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One Fine Day #1
Undercover Boyfriend
A One Fine Day Novel
Two men, one lie, and a whole bunch of trouble.
Marty Valdez is in serious trouble. His sister’s wedding is around the corner, and everyone expects to meet Marty’s super-successful underwear model boyfriend—whom Marty invented. Now Marty has to produce a half-naked hottie or suffer the worst humiliation of his life.
FBI agent Luke Myers is in serious trouble. He’s been working undercover to take down a dangerous drug cartel, but his cover’s blown and he needs to disappear. Luckily, a geeky yet intriguing comic book artist gives him the perfect opportunity. Luke just has to pretend to be his boyfriend, and pretending is what he does best. But between Marty’s mother and his ex, Luke might’ve bitten off more than he can chew, and Marty’s knack for finding trouble might ruin more than just his sister’s wedding.
Two men, one lie, and a whole bunch of trouble.
Marty Valdez is in serious trouble. His sister’s wedding is around the corner, and everyone expects to meet Marty’s super-successful underwear model boyfriend—whom Marty invented. Now Marty has to produce a half-naked hottie or suffer the worst humiliation of his life.
FBI agent Luke Myers is in serious trouble. He’s been working undercover to take down a dangerous drug cartel, but his cover’s blown and he needs to disappear. Luckily, a geeky yet intriguing comic book artist gives him the perfect opportunity. Luke just has to pretend to be his boyfriend, and pretending is what he does best. But between Marty’s mother and his ex, Luke might’ve bitten off more than he can chew, and Marty’s knack for finding trouble might ruin more than just his sister’s wedding.
236 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 15, 2016
14 people are currently reading
530 people want to read
About the author
Jacob Z. Flores
20 books320 followersJacob Z. Flores lives a double life. During the day, he is a respected college English professor and mid-level administrator. At night and during his summer vacation, he loosens the tie and tosses aside the trendy sports coat to write man on man fiction, where the hard ass assessor of freshmen level composition turns his attention to the firm posteriors and other rigid appendages of the characters in his fictional world.
Summers in Provincetown, Massachusetts, provide Jacob with inspiration for his fiction. The abundance of barely clothed man flesh and daily debauchery stimulates his personal muse. When he isn’t stroking the keyboard, Jacob spends time with his daughter. They both represent a bright blue blip in an otherwise predominantly red swath in south Texas.
You can follow Jacob’s musings on his blog at http://jacobzflores.com or become a part of his social media network by visiting http://www.facebook.com/jacob.flores2
or http://twitter.com/#!/JacobZFlores.
Summers in Provincetown, Massachusetts, provide Jacob with inspiration for his fiction. The abundance of barely clothed man flesh and daily debauchery stimulates his personal muse. When he isn’t stroking the keyboard, Jacob spends time with his daughter. They both represent a bright blue blip in an otherwise predominantly red swath in south Texas.
You can follow Jacob’s musings on his blog at http://jacobzflores.com or become a part of his social media network by visiting http://www.facebook.com/jacob.flores2
or http://twitter.com/#!/JacobZFlores.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews
June 21, 2016
BREAKING NEWS!!!
This story is #TotesAdorbz
I legit wanted to hug my kindle at the ending. It's got so many things I enjoy about escapist entertainment. If this were a movie it would be that one you've seen a million times but still it never gets old. It's your comfort watch where you settle in with the good popcorn and the BIG OLE DEW. Seriously, what's the point of that 12 oz can? That's nothing but a waste of my time.
Anywhat!
This book is my first experience with this author, this series and by proxy Harlequin. That's right. I've never read a Harlequin but if this is what they're like I need to rectify that travesty with a quickness.
Undercover Boyfriend is the classic fake to real boyfriend trope with a geek and a super hot dude. They seem an unlikely pair but Marty and Luke click from the moment Marty catches Luke trying to steal his Hyundai. It's pretty predictable and maybe a little OTT, but so sweet and romantic with loads of UST and two well developed characters.
Marty is our adorkable geek who's gotten into the habit of making up people to get out of uncomfortable situations. He's a comic book aficionado and homebody. I wouldn't characterize him as an introvert or anything he just isn't into peopleing; peopleing's a hassle. But his big sister's wedding is coming up and everyone is pressuring him to meet his underwear model boyfriend, Tim Drake, so in a desperate attempt to find someone, ANYONE he head's for the local gay bar armed with his lucky coin.
And meets Luke Myers, undercover FBI agent and sex on a stick. Dude is crazy, stupid hot and in a pickle since his cover just got blown on a cartel case he's been working for over a year, so if fake boyfriending it can get him off the grid for a bit so be it.
I don't think he ever imagined becoming so smitten with not only Marty and his extensive collection of superhero garb, but the Valdez family. Nor did I. The mother is larger than life and nothing's getting past her. The sister is brash, nosy in an affectionate way and her brother's biggest cheerleader. The extended family is gossip-y and loud, something I can identify with, but they will close ranks if you fuck with one of them in a heartbeat.
Of course the cartel case gets brought to their doorstep which brings out all the things I like in an MC. Luke is protective and becomes increasingly possessive of Marty. There's also a significant size difference between the two, something that pushes my buttons. The way Flores threaded Luke's backstory into the story kept my attention and I loved that even though this is instalove it worked for me because both of these characters used their words.
They bond over throwback tunes, superheros and their shared dislike of Marty's ex-boyfriend and royal douchecanoe, Christian. Their first kiss was romance movie epic and swoonworthy. Flores did an amazing job of showing how much they care about each other, how having to work together betters them both and how their feelings expand and develop over the few days they're together.
There's nothing better than a romance wherein the two MCs bond through a harrowing experience and this harrowing experience brought with it sinister baddies and an all around badass partner in Crispy. I'm kind of hoping book two is Crispy's book. Whomever it is I will be there with bells on!
The sex scene was fade to black, but not before its made imminently clear just how turned on each MC is by the other. Yet another win in a romance read in my book.
Recommend this book highly to people who enjoy romancey romance that is sweet with a side of adventure.
An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.
June 30, 2016
I saw this one all over my feed and decided since everyone was enjoying it so much I would give it a go.
In the end I don't think I enjoyed it as much as everyone. It was OK. It was a quirky quick read with a fun summary.
The characters were likable and the had good chemistry so it wasn't hard to believe them falling for each other so fast.
I liked the nosy mom and sister. I enjoy books more when they are family strong.
The epilogue was a nice ending to the story. Very sweet.
I would recommend this to those who want a sweet, quirky, quick read. Happy reading dolls!
In the end I don't think I enjoyed it as much as everyone. It was OK. It was a quirky quick read with a fun summary.
The characters were likable and the had good chemistry so it wasn't hard to believe them falling for each other so fast.
I liked the nosy mom and sister. I enjoy books more when they are family strong.
The epilogue was a nice ending to the story. Very sweet.
