Shades of Sepia

All right, we all know that when it comes to reviewing, there will always be a subjectivity factor, right? It could be as nitpicky as, oh, you know, my hatred towards excessive endearments, especially “baby”. But, I will try to be as fair as I can when it comes to explaining my rating.<br><br>I had likes and dislikes … and interestingly few of these likes and dislikes cancelled each other out, which made it rather difficult for me to think whether it was good or bad. Let’s see:<br><br>1) This story has a soul-bond element. Yep, soul-bond … which becomes a basis of insta-attraction and insta-love (as in Simon and Ben hadn’t even “sealed the deal” yet but already the words “I love you” were mentioned by both – only around halfway through the story). That should go to my negative column. But at the same time, Simon and Ben didn’t immediately have sex with each other, which was definitely a plus point.<br><br>2) This story had multiple dead bodies in it – wait, that sounded wrong, didn’t it? But yeah, it had multiple murders. I love my murder mysteries. In fact, the more gruesome it is, the more exciting it should be for me. Unfortunately, the story was rather light in the mystery, and I did feel that the investigation took a back seat several times, to make way for Simon and Ben and their relationship. So yes, I did wish it was ‘darker’ and focused on the mystery rather than the romance – but that’s how I roll.<br><br>3) The villain was well described and seemed like a worthy opponent that threatens the lives of our main characters. However, the resolution for this was rushed and rather anti-climactic in my opinion.<br><br>4) The romance became way too sappy for my taste with the constant “I love you”s and a bit too much waterworks. Fortunately, I liked the idea of Flint as a city where human and supernatural creatures actually had a treaty of sorts, which enabled them to live peacefully side by side. I liked that Simon worked as a professor with his friends Forge and Lucas worked at Flint Police Department – and these two characters (Forge and Lucas) had an easy going attitude around them, which helped balancing the rather sappy romance.<br><br>So with all these elements, I’ve decided to settle with the ‘okay’ rating.<br><br><br><br><a href="http://boysinourbooks.com" rel="nofollow noopener"> <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1380427601i/854880.jpg" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> </a><br>

2 Stars<br /><br />In that first scene there was no chemistry. It was awkward. <br /><br />Flint isn't at one end of the country--it's in the middle. Why would a photographer go to Flint unless he wanted to photograph despair and poverty?<br /><br />If there have been three murders so far, why hasn't there been anything said about half the victims not showing up in the photos (vampires don't photograph we're told later on)?<br /><br />Still no chemistry at all, up to page 52, when Ben has only seen Simon twice, he's already in love. I can tolerate instalove if there's a very good reason for it, but this is ridiculous. <br /><br />Example where the lack of chemistry and stilted dialog meet:<br /><blockquote>“I… um….” Simon cleared his throat. “I’m not interested in her, Ben, or anyone else. I’m interested in you. That’s what I meant when I said I was already taken. By you. Is that all right?”<br /><br /> “Oh.”<br /><br /> “So is that a yes?” Lucas glanced between them. “Put me out of my misery, here.”<br /><br /> “That’s a yes,” Ben said. At least for now, while they figured out whether this relationship had the potential to be something more long-term. </blockquote>The fact that a vampire's or other immortal's soul mate has a human life span has always bothered me. It's cruel and lonely for the vampire. It's weird that the subject never came up in regards to them. It's been mentioned a couple of times but without any worry or angst. Weird. <br /><br />I'm having trouble buying this intense love between them which is over the top. They're getting a little too sappy even for me. They cry way too easily. Both even cried during great sex once. Odd because it was boring and not at all hot. <br /><br />The dialog in the final confrontation was so bad it sounded like a TV cartoon. It was all way too easy, too. The explanation was pathetic. <br /><br />I don't get why being a vampire is bad in this world that the author has created. It sounds wonderful. They can go out in sunlight, they can eat, they live as long as they want to free from disease and illness. Where's the bad? Sure a stake through the heart would kill them but that would kill anyone. Silver is poisonous but no more than acid is to a human and about as likely a problem unless someone is trying to kill you. <br /><br />This just wasn't very good. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />

This was a nice start to a paranormal series. I liked the MC's a great deal. It was sweet, romantic, and not terribly dark. There was the obligatory romantic-paranormal use of <i>"mine"</i> that I like so much, yes, I am a sucker for that word. And the soul-mate-bond insta-love I also need. They are mandatory for me in romantic paranormals. It was sexy, although there was not a lot of sex - and there was one VERY inventive scene involving a mirror, mmm mmm. <b>Review at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="http://ontopdownunderbookreviews.com/shades-of-sepia-the-sleepless-city-1-anne-barwell/">http://ontopdownunderbookreviews.com/...</a></b>

<strong>I wanted to like it </strong><br /><br />3.25 ⭐️<br /><br />I wanted to like this more than I did. <br />The bones of the story was good and the idea had merit it was just that all of the characters were too nice, and I just wanted more in some way. Both Simon and Ben bordered on cheesy at times, but I still kind of want to continue on and read the next one to see if it’s the same.

