Vice Detective, Brandon Carr, despite his tattoos and bad-boy cool, lives in the closet with no intention of ever coming out. Then he meets Nevada ...
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reviews
May 18, 2011
ElaineY
rated it: 
This was a 3.5 star read for me but I'm giving it a 4 because much of the enjoyment was lost because of my being unfamiliar with casinos and slot machines. I couldn't follow the parts about the EPROMS and skipped much of it after trying to understand and giving up.
I'd like to read Inland Empire now but decided in favor of Clare London's Diplomacy just in case IE continues with the casino storyline and more EPROMS.
That aside, I felt Nicky got a raw deal with Brandon much of th More...
I'd like to read Inland Empire now but decided in favor of Clare London's Diplomacy just in case IE continues with the casino storyline and more EPROMS.
That aside, I felt Nicky got a raw deal with Brandon much of th More...
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(4 people liked it)
Jun 17, 2010
Nichole (Dirty H)
rated it: 
3.5 stars
This could have been more like a 4 to 4.5 star read, but this book got completely bogged down in irrelevant detail and gratuitous description. I truly appreciate the amount of time and effort that went into the research of this book. But sometimes when an author does research for a book, it's more to help them know where they're coming from and a lot (or most) of the stuff they learn won't ever make it to the book. Just because you researched it does not mean you must squeez More...
This could have been more like a 4 to 4.5 star read, but this book got completely bogged down in irrelevant detail and gratuitous description. I truly appreciate the amount of time and effort that went into the research of this book. But sometimes when an author does research for a book, it's more to help them know where they're coming from and a lot (or most) of the stuff they learn won't ever make it to the book. Just because you researched it does not mean you must squeez More...
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(6 people liked it)
May 06, 2011
Nikyta
rated it: 
Honestly, I don't even know what to say about this book. It was interesting and my emotions ranged throughout it. I loved and hated the characters and I loved and hated parts of the story but overall it really is a great book to the point that it kept me captivated through the whole story.
I absolutely loved Nicky. He's sweet and passionate and funny and a goth, which I surprisingly liked. And I loved the fact that he drove a hearse. That was just plan awesome. I realized while I was More...
I absolutely loved Nicky. He's sweet and passionate and funny and a goth, which I surprisingly liked. And I loved the fact that he drove a hearse. That was just plan awesome. I realized while I was More...
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Nov 11, 2009
Jenre
rated it:
The setting at the start of the book is one of the most unusual I've ever read: A Goth Convention. I don't really know much about goths, especially that they hold an annual convention. However, it doesn't take long to get into the sense of fun and companionship that the convention brings. Our two heroes, Nick and Brandon meet at the convention and have an instant attraction, which they are both happy to act upon. What started as a weekend fling deepens into a relationship when they swap numbers,
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(3 people liked it)
Jan 01, 2012
Cris S.
rated it: 
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Oct 23, 2011
Jen
rated it:
The cover is a little strong - but the book was awesome!
I was thrown off, because I thought at first it was a quick short erotica story, but it wasn't - it was a full length novel - which was even better.
The book starts off in San Diego - a Goth club - lol Not sure why but I've always loved the look of a sexy Goth man - gay or not - but Brandon really seemed like the type of guy that would catch my eye. Especially since he's not OUT - he flirts with girls, because you n More...
I was thrown off, because I thought at first it was a quick short erotica story, but it wasn't - it was a full length novel - which was even better.
The book starts off in San Diego - a Goth club - lol Not sure why but I've always loved the look of a sexy Goth man - gay or not - but Brandon really seemed like the type of guy that would catch my eye. Especially since he's not OUT - he flirts with girls, because you n More...
Sep 02, 2011
Yvonne
rated it:
Considering the amount of good reviews, I had a lot more difficulty reading this than I was expecting. The main problem was the author apparently did a lot of research for this story & had trouble weaving it in unobtrusively. Instead we were subjected to periodic info dumps that bogged down the storyline in several spots. When this happened my eyes would glaze over & I ended up probably missing some of the plot. Who knows because I was too bored to go back & find out. Writers need to know they
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May 23, 2010
Marquetta (LoveToReadForFun)
rated it:
This is my first m/m romance novel. I didn't know exactly what to expect. I really need to start paying closer attention to the synopsis because I expected Cheating Chance to be soley focused on the relationship between Nick and Brandon. I wasn't expecting a plot that included expecting crime, death, drugs and the Mexican mafia/gang.
