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Nothing Special #1
Nothing Special
Listening Length: 9 hours and 47 minutes.
Detective Cashel "Cash" Godfrey is big, tattooed, and angry so people typically keep their distance. He's fresh out of the police academy, however, no one is looking to partner with the six-foot-four beast with a huge chip on his shoulder and an inability to trust. When Cash scans the orientation room he wasn't expecting to find sexy hazel eyes locked onto him. Eyes of the handsome Detective Leonidis "Leo" Day.
Leo is charming, witty, hilariously sarcastic and the only one that can make Cash smile. He's proud, out, and one bad-ass detective.
Together, Cash and Leo become the most revered and successful narcotics detectives Atlanta's ever seen. Able to communicate and understand each other, without even having to voice it, they quickly climb up the promotional ranks.
When Cash saves Leo's life in a raid that turns deadly, Leo begins to see something in the big man that no one else does...something special. But Leo fears he'll never break through the impenetrable wall that protects Cash's heart.
Contains mature themes.
Detective Cashel "Cash" Godfrey is big, tattooed, and angry so people typically keep their distance. He's fresh out of the police academy, however, no one is looking to partner with the six-foot-four beast with a huge chip on his shoulder and an inability to trust. When Cash scans the orientation room he wasn't expecting to find sexy hazel eyes locked onto him. Eyes of the handsome Detective Leonidis "Leo" Day.
Leo is charming, witty, hilariously sarcastic and the only one that can make Cash smile. He's proud, out, and one bad-ass detective.
Together, Cash and Leo become the most revered and successful narcotics detectives Atlanta's ever seen. Able to communicate and understand each other, without even having to voice it, they quickly climb up the promotional ranks.
When Cash saves Leo's life in a raid that turns deadly, Leo begins to see something in the big man that no one else does...something special. But Leo fears he'll never break through the impenetrable wall that protects Cash's heart.
Contains mature themes.
10 pages, Audible Audio
First published March 21, 2014
845 people are currently reading
3810 people want to read
About the author
A.E. Via
47 books3,227 followersA.E. Via is an author in the beautiful gay romance genre and also founder and owner of Via Star Wings Books. Her writing embodies everything from hopelessly romantic to spicy to scandalous. Her stories often include intriguing edges and twists that take readers to new, thought-provoking depths.
When she's not clicking away at her laptop, she devotes herself to her family--a husband and four children.
Adrienne Via has tons of more stories to tell, but she really would like to hear yours. Via Star Wings Books is currently accepting submissions for established and aspiring LGBTQ authors. I've contracted and successfully published a couple authors - whose information can be found on my website - who can tell you that my passion is giving other writer's stories the love and care it deserves so it could be a gift to another. Visit my site to learn more!
Go to A.E. Via's official website http://authoraevia.com for more detailed information on how to contact her, follow her, or a sneak peak on upcoming work, free reads, VSWB submissions, and where she'll appear next.
When she's not clicking away at her laptop, she devotes herself to her family--a husband and four children.
Adrienne Via has tons of more stories to tell, but she really would like to hear yours. Via Star Wings Books is currently accepting submissions for established and aspiring LGBTQ authors. I've contracted and successfully published a couple authors - whose information can be found on my website - who can tell you that my passion is giving other writer's stories the love and care it deserves so it could be a gift to another. Visit my site to learn more!
Go to A.E. Via's official website http://authoraevia.com for more detailed information on how to contact her, follow her, or a sneak peak on upcoming work, free reads, VSWB submissions, and where she'll appear next.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,112 reviews
August 23, 2014
Ignore the 3 stars above; this is more accurate:
Steam and fun factor: 4+ stars
MC hotness and sex appeal: 4+ stars
Writing: 2.75 stars
Plot logic: Um, what?
Cash Godfrey (God) and Leo Day (Day) have been partners for four years. They are known as "God and Day," and they rule the streets on the narcotics beat. Day is out and proud, and God is God (just ask him).
These guys were real alpha males, muscle bound and tough. The sex was dirty, plentiful, and explosive.
But the plot, dear god, the plot was a fucking mess.
There were a couple of miraculous medical healings (pneumonia "cured" in four days), eye-rolling antics at the police station, one convenience store robbery gone to hell, immature bantering back and forth, a side of enemies to friends turned, drug raids, and completely inappropriate, unprofessional behavior at said drug raids.
Plus, the plot regarding God's "relationship" with his family was utter garbage.
Likewise, there were no lingering glances and slow burn between God and Day. We are led to believe God is straight (he's ogling women), and then one day God (after four years) throws Day against a wall and ravishes his mouth. As hot as this was, it was also abrupt and random.
But the MCs were clearly crazy about one another. When they got together, they were all "sweetheart" and "baby" and "you're the only one for me" and MINE, MINE, MINE. Which I liked. UNTIL. WHAT THE FUCK JUST HAPPENED? That twist. Well, FUCKITY FUCK. It's not that I minded it. It's that I didn't BELIEVE it. It was such a 360 (like Johnson's personality change and Ro's "conversion").
Despite wanting to pound my head against the wall at certain aspects of the plot (see above) and craving to take a red pen to the copy (there were some grammatical issues, and the writing was a little choppy), I still enjoyed the story. No, really, I did.
There is a nice epilogue, a HEA, and lots and lots of steamy, gritty sex. Did I mention the sex? Why, yes. Yes, I did. **clears throat** See below.
Steam and fun factor: 4+ stars
MC hotness and sex appeal: 4+ stars
Writing: 2.75 stars
Plot logic: Um, what?
Cash Godfrey (God) and Leo Day (Day) have been partners for four years. They are known as "God and Day," and they rule the streets on the narcotics beat. Day is out and proud, and God is God (just ask him).
These guys were real alpha males, muscle bound and tough. The sex was dirty, plentiful, and explosive.
But the plot, dear god, the plot was a fucking mess.
There were a couple of miraculous medical healings (pneumonia "cured" in four days), eye-rolling antics at the police station, one convenience store robbery gone to hell, immature bantering back and forth, a side of enemies to friends turned, drug raids, and completely inappropriate, unprofessional behavior at said drug raids.
Plus, the plot regarding God's "relationship" with his family was utter garbage.
Likewise, there were no lingering glances and slow burn between God and Day. We are led to believe God is straight (he's ogling women), and then one day God (after four years) throws Day against a wall and ravishes his mouth. As hot as this was, it was also abrupt and random.
But the MCs were clearly crazy about one another. When they got together, they were all "sweetheart" and "baby" and "you're the only one for me" and MINE, MINE, MINE. Which I liked. UNTIL. WHAT THE FUCK JUST HAPPENED? That twist. Well, FUCKITY FUCK. It's not that I minded it. It's that I didn't BELIEVE it. It was such a 360 (like Johnson's personality change and Ro's "conversion").
Despite wanting to pound my head against the wall at certain aspects of the plot (see above) and craving to take a red pen to the copy (there were some grammatical issues, and the writing was a little choppy), I still enjoyed the story. No, really, I did.
There is a nice epilogue, a HEA, and lots and lots of steamy, gritty sex. Did I mention the sex? Why, yes. Yes, I did. **clears throat** See below.
March 5, 2018
I’m lying in bed reading Nothing Special and I get to the point of my last status update at somewhere around 83-87% and my hubby says, “So, what are you reading?” This is not an unusual question as he sometimes doesn’t mind hearing what I’m reading. I laugh out loud and then say “I’m
really
not sure you want to know what I’m reading this time.” He says “Oh this will definitely be good, now I have to hear!”
So here’s some of what I read out aloud....
“Shit,” God yelled. “You’re my man, baby, yes, fuck. This is your cock, baby. Fuck it, fuck it!” Day bounced up and down until God was yelling he was about to come... God’s dick went concrete hard and pulsed inside him, waves of hot come searing his channel.
”Baby,” Day said, his moans like a cry. Almost there, sweetheart.” God pushed in deeper and Day grabbed at his hips to stop him. “Ugh. Fuck, you’re fucking big,” Day groaned
“Come on baby. You can do it. Open up, take all of me,” God whispered.
After I’ve read hubs a few paragraphs he goes....
By this stage I am laughing and crying at how ridiculous this must sound (he is too btw) and it really is, but only because -- who in their right mind would call the main character GOD
God should probably be looking something like
but instead all I see is 
Ok, that’s a bit extreme but you get my point!
The whole time I’m reading this book I’m thinking about Day (yes, he’s the other main character) jumping up and down on God’s cock!
