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Evolution Ink #1
High Contrast
The deepest scars aren’t the ones that show.
Evolution Ink, Book 1
Jacob Shain is your average member of Generation Screwed. He has a boring internship, no cash flow, and a tiny NYC apartment he has to share with Ethan, his much-cooler, tattoo-artist twin brother. Not to mention his love life is DOA. At least, until his brother’s shop hires on a new piercer, and Jacob’s humdrum life takes a turn for the weird.
Cody Turner is gorgeous, funny and kind—everything Jacob wants in a boyfriend. Except for the way he refuses to talk about his past, or where he lives, or anything about his personal life.
When Ethan is arrested while on a mission of mercy, the reason Cody is so tight lipped comes to light. And while Jacob and Cody fight to understand the depth of their feelings for one another, the police dogs catch their scent. So does the local mob.
Now Jacob has to make the hardest choice of his stay safe like a good boy, or dive headfirst into a world he barely understands…and hope Cody is there to break his fall.
Contains a good boy who wants to be bad, a bad boy who longs to be good, bodies that are canvases for living art and high-speed chases with police dogs.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 3, 2016
227 people want to read
About the author
Tess Bowery
4 books138 followersTess has been a fan of historical fiction since learning the Greek and Roman myths at her mother's knee. Now let loose on a computer, she's spinning her own tales of romance and passion in a slightly more modern setting. Tess lives on the east coast, with her partner of fifteen years and two cats who should have been named 'Writer's Block' and 'Get Off the Keyboard, Dammit.'
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
August 6, 2016
3.75 HEARTS--If you love wisecracks, an ensemble supporting cast that read like an alternative Scooby gang and piercings...a lot of piercings with a slow burn romance between comic lovers mixed in...let me introduce you to Tess Bowery's High Contrast (Evolution Ink #1), her first published contemporary.
Jacob Shain is the less cooler twin. He's an unpaid marketing intern to his older twin's tattoo artist. Jacob is used to his role in life, he's fine with it. Until he lays his eyes on his brother's new piercer, Cody Turner. He's larger, blonde, tattooed and pierced. Basically, he's me and Jacob's walking dream (oh boy was he...*hint* piercings upstairs matches downstairs.
Whoops...getting ahead of myself. Pierced fans...gather closer. Seriously.
Jacob is flusters in major geekery for Cody. But Cody is damaged soul, has baggage and bad experiences under his belt that puts Jacob securely in the friend zone. This lasts for a long time. Cody has secrets, no one wouldn't understand, yadda yadda cry me a river. Jacob wants to be Cody's everything and befriends the guy. They share so many interests, but don't say much to take their friendship to the next level.
While the romance slowly burned at the lowest heat in the first half, Jacob's brother and his tattoo shop friends are a crew of sorts. It's stated that Jacob couldn't make other friends than these Evolution Ink shop workers but he didn't read resigned to have them as his friends. In fact, the group read very close like a family, like a team. Any thing that happens to one, seemed to involve them all.
Possible Triggers: Drug Use, Past Abuse (vaguely mentioned & off page, some violence)
The team mentality lends itself into the other major arc of the story since the gang has to solve who is behind ratting to the cops, saving a damaged team member, etc. I felt like I was possibly about the alt Scooby gang rather than the couple in the first half.
The last 40% or so? Made up for the slight. The build was worth it.
Knowing that High Contrast has fan fiction roots made a major difference for me while reading. (This isn't a secret.) It helped put some of the parts where reality needed to be suspended into perspective. I rated this a little higher after learning about its roots like why the slow burn was so slow. It was due to what I dub fan fic drag - the writer drags out the inevitable for chapters upon chapter, for numerous weeks for maximum readership.
Such was the case in here. All systems were go, words were exchanged, just about everyone comments on Jacob and Cody's non-movement to the next phase. A warning for those not too keen on supporting characters lending their two cents.
There were issues for me even though I enjoyed the couple.
The suspense/action....eh. They aren't super heroes, so I'm not sold on every day new adults jumping into the fray against mobs and drug lords. Or breaking and entering because the cops aren't to be trusted etc. I was on board up until the arrest aftermath...after that, things got a little pear shaped in the believability spectrum. For the fandom? Totally works and it's clever how their characteristics are tied into "every day" folks.
The mannerisms...sometimes the inner voices and facial expressions were read too eerily for contemp. You can totally read expressions off of someone's face but sometimes the inner dialogue read like the characters were mind readers
The last 10-15% - it read like a comic book. (The entire story did TBH) But the showdown, the double identities, the 'violence', dealing with a work bully, etc...my reality suspension rubber snapped here and there. Pair that with the NYC setting, something was off kilter for me here. It didn't seem as...contemporary. More like AU.
Cody...on the surface, he's the total package. And I wouldn't categorize him as a "bad boy". He's had a crap life and only shitty options available. Something that read a little off for me was the past relationship and the way the abuse (off page) didn't seem to affect as much as he tried to portray. The author does a decent enough of laying the groundwork as to why Cody is tight lipped...but somewhere in the last third of the story...it was more like lip service than characteristics. I still like him though. (Even if there weren't any piercings)
But...the sweet romance between two good, geeky guys? The hot sex? THE PIERCINGS?! *coughs* Frenum ladder (swoon), Prince Albert (swoon^2), hip, lip, tongue and ear piercings on top of the tatts and scars? (There was scarification and a mention or two of suspension)
Totally worth the read.
I think the romance part was stronger than the crime/suspense. The wisecracks were a little too thick for me. I think snark loving readers should totally check this out. For me the funny can be laid on too thick and I don't mind if the dialogue didn't read like smart alecky bumper stickers. But my humor needs might be as simpatico as potential readers. Take the humor gripe with a grain of salt.
I'm definitely checking out the next book in the series. I'm hoping it might be starring a hothead and a lawyer.
The writing was engaging, even if sometime it went over my head. I liked the characters.
I recommend this to fan fic readers, especially comic fandoms, new adult readers who prefer their main characters to really get to know one another before being intimate and Prince Albert fans.
Because royalty and all that jazz. ;P
A copy provided for an honest review.
Jacob Shain is the less cooler twin. He's an unpaid marketing intern to his older twin's tattoo artist. Jacob is used to his role in life, he's fine with it. Until he lays his eyes on his brother's new piercer, Cody Turner. He's larger, blonde, tattooed and pierced. Basically, he's me and Jacob's walking dream (oh boy was he...*hint* piercings upstairs matches downstairs.
Whoops...getting ahead of myself. Pierced fans...gather closer. Seriously.
Jacob is flusters in major geekery for Cody. But Cody is damaged soul, has baggage and bad experiences under his belt that puts Jacob securely in the friend zone. This lasts for a long time. Cody has secrets, no one wouldn't understand, yadda yadda cry me a river. Jacob wants to be Cody's everything and befriends the guy. They share so many interests, but don't say much to take their friendship to the next level.
While the romance slowly burned at the lowest heat in the first half, Jacob's brother and his tattoo shop friends are a crew of sorts. It's stated that Jacob couldn't make other friends than these Evolution Ink shop workers but he didn't read resigned to have them as his friends. In fact, the group read very close like a family, like a team. Any thing that happens to one, seemed to involve them all.
Possible Triggers: Drug Use, Past Abuse (vaguely mentioned & off page, some violence)
The team mentality lends itself into the other major arc of the story since the gang has to solve who is behind ratting to the cops, saving a damaged team member, etc. I felt like I was possibly about the alt Scooby gang rather than the couple in the first half.
The last 40% or so? Made up for the slight. The build was worth it.
Knowing that High Contrast has fan fiction roots made a major difference for me while reading. (This isn't a secret.) It helped put some of the parts where reality needed to be suspended into perspective. I rated this a little higher after learning about its roots like why the slow burn was so slow. It was due to what I dub fan fic drag - the writer drags out the inevitable for chapters upon chapter, for numerous weeks for maximum readership.
Such was the case in here. All systems were go, words were exchanged, just about everyone comments on Jacob and Cody's non-movement to the next phase. A warning for those not too keen on supporting characters lending their two cents.
There were issues for me even though I enjoyed the couple.
The suspense/action....eh. They aren't super heroes, so I'm not sold on every day new adults jumping into the fray against mobs and drug lords. Or breaking and entering because the cops aren't to be trusted etc. I was on board up until the arrest aftermath...after that, things got a little pear shaped in the believability spectrum. For the fandom? Totally works and it's clever how their characteristics are tied into "every day" folks.
The mannerisms...sometimes the inner voices and facial expressions were read too eerily for contemp. You can totally read expressions off of someone's face but sometimes the inner dialogue read like the characters were mind readers
The last 10-15% - it read like a comic book. (The entire story did TBH) But the showdown, the double identities, the 'violence', dealing with a work bully, etc...my reality suspension rubber snapped here and there. Pair that with the NYC setting, something was off kilter for me here. It didn't seem as...contemporary. More like AU.
Cody...on the surface, he's the total package. And I wouldn't categorize him as a "bad boy". He's had a crap life and only shitty options available. Something that read a little off for me was the past relationship and the way the abuse (off page) didn't seem to affect as much as he tried to portray. The author does a decent enough of laying the groundwork as to why Cody is tight lipped...but somewhere in the last third of the story...it was more like lip service than characteristics. I still like him though. (Even if there weren't any piercings)
But...the sweet romance between two good, geeky guys? The hot sex? THE PIERCINGS?! *coughs* Frenum ladder (swoon), Prince Albert (swoon^2), hip, lip, tongue and ear piercings on top of the tatts and scars? (There was scarification and a mention or two of suspension)
Totally worth the read.
I think the romance part was stronger than the crime/suspense. The wisecracks were a little too thick for me. I think snark loving readers should totally check this out. For me the funny can be laid on too thick and I don't mind if the dialogue didn't read like smart alecky bumper stickers. But my humor needs might be as simpatico as potential readers. Take the humor gripe with a grain of salt.
I'm definitely checking out the next book in the series. I'm hoping it might be starring a hothead and a lawyer.
The writing was engaging, even if sometime it went over my head. I liked the characters.
I recommend this to fan fic readers, especially comic fandoms, new adult readers who prefer their main characters to really get to know one another before being intimate and Prince Albert fans.
Because royalty and all that jazz. ;P
A copy provided for an honest review.