Nick is out of the closet. Brandon is not. But they are attracted to each other and an encounter that started off as strictly sex between strangers turn More...
Nick is out of the closet. Brandon is not. But they are attracted to each other and an encounter that started off as strictly sex between strangers turn More...
Aug 29, 2009
Jeff
rated it:
When I first picked up J. Buchanan's Cheating Chance, I almost feared that I would regret investing the time it'd take to read it. When the central character Nick was introduced in the first chapter, I was certain that he was someone I would never be able to relate to. He is goth, very dark and almost sinister. He has a penchant for morbid things, and his primary mode of transpotation is a hearst. Nick is a 28 year old agent for Nevada's gaming commision. He's a computer geek who audits software
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(1 person liked it)
May 13, 2011
Skargasm
rated it:
Why not a 5? Well three reasons.
1) Brandon was an asshole. Like, complete and utter, needs a kick in the nuts then a drop kick out of a moving car asshole. Who the hell he thought he was? To rant properly would be a spoiler, but suffice it to say no matter how hot he sounded (and he sounded VERY hot) I would have dumped him and run away screaming in the other direction.
2) The thing with Jake. Just, no. It made me squirm and not in a good way. I'm definitely NOT g More...
1) Brandon was an asshole. Like, complete and utter, needs a kick in the nuts then a drop kick out of a moving car asshole. Who the hell he thought he was? To rant properly would be a spoiler, but suffice it to say no matter how hot he sounded (and he sounded VERY hot) I would have dumped him and run away screaming in the other direction.
2) The thing with Jake. Just, no. It made me squirm and not in a good way. I'm definitely NOT g More...
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Apr 13, 2010
Jimmy
rated it:
This is actually the third time I've read this book, and I'm fond of it in that 'oh, I remember that really schmexy scene...' type way.
Brandon and Nicky are a couple that clashes just as much as they attract. I honestly never know whether I want to punch Brandon in the face or take Nicky out to ice cream and cemetery-hopping. Probably both.
I re-read "Cheating Chance" because I found out there was a second book - "Inland Empire" - and was interested i More...
Brandon and Nicky are a couple that clashes just as much as they attract. I honestly never know whether I want to punch Brandon in the face or take Nicky out to ice cream and cemetery-hopping. Probably both.
I re-read "Cheating Chance" because I found out there was a second book - "Inland Empire" - and was interested i More...
Sep 10, 2011
Elizabeth
rated it:
This is the second book by James Buchanan that I've read, the other being The Good Thief. Unfortunately, Cheating Chance didn't do much for me. I never really connected with the characters. Perhaps this was because of how much time they spend apart from each other. I also think way too much narrative space is spent on explanations of what the Nevada Gaming Commission et al does, how games are tested, etc. There were some scenes that seemed to lack focus and didn't really connect well to the
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Jun 26, 2011
LdDurham
rated it:
First of all, hot and sexy, right from the start. But after that, it remained hot and sexy but threw in great emotion and an intriguing murder mystery.
Nick works as a Gaming agent, or, he's a computer nerd who works on regulating gaming machines for the state of Nevada. Buchanan explains everything in fairly easy to understand speech, but it's still pretty technical, involving International regulations and the inner workings of slot machines. I figured I'd get pretty bored with it qui More...
Nick works as a Gaming agent, or, he's a computer nerd who works on regulating gaming machines for the state of Nevada. Buchanan explains everything in fairly easy to understand speech, but it's still pretty technical, involving International regulations and the inner workings of slot machines. I figured I'd get pretty bored with it qui More...
Jan 24, 2011
Blaine D.
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Sep 01, 2011
Eva
rated it:
This was the first book I've read by James Buchanan and I admit I'm impressed. The way various elements of the story were woven together made this book hard to put down, with the story flowing smoothly along.
