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Repeater #1
Rinse and Repeat
After reliving the same day sixty-two times, Repeater Peat Harris is about to give up on his latest case: saving Jake Schwinn. In the past, Peat has solved some seriously twisted crimes, caught the bad guys, and kept an emotional distance. But this time, his heart’s involved, a definite must-never-do on Repeats, and he can’t just walk away—even if that means putting himself into the bullet’s path.
A year ago, Jake’s best friend was gunned down, and Jake has been playing bait to catch the killer. But now a wicked-looking hottie named Peat is warning Jake that he’s about to die—again—unless they can catch the shooter. Yeah, right. Then Jake starts to remember the previous Repeats and how he and Peat hooked up….
A year ago, Jake’s best friend was gunned down, and Jake has been playing bait to catch the killer. But now a wicked-looking hottie named Peat is warning Jake that he’s about to die—again—unless they can catch the shooter. Yeah, right. Then Jake starts to remember the previous Repeats and how he and Peat hooked up….
210 pages, Paperback
First published January 23, 2011
5 people are currently reading
331 people want to read
About the author
Amberly Smith
12 books35 followersAmberly lives in the Northwest with her husband, two children, mother-in-law, and a cat named Cat. Their home has become a PC graveyard where games and gadgets are discarded for the latest shiny. She likes to read in bed, write in coffee shops, and cuddle while watching Netflix or Hulu. Amberly acknowledges that she has issues with being too succinct. Feel free to ask her questions about herself. She's not shy, just clueless what anyone would find particularly interesting about her life.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
September 1, 2013
3.5*
I LOVED the idea of this story, a bit of Quantum Leap meets Groundhog Day in much younger and more criminal version.
I felt for both Peat and Jake.
Peat is a 'Repeater' he ends up places and has to repeat the day again and again until he gets it resolved the way it needs to be. Not always a happy ending, and that does wear on him. Also, people all forget him, even when he spends months with them.
Jake lost his sister to leukemia and his very best friend Geo to a murderer.
And now it looks like someone is after Jake and Peat has to stop it, and after spending the same day with him over and over and over again, Peat has fallen in love with Jake.
But for Jake it's always a new day, right?
So, like I said, the premise is awesome, I love paranormals and I enjoy stories a little different and off the beaten path, and this was certainly that. At times I wasn't sure who was talking/thinking, since it's told from both POVs and the switch wasn't always apparent.
I felt for both MCs, but especially for Peat, the poor guy., he needed a big hug and a few weeks of rest.
The mystery wasn't bad, although I actually figured a lot of that out, I blame all the Colombo's I watched as a kid.
But after all that, I sort of wanted and needed an epilogue...really.
I LOVED the idea of this story, a bit of Quantum Leap meets Groundhog Day in much younger and more criminal version.
I felt for both Peat and Jake.
Peat is a 'Repeater' he ends up places and has to repeat the day again and again until he gets it resolved the way it needs to be. Not always a happy ending, and that does wear on him. Also, people all forget him, even when he spends months with them.
Jake lost his sister to leukemia and his very best friend Geo to a murderer.
And now it looks like someone is after Jake and Peat has to stop it, and after spending the same day with him over and over and over again, Peat has fallen in love with Jake.
But for Jake it's always a new day, right?
So, like I said, the premise is awesome, I love paranormals and I enjoy stories a little different and off the beaten path, and this was certainly that. At times I wasn't sure who was talking/thinking, since it's told from both POVs and the switch wasn't always apparent.
I felt for both MCs, but especially for Peat, the poor guy., he needed a big hug and a few weeks of rest.
The mystery wasn't bad, although I actually figured a lot of that out, I blame all the Colombo's I watched as a kid.
But after all that, I sort of wanted and needed an epilogue...really.
February 4, 2011
Peat is a repeater. He is sent to various places around the country to stop a crime or catch a criminal and until that happens, the day keeps happening over and over again. He is sent to Idaho to save Jake who keeps getting shot at a skate park. Everyday he tries to figure out who is killing Jake, and soon he starts trying to throw himself in front of the bullet and it's up to about day 60 and he still can't figure it out, but there's a problem, he's falling for Jake even though every day, to Jake, Peat is a total stranger. However Jake seems to start remembering things, not clearly but he knows something is up and soon Peat's boss of sorts, shows up to help out and catch the bad guy. Jake and Peat are both in college and Peat has no idea why or how he's a repeater, it just started happening when he hit 19. It was kind of sad, because anything that happens while he's in a loop is forgotten. The first guy he had sex with didn't even remember it and it starts to happen with Jake and he hates it, but he has to save him. If you need to know exactly why he's a repeater and how it works this will make you crazy, because even Peat and his boss don't know. It just happens. I did start to suspect the killer and it was kind of a creeptastic ending, but Jake was a nice guy with nice granola parents and the story really sucked me in as Peat kept adapting and gathering information to try and solve the puzzle. So definitely a different premise as I've not come across it in romance before. Worth a read I think.
Looking down at the other review there seems to be a sequel coming. I'll definitely be picking it up.
Looking down at the other review there seems to be a sequel coming. I'll definitely be picking it up.