I would recommend this to those who want a sweet, quirky, quick read. Happy reading dolls!
June 11, 2016
Marty Valdez has a bad habit of making people up. It started with a fictional little sister in high school and it's continued to the present day with a hot underwear-model boyfriend. Unfortunately, his sister's wedding is prompting his family to demand to meet the mysterious boyfriend they've heard about, but never met.
Luke Myers is an undercover FBI agent whose cover just got blown, and the dangerous cartel who wants him dead will stop at nothing. He needs to lay low and get the hell out of dodge until his partner and the FBI can help him.
When Marty catches Luke trying steal his car it's serendipity for both of them. Marty talks Luke into attending a family dinner to prove to everyone once and for all that his hottie boyfriend, Tim Drake, really exists, and Luke can lay low and regroup for a few hours. When the dinner goes even better than expected Luke ends up sticking around for a little while longer.
When Marty's penchant for finding trouble finds him in the middle of Luke's case, it's up to Luke to keep this funny, smart, cute guy that he's quickly falling for safe.
I mean, sure, it's highly improbable, filled with serendipitous coincidence, and so predictable you can see it all coming a mile away, but Jacob Z. Flores writes the characters and the plot for Undercover Boyfriend in such a way that it was just a pleasure for me to read.
It's a fun, quick page turner, filled with humor and even a bit of heat. I gobbled this up like candy and that's good enough for me.
If you're looking for an entertaining story with humor, action, suspense, likable characters, and even some sexy times mixed in, you should check this one out!
Advanced Review Galley copy of Undercover Boyfriend (One Fine Day, #1) provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange of an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
Luke Myers is an undercover FBI agent whose cover just got blown, and the dangerous cartel who wants him dead will stop at nothing. He needs to lay low and get the hell out of dodge until his partner and the FBI can help him.
When Marty catches Luke trying steal his car it's serendipity for both of them. Marty talks Luke into attending a family dinner to prove to everyone once and for all that his hottie boyfriend, Tim Drake, really exists, and Luke can lay low and regroup for a few hours. When the dinner goes even better than expected Luke ends up sticking around for a little while longer.
When Marty's penchant for finding trouble finds him in the middle of Luke's case, it's up to Luke to keep this funny, smart, cute guy that he's quickly falling for safe.
I mean, sure, it's highly improbable, filled with serendipitous coincidence, and so predictable you can see it all coming a mile away, but Jacob Z. Flores writes the characters and the plot for Undercover Boyfriend in such a way that it was just a pleasure for me to read.
It's a fun, quick page turner, filled with humor and even a bit of heat. I gobbled this up like candy and that's good enough for me.
If you're looking for an entertaining story with humor, action, suspense, likable characters, and even some sexy times mixed in, you should check this one out!
Advanced Review Galley copy of Undercover Boyfriend (One Fine Day, #1) provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange of an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
June 17, 2016
3.75 stars
Cute, silly, a little sweet and a lot over-the-top. I liked Marty and Luke but it felt like this was maybe too much action and not quite enough romance for my tastes?
Cute, silly, a little sweet and a lot over-the-top. I liked Marty and Luke but it felt like this was maybe too much action and not quite enough romance for my tastes?
June 14, 2016
Review originally posted at Sinfully.
This was a trope-tastic, no angst, ultimately sweet story from Jacob Z. Flores. This is the first Dreamspun Desires story I’ve read and it definitely harkened back to the old school romances I used to sneak read as a young teenager. This one covers the fake boyfriend and undercover FBI agent hiding out tropes and, with tongue firmly planted in cheek, it was a lot of fun to read.
Marty is an insecure, nerdy, recently dumped comic book artist, with a penchant for making up fake people to get himself out of uncomfortable situations. His latest is fake boyfriend “Tim”, a successful underwear model. The only other person aware that Tim is fake is his about to be married sister, whose fiancée happens to be his ex’s best friend. Now that it’s the wedding weekend, and his ex is bound to be there, things are getting awkward. While his sister knows the truth, his meddling mother does not and Marty is not sure whether to fake breakup with Tim before the wedding or keep up the charade.
When super sexy, undercover FBI agent Luke sees Marty walk into a door at the bar he’s going to meet his contact in, he offers him a hand up and is soon on his way. When his cover is blown, Luke needs to make a quick escape and of course, runs right back into Marty. The two come to an agreement that Luke will pose as “Tim” for a few hours to get Marty’s family off his back, which will also allow Luke some time to lay low from the drug cartel’s men and figure out his next move. So what if Marty thinks he’s a car thief. Thus begins a mutually beneficial arrangement that soon turns into so much more than Marty or Luke ever expected.
This book is pure escapism, full of romance, danger, lucky coins, implausible situations, meddling family, sexy FBI agents and lots of superhero t-shirts. It’s fast-paced and at times just shy of feeling over the top, but the two charming MC’s and the light touch of Jacob Z. Flores (who I imagine had as much fun writing it as I did reading it) kept it from going over the edge.
Everyone is keeping secrets in this book and you know at some point they all have to come out. With all the festivities surrounding the wedding, you just know that they’re going to be revealed at the worst possible time. With all the murder, betrayal and hiding going on over the span of 48 hours, it may be hard to believe there would be time for Marty and Luke to form much of a relationship, but then again, the tense circumstances and life or death situations that keep arising force the men to lay their lives in each other’s hands. The two have good chemistry as they side-eye each other and try to keep their attraction under wraps. Luke’s been holding himself back from romance for as long as Marty has been a doormat and I enjoyed watching them both change their ways. If a romance that happens in a 2 day period can be a slow burn, this one is it.
There are several side characters that I really did enjoy and a couple that I despised. Obviously, Marty’s smug, horror show of an ex, Christian, is on the despise list, but I also have to place Marty’s sister on that list as well. I don’t know whether she was intentionally written in such a way or it was just my reaction to her, but I found her character to be self-centered and rather bitchy. She treated Marty horribly, yet he did everything in his power to make sure she would have the perfect wedding. On the other end, Marty’s mother is a force to be reckoned with and even with all the predictable parts of the storyline, Jacob Z. Flores still kept me wondering about what side of the fence Luke’s partner Crispy was really on. I wouldn’t mind seeing his character again in the future.
This is what I would consider a great beach read. Fast-paced, with a bit of action and suspense, fun dialogue and a sweet romance (the Epilogue might just give you a toothache) that will keep you engaged and bring you a few hours of enjoyment.
This was a trope-tastic, no angst, ultimately sweet story from Jacob Z. Flores. This is the first Dreamspun Desires story I’ve read and it definitely harkened back to the old school romances I used to sneak read as a young teenager. This one covers the fake boyfriend and undercover FBI agent hiding out tropes and, with tongue firmly planted in cheek, it was a lot of fun to read.
