Rating: 4 stars
Buy Link: Amazon | All Romance | Amazon UK
Length: Novella
After his brief brush with the law—aka almost getting arrested for throwing down with a drunk bigot—James O’Brien went against his conscience and accepted a ride home from the pretty cop. By the end of the forty-five minute drive, James had broken two of his cardinal rules—don’t date a cop and don’t date a man with kids. Especially don’t date a cop with kids.
When Scott and his son, Tory, burst into James’s life, he discovers that some rules are made to be broken. But even as he finds himself falling for Scott and Tory as well, James is waiting for the other shoe to drop. With his family history, trust does not come easy to James and the second Scott gives him a reason to run, James has to find what’s more important—his pride or his heart.
I have to say that when JJ brought up Challenge Week, I was ecstatic. Finally, I’m getting to dig into my TBR mountain. For week one, New-to-Me Author Week, I had a difficult time choosing. But I finally settled on Cat Blaine. I know very little about this author, other than I’ve heard great things about this series. So I’m going to review both books.
If you’re looking for a short and sweet story with no angst, look no further. Blaine’s The Cop and the Geek is an adorable story of finding love when least expected.
James has been hurt by the men in his life—namely by the actions of his father and grandfather. For that reason, trust does not come easy to him. Especially when it comes to cops. I like him. And while his ability to fall for Scott seems a little simple with his family issues, I can also see the desire to move on. Scott is amazingly patient and forgiving. I think what I like most of all is that he’s not perfect. He makes mistakes, but he owns them. And Tory… well, it’s impossible not to fall in love with the kid. I appreciated the adorableness of his character that had James breaking all his personal rules. I expect to see a puppy in James’s house one day.
This was a cute story, nothing spectacular. The plot easily revolves around gaining trust and finding love. But happily, it ends with warm, fluffy feelings. If you’re looking for a feel-good story to pass the time with, this is a great one to hit up.
Rating: 3.25 stars
Buy Link: Amazon | All Romance | Amazon UK
Length: Novella
James has been with Scott for a month. After the awful experience of being introduced to both paintball and Scott’s jealous work partner, Jack, Scott comes up with the disastrous idea of camping. Camping! James doesn’t camp. Except for Scott, the man he’s falling in love with, James will camp.
The wilderness isn’t that bad until day two. Hiking a long trail seemed like a good idea until Scott falls and breaks his leg. And it’s up to James to not only patch Scott up, but to get them both back to camp then to get Scott to the hospital. The struggle should be too much. The more difficult things get, James finds himself wondering why he’s going through this. Even more shocking to James is the answer he comes up with.
For my second New-to-Me Author Challenge book, I’m jumping into the second book in Cat Blaine’s series. I like this one for the relationship building. James and Scott have been dating for a month and James has moved past his issues with cops—for Scott at least. I like the new level they’ve reached. Meeting the friends is not all that bad, save for Jack’s jealousy. But the best part of this story is the camping trip and the way James steps up and becomes more than even he thought he had in him. I think the camping trip is what saved the story for me.
There are a few holes in this book. The biggest one is the lack of resolution with Jack. I’m disappointed that the author introduced this obvious antagonist, but did nothing with him. I have so many questions that have no answers. I expected a huge blow up—unrequited love, hatred, a fight… something. But there was nothing on that front.
Overall, this story is good for the new level of trust and emotion that James and Scott reach, but the holes are distracting. I’m hoping a third book will answer those questions and put so issues to rest.
This review is part of our September Reading Challenge Month for New-to-Me Author Week! Leave a relevant comment below and you will be entered to win this week’s fabulous prize sponsored by Samhain Publishing, as well as our amazing grand prize sponsored by Riptide Publishing. You can get more information on our Challenge Month here, and more details on New-to-Me Author week here. And be sure to check out our prize post for more about the awesome prizes!Â
I’m sorry to say I don’t think the second book is for me, now that you’ve pointed out the plot holes I probably wouldn’t be able see beyond that when reading it; it’s why I seldom read reviews of books I of which I have high expectations, either from just reading the blurb, or because it’s one of my auto buy authors and I know I want an undisturbed reading time. More than once I had a bad read after having seen something pointed out that I may not even have noticed otherwise. I love reading reviews when I finished a book though, to see what others have thought of it.
The first book I think I could enjoy. I like novellas, but read them far less than I’d want. Do you get an explanation as to why James doesn’t like cops?
I agree… the first book was easier to read than the second… and yes. There is an answer to why he doesn’t like cops, but I don’t want to give it away… what fun would that be? 😉
Another new to me, Cat Blaine. I keep looking up these writers at goodreads and adding books to my TBR list, which I think is going to grow exponentially this week. I like the sound of these two books. Sometimes you feel like reading something sweet and uncomplicated. The characters seem likable and the HEA is guarantee, and that’s something I’m the mood for during those long gloomy winter afternoons.
