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Surreal Estate
Sasha Michaels is a psychic with an affinity for houses. And he’s homeless. Go figure. After months of sleeping rough, he stumbles upon an abandoned house, and the lonely place beckons him inside. He’s finally safe . . . until someone comes blundering in to his hideaway. House-flipper Nick Cooper lost everything in the recession. Desperate to revive his business, he turns to a loan shark to fund his comeback flipping an abandoned house full of potential. But it turns out the house has an unexpected occupant. Nick and Sasha make a Sasha can stay in exchange for helping with the renovation. To both of their surprise, the closer they get to the loan shark’s due date, the stronger their feelings for each other grow. Problem is, Nick isn’t the only one with feelings for Sasha, and now the house doesn’t want to let Sasha go.
271 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 5, 2018
72 people are currently reading
316 people want to read
About the author
Jesi Lea Ryan
12 books159 followersUSA Today Bestselling Author Jesi Lea Ryan grew up in the Mississippi River town of Dubuque, IA. She holds bachelor degrees in creative writing and literature and a masters degree in business. She considers herself a well-rounded nerd who can spend hours on the internet researching things like British history, anthropology of ancient people, geography of random parts of the world, bad tattoos and the paranormal. She currently lives in Madison, WI with her husband and sassy kitty.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
December 20, 2018
*3.5 stars*
I enjoyed Surreal Estate by new-to-me author, Jesi Lea Ryan. I read a lot of paranormal books and books with psychics, but I don't think I've read one yet that the psychic communicated with houses. I thought it was a cool premise.
I really liked Sasha, who went through so much with his mom and being homeless. He was young, but he really had his head on right. I connected with him a lot.
Nick... was a bit of a mess. He is the older MC by over a decade, but he didn't have his act together at all. Of course, I loved the bisexual aspect (I love a bi MC), and I liked how the relationship was sort of slow-burn, but I related to Sasha a lot more.
I really liked the slight mystery aspect, and I loved the paranormal aspects, even more than I was expecting. I think my only complaint was the pacing, but it was a very, very solid read. I'd read this author again in a heartbeat.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
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I enjoyed Surreal Estate by new-to-me author, Jesi Lea Ryan. I read a lot of paranormal books and books with psychics, but I don't think I've read one yet that the psychic communicated with houses. I thought it was a cool premise.
I really liked Sasha, who went through so much with his mom and being homeless. He was young, but he really had his head on right. I connected with him a lot.
Nick... was a bit of a mess. He is the older MC by over a decade, but he didn't have his act together at all. Of course, I loved the bisexual aspect (I love a bi MC), and I liked how the relationship was sort of slow-burn, but I related to Sasha a lot more.
I really liked the slight mystery aspect, and I loved the paranormal aspects, even more than I was expecting. I think my only complaint was the pacing, but it was a very, very solid read. I'd read this author again in a heartbeat.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
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October 22, 2018
3.5*
This was a cute little read.
I’ll admit after reading the blurb I was a little intrigued. It’s the first time I’ve come across a book featuring a psychic with an affinity for houses.
Sasha used to have a pretty good life. He had a home, attended college and played in a band. Now he’s twenty-four and homeless. While walking an abandoned house calls to him, he enters and squats there.
Nick is a house flipper who lost everything in the recession. He buys this house and borrows money from a dangerous source to get him back on his feet.
Nick sees an opportunity and offers Sasha a job and accommodation while the renovation is taking place.
Sasha is gay and Nicks now thinks he might be bi.
Now this is a quick cute read, it’s not a book you examine too closely. It’s definitely a just go with and enjoy it type of book. And I did.
I liked all the characters including Nick’s brothers. I hope they get their own books at some point.
It’s an easy read. We always know where it’s going and how it will end but it’s a nice journey. There’s drama from both sides, Sasha’s mum and the loan shark.
I voluntarily read a review copy kindly provided by NetGalley.
This was a cute little read.
I’ll admit after reading the blurb I was a little intrigued. It’s the first time I’ve come across a book featuring a psychic with an affinity for houses.
Sasha used to have a pretty good life. He had a home, attended college and played in a band. Now he’s twenty-four and homeless. While walking an abandoned house calls to him, he enters and squats there.
Nick is a house flipper who lost everything in the recession. He buys this house and borrows money from a dangerous source to get him back on his feet.
Nick sees an opportunity and offers Sasha a job and accommodation while the renovation is taking place.
Sasha is gay and Nicks now thinks he might be bi.
Now this is a quick cute read, it’s not a book you examine too closely. It’s definitely a just go with and enjoy it type of book. And I did.
I liked all the characters including Nick’s brothers. I hope they get their own books at some point.
It’s an easy read. We always know where it’s going and how it will end but it’s a nice journey. There’s drama from both sides, Sasha’s mum and the loan shark.
I voluntarily read a review copy kindly provided by NetGalley.
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November 18, 2021Now *FREE* on Amazon, 2021-11-17.
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February 18, 2019
3.5 stars.
Paranormal romances have become hit-and-miss for me (I blame it on True Blood becoming a dumpster fire and Kresley Cole being SO good that most offerings pale in comparison to IAD). But I took a chance on Surreal Estate by new-to-me author Jesi Lea Ryan, and I’m glad that I did. It was a fun and quirky read.
Ryan included a unique element here: Sasha, a former musician with a troubled past, has psychic abilities that enable him to communicate with houses. He is squatting in a vacant house when he meets its very surprised owner, Nick. Nick is struggling to keep his construction business afloat, and he offers to let Sasha stay if he will help flip the house. The house has other plans for itself, though...
The two men form a tentative friendship that blossoms into an attraction. Nick’s bisexual awakening was done well, and Sasha and Nick shared some hot and sweet moments. Still, I wished that their romantic relationship was better developed on-page. Nick also made some extremely frustrating decisions during the course of the story. But I give the author props for portraying the desperation of economic instability in a realistic light. Sasha was there for Nick when he needed him, and it led to some truly touching and aww-worthy moments.
I’m one of the last readers to call for supporting characters to get their own books, but I would be genuinely interested in a story for Steven, Nick’s brother. He deserves happiness.
Here's hoping that the author revisits this universe!
Paranormal romances have become hit-and-miss for me (I blame it on True Blood becoming a dumpster fire and Kresley Cole being SO good that most offerings pale in comparison to IAD). But I took a chance on Surreal Estate by new-to-me author Jesi Lea Ryan, and I’m glad that I did. It was a fun and quirky read.
Ryan included a unique element here: Sasha, a former musician with a troubled past, has psychic abilities that enable him to communicate with houses. He is squatting in a vacant house when he meets its very surprised owner, Nick. Nick is struggling to keep his construction business afloat, and he offers to let Sasha stay if he will help flip the house. The house has other plans for itself, though...
The two men form a tentative friendship that blossoms into an attraction. Nick’s bisexual awakening was done well, and Sasha and Nick shared some hot and sweet moments. Still, I wished that their romantic relationship was better developed on-page. Nick also made some extremely frustrating decisions during the course of the story. But I give the author props for portraying the desperation of economic instability in a realistic light. Sasha was there for Nick when he needed him, and it led to some truly touching and aww-worthy moments.
I’m one of the last readers to call for supporting characters to get their own books, but I would be genuinely interested in a story for Steven, Nick’s brother. He deserves happiness.
Here's hoping that the author revisits this universe!
