Title: Snowcroft Restoration (Snowcroft Men #4)
Author: Christi Snow
Publisher: Self-published
Publication Date: November 15, 2017
Genre: Contemporary, MM Romance
Format: eBook, Print
Length: 380 pages
synopsis
Two years ago, Law Wyman went undercover for an FBI investigation that went sideways. It cost him both the love of his life and his sanity. The nightmare still haunts him, and so does some unfinished business…Ian Mayne, the son of the man who ruined his life.
Two years ago, Ian had to face the truth about how his father spent a lifetime torturing and trafficking LGBTQ teens. Ever since, Ian has done everything he can to make up for his dead father’s many sins through his law enforcement job. Too many paid in horrific, horrible ways at his father’s hands while Ian kept the truth about his own sexuality hidden.
Law is doing all he can to save Ian, but Ian doesn’t necessarily want to be saved.
Two men…both horrifically haunted by what happened. Is it possible they can find healing together? Only if they have the courage to face their demons and each other…
Trigger Warning: This is a hot story about two men who have both survived past abuse.
♦ Personal Thought ♦
Caution: graphic violence and sexual abuse/gang rape implied.
This book had me conflicted. It’s been a while since I last read the first two installments of “Snowcroft Men” series. So it took a while for me to realize that the MC of this book – Law Wyman – is the one whose story I’ve been so looking forward to read (Duh! Smacking my own head). After the torture he endured in #book1 – off page, of course – I’m curious as how Law would cope. Not so easy, as it turns out! But that’s not what got me nonplussed.
Before going further, I just want to point out that this is the sort of series that have to be read in chronological order to understand the characters better. I’ve been known to jump back and forth among books in a series when it’s possible to do so. Being more orderly would work better for this series, though.
In this fourth entry to “Snowcroft Men” series, Ian Mayne – son of the evil camp on #book1 – is going undercover as go go dancer in a MC-owned gay club to look for his missing friend. Law Wyman is going after him looking for closure for the dark moment of his life, and offering himself as backup since Ian doesn’t have any. The fact that stopped and got me thinking.
No disrespect to Forestry Service law enforcement, I’m sure they have brilliant and brawny members to uphold the law. But going undercover – in a non forestry environment, no less!! – with no backup whatsoever struck me as beyond reckless. Taking paid leave to do so is just… I don’t know. Stupid? Brainless. This really don’t endear me to Ian and pretty much ruin the first half of the book for me. I still have sympathy considering his childhood growing up with a monster for a father, but that’s it!
Law, considering he’s briefed by Snowcroft PD new Chief of Police of Ian’s mission, comes in prepared: fake identity, safe house, and everything (he’s a former FBI agent and still maintain all those because FBI feel guilty and doesn’t want him to sue… you know what, don’t ask!).
So yeah, I wasn’t too impressed with how the undercover mission operates. Then there’s the insta-attraction these guys felt for each other. One might argue it’s not instant since Ian and Law know one another for a couple of years already. But since they haven’t seen the other in skimpy attire… Well. You get the gist. Personally, I could do without the many steamy scenes these guys have. A couple of those that impact the flow of the story are fine, but the rest is just one too many! It might work for those loving extended steamy, smexy scenes though – you might find them enjoyable.
The story is told from multiple POVs, the majority of it being Ian’s and Law’s. One POV of all clued me in of the twist in the horizon. Although I didn’t think this spiel would that long. Which is another of the conundrum for me. See, this book comes in two part with two setting which make it one long story. That saying, with the amount of incident and characters involved, it feels not long enough as in there’s not enough meat to support the overall story! Too many pauses, dragging and whatnots to my liking really.
On the other hand, taking into account the nightmare (mentally and physically) both men had been through, it’s just so heartwarming to see them fall over themselves standing up for each other. I do love steadfast quality in book character.
To recap; I love the character development aspect of the story, especially given how difficult – or impossible – it is for them to shake off the bad. But I just don’t find the romance and case-handling plausible enough. Of course, that’s only my personal take on the book. Others might feel differently.
Copy of this book is kindly provided by the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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