Both Brandon and Nicky are interesting characters who despite their differences work well together as a couple. So the romance part of the book was easy to get into, and I couldn't help but wish for a happy ending for them. And the HFN end was a great way to end the book considering Br More...
Both Brandon and Nicky are interesting characters who despite their differences work well together as a couple. So the romance part of the book was easy to get into, and I couldn't help but wish for a happy ending for them. And the HFN end was a great way to end the book considering Br More...
Jul 08, 2010
When I first picked up J. Buchanan's Cheating Chance, I almost feared that I would regret investing the time it'd take to read it. When the central character Nick was introduced in the first chapter, I was certain that he was someone I would never be able to relate to. He is goth, very dark and almost sinister. He has a penchant for morbid things, and his primary mode of transpotation is a hearst. Nick is a 28 year old agent for Nevada's gaming commision. He's a computer geek who audits software
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Apr 12, 2010
Loves FAB Romance
rated it:
Cheating Chance is about Nick, a young goth computer geek. He works for the Nevada State Gaming Comission checking the computer code in slot machines to make sure they're all legal. He's recently broken up with his boyfriend, Jake, who really did a job on Nick's psyche.
As the story opens, Nick is feeling sort of sorry for his situation when he meets Brandon at a Goth convention. There is instant attraction and they go back to Brandon's room. They intend to just have a fling, but thei More...
As the story opens, Nick is feeling sort of sorry for his situation when he meets Brandon at a Goth convention. There is instant attraction and they go back to Brandon's room. They intend to just have a fling, but thei More...
Feb 28, 2010
Ami
rated it:
I had only read one story by James Buchanan before. I like this one too. I think it combines very good part of romance and action. Though I'm a bit lost with the technicalities of the Gaming Commission matter but it proves that it is thoroughly researched. I enjoy the complicated relationship between the Dracula Goth slash Gaming Commission Agent Nicky and the closeted gay cop slash biker Brandon.
Honestly, at first, I thought Brandon was an ass; the way he got pissed at Nicky, I tho More...
Honestly, at first, I thought Brandon was an ass; the way he got pissed at Nicky, I tho More...
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Aug 17, 2009
Saritza
rated it:
This was a fantastic read and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it! While the story has a lot of tech-speak (which feeds my techno-geeky-heart) it doesn't overpower the story nor does it take the reader away from the plot.
Summary: Vice Detective, Brandon Carr, despite his tattoos and bad-boy cool, lives in the closet with no intention of ever coming out. Then he meets Nevada Gaming Agent, Nick O'Malley, at a Goth convention and his perfectly constructed world starts to crack. Nick'More...
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Apr 12, 2010
Karen K
rated it:
I loved this book. I've had it for a while and just never picked it up to read, but when I did, it only took me 2 nights to finish. Without giving anything away, I loved Nicky. He was beautiful and passionate and just a really great character - even with some of his obvious flaws and insecurities, he pulled at my heart strings and made me root for him. The technical aspects of the story - the gaming stuff - made me skim over a couple parts but doing that didn't take away any of the plot for
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(1 person liked it)
Mar 08, 2011
momokaachan
rated it:
The only reason this does not have a five-star review is that I thought it went a little overboard with background info and techno-babble. That being said.... This book worked for me in so many ways. Both of the main characters were believable, and oh-my-god they got pissed off and jealous - imagine that! It was refreshing that Nick and Brandon had issues, not just "oh-well-this-happened-now-let's-get-on-with-the-relationship." The dialogues and the sometimes not resolved parts of thei
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May 21, 2011
Trix
rated it:
I was somehow expecting more from this story.
After reading The Good Thief and Hard Fall, I wasn't sure whether I was going to get only one or both sides of the story. This time, both Brandon and Nick were introduced. But it didn't help with the story. There seemed to many elements introduced and not enough time to develop them properly into the story.
Other than highlight his eccentric nature, I didn't see much point to the hearse. I was surprised and disappointed when Ni More...
After reading The Good Thief and Hard Fall, I wasn't sure whether I was going to get only one or both sides of the story. This time, both Brandon and Nick were introduced. But it didn't help with the story. There seemed to many elements introduced and not enough time to develop them properly into the story.