November 18, 2021
I really enjoyed this book and hope there will be more in the series as his brothers need their HEA. I loved this new psychic phenomenon. I have never read a book where the psychic feels what a house/building feels. That was so cool. We got to see a little a little of the reconstructing of the house and would love to see it finished. I would also read a series about a psychic flipper with his hot construction boyfriend. And the new house Stephen called about, that would be fun. Maybe solve some old mysteries. Okay I’m getting ahead of myself. I loved the MCs. I hated that Nick pulled that hair-brain idea, he is lucky things worked out. They had some hot chemistry and make an adorable couple.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 5, 2018
I was curious with the blurb of this one. It says “psychic with an affinity for houses” and that was something NEW for me. I don’t think I’ve ever encountered such description for character in romance – I have read characters with psychometry power but not one that only limited to houses. So, I took the chance to read this from a new-to-me author – this is also her first M/M book, I believe.
And I wholeheartedly enjoyed it!!
From the two men, I had more affection towards Sasha. How could I not? Sasha has been down on his luck. Since his grandfather died and his drug addict mother took the only house he knows, Sasha has nowhere else to go. Being homeless, he sleeps at the abandoned house whom later being bought by Nick for a house-flipping job.
Nonetheless, I never felt that Sasha is giving up on life. When Nick gives him a chance to earn his staying at the house by working for Nick, Sasha grabs the chance and be tenacious at it. Of course, it helps that the house has been attached to him, so Sasha can help Nick by showing things that can improve the house.
Nick, on the other hand …. well, with him being 15 years older than Sasha, I was a little baffled with how ‘seemingly stupid’ he is sometimes, especially when it comes to his finance. I mean, really, borrowing money from a loan shark?! Then acts like things would not be as bad if he couldn’t sell the house? That sounds really naïve, don’t you think?
In addition, it’s not like Nick doesn’t have a GREAT support system – with his loving parents and supportive siblings. Although I know that is never an assurance for people not acting stupid, but still…
In the romantic relationship development, I liked how the progress. When you read between the lines, Nick made his move towards Sasha rather quickly (in terms of timeline). However, it still felt rather slow-burn to me, probably because other things were going at the same time, most naturally the project on the house. I also appreciated that Nick isn’t in too much denial with him suddenly liking a guy, since he was married to a woman before. Probably helps that Nick’s older brother is gay *grin*.
All in all, this is an enjoyable read. I hope Ms. Ryan will continue somehow with the story of Nick’s older brother, Steven. He needs his own happy ending. Also, it’ll be nice to get updates on how Sasha and Nick work on their personal and professional partnership.
A Guest Review for The Blogger Girls
The ARC is provided by the publisher for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
And I wholeheartedly enjoyed it!!
From the two men, I had more affection towards Sasha. How could I not? Sasha has been down on his luck. Since his grandfather died and his drug addict mother took the only house he knows, Sasha has nowhere else to go. Being homeless, he sleeps at the abandoned house whom later being bought by Nick for a house-flipping job.
Nonetheless, I never felt that Sasha is giving up on life. When Nick gives him a chance to earn his staying at the house by working for Nick, Sasha grabs the chance and be tenacious at it. Of course, it helps that the house has been attached to him, so Sasha can help Nick by showing things that can improve the house.
Nick, on the other hand …. well, with him being 15 years older than Sasha, I was a little baffled with how ‘seemingly stupid’ he is sometimes, especially when it comes to his finance. I mean, really, borrowing money from a loan shark?! Then acts like things would not be as bad if he couldn’t sell the house? That sounds really naïve, don’t you think?
In addition, it’s not like Nick doesn’t have a GREAT support system – with his loving parents and supportive siblings. Although I know that is never an assurance for people not acting stupid, but still…
In the romantic relationship development, I liked how the progress. When you read between the lines, Nick made his move towards Sasha rather quickly (in terms of timeline). However, it still felt rather slow-burn to me, probably because other things were going at the same time, most naturally the project on the house. I also appreciated that Nick isn’t in too much denial with him suddenly liking a guy, since he was married to a woman before. Probably helps that Nick’s older brother is gay *grin*.
All in all, this is an enjoyable read. I hope Ms. Ryan will continue somehow with the story of Nick’s older brother, Steven. He needs his own happy ending. Also, it’ll be nice to get updates on how Sasha and Nick work on their personal and professional partnership.
A Guest Review for The Blogger Girls
The ARC is provided by the publisher for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
November 15, 2020
Such a great read!
Sasha has been homeless for about a year. Down on his luck and money he founds this unoccupied house that speaks to him. Yup, it basically tells him to come to it. Sasha is a psychic. But not your usual psychic. He can "talk" to houses. So well, instead of living on the streets Sasha uses this unoccupied house to sleep in. No one owns it so no harm, right? Enter Nick. Nick lost a lot when his houseflipping business tanked. Deciding to start up his business again he buys the house Sasha is sleeping in. He's surprised to find Sasha there but doesn't have it in his heart to throw him up. So they start working together to get the house done for selling.
Both Sasha and Nick have had bad luck, none of them are perfect and I loved that about them. They were a bit bruised but together they were unstoppable.
Sure this book was a bit predictable. And some things didn't make much sense, but I've been down on my luck on a lot of my reads lately and this was exactly what I needed.
Sasha has been homeless for about a year. Down on his luck and money he founds this unoccupied house that speaks to him. Yup, it basically tells him to come to it. Sasha is a psychic. But not your usual psychic. He can "talk" to houses. So well, instead of living on the streets Sasha uses this unoccupied house to sleep in. No one owns it so no harm, right? Enter Nick. Nick lost a lot when his houseflipping business tanked. Deciding to start up his business again he buys the house Sasha is sleeping in. He's surprised to find Sasha there but doesn't have it in his heart to throw him up. So they start working together to get the house done for selling.
Both Sasha and Nick have had bad luck, none of them are perfect and I loved that about them. They were a bit bruised but together they were unstoppable.
Sure this book was a bit predictable. And some things didn't make much sense, but I've been down on my luck on a lot of my reads lately and this was exactly what I needed.
February 26, 2020
Audiobook reviewI’ve read numerous of books with various types of psychics before, I’m partial to the trope. But this take on it was new and really interesting.
Sasha has an affinity for houses. They speak to him – in a way. They show him memories, good and bad. But they also affect him on a physical level. His life used to be solid, but trusting the wrong people caused him to not only lose his money and the band he played in, it also cost him going to college and even having a place to stay. So when an abandoned house beckons him inside, he listens. Little did he know that the house had plans for him. Not in any nefarious way, it had just made up its mind about the next resident and it did not include being sold first chance the new owner and house-flipper Nick Cooper got.
At times I felt like the story and the ideas behind certain things were underdeveloped. The ideas were great and I really wanted to know more. Do this deep dive into the thick of things. Most ideas were explained and explored to a certain point, it wasn’t shallow by any means, but it also wasn’t quite cohesive. We jumped from one thing to the next, without really finishing it. Take Sasha’s gift as an example, I loved this take on psychic ability. That houses had memories and feelings. And I really wanted to know more about it. I think the author could have done so much more with Sasha’s gift, exploring it more.
The pacing of this book didn’t feel quite right, there was no real flow to the book. It almost felt like many separate events thrown together in he hopes of forming a story. They were only loosely connected and many left open ended. Now, normally this would be the perfect premise for the beginning of a series. But it wasn’t those kinds of loose ends – for the most part. And while I do think this was interesting world Ryan created, and I’m very fascinated by the whole house psychic thing, I’m also very satisfied with reading this one book.