Marty is an insecure, nerdy, recently dumped comic book artist, with a penchant for making up fake people to get himself out of uncomfortable situations. His latest is fake boyfriend “Tim”, a successful underwear model. The only other person aware that Tim is fake is his about to be married sister, whose fiancée happens to be his ex’s best friend. Now that it’s the wedding weekend, and his ex is bound to be there, things are getting awkward. While his sister knows the truth, his meddling mother does not and Marty is not sure whether to fake breakup with Tim before the wedding or keep up the charade.
When super sexy, undercover FBI agent Luke sees Marty walk into a door at the bar he’s going to meet his contact in, he offers him a hand up and is soon on his way. When his cover is blown, Luke needs to make a quick escape and of course, runs right back into Marty. The two come to an agreement that Luke will pose as “Tim” for a few hours to get Marty’s family off his back, which will also allow Luke some time to lay low from the drug cartel’s men and figure out his next move. So what if Marty thinks he’s a car thief. Thus begins a mutually beneficial arrangement that soon turns into so much more than Marty or Luke ever expected.
This book is pure escapism, full of romance, danger, lucky coins, implausible situations, meddling family, sexy FBI agents and lots of superhero t-shirts. It’s fast-paced and at times just shy of feeling over the top, but the two charming MC’s and the light touch of Jacob Z. Flores (who I imagine had as much fun writing it as I did reading it) kept it from going over the edge.
Everyone is keeping secrets in this book and you know at some point they all have to come out. With all the festivities surrounding the wedding, you just know that they’re going to be revealed at the worst possible time. With all the murder, betrayal and hiding going on over the span of 48 hours, it may be hard to believe there would be time for Marty and Luke to form much of a relationship, but then again, the tense circumstances and life or death situations that keep arising force the men to lay their lives in each other’s hands. The two have good chemistry as they side-eye each other and try to keep their attraction under wraps. Luke’s been holding himself back from romance for as long as Marty has been a doormat and I enjoyed watching them both change their ways. If a romance that happens in a 2 day period can be a slow burn, this one is it.
There are several side characters that I really did enjoy and a couple that I despised. Obviously, Marty’s smug, horror show of an ex, Christian, is on the despise list, but I also have to place Marty’s sister on that list as well. I don’t know whether she was intentionally written in such a way or it was just my reaction to her, but I found her character to be self-centered and rather bitchy. She treated Marty horribly, yet he did everything in his power to make sure she would have the perfect wedding. On the other end, Marty’s mother is a force to be reckoned with and even with all the predictable parts of the storyline, Jacob Z. Flores still kept me wondering about what side of the fence Luke’s partner Crispy was really on. I wouldn’t mind seeing his character again in the future.
This is what I would consider a great beach read. Fast-paced, with a bit of action and suspense, fun dialogue and a sweet romance (the Epilogue might just give you a toothache) that will keep you engaged and bring you a few hours of enjoyment.
June 15, 2016
Undercover Boyfriend is a funny, adorably cute read with some action and danger on the side. It was like watching a m/m romantic action comedy. The story had a very fast paced plot with very well developed and likable characters who totally made this book a very fun and engaging read. The crime/danger part of the plot was not too serious but believable enough, it just went very well with the overall undercover theme of the book.
Marty Valdez has a bad habit of making up people to get out of uncomfortable situations. His new invention is Tim Drake, underwear model and his new boyfriend. Except his sister no one knows that Tim is not a real person so when his mother pushes to meet Tim, Marty is royally screwed. Marty needs a pretend boyfriend and needs him fast so when he catches the gorgeous and sexy Luke Myers trying to jack his car, Marty is desperate enough to blackmail the guy in agreeing to play Tim Drake for his mother. What ensues next is some pretty sweet and funny moments while dodging a few bullets here and there. Will Marty’s gamble on a relative stranger pay off??? Read this book to find out.
The plot is very predictable and full of cliché coincidences but believe me when i tell you, you will not get bored!!! It was a page turner with a brewing romance in the midst of danger and bullets. The story was fast paced with the entire thing coming to head in just two days.
Luke and Marty made a very adorable couple. They had a lot of trust working between them to pull off such a crazy deal. Marty is not kept in the dark for too long and despite of the danger Luke poses to his family, he agrees to help him. Luke on the other hand is one badass FBI agent. His over protective feelings towards Marty just made me all gooey inside. Gawd, What a HUNK!!!
This review is just not complete without mentioning the entire Valdez clan. Marty’s entire family was overbearing and pushy but their love for each other was evident through their actions. Marty’s sister and mother are very strong and quirky secondary characters. Their love and support for Marty portrays the kind of love for family which every reader with a big sister/brother and a loving/nosey mother can relate to.
All in all, this book had all the elements for a fun and sweet romantic action comedy. There is humor, romance, action, crazy relatives, drug lords, flying bullets, annoying family*phew*what more do you want?? Just go for it already!!!
Marty Valdez has a bad habit of making up people to get out of uncomfortable situations. His new invention is Tim Drake, underwear model and his new boyfriend. Except his sister no one knows that Tim is not a real person so when his mother pushes to meet Tim, Marty is royally screwed. Marty needs a pretend boyfriend and needs him fast so when he catches the gorgeous and sexy Luke Myers trying to jack his car, Marty is desperate enough to blackmail the guy in agreeing to play Tim Drake for his mother. What ensues next is some pretty sweet and funny moments while dodging a few bullets here and there. Will Marty’s gamble on a relative stranger pay off??? Read this book to find out.
The plot is very predictable and full of cliché coincidences but believe me when i tell you, you will not get bored!!! It was a page turner with a brewing romance in the midst of danger and bullets. The story was fast paced with the entire thing coming to head in just two days.
Luke and Marty made a very adorable couple. They had a lot of trust working between them to pull off such a crazy deal. Marty is not kept in the dark for too long and despite of the danger Luke poses to his family, he agrees to help him. Luke on the other hand is one badass FBI agent. His over protective feelings towards Marty just made me all gooey inside. Gawd, What a HUNK!!!
This review is just not complete without mentioning the entire Valdez clan. Marty’s entire family was overbearing and pushy but their love for each other was evident through their actions. Marty’s sister and mother are very strong and quirky secondary characters. Their love and support for Marty portrays the kind of love for family which every reader with a big sister/brother and a loving/nosey mother can relate to.
All in all, this book had all the elements for a fun and sweet romantic action comedy. There is humor, romance, action, crazy relatives, drug lords, flying bullets, annoying family*phew*what more do you want?? Just go for it already!!!
Read
June 16, 2016I think this might just be my favorite from the Dreamspun Desires series. I cannot stop smiling and going over all my highlights from the book and I have found a new author whose backlist I need to stalk, like now.
Let me attempt to make this short and sweet. Don't look like that, I can do it... maybe?
Marty is a man who has a knack for spinning tall tales about folks that don’t exist to make his life just a tad bit easier. When he needs a date for his sister’s wedding events to get his mom off his back and to show his ex that he too has moved on to bigger and better men, Marty is in a bind because his current boyfriend, Tim is only a figment of Marty’s over active and extremely vivid imagination.