Other than highlight his eccentric nature, I didn't see much point to the hearse. I was surprised and disappointed when Ni More...
Aug 21, 2010
Alina
rated it:
2.5
I had several issues with this book.
The writing was rushed, especially the dialogue. It was almost like Buchanan was trying to get through a scene as quickly as possible, so much so that the progression of action seemed unrealistic. In addition, there was entirely too much information included on the technical aspects of Nicky's job.
While I like the concept of Nicky and Brendon, in theory, the way they end up looking on the page, well... Nicky seemed lik More...
I had several issues with this book.
The writing was rushed, especially the dialogue. It was almost like Buchanan was trying to get through a scene as quickly as possible, so much so that the progression of action seemed unrealistic. In addition, there was entirely too much information included on the technical aspects of Nicky's job.
While I like the concept of Nicky and Brendon, in theory, the way they end up looking on the page, well... Nicky seemed lik More...
Feb 23, 2010
Nick is an agent for the Eletronic Services for Gaming Control at Las Vegas and he is also a goth guy with long black hair, almost fangs like a vampire and with an heaser for car. If not for his tanned skin of Native American descendant, he would be the perfect vampire. At a goth convention he meets Brandon, a cop from North California. After a night of passion Brandon says they can see again but that he is in the closet at home and he is not ready or willing to correct this position. And Nick i
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Dec 19, 2011
Lora
rated it:
I really enjoyed this book!
This was one of the mlrpress freebies--and once again, they gave me a great book.
James Buchanan is right up on the list with Rick R Reed, Victor J. Banis, Neil Plakcy and Josh Lanyon for writing that isn't JUST romance. This was a a thriller/cop/romance. Great story, well written characters. I'll be reading more by James Buchanan--starting with the next two in this series.
BTW--the title is very misleading, this book is NOT about cheating in a re
This was one of the mlrpress freebies--and once again, they gave me a great book.
James Buchanan is right up on the list with Rick R Reed, Victor J. Banis, Neil Plakcy and Josh Lanyon for writing that isn't JUST romance. This was a a thriller/cop/romance. Great story, well written characters. I'll be reading more by James Buchanan--starting with the next two in this series.
BTW--the title is very misleading, this book is NOT about cheating in a re
Feb 02, 2011
Table4Five
rated it:
O'Boy I don't even know where to start?! I loved this book! Nicky is a sexy vampireish Nevada Gaming Commission Agent that stumbled on ubersexy vice detective from Riverside PD at a convention. Things started off hot and steamy and took off from there. Things weren't all smooth sailing for these two though, fighting for your life and hoping your lover remembers what Peanut Butter means also comes into play. I would definatly recommend reading this book! Happy Reading!
Jul 24, 2011
Tara
rated it:
I enjoyed this book. Nick O'Malley & Brandon Carr both in a type of law enforcement (sort of) meet at a goth convention. Nick is an agent/computer tech for the nevada Gaming Commission. He is gay, goth, out and in his spare time he is fixing up a hearse. Brandon is a police officer recently promoted to Detective. He has always wanted to be a detective and as long as he is he will remain closeted. THese two spend a good amount of time trying to find a balance between them, and they solve
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Jan 08, 2012
Marilicious
rated it:
It is really 3.5, it could have been a 4. I did enjoy this story and I got that Brandon wasn't out and it would jeopardize his career if he was found out. I didn't like the way Brandon treated Nicky when he believed Nicky had done something wrong. I wanted to slap Brandon as much as I wanted him and Nicky to work out.
Aug 02, 2011
Jane
rated it:
Loved Nick who came over as a great, well-rounded, intriguing character, was meh about Brandon until he redeemed himself at the end, loathed Nicky's ex beyond words, as anyone would, gah, what a git, and found the mystery a bit hard to get excited over.
I adored the hearse which was a character in its own right.
I adored the hearse which was a character in its own right.
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Jul 04, 2010
orannia
rated it:
4.75 stars. No, not quite 5 stars. This book flowed so well, and if this is what the author was writing in 2006 then I look forward to more recent offerings, particularly the two sequels. And yes, I am planning on reading Inland Empire this coming weekend, which I guess says more than anything how much I enjoyed this book.
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