This is how you write a novella: include just enough details to make the reader feel comfortable in the story, but not so many that it becomes an expoThis is how you write a novella: include just enough details to make the reader feel comfortable in the story, but not so many that it becomes an exposition dump.
The story is told from John's POV, and John has a distinct voice. He's also madly in love with Harrison, who's 19 and not quite half John's age. We see Harrison as John sees him: lost, filled with grief, a little insecure, but fiery and passionate.
I loved that Harrison, the less experienced MC, was the taller of the two. It's usually the dominant partner who's taller so that was refreshing.
This is a very romantic, sexy story with an alternate 19th century British feel (there are lords, horse-drawn carriages, and manor houses, but same-sex marriage isn't frowned upon) and an absolutely perfect HEA.
Merged review:
This is how you write a novella: include just enough details to make the reader feel comfortable in the story, but not so many that it becomes an exposition dump.
The story is told from John's POV, and John has a distinct voice. He's also madly in love with Harrison, who's 19 and not quite half John's age. We see Harrison as John sees him: lost, filled with grief, a little insecure, but fiery and passionate.
I loved that Harrison, the less experienced MC, was the taller of the two. It's usually the dominant partner who's taller so that was refreshing.
This is a very romantic, sexy story with an alternate 19th century British feel (there are lords, horse-drawn carriages, and manor houses, but same-sex marriage isn't frowned upon) and an absolutely perfect HEA....more
Uri regrets making his own menorah candles. He's never been very crafty, and playing with fire leads to disaster.
Fortunately, his neighbor Oscar ~3.5~
Uri regrets making his own menorah candles. He's never been very crafty, and playing with fire leads to disaster.
Fortunately, his neighbor Oscar is there to save him, even if Uri insists he doesn't need saving.
I liked this story, which mentions both Hanukkah and Christmas. We get some background information about the MCs, enough that I was hoping Uri would accept Oscar's invitation.
I did wish the ending hadn't been so rushed and tentative. I'm rounding down for that reason....more
Even though Witt has mad skills, I don't always mesh with her work. But this book? Yeah, this book is a Must Read, you guys!
It has all the eleme~4.25~
Even though Witt has mad skills, I don't always mesh with her work. But this book? Yeah, this book is a Must Read, you guys!
It has all the elements I love:
- scorching HEAT (hot, hotter, HOTTEST; all the passionate kisses did me in.)
[image]
- complex, vulnerable MCs (I fell in love with Max and Adrian almost immediately.)
- strong focus on the relationship
- no drama (and no insta love, either)
- well-developed sense of place (I've spent a lot of time in Vegas and lived in Los Angeles; I could tell L.A. Witt has too. She knows these cities: not just the touristy stuff you can Google, but the heartbeat of the streets.)
- minimum angst, despite the heavy themes of loss, suicidal thoughts, and homelessness
- truly well-earned, romantic HEA
Adrian is a blackjack dealer and stripper (and occasional rent boy). One night, when he's walking to his car he sees a man in a suit sitting by the Bellagio fountain. The man has a sign, a backpack, and a couple crumpled bills in a cup.
[image]
Adrian walks right past him. But he turns around. Something about the man calls to him.
Max used to be a successful ad executive. Until he lost everything: his job, his home, his boyfriend. Out of thousands of strangers, Adrian is the only one who stops and sees him.
I liked the way Witt handled Adrian's sex work (and trust me when I say that I'm not a fan of rent boy stories).
At the Corner of Rock Bottom & Nowhere isn't a long book, but it doesn't feel rushed. The men are open and honest with each other, and the tenderness between them is a beautiful thing.
I'm so glad I gave this one a chance!
Merged review:
~4.25~
Even though Witt has mad skills, I don't always mesh with her work. But this book? Yeah, this book is a Must Read, you guys!
It has all the elements I love:
- scorching HEAT (hot, hotter, HOTTEST; all the passionate kisses did me in.)
[image]
- complex, vulnerable MCs (I fell in love with Max and Adrian almost immediately.)
- strong focus on the relationship
- no drama (and no insta love, either)
- well-developed sense of place (I've spent a lot of time in Vegas and lived in Los Angeles; I could tell L.A. Witt has too. She knows these cities: not just the touristy stuff you can Google, but the heartbeat of the streets.)
