Snake Charmer

Title: Snake Charmer

Author: Carol Lynne

Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing

Publisher URL: www.totallybound.com

ISBN/BIN: 978-1-78430-113-2

Genre: {M/M} Contemporary Series

Rating: 3.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Dragon Minx

Release Date: 08-08-2014

Gabrielo “Snake” Barbas has left his mercenary days behind and is now working as a security expert. When a strange car rolls into the company parking lot, Snake is suddenly in the middle of an attack on co-worker Riley Banks by his wealthy ex-boyfriend. Snake’s determined to keep Riley safe and decides to get him out of town and the best place is Cattle Valley where he has friends.

Riley doesn’t think much of his looks and can’t understand why Snake is interested in him, but the sex is great, so why argue? Snake is upfront that all he’s offering is sex, so Riley has to guard is heart—and the funny thing is, the man who has touched him the most is the man he can’t have. The question—is Snake protecting Riley from his past or Snake?

Snake Charmer is the newest release in Carol Lynne’s long running Cattle Valley series. While being familiar with the town and returning characters would be nice, it’s possible to read this as a standalone.

Snake and Riley are as different as they can be. Snake is a bad-ass mercenary and Riley is an office worker—a geek. They shouldn’t go together but Ms. Lynne uses her talent and makes these two work as a couple. Who would have thought at first glance it would work? I didn’t, but I really enjoyed these two and think it’s safe to say that they’re now one of my favorite couples.

I enjoyed the storyline. It makes sense. The pacing is smooth throughout and I like how Riley’s history with his ex is incorporated into the plot. The abusive past is pivotal in driving the story forward but it still didn’t overpower it, leaving plenty of opportunities for Riley and Snake to be together and for the various scenes in Cattle Valley. The imagery is good and the sex is sizzling, even if their relationship starts off rather quickly— but within the scope of the story it works. As secondary characters—it’s always nice seeing Nate, Ryan and Rio—they’ve been favorites from the beginning. 

I don’t know who the next featured couple is going to be in this long running series but I hope that we get to see Riley and Snake again in the future.