<b>5 unrestrained sexy stars for <i>Shades of Sepia!</i> Anne Barwell’s vampires, werewolves, and yes, even humans live vividly in the pages of this novel, and on the streets of a thoroughly reimagined Flint, Ohio. Bonded souls, bloodlust, and murder wreak havoc on the lives of Ben Leyton—a rather happy-go-lucky guy transplanted from New Zealand—and serious, soulful vampire Simon Hawthorne. Attraction is too soft a word for what happens between them when they meet, but little does either of them know that the more they court each other, the more they court danger.<br /><br />In a world where not all vampires are cold, loveless creatures of the night, it might still be challenging for a human to accept the love he needs from a man who fears his own capacity for violence—even if he vows to use it for your protection. On the other hand, oh-my-god sex might make that a little easier. Author Anne Barwell has written some sexy nuggets before, but she’s given us over the top heat here, both of the slow burn variety and the kind of sex that explodes off the page. In the mix: a park bench, a mirror, some fangs, and a little dominance. That’s all I’m going to say; if you want more—and believe me, you do—read the book.<br /><br />But sex isn’t the whole story, by far. The romance between these two souls is about as haunting—and haunted—as it gets, and though it’s “sweet as” (read the book to interpret that phrase), barriers arise out of both past and present that may never be overcome. As for the suspense? Well, to illustrate, at one point I got so anxious that I slapped my e-reader down and shouted, “Oh my god, Ben! Forget the (expletive) tea!” So yeah, edge of my seat, really. I can’t say much more without venturing into spoiler territory, but here’s my recommendation for readers. If you enjoy characters that come alive, paranormal M/M romance that’s hot and sexy, emotional, a little angsty, a little funny, and full of suspense, you will certainly love this book. I did, and I plan to love it again, soon.<br /> <br />(Note: Authors Anne Barwell and Elizabeth Noble have imagined this world, called The Sleepless City together, and plan to write alternating novels set here. I’m looking forward to the next!)<br /></b>

I ADORED the vampire in the book... because it's not as the "usual" vampire. There were some interesting original ideas about vampires behave and what their are. I LIKED IT.<br /><br />I was in the mood for a paranormal-<b>romance</b> and that's exactly what I got! Yes, <u> <b>romance</b> </u>, and I will stress it. It's VERY romantic. A lot of "I love you", "I can't live without you" in their speech, and I appreciated it a lot.<br /><br />I got this book, and now MUST read also the sequel <a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/20342786.Electric_Candle__The_Sleepless_City__2_" title="Electric Candle (The Sleepless City #2) by Elizabeth Noble" rel="noopener">Electric Candle</a>...because I have to know more about other characters! This book (obviously) put under the spotlight just two, Simon and Ben, but I WANT to know more also about the secondary characters: Lucas, Forge and even Blair!

This is a good book. I really enjoyed. The characters are authentic and very passionate. Simon is a vampire and Ben is human. Simon follows Ben around a park to get up the nerve to meet him. As it turns out, they are fated mates. So happily ever after right? No, not quite, there is a killer in the town who kills victims in pairs, one human and one vampire. Simon is part of a group who works to keep paranormals in check and humans safe. Before he and Ben can explore what they have, the killer must be stopped.

This was an okay story. I don't remember too many problems with grammar and such, but it has been a couple of days and I usually only really remember extremely bad problems or things that bug me more than others, like "I'd just assume as". Ugh.<br /><br />The problem here is that I went into this story with some slightly preconceived notions and definite preferences and this book didn't meet them.<br /><br />- I was expecting a more of a mystery, some danger and excitement, or at least some detective work. It was there, if I squinted, really hard. <br /><br />- There are vampires here but they are basically the emasculated version and totally turned me off. These are the angsty, gnashing and wailing "OMG I've drunk human blood..I shall NEVER do such a horrid thing again!!!!!!!!" type of vampires. (only they didn't even bother to angst much) I find those a terrible turn off. Why even bother to write about a vampire that isn't a vampire? He takes his blood ice cubes in his milk...I just don't even have words for how lame I find this. Besides, milk, yuck. Then we are supposed to believe that he is basically the equivalent of an addict and can't be around blood or he will fang out, or something. But we are only <i>told</i> this. I can handle the angsty, gnashing vampires if you actually show them struggling with the need to drink blood from a person throughout the story. That didn't happen here, so I wasn't feeling it.<br /><br />Those two things really messed up the story for me. Then there were little thoughts, like why is almost everyone in this story (that is set in the U.S.) from some other country? I don't have a problem with people from other countries, I just thought it was a weird little thing that kept nagging at me. Didn't affect my rating or anything, it was just different. <br /><br />There is insta-love here, due to a soul bond, which wasn't too bad as there wasn't also insta-sex. But on the whole, I was really expecting something a little darker, a little meatier and a lot more mysterious. Instead I got fluff. *shrug* That will teach me to assume. I really should know better by now, but hope springs eternal and all that.

I started this book knowing some of the characters already from reading Code Name: Jack Rabbit by Elizabeth Noble, so some of the characters I'm already endeared to and may be a little biased :) <br /><br />reading CNJR, I just knew there was some sort of underlying story that I was missing, so Elizabeth led me here. I have to say I am not disappointed. <br /><br />We're some of the things predictable? yeah, maybe, But not everything. <br /><br />The book had a "calmness" to it, I can't really explain. Maybe because Simon seemed so old fashioned and demure? I loved his and Ben's meeting and the secret behind how it was even possible. The mirror scene? Ho boy, that was pretty hot, in a very supernatural way. <br /><br />My favorite character is Lucas though, and I reaaaallly can't wait to get to his story. I also need to see more of this ghost, Mr. Boggs, he seems like an awesome bloke.

Thin plot, the characters are interesting, but I would have liked more time spent on developing the relationship between the MCs and more time spent on explaining the mystery.<br /><br /><b>3.5 stars</b> [ETA 2019] The more I listen, the more I like this story. It helps that the later stories add to the overall plot and character development.<br /><br />[ETA 2022] Just finished the updated version of this story. A much smoother read and, while it's still a bit thin, I still enjoy this story.