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The Visionary
Colin Page, eighteen-year-old community college student, apple polisher and all-around goody-goody, has a secret. He sees things that aren’t there. Unfortunately, the Doc Martens on the floor of the mail vestibule in his apartment building really are there and attached to a dead body. Hunkered over the body is someone Colin had barely noticed before, Private Investigator Al Green. Most people scare Colin, but for some reason, Al doesn’t, even after he reveals that he knows about the hidden reality of their world.
Alonzo Green, despite his low-power mind, is determined to help right the wrongs he unknowingly contributed to. He’s also hopelessly smitten. He knows it’s wrong—probably even dangerous—to enlist Colin’s help with the investigation. And that’s before considering all Al has to fear from Colin’s fiercely protective and powerful mother.
Colin and Al put some of the pieces together, but as soon as one thing becomes clear, the picture changes. The search for the Big Bad takes them from Portland to Tacoma and Seattle, and eventually to San Francisco, but their journey into each other’s arms is much shorter.
Alonzo Green, despite his low-power mind, is determined to help right the wrongs he unknowingly contributed to. He’s also hopelessly smitten. He knows it’s wrong—probably even dangerous—to enlist Colin’s help with the investigation. And that’s before considering all Al has to fear from Colin’s fiercely protective and powerful mother.
Colin and Al put some of the pieces together, but as soon as one thing becomes clear, the picture changes. The search for the Big Bad takes them from Portland to Tacoma and Seattle, and eventually to San Francisco, but their journey into each other’s arms is much shorter.
ebook
First published January 25, 2017
12 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Charli Coty
7 books7 followersCharli Coty also writes under the pen name Charley Descoteaux. Book One of the Buchanan House series was a USA Today Must-Read Romance of 2015.
Charli misspent a large chunk of their youth on the back of a Harley, meeting people and having adventures that sometimes pop up in their fiction. Mx Coty writes everything from contemporary to paranormal, always with a happy ending. Charli has survived earthquakes, tornadoes, and floods, but couldn’t make it through one day without stories.
Charli misspent a large chunk of their youth on the back of a Harley, meeting people and having adventures that sometimes pop up in their fiction. Mx Coty writes everything from contemporary to paranormal, always with a happy ending. Charli has survived earthquakes, tornadoes, and floods, but couldn’t make it through one day without stories.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 7, 2017
2.5 stars
OMG! I am the first reviewer, no pressure at all right*eesh*
"The visionary" is a paranormal m/m romance. The MCs are part of a special group of individuals who have powers to read and bend your mind and see things that normal people cannot. The story starts with a murder which brings the MCs together.
The events of the story revolve around Alonzo and Colin’s investigation which requires their brand of special powers. As the story progresses we get to know more about the powers that the ‘visionaries’ possess. Colin has always known he was different but he never knew the extent of what he was capable of. The story then continues with the progress of Al and Colin’s romance until there is a new threat. People are dying in the guise of a ‘new drug’ but Al knows that it’s something else entirely and they are the only one equipped to stop the killings.
The story writing here is very jumpy. Even the beginning of the story is abrupt as Al and Colin meet for the first time. Their introduction was seriously weird.
We are told that Colin and Al have special powers but after that when the murder investigation continues, we don’t get any proper information about the so called ‘visionaries’. I got confused half the time when new characters are introduced suddenly without any premise at all. There are many twists and turns here but they were not effective enough to increase the mystery factor of the story.
I seriously could not follow a lot of the plot. It was confusing and not too exciting. Most of the time the plot was not clear enough to follow properly. It was all jumbled up and I had to skim a lot.
The characters of Al and Colin was not very detailed and well developed. I could not connect with them. Their romance was just as abrupt as their first meeting. One minute they are looking for a killer and the next they are giving each other BJs. There was no development of their romance. They were suddenly moving in with each other soon after they met which under the circumstances was very unbelievable. Al did not reveal a lot of his earlier life with Colin which comes out later. Given the significance of the matter I hoped it should have been at least hinted beforehand but as everything here, this reveal was also very abrupt.
I did not enjoy this story very much. The writing style was not ideal for a mystery story at all. The continued sense of danger is completely absent with events popping up without any warning or connection. I liked the concept of the ‘visionaries’ but it was not executed very well. I cannot recommend this book.
