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Pete might always know when people are lying, but that doesn't make him a good judge of character. Will he ever find a man who wants to keep him?
Pete's the kind of guy who gets on people's nerves. He can't sit still. He talks too much. He doesn't know when to shut up. And he always knows when people are lying.
While his talent wasn't strong enough to get an empath rating from the ESRB, he now has a second chance with the new testing system they're using. If he makes it, he'll have some well-paying job offers from people who actually appreciate his gifts.
Maybe this time things will work out. Maybe his life will finally take a turn for the better. With some hot guys in it, too.
Pete's the kind of guy who gets on people's nerves. He can't sit still. He talks too much. He doesn't know when to shut up. And he always knows when people are lying.
While his talent wasn't strong enough to get an empath rating from the ESRB, he now has a second chance with the new testing system they're using. If he makes it, he'll have some well-paying job offers from people who actually appreciate his gifts.
Maybe this time things will work out. Maybe his life will finally take a turn for the better. With some hot guys in it, too.
219 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 23, 2015
9 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
January 26, 2016
ARC given by Publisher through Netgalley
First thing: its an amaaaaaaazing good read
Pete was an empath. He has the gift to tell by observing If anyone was lying. He pick up emotions.
It was a blessing and, even more, a burden.
After a while he got a job were he could let his gift be usefull for the community.
He didn't commit well. When he is in a relationship he thought it was 'the one and only'
And he did not communicate well. His colleques hated him and he felt it all. That was hard very hard
Pete wanted so bad to level but no one really cared about him. He was lonely so lonely it broke my heart.
After a very very bad running case he's going down hard and fast to the bottom of the bottle and the bottom of life he almost gave up on it..........
He was strong and crumbled up (again and again)
His relationships all went down.
The way his feelings and thought were described was really really captivating. I felt for him I cried for him.
He made a discision to hold men on armlenght and not to fall in love ever. Like he did before so easily
I think Pete is an amazing person How he sees things around him and how he relativize all, just amazing
His journey..... Finally finally!! Get on route. And the downward spiral did get upward.
A new job that goes above every imagination.
Then he meets Ellery a colleque a clairvoyant..... a 'one in a million'......
I thought it could not get more emotional on a deeper level.... but it did..... amazing and beautiful
It was a fascinating, sensitive with depth and intelligence book a #mustread for the ones who like an emotional journey with a good end.
There will be another book with Pete and Ellery out soon named SURE ..... I am in...
First thing: its an amaaaaaaazing good read
Pete was an empath. He has the gift to tell by observing If anyone was lying. He pick up emotions.
It was a blessing and, even more, a burden.
After a while he got a job were he could let his gift be usefull for the community.
He didn't commit well. When he is in a relationship he thought it was 'the one and only'
And he did not communicate well. His colleques hated him and he felt it all. That was hard very hard
Pete wanted so bad to level but no one really cared about him. He was lonely so lonely it broke my heart.
After a very very bad running case he's going down hard and fast to the bottom of the bottle and the bottom of life he almost gave up on it..........
He was strong and crumbled up (again and again)
His relationships all went down.
The way his feelings and thought were described was really really captivating. I felt for him I cried for him.
He made a discision to hold men on armlenght and not to fall in love ever. Like he did before so easily
I think Pete is an amazing person How he sees things around him and how he relativize all, just amazing
His journey..... Finally finally!! Get on route. And the downward spiral did get upward.
A new job that goes above every imagination.
Then he meets Ellery a colleque a clairvoyant..... a 'one in a million'......
I thought it could not get more emotional on a deeper level.... but it did..... amazing and beautiful
It was a fascinating, sensitive with depth and intelligence book a #mustread for the ones who like an emotional journey with a good end.
There will be another book with Pete and Ellery out soon named SURE ..... I am in...
December 21, 2015
3.5 stars
I was completely wrong about this book. It is completely different than the first book. It is not a guy meets a guy, fucks, fall in love, bit drama and live happily ever after. Nope. This is guy who goes through it with several guys till he find his guy. Which is a good thing.This is all about one empath character named Pete. A good angst filled book. Bit confusing about the romance aspect of it in the end but thankfully there is a sequel to this book.
