What if trusting someone you barely remember is the only way to survive when former friend brings murder to your doorstep?Shattered by the death of his brother, Ollie is struggling to put one foot in front of the other. Kade, his brother’s best friend, entering the picture seems like the help and comfort Ollie needs. Trusting this older man with his secrets, much less his heart, is something … secrets, much less his heart, is something Ollie isn’t so sure is a good idea.
Between the two of them they’re going to need to come to grips with their budding relationship, and learn to trust, before their current investigation kills them. Literally.
Note: This MM romance features a tattooed ex-Marine, a former model with a passion for manties and sticking his nose into mysteries, and a bunch of reality TV stars with the habit of getting murdered. Second edition.
more
The plot was interesting. I wasn’t sure how the idea of a fashion model turned investigator could be believable, but it worked for me. I think Ollie was a little too skilled in the tech field, but for the sake of an entertaining story, I will let that slide. I liked the way the author built up the layers in the plot. This book was mostly a suspense thriller with a dash of mystery.
I liked Ollie and Kade. They are interesting characters with an interesting dynamic. I would like to see the author focus a little more on showing me their personality traits rather than telling me about them. Ollie’s character traits were unveiled a little better, but I wanted to get the impression that Kade was in the military without being told that a dozen times. Situational awareness, the manner in which someone moves, and use of military slang are all things I associate with military personnel from the base I grew up next to. That said, I still enjoyed getting to see bits of Kade reflected through Ollie’s perspective.
This story highlights one thing that really frustrates me about labels. In the literal sense, femme is French for woman and feminine means qualities associated with women. I am female. I wear combat boots, cargo pants, and comic book t-shirts. Do not tell me I don’t look feminine. You would be literally wrong. Sigh. What people usually mean when they use the terms femme and feminine is delicate, graceful, or elegant. Ollie seems to accept the label femme, but honestly I think he seems delicate and elegant. Don’t call him fragile though. Just don’t.
The narration by Mike Pohlable was pretty good. I liked the choice for Ollie’s voice. I did cringe a bit every time I heard Donovan’s voice though. Reasons…
Overall, this was an entertaining read/listen, and I started next book right after I finished this one.
You have no idea how excited I was to finally read a contemporary gay romance by Lissa Kasey. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love everything she writes, but I was curious to see where her mind would take me in a modern world. I was not disappointed, at all, with ‘Model Citizen’, Ollie, Kade, and the rest of the fabulous characters.
Ollie’s best day, and worst day, were the same day. Best because he’d just closed on an old Victorian fixer-upper that he and his brother, Nathan, were going to share and Nathan was going to fix up. It was Ollie’s way of thanking Nathan for all the sacrifices he made to take care of Ollie after their parents died. Worst because Nathan was found dead in his office of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Now Ollie is trying to run Nathan’s private investigation business while not being able to get his own PI license.
In steps Kade, a friend of Nathan’s from the Marines, who was involved in a roadside bomb, and got his PI license for something to do. Ollie remembers Kade, because he used to come and visit them on leave, but it’s been a few years. It is Will, Nathan’s best friend, and his wife, Britney, who is Ollie’s best friend, who actually contacted Kade about coming to help out. Will and Britney are all Ollie has left and they don’t want to see him crushed under his responsibilities.
Kade grinned. “You look fantastic in nothing at all or everything. Even sleep tousled as I saw you earlier. But that’s not why I’m here. I’m here to start over. Create a new life. Be a different guy. Something more than just a soldier. Will asked me to help you. I admit I hesitated because I’ve been so interested in you for so long.”
Huh. That was news to Ollie. But before he can worry about that, a former friend of Ollie’s comes to see him about a reality TV show he’s in where he thinks people are being hurt intentionally. This gets Kade and Ollie both looking into Sex House to see what might be going on. Things turn interesting and dangerous as they try to unravel the mystery.
I adored Ollie. A beautiful, androgynous man, who had been a worldwide model, but stubborn, snarky, and always afraid if he allows himself to love then the person will leave. Everyone else has, haven’t they? And then there’s Kade. Former Marine with a ton of tattoos, you’d think he’d be a macho, “I don’t talk about my feelings” kind of guy. But he’s not. He’s wonderful, sexy, tough, sweet, and gentle, all wrapped in a gorgeous package. Plus he really cares about Ollie, about him as a person, and not just how gorgeous he is.
I loved this book. It hit all my buttons, ESPECIALLY with the revelation the author dropped in my lap on the very last page. I’m breathless with anticipation for the next book, because there’s no way the author can leave me hanging. None. I’d show up at her house and make her write. Not really, but hey, it could happen. Thank you, Lissa, for an awesome job!