The Other Side by Shawn Lane

The Other Side Reviews

• 
  Nancy

  Posted at
  Shelf Inflicted
  
  I read
  The Other Side in one sitting and was blown away by the intensity and emotional depth of this story. Dr. Ray Carmichael is a wealthy African-American doctor who is running for political office and has little use for the police department. Nick Sorenson is in charge of the investigation of police misconduct involving the beating of Ray’s brother. In spite of the obvious differences between the men and the conflicts that stem from their value differences, there is no denying the physical attraction they both have for each other.
  
  I’ll admit it took me a little while to warm up to the hoity-toity Dr. Carmichael, with his custom-tailored suits, Bel-Air mansion, and full housekeeping staff. What did he know about the real world, the struggles of poor and working-class people, the cars that won’t start, the low-paying jobs, the impact of drug abuse on the addict and their family?
  
  At first, I thought there was no way a relationship between Ray and Nick could ever work. They had different upbringings, came from different social classes, and had different problems. Boy, was I ever mistaken! I enjoyed watching these two men as they struggle, resolve conflicts, and develop love and respect for each other.
  
  A very moving, sexy, and satisfying romance! I will definitely be looking for more of Shawn Lane’s work.
• 
  Daisiemae

  Okay, so I am officially addicted to Shawn Lane's work. I always wait patiently (not) for her newest release, knowing that I am about to read a story that is always emotionally charged with characters that jump off of the pages and into my imagination so vividly, that I can't stop reading until the last page. Of course, then I become upset with myself because I didn't take my time with it, so now I have to wait AGAIN until the next book is out. I just can't win...lol
  
  Dr. Ray Carmichael is on a mission. When his brother was beaten by some dirty LAPD police officers for no reason, except being racially motivated, he has made it his top priority to bring the dirty cops to justice. When the Internal Affairs Detective Nick Sorenson, refuses to answer any of his calls, Ray decides to take matters into his own hands, and meet the Detective Sorenson at his office to find out more about the case.
  
  To Ray's surprise, Nick isn't what he was expecting. Of course, Nick was closed mouthed about the investigation just like he expected he would be. What he didn't expect is to be so immediately attracted to the man. Nick is nothing like Ray usually dates. Between Nick's casual style and the fact he is a police officer, who Ray thinks most of them are corrupt-even before his brother's attack, it is obvious that they come from different ends of the social scale. Despite this, Ray can't fight his immediate connection with Nick, so he decides to do what he can to get Nick to go out with him. Even if it means getting Nick taken off of his brother's case, after all it would be unethical if he didn't.
  
  Nick is furious when he is taken off of the Carmichael case. Despite Dr. Carmichaels insistance that all police are corrupt, Nick knows otherwise, but some people will never be convinced. When Ray asks Nick out, Nick is surprised to say the least. Ray is self assured, educated, sexy, elegant and so obviously different than anyone he has ever gone out with, or been attracted too. Despite his concerns, he agrees to a date because even though Ray is infuriating, he can't fight his attraction to him.
  
  What I really liked about Ray and Nick's relationship is that it wasn't an easy sell for me. What I mean by that is, I myself wondered if these two were going to be able to find some stable, common ground that would be able to keep these two connected to one another. I wondered if Ray's hate for the LAPD, and his innocence about others who weren't necessary born with a silver spoon in their mouths would keep them apart. Not to mention, Nick's troubled past and some self esteem issues he has because his world is so different than the educated, rich world that Ray lives in.
  
  I should have never doubted their relationship.
  
  I loved watching these two men find a common ground. I appreciated the fact that they had to find a way to communicate with one another, that it isn't always easy. Most of us have to work hard and fight for what we want even in our relationships. Ray and Nick are no different. I thought both Nick and Ray both grew as people in this book. Watching them change and make efforts to not give up on one each other, even when it just might be easier, so that they can have their happily ever after was a beautiful thing to read. I LOVED every awkward moment they had to achieve the love and connection they found with one another. I liked the people they came to be with each other.
  
  I loved this book!
  
  
  Now to patiently (not) wait until the next one...sigh.
  
