Reviewed by Nikyta
Title: To Be Human
Author: Pearl Love
Series: To Be Human #1
Heroes: Tim & David
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: 326 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: January 9, 2015
Available at: Dreamspinner Press & Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads
Blurb: TM 05637 was created to be a killer. Genetically engineered for superiority, he was facing a life of missions, blood, and death until his creator decides to set him free. On the run from those holding his leash, he is found by David Conley, an ordinary store owner who stumbles upon a remarkable find. Renaming himself “Tim,” TM 05637 sets out to discover what it means to have a normal life.
Through his friendships with a young boy dealing with a nightmarish family life, and David’s mother, who decides Tim is perfect for her son, Tim slowly discovers his humanity. Even more importantly, David teaches Tim about the power of love. But General Woodard, leader of the project that created Tim, threatens their happiness with his determination to bring his evasive quarry permanently to heel.
As the search net closes ever tighter around him, Tim must find a way to thwart his pursuers so he can stay with David and live out his dream.
Review:
Before I start this review, I want to just say that I don’t consider this book to be in the scifi genre. I’m a huge fan of scifi/fantasy/paranormal, basically anything that has that ‘extraness’ to it. So when I saw this book, I was super excited. Genetically altered human? Count me in! But while this book might have the genetically altered aspect, it doesn’t explore any of the areas that would make it ‘scifi’. That might sound confusing but this one just had the feel of a contemporary to me and, as such, is contemporary, in my opinion.
With that said, this is about TM 05637, who might have been born like any other baby but he was altered in the womb to make him superior in all areas. As he ages, he becomes a deadly weapon utilized by a private military operation. But when his creator, Dr. Paul Anderson, decides he can no longer stand the life for TM, he helps TM escape. Now on the run, TM gets picked up by David, who’s on his way home from a convention. Now known as Tim, he does his best to fit into the life David has so kindly offered him. But while Tim’s managed to create the life Dr. Paul always wanted him to have with David, he knows his time is running out. Not only is he being hunted by the people who weaponized him but he’s also running out of the only nutrient that is keeping his altered body alive. Tim knows he has to move on before his body shuts down but will he be able to leave David before he puts him in even more danger?
As characters, I liked that David was such a softy when it came to… well, anything that needed help. He could never resist helping someone in need and while he only planned to give Tim a ride to Lubbock, he couldn’t just let the boy go off on his own once he realized Tim had nowhere to go. I loved that Tim was so naive as a character. I mean, he was supposed to be this weapon that could infiltrate any situation and yet, he didn’t know what most things were until staying with David and he had absolutely no emotions that would aid him in running a covert mission. It made me wonder how anyone running the operation would think Tim could actually complete a mission that required more than going in guns blazing. One character I really loved, though, was Bobby. He was such a sweet kid and I loved how exuberant he could be.
While I enjoyed the concept of the story, I had several issues with it. For the most part, the story dragged and was very repetitive. I felt as if about 100 pages could have been removed and the story would have been more engrossing. Aside from that, what was the point of rehashing over and over how Tim was a genetic experiment who was a genius and master in tactical strategy and combat… When he didn’t utilize any of those elements when it actually came to a situation that required tactical strategy and combat?! I felt like the ending was a joke because Tim supposedly could take on half a dozen men at once and he didn’t even try to break free when the general came? And worst yet, why would Tim make a deal with the general when he’s had experience of the general not keeping his word? It just seemed to easy (and disappointing) to me, a way to ‘prolong’ the story unnecessarily into a sequel.
Overall Impression: It was good
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for a fair and honest review.*
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