowly and that they had all of that quiet time together just listening to the crickets at night.
There were a few things I didn't like as much. I thought Grant was a little OTT and almost unbelievable (like the football scene?) and I wasn't sure what he added to the story. I also had some questions about the action and suspense part.
Overall, though, a very enjoyable read.
April 25, 2017
I really enjoyed this quirky romance by new-to-me author Jason Huffman-Black. Both MCs were interesting and well-drawn and I loved the ex-con-gets-redemption hurt/comfort plotline. I thought the bit of angst involving the dangerous ex-associates was just enough to give a nice tension to the book. I'll look for more by this author.
June 20, 2016
4.5 stars
This is one of the most engaging stories I’ve read in a very long time. For me to be totally awed by a story I need to feel for the characters. Jason has done a wonderful job of bring an entire cast along with the town of Hog Mountain to life. From old to young, good and bad, and I even fell for the damn cat!
My heart went out to Camden, his mother was barely a there and his father was abusive. Yay for his grandmother. Despite her having passed away years ago, I felt like I knew her too. Dotty, Ida and Charles, came across as surrogate grandparents to me. I loved how accepting they were of an ex-con. Many, many wise words were spoken.
Grant the vet, married closeted gay, was a character I loved to hate. Nuff said.
The relationship between Jackson Rhodes, an officer of the law, and Cam, recently released from prison, was such an unlikely fit I wondered if they could ever become an item. The growing romance is a long slow burn, and really couldn’t have been any other way.
The story has a dark edge, which will keep readers on the seat. The scene with a flashback to what Harold did to Cam is no easy read. Knowing it’s only a matter of time until he finds Cam adds tension to the story. The enviable show down is gut-wrenching and not entirely for reasons one might suspect.
The fact Jackson is a family man and attends church, means this story has some religious connotations. I’m not normally a fan of such, but not once did it overwhelm the story, and the sermon at the end was bloody brilliant. Food for thought, for sure.
Last but not least, the addition of the kids, and Cam’s interaction with them was heart-warming, not to mention added another layer to this complex and extremely well written plot.
Copy provided in exchange for an honest review
Click the image below to check out my duo review with Donna.
This is one of the most engaging stories I’ve read in a very long time. For me to be totally awed by a story I need to feel for the characters. Jason has done a wonderful job of bring an entire cast along with the town of Hog Mountain to life. From old to young, good and bad, and I even fell for the damn cat!
My heart went out to Camden, his mother was barely a there and his father was abusive. Yay for his grandmother. Despite her having passed away years ago, I felt like I knew her too. Dotty, Ida and Charles, came across as surrogate grandparents to me. I loved how accepting they were of an ex-con. Many, many wise words were spoken.
Grant the vet, married closeted gay, was a character I loved to hate. Nuff said.
The relationship between Jackson Rhodes, an officer of the law, and Cam, recently released from prison, was such an unlikely fit I wondered if they could ever become an item. The growing romance is a long slow burn, and really couldn’t have been any other way.
The story has a dark edge, which will keep readers on the seat. The scene with a flashback to what Harold did to Cam is no easy read. Knowing it’s only a matter of time until he finds Cam adds tension to the story. The enviable show down is gut-wrenching and not entirely for reasons one might suspect.
The fact Jackson is a family man and attends church, means this story has some religious connotations. I’m not normally a fan of such, but not once did it overwhelm the story, and the sermon at the end was bloody brilliant. Food for thought, for sure.
Last but not least, the addition of the kids, and Cam’s interaction with them was heart-warming, not to mention added another layer to this complex and extremely well written plot.
Copy provided in exchange for an honest review
Click the image below to check out my duo review with Donna.
June 22, 2016
THEN: A scammer mechanic excon and small town police? Must read.
NOW: I don't know how to rate this book because the story of Cam and Jackson and their scenes together are beautiful (although I would love a bit more romance).... 3.5*
BUT! Yes, is a big BUT.
*these are my personal preferences* I don't like the very explicit sex of one MC with a secondary character in the middle if the book!!!!! Err, no :(
And must add that this secondary character is hideous!!! He only thought about sex when sees a man and when he see a woman, a useless thing. I hated when I read his pov. Horrible man. I really still don't understand the reason of his part because it has NOTHING in the story!
The main characters: I liked them!
The main plot, the approach to the idea of the second opportunity: I liked
The idealization of the small towns “nice” people to show them their real IGNORANCE, I liked. (although I think this can be very stereotypical)
The mystical help of the church to the cause... mmm... nope. That scene was very forced!
Note: I LOVED the cat part!
Note 2 : I really didn´t know what Sausage biscuits are! :_D
June 11, 2016
A copy of this book was provided via Indigo Marketing in exchange for an honest review.
