A Mika Review:  Breaking the Habit by J.P. Bowie

Rating: 3 stars out of 5 :

Mike Peterson is determined to break the gambling habit that resulted in two failed marriages, no money, no job, plus almost getting himself and his brother killed when loan sharks came looking for their money. In addition, he’s recently been having some doubts about his own sexuality. When his gay brother suggests he get in touch with an old friend, recently out police officer Larry Bertoli, Mike is at first leery of the idea, and their first meeting isn’t exactly ideal.

They decide to meet again and this time more of what they are and what they could mean to one another is revealed during their time together. They begin a tentative friendship that graduates to a first, fumbling attempt at romance. Can they find the secure relationship they both want, or will Mike’s addiction and lack of self-esteem hinder what could possibly be salvation for both men?

Seriously, if I could take the entire cast of the book out to a field and shoot them I would. Is everyone selfish and hurtful in this book. I’m so happy it was only a 100 pages, I literally wanted to DNF at the first re-introductions of the main characters. Why?? I can’t say without spoiling it for you, but it’s ridiculous. I can’t look past that. I’m disgusted that the mother and brother actions, as though it was perfectly fine as long as Mike is getting his life together. How is that okay? Another thing was if the sister was okay with it, where was she during most of the story? Absent, that’s where she was. I don’t get it, you might as well as portrayed them as long lost class mates. And let’s not talk about the assassin type murder your brother’s boyfriend supposedly had done, based on your own gambling addictions. Isn’t he a journalist? Come on, I just found the story lacking on all fronts. The excessive usage of Lar, and Jer got on my last nerves. It’s only 2 damn syllables; you can say Larry and Jerry without being tired.

Then the insta-love, I dislike this trope because it doesn’t work well for me. They literally had 2 dates in a 2 week duration before the underwear was getting thrown around. Both were virgins, as well.  The romance part lacked for me as a story element. They were so over the top with everything. Let’s not mention the marriage proposal in a month’s time. I mean, Mike, you went from confused, to not knowing, to thinking about Larry, to being okay with identifying as a gay man? I think not, it felt totally unrealistic.

Cover Art by: Wild City Press, I don’t know who is suppose to be who. The descriptions I remember doesn’t suit with the cover models. Nice efforts with the dice though.

Sales Links:    Wilde City Press       All Romance (ARe)        Amazon         Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook, 100 pages
Published February 4th 2015 by Wilde City Press
ISBN139781925180947
edition language English