The best November Man book  so far
355318
Bill Granger's November Man series in the 80's was the pinnacle of espionage fiction at that time. Having read all 7 of his books featuring R Section agent Deveroux, code name November, this one was the best yet. A tightly woven plot focusing on the forced institutionalization of Section Operations head Hanley draws November back into The Game which he thought he had successfully disappeared from in the last novel, "Hemingway's Notebook". Hanley's knowledge of NUTCRACKER, a spy exchange program has made him expendable to those in power. With a cryptic phone call to Deveroux, Hanley's strange message that "there are no spies" causes Deveroux's new life to unravel, forcing him to seek out old ally/nemesis, Denisov in order to find out what is going on. With beautiful Russian assassins and Traitors in his own government, November must rescue Hanley and put the pieces together in this puzzle of international intrigue. Once again Granger's concise characterizations carry the day as thia fast moving story reaches it's exciting conclusion. Also, there is a surprising twist at the very end involving one of Deveroux's most hated enemies. Spy fiction at it's best by the underappreciated but always dependable Bill Granger. His best.
3601660
I have never recovered from the pure reading delight that was Neanderthal Seeks Human.  Finding an author who not only created interesting characters with fabulous dialogue and a most delicious use of prose was the best gift ever to contemporary romance readers.

Beard Science is on the same level.  I admit to being nervous about this one as Book 2 was not a favorite and I found Cletus difficult to relate to in previous books.  It was really fun to understand him as the male lead in this book and Jennifer was nothing short of awesome.  I loved that this wasn't an insta-love station,  but one that caught them both by surprise.  Jennifer and Cletus learn a lot a great life lessons in this book and his interactions with his bearded brothers is nothing short of spectacular.  You might have to wipe away a tear or two when you find out why they all originally had beards.

"Hed taken extra care with the beard trimmer this afternoon. He also smelled like a profligate, cologne, and unrequited infatuation."

Not only is this going in the reread section,  I going back to the beginning if the series to start over.

(Note: Rappel vs repel)
2513785
His book is the best yet. It has action and a bit of love. I can`t wait for the house of hades. Iwish it hand not ended on a clif hanger.
1746161
As good as "November's Promises". Macklin is an " every man" that anybody can relate to. The plot was fast moving and kept you interested all the way and Mauser was great!!!
1297515
When I troll the review request lists for Brandilyn, I realize that, for the Prism Book Alliance, Im looking for books that I might not otherwise find. In particular, Im looking for books by men Ive not read before. This is to satisfy my ongoing curiosity about what gay men are writing these days; and Im trying to explore the boundaries of m/m literature (which is to say, step outside those oft-too-narrow parameters).

David Pratts Looking After Joey will either grab you right away and drag you along; or it will leave you cold. I am in the first category. It is unlike anything Ive read in the past year, and given all the interesting books Ive been finding through the Prism review lists, thats saying something.

Pratt is a wonderful writer; arch, crisp, literate. There is no sloppy dialogue and no filler. It is lean and fast and to the point. In the space of a paragraph he can take you from laughing out loud to rolling your eyes to feeling tears starting to build.

Although the point of view shifts around a bit in the course of the story, the readers main perspective on the action is through the eyes of Calvin Hodge, a New York City accountant whos pushing forty and yearning a little too desperately to be part of what his best friend Peachy Sniegowski refers to as the gayristocracy.

If that makes Peachy (real name: Leland) seem a bit too much, don't worry. Peachy is a bit too much. The fact that Calvin loves him and sticks by their friendship is one of the crucial facts of the novel.

By turns surreal and farcical, the plot turns around Joey, about whom I cannot say much without spoiling things. Suffice it to say that Joey is Calvins dream boy, a porn star of such perfect beauty that he is the focus of every supercharged ion of Calvins frustrated loneliness.

And while there is sex in this book, it is not sexy sex. Well, it starts out sexy, but turns increasingly unsexy until it is, well, comical.

Existential farce? Dark comedy? Social satire? Yes.

This is a book that, like Edmond Mannings King series, seems to be written specifically for gay menor at least for anyone trying to understand what it is to be a gay man today. It seems to skewer every one of the anxieties that young urban gay men have. It pokes fun at the absurdity of the quest for endless youth and flawless beauty. It lampoons the anxieties and affectations of urban gay culture. Yet, it doesnt simply mock; it empathizes with these men and their fears; it makes us feel for themwith them. Ultimately Looking After Joey illuminates the truth that life is only as worthwhile as the people you care about and who care about you.

There is an odd fatalistic optimism that permeates the book which is, I think, the source of its emotional power. A favorite line says it all: One day we all lose everybody. ...Were all just walking each other home. So you just give people the best walk you can, I guess.

I have given this book five stars, but I give it a five with an asterisk, for one reason. Every gay man in the book who is older than the protagonists, however amusingly written, is either pathetic or repugnant. It is something I see all too often, and I have to confess, for a 58-year-old reader, it is disheartening. One of the deepest fears of the characters in the book is aging; and if the older characters here are any indication, that fear is justified.

I don't think thats what the author intended, and thus, like Calvin, I forgive.
2691232
I read this book under it's recent retitling as The November Man. This is the 7th in the Devereaux series. I first encountered Bill Granger and Devereaux in the early 1990s. I hadn't given him much thought in recent years until the reissue of this novel under the title The November Man.

I thoroughly enjoyed my reacquaintance with the author and his spy. Devereaux is retired and living peacefully in Lausanne when he receives a strange phone call from Hanley, his old supervisor at R section in Washington. Hanley is mumbling something confusing about "there are no spies", the Nutcracker and other things unclear to Devereaux. It turns out Hanley is extremely tired and stops coming to the office. His Director who had Hanley's phone bugged becomes alarmed and arranges for Hanley to be taken to a psychiatric hospital where he is drugged and given electroshock treatment hastening his decline.

