Review: Snapped by G.A. Hauser
I think I started posting that G.A. Hauser was an author I enjoyed reading way back when I first started blogging, or at least close to it. But I haven’t reviewed any of her books in a while and when I noticed her new book, Snapped, and read the description I decided it was time to take some time off and enjoy reading for pleasure again.
And once again, I wasn’t disappointed with Snapped. I hate to even mention this because it seems like such a dull statement at this point with any m/m book, but I used to refer to Hauser as an example of a woman writing gay fiction who does a damn great job at it. I have even used her as an example when I’m writing hetero fiction, hoping to capture in my own work what she’s been doing for so long with m/m books. And that’s the authenticity factor. With Hauser it’s often more intense sometimes than others, and perhaps this is because of her background as a woman working in criminal justice.
In Snapped, I think Hauser touches upon a few things that many of us can relate to these days with regard to sabotage and ethics and books. I don’t want to go into detail about that because this review would become a novel itself with regard to reviews alone. But in this case the book discusses an author writing with a pen name who has allegedly written what many would consider controversial topics, but with an interesting catch, so to speak. Then Hauser draws the reader into a twisted plot that includes blackmail, espionage, fakery, and a very interesting romance that kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next. I’ll stop there because I don’t want to give any spoilers.
It’s a fast paced book that leaves characters questioning ethics and loyalty, without telling too much too soon to ruin things for the reader. I often tend to predict how books will end and I’m usually right. That doesn’t bother me in the least and sometimes I like knowing how books will end, especially if they’re done well. However, in this case I kept wondering what would happen…or how something would turn out.
I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention that I enjoyed reading about fictional writers involved in this kind of suspense because of Hauser’s background in criminal justice. The truth is that most writers live somewhat quiet lives and suspense doesn’t enter their lives. I know nothing about criminal justice and don’t want to know anything about it other than what I’m reading in fiction for pure entertainment and escapism. In other words, I want the author to make it all up as he or she goes along. And I want all things embellished as much as possible to make it larger than life. In this case Hauser took me to another place, and at the same time a slightly familiar place with which I could identify to a certain extent with books. I know intellectually all fiction is embellished, but I can’t help thinking (or wanting to think) that emotionally the author was really there doing all this just like his or her characters.
If you’re looking for something exciting, with in-depth character development and good solid writing that doesn’t hop all over the place, this is one reason why I think you’ll enjoy Snapped. I would recommend this book to anyone without thinking twice for this and the sheer fact that it kept me interested/entertained from beginning to end. But I also want to add that there is something unusually sexy about all G.A. Hauser’s books I find hard to describe. And I’m not talking over the top sex, or even highly erotic sex. It’s in every sentence and every scene, even when the scenes aren’t supposed to be sexy…just the sexy tone/voice, or the hidden force to catch readers (for lack of a better word) she uses in all her books. It’s something you know is there while you’re reading, but not something you can actually pinpoint.
You can find the book here on Amazon. And also here at Alleromanceebooks.com where the book has already received a bestseller star.