“So, what made you choose that book?” My husband asks when I’ve finished it. Good question – one I wish I knew the answer to.
I read the blurb but obviously must have missed something in translation ‘cause what I saw was…
Gay romance ✓
Action, crime, mystery ✓
Hot police detectives ✓ etc etc
"Nothing Special takes the reader through various emotions throughout the richly fulfilling plot that’s full of erotic gay romance, heartache, passion, trials and tribulations, police action scenes, and an intriguing twist that comes to an amazing ending that’s impossible to see coming."
That all sounds pretty plausible and it does say a “rich fulfilling plot”.
Ohhh how wrong I was!
But wait
I’m leaving the best bit to last as we haven’t even got to the ménage. Again, I must have missed that description in the blurb. It’s got to be a good orgy with participants like, GOD, Day, Johnson and Ronowski (a straight cop who is now suddenly a gay cop in an orgy).
The blurb does say … "and an intriguing twist that comes to an amazing ending that’s impossible to see coming" Now THAT is one thing I do agree with, because trust me when I say I’m still searching for even the remoteness of a plot or an intriguing twist!
I'm wavering between 1 and 2 stars for this, as one has to give credit to any author who spends time and effort putting words to a page. Especially when I can't. But hey! I'm a reader and they're the writer - that's what they do!
My husband summed it up by calling this book a “Gay, Ménage, God For You” book. I'm not really sure what to call it but it was definitely "Nothing Special."
So here’s some of what I read out aloud....
“Shit,” God yelled. “You’re my man, baby, yes, fuck. This is your cock, baby. Fuck it, fuck it!” Day bounced up and down until God was yelling he was about to come... God’s dick went concrete hard and pulsed inside him, waves of hot come searing his channel.
”Baby,” Day said, his moans like a cry. Almost there, sweetheart.” God pushed in deeper and Day grabbed at his hips to stop him. “Ugh. Fuck, you’re fucking big,” Day groaned
“Come on baby. You can do it. Open up, take all of me,” God whispered.
After I’ve read hubs a few paragraphs he goes....
By this stage I am laughing and crying at how ridiculous this must sound (he is too btw) and it really is, but only because -- who in their right mind would call the main character GOD
God should probably be looking something like
but instead all I see is Ok, that’s a bit extreme but you get my point!
The whole time I’m reading this book I’m thinking about Day (yes, he’s the other main character) jumping up and down on God’s cock!
“So, what made you choose that book?” My husband asks when I’ve finished it. Good question – one I wish I knew the answer to.
I read the blurb but obviously must have missed something in translation ‘cause what I saw was…
Gay romance ✓
Action, crime, mystery ✓
Hot police detectives ✓ etc etc
"Nothing Special takes the reader through various emotions throughout the richly fulfilling plot that’s full of erotic gay romance, heartache, passion, trials and tribulations, police action scenes, and an intriguing twist that comes to an amazing ending that’s impossible to see coming."
That all sounds pretty plausible and it does say a “rich fulfilling plot”.
Ohhh how wrong I was!
But wait
I’m leaving the best bit to last as we haven’t even got to the ménage. Again, I must have missed that description in the blurb. It’s got to be a good orgy with participants like, GOD, Day, Johnson and Ronowski (a straight cop who is now suddenly a gay cop in an orgy).
The blurb does say … "and an intriguing twist that comes to an amazing ending that’s impossible to see coming" Now THAT is one thing I do agree with, because trust me when I say I’m still searching for even the remoteness of a plot or an intriguing twist!
I'm wavering between 1 and 2 stars for this, as one has to give credit to any author who spends time and effort putting words to a page. Especially when I can't. But hey! I'm a reader and they're the writer - that's what they do!
My husband summed it up by calling this book a “Gay, Ménage, God For You” book. I'm not really sure what to call it but it was definitely "Nothing Special."
September 10, 2022
3.5 Wackadoodle Hearts!
This is like the quintessential male buddy cop story full of posturing and testosterone, as hardass narcotic detectives embodied in the ultra tough Cashel “God” Godfrey, and his scrappy partner Leonidis “Leo” Day, take on drug lords with all the confidence and swagger times a hundred and who never blink an eye at doing what needs to be done in order to put the bad guys away.
These two are the bestest of BFF’s, and when circumstance finally makes them both realize that they are each other’s bees knees, the transition from friends to lovers is pretty darn seamless. Throw in a ridiculous supporting cast of characters ranging from the uber aggressive harrassing coworker who can’t take no for an answer, to the the equally extreme homophobic arsehole who won’t let sleeping dogs lie, and this is high octane stuff that often goes a bit too far.
However, this is scorching and obviously, that garners big points, easily winning me over. Narrated by Aiden Snow, who is this sexy beast and where the hell have I been to have missed his wonderful baritone? Seriously? If you want eargasms, this guy is your answer!
So, despite the many times this bordered and sometimes crossed over into inappropriate, despite the questionable dominance portrayed in the bedroom, and despite the too easy resolution of personal conflicts and the out of nowhere sexual shenanigans at the end , this still had action, suspense, and did I mention the hotness?! *fans self*
Apparently, there was no failure on the entertainment nor the proprietary claiming romance, and I would be remiss if I didn’t say that I’ll probably still check out the next book especially if Snow narrates. I’ll just know to expect unrealistic scenarios but be confident in getting a wild, fast paced, and definitely, sexy read!
Thank you to the author/publisher for the audio in exchange for a honest review
This is like the quintessential male buddy cop story full of posturing and testosterone, as hardass narcotic detectives embodied in the ultra tough Cashel “God” Godfrey, and his scrappy partner Leonidis “Leo” Day, take on drug lords with all the confidence and swagger times a hundred and who never blink an eye at doing what needs to be done in order to put the bad guys away.
These two are the bestest of BFF’s, and when circumstance finally makes them both realize that they are each other’s bees knees, the transition from friends to lovers is pretty darn seamless. Throw in a ridiculous supporting cast of characters ranging from the uber aggressive harrassing coworker who can’t take no for an answer, to the the equally extreme homophobic arsehole who won’t let sleeping dogs lie, and this is high octane stuff that often goes a bit too far.
However, this is scorching and obviously, that garners big points, easily winning me over. Narrated by Aiden Snow, who is this sexy beast and where the hell have I been to have missed his wonderful baritone? Seriously? If you want eargasms, this guy is your answer!
So, despite the many times this bordered and sometimes crossed over into inappropriate, despite the questionable dominance portrayed in the bedroom, and despite the too easy resolution of personal conflicts and the out of nowhere sexual shenanigans at the end , this still had action, suspense, and did I mention the hotness?! *fans self*
Apparently, there was no failure on the entertainment nor the proprietary claiming romance, and I would be remiss if I didn’t say that I’ll probably still check out the next book especially if Snow narrates. I’ll just know to expect unrealistic scenarios but be confident in getting a wild, fast paced, and definitely, sexy read!
Thank you to the author/publisher for the audio in exchange for a honest review
May 8, 2020
Audiobook - 5 stars
Story - 2.5 stars
This was ridiculously OTT, good thing Aiden Snow's narration was so good.
I liked the MCs, they complemented each other, they had chemistry. Day was funny and had me loling every time he opened his mouth.
My issue was with the MCs names, why the fuck would you name an MC Godfrey i.e God and Day? Ugh! I was cringing when the narrator was narrating the sex scenes. God inserted his fingers in me, God was sucking my dick, God this! God that!
Another issue was Godfrey's story! Ugh! Why was it done that way?
Anyhoo, at least i tried out this series, maybe i will continue in future, maybe i will not.
Story - 2.5 stars
This was ridiculously OTT, good thing Aiden Snow's narration was so good.
I liked the MCs, they complemented each other, they had chemistry. Day was funny and had me loling every time he opened his mouth.
My issue was with the MCs names, why the fuck would you name an MC Godfrey i.e God and Day? Ugh! I was cringing when the narrator was narrating the sex scenes. God inserted his fingers in me, God was sucking my dick, God this! God that!
Another issue was Godfrey's story! Ugh! Why was it done that way?
Anyhoo, at least i tried out this series, maybe i will continue in future, maybe i will not.
March 27, 2021
Reread... 3/22/21
So I finaly decided to give this one a try. I've read some of the other books by this author, including some other books in this series. Now I knew going in that there was gonna be a foursome towards the end. It made me a bit apprehensive, because I've read the other books in this series and I already felt like I knew God and Day... I just didn't want this new knowledge to ruin my perseption of them.