*This review has been cross posted at GayBookReviews*
OMG! I am the first reviewer, no pressure at all right*eesh*
"The visionary" is a paranormal m/m romance. The MCs are part of a special group of individuals who have powers to read and bend your mind and see things that normal people cannot. The story starts with a murder which brings the MCs together.
The events of the story revolve around Alonzo and Colin’s investigation which requires their brand of special powers. As the story progresses we get to know more about the powers that the ‘visionaries’ possess. Colin has always known he was different but he never knew the extent of what he was capable of. The story then continues with the progress of Al and Colin’s romance until there is a new threat. People are dying in the guise of a ‘new drug’ but Al knows that it’s something else entirely and they are the only one equipped to stop the killings.
The story writing here is very jumpy. Even the beginning of the story is abrupt as Al and Colin meet for the first time. Their introduction was seriously weird.
We are told that Colin and Al have special powers but after that when the murder investigation continues, we don’t get any proper information about the so called ‘visionaries’. I got confused half the time when new characters are introduced suddenly without any premise at all. There are many twists and turns here but they were not effective enough to increase the mystery factor of the story.
I seriously could not follow a lot of the plot. It was confusing and not too exciting. Most of the time the plot was not clear enough to follow properly. It was all jumbled up and I had to skim a lot.
The characters of Al and Colin was not very detailed and well developed. I could not connect with them. Their romance was just as abrupt as their first meeting. One minute they are looking for a killer and the next they are giving each other BJs. There was no development of their romance. They were suddenly moving in with each other soon after they met which under the circumstances was very unbelievable. Al did not reveal a lot of his earlier life with Colin which comes out later. Given the significance of the matter I hoped it should have been at least hinted beforehand but as everything here, this reveal was also very abrupt.
I did not enjoy this story very much. The writing style was not ideal for a mystery story at all. The continued sense of danger is completely absent with events popping up without any warning or connection. I liked the concept of the ‘visionaries’ but it was not executed very well. I cannot recommend this book.
*This review has been cross posted at GayBookReviews*
February 27, 2017
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.25 stars
The Visionary is a dark and complex novel that engaged me in parts, whilst others I struggled with. I particularly liked how the characters of Colin and Alonzo unite, so much so that I could not imagine them succeeding separately. The characters of both men develop effectively as The Visionary progresses and in a novel that has so many intricacies, Charli Coty is obviously aware of how to keep her story driven by the two men involved.
Colin learns to embrace his paranormal powers throughout The Visionary, becoming stronger mentally and emotionally. The story begins with Colin precariously balanced between adult and child. He is eighteen and at college, but treated immaturely by his overprotective mother because of his differences. I found it frustrating that Colin so frequently uses the word “kid” when referring to himself, though further into the story this is not an issue. I certainly would have liked to have known more about Colin before the last part of the novel, but this is how Coty’s storytelling seems to work. The Visionary is full of secrets, lies, and half-truths and the reader is only given so much information, making us eager to know more.
Read Kirsty’s review in its entirety here.
3.25 stars
The Visionary is a dark and complex novel that engaged me in parts, whilst others I struggled with. I particularly liked how the characters of Colin and Alonzo unite, so much so that I could not imagine them succeeding separately. The characters of both men develop effectively as The Visionary progresses and in a novel that has so many intricacies, Charli Coty is obviously aware of how to keep her story driven by the two men involved.
Colin learns to embrace his paranormal powers throughout The Visionary, becoming stronger mentally and emotionally. The story begins with Colin precariously balanced between adult and child. He is eighteen and at college, but treated immaturely by his overprotective mother because of his differences. I found it frustrating that Colin so frequently uses the word “kid” when referring to himself, though further into the story this is not an issue. I certainly would have liked to have known more about Colin before the last part of the novel, but this is how Coty’s storytelling seems to work. The Visionary is full of secrets, lies, and half-truths and the reader is only given so much information, making us eager to know more.
Read Kirsty’s review in its entirety here.
January 22, 2018
Such high hopes, and I'll give it 3.5 for those and for how C. wound up dealing with W. Overall, it was good, just not quite as good as I'd hoped.
Another thing. I'm not sure if a sequel is in the works.
Another thing. I'm not sure if a sequel is in the works.