March 19, 2011
This is a story that snuck up on me. The first 15 pages felt awkward and unfinished, but by the end I was reading by the seat of my pants and completely taken with the heroes as I raced towards the breathless finish.
Unabashedly high-concept, this book flails for its first few chapters trying to find pop-culture references to spoon-full-of-sugar its hook into the reader, but then settles into confident stride as a slam-bang, hyper-romantic thriller. Still, that's a quibble when the characterizations are so quirky and endearing, and the story so rewarding.
Some logic leaps and unnecessary digression don't mar the sexy and compelling romance that blossoms between the protagonists. A totally enjoyable read. (More thorough review coming shortly)
Unabashedly high-concept, this book flails for its first few chapters trying to find pop-culture references to spoon-full-of-sugar its hook into the reader, but then settles into confident stride as a slam-bang, hyper-romantic thriller. Still, that's a quibble when the characterizations are so quirky and endearing, and the story so rewarding.
Some logic leaps and unnecessary digression don't mar the sexy and compelling romance that blossoms between the protagonists. A totally enjoyable read. (More thorough review coming shortly)
February 5, 2011
Excellent paranormal m/m romance about a guy who's a Repeater, stuck repeating the same day over and over again until he can change some key event from the day. Things are different on this Repeat, because he's started to care way too much about a skateboarder he's watched die far too many times.
March 15, 2011
3.5 stars rounded up
Rinse and Repeat is a fairly interesting book with a clever hook. The idea of repeating a day over and over is not necessarily new, Groundhog Day made it famous, but the story has good pacing, decent writing, and two engaging leads that make it work. There are a lot of details left unexplained and the ending is one that could be cheesy but ends up slightly creepy instead. A mostly interesting read that moves quickly and has you rooting for the men to get their happy ending.
The story opens with Jake at his best friend’s funeral, struggling to deal with Geo’s murder. Some time later Jake is in danger from the same killer and repeater Peat is sent to help. Peat repeats the same day over and over again until he gets something right. What that “right” element is varies from case to case (called repeats) and isn’t always about saving lives. The real purpose to these repeats is a vague sense of fate or destiny but the idea is largely unexplored and ignored. Instead the focus is on Jake and Peat as they struggle to find a way to save Jake’s life while Jake loses all knowledge of Peat each new day at midnight.
The narration is third person and alternates between Jake and Peet with equal time. Sometimes the point of view feels muddled and indistinct as Jake and Peet have nearly the same internal voice and style. Given that they’re both young twenty-somethings, this isn’t too surprising but if your attention wanders you may forget and get confused whose perspective is being highlighted. There’s an attempt to had distinctive tone to Peet with the British flavor but it’s too inconsistent and infrequent to feel natural and real. Instead it comes across as an obvious manipulation and artifact. The prose is also sometimes awkward and clunky. Not the majority but sometimes phrases are jumbled or the wrong words used.
The story however is very easy to read and the pace kept nice and fast. The days repeat but the story does a very good job in offering enough details and information without ever feeling repetitive. Each day has a new and fresh feel despite the fact it’s the same day over and over again and certain events have to occur. A variety of secondary characters help liven up the story and keep things new even as none of these characters are really necessary. Almost all of them could have been eliminated without changing the story much but they break up what could have been monotonous repetition. Thankfully the each repeat day is slightly different and never exactly the same.
The characters have a similar feel and they’re almost too much alike in their narration. They tend to blend together but that’s a minor point as the story and plot is engaging and mostly fun to read. I found my attention wandering a few times, even with as much as I like the main couple. However the fast action and enjoyable story makes up for this. I’m not sure I’d read this again but I’d definitely read more from this author and am likely to remember this book.
Rinse and Repeat is a fairly interesting book with a clever hook. The idea of repeating a day over and over is not necessarily new, Groundhog Day made it famous, but the story has good pacing, decent writing, and two engaging leads that make it work. There are a lot of details left unexplained and the ending is one that could be cheesy but ends up slightly creepy instead. A mostly interesting read that moves quickly and has you rooting for the men to get their happy ending.
The story opens with Jake at his best friend’s funeral, struggling to deal with Geo’s murder. Some time later Jake is in danger from the same killer and repeater Peat is sent to help. Peat repeats the same day over and over again until he gets something right. What that “right” element is varies from case to case (called repeats) and isn’t always about saving lives. The real purpose to these repeats is a vague sense of fate or destiny but the idea is largely unexplored and ignored. Instead the focus is on Jake and Peat as they struggle to find a way to save Jake’s life while Jake loses all knowledge of Peat each new day at midnight.
The narration is third person and alternates between Jake and Peet with equal time. Sometimes the point of view feels muddled and indistinct as Jake and Peet have nearly the same internal voice and style. Given that they’re both young twenty-somethings, this isn’t too surprising but if your attention wanders you may forget and get confused whose perspective is being highlighted. There’s an attempt to had distinctive tone to Peet with the British flavor but it’s too inconsistent and infrequent to feel natural and real. Instead it comes across as an obvious manipulation and artifact. The prose is also sometimes awkward and clunky. Not the majority but sometimes phrases are jumbled or the wrong words used.
