Rate this book

Like Coffee And Doughnuts (2009)

by Elle Parker(Favorite Author)

3.78 of 5 Votes: 4

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Lyrical Press, Inc.

series

Dino Martini Mysteries

review 1: The story got off to a slow start with a lot of extraneous scenes that did nothing to advance the story. For example it opens with a detailed description of Dino moving into his best friend and soon to be love interest Seth's apartment because he lost his lease but the very next day he finds a new apartment and move into that so what was the point of wasting pages on a move that is instantly negated? There is a lot of stuff like that. The only thing that kept me going was the dialogue was quite amusing.Eventually, after a few more mostly pointless chapters both the romance and mystery takes off. The mystery was OK as a vehicle for the romance to progress. The romance was far-fetched by readable. I've read a bunch of these stories where one guy is the wild over-sexed slob w... moreho pushes a relationship with his presumed straight more up-tight buddy. The odd couple trope doesn't do anything for me and this go-around didn't do anything to change my mind. The mystery wraps in this installment, but it is obvious that there is more to come on the relationship front. Not sure if I will read the follow up.One thing that bugged me was the outdated prices for everything. The story is set in the 21st Century so I had to laugh at $600 a month for a beach town apartment and the characters thinking $6 for room service pancakes in a luxury Miami hotel is a lot of money. Has the author never eaten out before? I don't think that will even get you pancakes at Denny's.
review 2: 4 and a half stars. This book definitely made me hot under the collar. Our two heroes are best friends but a world apart in personalities. Seth is 33 and he likes sex, a lot. He doesn't care if his partner is male or female as long as he is getting some - the trouble is he's gone and fallen for his best friend Dino. Dino is a 42 year old private eye who'd never kissed a man until his best friend decides to change that. The story follows them working out where the hell to go from there, whilst also coping with a few bad guys along the way courtesy of Dino's job.I liked the flow of the story and I loved the characters. Seth's exuberant and sexy personality was matched perfectly with Dino's more old fashioned values. Seth wanted to speed it up and Dino slow it down - together it just really worked.Dino had just moved to a new apartment building that was otherwise occupied by 4 elderly ladies, I couldn't help but picture the Golden Girls when I read them, classy and sassy whilst managing to be genteel. The spirit and interaction between all these characters was great. The only reason that I haven't given this five stars is the injury factor. Seth in particular was beaten up a few times but, apart from a few token words about him being in pain (mostly from Dino), he seemed to just carry on, seduction, chasing the bad guys, none of it seemed too difficult despite cuts, bruises and badly injured ribs. Maybe I'm just a major wimp (I am, I admit it) but this just did not ring true for me. Everything else though was fantastic. Oh and the part when Seth tells Dino he loves him, that bit was stop your heart hot! In fact it deserves a half star for that alone. Again another new author for me to be checking out. less

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