Title: When Adam Met Jack
Author: G.A. Hauser
Publisher: http://www.lindenbayromance.com
Genre: GLBT (M/M) Contemporary Erotica
Length: Novel
Rating: ***1/2 (out of 5)
Attorney Jack Larsen is trying to get over being dumped months before by his best friend Mark Richfield who Jack has yearned for since they were in college together. Mark never acknowledged that he was gay until he met ex-LAPD officer Steve Miller who swept him off his feet and into his bed, leaving Jack devastated over what might have been. Then Adam Lewis walks into his office seeking legal representation and Jack is back on his game.
Adam works for a talent agency that represents movie stars, models, minor celebrities and up and comers in the entertainment industry but he has had a falling out with his partner of 10 years, Jack Turner. Jack is a very powerful but really sleazy character who, before he would agree to his agency representing them, demanded sexual services from these rising stars. The casting couch is still in full swing in his world. However, one of his clients filed a suit against Jack and Adam is afraid he could be caught in the fallout.
Adam and Jack hit it off right away and start seeing each other, to Mark’s dismay who it appears wants to have his cake and eat it too. Mark’s character really turned me off in Capital Games which apparently is the precursor to When Adam Met Jack and he’s back in full force in this new offering from G.A. Hauser, with all of his annoying personality traits. He wants Jack in his life even though he has Steve, and his whining when he doesn’t get his way drove me crazy in this book almost as much as it did in Capital Games.
I liked Adam’s character a lot but I had a bit of difficulty with Jack’s. Jack’s personality was very appealing but the author placed so much emphasis on his physical appearance and body building it was almost as if he was, to some degree, a caricature of what one should do to be healthy and have a good looking body.
When Adam met Jack was well written and I liked the pacing of the story. The plot was credible as this is an area where G.A. Hauser usually shines because of her background since it involved police work and investigative procedures. The dialogue was funny and Adam seemed to be the only character that was not blown away by Mark’s good looks and manipulative ways. Even Jack eventually was able to show him the door and he realized that he had to mend his evil ways. The big finale was well done and I was pleased to see that the author did a good job of wrapping up the story. Overall this was an enjoyable read.
This book was previously reviewed for Rites of Romance Reviews
Well, you’ve probably already seen my review of this book. *sigh*
Hi Jen
Not yet but I’m sure you hated it. I read it twice before reviewing it because I wanted to be fair to the book despite the characterizations and I did enjoy the actual story.
When I reviewed the previous book, Capital Games I really panned it because of Mark’s character and gave it 3 stars. Although he’s back in this one his role is not as huge as it was before.
If you read between the lines you’ll see what I hated about the book and what I really liked and I feel so bad because I never give this author good reviews but I found a lot to like about this one, including the story. One thing I hope never to do is review another book by G.A. Hauser because she drives me crazy – she’s very talented and extremely popular but her stories always seem to come apart because of her characterizations. I was probably being generous with my rating but the book fell in between 3 and 4 and I did like it as well as Adam and Steve so erred on the positive side.
Lol. I vowed a few months ago to never read another G.A Hauser book again. I hated Capital Games and tried to forget it as soon as I could. It rather worked, apparently, since I didn’t catch the connection with this sotry until you said it – I had totally fogotten the characters names. All I remembered was how illogical both characters seemed and how crazy they drove me. It’ a pity because Hauser’s ideas and blurbs sound SO good – until you read the actual story. Maddening. Still, thanks for the review :).
Hi Mary
You and I and so many readers wish that this author would go back to writing school. Her plots are good but her characterizations stink!!!!
Capital Games was a disaster from start to finish and this one followed in its footsteps. The only book that she wrote which I enjoyed (with some caveats) is Naked Dragon. But even that one was so violent (unnecessarily so, with all the eviscerations)that my enjoyment was tempered. I’m done – no more G.A. Hauser books for me even with enticing blurbs.
The worst thing is that even when you’re warned, the damn blurbs STILL sound enticing. Hauser had two new books on Linden Bay and I almost bought one, even knowing it probably wouldn’t deliver and I’d end up angry I spent money on it. Sometimes I’d really like to know what an author like Chris Owens could have done with Hauser’s ideas…
I know. I don’t understand it. Chris Owens wrote some terrific books including Sex Lies and Celluloid which I loved.
G.A. Hauser is one of the most popular authors on Linden Bay – those readers must know something we don’t.
Anyway, I’m done – no more books by G.A.H for me.
Chris Owen is terrific. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything bad from her.
My favorite Linden Bay author is Lee Rowan. OK, it’s the only other author from them I’ve read, but she’s in my top 5 favorite M/M author. Speaking of which, I saw that Speak Its Name was finally available in print on the site, yay! Except that I received my Visa bill this morning (ayayayayaye!!!!) and I really can’t buy any more print books before I leave, so I’m back to wondering whether I might be OK with just the e-book. Sigh.
Hi Mary
I was on Linden Bay this morning and 7 books on their Top Ten list were G.A. Hauser books. Can you beat that? 7 out of 10. And guess what? I almost bought another one of her books “The Boy Next Door” which is #1 on LBB – I clicked on the book, started reading the blurb which was brilliant and enticing, until I checked out the author!!
Anyway, I bought 3 Lee Rowan books – Ransom, Walking Wounded and Winds of Change which I know I will enjoy.
July 5, 2008 6:36 AM
7 out of ten. Good grief. Yeah, hard to beat. But then, Hauser is one of their most prolific authors and I think she publishes exclusively with them. And those blurbs…*sigh* I’m still not sure I’m not going to cave in one of these days and buy something else from her.
I realy hope you enjoy Ransom and Winds of Change as much as I do!! You like historicals, and you enjoyed Captain’s Surrender, so I think you will. There are also two short stories with the same characters (Will & Davy) in two LBB anthologies…Sail Away and Heroes Unwrapped, if I’m not mistaken. I haven’t even read the other stories in thse anthologies :-D. I haven’t read Walking Wounded either so if you read it before I do, give me some feedback!
Which reminds me, I did finish Far from Home. Correct, but makes you feel it could have been much better because it’s so underdeveloped. I’ll try to post a review on the yahoogroup ASAP.