OMG! Marty is one hell of a crack up. From the first word we get from him I adored him. The meet cute with Luke was ridiculously adorable and the follow up had me laughing out loud at my desk because, well it was funny as all heck.
I love the fake boyfriend trope! It’s one of my favorites and it always leads to the best moments when the fake fades and the real is all that matters.
…who was this man his father’s lucky coin had brought to him?
Luke, Luke, Luke... LUKE.. where do I begin with you? I adored Luke in so many ways. He is this big strong, super smart and talented FBI Agent who meets his match in Marty. I loved that being in Luke's line of work, meeting someone like Marty who is inherently good kind of knocks his socks off and makes him take notice. His instinct to trust Marty and Marty's to trust him made the the romance so much fun to read. I love a good long slow burn of a relationship but I am a girl who moved in with her now husband after 1.5 months of "dating" so I get that you can fall hard and fast and have it last a life time.
I love that this is all a matter of being in the right place at the right time. Sure, there lies/secrets a plenty in this story but they are cleared up pretty quick and we get down to the fun banter and super sweet moments with these two men as they let down their guard and become stronger because they have crossed paths.
Marty’s family is wacky and yet so supportive and loving of one another. The way Marty’s mom grills Luke as Tim to make sure he is okay for her son was endearing. The fact that Sophia, Marty’s amazing and hilarious sister, stirs up trouble with “Tim’s” occupation had me laughing out loud again but really, his family is what those of us without familial ties wish for; to be loved and supported for being your true self.
This was full of tropey goodness with a bit of action tossed in. Crispy was a great side character and the mystery around the lies was fun as it all unraveled and you wondered who really the target of the bad guys was.
But what makes this my favorite is not just the sexy and sweet romance but the witty banter between Luke and Marty and Marty and his family. I love to laugh and this had me grinning, snorting and cracking up time after time all while knowing everyone would be okay in the end.
Oh and that end??? Shut. The. Front. Door. because that kind of romantic gesture needs to be kept under a lock and hidden away for Luke and Marty because it was Happily Ever After perfection.
One last thing, this is in the Dreamspun Desire series but also listed as part of another series that I am kind of more than curious about. Do we get more of these two or more of…. I need to know!
September 27, 2016
Let me start by saying, this is one of my favorite Dreamspun Desires books so far and it is my first book from author Jacob Z. Flores, I will definitely read more from him!
I enjoyed this book two ways-audiobook and eBook- and while listening to the audiobook as I was driving I found myself laughing my arse off! The only thing that was annoying about the audiobook was the narrator did NOT know how to speak Spanish nor did he pronounce his "j" correctly, and some other words he totally butchered. But other than that, the audiobook was great.
Content wise...I guessed the mystery of the book probably just over half way through of how the entire story would eventually roll out. It was just a guess, but as the story unfolded I found out I was spot on. This doesn't mean it wasn't written well, it's just a testament to my reading really dark, twisted, mysterious books at times and how my mind can make these connections.
The connection between Marty and Luke aka Tim was fun. It was nice seeing kind, soft, Marty learn to stand up for himself. It was also pretty sweet watching badass special agent fall head over heels in love and start to soften around the edges.
This is a book I think all would enjoy and I recommend both the written and the audiobook ... 5 stars
ღ
(¯`v´¯)
.`•.¸.•´
❥❥**´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•`*ARC provided by Author in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Jaime from Alpha Book Club
I enjoyed this book two ways-audiobook and eBook- and while listening to the audiobook as I was driving I found myself laughing my arse off! The only thing that was annoying about the audiobook was the narrator did NOT know how to speak Spanish nor did he pronounce his "j" correctly, and some other words he totally butchered. But other than that, the audiobook was great.
Content wise...I guessed the mystery of the book probably just over half way through of how the entire story would eventually roll out. It was just a guess, but as the story unfolded I found out I was spot on. This doesn't mean it wasn't written well, it's just a testament to my reading really dark, twisted, mysterious books at times and how my mind can make these connections.
The connection between Marty and Luke aka Tim was fun. It was nice seeing kind, soft, Marty learn to stand up for himself. It was also pretty sweet watching badass special agent fall head over heels in love and start to soften around the edges.
This is a book I think all would enjoy and I recommend both the written and the audiobook ... 5 stars
ღ
(¯`v´¯)
.`•.¸.•´
❥❥**´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•`*ARC provided by Author in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Jaime from Alpha Book Club
June 20, 2016
3.5 stars
Cutely entertaining. Might be a little crack and over-the-top situation alongside big meddling family which pretty much common in trope like this but I liked both the MCs. Marty, especially, showing a lot of backbone that he originally started. Luke was pretty competent agent too, at least he showed that he had some deadly skills.
Sure, the romance ended up having a little instant-love element to it, but hey, at least Marty and Luke didn't immediately burn the sheet right off the bat!! I thought they had chemistry and I enjoyed ALL of their scenes together.
This story also had some funny lines, which amused the hell out of me. Although for a story that had silliness in it, it also resulted in a couple of seriously dead bodies!!
My friend, Irene, said that the older sister annoyed her. In the beginning, I couldn't see why. I thought it was a usual older sister thing to do, to annoy her little siblings (I sure do that to my younger sister). But then I saw what Irene meant. Sophia ended up being quite self-centered bitch midway, and I didn't know if it was meant as her character flaws or something. She did bother me in the end. Mama Valdez, on the other hand, she was pretty kick-ass.
My first book by Jacob Z. Flores; and I really liked it :)
Cutely entertaining. Might be a little crack and over-the-top situation alongside big meddling family which pretty much common in trope like this but I liked both the MCs. Marty, especially, showing a lot of backbone that he originally started. Luke was pretty competent agent too, at least he showed that he had some deadly skills.
Sure, the romance ended up having a little instant-love element to it, but hey, at least Marty and Luke didn't immediately burn the sheet right off the bat!! I thought they had chemistry and I enjoyed ALL of their scenes together.
This story also had some funny lines, which amused the hell out of me. Although for a story that had silliness in it, it also resulted in a couple of seriously dead bodies!!
My friend, Irene, said that the older sister annoyed her. In the beginning, I couldn't see why. I thought it was a usual older sister thing to do, to annoy her little siblings (I sure do that to my younger sister). But then I saw what Irene meant. Sophia ended up being quite self-centered bitch midway, and I didn't know if it was meant as her character flaws or something. She did bother me in the end. Mama Valdez, on the other hand, she was pretty kick-ass.
My first book by Jacob Z. Flores; and I really liked it :)
June 18, 2016
It was okay, I guess. Too little romance and too much
i-ll-return-mayhaps
July 24, 2016The author's voice is very bubbly and the story speeds along. It has a very engaging quality to it, and the story is trope-tastic fun. Unfortunately at 60% it was getting too much for me though, my incredibility was stretched too far as the coincidences kept popped up and I may return and finish but it's looking less and less likely...
