Review: No Filter by Nora Phoenix (No Shame #1)


Note: This ARC was provided by the author via Michelle Slagan in exchange for an honest review.

No Filter is the first novel in Nora Phoenix's No Shame series and it also happens to be my first read from the author. I read the synopsis for the book when I originally signed up for the blog tour, but by the time I had gotten around to reading it, I had completely forgotten what it was supposed to be about. In short, I went into the book blind, and color me confused within the first couple of chapters. Indy Baldwin is on the run from an abusive ex with ties to the mob back home in Boston. A new identity and trying to stay one step ahead has done the trick so far, but Indy always looks over his shoulder, very much aware of what his ex is capable of. When a robbery takes place in a convenience store, he meets Joshua Gordon, a military vet suffering from PTSD. Indy kisses Josh in order to snap him out of an episode, and silly me, I thought the story was going to be about them. But then two other guys show up in the story: Ignatius O'Connor (aka Connor), also a vet but now a cop who appears to have an intense about him when it comes to Josh, and Noah Flint, a former army medic turned physician's assistant who is insanely protective of Josh but seems to have a thing for Indy. Clearly, this was a case of assuming the wrong thing on my part because Noah is kinda paired with Indy...even as they both sorta have sex with Josh...who maybe likes Connor.

There's A LOT that goes on in this series starter. I went back to check out the synopsis on Goodreads after I finished reading the book, and I know the author makes a point of stating that the book does end on an HFN (happy for now) with a promise of an HEA (happily ever after) later on, but there's an abruptness to how everything ended in this first book that left me with a bit of whiplash. Connor doesn't play a huge part in this story, so I'll hold off on him till later, but it's clear that he and the three other guys--Indy, Noah, and Josh--all have their issues, and these issues are the source of the angst in this book and, I suspect, the rest of the series. Speaking of issues, my main one regarding this novel has to do with the relationship among Indy, Noah, and Josh. They're not really a triad, but they're not exactly a threesome either. There's lots of sex that goes on in the story, to the point that it was feeling a tad...much. I get it. They're hot together, but the saying "Too much of a good thing is bad" has been around for as long as it has for a reason. I liked the characters and wanted some sort of resolution for each one of them, but, like I mentioned, we don't get the HEA here. Everything is still pretty much up in the air, but yes, there's a hint or two of promise for everyone concerned. Yes, including Connor. No Filter was okay but it did falter at times. Three stars. ♥

Date Read: 03 November 2017

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