It’s business as usual for Critter Catchers Demmy and Cody, with one pretty major change. Now, they’re not only juggling their animal control business and decades of friendship, but the beginnings of a romance as well. Cody’s always put a time limit on his past relationships, and he’s certain he’s going to mess things up with Demmy. For his part, Demmy is pretty sure Cody will, too. But trouble … trouble arrives in the form of one of Demmy’s ex-boyfriends who contacts them about a case they might be able to handle in Pinesville, New Jersey. Sensing not just physical but romantic danger, Cody makes certain to accompany Demmy on the trip.
In Pinesville, they meet up with a handful of residents just as colorful, if not more so, than those in Parson’s Hollow. And both are surprised to find they have some competition on this case, namely the Critter Ridders, a pair of very competitive women operating their own animal control business.
As the case intensifies, tempers flare and loyalties are tested, bringing Demmy and Cody to the point where they must decide if they’re willing to save the business, their friendship, or their romance.
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all I’m going say is my heart is so warm right now.
In ‘The Devil of Pinesville, Critter Catchers Book 4 by Hank Edwards
our boys Demi and Cody are together at last–in the closet! In the previous book, readers saw the boys solving the mystery of people disappearing near the Everglades in Florida and were also treated to Cody accepting his love for Demi as more than the fraternal love of guys who had been friends since boyhood. Readers observed that the romantic love between the men was firmly established but not yet acknowledge. That changes in Book 3 and the men engage sexually after running from their feelings for so long. However, being Platonic friends for decades doesn’t make admitting they are a couple easy in the current novel. On the contrary, how does Cody, the town lady player, admit that he’s been going at it with his best buddy? It’s only slightly less scary than the Devil they encounter in Pinesville while helping Demi’s past lover!
Writer Hank Edwards is especially gifted in penning the tension, frustration, and fear that exists between both men as they transition from friends to lovers making it nearly as scary as the encounters with the monster! With his focus on Cody, Demi is understandably uncomfortable when he gets a text message from his old boyfriend Oliver who moved to Pinesville to live with his grandmother. There’s a Devil running around and he’s certain the Critter Catchers partners can capture the creature. He offers the guys room at his grandmother’s home failing to tell them that 1) they will be staying in a barn and 2) a reward has been offered for the capture of The Devil. They get there to find that a two-woman team called Critter Ridders is there to win the prize!
Even with a creature running about Pinesville, their deep-in-the-closet relationship serves as an equally scary backdrop for the story for those readers who love the boys. Each guy has valid concerns about what happens next in their relationship. Demi’s concerns involve the Cody timeline with relationships. Cody loses interest in women and tends to end the relationship at about six weeks. As that marker approaches, readers feel Demi’s anxiety. Cody’s concerns center around the value he place on his friendship with Demi. Demi has been Cody’s anchor for years as he attracted friends and lovers then pulls away when he gets ‘crowded’. His fear of losing Demi is real and so touching. In the end, Cody realizes he can’t back out or he’ll lose permanently. It’s a moot point when he understands that a Platonic relationship with Demi just isn’t at all satisfactory–he wants, needs, and craves an emotional, sexual commitment.
Another road trip! Yay!
There is a lot of angst in this one. Demmy and Cody need to just talk to each other and get past all the stupid crap. It wore on my nerves after a while.
There are a lot of sexy times in this one, too. I understand the newness of a relationship and the raging hormones that ensue, but maybe less sexy time would have added more to the story, in my opinion.
I was very touched by the monster in this story. The “Devil” is every bit as dangerous as it seems, but the reason behind the violence is heartbreaking. I never thought I would want to hug any of these monsters, but I think this one needs some love and understanding.
The secondary characters are way out there (like the ones from their home town). They are fun to read and watch the guys interact with. They add a lot to the piece.
The Devil of Pinesville wasn’t my favorite so far in this series, but it was entertaining.
I am looking forward to Book 5.