March 9, 2016
I had a total blast reading this one. I didn’t expect much from it but I totally got more in return! I’ve never read anything from the author before this and now, I’m thinking of getting her two other books released in 2015!
High Contrast is highly relatable, at least on my end. Jacob Shain is a lowly unpaid intern who shares an apartment with his twin brother Ethan and is the geeky-comic-book-video-games-loving brother in contrast with his much-cooler-tattoo-artist twin. I mean, I’m basically living the life of Jacob! So with that I can totally see eye to eye with his character although I’ve to say that Jacob’s way fun and funnier! He’s so adorkable! His inner monologues are my life-force in this book!
Enter uber-gorgeous-tattooed-piercer Cody Turner, the new employee of Evolution Ink where Ethan was a co-owner and where Jacob usually hangs out. Cody is quiet, smart, kind and doesn’t give too many personal information but it was lust at first sight for Jacob baby so he’s so ready to take on the challenge of getting Cody to open up.
Only it wasn’t that easy and simple especially after a number of hooligans suddenly showed up that threatens Cody, their friends and their budding relationship!
Truly, this is one book I will recommend for anyone looking for something that is angst-free and just feel-good all over. There was humor in it, the romance was very palpable with unbelievably hot steamy scenes and the writing was truly entertaining and engaging overall.
I will definitely be on the lookout for the next installment!
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
High Contrast is highly relatable, at least on my end. Jacob Shain is a lowly unpaid intern who shares an apartment with his twin brother Ethan and is the geeky-comic-book-video-games-loving brother in contrast with his much-cooler-tattoo-artist twin. I mean, I’m basically living the life of Jacob! So with that I can totally see eye to eye with his character although I’ve to say that Jacob’s way fun and funnier! He’s so adorkable! His inner monologues are my life-force in this book!
Enter uber-gorgeous-tattooed-piercer Cody Turner, the new employee of Evolution Ink where Ethan was a co-owner and where Jacob usually hangs out. Cody is quiet, smart, kind and doesn’t give too many personal information but it was lust at first sight for Jacob baby so he’s so ready to take on the challenge of getting Cody to open up.
Only it wasn’t that easy and simple especially after a number of hooligans suddenly showed up that threatens Cody, their friends and their budding relationship!
Truly, this is one book I will recommend for anyone looking for something that is angst-free and just feel-good all over. There was humor in it, the romance was very palpable with unbelievably hot steamy scenes and the writing was truly entertaining and engaging overall.
I will definitely be on the lookout for the next installment!
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
July 11, 2016
3.5 stars rounded up to 4. "High Contrast" focuses around Evolution Ink : Tattoos and Body Piercing, founded by Ethan, Travis and Valentina with Cody (the new gorgeous mysterious piercer) and Priya behind the front counter. Add in Ethan's twin Jacob, Ethan's girlfriend Andi, the landlord Mr. Ashton and his dog, then toss in the mysterious Russian guys from the Cash-for-Gold store next door, Drew Sullivan (Jacob and Andi's creepy coworker), legal aid attorney Marc, Uncle Joe, Cody's ex Vincent and the book get a bit crowded.
Bowery introduces a subplot that I felt distracted from Jacob and Cody's story and slowed down the general flow of the book. Another subplot near the end of the book involved the Evolution Ink gang once again goin' all Scoobyesque (is that even a word?) which seemed like overkill.
But, at the heart of this story is a very sweet love story between MCs Jacob and Cody who, despite all the chaos around them, have a low-angst relationship that develops fairly slowly. Add in a frenum ladder, surface bars, a Prince Albert and some unbelievably beautiful ink-free body art, and their relationship absolutely sizzles.
High Contrast was a quirky story with loads of characters and adventure, plus Cody and Jacob's feel-good love story and an ending that feels right for the main characters, while still leaving lots of room for future books in the Evolution Ink series. It was a fun read.
I received an ARC of the book from Samhain Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Review also posted at GayBook Reviews. Check it out!
Bowery introduces a subplot that I felt distracted from Jacob and Cody's story and slowed down the general flow of the book. Another subplot near the end of the book involved the Evolution Ink gang once again goin' all Scoobyesque (is that even a word?) which seemed like overkill.
But, at the heart of this story is a very sweet love story between MCs Jacob and Cody who, despite all the chaos around them, have a low-angst relationship that develops fairly slowly. Add in a frenum ladder, surface bars, a Prince Albert and some unbelievably beautiful ink-free body art, and their relationship absolutely sizzles.
Two more pairs of jewels winked at his hips, angled to point down, emphasize the glorious V-shape of his muscles, a pair of treasure trail-enhancers that hinted at an arrow leading to the promised land. “Surface bars.” Cody grinned wickedly.
High Contrast was a quirky story with loads of characters and adventure, plus Cody and Jacob's feel-good love story and an ending that feels right for the main characters, while still leaving lots of room for future books in the Evolution Ink series. It was a fun read.
I received an ARC of the book from Samhain Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Review also posted at GayBook Reviews. Check it out!
March 7, 2016
High Contrast (Evolution Ink, #1) was my first book by Tess Bowery and will definitely not be my last. I am already dying for Evolution Ink #2!!!
I LOVED the writing, super fun, very engaging, the flow was easy and overall quite addicting. Page turner. There was humor, drama, some angst and a lot of love and friendship.
I LOVED the way Jacob and Cody’s friendship progressed slowly but had that spark right from the start, and you were just waiting for it to finally, finally ignite. When it happened, god it was magnificent. Their romance was beautiful—sweet and touching. There was a lot of adorable banter. The two of them were so perfect together and are now part of my favorite couples list.
I also enjoyed that there was more to the story than the two of them falling in love. I found the entire cast to be incredibly lovely—caring, bickering, funny and just so entertaining. It felt a bit like I was watching an episode of FRIENDS, but instead of hanging out at the coffee shop they had their lovely tattoo parlor.
If you instantly adore Jacob like I did, slowly fall in love with Cody, enjoy the shit out of Ethan, have a thing for piercings of all kind, love their little tattoo shop and crew, you very likely NEVER WANT THIS BOOK TO END.
The prologue—fun, fun & double-yum —there, I linger ((sigh)) my heart feeling so light and giddy that any more of this would make me explode. My dog would be picking little bits of Mum out of the old rug and curtains for weeks.
****
Many thanks to the publisher who kindly provided a free copy for an honest and impartial review.
I LOVED the writing, super fun, very engaging, the flow was easy and overall quite addicting. Page turner. There was humor, drama, some angst and a lot of love and friendship.
I LOVED the way Jacob and Cody’s friendship progressed slowly but had that spark right from the start, and you were just waiting for it to finally, finally ignite. When it happened, god it was magnificent. Their romance was beautiful—sweet and touching. There was a lot of adorable banter. The two of them were so perfect together and are now part of my favorite couples list.
I also enjoyed that there was more to the story than the two of them falling in love. I found the entire cast to be incredibly lovely—caring, bickering, funny and just so entertaining. It felt a bit like I was watching an episode of FRIENDS, but instead of hanging out at the coffee shop they had their lovely tattoo parlor.
If you instantly adore Jacob like I did, slowly fall in love with Cody, enjoy the shit out of Ethan, have a thing for piercings of all kind, love their little tattoo shop and crew, you very likely NEVER WANT THIS BOOK TO END.
The prologue—fun, fun & double-yum —there, I linger ((sigh)) my heart feeling so light and giddy that any more of this would make me explode. My dog would be picking little bits of Mum out of the old rug and curtains for weeks.
****
Many thanks to the publisher who kindly provided a free copy for an honest and impartial review.
May 3, 2016
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
High Contrast is a fun story that has a nice balance of romance and lighthearted adventure. The blurb says it’s the story of “a good boy who wants to be bad, a bad boy who longs to be good” and this describes these guys perfectly. Though Cody isn’t really a bad guy as much as one who has fallen into very hard times, made some mistakes, and is trying to turn his life around. But he is still sweet and kind and beating himself up, but trying to do better. So I’d say “bad boy light” but Cody is definitely more on the fringe on the appearance side, with a host of tattoos and piercings and body mods (so if that is your kink, you will find it here).
I really liked these guys together. They dance around each other for a while, both feeling strong attraction and but both feeling like they should keep their distance. Cody is worried about his past and about dragging Jacob into trouble. And Jacob feels inadequate next to the gorgeous and super hip Cody. Not to mention that he worries about taking advantage of Cody’s vulnerability at times. I kind of loved that everyone around them is like “just fuck already!” as these guys try to figure things out. But when they finally get together, they are super sexy.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
High Contrast is a fun story that has a nice balance of romance and lighthearted adventure. The blurb says it’s the story of “a good boy who wants to be bad, a bad boy who longs to be good” and this describes these guys perfectly. Though Cody isn’t really a bad guy as much as one who has fallen into very hard times, made some mistakes, and is trying to turn his life around. But he is still sweet and kind and beating himself up, but trying to do better. So I’d say “bad boy light” but Cody is definitely more on the fringe on the appearance side, with a host of tattoos and piercings and body mods (so if that is your kink, you will find it here).
I really liked these guys together. They dance around each other for a while, both feeling strong attraction and but both feeling like they should keep their distance. Cody is worried about his past and about dragging Jacob into trouble. And Jacob feels inadequate next to the gorgeous and super hip Cody. Not to mention that he worries about taking advantage of Cody’s vulnerability at times. I kind of loved that everyone around them is like “just fuck already!” as these guys try to figure things out. But when they finally get together, they are super sexy.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
March 4, 2016
I have to say that I loved Jacob's character so much! My heart really hurt for Cody and the life he had lived before he met Jacob. These two were perfect together, and I really enjoyed all of their dorky moments together. All of the secondary characters were a lot of fun too. I really enjoyed this one a lot. I had a little bit of everything that I loved: humor, heartfelt moments, and of course steamy sex. Jacob and Ethan cracked me up with their teasing back and forth too. It reminded me of me with some of my siblings. Great start to a series! Can't wait for the next one!
** I received an ARC of this title via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. **
** I received an ARC of this title via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. **
May 4, 2016
Jacob is a plain, geeky, out gay man, living with his wild, artistic, tattoo-artist brother, Ethan, in an apartment in NYC. He's serving a summer as an unpaid intern in his BFFs father's ad company, and pretty much hating life. A Lot. Jacob wants a man, he feels like a fuddy-duddy, and is currently having a major hopeless crush on the newest employee at Ethan's tat shop: Cody, the piercer.
