Author: Zach Jenkins
Publisher: Self-Published
Length: 222 Pages
Category: Contemporary, Mystery
At a Glance: Unsettled turned out to be a pretty fair read from Zach Jenkins. Good cops, bad cops, mystery, suspense, bigotry, drama and humor, it’s fast paced and it wasn’t easy to figure out who the culprit was.
Reviewed By: Maryann
Blurb: He’s a cop who looks like a cowboy and I just have to see his gun.
I’ve refused second dates for years because I’m too much of a mess to hope for any relationship to work out. After one wild, impulsive, and let’s face it, pleasantly filling night with James, I’m ready to throw all of that out the window.
Men are for drinking buddies and dirty jokes… and now, so much more.
Evan is the first man I’ve ever slept with. If I get my way, he’ll be the one I’m with forever. I’m not sure how I’ll tell the other guys at the police station, but I’ve got bigger problems to worry about.
Someone is attacking people on The Strip in August, GA, and they are working way too close to the club where Evan is a DJ. I’ve got to catch whoever is responsible so that I can protect Evan, the man who taught me everything about love.
Review: In Augusta, Georgia, there’s a place called the Strip, and therein lies the Firehouse, the only gay dance club around. James is a police officer, and he’s been going to the Firehouse pretty frequently. He’s been checking out a guy who frequents the bar, Trey. James is sort of troubled as to whether he wants to hook up with Trey, or any man. He’s trying to figure out if he’s bi, gay or just curious. When James catches Trey and the DJ, Evan, watching him, he finally gets the courage to approach Trey. Trey is nothing but trouble, and shuts James down, but not before suggesting he and Evan hookup.
It turns out that Evan happens to be James’s neighbor. They’ve seen each other in passing, but haven’t said a word or attempted to get acquainted. When Evan arrives home that evening, he challenges James; that way, they can put an end to their obsessions. With their encounter, James accepts his sexuality and has no problem with coming out.
As James and Evan are testing the waters to see where this “thing” between them will lead, they have an abundance of crazy to deal with: a first date, family issues, a brother-in-law who’s trouble, James being suspended, and gay men still being murdered. It all adds up to James and Evan being caught up in danger.
Unsettled turned out to be a pretty fair read from Zach Jenkins. Good cops, bad cops, mystery, suspense, bigotry, drama and humor, it’s fast paced and it wasn’t easy to figure out who the culprit was. I liked Evan, he’s a little more reserved and shy, but he has moments that are surprising. James seemed to be the more outgoing, and once he makes up his mind, he doesn’t hesitate to be himself. I really liked the chemistry that grew between Evan and James.
I also got a chance to read To the Strip a prequel to the On the Strip series. It’s a short story about Joe and Luca, two underground fighters. Joe has been living the high life with his promoter Antonio; at first everything was running smoothly between them, but after six months, not so much. Joe has a bout with Luca, and they meet at a club after the fight. Luca has plans to walk away from the fight game, and tries to make Joe see there’s more to life than throwing fights. Joe accuses Luca of using him, and walks out. The last time they see each other, Luca is leaving for August and the Strip, and begs Joe to go with him. But Joe hasn’t got things straightened out in his head, and let’s Luca go. This was a pretty good short prequel, but it left me wondering if Joe and Luca ever found each other. In reading Unsettled, Joe makes a brief appearance and he’s searching for Luca. Now, I’m really curious what Zach Jenkins will do with Joe and Luca and their situation.
I’m definitely looking forward to the next installment in the On the Strip series.
You can buy Unsettled here:
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This looks soooooo good!! Can’t wait to read it.