This series is so much fun! Poor Cody and Demetrius can’t catch a break in their Critter Catchers business. They either end up scratched up or worse by the animals they are removing, or they end up pitted against something even scarier. In the previous books, Cody and Demmy unintentionally ended up fighting monsters, but this time, they reluctantly make the decision to go after one.
Oliver, Demmy’s ex, has moved to Pinesville, and he asks the partners to come investigate a goat-bat-man creature that has been terrorizing the adjoining woods. The guys go, but along with looking for the Devil of Pinesville, butting heads with two women who are in the same line of work, and fighting jealousy each man feels at different times, Cody and Demmy also have to figure out where they are going in their newly intimate relationship. Cody is afraid of coming out, and Demmy is afraid of being left behind. I wanted to shake them at times and hug them at others.
I love these adventures, and Cody and Demetrius are such great characters. They make me laugh, and sometimes they make me cry. I am really enjoying the series, and I’m ready to dive into the next installment. Bring on the next f-ing monster!
This book is the best so far in this amazing series!, Demetrius and Cody’s relationship is at risk and they need to decide what they want, while trying to find a mythical monster and get a reward. Full of action, intrigue, romance and hot scenes… the plot kept me in the edge of my seat all the time. I cried a little but enjoyed a lot. Great reading!!!
I received the book as an ARC and this is my honest opinion.
The Devil of Pinesville is the fourth book in the Critter Catchers series by Hank Edwards. Business, friendship and romantic relationship juggling plays a part in this installment of the funny and suspenseful series. Demmy and Cody are finding thier groove in it all when a new mysterious case comes knocking at their door. Add to that the fact that there is competition now for getting rid of unwanted critters and this book provides a good mix of angsty drama, hilarious moments, suspense and mystery… and some satisfying romance. Another enjoyable and entertaining read, with good plot and great characters.
I received an advanced reader’s copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation.
Hank Edwards is back with another hilarious, exhilarating, and terrifying adventure, and the Critter Catchers are not… happy about being on the case. Really. Okay, Cody isn’t happy. Because Cody would rather never run into another monster for as long as he lives. But Demmy, ever the thinker, wants to unravel these mysteries and help people. So when his ex-boyfriend Oliver sends a message after months of radio silence, asking if the two were still in the business of hunting unusual animals… it’s time for a road trip to New Jersey.
The whole situation is weird and uncomfortable. Sure, they’ve got Jugs to depend on to run the business for them now, but helping Demmy’s ex isn’t really high on Cody’s list of things to do, especially since the two are in the beginnings of a very intense relationship that is romantic but maybe—are they exclusive? Is it forever? Just for fun? Would one of them sound ridiculously needy to ask that they both be in it for the long haul? Being friends and now lovers is complicating for both of them, Cody isn’t out about his bisexuality, Demmy can’t go back into the closet no matter how much he loves Cody, and oh now they have to hide their feelings from Oliver and his pistol of a grandmother while hunting some enormous bat-creature in the woods?
Life is never boring for these two.
Edwards once again gives the reader some fantastic side characters to sink their teeth into. He creates complex and multi-layered people, which is refreshing and appreciative. Some lovable, some that makes the hackles raise, and everything in between. He’s especially good at writing older women, and I adored how those ladies had unique interactions with Cody and Demmy each across the series. The monster in this book was also an interesting change from previous titles. I’d go so far as to say no one much shed a tear for Book One’s monster, and while Two’s was a real zinger, I wouldn’t entirely venture into calling it a monster. Book Three—terrifying. No remorse felt by me after that whirlwind. But Book Four? He really shook it up by making the reader ache for the monster, not just the danger he’s constantly putting our boys into.
I’m a sucker for exes turning into friends in fiction as well. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not always possible. And when it is, should be handled carefully to make both individuals redeemable. So I really appreciated what Edwards did with Oliver in this book, and how he interacts with not only Demmy, but Cody—the source of so many arguments. Another hell of a read in the Critter Catchers series!