A light happy bit of fun you'll either love or it'll irritate the hell out of you ;)
A light happy bit of fun you'll either love or it'll irritate the hell out of you ;)
February 2, 2017
4.0 Stars
A little over-the-top but a really sweetly hot Fake Boyfriend story. It's one of my favorite tropes ever; add in an undercover agent and a case to solve and it's a recipe to a perfect book for me.
This was my first Jacob Z. Flores book - but it definitely will not be my last!!
A little over-the-top but a really sweetly hot Fake Boyfriend story. It's one of my favorite tropes ever; add in an undercover agent and a case to solve and it's a recipe to a perfect book for me.
This was my first Jacob Z. Flores book - but it definitely will not be my last!!
November 28, 2016
Audiobook Review
This gem fits in perfectly with the Dreamspun Series of stories. There’s just the right amount of extra with the dramatics and the sweetness to make it fit right in. These stories always make me wish there was a Hallmark channel to turn these into movies. I want to sit on my buns, drink cocoa with hooch in it and wallow in the love.
Undercover Boyfriend delivers the ‘opposites attract’ beautifully. Marty is a geeky loner and Luke is a mystery stud. They have no business being together, but of course, plots happen, the two meet and Luke is pretending to be Marty’s boyfriend so his meddling family will get off his back already. Of course Luke, being the mystery stud that he is, has mysterious shenanigans going on and it doesn’t take long for Marty to be dragged into it. The author did a really good job of balancing the MC’s growing attraction and the action, it worked really well.
The UST was delicious and their banter was charming. Marty may have been inexperienced but he was no push over and his feistiness kept him from being a caricature. I could easily believe in Luke’s attraction to Marty even though it took Marty a little convincing.
Now, for the narration; this was my first Topsfield and while it won’t be my last, I don’t think he was a great fit for this one. My main issue was the accent that he adopted for Marty’s side of the family and the Hispanic characters throughout. If you are going to have a narrator read characters from another culture, please, please, please make sure it’s right. When names are pronounced incorrectly and the accent sounds forced it takes me out of the story. It gave the story some odd tension here and there and the humor sounded forced instead of natural which was unfortunate, because I would have found it much more amusing if I’d read it instead of listening.
I liked the narrator’s voice very much and his Luke was perfect and even his Marty worked. I am looking forward to listening to something else of his that may be a better match for me.
**a copy of this audiobook was provided for an honest review**
This gem fits in perfectly with the Dreamspun Series of stories. There’s just the right amount of extra with the dramatics and the sweetness to make it fit right in. These stories always make me wish there was a Hallmark channel to turn these into movies. I want to sit on my buns, drink cocoa with hooch in it and wallow in the love.
Undercover Boyfriend delivers the ‘opposites attract’ beautifully. Marty is a geeky loner and Luke is a mystery stud. They have no business being together, but of course, plots happen, the two meet and Luke is pretending to be Marty’s boyfriend so his meddling family will get off his back already. Of course Luke, being the mystery stud that he is, has mysterious shenanigans going on and it doesn’t take long for Marty to be dragged into it. The author did a really good job of balancing the MC’s growing attraction and the action, it worked really well.
The UST was delicious and their banter was charming. Marty may have been inexperienced but he was no push over and his feistiness kept him from being a caricature. I could easily believe in Luke’s attraction to Marty even though it took Marty a little convincing.
Now, for the narration; this was my first Topsfield and while it won’t be my last, I don’t think he was a great fit for this one. My main issue was the accent that he adopted for Marty’s side of the family and the Hispanic characters throughout. If you are going to have a narrator read characters from another culture, please, please, please make sure it’s right. When names are pronounced incorrectly and the accent sounds forced it takes me out of the story. It gave the story some odd tension here and there and the humor sounded forced instead of natural which was unfortunate, because I would have found it much more amusing if I’d read it instead of listening.
I liked the narrator’s voice very much and his Luke was perfect and even his Marty worked. I am looking forward to listening to something else of his that may be a better match for me.
**a copy of this audiobook was provided for an honest review**
June 15, 2016
Jacob Flores really hit it out of the park with this one. Snark, romance, and a fabulous whodunit plot kept me riveted to the pages of this book until it was suddenly over.
I adored this. Fast-paced, with giggle-snort inducing zingers (Luke aka Tim delivers them in such a fun way), two well-done main characters, a great supporting cast, character growth, a believable albeit quick romance with lots of sweet and hot moments, and a great HFN - you couldn't ask for more.
Marty Valdez tends to make up stories, and people, when he feels pressured. And nothing adds more pressure than his mami expecting a real-life boyfriend instead of the one he invented after breaking up with a toxic ex. Except his mami doesn't know the ex is toxic, so Marty made up his underwear cover model boyfriend to fend her off and stopping her from praising the ex's virtues to him. A super hot model boyfriend who doesn't exist. Whom he's now expected to bring to his sister's wedding.
It's fortuitous that Marty drops his lucky coin and Luke Myers/Tim happens to pick it up. Luke is an undercover FBI agent whose cover got blown and who needs to lay low for a while. Pretending to be an underwear model isn't a far stretch, and Luke/Tim more or less invites himself to Marty's home, agreeing to pretend to be the elusive boyfriend.
Meeting the family has never been so much fun. Including the toxic ex, who gets his ass handed to him, in spectacular fashion.
Meanwhile, the attraction between the two men sizzles hotter than a Jalapeno.
Meanwhile, also somewhere in Mexico, a drug lord doesn't like that Luke/Tim has messed around in his business.
I really liked the suspense plot that was effortlessly written into this romance. I couldn't put this book down for any length of time, because I needed to know what would happen next. The climax was brilliant and hit me right out of left field. Well done, Jacob.
Highly recommended!
** I received a free copy of this book from its publisher. A positive review was not promised in return. **
I adored this. Fast-paced, with giggle-snort inducing zingers (Luke aka Tim delivers them in such a fun way), two well-done main characters, a great supporting cast, character growth, a believable albeit quick romance with lots of sweet and hot moments, and a great HFN - you couldn't ask for more.
Marty Valdez tends to make up stories, and people, when he feels pressured. And nothing adds more pressure than his mami expecting a real-life boyfriend instead of the one he invented after breaking up with a toxic ex. Except his mami doesn't know the ex is toxic, so Marty made up his underwear cover model boyfriend to fend her off and stopping her from praising the ex's virtues to him. A super hot model boyfriend who doesn't exist. Whom he's now expected to bring to his sister's wedding.
It's fortuitous that Marty drops his lucky coin and Luke Myers/Tim happens to pick it up. Luke is an undercover FBI agent whose cover got blown and who needs to lay low for a while. Pretending to be an underwear model isn't a far stretch, and Luke/Tim more or less invites himself to Marty's home, agreeing to pretend to be the elusive boyfriend.
