I almost never quit a book but I am quitting this one at the halfway mark because I am not enjoying the story. I was hoping for a light, sexy romance because I was feeling sad and couldn't read another book filled with darkness at this moment. I was hoping for maybe a little humor and fun banter. Instead, it meandered and wasted time on so many other things that were a little dull and since this was a romance, I felt let down. The story is told from only one POV and I felt like I never got to know Sean at all who, if you ask me, was a much more likable and interesting character than stuff Robert. I enjoyed Robert's friendship with Rose but it took up too much of the plot. She provided some comic relief except for the parts where she made rude comments and assumptions about bisexual people. And the final straw for me was the constant secret-keeping and misunderstandings. I simply do not have the patience.

Ok so NG says I have to put a star rating on this one. I'll give it a 3 but I fear if I finish it would get a 2 because I'm getting consistently more aggravated the more I read.

This was okay. A bit tiresome and not much of a romance. Lots of miscommunication and just, eh. Not for me.

Robert has retreated to a small village to overcome his bruised and battered heartache. He doesn't expect the package he finds in the form of his twin students uncle. Sean works in pest control and lives on council estate, he and Robert shouldn't have anything in common and yet sparks fly from the first time they meet.

Robert is trying to hide from his past and the accusations made against him, but his past keeps cropping up unfortunately every time Sean is around. Robert is going to push Sean away in order to keep his past a secret.

This was a good book, I enjoyed it, the dynamic between Robert and Sean was interesting and allowed for the relationship between the two to develop at a good pace. While I wanted to kick Robert at times for trying to hide his past and knowing that it was going to hurt him in the long run, I think it was needed for the story. Otherwise it would have too smooth sailing throughout the whole book, which would have a made for a boring book.

So Sorry i forgot totally my review and after crashing of my computer i cant find it anymore

I had quite the expectations for this book because I liked the blurb so much, well, that was my mistake. It wasn't necessarily a bad read but it also didn't leave me on the edge of my seat, eager to find out what would happen next. A good book for in between when you don't have much to do, but it flagged about half way through.

A bowtie wearing geeky character and a bad ass motorcycle riding pest control guy...sounds like the opening to a joke? Nope, it's the couple in this Caught! By J.L. Morrow. These two could not be more different if they tried, and they find themselves attracted to each other- but will it be enough to sustain a relationship? I enjoyed the book...until...the characters stopped talking! I hate that trope, the simple miscommunication-easily-fixed-if-only-the-characters-would-talk-to-each-other romance drama. It gets on all over my nerves. So, that sorta ruined this story for me. I did like the characters and I finished the story..but I was just so annoyed by parts - I didn't enjoy the story as much as I wanted too.
3 stars

Reviews left on Goodreads, B & N Amazon and V's Reads: https://vsreads.com/2017/08/10/caught-in-the-truth-a-tbr-thursday-review/

4.5 Stars
Mr. Robert Emeny is a certified teacher whose life has taken a bad turn. He doesn’t want anyone to know what drove him from the posh boys’ public school (like a private high school in the States…) into a small-town nursery school as a primary school teacher. He’s struggling to make it through the days, class management of 20 six year-olds isn’t the easiest, but he’s especially taken by the doting until of his troublemaker twins: Sean Grant.

Sean’s twin sister’s been suffering from cancer for years, and he’s lived with her and assisted in the care of his rough-and-tumble nephews since their dad skipped off before their birth. It’s made a crimp in his love-life, but not too much of one. Eyeing up his nephews’ cute teacher–who the kids all call ‘Mr. Enemy’–isn’t a hardship either. Of course, Sean thinks Rob’s likely looking at him as the ‘bit of rough’ he is: being a poor ‘ratcatcher’ (exterminator) and all, but darned if he doesn’t like the way Rob wears his sexy bow-ties and cuddles close on the back of his motorbike.

