Scan barcode
suze_1624's review against another edition
4.0
4.5*
Ah, JL Merrow writes some memorable characters - both these hit the mark for different reasons.
Rory is everyman - village postie, ordinary guy, divorced, balancing custody visits
David is.....David - young, flits from man to man, job to job, has his teddy Geoffrey to keep,him company
But Rory starts to question himself seriously once he has David as a lodger, is he as straight as he always thought. David isn’t as unaffected by all life deals him as others think. Together they make the other think.
I enjoyed both guys - Rory was more recognisable to me but I did enjoy David’s joie de vivre, as well as all his other french sayings! They bond really over Rory’s kids who are cute. Lots of internal angst until they finally take the plunge. Rory had a few oh-oh moments when confronted with a male body but adjusted v quickly.
Most of the story is about the getting to know you and getting to be on the same page, so any relationship as such is very much at the end of the book.
Did enjoy a great deal.
Ah, JL Merrow writes some memorable characters - both these hit the mark for different reasons.
Rory is everyman - village postie, ordinary guy, divorced, balancing custody visits
David is.....David - young, flits from man to man, job to job, has his teddy Geoffrey to keep,him company
But Rory starts to question himself seriously once he has David as a lodger, is he as straight as he always thought. David isn’t as unaffected by all life deals him as others think. Together they make the other think.
I enjoyed both guys - Rory was more recognisable to me but I did enjoy David’s joie de vivre, as well as all his other french sayings! They bond really over Rory’s kids who are cute. Lots of internal angst until they finally take the plunge. Rory had a few oh-oh moments when confronted with a male body but adjusted v quickly.
Most of the story is about the getting to know you and getting to be on the same page, so any relationship as such is very much at the end of the book.
Did enjoy a great deal.
kaje_harper's review against another edition
5.0
Well, that was just sweet and warm and funny, with a hint of angst for flavor. It hit the spot when I wanted something cuddly to read. This author is very good at writing simple, honest, trustworthy men who may not always get things right, but whose good hearts, and belief in the basic goodness of other people, carry them through life. Rory is one of those characters, a village postie who makes his rounds with an eye out for his neighbors, a man who loves his kids and regrets but doesn't hate the women who left him. A guy without much intellect or ambition, but with an open mind and loving heart.
David is his foil - gay, flamboyant, sharp-witted, and a bit bruised by life, but pretending not to care. At first, he winds up in Rory's house as a lodger, helping pay the rent. But he's surprisingly taken by meeting a man who is solid and trustworthy. When Rory's kids come by, David finds he also connects with them, and enjoys the challenge of a houseful of two little people who have also been dealt a difficult hand - in their case, losing time with their doting father, and weeks spent with a work-focused and unaffectionate step-father. In helping Rory out, David finds himself appreciated, useful, busy, and amused. It's a heady combination. If only Rory wasn't so obviously straight.
The theme of out-for-you is believable here, as Rory slowly discovers his bi side. The angst is mainly misreadings and misunderstandings, but given where these men start from, it worked for me. I enjoy Merrow's stories and her men, and this will be a comfort-reread, to grab and indulge in on a rough day.
David is his foil - gay, flamboyant, sharp-witted, and a bit bruised by life, but pretending not to care. At first, he winds up in Rory's house as a lodger, helping pay the rent. But he's surprisingly taken by meeting a man who is solid and trustworthy. When Rory's kids come by, David finds he also connects with them, and enjoys the challenge of a houseful of two little people who have also been dealt a difficult hand - in their case, losing time with their doting father, and weeks spent with a work-focused and unaffectionate step-father. In helping Rory out, David finds himself appreciated, useful, busy, and amused. It's a heady combination. If only Rory wasn't so obviously straight.
The theme of out-for-you is believable here, as Rory slowly discovers his bi side. The angst is mainly misreadings and misunderstandings, but given where these men start from, it worked for me. I enjoy Merrow's stories and her men, and this will be a comfort-reread, to grab and indulge in on a rough day.
walford's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 rounded up. Almost gave up on this because of the cutesiness (in British: a bit too twee?) but then couldn't put it down. Hit the spot when I needed it.
the_novel_approach's review against another edition
4.0
Awww…It’s been too long since I visited Shamwell! I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed it until digging in to Spun!, the latest addition to this wonderful series by JL Merrow. As with the other stories in the series, Spun! is filled with colorful characters, and chock full of British charm. Aside from a couple of little niggles, this was an incredibly fun read; I completely fell in love with Rory and David.