I have to say this book was a bit ott, but it didn't bother me..I kind of enjoyed the riduculousness. It was also extremely funny. Day's oneliners were the best..he had me laughing out loud on more than one occasion !!
I was also very invested in the relationship between God and Day (such weird names!). That is until said foursome happened. I wasn't upset about it, since I knew it was gonna happen, but it just felt so out of place in this story. God has been a possessive bastard from the beginning and now all of a sudden he's letting other men fuck his boyfriend ??? Really weird. I mean he was so pissed of when he found Day with some twink outside a bar, and they weren't even really together then !
I think I could have accepted it better if it would have been a one time deal, but it's not. It's an ongoing thing. When the book ends the four of them are still fuckbuddies and though it didn't bother me, it did ruin a bit of the the perception I had about God and Day's relationship. When reading the other books, I always thought God and Day were so awesome together...really possessive and protective. So to me...it just seemed a bit weird.
This book was extremely hot, A.E Via sure knows how to write a sexscene !!
I liked God and Day together, they were sweet and hot and I liked the OTT ridiculous storyline, it also made me laugh out...what more does a person need ;)
I think this is a series I will be re-reading over and over again :)
So I finaly decided to give this one a try. I've read some of the other books by this author, including some other books in this series. Now I knew going in that there was gonna be a foursome towards the end. It made me a bit apprehensive, because I've read the other books in this series and I already felt like I knew God and Day... I just didn't want this new knowledge to ruin my perseption of them.
I have to say this book was a bit ott, but it didn't bother me..I kind of enjoyed the riduculousness. It was also extremely funny. Day's oneliners were the best..he had me laughing out loud on more than one occasion !!
I was also very invested in the relationship between God and Day (such weird names!). That is until said foursome happened. I wasn't upset about it, since I knew it was gonna happen, but it just felt so out of place in this story. God has been a possessive bastard from the beginning and now all of a sudden he's letting other men fuck his boyfriend ??? Really weird. I mean he was so pissed of when he found Day with some twink outside a bar, and they weren't even really together then !
I think I could have accepted it better if it would have been a one time deal, but it's not. It's an ongoing thing. When the book ends the four of them are still fuckbuddies and though it didn't bother me, it did ruin a bit of the the perception I had about God and Day's relationship. When reading the other books, I always thought God and Day were so awesome together...really possessive and protective. So to me...it just seemed a bit weird.
This book was extremely hot, A.E Via sure knows how to write a sexscene !!
I liked God and Day together, they were sweet and hot and I liked the OTT ridiculous storyline, it also made me laugh out...what more does a person need ;)
I think this is a series I will be re-reading over and over again :)
May 3, 2024
re-listen October 2023
Yeah, true, this whole thing is like OTT 90’s cop movie and def has it’s flaws but it’s still so so good.
Still mourning the lack of a (short) story for Ro & Johnson, tho. *sniff*
re-listen December 2022
comfort audio 🥰 Nothing better than Aiden Snow giving voice to these badass motherfuckers.
4.5***** stars
re-listen May 2022
Awwww how I love this series.
God & Day are really some hot, badass alphas!
And when they crossed the line from friends and partners to lovers, they were almost sweet.
Ugh and God is so fucking intense. Love it! ♥︎
Besides the hot romance between the two (and the special friendship they form later with some colleagues *wiggles brows) my favorite part of the book is how they took care of Curtis (we'll meet him again) a 17 year old kid badly struggling in life. His story broke my heart *sniff
Even though there were a few things that were not so great developed in the story I love the whole series sm. Can’t wait for the series to continue one day ♥︎ And the audiobooks are just *chef’s kiss* ♥︎
side note: Gawd I wish there was a novella or something for Ro & Johnson. Would've loved to see more of them!
I know a lot of people were thrown off by the fact that God & Day were playing with another couple on occasion and that is probably the reason why Ms Via killed their "special friendship" with Ro & Johnson and let it disappear from page but I loved their dynamic and I'm quite sad about it, tbh. It was something special and imo didn't put a damper on God & Day's romance at all.
**************
Nothing Special Series
Book 1 - Nothing Special - 4.5 stars
Book 2 - Embracing His Syn - 4 stars
Book 3 - Here Comes Trouble - 4.25 stars
Book 4 - Don’t Judge - 3.25 stars
Book 5 - Nothing Special V - 4.5 stars
Book 6 - SWAT Ed: His Hart’s Command - 4.5 stars
Book 7 - Ex Meridian - 4.5 stars
Book 7.5 - A Nothing Special New Year - 4 stars
Book 8 - SWAT Ed: Fox & Bull - 4.5 stars
“If he had killed you, I would’ve swallowed my own gun. There’s no life without you,”
Yeah, true, this whole thing is like OTT 90’s cop movie and def has it’s flaws but it’s still so so good.
Still mourning the lack of a (short) story for Ro & Johnson, tho. *sniff*
re-listen December 2022
comfort audio 🥰 Nothing better than Aiden Snow giving voice to these badass motherfuckers.
4.5***** stars
re-listen May 2022
Awwww how I love this series.
God & Day are really some hot, badass alphas!
And when they crossed the line from friends and partners to lovers, they were almost sweet.
Day got back into bed and fully climbed on top of him, laying his head down on his chest. God laughed. “Uhh, sweetheart. You going to sleep like this?” “Yep. I’ve imagined sleeping like this for years,” Day said settling in comfortably.
Ugh and God is so fucking intense. Love it! ♥︎
“Do you have any idea of the shit storm you’re about to bring down on your life?” [...]
“In your arms you hold the only thing in this world that means anything to me. The man you are pointing a gun at is my sole purpose for living. [...]”
“If you kill that man, I swear on everything that is holy, I will track you to the ends of the earth, killing and destroying everything you hold dear. [...]”
“You kill that man, and you have no idea the monster you will create. [...]“
Besides the hot romance between the two (and the special friendship they form later with some colleagues *wiggles brows) my favorite part of the book is how they took care of Curtis (we'll meet him again) a 17 year old kid badly struggling in life. His story broke my heart *sniff
Even though there were a few things that were not so great developed in the story I love the whole series sm. Can’t wait for the series to continue one day ♥︎ And the audiobooks are just *chef’s kiss* ♥︎
“God, how the hell do you put up with Day’s mouth?”
“I got something that’ll make him shut up,”
Everyone groaned and scrunched their faces up in disgust.
“We don’t want to hear that shit, God. Ugh,” the captain said while pouring his cup of coffee.
*lol
side note: Gawd I wish there was a novella or something for Ro & Johnson. Would've loved to see more of them!
I know a lot of people were thrown off by the fact that God & Day were playing with another couple on occasion and that is probably the reason why Ms Via killed their "special friendship" with Ro & Johnson and let it disappear from page but I loved their dynamic and I'm quite sad about it, tbh. It was something special and imo didn't put a damper on God & Day's romance at all.
**************
Nothing Special Series
Book 1 - Nothing Special - 4.5 stars
Book 2 - Embracing His Syn - 4 stars
Book 3 - Here Comes Trouble - 4.25 stars
Book 4 - Don’t Judge - 3.25 stars
Book 5 - Nothing Special V - 4.5 stars
Book 6 - SWAT Ed: His Hart’s Command - 4.5 stars
Book 7 - Ex Meridian - 4.5 stars
Book 7.5 - A Nothing Special New Year - 4 stars
Book 8 - SWAT Ed: Fox & Bull - 4.5 stars
December 26, 2018
Re-read 24 th - 26th November
3.5* It's totally OTT but I liked it.
Having just read both the Promises books I decided I'd try this one. Unusually for me I didn't read any reviews first I just started and wow, I mean OTT doesn't even come close to covering it.
Before I get to the crazy I have to say I enjoyed this, it became apparent early on that this was going to be a 'just go with' type of book and from the mere three books I've read it seems like this is a trait with this author.
I liked the characters, the humour (Day's funny lines in particular) and I was never bored.
The blurb mentioned...
'.......and an intriguing twist that comes to an amazing ending that’s impossible to see coming.'
It's safe to say that not only did I not see it coming but I can't find it, I've no idea what intriguing twist it's referring to.
Now the crazy.
3.5* It's totally OTT but I liked it.
Having just read both the Promises books I decided I'd try this one. Unusually for me I didn't read any reviews first I just started and wow, I mean OTT doesn't even come close to covering it.
