Release Day Review ~ When The Devil Wants In by Cate Ashwood and J.H. Knight
Release Date: January 30, 2018
Word Count: 90,000 words
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Genre: Contemporary m/m romance with some elements of suspense
Cover Artist: Cate Ashwood
Blurb:
John Turner has been living a lie most of his life. Growing up in the rural Georgia town of Magnolia Ridge, he's only ever let one person truly know him: his best friend, Chloe. To the rest of the world, they're the perfect couple, but just between them, she's helping John hide in plain sight.
Matt Kinsley, a cop from San Francisco, moves to town looking for a slower pace and to reconnect with his Southern roots. Starting over in Magnolia Ridge means taking a step into the closet, but Matt finds that with John for company, he doesn’t mind so much.
As the two start to explore a possible relationship, a horrific murder rips the town apart but brings John and Matt together in ways neither could've imagined. Matt must decide where his loyalties lie while John resists the urge to run again. Together, they have to discover who the real devil is before another life is destroyed.
John grew up and lives in rural Georgia. He lives next to his parents, has a long-time girlfriend who is his best friend, and spends his time fixing up his house. I’m sure he works, though there’s not really a reference to it, and if the job was mentioned I’ve overlooked and forgotten it. Honestly, that was a little bit of a distraction for me because John’s life was very detailed throughout this story, except for his job. John comes from a religious family, who he’s very close to. He’s a hothead, with an explosive temper. He’s spent his life in the closet and has no plans of ever coming out of that closet, he’d never disappoint his mom with that announcement. John hits up clubs away from home for a quick hook-up with whatever man catches his interest. Only things change when it turns out the last man he hooked up with turns out to be the new police deputy in his small town.
Matt’s looking for a change when he takes a position in small-town Georgia. When he lived in San Francisco, he was never in the closet but knows things are different in the rural south. He was surprised when he realized the man he met lived in his small town and was willing to go back in the closet to get more time with John.
This book is really a story about John and his relationship and life with Chloe and a murder that puts everything out in the open. And, the after-effects of John and Matt trying to deal with everything that has happened.
For me, there are two parts of the book, before the murder and after. In all honesty, I thought the before the murder was tedious, and a little boring. I didn’t really like John and just was bored with the too detailed day in and out of his life. I thought Chloe and John’s family showed a different side of him, which made him more likable, but overall, I'm not a fan. I was shocked, surprised and disappointed in who was murdered. I know, there was a reason for it, but I hated it. That person was one I truly liked in the story.
I became more invested in the story after the murder because I definitely needed to find out who was responsible. In this portion, I was a little disappointed in Matt. Matt came from a larger area and supposedly had lots of experience investigating crimes, but when his skills were most needed, he seemed to be lost. I really expected a take charge, strong person but that wasn’t the Matt seen here. Fortunately, someone with a vested interest in finding the actual killer did and things were wrapped up neat and tidy.
I have mixed feelings about this book, and definitely, think it’s one you should read and decide upon for yourself.
Rating: 3.5 stars
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