The story however is very easy to read and the pace kept nice and fast. The days repeat but the story does a very good job in offering enough details and information without ever feeling repetitive. Each day has a new and fresh feel despite the fact it’s the same day over and over again and certain events have to occur. A variety of secondary characters help liven up the story and keep things new even as none of these characters are really necessary. Almost all of them could have been eliminated without changing the story much but they break up what could have been monotonous repetition. Thankfully the each repeat day is slightly different and never exactly the same.
The characters have a similar feel and they’re almost too much alike in their narration. They tend to blend together but that’s a minor point as the story and plot is engaging and mostly fun to read. I found my attention wandering a few times, even with as much as I like the main couple. However the fast action and enjoyable story makes up for this. I’m not sure I’d read this again but I’d definitely read more from this author and am likely to remember this book.
October 3, 2012
Rinse and Repeat was interesting and definitely unlike anything I've read in quite a long time. It took me a while (at least a few chapters) to get into the story, but once I got past that point I really enjoyed it. The blurb certainly intrigued me, and the Repeater theme felt a little like a cross between the TV show Tru Calling and the movie Groundhog Day. I loved Jake and Peat, I loved their interactions, and I loved the whole Repeater concept. I really felt for Peat - his fear of people constantly forgetting him and his frustration when trying deperately to fix things and keep Jake alive almost brought tears to my eyes a couple of times.
January 3, 2015
4.5 stars
I loved this! I don't care how bumpy it starts, it all becomes worth it to me in the end. I kept getting these little panic flutters while storming through this book, I mean, I HAD TO KNOW how it was all going to play out! I don't even care that the "Repeating" isn't fully reasoned out on why/who, whatever! I just really enjoyed my way through this entire book. It was fun, sweet, suspenseful, and full of feels.
I want more. (Greedy bitch, I am.)
I loved this! I don't care how bumpy it starts, it all becomes worth it to me in the end. I kept getting these little panic flutters while storming through this book, I mean, I HAD TO KNOW how it was all going to play out! I don't even care that the "Repeating" isn't fully reasoned out on why/who, whatever! I just really enjoyed my way through this entire book. It was fun, sweet, suspenseful, and full of feels.
I want more. (Greedy bitch, I am.)
November 5, 2020
Honestly, there was a couple of spots where it was purposefully vague, which bugged me most of the time. But I loved that this was in Boise, and I always love a good groundhog day situation.
December 23, 2014
This was an intriguing premise, with Peat reliving the same day over and over again, until he resolves whatever the fates have sent him there to correct. In this case, it's trying to keep Jake alive. As he relives the day over and over, he also gets to know Jake, and ends up developing feelings for him. Finding out what happens between the two of them, and what's led to the situation that brought Peat in, is compelling. I liked both main characters, as well as the little bit was see of Maddie. Nice read with an emotional edge.
October 9, 2012
Decent story, but the writing and editing were.... well.
The writing was uneven. The pacing got better in the second half, but in the first half it was like, set up the story, set up the story, bam, all of a sudden we're in Jake's room getting it on. Huh? And then it kind of took a step back and made more sense from then on but the first half was somewhat jarring and confusing. And then the resolution of the mystery was similarly odd. And there was a lot of POV hopping - it was written in third person, and the jumps between POV were not clear. I was often very confused as to whose POV I was in at any given moment which meant I had to re-read several scenes in order for them to make sense.
So I would give the story and the writing somewhere between 3 and 4 stars. It was a great concept but the execution wasn't great.
But I cannot forgive Dreamspinner for the pisspoor editing here. Phrases that used the wrong word, the word "led" spelled "lead", and on and on. I can sort of forgive the author for this but I don't think anyone even bothered to edit this at all, and if they did, whoever did the line editing needs to be fired immediately and never be let near a book or a red pen ever again.
So ultimately three stars for my enjoyment level, but honestly I think that's a very generous rating.
The writing was uneven. The pacing got better in the second half, but in the first half it was like, set up the story, set up the story, bam, all of a sudden we're in Jake's room getting it on. Huh? And then it kind of took a step back and made more sense from then on but the first half was somewhat jarring and confusing. And then the resolution of the mystery was similarly odd. And there was a lot of POV hopping - it was written in third person, and the jumps between POV were not clear. I was often very confused as to whose POV I was in at any given moment which meant I had to re-read several scenes in order for them to make sense.
So I would give the story and the writing somewhere between 3 and 4 stars. It was a great concept but the execution wasn't great.
But I cannot forgive Dreamspinner for the pisspoor editing here. Phrases that used the wrong word, the word "led" spelled "lead", and on and on. I can sort of forgive the author for this but I don't think anyone even bothered to edit this at all, and if they did, whoever did the line editing needs to be fired immediately and never be let near a book or a red pen ever again.
So ultimately three stars for my enjoyment level, but honestly I think that's a very generous rating.
October 3, 2011
I loved the premise, and the way we gradually learned more about Peat, Jake, and the situation as the day kept repeating. My heart ached for poor Peat. And Maddie was great. I look forward to reading more by this author.