August 2, 2017
~ 2.5 Stars ~
Colin sees things others don’t—not only that, but he has other abilities that he hasn’t even scratched the surface of—yet. When he meets Alonzo, a private detective who lives in the same building, he knows there is something there between them, and it’s more than the dead body in the lobby. So begins a dark and twisted adventure that will lead Colin and Alonzo through a series of near death experiences, facing not one but three different adversaries. Using his powers to push back against the evil only goes so far when Colin is up against an unknown. When he and Alonzo finally figure out who the real “big bad” is, it not only comes as a shock but also means Colin may lose himself completely if he is not careful. Alonzo will do anything to keep Colin safe—even sacrifice himself—which, in the end, may be the only thing that keeps Colin alive.
I wish I could tell you it was a fairly easy or straightforward journey in getting through that synopsis above, but unfortunately, that would be rather untruthful. Perhaps it was me. Perhaps I couldn’t handle the fact that for roughly fifty-percent, or more, of this story I had no clue as to what exactly Colin was, what his powers were, or how he and Alonzo fit together other than through their mutual lust. Yes, there was a love connection, eventually, and it was lovely to read about the rare times it was allowed to take the lead, but it was hampered by a constant stream of half told stories that deepened the confusion rather than shed light on what exactly I was to focus on.
I still can’t exactly tell you what Colin was—I guess he was a Visionary but what all that entails ability-wise is still unclear to me. I also wish I could tell you that I fully understood the term “Natural” other than the fact that Alonzo was one—but again, it’s all still very murky. There were too many attacks on the pair of heroes and not near enough explanation as to what it was that they were actually fighting. It’s as if this was an outline for a novel that had terrific potential, but not one of the many plot points got fully fleshed out, or even near enough page time, to have them make a great deal of sense. There were so many dangling pieces that, to be frank, I just wanted the story to end and stop wasting my time with yet another mystery that never really got solved.
What I can tell you is that I really liked Alonzo, although I felt most of the people who claimed to care about him used him for information and/or to do jobs others didn’t want to do. He obviously loved Colin a great deal, and those rare moments when he wasn’t being influenced by someone with powers greater than his meager bit, he was a strong and loving partner. I’m not really sure I ever got to know exactly who, let alone what, Colin was, and he was more of a side character for me rather than the person who this story was meant to be about. I wish I could have understood him better—again perhaps it was just my failing to get what this author was trying to achieve, but I don’t think so. I believe that the bare bones of a good story lurked in the unfinished product that became The Visionary. Had there just been more attention to detail and a bit more clarification about this race of paranormal beings author Charli Coty was trying to create, I think this review would have been much different.
In the end, The Visionary fell way short of complete and left more unanswered questions than satisfaction. Such a shame, really, for I think this author has great potential if restraint can be achieved and story mapping takes the driver’s seat in the next novel.
Reviewed by Sammy for The Novel Approach
Colin sees things others don’t—not only that, but he has other abilities that he hasn’t even scratched the surface of—yet. When he meets Alonzo, a private detective who lives in the same building, he knows there is something there between them, and it’s more than the dead body in the lobby. So begins a dark and twisted adventure that will lead Colin and Alonzo through a series of near death experiences, facing not one but three different adversaries. Using his powers to push back against the evil only goes so far when Colin is up against an unknown. When he and Alonzo finally figure out who the real “big bad” is, it not only comes as a shock but also means Colin may lose himself completely if he is not careful. Alonzo will do anything to keep Colin safe—even sacrifice himself—which, in the end, may be the only thing that keeps Colin alive.
I wish I could tell you it was a fairly easy or straightforward journey in getting through that synopsis above, but unfortunately, that would be rather untruthful. Perhaps it was me. Perhaps I couldn’t handle the fact that for roughly fifty-percent, or more, of this story I had no clue as to what exactly Colin was, what his powers were, or how he and Alonzo fit together other than through their mutual lust. Yes, there was a love connection, eventually, and it was lovely to read about the rare times it was allowed to take the lead, but it was hampered by a constant stream of half told stories that deepened the confusion rather than shed light on what exactly I was to focus on.
I still can’t exactly tell you what Colin was—I guess he was a Visionary but what all that entails ability-wise is still unclear to me. I also wish I could tell you that I fully understood the term “Natural” other than the fact that Alonzo was one—but again, it’s all still very murky. There were too many attacks on the pair of heroes and not near enough explanation as to what it was that they were actually fighting. It’s as if this was an outline for a novel that had terrific potential, but not one of the many plot points got fully fleshed out, or even near enough page time, to have them make a great deal of sense. There were so many dangling pieces that, to be frank, I just wanted the story to end and stop wasting my time with yet another mystery that never really got solved.
