I received this book for free from my own shelves in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: my own shelves
“A Funny Thing Happened . . .”
by
Josh Lanyon
m/m romance in a Kindle edition that was published by JustJoshin Publishing Inc. on December 29, 2023 and has 45 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Fatal Shadows, Death of a Pirate King, A Dangerous Thing, 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, Murder Takes the High Road
The last??, 5.75, in the Adrien English Mysteries gay cozy mystery series and revolving around a bookseller. The couple focus is on Adrien and Jake.
My Take
I do like Adrien with all his issues — we hear everything from first person protagonist point-of-view from Adrien’s perspective. “A Funny Thing Happened” is a combination of a walk down memory lane and the culmination of Adrien and Jake’s relationship
It’s COVID-time with all those worries of masks and social distancing. An especially worrying time for Jake as Adrien is so susceptible to ills. It’s what led to that deal about Adrien working in the bookstore!
Yep, it was a crime scene that brought Adrien and Jake together: “What is your idea of a romantic date?” “Obviously a crime scene.” “Right? It doesn’t get more romantic than that.” Yep, they’re serious, lol.
It was a question in a magazine that Natalie had filled out for herself and . . . Mr X. And Adrien and Jake are dying to figure out who the new mystery boyfriend is.
It’s been an amazing journey with Jake as his character arc has evolved from the tough, no-questions L.APD detective to a less secure man deeply in love.
I can’t help but love Adrien’s thoughts on those sweet nothings, for he knows what it cost him and Jake to get where they are.
And funny . . .
”Marriage,’ I said. ‘Before breakfast. Before coffee even.’
Jake said, ‘The best part of waking up.’
He waited as I thought it over. I said, ‘You do know, it’s not just for breakfast anymore.’”
Lanyon does write a sweet tale of two men finally finding their happily ever after.
The Story
Jake wants a romantic Christmas with just Adrien and pops out with the idea of spending the holidays at Pine Shadow Ranch up in the mountains — the present of a weekend away.
The Characters
Adrien English owns Cloak and Dagger Books. Jake Riordan used to be a homicide detective, then an independent private investigator, and now he works as a PI for Brannigan Investigations. Tompkins is their cat. Scout is their German shepherd. Adrien no longer lives above the bookstore but at the house, with Jake, where he grew up, Somewhereshire.
Lisa is Adrien’s mother now married to Councilman Bill Dauten (The Hell You Say, 3), which brought three stepsisters into the family: Lauren; Natalie, who now works for Adrien at the bookstore and has a three-month-old son, Larkin, who is also Adrien’s nephew; and, Emma, who is the youngest. The jerky Warren is/was, was/is, Natalie’s boyfriend and possibly Larkin’s father.
Pine Shadow Ranch was left to Adrien by his grandmother in A Dangerous Thing, 2. Adjunct Professor Melissa Smith, Adrien’s childhood frenemy, is the on-site caretaker.
Angus Gordon, who’s still smitten with Natalie (Fatal Shadows, 1), and Bliss, a new hire, are also employed at Cloak and Dagger Books.
Mary Brannigan is the owner of Brannigan Investigations. Kate is Jake’s cop ex-wife (The Dark Tide, 5). Paul Kane was an accomplished British actor who swings both ways and is still in jail (Death of a Pirate King, 4). Guy Snowden had been Angus’ teacher on the occult at UCLA as well as Adrien’s boyfriend in The Hell You Say, 3. The Pink Rose Wedding Chapel in Basking is run by the Honorable John Buttermit, who is a justice of the peace, and his wife, Mrs Buttermit. The Miss Buttermit from A Dangerous Thing, 2, is John’s great-niece. Granny Parker’s Pantry serves up a great breakfast.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a Christmas card with its combination of snowy and warm, blues predominating. A snowy path between a split rail fence and a standing lamp leads to the warmly lit cabin with a decorated outdoor tree and a smaller cabin on the right. The cabin is nestled in amongst pine trees giving it a very cozy feel. The trees at the front as well as the fence are lightly draped in Christmas lights. At the top is the funky title in white. Below it is the series information in a red-outlined white sans-serif. At the bottom is the author’s name, also in white.
I think the title encapsulates Adrien’s and Jake’s life journey as “A Funny Thing Happened . . .”
