(I think this is a nice change of pace for a m/m cover and fits the story well)
Blood Noir – Jesse Fox
GLBT Romantic Mystery
276 pages e-book
Alex and Harley have been in a long-term committed relationship for the past ten years. Alex is a very talented photographer and has been asked to fly to Seattle for a week, to work on Erica Kenyon’s latest book, a famous crime reporter that has a new book about serial killers.
Although this is not an unusual assignment for Alex in his line of work, he still feels uneasy about it. Something is just not sitting right in his gut. However, he pushes his feelings of unease away, and after a romantic goodbye with Harley (hot shower scene for the win!), he gets on his flight.
Alex arrives in Seattle and is immediately wined and dined. He has his own driver, Leo, and is staying at a five-star hotel. What Alex doesn’t know is that there is a woman following him. As the reader, you don’t get a lot of information about her. But she is lurking in the shadows, following Alex’s every move.
Alex is not sleeping well – something he has kept from Harley. Before he met Harley, he had reoccurring night terrors and insomnia. Once he fell into a stable relationship and received therapy, the terrors stopped and his sleeping habits improved. He doesn’t know why the last two weeks things have gone downhill. He knows he should not keep something like this from Harley, but with his trip to Seattle, he didn’t want to make him nervous. His night terrors are always the same – a little boy in a garden, parents are fighting and the little boy kills the abusive father.
Meanwhile back in St. Louis, Harley, a private investigator is also feeling uneasy. He has noticed the same woman following him and Alex the past two weeks. Now he is regretting Alex leaving the state without telling him. When Harley notices his break line on his car has been cut, he realizes someone is out to get him, and the stakes have just been raised. He makes a phone call to his uncle who is retired FBI. Through him he learns a devastating secret, one that will change his and Alex’s life forever. Harley must now warn Alex he is in imminent danger, before the danger can find Alex and ruin everything they have together.
Blood Noir surprised me. When Dark Roast Press contacted me to review some of their books, I had never heard of them and while there are many publishers I am sure I never heard of, I didn’t know what to expect. What I got is a book I really enjoyed. It is first and foremost a murder mystery, one that had many elements of suspense and intrigue. The villain, is introduced very slowly and mysteriously, only giving the barest of hints. As the story unravels and the past is introduced, the plot thickens and tensions rise. Although for half of the book Alex and Harley are in separate states, the pacing of the book never suffers. Jesse Fox write the story in a way where Alex and Harley each have separate things happening to them and as a reader you are given knowledge to both sides of the events. You start to unravel the clues before Alex and Harley reunite and figure it out.
I loved Alex and Harley – they have been in a serious relationship for ten years and it was refreshing to read about a couple that are already committed, rather than spending much of the story dealing with relationship woes. They are both confident, successful men with a sense of humor and lots of smexy muscles. I loved that this story had very hot sex scenes, however, they never overpowered the mystery aspect. They fit in quite well, and were actually quite few but don’t worry – Jesse Fox writes amazing love scenes – the chemistry between the two of them was verra smexy. Although they have been together for ten years, they still got it going on.
My only real complaint is that I didn’t love the character of Leo – Alex’s driver/bodyguard. I felt like his character and dialogue were a bit forced. Too much of a sidekick that tries to provide comic relief. I found Alex and Harley witty in themselves and Leo just an extra that tried too hard. I was also thrown off at first when both Alex and Harley talk about having a feeling of dread. At first I thought they were kind of hinting they were psychic and could foretell something bad was going to happen. However, as you read, you learn it is not necessarily a psychic vision, but more of a jolt to one’s memory that has the bad feeling sticking around.
The ending and all of the twists and turns were really well done. The mystery and surrounding circumstances are dark and I was surprised at the amount of emotional and physical torture certain characters go through. I had no idea going in what to expect and I was taken aback at the brutal nature of some of the events – however, the villain is psychotic and needed that kind of history to shape his or hers (not giving it away!) actions.
I feel this book is great for a mystery fan who enjoys m/m but also for the reader who may be a little hesitant to try m/m for the first time.
Rating: 3 Stars
Jesse Fox’s website.
What others had to say:
Though I like my M/M stories to be very romance and erotic driven it sounds like an entertaining and good M/M suspense story Mandi :)
I will admit I'm a novice with M/M romances but I'll keep this one in mind!
Leontine – See, I prefer mine lesser on the erotic side..definitely romance, but I enjoy more of the ongoing plot.
Tricia – I wonder how many people that read my blog read m/m. I might a poll or something..just to see.
I started reading it after I realized I enjoyed the kiss between Blay and Qhuinn in JR Ward's BDB series more than Phury and Cormia – LOL.
Thanks for an excellent review Mandy!
That cover is definitely eye catching, very "film noir" I can see Gene Tierney lurking under the hat… ;)
"Blood Noir", sounds excellent despite the one flaw in characterization. If I can ever weedle down the TBR I may give it a try!
Thank you for sharing!!
L
I haven't read any m/m romances, but this may be a good place to start. I have an award for you here: http://lovesromances.blogspot.com/2009/08/thank-you.html
I love a mystery. I like romance in with the mystery and this has it. I love this cover and I love the title. It really pulls me in. This cover nor title gives the M/M concept.
That sounds like a good book. I read some m/m. My favorite is Special Forces.
Stephanie – special forces – is that the one online written by two people – I can't remember their names..but does it have someone named Dan in it?
Yes, Dan and Vadim. Have you read it? The first chapter is a little rough but then it is so good.
No..but I really want to!! I actually had forgotten about it. There was a big thread going on about it on jr ward message boards and everyone raved about it. It ended right? I am going to have to find it.
Yes, it is complete now. People who haven't read any m/m might not like it because it is pretty explicit but I hadn't read any m/m before and still loved it. It is long, too so make sure you block some time for it because it seems like once you start reading it is hard to quit.
cool – thanks for the info. I thought it was a bit more explicit but everyone says it is an amazing story
Oh Lonestar – I know who you are now. LOL..I suppose you are familiar with jr ward message boards ;) Didn't put your new name with you until now:)
Oh, yes! I'm a regular over at the BDB boards.
The only m/m I've read is LB Gregg, I'd be willing to give this one a try – it sounds good!
Patti – yes, I think you will like this one.
If I get to where I'm ready to read a m/m novel, this will be one for me to keep in mind. Very good review!!
You know you want to Donna….;)
handle a review, Mandi– thanks for giving our erotic romances a try!
Dark Roast Press handles both het and gay romances with a darker flavor and exceptional story quality. Our ebooks are always an experience.
Sounds good and different and you would never guess it was M/M when you see the cover.
Thanks for reviewing it, Mandi! :)
Thank you, Mandi for taking the time to read and review "Blood Noir". I appreciate it immensely.
I enjoyed it:)
Looks interesting. I'm actually reading my first m/m right now. I was a little skeptical about the whole concept, but am finding it surprisingly good (and sexy, lol). It would be interesting to do a poll of how many people are reading these.
FG – what are you reading?
A Strong Hand by Catt Ford. It was recommended on the Erotic Horizon website. It's more on the erotic side than Blood Noir sounds like, though.
I'm not going to review it on my site though because I get the vibe my readers are more on the conservative side. That's why I thought your poll idea was interesting.
I like EH's site:)
I think I will def do the poll..because I really have no idea how many of my readers read m/m and if they don't are they interested or not at all.
Perhaps for me then since I have tried my first M/M yet, and would need a book like this perhaps to guide me right
I have posted a good m/m "starter" book on my blog. It is not explicit but very romantic. Can't say enough good things about it.