With a title like 'snakes among sweet flowers' I really didn't know what to expect, even after the summary. I've read short pieces by this author before, so I knew at least that I'd like his style.
But I really didn't have to worry because the book sucked me in right from the beginning. Cam has a great sense of humor, and you know he's not all bad the way he takes care of his cat. He's been a hustler all his life, so it takes him a while to get used to how nice the people of Hog Mountain (well, most of them) are to him. Excellent character building there.
Jackson was the very definition of 'goody two shoes' but I didn't mind that too much. He was nice, but we didn't really see his character becoming good till he and Cam clash.
The story has a charm to it, mainly due to the language (I love when language reflects the setting of the book. It's easy in movies to just peak with the appropriate accent, but I think it's tougher while writing) and the setting and the wonderful supporting characters, especially the kids and the cat and the old couple whose wallet Cam flicked but then returned.
The plot is engaging and moves forward swiftly. There's a creepy bad guy, overprotective mothers, a tattooed MC, another MC in uniform, an adorable cat, home cooking, and a happy ending. Ticks all my boxes.
Definitely would recommend.
With a title like 'snakes among sweet flowers' I really didn't know what to expect, even after the summary. I've read short pieces by this author before, so I knew at least that I'd like his style.
But I really didn't have to worry because the book sucked me in right from the beginning. Cam has a great sense of humor, and you know he's not all bad the way he takes care of his cat. He's been a hustler all his life, so it takes him a while to get used to how nice the people of Hog Mountain (well, most of them) are to him. Excellent character building there.
Jackson was the very definition of 'goody two shoes' but I didn't mind that too much. He was nice, but we didn't really see his character becoming good till he and Cam clash.
The story has a charm to it, mainly due to the language (I love when language reflects the setting of the book. It's easy in movies to just peak with the appropriate accent, but I think it's tougher while writing) and the setting and the wonderful supporting characters, especially the kids and the cat and the old couple whose wallet Cam flicked but then returned.
The plot is engaging and moves forward swiftly. There's a creepy bad guy, overprotective mothers, a tattooed MC, another MC in uniform, an adorable cat, home cooking, and a happy ending. Ticks all my boxes.
Definitely would recommend.
July 2, 2016
I enjoyed this book - not for the romance or chemistry as that really wasn't a feature at all. This was a second chance story, moving from the dark to the light, Cam forgiving himself slowly and allowing some goodness surround him after a previous life of scamming and lying. I liked the old town support & care in some of the oldies...especially the fact that they looked past Cams history and accepted him. Jackson was an interestingly closeted cop who really needed to get out from under other people's opinion of him. He was the golden boy who simply aimed to please. These two were almost yin & yang.
An epilogue may have helped cement the relationship as it would have been nice to get some more intimate moments with these two.
An epilogue may have helped cement the relationship as it would have been nice to get some more intimate moments with these two.
June 5, 2016
Full review at Prism.
Warm hearted enemies to lovers with a terrifically snarky tattooed hero and a closeted policeman. There is a proper baddy, redemption a cat and some kids.
Fantastic cover
Warm hearted enemies to lovers with a terrifically snarky tattooed hero and a closeted policeman. There is a proper baddy, redemption a cat and some kids.
Fantastic cover
June 20, 2016
Snakes among flowers is a mellow, soothing and sweet story about second chances and redemption. The story is set in a small town where an ex-con relocates while on run from his former life. How this small town and its considerate/loving town folk gradually turns his life around and accept him in their fold constitutes as the main portion of the story.
Camden Sanders is the definition of a tattooed bad boy. He has a criminal past and he knows that it is a matter of time before his former life comes back to bite him in the ass. Cam was a conman and he dupes a lot of people in Hog Mountain in the start. I loved the way Cam’s good and honest side is literally forced out when he is shown kindness by an old couple even after knowing that he has done them wrong. Cam has never known kindness or care in his entire life so he never expects in feeling an emotional attachment to the town folk who genuinely care for him and gives him a chance in redemption. Cam had a lot of character flaws but underneath it all he was a good man at heart. His treatment of the kids clearing his yard or love for his cat, who adopts Cam, is a dead giveaway of the big heart Cam possesses. He just needed love, support and people to believe in him for turning a new leaf in his life.
Camden’s romantic interest in this story is Jackson Rhodes, a local police officer. Jackson does not trust Cam in the start and he never expects t being attracted to the former conman. Their impromptu, spur of the moment blow job session was hot as hell. Gradually Jackson sees the good guy behind the bad guy exterior and their relationship shifts from acquaintances to friends and then to lovers.
The main focus of the plot was about Cam gets accepted and fits into the Hog Mountain community. This story cannot be categorized as an all out romance as there was very little of it. the romance between Cam and Jackson develop slowly and we don’t see them as a couple till almost 70% of the story.