Cody's a wet-dream of a man, in Jacob's opinion. Tall and lithe, with long blonde hair, amazing tats, and soooo many piercings. His junk could set off the TSA body scanners, I bet. Jacob doesn't know this, at first, he just hangs out at Ethan's job mooning over Cody, wishing Cody was gay. Or bi. Or bi-curious...
Thing is, they really hit it off, and it turns out the Cody is totally gay, just not interested----in getting Jacob mixed up in Cody's messed up life. And that's not cool in Jacob's opinion. This book was so refreshing, with it's motley cast of hell-raising tat artists, poor schmucky Jacob, and Princess Andi, Jacob's bestie who is also Ethan's girlfriend. I really dug the total dynamic, and the twists this book took were beyond the pale.
Ethan gets in trouble for running pot for disabled vets who can't get a legal prescription filled, as a favor to his business partner. Turns out the "po-po" (NYPD) had been tipped off, and that brings the Russian mob, corrupt cops, Cody's drug-running ex, and a masquerading old Slovak woman into the mix. We don't know where the danger lay, but we do know that Jacob will save his brother any which way he can, and Cody feels indebted to The Brothers Shain for their assistance in his recent domestic problems, so he's down for a Dumpster dive or a covert op, when needed.
I loved how Jacob and Cody totally bonded. They are "geeks of a feather" and that was really cool for this geek to read. Jacob's an upstanding guy--and pretty much hysterically neurotic--so he's all about not pressuring Cody into doing anything physical--while he's also doing a serious solid for Cody. Can't have the beautiful man feel beholden, or anything. Oy vey. It's Cody who makes the moves here, and he's so smitten with Jacob it's swoony.
Expect bad guys who try to hurt good guys, funny guys who make fun of not funny guys, a couple of covert ops run by absolute novices--seriously, it's like me and my sisters trying to take down a gang--that result in amazing stand-offs and heroic deeds. I really don't want to give the plot away, but I can tell you this one ends on a really high note, and it's only the beginning of the series.
Also, Jacob and Cody totally get it on, and Jacob learns the benefits of metal-augmented male appendages. *wink wink* I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.
Cody's a wet-dream of a man, in Jacob's opinion. Tall and lithe, with long blonde hair, amazing tats, and soooo many piercings. His junk could set off the TSA body scanners, I bet. Jacob doesn't know this, at first, he just hangs out at Ethan's job mooning over Cody, wishing Cody was gay. Or bi. Or bi-curious...
Thing is, they really hit it off, and it turns out the Cody is totally gay, just not interested----in getting Jacob mixed up in Cody's messed up life. And that's not cool in Jacob's opinion. This book was so refreshing, with it's motley cast of hell-raising tat artists, poor schmucky Jacob, and Princess Andi, Jacob's bestie who is also Ethan's girlfriend. I really dug the total dynamic, and the twists this book took were beyond the pale.
Ethan gets in trouble for running pot for disabled vets who can't get a legal prescription filled, as a favor to his business partner. Turns out the "po-po" (NYPD) had been tipped off, and that brings the Russian mob, corrupt cops, Cody's drug-running ex, and a masquerading old Slovak woman into the mix. We don't know where the danger lay, but we do know that Jacob will save his brother any which way he can, and Cody feels indebted to The Brothers Shain for their assistance in his recent domestic problems, so he's down for a Dumpster dive or a covert op, when needed.
I loved how Jacob and Cody totally bonded. They are "geeks of a feather" and that was really cool for this geek to read. Jacob's an upstanding guy--and pretty much hysterically neurotic--so he's all about not pressuring Cody into doing anything physical--while he's also doing a serious solid for Cody. Can't have the beautiful man feel beholden, or anything. Oy vey. It's Cody who makes the moves here, and he's so smitten with Jacob it's swoony.
Expect bad guys who try to hurt good guys, funny guys who make fun of not funny guys, a couple of covert ops run by absolute novices--seriously, it's like me and my sisters trying to take down a gang--that result in amazing stand-offs and heroic deeds. I really don't want to give the plot away, but I can tell you this one ends on a really high note, and it's only the beginning of the series.
Also, Jacob and Cody totally get it on, and Jacob learns the benefits of metal-augmented male appendages. *wink wink* I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.
May 3, 2016
Jen's Review
This is a first time, new to me author and I didn’t know what to expect from this story. The blurb intrigued me. Honestly that warning sold me because who doesn’t love a bad boy wanting to be good or a good boy wanting to bad. I’m a sucker for hot tattooed guys so there was no question that I’d jump in head first into the story.
This story has a little of everything. It’s a sweet, feel good romance with little angst, a bit of mystery mixed in with a Russian mob. I’m a little torn on how to review this as there are some things that I liked but there are some things that just were really over the top for me. I’ve read other books where there is a mafia type trope mixed into the romance part of the storyline. Usually the characters come off bolder, more violent, and rough where as in this one they were so much tamer than I expected.
So what I liked
I really loved the relationship between Jacob and Cody. These guys were super sweet and there was no doubt they wanted each other.
I really liked how protective Jacob was over Cody and how much he made sure he was close by in case Cody needed him at any given moment. Especially when they found themselves in some pretty sticky situations.
I loved how imperfect Cody and Jacob were. Cody had tons of scars while Jacob has some self-esteem issues.
I really loved that some of their sex scenes weren’t always perfectly executed or easy. Mind you even the messy ones were pretty hot
I liked how much all the secondary characters that were working for Evolution Ink or part of the gang all had each other backs no matter what. No questions asked.
I really loved the relationship aspect of the story. What didn’t work for me was all the other stuff thrown into the mix. The mob, the drug dealing ex, the landlord, even the lawyer. I felt like I was missing some key elements for me to connect with that aspect of the storyline. It just felt too over the top and I think it’s mostly because there were just too many players in the mix. I got confused at times with who did or said what and it just became hodge podge of people. It just felt like too many cooks in the kitchen if you will. But I’m probably going to be in the minority on this one.
I will say that I really wish the story would have just been focused on Cody and Jacob’s relationship. These guys were beautiful, sexy and very hot. So even though I wasn’t completely in love with this story I would like to read more.
March 4, 2016
This was not at all what I expected. From the looks of the cover I expected something a little darker or grittier maybe? More of a serious read at the very least. However I found that High Contrast was more of a mixture of humor, romance and a touch of drama and angst.
High Contrast was not just a story of straight laced Jacob, a self confessed nerd and Cody the reformed badboy tattooed piercer. There is an entire cast of great characters from Jacob's twin brother Ethan, his bestfriend and Ethan's girlfriend Andi, Ethans business partners Travis and Val and sweet young Priya the tattoo shops counter girl. They are a great group of friends, a pseudo-family and best of all a Scoobyesque gang of wannabe slueths.
I loved the banter even if at times it felt a little immature, especially between Jacob and Ethan who at times I felt might have stolen the spotlight. I was a little disappointed with the "criminal/mob" element, mainly because it fell short. There was a lot of potential there but didn't get enough page time.
I think this was a good setup for a series and I will definitely be on the lookout for the next book.
High Contrast was not just a story of straight laced Jacob, a self confessed nerd and Cody the reformed badboy tattooed piercer. There is an entire cast of great characters from Jacob's twin brother Ethan, his bestfriend and Ethan's girlfriend Andi, Ethans business partners Travis and Val and sweet young Priya the tattoo shops counter girl. They are a great group of friends, a pseudo-family and best of all a Scoobyesque gang of wannabe slueths.
I loved the banter even if at times it felt a little immature, especially between Jacob and Ethan who at times I felt might have stolen the spotlight. I was a little disappointed with the "criminal/mob" element, mainly because it fell short. There was a lot of potential there but didn't get enough page time.
I think this was a good setup for a series and I will definitely be on the lookout for the next book.
March 14, 2016
High Contrast, Tess Bowery M/M 4.5 Stars
I just love Tattoo shop stories so this one was right up my alley. With a whole cast of crazy characters from the start this was a lively story. Jacob and Cody are your main characters and love interests. These two seem to be opposites when the story starts but you see they really do have a lot of the same issues.
This is a bit of a social struggle story with some major crime drama tossed in. The author did a great job of writing all of these characters in a way that they all show their inner strengths and work so well together as a team. The story of Jacob and Cody is engaging and you really start to pull for them to get together. There are some really laugh worthy moments along the way and by the end of the story you just love Jacob and Cody. I really enjoyed this book and I hope there are more stories for this great group of characters.
I received a free copy of this book to read for Inked Rainbow Reads in exchange for an honest review.
I just love Tattoo shop stories so this one was right up my alley. With a whole cast of crazy characters from the start this was a lively story. Jacob and Cody are your main characters and love interests. These two seem to be opposites when the story starts but you see they really do have a lot of the same issues.
This is a bit of a social struggle story with some major crime drama tossed in. The author did a great job of writing all of these characters in a way that they all show their inner strengths and work so well together as a team. The story of Jacob and Cody is engaging and you really start to pull for them to get together. There are some really laugh worthy moments along the way and by the end of the story you just love Jacob and Cody. I really enjoyed this book and I hope there are more stories for this great group of characters.
I received a free copy of this book to read for Inked Rainbow Reads in exchange for an honest review.
March 20, 2016
I received a copy of this title to read and review for Wicked Reads
4.5 Inked & Geeked Stars
I had no idea what to expect when I started High Contrast. I try to begin a book with no expectations and an open mind. From the get-go, I adored Jacob's narration. I loved being inside the intern's head. Jacob was a mix of self-deprecating man, adorable geek, and a Jewish grandmother who wants to feed you.
High Contrast follows Jacob and his Scooby Doo gang of friends and family. Half of a set of identical twins, Jacob is the unpaid intern fresh out of college, and his brother, Ethan, is a tattoo artist who also has the art of snark and annoying, pestering 'big' brother. Jacob's BFF, Andi, will probably become his sister-in-law someday. The rest of the gang works at the tattoo parlor, including an eighteen-year-old girl who brought a fresh, innocent edge to the storyline, a lawyer on retainer, and a gruff Russian landlord.
In walks Cody... Big, blond, pierced and tatted up, the gang's new piercer has a past he's running from, and Jacob is the type of person who is a caretaker-fixer. Cody's one secret, being a lover of comic books and all things geek, has poor Jacob's tongue hanging to the floor.