Before I get to the crazy I have to say I enjoyed this, it became apparent early on that this was going to be a 'just go with' type of book and from the mere three books I've read it seems like this is a trait with this author.
I liked the characters, the humour (Day's funny lines in particular) and I was never bored.
The blurb mentioned...
'.......and an intriguing twist that comes to an amazing ending that’s impossible to see coming.'
It's safe to say that not only did I not see it coming but I can't find it, I've no idea what intriguing twist it's referring to.
Now the crazy.
April 20, 2018
3.75 Pure OTT Escapism stars!!
Leo Day stole the show in this book. I laughed so hard and so often, it was a perfect way to end a crappy work week.
The only complaint I have was the anticlimactic reconciliation between God and his mother and brother. After years of misunderstandings, once they reunited, it was like they were never apart. It made that part of the story seem pointless.
As for God, Day, Ronowski, and Johnson, that didn't bother me. The scene itself was too long winded, and I ended up skimming it. But they had chemistry, and I really enjoyed the development of their friendship. I'm looking forward to more of them in the next book.
Leo Day stole the show in this book. I laughed so hard and so often, it was a perfect way to end a crappy work week.
The only complaint I have was the anticlimactic reconciliation between God and his mother and brother. After years of misunderstandings, once they reunited, it was like they were never apart. It made that part of the story seem pointless.
As for God, Day, Ronowski, and Johnson, that didn't bother me. The scene itself was too long winded, and I ended up skimming it. But they had chemistry, and I really enjoyed the development of their friendship. I'm looking forward to more of them in the next book.
April 16, 2014
We all have certain things in books that push our 'NO NO' buttons and 'Nothing Special' has pushed one for some readers because of a certain 'occurrence' in the story that happens towards the end of the book and sadly the ratings have really see-sawed because of it which I think is a damn shame because In my opinion this is a real cracker. If this had been a release day review I would have agonised over telling you but its been out a while now and other reviews have already mentioned it, so I guess its only fair to let you guys know that the plot twist is actually a steamy foursome and its this that's dividing readers. So there you go, the warning is out there, but honestly? I really hope that now you know what's coming, you'll give this engaging, hot, sexy, entertaining cop story a chance because these guys are really something and its such a fun, sexy read. My own thoughts on ménage and multiple partners? Bring it on! The more the merrier! I FREAKIN' LOVE THEM! Okay I think you get what I'm saying now...LOL!
I fell in love with Narcotics Detectives..Cashel 'Cash' Godfrey aka God, and Leonidis 'Leo' Day the moment they arrived on page and by the end of the story I was feeling the love even more and actually, the fourway was a lot to do with why I adored this so much. I won't go deeply into why it happens but the build up to why it happened was one of my favourite parts of the plot! God and Day are way up there in my favourite m/m couples list, and I was doing happy dances all the way through... love it or hate it.. that foursome, which by the way is consensual, was absolutely delish and in my opinion didn't take anything away from the story or the love that both couples involved had for each other ... and there's no doubting just how much in love they all are and how stable both relationships stay outside of it. The whole thing played out perfectly in my eyes, because I just see it as consenting adults exploring another side of sex, playing in the privacy of their own bedroom, their own choice, and if that that works for them then what the hell? I can't stress enough:
***No relationships were harmed in the making of this story!***
Joking apart though, at the end of the day, as a reader and reviewer I totally respect that the subject matter won't be everyone's cup of tea and I wouldn't want to put anyone in the position of picking up a book on my recc, only to find they've spent money on something that really bothers them to the point where it spoils their reading experience, so that's why I think its only fair to put it out there.
Anyway...on to the story! Which I really did love. It reminded me of those big feature 'buddy buddy' cop films or popular TV series' that I think most of us get pleasure from because despite being over the top, they're pure escapism and just....well...enjoyable. The sort of shoot em up, exaggerated plots that you know would probably never really happen in real life but because they're so much fun you don't really question whats happening. The ones where the 'Bromance' style chemistry between the two main guys is so engaging, you just go with the flow, sit back and enjoy the mayhem! AE Via has used that tried and tested formula in 'Nothing Special' to give it that likeability factor, including a pair of pretty gorgeous wise cracking ace Detectives whose witty, snarky banter has you grinning as they bounce off each other, the annoying work colleagues who provide both tension in the workplace AND some comedy relief, the tough police captain who shouts but lets the gung-ho partners get away with shit because they're the best detectives he has, dramatic police raids involving drug cartels and kingpins that put our heroes in danger but allow them to save the day, some kick ass good cop/bad cop routines, the redeemable dumbass teenage criminal who gives our guys a chance to show their softer sides, a troubled family back story for God, some "officer down" drama, a Desert Eagle .50 AE with an interchangeable .44 Magnum Barrel with a Black Marcata Grip.... "Do you feel lucky Punk, well do ya?" ( okay that's not in the book, but every time I read the word Magnum, I just kept picturing Clint doing his steely eyed bit! Lol) ... and of course the best bit....the background, sexually tense romance that in this case runs alongside the rest of the plot and is the heart of the story. If this wasn't m/m the love interest would normally be a sassy female colleague but DAYUM! ... this is all man on man lovin'!
No lady bits here, and forget the 'bromance' angle. This is a full on, sizzling 'gaymance,' and it happens between two gorgeous, smokin' hot hunks of manhood, who generate some of the smexiest ST I've come across and OMG! It. Is. Electric!!! Ms Via writes some of the hottest love scenes I've had the pleasure to read and yeah, there's plenty sex and some lovey dovey nicknames but there's also a really lovely love story, lots of palpable passion and heaps of fantastic chemistry. Sometimes too many sex scenes can become really annoying and boring but I never felt it was overdone between these two "sexy bastards", and the names and dirty talk had me going weak at the knees!
It wasn't all down and dirty sex though, there were moments of tenderness and true romance in their relationship and that's why as a friends to lovers story it was really succesful for me.
"Leo, what are you doing? Falling for a straight man, and your partner at that?"
......"He loves me back. Straight, gay, bi, goddam tranny...whatever he is. That man loves me too. He just hasn't said it yet." Day took another sip, "but he will."
*Sigh*
"Stop fighting me." "No," Day snapped. "Stop fighting me Leo. Because I love you too." God said, his lips pressed firmly against Day's ear. " You can't fuck that other guy because you're mine," he whispered.
**Swoon!**
The more serious background family drama and dark secrets that plague God, simmers in the background, adding another layer to the story and forging even more of a bond between them, making both of them realise that their relationship was meant to be. I'll be honest there's not much in this that hasn't been done before...it is over the top at times...there are plot holes that if you want, you could pick holes in them...and there are some WTF! moments but overall there was just something about this that appealed to me big time and once again I had the best time reading it, so much so I read it twice, pretty much back to back. I do that sometimes when I find a book that just does it for me, and no doubt about it...I'll be picking this one up again in the future. I like AE Via's men, I like her style and I like that she took a chance with a twist that could go either way with her readers but most of all I like...no I love...that I got lost in another book that took me out of the same old, same old reality that I face every day and had me gasping, smiling, sighing and swooning like a loon. Worked for me on every level including THAT FOURSOME and its outcome so that's why it gets 5 hot, Sexaay, Yum! stars. And a thank you to Suzy, my GR buddy for her five star recommend.
Follow link~ http://bit.ly/1h4ULUN
INCLUDES CHARACTER INTERVIEW WITH GOD & DAY
May 8, 2023
DNF@15% This was terrible and problematic. An MMC kept calling a plus size woman “cornbread” and was commenting how she shouldn’t wear tight clothing since it doesn’t flatter her body type at all, then proceded to have the MMC treat her like scum. He called his own partner numerous homophobic slurs. Women were treated as sexual objects, that’s it. There’s also classist rhetoric that’s absolutely ridiculous as if people with GEDs are dumb compared to everyone else.
Don’t get me started on the fact that these cops let a guy go after he committed an ARMED ROBBERY because they felt bad for his story. Never mind the fact if he was black he wouldn’t even be alive considering these are the cops that used unnecessary force because they had to do their job (run after a suspect)! Major hero worship of cops it was unbearable, it interfered with the damn story.
The writing is like a bad cop show, it’s so unrealistic, and nothing even passable for a civilian to believe.
This book made me so upset.
I don’t think this author has any business writing MM.