These two are an odd couple, but they hit it off rather quickly. It’s too quick, though, because Rob’s still reeling from the accusations he faced back at his old school, where he tendered his resignation and lost his boyfriend in one fell swoop. If only he hadn’t been so conscientious…

The secret eats at the relationship, and Rob wants to unburden himself, but what if Sean doesn’t believe him? What if he does what his last partner, the man Rob hoped to marry, did? There’s a lot of fear there, and some deep, deep shame, too. Sean’s hurt feelings need smoothing over, and Rob does the smoothing in the sweatiest way possible…after a jog, people! Sheesh! Perverts, the lot of you. 😉 Just kidding, there’s some yummy sexytimes here.

I was so happy to find this one back on the market, and I’m eager to read the fourth Shamwell Tale, SPUN!, released last month. Expect a review soon. A review copy was provided by NetGalley.

Caught! is a sweet MM story that unfortunately lagged, a lot. Robert is a teacher in England, here in the US his position would be considered an elementary school teacher. He lost his last job and boyfriend due to a rather unfortunate incident with one of his students. Now that he's got a new job in a new town he doesn't want to mess it up. Nor does he want a new relationship considering his ex dumped him instead of sticking by him when he should have. But then he meets Sean, a hot ginger guy who's the uncle of two of his students. Robert resists the attraction he feels for him until he gets caught up and soon they're dating.

But, there are obstacles ahead for our two guys. One, Robert still doesn't want Sean to know about why and how he lost his last job and boyfriend. Two, Sean is bisexual and this leads Robert to think Sean just might cheat on him with a woman. So, of course, the two don't talk about things and miscommunication abounds and soon they're breaking up. Sigh...the miscommunication between the two, especially Robert withholding things from Sean, were REALLY ANNOYING!! Miscommunication seems to almost always be the catalyst for drama in romance, and it gets really old. Robert was also really in his own head way too much. His nattering on about things drove me bonkers. The pacing was way off in Caught! and Robert's being in his own head was part of it. That and the story just rambled on and on and on. I was really bored throughout about a good 2/3 of the story, which is the last thing an author wants for his or her readers to be when reading their stories.

I do like Sean, he's remarkably low key and sweet, sexy too and not apt to complicate things like Robert did. I like Robert, despite his annoying lack of good communication skills and his being too much in his own head. He's a good teacher and he likes Matt Smith's Doctor Who. Anyone who likes 11 is good with me! And I love Rose, Robert's best friend. She's a hoot, and gave Caught! a huge uplift that it desperately needed.

So, as much as I liked the characters, the pacing was way too slow and rambling and I just can't justify rating it higher than 3 stars because of it.

~4.5 Stars~

Just to be clear, this is a review of the lately released revised version of Caught!, book one in the Shamwell Tales series by JL Merrow. Sometimes, there are characters that just click with a reader. Whether it be their voice, their personality, or just the story surrounding their lives, the author creates a person that sparks something beyond just being mildly entertained. Such was the case for me when it came to Robert Emeny. I am not sure what it was about this character that made me want to wrap him up in a hug, but he definitely got under my skin and I felt that I really got to know him by the end of this delightful story.

As novels go, Caught! was a breath of fresh air for me. A lonely schoolteacher in a small, quaint village, with the obligatory crazy neighbor and even wackier gal pal, is hiding from a past incident that has left him shattered and guarded. With more than just his heart at stake, Robert is reluctant to open himself up to a new relationship, primarily because it means revealing the horrific incident that led him to his new post, and that is something he is sure will end any newfound romance before it even begins. However, Sean Grant is not so easily put off by Robert’s reluctance. After making sure that it is not due to their different social statuses, Sean begins to woo Robert, and the two seem to be moving toward a real understanding and some potentially deep feelings for each other. But the past is a funny thing, and the saying that it often comes back to haunt us is a very real sentiment. So when Robert’s past shows up on his doorstep, and is not so readily explained away, Sean retreats thinking Robert has been lying to him. Unfortunately, by not sharing his past, Robert has now driven a huge wedge between himself and the man he has grown to truly care for—and may have lost for good.