Now, obviously upon meeting this god among men, Jacob's internal dialogue was without a shadow of a doubt hilarious. Not over-the-top, either. Just insecure hilarity that men and women alike could relate too. Jacob and Cody are banterific. Yes, it was the usual boy meets boy, boy thinks new boy won't like him, and new boy is amused by the entire exchange. We're not talking insta-lust, because this was a slow-building romance from a budding friendship. I'd say upon first meeting, it was instant intrigue.
Poor Jacob- Cody plays a tune with his emotions. He likes me! No... he doesn't. Yes! Cody really likes me. *crestfallen* No, he doesn't. Now, the way I wrote that out, it seems annoying. But I was connected to Jacob, so every time Cody plucked at his heartstrings, mine were plucked too. My chest would constrict when Jacob's insecurity would rear its ugly head, and my heart would ache when he was rejected, and I would soar when Cody displayed his wings and will to fly.
I just gave you the setup, and I'm not going to spoil the rest. The writing was fluid. I loved the ease Tess Bowery's writing style, and the realistic edge to the storytelling, making is beyond easy to immerse myself in the debut of the Evolution Ink series. The cast of characters was built around all walks of life from the eighteen-year-old receptionist, to the Russian elderly woman. There was even the landlord's muffled pooch. Together, I dubbed them the Scooby Doo gang who got into waaaayyy too much trouble.
The reason why I can't hand out an easy 5 stars is simply because of said trouble to be had. It made me doubt their intelligence, their sanity, and their survival instincts. But, nevertheless, it was beyond entertaining to read.
Tess Bowery is a new-to-me author, and I can't wait to read more by her, especially the next in this series. Highly recommend this title to MM Romance fans who want a steamy, slow-burn romance, a solid cast of side characters, and zany yet not over-the-top adventurous hijinks with the Russian mafia.
4.5 Inked & Geeked Stars
I had no idea what to expect when I started High Contrast. I try to begin a book with no expectations and an open mind. From the get-go, I adored Jacob's narration. I loved being inside the intern's head. Jacob was a mix of self-deprecating man, adorable geek, and a Jewish grandmother who wants to feed you.
High Contrast follows Jacob and his Scooby Doo gang of friends and family. Half of a set of identical twins, Jacob is the unpaid intern fresh out of college, and his brother, Ethan, is a tattoo artist who also has the art of snark and annoying, pestering 'big' brother. Jacob's BFF, Andi, will probably become his sister-in-law someday. The rest of the gang works at the tattoo parlor, including an eighteen-year-old girl who brought a fresh, innocent edge to the storyline, a lawyer on retainer, and a gruff Russian landlord.
In walks Cody... Big, blond, pierced and tatted up, the gang's new piercer has a past he's running from, and Jacob is the type of person who is a caretaker-fixer. Cody's one secret, being a lover of comic books and all things geek, has poor Jacob's tongue hanging to the floor.
Now, obviously upon meeting this god among men, Jacob's internal dialogue was without a shadow of a doubt hilarious. Not over-the-top, either. Just insecure hilarity that men and women alike could relate too. Jacob and Cody are banterific. Yes, it was the usual boy meets boy, boy thinks new boy won't like him, and new boy is amused by the entire exchange. We're not talking insta-lust, because this was a slow-building romance from a budding friendship. I'd say upon first meeting, it was instant intrigue.
Poor Jacob- Cody plays a tune with his emotions. He likes me! No... he doesn't. Yes! Cody really likes me. *crestfallen* No, he doesn't. Now, the way I wrote that out, it seems annoying. But I was connected to Jacob, so every time Cody plucked at his heartstrings, mine were plucked too. My chest would constrict when Jacob's insecurity would rear its ugly head, and my heart would ache when he was rejected, and I would soar when Cody displayed his wings and will to fly.
I just gave you the setup, and I'm not going to spoil the rest. The writing was fluid. I loved the ease Tess Bowery's writing style, and the realistic edge to the storytelling, making is beyond easy to immerse myself in the debut of the Evolution Ink series. The cast of characters was built around all walks of life from the eighteen-year-old receptionist, to the Russian elderly woman. There was even the landlord's muffled pooch. Together, I dubbed them the Scooby Doo gang who got into waaaayyy too much trouble.
The reason why I can't hand out an easy 5 stars is simply because of said trouble to be had. It made me doubt their intelligence, their sanity, and their survival instincts. But, nevertheless, it was beyond entertaining to read.
Tess Bowery is a new-to-me author, and I can't wait to read more by her, especially the next in this series. Highly recommend this title to MM Romance fans who want a steamy, slow-burn romance, a solid cast of side characters, and zany yet not over-the-top adventurous hijinks with the Russian mafia.
March 7, 2016
This is an enjoyable, feel-good, kick back and tune out the world read. There are no Big Misunderstandings, no Dramaz, no huge Angst Issues that lead to Big Misunderstandings. The plot and characters are quirky and fun.
High Contrast is, simply, a sweet romance.
Jacob is your classic geek working some kind of soul-sucking unpaid internship. His bestie is the CEO’s daughter Andi who can do no wrong. Ethan is Jacob’s twin who co-owns Evolution Ink with Turner and Val. Cody is Evolution Ink's new piercer and Priya is the front counter gal. Then we have the landlord, the land lords dog, the ex-boyfriend and the work tormentor.
Got all that? The character download was my small complaint with the book at the beginning. It was a bit like being introduced to the 12 dwarves at the start of the Lord of the Rings. Who was who again? It got better as the story progressed, but I would have like to have been introduced to the characters a bit more gradually.
My other concern was with Andi's attorney friend and his participation in some of the climatic conclusion activities. The group is participating in some semi-questionable activities and he was participating, and that seemed a bit implausible.
Notables:
For the number of tattoo themed books I’ve read, the piercing aspect was an appreciated change of pace. That the author brought in suspension and scarring elevated the background info beyond the usual tongue, ear, nipples, and Prince Alberts. Nice touch, that.
I also liked Jacob’s doggedness in pursuing Cody, but he wasn’t overly pushy about it. Yes, Jacob’s feelings were up and down, a bit of He loves me! He loves me not! Jacob was finding his way as much as Cody was trying to find some solid ground. It was nice to know that Jacob gave Cody space, but at the same time was able to step up and say, “I’m here for you.”.
That being said, Jacob and Cody’s relationship flirted with that boundary of “insta-love”, but with how the ending played out I believe it avoided falling completely over that line and left room for the characters to grow.
As I noted at the start, this is sweet romance. I liked the romantic tug and pull between Cody and Jacob, the cast of characters was quirky without being too clichéd, the piercing was different enough to be engaging, and the plot avoided being over the top.
Overall: If you aren’t squeamish about piercing, suspension, and intentional scarring, you will probably like this enjoyable, feel-good, sweet romance with a fun group of characters.
Review is cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews
Copy of book provided by the author for a fair and honest review. Thank you!
High Contrast is, simply, a sweet romance.
Jacob is your classic geek working some kind of soul-sucking unpaid internship. His bestie is the CEO’s daughter Andi who can do no wrong. Ethan is Jacob’s twin who co-owns Evolution Ink with Turner and Val. Cody is Evolution Ink's new piercer and Priya is the front counter gal. Then we have the landlord, the land lords dog, the ex-boyfriend and the work tormentor.
Got all that? The character download was my small complaint with the book at the beginning. It was a bit like being introduced to the 12 dwarves at the start of the Lord of the Rings. Who was who again? It got better as the story progressed, but I would have like to have been introduced to the characters a bit more gradually.
My other concern was with Andi's attorney friend and his participation in some of the climatic conclusion activities. The group is participating in some semi-questionable activities and he was participating, and that seemed a bit implausible.
Notables:
For the number of tattoo themed books I’ve read, the piercing aspect was an appreciated change of pace. That the author brought in suspension and scarring elevated the background info beyond the usual tongue, ear, nipples, and Prince Alberts. Nice touch, that.
I also liked Jacob’s doggedness in pursuing Cody, but he wasn’t overly pushy about it. Yes, Jacob’s feelings were up and down, a bit of He loves me! He loves me not! Jacob was finding his way as much as Cody was trying to find some solid ground. It was nice to know that Jacob gave Cody space, but at the same time was able to step up and say, “I’m here for you.”.
That being said, Jacob and Cody’s relationship flirted with that boundary of “insta-love”, but with how the ending played out I believe it avoided falling completely over that line and left room for the characters to grow.
As I noted at the start, this is sweet romance. I liked the romantic tug and pull between Cody and Jacob, the cast of characters was quirky without being too clichéd, the piercing was different enough to be engaging, and the plot avoided being over the top.
Overall: If you aren’t squeamish about piercing, suspension, and intentional scarring, you will probably like this enjoyable, feel-good, sweet romance with a fun group of characters.
Review is cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews
Copy of book provided by the author for a fair and honest review. Thank you!
June 25, 2016
I made a promise to myself, years back. It was to review every book I read, even the ones with shirtless dudes on the cover. So here, I am saying to you, “Yes. I read this somewhat silly book. Let me tell you about it.”
High Contrast: Evolution Ink by Tess Bowery
High Contrast was a pretty standard romance novel — a New Adult M/M. Our protagonist, Jacob, is a self-doubting marketing intern from NYC. He’s living off the support of his parents and successful twin brother while his office career gets its wings. He’s very much a character yet to unfold. His only adventure comes from the company he keeps — his brother’s coworkers and employees at Evolution Ink, a tattoo parlor.
The story takes off when Jacob meets the store’s new piercing specialist, Cody. Cody is a beautiful specimen — lean, long blonde hair, full of sexy body modifications — and his personality attracts Jacob to boot. There’s just a few problems. Cody is very reticent about speaking about his past and is reluctant to start anything with Jacob due to mysterious experiences. What’s Jacob, a boy in love, to do?! Obviously, he’s going to sleuth out what is troubling Cody and take his problems on, even when the problem turn to out be —oops!— the Russian mafia.
I can’t give High Contrast more than 2.5 stars. It was an okay book, and sometimes I enjoyed myself while reading, but mostly I was perusing with a critical eye. My main problem is that the mafia angle was kind of silly. I got the impression that Bowery, when choosing a plotline to carry her romance along, chose a very literal “action plot.” But Jacob wasn’t an action hero by any stretch of the imagination, so the plot and the protagonist seemed mismatched. Moreover, Bowery’s mafia was unintimidating to say the least. That whole plotline flopped.
