Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE:  Jon’s Boom Shaka Laka Problem

AUTHOR:  AJ Sherwood

SERIES:  Jon’s Mysteries

PUBLISHER:  Self-Published

LENGTH:  237 pages

RELEASE DATE:  February 7, 2021

BLURB:

Proposing vs defusing a bomb?

Defusing a bomb is much easier than proposing.

Defusing Donovan’s anger over getting on a plane to defuse said bomb? Harder than the bomb.

Jon is not liking these odds.

Is proposing supposed to be this difficult?

Tags:
Jon and Donovan have a fight, as expected they’re very bad at it, things go BOOM, my kink is healthy processing and expressing of emotions, relationship lessons, life lessons, love is not based on worth, the dads are awesome, I put Jon on a plane, because I’m evil that way, personal space? What’s that?, cats, Jon has a new toy, no I’m not talking about Donovan, the bomb squad is ready to just keep Jon, roadtrip!, grandparents also rock, absolutely nothing goes according to plan

REVIEW:

Aww. I’m so happy to have Jon and Donovan back in my life for a little while. Jon’s Boom Shaka Laka Problem is the fourth book in AJ Sherwood’s fantastic Jon’s Mysteries series and it highlights the very best in their relationship. It’s not without bumps, though. Or booms. While the mystery is intriguing and I enjoyed the introduction of new characters, for me this book is all about the growth of Jon and Don as individuals and as a couple.

Jon and Donovan are partners in every sense of the word. While they’re crazy in love and hot in bed (and against the wall, and in the shower… ) their relationship is about much more than passion. What makes them special – and lasting – is the bone-deep caring they have for each other’s well-being. It’s about steadiness, thoughtfulness, and supportiveness. And their incomparable psychic/anchor bond heightens their personal bond. Not only does this combination make Jon and Don special, it makes the book series special and very appealing. Together, the men are more than the sum of their parts.

For anyone new to the series, Jon is a psychic who serves as a police consultant; his role is to sit in during interrogations to determine if a suspect is lying. He’s something of a human lie detector because he can read people’s auras and meridian lines and “see” their emotions. Jon was without a psychic anchor to ground him until Donovan came along in book one, Jon’s Downright Ridiculous Shooting Case. Donovan is a mountain of a man – a gentle giant – whose natural tendency is to protect those he loves, and topping that list is Jon whom he utterly cherishes.

This book’s case revolves around an immense bomb containing 1,000 pounds of TNT discovered in the administrative area of a Las Vegas casino. The FBI requests Jon’s assistance because one of the side effects of his psychic abilities is that he fries any electronics he comes in contact with or is within close proximity. The hope is that Jon can help diffuse the bomb by deactivating the electronic timer without having to actually touch the highly sensitive bomb. It’s thought that a disgruntled gambler might be seeking vengeance against the casino.

Because of the size of the bomb, tens of thousands of people are at risk of injury or death. It’s imperative that Jon gets to Vegas as quickly as possible, but because he lives across the country, the only way to get there in time is to put himself and Donovan in extraordinary danger by flying. Planes are flown electronically and with Jon aboard, the risk of the engines shutting down and the plane crashing is astronomical. Unfortunately, Jon makes the unilateral decision to go to Vegas without consulting Donovan, completely disregarding his feelings and putting both their lives in grave danger. Don is livid and deeply hurt, but of course he accompanies Jon on a private FBI jet outfitted with equipment that will hopefully block Jon’s short-circuiting abilities.

This is the first consequential argument the couple has had, and it’s a doozie. Jon is profoundly regretful for hurting Don, who is beside himself that he doesn’t have the ability to protect the man he loves while flying. But their differences must be put aside to deal with the bomb and find out who’s responsible. The Vegas FBI agents make enjoyable characters, as does Archer, the other psychic working on the case, and his anchor, Estrella.

One of the most gratifying themes of the book is the paternal love provided by the wonderful, supportive fathers – Caleb, Neil, and Kanye. They provide the unconditional love that Jon, in particular, needs to feel worthy, and also help quiet any concerns he has about proposing. He’s fully committed to Don but he’s worried about how marriage could change their dynamic. For Donovan, the dads offer guidance on how to best understand and support Jon. I found these moments of counsel and introspection one of the highlights of the book.

The end of the story is just the best. That is, if you like cats. There’s lots of kitty cat cuteness and feline frolicking. Just imagine big ol’ Donovan snuggling a little ball of fur. And then there’s the final chapter: it’s not a spoiler to mention a proposal since it’s literally the first word in the author’s blurb. Ms. Sherwood’s comedy chops are front and center as the book wraps up with the sweetest Jon and Don moments ever. Jon’s Boom Shaka Laka Problem is a must-read for anyone who’s been following along with the mysteries. This is not a standalone book, so if you’re new to this fantastic series, you’ll have to start at the beginning. I highly recommend both the series and this latest book.

RATING: 

BUY LINK: 

Amazon