Fortitude Smashed

August 1, 2017
In the first book of the Camellia Clock Cycle series, Brooke (Legacy Strain, 2017, etc.) puts a fun twist on the proverbial biological clock with a surgical implant that counts down to the exact moment each person will fall in love.Detective Shannon Wurther looks down at his Camellia Clock, a microchip that was planted under his fingernail at birth, only to see it time out just as he is arresting Aiden Maar for attempting to steal a painting called Fortitude Smashed from a gallery. To his horror, Aiden's clock hits zero as well, which means the handsome suspect is eligible for a life sentence as Shannon's "Rose Road," or soul mate. With nothing but their clocks in common, the two men will have to learn what makes the other tick. More than just a clever device, the Camellia Clock has a well-thought-out effect on the culture and economy of marriage: there are conventions to help singles prepare for the big day and support groups for teen couples and widows. Shannon's partner, Karman, is bitter knowing that no one she will date after her late husband will truly be "the one." Chelsea, Shannon's ex-girlfriend, can't believe the clock would pair Shannon with a lowlife instead of her. But the belief that science can predict matters of the heart is really put to the test when Shannon has to use his badge to cover for Aiden's bad behavior. At times, Aiden's internal struggles with mental illness overshadow his crimes, but he never fails to get Shannon's pulse racing. Handcuffed by fate, this cop-and-robber duo will steal hearts; a strong start to a promising series.

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September 11, 2017
Straight-arrow Shannon Wurther, the youngest detective in Southern California, did not expect to meet his soul mate during an arrest. But his Camellia clock (a never clearly explained countdown timer embedded in everyone’s thumbnail to pinpoint the exact moment of meeting true love) times out as he’s attempting to arrest Aiden Maar, a rough around the edges but wildly successful art thief. Both men spend the bulk of the novel dithering and failing to communicate, making for a protracted and often frustrating cycle of self-doubt. Shannon’s passionate attraction teeters into possessiveness (with a dash of aggressive intimacy that is more creepy than cute) as the two men learn to combine their lives and slowly share their formative secrets, including Aiden’s depression since his parents’ death and Shannon’s frustration over living in his father’s shadow. Secondary characters—featuring Shannon’s brassy ex-girlfriend, who first clumsily attempts to sabotage the pair—encourage the men to give into fate. The refreshingly fluid view of sexuality and Brooke’s implied, off-page steamy scenes will fuel many fantasies about her two leads. Their hesitancy and constant insecurity, however, threaten to overwhelm this middling romance.