Don’t get me started on the fact that these cops let a guy go after he committed an ARMED ROBBERY because they felt bad for his story. Never mind the fact if he was black he wouldn’t even be alive considering these are the cops that used unnecessary force because they had to do their job (run after a suspect)! Major hero worship of cops it was unbearable, it interfered with the damn story.
The writing is like a bad cop show, it’s so unrealistic, and nothing even passable for a civilian to believe.
This book made me so upset.
I don’t think this author has any business writing MM.
March 24, 2014
Ack! This is such a hard one to review! I feel it necessary to not just rate the story but also rate a few other aspects of this book that are strictly personal preference and one important plot point that the author decided to omit from the blurb.
1. The Story
2. Omitted Plot Point in Blurb
Because of my personal preference and blurb snafu, I am going to drop my rating down one star. I am also going to continue to respect the author's wishes and not give this plot point away, even in a spoiler tag. I would imagine by now our little GR group made a lot more of "The 83% Event" than was necessary, but it was really a lot of fun seeing all the great reactions! This book definitely stood out from the others and was a very enjoyable read.
1. The Story
Oh, this was absolutely delicious! Two cops, partners on the street, best of friends, one is hiding a huge family secret, one becomes incredibly ill and requires home care and his partner takes care of him day and night for some kick-ass hurt/comfort scenes, they fight, realize they are in love with each and reach the pinnacle of GFY status and the sex is peel-the-paint-off-the-walls hot. Bravo, bravo! 5 stars!
2. Omitted Plot Point in Blurb
If you have read some of the comments on my reading log or some of my GR friend's reading logs, you might see "The 83% Event" mentioned. Something happens at the 83% point in this book that is a pretty significant M/M romance plot point (a least as far as my GR friends and I think). The folks with ARC copies wanted their fellow GR friends to be surprised too, so I stayed spoiler free and waited for 83%. The event surprised me, yes, but did not disgust me. It happened so close to the end of the story and the Mc's relationship was very solid in my mind so I easily brushed it off. But it definitely is NOT my "thing" and something I normally shy away from when choosing a book to read. Would I have decided not to read this book had I known about it? Maybe. But, all it would have taken is one of my trusted GR friends to say, "Gigi, dude, screw that, read it anyway." And as you can see, I kinda got that in the form of a recommendation from trusted friend Just Jen. I completely, 100% respect an author's right to keep as much of their book under wraps as they prefer by omission in the blurb. No question at all. But I also believe in the reader's right to feel a sense of mistrust when this happens, and I believe that is were I now fall on the spectrum in this case.
Because of my personal preference and blurb snafu, I am going to drop my rating down one star. I am also going to continue to respect the author's wishes and not give this plot point away, even in a spoiler tag. I would imagine by now our little GR group made a lot more of "The 83% Event" than was necessary, but it was really a lot of fun seeing all the great reactions! This book definitely stood out from the others and was a very enjoyable read.
November 15, 2021
**SPOILER ALERT**
Brace yourself. I'm about to rant and it's not going to be pretty. I'll apologize up front, but I didn't find a lot to like about this book.
If I had to choose one word for this book, it would be inelegant. It's not that the story is a bad one. It isn't. It's one that's been written about a thousand times. But as I happen to really like growly cops falling in love, I don't have a real problem with that. What I have a problem with are inaccuracies and jerky developments.
For example, the second sentence of the book introduces one of the main characters thus:
It's their first day on the job as rookie officers. They're in polyester uniforms and presumably beat cops. Then, part way through chapter one, we're told,
Well, if it took four years to make detective, God(frey) couldn't have been a detective on page one (four years earlier). Further, it's suggested that this is an impressive feat of promotion, accomplished because they are such a dynamic duo, but everyone from their cohort seems to have been promoted to detective too.
Or how about the fact that just a page or so after God's introduction, Leo is said to have a skull and crossbones tattoo on his arm, but later in the book, it's God who has the skull and crossbones on his bicep, while Leo has "a couple armbands on each arm." Consistency is important. Obvious errors pull me right out of a story.
Another thing that disrupts my reading experience is when solutions to problems are discovered or remembered so abruptly as to cause a stutter in the reading. Example: how about smooth transitions like this one,
Yeah, that felt natural. This kind of thing happens a lot. Here's another one,
Light bulbs just never feel unobtrusive and I hate them.
But it's not just problem-solving that isn't handled well in this book. There are passages like this one,
Really this is fine, unless you consider that you don't need to actually know that God has been disowned by his family to know he's been disowned by his family, by virtue of the obviousness of that setup. (Not to mention what's gonna happen, how it's going to be resolved and what the HEA will be. All right there in that one statement.) I don't like to see the scaffolding of a story quite so obviously.
And for the record, the resulting drama is just as gag-worthy and horribly sappy as you would imagine. In one fell swoop (finding tapes hidden in an attic of a house that the family moved into years after the hider died, so no idea how they got there) all is forgiven and God's mom and brother are suddenly completely different characters. You might think almost ten years of hating and being horrible to someone might take a little more time to get over. But apparently it can be instantaneous and personality altering for all parties.
The thing is that there is so much about this book that is all almost good, but just so darned clumsy that it isn't. Like when God becomes so sick he almost dies, but somehow never noticed it until he's passing out? Sure it's a perfect time for Day to nurse him back to health (and luckily prove he's really loyal to God, as he was conveniently challenged to do just one scene earlier) but it's also really abrupt, as is he miraculous healing as soon as it no longer benefits the plot.
In fact, everything is fast. Anyone out there ever worked in or with law enforcement? Ever tried to make an appointment with a lawyer to meet you at the jail to speak to an inmate (or the appointment to speak to the inmate at all...or well, just get any of them to answer the phone the first three times you call)? How about managed to get face time with a DA to discuss an appropriate deal, let alone get the decision made? Get the paperwork for any of that?
I guarantee that stuff doesn't ALL happen in less than an hour in real life (or even believable fiction), but it apparently does in the Atlanta Drug Task-force of this book, and with no effort too. I don't know, maybe they have support staff to make the phone calls. Because, as an example, at one point God and Day were told some information, flirted a bit, God rush to the bathroom to take care of some personal business and then they ran to the truck and straight to the jail to see the informant, with a deal in hand and the lawyer already there. How? How, 'cause I want to work in that department.
It's not that I want to read each and every phone call or anything (that would be boring), but I need to know appropriate time has passed for things to have happened and I need things to sound right, in some vague but appropriate way. And it just doesn't here.
I'm no expert on any of this, but that just makes the whole thing worse. If you had to be an expert to notice the errors, it would be forgivable. But I'm not. I just have a little real world experience (and I never had to speak to a DA) but I still couldn't hack it. People who don't know police procedure or know any more of the lingo than can be gleaned from late-night TV, shouldn't write it. Sorry, that sounds mean, but more research was required to make this sound more natural than two boys playing cops and robbers.
All the talk of catching the "kingpin," with no further clarification of the hierarchical nature of the gang involved is a perfect example. Is it a mafia? Cosa Nostra? La Eme? Triad? Yakuza? Bratva? Or just some punk kid calling himself the big cheese in the area? Each would be different and just talking endlessly about the generic 'kingpin' suggests no further knowledge on the subject, no deeper thought to the shallow plotting than an avid Law & Order fan. It says, "I know the kingpin is the top dog, whatever that is, but I don't really know what that means so I'm not going to delve into it any further." And this is REALLY felt by the reader. And this is not the only example I could use.
Far worse than God's miraculous recovery abilities or the department's apparently super efficient administrative staff is the sudden development of a romance between God and Day. They had been partners for four year (and since when do cops get to choose their partners, anyway?). One is straight; one is gay. There has been no evidence of unresolved sexual tension between them. Then, BAM, suddenly they're all over each other and in love. What!? There is no real impetus of change, nor is there a gradual growth of feelings. It came out of nowhere. I think the author tried to use the events of one particular night to accomplish this, but it didn't work. It wasn't enough. So, it too felt completely unsupported.
Then, just about the time you come to terms with the romance (and the fact that God's a complete selfish ass-wipe as a lover), the author throws in a foursome! A foursome? Really? I don't have any problem with four men. It's kinda hot actually, but when the book is full of lines like this, "Day was his and only his..." and the characters pull the "Mine, Mine, Mine" cards over and over, it doesn't work when they then turn around and start swapping. NOT. AT. ALL. And if it doesn't fit the plot, it's just there as titillation and is therefore a complete fail.
