Rating: 4.75🌈
I’m such a fan of the multi-author series because it’s a great way to find new writers or rediscover ones that you haven’t read in a while.
There’s been a huge variety in the series themes and authors who have decided to participate so it makes this format even more exciting.
The Subpar Heroes is a terrific theme, the not quite good enough hero, the one who has a power but it’s subpar, does strange stuff, is considered weak.
In the case of this book’s subpar hero character, Morgan Murray, he’s barely able to whip up enough of a current to charge his phone’s battery, but then he might actually start a fire.
He’s not a member of SPAM, that was his famous mother. He works in scientific research to save the world.
Then Morgan is matched by friends to go on a blind date with Jasper, who’s a henchman. And things get interesting. And scary. And maybe romantic. And they do them again and again and again. Over and over again.
The manner in which Temple builds the story, the surprise element of repeating the date, and then the slow revelation of how long it has been happening. Which one recounts the first time he knew what happened, it’s just chilling. And extremely well written.
It down to fantastic characters and a plot that both has to develop yet replicate itself.
Temple’s execution of the circular structure of the narrative, ala Groundhog Day, is just superb. When the date begins, and that’s the triggering point that starts the day again, is due to one factor. A person’s life is ended. Over and over. There’s a warning note at the very beginning of the book.
From there out, the narrative veers from the original, there’s character and relationship growth. The universe explores the present histories of these people and how they got there. Then the author takes us and them on another related journey.
It’s an incredible story, a heartfelt and at times, heartbreaking book. I really wanted more at the end. But then again, maybe just that was probably perfectly fine. A full future ahead.
This is one of the best of this series to date. I’m definitely recommending it.
Great cover.
Subpar Heroes series- 15 books:
🔷The Accidental Necromancer by Liv Rancourt
🔷Behind the 8-Ball by A. E. Wasp
🔷Transparent Is a Color by Kaje Harper❤️
🔷Impossible Things by Alexa Land
🔷My Not-So-Super Blind Date by Allison Temple ❤️❤️
🔷An Ex-Hero’s Guide to Axe Handling by Jenn Burke ❤️❤️
🔷In The Nick of Time by Elle Keaton 7/25/2024
🔷Static/Cling by Jaimie Samms 7/30/2024
🔷Spiritual Guidance Not Required by Jacy Braegan 8/1/2024
🔷What Could Go Wrong? By Toshi Drake 8/6/2024
🔷License to Chill by Chantal Mer 8/8/2024
🔷Code Name Dolittle by Lynn Michaels. 8/22/2024
🔷Signed, I’m Yours! By Rhys Lawless 8/29/2024
🔷A Taste of Danger by Morgan Brice. 9/5/2024
Buy links:
Blurb:
I’m Morgan Murray. You probably haven’t heard of me. With a raft of allergies and powers that won’t do more than charge a phone, I never lived up to my super family’s super expectations. It’s okay. I’m used to being overlooked.
But there’s only so much disappointment one man can take, and finding out the cute guy on my blind date is a henchman for the city’s most notorious crime boss? That’s one letdown too many. This date is over before it even starts.
Or is it?
In the meet cute that won’t end, Jasper and I are stuck in a time loop and the only way out is deadly. Good and evil may be relative terms, but if we can’t escape, we may find out that love is forever…and ever.
My Not-So-Super Blind Date is part of the Subpar Heroes multi-author MM romance series.
• Publisher: (June 6, 2024)
• Publication date: June 6, 2024
• Language: English
• Print length: 254 pages
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 