All in all, i liked this book, then why the 3.5 stars??? Well, i would have liked a little more excitement or passion in this story. From the blurb i knew that Cam’s past is going to come back and threaten his new life but that happens not until almost at the end of the story. So, the remaining 85% cannot be called boring but not that exciting too. The story was more about the “Love your neighbor” culture of a small southern town helping in redeeming an ex-conman rather than romance or Cam’s past in the form of a crazy criminal causing havoc in his new life.
This is the first novel by the author so his ability in giving life to such vivid characters making up a whole community is very impressive. I would recommend this book to all who are looking for a sweet story about second chances, finally finding love and a place where you truly belong and call home.
Camden Sanders is the definition of a tattooed bad boy. He has a criminal past and he knows that it is a matter of time before his former life comes back to bite him in the ass. Cam was a conman and he dupes a lot of people in Hog Mountain in the start. I loved the way Cam’s good and honest side is literally forced out when he is shown kindness by an old couple even after knowing that he has done them wrong. Cam has never known kindness or care in his entire life so he never expects in feeling an emotional attachment to the town folk who genuinely care for him and gives him a chance in redemption. Cam had a lot of character flaws but underneath it all he was a good man at heart. His treatment of the kids clearing his yard or love for his cat, who adopts Cam, is a dead giveaway of the big heart Cam possesses. He just needed love, support and people to believe in him for turning a new leaf in his life.
Camden’s romantic interest in this story is Jackson Rhodes, a local police officer. Jackson does not trust Cam in the start and he never expects t being attracted to the former conman. Their impromptu, spur of the moment blow job session was hot as hell. Gradually Jackson sees the good guy behind the bad guy exterior and their relationship shifts from acquaintances to friends and then to lovers.
The main focus of the plot was about Cam gets accepted and fits into the Hog Mountain community. This story cannot be categorized as an all out romance as there was very little of it. the romance between Cam and Jackson develop slowly and we don’t see them as a couple till almost 70% of the story.
All in all, i liked this book, then why the 3.5 stars??? Well, i would have liked a little more excitement or passion in this story. From the blurb i knew that Cam’s past is going to come back and threaten his new life but that happens not until almost at the end of the story. So, the remaining 85% cannot be called boring but not that exciting too. The story was more about the “Love your neighbor” culture of a small southern town helping in redeeming an ex-conman rather than romance or Cam’s past in the form of a crazy criminal causing havoc in his new life.
This is the first novel by the author so his ability in giving life to such vivid characters making up a whole community is very impressive. I would recommend this book to all who are looking for a sweet story about second chances, finally finding love and a place where you truly belong and call home.
July 1, 2016
3.5 Stars
Snakes Among Sweet Flowers contains two likeable, clearly drawn characters along with the most leisurely pace I’ve come across in a long time.
Our story zeros in on the small, southern town of Hog Mountain. A place where everyone knows your name and your business. Cam Sanders, an ex-con on the run from his ex-partner in crime, is the hot topic of Hog Mountain at the moment. He’s trying to settle in and carve out a new place and life for himself, but old habits are hard to break. Will Cam be able to let go of his thieving ways? Drop in for a visit to find out. There’s pie, tea, and a spot on the porch waiting for ya. :D
The pace of this book was the star of the show for me. The words and action and characters strolled on by, slowly pulling me into Cam and Jackson’s world. Jackson is the law in Hog Mountain, so you can imagine the sparks these two throw off! But what truly made me happy here was Cam and his days. These pages are filled with life’s simple joys and pains. I realized that I tend to view a lot of my day as chores. Preparing meals, laundry, and shopping more often than not are a pain in the butt or things to do in a hurry to get done. Cam made me stop and think. I should start rejoicing in the simplicity and freedom of it all. I realize that sounds silly. But sometimes we don’t see what we’ve got til it’s gone. Running down the street for a pizza is a joy in life! I forget that sometimes. Cam’s routine of work, food, cleaning, and more showed just how much the little things in life can mean to someone who’s starting fresh, never lived on his own, or just out of prison. As I got into the rhythm of Cam’s day, I began to really feel a part of the southern pace, heat, manners, and more. The whole shebang came to life!
Cam and Jackson were simple, fun, good hearted men. Cam’s heart is there—he just needs to dust it off a bit. He made me giggle too. The trip to the vet’s office with Tom was hilarious! All his conversations with Tom, the cat, made me smile. Cam’s heart showed in how he treated all his new friends in Hog Mountain, but he was the sweetest with Tom. Cam can rub my ears anytime he wants! :)
The action at the end was anti-climactic and a bit ridiculous. But I didn’t have any major hiccups really. I just enjoyed slowly sipping away at the story and all its charms.
Recommended.
