Love Is Heartless (A Love Can't Novel) by Kim Fielding | Cat's Review, Excerpt & #giveaway @Dreamspinners

A Love Can't Novel

Small but mighty—that could be Detective Nevin Ng’s motto. Now a dedicated member of the Portland Police Bureau, he didn’t let a tough start in life stop him from protecting those in need. He doesn’t take crap from anyone, and he doesn’t do relationships. Until he responds to the severe beating of a senior citizen and meets the victim’s wealthy, bow-tied landlord.

Property manager and developer Colin Westwood grew up with all the things Nevin never had, like plenty of money and a supportive, loving family. Too supportive, perhaps, since his childhood illness has left his parents unwilling to admit he’s a strong, grown man. Colin does do relationships, but they never work out. Now he’s thinking maybe he won’t just go with the flow. Maybe it’s time to try something more exciting. But being a witness to a terrible crime—or two—was more than he bargained for.

Despite their differences, Colin and Nevin discover that the sparks fly when they’re together. But sparks are short-lived, dampened by the advent of brutal crimes, and Colin and Nevin have seemingly little in common. The question is whether they have the heart to build something lasting.

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Cat gives this one 4 Meows with a 4 Purr heat index... 

Colin Westwood is a property developer that works for his dad.  He visits one of his tenants regularly a little Old retired lady in her eighties. She calls with housing issues and Colin personally goes to take care of it knowing she is just lonely. When he arrives this time, he finds her brutally beaten.

Detective Ng is a cold hearted man. He keeps walls around his heart so not to ever be hurt. He was a child of the foster system, has one 'brother' and one real friend. He has hookups and refuses more than sex twice with any.  This way no strings can form. One meeting with Colin, sitting sad, in his bowtie, attracts his attention. Suddenly it seems Colin is tied to the next case as well and when he Ng shows up to help the LGBTQ center move, who is also there? Will Colin melt the ice around Ng's heart but what about Colin. He has a secret concerning his heart as well.

I like a good romance mixed with mystery and suspense, drama and angst. This book starts out very good. I found myself loving sweet Colin and trying to like Nevin. As in all Of Kim Fielding books, there are some amazing characters and more than one plot, so the story stays hopping.

I never was able to find one single clue to the murderers of these elderly people until the very end of the book when it came to a head. I would have liked a few clues and twists. However, the story focused mainly on the relationship of Colin and Nevin which was good and Nevin fighting his feelings also good.  There was one instance with one of Nevins friends I thought was gonna tie into the murders but it came and went. I would have liked more with that as well ( I believe that it's in the other book). Having said that, I did enjoy the story. I loved the relationship between Nevin and Colin. I was left with a few questions I wish had been answered.

If you like detectives, land developers, slow-building romance, a touch of mystery, great family and some hot man-sex You should enjoy this story!

Excerpt...

Nevin sketched a castle in his notebook. A modest one, but sturdy. He imagined it inhabited by a minor prince who wanted to keep his family safe while he went about documenting the history of three rare species of dragon. After he drew the final turret—topped by a tiny flag—Nevin hummed a tune.

Colin turned his head to look at him. “Is that Neil Sedaka?” he asked incredulously.

“Breaking up is hard to do.”

“That’s….” Colin huffed. “You’re not what I would have expected in a detective.”

“Why not?”

“Well, there’s the car for starters. And your suit! I figured detectives wore off-the-rack black polyester. Yours is way nicer than that.”

“Off-the-rack doesn’t fit me.” He’d actually had department store salespeople outrageously suggest he try the boys’ department. So he’d found a Hong Kong tailor who occasionally came to Portland to do fittings. He’d measure Nevin up and discuss fabrics, colors, and styles. A month or two later, Nevin would receive a package with his new suits and dress shirts, and everything would look damn good on him.

Unexpectedly, Colin chuckled. “God. Show tunes and fashion. Now we can discuss interior design or hairdressing, and you can give me a medal for being the gayest guy you’ve talked to this week.”

Nevin thought about the hot twink he’d hooked up with a few days earlier. “Sorry, Colin. You’re not even in the running.”

“You mean I can’t even win at being gay this week?” Colin shook his head. “Too bad. I’m usually pretty good at that.”

“You can head over to the Silverado when we’re done here. That’ll restore your cred.”

This time Colin snorted. “Is that what you do after a breakup? Go to a strip club?”

“I’ve never broken up with anyone.”

“Seriously?”

Nevin wasn’t exactly sure why he was discussing his sex life when he was supposed to be questioning a witness, but whatever. It beat standing in the rain. “I love ’em and leave ’em. Sometimes they demand seconds, but that’s all they get.” He grinned. “Always leave ’em wanting more. That’s my motto.” Well, that and Don’t hand your heart to someone who’s going to stomp on it. Maybe some guys wanted relationships—True Love and fucking rainbow sparkles—but he’d seen what that wanting did to them. Jeremy still hadn’t recovered from his last ugly disaster, even though that had been years ago and the ex was a douchecanoe.

Colin shook his head. “Not me. I’m… what’s the opposite of a commitmentphobe? Back in grade school, I spent hours planning my future wedding even though everybody back then told me I couldn’t get married. I am going to wear a white tuxedo with a black bow tie, and Etta James’s ‘At Last’ will play when I walk down the aisle. My groom will wear a black tux with a white bow tie. And we’ll have chocolate-dipped strawberries, Bowie, and the B-52s at the reception.”

“Invite me,” Nevin said. “I like to dance.”

“Done. As soon as I find someone to marry me.” Colin’s smile disappeared. “I probably shouldn’t be talking about this stuff when Mrs. Ruskin….”

“Screw the shouldn’t be. Life goes on.”

“She’s a nice lady. We’re friends, I think.”

It was time to get back to business. “Do you know of any reason why someone would want to hurt her?”

Colin scrunched up his face. “You mean, like, enemies? I doubt it. She’s a nice old lady. She has a collection of spoons from every state, and until her knees gave out, she used to like to garden.”

“No exes?” Nevin asked, not really expecting a yes.

“Her husband died in the Korean War. No kids, and she never remarried. She told me not too long ago that she was always kind of into girls instead of boys but never had the guts to do anything about it. I told her eighty-three wasn’t too old to give it a try.”

“You’re a genuine goddamn romantic, aren’t you?”

“I guess.”

Nevin wanted to hate Colin Westwood, with his stupid bow tie, his rental properties, his ex-boyfriend, his fucking German sedan. The guy apparently had an inner life peopled with cherubs, chorus boys, and rainbow-hued wedding planners. But it was hard to hate a man who had weekly teas with an octogenarian and who was so clearly upset over her attack.

Nevin slapped the notebook shut and tucked it away. “Let’s go get that niece’s information, okay?”

Kim Fielding: Authentic voices and unconventional heroes.

I have lived in Illinois, Oregon, Nebraska, and Croatia, but for a long time now I've called the boring part of California home. I have a husband, two daughters, a day job as a university professor, and a passion for travel. I write in many genres--contemporary, fantasy, paranormal, historical--but no matter when and where my stories are set, I love complex worlds and complicated characters. I think that often it's a person's flaws that make him stronger and more beautiful.

• Kim Fielding Writes: http://kfieldingwrites.com

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