The romantic element moved way too quickly for meWarning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS. Rating: 6/10PROS: - I found the premise fascinating. It combines two intriguing ideas: a living person falling for a ghost, and a contemporary person falling for someone who lived (and functions as though he STILL lives) in the 1950s. Many of Brian’s ‘50s-influenced observations of contemporary society are amusing.- There are times when Brian’s memories become visible to David as though he’s watching them on a TV screen, and those scenes are neat.- I always enjoy reading murder mysteries, and I find an added layer of intrigue in them when the murder is a cold case and the investigator has such limited evidence to work with. I found it very easy to guess at the killer’s identity, but I was still interested in how the evidence would come together so that David could figure it all out.- The scenes involving Fred, David’s iguana, are rather adorable. (It’s not actually Fred that’s adorable; it’s David’s attitude toward him.) I also loved the reaction that Brian has when he first sees Fred.CONS:- The transition from “Brian is just a voice that David timidly converses with” to “Brian is solid and David not only touches him but embraces him” is quite sudden. And that was one of the things I was most looking forward to at the beginning of the story: seeing how McKinney and Wylis would gradually morph the romance from one extreme into the other.- The sex started far sooner than I wanted it to, especially since David claims early on that he’s “not a one-night stand sort of guy.” In addition, the descriptions of those scenes were too flowery and sugary sweet for my taste (“satin lips,” “sonorous voice,” “glorious whimper,” etc.). And the men’s words to each other within those scenes are so corny at times that they made me cringe. This one, especially, stood out: “‘You are stunning in the throes of ecstasy, my darling.’”- Along with the too-quick materialization of Brian and the too-quick sex is the too-quick development of love. The two men have known each other for a couple of days and just touched for the first time when David refers to Brian as “Mr. Right.” He’s serious about it, too: not long afterwards he says, “All I want is your love,” at a point when we haven’t seen them have even a single lengthy conversation.Overall comments: This is a pleasant little story, but I would have liked it much more if the characters’ romance hadn’t moved so quickly. Their feelings are tentative one minute and full-on FOREVER the next. I loved this book. Adorably cute with what I thought was a really good plot. Perhapes you do figure out early who has done what but getting there was fun. I also feel as a Southern Bell that lives only thirty minutes outside of where the book is located that I should defend Lorretta. You'll notice in the book that she did not hit on David as hard until she realized he was taken. Once she knew that they were two taken gay men it was more about being brash and having fun. If she'd said what she'd said to a straight man she would have had to been ready to back it up or be called some very unpleasant names. She felt safe to let her hair down, which if you pay attention has the other characters in the story looking at her differently... I loved that about this book too, it had so many layers! I really enjoyed it.
What do You think about Portrait Of A Kiss (2008)?
Cute ghost story. Liked the characters enough. Overall, enjoyable read, nothing special though.
—Kat
One of the great ghost/mm romance story Ive read over the years.
—mariavicario
Entertaining "insta-love" ghost story with a sweet HEA.
—Randichandler
This was a great ghost, murder mystery, and romance!!!
—sajad