There was this strange mix of never ending drama unfolding one after the next. But the way this book was written it never felt overly dramatic, which I greatly appreciate. I am not a fan of drama for the sake of it. On the other hand there was no consequences for what happened either, no real impact, for the characters or me as a listener. Things that should have some kind of reaction or repercussion never had. Once the scene ended, the topic was closed never to be brought up again. That works for some things, but there were some major events here that I felt should have impacted a lot more. Every ingredient is there for a great story, it was just slightly off
Surreal Estate was narrated by TJ Clark, another first for me. His narration was my second favourite thing about this book, the first one being Sasha’s affinity of houses. He was widely talented and his narration held a good pacing and his various voices enhanced the story. He captured the different personalities of the characters, from Sasha and Nicky to the more slimy Frank Diamond. I loved the concept and narration of this story and I’m glad I gave it a try – for nothing else to explore Sasha’s talent and finding a new narrator to look out for.
A copy of this book was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
October 29, 2018
A very enjoyable romance about two men who learn to face their tough times together.
It is a nice romance with difficult situations to overcome but no unecessary angst. I liked the fact that both men were trying to deal with their situations but at the same time they took risks and decided to acknowledge their feelings and try for love.
Nick and Sasha are realistic characters who make realistic mistakes and find ways of dealing with them. Sasha is homeless and Nick is trying to revive his business and Nick gradually realises he is bi-sexual. Both men have complex situations to deal with and in the midst if these difficulties springs hope, love and courage. Their lives are portrayed in a way that is thoughtful, very human, complex and yes realistic.
There are great secondary characters that enrich the story. Supportive but sometimes irritating family members and rather shadowy characters that Nick is foolish enough to do business with. I must admit that the shadowy characters felt a bit exaggerated but I think as part of the story they fit in well and provided a challenge to overcome. They also provided a bit of tension and pace for the story because I wanted to see how Nick would resolve that issue. I read that part with bated breath.
The characters have a slow burning attraction to each other that they discover gradually through friendship and through the circumstances that draw them closer to each other. I really enjoyed this. The writing is smooth and flows so well. I loved the way they became stronger as a couple, helping each other to see different options and being there for each other.
Best of all in this story is the frisson of the paranormal. The idea that houses can speak or project images and feelings, was creative and new. I have come across so many haunted house stories but this was something completely different.
This is the first time I have read anything by this author and I would definitely read more.
A lovely story which I thoroughly enjoyed!
Copy provided by Riptide Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
It is a nice romance with difficult situations to overcome but no unecessary angst. I liked the fact that both men were trying to deal with their situations but at the same time they took risks and decided to acknowledge their feelings and try for love.
Nick and Sasha are realistic characters who make realistic mistakes and find ways of dealing with them. Sasha is homeless and Nick is trying to revive his business and Nick gradually realises he is bi-sexual. Both men have complex situations to deal with and in the midst if these difficulties springs hope, love and courage. Their lives are portrayed in a way that is thoughtful, very human, complex and yes realistic.
There are great secondary characters that enrich the story. Supportive but sometimes irritating family members and rather shadowy characters that Nick is foolish enough to do business with. I must admit that the shadowy characters felt a bit exaggerated but I think as part of the story they fit in well and provided a challenge to overcome. They also provided a bit of tension and pace for the story because I wanted to see how Nick would resolve that issue. I read that part with bated breath.
The characters have a slow burning attraction to each other that they discover gradually through friendship and through the circumstances that draw them closer to each other. I really enjoyed this. The writing is smooth and flows so well. I loved the way they became stronger as a couple, helping each other to see different options and being there for each other.
Best of all in this story is the frisson of the paranormal. The idea that houses can speak or project images and feelings, was creative and new. I have come across so many haunted house stories but this was something completely different.
This is the first time I have read anything by this author and I would definitely read more.
A lovely story which I thoroughly enjoyed!
Copy provided by Riptide Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
August 23, 2018
I was given this ARC by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
24 yr old homeless Sasha Michaels is wandering the streets when he comes upon a house that calls to him. After some inspection, it's obvious that it's been abandoned, so he starts squatting there at night. Six months later, house flipper Nick Cooper buys the house and finds Sasha upstairs. Instead of sending him to a shelter he offers to let him stay in exchange for helping with the reno. Mystery surrounds the pair when the house is upset at the prospect of being sold.
I really enjoyed this read. It had a different edge than a regular MM romance. The paranormal vibe was fun and fresh and added some mystery and intrigue. I would definitely recommend this fun, quick read.
24 yr old homeless Sasha Michaels is wandering the streets when he comes upon a house that calls to him. After some inspection, it's obvious that it's been abandoned, so he starts squatting there at night. Six months later, house flipper Nick Cooper buys the house and finds Sasha upstairs. Instead of sending him to a shelter he offers to let him stay in exchange for helping with the reno. Mystery surrounds the pair when the house is upset at the prospect of being sold.
I really enjoyed this read. It had a different edge than a regular MM romance. The paranormal vibe was fun and fresh and added some mystery and intrigue. I would definitely recommend this fun, quick read.
June 8, 2020
DNF @ 19%.
The writing was a little too simple and wasn't really letting me get to know the characters. The plot also took a turn towards the ridiculous.
Also, I just found it weird that Sasha addresses the houses as "House", including his own childhood home and the one he squatted in for months. I would think if you had a physic ability to connect with a house, you'd get a little more personal in your address.
Also, Nick kind of came off as an ignorant douchenozzle in this exchange:
The writing was a little too simple and wasn't really letting me get to know the characters. The plot also took a turn towards the ridiculous.
Also, I just found it weird that Sasha addresses the houses as "House", including his own childhood home and the one he squatted in for months. I would think if you had a physic ability to connect with a house, you'd get a little more personal in your address.
Also, Nick kind of came off as an ignorant douchenozzle in this exchange:
"What kind of name is 'Sasha' for a dude?"
"Russian Jew."
"Really? What's your last name?"
"Michaels."
"What kind of name is 'Michaels' for a Russian Jew?"
"The kind whose grandfather decided not to saddle his future kids with 'Mikhailovich' when he left the Soviet Union."
"Good call."
November 25, 2018
3.5****
Ryan is a new to me writer. I was intrigued by Sasha’s psychic ability to read a house’s energy. Nick’s latest flip project adopts Sasha and brings the two of them together. A brick and mortar match maker.
Nick for his part often leaps without looking. The resolve of his money situation was a little too easy, but a romance allows for leeway.
If this becomes a series, I would definitely read the next book. Perhaps a book featuring Nick’s brother Steven.
Ryan is a new to me writer. I was intrigued by Sasha’s psychic ability to read a house’s energy. Nick’s latest flip project adopts Sasha and brings the two of them together. A brick and mortar match maker.
Nick for his part often leaps without looking. The resolve of his money situation was a little too easy, but a romance allows for leeway.
If this becomes a series, I would definitely read the next book. Perhaps a book featuring Nick’s brother Steven.
December 1, 2021
3.5 stars rounded up 😊🏠
December 13, 2021
3.5 Stars
November 2, 2018
4 Stars
After reading the blurb I was really intrigued. I’ve read a few stories featuring psychics and one that is tuned into homes, like Sasha, was interesting and not a subject matter I’d read about in the past.
Sasha and Nick were both interesting and likable men and what I found most interesting, and different about the story was that both men were struggling financially, so there was no clear or easy way I could see for them to get out of their predicaments, so along with being an enjoyable read, it was a bit angsty as well.