Meeting the family has never been so much fun. Including the toxic ex, who gets his ass handed to him, in spectacular fashion.
Meanwhile, the attraction between the two men sizzles hotter than a Jalapeno.
Meanwhile, also somewhere in Mexico, a drug lord doesn't like that Luke/Tim has messed around in his business.
I really liked the suspense plot that was effortlessly written into this romance. I couldn't put this book down for any length of time, because I needed to know what would happen next. The climax was brilliant and hit me right out of left field. Well done, Jacob.
Highly recommended!
** I received a free copy of this book from its publisher. A positive review was not promised in return. **
June 21, 2016
This book is LOL , ROLLED EYED and AWWW !!!
Is one of those so perfect when you need sugar and laugh! The main character Marty is adorable! He’s a total mess, always getting away of the life decisions by the easiest way until he needs to afrond the real danger!
The action storyline is so exaggerated you can't get it seriously! But yay! They are so cute characters! Have a lot of chemistry and sugarcoma scenes together!
Yes , I enjoyed this one ;__)
I really want to read the second book!!!
June 19, 2016
*** 3.75 Stars ***
February 14, 2017
I really enjoyed this cute, entertaining story!
Yes, it's a bit over the top, but I had my fun listening to it! :)
Yes, it's a bit over the top, but I had my fun listening to it! :)
Read
December 17, 2020I'm not going to give this a star rating since the only fair rating would be a big fat DNF. But it worked for a challenge I'm struggling with, and since it was an incredibly quick and easy read, the writing is perfectly fine and the ridiculous plot never actually got annoying, I just powered through. (Ok, I put it down twice to DNF, realized how quickly I was blowing through it, and decided to take the easy completion for challenge purposes. Twice. Because the plot is RIDICULOUS)
But I know from my GR feed that there is a massive audience for this kind of light-hearted, low stakes action romance, and the writing really is solid. It doesn't have the silly slapstick, thankfully, but the author didn't elevate this past the bones of the plot either.
The "romance" is pretty lightweight, too.
Subjectively, 1.5 stars. Objectively, DNF because I knew by 30% or so that this was just not my kind of book. It was a bad fit for me, but I could easily see others enjoying it.
But I know from my GR feed that there is a massive audience for this kind of light-hearted, low stakes action romance, and the writing really is solid. It doesn't have the silly slapstick, thankfully, but the author didn't elevate this past the bones of the plot either.
The "romance" is pretty lightweight, too.
Subjectively, 1.5 stars. Objectively, DNF because I knew by 30% or so that this was just not my kind of book. It was a bad fit for me, but I could easily see others enjoying it.
September 11, 2016
Cute, quirky and fun. I like this story. It’s reminiscent of a great romantic comedy.
Undercover Boyfriend is predictable but that didn’t take away from my reading enjoyment. I love Marty! Love his wit and his methods of deflection. He invents friends & boyfriends as a coping/ defense mechanism rather than deal with people. By inventing people, he’s not obligated to appease anyone and saves him from getting his feelings hurt. His current lie is the invention of Tim, his imaginary sexy underwear model boyfriend who was created so that Marty's family would stop trying to meddle in his life. Without giving away too much. My only pet peeve is
I'm not a big fan of fluff but I liked reading this!
I love how far fetched the story is without coming across as super cheesy. As over the top the storyline is, I also love how Marty and Tim/ Luke interact with each other and fall in love. Their attraction comes across as genuine and real. After all the hell both of them have been through dealing with Marty’s no nonsense mom, big mouthed sister , and a self absorbed ex, Marty and Tim/ Luke deserve and earned every minute of happiness. I smiled a lot while reading this book which is a good indication of how much I enjoyed it.
If you’re looking for something fun, light hearted and adventurous then give Undercover Boyfriend a try.
My favorite Jacob Z. Flores books:
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/stor...
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/stor...
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/stor...
*ARC provided by publisher in exchange for review*
Undercover Boyfriend is predictable but that didn’t take away from my reading enjoyment. I love Marty! Love his wit and his methods of deflection. He invents friends & boyfriends as a coping/ defense mechanism rather than deal with people. By inventing people, he’s not obligated to appease anyone and saves him from getting his feelings hurt. His current lie is the invention of Tim, his imaginary sexy underwear model boyfriend who was created so that Marty's family would stop trying to meddle in his life. Without giving away too much. My only pet peeve is
I'm not a big fan of fluff but I liked reading this!
I love how far fetched the story is without coming across as super cheesy. As over the top the storyline is, I also love how Marty and Tim/ Luke interact with each other and fall in love. Their attraction comes across as genuine and real. After all the hell both of them have been through dealing with Marty’s no nonsense mom, big mouthed sister , and a self absorbed ex, Marty and Tim/ Luke deserve and earned every minute of happiness. I smiled a lot while reading this book which is a good indication of how much I enjoyed it.
If you’re looking for something fun, light hearted and adventurous then give Undercover Boyfriend a try.
My favorite Jacob Z. Flores books:
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/stor...
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/stor...
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/stor...
*ARC provided by publisher in exchange for review*
June 14, 2016
Review by The Blogger Girls.
What a sweet story this was! Poor insecure Marty has a bad habit of making up stories as a way of dealing with his overbearing, yet loving, family, and his jerk of an ex. As expected, it eventually comes back to haunt him.
Marty’s latest whopper is his underwear model boyfriend, Tim, who is now expected to make an appearance at Marty’s sister’s wedding. His luck turns when an accidental run-in with Luke, currently on the run and looking to lay low somewhere after his cover was blown, puts them each at the right place at the right time. Marty needs a boyfriend, and Luke needs a place to hide for a while, so a mutual agreement is made, and the charade continues.
Tim is a total hit, and through it all, Marty starts to get attached, until Luke’s cover is blown again. Luke convinces Marty to stick to the plan, although there are a few other details that throw them for a loop. The action picks up, lines are connected with Luke’s past and Marty’s family, all while Luke and Marty grow closer.
This was pretty predictable, but it was also fun and sweet. I loved Marty and his little Marty-isms and how Luke couldn’t help but fall in love with them as well. Marty and Luke were exactly what each other needed, and they complimented each other well. It was a little unbelievable and over-the-top but managed to keep below the line of cheesy. I really enjoyed it and recommend it for those looking for something sweet and funny with a side of sexy and dangerous.
August 21, 2016
Overall book rating: 3.8
Audio Book: NA
Book Cover: 3.8
Awww sweet and funny. What a hot mess poor Marty got himself into, and what a hot mess this poor family turned out to be? WOW . I’d have liked more about the two MC’s at the end but all and all enjoyable read.
