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The Shamwell Tales #2
Played!
All the world’s a stage . . . but life doesn’t come with a script.
Posh boy Tristan Goldsmith has one last summer of freedom before he joins the family firm in New York—no more farting around on stage, as his father puts it. But the classically trained actor can’t resist when the Shamwell Amateur Dramatics Society begs him to take a leading role in their production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. As an added incentive, he’ll be giving private acting lessons to a gorgeous local handyman who’s been curiously resistant to Tristan’s advances.
As a late-diagnosed dyslexic still struggling with literacy, Con Izzard’s never dared to act before. With arrogant yet charming Tristan helping him with his lines, he finally has his chance to shine. But Con’s determined not to start a romance with a man he’s convinced only wants a casual fling.
Tristan’s never been one to back down from a challenge, especially when he realises his attraction to the tall, muscular handyman isn’t just physical. Just as he thinks he’s finally won Con’s heart—and given his own in return—disaster strikes with a slip of the tongue that shatters Con’s trust and sends him running for cover. This show may be over before the curtain’s even opened.
Note: This is a revised second edition, originally published elsewhere.
Posh boy Tristan Goldsmith has one last summer of freedom before he joins the family firm in New York—no more farting around on stage, as his father puts it. But the classically trained actor can’t resist when the Shamwell Amateur Dramatics Society begs him to take a leading role in their production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. As an added incentive, he’ll be giving private acting lessons to a gorgeous local handyman who’s been curiously resistant to Tristan’s advances.
As a late-diagnosed dyslexic still struggling with literacy, Con Izzard’s never dared to act before. With arrogant yet charming Tristan helping him with his lines, he finally has his chance to shine. But Con’s determined not to start a romance with a man he’s convinced only wants a casual fling.
Tristan’s never been one to back down from a challenge, especially when he realises his attraction to the tall, muscular handyman isn’t just physical. Just as he thinks he’s finally won Con’s heart—and given his own in return—disaster strikes with a slip of the tongue that shatters Con’s trust and sends him running for cover. This show may be over before the curtain’s even opened.
Note: This is a revised second edition, originally published elsewhere.
258 pages, Paperback
First published June 30, 2015
20 people are currently reading
448 people want to read
About the author
J.L. Merrow
145 books1,327 followersJL Merrow is that rare beast, an English person who refuses to drink tea. She read Natural Sciences at Cambridge, where she learned many things, chief amongst which was that she never wanted to see the inside of a lab ever again. Her one regret is that she never mastered the ability of punting one-handed whilst holding a glass of champagne.
She writes across genres, with a preference for contemporary gay romance and the paranormal, and is frequently accused of humour. Her novella Muscling Through was a 2013 EPIC Award finalist, and her novel Slam! won the 2013 Rainbow Award for Best LGBT Romantic Comedy. Her novel Relief Valve is a finalist in the 2015 EPIC Awards.
JL Merrow is a member of the UK GLBTQ Fiction Meet organising team.
Find JL Merrow online at: www.jlmerrow.com, on Twitter as @jlmerrow, and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/jl.merrow
She writes across genres, with a preference for contemporary gay romance and the paranormal, and is frequently accused of humour. Her novella Muscling Through was a 2013 EPIC Award finalist, and her novel Slam! won the 2013 Rainbow Award for Best LGBT Romantic Comedy. Her novel Relief Valve is a finalist in the 2015 EPIC Awards.
JL Merrow is a member of the UK GLBTQ Fiction Meet organising team.
Find JL Merrow online at: www.jlmerrow.com, on Twitter as @jlmerrow, and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/jl.merrow
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
June 27, 2017
Okay, I have to get this off my chest: I HATED Tristan.
Like, I felt a huge urge to punch him in the face.
It's really hard for me to get into the romance when you aren't cheering for the couple. I did NOT want Con to end up with Tristan. Tristan is a rude snob who treats people like crap (especially people in the service industries), and I wanted him far away from sweet Con. I can't reiterate enough how BAD Tristan was. Arrogant, obnoxious, spoiled... I could go on and on. The only person worse than Tristan was his extremely toxic BFF, Amanda. Both of them could go to a desert island together.
The couple had no chemistry. None. I honestly was shaking my head at the idea that they could ever be together. I mean, just why????.
Aside from my issues with the couple, I think that J.L. Merrow is very talented writer. She gave each character their own unique voice, and I thought there was something charming about the setting and the atmosphere of the book. I just wish I didn't want to punch Tristan in the nads!
Not my favorite story by J.L. Merrow, not by a long shot.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
Like, I felt a huge urge to punch him in the face.
It's really hard for me to get into the romance when you aren't cheering for the couple. I did NOT want Con to end up with Tristan. Tristan is a rude snob who treats people like crap (especially people in the service industries), and I wanted him far away from sweet Con. I can't reiterate enough how BAD Tristan was. Arrogant, obnoxious, spoiled... I could go on and on. The only person worse than Tristan was his extremely toxic BFF, Amanda. Both of them could go to a desert island together.
The couple had no chemistry. None. I honestly was shaking my head at the idea that they could ever be together. I mean, just why????.
Aside from my issues with the couple, I think that J.L. Merrow is very talented writer. She gave each character their own unique voice, and I thought there was something charming about the setting and the atmosphere of the book. I just wish I didn't want to punch Tristan in the nads!
Not my favorite story by J.L. Merrow, not by a long shot.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
December 27, 2022
Another great read from J.L. Merrow. This author is quickly becoming on of my go to authors.
Tristan and Con were great. Ok, Tristan was an acquired taste at times, but I was still rooting for them.
It dragged a bit in the middle, and the first get together happened a little too late in the book but I still can't give this book anything less than 5 stars.
I have been reading these books in reversed order, and while it might not be recommended it works out pretty fine.
Tristan and Con were great. Ok, Tristan was an acquired taste at times, but I was still rooting for them.
It dragged a bit in the middle, and the first get together happened a little too late in the book but I still can't give this book anything less than 5 stars.
I have been reading these books in reversed order, and while it might not be recommended it works out pretty fine.
March 27, 2019
I did not care for Tristan (he was neither charming nor charismatic, he was just a dick), I did not care for Amanda and I did not care for all the Shakespeare!
Like I get that he's the master of all written things, or whatever, but for someone having NOT grown up on him, it was just repetitive, boring and plain hard to understand.
Too bad, I kind of liked Con, but he was too doormat-ty in the end for my tastes.
Like I get that he's the master of all written things, or whatever, but for someone having NOT grown up on him, it was just repetitive, boring and plain hard to understand.
Too bad, I kind of liked Con, but he was too doormat-ty in the end for my tastes.
Read
February 13, 2015This is the second in the Shamwell Tales. It's not exactly a sequel to Caught! as there is a new main couple, Tristan and Con, but Sean and Robert do put in an appearance! Played! is centred around the village amateur dramatics society, and in particular, their production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Hence the warnings at the end of the blurb! ;)
March 19, 2015
What a wonderful, light, funny, uplifting book! I knew to expect this after reading the first book in this series, but it still took me by surprise! I love British humor, I'm crazy about British hotties, I like British phrases and expressions so this book was a win-win for me because it has everything I wanted and more!
I liked Tristan, even though he came across as a self-entitled princess! He really was, the rich guy who feels bad for himself, but I loved how much he changed and I like nothing more than when I get to see character growth happening. And Tristan grows a lot (no pun intended, heh!).
Con is my favorite, I simply adored him! His dyslexia is the source of Con's low opinion about himself and his almost non-existent sense of self-worth, but he DOES manage to get past that by the end of the book; he was simply a brilliant, talented, loving man that's lucky he's not real, or I'd have snatched it for myself.