The story is well-written and I loved not only Sasha and Nick, but Nick’s brothers and parents as well. Sasha and Nick had great chemistry and I loved that Nick, who was just a bit bi-curious before meeting Sasha, accepted his sexuality so easily.
I’m hoping that the author will revisit this 'verse and maybe write Nick’s brother, Steven's story. He was an interesting character and I think he needs his happy ending, too!
This was a cute and recommendable read!
*Copy provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
After reading the blurb I was really intrigued. I’ve read a few stories featuring psychics and one that is tuned into homes, like Sasha, was interesting and not a subject matter I’d read about in the past.
Sasha and Nick were both interesting and likable men and what I found most interesting, and different about the story was that both men were struggling financially, so there was no clear or easy way I could see for them to get out of their predicaments, so along with being an enjoyable read, it was a bit angsty as well.
The story is well-written and I loved not only Sasha and Nick, but Nick’s brothers and parents as well. Sasha and Nick had great chemistry and I loved that Nick, who was just a bit bi-curious before meeting Sasha, accepted his sexuality so easily.
I’m hoping that the author will revisit this 'verse and maybe write Nick’s brother, Steven's story. He was an interesting character and I think he needs his happy ending, too!
This was a cute and recommendable read!
*Copy provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
January 24, 2019
3.5 stars
This was a new to me author and I'm glad I decided to try this. It was an entertaining plot and I liked both of the mc's quite a bit. I especially enjoyed Sasha's ability to read houses' feelings. I go in to a lot of different homes for my job and sometimes you can feel various emotions (such as sadness and grief). It's almost a tangible thing. I thought it was cool how the author took that kind of thing but made it an actual psychic ability.
Overall I found this to be a really solid book and I'll definitely read other books by this author.
**ARC provided through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
This was a new to me author and I'm glad I decided to try this. It was an entertaining plot and I liked both of the mc's quite a bit. I especially enjoyed Sasha's ability to read houses' feelings. I go in to a lot of different homes for my job and sometimes you can feel various emotions (such as sadness and grief). It's almost a tangible thing. I thought it was cool how the author took that kind of thing but made it an actual psychic ability.
Overall I found this to be a really solid book and I'll definitely read other books by this author.
**ARC provided through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
February 16, 2020
3.5 stars rounded down because still no 1/2 stars here on GR.
It seems that paranormal stories are becoming a regular thing in my reading world...
I often use to preface my reviews of paranormal books with comments like...It's not my favorite genre, as a rule I don't do paranormal... yadda, yadda, yadda. Of course I've also been known to say 'never say never' and it's a good thing because it seems my affinity for this genre is growing.
I actually picked up the book a while ago thinking "Ok, this looks interesting. Sounds like a different take on the whole psychic thing, I'll give it a try the next time I want something different." Much to my surprise a short time later I was present with the opportunity to listen to the audio book of 'Surreal Estate' with the narration being done by new to me narrator, TJ Clark. It felt like I was being pulled in a certain direction.
The narrator was not the only thing that was new to me for this story, this was also my first Jesi Lea Ryan novel and past experience has taught me that the combination of a new to me author and narrator can be a wonderful thing or something that goes sideways very, very fast. Luckily this one came in much closer to being a wonderful thing than a sideways thing.
TJ Clark provided a very solid and enjoyable narration for this story and I look forward to hearing more from him in future. I found the voices for not just the MCs but the other characters in the story each held their own consistent uniqueness.
'Surreal Estate' is the story of Sasha, a sweet young man whose life hasn't always been easy but somehow Sasha's managed not to let this turn him into someone who's jaded or bitter. In fact all things considered he's kept a fairly good outlook on things in general. He's been living on the streets for a few months now, working at odd jobs for minimum wage when he can and busking in between to add to his income. All Sasha really wants is a place where he can feel safe and call it home.
Then there's Nick. He's older and one would hope wiser and all he wants is to get his house-flipping business back on it's feet and to move on from his failed marriage.
Lastly we have the house. Sasha sees it as someplace where he can be safe and dry and he knows the house doesn't want to be alone anymore...did I mention that Sasha's psychic and has an affinity for houses? I didn't, really? Sorry, my bad...so yeah, Sasha's psychic and his connection isn't with people living or dead...it's with houses. So of course we have a house and Sasha sees it as a home, but Nick sees it as a fresh start for his business...now, if he just had the money to buy it and flip it...enter your friendly neighborhood loan-shark (seriously it's all in the blurb).
For Sasha and Nick made for an interesting couple. Both of these men are strong willed and highly independent in their own way and distinctly different individuals. They're also very drawn to each other or they would be if Nick wasn't gay, but they can be friends right? Refreshingly this story had a nice slow burn and it isn't a 'gay for you' story either and yes, I really liked that fact.
As Nick and Sasha work together both to restore the house and to help each other out of a couple of sticky situations and as Nick's feelings for Sasha grow so does the realization that maybe he's not as straight as he thought he was.
I really enjoyed this story and the the additional characters that the author created to help fill things out. There were some really sweet and sexy moments between the MCs as well as some touches of humor and for me just the right amount of emphasis was given to Sasha's psychic abilities to keep them an active part of the story without overwhelming the romance between him and Nick.
In general the balance and pacing was good and the story was laid out in such a way that it can easily stand on it's own or Ms Ryan has the opportunity to give us more, which I admit I wouldn't mind if this turned into a series even just a short one with only a couple more stories to give the reader more of Nick and Sasha as their relationship develops both the personal relationship and the professional one that's hinted at as these two men join forces to flip houses and give them a new life...in more ways than one.
*************************
An audio book of 'Surreal Estate' was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
It seems that paranormal stories are becoming a regular thing in my reading world...
I often use to preface my reviews of paranormal books with comments like...It's not my favorite genre, as a rule I don't do paranormal... yadda, yadda, yadda. Of course I've also been known to say 'never say never' and it's a good thing because it seems my affinity for this genre is growing.
I actually picked up the book a while ago thinking "Ok, this looks interesting. Sounds like a different take on the whole psychic thing, I'll give it a try the next time I want something different." Much to my surprise a short time later I was present with the opportunity to listen to the audio book of 'Surreal Estate' with the narration being done by new to me narrator, TJ Clark. It felt like I was being pulled in a certain direction.
The narrator was not the only thing that was new to me for this story, this was also my first Jesi Lea Ryan novel and past experience has taught me that the combination of a new to me author and narrator can be a wonderful thing or something that goes sideways very, very fast. Luckily this one came in much closer to being a wonderful thing than a sideways thing.
TJ Clark provided a very solid and enjoyable narration for this story and I look forward to hearing more from him in future. I found the voices for not just the MCs but the other characters in the story each held their own consistent uniqueness.
'Surreal Estate' is the story of Sasha, a sweet young man whose life hasn't always been easy but somehow Sasha's managed not to let this turn him into someone who's jaded or bitter. In fact all things considered he's kept a fairly good outlook on things in general. He's been living on the streets for a few months now, working at odd jobs for minimum wage when he can and busking in between to add to his income. All Sasha really wants is a place where he can feel safe and call it home.
Then there's Nick. He's older and one would hope wiser and all he wants is to get his house-flipping business back on it's feet and to move on from his failed marriage.
