Scan barcode
ladydewinter's review
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.
amym84's review
4.0
When a woman is found murdered in Parker Livingston's apartment, the first person he turns to for help is his lawyer ex-boyfriend Jackson Kane whom Parker left five years ago when he decided to run for the Senate and thought keeping himself closeted was the way to go.
There's a lot of unfinished business between Parker and Jackson, Jackson in no way wants to rehash the terribleness that happened between them five years ago, but he also can't turn Parker away when he shows up at his office begging Jackson to represent him should Parker be arrested. He didn't kill the woman, and his alibi is pretty airtight, but that just means there's a murderer on the loose, and without knowing their motive, Parker has a target on his back.
I really enjoyed this second-chance suspense-lite romance. I say it's suspense-lite because while the mystery surrounding the murders did have a few interesting components to it, the real main part of Damage Control is the past relationship between Parker and Jackson, and their present feelings towards one another. I thought Kate McMurray did a wonderful really making that emotional connection with the readers in regards to the Parker and Jackson before, in opposition to the Parker and Jackson after break-up. We're mainly seeing Parker's journey finding out if he can take that step and come out within the Republican Party knowing there's a chance that doing so could effect his career. Years ago he chose his career, thereby ending their chance at happiness. Seeing Jackson again has brought things into perspective for Parker. You can feel Parker struggling with this conflict, and unfortunately it's plausible.
There are quite a few hints floating around this read regarding secondary characters. I'm interested to see what form these take in the next book in the series.
*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
There's a lot of unfinished business between Parker and Jackson, Jackson in no way wants to rehash the terribleness that happened between them five years ago, but he also can't turn Parker away when he shows up at his office begging Jackson to represent him should Parker be arrested. He didn't kill the woman, and his alibi is pretty airtight, but that just means there's a murderer on the loose, and without knowing their motive, Parker has a target on his back.
I really enjoyed this second-chance suspense-lite romance. I say it's suspense-lite because while the mystery surrounding the murders did have a few interesting components to it, the real main part of Damage Control is the past relationship between Parker and Jackson, and their present feelings towards one another. I thought Kate McMurray did a wonderful really making that emotional connection with the readers in regards to the Parker and Jackson before, in opposition to the Parker and Jackson after break-up. We're mainly seeing Parker's journey finding out if he can take that step and come out within the Republican Party knowing there's a chance that doing so could effect his career. Years ago he chose his career, thereby ending their chance at happiness. Seeing Jackson again has brought things into perspective for Parker. You can feel Parker struggling with this conflict, and unfortunately it's plausible.
There are quite a few hints floating around this read regarding secondary characters. I'm interested to see what form these take in the next book in the series.
*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
llamareads's review
4.0
Oh, I am conflicted over this book. This is such a sweet second-chances romance featuring two men who are both set on doing the right thing – if only they didn’t have completely opposite ideas of what that right thing was. While the relationship was great, there were some other parts that didn’t sit well with me. It’s told from the main couple’s alternating third-person POV, and is the first in a new series, though it works well as a standalone.
Jackson is a high-powered defense lawyer in NYC. Though he previously worked with criminal law, he now handles white-collar cases. So he’s even more surprised when Parker, his college sweetheart and first love, and a state politician now campaigning for the US Senate, shows up at his office, asking him for help when a murdered woman is discovered in his apartment. Seeing Park again is a shock, though he doesn’t refuse to take the case immediately – initially he tells himself he’s thinking of taking the case more out of a sense of curiosity for what actually happened than because of any remaining feelings for him.
Park is running for US senator – as a Republican. His campaign platform is described as the GOP “fifteen years ago—minus the homophobia and racism and sexism[.]” He’s completely closeted, of course, and he’s torn between trying to rekindle things with Jack (who he never quite got over) and being able to make a real change as a national lawmaker. This scandal might put an end to his political career for good, even if he’s proven innocent, and an affair with his lawyer would be almost as bad. Jack is out and proud – he hosts parties for LGBT lawyers, for goodness sake – and he has no wish to be Park’s dirty secret, so he knows that they have no chance. The more time they spend together, however, the harder it is to remember their reasons for staying apart.
I absolutely loved Jack and Park’s relationship. It was by turns sweet and angsty, and I really felt the chemistry between them. They were, basically, each other’s first loves, until Park ended their relationship, and the abrupt breakup hurt them both badly. It’s been too long for them to still be in love with each other, but there’s something still there, enough that Jack is reluctant to take the case because he fears he can’t be objective. I loved how they had this eight-year relationship – basically from college to settling into their adult lives – that they basically grew into men together, and that any of their relationships since have been compared to that first one. I think their history was worked in well, and it really added a lot of depth to their relationship in the book.
