Relief Valve by J.L. Merrow
Review by Lauren
source: copy from Netgalley; all opinions are my own
Official Summary (add to Goodreads): The relationship between Tom Paretski, a cheeky plumber with a gift for finding hidden things, and PI Phil Morrison may only be a few weeks old, but already it’s under attack. Tom’s friends and family are convinced the former bully isn’t good enough for him, and they’re not shy about saying so.
Then Tom’s prickly older sister, Cherry, is poisoned at her own engagement party. Tom’s left reeling and not knowing who to suspect. Could it be her new fiancé, Gregory, a cathedral canon with an unfortunate manner and a taste for taxidermy? Or someone from her old writers’ circle, which she left after a row? Or could the attack be connected to her work as a barrister? Meanwhile, Tom’s honorary auntie’s left him a gag gift from beyond the grave that could be more significant than anyone knows.
Phil’s fighting against the clock to solve the case before somebody ends up dead. And with the poisoner hiding a dark secret, Phil’s terrified Tom could have been the target all along.
Review: The first book in the Plumber’s Mate Mysteries is Pressure Head (read my review here) and I really loved it, so I was excited to get the sequel to read/review. These books are better read in order as they feature the exact same characters, following plumber Tom and his PI boyfriend, Phil. Each book has a different mystery, so they connect through the relationship, which is still going strong in Relief Valve, though Tom does sometimes feel awkward knowing that Phil was previously married.
In Relief Valve, readers get to know more about Tom’s family, especially his older sister, Cherry, who is suddenly getting married. Well, until she’s poisoned at her engagement party, and now Phil and Tom are on the hunt for just who could possibly want to hurt Cherry (if it was Cherry they were after). I really liked this mystery and I didn’t figure out “who done it” until the end. I won’t say it’s impossible to figure out, but these are the types of mysteries where I’m happy to go along for the ride. I don’t try too hard to unravel the mystery because I’m having a good time following Tom and Phil on their adventures, and also watching the two of them grow closer together!
Relief Valve and Going Overboard- two #mmromance book reviews #ontheblog! Click To TweetGoing Overboard by L.A. Witt
Review by Lauren
source: copy from Netgalley; all opinions are my own
Official Summary (add to Goodreads): Second-class petty officers Dalton Taylor and Chris Ingram have been best friends since coxswain’s school. Now they’re stationed together in the harbor patrol unit of NAS Adams. They’re content as friends, but secretly, they both ache for more. Neither makes a move, though; while Dalton is out and proud, Chris is closeted—even from his best friend.
Then another coxswain’s negligence nearly drowns Dalton. After a taste of how easily they could lose each other, neither man can keep his feelings hidden anymore, and it turns out love and sex come easy when you’re falling for your best friend.
Things aren’t just heating up between the friends-turned-lovers, though. The Navy is investigating the accident, and the harbor patrol chief isn’t going to let his star coxswain go down for dereliction of duty, even if saving him means throwing Dalton under the bus.
As the threats and gaslighting pile up, Chris and Dalton need each other more than ever—as shipmates, friends, and lovers. But if their chief prevails, the only way they can save their careers is to let each other go.
Review: Going Overboard is the fifth book in the Anchor Point series – and I’ve read and enjoyed them all (they are companion novels, so you can read them out of order if you want, but previous couples are often mentioned). However, I wouldn’t say this was my favorite in the series. I really like friends to lovers romances, but I feel like there wasn’t a lot of their relationship explored in this one. It took a bit for them to get together after Dalton almost drowns, which was nice and felt realistic. That life or death moment was just a catalyst for both of them to be honest about their feelings.
There is a lot about the Navy in this one, since the accident is being investigated and Dalton is being told to basically not tell the truth and get back out on the boat, even while suffering from obvious PTSD. Chris hates seeing Dalton suffering, and it was sweet how much Chris was there for Dalton – as much as he could be though. Like I said before, I feel like there was so much about the investigation/Navy that we, as readers, don’t get as much of a relationship between Chris and Dalton. Part of it might be because they were friends first, so the relationship happens kind of naturally. That’s fine, but I guess I just wanted more on-page time with the two of them. At any rate, I do love this series, and I’d happily read more from the Anchor Point world!