June 22, 2016
I was pretty apprehensive going into this one but I enjoyed the story. The writing is good and flowing and it held my attention.
I liked Cam. He's a (mostly) likeable bad boy and I've always been a fan of the loveable rogue.
Jackson is also nice, if a little too cutesy and sweet. He fits nicely into the 'too good to be true' bracket but I didn't find it annoying, just a bit saccharine.
They are complete opposites yet somehow they find common ground, Cam becomes a better man because of Jackson's influence.
Not to mention Luanne, Galen and Tony.
It's a sweet slow burn story and the author does a great job of setting scene, I could almost feel the humidity and smell the coffee.
I would have preferred Cam and Jackson to have more page time together, the romance seemed almost a side story rather than the main event.
There are a few subject jumps that caught me by surprise and had me backtracking to see if I'd missed something, I hadn't; the transitioning could have been smoother.
Some of the scenes were a little unbelievable, especially the fight scene towards the end of the book. I'm not sure how were expected to believe that fight would take place in front of so many police officers without a single one interfering.
But...overall I enjoyed it. Yes it's a bit too cutesy at the end, all wrapped up in a sparkly pink bow and it left me with a bit of toothache, but it didn't take any of the enjoyment away.
I'll certainly read more by this author.
I received an ARC of this book from the author via IndiGo Marketing & Design in exchange for an honest review.
I liked Cam. He's a (mostly) likeable bad boy and I've always been a fan of the loveable rogue.
Jackson is also nice, if a little too cutesy and sweet. He fits nicely into the 'too good to be true' bracket but I didn't find it annoying, just a bit saccharine.
They are complete opposites yet somehow they find common ground, Cam becomes a better man because of Jackson's influence.
Not to mention Luanne, Galen and Tony.
It's a sweet slow burn story and the author does a great job of setting scene, I could almost feel the humidity and smell the coffee.
I would have preferred Cam and Jackson to have more page time together, the romance seemed almost a side story rather than the main event.
There are a few subject jumps that caught me by surprise and had me backtracking to see if I'd missed something, I hadn't; the transitioning could have been smoother.
Some of the scenes were a little unbelievable, especially the fight scene towards the end of the book. I'm not sure how were expected to believe that fight would take place in front of so many police officers without a single one interfering.
But...overall I enjoyed it. Yes it's a bit too cutesy at the end, all wrapped up in a sparkly pink bow and it left me with a bit of toothache, but it didn't take any of the enjoyment away.
I'll certainly read more by this author.
I received an ARC of this book from the author via IndiGo Marketing & Design in exchange for an honest review.
July 6, 2016
Loved this for the most part. I feel like the ending kind of went out with a whimper, but other than that this was a pretty amazing read. I loved Camden and his sense of humor was GREAT. I liked how he was so annoyed that he was genuinely being a good guy to the townspeople. I liked Jackson and how he saw through him, but owned up enough to stop judging and learn about the man Cam is now. The supporting cast was lovely. Ida and Dottie and Charlie and the kiddos. All love. I like that everyone had shades of grey to them. No one was all good or all bad(expect the BAD GUY), they were human. I'm so glad this lived up to the cover!
June 22, 2018
2.5 Stars
Jason Huffman-Black is a new to me writer and though some of the scenes in this book were overly detailed, I liked the story overall.
I liked both MCs and liked reading about Camden’s change from a cold hearted criminal to someone who truly cared for people. Jackson, who was right to be suspicious about Cam in the beginning, also warmed up to him and realised that everybody needed a second chance.
I felt the thing with Harold was properly done. It kept me hooked & it wasn’t clear when/how he’d get to town. The town’s reaction to their sexuality was pretty much as expected and I absolutely loved the pastor’s response to it. More of such men are needed in the church.
One thing I’m glad happened in this book was that it didn’t go for the “mandatory” I love you’s But allowed the story to end on a solid HFN.
~Free Copy Graciously Provided By Publisher In Exchange For An Honest, Unbiased Review ~
Jason Huffman-Black is a new to me writer and though some of the scenes in this book were overly detailed, I liked the story overall.
I liked both MCs and liked reading about Camden’s change from a cold hearted criminal to someone who truly cared for people. Jackson, who was right to be suspicious about Cam in the beginning, also warmed up to him and realised that everybody needed a second chance.
I felt the thing with Harold was properly done. It kept me hooked & it wasn’t clear when/how he’d get to town. The town’s reaction to their sexuality was pretty much as expected and I absolutely loved the pastor’s response to it. More of such men are needed in the church.
One thing I’m glad happened in this book was that it didn’t go for the “mandatory” I love you’s But allowed the story to end on a solid HFN.