What I can tell you is that I really liked Alonzo, although I felt most of the people who claimed to care about him used him for information and/or to do jobs others didn’t want to do. He obviously loved Colin a great deal, and those rare moments when he wasn’t being influenced by someone with powers greater than his meager bit, he was a strong and loving partner. I’m not really sure I ever got to know exactly who, let alone what, Colin was, and he was more of a side character for me rather than the person who this story was meant to be about. I wish I could have understood him better—again perhaps it was just my failing to get what this author was trying to achieve, but I don’t think so. I believe that the bare bones of a good story lurked in the unfinished product that became The Visionary. Had there just been more attention to detail and a bit more clarification about this race of paranormal beings author Charli Coty was trying to create, I think this review would have been much different.
In the end, The Visionary fell way short of complete and left more unanswered questions than satisfaction. Such a shame, really, for I think this author has great potential if restraint can be achieved and story mapping takes the driver’s seat in the next novel.
Reviewed by Sammy for The Novel Approach
February 3, 2017
I love stories that explore the paranormal, and what grabbed me with The Visionary by Charli Coty was its exploration of a very different kind of power. Colin not only sees what others don’t, but auras—different colours which reveal things about people they’d often prefer kept hidden. I enjoyed this idea, and the world building that went along with it. Power can be stolen, and with dangerous consequences.
The author uses descriptive language really well, with some of the imagery sticking with me to the extent that I noted it down so I could use it in my review. These examples use colours, which I thought extended the fact that Colin doesn’t just see people, but also the colour surrounding them—“Forest-green moan,” and “Velvet tips of new fern tumbling on the wind.”
I also liked that the supporting characters were fleshed out, and had their own back stories and issues to deal with. Some were from Colin’s past, some from Alonzo’s, but I liked the way the cast worked together. I particularly liked Lavaughn who is Colin’s stepfather, and Dawn as I like strong female characters as part of my MM reads.
I thought Colin and Alonzo complemented each other well, as their personalities and life experiences are very different, although they hooked up quickly. Splitting the POV between each man also meant that the reader is introduced to Alonzo through Colin’s eyes, so there’s that hint of unreliable narrator. Is Colin’s perspective skewed because he is developing feelings for Alonzo, or is there a deeper manipulation going? After all, Colin isn’t the only one in this story with powers. I must admit I got a little confused and ended up re-reading a few bits to make sure I hadn’t missed anything during the part which is Colin’s perspective but that meshed with how Colin would have been feeling thrown into this world and learning that his own abilities are part of a much bigger picture.
But as the story continued, the pace picked up and Colin—and me as a reader—got more information about what was going on, I couldn’t put my tablet down. The ending is very satisfying, although there are consequences as there should be. The fact there were consequences gave the story a realistic touch. Colin’s power isn’t an easy one to live with, and the world and its inhabitants aren’t always good people.
I’d recommend The Visionary to readers who enjoy a complex story that doesn’t spoon feed all the information, interesting world-building, people with powers, and MCs who don’t always know the answers.
The author uses descriptive language really well, with some of the imagery sticking with me to the extent that I noted it down so I could use it in my review. These examples use colours, which I thought extended the fact that Colin doesn’t just see people, but also the colour surrounding them—“Forest-green moan,” and “Velvet tips of new fern tumbling on the wind.”
I also liked that the supporting characters were fleshed out, and had their own back stories and issues to deal with. Some were from Colin’s past, some from Alonzo’s, but I liked the way the cast worked together. I particularly liked Lavaughn who is Colin’s stepfather, and Dawn as I like strong female characters as part of my MM reads.
I thought Colin and Alonzo complemented each other well, as their personalities and life experiences are very different, although they hooked up quickly. Splitting the POV between each man also meant that the reader is introduced to Alonzo through Colin’s eyes, so there’s that hint of unreliable narrator. Is Colin’s perspective skewed because he is developing feelings for Alonzo, or is there a deeper manipulation going? After all, Colin isn’t the only one in this story with powers. I must admit I got a little confused and ended up re-reading a few bits to make sure I hadn’t missed anything during the part which is Colin’s perspective but that meshed with how Colin would have been feeling thrown into this world and learning that his own abilities are part of a much bigger picture.
