Caught! (Shamwell Tales #1)

Title
: Caught! (Shamwell Tales Book 1)
Author: JL Merrow
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Release Date: June 5, 2017
Genre(s): Contemporary Romance
Page Count: 337
Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Read book blurb here


If you're a fan of JL Merrow's quirky / funny characters, I think you'll rather enjoy this first book in The Shamwell Tales series.

Robert Emeny is a primary school teacher … pronounced “Mr. Enemy” by the students at St. Saviour’s School, but he is pretty much beloved by his 2E charges. He attended a very posh college and favors the sartorial splendor of a bow tie and braces. His car is a lovely Nissan Figaro named "Portia." Robert has been scarred in matters of the heart and has sworn off men for life … well, at least the next 20 or 30 years.

Sean Grant is a green-eyed red-headed ratcatcher … er, “pest-control technician” with a sexy battered black leather jacket, a motorcycle and two equally red-headed nephews in Mr. Enemy's 2E class. He’s got a bit of a fetish for bow ties and braces … and nerdy snarky men with a penchant for Harris tweed jackets and reading E.M. Forester's Maurice rather than watching the telly.


After a horrid first date, Sean and Robert slowly and tentatively work their way into a relationship, although there is a constant series of unfortunate misunderstandings and/or miscommunication resulting in breakups which are resolved and then happen again, and again. I dearly wanted at some point to yell "Use your WORDS" and make them sit in a corner together to resolve their problems. Their relationship is more cute spark than sexy sizzle, but it fits into the story beautifully.

JL Merrow has created a wonderful cast of secondary characters - Robert's co-worker Rose, Sean's sister Deb fighting cancer, Robert's simply horrid stepsister Laetitia (known as Titty), sweet little Charlie Mason who wants fairy wings for Christmas. As Mr. Enemy says: "After all, we don’t even know if Charlie’s actually gay yet. He may yet surprise you and bring home a girlfriend.” Mr. Mason looked frankly dubious. “He brings home a girl, it’ll most like be so they can paint each other’s nails."

Caught! is a great read and I give it 4 stars.

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