***
I wanted to take this moment to invite you to join my Book Blog Facebook Group. If you, at all, consider yourself a book blogger, then feel free to join. There will be a new thread throughout the week to share posts (they don’t always have to be book related) and the idea is to comment on a few whenever you post, but to try and click/view more than you comment, because these are still helpful for blogs! Please feel free to share about this! The more, the merrier.
i haven’t heard of these but def will chck them out!
Oh it’s great to see that you had a good time with both of them like that!
These are both new to me but sound interesting! Great reviews!
The first one in particular sounds really interesting–I’m always intrigued by a murder mystery, especially when there are so many potential suspects (like Clue!). Thanks for sharing and I just joined your book group on Facebook 🙂
Haven’t heard of these, but given the looks of that cover… that plumber is def. cuter than the plumber we just had out a couple of weeks ago! lol!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
These sound like good vacation books, thanks for sharing!
Sounds like a couple of great reads! And also so cool about your book blog group on FB! I hardly blog my reads anymore but I might join just to get ideas from other readers!
Both of these sound good. It sucks that you didn’t get more time with Chris and Dalton as a couple though.
I’m not familiar with either of these, but the guy on the first cover has the prettiest eyes… I would like to have those for myself! XD
Glad you liked them!
I heard that about the relationship in Going Overboard and I *think* I may have read a book in the Merrow series but I’m not sure. I’ll have to check.
Karen @ For What It’s Worth
These sound like fun reads–and nothing like what I typically read which could be really good.
Also, I’m never on FB these days but I may just have to change that for a Book Blog group! 🙂
Yes, we’d love to have you!
I hadn’t heard of them but I am totally adding to my list
Love the titles! Especially liked Relief Valve.
Relief Valve sounds especially good. Thanks for the head’s up about it being best to read them in order. I also joined your facebook group 🙂
Thanks for joining!! 🙂
I have such a hard time with books with gay characters. Is that weird? I have a ton of gay friends, that doesn’t bother me at all. Books? Totally does. I’ve gotten some review books with ambiguous names and I’m like, NO! I think mostly because I use them as an escape for myself as potential fantasy material, so if it’s not guy/girl, it doesn’t do it for me at all in that way so then I lose interest. It’s terrible. I hate feeling like that.
I think that makes perfect sense! It’s not a matter of not liking it because their gay, but not liking it because you can’t put yourself into the story or a character’s shoes. People read and enjoy books for all sorts of reasons -which is why not every book is for every reader, even if it’s a good book!!
These sound good! That first one I can totally see myself reading! Thanks for always sharing such great books!
I can’t stop staring at his belly button on the cover…… – http://www.domesticgeekgirl.com
These sound so fun! I’ve been reading a lot of nonfiction and Shakespeare lately, so I need to add some fun books to my list!
I personally like to try and solve the mystery alongside the protagonist, but hearing (reading?) you say that you enjoyed the twist and turns in Relief Valve without feeling pressured to play the guessing game sounds good too.
We are going on vacation soon and I love a good murder mystery!
I am always up for a new author. Thanks for the reviews.
Had to hop over and get your thoughts on Relief Valve. 🙂 I love the series, too.
I just listened to book three in the Anchor Point series. There was a strong Navy background, but more of the characters’ personal story. I’m slowly working my way through the series.
Nice concise reviews, Lauren. 🙂
Haven’t read these books, but I’m glad you liked them?
The cover on that Navy one! Oh my! haha 🙂
Relief Valve is definitely an interesting take on a mystery book, love that he is a plumber 😀
I am so behind on my reading these days. I have fallen asleep on page 5 of the same book the last 2 nights!!!