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kbranfield's review
4.0
4.5 stars. Loved, loved, loved Black Dog and I absolutely cannot wait for the next book!! It is a wonderful beginning to Cat Grant’s newest series, Bannon’s Gym. This engaging story is a quick read starring über sexy men who share a very complicated past. Please click HERE to read my review in its entirety.
papercranestitches's review
3.0
Black Dog was a good, gritty story. Unfortunately, it lacked the romance I was looking for and it's ending was abrupt - too abrupt. I would have bee okay with leaving things with Tom and his father open-ended so that it could spill over into his own book, but the MCs of this story - Danny and Eddie - barely got a HFN before the story fades out. It was a pretty unsatisfying end to an otherwise good book.
the_novel_approach's review
5.0
The realism (!) Ms. Grant injects into these characters is what makes this such a good story. Their feelings and reactions to those feelings are real and realistic. Their relationships with their friends, family, lovers are real. They seem like people you would meet if you wandered in to Anytown, USA.
I don’t know how many more books are planned for the “Bannon’s Gym” series, but I will fight my way to the top of the reviewer pile to get to them first! A knockout recommendation.
You can read the rest of Tina's review at The Novel Approach
I don’t know how many more books are planned for the “Bannon’s Gym” series, but I will fight my way to the top of the reviewer pile to get to them first! A knockout recommendation.
You can read the rest of Tina's review at The Novel Approach
ariadna's review
3.0
This is the story of Eddie, a guy who co-runs his family's diner with his mom. An ex-Marine (who also went to seminary at one point), Eddie keeps a very low-key existence. He's got an on and off thing with his childhood friend Danny (who owns a boxing gym). Their relationship, however, is complicated by a tragedy that occurred when they were both teenagers.
In comes Tom, a young runway with a natural talent for fighting. Wary, queer, and carrying a lot of scars (mental and some physical), Tom becomes Danny's protegee at the gym.
The story features dudes with a LOT of baggage, some very tender and sexy-sweet moments, and MMA fighting talk.
I bought this book one day when it was on special for 99c. FTR, I tend to avoid novellas because I like lengthier books, but the narrative pulled me in. The characters had great dynamics and I even liked the fighting scenes! There is a bit of narrative shift because all of Eddie's chapters are in 1st person while Tom and Eddie's are in 3rd limited.
From what I know, the 2nd book will focus on Tom while the 3rd will be about someone who is a background character in book 1. I was thoroughly (and happily) surprised by how much I enjoyed this book.
In comes Tom, a young runway with a natural talent for fighting. Wary, queer, and carrying a lot of scars (mental and some physical), Tom becomes Danny's protegee at the gym.
The story features dudes with a LOT of baggage, some very tender and sexy-sweet moments, and MMA fighting talk.
I bought this book one day when it was on special for 99c. FTR, I tend to avoid novellas because I like lengthier books, but the narrative pulled me in. The characters had great dynamics and I even liked the fighting scenes! There is a bit of narrative shift because all of Eddie's chapters are in 1st person while Tom and Eddie's are in 3rd limited.
From what I know, the 2nd book will focus on Tom while the 3rd will be about someone who is a background character in book 1. I was thoroughly (and happily) surprised by how much I enjoyed this book.
renc7c69's review
4.0
Originally reviewed on Words in a Teacup
Ever since Isa called it the "dog book by cat author" this book makes me giggle. It's actually a pretty sad book about a runaway kid with an abusive father who is taken in by the owner of a diner. Then the kid starts training with the same boxing trainer who used to go out with the diner owner, but of course there are Issues and Emotional Baggage to deal with before everyone can get their happy(ish) ending.
What threw me most about this book is the three different POVs, one of which is in first person POV for whichever reason. That bothered me so much because it was like it made Eddie the protagonist in a way, while overall it felt as if Tom's narrative was the most important. Even though at the end Eddie and Danny are together so by M/M romance standards this is "their" book. I don't know, I felt as if my attention was being pulled in different directions without a clear focus. The ending too felt unfinished, like this is just a piece of a bigger story rather than a standalone book.
Character-wise, though, I liked all three protagonists and quite a few of the secondary characters. I actually got emotional towards the end because I was so invested in Tom's story. To be honest I'm basing my rating almost only on feelings here; I might complain that the ending was predictable but it still had me worried sick over the fate of the protagonists.
I'm definitely going to check out the next book, and hopefully with a longer page count every character's storyline will be tied together in a more cohesive way. For now I don't feel like recommending this book to everyone, but if you're looking for a quick read that first sucker-punches you in the feels and then pats you lovingly, this book is your book.
Ever since Isa called it the "dog book by cat author" this book makes me giggle. It's actually a pretty sad book about a runaway kid with an abusive father who is taken in by the owner of a diner. Then the kid starts training with the same boxing trainer who used to go out with the diner owner, but of course there are Issues and Emotional Baggage to deal with before everyone can get their happy(ish) ending.
What threw me most about this book is the three different POVs, one of which is in first person POV for whichever reason. That bothered me so much because it was like it made Eddie the protagonist in a way, while overall it felt as if Tom's narrative was the most important. Even though at the end Eddie and Danny are together so by M/M romance standards this is "their" book. I don't know, I felt as if my attention was being pulled in different directions without a clear focus. The ending too felt unfinished, like this is just a piece of a bigger story rather than a standalone book.
Character-wise, though, I liked all three protagonists and quite a few of the secondary characters. I actually got emotional towards the end because I was so invested in Tom's story. To be honest I'm basing my rating almost only on feelings here; I might complain that the ending was predictable but it still had me worried sick over the fate of the protagonists.
I'm definitely going to check out the next book, and hopefully with a longer page count every character's storyline will be tied together in a more cohesive way. For now I don't feel like recommending this book to everyone, but if you're looking for a quick read that first sucker-punches you in the feels and then pats you lovingly, this book is your book.
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