But as the story continued, the pace picked up and Colin—and me as a reader—got more information about what was going on, I couldn’t put my tablet down. The ending is very satisfying, although there are consequences as there should be. The fact there were consequences gave the story a realistic touch. Colin’s power isn’t an easy one to live with, and the world and its inhabitants aren’t always good people.
I’d recommend The Visionary to readers who enjoy a complex story that doesn’t spoon feed all the information, interesting world-building, people with powers, and MCs who don’t always know the answers.
February 3, 2017
Colin’s life has hardly been what you call normal. Even so, discovering one of his neighbors keeled over on the floor dead—and covered in a fine purple mist—is a new level of strange. And with another neighbor crouching over the dead man, you’d think that what happened was pretty clear. But Colin has long been able to see into the heart and intentions of people…and Alonzo Green is no killer. That’s about the only thing Colin is sure of though, because as the two investigate the murder it soon becomes obvious that nothing is as it seems. Except maybe that they are both in an awful lot of danger.
So, this book had several good things going for it. Alonzo and Colin were two very interesting characters—and I liked the way they got more complex as the story went on. There also an interesting introduction for the magic here in this universe. Not being overloaded with information at the start of this story really sucked me into the book because I really wanted to know more.
Unfortunately the pacing and structure of the story got more chaotic as we went along and I had a hard time keeping up with what was going on on-page. It felt like the author really wanted this to be a high-impact adventure thriller—and thought the best way to go about that was to throw action scenes and jump scares at the audience at random in hopes of keeping us on our toes. Which, yeah, worked, but probably not the way the author wanted. By the fifth time it happened I was more than fed up and ready for it to stop.
There was also the way the antagonist of the story kept bloody changing. Colin and Alonzo would have this big confrontation with the Big Bad, ending with the baddie dead, only to have it revealed a few pages later that—wait a minute—they were only the lackey of someone other Bigger Bad. Which as a plot device is fine…just maybe not three or four times in one damn story. It got to be by the end that the Biggest Bad had only really been part of the story for a couple of scenes and I didn’t give a damn what happened with him—despite the fact the story was building him up like some type of super-evil genius. And let’s face it, the dude totally didn’t earn the respect that the book wanted us to give him.
And that was partly the result of the fact that the book never quite got around to making clear how the magic in this universe worked. A little mystery at first was great, but by the end of the story I expect to be less confused than I was at the beginning. I have no idea what the rules are for the magic here. Why do they seem really susceptible to mind reading at some points…and totally safe from it in other situations? They go out of their way to not even think the name of the bad guys…but that never seems to true in reverse. Was this ability to track someone down by just having them think about you once only a power the bad guys have? If so, why? I was never clear on what everyone in this universe could do with their magic. Or why they could do it in some situations and not others. I needed way more explanations than I got, because as it was it only added to the general confusion already building in the story. I like mystery in my books, not confusion.
By the end of the story I kinda felt like this book was a collection of good ideas that just got out of the author’s control. I needed a more cohesive plot, a better explained universe, and a more solid basis for this crazy relationship between Colin and Alonzo. They moved super quick from total strangers to living together and in love. When you add in the fact that Colin is barely legal—and Alonzo is nearly ten years his senior—it was way too quick to be believable. They never really had the connection that rung of romance for me. It didn’t help that they had a tendency to run away from conversations (and even more annoying, each other). The constant withholding of information just for the sake of Plot! got a bit tiresome as well.
I can’t help but feel that this could have been a better story is the author had spent a bit more time tightening everything up. As it is, it was way too chaotic to really enjoy.
2.5 stars
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
So, this book had several good things going for it. Alonzo and Colin were two very interesting characters—and I liked the way they got more complex as the story went on. There also an interesting introduction for the magic here in this universe. Not being overloaded with information at the start of this story really sucked me into the book because I really wanted to know more.
Unfortunately the pacing and structure of the story got more chaotic as we went along and I had a hard time keeping up with what was going on on-page. It felt like the author really wanted this to be a high-impact adventure thriller—and thought the best way to go about that was to throw action scenes and jump scares at the audience at random in hopes of keeping us on our toes. Which, yeah, worked, but probably not the way the author wanted. By the fifth time it happened I was more than fed up and ready for it to stop.