What was so compelling about this story was the fact that Robert was very vulnerable in many ways, but kept it hidden so well from Sean. From his quirky bowties to his wanting to keep everything in its place, Robert desperately needed order in his life so that the frightening past was kept at bay. When he allows that veneer to crack and Sean to enter in, we experience a whole new level of intimacy with Robert—the reader becomes his confidant and, as such, often one felt like screaming at him to just tell Sean about the past, for goodness sake, and get it over with. As far as Sean goes, I was delighted that this was not a one sided story, but that in typical JL Merrow style, I learned more and more about both men in this novel rather than just the leading man. Because this author is masterful at creating fully fleshed out characters, I felt totally involved in their fates and invested in their relationship.

It wasn’t just Robert and Sean who kept me titillated but the community that surrounds them as well. From parents brawling in the schoolyard to fellow teachers and some wonderful parents and siblings, the entire quirky group provided more than their fair share of laughs in this cunning novel. Caught! is a lighthearted romance set in a sweet country village where new beginnings seem possible. Robert and Sean are lovely together, and their story is just the right mix of angst and humor to make for a delightfully heartwarming romance.

Robert and Sean are absolutely adorable, and I loved the kids from form 2E.

This was a cute story.. it had spots that were a bit slow and didnt keep my attention.. but the characters were fun.. i enjoyed the nerdy aspect to this.. and the writing was pretty good.. this was enjoyable and i laughed a good bit. i am glad i got to review it

This was a charming read that drew me in from the beginning. The pacing was perfect and the plot was entertaining...even though I could have done without the big miscommunication. I definitely look forward to reading more from this author.

*2.5 stars*

I'm usually a big J.L. Merrow fan but this one was... well, boring.

I'm not an author, so at times it is hard for me to articulate what exactly I like or don't like about a story. When I think about this story, I think, "Fine... just fine...." and not much else. There was a decided lack of chemistry for me, some little bit that just never slotted together. And romance is all about the chemistry, right?

While I found the story to be pleasant, it was rife with miscommunication and secrets, some of my biggest pet peeves. I simply wanted these two guys to talk, not just run off in huffs and blunder their conversations. It was frustrating for me as a reader, to be sure.

I like a dork and a guy in a bow-tie, so I'm surprised I didn't love Robert more. He was off-and-on rude to Sean, and I think they didn't have much in common other than mutual attraction. While I liked reading about their romance, it just wasn't ever more than mildly entertaining for me. It actually took me days to finish the book, something that is rarely a good sign for me.

While not a bad book, I don't think it is quite up to J.L. Merrow's usual standard.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

4.5 Stars!!!

Robert Emeny recently moved to Shamwell village in an attempt to make a fresh start after losing his job and his boyfriend. The last thing he wants is to start a new relationship, but Sean Grant's roguish good looks are proving hard to resist. But Robert has secrets that he's not willing to share and Sean and Robert are too different anyway. Do they even stand a chance to make things work?

I loved Sean, he was such a sweet, amazing guy all-around. Taking care of his nephews and helping his sick sister, fun and unassuming. I loved that he was so willing to make things work with Robert, even when Robert was making problems where there shouldn't be any if only he'd spoken up in time. I liked Robert, but really, I wanted to shake him up a bit. First with the not wanting to have a relationship, then with Sean's bisexuality and then with the damned secret. I could see the point of him not wanting everyone to know about Oliver, but he really went about it the wrong way. Oh well, it wouldn't have been half as angsty if it weren't for that, and it ultimately worked, but it was a tad annoying.

They did have a lot of chemistry and I just love opposites attract, so that worked great for me. Plus, the fact that they actually had fun together, were playful and sweet and hot while being intimate really added to the experience.

I adored Rose, she was amazing! The perfect friend to make Robert realize how he'd messed up and how to make up for it with Sean.

