Review: Nights Like These by Chris Scully
Publisher: Dreamspinner
Publish Date: January 26, 2015
Reviewed by: Heller
How I got this book: E-Arc from Publisher
Starting over sucks. At forty, Miles Koprowski thought he had life all figured out. He had a nice car, a hot young lover, and a cushy job… and then he didn’t. Call it fate, or karma, or a downturn in the market, but this opinionated cynic is now forced to play rent-a-cop in a dying office building in the burbs just to make ends meet. Throw in an unhinged ex, a coworker who hates him, and a hot new boss, and suddenly everything is uncertain.
Miles doesn’t plan on liking the night shift or becoming embroiled in a mystery that reawakens old passions and puts him in danger. And he certainly doesn’t plan on falling for the overbearing head of security, Colton Decker, former soldier and doting dad. But nights like these can change a man, make him start to believe there’s more to life than a high-paying job and a warm body in his bed. With a thief on the loose and his new job in jeopardy, Miles will have to decide what’s truly important. He might discover things he never knew he wanted… as long as he makes it through the night.
The delicious, delicious snark here. I loved it.
Miles is just one of those characters whose head I love to live in. He’s so sarcastic and witty and bitchy and he’s having a run of bad luck. Dumped by his boy toy and out of work for a year he’s been living off his savings and moving from one dead end job to another. He lands a security job at a corporate office building at what should be a dull night shift and ends up being so much more than that.
He meet-cutes his bosses boss at a Tim Horton’s and begins a delicate dance of attraction with the former soldier and now head of building security, Colton.This had such an interesting art world mystery that was uncovered that featured a lot of up and coming as well as prominent Canadian artists. I found myself Googling the artists and their work and that added a lovely visual aspect to the read and really drove home the work that Miles was doing. This story had a nice Canadian angle to it that was authentic and fun and really added to my enjoyment of the story.
I think would have jumped even more in my ratings if I had gotten a peek into Colton’s head as well as much as I loved Miles being exclusively in his head meant that Colton’s characterization was lighter. He had a great meaty backstory I would have loved dipping into his thoughts. He was wonderful though and I loved his interactions with Miles and with his daughter, Hayley. I just can’t help wanting more.
I’d love to read a sequel to this book. I think there’s more story to tell here with these characters and their lives. As it was though this was a tremendously satisfying read that had me laughing.
I’m giving Nights Like These a B+