My first minor issue was some confusion, i.e., feeling a bit lost, with the introduction of David’s character. Though, the problem is most likely down to me not having read Out!, the third book in the series, rather than an actual issue with the construction of the story. Out! was Mark and Patrick’s book, and as David is a friend and ex-coworker of Mark’s (and apparently, he also had a crush on Mark once upon a time), we may have learned more about him in that book. As it was, when David was all of a sudden talking to a random teddy bear name Gregory, I felt like I was definitely missing something! I even had to reread chapter three a couple of times. Soooo, yeah. Heh, heh. I would say that this book mostly works as a standalone…after I got through to chapter 4, I was totally fine. But, there may be some benefit to reading the previous book first.
Like I said above, I completely fell in love with the main characters. But, whereas my fondness for Rory was immediate, David did take a minute to get used to. First, his penchant for randomly using French phrases and nicknames might initially give the impression that he’s perhaps snobby or pretentious. That, coupled with his attachment to Gregory, makes for in interesting first impression. However, as far as the pretension goes, nothing could be further from the truth. David is an absolute love. He’s fun, intelligent, well-rounded, and very sexy! The descriptions of him in the book pretty much made me swoon. And, he’s wonderful with Rory’s kids. Like, super hearty eyes wonderful. Rory definitely never stood a chance! Also, he’s completely hilarious. Lines like this had me cracking up:
As fabulous as David was, though, I have to admit that Rory was my favorite. I loved him SO stinkin’ much. Rory is kind, loving, loyal, and an amazing dad. Forgiving to a fault, he’s even sweet to his best mate Barry when he’s being a dick, and to his ex-wife, who cheated and left him, taking their kids with her. One of the things I loved best about him was that he really gets David. He doesn’t even bat an eye when being introduced to Gregory—reminder: Gregory is a teddy bear—and, shares David’s love for all things fandom. He also doesn’t judge or underestimate David like so many others do. His belief in David, and in their friendship, are what ultimately help him take the leap of faith he needs to take regarding their relationship. I just wish he would have taken the leap sooner!
Which brings me to my second niggle. The story was going along sooo beautifully—the guys were slowly falling for each other, and they were moving closer to becoming a cozy family unit—when the inevitable miscommunication, or rather, lack of communication, had to be put into play. I get that we like a little conflict to be resolved. I do. Unfortunately, though, for me, the miscommunication and mooning around about what the other must be thinking went on for tooooo long, and started to get a bit repetitive and grating.
Not to worry, though…There were WAY more things I loved about this story than didn’t. I loved seeing Mr. Enemy, the schoolteacher and one of the MCs from Caught!. It made me want to go recapture the joy I got from that book. I loved David’s relationship with his mom. I loved that Merrow once again went with pairing a blue-collar guy with a sort of more upper-crust character. I loved that Rory’s ex-wife, Evie, finally apologized for being an asshole, and the way that whole resolution, with him and the kids, played out. And, Lord help me, I loved that adorable, costumed teddy bear!
Reviewed by Jules for The Novel Approach
My first minor issue was some confusion, i.e., feeling a bit lost, with the introduction of David’s character. Though, the problem is most likely down to me not having read Out!, the third book in the series, rather than an actual issue with the construction of the story. Out! was Mark and Patrick’s book, and as David is a friend and ex-coworker of Mark’s (and apparently, he also had a crush on Mark once upon a time), we may have learned more about him in that book. As it was, when David was all of a sudden talking to a random teddy bear name Gregory, I felt like I was definitely missing something! I even had to reread chapter three a couple of times. Soooo, yeah. Heh, heh. I would say that this book mostly works as a standalone…after I got through to chapter 4, I was totally fine. But, there may be some benefit to reading the previous book first.
Like I said above, I completely fell in love with the main characters. But, whereas my fondness for Rory was immediate, David did take a minute to get used to. First, his penchant for randomly using French phrases and nicknames might initially give the impression that he’s perhaps snobby or pretentious. That, coupled with his attachment to Gregory, makes for in interesting first impression. However, as far as the pretension goes, nothing could be further from the truth. David is an absolute love. He’s fun, intelligent, well-rounded, and very sexy! The descriptions of him in the book pretty much made me swoon. And, he’s wonderful with Rory’s kids. Like, super hearty eyes wonderful. Rory definitely never stood a chance! Also, he’s completely hilarious. Lines like this had me cracking up:
“Are you a postman too, Barry? Do you go around in those fetching little shorts, delivering hopes and dreams to the masses?”