~Free Copy Graciously Provided By Publisher In Exchange For An Honest, Unbiased Review ~
June 5, 2016
3.25 stars
This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I have to say I was somewhat pleasantly surprised. I think what drew me in the most are the unique, but well written main characters and the storytelling itself. This book was funny at times but it also had a good dose of feelings and some facts of life that were hard to swallow.
Camden Sanders is a con man; moving to Hog Mountain, an isolated and small community in Georgia allows him to continue to run his scams while avoiding any more prison time. Cam is also on the run from a nefarious individual he associated with during his worst years, and he knows that if he’s found he’ll be in great danger. Taking advantage of the trusting people of Hog Mountain is what Cam does, and his auto-repair business allows him to scam his clients without raising suspicion. I have to say I laughed out loud at the things Cam came up with, as well as at his thoughts about the people living in Hog Mountain.
Police officer Jackson Rhodes knows all about Cam’s past and pays attention to his current business. Cam and Jackson are so different from each other, they might as well be from different planets. While Cam only cares about himself, Jackson is always worried about others and is looking out for them. I loved the small but close knit community and how people helped each other when in need. What broke my heart were those dirt-poor kids who had a bastard of a father and not enough food in the house. No child that young should ever have to endure that and it’s not fair to have to work themselves in order to afford new school clothes. But I loved how spending time with Luanne, Galen and Tony changed Cam and how the goodness of people made him feel remorse and guilt for stealing from them.
Jackson is gay but closeted, and he doesn’t think coming out would be received with open arms in a community that’s so religious and not populated with too many open-minded people. His attraction towards Cam is something he wishes he could ignore, but the more time he spends with Cam and gets to know the person behind the crimes, the closer they get. I wish there was more page time for Jackson and Cam as a couple; I feel like we got a glimpse of what should have been but we never got to see the full picture.
There were a few things that were extremely hard to believe and were worthy of some pretty serious eye-rolling. Harold (the person Cam is running from) comes looking for Cam and all kinds of weird stuff happens, like the (unbelievable) fighting scene towards the end, the chase around town from house to house, the weird and questionable training of police officers; there were plenty of WTF moments that I had to re-read over a few times to make sure I’m not missing some vital parts that would make sense of the whole thing.
Also, this book is written mostly from Cam and Jackson’s POVs with the (weird and creepy) exception of the ONE time we get Grant’s POV. Grant is the town vet, and he’s a gay man who’s married to a woman but loves nothing more than to worship the dick of any man who’s willing to shove it in his mouth. Why did we need Grant’s pov??? All he did was creepily stare at the men who were playing ball and act like a jealous bitch when girls showed up; really, what was the point? It didn’t make any sense at all!
Overall Snakes Among Sweet Flowers was a book with great potential, that lost its shine along the way.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I have to say I was somewhat pleasantly surprised. I think what drew me in the most are the unique, but well written main characters and the storytelling itself. This book was funny at times but it also had a good dose of feelings and some facts of life that were hard to swallow.
Camden Sanders is a con man; moving to Hog Mountain, an isolated and small community in Georgia allows him to continue to run his scams while avoiding any more prison time. Cam is also on the run from a nefarious individual he associated with during his worst years, and he knows that if he’s found he’ll be in great danger. Taking advantage of the trusting people of Hog Mountain is what Cam does, and his auto-repair business allows him to scam his clients without raising suspicion. I have to say I laughed out loud at the things Cam came up with, as well as at his thoughts about the people living in Hog Mountain.
Police officer Jackson Rhodes knows all about Cam’s past and pays attention to his current business. Cam and Jackson are so different from each other, they might as well be from different planets. While Cam only cares about himself, Jackson is always worried about others and is looking out for them. I loved the small but close knit community and how people helped each other when in need. What broke my heart were those dirt-poor kids who had a bastard of a father and not enough food in the house. No child that young should ever have to endure that and it’s not fair to have to work themselves in order to afford new school clothes. But I loved how spending time with Luanne, Galen and Tony changed Cam and how the goodness of people made him feel remorse and guilt for stealing from them.
Jackson is gay but closeted, and he doesn’t think coming out would be received with open arms in a community that’s so religious and not populated with too many open-minded people. His attraction towards Cam is something he wishes he could ignore, but the more time he spends with Cam and gets to know the person behind the crimes, the closer they get. I wish there was more page time for Jackson and Cam as a couple; I feel like we got a glimpse of what should have been but we never got to see the full picture.
There were a few things that were extremely hard to believe and were worthy of some pretty serious eye-rolling. Harold (the person Cam is running from) comes looking for Cam and all kinds of weird stuff happens, like the (unbelievable) fighting scene towards the end, the chase around town from house to house, the weird and questionable training of police officers; there were plenty of WTF moments that I had to re-read over a few times to make sure I’m not missing some vital parts that would make sense of the whole thing.