The relationship between Con and Tristan is slow to take off because Tristan is not one for short-term fooling around, and I can't praise him enough for knowing that about himself and not giving in. Is there anything sexier than a man that knows what he wants and will settle for nothing less? I don't think so! One thing that dropped this rating to 4 stars from the promising 5 it started with, is the lack of steamy sex! There is some intimacy between Con and Tristan, but it's only a blowjob or two and it's not detailed or anything! This book needed some outlet for the obvious chemistry between our main characters, and the lack of it was frustrating (all right, I admit, I was really hoping to see Tristan's smart-arse fucked into oblivion!).
I can't wait to read the next book in this series because I love this author! Recommended!!!
I liked Tristan, even though he came across as a self-entitled princess! He really was, the rich guy who feels bad for himself, but I loved how much he changed and I like nothing more than when I get to see character growth happening. And Tristan grows a lot (no pun intended, heh!).
Con is my favorite, I simply adored him! His dyslexia is the source of Con's low opinion about himself and his almost non-existent sense of self-worth, but he DOES manage to get past that by the end of the book; he was simply a brilliant, talented, loving man that's lucky he's not real, or I'd have snatched it for myself.
The relationship between Con and Tristan is slow to take off because Tristan is not one for short-term fooling around, and I can't praise him enough for knowing that about himself and not giving in. Is there anything sexier than a man that knows what he wants and will settle for nothing less? I don't think so! One thing that dropped this rating to 4 stars from the promising 5 it started with, is the lack of steamy sex! There is some intimacy between Con and Tristan, but it's only a blowjob or two and it's not detailed or anything! This book needed some outlet for the obvious chemistry between our main characters, and the lack of it was frustrating (all right, I admit, I was really hoping to see Tristan's smart-arse fucked into oblivion!).
I can't wait to read the next book in this series because I love this author! Recommended!!!
November 12, 2015
REVIEW @ Scattered Thoughts And Rough Words
“Hello. I perused your advertisement in our local emporium. All—”
“You what?”
“I read your card in Tesco,” Tristan clarified with a sigh. Some people had no appreciation for the beauties of the English language. “All household job’s—I assume the apostrophe was ironic?—done, reasonable rates.”
“Er, yeah.” The man on the other end of the phone sounded somewhat nonplussed, possibly due to the way Tristan had stressed the “ibble” at the end of reasonable. “What’s the problem?”
“Biblical.”
“What?”
“I have a plague of frogs.”[…] “A frog,” the handyman was saying. There was another pause. “So technically, yeah, that’s a plague of frog. One of ’em.”
“Semantics. The plural, in this case, may be taken to include the singular.”
“Right… Look, I think you want pest control, anyhow.”
“Finally we reach agreement. So how soon can you be here?”
This is where I fell in love with Tristan. He was amazing, hilarious. I loved how Tristan talked.
Let’s start my review saying I read Played! , which is the second book in the Shamwell Tales series by JL Merrow , without having read Caught! , the first one, and I can assure you I didn’t miss anything, it just increased my curiosity about Caught! Having different main characters, it isn’t exactly a sequel. So if you are interested just in Tristan and Con’s story, you can totally buy it. You won’t regret it.
Tristan has just moved to Shamwell where he is going to spend the the “last summer of freedom”. He is trading is biggest passion for acting with a boring (and hated) career at a desk job, working for his father’s firm in NY, a father who has never supported him in his dream of acting. No one ever supported him in his dreams, apart from his dear grandmother (Nana Geary). She’s just passed away and left him her house. So he’s planning to spend the summer in Shamwell to dispose Nana’s things before starting his new and boring life.
He meets Con when he called for help after a plague of frogs (it was really just one frog!).
Con works as an handyman with Sean (MC in Caught!). He moved to Shamwell where he met Geary the time he went to do some home repairs to her. She took him in and treated him like the mother Con’s has never been.
The first meeting with Tristan doesn’t go well. Tristan is funny but a prick, he’s used to having what he wants, he speaks perfectly and can’t stop himself in correcting the people who don’t. Con can’t stand Tristan. But nobody has ever turned Tristan down, Con is the first one, because he is not looking for just some fun, he needs something real and not casual.
When a new actor is needed for the role of Bottom in the Midsummer Night’s Dream production by the local theater, it will take Tristan to convince Con to join the play and to help him with his dyslexia. Con starts to overcome his fears and most of all to see who is the real Tristan hiding behind the snobby one.
There is a great cast of second characters, starting from Heather, Con’s friend. Some seem snobby as Tristan, others simple and sweet and caring as Con. They have some kickass friends.
Shortly JL Merrow did it again. She gave me another favorite book which is going to join the beautiful Muscling Through . The amazing Tristan will stay in my heart as Al did. I found this book fascinated. As I think I already said I love how the author puts words together in this so British way she has. She delivered a funny and light story, with a plot and great characters, a Tristan full of doubts and fears on his future. Sometime sure convinced that working for his dad will help him mature and become more responsible, other times that theater was just for fun. The relationship with Con will help him grow up so much at the end of the book, I (and Con) couldn’t love him more.
Moreover I can add I’m not a huge fan of slow burn and with almost no sex stories, I like my men to start loving each other pretty quickly in the book I’m reading and rather only a few times, otherwise I bore easily. Well in Played! I had no time to be bored. There was no dead moment, every sentence was full of humor, I laughed so much at Tristan.
Played! was an absolute winner, really really good. I don’t even know what to say to recommend you to buy it. I loved it so much.
Cover art by Kanaxa You know, I can’t explain why, cause honestly there is nothing special about it, but I really like it.
“Hello. I perused your advertisement in our local emporium. All—”
“You what?”
“I read your card in Tesco,” Tristan clarified with a sigh. Some people had no appreciation for the beauties of the English language. “All household job’s—I assume the apostrophe was ironic?—done, reasonable rates.”
“Er, yeah.” The man on the other end of the phone sounded somewhat nonplussed, possibly due to the way Tristan had stressed the “ibble” at the end of reasonable. “What’s the problem?”
“Biblical.”
“What?”
“I have a plague of frogs.”[…] “A frog,” the handyman was saying. There was another pause. “So technically, yeah, that’s a plague of frog. One of ’em.”
“Semantics. The plural, in this case, may be taken to include the singular.”
“Right… Look, I think you want pest control, anyhow.”
“Finally we reach agreement. So how soon can you be here?”
This is where I fell in love with Tristan. He was amazing, hilarious. I loved how Tristan talked.
Let’s start my review saying I read Played! , which is the second book in the Shamwell Tales series by JL Merrow , without having read Caught! , the first one, and I can assure you I didn’t miss anything, it just increased my curiosity about Caught! Having different main characters, it isn’t exactly a sequel. So if you are interested just in Tristan and Con’s story, you can totally buy it. You won’t regret it.
Tristan has just moved to Shamwell where he is going to spend the the “last summer of freedom”. He is trading is biggest passion for acting with a boring (and hated) career at a desk job, working for his father’s firm in NY, a father who has never supported him in his dream of acting. No one ever supported him in his dreams, apart from his dear grandmother (Nana Geary). She’s just passed away and left him her house. So he’s planning to spend the summer in Shamwell to dispose Nana’s things before starting his new and boring life.
He meets Con when he called for help after a plague of frogs (it was really just one frog!).
Con works as an handyman with Sean (MC in Caught!). He moved to Shamwell where he met Geary the time he went to do some home repairs to her. She took him in and treated him like the mother Con’s has never been.
The first meeting with Tristan doesn’t go well. Tristan is funny but a prick, he’s used to having what he wants, he speaks perfectly and can’t stop himself in correcting the people who don’t. Con can’t stand Tristan. But nobody has ever turned Tristan down, Con is the first one, because he is not looking for just some fun, he needs something real and not casual.
When a new actor is needed for the role of Bottom in the Midsummer Night’s Dream production by the local theater, it will take Tristan to convince Con to join the play and to help him with his dyslexia. Con starts to overcome his fears and most of all to see who is the real Tristan hiding behind the snobby one.