I was completely wrong about this book. It is completely different than the first book. It is not a guy meets a guy, fucks, fall in love, bit drama and live happily ever after. Nope. This is guy who goes through it with several guys till he find his guy. Which is a good thing.This is all about one empath character named Pete. A good angst filled book. Bit confusing about the romance aspect of it in the end but thankfully there is a sequel to this book.
January 23, 2016
This is the second book in a series, but can be read as a standalone.
Pete is an empath who begins this story as a private eye. He's got a friend who helps him with "muscle" from time to time, and they get on well--until the sexytimes happen. Which is par for Pete's course. The second he gets physical with a guy he gets in too deep.
No matter. Pete's got a series of tests to take to determine his empath rating, and in doing so he meets another guy, who he has a pretty stable thing with. It seems that Pete and this guy are a great match, until Pete accepts a job for the police force really far away from his lover. Notice how I'm not bothering with Pete's lover's names? Because they are not important to the story. They are going to be ancient history...soon.
Pete meets other people at his next job. It's all very nice and platonic, and nice. Then one of these people expresses some interest, and Pete thinks it's better to keep their friendship, but it's okay because they are going to sort of get together. The end. Kinda.
I really wanted to like this one. The premise sounded great, and I was so intrigued, but I had trouble connecting because so much of this story felt like I was being told the whole thing instead of experiencing it. Pete's got issues. He's neurotic about his annoyingness, and how his constant fidgeting is going to put people off. He absorbed the emotions of everyone around him, and never manages to get a handle on his own emotions. He's a smallish man, and constantly talks about how much smaller or bigger he is than pretty much everyone else in the book. His fixation with height got irritating. There is no steam. None. It's nearly all coy fade-to-black and that got me frustrated. I couldn't get attached because I felt thwarted anytime Pete was getting together with anyone. His only vulnerability was getting overwhelmed by other people's emotions, and It made sense, but it didn't really touch me. I felt bad for Pete, and nervous for him, but his pain didn't become my pain, his joy was never my joy. I felt like the second he met Ellery I knew exactly what was going to happen, and that's pretty much what happened. That he couldn't feel what was going on with Ellery was a bit of a head shaker. Also, the diction and some syntax was consistent with British English, though this book was (somehow and barely recognizably) set in the US.
I don't know if I'm going to delve into the next book which is more of Pete and Ellery. I wanted so much to love this. Empaths and psychics working together and falling in love? Seemed like a perfect match for me, but it mostly fell flat instead. I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.
Pete is an empath who begins this story as a private eye. He's got a friend who helps him with "muscle" from time to time, and they get on well--until the sexytimes happen. Which is par for Pete's course. The second he gets physical with a guy he gets in too deep.
No matter. Pete's got a series of tests to take to determine his empath rating, and in doing so he meets another guy, who he has a pretty stable thing with. It seems that Pete and this guy are a great match, until Pete accepts a job for the police force really far away from his lover. Notice how I'm not bothering with Pete's lover's names? Because they are not important to the story. They are going to be ancient history...soon.
Pete meets other people at his next job. It's all very nice and platonic, and nice. Then one of these people expresses some interest, and Pete thinks it's better to keep their friendship, but it's okay because they are going to sort of get together. The end. Kinda.
I really wanted to like this one. The premise sounded great, and I was so intrigued, but I had trouble connecting because so much of this story felt like I was being told the whole thing instead of experiencing it. Pete's got issues. He's neurotic about his annoyingness, and how his constant fidgeting is going to put people off. He absorbed the emotions of everyone around him, and never manages to get a handle on his own emotions. He's a smallish man, and constantly talks about how much smaller or bigger he is than pretty much everyone else in the book. His fixation with height got irritating. There is no steam. None. It's nearly all coy fade-to-black and that got me frustrated. I couldn't get attached because I felt thwarted anytime Pete was getting together with anyone. His only vulnerability was getting overwhelmed by other people's emotions, and It made sense, but it didn't really touch me. I felt bad for Pete, and nervous for him, but his pain didn't become my pain, his joy was never my joy. I felt like the second he met Ellery I knew exactly what was going to happen, and that's pretty much what happened. That he couldn't feel what was going on with Ellery was a bit of a head shaker. Also, the diction and some syntax was consistent with British English, though this book was (somehow and barely recognizably) set in the US.
I don't know if I'm going to delve into the next book which is more of Pete and Ellery. I wanted so much to love this. Empaths and psychics working together and falling in love? Seemed like a perfect match for me, but it mostly fell flat instead. I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.