As fabulous as David was, though, I have to admit that Rory was my favorite. I loved him SO stinkin’ much. Rory is kind, loving, loyal, and an amazing dad. Forgiving to a fault, he’s even sweet to his best mate Barry when he’s being a dick, and to his ex-wife, who cheated and left him, taking their kids with her. One of the things I loved best about him was that he really gets David. He doesn’t even bat an eye when being introduced to Gregory—reminder: Gregory is a teddy bear—and, shares David’s love for all things fandom. He also doesn’t judge or underestimate David like so many others do. His belief in David, and in their friendship, are what ultimately help him take the leap of faith he needs to take regarding their relationship. I just wish he would have taken the leap sooner!
Which brings me to my second niggle. The story was going along sooo beautifully—the guys were slowly falling for each other, and they were moving closer to becoming a cozy family unit—when the inevitable miscommunication, or rather, lack of communication, had to be put into play. I get that we like a little conflict to be resolved. I do. Unfortunately, though, for me, the miscommunication and mooning around about what the other must be thinking went on for tooooo long, and started to get a bit repetitive and grating.
Not to worry, though…There were WAY more things I loved about this story than didn’t. I loved seeing Mr. Enemy, the schoolteacher and one of the MCs from Caught!. It made me want to go recapture the joy I got from that book. I loved David’s relationship with his mom. I loved that Merrow once again went with pairing a blue-collar guy with a sort of more upper-crust character. I loved that Rory’s ex-wife, Evie, finally apologized for being an asshole, and the way that whole resolution, with him and the kids, played out. And, Lord help me, I loved that adorable, costumed teddy bear!
Reviewed by Jules for The Novel Approach
lauriereadslohf's review against another edition
3.0
I decided to take a mini-break away from the horror-fest I’d been on and finally read this way overdue Netgalley title. I think I may need to stick with horror a wee bit longer because I found Spun all too sweet for my current mood.
It was also very hard for me to stick to and when it starts there are so many characters from previous books I haven’t read popping in that I had trouble keeping track of who was who and who was connected to who. I’m not sure if it was the dialogue, the accents or just the sometimes overly wordy prose but I found myself going back and rereading many a paragraph for whatever reason and at times it felt a little too much like work to finish this book. It also has kid characters and they’re featured quite heavily and while it added to the characterization and connection between the couple, kids in a romance aren’t exactly my favorite.
The story opens with David getting fired from his job after he is discovered doing sexual things with the husband of somebody at a work event. Oops. He decides to move out of the city and rents a room from Rory. Rory is a divorced dad of two who has just been dumped by his latest girlfriend. Rory is straight or at least always thought he was until he starts thinking thoughts about David that he’s never thought before.
You can guess how it goes from there right? Okay, good.
So I liked David. He is a bit of a nut. He’s quirky, flirty and flamboyant and carries around a teddy bear he’s named Gregory. It is impossible to dislike David even when he’s making poor decisions and doing the whole jumping to conclusions sort of thing. This brings me to the main issue I had with this book, the misunderstandings and lack of talking about those oh-so-pesky feelings! Rory and David talk about everything else but jump to conclusions and listen to outside forces and get themselves all hurt up for no good reason except maybe to make the book a little longer. It kind of wore on my last nerve and made me want to grab them both and clang their skulls together if I’m being completely honest. I also liked Rory. He’s a quite a few years older than David and he is a kind, sweet and open-minded guy. Their attraction and slowly developing romance felt genuine. But again it was too slow for my tastes.
I liked this story but not enough to give it more than a three.
It was also very hard for me to stick to and when it starts there are so many characters from previous books I haven’t read popping in that I had trouble keeping track of who was who and who was connected to who. I’m not sure if it was the dialogue, the accents or just the sometimes overly wordy prose but I found myself going back and rereading many a paragraph for whatever reason and at times it felt a little too much like work to finish this book. It also has kid characters and they’re featured quite heavily and while it added to the characterization and connection between the couple, kids in a romance aren’t exactly my favorite.
The story opens with David getting fired from his job after he is discovered doing sexual things with the husband of somebody at a work event. Oops. He decides to move out of the city and rents a room from Rory. Rory is a divorced dad of two who has just been dumped by his latest girlfriend. Rory is straight or at least always thought he was until he starts thinking thoughts about David that he’s never thought before.
You can guess how it goes from there right? Okay, good.