But I struggled frequently to figure out whose head I was in, as the shifts seemed to come at frequent but irregular and unmarked intervals. Usually I read other reviews complaining about head-hopping and think, "Really? Huh. Yeah, I guess so." but I was too caught up in the story to really have noticed (or been bothered) by it at the time. Caught Running and Cut & Run as two popular examples. So I figure if the head-hopping was problematic for me, anyone who was troubled by it in those books might find their head exploding with this one. And yet even with that I loved the book, so I really hope future books will get some better editing.
But I struggled frequently to figure out whose head I was in, as the shifts seemed to come at frequent but irregular and unmarked intervals. Usually I read other reviews complaining about head-hopping and think, "Really? Huh. Yeah, I guess so." but I was too caught up in the story to really have noticed (or been bothered) by it at the time. Caught Running and Cut & Run as two popular examples. So I figure if the head-hopping was problematic for me, anyone who was troubled by it in those books might find their head exploding with this one. And yet even with that I loved the book, so I really hope future books will get some better editing.
October 24, 2013
It was cool, though there was a point after which I couldn't follow what exactly was going on. Where am I? What day is it? I felt like a senile old person on the verge of dementia. That probably doesn't even make sense. I can't even tell anymore.
This thing had me pretty off-kilter the entire time. There are quite a few things that are still unexplained (I think), but overall, it was probably a good read.
This thing had me pretty off-kilter the entire time. There are quite a few things that are still unexplained (I think), but overall, it was probably a good read.
March 12, 2017
4.25 stars
I'm really rapt; I haven't paused to write a note and I'm more than half done.
Not always sure what someone is implying or joking about. I feel disconnected.
This sex scene like others has changed POVs multiple times. Each time there's a break so I know it's a change in POV, but it's so often it's disconcerting and a little random. Once it even started a new chapter for no explainable reason.
Really? The police partners are Barnez & Noble?
I don't understand the last line.
I felt so out of sorts with this. The writer and I don't think the same way at all I don't think. I felt really disconnected with what the characters were thinking during those times when I was supposed to be inferring stuff. And some of the explanations didn't work for me. The ending is a good example. I'm sure it was completely obvious to others what the last line meant, but not to me.
Still, good peril and hospital scene and well written.
I'm really rapt; I haven't paused to write a note and I'm more than half done.
Not always sure what someone is implying or joking about. I feel disconnected.
This sex scene like others has changed POVs multiple times. Each time there's a break so I know it's a change in POV, but it's so often it's disconcerting and a little random. Once it even started a new chapter for no explainable reason.
Really? The police partners are Barnez & Noble?
I don't understand the last line.
I felt so out of sorts with this. The writer and I don't think the same way at all I don't think. I felt really disconnected with what the characters were thinking during those times when I was supposed to be inferring stuff. And some of the explanations didn't work for me. The ending is a good example. I'm sure it was completely obvious to others what the last line meant, but not to me.
Still, good peril and hospital scene and well written.
June 20, 2017
Main character has ex-girlfriends... dnf
April 21, 2017
4.0 Stars
Another surprising find from a new-to-me author! This book had my stomach in knots almost the entire time, anxiously waiting to see if & how things resolved. And holy cow, for part of that time I was convinced there would be no happy ending.
A lot of people compare the book to Groundhog Day; even the MC uses that movie to set a frame of reference when explaining why he keeps repeating the same day over and over again. Yes, the whole trope might arise from that movie...but see...I tell you guys I used to watch entirely too much television and here's where I prove it once again: This book actually reminded me more of a little-known show called Day Break. From the bits about how Peat only carries over himself, what he's wearing, what he has on his person and the injuries he sustains to there being one person who seems to relive the day with him to being able to, on occasion, do something to affect change on another person's actions/behavior in the next repeated day.
But, unlike the sexy Taye Diggs character, this kid is not a cop with all that knowledge of how to stop and/or solve a crime. He's an everyday kid who just woke up with this ability that he couldn't ignore, couldn't shake off, couldn't even really share with anyone...and sometimes he can't always fix the bad shit that happens. Gawd, I couldn't even imagine what kind of impact that would have on a person's psyche.
You know what else I can't imagine: How in the hell a relationship between him and Jake will work. Because one day Peat will be gone. Jake will know he's on a Repeat. But what he won't know is how long that Repeat lasts for Peat and he can't even provide the emotional support Peat would need because Jake won't know he needs it. Plus, OMG, it could last one day, one month, hell even a whole year. A whole year where you can't be with the person you love. And for Jake...damn, how's he to know that one day Peat won't get so involved in another case like he did these most recent two and end up falling for someone else. How do you fight for a relationship you don't even know you're in danger of losing? Fuck. That's gotta be rough.
It's also why I can't even imagine a sequel. I'm not sure I want one because unless Jake becomes like Peat, or somehow manages to tag along (unlikely since the ability manifests on a person's nineteenth birthday and Jake is older than that), then I'm not sure how it would work without copping out on the Repeats by making them less involved or less important so that they don't last as long. And we already know that Peat won't give less than 100% toward fixing the event in question so even if it takes a year to set things right, he'll still do it. Lonely and heart-broken the whole time.
