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pointofvin's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
rogue_lurker's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 at least!
What a fantastic follow up to Gallows Humor. I have no idea why it took me so long to read this - must have gotten buried under the mountain of To Be Read books on my e-reader.
This is the second in a series and you really should read the first book before delving into this one as the story picks up right after the end of the first book ... and also because the first book is a fantastic read.
More Corey and Thayer is never a bad thing - these two are one of my favourite lesfic pairings and I was so happy to have their story continued in this novel. There's a wonderful chemistry between the characters - not just the two mains, but also with the secondary characters.
Can't recommend this one enough
What a fantastic follow up to Gallows Humor. I have no idea why it took me so long to read this - must have gotten buried under the mountain of To Be Read books on my e-reader.
This is the second in a series and you really should read the first book before delving into this one as the story picks up right after the end of the first book ... and also because the first book is a fantastic read.
More Corey and Thayer is never a bad thing - these two are one of my favourite lesfic pairings and I was so happy to have their story continued in this novel. There's a wonderful chemistry between the characters - not just the two mains, but also with the secondary characters.
Can't recommend this one enough
jcurry447's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
lezreadalot's review against another edition
4.0
“We were broken once, not that long ago,” she said softly. “Now we’re whole again, but not the same. We’re stronger. We’re better.”
3.5 stars. This was a fun time; an entertaining romantic crime/thriller that definitely delivered on the emotional front. I liked it a little better than the first book in the series, which I thought moved a bit fast. In this, Corey and Thayer have been together a bit longer and are deepening their relationship, while they both get tangled up in the case that surrounds Corey's latest body at the morgue. They're also both having friendship/work related problems with the men in their lives, some of which are connected to the main plot. But the best part of this, what I liked the most, is the relationship. It's such a wonderful, swoony romance, and I love a relationship where both women are just mutually, fiercely protective of each other. There are some scenes where they're in peril and some hurt/comfort scenes that absolutely melted my heart. Thayer especially gave me heart-eyes. I just loved them a lot. I didn't find myself particularly hooked on the case (I kept getting people mixed up) but the romance more than made up for that.
I did find, though, the the sexist problems that both characters had to deal with were resolved way too easily, like an afterschool special. Spoilers ahead.
Spoiler
On one hand, the way Corey started yelling at Collier about the way Steph is treated on the force, after knowing Steph for like two seconds, was really forced and unnatural. I wish that conversation had had more lead up. And on the other hand, the way things are resolved with Watson Gregory (or whatever his dumb name was) was so unbelievable and way too easy, especially after he'd been THAT disgusting and disrespectful. I mean, I guess it's kinda wishful thinking; I too would love it if I could give all the gross misogynists in my life a badass dressing down and then they'd immediately turn over a new leaf. And I respect Thayer sooooooo much for wanting to give him that second chance, even after he was so nasty to her. But, yuck. It just felt a liiiittle too unrealistic for me, how quickly it happened.Listened to the audiobook as read by Lori Prince, which I did really really like. Her Thayer voice: swoon. The voices for the guys were a little too exaggerated, but those were fine as well. Even though this probably needed more action/mystery to really be considered a romantic suspense, I still really liked it, and I'll come back to the series soon.
Content warnings:
Spoiler
death and gore (especially dealing with decomposing bodies and related grossness), assault and injuriesangieinbooks's review against another edition
5.0
We pick up with Corey and Thayer soon after the events of Gallows Humor. Corey is mostly healed from her near-death experience and her relationship with Thayer is stronger than ever. And now that they aren’t putting their lives in danger to solve crimes, they can enjoy their new relationship without any other major hiccups, right?
Wrong! So wrong! There’s a dead body and everything about this body is suspicious (and super gross). And soon, Corey and Thayer find themselves in the middle of another crime investigation, and things go horribly wrong and people get hurt and relationships are tested. And it’s so much fun to read and so well executed that I don’t have any complaints. Well, just one: not enough Cinnamon!
And while the mystery is intriguing and the Corey and Collier moments are great, Carolyn Elizabeth gets the romance right, and lesbihonest, that’s why I’m here. I have so much respect for the way Elizabeth wrote Corey and Thayer’s relationship in this book because what she does here with them is not easy to execute. And I thought it was going to go one way at the beginning of the novel (no spoilers) and it didn’t, and I was so happy but also in awe of what Elizabeth managed to pull off.
I want to rush off to read book 3, I do. But a part of me knows it just means trouble for Corey and Thayer, and I don’t know if I’m quite ready yet, even though I know it will be so worth it.
