Title: Must Loathe Norcross
Series: N/A
Author: Summer Devon
Genre: Contemporary/Civic Mystery
Length: Novel (180 Pages)
Publisher: Samhain (November 25, 2014)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts
Blurb: When it comes to love, there’s no such thing as traveling light.
Born wealthy and ambitious, Grady once worked hard and played hard—so hard, it brought him to the brink of ruin. Now, after a five-year retreat into the contemplative life, he’s dipping a toe back into the real world.
Assigned to write a series of articles about a Connecticut valley’s small towns, Grady checks into a local hotel. And meets a bellhop who seems determined to show him around…and maybe indulge in a more intimate tour later on.
When Josh’s boss half-jokingly suggests he get on a first-name basis with the writer who could make or break their town’s reputation, Josh jumps at the chance. He dreams of seeing the world, but the man he thought might be his ticket out turns out to be less influential—and more attractive—than he expected.
Together they uncover a strange plot to detour Norcross’s tourist dollars, a plot that leaves Grady bruised and angry. Now they’ll have to decide how far they’ll go to save the town…and how far they’ll fall for each other.
Warning: Steaming-hot room service, delivered by a cute bellboy in uniform. Stolen towels will not be tolerated, but stolen hearts? Help yourself!
ISBN # 9781619224605
Product Link: https://www.samhainpublishing.com/book/5216/must-loathe-norcross
Reviewer: Gigi
Review: If you’ve ever served in any small town political capacity, or you’ve had to attend those endless chamber of commerce or city meetings…you will totally relate to this cute, funny little story. If you haven’t ever experienced those duties…you may have a hard time relating, but it’s still cute to see how many hats Josh wears.
Grady just came out of self-imposed solitary living among monks, trying to give up the vice that caused him so much harm. Once on the outside he agrees to help out his cousin, a famous travel writer, by taking this assignment to tour the towns of Norcross and Westbrook, and review for him, under his assumed identity.
If you come form a small town, maybe one with a dying or dead manufacturing past, you understand how important tourism is to the local economy and identity. So the small town of Norcross is investing a lot of time and manpower to make a good impression on Grady, or who they believe to be Geoffrey Michaels. Even to go so far as to pressure their local jack-of-all-trades, Josh, who also happens to be gay, to offer his “personal” touch to the tour.
The gig is quickly up and Josh and Grady realize the pressure they are both under, but still the sparks fly, the chemistry boils over and a love affair quickly ignites. The two also figure out what Grady’s cousin was going for when he mentioned to Grady that he must “loathe Norcross” and write about it. A bitter feud between two small towns, plus money and corruption soon uncover a plot to destroy Norcross businesses and reputation, and take opportunity away from this small valley town…
I never thought small town politics could be fun and sexy, but Summer Devon makes this twisted romance a great hub to spin this story out from. Again, it packs a bigger punch if you have civic service experience, but is still charming without it.
p.s. I do so love that bartender…Uncle Jackson. I need a bigger T-shirt collection…