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mcd10's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kp_khera's review against another edition
4.0
This was a book that grabbed my attention and didn’t let go until I was done.
It’s a story about a guy who made a mistake. A mistake that he has to live with for the rest of his life. By not minimizing the guilt and consequences that entails, Bell has written a book that’s a bit more than just a redemption/romance story.
Parole. For Church to finally be allowed to enter the outside world, he needs to live with someone who can be deemed prosocial. This is where Miller comes in, who Church is reluctant to call due to an Incident that will become clear (but is already obvious) once you read the book. He needs to find a job, and stay away from bad influences. He also needs to control his feelings when it comes to Miller.
He needs to do all of that while taking a handle of his anger management issues. Something he struggles with but fights to keep in check.
Church was a character I started rooting for from the first scene. Not because that’s the scene where he beats someone up so badly that they might have died, but it’s because he didn’t walk away after. It would have been so easy for him to just walk away, let the guy die and get away (probably get caught later but still). He didn’t do that, though, and because he didn’t the guy was saved. Perhaps “didn’t die” is a better description.
A large part of the relationship development within this book is build up. It was clear that these two would end up together, it just took a lot for Miller to finally start to realize that maybe he wasn’t so straight after all. At times, it felt like pulling teeth reading Miller convincing himself into believing that he wasn’t gay. At times it was comedic. At times ridiculous. More often that not maddening, because it chipped away at Church time and again. I honestly just wanted Church to take a trash bag, put his belongings in there and leave. He didn’t, and the way Miller acts when even the possibility of hurting Church or losing him is put in front of him makes me warm up to him as well. In Church's words, that time
Don’t get me wrong, these two together works. When Miller isn’t completely in denial, and when Church’s other head decides to take a break, it’s nice to see the influence they have on one another. Church who’s already head over heels in love, and how Miller realizes his feelings, mislabels them and then relabels them.
In this book, we see some scenes of Church’s stay in the center. These scenes introduced us to Tobias and Ghost. Honestly, I was more interested in these two. Because although we get hints, we don't get to know enough about them.
Ghost in particular. I know that the next book has to be about him, and that’s what the author was doing was in part setting us up for whatever the hell she decides to do there. Even though I knew that I wouldn’t get to know more, I still hoped I would.
I want to know what Ghost’s deal is, what he’s gone through and have him either find a happy ending with Tobias or just as likely break Tobias’ heart (because that means there’ll be a third book where Tobias will find love). The cloak of mystery surrounding this whole situation, captures the attention even more. My need to understand what was going on there, in part clouded some of Church and Miller's relationship shine.
While all of this is going on, there are dealings with sort-of-but-not-really Mob Bosses, drug dealers, and a mystery attacker. These various plot points weave through the story and each play their own important part. All leading up to the inevitable confrontation, giving it a film-like structure. I was just more interested in the relationship development between Church and Miller, Tobias and Ghost, and what Mama has in mind for Ghost.
Overall, this was a great read and I recommend giving it a shot if you’re looking for something a bit more substantial than what you’d typically come across in the M/M genre.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Reviewed by Kudrat from Alpha Book Club
It’s a story about a guy who made a mistake. A mistake that he has to live with for the rest of his life. By not minimizing the guilt and consequences that entails, Bell has written a book that’s a bit more than just a redemption/romance story.
“It was progress he supposed, to make himself live in the pain instead of getting pissed off about it. Progress felt like shit”.
Parole. For Church to finally be allowed to enter the outside world, he needs to live with someone who can be deemed prosocial. This is where Miller comes in, who Church is reluctant to call due to an Incident that will become clear (but is already obvious) once you read the book. He needs to find a job, and stay away from bad influences. He also needs to control his feelings when it comes to Miller.
He needs to do all of that while taking a handle of his anger management issues. Something he struggles with but fights to keep in check.
“I’ve never seen anyone try so hard to be a good man”
Church was a character I started rooting for from the first scene. Not because that’s the scene where he beats someone up so badly that they might have died, but it’s because he didn’t walk away after. It would have been so easy for him to just walk away, let the guy die and get away (probably get caught later but still). He didn’t do that, though, and because he didn’t the guy was saved. Perhaps “didn’t die” is a better description.
“You’re a work in progress, just like me,” Miller added. “You can do this”.
A large part of the relationship development within this book is build up. It was clear that these two would end up together, it just took a lot for Miller to finally start to realize that maybe he wasn’t so straight after all. At times, it felt like pulling teeth reading Miller convincing himself into believing that he wasn’t gay. At times it was comedic. At times ridiculous. More often that not maddening, because it chipped away at Church time and again. I honestly just wanted Church to take a trash bag, put his belongings in there and leave. He didn’t, and the way Miller acts when even the possibility of hurting Church or losing him is put in front of him makes me warm up to him as well. In Church's words, that time
“when Church messed around with a man whose sexual acceptance was like a comet with a corkscrew bit, only visible from Earth every now and then”
Don’t get me wrong, these two together works. When Miller isn’t completely in denial, and when Church’s other head decides to take a break, it’s nice to see the influence they have on one another. Church who’s already head over heels in love, and how Miller realizes his feelings, mislabels them and then relabels them.
