Review: In The Nick of Time (Subpar Heroes novel) by Elle Keaton

Rating: 3.75🌈

In The Nick of Time by Elle Keaton is a great example of how a reader can absolutely enjoy and be engaged by a story while recognizing that it’s not exactly fulfilling expectations. Especially when it’s a part of a series with certain parameters.

Did I spend a lot of time laughing and appreciating the evolving dynamics between Agent Douglas Swanson ,aka Long Shot, and his newly acquired baby agent Nicholas Sedgwick? So much. The wonderful dialogue, the believable relationship that develops as they investigate the missing agents, and even the addition of Tim the sulcata tortoise, that works together to create a fast-paced, funny narrative.

It’s sexy, funny, full of surprises, small neat characters, Las Vegas, and enjoyable storytelling.

But in a series that’s about people who have super powers or powers of a less impressive nature, that’s not an element that is as well explored by the author here as I had hoped.

We understand immediately that Doug’s semi-retired and doesn’t use his superpower any longer due to a tragic event. But Nick’s perhaps more interesting abilities aren’t well explained. And during Keaton’s storytelling, any “uses” by Nick are often in “off the page” scenarios so the reader isn’t emotionally or visually involved.

The full promise the character has been showing is never reached as far as his detailed abilities. And a potential new one is never brought up again. The author leaves some elements underdeveloped. Just as Tim is left as Tim. He just is.

Even SPAM , the superpower /subpower organization, is not as well laid out as it should be.

In The Nick of Time (Subpar Heroes novel) by Elle Keaton is a story that I very much enjoyed. The characters are engaging and their relationship journey made my day. It certainly made me smile a lot. Check it out!

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

🔷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:

In the Nick of Time

Blurb:

Have you always thought you were special?

Perennially unemployed loner Nick Sedgewick applies to an online job opening with that exact phrase and expects nothing to come of it. It was likely a no-so-funny prank after all.

If Doug ‘Long Shot’ Swanson wanted a new work partner he’d hire one himself. He’s perfectly happy on his own and if he plays his cards right he’ll retire sooner rather than later. And he certainly wouldn’t hire an irritating spicy-candy-eating slacker who’d probably miss his own funeral.

But somebody is killing off agents and Nick’s new boss needs Doug and Nick to figure out who it is and put a stop to it. And if they accidentally fall in love along the way that is no one’s business but their own.

Neither man wants to be a hero. But maybe between the two of them, they can save the world. Or at least their little corner of it.

In the Nick of Time is a part of the multi-author Subpar Superheroes MM romance series

• Publisher: Dirty Dog Press LLC (July 25, 2024)

• Publication date: July 25, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 197 pages