Photo credits: Goumbik (Pixabay), Sebastian Ganzo (Pixabay) Edited by Vaishali Title: Man Glitter Series: Jobs From Hell #2.5 Author: Marika Ray Publisher: Marika Ray Publishing Year of Publication: 2020 Genre/Themes: Contemporary Romance Format: E-book - kindle app R E V I E W ...“They say sawdust is just man glitter,” I said out loud, wishing I could swallow the words the minute they floated out there. Charlie’s head popped up, and a hint of a smile danced across his face. “I believe that’s what I’ll have to call it from now on. A name that good can’t go to waste.” Finnie Dorado chooses moderation. And self-discipline. She's also bullheaded for structure and as bad-tempered as her new neighbour's good humour. A new resident to Auburn Hill, Finnie's hopes include three things: to open her own emergency care practice, salvage her reputation as an unsympathetic physician and leave behind the fast-lane of intensive city-life work. She's all prim lines, ambition and high-nosed irritability so it's no surprise when happy-go-lucky Charlie Boldt inflames her neighbour rage at sleeping hours with a very large power tool. A very noisy power tool too. After a late-night accident, an injured hand and guilt that hits her sore spot, Finnie reluctantly agrees to live in with a man who couldn't be more her opposite. With doors unlocked, clothing abandoned In place of a light jacket of man glitter, Finnie is stumped by Charlie’s habits, frustrated that he wears them well, tempting that he does them around her. Forget brooding billionaires, gruff bikers, charismatic rockstars and ego-centric athletes. I'd very eagerly settle for a reclusive wood sculptor with laugh lines and a chirpy appetite for cheeky humour. A carefree, adorable hippie with a heavy heart lined with undimmed flippancy. I love a hero who wants to love despite what holds him back. I don’t come across them often. Charlie Boldt comes close to the real-life dream for me and it's perhaps a crying shame that I only knew him for a stretch of 116 sweet pages. While Charlie speaks to my hidden soul, Finnie speaks to my unhidden graces. Marika Ray's Man Glitter situates itself somewhere after the sequel to the Jobs In Hell series, not the prequel to this entire series like I had believed. This standalone continuation easily takes hold of a light-hearted mood and preserves it through mishap, misadventure and wind-up neighbours. As expected, you won’t await an intricate, fully-developed line of events with a short story, nor should you expect fully rounded characters. While this one ties up ends quickly and out of necessity, it definitely does achieve some character depth. I’m not sure why, but it might be my favourite scene when Charlie briefly squares off with a seagull to rescue Finnie’s business plans. What a man. I appreciate that Ray doesn't fall back on the jaded-by-a-cheating-ex trope. This repeated break-up ground is omnipresent with romance. Sometimes authors can fail to use up the very large spectrum of conflict motivation; a character can feel betrayed by a relationship in more than one way. Most often, you'll get the heroine who's moving on from a promiscuous ex. Finnie was betrayed by trust and hurt by her ex partner's need to save himself. I like the thought in this, Ms. Ray and I'm glad you see the heartbreak in being hurt by a more overlooked reason. My rating however comes down to the fact that I thought this would be funnier and I expected a bit more story from this short read as not a whole lot happens. I also started to lose interest after I got the gist of what was going on Charlie and his canine companion are adorable. I could befriend, smother and leave behind my aversion to marriage for this hero should he be so Inclined to accept my very stable offer and I'd adopt golden Chester if I weren't phobic to most anything that moves. As for the comedy element, Ray accomplishes light-hearted comedy value through upbeat tension, delightful disputes without an over-the-top slapstick edge. Testy neighbours to mild friends to lovers united. Feel-good and flirty, with an extra side of sawdust. I gave this book 3 stars -C O N T E N T_W A R N I N G: Adult content, one bedroom scene and some swearing --------------------------------------- M Y R A T I N G S Y S T E M: ★ - 1 star: I did not like the book ★★ - 2 stars: The book was okay ★★★ - 3 stars: It was a good, solid read ★★★★ - 4 stars: A great book ★★★★★ - 5: A phenomenal read -------------------------------------- S O M E F A V O U R I T E Q U O T E S ! “Figures the only way to break down your walls was to build a wall,” I teased, giving her a wink before devouring that mouth of hers again. The town had nicknamed me Crazy Charlie , but I never thought it was true until now when I found myself crazy in love with a woman who didn’t even want me. ‘The work had always been a balm to my messy mind, giving me far more in return than a career.’ I would have tasted those lips to see if her grumpiness was a flavor or simply a habit. She looked tired, but beautiful. Like a force of nature restrained into a professional package. I couldn’t handle it and burst out laughing . That was such a Finnie look. Always irritation mixed with something else. She oozed irritation from her pores like a pheromone. She made one hell of a beautiful pack mule, oblivious to the beauty around her. “Here we go!” She came hustling back in with a large black bag held high like some Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, intent on saving my life out in the wild.’ ‘There was too much aggression in the way she spoke and moved. Like she had a point to prove from the minute she woke up to the second she put her head down at night.’ ‘Ignoring the way he looked lounging over the tiny breakfast bar without a shirt, I had that strange mix of lust and disgust again. What was it with this man eliciting seemingly opposite feelings at the exact same time? It was like a special talent that no one appreciated.’ ‘She was back to frowning, that line between her eyebrows as natural as the sawdust that covered every part of my person when I worked out here. The impish side of me that always got me in trouble, but made life worth living roared to life. She’d poked the bear, and I was about to poke back. Quid pro quo and all that nonsense. The only difference is that I poked so softly and repeatedly you didn’t feel it until it was too late.’ I felt so out of control around this particular man. He made me angry, then turned me on, and then did something that made me wonder what was beneath all those smirks and smiles. I wanted away from him right this very second when in the next second I couldn’t wait to see what he’d do next. I liked things to be expected, scientifically proven, and orderly. Charlie was most definitely none of the above. She sucked in a breath, her wide eyes telling me she wasn’t ready but she was diving in anyway. It was my favorite expression of hers I’d seen yet. “Man, these couples in Hell are really something.” The woman with the toddler came up to me and patted me on the back. “This town has a rich history of publicly announced affairs of the heart. You fit right in, Finnie. He kissed each of my fingers, his meticulous nature not confined to simply woodwork I love interacting with fellow readers, reviewers, bloggers and writers. Hearing about reader opinion is the fuel to my reader appetite, so get in touch and comment below! SHARE ON FACEBOOK L E A V E A C O M M E N T A N D L E T' S T A L K A B O U T |
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