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A review by ladydewinter
Damage Control by Kate McMurray
4.0
This was a pleasant surprise - I found it on Netgalley in the general romance section rather in m/m, so despite the description I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, but I really enjoyed it.
When Jackson, a successful lawyer, learns senate candidate Parker Livingston is suspected of having murdered a young woman in his appartment, his first thought is that Parker is innocent. Because Jackson once knew Parker better than anyone - and when Parker comes to him to ask for his help with the case, Jackson agrees, even though he knows it's a mistake, considering he and Parker used to be lovers. And so they not only have to figure out what happened and prove Parker's innocence - they also have to deal with the fact that they both still have feelings for each other - but with Parker running for senate as a Republican, and Jackson unwilling to go back into the closet, can there be a future for them?
There was a lot about this that I loved - so much so that I was a lot more forgiving when it came to the things I didn't love than I usually am. I'm in the mood for lists, so here are the pluses and minuses:
+ Two very likable characters over thirty
+ getting back together is one of my favourite tropes (as long there is no cheating involved, and there very much isn't), and I loved the way they were unsure about each other yet knew each other at the same time
+ Parker's conflict was genuinely interesting and I liked the way his political position was presented (even though I don't agree with most of it)
+ Even though Gavin and Reed were a bit clumsily being set up for the next book, I suppose, I really liked the supporting characters. Especially Martha.
Stuff I didn't like as much or feel mostly neutral about:
- the showdown was extremely unrealistic and felt 100% set up. The characters act in ways no one would only in order to create the kind of situation that is needed. That was the single most frustrating thing for me
-I think the murder mystery had a bit more potential - there was very little question as to what the police was going to do, and whenever the focus was on that part of the plot it always fell a little flat for me. Then again, it was neither a thriller nor a mystery, so I probably shouldn't complain. But it felt like lost potential.
- While I liked the way Jack and Park reconnected, the bed scenes weren't very memorable. Then again, those kinds of scenes aren't a priority for me.
- The writing was a bit clunky at times - not horribly so, but some bits of exposition could have been smoother, and the one scene in the appartment with the box (keeping it vague because of spoilers) was a bit over the top and unnecessary.
- For about 2/3 of the book, they keep having the same conversation over and over again. I actually didn't mind that that much - it felt realistic, in a way. But I could see it being annoying for some
- Because of the subject matter, there is a lot of talk about politics. Considering the state of the world, this may not be something everybody wants to read about. As I mentioned above, I found Parker's position interesting, and overall he is the kind of conservative politician I could live with. I appreciated the matter-of-fact tone in his and his opponent's campaign, but sadly I don't know how realistic it is.. then again, that is what fiction is for.
I've read other books with similar problems that I liked a lot less - there was something about Parker and Jackson that really struck a nerve somehow. I do think it's a good book either way, if you're interested in stories involving politians and lawyers. It could have been a great book with a bit more subtlety and a better showdown - but I had a lot of fun reading it either way, and would absolutely love to read another book in this story universe.
My ARC copy of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair, unbiased review.
When Jackson, a successful lawyer, learns senate candidate Parker Livingston is suspected of having murdered a young woman in his appartment, his first thought is that Parker is innocent. Because Jackson once knew Parker better than anyone - and when Parker comes to him to ask for his help with the case, Jackson agrees, even though he knows it's a mistake, considering he and Parker used to be lovers. And so they not only have to figure out what happened and prove Parker's innocence - they also have to deal with the fact that they both still have feelings for each other - but with Parker running for senate as a Republican, and Jackson unwilling to go back into the closet, can there be a future for them?
There was a lot about this that I loved - so much so that I was a lot more forgiving when it came to the things I didn't love than I usually am. I'm in the mood for lists, so here are the pluses and minuses:
+ Two very likable characters over thirty
+ getting back together is one of my favourite tropes (as long there is no cheating involved, and there very much isn't), and I loved the way they were unsure about each other yet knew each other at the same time
+ Parker's conflict was genuinely interesting and I liked the way his political position was presented (even though I don't agree with most of it)
+ Even though Gavin and Reed were a bit clumsily being set up for the next book, I suppose, I really liked the supporting characters. Especially Martha.
Stuff I didn't like as much or feel mostly neutral about:
- the showdown was extremely unrealistic and felt 100% set up. The characters act in ways no one would only in order to create the kind of situation that is needed. That was the single most frustrating thing for me
-I think the murder mystery had a bit more potential - there was very little question as to what the police was going to do, and whenever the focus was on that part of the plot it always fell a little flat for me. Then again, it was neither a thriller nor a mystery, so I probably shouldn't complain. But it felt like lost potential.
- While I liked the way Jack and Park reconnected, the bed scenes weren't very memorable. Then again, those kinds of scenes aren't a priority for me.
- The writing was a bit clunky at times - not horribly so, but some bits of exposition could have been smoother, and the one scene in the appartment with the box (keeping it vague because of spoilers) was a bit over the top and unnecessary.
- For about 2/3 of the book, they keep having the same conversation over and over again. I actually didn't mind that that much - it felt realistic, in a way. But I could see it being annoying for some
- Because of the subject matter, there is a lot of talk about politics. Considering the state of the world, this may not be something everybody wants to read about. As I mentioned above, I found Parker's position interesting, and overall he is the kind of conservative politician I could live with. I appreciated the matter-of-fact tone in his and his opponent's campaign, but sadly I don't know how realistic it is.. then again, that is what fiction is for.
I've read other books with similar problems that I liked a lot less - there was something about Parker and Jackson that really struck a nerve somehow. I do think it's a good book either way, if you're interested in stories involving politians and lawyers. It could have been a great book with a bit more subtlety and a better showdown - but I had a lot of fun reading it either way, and would absolutely love to read another book in this story universe.
My ARC copy of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair, unbiased review.