Author: Bailey Bradford
Publisher: Pride Publishing
Pages: 70 Pages
Category: Paranormal, Romantic Comedy
At a Glance: A sweet little read, it could have used just a bit more development, but on the whole, I found myself enjoying reading Casey and Ed find their HEA.
Reviewed By: Lindsey
Blurb: Don’t discount the mystic powers in the world…
Casey has spent most of his adult life building a successful business. His mother has been on him to settle down with a good man. Casey would, but he hasn’t had time to look for one. On his fortieth birthday, he goes out with friends and gets drunk—and has one too many.
When he wakes up in the morning, there’s a sexy, strange man in his home and a new, kind of painful tattoo on Casey’s chest. He doesn’t remember what happened the night before, but it doesn’t take him long to realize that the stranger, Ed, is someone he wants to get to know much better.
Now, if the fates and stars and all that mystical stuff will align, Casey and Ed might have their Happily Ever After, with the help of a mysterious tattoo artist and a vanishing tattoo shop.
Review: Bailey Bradford has some pretty entertaining stories, and this was no different for me. I liked the book and the premise. I am a sucker for a little good supernatural intervention in books, and I really like it when that intervention takes its time. The buildup really draws me in and I love seeing the characters get to that “ah-ha” moment when they recognize their feelings.
Casey and Ed are both likable characters who are at a point in their lives (whether they realize it or not) where they are ready to settle down. With a little help from a mystical tattoo shop, tattoo artist and a pair of ink on their chests, they may just find what one of them had been openly looking for, and the other didn’t know he wanted until it was placed in front of him.
The relationship is gradual (timewise), as one of our guys doesn’t want to get involved if it goes nowhere, while the other has to determine whether or not forever is something he is ready to commit to. That part was believable and I applaud that it wasn’t an insta-situation. They are both interested but take their time to make sure they are on the same page. It did feel a little weird in the beginning, as it seemed more of a contract negotiation as they were laying out what they were currently after, but in some ways, I was good with it because at least there was communication and both men took the time to consider the others feelings before pursuing anything else.
The biggest issue is the shorter length not really giving their relationship a lot of time on page to develop, or me to get to know the protagonists beyond mostly surface details which they tell each other, and any introspective thoughts are about each other, more or less. I liked Casey and Ed, but as the 70 page book takes place over several months, I didn’t get to experience them going from attraction to falling in love, or learn more of their in depth feelings and personalities. So basically, I liked them enough to want to have had more, and that is a pretty good thing in my mind.
The angst was very minimal, and I’m not sure I would classify it as angst, more just a moment of insecurity that tends to happen when things get serious, which was totally believable. It was handled in a mature fashion and with a little help from that mystical entity who happens to rock both the MCs’ worlds when they find out the truth.
If you are looking for a quick little read to pass the time, without a lot of angst and tension and with a dash of supernatural intervention, I would totally recommend this one. And I, for one, am looking forward to the next installment.
You can buy One Too Many here:
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