- minimum angst, despite the heavy themes of loss, suicidal thoughts, and homelessness
- truly well-earned, romantic HEA
Adrian is a blackjack dealer and stripper (and occasional rent boy). One night, when he's walking to his car he sees a man in a suit sitting by the Bellagio fountain. The man has a sign, a backpack, and a couple crumpled bills in a cup.
[image]
Adrian walks right past him. But he turns around. Something about the man calls to him.
Max used to be a successful ad executive. Until he lost everything: his job, his home, his boyfriend. Out of thousands of strangers, Adrian is the only one who stops and sees him.
I liked the way Witt handled Adrian's sex work (and trust me when I say that I'm not a fan of rent boy stories).
At the Corner of Rock Bottom & Nowhere isn't a long book, but it doesn't feel rushed. The men are open and honest with each other, and the tenderness between them is a beautiful thing.
Until the 60% mark, this book was just about perfect: age gap, hurt/comfort, friends to lovers, slow burn.
The relationship development between Ni~3.5~
Until the 60% mark, this book was just about perfect: age gap, hurt/comfort, friends to lovers, slow burn.
The relationship development between Nick, Justin's freshly divorced dad, and Colton, Wes's bestie and quarterback extraordinaire, was tentative and believable.
The men bond over video games, tech sales (of all the things, lol, but Colton took to his internship with Nick like a duck to water), and nightly dinners (grilling and summer wine, baby).
And then, BAM, the shit hit the fan. I understand Justin being frustrated that his dad and friend were keeping secrets, but his outburst and jealousy were ludicrous, made all the worse because Justin was fine, excited even, when he thought his dad was dating a woman.
Apparently, all that bullshit about being true to yourself applies only to Justin.
I felt bad for Colton. He lost his position on the team and his job all in one go and was living in a motel with a busted shoulder because the people closest to him were too busy being selfish assholes.
Then there's all the drama with the new quarterback and Colton & team pushing themselves until they couldn't walk to prove some fucked up "real men don't quit" mantra. What was the point of all that besides showcasing toxic masculinity?
Throw in bi-erasure (I give the GFY trope a big ol' side eye because I'll take Things That Never Happen in Real Life for $500, Alex) and an oil tycoon with a heart of gold (Big Oil is destroying our planet, but sure, let's glamorize it), and even the fairytale epilogue couldn't drag this book up the mountain again....more
- Interesting MCs (I especially liked that Jack was so vulnerable and his PTSD wasn't brushed aside, and that Edward was not a First, the good stuff:
- Interesting MCs (I especially liked that Jack was so vulnerable and his PTSD wasn't brushed aside, and that Edward was not a typical self-absorbed nobleman; he was charming and genuinely interested in people.)
- Flirting (The chemistry between Jack and Edward was palpable from the beginning.)
- Great secondary characters, particularly Matilda
- Decent amount of steam
- HEA (I loved the last chapter!)
And that brings me to the not-so-good stuff:
- Lots and lots of angst and drama (Jack's PTSD; the assault charges; the paparazzi . . . There was A LOT going on in this story that wasn't romance. As soon as Jack and Edward got together, the universe conspired against them. I felt overwhelmed at times.)
- We only get Jack's POV, which was really disappointing. I wanted to get in Edward's head something fierce.
- Certain parts of the book just really dragged; it took me a while to get into the story, and, truth be told, Private Truths never fully kept my attention.
- This book is well edited, and Lewis is not an amateur by any means, but the writing seemed dry and formal, stiff even.
I still recommend this story. I suspect most readers will connect with it better than I did. ...more
I liked The Rest of the Story about as much as I liked Bauer's Gravity. This book is set in the same fictional NHL universe, but it can be read a~3.5~
I liked The Rest of the Story about as much as I liked Bauer's Gravity. This book is set in the same fictional NHL universe, but it can be read as a standalone.
No one speaks French, and the players' families do show up physically and emotionally, but otherwise the romance is the same brand of sentimental.
Morgan and Shea fall in love at first sight, even though Morgan resists dating Shea because he believes he's not worthy of Shea's affections.
At least half the story is Morgan and Shea making googly eyes at each other. The other half is the rise of the underdog, as Morgan leads the Outlaws to greatness.