Also, this book is written mostly from Cam and Jackson’s POVs with the (weird and creepy) exception of the ONE time we get Grant’s POV. Grant is the town vet, and he’s a gay man who’s married to a woman but loves nothing more than to worship the dick of any man who’s willing to shove it in his mouth. Why did we need Grant’s pov??? All he did was creepily stare at the men who were playing ball and act like a jealous bitch when girls showed up; really, what was the point? It didn’t make any sense at all!
Overall Snakes Among Sweet Flowers was a book with great potential, that lost its shine along the way.
June 20, 2016
Snakes Among Sweet Flowers is a first time read for me from author Jason Huffman-Black, and it was very entertaining. His writing is easy to follow and the novel has very good storyline and great portrayal of characters. Huffman-Black really brings the small town warmth of Hog Mountain to life.
Camden “Cam” Sanders isn’t really a bad guy. At a young age he got caught up with a gang of thieves, which eventually became too violent for him. He served time and is now making his way for a normal life in Hog Mountain, Georgia—maybe. Cam still has a little bad left in him—he has just the right amount of charm to scam people—but he finds that small town people really are nice and forgiving. Cam finds himself in a dilemma because he doesn’t understand people being nice, and as he experiences their friendliness, he shows his soft side. Along with Tommasina, Galen, Luanne, and Tony, we get to see Cam become more invested in the people around him.
Jackson Rhodes is a somewhat closeted, church going, police officer in Hog Mountain. He really cares about the people in his community and goes the extra mile to protect everyone. But he doesn’t care for Cam; he’s suspicious of him from the start. When a theft gets reported and he finds Cam is involved, he confronts Cam and it comes to blows. Jackson is frustrated to no end with Cam, but he gets some needed advice from his father, Walter, and Ida Evans.
Cam made one last mistake before leaving Harold Livey’s gang of thieves, and now he’s being tracked down, putting the people of Hog Mountain in danger. Cam has to decide to trust in Jackson and tell him what’s going on.
I love Jackson and Cam; their growing feelings for each other bring out the best in both of them. And they both have a special bond with Galen, Luanne and Tony. There are many solid characters to enjoy in this story, and I found Dr. Grant Moore, the town vet, to be just a little to creepy/stalkerish. Snakes Among Sweet Flowers is suspenseful, dangerous, and was an absolute page turner for me. Jason Huffman-Black is an author I will definitely keep an eye out for.
Reviewed by Maryann for The Novel Approach Reviews
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.co...
Camden “Cam” Sanders isn’t really a bad guy. At a young age he got caught up with a gang of thieves, which eventually became too violent for him. He served time and is now making his way for a normal life in Hog Mountain, Georgia—maybe. Cam still has a little bad left in him—he has just the right amount of charm to scam people—but he finds that small town people really are nice and forgiving. Cam finds himself in a dilemma because he doesn’t understand people being nice, and as he experiences their friendliness, he shows his soft side. Along with Tommasina, Galen, Luanne, and Tony, we get to see Cam become more invested in the people around him.
Jackson Rhodes is a somewhat closeted, church going, police officer in Hog Mountain. He really cares about the people in his community and goes the extra mile to protect everyone. But he doesn’t care for Cam; he’s suspicious of him from the start. When a theft gets reported and he finds Cam is involved, he confronts Cam and it comes to blows. Jackson is frustrated to no end with Cam, but he gets some needed advice from his father, Walter, and Ida Evans.
Cam made one last mistake before leaving Harold Livey’s gang of thieves, and now he’s being tracked down, putting the people of Hog Mountain in danger. Cam has to decide to trust in Jackson and tell him what’s going on.
I love Jackson and Cam; their growing feelings for each other bring out the best in both of them. And they both have a special bond with Galen, Luanne and Tony. There are many solid characters to enjoy in this story, and I found Dr. Grant Moore, the town vet, to be just a little to creepy/stalkerish. Snakes Among Sweet Flowers is suspenseful, dangerous, and was an absolute page turner for me. Jason Huffman-Black is an author I will definitely keep an eye out for.
Reviewed by Maryann for The Novel Approach Reviews
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.co...
June 21, 2016
I’ve previously read a short story that had been penned by this author, which I thoroughly enjoyed, but it was definitely not my standard reading material. So I went into this story expecting good things, but maybe something quite different. Instead I was surprised to discover a fairly conventional romance. And please don’t take that as any sort of criticism. I don’t mean that it was ordinary or middle-of-the-road, I most assuredly love everything about this story, I just meant that I think this book will appeal to a vast majority of readers.
First of all – Hog Mountain! This author has created the most brilliant town for his characters to live in; in fact, the town is almost a character in itself. I loved the way the author wrote scenes of Cam going about town as we follow him through his day. We discover the people and places along with our main character, who had no idea a place like that really existed.