On top of that, I never got attached to the peripheral characters, who mostly just provided noisy dialogue. I sped-read through those tiresome bits of group conversation (which weren’t really that funny) in order to move to the quieter one-on-one chats and moments between Jacob and Cody. And that is where the book redeemed itself slightly. The book was meant to be a simple romance. All the handguns and street fights were unnecessary. What I enjoyed most was reading about a budding relationship between two boys.
Overall, I’m pleased I read High Contrast, because I do enjoy M/M romances. I only started reading in this genre recently, so I enjoy broadening my reading experience within each new M/M (or any LGBTQ+) book I take up.
High Contrast: Evolution Ink by Tess Bowery
High Contrast was a pretty standard romance novel — a New Adult M/M. Our protagonist, Jacob, is a self-doubting marketing intern from NYC. He’s living off the support of his parents and successful twin brother while his office career gets its wings. He’s very much a character yet to unfold. His only adventure comes from the company he keeps — his brother’s coworkers and employees at Evolution Ink, a tattoo parlor.
The story takes off when Jacob meets the store’s new piercing specialist, Cody. Cody is a beautiful specimen — lean, long blonde hair, full of sexy body modifications — and his personality attracts Jacob to boot. There’s just a few problems. Cody is very reticent about speaking about his past and is reluctant to start anything with Jacob due to mysterious experiences. What’s Jacob, a boy in love, to do?! Obviously, he’s going to sleuth out what is troubling Cody and take his problems on, even when the problem turn to out be —oops!— the Russian mafia.
I can’t give High Contrast more than 2.5 stars. It was an okay book, and sometimes I enjoyed myself while reading, but mostly I was perusing with a critical eye. My main problem is that the mafia angle was kind of silly. I got the impression that Bowery, when choosing a plotline to carry her romance along, chose a very literal “action plot.” But Jacob wasn’t an action hero by any stretch of the imagination, so the plot and the protagonist seemed mismatched. Moreover, Bowery’s mafia was unintimidating to say the least. That whole plotline flopped.
On top of that, I never got attached to the peripheral characters, who mostly just provided noisy dialogue. I sped-read through those tiresome bits of group conversation (which weren’t really that funny) in order to move to the quieter one-on-one chats and moments between Jacob and Cody. And that is where the book redeemed itself slightly. The book was meant to be a simple romance. All the handguns and street fights were unnecessary. What I enjoyed most was reading about a budding relationship between two boys.
Overall, I’m pleased I read High Contrast, because I do enjoy M/M romances. I only started reading in this genre recently, so I enjoy broadening my reading experience within each new M/M (or any LGBTQ+) book I take up.
May 4, 2016
Quick and dirty-this was a terrific book. Loved all the characters especially Jacob but Cody sleighs me. He is so resilient and trying to redeem himself but he doesn’t think he is worth it. Jacob is so sweet and dorky but kind and caring. You can’t help but fall for these two. Both like each other but afraid. Jacob because he is a geek and awkward not thinking someone as cute and happy as Cody would want him and Cody because he is trying to get himself on his feet and lost his guilt of the past. Together watching them flirt with each other and seeing Jacob show Cody how much he cared and was there for him without any judgement was so sweet and wonderful.
Ethan, Jacob’s brother was fun and snarky. Travis was the activist who you couldn’t help but smile at. Andi the tough girl that has you laugh. Priya was hysterical wanting adventure and boy did she get it with Cody’s ex, the arrests and the mob. Not a day didn’t go by that adventure hit this group.
I loved seeing Jacob come into himself and stand up to Drew. Show Cody his feelings and that he was there no matter what. It was this love from Jacob that got Cody to see he wasn’t alone and reciprocate Jacob’s feelings more openly. Cody got to see that people were there for him and didn’t want anything in return. That they genuinely cared and had his back. But it was Cody and Jacob together that was a force and wonderful to see. Apart they are both sweet, caring scared guys who grow into themselves and help each other gain confidence, freedom and love with each other. This is their amazing, daring and wonderful story where we see a relationship grow along with the men involved. So happy these two found one another and Jacob was there for Cody showing him love, understanding, support and just being an amazing guy for that was what cody needed. And the ending for the two of them as they found their way to each other and the amazing connection and love they had for each other leaves a smile on you face. A great book and look forward to reading more of this gang and Cody and Jacob.
Ethan, Jacob’s brother was fun and snarky. Travis was the activist who you couldn’t help but smile at. Andi the tough girl that has you laugh. Priya was hysterical wanting adventure and boy did she get it with Cody’s ex, the arrests and the mob. Not a day didn’t go by that adventure hit this group.
I loved seeing Jacob come into himself and stand up to Drew. Show Cody his feelings and that he was there no matter what. It was this love from Jacob that got Cody to see he wasn’t alone and reciprocate Jacob’s feelings more openly. Cody got to see that people were there for him and didn’t want anything in return. That they genuinely cared and had his back. But it was Cody and Jacob together that was a force and wonderful to see. Apart they are both sweet, caring scared guys who grow into themselves and help each other gain confidence, freedom and love with each other. This is their amazing, daring and wonderful story where we see a relationship grow along with the men involved. So happy these two found one another and Jacob was there for Cody showing him love, understanding, support and just being an amazing guy for that was what cody needed. And the ending for the two of them as they found their way to each other and the amazing connection and love they had for each other leaves a smile on you face. A great book and look forward to reading more of this gang and Cody and Jacob.
May 3, 2016
Rating: 3.25 stars
My View: This was my first book by Tess Bowery, and I enjoyed the writing style and the characterization, not only of the MC but the rest of the characters. Everyone involved had a reason to take part of the story, and their background added to it. The pace flowed, and the situations were interesting enough to keep me reading.
One thing I like about contemporary fiction is the opportunity to mix real and unbelievable events. This story started strong, and I had high hopes for it, but near the ending, the unrealistic events took over. They were too many to ignore and too cheesy to keep me invested in the overall story.
The main characters were great together and their relationship lovely. I love how protective Jacob was of Cody and how sweet their interactions were. Their times together were smexy and their nerd moments amusing. Also, Ethan seemed to be the perfect complement for Jacob.
Overall, High Contrast is entertaining enough if you don't mind suspending your beliefs for a while. The ending was too cliché, but it worked with the rest of the story. The book is unconventional but engaging enough to want more from it. I'm definitely looking forward to the next book in the series.
What I liked the most: The friendship between the shop's crew.
I wanted more: Angst.
Who should read it: Fans of new adult stories.
Originally reviewed for Someone Else's Stories.
ARC provided by Samhain Publishing, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
My View: This was my first book by Tess Bowery, and I enjoyed the writing style and the characterization, not only of the MC but the rest of the characters. Everyone involved had a reason to take part of the story, and their background added to it. The pace flowed, and the situations were interesting enough to keep me reading.
One thing I like about contemporary fiction is the opportunity to mix real and unbelievable events. This story started strong, and I had high hopes for it, but near the ending, the unrealistic events took over. They were too many to ignore and too cheesy to keep me invested in the overall story.
The main characters were great together and their relationship lovely. I love how protective Jacob was of Cody and how sweet their interactions were. Their times together were smexy and their nerd moments amusing. Also, Ethan seemed to be the perfect complement for Jacob.
Overall, High Contrast is entertaining enough if you don't mind suspending your beliefs for a while. The ending was too cliché, but it worked with the rest of the story. The book is unconventional but engaging enough to want more from it. I'm definitely looking forward to the next book in the series.
What I liked the most: The friendship between the shop's crew.
I wanted more: Angst.
Who should read it: Fans of new adult stories.
Originally reviewed for Someone Else's Stories.
ARC provided by Samhain Publishing, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
May 6, 2016
REVIEWED FOR PRISM BOOK ALLIANCE
2.5 Stars
When High Contrast hit my radar and I first read the blurb I thought it was going to be quite a dark story but it proved to be the exact opposite. There were a lot of funny moments but not a lot of progression as far as the story was concerned and I needed it to progress more than it did.
The main problem I had were the number of characters and the confusion I felt trying to remember who was who and their relevance to each other and actually even their relevance to the story. This can be tricky when a book is labelled the first in a new series but I had absolutely no idea what was going on for the first few chapters – there were just too many people introduced at once. They were also given a lot of space on page and for me this was to the detriment of Jacob and Cody who I wanted to get to know better as the main characters.
The same thing could be said about the mystery element as it was also lost to the myriad of characters and the conversations between them all that made up the story. There are a lot of conversations in this book that take place and most of them didn’t move the story forward in any way. I would call it banter and the tone leant itself more to teenagers than to a group of adults who had the mob chasing them. Even when held at gun point the conversation didn’t become serious.
Occasionally I just don’t get pulled into a book and High Contrast is one such book. I’m sure there are plenty of people who will enjoy it and if you give it a go I hope you are one of those people but for me this one sadly didn’t work.
2.5 Stars
When High Contrast hit my radar and I first read the blurb I thought it was going to be quite a dark story but it proved to be the exact opposite. There were a lot of funny moments but not a lot of progression as far as the story was concerned and I needed it to progress more than it did.
The main problem I had were the number of characters and the confusion I felt trying to remember who was who and their relevance to each other and actually even their relevance to the story. This can be tricky when a book is labelled the first in a new series but I had absolutely no idea what was going on for the first few chapters – there were just too many people introduced at once. They were also given a lot of space on page and for me this was to the detriment of Jacob and Cody who I wanted to get to know better as the main characters.
The same thing could be said about the mystery element as it was also lost to the myriad of characters and the conversations between them all that made up the story. There are a lot of conversations in this book that take place and most of them didn’t move the story forward in any way. I would call it banter and the tone leant itself more to teenagers than to a group of adults who had the mob chasing them. Even when held at gun point the conversation didn’t become serious.
Occasionally I just don’t get pulled into a book and High Contrast is one such book. I’m sure there are plenty of people who will enjoy it and if you give it a go I hope you are one of those people but for me this one sadly didn’t work.
May 2, 2016
~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~
Oh, this promises to be a good new series. We are introduced to the team that work together at Evolution Ink, and one of the tattooist's twin, Jacob. All manner of adventures befall the team - or do they bring them on themselves ... it depends, I guess! Anyway, it is a good ensemble cast, and I am guessing that we will follow them through their highs and lows - a couple are already in relationships, but there is definitely scope for more with this group.
