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galleytrot's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
READ: Jan 2023
FORMAT: Audio
FORMAT: Audio
BRIEF SUMMARY:
In part two of this contemporary action/romance series set in Atlanta, Quick has watched Duke and Vaughn’s relationship grow, and now it’s his turn. Cayson, the nephrologist whom Quick credits for saving his partner and son’s lives, is stirring up old feelings and desires in Quick that he’d never expected to feel again. They need to fight past a lifetime of disappointing relationships and failures to connect in order to find their happiness together.
ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: 3.5 / 5⭐
I see that the name of the game in this “Bounty Hunters” series is, “Let’s see how fast we can fall in love!” if these first two books are setting the trend. This one was doing an excellent job at pacing the relationship better throughout the first half of the book. Towards the end, I had to pause to reflect on how few days had passed between “we’re dating now!” and “we’re goddamn engaged to be married now!”
TECHNICAL / PRODUCTION: 2.5 / 5⭐
I’m a little bit confused by Quick’s age. I can’t recall a number being stated outright in either book yet, but in part one, Vaughn was aged at 31 years old, and a couple times in part two Quick is noted as ‘in his early forties.’ So, assuming that Quick is at most 44 years old, he would have conceived Vaughn when he was 12-13 years old? Which I know is not impossible, but would it not be highly noteworthy? In Via’s “A True Lover’s Story” series, it was a whole thing that Mike was young when he had Bishop; Quick would have been even younger than Mike was. I just find it odd that it wouldn’t be brought up at any point.
We get some “Nothing Special” crossover action in this book that a) is completely unnecessary seeing as how the Narcotics department has zero jurisdiction over what happens in this book; and b) paints Day in an extremely unflattering light, making him out to be more of an obnoxious bully than the lovable scamp that everyone can’t help but adore – where did this portrayal come from?
Via tends to lean into some rather misogynistic language to make her manly men extra manly. It’s normally only a phrase or two here and there that make my skin prickle, but in this book, it’s much more unapologetic than usual. Quick goes especially hard at emasculating a character by feminizing them, and never lets up. We can have strong men this day and age without being toxic about it, can’t we?
And can we talk about how many m/m romance books have been written where there’s a conversation about how “plenty of gay men aren’t into penetration,” but in this book, it’s used as our first clue that a character is a villain? Really?
Also, we sure do forget about Quick having a couple of fractured ribs real fast. Actions that he definitely should be having trouble with aren’t a hassle at all, once that whole excuse to get Cayson to visit him is used up.
FINAL THOUGHTS - OVERALL: 3 / 5⭐
It’s fine. I know I’m really ripping into Via in this review, but I’m probably still going to read the rest of the “Bounty Hunters” series at some point anyway. If you like Via’s works, this one won’t offend you. I’ll personally be taking a break from her for a little while, though.
This book has representation for gay and bi sexualities. There is little-to-no diversity, otherwise.
The following elaborates on my content warnings. These may be interpreted as spoilers, but I do not go into deep detail.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Gun violence, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Death, Alcohol, Bullying, Cursing, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Homophobia, Stalking, Violence, Blood, Sexism, Classism, Medical content, and Vomit
Minor: Death of parent and Cancer
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