January 20, 2016
Keep by Hollis Shiloh (MM/Romance/Paranormal)
A copy of this book was provided to me by Inked Rainbow Reads in exchange for an honest review.
**** 4 STARS****
ESRB stands for Extra Sensory Regulatory Bureau.
In this book, the world has a bureau that rates a persons abnormal abilities such as mind reading, future predicting, etc. Well Pete, the main character in book 2 has the ability to detect lies. He can't read the people's thoughts, but he can get strong impressions of what they're thinking. Pretty cool...and pretty hellish.
I'm not sure if I like Pete. I think I do, but somewhere in the middle of reading, I started to not like him so much. I felt bad for him. His ability was supposed to take him places, FINALLY, after all those years of feeling useless, but he didn't get what he hoped for. Working for the police as a lie detector was killing him. Plus his relationships sucked. I felt for the guy, but he was just too all over the place for me to find common ground with him.
Maybe it's because the beginning threw me off. His personality did a 180. I guess I can blame that on his depression, but really, like the police chief or captain said...he wasn't TRYING to get to know or get along with any of the other police force. And Pete knew that. At least he knew he was on the road to self destruction.
Oh, and I think I was more devastated than Pete when "Jeff's" true self was revealed. Man, I really wanted them to be together. I wanted them to be the main pairing, but that didn't happen. "Jeff" started off sexy, mysterious...then he became a total A-Hole. Maybe that's the real reason why I don't like this story by the end. The guy Pete ended up with felt all wrong for him. Meh.
Still, I'm giving this a 4 because the author was able to make me FEEL for Pete. The emotions were spot on and convincing. I kept reading straight through, a part of me hoping that "Jeff" would redeem himself. Lol. No such luck.
A copy of this book was provided to me by Inked Rainbow Reads in exchange for an honest review.
**** 4 STARS****
ESRB stands for Extra Sensory Regulatory Bureau.
In this book, the world has a bureau that rates a persons abnormal abilities such as mind reading, future predicting, etc. Well Pete, the main character in book 2 has the ability to detect lies. He can't read the people's thoughts, but he can get strong impressions of what they're thinking. Pretty cool...and pretty hellish.
I'm not sure if I like Pete. I think I do, but somewhere in the middle of reading, I started to not like him so much. I felt bad for him. His ability was supposed to take him places, FINALLY, after all those years of feeling useless, but he didn't get what he hoped for. Working for the police as a lie detector was killing him. Plus his relationships sucked. I felt for the guy, but he was just too all over the place for me to find common ground with him.
Maybe it's because the beginning threw me off. His personality did a 180. I guess I can blame that on his depression, but really, like the police chief or captain said...he wasn't TRYING to get to know or get along with any of the other police force. And Pete knew that. At least he knew he was on the road to self destruction.
Oh, and I think I was more devastated than Pete when "Jeff's" true self was revealed. Man, I really wanted them to be together. I wanted them to be the main pairing, but that didn't happen. "Jeff" started off sexy, mysterious...then he became a total A-Hole. Maybe that's the real reason why I don't like this story by the end. The guy Pete ended up with felt all wrong for him. Meh.
Still, I'm giving this a 4 because the author was able to make me FEEL for Pete. The emotions were spot on and convincing. I kept reading straight through, a part of me hoping that "Jeff" would redeem himself. Lol. No such luck.
January 17, 2016
This was the first book I've ever read by Hollis Shiloh. After reading the synopsis of this one I was pretty intrigued, but unfortunately I just couldn't get into this one. I had a really hard time liking the MC, Pete. The first half of the book is him going through multiple men and relationships and he falls for every one of them. So by the time he finally meets Ell I was already expecting it and irritated. I did really love Ell's character. This one has a bit of a cliffhanger ending too, which I wasn't aware of, so nothing was resolved in the end. It looks like they will be continuing with Pete's story in the next book of the series. I probably won't continue with this series. All of that being said, these are just my opinions, you may feel completely differently than me. =)
** I received a free copy of this title via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. **
** I received a free copy of this title via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. **
June 18, 2017
I jumped into this series without reading the 1st book since it could be read as a stand alone. That being said I just kind of cruised through this book without anything really pulling me in. It is a little bit different from a lot of PNR in that it doesn't focus alot on the paranormal stuff but Pete also doesn't have a main love interest through most of the book. This book seems to have Pete bouncing off one man to another along with bouncing off one job to another. Eventually he lands in a posh job and cute boyfriend to have his HEA. It wasn't a bad read but I can't see myself re-reading this anytime soon either.