Audio Book: NA
Book Cover: 3.8
Awww sweet and funny. What a hot mess poor Marty got himself into, and what a hot mess this poor family turned out to be? WOW . I’d have liked more about the two MC’s at the end but all and all enjoyable read.
dnf
May 23, 2017DNF at 45%
F/M romance masquerading as M/M. The reason I stopped reading F/M is because I got tired of ditzy(=bat-shit crazy) heroines, with a heart of gold and a penchant of getting themselves in trouble requiring the hero to come to their rescue. Unfortunately, Marty is such a heroine :(
F/M romance masquerading as M/M. The reason I stopped reading F/M is because I got tired of ditzy(=bat-shit crazy) heroines, with a heart of gold and a penchant of getting themselves in trouble requiring the hero to come to their rescue. Unfortunately, Marty is such a heroine :(
June 20, 2016
Review written for www.lovebytesreviews.com
I have been waiting for this story from the moment I attended GRL and I went to Jacob Flores’ reading. Jacob read from this story that was then still in progress and I adored it!.
So the minute I got on my computer I made sure to add it to my request sheet not caring when it would be released. Well finally after 8 months (GRL was in Oct!) I had the opportunity to read this.
For me author Jacob Flores is a must read especially when it comes to his contemporary pieces which I call myself a huge fan of. This piece is that despite throwing in an action plot and tension, it is still a relatively simple story.
It has been published in the Dreamspun Desires line and that is where is fits perfectly well.
The characters are very likable, Marty the geeky artist and Luke the badass cop. You can see them clearly in your mind and know they will work out in every way. The way the situation comes together is funny, the connection between the two men is hilarious and exciting but most of all friendly and trustworthy.
The story is a bit surreal to say the least. It feels a bit like a comic book story with a m/m twist in it. The families are like characters from an old movie without mentioning why because I don’t want to spoil. Let’s just leave it at you can find some movie scenes that will remind you of this story.
We readers follow Marty and Luke on their journey from what started as a small lie but ends up working into a whole “complex” situation with unexpected treats and mysteries along the way.
I have to say a definite bonus is the scene author Jacob Flores throws in near the end where the connection between Marty and Luke comes to an incredible sexy explosion.
Add in a very sweet epilogue and this is a very enjoyable, comfortable read for lazy Sunday afternoon.
I have been waiting for this story from the moment I attended GRL and I went to Jacob Flores’ reading. Jacob read from this story that was then still in progress and I adored it!.
So the minute I got on my computer I made sure to add it to my request sheet not caring when it would be released. Well finally after 8 months (GRL was in Oct!) I had the opportunity to read this.
For me author Jacob Flores is a must read especially when it comes to his contemporary pieces which I call myself a huge fan of. This piece is that despite throwing in an action plot and tension, it is still a relatively simple story.
It has been published in the Dreamspun Desires line and that is where is fits perfectly well.
The characters are very likable, Marty the geeky artist and Luke the badass cop. You can see them clearly in your mind and know they will work out in every way. The way the situation comes together is funny, the connection between the two men is hilarious and exciting but most of all friendly and trustworthy.
The story is a bit surreal to say the least. It feels a bit like a comic book story with a m/m twist in it. The families are like characters from an old movie without mentioning why because I don’t want to spoil. Let’s just leave it at you can find some movie scenes that will remind you of this story.
We readers follow Marty and Luke on their journey from what started as a small lie but ends up working into a whole “complex” situation with unexpected treats and mysteries along the way.
I have to say a definite bonus is the scene author Jacob Flores throws in near the end where the connection between Marty and Luke comes to an incredible sexy explosion.
Add in a very sweet epilogue and this is a very enjoyable, comfortable read for lazy Sunday afternoon.
October 6, 2016
Out of all the Dreamspun Desires books published by Dreamspinner Press, Undercover Boyfriend by Jacob Z. Flores is my favorite! It’s entertaining, sweet, utterly charming and fabulous fun! I fell in love with Marty on the first page and Luke was fantastic as well.
Sure most everything in the book is on the unrealistic side, and yeah, you can see the plotline coming from a mile away but trust me when I tell you, you won’t mind any of that one little bit. The setting was written so perfectly I could envision everything from the smell of the tamales to the accent of Marty’s mother. I loved all the characters (well not the one’s I wasn’t supposed to like!) and Crispin and Sophia were great secondary players. Marty is just so freaking cute and adorable in all his geeky, nerdiness and then of course Luke falls captive to all his charms.
The writing in Undercover Boyfriend was spot on, and the pace was fast moving and kept me turning page after page until I finished in one sitting. There’s a bit of intrigue, some very swoony, sweet moments, and enough heat to please everyone. Such an enjoyable, fantastic read!! I highly recommend this one!
*This review will also be posted on www.diversereader.blogspot.com*
Sure most everything in the book is on the unrealistic side, and yeah, you can see the plotline coming from a mile away but trust me when I tell you, you won’t mind any of that one little bit. The setting was written so perfectly I could envision everything from the smell of the tamales to the accent of Marty’s mother. I loved all the characters (well not the one’s I wasn’t supposed to like!) and Crispin and Sophia were great secondary players. Marty is just so freaking cute and adorable in all his geeky, nerdiness and then of course Luke falls captive to all his charms.
The writing in Undercover Boyfriend was spot on, and the pace was fast moving and kept me turning page after page until I finished in one sitting. There’s a bit of intrigue, some very swoony, sweet moments, and enough heat to please everyone. Such an enjoyable, fantastic read!! I highly recommend this one!
*This review will also be posted on www.diversereader.blogspot.com*
June 3, 2016
Flores has certainly turned me into a lover of the m/m romance category! There were so many
elements to Undercover Boyfriend that I loved. The characters were well developed and I had
such an amazing connection with each one of them in their own way. I loved the over
protectiveness of his mother and sister, reminding me of my own family, and the friendship
between Luke and “Crispy.” Most of all, I absolutely loved the chemistry and passion between
Martyn and Luke. Undercover Boyfriend features danger, and love in a page turning book, I
couldn’t put down. I am so looking forward to reading more of his work and seeing what other
journey of love and danger he will bring into my world.
Received a copy in exchange for an honest review. Read and reviewed by Shannon for Alpha Book Club
elements to Undercover Boyfriend that I loved. The characters were well developed and I had
such an amazing connection with each one of them in their own way. I loved the over
protectiveness of his mother and sister, reminding me of my own family, and the friendship
between Luke and “Crispy.” Most of all, I absolutely loved the chemistry and passion between
Martyn and Luke. Undercover Boyfriend features danger, and love in a page turning book, I
couldn’t put down. I am so looking forward to reading more of his work and seeing what other
journey of love and danger he will bring into my world.
Received a copy in exchange for an honest review. Read and reviewed by Shannon for Alpha Book Club
June 17, 2016
I liked the book.
It was a insta love. This is the book you read when you had the bad day or you have just read some really sad book. Read this. This book had some action, no angst, laughed out moments, crazy family, and two MCs that you could just sigh for.
Marty and Luke are amazing together. Their relationship and how they understood each other was amazing. It was to good to be true but I didn't care how everything fit because I was feeling happy and wonderful because of this book.