  
• 
  Lindsay

  I agree with everything that has been said about this book. The opposite attracts storyline is one of my favorite themes to read. I thought that both Ray and Nick were both very well written characters. I understood where both men were coming from and why they felt they way they did about things. It was nice to see them find a common ground and be together. It was great!
• 
  Gabbi

  I was surprised by the emotional turmoil both characters seem to go through in this book. It was not a light read for me. That's actually what I liked about it. I liked that they both had issues (many) to work through to be together. Ray was a difficult character to like at times. His negativity about everything law enforcement made me want to shake him at times, but I liked how his character came around. I adored Nick. No wonder Ray was so crazy about him! I loved this book. I hated for it to end.
• 
  Ava

  Loved the book! Nick and Ray were so different yet had such amazing chemistry. How could you not love them? :)
• 
  The Novel Approach

  Dr. Ray Carmichael comes from a middle-class, African American family that gave him the structure and guidance to work hard and become a respected neurologist. He also has political aspirations to clean up the corruption and bigotry in the LAPD—his brother, Devon, was stopped and assaulted by police. Ray has taken it upon himself to pursue answers from, what he perceives, is a corrupt police force.
  
  Nick Sorenson is an Internal Affairs detective with the LAPD. When he has the time, he loves participating in the Big Brother Program and the mission. His home life was very different than Ray’s. He still helps support his sister and brother, and a mother whose lifestyle is questionable.
  
  After meeting with Nick on his brother’s case, Ray, for personal reasons, pulls a fast one on Nick, having him removed from the investigation. He calls Nick, and they decide to meet at Ray’s home, but when things start to move a little too fast, Nick is apologetic and calls a halt to things. Ray is still intrigued by Nick and decides to give dating a chance. But, Nick and Ray don’t see eye to eye on a lot of issues, especially when Ray continues to berate the police force.
  
  The Other Side is a short novella; it’s a quick read but covers a lot of social issues. It actually caught me off guard as I thought it was going to get into the assault case of Ray’s brother as well as the corruption in the LAPD, but it took a different turn. It’s really about Ray and Nick and being from two different worlds, and the different ways they look at issues. They both have to face bigotry and corruption as well as issues from family to co-workers, from poor to wealthy, and whether they will be able to exist together. I liked the plot and was really impressed by how much the author covered and the ways she covered the issues and the feelings of both these characters. This was a good read that offered me a lot of things to think about.
  
  Reviewed by Maryann for
  The Novel Approach
• 
  Erotic Horizon

  Characters
  
  Ray Carmichael, wealthy African American doctor and political activist and very much a family man. Proud and not ashamed of what he has or who he wants.
  
  Nick Sorenson, Internal Affairs cop, laid back sort of guy who knows what is important and what to get worked up about and when to go with the flow.
  
  
  
  The Plot
  
  After a police incident, which has left Ray’s brother beaten, he finds himself getting the run around from the police. He decides to take matters into his own hands and get first hand information himself. When he meets the lead investigator, Nick Sorenson from Internal Affair, his original issue suddenly becomes not the main issue anymore.
  
  Nick Sorenson is just trying to get on with his job. He loves his job but is well aware that IA is not the social club of the police department. He is not exactly surprised when one of their most vocal protesters turns up to get first hand information on an ongoing case. What’s a surprise however is the call inviting him on a date from the same protestor a few days later.
  
  With the attraction between these two so strong, they can barely deny themselves, however with more than their pride at risk if their relationship is misconstrued. They walk a fine line between wanting and having it all.
  
  
  Surprise Element
  
  Shawn Lane's THE OTHER SIDE, is a great read, the things that you would naturally assume would be issues are not, she has however, flipped ideas, concepts and thrown two totally opposite men together to give us a love affair so rich, it's hard to imagine these two men without each other.
  
  Predictability
  
  Yes - there are enough there to not make a difference in your enjoyment of this book. People, place, race and other issues are standard just from looking at the cover – you can surmise as much.
  
  Ms. lane has used a level of creativity to ensure the usual is also the unusual, which in itself is a big thing – Job done.
  
  
  Smut/Ick Factor
  
  Yes - enough to really fall in love with these two men. they are not the type that eyes meet and then five minute later they are in bed, no it was a dance of getting to know each other, a few laughs a few mistakes and when the right time came they knew.
  
  
  Positive
  
  This is Shawn Lane at her best. THE OTHER SIDE is such a wonderful read, that even at the end I knew I would miss these wonderful characters.
  