There is a great cast of second characters, starting from Heather, Con’s friend. Some seem snobby as Tristan, others simple and sweet and caring as Con. They have some kickass friends.
Shortly JL Merrow did it again. She gave me another favorite book which is going to join the beautiful Muscling Through . The amazing Tristan will stay in my heart as Al did. I found this book fascinated. As I think I already said I love how the author puts words together in this so British way she has. She delivered a funny and light story, with a plot and great characters, a Tristan full of doubts and fears on his future. Sometime sure convinced that working for his dad will help him mature and become more responsible, other times that theater was just for fun. The relationship with Con will help him grow up so much at the end of the book, I (and Con) couldn’t love him more.
Moreover I can add I’m not a huge fan of slow burn and with almost no sex stories, I like my men to start loving each other pretty quickly in the book I’m reading and rather only a few times, otherwise I bore easily. Well in Played! I had no time to be bored. There was no dead moment, every sentence was full of humor, I laughed so much at Tristan.
Played! was an absolute winner, really really good. I don’t even know what to say to recommend you to buy it. I loved it so much.
Cover art by Kanaxa You know, I can’t explain why, cause honestly there is nothing special about it, but I really like it.
July 10, 2015
Let us start by acknowledging that, while I read this entire book with a happy smile on my face, it is indeed a formulaic book in the great tradition of romance novels.
What is so appealing about this second in the series of the Shamwell novels, set in a fictional little English town a couple of hours from London, is Merrow’s writing. Her narrative is gentle and wry; her characters are beautifully delineated, physically and emotionally. All the players in this classic play-within-a-novel are good, amusing and worthy of our caring.
As in all romance novels, we know (and the author knows we know) where it’s going. Tristan Goldsmith and Constantine Izzard are going to fall in love. Small, puckish, promiscuous Tristan, is going to fall for large, slow, constant (see that?) Con.
Tristan is rich, spoiled, arrogant—but that arrogance comes from a place of sadness, due to his father’s constant disappointment at having a gay actor for a son. Beneath his smooth exterior is a loving man who has never been properly loved—except by his nanny, whose little house in Shamwell he inherits.
Con is far from rich, but self-sufficient, and endlessly caring—but that caring comes from another place of sadness, having been abandoned by his alcoholic mother and raised by his working-class gran. His role as a local village handyman stems from his desire to help, to find his roots in the town where his grandfather grew up.
There is surprisingly little sex in this book—and even that crucial encounter—very beautifully drawn out and described with smirking accuracy—is not much more than adolescent horniness finally unleashed. This is all about Tristan and Con’s emotions; about these two different yet compatible men finally coming to grips with their feelings and deciding to take charge of their own destinies.
A formula well-handled is still a joy. All poetry is formulaic; music is formulaic; paintings are formulaic. Art, when beautifully wrought, is still a pleasure.
And J.L. Merrow always gives me pleasure.
July 18, 2015
I don't know whether to go for this ...
Or this.....
To describe how I'm feeling.
I'd just finished Caught! and enjoyed it, so thought I'll jump straight into the second book Played!.
It's my own fault - I should have read the blurb, but got sucked in by the cover & previous book. I should have checked what other readers had shelved the book on and should have read other friends reviews. But alas, I did not.
I struggled to get through this book, waiting in anticipation for even the remotest of a spark between the two main characters Con & Tristan, both of whom I really couldn't engage or get a sense of liking for. The 'spark' eventually came at 85% and I was skimming both before after.
I did finish it, only because I try to not DNF, but I came close more than a few times to giving up.
It's done and dusted at 2 lacklustre stars.
Or this.....
To describe how I'm feeling.
I'd just finished Caught! and enjoyed it, so thought I'll jump straight into the second book Played!.
It's my own fault - I should have read the blurb, but got sucked in by the cover & previous book. I should have checked what other readers had shelved the book on and should have read other friends reviews. But alas, I did not.
I struggled to get through this book, waiting in anticipation for even the remotest of a spark between the two main characters Con & Tristan, both of whom I really couldn't engage or get a sense of liking for. The 'spark' eventually came at 85% and I was skimming both before after.
I did finish it, only because I try to not DNF, but I came close more than a few times to giving up.
It's done and dusted at 2 lacklustre stars.
April 26, 2015
This one is my bad, I hit the gimme button when I saw it was book two in this series. The thing is I hate bet plot lines and I didn't see that was this was until after I received it from Netgalley.
I trying to give it a fair shake anyway, but no it just wasn't for me. I hate Tristan, he was an arrogant, selfish asshole, and Con deserves so much better.
I received this book from Netgalley in trade for an honest review.
I trying to give it a fair shake anyway, but no it just wasn't for me. I hate Tristan, he was an arrogant, selfish asshole, and Con deserves so much better.
I received this book from Netgalley in trade for an honest review.
May 15, 2016
3.5 stars
This was sufficiently adorable but there was way too much Shakespeare for my tastes.
September 20, 2022
I laughed (literally) the whole way through! JL Merrow's references to all manner of stage plays are so poignant and spot on, and just incredibly clever - I'm repeatedly amazed by the sheer brilliance of this author.
The two MCs are a bit on the bumbling side, which just added to the humor, and continually increased my enjoyment of Played! as they muddled their way through. All in good fun.
And a lovely performance by Mark Steadman in the audio version.
The two MCs are a bit on the bumbling side, which just added to the humor, and continually increased my enjoyment of Played! as they muddled their way through. All in good fun.
And a lovely performance by Mark Steadman in the audio version.
March 1, 2018
My least favorite of the series. Gaining only a bare 4.5 stars. Terrible, right?
Tristan is a bit too over the top for me, but Connor is great, and I'm really glad certain cliches didn't make an appearance, and those that did were handled very well.
Once again, narration was spot on. The singing was also kinda cool too.
Tristan is a bit too over the top for me, but Connor is great, and I'm really glad certain cliches didn't make an appearance, and those that did were handled very well.
Once again, narration was spot on. The singing was also kinda cool too.
September 19, 2017
Well this is a bit of a quandry...
I was more than willing to give this one a go. It had a lot going for it...I like J.L. Merrow's writing, Mark Steadman is the narrator and I like him, I enjoyed 'Caught' the first book in this series. The blurb sounded cute and Shamwell seems like a quaint little place to visit...so I was all in and while I gave this one 3 stars, I have to admit it probably fell a little bit short of that mark. But between the quality of the writing and the audio narration in good conscience I wasn't really comfortable giving this one less than 3 stars and there were several things that I liked about this one.
I liked Con. While he was a bit sensitive about his dyslexia, I can't in all honesty say that he was 'bitter' or 'excessive' about it. It struck me that his attitude was more a case of it was what it was and he just seemed to want to get on with his life. He's had his heart broken before and he's not looking for any one night stands or quick hook-ups.
Tristan on the other hand is just in town for the summer and he's more than happy to do no-strings-attached, commitment free fun as he sorts out the house he's inherited and gets it ready for sale before going to New York to join the family business, give up his desires to perform live theater and fulfill his obligation to the family as per daddy's instructions.
Tristan's also more than a bit full of himself which leads to him being more than a little surprised when Con turns him down and doesn't return his interest. When circumstances conspire to throw Con and Tristan together in an amateur production for the local theater company. Con and Tristan begin to form a tentative friendship and feelings begin to grow on both sides.
At first glance this had all the makings of a fun, sweet, friends to lovers romance. Unfortunately as the story progressed Tristan went from self-absorbed and bit arrogant to a total, absolute jerk, I started to like him less and less. Now in his defense I will say he had help being such a huge jerk and that was his bbf Amanda...his Best Biotch Forever...because trust me folks this piece of work was no one's friend but her own. More often than not I found Tristan to be demeaning and condescending in how he treated Con.
As well as just not feeling the love for Tristan, I never really felt the love between Tristan and Con. It just didn't work for me and by the time they got together it was just a bit too rushed for me.