This book was such a delight to read! It was fun, enjoyable, with an amazing cast of characters, both main and secondary that just made the book even better. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!

Very recommendable!

*** Copy provided to the reviewer via NetGalley for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***

I enjoyed this story. It was, at parts, hard for me to read simply due to the fact that, the tone of the book is based in another country, so words and phrases I was completely unfamiliar with, but for the most part, the story was an enjoyable one.

This story of Robert Emeny, mid-twenties, displaced elementary school teacher, finding his way in Shamwell, a little village—not the big city he’s been used to living in—was delightful to read. JL Merrow infuses each story with humor and most certainly did a wonderful job with this one. The best part of the humor is that it comes in little everyday ways, often is self-deprecating, but more often it’s simply the author’s perspective on making something ordinary outstanding with just a bit of wordsmithing. It always adds to my enjoyment of the story.

Mr. Emeny, often referred to by his young students (and their parents) as Mr. Enemy (No, that’s Em-in-ee!) moved to Shamwell after a former student informed the Headmaster at the private boy’s school he was teaching at that Robert had made advances to him during their private tutoring sessions. It wasn’t true, but Robert’s partner at the time, Crispin, didn’t seem to care and ditched him faster than he could run. Considering he was a gym teacher, that was pretty fast and far.

Now, nursing his wounds three months later, he’s pretty content to settle down, without a man, but with his friend and fellow teacher, Rose, as his pity-party companion. Until he sees tall, handsome Sean Grant and then all worries about being alone disappear and his dreams of being with the hot leather-jacketed man take over. Sean is the uncle of twin mischief-makers in his class and often picks them up from school since their mother, his sister, is undergoing treatment for cancer and their father is not in the picture.

After quite a bit of shy fumbling and mumbling, Robert and Sean get off to a good start, before Robert’s past comes back to haunt him, sending Sean away when he catches Robert in a lie. The author builds a wonderful cast of secondary characters, most notably some of the children who were not just precocious, but exhibited typical childish behaviors that erupted in hilarious ways. I especially loved Charlie, the young boy who loved to play dolls and dress in girl’s clothing, Desiree, the all-around tough girl who was Charlie’s champion, and the twins—two little towheads who fit the role perfectly. I also loved Robert’s family and friends, Sean’s family, and of course, the crass, but always supportive, Rose.

I’m looking forward to more in this series from this very creative and humorous author and I highly recommend this one to those who enjoy MM romance, particularly stories set in rural villages in England.

A fun and interesting read about the coming of age process. Not quite right for my classroom but one that I would recommend for the writing.

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.

This book was so much fun.

For many reasons, but the main one is the protagonist, Robert. He’s pretty unique and interesting, and I absolutely loved his voice. Reading this story from his perspective made the whole thing more…. well, fun. He’s not your average m/m romance MC and I liked reading about him/liked seeing this story from his POV.

Sean, the love interest, was an interesting character too, but he didn’t captivate me as well as Robert. The secondary characters were also awesome, especially Rose, Robert’s best friend, Sean’s twin nephews and some of Robert’s students. They brought the story to whole new level and protagonized some of the most funny moments in Caught!

The one thing that bothered me, though, were the… weird? comments about Sean being bisexual or random comments about someone looking or not looking trans. That was just… so unnecessary and brought literally nothing to the story. What was the point of it? None. It was certainly not funny.

I’m not sure if I’ll continue this series (kinda because of these comments, to be honest), but Caught! was a fun read. 3.5 stars

I thought this story was very cute and insightful.
Robert, a young teacher, who just moved to Shamwell. It's a little different teaching youngster than it is high schoolers but Robert is enjoying the change, especially after what happened at this last school. He is ready to start fresh.
Sean is a rat catcher, not the most posh job, but it pays the bills. Sean is the uncle of twin boys that are students in Robert's class.

The two get off to a rocky start but are able to work it out in the end. The characters had to learn a valuable lesson when it comes to relationships...communication is key! Also, bow ties are cool.