Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Shivaree (Shivaree #1) by Cara McKenna

Another mesmerizing installment. It's strange, when I think about the characters in this one, the general plot, what happens and the interaction between all of them it's hard for me to pinpoint what I actually liked so much or rather why I didn't dislike the whole of it. But the fact it, like the previous one, there was something very different and intriguing that makes this Erotica novella a lot more than just hot sex (which there was quite a lot of but not too overpowering in my opinion).


In the previous installment we met Shane and Gabriel, lovers though mostly obsessed with each other not actually loving each other. While Gabriel considers himself Bi, Shane always thought he was hetero, so the attraction to Gabriel was strange to him. At the moment, about 6 months after they first met, they have some sort of a relationship, yet it's even worse than in used to be. It'a an obsession, possession drenched in jealousy and every negative emotion you can think about (no love though as you can imagine). Their sex is angry and then apologetic, it's sick somehow, yet they stay this way, Gabriel being an obsession Shane can't shake unless Gabriel just leaves! But Gabriel won't leave, he likes being with Shane yet isn't willing to grant Shane monogamy. So even though I can't say I even like Shane (he is exactly the man I WOULDN'T be attracted to. He isn't a self observed, full of himself asshole but he behaves as one most of the time which I personally don't find appealing..) I actually pity him.

Since neither this one or the previous one gave us Gabriel's POV it's hard to know what's going on in his head really. He seems to want it all while tearing apart everyone around him. So yeah, it doesn't make him someone I'll actually like either..


Now add to this mix Natalie. When he car breaks down in the middle of no where she is extremely happy to see lights near by. The lights are from Shivaree bar when she meets the irresistible Gabriel and his over possessive lover. What happens you can guess. She wants Gabriel, Gabriel wants her, but Shane doesn't really want to share Gabriel, yet somehow he does, they share her together which had a lot more than sex to it when you see the way her presence there changes the unhealthy relationship they were having. 

The sex was surprisingly hot. Why do I say surprisingly? because usually I don't like menage scenes. I think it's mostly because the main couple here were the guys and they way Natalie changed the dynamics with her presence made it a lot more than the act itself. 

Next installment will bring this love story to an end. I really don't know what to expect.. I"m not even sure what I want! It's strange reading these two and not really liking either character. I mean Natalie was an okay character but from her POV we didn't get a lot of depth unlike the inner struggles of Shane we witnessed both in this one and the previous installment and Gabriel? he is a free spirit I can't see being interested, really interested, in someone enough to put aside his other needs.   
 

Additional Details: Kindle Ebook, 74 pages, 9 March 2015 / On GoodReads
 
ABOUT THIS SERIES
 
 Shivaree by Cara McKenna is an Erotica mini series. The three installment together are length of a full novel. 

In the first installment we meet Shane and Gabriel, a couple though mostly together for an obsessive attraction from both sides. There is no real love between them, Shane still struggles with the fact that he is in a relationship with a man (he never considered himself gay, it's just "one man attraction" he has to Gabriel) and the fact there is no real future to a relationship with two men.. Add to the mix the fact that Gabriel refuses to be faithful and abandon having women and we have a very complicated relationship so when Natalie stumbles inside "Shivaree" (the bar Shane owns) after her car crushes down near it - everything gets even more complicated. Gabriel wants her, she definitely wants him, Shane is jealous, and somehow they all end up in bed together. After three magical days (or rather - nights) she goes back home. 6 months later is where the next installment begins, with Shane and Gabriel being a whole year together but having the same difficulties. Shane bails in order to try and figure his life out this time AWAY from the person he can't stop thinking about. In the end he finds the right answer even if it's not really what he expected. 

The prequel tells us of how Gabriel and Shane came to be together. Though it was written between the first and second installment I think it makes most sense starting the series with it. 

My only issue with this series is I didn't like Shane. I'm not into the manly alpha male who enjoys showing his rooster-y feathers.. and since Shane was always putting up the act of being a controlling asshole (well, controlling he REALLY is, an asshole - not!) I just got tired of him. I wish we would have gotten Gabriel's POV but it was only Shane and Natalie. 

Really enjoyed this series, it was hot and sexy without forgetting to actually have a plot. The struggles both MC were having felt very real and genuine. 

Books:
0.5. Backwoods (Published 10 September 2010) ★★★★★
1. Shivaree (Published 12 March 2010) ★★★★★
2. Getaway (Published 5 January 2011) ★★★★

 

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