While the story overall was promising in the end it just wasn't enough to save it from what wasn't working for me so it ended up just being ok and with the addition of another solid job on the narration by Mark Steadman I'm comfortable leaving this one with 3 stars.
In spite of it all I'm hoping to give the next book in this series a try it's Patrick's story and we met him in this book and he had a bit of bad luck happening so with any luck things will go better for him on my next trip to the wee village of Shamwell.
********************
An audio book of 'Played' was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I was more than willing to give this one a go. It had a lot going for it...I like J.L. Merrow's writing, Mark Steadman is the narrator and I like him, I enjoyed 'Caught' the first book in this series. The blurb sounded cute and Shamwell seems like a quaint little place to visit...so I was all in and while I gave this one 3 stars, I have to admit it probably fell a little bit short of that mark. But between the quality of the writing and the audio narration in good conscience I wasn't really comfortable giving this one less than 3 stars and there were several things that I liked about this one.
I liked Con. While he was a bit sensitive about his dyslexia, I can't in all honesty say that he was 'bitter' or 'excessive' about it. It struck me that his attitude was more a case of it was what it was and he just seemed to want to get on with his life. He's had his heart broken before and he's not looking for any one night stands or quick hook-ups.
Tristan on the other hand is just in town for the summer and he's more than happy to do no-strings-attached, commitment free fun as he sorts out the house he's inherited and gets it ready for sale before going to New York to join the family business, give up his desires to perform live theater and fulfill his obligation to the family as per daddy's instructions.
Tristan's also more than a bit full of himself which leads to him being more than a little surprised when Con turns him down and doesn't return his interest. When circumstances conspire to throw Con and Tristan together in an amateur production for the local theater company. Con and Tristan begin to form a tentative friendship and feelings begin to grow on both sides.
At first glance this had all the makings of a fun, sweet, friends to lovers romance. Unfortunately as the story progressed Tristan went from self-absorbed and bit arrogant to a total, absolute jerk, I started to like him less and less. Now in his defense I will say he had help being such a huge jerk and that was his bbf Amanda...his Best Biotch Forever...because trust me folks this piece of work was no one's friend but her own. More often than not I found Tristan to be demeaning and condescending in how he treated Con.
As well as just not feeling the love for Tristan, I never really felt the love between Tristan and Con. It just didn't work for me and by the time they got together it was just a bit too rushed for me.
While the story overall was promising in the end it just wasn't enough to save it from what wasn't working for me so it ended up just being ok and with the addition of another solid job on the narration by Mark Steadman I'm comfortable leaving this one with 3 stars.
In spite of it all I'm hoping to give the next book in this series a try it's Patrick's story and we met him in this book and he had a bit of bad luck happening so with any luck things will go better for him on my next trip to the wee village of Shamwell.
********************
An audio book of 'Played' was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
July 5, 2017
Ah, Shamwell. I had almost forgotten how much I enjoyed this little village, and how fabulous JL Merrow's very British stories are to get lost in. I absolutely loved book one in the series, so it was no hardship to think about jumping into this installment. I was excited at the prospect of the actor and the handyman, as I figured this would be a fun and quirky tale. I was definitely right.
Con only recently moved to Shamwell after his gran died, and he's gotten a good clientele with his handyman business. He doesn't think too highly of himself, mainly due to the problems he's suffered his whole life with dyslexia, regardless that Heather always tells him how gorgeous he is. Tristan is back in Shamwell only until October, cleaning and organizing his Nanny Geary's house who just passed away and left it to him. She wasn't really his grandmother, she was his mother's nanny and then his, but in her and Tristan's eyes, they were family. Tristan would much rather stay there, but his father has summoned him to New York to join the family firm and, well, he needs money to live, so off he'll go and give up his acting career.
To say that Con and Tristan got off on the wrong foot is putting it mildly, very mildly. It seems that miscommunication abounds every time either of them opens their mouths. Con is convinced that Tristan thinks he's a dunce from peasant stock, although that part probably isn't too far off, and Tristan can't understand why every time he says something Con takes it the wrong way. The fact that Tristan comes on to Con and gets turned down, spectacularly, didn't help matters. Although I could see Con's point. He doesn't want his heart involved when Tristan is leaving in a few months.
When the amateur playhouse loses its Puck for their A Midsummer Night's Dream performance in a few months, Tristan takes on that role and convinces Con to play Bottom. This means these two unlikely souls spending more time together, but also learning to understand and appreciate each other. Unfortunately, Tristan's father has other plans and gives him an ultimatum. Well, it takes a little help from beyond, and a cat, to show Tristan what he needs from his life.
An absolutely delightful addition to the series. I adored Con and Tristan, in different ways, but their romance was a sweet and gentle one, filled with a lot of quotes from the Bard. I'm looking forward to more stories from Shamwell.
NOTE: This book was provided by Riptide Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews
Con only recently moved to Shamwell after his gran died, and he's gotten a good clientele with his handyman business. He doesn't think too highly of himself, mainly due to the problems he's suffered his whole life with dyslexia, regardless that Heather always tells him how gorgeous he is. Tristan is back in Shamwell only until October, cleaning and organizing his Nanny Geary's house who just passed away and left it to him. She wasn't really his grandmother, she was his mother's nanny and then his, but in her and Tristan's eyes, they were family. Tristan would much rather stay there, but his father has summoned him to New York to join the family firm and, well, he needs money to live, so off he'll go and give up his acting career.
To say that Con and Tristan got off on the wrong foot is putting it mildly, very mildly. It seems that miscommunication abounds every time either of them opens their mouths. Con is convinced that Tristan thinks he's a dunce from peasant stock, although that part probably isn't too far off, and Tristan can't understand why every time he says something Con takes it the wrong way. The fact that Tristan comes on to Con and gets turned down, spectacularly, didn't help matters. Although I could see Con's point. He doesn't want his heart involved when Tristan is leaving in a few months.
When the amateur playhouse loses its Puck for their A Midsummer Night's Dream performance in a few months, Tristan takes on that role and convinces Con to play Bottom. This means these two unlikely souls spending more time together, but also learning to understand and appreciate each other. Unfortunately, Tristan's father has other plans and gives him an ultimatum. Well, it takes a little help from beyond, and a cat, to show Tristan what he needs from his life.
An absolutely delightful addition to the series. I adored Con and Tristan, in different ways, but their romance was a sweet and gentle one, filled with a lot of quotes from the Bard. I'm looking forward to more stories from Shamwell.
NOTE: This book was provided by Riptide Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews
August 12, 2017
There are some lovely moments in this book but overall its very unsatisfying.
Tristan is not very self reflective, entitled, self centered, arrogant and often cruel. He is 24 not 6 and as an actor one would hope be way more in touch than he is.
I think Merrow sets him up to be a study in unexamined privilege but he but he is mean and so thoughtless his road back to redemption needs to be longer than this book allows. We also have to spend time with his even more awful friends Amanda and that is not a pleasant way to spend an afternoon.
Con is lovely but a bit of a doormat. The rest of the plot is engaging which is why I finished it but Tristan should have had to work harder and longer on his change to get a HEA.
Tristan is not very self reflective, entitled, self centered, arrogant and often cruel. He is 24 not 6 and as an actor one would hope be way more in touch than he is.
I think Merrow sets him up to be a study in unexamined privilege but he but he is mean and so thoughtless his road back to redemption needs to be longer than this book allows. We also have to spend time with his even more awful friends Amanda and that is not a pleasant way to spend an afternoon.
Con is lovely but a bit of a doormat. The rest of the plot is engaging which is why I finished it but Tristan should have had to work harder and longer on his change to get a HEA.
July 5, 2015
Doubt thou the stars are fire;
Doubt that the sun doth move;
Doubt truth to be a liar;
But never doubt I love.
