Reviewed by Taylin
TITLE: The Real Thing
SERIES: West Coast Forensics #5
AUTHOR: Elle Keaton
PUBLISHER: Dirty Dog Press
LENGTH: 260 Pages
RELEASE DATE: November 30, 2022
BLURB:
An oblivious prince wishes for his knight in shining armor. His knight has been under his nose all along, will he claim him before it’s too late for them both?
As deeply as he craves his own fairy tale happily-ever-after, resort owner Cody Prescott doesn’t have time for a relationship. That doesn’t stop him from crushing on most men on Piedras. Luckily for him, they’re emotionally unavailable or already taken, so he doesn’t have to worry about getting attached.
Wade Buckner, the island’s handiest handyman, is tired of waiting for Cody to wake up and realize Wade is the man for the job. He’s ready and willing to rescue Cody from just about anything, even questionable hotel guests.
The Harvest Feast is the kick-off for the resort’s one hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary and they have a full house. But something sinister is afoot at the resort, something that even his knight might not be able to rescue Cody from.
Are they trying to kill him, put him out of business, or both?
#grumpy-sunshine #FamilyHistory #OnlyOneBed
The Real Thing, book five in the West Coast Forensics series, is dual POV and follows Cody and Wade all the way to their happy ending. Can be read as a standalone but might be better enjoyed if you start with Real Trouble, first in the WCF series.
REVIEW:
Wade was a grumpy soul who would have left Piedras months ago if it hadn’t been for Cody, the owner of the Brooch resort. Cody recruited Wade as the handyman and has since worked his way into Wade’s heart. But Wade was under the impression that, on a personal level, Cody didn’t realize he existed. Cody’s dream is to have a boyfriend, but the resort takes up all his time. Cody loved making Wade snarl – the sound made his body react. Wade had no idea how his army background and pull-yourself-together attitude often kept Cody from falling apart. Then weird things happen that need the sheriff’s department. But that doesn’t stop Cody from doing some sleuthing and getting into situations that need a handyman.
The Real Thing is the fifth story of the West Coast Forensics series and one that is a bit different from the others – in a good way. Instead of touring the island, everything centers around the Brooch Resort which has been on the peripherals of every story in the WCF books, so it was lovely to see it in the limelight.
I have thoroughly enjoyed the world created on Piedras, and it would have been tempting to get sidelined by giving all the characters their airtime. But I must give kudos to the author for keeping the focus on Cody and Wade. The story is a slow burn, but that allows feature characters from other books in the series to make an appearance and their characteristics to make an impression. Still, they aren’t allowed to overshadow the journey of the main protagonists.
The story is told in the third person from the viewpoints of Wade and Cody. Worldbuilding is extensive, and it has also built up over each book. Though I connected to this story early, because I work in a hotel and related to the situational experiences between employees and guests – they are on-point, and I couldn’t help smiling at the parallels – superb.
Cody is everywhere dealing with guests and holding the place together, with his trusted handyman at his side. Wade is the yang to Cody’s yin – opposites that fit. Both have family histories that make an appearance, and both take different journeys in the story. These two arcs provide the soul and entertainment of the book and cleverly kept me guessing how things would play out until the end. The story reminded me of one of those classic crime novels with the name of ‘Murder At…’.
The roles Cody and Wade have, mean that mortal danger isn’t necessarily a daily occurrence like the blue light services depicted in the other books of the series, which in many ways gives The Real Thing a more personal, intimate touch – one that I greatly enjoyed.
RATING: 
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