There was also the way the antagonist of the story kept bloody changing. Colin and Alonzo would have this big confrontation with the Big Bad, ending with the baddie dead, only to have it revealed a few pages later that—wait a minute—they were only the lackey of someone other Bigger Bad. Which as a plot device is fine…just maybe not three or four times in one damn story. It got to be by the end that the Biggest Bad had only really been part of the story for a couple of scenes and I didn’t give a damn what happened with him—despite the fact the story was building him up like some type of super-evil genius. And let’s face it, the dude totally didn’t earn the respect that the book wanted us to give him.
And that was partly the result of the fact that the book never quite got around to making clear how the magic in this universe worked. A little mystery at first was great, but by the end of the story I expect to be less confused than I was at the beginning. I have no idea what the rules are for the magic here. Why do they seem really susceptible to mind reading at some points…and totally safe from it in other situations? They go out of their way to not even think the name of the bad guys…but that never seems to true in reverse. Was this ability to track someone down by just having them think about you once only a power the bad guys have? If so, why? I was never clear on what everyone in this universe could do with their magic. Or why they could do it in some situations and not others. I needed way more explanations than I got, because as it was it only added to the general confusion already building in the story. I like mystery in my books, not confusion.
By the end of the story I kinda felt like this book was a collection of good ideas that just got out of the author’s control. I needed a more cohesive plot, a better explained universe, and a more solid basis for this crazy relationship between Colin and Alonzo. They moved super quick from total strangers to living together and in love. When you add in the fact that Colin is barely legal—and Alonzo is nearly ten years his senior—it was way too quick to be believable. They never really had the connection that rung of romance for me. It didn’t help that they had a tendency to run away from conversations (and even more annoying, each other). The constant withholding of information just for the sake of Plot! got a bit tiresome as well.
I can’t help but feel that this could have been a better story is the author had spent a bit more time tightening everything up. As it is, it was way too chaotic to really enjoy.
2.5 stars
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
Did Not Finish
May 21, 2017DNF at 20%. Apt title, I guess, because according to Merriam-Webster:
visionary
noun
Full Definition
1 : one whose ideas or projects are impractical : dreamer
vi·sion·ary\ˈvi-zhə-ˌner-ē\
adjective
Full Definition
1 a : of the nature of a vision : illusory
b : incapable of being realized or achieved : utopian
c : existing only in imagination : unreal
.
visionary
noun
Full Definition
1 : one whose ideas or projects are impractical : dreamer
vi·sion·ary\ˈvi-zhə-ˌner-ē\
adjective
Full Definition
1 a : of the nature of a vision : illusory
b : incapable of being realized or achieved : utopian
c : existing only in imagination : unreal
.
December 24, 2019
The backstory to Colin's identity is revealed throughout the book, providing much needed on-going interest to this urban paranormal murder-mystery.
March 13, 2017
I was excited about this story for the sheer concept of a visionary. It was different from the normal casting of spells and magic folklore.
Colin can see things that others can't. Emotions are colors and sometimes what should be a static object starts to move and interact with him.
Alonzo "Al" Green is a PI out to right the wrongs he involuntarily committed.
Together these two make quite the duo.
You can see my full review on my YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/iTqlQUxw8gk
Colin can see things that others can't. Emotions are colors and sometimes what should be a static object starts to move and interact with him.
Alonzo "Al" Green is a PI out to right the wrongs he involuntarily committed.
Together these two make quite the duo.
You can see my full review on my YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/iTqlQUxw8gk
February 19, 2017
Review can be read at It's About The Book
3.5 stars
Colin Page sees things that other people don’t. The dead body in the foyer of his apartment building has tattoos that may tell Colin about the murder. Colin meets a man investigating the murder. Colin can’t get him out of his mind. Colin decides to help with the investigation. It helps that he really, really likes the man investigating, Al Green. Colin and Al find themselves in a relationship. Colin’s mother doesn’t approve, but Colin is actually a grown adult, even if he’s quite a bit younger than Al. Al is a private investigator and Colin is a student. Being with Al endangers Colin and puts him on the radar of powerful people. Every time they think they’ve caught the bad guy they find another who was pulling the strings. Unfortunately for all of them, the person holding all the strings wants Colin, and has wanted him for a long time.
I read this book in as close to one sitting as I could manage. It was very engaging. It was also a little drawn out and a touch repetitive. There were a lot of hurt/comfort moments, and both Colin and Al had a turn at taking care of the man they loved. There were also multiple instances of each guy doing the right thing and saving the day with his sacrifice. All without telling his partner, therefore robbing them of agency and the chance to give consent. Yeah, the idea of an alpha male rescuing you from your problems is wonderful, but the reality is a relationship is a partnership. Thankfully, in a couple instances there was a bit of guilt over riding roughshod over each other.