  Ray is not only a family man but also a man who just wants the right thing to be done, and it is with this intention in mind that he decides that he needs to get his own answers about his brother’s ongoing case with the police department. Meeting Nick has not exactly thrown him off his stride, but it has most certainly has him wanting things and he sets about getting them by any means necessary.
  
  Nick is not opposed to hooking up with Ray, admittedly it’s a little different – the protestor and the cop, but he goes with the flow and he loves it. Then life rears its ugly head, their career challenges, family obstacle, along with emotional fraught scenarios are all issues for these men.
  
  I loved both the characters, Ray is most certainly a go getter, he knows what he wants and despite the situation of how they meet each other, he goes after his man. And his man is exactly how Nick knows Ray thinks of him.
  
  Another plus for this book is was how Ms. Lane dealt with the whole family issues, both men have baggage and issues and they are the usual ones, but with both men coming from two different background – it was not going to be an easy fit to make the relationship work.
  
  
  Negative
  
  Nick was a cop in the IA department with the police force – but he was such a gentle soul, that at one point i felt like he was being feed to the wolves. For the department that he was in – i didn’t get that tough cop vibes from him. However taking into consideration Ray forceful personality, Nick was literally his perfect match.
  
  
  Cover
  
  Not as erotic as some of the covers that are out their now, however it suited the book and in some respect it is actually a very realistic impression of how the dynamic of the relationship is – Ray is more or less the stronger of the two men, Nick is more laid back.
  
  I like it.
• 
  Amethystina

  This is a very unremarkable and forgettable book. While the basic premise and plot had a lot of potential, the book was so short that the story and character development ended up feeling terribly rushed. There were conflicts, yes, but they were dealt with so fast that I didn't feel very connected to the characters. They did have personality and several things going for them, yes, but the writing was so simplistic and repetitive that I didn't actually feel anything while reading. The sex in particular felt disturbingly mechanical.
  
  Mostly this was because of the sentence structure. So many of them were of the exact same length, a lot of them began with "he," and it was all actions. Rarely did we get any insight into the more complex thoughts or emotions that the two characters might have, which is strange considering that they went through quite a lot in this short period of time.
  
  Also, I didn't like the power balance, since it felt slightly off pretty much the entire time. Nick was so embarrassed and uncomfortable at the beginning and while some of that decreased with time, it was almost painful to watch. It didn't seem like Nick actually felt safe with Ray, but the book told me he did and... yeah, I'm just not sure I believe it.
  
  On top of that, we didn't get much closure. A lot of threads were left hanging at the end and I just don't know why I should care about these characters because it doesn't feel like the author did. We get to meet Nick's little brother once, injured at the hospital, but never saw him again after that, aside from a brief mention a week later. And I have so many questions! Did Nick lose his job? Did Ray get elected? Did the rest of Ray's family decide to accept Nick into their lives, or was it just Devon? Will Nick and Ray ever do anything but have sex as soon as they meet?
  
  Honestly, as I was reading — nearing the end — and noticed the page number, I was surprised by how little was left. They rushed through a quick fix in the last couple of pages but it didn't feel satisfying at all. I'm just... indifferent. It's not a bad book, but I still wouldn't recommend it. There's far too little substance and the writing is simplistic enough to remove a lot of the joy. All the short sentences filled with "He did that and then that, and then he did that" got boring real fast.
  
  So give this one a pass, I'd say.
• 
  Nicci

  The Other Side is an emotionally intense and hot story of two men who bring baggage with them on their first date. Nick Sorenson is a police officer working for Internal Affairs. Ray Carmichael is a neurosurgeon who intensely dislikes the police department. They ignore the differences in values and backgrounds to satisfy physical needs.
  
  I adore Nick. I liked how he doesn’t allow his less than perfect upbringing influences him from achieving something positive for himself. I love his support for his family despite the fact he does have a deadbeat and addicted mother. Ray comes from a strong family unit of parents and siblings. Not only are they African American but they are successful with strong family values.
  
  Ray’s attitude bothered me. I couldn’t figure how Nick could tolerate the very opinionated and superior Ray Carmichael. As they grow closer, they discover they do like each other. It was nice seeing bit and pieces of Nick’s life enlightens Ray, giving him another perspective on the police officer.
  
  Their differences and their personalities will come to wreak havoc and will ultimately strain the relationship.
  