September 3, 2017
50% of the book is about Pete getting laid with 3 differents persons that he won't end up with (even if he wanted to because he is a mess that just wants to be love but he obviously lack of self respect...) so i am not really into this kind of book but why not... The last 50% were good, i like Ellery a lot!! The rest of ther story is in the book 3 (I am happy i've read this book when the third book was already realeased because i hate cliffhanger...).
Because of the first part of the book, i am sure i won't re-read this book again...
Because of the first part of the book, i am sure i won't re-read this book again...
April 26, 2020
A solid...meh. Two main complaints.
1. There is no real climax to this book. It just kind of happens, slice-of-life style. There is sort of a pseudo-climax, but it isn't even really about the main character and by that point I was uninvested enough in the story I mostly just skimmed through.
2. Playing into the slice-of-life style there were a lot of false starts that really didn't go anywhere. I don't think every story needs Chekhov's gun applied to it but I do feel like this one needed some more of that principle applied.
1. There is no real climax to this book. It just kind of happens, slice-of-life style. There is sort of a pseudo-climax, but it isn't even really about the main character and by that point I was uninvested enough in the story I mostly just skimmed through.
2. Playing into the slice-of-life style there were a lot of false starts that really didn't go anywhere. I don't think every story needs Chekhov's gun applied to it but I do feel like this one needed some more of that principle applied.
June 6, 2017
Wow. This was a real emotional ride. I love all of Hollis's books but this one is now my favorite. I can't wait for more of Pete and Ell. I'd also like to check in on Collin. It be nice to know if Jeff got smacked down. I recommend all of Hollis's books.
July 30, 2025
MM paranormal romance. I unfortunately read book three of this series prior to starting book two, so I already knew what will happen to these characters, and had a good idea of what has already occurred. I found book three to be more satisfying than this one.
The first main character we meet has trouble maintaining romantic relationships, either because of his own actions or those of the other guy. He gets a job at a police station, where he rubs everyone the wrong way, as he has done all his life. Later, he gets a job at another company, which is much more pleasant. He meets the only other paranormal working there. Both are the only gay employees of the company, as I recall. They soon find that they are most comfortable spending time with each other.
As with some other of this author's early work, there is too much on-page graphic sex for my tastes here.
The first main character we meet has trouble maintaining romantic relationships, either because of his own actions or those of the other guy. He gets a job at a police station, where he rubs everyone the wrong way, as he has done all his life. Later, he gets a job at another company, which is much more pleasant. He meets the only other paranormal working there. Both are the only gay employees of the company, as I recall. They soon find that they are most comfortable spending time with each other.
As with some other of this author's early work, there is too much on-page graphic sex for my tastes here.
January 14, 2016
I really struggled with rating this. I only gave it a 3 instead of a 2 because of the redemption at the end. It is so full of angst and a character that I truly disliked through much of the book. Peter/Pete is one of those guys who falls in "love" way too easily and either involves himself with really, really wrong men who ditch him despicably or he completely shreds the relationships that he has with good ones. I felt so sorry for one guy that he dated. This was the nicest, most gentle, caring guy and Peter just pushes him away and treats him awfully. Peter also acts like an antisocial jerk to most people until he does a real turnaround fairly late in the book. I did really love the Ellery character who reminded me a lot of Casey in the first ERSB book in that he was sweet and fragile and totally lovable. Peter, on the other hand, is often depressed or his story depressing. I was so disappointed after really loving the first in the series. There the writing is great and the way the extra sensory abilities and liabilities are described is fascinating. While the book is complete, there are allusions and foreshadowing that appear to be resolved in another book about the characters. I will definitely read it and hope that Peter maintains his improved attitude and mental health.
May 3, 2016
I'm going with three stars on this one. It's probably more like 2.75 stars rounded up but Hollis has not let me down in the past. I'm really lousy at writing a "Review" so I'll point to Anana3322's Review.