The one dark spot is the abuse the players, especially a young rookie named Brody, suffered at the hands of the former team captain, Coates. I hate bullies with the passion of a thousand fiery suns, and Coates was one of the worst.
Half star off for a couple reasons:
1. Morgan is the only narrator of the story, and I missed Shea's POV something fierce. Morgan is a good guy with low self-esteem who's comfortable being average. I wanted to see Morgan through Shea's eyes.
2. The middle of the story dragged a bit. I can only read so much about the rookies eating and playing video games before I'm yawning. The book stands at over 400 pages, which is about a hundred pages too many. ...more
Emotional and evocative, this story is poetry in motion. Bryce (Bunny) and Hunter (his Honey) don't meet as much as collide.
"I wear your numb~3.5~
Emotional and evocative, this story is poetry in motion. Bryce (Bunny) and Hunter (his Honey) don't meet as much as collide.
"I wear your number."
"I wear yours too."
At 26, Bryce is in the midst of a sexual identity crisis; he's nearly certain that he's gay, but he's afraid.
Hunter, who's 22, hasn't explored anything beyond hockey, so when his hero kisses him, he freezes. He doesn't push Bryce away, not really, but Bryce freaks out all the same.
Cue angst as the men are separated. Bryce falls apart, which I didn't find entirely believable. Professional athletes don't have that luxury. They have to shut all that down and play.
The story takes a darker turn when Bryce is seriously injured. Hunter is with him every step of the way, and the two get impossibly closer. I loved all the feels, the pureness of their love, the innocence and awe.
The team camaraderie brought so much joy to this story. It was like summary Fridays and Christmas morning rolled into one.
The other Montreal Etoiles players - Slava, Valery, Etienne, MacKenzie - have distinct personalities and add some comic relief to the fairly intense plot. I adored them all.
Hockey is the star of the show though. Bauer doesn't skimp on the brutality, pain, grueling schedules, heartache, and tears. It's not just a game; it's a battle to the (metaphorical) death. This was brilliantly done, and I was caught up in the ice action as if my life depended on it.
When Hunter and Bryce bring the cup to Guy's ramshackle gas station in the middle of nowhere, I got all misty eyed. The feels did me in.
So much greatness!
But there were misses too:
The romance was just this side of schmoopy - so cutesy, my teeth hurt.
No homophobia - not one member of the team or the multitude of fans (not even Hunter's family in Texas) protest when Bryce and Hunter's relationship becomes obvious. And it was obvious - too obvious imo, like not professional at all. You can't be making out at work like that, come on. I wish the world were this accepting, but it's not.
There was a lot of French. So much French. And I love French. I do. I think it's a gorgeous language, but I'm not a French speaker, so most of the French words/sentences were just distractions. I'm bilingual and a linguist, and there was something off about the way Bryce switched to French with Hunter who didn't speak French. It felt forced.
Florence's review discusses this at length. She's French Canadian from Quebec and states that "the use of French bothered me in this book, because most of it were expressions that just aren’t used in Quebec." Tal kind of dropped the ball here. Why not get a sensitivity reader from Quebec instead of using Google translate?
Also, I found it odd that Bryce's parents/family didn't visit once during his recovery. It's mentioned that they video called, but that feels inadequate. He was close with his parents and brothers, and they lived just a few hours away, and not a single one came to see him? I don't buy it.
I've noticed that many of Tal's characters feel like orphans. They have little or no contact with their families and live in their own spheres. And that's true for some people of course, but everyone?
Where am I going with all this? I liked this book for the glorious hockey romance it was, even though my rose-colored glasses kept fogging up....more
I've no idea how Tal Bauer knows about the secret passages in the White House, the exact layout of Camp David, or where the presidential nuclear bunkeI've no idea how Tal Bauer knows about the secret passages in the White House, the exact layout of Camp David, or where the presidential nuclear bunkers are. Maybe this is public knowledge? I don't know, and I'm not going to google to find out (who needs that kind of search history during an election year?).
What I do know is that this book is a kick-ass political thriller that left me breathless. All the details add up to a wild ride of HOW, WHY, and most importantly, WHO.
I didn't even mind the singular POV.
Agent Sean Avery and President Jonathan Sharp are two connecting puzzle pieces. One doesn't belong without the other.