Wrong! So wrong! There’s a dead body and everything about this body is suspicious (and super gross). And soon, Corey and Thayer find themselves in the middle of another crime investigation, and things go horribly wrong and people get hurt and relationships are tested. And it’s so much fun to read and so well executed that I don’t have any complaints. Well, just one: not enough Cinnamon!
And while the mystery is intriguing and the Corey and Collier moments are great, Carolyn Elizabeth gets the romance right, and lesbihonest, that’s why I’m here. I have so much respect for the way Elizabeth wrote Corey and Thayer’s relationship in this book because what she does here with them is not easy to execute. And I thought it was going to go one way at the beginning of the novel (no spoilers) and it didn’t, and I was so happy but also in awe of what Elizabeth managed to pull off.
I want to rush off to read book 3, I do. But a part of me knows it just means trouble for Corey and Thayer, and I don’t know if I’m quite ready yet, even though I know it will be so worth it.
m0thermayi's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars | this is such a great series with amazing characters! I need more.
judeinthestars's review against another edition
5.0
This book is making me very happy! I was looking forward to it, and I’ve written not long ago about second novels sometimes being a little (or more) disappointing because they’re really hard on authors. Dirt Nap escaped that curse beautifully. It has everything I loved in Gallows Humor, only better.
First of all, it is not a standalone and you should definitely start with [b:Gallows Humor|44195405|Gallows Humor (Curtis and Reynolds, #1)|Carolyn Elizabeth|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1569173174l/44195405._SX50_.jpg|68733233]. I’ll try not to spoil that one too much – it’s a mystery/romance and both MCs’ names are in the series title so you already know they’re going to end up together, and alive.
Autopsy maestra Corey Curtis is being farmed out to her former mentor, forensic anthropologist Amanda Marsh, to retrieve a decomposing body underneath a house. The crime scene is right on the opposite side of the lake from Dr Thayer Reynolds’ home, where Corey is spending more and more. Corey’s injuries from the fall she took in Gallows Humor (I’m still trying not to spoil, you’re not making it easy, Carolyn Elizabeth…) have left her with debilitating migraines and muscles spams, and the fanciest yellow glasses. She’s so relieved to be rid of the cast on her arm that nothing else really matters right now, except how much she loves Thayer. And then there’s that thing with the corpse I mentioned above.
You know me, Star Wars nerd, so I was already giddy by the second or third page, I was all “Ha! Classic Han Solo move there, Thayer!”, which was confirmed when I turned the page. Carolyn Elizabeth’s sense of humour and love of pop culture work so well for me, it’s like candy.
Everything worked for me here, actually, not just the funny stuff. The thriller was gruesome and thrilling, the romance romantic.
I love that all the most important characters are flawed and make mistakes but they’re all good people (IRL I’d say their heart is in the right place) and that’s why they like one another. I’d like them too, whether it’s Corey, Thayer, Rachel, Collier, Steph (she’s a newcomer, Collier’s partner), Cinnamon (who calls their kid Cinnamon? It seems to suit her though, I wish we’d see more of her), Lilian… I love the unlikely friendship Corey and Collier share, my heart broke for them at some point, but I have hopes for their future. And I love love love Corey and Thayer, as individuals and together.
One of the things that amaze me the most about this book (it was also true for Gallows Humor) is the brilliant way the author mixes romance and the grisly aspects of the mystery side. Honestly, there were paragraphs detailing the state of the corpse found at the beginning of the story that I wish I had not had to read – they were necessary, nothing gratuitous or complacent – so this is not a light read by any means. Yet at the same time, there’s more romance and heartwarming instances (and sexy scenes) than in some romance novels I have read.
This second book confirms Carolyn Elizabeth’s talent, and her third book can’t come soon enough. I’m hopping up and down with impatience already. Lucky for me, I have a huge TBR list to keep me busy in the meantime…
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
First of all, it is not a standalone and you should definitely start with [b:Gallows Humor|44195405|Gallows Humor (Curtis and Reynolds, #1)|Carolyn Elizabeth|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1569173174l/44195405._SX50_.jpg|68733233]. I’ll try not to spoil that one too much – it’s a mystery/romance and both MCs’ names are in the series title so you already know they’re going to end up together, and alive.
Autopsy maestra Corey Curtis is being farmed out to her former mentor, forensic anthropologist Amanda Marsh, to retrieve a decomposing body underneath a house. The crime scene is right on the opposite side of the lake from Dr Thayer Reynolds’ home, where Corey is spending more and more. Corey’s injuries from the fall she took in Gallows Humor (I’m still trying not to spoil, you’re not making it easy, Carolyn Elizabeth…) have left her with debilitating migraines and muscles spams, and the fanciest yellow glasses. She’s so relieved to be rid of the cast on her arm that nothing else really matters right now, except how much she loves Thayer. And then there’s that thing with the corpse I mentioned above.