If you can name the Shakespeare play from which the quote above is from, without thinking twice, then you obviously have luvvie tendencies – lol! Tristan is a thespian and my goodness does he have a way with words. His tongue is as sharp as a razor and I loved his camp, sarcastic humour, which got him into a lot of trouble and caused people to misunderstand him. He has to call pest control as he has a frog in the kitchen – lol! Talk about a drama queen, well Tristan lives up to those words both professionally and privately. I laughed my socks off at some of the lines and quips he came out with.
A totally endearing character. After calling pest control……enter Con…… your friendly neighbourhood odd job man, who works with Sean, who we met in the first book in the Shamwell tales.
“There are worse fates. Take me, for instance: a Jewish boy named after a Cornish adulterer made famous by a Nazi composer.”
You couldn’t get two more different guys if you tried. So introductions are made and Con thinks that Tristan is a complete upper-class tosser and Tristan sees Con as your average uneducated oaf, even if physically he’s very attractive, but can’t spell. We later learn that Con is dyslexic and as usual Tristan always manages to put his foot in the proverbial when opening his eloquent mouth.
Tristan is in Shamwell because he needs to sort out his recently deceased nanny’s house. Thinking he would be the next Lawrence Olivier, she was the biggest fan of his acting talents. Well he did study drama and acting. Con is in the local amateur theatrics group creating, building and painting the backdrops for their productions; the next one being Midsummer Night’s Dream. I loved how JL Merrow worked this into the story. Even the character names from this Shakespeare play lend themselves to a M/M novel marvellously. Well, you’ll have to read the story to find out who plays Bottom in the village production – lol!
So this is a relationship that goes from mild contempt, to mutual respect and finally the HEA – YES! Totally loved it, and with these two characters there are seriously laugh out loud moments. Well, at least it struck a chord with my sense of humour. The relationship is the main focus in this book so it’s rather light on the sex, but that’s fine with me if the story and plot keep me interested and to say the least, very amused. You could feel Con’s exasperation with Tristan and Tristan’s act of on the outside being all happy and carefree, but a character that really doesn’t know what he wants from life, especially as his dominant father is trying to push him a direction he really doesn’t want to go. He finds something in Shamwell with Con and the am-drams that he never expected and sets his life on a completely new path.
This is another thoroughly delightful addition to the Shamwell Tales series, which can be read as a stand-alone no problem and I will be looking forward to who will get their story told in the next book if there is one.
Doubt that the sun doth move;
Doubt truth to be a liar;
But never doubt I love.
If you can name the Shakespeare play from which the quote above is from, without thinking twice, then you obviously have luvvie tendencies – lol! Tristan is a thespian and my goodness does he have a way with words. His tongue is as sharp as a razor and I loved his camp, sarcastic humour, which got him into a lot of trouble and caused people to misunderstand him. He has to call pest control as he has a frog in the kitchen – lol! Talk about a drama queen, well Tristan lives up to those words both professionally and privately. I laughed my socks off at some of the lines and quips he came out with.
A totally endearing character. After calling pest control……enter Con…… your friendly neighbourhood odd job man, who works with Sean, who we met in the first book in the Shamwell tales.
“There are worse fates. Take me, for instance: a Jewish boy named after a Cornish adulterer made famous by a Nazi composer.”
You couldn’t get two more different guys if you tried. So introductions are made and Con thinks that Tristan is a complete upper-class tosser and Tristan sees Con as your average uneducated oaf, even if physically he’s very attractive, but can’t spell. We later learn that Con is dyslexic and as usual Tristan always manages to put his foot in the proverbial when opening his eloquent mouth.
Tristan is in Shamwell because he needs to sort out his recently deceased nanny’s house. Thinking he would be the next Lawrence Olivier, she was the biggest fan of his acting talents. Well he did study drama and acting. Con is in the local amateur theatrics group creating, building and painting the backdrops for their productions; the next one being Midsummer Night’s Dream. I loved how JL Merrow worked this into the story. Even the character names from this Shakespeare play lend themselves to a M/M novel marvellously. Well, you’ll have to read the story to find out who plays Bottom in the village production – lol!
So this is a relationship that goes from mild contempt, to mutual respect and finally the HEA – YES! Totally loved it, and with these two characters there are seriously laugh out loud moments. Well, at least it struck a chord with my sense of humour. The relationship is the main focus in this book so it’s rather light on the sex, but that’s fine with me if the story and plot keep me interested and to say the least, very amused. You could feel Con’s exasperation with Tristan and Tristan’s act of on the outside being all happy and carefree, but a character that really doesn’t know what he wants from life, especially as his dominant father is trying to push him a direction he really doesn’t want to go. He finds something in Shamwell with Con and the am-drams that he never expected and sets his life on a completely new path.
This is another thoroughly delightful addition to the Shamwell Tales series, which can be read as a stand-alone no problem and I will be looking forward to who will get their story told in the next book if there is one.
June 29, 2015
4.5 stars.
This book made me laugh, a lot.
Tristan is a "poncey git" in the words of Con, his erstwhile lover. It's quite true, though. Tristan is wealthy, and well-educated and an actor in London, but his father wants him to give it all up to work in the family's financial firm in NYC. He has a few last months of freedom while he clears out the house of Nanna Geary--his nanny and his mother's nanny--who was a surrogate mother/grandmother and beloved to Tristan. She told all her village acquaintances about her Tristan, and all the shows he put on, so the townsfolk have a glossy image of him. She left him her house, and he's enjoying his layabout with some menial sorting of her belongings. And, lusting after the village handyman, Con. He even gets sucked into starring in the local amateur theatre play--one last go before he gives it all up, as it were.
Con is a big man, and he's dyslexic, though Tristan doesn't learn this until quite a bit into the book. Con struggles with reading, but he's still educated--mostly by audiobook. He volunteers with the local amateur theatre company making sets, and he had a rather nasty first acquaintance with priggish Tristan who was demonstrably upset by a rogue frog in his kitchen. Con was a bastard child, raised by his gran and generally neglected by his mom. His education was poor, due to his dyslexia, and he has a rather poor image of himself. He is used to being insulted, and is tender over it.
Tristan's fits are, to me, very humorous. His turns of phrase are so over-the-top dramatic, often snatches of a bit of Shakespeare, that he seems far older than 23. Also, he's a whirlwind of motion and mouth. He confuses poor Con, belittles him (often accidentally), and is ham-handed in his apologies--at first. Still, Con isn't so dull as to not know when he's being pursued, and he doesn't want anything to do with Tristan--because Con is a one-man-guy and he knows Tristan is only temporarily in town; he doesn't want to be heartbroken when Tristan leaves.
As fates would have it, there are issues with the new play, and Con's friends enlist Con to take a part--a big part. Not something he can do without help--and Tristan is eager to help, if it means he gets extra time alone with his fave burly handyman. There is a wager between Tristan and a pal regarding the likelihood of bedding Con, but I felt this was an aside to the plot. In short, Tristan didn't seem to be pursuing Con in any mercenary way--he was genuinely attracted to him.
I am an Anglophile so I adored the full-on Brit lingo, but the language was occasionally thick for me, especially delivered with Tristan's flair. I was rooting for Con and Tristan from the outset, and was constantly thwarted by Tristan's verbal idiocy. For such a well-educated man, he has no sense, whatsoever. He was a total flake, but I really liked him in spite of it--I think because he was not truly nasty. It's like being angry with a puppy for not being housebroken. I'm not quite sure why Tristan has no sense, but he seems to transcend it. When he recognizes his missteps, he does try to make amends. And he does develop some very strong feelings for Con--which are reciprocated. There's a bit of heat toward the end, but mostly, there is a lot of tenderness on the page before Con and Tristan ever become physical. Tristan goes above and beyond in his training of Con for the stage--and the mutual awe of performance was so fun to watch develop. I adored how kind both Con and Tristan are to the elderly folk in their community. And I really enjoyed the subplot regarding Con's grandfather's time in this town during WWII.
I received a reveiw copy of this book via NetGalley.
This book made me laugh, a lot.