Ack, I just depressed the hell out of myself. And I did this with a book I actually REALLY LIKED, so yeah. Makes you think. Good job Amberly Smith!
Another surprising find from a new-to-me author! This book had my stomach in knots almost the entire time, anxiously waiting to see if & how things resolved. And holy cow, for part of that time I was convinced there would be no happy ending.
A lot of people compare the book to Groundhog Day; even the MC uses that movie to set a frame of reference when explaining why he keeps repeating the same day over and over again. Yes, the whole trope might arise from that movie...but see...I tell you guys I used to watch entirely too much television and here's where I prove it once again: This book actually reminded me more of a little-known show called Day Break. From the bits about how Peat only carries over himself, what he's wearing, what he has on his person and the injuries he sustains to there being one person who seems to relive the day with him to being able to, on occasion, do something to affect change on another person's actions/behavior in the next repeated day.
But, unlike the sexy Taye Diggs character, this kid is not a cop with all that knowledge of how to stop and/or solve a crime. He's an everyday kid who just woke up with this ability that he couldn't ignore, couldn't shake off, couldn't even really share with anyone...and sometimes he can't always fix the bad shit that happens. Gawd, I couldn't even imagine what kind of impact that would have on a person's psyche.
You know what else I can't imagine: How in the hell a relationship between him and Jake will work. Because one day Peat will be gone. Jake will know he's on a Repeat. But what he won't know is how long that Repeat lasts for Peat and he can't even provide the emotional support Peat would need because Jake won't know he needs it. Plus, OMG, it could last one day, one month, hell even a whole year. A whole year where you can't be with the person you love. And for Jake...damn, how's he to know that one day Peat won't get so involved in another case like he did these most recent two and end up falling for someone else. How do you fight for a relationship you don't even know you're in danger of losing? Fuck. That's gotta be rough.
It's also why I can't even imagine a sequel. I'm not sure I want one because unless Jake becomes like Peat, or somehow manages to tag along (unlikely since the ability manifests on a person's nineteenth birthday and Jake is older than that), then I'm not sure how it would work without copping out on the Repeats by making them less involved or less important so that they don't last as long. And we already know that Peat won't give less than 100% toward fixing the event in question so even if it takes a year to set things right, he'll still do it. Lonely and heart-broken the whole time.
Ack, I just depressed the hell out of myself. And I did this with a book I actually REALLY LIKED, so yeah. Makes you think. Good job Amberly Smith!
May 23, 2013
I've just finished
Rinse and Repeat
by Amberly Smith. It was difficult to choose a category in which to place this novel; it’s one of those stories that covers a number of genres. Mystery, paranormal, romance, sci-fi---what on earth would you call the book?
Well, I’ll settle for calling it excellent. No mistake---I simply loved this book. While similar ideas have been used in films and literature before, I’ve not previously seen this exact premise explored as it is here. And I appreciated how the reader is initially left to figure out just what the heck is going on without too much explanation or background being provided. Let’s face it---I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer, or the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree; usually I prefer having things spelled out for me. But even I was able to comprehend the gist of the plot before long, though about three-quarters of the way through the book we finally do learn at least a little more about Peat, and what being a Repeater is all about.
I really did feel for Peat, the anguish he feels when time and time again he isn’t able to save Jake, only to have the entire day start over with a fresh chance to figure out what’s going on, what he can do to make things right. Though---to make matters worse, he’s come to genuinely love Jake even as he’s trying to save him, and hoping that the day won’t end once again with the man dying in his arms (or with him taking the bullet for Jake instead). He tries to toughen himself against these feelings---during this Repeat it’s as if he’s known Jake for over two months, and it breaks his heart a little as every day dawns and Jake once again doesn’t know him.
However, this time things start to go differently--- as the Repeat drags on and on, Jake slowly begins to have flashes of memory from the alternate timelines of previous Repeats, something which has never happened before...
The book ends most satisfactorily, and in my opinion provides a good set-up for a continuing series. So far there’s only one short prequel story to this book, titled Closet Case , which is about Peat trying to come out to his mother while simultaneously working on another Repeat, but I haven’t read it yet. I have no idea if the author has any plans to write further novels about these characters, but I would buy them in a heartbeat if she does.
Recommended for fantasy/sci-fi fans!
(Oh, about the cover…. It isn’t terrible, but here’s some advice for artists/graphic designers: enough with the headless naked torso covers! This has absolutely been done to death---you can be more creative than this.)
Well, I’ll settle for calling it excellent. No mistake---I simply loved this book. While similar ideas have been used in films and literature before, I’ve not previously seen this exact premise explored as it is here. And I appreciated how the reader is initially left to figure out just what the heck is going on without too much explanation or background being provided. Let’s face it---I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer, or the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree; usually I prefer having things spelled out for me. But even I was able to comprehend the gist of the plot before long, though about three-quarters of the way through the book we finally do learn at least a little more about Peat, and what being a Repeater is all about.