Meanwhile a Russian femme fatale kills another man in Helsinki presumed to be November. But when her boss learns that this person was not really November she is dispatched to Lausanne to take care of the real November. This ends in a bungle as she kills two of her colleagues by mistake and November escapes. November teams up with an old Russian defector Denisov, who is now in the arms trade, to unravel the developing puzzle.

There is a mole at the highest level in the US govt. Devereaux and an unlikely team of allies set out to rescue Hanley and root out the mole.

Reading this novel reminded me of how much I enjoyed the great espionage fiction of the Cold War era. The book is short, the language terse, yet it pulls you along at a rapid pace. I stayed up until 2 AM to finish the book. I now have the other Granger novels lined up to read.
2234639
I LOVE the men from Webster's Garage. I needed to say this. First it was Johnny and Lara. Now it's Foley and Cyn. Cynthia Nichols is co-owner of a coffee shop just a few doors down from Webster's Garage. Due to a misunderstanding she is reading the riot act to Foley Sanders, who is in charge of the garage while the owners are away. Foley is captivated by the tall and fiery redhead with a body of a pinup girl making it his mission to pursue her. Cyn is done with dating and is surprised by Foley's interest. Her mother is no help constantly pointing out her "flaws" as well as wanting her to be with men so boring and self centered that watching paint dry is more entertaining. I love Foley. He is a rough around the edges with a heart of gold man who sees Cyn for the truly exceptional woman she is.  I understand Cyn being cautious because she has been hurt in the past. Cyn's nephews are hysterical. Nothing like kids telling it like it is. I also got to learn more about Sam Hamilton, Foley's childhood friend, roommate and as close to a brother he has ever had.  Roadside Assistance was a great read. I love books that make me laugh, swoon and everything in between. Cannot wait for the next installment.

I received the book in exchange for and honest review.
Reviewed on behalf of Once Upon an Alpha.
4218951
My absolute favorite of the Moreno Brothers series. Besides, look at the completely gorgeous man in the fedora on the cover. Charming, intense, sexy and very funny. Loved the uncles Manny and Max.
3755869
There is nothing quite like a Colleen Hoover book. She is one of those authors that leaves a stamp on her work. Her plots seem to have this special twist, her story lines are always unique and her characters are witty, wonderful and flawed. When I read November 9 I expected greatness. This is a CoHo book. And I wasn't disappointed.

November 9 is a day on the calendar. One day out of 365. Its a day that Ive never really thought about, but from now on, I don't think this date will pass without me thinking of Ben, Fallon, and their story. When I read the blurb for this book, I was intrigued. At first I thought- such a cool idea. Then I thought, how is this going to work?

This is a book that put me through the ringer. My emotions were all over the place. It made me feel. It made me stay up all night reading. There were points I was sad, points i was angry (its been a while since Ive been this upset at a character. still not over it LOL), and points my heart was bursting full. I want to talk about the story, but I cant talk about the story. Its one of those you don't want to know to much about. Be surprised and let the emotions consume you.

November 9 is the perfect mix of humor, twists and turns, love, angst and it has that Colleen Hoover stamp that is unmistakable. You will laugh, you will cry, if you're like me, you might be so full of frustration that you want to throw your kindle a time or two, but by the ending, you're left with an unforgettable story that is real, raw and riveting.
3189239
I took this book with me on our Thanksgiving trip. Once I opened the cover it was very hard to put down. Loved going back to the 60s space program and Gemini and Apollo projects and the specter of the Cold War. I found myself thinking I was reading a Dale Brown, Tome Clancy, Cliver Cussler book. Simply and awesome read. Can't wait for the next book to come out
2440165
The only thing that kept me from giving this book 5 stars was the slight predictability. Other than that I totally loved it. Every character was perfect, even that stupid Perry. Mia and Ansel have perfect chemistry. I can wait till November for Harlow and Finns' story.
4438570
Wow, how can a book be that amazing and broke my heart at the same time?
All the emotions you can think of are in that book. Nice bridge to link all the previous books. I just can't wait for the next one in November.
2496331
One of the best books I've read lately - more people need to know about this series.  I think it's probably misplaced in the m/m niche - yes, it has a gay male romance, but really that's mostly secondary to a really fun, exciting, twisting, funny spy/thief caper with serious dark undertones.  The writing is great, the characters are interesting and amusing, and that thread of romance adds prefect tension and dimension to the story.  Wish M. Chandler would write more!
7366
I loved this book. I thought that the book 3 would be my favorite then I read this one. I think that's the way it should be. You fall more in love with each new character and their story as you read. I love that these strong deadly men show a love so deep it brings them to tears. The only thing I dislike is now I have to re-read all 4 books while waiting for the next to come out. Thank you for a wonderful blend of hot sex, vulnerability, strength, and humor.
3914123
I love this story! Of all the Rapid City men Preacherbis the most redeemed and honorable men in the end. I can't believe I almost missed this! I have no idea how it came out in November and I'm only just hearing about it...I follow the author! Write some more please?!?!
200343
Isn't this book the same as "The November Man" / "Code Name November"?
I do not have a copy of "There are no spies", but the summary of this book reads like "The November Man" to me.

This book with any title was a very good read and I now have all of the series to read.
2821054
This is by far my favorite book out of the Manwhore series.  Callan, Mr. Playboy who cant be tamed, definitely is intrigued by the young lady who shows up on his work terrace.  Liv is Callans best friends sister but they don't know that little bit of info when they meet.  I really love Callan. You could see him falling more for for Liv. I LOVE this book. Gosh and that cover is sooooo gorgeous. Ive always lovvvved Katy Evans books, she never disappoints at all!!!!

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