The ending is a bit abrupt, but Bauer writes his characters in such a way that I never doubt the intensity of their love.
ETA: Upon some reflection, I dropped my rating to 4 stars because reasons:
- The "misunderstanding" between the MCs was way dramatic. Two intelligent, mature men ghost each other for a year because they're not willing to have a conversation around one encounter. If Sean believes he hurt Jonathan, why doesn’t he apologize? And why would Jonathan walk away the next morning and leave Sean on the beach without waking him?
- Some logistics following President Baker's death just didn't add up, mainly how quickly everyone accepted that the President committed suicide and how lax security was around the White House.
Still a great story but requires an extensive suspension of disbelief....more
And so it begins: yet another gripping, romantic, and sexy AF series by Ms. Albert.
And, WOW, is it off to a good start.
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Burn Zone feature~4.5~
And so it begins: yet another gripping, romantic, and sexy AF series by Ms. Albert.
And, WOW, is it off to a good start.
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Burn Zone features:
- two stubborn MCs (Jacob, the rookie, who's determined to make Linc see that they belong together, and Linc, the experienced fire jumper, who made a promise to Jacob's brother and thus keeps Jacob at arm's length)
- dogs (dogs rule!)
- slow burn (and how! Jacob and Linc dance around each other for SIX DAMN YEARS)
- age gap (ten years, something Jacob finds inconsequential)
- family/friendship dynamics (I have mixed feelings about Wyatt, Jacob's brother and Linc's best friend; Wyatt looked out for Linc for many years, but he's also a homophobic jerk who asks for promises no one should ever have to keep)
- action (smoke jumpers are seriously brave, and courage is sexy)
- hurt/comfort
- LOVE (but of course)
- hard-earned HEA (the best kind)
- dual third-person POV (all the YES; this is my favorite narrative style)
I'm so hoping Garrick's story is next!
"You're ..." My heart. My everything. The words were right there, but then Jacob looked away ....
- the courtroom dramaYou know what I loved about this book?
EVERYTHING
- the swoony romance (so many kisses!)
- the dual POV (complex MCs, unique voices)
- the courtroom drama
- the political intrigue (who hired a sniper to shoot at the Russian president - and kill three American Secret Service agents - on the steps of the White House?)
- the suspense (I was so into this story, my stomach was legit cramping toward the end. Those snakes OMG)
- the HEA (I wanted an epilogue for Tom and Mike so damn bad, not because I doubted their love but because I'm greedy for more)
- Etta Mae the Bassett Hound! (I always worry about dogs in books, like where is the dog, did the dog get walked, is the dog all alone?? I didn't have to do that here, because Etta Mae was important and always accounted for. Tom took such good care of her.)
You know what I hated about this book?
It ended.
And now I have a book hangover for the ages. ...more
Tiber and Gabriel made great strides in book 2, but here? I wanted to shake them both. Tiber did not do right~3.5~
Holy lack of communication, batman.
Tiber and Gabriel made great strides in book 2, but here? I wanted to shake them both. Tiber did not do right by himself, Gabe, or his pack by not sharing information with Gabe (if not as his partner, than as the town sheriff).
How could he not tell Gabe that someone tried to kill their dogs?? Poor Ferd ended up on an IV at the vet's, and Tiber's all, Um, He ate something he shouldn't have. Yeah, POISON ffs, and you're "handling it" on your own by running around like a crazy person with Duke (not that it was Duke's fault - Duke is the BEST boy!).
That's not to say Gabe was blameless. What's with being all weird and secretive? It made no sense that Gabe was planning to move in with Tiber permanently yet didn't trust Tiber enough to discuss the case or share his doubts and fears.
This frustrated me SO MUCH, I wanted to scream. Using no/miscommunication as a plot device is amateur hour. I did not expect that here (and blame RJ Scott because that is not Eli's schtick).
I kind of guessed where the mystery was going and don't think there was enough focus on the actual murder. Poor guy lost his life as an accessory in some fucked up game of revenge.
Plus, let's face it: Gabe had no business investigating that murder at all, and Sam should have been arrested. I don't understand why he wasn't? He was the only suspect.
I didn't like how much Gabe beat himself up for "not being there for his FaMiLy." The same family who emotionally abused him for being gay? Sam was an adult when Gabe left and never stood up for Gabe. He turned their younger brother against Gabe and kept blaming Gabe for everything.