There was an age gap between Colin and Al, but it wasn’t that extreme. Mostly it translated to a life experience gap. Colin had been remarkably sheltered by his mother. Because reasons. Al had to grow up quickly and didn’t really do the best job at it along the way. Al had learned how to live a difficult life and get by with his wits. In many ways this created a power imbalance between Colin and Al. Interestingly there was another very real power imbalance. Colin was simply much more powerful in terms of psychic powers. As were the people who cared for Colin. It was as if there was balance between the imbalances. Al had all the knowledge experience while Colin had all the raw power and potential.
I enjoyed this story. There were good spooky aspects with the creepy tattoos and zombies as well as suspense. I did have issues with some things, but I’m a firm believer having fun reading a story is the most important factor in a book. I had fun reading this story.
3.5 stars
Colin Page sees things that other people don’t. The dead body in the foyer of his apartment building has tattoos that may tell Colin about the murder. Colin meets a man investigating the murder. Colin can’t get him out of his mind. Colin decides to help with the investigation. It helps that he really, really likes the man investigating, Al Green. Colin and Al find themselves in a relationship. Colin’s mother doesn’t approve, but Colin is actually a grown adult, even if he’s quite a bit younger than Al. Al is a private investigator and Colin is a student. Being with Al endangers Colin and puts him on the radar of powerful people. Every time they think they’ve caught the bad guy they find another who was pulling the strings. Unfortunately for all of them, the person holding all the strings wants Colin, and has wanted him for a long time.
I read this book in as close to one sitting as I could manage. It was very engaging. It was also a little drawn out and a touch repetitive. There were a lot of hurt/comfort moments, and both Colin and Al had a turn at taking care of the man they loved. There were also multiple instances of each guy doing the right thing and saving the day with his sacrifice. All without telling his partner, therefore robbing them of agency and the chance to give consent. Yeah, the idea of an alpha male rescuing you from your problems is wonderful, but the reality is a relationship is a partnership. Thankfully, in a couple instances there was a bit of guilt over riding roughshod over each other.
There was an age gap between Colin and Al, but it wasn’t that extreme. Mostly it translated to a life experience gap. Colin had been remarkably sheltered by his mother. Because reasons. Al had to grow up quickly and didn’t really do the best job at it along the way. Al had learned how to live a difficult life and get by with his wits. In many ways this created a power imbalance between Colin and Al. Interestingly there was another very real power imbalance. Colin was simply much more powerful in terms of psychic powers. As were the people who cared for Colin. It was as if there was balance between the imbalances. Al had all the knowledge experience while Colin had all the raw power and potential.
I enjoyed this story. There were good spooky aspects with the creepy tattoos and zombies as well as suspense. I did have issues with some things, but I’m a firm believer having fun reading a story is the most important factor in a book. I had fun reading this story.
November 15, 2018
Colin, a young man with a power which manifests to himself in colors is caught in the middle of web of intrigue and supernatural predation. Alonso, a man with a dark past is determined to protect Colin, but his past is catching up with both of them. In the middle of being hunted and haunted, sparks fly, and their passions ignite in a physical and magical way, but is it for the best, considering how raw Colin is and how wounded Alonso remains? Will the growing bond between them and the loyalty of those close to them be enough to protect them from the dangers lying in wait for them?
This novel reminded of the very best of Poltergeist the Legacy, only with more diversity in pairings and gender. The story involved dark secrets, sinister legacies, and skeletons ready to leap out and terrorize the hapless characters who’d hidden them in their closets along with a unique depiction of magic which kept me intrigued every time it showed its colors. For all of these things, I give this book four stars.
This novel reminded of the very best of Poltergeist the Legacy, only with more diversity in pairings and gender. The story involved dark secrets, sinister legacies, and skeletons ready to leap out and terrorize the hapless characters who’d hidden them in their closets along with a unique depiction of magic which kept me intrigued every time it showed its colors. For all of these things, I give this book four stars.
February 9, 2017
I kept feeling like I was dropped in the middle of the story and I missed what happened or why a character did this or that. The unfinished ending didn't really help either.
February 5, 2017
Review to follow at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words.
ARC provided by NineStar Press in exchange for an honest review.
ARC provided by NineStar Press in exchange for an honest review.
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