Lastly we have the house. Sasha sees it as someplace where he can be safe and dry and he knows the house doesn't want to be alone anymore...did I mention that Sasha's psychic and has an affinity for houses? I didn't, really? Sorry, my bad...so yeah, Sasha's psychic and his connection isn't with people living or dead...it's with houses. So of course we have a house and Sasha sees it as a home, but Nick sees it as a fresh start for his business...now, if he just had the money to buy it and flip it...enter your friendly neighborhood loan-shark (seriously it's all in the blurb).
For Sasha and Nick made for an interesting couple. Both of these men are strong willed and highly independent in their own way and distinctly different individuals. They're also very drawn to each other or they would be if Nick wasn't gay, but they can be friends right? Refreshingly this story had a nice slow burn and it isn't a 'gay for you' story either and yes, I really liked that fact.
As Nick and Sasha work together both to restore the house and to help each other out of a couple of sticky situations and as Nick's feelings for Sasha grow so does the realization that maybe he's not as straight as he thought he was.
I really enjoyed this story and the the additional characters that the author created to help fill things out. There were some really sweet and sexy moments between the MCs as well as some touches of humor and for me just the right amount of emphasis was given to Sasha's psychic abilities to keep them an active part of the story without overwhelming the romance between him and Nick.
In general the balance and pacing was good and the story was laid out in such a way that it can easily stand on it's own or Ms Ryan has the opportunity to give us more, which I admit I wouldn't mind if this turned into a series even just a short one with only a couple more stories to give the reader more of Nick and Sasha as their relationship develops both the personal relationship and the professional one that's hinted at as these two men join forces to flip houses and give them a new life...in more ways than one.
*************************
An audio book of 'Surreal Estate' was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
March 18, 2020
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
A brief note before getting into the review: This book deals bluntly and practically with some issues that might make some people uncomfortable. Sasha’s estranged mother is a heavy drug user (heroin) and alcoholic. She has also been a sex worker in exchange for drugs and money. There are mentions of the sexual assault and sexual abuse she has endured. Drugs and the harm they do are a constant undercurrent in Sasha’s life and the book doesn’t shy away from this or from the effects it has on people and their relationships. If this subject matter that causes you distress, you might want to pass on this book.
Sasha grew up with a loving grandfather, and while he’s down on his luck, he hasn’t lost either his natural good nature or his optimism. Having seen what drugs and drinking have done to his mother, he avoids them at all costs — though he does smoke, a small vice he isn’t keen on giving up just yet. He’s loyal, earnest, a hard worker, and he loves the fact that the job Nick is giving him (or rather, letting him do) helps the house whose pain he feels so keenly. Every scuff and ding they remove, every flaw they fix makes her happy, which makes him happy, a happiness that Nick can’t help but respond to.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
A brief note before getting into the review: This book deals bluntly and practically with some issues that might make some people uncomfortable. Sasha’s estranged mother is a heavy drug user (heroin) and alcoholic. She has also been a sex worker in exchange for drugs and money. There are mentions of the sexual assault and sexual abuse she has endured. Drugs and the harm they do are a constant undercurrent in Sasha’s life and the book doesn’t shy away from this or from the effects it has on people and their relationships. If this subject matter that causes you distress, you might want to pass on this book.
Sasha grew up with a loving grandfather, and while he’s down on his luck, he hasn’t lost either his natural good nature or his optimism. Having seen what drugs and drinking have done to his mother, he avoids them at all costs — though he does smoke, a small vice he isn’t keen on giving up just yet. He’s loyal, earnest, a hard worker, and he loves the fact that the job Nick is giving him (or rather, letting him do) helps the house whose pain he feels so keenly. Every scuff and ding they remove, every flaw they fix makes her happy, which makes him happy, a happiness that Nick can’t help but respond to.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
April 29, 2022
I enjoyed this story, but I’m not a big fan of most paranormal books. The concept was different and intriguing. I liked Nick and Sasha.
October 2, 2018
I received a copy of Surreal Estate from Riptide Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts, opinions, and words are my own.
This was....okay, I guess...
Content notes:
👻 homelessness
👻 meth use mentioned
👻 mention of drug dealing
👻 fatmisia
👻 reference to using body as currency
👻 Mom with a drug habit, mentioned
👻 mother in jail
👻 allusion to physical fight, mention of blood
👻 gun violence
👻 marijuana use
👻 musing on sexuality based on attraction to select guys
👻 drug addiction
👻 mention of past witnessed bashing, knife violence
👻 sexual predator, allusions to past sexual assault
👻 conflation of behavior with attraction (never have sex with a guy, straight, even if attracted)
👻 classism, class disparity
👻 on page sex
👻 injury, hospitalization of secondary character
👻 mention of past overdose (survived) of secondary character
👻discussion of rehab for secondary character
👻 biology = gender
👻 mention of vomit
👻 drug paraphernalia
👻 mention of suicide, AIDS
The premise of this book sounded really interesting, but I don’t know that it really worked for me. Sasha is a Russian-Jewish squatter whose Mom is an addict, which has caused conflict and not wanting to be around her while high is what lead to his homelessness. Nick used to flip homes, but after housing market crashes and stuff he struggles to do what he enjoys, so he makes the choice to borrow from a loan shark to jumpstart his business again. The house Nick ends up buying is the place where Sasha is staying, and rather than kick him out Nick offers him some work and allows him to stay in the house.
A lot of drama seems to happen between Sasha’s Mom, Nick’s loan shark, and the house’s sentience. Some times things felt too drawn out but then in the end everything is tied up neatly and quickly. This book just wasn’t as engaging as I had hoped, and the conclusion felt too easy after all the struggle Nick and Sasha had already gone through.
Overall, I think the idea behind the story is an interesting one, but some of the drama felt almost over the top, and in the end everything was resolved too easily.
This was....okay, I guess...
Content notes:
👻 homelessness
👻 meth use mentioned
👻 mention of drug dealing
👻 fatmisia
👻 reference to using body as currency
👻 Mom with a drug habit, mentioned
👻 mother in jail
👻 allusion to physical fight, mention of blood
👻 gun violence
👻 marijuana use
👻 musing on sexuality based on attraction to select guys
👻 drug addiction
👻 mention of past witnessed bashing, knife violence
👻 sexual predator, allusions to past sexual assault
👻 conflation of behavior with attraction (never have sex with a guy, straight, even if attracted)
👻 classism, class disparity
👻 on page sex
👻 injury, hospitalization of secondary character
👻 mention of past overdose (survived) of secondary character
👻discussion of rehab for secondary character
👻 biology = gender
👻 mention of vomit
👻 drug paraphernalia
👻 mention of suicide, AIDS
The premise of this book sounded really interesting, but I don’t know that it really worked for me. Sasha is a Russian-Jewish squatter whose Mom is an addict, which has caused conflict and not wanting to be around her while high is what lead to his homelessness. Nick used to flip homes, but after housing market crashes and stuff he struggles to do what he enjoys, so he makes the choice to borrow from a loan shark to jumpstart his business again. The house Nick ends up buying is the place where Sasha is staying, and rather than kick him out Nick offers him some work and allows him to stay in the house.
A lot of drama seems to happen between Sasha’s Mom, Nick’s loan shark, and the house’s sentience. Some times things felt too drawn out but then in the end everything is tied up neatly and quickly. This book just wasn’t as engaging as I had hoped, and the conclusion felt too easy after all the struggle Nick and Sasha had already gone through.