Plus, it required personality shifts on everyone's part. God and Day both hated Johnson and Konowski up to that point, not to mention Konowski was really, really homophobic. So to have the four of them suddenly partner up just didn't work. And much like God's mom and brother, Konowski became a completely different character afterwards. Complete personality 180. Personally, I like consistency in my characters as much as in my plot. (Though, I did have a decent laugh at the fact that the author posted a note in the blurb of book 2 saying that there were no "polygamous sexual pairings" in the novel. I guess she's already gotten the message that readers weren't happy about it in this book.)
I also had a hard time with the names, God and Day. For one, God, really? Was there supposed to be some subtle religious message hidden here? If so, I missed it. But also, they're nouns, so my brain just apparently refused to read them as names. There were a lot of instances of having to reread a sentence because I misread it the first time, plus two short clipped names were easily confused.
There were also a lot of things that just plain annoyed me, even if not necessarily wrong. Like God carrying and actually using a Desert Eagle. I know the man is supposed to be huge, but still, a Desert Eagle? Really? Those things are 4+ pounds, empty! I would also have liked more description of the characters too. For example, at 58% it's mentioned that Day trimmed his beard and I thought, what beard? No beard had been mentioned up to that point. Things like that.
Lastly, the book needed a bit more editing. There are a lot of misused words and typos. For example, the word 'off' was often missing its second F, to spell 'of' instead. And, you know, to catch the inconsistencies.
So, final thoughts: this was basically just barley ok. I know I probably made it sound even worse than that, since I didn't care for it. But I'll give it OK, even if not much more. I didn't toss it on the DNF pile, but the best way to illustrate my opinion is by admitting that I bought Nothing Special and Embracing His Syn at the same time. I would never return a book after reading it, but halfway through Nothing Special, I returned Embracing His Syn. My book budget is too small to keep it when I wasn't that impressed with the first one.
However, I want to end by saying that what irks me won't necessarily annoy another reader. So, as always, I encourage people to pick the book up and make their own decision on it.
Edited to correct spelling error, originally posted May 02, 15.
Brace yourself. I'm about to rant and it's not going to be pretty. I'll apologize up front, but I didn't find a lot to like about this book.
If I had to choose one word for this book, it would be inelegant. It's not that the story is a bad one. It isn't. It's one that's been written about a thousand times. But as I happen to really like growly cops falling in love, I don't have a real problem with that. What I have a problem with are inaccuracies and jerky developments.
For example, the second sentence of the book introduces one of the main characters thus:
Detective Cashel Godfrey groaned and rolled his eyes at the captain's obvious statement of most of their goals.
It's their first day on the job as rookie officers. They're in polyester uniforms and presumably beat cops. Then, part way through chapter one, we're told,
It’d only taken four years for the two of them to make detective and get promoted to the Tactical Narcotics Team...
Well, if it took four years to make detective, God(frey) couldn't have been a detective on page one (four years earlier). Further, it's suggested that this is an impressive feat of promotion, accomplished because they are such a dynamic duo, but everyone from their cohort seems to have been promoted to detective too.
Or how about the fact that just a page or so after God's introduction, Leo is said to have a skull and crossbones tattoo on his arm, but later in the book, it's God who has the skull and crossbones on his bicep, while Leo has "a couple armbands on each arm." Consistency is important. Obvious errors pull me right out of a story.
Another thing that disrupts my reading experience is when solutions to problems are discovered or remembered so abruptly as to cause a stutter in the reading. Example: how about smooth transitions like this one,
Day got up and started pacing back and forth in his spacious living room. He stopped and ran his hands through his blond hair thinking about where God could be…then an idea hit him like a ton of bricks. Our tracking apps.
Yeah, that felt natural. This kind of thing happens a lot. Here's another one,
"What the hell am I supposed to do? I can’t move him by myself." Day’s eyes widened. Oh. His neighbors. Those were some big motherfuckers.
Light bulbs just never feel unobtrusive and I hate them.
But it's not just problem-solving that isn't handled well in this book. There are passages like this one,
"God said that they have kind of a strained relationship. He never went into specifics and I didn’t press the issue. But I’m sure it’s not that strained that his brother wouldn’t help him if he’s really sick. This will be a good way for his brother to show him that he loves him."
Really this is fine, unless you consider that you don't need to actually know that God has been disowned by his family to know he's been disowned by his family, by virtue of the obviousness of that setup. (Not to mention what's gonna happen, how it's going to be resolved and what the HEA will be. All right there in that one statement.) I don't like to see the scaffolding of a story quite so obviously.
And for the record, the resulting drama is just as gag-worthy and horribly sappy as you would imagine. In one fell swoop (finding tapes hidden in an attic of a house that the family moved into years after the hider died, so no idea how they got there) all is forgiven and God's mom and brother are suddenly completely different characters. You might think almost ten years of hating and being horrible to someone might take a little more time to get over. But apparently it can be instantaneous and personality altering for all parties.
The thing is that there is so much about this book that is all almost good, but just so darned clumsy that it isn't. Like when God becomes so sick he almost dies, but somehow never noticed it until he's passing out? Sure it's a perfect time for Day to nurse him back to health (and luckily prove he's really loyal to God, as he was conveniently challenged to do just one scene earlier) but it's also really abrupt, as is he miraculous healing as soon as it no longer benefits the plot.
In fact, everything is fast. Anyone out there ever worked in or with law enforcement? Ever tried to make an appointment with a lawyer to meet you at the jail to speak to an inmate (or the appointment to speak to the inmate at all...or well, just get any of them to answer the phone the first three times you call)? How about managed to get face time with a DA to discuss an appropriate deal, let alone get the decision made? Get the paperwork for any of that?
I guarantee that stuff doesn't ALL happen in less than an hour in real life (or even believable fiction), but it apparently does in the Atlanta Drug Task-force of this book, and with no effort too. I don't know, maybe they have support staff to make the phone calls. Because, as an example, at one point God and Day were told some information, flirted a bit, God rush to the bathroom to take care of some personal business and then they ran to the truck and straight to the jail to see the informant, with a deal in hand and the lawyer already there. How? How, 'cause I want to work in that department.
It's not that I want to read each and every phone call or anything (that would be boring), but I need to know appropriate time has passed for things to have happened and I need things to sound right, in some vague but appropriate way. And it just doesn't here.
I'm no expert on any of this, but that just makes the whole thing worse. If you had to be an expert to notice the errors, it would be forgivable. But I'm not. I just have a little real world experience (and I never had to speak to a DA) but I still couldn't hack it. People who don't know police procedure or know any more of the lingo than can be gleaned from late-night TV, shouldn't write it. Sorry, that sounds mean, but more research was required to make this sound more natural than two boys playing cops and robbers.
All the talk of catching the "kingpin," with no further clarification of the hierarchical nature of the gang involved is a perfect example. Is it a mafia? Cosa Nostra? La Eme? Triad? Yakuza? Bratva? Or just some punk kid calling himself the big cheese in the area? Each would be different and just talking endlessly about the generic 'kingpin' suggests no further knowledge on the subject, no deeper thought to the shallow plotting than an avid Law & Order fan. It says, "I know the kingpin is the top dog, whatever that is, but I don't really know what that means so I'm not going to delve into it any further." And this is REALLY felt by the reader. And this is not the only example I could use.
Far worse than God's miraculous recovery abilities or the department's apparently super efficient administrative staff is the sudden development of a romance between God and Day. They had been partners for four year (and since when do cops get to choose their partners, anyway?). One is straight; one is gay. There has been no evidence of unresolved sexual tension between them. Then, BAM, suddenly they're all over each other and in love. What!? There is no real impetus of change, nor is there a gradual growth of feelings. It came out of nowhere. I think the author tried to use the events of one particular night to accomplish this, but it didn't work. It wasn't enough. So, it too felt completely unsupported.
Then, just about the time you come to terms with the romance (and the fact that God's a complete selfish ass-wipe as a lover), the author throws in a foursome! A foursome? Really? I don't have any problem with four men. It's kinda hot actually, but when the book is full of lines like this, "Day was his and only his..." and the characters pull the "Mine, Mine, Mine" cards over and over, it doesn't work when they then turn around and start swapping. NOT. AT. ALL. And if it doesn't fit the plot, it's just there as titillation and is therefore a complete fail.