In this book, we see some scenes of Church’s stay in the center. These scenes introduced us to Tobias and Ghost. Honestly, I was more interested in these two. Because although we get hints, we don't get to know enough about them.
“Tobias was a unicorn in human form”
Ghost in particular. I know that the next book has to be about him, and that’s what the author was doing was in part setting us up for whatever the hell she decides to do there. Even though I knew that I wouldn’t get to know more, I still hoped I would.
I want to know what Ghost’s deal is, what he’s gone through and have him either find a happy ending with Tobias or just as likely break Tobias’ heart (because that means there’ll be a third book where Tobias will find love). The cloak of mystery surrounding this whole situation, captures the attention even more. My need to understand what was going on there, in part clouded some of Church and Miller's relationship shine.
While all of this is going on, there are dealings with sort-of-but-not-really Mob Bosses, drug dealers, and a mystery attacker. These various plot points weave through the story and each play their own important part. All leading up to the inevitable confrontation, giving it a film-like structure. I was just more interested in the relationship development between Church and Miller, Tobias and Ghost, and what Mama has in mind for Ghost.
Overall, this was a great read and I recommend giving it a shot if you’re looking for something a bit more substantial than what you’d typically come across in the M/M genre.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Reviewed by Kudrat from Alpha Book Club
bookish_notes's review
5.0
This was GREAT and I can’t believe I haven’t read this series earlier. The ANGST and the drama and the slow-burn FEELS.
Trigger warnings for internalized homomisia, torture, and murder.
(I’m kinda cackling that one of the MC’s name is Edgar-Allen even if he does go by Church. Where all all the Foxhole Court fans at??)
Trigger warnings for internalized homomisia, torture, and murder.
(I’m kinda cackling that one of the MC’s name is Edgar-Allen even if he does go by Church. Where all all the Foxhole Court fans at??)
intheend's review against another edition
DNF @ 4%
I read the blurb but there was no mention of age gap. I got the sense that Miller was older as I was reading so I read some reviews and it turns out he is. I don't read age gap so this is a DNF for me.
I read the blurb but there was no mention of age gap. I got the sense that Miller was older as I was reading so I read some reviews and it turns out he is. I don't read age gap so this is a DNF for me.
annaeli's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
elle_mich's review against another edition
5.0
holy cow i cannot believe how stunning this book is. wow.
syvrina's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
brokenrecord's review against another edition
5.0
Man, this book. I wasn't expecting to be so into it, but it just got me. The angst and tension was just so perfect. I loved Miller and Church and what they were dealing with. Miller was a bit frustrating but it's also totally understandable that he would've internalized so much shit that even if he'd be okay with Church being gay, it wouldn't be something he'd readily accept about himself. (Although given that, it doesn't actually take him THAT long, all things considered, to get on board, so it wasn't too frustrating.)
There were a couple bits where I'd be worried about a misunderstanding or unnecessary drama, but then they played out perfectly.
Beyond all of that, I loved Tobias and Ghost, and this made me eager for their books as well. I also loved Shelby and her acceptance and encouragement of Miller even when she was not sure about Church (more because of his past than him being a dude), and her daughter was also great. The conversation where she was trying to convince Church to buy her a vibrator was hilarious. Anyways I just loved this a lot and wasn't expecting to! It was so excellent.
There were a couple bits where I'd be worried about a misunderstanding or unnecessary drama, but then they played out perfectly.
Spoiler
Like the first time they hook up and Miller freaks out immediately afterwards, but his first reaction is basically, "I have to do whatever I can to make sure Church doesn't leave and realizes this was all my fault because I need him," and how after they have sex and Church is like, "Is now the time you bolt?" Miller's like, "I mean, we both know I'm just going to end up here again so why bother." And with the Vasya stuff, how Church is so sure Miller will hate him for it, but then he tells him everything and Miller gets it and isn't upset. And how when Church overhears him tell Shelby what they have isn't anything and Church gets upset and bolts, Miller can't keep up the "It's nothing," lie and tells her everything, and then when he finds out Church overheard, he's again just like, "I have to fix this and make it better." And how Church goes off but doesn't hurt anyone or himself and lets Miller get him as long as he doesn't talk. AND WHEN MILLER KISSES CHURCH PUBLICLY AFTER THE WAREHOUSE BURNS DOWN. This is becoming a mess at this point, but man, I just loved them, and I loved how all these moments that could've milked for extra, unnecessary drama weren't. There was some angst involved, but not an excessive amount, and both just love each other SO much even when Miller wasn't fully ready to admit it, and both were trying to be better people and make things work, and that just always gets to me. I also loved how after the time they almost kiss, both seem to realize they need to keep their distance, but they both end up being like, "Wow, this is really hard, and also I was touching him way more than I had realized whoops."Beyond all of that, I loved Tobias and Ghost, and this made me eager for their books as well. I also loved Shelby and her acceptance and encouragement of Miller even when she was not sure about Church (more because of his past than him being a dude), and her daughter was also great. The conversation where she was trying to convince Church to buy her a vibrator was hilarious. Anyways I just loved this a lot and wasn't expecting to! It was so excellent.