I really did feel for Peat, the anguish he feels when time and time again he isn’t able to save Jake, only to have the entire day start over with a fresh chance to figure out what’s going on, what he can do to make things right. Though---to make matters worse, he’s come to genuinely love Jake even as he’s trying to save him, and hoping that the day won’t end once again with the man dying in his arms (or with him taking the bullet for Jake instead). He tries to toughen himself against these feelings---during this Repeat it’s as if he’s known Jake for over two months, and it breaks his heart a little as every day dawns and Jake once again doesn’t know him.
However, this time things start to go differently--- as the Repeat drags on and on, Jake slowly begins to have flashes of memory from the alternate timelines of previous Repeats, something which has never happened before...
The book ends most satisfactorily, and in my opinion provides a good set-up for a continuing series. So far there’s only one short prequel story to this book, titled Closet Case , which is about Peat trying to come out to his mother while simultaneously working on another Repeat, but I haven’t read it yet. I have no idea if the author has any plans to write further novels about these characters, but I would buy them in a heartbeat if she does.
Recommended for fantasy/sci-fi fans!
(Oh, about the cover…. It isn’t terrible, but here’s some advice for artists/graphic designers: enough with the headless naked torso covers! This has absolutely been done to death---you can be more creative than this.)
April 5, 2011
Peat is stuck repeating the same day over and over, but his goal is to save the boy he’s fallen in love with and there’s no groundhog in sight. Peat is a repeater and he’s been sent to save Jake’s life. However two months of repeating the same day has left Peat in love with Jake and black and blue from learning to skateboard but no closer to figuring out how to save Jake. As each day passes Peat falls more in love with Jake but also realizes he has to find a way to save Jake, somehow.
Rinse and Repeat plays on the popular and well known theme of repeating a day over and over again until a specific goal is achieved. In this case Peat must fix something so destiny can continue and it’s not always saving the cute guy. Peat is determined to save Jake though and the story is action packed as Peat struggles to find the right clues. The writing keeps the story fresh and interesting each day and there is very little repetition, even considering the premise and point of the story. Instead the characters and events sweep you along quickly and never let your attention wander.
Part of this is due to the great characterization. Peat and Jake are three dimensional characters with a lot of depth. They have great chemistry and sparks fly between them. The story is very clever in building a relationship that essentially resets each day for Jake while Peat retains all his feelings and emotions. Yet there is no doubt that Jake falls for Peat as well over the course of the story. The final culprit is the more obvious one but the reasons for everything are unexpected.
One downside for some readers is that the plot is not the most original or cohesive with more details left out and ignored than actually explained. There are several gaps in the narration and leaps in logic but this still remains a very fun and satisfying romance. The main couple is adorable and you can’t help rooting for them to make it. The writing is instantly engaging and very entertaining. This is perfect for a light and enjoyable afternoon read. I easily recommend it.
Originally posted at http://whippedcream2.blogspot.com/201...
Rinse and Repeat plays on the popular and well known theme of repeating a day over and over again until a specific goal is achieved. In this case Peat must fix something so destiny can continue and it’s not always saving the cute guy. Peat is determined to save Jake though and the story is action packed as Peat struggles to find the right clues. The writing keeps the story fresh and interesting each day and there is very little repetition, even considering the premise and point of the story. Instead the characters and events sweep you along quickly and never let your attention wander.
Part of this is due to the great characterization. Peat and Jake are three dimensional characters with a lot of depth. They have great chemistry and sparks fly between them. The story is very clever in building a relationship that essentially resets each day for Jake while Peat retains all his feelings and emotions. Yet there is no doubt that Jake falls for Peat as well over the course of the story. The final culprit is the more obvious one but the reasons for everything are unexpected.
One downside for some readers is that the plot is not the most original or cohesive with more details left out and ignored than actually explained. There are several gaps in the narration and leaps in logic but this still remains a very fun and satisfying romance. The main couple is adorable and you can’t help rooting for them to make it. The writing is instantly engaging and very entertaining. This is perfect for a light and enjoyable afternoon read. I easily recommend it.
Originally posted at http://whippedcream2.blogspot.com/201...
May 9, 2019
Re-read Apr/19
4 stars
While I connected with the characters, I felt as though the story ended really abruptly. I'm not sure if everything was wrapped up the way it could have been. There were so many issues that weren't touched on.
4 stars
Peat is a repeater, which means that he gets to repeat a day until he corrects whatever wrong needs to be corrected in a specific place and on a specific day. He finishes one repeat and immediately has another. Peat has been a repeater for a few years, and while he gets close to his subjects, he doesn't get involved. But 60-some days later, one of his longest repeats, he has definite feelings for the guy he believes that he was sent to save.
Jake has lost a lot of people in his life, including his best friend. He's trying to make amends for being gay in his small town, and for everyone thinking that his best friend was his boyfriend, even though he was straight. One day, Jake meets a guy who seems really familiar with his life. The guy is insistent that Jake needs to be really careful. Jake keeps getting feelings of deja vu, but since Peat is new in town, Jake knows that can't be true.
Peat can't stand Jake dying, so he keeps dying for him, which doesn't help him stop repeating.
The story is different, and Peat and Jake are interesting characters. I had a hard time believing that Jake could have such deep feelings for Peat, especially since he didn't really remember ever meeting him. The ending was a little abrupt, and nothing was really settled between Jake and Peat. How were they going to make things work?