The only problem is I did got a little bored and I wanted to see Luke in more action or to see him in fighting style.
**3.5-4 stars**
It was a insta love. This is the book you read when you had the bad day or you have just read some really sad book. Read this. This book had some action, no angst, laughed out moments, crazy family, and two MCs that you could just sigh for.
Marty and Luke are amazing together. Their relationship and how they understood each other was amazing. It was to good to be true but I didn't care how everything fit because I was feeling happy and wonderful because of this book.
The only problem is I did got a little bored and I wanted to see Luke in more action or to see him in fighting style.
**3.5-4 stars**
June 17, 2016
Well, wasn't you a hot little number??? Jacob Z. Flores has just become an auto-buy for muah! Loved this book.
December 22, 2020
I loved this book so much! An entertaining read, with a few of my favorite themes that i adored. The fake boyfriend, fbi agent, mafia and lots of soft slow burn feels that just made me smile throughout.
Luke and Marty were a lot of fun from their first meeting, it was hilarious and i love that Marty didn't just believe him. The plot was great with their developing relationship, the action scenes and protecting each other. Also revenge on awful ex was perfect, i just loved Marty standing up for himself.
The side cast were interesting Martys family are a riot in a number of ways, which was enjoyable to read. Crispy was great too!
I need to get a lucky coin.
Overall this was an entertaining read, that i sped through and enjoyed a lot. With a rather sweet happy ending, very fitting 💕
Luke and Marty were a lot of fun from their first meeting, it was hilarious and i love that Marty didn't just believe him. The plot was great with their developing relationship, the action scenes and protecting each other. Also revenge on awful ex was perfect, i just loved Marty standing up for himself.
The side cast were interesting Martys family are a riot in a number of ways, which was enjoyable to read. Crispy was great too!
I need to get a lucky coin.
Overall this was an entertaining read, that i sped through and enjoyed a lot. With a rather sweet happy ending, very fitting 💕
January 27, 2018
Fake dating!!!!
Sadly, not a particularly good deployment of the trope. The prose has some nice zip -- there are a few genuinely funny lines -- but I never felt any sizzle between the protagonists. And frankly, I couldn't get over how unprofessional all the FBI agents in this were. Not unprofessional for ~sexy~ reasons; unprofessional for stupidity reasons.
Incompetence is, as always, my no. 1 turnoff.
Sadly, not a particularly good deployment of the trope. The prose has some nice zip -- there are a few genuinely funny lines -- but I never felt any sizzle between the protagonists. And frankly, I couldn't get over how unprofessional all the FBI agents in this were. Not unprofessional for ~sexy~ reasons; unprofessional for stupidity reasons.
Incompetence is, as always, my no. 1 turnoff.
September 8, 2016
Poor skinny Marty is always making up pretend friends, family members and now – boyfriends – to help him avoid confrontation. After breaking up with his sister’s fiance’s best friend – who is now the best man at their wedding – Marty invents a boyfriend – Tim, the underwear model – to retaliate.
When push comes to shove, Marty’s Mami wants to meet this Tim, so Marty goes to a club hoping to convince some guy to give it a try. Instead he finds Luke trying to break into his car. Marty tells Luke that if he’ll just be his pretend boyfriend for a couple of hours and meet his mother he won’t call the cops. Luke agrees – but not because he’s afraid of the cops.
Luke is an FBI agent about to crack a major drug lord case. He’s meeting an informant when someone from the gang shows up knowing his real name! He has to go in hiding and now because this means someone on the inside is a mole. His attempt to find a car ends as we see above with Marty – but it’s not all bad. The suburbs might be the best place to hide.
Of course, life is not simple and there’s even more drama – more than I want to tell you about here – that involves Marty and drug dealers and moles and dirty FBI agents – Oh My!
**
Jacob Flores – who I just read is an English professor – I’d have LOVED any class he taught – wouldn’t you??? – is an amazing writer. I’ve enjoyed his P-town series as well as his supernatural series. This was very well written and edited, flowed nicely and had just enough believability to keep me from rolling my eyes out of my head.
Sure, he bends the laws of co-incidence here and there – but really – that stuff does happen now and then.
There’s only one smexy times scene but it’s pretty hot. The rest of the story is a lot of action/adventure and drama but liberally laced with humor and tenderness.
I really enjoyed this and highly recommend it.
Audio
Rusty Topsfield did a really good job with this. He puts a really good attempt at the Hispanic accents and there are moments – especially when Marty and Luke are admitting their feelings, that his emotions are really shining through and nearly brought me to tears. Sometimes, however, I think a little bit more research could have been done on the Spanish words, because he got them wrong and it was pretty glaring. (Mami – pronounced like Mammy and hijo prounounced heeho or Rogelio prounounced Rojeelio- ugh!) But… I loved Luke’s voice and the fact that he gave everyone unique and easily identifiable voices. I definitely enjoyed this and would recommend this as a great way to experience this story.
4.5 of 5 stars for both book and audiobook
When push comes to shove, Marty’s Mami wants to meet this Tim, so Marty goes to a club hoping to convince some guy to give it a try. Instead he finds Luke trying to break into his car. Marty tells Luke that if he’ll just be his pretend boyfriend for a couple of hours and meet his mother he won’t call the cops. Luke agrees – but not because he’s afraid of the cops.
Luke is an FBI agent about to crack a major drug lord case. He’s meeting an informant when someone from the gang shows up knowing his real name! He has to go in hiding and now because this means someone on the inside is a mole. His attempt to find a car ends as we see above with Marty – but it’s not all bad. The suburbs might be the best place to hide.
Of course, life is not simple and there’s even more drama – more than I want to tell you about here – that involves Marty and drug dealers and moles and dirty FBI agents – Oh My!
**
Jacob Flores – who I just read is an English professor – I’d have LOVED any class he taught – wouldn’t you??? – is an amazing writer. I’ve enjoyed his P-town series as well as his supernatural series. This was very well written and edited, flowed nicely and had just enough believability to keep me from rolling my eyes out of my head.
Sure, he bends the laws of co-incidence here and there – but really – that stuff does happen now and then.
There’s only one smexy times scene but it’s pretty hot. The rest of the story is a lot of action/adventure and drama but liberally laced with humor and tenderness.
I really enjoyed this and highly recommend it.
Audio
Rusty Topsfield did a really good job with this. He puts a really good attempt at the Hispanic accents and there are moments – especially when Marty and Luke are admitting their feelings, that his emotions are really shining through and nearly brought me to tears. Sometimes, however, I think a little bit more research could have been done on the Spanish words, because he got them wrong and it was pretty glaring. (Mami – pronounced like Mammy and hijo prounounced heeho or Rogelio prounounced Rojeelio- ugh!) But… I loved Luke’s voice and the fact that he gave everyone unique and easily identifiable voices. I definitely enjoyed this and would recommend this as a great way to experience this story.
4.5 of 5 stars for both book and audiobook
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