Mr. November by Melanie Ting is a delightful, enjoyable and feel-good love story between an AHL enforcer and a promising chartered accountant. Seemingly worlds apart because they have almost nothing in common, the main characters had a shared affection for rescued cats. For Marty Devonshire, it was love at first sight when he caught sight of Elaine Salang. It was just as his grandpa described – an intense hit on the gut when you meet The One. This book is part of the Vancouver Vice series and the story happens after The Tao of Hockey and An Irresistible Force. Characters from previous books play pivotal roles in Mr. November but each book can be read as a standalone. When looking for light and entertaining reads for relaxation, this book is a great pick.
Marty Devonshire is a gentle giant. Aesthetically, he’s far from the typical, good-looking book boyfriend. He’s got scars on his face and his size makes him look formidable and scary as his role in his AHL hockey team, the Vancouver Vice. A bit clueless around the ladies, he does not have confidence like his buddies, handsome Eric Fairburn/Burner or ladies’ man, Nate Jones/Jonesy. Elaine Salang is the treasurer and board member of V.I.C.E., the Vancouver Indigent Cat Enterprise. She’s studying to be a C.P.A. and gaining work experience at the same time. She is passionate about the cat shelter and is desperately fighting for its survival. These two met when Amanda Richardson, Vancouver Vice owner/manager, made a bid for the V.I.C.E.’s domain name. She gently wooed the head of the shelter, a shrewd ex-diplomat named Maureen McCumber, by generously offering to develop their website for free and organizing a fund-raiser for the shelter with her players as calendar boys. Surely, hot athletes with cuddly pets are potentially a huge draw. No money was exchanged in the deal because this AHL team had financial difficulties as well.
Elaine organised the calendar shoot in the shelter and Marty was surprised Amanda chose him as one of the 12 guys to grace the calendar. In the shelter, his heart was captured by both Elaine and a sprightly, special needs cat named Knightley. Jonesy had his eyes on Elaine as well and started to pursue her. Will Marty ever have a future with her? Will he score a date and not ruin his chances?
This book is more than just a love story. It is also about culture and differences, family, camaraderie and friendship and hockey. The main and supporting characters in the story are well-developed and given equal air time. They are likable and realistic. Elaine Salang has a Filipino heritage and the book touches on the typical Filipino family dynamic and hospitality. She grew up in Canada but preserved ties to her culture as most second-generation immigrants do. Marty is shy, a late bloomer who needed a makeover and a confidence boost. He is unassuming and has no illusions about skills in the sport. Raised by a single mom like Elaine, he considers his team as extended family. Jonesy engineered Marty’s makeover, and it was truly heart warming. His character started out as annoying but he redeems himself in the end. Marty’s character is so affable and disarming; this reader cannot help but root for his happily ever after.
I enjoyed the dialogue which is smart, funny and full of witty comebacks but not superficial. The book had a leisurely vibe. Nothing seemed hurried and never boring. The author is skilled in describing characters, their quirks, facial expressions and mannerisms. I had a complete image in my mind for each single one, and everyone came across as authentic. The book was well-edited and the ending was all I could hope for. At the end of the story, I wanted to read more about Elaine’s sister, Camille, who’s a complete opposite to her elder sister. I’m hoping that she gets her own sequel.
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