Original rating: 4 stars
4 stars
While I connected with the characters, I felt as though the story ended really abruptly. I'm not sure if everything was wrapped up the way it could have been. There were so many issues that weren't touched on.
4 stars
Peat is a repeater, which means that he gets to repeat a day until he corrects whatever wrong needs to be corrected in a specific place and on a specific day. He finishes one repeat and immediately has another. Peat has been a repeater for a few years, and while he gets close to his subjects, he doesn't get involved. But 60-some days later, one of his longest repeats, he has definite feelings for the guy he believes that he was sent to save.
Jake has lost a lot of people in his life, including his best friend. He's trying to make amends for being gay in his small town, and for everyone thinking that his best friend was his boyfriend, even though he was straight. One day, Jake meets a guy who seems really familiar with his life. The guy is insistent that Jake needs to be really careful. Jake keeps getting feelings of deja vu, but since Peat is new in town, Jake knows that can't be true.
Peat can't stand Jake dying, so he keeps dying for him, which doesn't help him stop repeating.
The story is different, and Peat and Jake are interesting characters. I had a hard time believing that Jake could have such deep feelings for Peat, especially since he didn't really remember ever meeting him. The ending was a little abrupt, and nothing was really settled between Jake and Peat. How were they going to make things work?
Original rating: 4 stars
March 27, 2015
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.5 stars
I am a big fan of time travel stories and love the movie Groundhog Day and so when I read about Peat the repeater (I actually did not make the connection like Lloyd did), I thought I was going to be in heaven. Sadly, what started off as a cool “repeat the day until you get it right” got so confusing that I was more focused on figuring out the day and events than the progression of the story. Fortunately the plot smoothed out and was easier to follow to the end.
I would have to say that neither Jake nor Peat were as fleshed out as I would have expected, especially since there were virtually no secondary characters of consequence throughout the story except Maddie. She came close at one point, and her role in the story was expanded near the end, but it would have been nice to see more of her character as a way of giving some dimension to Peat. Peat was a strangely complacent character, with no apparent motivation for being essentially a pawn in some cosmic game of “make it right” and knowing the “how” and “why” would have gone a long way toward making his character believable.
Read Jason’s and Lloyd's review in its entirety here.
3.5 stars
I am a big fan of time travel stories and love the movie Groundhog Day and so when I read about Peat the repeater (I actually did not make the connection like Lloyd did), I thought I was going to be in heaven. Sadly, what started off as a cool “repeat the day until you get it right” got so confusing that I was more focused on figuring out the day and events than the progression of the story. Fortunately the plot smoothed out and was easier to follow to the end.
I would have to say that neither Jake nor Peat were as fleshed out as I would have expected, especially since there were virtually no secondary characters of consequence throughout the story except Maddie. She came close at one point, and her role in the story was expanded near the end, but it would have been nice to see more of her character as a way of giving some dimension to Peat. Peat was a strangely complacent character, with no apparent motivation for being essentially a pawn in some cosmic game of “make it right” and knowing the “how” and “why” would have gone a long way toward making his character believable.
Read Jason’s and Lloyd's review in its entirety here.
September 17, 2013
First, just let me get this out of the way: if I had to relive my life (or at least a day) until I got it right, I would go crazy enough to jump off a bridge. Really.
Peat is a Repeater - a person who, when they turn nineteen, ends up repeating a day until they help someone or solve a crime. He ends up trying to help Jake solve the murder of his friend, but along the way he finds himself falling in love with Jake, but of course the day repeats itself every midnight and Jake forgets him. Until the day Jake starts to remember, that is.
Jake has "known" Peat for roughly 68 Tuesdays, but he forgets him when they day repeats itself. However, as they get more and more involved with each other, Jake starts to remember things until he remembers enough to return Peat's feelings and also to help him solve the case.
In the end, it's not until midnight after the arrest that they find if they can live happily ever after or go back to square one.
Peat is a Repeater - a person who, when they turn nineteen, ends up repeating a day until they help someone or solve a crime. He ends up trying to help Jake solve the murder of his friend, but along the way he finds himself falling in love with Jake, but of course the day repeats itself every midnight and Jake forgets him. Until the day Jake starts to remember, that is.
Jake has "known" Peat for roughly 68 Tuesdays, but he forgets him when they day repeats itself. However, as they get more and more involved with each other, Jake starts to remember things until he remembers enough to return Peat's feelings and also to help him solve the case.
In the end, it's not until midnight after the arrest that they find if they can live happily ever after or go back to square one.
October 10, 2011
I really enjoyed this book.
Peat is a "repeater". Think of it like the movie "Groundhog's Day meets Tru Calling". Peat has to repeat a day until he fixes what has gone wrong. Although he doesn't always know what he's supposed to fix. This book follows one repeat where he he starts to break all his own personal rules while trying to solve the day.
I liked the lay out and I enjoyed the concept. I liked that the main couple each had a different path. Peat fell in love slowly over 2 months, while Jake really falls instantly, sort of. I would love to see what happens to them beyond the repeat day. But other than that it was great. There was also a crime to solve that was a fairly decent mystery. Good story.