Which leads me into the evolution of Camden Sanders. I guess most stories feature at least one main character who needs to go through some sort of change or growth, but Cam takes that to a whole new level. At the beginning of the story Cam is nothing more than a crook, who excels at appearing innocent while absolutely robbing people blind. His moral compass is totally lacking a north, and he feels no guilt at only caring about himself. He sees the trusting, friendly residents of Hog Mountain as the perfect marks – if only that pesky police officer, Jackson Rhodes, would stop watching him so closely. Basically, Cam is thoroughly unlikeable, but I remained confident that the author would somehow redeem him before the end of the book. And he did. Marvelously. The way that Cam’s redemption was played out on the pages, as he became more immersed in the lives of the people around him, was skillfully executed. There was no “hallelujah I’m a changed man” moment, instead he slowly made a conscious decision to be a good person. I was so invested in this character that I could feel his struggle to make better choices and I swear I felt proud every time he did the right thing.
The plot itself was absolutely engrossing. I really hope that the addition of the children doesn’t turn some readers away, because I think the author handled that part of the story well. They weren’t annoying brats or overgrown babies, and they didn’t steal the scenes in anyway. There were flashes of darker past moments interspersed with some lighter humor and attention holding banter. Added to that the anticipation of the showdown between the good guys and the bad guy that you know is inevitable, and I literally couldn’t put this story down. Yes, I mean literally. My iPad made several trips to the bathroom with me and at one point I tried to read it through the glass shower screen while shampooing my hair. (Don’t pretend you’ve never been there!)
I recommend this book to everyone. Every. One. That cover is mouthwatering and the story behind the cover is just as irresistible.
Reviewed for Love Bytes Reviews
http://lovebytesreviews.com/2016/06/2...
First of all – Hog Mountain! This author has created the most brilliant town for his characters to live in; in fact, the town is almost a character in itself. I loved the way the author wrote scenes of Cam going about town as we follow him through his day. We discover the people and places along with our main character, who had no idea a place like that really existed.
Which leads me into the evolution of Camden Sanders. I guess most stories feature at least one main character who needs to go through some sort of change or growth, but Cam takes that to a whole new level. At the beginning of the story Cam is nothing more than a crook, who excels at appearing innocent while absolutely robbing people blind. His moral compass is totally lacking a north, and he feels no guilt at only caring about himself. He sees the trusting, friendly residents of Hog Mountain as the perfect marks – if only that pesky police officer, Jackson Rhodes, would stop watching him so closely. Basically, Cam is thoroughly unlikeable, but I remained confident that the author would somehow redeem him before the end of the book. And he did. Marvelously. The way that Cam’s redemption was played out on the pages, as he became more immersed in the lives of the people around him, was skillfully executed. There was no “hallelujah I’m a changed man” moment, instead he slowly made a conscious decision to be a good person. I was so invested in this character that I could feel his struggle to make better choices and I swear I felt proud every time he did the right thing.
The plot itself was absolutely engrossing. I really hope that the addition of the children doesn’t turn some readers away, because I think the author handled that part of the story well. They weren’t annoying brats or overgrown babies, and they didn’t steal the scenes in anyway. There were flashes of darker past moments interspersed with some lighter humor and attention holding banter. Added to that the anticipation of the showdown between the good guys and the bad guy that you know is inevitable, and I literally couldn’t put this story down. Yes, I mean literally. My iPad made several trips to the bathroom with me and at one point I tried to read it through the glass shower screen while shampooing my hair. (Don’t pretend you’ve never been there!)
I recommend this book to everyone. Every. One. That cover is mouthwatering and the story behind the cover is just as irresistible.
Reviewed for Love Bytes Reviews
http://lovebytesreviews.com/2016/06/2...
June 17, 2016
ARC received from Sinfully!
To say that I'm not crazy with how the story was written, yet ended up liking it as a whole speaks a lot about how interesting the plot was for me. If one would be willing to look past the vanilla type, fast pacing style of writing (nothing’s wrong with it, guess it just didn't rub me right?) then this one I think is a good read.
Snakes Among Sweet Flowers follows the story of a filthy, devious, douche of a scammer, but sexy as hell tattooed guy named Camden Sanders. Oh, and he's also a two time ex-convict. He wants to escape his past and start anew in a place where he could easily make money by milking/scamming people. Hog Mountain was the perfect spot, where people are loving, sweet trusting and oh so neighborly.
But devouring the small town isn't an easy task as he thought it would be as the people showed him warmth, undeserved kindness and acceptance. It doesn't help when the town's golden boy police officer Jackson Rhodes crosses his path. Jackson sees through his façade and is determined to put him where he truly belongs. Amidst all the troubles, the two find themselves drawn together despite hating each other's guts and Cam found himself liking the town and its people more and more.