So I liked David. He is a bit of a nut. He’s quirky, flirty and flamboyant and carries around a teddy bear he’s named Gregory. It is impossible to dislike David even when he’s making poor decisions and doing the whole jumping to conclusions sort of thing. This brings me to the main issue I had with this book, the misunderstandings and lack of talking about those oh-so-pesky feelings! Rory and David talk about everything else but jump to conclusions and listen to outside forces and get themselves all hurt up for no good reason except maybe to make the book a little longer. It kind of wore on my last nerve and made me want to grab them both and clang their skulls together if I’m being completely honest. I also liked Rory. He’s a quite a few years older than David and he is a kind, sweet and open-minded guy. Their attraction and slowly developing romance felt genuine. But again it was too slow for my tastes.
I liked this story but not enough to give it more than a three.
bakarena's review against another edition
5.0
I love this series, especially the audiobooks. I'd really love there to be more books.
Among all featured couples this one is probably my favorite. Probably the closest thing to what I consider soulmates.
Among all featured couples this one is probably my favorite. Probably the closest thing to what I consider soulmates.
susanscribs's review against another edition
4.0
I’ve read all of the Shamwell Tales by this author, and this is my favorite so far. Flirty, campy David, who readers met in Caught!, starts the book off with a bang, quite literally, losing his job and his home when he is caught in a tryst with his boss’ very married client. He seeks out his former boss Mark, now relocated to Shamwell, finagling a temporary job with him and lodging with Mark’s acquaintance Rory.
Rory is a very sweet, straight teddy bear of a man with two young children whom he wishes he could see more often. He has no problems boarding a gay man, even when his mate Barry warns him that David is out to “convert him to the cause.” But Rory, recently dumped by his girlfriend, is glad for David’s company, whether it’s cooking and eating together or comparing the merits of the various Dr. Who actors. David, who has a history of going for Bad Boys, is surprised to realize how much he likes and respects Rory, not to mention how well he gets along with Rory’s kids. Like slowly turns to lust for both men, but David is convinced that Rory remains straight as an arrow, and Rory thinks there’s no way David would be interested in a plain, poorly educated postman.
This book is just plain fun. David may be a bit too stereotypically effeminate (he carries on conversations with his teddy bear Gregory FFS), but you can’t help root for him to open up his heart and let someone in. Rory is just about perfect as he engages in a brief internal struggle about his attraction to David, quickly decides it’s no big deal that he is probably bisexual, and then risks his friendship with Barry because he won’t lie about his feelings. The only weakness is a bit of uncharacteristic and out of place angst when both David and Rory start avoiding each other instead of being honest, but the scene where they finally come together (and Rory processes his first gay sexual experience as it happens) is hilarious, sweet and worth the wait.
Merrow is at her best when she goes for humor and heart, hold the angst, and Spun! is one of her better efforts. While the previous books were published by the now-defunct Samhain, Spun! is being released by Riptide (who is also re-releasing the previous books in the series). I hope they give her the green light to keep the Shamwell Tales going.
Just adorable.
ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for honest review.
Rory is a very sweet, straight teddy bear of a man with two young children whom he wishes he could see more often. He has no problems boarding a gay man, even when his mate Barry warns him that David is out to “convert him to the cause.” But Rory, recently dumped by his girlfriend, is glad for David’s company, whether it’s cooking and eating together or comparing the merits of the various Dr. Who actors. David, who has a history of going for Bad Boys, is surprised to realize how much he likes and respects Rory, not to mention how well he gets along with Rory’s kids. Like slowly turns to lust for both men, but David is convinced that Rory remains straight as an arrow, and Rory thinks there’s no way David would be interested in a plain, poorly educated postman.
This book is just plain fun. David may be a bit too stereotypically effeminate (he carries on conversations with his teddy bear Gregory FFS), but you can’t help root for him to open up his heart and let someone in. Rory is just about perfect as he engages in a brief internal struggle about his attraction to David, quickly decides it’s no big deal that he is probably bisexual, and then risks his friendship with Barry because he won’t lie about his feelings. The only weakness is a bit of uncharacteristic and out of place angst when both David and Rory start avoiding each other instead of being honest, but the scene where they finally come together (and Rory processes his first gay sexual experience as it happens) is hilarious, sweet and worth the wait.
Merrow is at her best when she goes for humor and heart, hold the angst, and Spun! is one of her better efforts. While the previous books were published by the now-defunct Samhain, Spun! is being released by Riptide (who is also re-releasing the previous books in the series). I hope they give her the green light to keep the Shamwell Tales going.
Just adorable.
ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for honest review.