Peat is a "repeater". Think of it like the movie "Groundhog's Day meets Tru Calling". Peat has to repeat a day until he fixes what has gone wrong. Although he doesn't always know what he's supposed to fix. This book follows one repeat where he he starts to break all his own personal rules while trying to solve the day.
I liked the lay out and I enjoyed the concept. I liked that the main couple each had a different path. Peat fell in love slowly over 2 months, while Jake really falls instantly, sort of. I would love to see what happens to them beyond the repeat day. But other than that it was great. There was also a crime to solve that was a fairly decent mystery. Good story.
October 7, 2020
This is probably a 3-star book, but I live in Boise, and I was so tickled by the accurate local landmarks that I threw on an extra star for solidarity.
I really like the idea of this story, but the execution is a little off. I couldn't tell if the author just had a lot of information in her head that didn't make it onto the page, or if it was written to be intentionally confusing. I've read intentionally confusing works before, with varying degrees of success, but just the fact that I couldn't figure out if it was intentional or not should speak to the success. If that was even the point. Sigh. Who knows.
This could have been a much longer book, and that would've helped, I think. I would read more in this world if it showed up, although that seems unlikely after all this time.
I really like the idea of this story, but the execution is a little off. I couldn't tell if the author just had a lot of information in her head that didn't make it onto the page, or if it was written to be intentionally confusing. I've read intentionally confusing works before, with varying degrees of success, but just the fact that I couldn't figure out if it was intentional or not should speak to the success. If that was even the point. Sigh. Who knows.
This could have been a much longer book, and that would've helped, I think. I would read more in this world if it showed up, although that seems unlikely after all this time.
August 1, 2014
Though the concept is of course not entirely new, it is well executed in this story. The character development is done nicely and it is well written. So what's not to like?
The only minor quibble I have is that I'd have liked a bit more explanation for the phenomenon of the repeaters but I hope the author makes this into a series and my questions will be answered then. But still, it works well enough as a standalone novel. Recommended.
PS. Though this is not a reflection on the quality of the book, I think it deserves a more original cover. I'm really sick and tired of headless torsos. Rinse and repeat ;-)
The only minor quibble I have is that I'd have liked a bit more explanation for the phenomenon of the repeaters but I hope the author makes this into a series and my questions will be answered then. But still, it works well enough as a standalone novel. Recommended.
PS. Though this is not a reflection on the quality of the book, I think it deserves a more original cover. I'm really sick and tired of headless torsos. Rinse and repeat ;-)
November 30, 2014
I had been meaning to read this story for a long time and finally got around to it. It was an interesting premise that didn't quite give me the emotional punch I wanted. The suspect telegraphed fairly early for me (though the reason was slightly different than expected), so it was really all about how they would finally manage to get out of the day once they came together.
It was good for what it was. Way too much unnecessary head-hopping though. It got really annoying in the middle of intense scenes, which I think distracted from their potency. So 3.5 stars, rounded down.
It was good for what it was. Way too much unnecessary head-hopping though. It got really annoying in the middle of intense scenes, which I think distracted from their potency. So 3.5 stars, rounded down.
February 29, 2016
About a 3.5 for me. I really like the ideas in this book but I had a hard time keeping track of who was speaking. I also had a hard time remembering which one was the repeater for some reason. Not sure why that wouldn't stick. About 75% through, I lost a little interest, but the picked it back up and finished it. I think my briefly setting it aside slowed the momentum of the story down. It probably would have been better to finish in one sitting. And, kudos to the author for not having girly dialogue.
April 2, 2013
Groundhog Day was fun the first time, but I'm not big on repeats...so almost didn't pick up the book. But the story turned out better than expected, with sweet relationship moments mixed in with a mystery to solve. Sometimes the back and forth between the characters viewpoints was hard to follow but overall enjoyable and written like it has sequels to come (if not, then Maddie as a character was a complete waste of ink), which I will eagerly read.
March 9, 2020
I loved the concept of this book and their were parts of the story that I really enjoyed but there were also a lot of holes in the book. I wanted to know more about the repeaters and how it all worked. I did really like the characters though and found the plot interesting. The biggest issue I had was the abrupt ending - it really left a lot of unanswered questions and how they would make it work in the long run with Pete still being a repeater.
June 26, 2011
4.5! Fun thrill ride/whodunit and love story. Great characters. What a fun and intriguing plot. I couldn't put it down once I started and liked the build up to the big reveal. Nice writing. The only reason that it didn't get 5 stars was because of the reasoning of the bad guy. It was a bit out of the blue and just too "extra."
April 24, 2012
I liked the premise and the author's writing was pretty good. You can see that from all the positive reviews the story received.
My problem was with everything the MC had to go through on a very regular basis. Having to watch a child raped, witnessing gruesome murders time after time, etc.
It was simply too much for me.
My problem was with everything the MC had to go through on a very regular basis. Having to watch a child raped, witnessing gruesome murders time after time, etc.
It was simply too much for me.
October 14, 2011
I really liked this well-written story. It's interesting and fast-paced with likable characters and a mystery/suspense plot that worked well. As a plus I loved the "repeater" theme as much in this book as in Groundhog Day which I've seen many times.
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