Plus, it required personality shifts on everyone's part. God and Day both hated Johnson and Konowski up to that point, not to mention Konowski was really, really homophobic. So to have the four of them suddenly partner up just didn't work. And much like God's mom and brother, Konowski became a completely different character afterwards. Complete personality 180. Personally, I like consistency in my characters as much as in my plot. (Though, I did have a decent laugh at the fact that the author posted a note in the blurb of book 2 saying that there were no "polygamous sexual pairings" in the novel. I guess she's already gotten the message that readers weren't happy about it in this book.)
I also had a hard time with the names, God and Day. For one, God, really? Was there supposed to be some subtle religious message hidden here? If so, I missed it. But also, they're nouns, so my brain just apparently refused to read them as names. There were a lot of instances of having to reread a sentence because I misread it the first time, plus two short clipped names were easily confused.
There were also a lot of things that just plain annoyed me, even if not necessarily wrong. Like God carrying and actually using a Desert Eagle. I know the man is supposed to be huge, but still, a Desert Eagle? Really? Those things are 4+ pounds, empty! I would also have liked more description of the characters too. For example, at 58% it's mentioned that Day trimmed his beard and I thought, what beard? No beard had been mentioned up to that point. Things like that.
Lastly, the book needed a bit more editing. There are a lot of misused words and typos. For example, the word 'off' was often missing its second F, to spell 'of' instead. And, you know, to catch the inconsistencies.
So, final thoughts: this was basically just barley ok. I know I probably made it sound even worse than that, since I didn't care for it. But I'll give it OK, even if not much more. I didn't toss it on the DNF pile, but the best way to illustrate my opinion is by admitting that I bought Nothing Special and Embracing His Syn at the same time. I would never return a book after reading it, but halfway through Nothing Special, I returned Embracing His Syn. My book budget is too small to keep it when I wasn't that impressed with the first one.
However, I want to end by saying that what irks me won't necessarily annoy another reader. So, as always, I encourage people to pick the book up and make their own decision on it.
Edited to correct spelling error, originally posted May 02, 15.
December 30, 2017
4 Stars!
I'm a sucker for a good cop book where the partner's are secretly pinning for each other. I love this trope and this one didn't disappoint. I loved the big and scary God and the sassy tongued Day. They had such a great banter and balanced each other out so well.
Day and God have been partners for four years. Their eyes met across a room and they instantly clicked and new that they had found their perfect partner for life in the cop world, it just took them a bit longer to figure out they were the perfect partner for each other in every aspect of their lives. But it was a lot of fun watching them getting there. Of course there was some drama to juice it up. God has some pretty horrible secrets he's kept to himself and that has been internally killing him. And boy did it break my heart when those secrets were revealed. But Day is there to comfort him and heal him. They had some pretty heated moments in and out of the sheets and I enjoyed every minute of it. The only negative I had was near the end when they brought in a couple other players into the bedroom. I just don't enjoy the sharing even when it's written like it was with everyone happily participating. It's just not my thing and with it not being my first time reading the book I skimmed over those parts.
Loved the book. It's such a great series. If you haven't given it a go I recommend you do.
Happy reading dolls! xx
I'm a sucker for a good cop book where the partner's are secretly pinning for each other. I love this trope and this one didn't disappoint. I loved the big and scary God and the sassy tongued Day. They had such a great banter and balanced each other out so well.
Day and God have been partners for four years. Their eyes met across a room and they instantly clicked and new that they had found their perfect partner for life in the cop world, it just took them a bit longer to figure out they were the perfect partner for each other in every aspect of their lives. But it was a lot of fun watching them getting there. Of course there was some drama to juice it up. God has some pretty horrible secrets he's kept to himself and that has been internally killing him. And boy did it break my heart when those secrets were revealed. But Day is there to comfort him and heal him. They had some pretty heated moments in and out of the sheets and I enjoyed every minute of it. The only negative I had was near the end when they brought in a couple other players into the bedroom. I just don't enjoy the sharing even when it's written like it was with everyone happily participating. It's just not my thing and with it not being my first time reading the book I skimmed over those parts.
Loved the book. It's such a great series. If you haven't given it a go I recommend you do.
Happy reading dolls! xx
April 3, 2020
DNF @75% This one...um. Well... this takes spoilers to convey my "did not finish" shelf placement. Sorry.
So, I quit reading. All the writing was too emotional and over the top for me anyway. Just not my style of harlequin romance...updated m/m style.
So, I quit reading. All the writing was too emotional and over the top for me anyway. Just not my style of harlequin romance...updated m/m style.
March 23, 2014
Yeah, this didn't work for me. The blurb is great but the reading of the story was a struggle. I wanted to like it more than I did but in the end it was close to a DNF.
dnf
July 6, 2021DNF @ 27% in. I've gotta call it quits on this one. Can't do it!
July 25, 2019
Audio July 2019
The Story: 4 Pants Off
I read this before and it’s still the Sharknado of books and I’m also dubbing these guys the BDB of the human world. They are so outrageous that I just had one hell of a good time listening to this story again. Def bringing up my rating from a 3 ⭐️ to a 4 ⭐️ just cuz I had such a damn good time.
The Narration: 4.5 Pants Off
Aiden Snow was THE perfect casting for this. He pulled God and Day from his soul and delivered, ever damn moan, every cheesy line, that hot as hell 4 way just...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THIS EFFING BOOK IS CRACK JACKED UP ON STEROIDS. By far the craziest shit I've read this year and while the editing and just overall most things sucked, it still was mad fun to read.
Truth, I might be a little in love with this crazy. I'm hailing it the Sharknado of books, straight up disbelief but you can't look away.
Never Forget!
December 23, 2016
This was smokin ! I loved the chemistry between Leo & God and their scenes were hot. There was a lot going on in this book - history, family, drug busts - like a bunch of novellas all put together into one story but I have to say it certainly held my interest as a reader and gave me more time to bond with L& G. I must say I found the foursome interesting and have noticed this turned people off the book, however I guess it was just a way to build the relationship and add some more heat. I don't think it was necessary but hey, I still enjoyed this. Really loved God & Leo - great guys ❤
September 7, 2022
*3.5* I really loved listening to this story, but I think I need to chalk it up to the narrator's delicious talent. There will be slight spoilers in the review below so beware if you want to go in blind.
*Audiobook read by Aiden Snow - 6 stars.
*Actual story - 3 stars
*Numerous plot holes, discrepancies, and out of the blue - 1 star
Detective Cashel Godfrey (Cash or God) and Detective Leonidis Day (Leo or Day) have been work partners for five years. Day only dates men and is a HUGE manwhore. God only dates women, and from the one brief interaction we see, he treats them incredibly poorly.
What is with all these MM detective stories with one guy has to be a total slut? As much as I love a good steamy story, this one went into overdrive the last quarter and turned into an ott erotic novel. Also went down a bizarre road of a
What worked
-These two men just fit together so well, even though they didn’t.
-How much God loved his family despite how shitty they treated him.
-The steam was HOT!
-The work banter was on point.
-The depth of friendship they had even before a relationship began.
What didn’t work
-The cliché of the raging homophobe being a closeted gay man.
-The generalities about gay couples not experiencing jealousy like a hetro couple would.
-The insta-recovering from HORRIFIC childhood abuse. He was having nightmares every night, now suddenly he’s recovered?
-The insta-sickness recovery. He couldn’t even stand to pee and now he’s having vigorous sex five hours later?
-How easily his mother and brother abandon him when he’s just a kid. Are you telling me that his mother really didn’t have a clue about what was happening?! She didn’t visit him in the hospital? Who paid his medical bills?
Despite ALL of that, I actually enjoyed the overall story. Yes, at times it was eye-rolling, but the love these two men had for each other shown through all the other stuff.
*Audiobook read by Aiden Snow - 6 stars.
*Actual story - 3 stars
*Numerous plot holes, discrepancies, and out of the blue - 1 star
Detective Cashel Godfrey (Cash or God) and Detective Leonidis Day (Leo or Day) have been work partners for five years. Day only dates men and is a HUGE manwhore. God only dates women, and from the one brief interaction we see, he treats them incredibly poorly.
What is with all these MM detective stories with one guy has to be a total slut? As much as I love a good steamy story, this one went into overdrive the last quarter and turned into an ott erotic novel. Also went down a bizarre road of a
What worked
-These two men just fit together so well, even though they didn’t.
-How much God loved his family despite how shitty they treated him.
-The steam was HOT!
-The work banter was on point.
-The depth of friendship they had even before a relationship began.
What didn’t work
-The cliché of the raging homophobe being a closeted gay man.