Jacob, and new piercer Cody are the central characters in this installment. Jacob is interning in a marketing department, has no tattoos and has a nerd wardrobe. Cody has multiple piercings (oh yes, you will want to know where ....) and plenty of tattoos too - but the chemistry is definitely there, and relationships are more than just skin deep. Both men have some serious self esteem issues, which are beautifully played out in the inner voice - to the extent that you might feel the need to slap them once in a while - luckily their friends often interject and do just that.
The plot is somewhat wild, yet also fits the slightly crazy lives that the group lead. It has a satisfying ending, and the promise of more to come.
Oh, this promises to be a good new series. We are introduced to the team that work together at Evolution Ink, and one of the tattooist's twin, Jacob. All manner of adventures befall the team - or do they bring them on themselves ... it depends, I guess! Anyway, it is a good ensemble cast, and I am guessing that we will follow them through their highs and lows - a couple are already in relationships, but there is definitely scope for more with this group.
Jacob, and new piercer Cody are the central characters in this installment. Jacob is interning in a marketing department, has no tattoos and has a nerd wardrobe. Cody has multiple piercings (oh yes, you will want to know where ....) and plenty of tattoos too - but the chemistry is definitely there, and relationships are more than just skin deep. Both men have some serious self esteem issues, which are beautifully played out in the inner voice - to the extent that you might feel the need to slap them once in a while - luckily their friends often interject and do just that.
The plot is somewhat wild, yet also fits the slightly crazy lives that the group lead. It has a satisfying ending, and the promise of more to come.
June 25, 2016
This was a sweet, nice, cute story with amusing banter and an eccentric, accepting group of friends. There was some hurt/comfort and a rather slow burn romance. Jacob works with his brother's girlfriend Andi, and Ethan, the twin brother, works as a tattoo artist. Jacob is lusting after Cody, the new piercer at the shop. Cody is a bit standoffish but he and Jacob start building a friendship. Jacob is an out and proud nerd and Cody is the perfect foil for much amusing banter over comic and movie characters. Much UST is generated!
The rest of the friends in the shop are interesting as well. The characters are well drawn, Ethan and Jacob have a great brotherly vibe and the whole group meshes well. There are events that occur that turn them into amateur sleuths and defenders for Cody. It takes a little time to get going within the story but it works to establish the dynamics between all the characters. I felt it was one of the better story set ups to introduce a series. Just fairly light and fun, mostly realistic, except near the end, when it got close to hard to believe. It became just a little bit modern day Hardy Boys meets Nancy Drew. I did like it a lot and will happily read more in the series. I'd like to see poor Marc in the next one! He needs someone after losing out on Cody, 'cause he's a nice guy.
The rest of the friends in the shop are interesting as well. The characters are well drawn, Ethan and Jacob have a great brotherly vibe and the whole group meshes well. There are events that occur that turn them into amateur sleuths and defenders for Cody. It takes a little time to get going within the story but it works to establish the dynamics between all the characters. I felt it was one of the better story set ups to introduce a series. Just fairly light and fun, mostly realistic, except near the end, when it got close to hard to believe. It became just a little bit modern day Hardy Boys meets Nancy Drew. I did like it a lot and will happily read more in the series. I'd like to see poor Marc in the next one! He needs someone after losing out on Cody, 'cause he's a nice guy.
April 28, 2016
~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads Review Team~
I wasn’t sure what to expect after reading the blurb but I was pleasantly surprised. The story had some hot sex and had me laughing out loud at times. I liked the total differences between Jacob and his twin Ethan that was appealing to me. The slow burning relationship building between Jacob and Cody was awesome. When Jacob asks Cody how many piercings/tattoos he has and he can only count 14 of the 23 I couldn’t wait to find out where the rest of them were!!! I think the mob drama and the other stuff was just something the author threw in there that wasn’t really needed. Overall, a good book and I can’t wait to see whose story is next.
Characters: well written
Sex: yes
Religious: no
Would I recommend to others: yes
More than one book in the series: first of the series
Genre: M/M Romance
Would I read more by this author: yes
~Wicked Reads Review Team~
I wasn’t sure what to expect after reading the blurb but I was pleasantly surprised. The story had some hot sex and had me laughing out loud at times. I liked the total differences between Jacob and his twin Ethan that was appealing to me. The slow burning relationship building between Jacob and Cody was awesome. When Jacob asks Cody how many piercings/tattoos he has and he can only count 14 of the 23 I couldn’t wait to find out where the rest of them were!!! I think the mob drama and the other stuff was just something the author threw in there that wasn’t really needed. Overall, a good book and I can’t wait to see whose story is next.
Characters: well written
Sex: yes
Religious: no
Would I recommend to others: yes
More than one book in the series: first of the series
Genre: M/M Romance
Would I read more by this author: yes
~Wicked Reads Review Team~
April 1, 2016
I received a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads
I got hooked by this book right away. The characters came to life and were written in such depth I connected to them right away. Jacob Shain is the geek of the crowd, a computer programmer with a dead end job. His twin is a bad boy tattoo artist. While hanging with his brother and the gang at Evolution Ink he meets the new hire. Cody is the new piercing guy with a jaded past and Jacob is star struck by him. While Cody is a bit "hard to get" the love interest unfolds beautifully. A great slow burn that leads to fire! Cody is an interesting guy with multiple piercings, tattoos and even angel wing scars, he's everything Jacob is not, how could Jacob ever be this lucky? The two have amazing chemistry and I enjoyed their story from front to back. The rest of the gang is just as interesting and i'm excited to see where this series will go. I found the whole "russian mafia" thing a bit "jumping the shark" but even it worked, somehow. Tess Bowery is definitely on my new fav author list.
I got hooked by this book right away. The characters came to life and were written in such depth I connected to them right away. Jacob Shain is the geek of the crowd, a computer programmer with a dead end job. His twin is a bad boy tattoo artist. While hanging with his brother and the gang at Evolution Ink he meets the new hire. Cody is the new piercing guy with a jaded past and Jacob is star struck by him. While Cody is a bit "hard to get" the love interest unfolds beautifully. A great slow burn that leads to fire! Cody is an interesting guy with multiple piercings, tattoos and even angel wing scars, he's everything Jacob is not, how could Jacob ever be this lucky? The two have amazing chemistry and I enjoyed their story from front to back. The rest of the gang is just as interesting and i'm excited to see where this series will go. I found the whole "russian mafia" thing a bit "jumping the shark" but even it worked, somehow. Tess Bowery is definitely on my new fav author list.
May 30, 2016
¡Me ha encantado! Este es un fanfic de Billy y Teddy de los Jóvenes Vengadores que tuvo bastante éxito entre las lectoras de esta autora, entre las que me encuentro, y se lo han comprado y ahora pues va a ser una serie donde los protagonistas de cada libro serán una pareja distinta.
Jacob es genial, muy divertido y sarcástico, sobre todo con los comentarios internos, está un poco atormentado con su trabajo de becario y es un poco, bastante, nerd (le encantan los cómics, etc.). Cody es el nuevo chico encargados de hacer piercings de la tienda de tatuajes del hermano gemelo de Jacob, Ethan. Nadie sabe mucho sobre él, pero aparte de estar muy bueno y ser un poco kinky, es muy majo y Jacob cae babeando a sus pies.
Después todo se complica un poco con la mafia, pero no es nada rocambolesco, aunque sí divertido.
Es una lectura dulce, ligera y divertida que tiene un poquito de todo, pero sobre todo se centra en el desarrollo de la relación entre ellos.
Jacob es genial, muy divertido y sarcástico, sobre todo con los comentarios internos, está un poco atormentado con su trabajo de becario y es un poco, bastante, nerd (le encantan los cómics, etc.). Cody es el nuevo chico encargados de hacer piercings de la tienda de tatuajes del hermano gemelo de Jacob, Ethan. Nadie sabe mucho sobre él, pero aparte de estar muy bueno y ser un poco kinky, es muy majo y Jacob cae babeando a sus pies.
Después todo se complica un poco con la mafia, pero no es nada rocambolesco, aunque sí divertido.
Es una lectura dulce, ligera y divertida que tiene un poquito de todo, pero sobre todo se centra en el desarrollo de la relación entre ellos.
May 2, 2016
I really enjoyed this blend of action-mystery-geeky-build-your-own-family book.
Jacob, our MC is a nerd, completing an (unpaid) internship with a rich (female) BFF who happens to be boinking his twin brother. Ethan, the twin is a tattooist, and the parlour is where most of the action takes place.
Jacob kind of wants to live on the wild side, but when he meets the angelic piercer, Cody, and danger comes knocking, he quickly embraces it, then wants it all to go away.
There's a lot of laughing and hi jinks, and feisty women, and teasing going on here. But as well, we get beatings, break and enters, and cruel ex-boyfriends.
So it's quite a mix.
Apparently this will be a series, but apart from one gay character, there didn't seem to be any serious contenders for the protagonist of the next book. But I will keep an eye out. This bunch of rag-tag cool kids got me in, kept me interested, and made me smile.
Copy provided by Netgalley and is recommended. Out on May 3rd.
Jacob, our MC is a nerd, completing an (unpaid) internship with a rich (female) BFF who happens to be boinking his twin brother. Ethan, the twin is a tattooist, and the parlour is where most of the action takes place.
Jacob kind of wants to live on the wild side, but when he meets the angelic piercer, Cody, and danger comes knocking, he quickly embraces it, then wants it all to go away.
There's a lot of laughing and hi jinks, and feisty women, and teasing going on here. But as well, we get beatings, break and enters, and cruel ex-boyfriends.
So it's quite a mix.
Apparently this will be a series, but apart from one gay character, there didn't seem to be any serious contenders for the protagonist of the next book. But I will keep an eye out. This bunch of rag-tag cool kids got me in, kept me interested, and made me smile.
Copy provided by Netgalley and is recommended. Out on May 3rd.
July 1, 2016
Jacob is the nerdy twin who falls for his cool twin Ethan’s new co-worker. Ethan has every inch inked and the new co-worker, Cody, has every bit pierced. Jacob is untouched.
When Jacob realizes Cody has a comic-loving side and a sad story to tell, he falls instantly in lust with the guy and quietly pants after him. After a very long few months, the couple begins to explore the feelings between them and it’s up to Jacob and his friends to help Cody with his troubles with the ex.
