Monday, September 12, 2016

Blog Tour ~ Good Boys by Keelan Ellis ~ (Reviews, Excerpt, Book Trailer + Giveaway)

Blog Tour ~  Good Boys by Keelan Ellis ~ (Reviews, Excerpt, Book Trailer + Giveaway)
Title: Good Boys
Series: The Solomon Series, Book One
Author: Keelan Ellis
Genre: Gay Fiction, Detective, Mystery
Length: Novel
Publisher: Wayward Ink Publishing
Synopsis
Paul Solomon is a homicide detective in Baltimore, a city with a high murder rate and a complicated relationship between the police and the citizens they are sworn to protect.
He’s also a gay man who has been out on the job since he first joined. Being out on a tough police force hasn’t always been easy, but living with integrity is important to him.
Paul’s love life becomes as tumultuous as his job with the demise of his relationship of eight years. While dealing with the emotional and physical upheaval in his personal life, a case comes across his desk that hits a little too close to home—the murder of two gay teenagers.
Paul and his partner, Tim Cullen, must solve the double homicide, and Paul has to find a way to move on from his failed relationship.

 Excerpt:
Tim glanced toward the end of the bar, then turned back to Paul. “He’s skinny, with curly brown hair, and he’s got an expression on his face like his dog just died.”
Paul grinned into his beer. “Is he cute?”
“I don’t know, man. How am I supposed to tell?”
“Oh please.”
“Fine.” Tim huffed. “Objectively speaking, sure. I’d say yes. Probably. He has big eyes, like a cartoon kitten.”
Paul almost spit beer all over the bar at that, barely managed to swallow. He started coughing, then laughing. Tim caught the hilarity, and then they were both cracking up, and in the midst of the fit, Paul quickly turned toward the guy and accidentally caught his eye. He was watching them laugh, almost curiously, and he did indeed have big eyes.
Paul and Tim had another beer each before Tim got up to use the bathroom. Paul hadn’t glanced over again, but when Tim left, he finally did. Maybe the guy sensed his gaze, because he looked up and smiled faintly before lowering his eyes.
Tim came back to the bar and sat down with a grin. “So?”
“So nothing,” Paul said, his lips twitching.
“Okay. Well, I just saw our bartender go out for a smoke, and I think I’ll bum one.”
Paul frowned. “I thought you quit.”
“Yeah, I did, but only one. I’ll be right back.”
“You’re not going to start up again in some misguided attempt to give me a chance to talk to Mr. Sad Pants over there, are you?”
“I’m not starting up again,” Tim assured him.
“Suit yourself.” Paul sighed. He hoped not. He didn’t relish the idea of having to sit next to him in the car, reeking of smoke like he had when they’d first partnered up. “But I wasn’t kidding about him hitting on you, you know.”

“No shit,” Tim said, grinning. “That’s how I know he’ll give me a cigarette.” He got up and trotted toward the door.
Book Trailer

Two boys who couldn't appear more different are found dead in a car. Without a lot to go on, other than the assumption that the boys could be boyfriends, Paul and Tim dive headlong into a case with more twists and turns than a roller coaster.  Aside from landing a case that he feels affects him on a personal level because the boys are gay, Paul is also trying to get his personal life back on track. Moving out of his long-term boyfriend Andy's home and crashing on Tim's couch is not where he thought he'd be. It's time to move forward, get his own place and start dating again. 

 Meeting the soft, quiet David seemed like fate until Paul finds out who David really is. There is no way he can take that on even though he's inexplicably drawn to the man.  No one can understand why Paul would want to even spend time with David and they have no qualms about telling Paul that.  However, for all of Paul's faults one thing is apparent, he cares and he has a need to help people. 

 Then there's Owen. Paul and he had dated a long time ago, but Owen's flighty immature attitude was too much for Paul to handle.  Now older, Owen seems to have changed, he's grown up.  (I'm personally not sure about Owen. Something about him just rubs me the wrong way. I can't help but hope that he's more of a rebound and they don't end up in a serious relationship).

 There are some truly emotional moments in this book that I honestly would have like to have delved deeper into.  David is a very complicated character, one who truly could use his own book because he definitely has a story to tell. My heart hurt for him and even if it's wrong, I so want him to find happiness or at the very least peace. 

 So, Paul, I'm very much on the fence about Paul.  He's great, I liked him, but I felt as if he was a tad emotionally stunted, a bit immature outside of his job.  It's hard to decide but I am definitely interested in reading more about him. I want to get to know him better, see how his character grows and develops. 

 Tim is my dark horse in this series because I think there is more to him than what we've seen so far.  I'm gonna just say it, I know he's straight, but and I'm just saying, I ship Paul and Tim. They are perfect together, which is why they make great partners. I would love to see these two together.  

 As for the story itself, I loved it. I was kept on my toes thinking I had figured out whodunnit. Just when I would think aha! Nope, I was wrong. By the time it was revealed who the killer really was and the motive, I had to pop myself on the head because I honestly didn't think about that. It was well done. 

 I loved the writing and the banter between Paul and just about everyone else, I am a little afraid he may have a drinking problem, but that might just be me. 

 I will warn readers who are looking for hot, steamy sexy times, you are not going to find it here. All sex is off page. Personally, I was a little disappointed at first but I quickly found myself immersed in the story and didn't really care. 

 All in all, I totally recommend Good Boys and hope there are some follow-ups planned for the future. 

 5 Stars!

 ***A copy of this book was provided to Bayou Book Junkie in exchange for a fair and honest review***


**Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie in exchange for a fair and honest review**

 Paul and Tim are homicide detectives in Baltimore. In the book, Paul and Tim are investigating the murder of two high school best friends. This book is all about that case from the beginning to the solving of the murder. 

 This was a great mystery with many twists and turns on the way to solving this crime. I did guess who the murderer was, but I did not see the twists that were going to happen on the way to solving. And I had the motive for the killing way, way wrong!

 I don't consider this a romance book. Sure, Tim is secretly dating a woman at the end. And Paul is becoming friends with someone and reconnects with an old flame, but this is really just a minor part of this story. And there are a couple incidents of possible sex but it doesn't happen in the page. 

 This book it totally about partners who are focused on their jobs and catching killers and a totally PG read, so you can feel comfortable recommending it to your family and friends. Honestly, if my mom liked mysteries I would recommend this to her. 

 I look forward to the next book in the series and can't wait to see what awaits Paul and Tim next!

 Rating: 4 stars 
Giveaway
Prize: $6.99 WIP Gift Card
a Rafflecopter giveaway


About the author
KEELAN ELLIS is an east coast girl for life, a progressive, a lover of music and musicians, a mother of two very challenging girls, a loyal though sometimes thoughtless friend, a slacker, a dreamer and a bad influence. She likes true crime podcasts, great television and expensive craft cocktails made by hipsters in silly vests.
KEELAN ELLIS can be found at:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Keela
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