Monday, June 7, 2010

Quickie Review: Losing my Josh Lanyon virginity with Adrien English Books 1 & 2


This book falls into my M/M Reading Challenge.



I have heard so much about the Adrien English series I thought I knew what it was all about but these books were not what I expected at all. I guess I didn't expect the stories to focus mainly on the mystery and not so much on Adrien's love life. Don't get me wrong, there was a bit of the sexin' going on, but it wasn't the focus of the stories. I liked them.

Adrien English is an independent bookstore owner who also happens to be gay. He's got a bad heart as the result of a childhood illness, and because of it has a tendancy to pass out when he's excited, surprised, or anxious. He had a bad breakup with a significant other, but apparently that's been over for a while and hasn't had anyone special in his life for a while. The first book, Fatal Shadows, focused on a serial killer. As the book opens, he learns his employee/high-school friend has been murdered. Of course he ends up a suspect, and things aren't looking good when someone else he knows turns up dead. Poor Adrien stumbles around getting more and more involved in the case, and as the clues come together he realizes his life is in danger.

The second book, A Dangerous Thing, has Adrien involved with one of the officers, Jake Riordan, who worked on the case in the first book. Apparently things aren't going well and Adrien spontaneously decides to take a short vacation at the ranch his grandmother left him when she died many years ago. The first thing he runs into, almost literally, is a dead body! He calls the local Sheriff, and when they go back to investigate the body is gone. There's a missing caretaker, a huge field of pot plants, an anthropology group digging on his land with forged approval documents, and to top it all off Riordan shows up! After several attempts on his life and a refusal by the local law to accept Adrien's insistence that his life is in danger, he and Riordan work together (using that term loosely) to solve the mystery. This one kept me guessing until the very end, and I also think I like the turn Adrien and Riordan's romance seems to be taking. (IF Riordan can get over some self-identity issues he needs to address). *

Completely off topic - I don't know why but I keep imagining Adrien as a wiry older guy, (maybe like Hugh Laurie), even though I think he's supposed to be about 32? Riordan I think I'm imagining right, but for some reason my brain refuses to picture Adrien as a younger guy. Oh - and I'm never going to look at a bottle of suntan lotion the same way ever again!

Anyhoo, I thought Fatal Shadows was pretty good, and A Dangerous Thing was great, so I give this compilation 4 stars.

*(Finished book 3, The Hell You Say) this weekend - definitely do NOT like the turn their romance is taking!!!)

12 comments:

  1. Suntan lotion, you got me intrigued there ;)

    Hm perhaps cos Laurie is too?

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  2. I've read a lot of JL, and I have this series, but I just haven't started. I've heard so many negative things about the relationship between Adrien and Jake that I'm not sure I want to even tackle it. Sigh. I'm a wimp that way.

    Glad you enjoyed it. Josh is really an excellent writer. His Kit Holmes series is really very funny with another great mystery. I'm looking forward to the next book.

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  3. I read this entire series in one weekend. I can't imagine reading this series as it came out especially after the ending of book 3.

    *hiccup* Let me know when you read the last book *sob*

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  4. I heart this series like nothing else...hold tight...their relationship goes through hell and back...but it is SO FREAKING worth it. :)

    I picture Foster from Skin Game/Skin Tight as Tim Gunn (project runway) it happens sometimes. LOL.

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  5. Great review Patti!

    I've never read a bad thing about this series. One of these days. lol re the title of your post.

    Glad you enjoyed and thanks for sharing.

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  6. I have much love for this series. But I really love murder-mysteries, so I was happy to amble along on Adrien's bumbling investigations.

    This M/M romance is not always comfortable. It's hot and sometimes sweet, but also heartbreaking. Stick with it though - there is a big pay-off and the rollercoaster ride ends up being quite enjoyable, despite the many downs.

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  7. Keep going! Read them all the way through!

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  8. Jake is an arsehole. That is all.

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  9. Delicious cover!!! =) Mmmm...lol Thanks girl!

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  10. Blodeuedd: Yes, suntan lotion. I kept wondering if it would burn...

    Tam: I'll have to check out that Kit Holmes series - thanks!

    Smokinhotbooks: I'm afraid to start book 4, LOL!

    Mandi: I know, I know, I do want to know what happens!

    Danielle: "bumbling investigations" - exactly! And a big payoff? Yay!

    Chris: I'm curious - for whatever reason I do want them to end up together.

    Kris: It does annoy me to no end when he calls Adrien "baby". Don't know why.

    Monroe: It is a sexy cover ;)

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  11. Hold on, it's all worth it. Great series!

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  12. I LOVE this series!!! I agree with Stacey! hold on to it... it gets worse before it gets perfect =)))

    great review!

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