You know me, Star Wars nerd, so I was already giddy by the second or third page, I was all “Ha! Classic Han Solo move there, Thayer!”, which was confirmed when I turned the page. Carolyn Elizabeth’s sense of humour and love of pop culture work so well for me, it’s like candy.
Everything worked for me here, actually, not just the funny stuff. The thriller was gruesome and thrilling, the romance romantic.
I love that all the most important characters are flawed and make mistakes but they’re all good people (IRL I’d say their heart is in the right place) and that’s why they like one another. I’d like them too, whether it’s Corey, Thayer, Rachel, Collier, Steph (she’s a newcomer, Collier’s partner), Cinnamon (who calls their kid Cinnamon? It seems to suit her though, I wish we’d see more of her), Lilian… I love the unlikely friendship Corey and Collier share, my heart broke for them at some point, but I have hopes for their future. And I love love love Corey and Thayer, as individuals and together.
One of the things that amaze me the most about this book (it was also true for Gallows Humor) is the brilliant way the author mixes romance and the grisly aspects of the mystery side. Honestly, there were paragraphs detailing the state of the corpse found at the beginning of the story that I wish I had not had to read – they were necessary, nothing gratuitous or complacent – so this is not a light read by any means. Yet at the same time, there’s more romance and heartwarming instances (and sexy scenes) than in some romance novels I have read.
This second book confirms Carolyn Elizabeth’s talent, and her third book can’t come soon enough. I’m hopping up and down with impatience already. Lucky for me, I have a huge TBR list to keep me busy in the meantime…
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
elvang's review against another edition
3.0
I had high hopes for Dirt Nap after enjoying Elizabeth’s first novel Gallows Humor as much as I did. The blurb is a thing of beauty and ticked all the boxes I look for when reading a romantic thriller. I enjoyed catching up with Corey and Thayer and the excellent cast of characters we were introduced to in the first in the series along with some new faces. I was disappointed that this book didn’t live up to its blurbs potential as a thriller and felt the author took a safe approach when I was hoping for more.
While Corey and Thayer’s relationship continues to develop the mystery was weak, almost non existent. Threats on our heroines? Not really. Even the forensic pathology took a back seat after the initial discovery of the dead body. The angst felt manufactured, generated by conflicts which echoed similar behaviour from the first novel. I didn’t see the growth in the characters I was hoping to find.
Building tension and danger into a romantic thriller while keeping the romance alive is difficult to achieve.I do believe this author has great potential. I think that may be why I felt let down with this read. I was hoping for more thriller and discovered more romance.
I’ve added Carolyn Elizabeth to my must read list. She is one to watch.
3.5 stars
ARC received with thanks from publisher via NetGalley for review.
While Corey and Thayer’s relationship continues to develop the mystery was weak, almost non existent. Threats on our heroines? Not really. Even the forensic pathology took a back seat after the initial discovery of the dead body. The angst felt manufactured, generated by conflicts which echoed similar behaviour from the first novel. I didn’t see the growth in the characters I was hoping to find.
Building tension and danger into a romantic thriller while keeping the romance alive is difficult to achieve.I do believe this author has great potential. I think that may be why I felt let down with this read. I was hoping for more thriller and discovered more romance.
I’ve added Carolyn Elizabeth to my must read list. She is one to watch.
3.5 stars
ARC received with thanks from publisher via NetGalley for review.
banrions'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
3.5
wc4's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0
The many reviews are right, this is better than book #1! This starts right after the end of book#1, so reading them one after the other is perfect. I love Corey and Thayer. Corey is still dealing with after-effects of her injury, mainly migraines caused by stress and bright lights. Thayer also has to get over the trauma of seeing Corey hurt.
This book has Corey being involved in identifying a decomposing body found in one of Thayer's neighbour's house. Though there's more of the investigation aspects and we see more of the police work, the focus is still on the characters and the evolution of their relationships. That's the main strength of this book, wonderful characters that you just cheer for and want to be friends with. Hopefully, there will be more books in this series.
This book has Corey being involved in identifying a decomposing body found in one of Thayer's neighbour's house. Though there's more of the investigation aspects and we see more of the police work, the focus is still on the characters and the evolution of their relationships. That's the main strength of this book, wonderful characters that you just cheer for and want to be friends with. Hopefully, there will be more books in this series.