**
This was a very slow burn romance full of fun dialog and a little bit of OTT drama. (The Russian mob are involved!) Most of the story is Jacob’s insecure inner dialog – which is pretty funny and then some very sweet and heart melty smexy times mixed in with a little rescue mission.
I recommend this as a light-hearted fun read for when you don’t want too much angst to get in the way of your romance.
4 of 5 stars
When Jacob realizes Cody has a comic-loving side and a sad story to tell, he falls instantly in lust with the guy and quietly pants after him. After a very long few months, the couple begins to explore the feelings between them and it’s up to Jacob and his friends to help Cody with his troubles with the ex.
**
This was a very slow burn romance full of fun dialog and a little bit of OTT drama. (The Russian mob are involved!) Most of the story is Jacob’s insecure inner dialog – which is pretty funny and then some very sweet and heart melty smexy times mixed in with a little rescue mission.
I recommend this as a light-hearted fun read for when you don’t want too much angst to get in the way of your romance.
4 of 5 stars
October 7, 2017
lol i don't know how to review this as an independent literary experience because i feel like half my fun lay in trying to work out who was who in the original young avengers fic form of this. i feel like it works as a decent contemporary romance? might feel a little farfetched for someone not coming in with the superhero context though
2.5 stars
oh! almost forget to say; i'm hoping travis gets the next book. would also accept marc if he is david alleyne as i suspect he may be
(also i am PRETTY SURE priya is kamala khan but i'll take confirmation from anyone who read the fic before it went down)
2.5 stars
oh! almost forget to say; i'm hoping travis gets the next book. would also accept marc if he is david alleyne as i suspect he may be
(also i am PRETTY SURE priya is kamala khan but i'll take confirmation from anyone who read the fic before it went down)
March 22, 2016
Another victory for Tess Bowery.
The trials and tribulations of a gang of lovable goofs in an urban tattoo parlor.
Beautifully realized characters in a believable, realistic setting complimented by some fun and wacky hijinks. Covers the full range from edge-of-your-seat drama, wonderfully funny dialogue and satisfying comeuppances. Wholeheartedly recommended!!
The trials and tribulations of a gang of lovable goofs in an urban tattoo parlor.
Beautifully realized characters in a believable, realistic setting complimented by some fun and wacky hijinks. Covers the full range from edge-of-your-seat drama, wonderfully funny dialogue and satisfying comeuppances. Wholeheartedly recommended!!
May 17, 2020
Second time reading this book, third time reading this story.
Beautifully written and created! I remember reading the original version on Archive of Our Own and I love this story just as I did back then. Bowery has created a group of incredible characters in a fascinating setting that I personally have never seen before. I love the way Bowery merges romance, action, smut and drama all together in a way that is both whimsical but believable at the same time (despite the russian mob incidents).
She perfectly captures the anxiety and longing that Jacob experiences and makes it very real for the reader. With the nature of the relationship Jacob and Cody have it could easily have come across as an abused unequal power dynamic but Bowery both acknowledges this through the insight into Jacob as well as the conversations between the two characters, thus making the relationship a healthy and honestly extremely adorable one.
I wish this series would continue!
Beautifully written and created! I remember reading the original version on Archive of Our Own and I love this story just as I did back then. Bowery has created a group of incredible characters in a fascinating setting that I personally have never seen before. I love the way Bowery merges romance, action, smut and drama all together in a way that is both whimsical but believable at the same time (despite the russian mob incidents).
She perfectly captures the anxiety and longing that Jacob experiences and makes it very real for the reader. With the nature of the relationship Jacob and Cody have it could easily have come across as an abused unequal power dynamic but Bowery both acknowledges this through the insight into Jacob as well as the conversations between the two characters, thus making the relationship a healthy and honestly extremely adorable one.
I wish this series would continue!
October 2, 2018
This book turned out to be more cute than anything else. I went in thinking there would be a lot of action and the description kinda made you think there would be some comedy. There was a slight amount of action and a couple of parts to laugh at, but mostly it was about Jacob and Cody.
Don't get me wrong. I had fun reading this. The characters were all unique, even the non-main ones. I liked how they interacted and constantly gave each other crap. It is what I would expect to see amongst friends. That was probably my favorite thing about the book.
Sure, the book wasn't quite what I expected, but it was a nice romance. You have two people that shouldn't work but do. I love that. I can say that this book makes me curious about what else will happen with the series. I will definitely check out the next one.
Don't get me wrong. I had fun reading this. The characters were all unique, even the non-main ones. I liked how they interacted and constantly gave each other crap. It is what I would expect to see amongst friends. That was probably my favorite thing about the book.
Sure, the book wasn't quite what I expected, but it was a nice romance. You have two people that shouldn't work but do. I love that. I can say that this book makes me curious about what else will happen with the series. I will definitely check out the next one.
May 3, 2016
Reviewed for Just Love Romance
Tattoo shop stories are my jam so I jumped at the chance to read High Contrast. Bowery is a new to me author so I wasn’t sure what to expect but I’m pleased to say that this was a fun book to read. The story revolves around Jacob, the comic book and movie loving, gamer geek. Jacob’s much cooler twin Ethan is part owner of Evolution Ink where Jacob finds a tight-knit group of friends, including the gorgeous and mysterious new piercer, Cody.
If I didn’t like Jacob so much I’d be vying for a place in Cody’s heart. I wouldn’t want to break up how sweet Jacob and Cody are together but seeing them get to know each other had me swooning. Jacob thinks the sexy new guy is out of his league which is so relatable because we’ve all had a crush we thought would never even notice us. I read the first half of the book with a goofy smile because of Jacob’s clumsiness and nervous butterflies whenever he’s around Cody. I was hooked from this alone but when they started quoting lines from Monty Python I knew there was no way I wouldn’t love this story.
Cody may be one of my favorite characters I’ve ever read. I adore him. He’s had a rough past and he’s really good at dodging questions about it. I admired his will to work hard and do whatever it takes to move forward with his life in a positive way, and I relished seeing him learn to trust again. He likes Jacob but he knows that he has to straighten his own life out before he can be with anyone. He’s also very passionate about his job; I especially liked his attitude towards body modification:
“I think of it more as opening the door for someone to look like what they always were. A lot of this stuff is so personal, like epiphanies and life milestones – and I get to be a little part of that. I know this is going to sound weird, but…I like making people’s outsides match their insides.”
Something I didn’t care for is that the humor and banter is carried through the entire book even when they find themselves in serious trouble. The slap-happy attitude took away from what could’ve been a nail-biter of a situation and it pulled me out of the story. I think I would’ve been okay with keeping the jokes as long as I was able to see that they were at least a little bit worried that the worst could happen. There’s also some repetition that could’ve been edited out to make the subplots flow together better. I’m super sensitive to this, though, so it could be something other readers won’t even notice.
That said, I still really liked this cast of characters and I felt all the love for them when they banded together to help each other out. I was calling them the “Body Mod Avengers” in my head because they were always willing to step up for one of their own, no questions asked. They’re like a family and I was so happy to see Jacob and Cody welcomed into their little group. I appreciated getting to see Jacob become more confident on his own, but also accepting the fact that he can rely on these people to have his back in times of need.
All in all, I think this was a cute, and fairly angst free read. I’m looking forward to who will be featured in the next book and hoping to check in with Jacob and Cody as well. All the heart emoji’s for those two. I recommend High Contrast, for sure!
I received an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Tattoo shop stories are my jam so I jumped at the chance to read High Contrast. Bowery is a new to me author so I wasn’t sure what to expect but I’m pleased to say that this was a fun book to read. The story revolves around Jacob, the comic book and movie loving, gamer geek. Jacob’s much cooler twin Ethan is part owner of Evolution Ink where Jacob finds a tight-knit group of friends, including the gorgeous and mysterious new piercer, Cody.
If I didn’t like Jacob so much I’d be vying for a place in Cody’s heart. I wouldn’t want to break up how sweet Jacob and Cody are together but seeing them get to know each other had me swooning. Jacob thinks the sexy new guy is out of his league which is so relatable because we’ve all had a crush we thought would never even notice us. I read the first half of the book with a goofy smile because of Jacob’s clumsiness and nervous butterflies whenever he’s around Cody. I was hooked from this alone but when they started quoting lines from Monty Python I knew there was no way I wouldn’t love this story.
Cody may be one of my favorite characters I’ve ever read. I adore him. He’s had a rough past and he’s really good at dodging questions about it. I admired his will to work hard and do whatever it takes to move forward with his life in a positive way, and I relished seeing him learn to trust again. He likes Jacob but he knows that he has to straighten his own life out before he can be with anyone. He’s also very passionate about his job; I especially liked his attitude towards body modification:
“I think of it more as opening the door for someone to look like what they always were. A lot of this stuff is so personal, like epiphanies and life milestones – and I get to be a little part of that. I know this is going to sound weird, but…I like making people’s outsides match their insides.”
Something I didn’t care for is that the humor and banter is carried through the entire book even when they find themselves in serious trouble. The slap-happy attitude took away from what could’ve been a nail-biter of a situation and it pulled me out of the story. I think I would’ve been okay with keeping the jokes as long as I was able to see that they were at least a little bit worried that the worst could happen. There’s also some repetition that could’ve been edited out to make the subplots flow together better. I’m super sensitive to this, though, so it could be something other readers won’t even notice.
That said, I still really liked this cast of characters and I felt all the love for them when they banded together to help each other out. I was calling them the “Body Mod Avengers” in my head because they were always willing to step up for one of their own, no questions asked. They’re like a family and I was so happy to see Jacob and Cody welcomed into their little group. I appreciated getting to see Jacob become more confident on his own, but also accepting the fact that he can rely on these people to have his back in times of need.
All in all, I think this was a cute, and fairly angst free read. I’m looking forward to who will be featured in the next book and hoping to check in with Jacob and Cody as well. All the heart emoji’s for those two. I recommend High Contrast, for sure!
I received an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.
March 22, 2016
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Also, this review originally appeared on Hot Stuff for Cool People.
I started reading this on a long airplane flight. I almost never do that, because I hate flying, and I really need to be deeply absorbed in what I’m reading in order to pretend I’m not flying‐ and it’s so hard to get really into a new book, right off the bat. Especially when it’s an author you’ve never read before, and you don’t know what to expect. But I started this and I was so glad I did, because right away, I was hooked. I read it for the entire flight, finishing just before we landed, and it was perfect.
