Review: Radio Static by Nicky James

Rating: 4.5 🌈

Radio Static is the first novel by this author and it’s a terrific story. A murder mystery romance, it incorporates a number of elements that keep you involved in the many storylines the author’s weaving.

We have two families. One is a single gay dad and his 14 year old daughter. That Mercedes “Mercy” Reed and Rae. He had her with his best friend, Tammy (now married) after a series of bad relationships seemed to mean that he’d never be a father. Now Rae’s his life along with his work. Now it’s time to relax, and enjoy some peace and quiet.

The other one? That’s Nova Charette and his teenage son, Cooper. Divorced although on friendly terms with his ex wife, it’s the 16 yr old son he needs to establish a closer relationship with. A summer vacation at their cottages at Lake Lucent should be the thing to get reacquainted.

The perfect place or so each family thinks. Then they find they are living next to each other… a 16 year old boy and a 14 year old girl. Suddenly, two dads are finding their plans overturned and fighting their own attraction for each other, as well as two hot hormonal teens.

This part of the novel is really my favorite. The meeting of the families over the instant teenager magnet action that happens between their kids , so realistic and on point funny. It makes for just great reading. From the dads reactions, to their teenagers snarky put upon dialogue, and yes, the swimsuits that dad’s just not really ready for, you get it. These are terrific fathers and parental role models. The issues they cover with both kids are one every parent should be on solid ground with their children. The doubts, the pride, love . Nicky James obviously gets what it feels like to be a parent. It flow through both characters!

To make matters increasingly interesting, Nova and Mercy? They find each other just as mutually attractive as their kids are finding each other. Awkward! Because, while Nova has always been open about his bisexuality, the one person who’s unaware? That would be his son, Cooper. One of the best scenes is the father coming out to his son here. Wonderful!

The romance is complicated by their kid’s relationship, each man’s past, the fact that Mercy is a single dad who’s developed tunnel vision with regard to his responsibilities and any other relationships just makes the fumbling and hesitation towards something they want believable.

The mystery and murders are fine . I liked the element of the voice over the crackling radio airway that grabs everyone’s attention with sparse details that lures them into a maze of mystery and murder in the small town.

That I almost immediately glommed onto who the villain of the story was because the author has strewn a lot of clues around which made this interesting to see how it would play out instead of anxious to see who the murderer was. Like this part but didn’t necessarily love it.

For me, what saved the mystery was the families part in it, especially at the end. That was thrilling and emotional. I was invested in Mercy and Nova as well as Rae and Cooper. I needed to see all home safe and sound. Happily and romantically.

At least the dads! And that’s what happened! Wonderful ending.

So I’m off to seek out another by this author. I’m highly recommending this to lovers of contemporary romance and murder mysteries. Enjoy.

https://www.goodreads.com › showRadio Static by Nicky James – Goodreads

Two single dads.
Two headstrong teenagers.
One dead body.

A cabin in the middle of nowhere, nature all around, peace and serenity. It was supposed to be a vacation to help Nova reconnect with his son.
But he didn’t expect to fall for his neighbor in the cabin across the lake.
He didn’t expect an erratic and unusual broadcast on a radio station no longer in existence.
And he definitely didn’t expect a dead body in the water.

Mercy likes his mysteries to stay within the pages of his novels. When strange things start to happen at his summer cabin, he and his daughter team up with the man and his son on the other side of the lake to get to the bottom of it. A little amateur sleuthing won’t hurt anyone, right?

Someone out there knows the truth.
Who is the man on the radio?
What does he know?
Mercy and Nova are determined to solve the mystery, but are they willing to risk life and limb for answers? Because someone doesn’t want their secrets revealed.                                                                                                                       

**Radio Static is an MM romantic mystery involving two single dads in their midforties.**