Overall, I think the idea behind the story is an interesting one, but some of the drama felt almost over the top, and in the end everything was resolved too easily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2019
overall, this book was okay. it was fun to read. the writing started off forced, but eventually hit a rhythm. sascha's power to sense the feelings of houses was a fresh idea, and had all sorts of implications, such as his difficulty finding places to live that don't adversely affect him.
i really appreciated the insistence that nick, the other main character, is bisexual. many people throughout the book try to label him as gay, but he always corrects them and states his sexuality boldly. the descriptions when he first sees sascha are clichéd—"how the hell did i know what color his eyes were? what's wrong with me?"—but that seems a facet of the genre.
about halfway through, the resolution to the plot was obvious and i was frustrated that it took the characters so long to get with the program. the book could have been shorter, or at least the final plot point could have taken place earlier, so that we could see more of the life nick and sascha build together. while a fun romp with a fresh premise, the drawn-out plot was a major detractor for me. also, they never had sex in the house. for curiosity's sake, i wanted to know how that was going to work out—would the house participate? would something weird happen? would sascha feel the house's emotions, and what would they be? i respect the author shying away from that to preserve their dignity, but please, give the people what they want.
i really appreciated the insistence that nick, the other main character, is bisexual. many people throughout the book try to label him as gay, but he always corrects them and states his sexuality boldly. the descriptions when he first sees sascha are clichéd—"how the hell did i know what color his eyes were? what's wrong with me?"—but that seems a facet of the genre.
about halfway through, the resolution to the plot was obvious and i was frustrated that it took the characters so long to get with the program. the book could have been shorter, or at least the final plot point could have taken place earlier, so that we could see more of the life nick and sascha build together. while a fun romp with a fresh premise, the drawn-out plot was a major detractor for me. also, they never had sex in the house. for curiosity's sake, i wanted to know how that was going to work out—would the house participate? would something weird happen? would sascha feel the house's emotions, and what would they be? i respect the author shying away from that to preserve their dignity, but please, give the people what they want.
November 25, 2018
I read a lot of fantasy/paranormal books, so it’s really exciting when I find one with a unique twist. Surreal Estate was just that kind of book. I loved the way Sasha’s connections to buildings worked. I also really liked Sasha. I liked Nick too, but Sasha definitely brought out the “mom” in me… for a lot of reasons.
Then there was Nick… like I said, I liked him and I know he was desperate to handle his money problems on his own, but a loan shark? Really?!? Sasha had his own problems, but none of them were his own doing. When he lost his only real family support he was at the mercy of a mother who was beyond selfish.
It may not have seemed that way in the beginning, but Sasha helped Nick (not with just the physical labor) as much as Nick helped Sasha (not with just a place to stay.) I really liked these two together. There were some really great supporting characters in Surreal Estate too… there were some not so great ones as well, but they all added to the story.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author, but I’ll definitely be checking out some of her other reads. 😉
I received Surreal Estate in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Then there was Nick… like I said, I liked him and I know he was desperate to handle his money problems on his own, but a loan shark? Really?!? Sasha had his own problems, but none of them were his own doing. When he lost his only real family support he was at the mercy of a mother who was beyond selfish.
It may not have seemed that way in the beginning, but Sasha helped Nick (not with just the physical labor) as much as Nick helped Sasha (not with just a place to stay.) I really liked these two together. There were some really great supporting characters in Surreal Estate too… there were some not so great ones as well, but they all added to the story.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author, but I’ll definitely be checking out some of her other reads. 😉
I received Surreal Estate in exchange for a fair and honest review.
November 7, 2018
This was fantastic. I loved almost everything about it, from the unique premise to the main characters and even the secondary characters. It even included fairly accurate real estate information- I got chills! (Shut up, everyone gets excited when their career field is depicted accurately! ;))
Why didn't I rate it a full five stars? I wanted a little bit more from the relationship. I feel like the relationship development was a bit lacking and it would have been better with more on-page time between the guys and a bit more emotion. I also found the conflict portion to be a bit predictable. I would have also liked a bit more sexual exploration, but my preference is always on the heavier side, so take that with a grain of salt.
Bottom line: I was completely engaged from start to finish, despite the few things I felt could have been improved upon. I want more from everyone that was involved in this story (except for maybe Frank). Jesi Lea Ryan has a real talent for character writing, and I will definitely be seeking out more of her work!
4 strong stars!
*Provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Why didn't I rate it a full five stars? I wanted a little bit more from the relationship. I feel like the relationship development was a bit lacking and it would have been better with more on-page time between the guys and a bit more emotion. I also found the conflict portion to be a bit predictable. I would have also liked a bit more sexual exploration, but my preference is always on the heavier side, so take that with a grain of salt.
Bottom line: I was completely engaged from start to finish, despite the few things I felt could have been improved upon. I want more from everyone that was involved in this story (except for maybe Frank). Jesi Lea Ryan has a real talent for character writing, and I will definitely be seeking out more of her work!
4 strong stars!
*Provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 23, 2019
An appealing m/m romantic novel with a psychic twist! Nick is a straight house flipper who buys the house homeless gay Sasha is squatting in. Sasha is drawn to the house as he has a special talent that allows him to see visions from the past and pick up on vibes about places.
This is not really a ghost story as such, but I enjoyed the psychic elements as it was integrated nicely into the novel. The relationship is well paced with two good characters, and Nick's coming out isn't too rushed. The sex scenes were well written and seemed realistic, though they are not that frequent. Best part was the plot though, some good twists and turns with Nick's loan from a local thug and Sasha dealing with his drug addicted mother, it had enough suspense to keep me finishing it quickly and I would like to read more about the characters in the future as I thought they were realisticlly written and as a reader, I was drawn into their lives. I thought this was a good example of this genre. Thanks to the publisher for allowing me early access through Netgalley.
This is not really a ghost story as such, but I enjoyed the psychic elements as it was integrated nicely into the novel. The relationship is well paced with two good characters, and Nick's coming out isn't too rushed. The sex scenes were well written and seemed realistic, though they are not that frequent. Best part was the plot though, some good twists and turns with Nick's loan from a local thug and Sasha dealing with his drug addicted mother, it had enough suspense to keep me finishing it quickly and I would like to read more about the characters in the future as I thought they were realisticlly written and as a reader, I was drawn into their lives. I thought this was a good example of this genre. Thanks to the publisher for allowing me early access through Netgalley.
November 5, 2018
My Review:
Ooh, I loved this book so, so much. I love the idea of Sasha's psychic power and how he could communicate with the homes. So interesting and creative. But I also really just enjoyed the entire setup on this one. The irony of Sasha's intuition for homes and the fact that he's homeless killed me...as well as just how the negative energy affected the homes when they've been neglected. It was such a cool story line. The whole setup of Nick's career flipping houses and how that brings the two guys together worked really well, too. In fact, pretty much the entire book worked for me. I loved reading it!
I can definitely recommend this one. It was a great, entertaining read. The romance was HOT and I loved the fact that this was Nick's first bisexual experience too. That was simply the whip cream on top of an already amazing sundae of a story. I loved it all!
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest and voluntary review.
Ooh, I loved this book so, so much. I love the idea of Sasha's psychic power and how he could communicate with the homes. So interesting and creative. But I also really just enjoyed the entire setup on this one. The irony of Sasha's intuition for homes and the fact that he's homeless killed me...as well as just how the negative energy affected the homes when they've been neglected. It was such a cool story line. The whole setup of Nick's career flipping houses and how that brings the two guys together worked really well, too. In fact, pretty much the entire book worked for me. I loved reading it!