We start with our main character, Jacob, who’s working his way up in the corporate world‐ he’s an intern, and he seriously dislikes his coworkers, but he gets to work with his best friend, so he’s okay. In addition, his twin brother is co‐owner of a tattoo and piercing parlor, where Jacob can go to hang out. Except, hanging out gets a bit more complicated when Jacob meets the new piercer, Cody. There’s an immediate attraction between Jacob and Cody, but Cody pushes Jacob away, and it quickly becomes apparent that Cody is hiding some dangerous things about his past.
This book… wasn’t what I expected. I don’t know about anyone else, but when I read a blurb, I tend to form some ideas about how the plot will go. I had a lot of ideas about Cody and his past, and I’m happy to say that most of those things weren’t true. Cody’s story wasn’t exactly novel, but it was very different than I’d imagined‐ and it was also interesting and honest. And, while I hoped that this book would be fun and fluffy‐ and it was!‐ it was also serious and surprisingly deep and just very, very enjoyable.
I don’t think there was anything I really didn’t like. The writing is very smooth‐ nothing spectacular, but incredibly readable and engaging. You don’t want to put this down. I loved the character development, too. Jacob and Cody felt like very real, very three‐dimensional people. I loved how their personalities stayed true, how they acted around each other, and how they acted with the other characters. The other characters were also really well‐written. Even minor characters felt like real people.
I also really loved the sections that talked about Cody’s job as a piercer, as well as the things he’d done in the past, such as body suspension. I’d never heard of that before (and now that I’ve looked at pictures, I think I never want to hear about it again) but it was really interesting, and the perspective the author took on all of that was refreshing. I also liked that, even though he was a piercer and covered in body modifications, Cody wasn’t some stereotypical character‐ macho, rough, perfect. He had flaws and he could be shy and uncertain, and I liked that juxtaposition.
The plot was the only place where I kind of had to shake my head. It didn’t bother me much‐ the character development and romance are so nicely done that the plot could pretty much have been anything. But it did ramble a bit, and the exciting parts at the end were a bit farfetched and cliched. But, again, I enjoyed the book so much that I just didn’t care.
So, overall, I loved this. I’m excited to see what else this author writes‐ and to dive into her backlog of books, as well.
I started reading this on a long airplane flight. I almost never do that, because I hate flying, and I really need to be deeply absorbed in what I’m reading in order to pretend I’m not flying‐ and it’s so hard to get really into a new book, right off the bat. Especially when it’s an author you’ve never read before, and you don’t know what to expect. But I started this and I was so glad I did, because right away, I was hooked. I read it for the entire flight, finishing just before we landed, and it was perfect.
We start with our main character, Jacob, who’s working his way up in the corporate world‐ he’s an intern, and he seriously dislikes his coworkers, but he gets to work with his best friend, so he’s okay. In addition, his twin brother is co‐owner of a tattoo and piercing parlor, where Jacob can go to hang out. Except, hanging out gets a bit more complicated when Jacob meets the new piercer, Cody. There’s an immediate attraction between Jacob and Cody, but Cody pushes Jacob away, and it quickly becomes apparent that Cody is hiding some dangerous things about his past.
This book… wasn’t what I expected. I don’t know about anyone else, but when I read a blurb, I tend to form some ideas about how the plot will go. I had a lot of ideas about Cody and his past, and I’m happy to say that most of those things weren’t true. Cody’s story wasn’t exactly novel, but it was very different than I’d imagined‐ and it was also interesting and honest. And, while I hoped that this book would be fun and fluffy‐ and it was!‐ it was also serious and surprisingly deep and just very, very enjoyable.
I don’t think there was anything I really didn’t like. The writing is very smooth‐ nothing spectacular, but incredibly readable and engaging. You don’t want to put this down. I loved the character development, too. Jacob and Cody felt like very real, very three‐dimensional people. I loved how their personalities stayed true, how they acted around each other, and how they acted with the other characters. The other characters were also really well‐written. Even minor characters felt like real people.
I also really loved the sections that talked about Cody’s job as a piercer, as well as the things he’d done in the past, such as body suspension. I’d never heard of that before (and now that I’ve looked at pictures, I think I never want to hear about it again) but it was really interesting, and the perspective the author took on all of that was refreshing. I also liked that, even though he was a piercer and covered in body modifications, Cody wasn’t some stereotypical character‐ macho, rough, perfect. He had flaws and he could be shy and uncertain, and I liked that juxtaposition.
The plot was the only place where I kind of had to shake my head. It didn’t bother me much‐ the character development and romance are so nicely done that the plot could pretty much have been anything. But it did ramble a bit, and the exciting parts at the end were a bit farfetched and cliched. But, again, I enjoyed the book so much that I just didn’t care.
So, overall, I loved this. I’m excited to see what else this author writes‐ and to dive into her backlog of books, as well.
May 3, 2016
4.5 out of 5 stars
Description ~
The deepest scars aren’t the ones that show.
Jacob Shain is your average member of Generation Screwed. He has a boring internship, no cash flow, and a tiny NYC apartment he has to share with Ethan, his much-cooler, tattoo-artist twin brother. Not to mention his love life is DOA. At least, until his brother’s shop hires on a new piercer, and Jacob’s humdrum life takes a turn for the weird.
Cody Turner is gorgeous, funny and kind—everything Jacob wants in a boyfriend. Except for the way he refuses to talk about his past, or where he lives, or anything about his personal life.
When Ethan is arrested while on a mission of mercy, the reason Cody is so tight lipped comes to light. And while Jacob and Cody fight to understand the depth of their feelings for one another, the police dogs catch their scent. So does the local mob.
Now Jacob has to make the hardest choice of his life: stay safe like a good boy, or dive headfirst into a world he barely understands…and hope Cody is there to break his fall.
Warning: Contains a good boy who wants to be bad, a bad boy who longs to be good, bodies that are canvases for living art and high-speed chases with police dogs.
My Review ~
High Contrast is the first in the new Evolution Ink series by Tess Bowery. This is also my first book by this author and I absolutely loved it. I honestly wasn't sure what to expect but the blurb had me at tattoos artists and piercers.
The characters in this story are going to win you over from the first moment you meet them. Awkward and endearing Jacob, and quiet and slightly mysterious Cody are our main characters in this story. The secondary characters: Jacob's brother Ethan, Andi - who is Ethan's girlfriend and Jacob's best friend, and Travis, Val, and Priya from the tattoo shop all add into the story with their quirky personalities.
The story centers around Jacob and Cody, the new piercer at Evolution Ink. While Jacob is instantly attracted to Cody, their one step forward, five step back dance gives him mixed feelings. Is Cody gay or straight? Is he interested or not? Jacob just isn't sure but doesn't want to give up without trying. The relationship between Cody and Jacob is the major part of the story but there is also a mystery subplot that runs throughout the story. The subplot had it's own subplot in a way and that was just a touch too much to add to the story. It didn't really detract from the story but I don't know that it added enough to the story overall.
I adored the sweet, gentle moments between Jacob and Cody as they explored their relationship. The dynamics between Jacob, Ethan, and Andi were fun to 'watch' when they were all on scene together and will make you laugh out loud many times. The group at the shop have diverse enough personalities that they're almost a bit overwhelming but still add to the story as the family dynamic for Cody. Overall though for me Cody and Jacob really were the focus and what kept my attention glued to the story.
I am anxiously awaiting the next book in the series and am very curious who will be the characters focused on in that story. I highly recommend High Contrast to anyone that likes a sweet yet sexy romance, a group of quirky characters, and a touch of mystery to keep you on the edge of your book.
Description ~
The deepest scars aren’t the ones that show.
Jacob Shain is your average member of Generation Screwed. He has a boring internship, no cash flow, and a tiny NYC apartment he has to share with Ethan, his much-cooler, tattoo-artist twin brother. Not to mention his love life is DOA. At least, until his brother’s shop hires on a new piercer, and Jacob’s humdrum life takes a turn for the weird.
Cody Turner is gorgeous, funny and kind—everything Jacob wants in a boyfriend. Except for the way he refuses to talk about his past, or where he lives, or anything about his personal life.
When Ethan is arrested while on a mission of mercy, the reason Cody is so tight lipped comes to light. And while Jacob and Cody fight to understand the depth of their feelings for one another, the police dogs catch their scent. So does the local mob.
Now Jacob has to make the hardest choice of his life: stay safe like a good boy, or dive headfirst into a world he barely understands…and hope Cody is there to break his fall.
Warning: Contains a good boy who wants to be bad, a bad boy who longs to be good, bodies that are canvases for living art and high-speed chases with police dogs.
My Review ~
High Contrast is the first in the new Evolution Ink series by Tess Bowery. This is also my first book by this author and I absolutely loved it. I honestly wasn't sure what to expect but the blurb had me at tattoos artists and piercers.
The characters in this story are going to win you over from the first moment you meet them. Awkward and endearing Jacob, and quiet and slightly mysterious Cody are our main characters in this story. The secondary characters: Jacob's brother Ethan, Andi - who is Ethan's girlfriend and Jacob's best friend, and Travis, Val, and Priya from the tattoo shop all add into the story with their quirky personalities.
The story centers around Jacob and Cody, the new piercer at Evolution Ink. While Jacob is instantly attracted to Cody, their one step forward, five step back dance gives him mixed feelings. Is Cody gay or straight? Is he interested or not? Jacob just isn't sure but doesn't want to give up without trying. The relationship between Cody and Jacob is the major part of the story but there is also a mystery subplot that runs throughout the story. The subplot had it's own subplot in a way and that was just a touch too much to add to the story. It didn't really detract from the story but I don't know that it added enough to the story overall.
I adored the sweet, gentle moments between Jacob and Cody as they explored their relationship. The dynamics between Jacob, Ethan, and Andi were fun to 'watch' when they were all on scene together and will make you laugh out loud many times. The group at the shop have diverse enough personalities that they're almost a bit overwhelming but still add to the story as the family dynamic for Cody. Overall though for me Cody and Jacob really were the focus and what kept my attention glued to the story.
I am anxiously awaiting the next book in the series and am very curious who will be the characters focused on in that story. I highly recommend High Contrast to anyone that likes a sweet yet sexy romance, a group of quirky characters, and a touch of mystery to keep you on the edge of your book.
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