I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the library
A Dangerous Thing
by
Josh Lanyon
It is part of the Adrien English #2 series and is a amateur sleuth, erotica in eBook edition that was published by MLR Press on May 7, 2012 and has 236 pages.
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Other books in this series include [books_series]
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Fatal Shadows, Death of a Pirate King, The Hell You Say, Dark Tide, Somebody Killed His Editor, Fair Play, Fair Chance, "So This is Christmas", Murder at Pirate's Cove, Secret at Skull House, Footsteps in the Dark, Mystery at the Masquerade, The Dark Farewell, “A Funny Thing Happened . . .”, Murder Takes the High Road, Fair Game, Corpse at Captain's Seat, Scandal at the Salty Dog, Body at Buccaneer's Bay, Lament at Loon Landing, Death at the Deep Dive
Second in the Adrien English mystery series about a gay author/bookseller and his deeply-in-the-closet lover. The action here takes place at Pine Shadow Ranch outside Basking, California.
My Take
It’s both a standard AND untypical romance. Standard because Adrien is in the beginning, he had hoped, of a relationship with all the questions of if it were a relationship, why Jake bothers. If he should put up with Jake’s blowing hot and then cold. The untypical is Jake’s not wanting to be gay but being attracted to Adrien all the same. The possible expectations of bravery of one guy to another. Wanting the physical touch of affection and yet afraid to go for it. Adrien wants to be wanted but not at the expense Jake seems to demand or the hatred he has for his desire.
Why is Adrien using the worst Shakespeare play as a basis for his second story?
Adrien’s sarcastic asides just crack me up!! It’s too similar to how I would react and I just love it!
I am SO with Adrien when he calls Jake that morning and he hears a woman’s voice. He doesn’t seem to fit in Jake’s life as a friend or a lover. He’s a lot more mature about it than I would be!
Poor Jake, he so badly wants not to be involved and yet he just can’t leave Adrien alone.
The Story
Adrien is so frustrated with Jake’s paranoia, fears, and avoidance that he just up and heads out to his grandmother’s ranch up in the California mountains. Maybe he can get some writing done on the second book in his own mystery series and getting away from Jake can only be a benefit.
But it’s not meant to be. The getting away from Jake, that is. Someone left a dead body in the road up to the ranch. One that goes missing after Adrien calls the sheriff. It’s the sheriff’s attitude that had Adrien calling Jake about the pot field the next morning.
Having a homicide detective’s card in your wallet can be a boon when you’re knocked unconscious. IF you’re not trying to avoid him. Still, having a cop on your side can only be good when confronted by a couple of rednecks assuming the pot field is yours.
The Characters
Adrien English is about to see his first book published and the nightmare of the serial killings is somewhat behind him (see Fatal Shadows). Now if only he could get Jake behind him as well… You pervs…take it any way you like…*grin*
Lisa English is his very protective yet flighty mother. And very unhappy when Granna died and left Pine Shadow Ranch to Adrien twenty-four years ago. Mr. Gracen is Adrien’s ancient lawyer.
Jake Riordan is an LAPD detective, a practicing dominant, and bisexual desperately wanting to want only women.
Ted Harvey is the overseer Adrien pays to keep an eye on the ranch. Seems Ted is supplementing his income in some very creative ways. Sheriff Billingsly is the redneck law enforcement who keeps trying for the easy way out. Deputy Dwayne is an idiot.
The archeology group includes:
The trigger-happy Amy, Dr. Philip Marquez, Dr. Lawrence Shoup, Kevin O’Reilly is a grad student, and Bernice. They’re searching for the Red Rover Mine and Dr. Livingston is the missing leader of the expedition.
Melissa is a Miwok and very interested in stopping the search by the archeologists. She is currently working at the museum that was the Royale House. Miss Buttermit??? is the fussy librarian whom Kevin soothes.
The Title
The title is the give-and-take between Jake and Adrien. It’s A Dangerous Thing when Adrien decides to push back.