I can definitely recommend this one. It was a great, entertaining read. The romance was HOT and I loved the fact that this was Nick's first bisexual experience too. That was simply the whip cream on top of an already amazing sundae of a story. I loved it all!
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest and voluntary review.
July 19, 2019
Actually, 3.5. I'd have rated it higher if it hadn't been for the loan shark side story. Added to Sasha's drug-addicted mother, it was just too much.
Having said that, I really would have liked to know what Nick and Sasha found out about the next house they plan to flip.
Having said that, I really would have liked to know what Nick and Sasha found out about the next house they plan to flip.
December 27, 2018
Sasha Michaels the hero of the tale somehow speaks psychically to houses and they communicate back.This book is so refreshing that I hope that there would be another.
December 4, 2021
Sasha is homeless after his granddad died and his drug addict mother takes possession of the house he grew up in. He squats in an abandoned house and makes a bit of money with street music and working as a barrister.
When down-on-his-luck contractor Nick buys the old house to renovate and sell it, he makes a deal with Sasha - if he helps with the work he can stay until the house goes on the market.
I thoroughly enjoyed the slow blooming romance between Sasha and Nick, who are willing to be there for each other through all the hurdles they encounter with financing and renovating the house and Sasha's mother getting drug-abuse related trouble.
I can not decide what to make of Sasha's ability to communicate with houses, but I liked that Nick did not doubt him. Trust and low angst - this made a perfect romance for me!
The whole financial disaster was somewhat annoying, especially because Nick's family seemed to have the means to be supportive if he would just have asked. He needed a loan, not a hand-out! TSTL (too stupid to live) protagonists are a bit of a let-down.
Nevertheless - I would definitely look this author up for other books!
Humor: n/a
General writing style: 5 stars
Story line idea: 5 stars
Story line execution: 4 stars
Plot: 4 stars (one star lost mostly for the missing epilogue)
Annoy factors: Nick making pretty stupid financial decisions = 4 stars
R-rated content: a couple of not overlong descriptive scenes
Narration: 3rd person POV Sasha and Nick alternating per chapter, past tense
Main Location: Big town M-something, New England area
Main protagonists: Nick (39), contractor, straight or maybe a touch bi?; Sasha (24), musician, barrister, openly gay
When down-on-his-luck contractor Nick buys the old house to renovate and sell it, he makes a deal with Sasha - if he helps with the work he can stay until the house goes on the market.
I thoroughly enjoyed the slow blooming romance between Sasha and Nick, who are willing to be there for each other through all the hurdles they encounter with financing and renovating the house and Sasha's mother getting drug-abuse related trouble.
I can not decide what to make of Sasha's ability to communicate with houses, but I liked that Nick did not doubt him. Trust and low angst - this made a perfect romance for me!
The whole financial disaster was somewhat annoying, especially because Nick's family seemed to have the means to be supportive if he would just have asked. He needed a loan, not a hand-out! TSTL (too stupid to live) protagonists are a bit of a let-down.
Nevertheless - I would definitely look this author up for other books!
Humor: n/a
General writing style: 5 stars
Story line idea: 5 stars
Story line execution: 4 stars
Plot: 4 stars (one star lost mostly for the missing epilogue)
Annoy factors: Nick making pretty stupid financial decisions = 4 stars
R-rated content: a couple of not overlong descriptive scenes
Narration: 3rd person POV Sasha and Nick alternating per chapter, past tense
Main Location: Big town M-something, New England area
Main protagonists: Nick (39), contractor, straight or maybe a touch bi?; Sasha (24), musician, barrister, openly gay
July 8, 2019
Very well done
I found a new-to-me author to like! I read this in one sitting, it was unputdownable.
This title was a paranormal MM HEA title. It's nice to find something of the more original type and not just the same old same old. The pnr element in this was a fresh one; I don't remember reading such before.
It's not a ghost story. The other main character Sasha has a family background for extrasensory sensitivity and in him it expresses as an affinity and empathy for houses, feeling them as near-sentient beings and sensing their state. Sasha ends up in the middle of Nick's house flipping business, that's not such a safe and sound this time as one could hope, giving Nick lots of stress but succeeding in getting the two of them thrown together.
This is a well developed story, told in 2 perspectives in turn. The romance side of the story developed evenly. Slow-burn. I liked the characters, and how they were together and supported each other; made for a pleasant good mood read that was well-balanced, well-rounded, but not too soppy or syrupy. Neither the romance nor sex portion is exaggerated like so many times but the story in general is given room to live and breathe and the romance had the proper room to develop organically, too. Really very nicely done in my opinion.
I quite liked it as a whole indeed and for me there was nothing out of place. Nothing felt off. Everything clicked and fit together. Warmly recommended. I know I'm looking forward to more in this series.
I found a new-to-me author to like! I read this in one sitting, it was unputdownable.
This title was a paranormal MM HEA title. It's nice to find something of the more original type and not just the same old same old. The pnr element in this was a fresh one; I don't remember reading such before.
It's not a ghost story. The other main character Sasha has a family background for extrasensory sensitivity and in him it expresses as an affinity and empathy for houses, feeling them as near-sentient beings and sensing their state. Sasha ends up in the middle of Nick's house flipping business, that's not such a safe and sound this time as one could hope, giving Nick lots of stress but succeeding in getting the two of them thrown together.
This is a well developed story, told in 2 perspectives in turn. The romance side of the story developed evenly. Slow-burn. I liked the characters, and how they were together and supported each other; made for a pleasant good mood read that was well-balanced, well-rounded, but not too soppy or syrupy. Neither the romance nor sex portion is exaggerated like so many times but the story in general is given room to live and breathe and the romance had the proper room to develop organically, too. Really very nicely done in my opinion.
I quite liked it as a whole indeed and for me there was nothing out of place. Nothing felt off. Everything clicked and fit together. Warmly recommended. I know I'm looking forward to more in this series.
November 6, 2018
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
The premise of this book caught my attention when I first heard of a it, a house flippers who falls in love with the squatter who lives in the new house he bought. And one of them is a house psychic, how cool is that? The house flipping theme and the psychic with a affinity for houses is what pulled me in. The house psychic thing also ended up being one of my favorite parts of this book.
Surreal Estate was a fun read, I liked the premise, the writing flowed well, the pacing was well done and there was a nice romance too. But for some reason it failed to fully pull me in. I enjoyed myself when reading it, but I wasn't really eager to continue or find out what would happen next. There is just something about the book that prevented me form enjoying it as much as I would've liked and it's hard to put my finger on what that is exactly. But it ended up being a good 3 star read, a good read, but failed to leave a lasting impression besides the fun theme.
Nick hasn't had the best luck with his business and when he finds the house in question he sees an opportunity. But it seems everyone doubts his ability to pull it off, except for the squatter who he finds living in the house. Sasha believes in the house and in Nick's vision. Nick makes a deal with Sasha and let's him stay as long as he helps with renovating the house. Sasha is homeless and happy to finally find a safe place to stay when he finds an empty house. It gets even better when he meets Nick and can stay in the house in exchange for some work. Then there is the topic of Nick dealing with a loan shark who got him the money for the house and Sasha dealing with his drug addict mom and unsure housing and living situation.
I liked reading about the whole house flipping business and getting a bit of an idea of what is involved in this. I liked how the author gave the reader a feel for what's involved, without delving too deep in the details. There is still enough room for the romance and other plot lines as well, which was great.