Tristan is a "poncey git" in the words of Con, his erstwhile lover. It's quite true, though. Tristan is wealthy, and well-educated and an actor in London, but his father wants him to give it all up to work in the family's financial firm in NYC. He has a few last months of freedom while he clears out the house of Nanna Geary--his nanny and his mother's nanny--who was a surrogate mother/grandmother and beloved to Tristan. She told all her village acquaintances about her Tristan, and all the shows he put on, so the townsfolk have a glossy image of him. She left him her house, and he's enjoying his layabout with some menial sorting of her belongings. And, lusting after the village handyman, Con. He even gets sucked into starring in the local amateur theatre play--one last go before he gives it all up, as it were.
Con is a big man, and he's dyslexic, though Tristan doesn't learn this until quite a bit into the book. Con struggles with reading, but he's still educated--mostly by audiobook. He volunteers with the local amateur theatre company making sets, and he had a rather nasty first acquaintance with priggish Tristan who was demonstrably upset by a rogue frog in his kitchen. Con was a bastard child, raised by his gran and generally neglected by his mom. His education was poor, due to his dyslexia, and he has a rather poor image of himself. He is used to being insulted, and is tender over it.
Tristan's fits are, to me, very humorous. His turns of phrase are so over-the-top dramatic, often snatches of a bit of Shakespeare, that he seems far older than 23. Also, he's a whirlwind of motion and mouth. He confuses poor Con, belittles him (often accidentally), and is ham-handed in his apologies--at first. Still, Con isn't so dull as to not know when he's being pursued, and he doesn't want anything to do with Tristan--because Con is a one-man-guy and he knows Tristan is only temporarily in town; he doesn't want to be heartbroken when Tristan leaves.
As fates would have it, there are issues with the new play, and Con's friends enlist Con to take a part--a big part. Not something he can do without help--and Tristan is eager to help, if it means he gets extra time alone with his fave burly handyman. There is a wager between Tristan and a pal regarding the likelihood of bedding Con, but I felt this was an aside to the plot. In short, Tristan didn't seem to be pursuing Con in any mercenary way--he was genuinely attracted to him.
I am an Anglophile so I adored the full-on Brit lingo, but the language was occasionally thick for me, especially delivered with Tristan's flair. I was rooting for Con and Tristan from the outset, and was constantly thwarted by Tristan's verbal idiocy. For such a well-educated man, he has no sense, whatsoever. He was a total flake, but I really liked him in spite of it--I think because he was not truly nasty. It's like being angry with a puppy for not being housebroken. I'm not quite sure why Tristan has no sense, but he seems to transcend it. When he recognizes his missteps, he does try to make amends. And he does develop some very strong feelings for Con--which are reciprocated. There's a bit of heat toward the end, but mostly, there is a lot of tenderness on the page before Con and Tristan ever become physical. Tristan goes above and beyond in his training of Con for the stage--and the mutual awe of performance was so fun to watch develop. I adored how kind both Con and Tristan are to the elderly folk in their community. And I really enjoyed the subplot regarding Con's grandfather's time in this town during WWII.
I received a reveiw copy of this book via NetGalley.
January 19, 2019
This is the follow up to Caught! and is set in the same village of Shamwell. In this story Tristan and Con are both fairly new to the area - Tristan has just arrived to sort out his former Nanny's cottage following her death, and Con around a year or so before, fleeing from his ex. They meet initially when Tristan suffers a plague frog, but then Tristan, who has trained as an actor but only has 2 months before his family insists he joints the family firm in New York, is invited to take on the role of Bottom in the Sham-Dram production of Midsummer Night's Dream - where Con is doing the scenery. When the actor playing Puck is injured, Tristan takes on that roll and Con, who suffers from dyslexia, is talked into the role of Bottom. Con and Tristan develop feelings for each other while Tristan coaches Con for the role, but then he screws it up royally. The pair do get some sort of happy ending - but to be honest I am a bit at a loss as to how they arrived at is as it just kind of happened in a rush with no real redemption by Tristan.
There was a very under developed backstory involving Con's grandfather, a few appearances by the MC's from the previous book and whereas I like Heather, the young actress and Sean's ex, I really disliked the way that Tristan's friend Amanda was portrayed.
I also found it difficult to warm to the MC's in the same way that I did to those in the last book. Tristan is shallow, self centred and immature (if you read Slam! and disliked Jude you will probably feel the same way about Tristan), Con on the other had is the fairly strong and silent type. I just had real difficulty in buying their relationship. I think part of it is that unlike the first book, where the MC's take a year getting to know each other and getting over their differences, in this book it all just happens within at most 6 weeks. This author is a favourite of mine, but I really wasn't taken with this book.
There was a very under developed backstory involving Con's grandfather, a few appearances by the MC's from the previous book and whereas I like Heather, the young actress and Sean's ex, I really disliked the way that Tristan's friend Amanda was portrayed.
I also found it difficult to warm to the MC's in the same way that I did to those in the last book. Tristan is shallow, self centred and immature (if you read Slam! and disliked Jude you will probably feel the same way about Tristan), Con on the other had is the fairly strong and silent type. I just had real difficulty in buying their relationship. I think part of it is that unlike the first book, where the MC's take a year getting to know each other and getting over their differences, in this book it all just happens within at most 6 weeks. This author is a favourite of mine, but I really wasn't taken with this book.
July 22, 2017
Fun at first, but then both boys (they are 23) seemed more like caricatures than real people. Plus 100% crappy or dead parents and elderly plot moppets strewn about.
Two points for the people with an extra point for wit.
Two points for the people with an extra point for wit.
August 12, 2015
Almost a 3 Star
Played! is the story of Tristan and Con. I must confess that I didn’t like Tristan much. I struggled with him because he seemed arrogant, self absorted, and a bit immature.
I liked Con better. I thought he was pretty likable, and sweet. I loved the fact that he knew what he wanted and what he didn’t want and made it clear for Tristan to know. I think this is something that you rarely see in M/M Romance. I mean, of course we have many wonderful slow burns, but it’s the fact that the character goes directly to the point by saying something like (paraphrasing here): yea, you’re hot, granted… But, I am not what you want, and more importantly you are not what I need. We’re looking for different things, that quite caught my attention.
So, yes, this was great for a start, but then I felt like there was way too much dancing around each other. The story seemed to goo way too slow, and it started to struggle to keep my attention.
I think there was some great potential here. I think the writer is really good when it comes to descriptions of things, places and people. There is a nice prose, too. I also think there was a great idea brewing there with the whole inclusion of play references. More than once I found myself smiling when I encountered those in the book. However, I think that there were too many, and I’m not sure it was necessary that it was that excessive. Yes, of course it goes perfectly were with Tristan and the theatre group, but I found myself wondering if those readers that haven’t read those plays would get the humor in it. Another thing that I loved here was the british language! Give me british and I will smile!
Despite seeing those great things I must confess that in the end, this book wasn’t for me. It was the fact that I struggled with one of the MC’s that put me off a bit, and in the end influenced my enjoyment of the story.
Played! is the story of Tristan and Con. I must confess that I didn’t like Tristan much. I struggled with him because he seemed arrogant, self absorted, and a bit immature.
I liked Con better. I thought he was pretty likable, and sweet. I loved the fact that he knew what he wanted and what he didn’t want and made it clear for Tristan to know. I think this is something that you rarely see in M/M Romance. I mean, of course we have many wonderful slow burns, but it’s the fact that the character goes directly to the point by saying something like (paraphrasing here): yea, you’re hot, granted… But, I am not what you want, and more importantly you are not what I need. We’re looking for different things, that quite caught my attention.
So, yes, this was great for a start, but then I felt like there was way too much dancing around each other. The story seemed to goo way too slow, and it started to struggle to keep my attention.