Towards the end it finally seems like the MC Peter is starting to pull his head out of his ass and getting a clue. I realize that he has been through a lot but that still doesn't make it less frustrating when he makes poor (and self-destructive) choices. I love Ellis. Look at all the crap hes been through. He has a lot of problems too but he's not a "dick"
I'm 25% into SURE (the next book in the series) and things are looking up soooo *fingers crossed*
Towards the end it finally seems like the MC Peter is starting to pull his head out of his ass and getting a clue. I realize that he has been through a lot but that still doesn't make it less frustrating when he makes poor (and self-destructive) choices. I love Ellis. Look at all the crap hes been through. He has a lot of problems too but he's not a "dick"
I'm 25% into SURE (the next book in the series) and things are looking up soooo *fingers crossed*
January 9, 2016
Let me start by saying that I love Hollis Shiloh and l read and loved almost all of her books. This isn't one of them. I've read the first book in the Men of the ESRB series and took right to it. l couldn't wait for the second book to be released! Well as some already mentioned it is different from the first book. Being pissed at the main character didn't help. So if you like the world of the ESRB and don't mind a winy main man, than go for it. Otherwise don't.
Sexy-Time-Rating: Explicit
Sexy-Time-Rating: Explicit
January 25, 2016
the story and plot intrigued me so much it kept me reading even though the writing was amateurish. but then I came to the end and it was a cliffhanger one that didn't really need to be there. I wanted to like this one more than I did and the only reason I kept reading it was because I was interested in the uniqueness of the story. unfortunately it just didn't measure up. I found the author to be repetitive and the characters to be a bit flat.
March 30, 2016
I gave this book 4 stars because over all the story and writting were good BUT I still never warmed up to Pete because I thought he was a very selfish person. I loved Ell and felt he did deserved better. Not sure if I'm going to read the next in the series titled Sure based on it being about Pete again.
January 6, 2016
A wonderful read
This second ESRB book has some of the elements of the first one. This is well written with a lot of character development. I can picture it clearly. The romance takes its time. But you won't be disappointed. The two main protagonists are flawed, enigmatic, and lovable. Going to get Book 3.
This second ESRB book has some of the elements of the first one. This is well written with a lot of character development. I can picture it clearly. The romance takes its time. But you won't be disappointed. The two main protagonists are flawed, enigmatic, and lovable. Going to get Book 3.
January 19, 2016
I wanted to see a story using this world the Author is trying to create, but what I got was flat characters and a heavy focus on his sexuality (as in him reminding me every few pages that he is gay) and him having sex. Even as a romance it falls short with you not meeting the romantic lead until over 60% in.
March 24, 2016
I liked it very much, because the ending is not clear from the beginning. At all. True, it is a bit of a cliffhanger, but the next book is already out, even if it does not seem to be on goodreads. The third on starts a bit rambly and repetitive, but then picks up speed and really pulled me in. Now I am looking forward to the next one :)
April 8, 2016
S'alright. It is a little bit unusual as it doesn't follow the usual romance formula where it is just the main character and his love interest. There is some exploring his options stuff going on which is nice. But this series still isn't grabbing me.
August 11, 2016
Oh Peter
To have such heartbreak and still go on shows strength and Pete has it in spades.
Moving around and trying to fit in he's got so much going for him.
Ellery I love him so much he's such a sweetie can't wait to read the next book.
To have such heartbreak and still go on shows strength and Pete has it in spades.
Moving around and trying to fit in he's got so much going for him.
Ellery I love him so much he's such a sweetie can't wait to read the next book.
dnf
March 29, 2016oh my goooooooooood this was terrible
nothing redeemable. **tosses book**
nothing redeemable. **tosses book**
April 14, 2016
liked this story even less than the first. really odd way of writing and the characters aren't believable.
May 1, 2016
So good
I loved going on this adventure with Pete and Ell. I'm so looking forward to more of these guys. So good.
I loved going on this adventure with Pete and Ell. I'm so looking forward to more of these guys. So good.
March 27, 2017
Treat Me Right
Having paranormal gifts doesn't make life perfect. In fact it can just complicate things even more! Private investigator turned police empath shows Peter the ugly side of life. When he's offered a new job his life definitely looks up! Add in a sexy coworker and a dream boss and things heat up even more.
A super fun read!
Having paranormal gifts doesn't make life perfect. In fact it can just complicate things even more! Private investigator turned police empath shows Peter the ugly side of life. When he's offered a new job his life definitely looks up! Add in a sexy coworker and a dream boss and things heat up even more.
A super fun read!
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews