Reviews

Return to Cooter Crossing by Stephen del Mar

frothy's review

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4.0

Well that book went on and on. Lots of people running around and doing things. The mother was completely ghastly. If I was from that family I would have fled and never looked back.

ktomp17's review

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5.0

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review

HOLY MOLY! This was a monster of a book. 600 pages was very daunting when I started it. I typically read very quickly and (obviously) this one took me a while. When I really thought about it, though, it was perfect. Normally I read a book fast and then I want more. This book let me savor every minute. I found I slowed down to enjoy it more, and enjoy it I did!

Aidan finally completes his PhD in anthropology and comes home to find his lover of 10 years in bed with another man and all of his bags packed. Aidan is devastated and struggles with what his future will hold. He heads home to where he grew up and hasn't been back since leaving for college years ago.

At first Aidan seems like a bed hopping jerk, but he has only really been in 2 relationships and only one of them resembled a typical relationship. He is now single for the first time ever in a sense and he is lost. We learn about what makes Aidan tick and why he made some of the choices he made (like why he jumped right into bed with Clark when he saw him-at first I was annoyed but as the story progressed it made so much sense).

JJ, a cop, is Aidan's sister's best friend who has had a crush on Aidan since he was a kid. He is completely infatuated with Aidan and Aidan is clueless and just in a state of not taking relationships seriously. JJ asks Aidan on a date that Aidan doesn't realize is a date. It ends up a little awkward as Aidan invites someone else to go, but luckily he realizes quick enough to cancel the other person showing up.

Spending time together, Aidan and JJ fall for each other. I remember thinking "when did that happen?" but I think that was some of the beauty of it. It wasn't quick. It wasn't perfect. It wasn't glamorous. It was just all of a sudden realizing that things are GOOD and that the other person makes you happy and it sucks when they aren't there.

There was mystery and shootings and drama in the story beyond the romance which helped solidify the story. This book had it all: hot sex, love, family, forgiveness, dealing with past trauma, gun shots, children, betrayal, and ultimately growing up. It was beautiful and I was so glad that I was able to savor this book. It needed all 600 pages and I was so glad to have read this. I absolutely loved it.
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