Just when everything for the first time in Cam's life was working fine, the past started to haunt him, threatening to destroy the paradise he made himself believe he's somehow a part of. He should've known, where there's a snake there’s danger.
There were definitely hits and misses for me, but what I liked most is how the story made me see that people can change from the bad ways they’ve grown accustomed to. Chance, support and love is all they need.
To say that I'm not crazy with how the story was written, yet ended up liking it as a whole speaks a lot about how interesting the plot was for me. If one would be willing to look past the vanilla type, fast pacing style of writing (nothing’s wrong with it, guess it just didn't rub me right?) then this one I think is a good read.
Snakes Among Sweet Flowers follows the story of a filthy, devious, douche of a scammer, but sexy as hell tattooed guy named Camden Sanders. Oh, and he's also a two time ex-convict. He wants to escape his past and start anew in a place where he could easily make money by milking/scamming people. Hog Mountain was the perfect spot, where people are loving, sweet trusting and oh so neighborly.
But devouring the small town isn't an easy task as he thought it would be as the people showed him warmth, undeserved kindness and acceptance. It doesn't help when the town's golden boy police officer Jackson Rhodes crosses his path. Jackson sees through his façade and is determined to put him where he truly belongs. Amidst all the troubles, the two find themselves drawn together despite hating each other's guts and Cam found himself liking the town and its people more and more.
Just when everything for the first time in Cam's life was working fine, the past started to haunt him, threatening to destroy the paradise he made himself believe he's somehow a part of. He should've known, where there's a snake there’s danger.
There were definitely hits and misses for me, but what I liked most is how the story made me see that people can change from the bad ways they’ve grown accustomed to. Chance, support and love is all they need.
July 11, 2018
There was a quiet humor to the narration, which I liked a lot. The story was progressing surely but really slowly. Nothing really happened other than Cam trying to live a new life in a small town after he abandoned the evil ways of living in Atlanta, and he didn't want to go back to jail a third time. The townspeople were very neighborly, and welcomed him with open arms, - not that he deserved it since he tried to con them and steal from them - except one sexy police officer, who had his suspicions.
A two-time ex-con and a police officer. They hated each other at first, and for obvious reasons, they didn't trust each other. I guess it's safe to say this fits into to the enemies-to-lovers category.
Up until around the 60% mark, I loved it, and I thought once we get to the romancy stuff it would be mind-blowing and worth the wait, right? Wrong! One minute they were sucking each other off casually, the next...
"Are we okay?" Cam asked.
"I... I-I don't know"
They were acting like they were together for some time now, but excuse me, no. That didn't happen, they skipped some steps.
And I didn’t even get to enjoy that part when all of a sudden the shit hit the fan with Cam's past knocking on the door and it turned into a crime-fest. And I could've accepted that (though I'm not a fan), but the lack of romance killed it for me.
And then at the end there was all kinds of topics: about coming out and the church, about settling down.
One highlight of this story for me was Grant, the town's snobby gay guy with a wife and 2.5 kids. Everyone knew he was gay, but no one really talked about it. He didn’t really serve a purpose other than , but he was kinda hilarious. He got exactly one chapter where we got his POV, but it was fun. He's an ass though but I liked him as a side character.
Trigger warnings: rape (Cam talks about it in a memory, so it's not very detailed), angry sex (after some hand to hand combat; not penetrative), stealing from old people, mention of child abuse, also !spoiler! .
A two-time ex-con and a police officer. They hated each other at first, and for obvious reasons, they didn't trust each other. I guess it's safe to say this fits into to the enemies-to-lovers category.
Up until around the 60% mark, I loved it, and I thought once we get to the romancy stuff it would be mind-blowing and worth the wait, right? Wrong! One minute they were sucking each other off casually, the next...
"Are we okay?" Cam asked.
"I... I-I don't know"
They were acting like they were together for some time now, but excuse me, no. That didn't happen, they skipped some steps.
And I didn’t even get to enjoy that part when all of a sudden the shit hit the fan with Cam's past knocking on the door and it turned into a crime-fest. And I could've accepted that (though I'm not a fan), but the lack of romance killed it for me.
And then at the end there was all kinds of topics: about coming out and the church, about settling down.
One highlight of this story for me was Grant, the town's snobby gay guy with a wife and 2.5 kids. Everyone knew he was gay, but no one really talked about it. He didn’t really serve a purpose other than , but he was kinda hilarious. He got exactly one chapter where we got his POV, but it was fun. He's an ass though but I liked him as a side character.
Trigger warnings: rape (Cam talks about it in a memory, so it's not very detailed), angry sex (after some hand to hand combat; not penetrative), stealing from old people, mention of child abuse, also !spoiler! .
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