Daniel’s Reviews > Help Wanted > Status Update

Sounds like a frustrating read.

Yes and no. I am enjoying it, I have no issue with the plot of this installment. And the guy does have some big issues in his life that I'll cut him slack for.

But there are elements that are persistent across the series too, some improve, like he has at points improved a little in how he deals with the shop, (though he needs to do better), but some go nowhere. I don't mind the pining and lack of any progress across the series in his relationship with Javier, both because of the HIV thing, and because I'm big believer that relieving long term sexual tension in a series is usually a very stupid thing to do unless you're also ending the series because you're basically eliminating a big chunk of the appeal by giving the audience what they want and permanently f'ing up the character dynamics if you continue.

But this is book six, and this stupid nonsense with the "mysterious" connection between the "friend" he doesn't seem to like (Leon) and his neighbor/part time employee Patty has outstayed it's welcome and it's compounded because she's working part time for him at the shop, and is obviously unhappy about the hours and to some degree kind of walks all over him and he not only doesnt' assert himself, but won't even just ask her WHY? It's one of these issues that wouldn't be one if you just use your words, and I am totaly sympathetic to that when the conversation feels like a threat to an important realationship, but there's no sense of that here and I'm just tired of it. Per Shelba's review we'll actually get some kind of answer about Leon in this book but it hasn't happened yet.

Sounds like something that would drive me nuts. I hope it redeems itself by the end.

It shouldn't take too much longer to finish, so we'll know soon enough. :)