Roses in the Devil's Garden (Fallen Rose #1) [Harlan & Nathan] by Charlie Cochet

I almost didn't finish this one. I've read half, got annoyed, decided not to continue then in the morning thought I should give it a full chance, after all it's quit short so.. Can't say it made me like this one better. But at least I sort of got the whole story. Thing is, it feels (and it ends) like a beginning of a new series. One that deals with issues that honestly don't interest me that much though I'm  probably in a minority here... I haven't watched any movie of series from the Prohibition times where the mob was stronger than the police or maybe the police was just a part of the problem with dirty cops all around. Harlan Mackay and Nathan Reilly are actually the good guys and though they have a hard time trusting the people around them - they have each other. BEWARE SPOILERS AHEAD! 




Harlan and Nathan have been best friends for a few years now, but they don't share just friendship, they are also partners working in the Bureau of Prohibition and lovers who live together. Though they each struggle with a haunting past, they love each other and cling to one another. That until a ghost from the past - a childhood friend (and lover) of Nathan in back in town. When did I DNF this book? When Harlan caught Nathan kissing said friend and then walks to find an escort, one who made eyes at him when they were last in a club. SAY WHAT? Yeah, nothing really happened, in both accounts and they forgave each other but it was TOTALLY unnecessary. CHEATING, really? All was made well in the end he even finds another love interest for himself but destroyed the whole novella for me. 

I won't continue to the next book (the one of Julius, the escort Harlan went to). I don't think it's going to be my "cup of tea". I don't read many Historical Romance novels though I WANT to read more, but I don't think THIS is the right era for me. I'll admit to being VERY frustrated and disappointed because I've LOVED and ADORED Charlie's THIRDS series. Yeah it's totally different (being PNR not HR) but still.. 

Rating: ★★

E-Book Edition

73 pages

Read on: 8-9 April 2018