COUNTRY MOUSE (Country Mouse #1) by ALEKSANDR VOINOV & AMY LANE

Gitte:  Sigh…where do I start Jenny?! I really did enjoy this story.  It’s co-written by one of my favourite Authors so I was really looking forward to jumping in. I have to say though that despite it not being one of my favourites I really liked it. It was short, it was fun, it wasn’t too intense or emotional and it hit the spot!

Jenny:  I’m siging right there with you.  Where to start?  Of course….I’ve always said that Aleksandr Voinov could rewrite the phone book and I’d read it, so yes this became a must read for me and the synopsis sounded really good.  Whilst, I agree that it’s not my favourite of his, I have to say that I absolutely did enjoy every minute of it. It was such a fun story to escape into for a while.

Gitte:  It amazes me when Authors co-write Jenny because in this case the story is so seamless and fluid and prior to starting I was sure I’d recognise the Authors’ different writing styles, but I didn’t, I read it in one sitting and at no point did I hit a stumbling block or find that there were more than one voice involved. Owen and Malcolm came across solid, intense yet playful and oh so lovable.  This was a class act! What did you think Jenny?

Jenny:  I agree wholeheartedly G.  I read this in one sitting and never once did I skim nor falter in this wonderful story.  I loved both these characters.  I loved seeing Owen bring out the playful, caring side of Malcolm and I loved seeing Owen care for Malcolm and even manage to bring out a side in Malcolm, that even took Malcolm himself by surprise.

“Kindness is not weakness, Malcolm”

 Gitte:  I loved Owen and Malcolm Jenny. They were very night and day on the outside, portrayed somewhat deceptively. I felt like it was a bit of a ruse, with them starting off as one, me having them pegged down in my head…then as I read on, they almost did a 360 as they showed more of their true selves and shed the façade. From the start, unbeknownst to them, I believe they fit perfectly as each evened the other out, brought them out of , the slot they were occupying in life and emotionally; they needed that; they were ready for that.

Jenny:    Seeing them together was like seeing that last piece of the jigsaw being placed…..they fit so perfectly but neither of them were aware that they were missing that final piece, each other,  until the met one another.  I have no idea how authors co-write a book but seeing these two provide the fluidity of writing that, whilst they are both very different in their writing styles, it works so perfectly, so effortlessly that I look forward to more collaborations from these two authors.

Gitte:  Owen – “the country mouse”, did you not think Jenny that the description makes him come across as a bit meek….and also like this is a guy with no depth? I thought this was so misleading. This guy is amazing. So confident and sure of himself, who he is; what he wants. He is funny and enjoys life and isn’t scared to take a chance on this blood- minded guy he meets in a dingy pub.

Jenny:  Yes GG! I was I was expecting Owen to be meek, reserved and well yes, lacking depth but  nothing could be further from the truth.  Owen was a wonderful open, expressive character and so caring and yet so sexual, I loved how he brought Malcolm out of himself.

“Look at me” Owen whispered.  “Look at me until you can’t anymore”   

Gitte: Then we have Malcolm. I felt immediately that here is a guy who once put up a shield to protect his vulnerable self yet over time it has become so weather worn it’s almost welded itself to him making the true Malcolm blocked and stifled underneath this irritating cocky “pretend” dominant.  There were times in the beginning that rays of his true self shone out through the cracks in this shield which Owen obviously caught sensing the fake pretence and illusion. It took me a little while to warm up to Malcolm, Jenny.

Jenny:   Hmmm Malcolm, what a contradiction this man was.  I loved seeing his defences come down and those defences eventually shatter with Owen.  What an absolutely beautiful fit these two were and watching them bring out the absolute best in each other was mesmerising.

Gitte: I really thought the banter between these guys was fab, taking holiday sex and romance to a new level. It was fun, yummy and intense at times. A perfect balance of a quick swoon worthy and hard-hitting read. I loved how as a reader I started off on one path then taking a sharp turn onto another, I love surprises!! And yeah it being set in London made it all kinds of special too.

Jenny:  Loved everything about this book.  The banter was engaging, funny and and felt so real.  The sex was steamy, the intensity of the story and characters was spot on and it kept me entertained and had me devouring this fun story from start to finish.  I have to say the last scene in the book made me well up.   What an absolutely perfect ending to such an enjoyable story.  Captivating!

“Kiss me like a man Malcolm”