I think there was some great potential here. I think the writer is really good when it comes to descriptions of things, places and people. There is a nice prose, too. I also think there was a great idea brewing there with the whole inclusion of play references. More than once I found myself smiling when I encountered those in the book. However, I think that there were too many, and I’m not sure it was necessary that it was that excessive. Yes, of course it goes perfectly were with Tristan and the theatre group, but I found myself wondering if those readers that haven’t read those plays would get the humor in it. Another thing that I loved here was the british language! Give me british and I will smile!
Despite seeing those great things I must confess that in the end, this book wasn’t for me. It was the fact that I struggled with one of the MC’s that put me off a bit, and in the end influenced my enjoyment of the story.
September 4, 2015
Even though I didn't enjoy it as much as 'Caught', I still snorted my way through Tristan's antics and ramblings, which contrasted nicely with Con's blushes and stumblings.
These are two very different boys. They take a long time to even admit their attraction. The air is mostly hostile around them, loaded with miscommunication and defensiveness. Tristan tries too hard and completes blotches his attempts to woo the mighty muscled Con.
Con is defensive about his lack of education, and has been hurt by Mo, so he is reluctant to give Tristan the time of day.
Yes, it is frustrating to watch. But so much more realistic than them jumping each other. It took ages before we see any action.
It's very funny, and I appreciated all the Shakespearian references. And the ending was fine.
Bring on Patrick's story. (I only think he might be next).
These are two very different boys. They take a long time to even admit their attraction. The air is mostly hostile around them, loaded with miscommunication and defensiveness. Tristan tries too hard and completes blotches his attempts to woo the mighty muscled Con.
Con is defensive about his lack of education, and has been hurt by Mo, so he is reluctant to give Tristan the time of day.
Yes, it is frustrating to watch. But so much more realistic than them jumping each other. It took ages before we see any action.
It's very funny, and I appreciated all the Shakespearian references. And the ending was fine.
Bring on Patrick's story. (I only think he might be next).
August 18, 2015
3.5
Funny, easygoing, and altogether nice. I guess my biggest problem was that I just didn't understand how Tristan could be so easily manipulated by
Also, while I usually love how J.L. Merrow changes voice and language dependent on the POV, I have to admit that Tristan's word choices and speech were way too flowery for me - actually, they seemed incredibly artificial sometimes, and, honestly, super pretentious.
Despite these little drawbacks, I had fun with this story, and I'm definitely looking out for the next book here! (Is there another book? I hope so!)
Funny, easygoing, and altogether nice. I guess my biggest problem was that I just didn't understand how Tristan could be so easily manipulated by
Also, while I usually love how J.L. Merrow changes voice and language dependent on the POV, I have to admit that Tristan's word choices and speech were way too flowery for me - actually, they seemed incredibly artificial sometimes, and, honestly, super pretentious.
Despite these little drawbacks, I had fun with this story, and I'm definitely looking out for the next book here! (Is there another book? I hope so!)
May 2, 2015
This book is really hard for me to rate and review. There was nothing wrong with it. It was written well. But, I didn't enjoy it. I never warmed up to Tristan's character. I thought he was unlikable and I really couldn't see what Con saw in him. As a result I found the love story unbelievable. Con's character I did like and the overall plot of the story was good. It's one of those stories where I don't know if it was the author or me. I'm going to go with a middle of the ground rating and since it was my first time reading this author I will try her again some time.
*ARC was provided by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for a honest review*
*ARC was provided by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for a honest review*
August 5, 2015
Sadly this didn't quite hit the spot like the first one in the series did. It's a slight bit repetitive – new posh guy in town falls for resident blue collar hottie. But that's not too big of a deal.
The real problem is the character of Tristan. He's just not likable, like at all.
There is a way to make arrogant, selfish characters endearing despite their failings, but for me the author didn't quite manage that here. So consequently the romance never quite convinced me. I cringed a bit inside every time Con went on about how awesome Tristan is....he really isn't.
However, this hasn't put me off the series and I would still like to read the third installment, if there is one.
The real problem is the character of Tristan. He's just not likable, like at all.
There is a way to make arrogant, selfish characters endearing despite their failings, but for me the author didn't quite manage that here. So consequently the romance never quite convinced me. I cringed a bit inside every time Con went on about how awesome Tristan is....he really isn't.
However, this hasn't put me off the series and I would still like to read the third installment, if there is one.
March 31, 2018
This book gave me emotional whiplash. Why?
Con was wonderful and Tristan was abominable. If I was rating this book based on Tristan, the rating would fall. If I was rating it based on Con, it would rise. But they're both in the book, as a couple, which leads to incredible strangeness.
I want to be kind, but Tristan was a selfish, self-centered, egotistical, cruel, classist bastard. I kept waiting for him to get redeemed, and although his behavior did become slightly less awful towards the end of the book, he remained pretty darned terrible.
Then there was Con, who I enjoyed immensely. Generous, kind, interesting, he was a joy to read about. His main issue was that he had trouble with his self-confidence, which was certainly understandable, given the flack that he had been on the receiving end of throughout his life. I just really wanted him to realize that a person's value as a human being didn't depend on their income, their reading ability, or their spelling.
Should they be together? I don't think so. I think that Tristan needs to do some serious work on himself before he gets involved with another human being, and Con needs to stay away from someone who puts people down when he is feeling bad.
So, I should probably rate this lower than I am, but goodness I love Con. He made the book fun.
One thing that I wasn't sure about, however, was the perception that the book seemed to have that Con's problems with reading could have been solved if he had received educational intervention, or if he received it now. While I don't have dyslexia, I do have a learning disability (and I, too, was diagnosed as an adult; woo for schools not picking up on learning disabilities?), and while knowing about my disability sometimes allows me to do things that help me operate in school more effectively than before, it isn't because someone has suddenly started teaching me in a way that makes my disability go away. So, for example, one of the ways my learning disability impacts me is via spelling, which you probably can't tell because I'm using a computer which has spellcheck. But if I were (as I have been in the past) faced with a situation where someone wanted me to work without spellcheck (for example, maybe writing an essay on a test) and spelling would count? I would go to disability services and ask them for an accommodation excusing me from the "spelling counts" requirement or allowing me to use spellcheck; at no point has my problem with spelling been noticeably improved by any educational intervention. This is part of why I was so happy when Con was using audio books; it showed a person using assertive technology to get what they want even if their disability would have otherwise made it difficult or impossible. So, while I don't know how dyslexia specifically is treated, I cannot imagine that it is a matter of simply treating it so it goes away. Everything I know both about disability accommodations both in relation to my learning disability and dyslexia indicate that Con is going to continue to need reasonable adjustments to be made to accommodate his dyslexia, even if (and this is also likely) Con can get better at reading than he currently is. But someone who actually has dyslexia would surely know more about this than I do. Maybe dyslexia is more treatable than I what I have. I don't know.
Con was wonderful and Tristan was abominable. If I was rating this book based on Tristan, the rating would fall. If I was rating it based on Con, it would rise. But they're both in the book, as a couple, which leads to incredible strangeness.
I want to be kind, but Tristan was a selfish, self-centered, egotistical, cruel, classist bastard. I kept waiting for him to get redeemed, and although his behavior did become slightly less awful towards the end of the book, he remained pretty darned terrible.
Then there was Con, who I enjoyed immensely. Generous, kind, interesting, he was a joy to read about. His main issue was that he had trouble with his self-confidence, which was certainly understandable, given the flack that he had been on the receiving end of throughout his life. I just really wanted him to realize that a person's value as a human being didn't depend on their income, their reading ability, or their spelling.
Should they be together? I don't think so. I think that Tristan needs to do some serious work on himself before he gets involved with another human being, and Con needs to stay away from someone who puts people down when he is feeling bad.
So, I should probably rate this lower than I am, but goodness I love Con. He made the book fun.