There were two main things that I didn’t like. First off, I had a hard time suspending disbelief over the fact that, despite an eight year relationship with Jack, Park managed to keep the fact he was gay completely out of the public eye through two political campaigns. In today’s digital age, I just couldn’t believe that no one would’ve dug up dirt from one of their college classmates or anything like that. The second is that Park is a Republican. While part of his platform is specifically not campaigning on social issues, he’s done this more by keeping mum on those issues and not rocking the boat, even refusing to speak for a group for gay Republicans out of fear. And, I get it, I know that there are good people who are Republicans, but with all that’s going on with the Supreme Court case basically legalizing discrimination, families being ripped apart and innocent children being used as political bargaining chips, it left a sour taste in my mouth. I’m not going to hold this against the book – I’m sure the author had the best intentions while writing this – but it did dim my enjoyment of the book.
Overall, despite those issues, I enjoyed reading the book, and I’ll be looking for the next book in the series. If you like angsty second-chance romances with a side of political whodunnit, you’ll like this book!
I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Jackson is a high-powered defense lawyer in NYC. Though he previously worked with criminal law, he now handles white-collar cases. So he’s even more surprised when Parker, his college sweetheart and first love, and a state politician now campaigning for the US Senate, shows up at his office, asking him for help when a murdered woman is discovered in his apartment. Seeing Park again is a shock, though he doesn’t refuse to take the case immediately – initially he tells himself he’s thinking of taking the case more out of a sense of curiosity for what actually happened than because of any remaining feelings for him.
“Funny story,” said Jackson. “Parker Livingston is gay. Guess how I know that.”
Park is running for US senator – as a Republican. His campaign platform is described as the GOP “fifteen years ago—minus the homophobia and racism and sexism[.]” He’s completely closeted, of course, and he’s torn between trying to rekindle things with Jack (who he never quite got over) and being able to make a real change as a national lawmaker. This scandal might put an end to his political career for good, even if he’s proven innocent, and an affair with his lawyer would be almost as bad. Jack is out and proud – he hosts parties for LGBT lawyers, for goodness sake – and he has no wish to be Park’s dirty secret, so he knows that they have no chance. The more time they spend together, however, the harder it is to remember their reasons for staying apart.
"They’d always grounded each other, whether it was Jackson keeping Park from flying too high into fancy or Park helping Jackson hang on to his sanity when his job threatened to take it away."
I absolutely loved Jack and Park’s relationship. It was by turns sweet and angsty, and I really felt the chemistry between them. They were, basically, each other’s first loves, until Park ended their relationship, and the abrupt breakup hurt them both badly. It’s been too long for them to still be in love with each other, but there’s something still there, enough that Jack is reluctant to take the case because he fears he can’t be objective. I loved how they had this eight-year relationship – basically from college to settling into their adult lives – that they basically grew into men together, and that any of their relationships since have been compared to that first one. I think their history was worked in well, and it really added a lot of depth to their relationship in the book.
“You lie every goddamn day. You leave your apartment and you go to work and you…you pretend that this essential part of who you are just doesn’t exist. You lie when you let people believe you’re just a bachelor who hasn’t found the right woman yet. And I find myself wondering what else you lied about or if you can even sort out the truth from the lies anymore.”
There were two main things that I didn’t like. First off, I had a hard time suspending disbelief over the fact that, despite an eight year relationship with Jack, Park managed to keep the fact he was gay completely out of the public eye through two political campaigns. In today’s digital age, I just couldn’t believe that no one would’ve dug up dirt from one of their college classmates or anything like that. The second is that Park is a Republican. While part of his platform is specifically not campaigning on social issues, he’s done this more by keeping mum on those issues and not rocking the boat, even refusing to speak for a group for gay Republicans out of fear. And, I get it, I know that there are good people who are Republicans, but with all that’s going on with the Supreme Court case basically legalizing discrimination, families being ripped apart and innocent children being used as political bargaining chips, it left a sour taste in my mouth. I’m not going to hold this against the book – I’m sure the author had the best intentions while writing this – but it did dim my enjoyment of the book.
Overall, despite those issues, I enjoyed reading the book, and I’ll be looking for the next book in the series. If you like angsty second-chance romances with a side of political whodunnit, you’ll like this book!
I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
More...