I received Coin Tricks from the author through the DBML program for an honest and unbiased review. This story is about Wire, a large Maori man who works as a bouncer and security guard for a store, and Sid, a young librarian and aspiring magician. It’s told in first person through Wire’s pov.



Wire is a big man and that’s what most people see when they look at him. They fear him because of his size, but at heart he’s gentle. He loves his large family, which includes parents, siblings, nieces and nephews, protecting them and looking out for them. Wire is quiet and serious, and very responsible for his age. He comes across as older than his early twenties because of his maturity. The one thing he longs for is someone to love, and love him back. Men only wish to hook up with him to fulfill their fantasies of being with a large strong man. Wire longs for an intimate relationship, a boyfriend, but he’s convinced himself that those are impossible dreams. He’s learned through experience that he’s not the kind of man anyone wants a permanent relationship with, although he’s the perfect sort of man if others would only look past his size.

Sid meets Wire when Wire catches Sid shoplifting and stops him outside the store. Being Wire, he feels sorry for Sid and pays for the objects Sid stole. Having found out Sid’s address, Wire starts to bring him food. Wire is immediately attracted to Sid, who has red hair and loads of freckles. Wire describes Sid as a twink and he likes it when Sid wears makeup for his job at the library and does magic tricks. Wire has no problem with how Sid dresses, but he does have trouble with how Sid acts. Sid is also in his early twenties and has lived alone with his nine year old sister since their mother left them. He’s responsible when it comes to taking care of his sister, but at times acts like a child. Sid is impulsive and talkative. He also gets angry quickly and doesn’t like to be told what to do. He also doesn’t want to accept help from others, and when Wire puts his foot down about Sid stealing, Sid rebels. He acts like a child toward a parent, who happens to be responsible Wire, trying to talk sense into Sid. He also has weird ideas about stealing that I found hard to believe like how could he possibly think that allowing security guards to beat him up in order to get food is OK? What if his bones got broken? Or internal injuries? He wouldn’t be able to work his library job or do magic or look after his sister. Sid’s illogical thoughts amazed me. He is not bright.

The author did a great job of conveying Wire’s longing for Sid and also Wire’s belief that Sid would never want him. I could feel Wire’s hurt and loneliness for someone of his own. Their relationship wasn’t rushed, which I liked. It was a slow gradual buildup of a friendship that had its ups and downs and how both characters learned to change their solitary ways and navigate a relationship. Both wanted the other, but Wire’s belief about his undesirability kept him from making a move on Sid. But Wire’s voice was excellent. There was one thing I didn’t like though. It was the repetitious mentioning of how Wire was attracted to Sid’s freckles and his skin. I mean there was a lot of it. I think cutting the mention of the freckles by half would still leave more than enough in the story, because it was way overdone.

I want to bring up the use of Maori words throughout the book. Even though the author made notes in the back of the book, it didn’t work for me. There were too many words so I didn’t bother looking in the notes. Also I used a Nook to read this on and the large numbers next to each Maori phrase or word was annoying. It didn’t link back to the notes. When I did go back to the Notes, each word or phrase was on one page, so there ended up with about forty pages of extra stuff at the end of the book. There wasn’t a single long list with definitions. Also the author had Wire mention, I’m paraphrasing here, ‘that people don’t like it when Spanish words are in stories, but they’ll read Elven words.’ I for one, also stay away from books with Elven words, I’d much rather read Spanish words. But this book had too many Maori words in it for me. I think there were over thirty-five phrases and words explained and I gave up bothering to understand them, which took pleasure away from reading this story.

In the end, this book is about families, friendship and the willingness to work through rough patches in a relationship. It’s a slow moving storyline of two different men as they navigate the waters from friendship to love. I think the author did an awesome job with the characters. Each voice was distinct and unique. I ached for Wire with his longing, loneliness and sadness that he’d never achieve his impossible dreams. Sid, I found him to be on the selfish side and annoying. An immature, bristling package that could be set off at an instance if things didn’t go his way. I didn’t like him all that much. Things I would suggest fixing are cutting down on Wire’s over numerous references to Sid’s freckles and skin because there was too much mention of it. Also the reference note links need to be fixed for the Nook files.

This is an enjoyable book, especially Wire’s voice. I give Coin Tricks, 4 Stars.


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Cute and lots of mentions of Star Trek Voyager. Which was the series which I grew up with. ( )