  The Other Side is very good in telling Nick and Ray’s story. This is a romance. There will be conflicts arising from them being together. Some are resolved and others are left open. The unresolved conflicts serve to highlight the Nick and Ray’s personal journey. Not to provide solutions on discrimination and racial profiling.
  
• 
  Feliz

  Ray is an african american doctor, upper middle class and a politician with an anti-racism activist program in his mid-thirties. Nick is a lower class white Internal Affairs police detective. They meet when Nick is investigating a case of police brutality against Ray'syounger brother, Devon. Ray is immediately attracted to the scruffy cop. After having Nick removed from the case, Ray asks him out. Both men fit together remarkably well when it comes to sex, but aside from that, they seem to have nothing in common.
  
  This book was nice, a smooth read, and rather entertaining. But that was about it. It's a garden variety cinderella story where the rich older man interferes with the young, poorer man's life, and not in a small way. But still Nick cares remarkably little. He follows where Ray leads although he's supposed to be a police officer, and one with a rough background who's made his way against all odds. Sure, being IA and out gay he doesn't have a lot of friends within the force. But to Ray, he acts too much like a lightweight. Ray, on the other hand, to me felt like he got himself a new pet. The story had obstacles and twists, but they were immediately solved.
  What saved the book for me was the writing. The story in itself was well crafted and, although rather off the mill, so well written it could still entertain.
  
  Recommended for m/m fans as
• 
  ElaineY

  2.5 stars.
  A very forgettable book. To write this review, I had to check the last few pages to remember how it ended and to trigger my memory about what happened to Nick and Ray apart from their having sex every time they meet.
  
  After what I thought would play a significant part in the story, the investigation into Ray's brother's assault was just cast aside. At the start of the story, Nick is the Internal Affairs guy on the case and Dr Ray Carmichael comes charging in to demand that the investigation get moving and they stop stalling and avoiding his calls. When he gets a hard-on at the police station for Nick and believes the attraction is mutual, he asks Nick out there and then. Nick follows like a puppy. Next, Dr Carmichael has Nick taken off the case so they can fuck without that annoying conflict of interest thing.
  
  And that's the end we hear of the investigation. Even though we get to meet Ray's family, even though Devon does appear in the story. In the end, The Other Side is nothing more than an African-American having the hots for a white cop and if you changed their color to purple polka dots and green stripes, it wouldn't have made any difference because none of the issues that were dropped into the story were used.
• 
  mah1

  For a while now Shawn Lane has been one of my go-to authors and as long as I check the plots (no reunions or years of pining for me), I'm pretty much always entertained.
  
  The Other Side had an interesting flaw, in my opinion, as it had one of the most annoyin MCs I've ever encountered. For the life of me I could not grow to like Ray, I thought him conceited and he never adequately apologized to Nick for his always talking shit about cops.
  
  Plotwise this was one of the strongest books from Shawn Lane. The rich guy poor guy thing worked very well and the description of Nick's mother was realistic.
• 
  Shelby P

  I really liked this book but it was too short. I wanted more from Nick and Ray's relationship. I love that the guys went on dates and didn't have sex on the first date, how nice. There were some lose threads like what ever happened to Devon's case? I also wanted to learn more about Nick's mom. Would definitely like to read another book about this couple.
• 
  Nicole

  2.5 stars. I didn't really feel like there was any resolution in this book. And to be honest, most of the time I found Ray to be arrogant and a bit stuck up. I hope there's another book that tells the rest of the story.
• 
  Laura

  This story was way better than i expected.Probably because it was focused on their own personal life.
  
  Edit: it was interesting to read the reaction of a black wealthy family to a poor white guy.
  
  
  
• 
  Mitabird

  This was OK, but I didn't think there was a real connection between Nick and Ray. I thought things happened a little too quickly. I also felt there were too many unresolved issues.
• 
  Arzu

  3,5 stars
• 
  Gigi

  Read awhile ago, but remember liking the tension the fight at the end caused. Will have to re-read for a more detailed review.
  
  I'm on a fight-then-makeup kick right now. ;)
• 
  Sandra

  $4.50 on Nook
• 
  melek

  opposite attracts and nothing in common can they over come that and other issues to make this relationship work.
• 
  Lexi

  The only reason this isn't a 4 is because if felt a bit rushed. Definitely could have been much longer and I would have loved it to be. There's so much that was left unanswered.