What part of "undercover investigation" did Sam not understand? It was Sam's responsibility to support his kids and run the business he chose to keep. I was annoyed with Sam and Lori for treating Gabe like shit for so long and didn't feel much sympathy for them here.
I still enjoyed this story though. The pacing was excellent. I was glued to my Kindle. My heart was in my throat when Frank went missing! Frank cuddling into Tiber and moving his little feet about broke me. And that epilogue ... perfection.
I can forgive a lot when a book includes animals as MCs. Everyone in the pack (Duke, Ferdinand, Gracie, Leo, Fudge, Patch, and Frank) has a distinct personality. I liked them more than I liked the human MCs lol.
Book 2 was my favorite, and I would definitely read another book featuring these MCs.
P.S. My friend Jen's review reminded me that in the second book Gabe's niblings turned 6 on October 6: "It's the twins' sixth birthday. Sam's twins. Well, and Lori's. Obviously."
But then a couple paragraphs later: "Going to a party with four-year-olds? Me?"
A few pages after that: "By the time we reached the decorated front door with two sixth birthday banners, I was smiling" and "The good room as my dad used to call it - all set up for a sixth birthday."
Of course in this book, the twins are 4 and in preschool.
Talk about an editing and continuity fail.
I've gone back and forth, but I'm rounding my rating down to 3 stars because this kind of thing is well and truly unacceptable in a published work you're selling for five bucks....more
Since reading the first Lake Prophet book a few weeks back, I've sampled five MM romantic suspense series:
- two I finished and loved (Seven of SpadesSince reading the first Lake Prophet book a few weeks back, I've sampled five MM romantic suspense series:
- two I finished and loved (Seven of Spades, The Murder/Grave Between Us) - three I didn't like enough to continue after the first book (Memento Mori, Paul Monroe Mysteries, Hazard & Somers)
Valor & Doyle is the series that started my obsession (thanks, Nicky James!).
Anyway, I circled back around to Lake Prophet and decided to give the series another go (I had a digital credit floating around, so why not). And, honestly, I'm happy I did because the second book is definitely better than the first.
Gabriel's POV, written by RJ Scott, is still not as polished as Tiber's chapters, but this is not nearly as noticeable as it was in book 1.
The stars of this book are the animals: horses, dogs, cats, a rabbit, and a tortoise. I love Tiber's (and eventually Gabriel's) pack so much. Gabriel calls them their "kids," which is what I call my furry companions. I'm a huge animal lover. Reading about dogs especially is like a balm to my soul.
Granted, there were evil people here doing evil things that made Tiber (and me) incredibly angry, but there's hope at the end.
Equinox is a quiet mystery. There's not a lot of police procedural scenes, because Prophet is a small town, and it's just Gabriel and his rookie Devin. The investigation is mostly intuition and some sleuthing.
The romance between Gabriel and Tiber is a standout. They are so respectful and caring with one another. Serious couple goals!
Tiber's sociopathic ex shows up; meeting him helped me understand Tiber's reclusive nature and overabundance of caution. Fortunately, Tiber's new boyfriend is the sheriff and not putting up with anyone's shit.
This book grew on me, kind of like matcha: The first time I tasted the green concoction, I found it a little bitter* and grassy, not bad exactly ~3.5~
This book grew on me, kind of like matcha: The first time I tasted the green concoction, I found it a little bitter* and grassy, not bad exactly but definitely an acquired taste, but I kept drinking it and drinking it until I liked it and was surprised that I did.
(*This book isn't bitter. Obviously. But it has slow-moving parts.)
Expect a cozy mystery, if post-WWII England, a lonely spy (Leo) who doesn't belong, a tormented doctor (James) who struggles with nightmares, and two murders can be considered cozy.
There is no simple resolution to the mystery. Everyone has a secret, and the only person in Wychcomb St. Mary who knows what's going on is a rather dramatic and resourceful 15-year-old ragamuffin named Wendy.
Leo is right; Wendy would make a fantastic spy.
The romance is muted, much like the mystery. Some may call it a slow burn, but I don't think it was any kind of burn at all, more like a leaning and a falling.
"But I feel that I'm growing fond of you at an, ah, accelerated rate ... When I look at you, I see the man I'm - well ... all it would take would be a stiff breeze to push me into outright love with you, and I thought you ought to know that."