One of the things that didn't work as well for me was how sometimes things lacked impact. There is a pretty traumatic (in my opinion) scene for Sasha that almost is forgotten the next day and only serves to further the romance. A scene with Nick were he realizes how creepy the loan shark is, that someone failed to have the impact I had hoped it would have. Nick discovers he is bi, but even that revelation comes and goes quite quickly and he easily goes with that. It just seemed to lack impact at times these events, on the other hand I did like how things weren't dragged out or dramatized for the sake of the story.
I also didn't really care about the loan shark plot line and the plot line surrounding Sasha's mom. There was nothing wrong with them, but I don't really care for the topics and have read some other books that dealt with similar topics. Having said that I did like how the plot line surrounding Sasha's mom got wrapped up. And the ending of the book was great and sweet. I also manage to predict quite early on how the money situation got resolved, once a certain plot line pops up I thought it was a bit too clear that this was the solution to the problem. I did like how the book is low on the drama and the plot lines don't get unnecessary dragged out. In fact things got resolved quite quickly, which was nice.
I liked Nick and Sasha well enough, I didn't like them as much as I would've liked, but they both seemed like decent characters. I also liked how they both had their struggles and I felt for both of them and hoped they would get out of their difficult situations. Nick was compassionate and I liked how he offered Sasha the deal to stay in the house. I also liked how Sasha was willing to work hard and made the best out of a bad situation.
The romance was also nice enough, but just failed to fully get me invested. They were a good couple and worked nicely together. They both had their own problems to overcome and deal with, but also some things they had to resolve as a couple. Sasha shuts Nick out for a while and doesn't communicate. I did like how Nick shows a bit of vulnerability there and worries he did something wrong, they all resolved in a mature manner too, which was nice. They made for a great couple, but I didn't fully feel their chemistry. I also thought their romance progressed a bit weirdly at times, they seemed to make these big leaps and then stand still for a bit and then another leap.
My favorite part was by far the whole house psychic thing. I thought it was so interesting and I really liked how the houses Sasha meets almost feel like another character with their own personality and vibe. I liked how the house psychic scenes were described and how Sasha handled it. the personality and vibe of a house was very important to Sasha and I liked seeing how the houses could tell him things in their own way.
To summarize: all in all I had fun reading this book, but something was missing to fully pull me in the story. It all was nice enough, but never got to the point of really good, which is a shame as I loved the premise. The house flipping theme was fun, the homelessness situation was handled well and there are some side plot lines going on too. I felt that some sort of big events failed to have the impact their could've had, but I did like how the book was low on drama. Things get resolved a bit too easily at times and I predicted the resolution to the money problem as soon as a certain plot line got introduced. I liked Sasha and Nick and thought they made for a good couple, but I didn't fully feel their chemistry. Their romance also seemed to progress a bit slow at times and then suddenly take a leap forward. The house psychic thing was my favorite part of this book, I really liked how the author wrote about that and how Sasha could communicate with the houses in a way and each house had their own personality. All in all this was a nice contemporary romance book with a paranormal twist.
The premise of this book caught my attention when I first heard of a it, a house flippers who falls in love with the squatter who lives in the new house he bought. And one of them is a house psychic, how cool is that? The house flipping theme and the psychic with a affinity for houses is what pulled me in. The house psychic thing also ended up being one of my favorite parts of this book.
Surreal Estate was a fun read, I liked the premise, the writing flowed well, the pacing was well done and there was a nice romance too. But for some reason it failed to fully pull me in. I enjoyed myself when reading it, but I wasn't really eager to continue or find out what would happen next. There is just something about the book that prevented me form enjoying it as much as I would've liked and it's hard to put my finger on what that is exactly. But it ended up being a good 3 star read, a good read, but failed to leave a lasting impression besides the fun theme.
Nick hasn't had the best luck with his business and when he finds the house in question he sees an opportunity. But it seems everyone doubts his ability to pull it off, except for the squatter who he finds living in the house. Sasha believes in the house and in Nick's vision. Nick makes a deal with Sasha and let's him stay as long as he helps with renovating the house. Sasha is homeless and happy to finally find a safe place to stay when he finds an empty house. It gets even better when he meets Nick and can stay in the house in exchange for some work. Then there is the topic of Nick dealing with a loan shark who got him the money for the house and Sasha dealing with his drug addict mom and unsure housing and living situation.
I liked reading about the whole house flipping business and getting a bit of an idea of what is involved in this. I liked how the author gave the reader a feel for what's involved, without delving too deep in the details. There is still enough room for the romance and other plot lines as well, which was great.
One of the things that didn't work as well for me was how sometimes things lacked impact. There is a pretty traumatic (in my opinion) scene for Sasha that almost is forgotten the next day and only serves to further the romance. A scene with Nick were he realizes how creepy the loan shark is, that someone failed to have the impact I had hoped it would have. Nick discovers he is bi, but even that revelation comes and goes quite quickly and he easily goes with that. It just seemed to lack impact at times these events, on the other hand I did like how things weren't dragged out or dramatized for the sake of the story.
I also didn't really care about the loan shark plot line and the plot line surrounding Sasha's mom. There was nothing wrong with them, but I don't really care for the topics and have read some other books that dealt with similar topics. Having said that I did like how the plot line surrounding Sasha's mom got wrapped up. And the ending of the book was great and sweet. I also manage to predict quite early on how the money situation got resolved, once a certain plot line pops up I thought it was a bit too clear that this was the solution to the problem. I did like how the book is low on the drama and the plot lines don't get unnecessary dragged out. In fact things got resolved quite quickly, which was nice.
I liked Nick and Sasha well enough, I didn't like them as much as I would've liked, but they both seemed like decent characters. I also liked how they both had their struggles and I felt for both of them and hoped they would get out of their difficult situations. Nick was compassionate and I liked how he offered Sasha the deal to stay in the house. I also liked how Sasha was willing to work hard and made the best out of a bad situation.
The romance was also nice enough, but just failed to fully get me invested. They were a good couple and worked nicely together. They both had their own problems to overcome and deal with, but also some things they had to resolve as a couple. Sasha shuts Nick out for a while and doesn't communicate. I did like how Nick shows a bit of vulnerability there and worries he did something wrong, they all resolved in a mature manner too, which was nice. They made for a great couple, but I didn't fully feel their chemistry. I also thought their romance progressed a bit weirdly at times, they seemed to make these big leaps and then stand still for a bit and then another leap.
My favorite part was by far the whole house psychic thing. I thought it was so interesting and I really liked how the houses Sasha meets almost feel like another character with their own personality and vibe. I liked how the house psychic scenes were described and how Sasha handled it. the personality and vibe of a house was very important to Sasha and I liked seeing how the houses could tell him things in their own way.
To summarize: all in all I had fun reading this book, but something was missing to fully pull me in the story. It all was nice enough, but never got to the point of really good, which is a shame as I loved the premise. The house flipping theme was fun, the homelessness situation was handled well and there are some side plot lines going on too. I felt that some sort of big events failed to have the impact their could've had, but I did like how the book was low on drama. Things get resolved a bit too easily at times and I predicted the resolution to the money problem as soon as a certain plot line got introduced. I liked Sasha and Nick and thought they made for a good couple, but I didn't fully feel their chemistry. Their romance also seemed to progress a bit slow at times and then suddenly take a leap forward. The house psychic thing was my favorite part of this book, I really liked how the author wrote about that and how Sasha could communicate with the houses in a way and each house had their own personality. All in all this was a nice contemporary romance book with a paranormal twist.
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