One thing that I wasn't sure about, however, was the perception that the book seemed to have that Con's problems with reading could have been solved if he had received educational intervention, or if he received it now. While I don't have dyslexia, I do have a learning disability (and I, too, was diagnosed as an adult; woo for schools not picking up on learning disabilities?), and while knowing about my disability sometimes allows me to do things that help me operate in school more effectively than before, it isn't because someone has suddenly started teaching me in a way that makes my disability go away. So, for example, one of the ways my learning disability impacts me is via spelling, which you probably can't tell because I'm using a computer which has spellcheck. But if I were (as I have been in the past) faced with a situation where someone wanted me to work without spellcheck (for example, maybe writing an essay on a test) and spelling would count? I would go to disability services and ask them for an accommodation excusing me from the "spelling counts" requirement or allowing me to use spellcheck; at no point has my problem with spelling been noticeably improved by any educational intervention. This is part of why I was so happy when Con was using audio books; it showed a person using assertive technology to get what they want even if their disability would have otherwise made it difficult or impossible. So, while I don't know how dyslexia specifically is treated, I cannot imagine that it is a matter of simply treating it so it goes away. Everything I know both about disability accommodations both in relation to my learning disability and dyslexia indicate that Con is going to continue to need reasonable adjustments to be made to accommodate his dyslexia, even if (and this is also likely) Con can get better at reading than he currently is. But someone who actually has dyslexia would surely know more about this than I do. Maybe dyslexia is more treatable than I what I have. I don't know.
May 7, 2022
It is a bit difficult at first to come around to the main couple, mostly because of one character- Tristan. As stated by others, Tristan is a rich snob and he doesn't even really realize how much of one he is. Living in this small town is changing him, but he is qutie the pill to take at first. As his friends change and his thoughts on his life change he too changes, but it is slow to happen.
Tristan has grown up rich but has expectations upon him from his family. He went to school for the arts and acting is his dream, but he gave it up at the urging of a friend and the expectation of his father. Taking care of the home left to him by his grandmother/nanny is his one last hurrah and at first he treats it as such. Tristan hires Con to help deal with an 'infestation' which ends up with the two meeting a few times as a local production finds itself in dire need of help. Tristan gets to see more of the town and more of the things he realizes he has loved. Tristan may have been born with a silver spoon but for acting he has given things up before, and he could again if he embraced a different self. Meanwhile Con is dealing with seeing two sides of Tristan; the posh asshole and the helpful and charismatic actor. Their time together shows Con he could be more and the idea that he could also have more in life is a revelation.
It is certainly a rough journey going along. As stated, Tristan is posh and doesn't realize how he acts to others. It takes time to open his eyes, see how he acts, and change things. It also takes time to want to have that change. At the beginning you aren't so much rooting for the pair to get together as for them to individually figure themselves out, which they do quite a bit of. It makes for an interesting story in that they almost have individual journeys side-by-side, that become a joint journey in some ways. It was a bit different but a very satisfying read!
Tristan has grown up rich but has expectations upon him from his family. He went to school for the arts and acting is his dream, but he gave it up at the urging of a friend and the expectation of his father. Taking care of the home left to him by his grandmother/nanny is his one last hurrah and at first he treats it as such. Tristan hires Con to help deal with an 'infestation' which ends up with the two meeting a few times as a local production finds itself in dire need of help. Tristan gets to see more of the town and more of the things he realizes he has loved. Tristan may have been born with a silver spoon but for acting he has given things up before, and he could again if he embraced a different self. Meanwhile Con is dealing with seeing two sides of Tristan; the posh asshole and the helpful and charismatic actor. Their time together shows Con he could be more and the idea that he could also have more in life is a revelation.
It is certainly a rough journey going along. As stated, Tristan is posh and doesn't realize how he acts to others. It takes time to open his eyes, see how he acts, and change things. It also takes time to want to have that change. At the beginning you aren't so much rooting for the pair to get together as for them to individually figure themselves out, which they do quite a bit of. It makes for an interesting story in that they almost have individual journeys side-by-side, that become a joint journey in some ways. It was a bit different but a very satisfying read!
January 4, 2022
To see more reviews check out MI Book Reviews.
I got an ARC in return for an honest review on NetGalley.
So to start, this book was one that I had seen mixed reviews on GoodReads by some reviewers I really respect and trust. I have to completely agree with them on their views of this book. If you get a moment check out my favorite reviewer’s reviews of anything.
The story centered around the relationship of Tristan and Con. Tristan was so obnoxious. I hated him from the very first page he appeared. I never grew any positive feelings about him and because of that hate the HEA aspect of the book. He did not deserved Con in the slightest (slight spoiler, but seriously, who expects a romance novel to end with anything but a HEA).
Con was a decent guy. He had faults and he worked on them. He had low self-esteem, but that was due to things largely outside of his control (another reason why I hate Tristan is he literally brought up something very similar to Con’s disability at a very inappropriate moment which made him seem like even more of an ass than I already thought he was). Con had a real back story. He was trying to find out more information about his family. That was so fascinating to me. If the book was more focused on that instead of Tristan’s drama, I would have loved the book. I seriously can’t get over my hate of the main character.
Tristan was so pretentious that I can’t focus on anything else but him. I was a drama kid in high school and I was surrounded by drama kids through college. I am used to artsy people. Tristan gave us all a terrible name. People that acted like him did not last long in the groups. They were filtered out, not praised. Seriously, fuck Tristan.
I got an ARC in return for an honest review on NetGalley.
So to start, this book was one that I had seen mixed reviews on GoodReads by some reviewers I really respect and trust. I have to completely agree with them on their views of this book. If you get a moment check out my favorite reviewer’s reviews of anything.
The story centered around the relationship of Tristan and Con. Tristan was so obnoxious. I hated him from the very first page he appeared. I never grew any positive feelings about him and because of that hate the HEA aspect of the book. He did not deserved Con in the slightest (slight spoiler, but seriously, who expects a romance novel to end with anything but a HEA).
Con was a decent guy. He had faults and he worked on them. He had low self-esteem, but that was due to things largely outside of his control (another reason why I hate Tristan is he literally brought up something very similar to Con’s disability at a very inappropriate moment which made him seem like even more of an ass than I already thought he was). Con had a real back story. He was trying to find out more information about his family. That was so fascinating to me. If the book was more focused on that instead of Tristan’s drama, I would have loved the book. I seriously can’t get over my hate of the main character.
Tristan was so pretentious that I can’t focus on anything else but him. I was a drama kid in high school and I was surrounded by drama kids through college. I am used to artsy people. Tristan gave us all a terrible name. People that acted like him did not last long in the groups. They were filtered out, not praised. Seriously, fuck Tristan.
May 30, 2019
This author has a real talent for comedy, and usually that's not my thing but it works for me here, as it does in many of their other works. I loved the MC and how he interacted with the other characters - by far my favourite book in this series.
April 19, 2017
3.5 stars
May 18, 2017
Fabulous!
I LOVED it.
The truth is at first I did not like Tristan at all. At first I was quite sure I wouldn't like this story, because it annoyed me more than entertained me. But then something happened. I realized I was curious about Sean, Tristan and Sham-Drams. I wanted to know more and before I knew it I was head over heels in love with Sean and came to the point when I understood Tristan's behavior.
This is a lovely love story, chemistry between Sean and Tristan is almost palpable (but there is almost no sex so if this is what You're looking for, think again) and a whole plot is interesting.
I can't wait to read other books from this series and I wish there was more of Tristan and Sean's story.
I LOVED it.
The truth is at first I did not like Tristan at all. At first I was quite sure I wouldn't like this story, because it annoyed me more than entertained me. But then something happened. I realized I was curious about Sean, Tristan and Sham-Drams. I wanted to know more and before I knew it I was head over heels in love with Sean and came to the point when I understood Tristan's behavior.
This is a lovely love story, chemistry between Sean and Tristan is almost palpable (but there is almost no sex so if this is what You're looking for, think again) and a whole plot is interesting.
I can't wait to read other books from this series and I wish there was more of Tristan and Sean's story.
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