Thank you for the review, Crissy
Thank you, Susana! I love new to me authors… they’re so fun to get to know in the writing… and to fall for 🙂
Thanks for the review! Â I have not read anything by Cat Blaine either, but will keep these books in mind when looking for something sweet (although based on the holes you mention in the 2nd book, I might have to wait for a 3rd one). Â I generally like angsty, complex books, but everyone now and then need something lighter.
I’m hoping *crosses fingers* that there will be a book 3 and all of my issues will be resolved. Sometimes I need a lighter book after a big angsty draw… I call them palette cleansers 😉 this is one of those books 🙂
Palette cleansers – I like that!
Well, I can certainly identify with the idea of going camping for the first time with a significant other since that happened to me. Thanks for an enjoyable review.
The entire camping aspect of book two was wonderful. I really enjoyed the entirety of those scenes 🙂
Thanks for a great review! Â Cat is a new author for me also. Â I enjoy novellas sometimes and will add these to my list.Â
Thanks, Melissa! From what I can tell, Cat Blaine has a few more novellas out there… I’ll be checking those out as well 🙂
Two of my favorite things, men in uniforms & camping. I’m gonna add these to my wishlist & if the chance comes to grab them on loan or on sale, I’ll give them a try. Thanks for the review!
good thing, because these books have  both 🙂
Already had book one on my wishlist. Â I’ve read a short story or two by this author and enjoyed them. Â Thanks for the review.
Thanks! I hope you enjoy them!
New to me author, as well. It has a couple things I like (kids and established couple), but I’m not sure if I’ll add it to my list or not. Maybe if there’s more in the series.
I’m a sucker for kids and a good dad… so yeah, this one pulled at my heartstrings 🙂 I’m still hoping for another book so I can get answers 🙂
The non angsty books are the ones I usually re-read when I’m feeling blah.  I like almost any book that includes a geek. 🙂
this one is definitely anti-blah 😉
This is the only book I read by this author (I still have to read book 2) when it came out and I liked it. Yeah, it is a fluffy read with no surprises and with no real developement of things. But as a light book, I enjoyed it. However, instead of writing two short books, I’d have liked more if the author had written one big story. And I plan to read book 2 with plot-holes and all. 😉 Thanks for the review!
I could go either way on the length of the book. They are definitely two different storylines, and the second has a defined time period from the end of book one, so they really work better as two books, IMO 🙂 But yes… they are fun and fluffy.Â
I love stories about nerds/geeks, and this tells you right in the title. 🙂 And I really love stories with children, so this sounds like something I’d like other than the length. Thanks for the great reviews.
Gah… me too… I think it’s because I’m such a geek… I love when a geek finds their happy ending 🙂Â
Another new to me author! Thanks for the review. I’ll keep these in mind when I want something shorter and light.
I hope you enjoy them, Antonia!
Thank you for the review. I also haven’t read anything by Cat Blaine but I’m a sucker for stories where characters find love in the most unexpected places. Also it doesn’t hurt that there’s nerds/geeks 😀
LOL… it’s definitely unexpected… I mean, almost getting arrested doesn’t speak of romance, but in this book it totes works 🙂
I love cops in books and a combo cop/geek certainly has my interest so thanks for the review and i think i will pick this book (and maybe both) to read in this week challenge.
Men in uniform… YUM! and yes… cop and geek… totally speaks to me on my geekery level. I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for stopping by!
Glad you got to tackle a little bit of that TBR mountain, Crissy. I think I may have seen this before because that title does sound familiar. It’s not terribly creative, but it does the job of drawing me in, so there’s that. Unfortunately, I haven’t had great success with this publisher, so I tend to shy away unless I get a recommendation. I think I’d try out the first, and even sometimes when, like this one, the second isn’t as great, sometimes if I’ve connected with the characters the first go-around, I’ll just be happy to see them again in the second.
OMG! You have no idea… my mountain ranges in the mid thousand… it’s scary… so yes, it’s always a relief to read one… it’s like I can’t stop getting books… I need more time in the day 🙂
And yes, I understand on the pub front… it’s hit and miss for me, but I enjoyed these characters… like I said earlier, it’s definitely a palette cleanser book 🙂Â
Added to the TBR will pick it up when money allows (the book budget is never big enough)!
LOL with the book budget comment… because yes I completely understand. And i hope you enjoy these books 🙂
From the cover I was hopeful this would be a good new to me author to try, but I think from the review I’m going to try something else. Sounds like it has some of the issues that particularly annoy me.
I like the sound of the first book, though camping trips sound disastrous to me with or without romantic complication!
I like the sound of the book. Im a sucker for books with geeks in them!
Sometimes a short sweet read is exactly what I am looking for. Thanks for the review. This is also a new ot me author. I will take a look.
Of all the new-to-me reviews this week, this one isn’t jumping out at me for some reason. But given how positive the review is, maybe I’ll fall back on it if I need something to read…