-The generalities about gay couples not experiencing jealousy like a hetro couple would.
-The insta-recovering from HORRIFIC childhood abuse. He was having nightmares every night, now suddenly he’s recovered?
-The insta-sickness recovery. He couldn’t even stand to pee and now he’s having vigorous sex five hours later?
-How easily his mother and brother abandon him when he’s just a kid. Are you telling me that his mother really didn’t have a clue about what was happening?! She didn’t visit him in the hospital? Who paid his medical bills?
Despite ALL of that, I actually enjoyed the overall story. Yes, at times it was eye-rolling, but the love these two men had for each other shown through all the other stuff.
March 21, 2014
This is getting 5 stars. I don't care about the few eye-rolls and corny lines here or there throughout the book. Witty, charismatic MCs, some of THE HOTTEST SEX SCENES I'VE EVER READ, and loads of romance. Yeah, fuck it. 5 stars. Review to come.
December 10, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. In fact, I enjoyed it so much I bought the entire series and am hoping there will be more. I loved the story, not so much the sex part but the fact that these two guys really love each other and are so hot together. Besides being romantic and sexy, the guys are funny and some of the quotes coming out of Day's smart-ass mouth had me laughing out loud.
I have to say though, I was a little surprised when 3/4 of the way through the book a very unexpected foursome popped up. I was a bit confused but. after thinking about it, it did sort of fit. I won't say anymore because I don't want to spoil anything. Then again, I might be the only person who was surprised by it.
I have to say though, I was a little surprised when 3/4 of the way through the book a very unexpected foursome popped up. I was a bit confused but. after thinking about it, it did sort of fit. I won't say anymore because I don't want to spoil anything. Then again, I might be the only person who was surprised by it.
April 14, 2021
AE Via is a master storyteller. This series is worth every minute of the read. The books can be read as a stand-alone - truly they can (it's how I've read them after each release). But if you have the time, I really encourage you to take the dive into the entire Nothing Special series, from book 1 on. Reading them together (as I am doing now) is nothing less than magical. Via is incredible in her world-building. One of the top writers I've ever read.
Book 1: If you love a hurt alpha male who keeps it all inside until that special someone appears, Nothing Special, Book 1, is for you. God is hot as hades. He's a sh*t talking detective that draws you in from the very first page. Day is his new partner and holds his own against all the alphaness God dishes out. I love this story.
AE Via writes a longer story, full of depth. I love it.
Book 1: If you love a hurt alpha male who keeps it all inside until that special someone appears, Nothing Special, Book 1, is for you. God is hot as hades. He's a sh*t talking detective that draws you in from the very first page. Day is his new partner and holds his own against all the alphaness God dishes out. I love this story.
AE Via writes a longer story, full of depth. I love it.
June 28, 2019
Audio: 5 STARS!
Story: 3.5 STARS!
So when LYN says that the combo of author AE Via and narrator Aiden Snow is like listening to audio porn, she's not kidding, LOL!
The story itself had great bones, but man, were parts of this one OTT... I didn't mind at all though because I loved God and Day. :D
Plus, Aiden Snow handled the cheesiness like a serious pro. Ergo: rounding up!
Story: 3.5 STARS!
So when LYN says that the combo of author AE Via and narrator Aiden Snow is like listening to audio porn, she's not kidding, LOL!
The story itself had great bones, but man, were parts of this one OTT... I didn't mind at all though because I loved God and Day. :D
Plus, Aiden Snow handled the cheesiness like a serious pro. Ergo: rounding up!
June 7, 2019
Edited for audio: Holy 🤐 voice actor Aiden Snow knocks this out of the park! ❤️ Snow ratchets up the heat, the action, and the alpha maleness to 11 and I am absolutely here for it. 💯
Nothing Special is a dual POV, contemporary, action-packed thrill ride, with lots of hot sex and a very happy ending.
Highly recommended and I will definitely be grabbing the other audios in the series! 🥰
**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**
Have you ever read a book and been rolling your eyes at the plot or certain scenes and been sure that you wouldn't really like it until a particular scene happens? Then it completely transforms the book from okay to spectacular for you? That's what happened to me here. Literally, I enjoyed this...It's totally a rock 'em sock 'em OTT action story. This is basically a M/M Big Action-style Summer Blockbuster.
But what made 'Nothing Special' so special to me that I gave it four stars, and makes me willing to keep that rating no matter what else? The answer is one scene.
Sometimes, for me, there is a scene that is so funny, sexy, powerful, sad, touching, or inspiring that the book itself could be total and complete crap, but I will remember it fondly anyway. Because the key word here is "remember". You see, I read a lot. I mean - a lot. I'm talking over 400+ books a year on average. Sometimes I read so much the storylines start to blend and bleed together, and I'll see a book later and think, "Have I read that? I read that? Why don't I remember reading that?" A great scene always let's me remember.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
Nothing Special is a dual POV, contemporary, action-packed thrill ride, with lots of hot sex and a very happy ending.
Highly recommended and I will definitely be grabbing the other audios in the series! 🥰
**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**
Have you ever read a book and been rolling your eyes at the plot or certain scenes and been sure that you wouldn't really like it until a particular scene happens? Then it completely transforms the book from okay to spectacular for you? That's what happened to me here. Literally, I enjoyed this...It's totally a rock 'em sock 'em OTT action story. This is basically a M/M Big Action-style Summer Blockbuster.
But what made 'Nothing Special' so special to me that I gave it four stars, and makes me willing to keep that rating no matter what else? The answer is one scene.
Sometimes, for me, there is a scene that is so funny, sexy, powerful, sad, touching, or inspiring that the book itself could be total and complete crap, but I will remember it fondly anyway. Because the key word here is "remember". You see, I read a lot. I mean - a lot. I'm talking over 400+ books a year on average. Sometimes I read so much the storylines start to blend and bleed together, and I'll see a book later and think, "Have I read that? I read that? Why don't I remember reading that?" A great scene always let's me remember.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
February 28, 2021
Yes, I’m giving it another go.
—————
Re-read 4/1/19 - DNF 50% - The only April Fool here is apparently me thinking it was a good idea to re-read this for a challenge. I can’t take anymore.
——————
I liked this book but I had too many eye-rolling moments to really love it. I just couldn't get over them being partners for 4 years and suddenly being in love. Of course we don't see those 4 years because they are skipped after the Prologue, but it didn't feel right or real. I don't mind gooey love talk but I thought some of this was too cheesy for me. And I also couldn't get over the reunion between Cash/God and his mom. No apology for how he was treated or anything I think a loving parent would do. But then a loving parent wouldn't have treated him the way she did.
—————
Re-read 4/1/19 - DNF 50% - The only April Fool here is apparently me thinking it was a good idea to re-read this for a challenge. I can’t take anymore.
——————
I liked this book but I had too many eye-rolling moments to really love it. I just couldn't get over them being partners for 4 years and suddenly being in love. Of course we don't see those 4 years because they are skipped after the Prologue, but it didn't feel right or real. I don't mind gooey love talk but I thought some of this was too cheesy for me. And I also couldn't get over the reunion between Cash/God and his mom. No apology for how he was treated or anything I think a loving parent would do. But then a loving parent wouldn't have treated him the way she did.
April 7, 2014
I think it's the first time that I was so pleased and relieved to see a book ended at around 93% on my reader.
The blurb sounds great. The book was pretty ok in the beginning. But there were so many rolled-eyes and WTF moments that I almost DNF it. I skipped the last 30%.
The names of the MCs, OMG! one guy is God and the other guy is Day, then they are also Cash and Leo and than Baby and Sweetheart. I got all confused. LOL
The blurb sounds great. The book was pretty ok in the beginning. But there were so many rolled-eyes and WTF moments that I almost DNF it. I skipped the last 30%.
The names of the MCs, OMG! one guy is God and the other guy is Day, then they are also Cash and Leo and than Baby and Sweetheart. I got all confused. LOL
Want to read
April 11, 2021I dnf’d at 20% because it was sooo ridiculous. I’ll admit that I skipped to the end to read the foursome scene... and it was super hot, that’s all it had going for it.
August 31, 2024
Two hot narcotics detectives working together and maybe want something more. Throw in some personal luggage from the past and taking down a drug kingpin. This is smutty goodness and somewhat OTT. Did I like it? Of course I did, couldn't stop listen to Aiden Snow narrating this 🖤 This is a strong 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
ahh-how-about-no
November 19, 2018No.
No, no, no, no, no.
NO
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