Could James be any more endearing?
P.S. My father-in-law's name was James Leo, and I just thought I'd share that....more
In my quest for another MM romantic suspense series to binge, I found Detectives Everett Larkin and Ira Doyle, not to be confused with Aslan Doyle of In my quest for another MM romantic suspense series to binge, I found Detectives Everett Larkin and Ira Doyle, not to be confused with Aslan Doyle of Valor & Doyle.
Nicky James published Valor & Doyle Mysteries #.05 in July 2022, a few months after this book was published in September 2021. I'm sure it's just an unfortunate coincidence, but I couldn't stop thinking of Aslan every time Ira's name was mentioned (and Aslan won every time).
Poe is an excellent writer, and I appreciated the complexity of both MCs and their backstories.
Initially, I thought Larkin had autism, but I don't think that's the case. He has a traumatic brain injury which seems to mimic certain characteristics of ASD.
Doyle is a police sketch artist and also a detective. He's laidback and flirty, and knows how to center Larkin.
Maybe if this series were on KU, I would continue, but I won't spend my money on the remaining Memento Mori books when so many things bothered me in this one:
1. This book is 99% mystery/suspense, 1% romance. Larkin is married to someone else and doesn't leave his toxic relationship until the end of the book. He's still not divorced.
I read through reviews for book 3, and it doesn't seem their relationship progresses much in the next two books. Sorry, but I want at least a side of romance with my mystery.
2. The mystery is dark and gruesome. So is the setting. There is no light here, only death and shadows.
3. We get only Larkin's POV. This is a big NOPE for me. I hate single POV narration and really missed Doyle's voice. Being in Larkin's head was exhausting, and the story felt very one-sided.
4. This story takes place over the course of three days, and way too much happens during this time: Larkin and Doyle meet, flirt, and kiss; they solve a 22-year cold case; a secondary character is almost killed; both MCs are hurt and hospitalized; Larkin leaves his husband.
Everything moves in hyperdrive. I absolutely don't believe the wheels of bureaucracy could spin this quickly.
5. Most of the secondary characters are hostile, homophobic, and terribly unpleasant. Everyone at the precinct hates Larkin and throws around insults like "cocksucker" and the F slur with no repercussions.
Maybe this is realistic, maybe not, but regardless, I don't want to read about it. It's disgusting and upsetting. Why the fuck would the author fling around so much hate on top of murder?
I can see why so many of my GR friends gave this book 5 stars. It's gritty. It's raw. And Larkin is a unique, multi-dimensional character.
I just didn't enjoy the story enough to rate it higher....more
Brutal, dark, and terrifying, this book had me double-checking my door locks.
Noah and Cole are engaged and in love, but a serial killer obsessed withBrutal, dark, and terrifying, this book had me double-checking my door locks.
Noah and Cole are engaged and in love, but a serial killer obsessed with Cole is on the loose. Cole worries Noah is the killer's next target and blames himself.
The narrative jumps between the past (eight years prior) and present. As a young hot shot profiler, Cole was the main (only) interrogator of a prolific serial killer caught by chance. He was also, unfairly I thought, blamed for the killer's escape.
The torture, rape, and murder of men is described in some detail here, so this book is not for the faint of heart.
Investigation and suspense are at the forefront of this story, but the strong connection Noah and Cole have shines through.
I adored the interactions between Cole and Katie (Noah's teen daughter). I also love Jacob! The big guy is my favorite secondary character in the series.
After much suffering, Noah and Cole get their HEA. I hope the most exciting thing in their future is dancing in a corn field.
There were definite moments of "nope, that didn't happen" I noted but shoved aside. Still 4 stars because this book is fast-paced and readable, but let's be real.
(view spoiler)[1. The killer's escape - he opens his handcuffs with pencil shards and overpowers two armed FBI agents. No one notices that the shards are in his mouth. He somehow swallows around the shards for hours.
Never mind that these brilliant FBI agents decided to transport a vicious psychopath in their own vehicle vs. waiting for proper security.
2. The FBI doesn't bother looking for a dangerous, violent, deranged serial killer for EIGHT YEARS, just allows him to run free murdering dozens (if not hundreds) of innocent men. There was no consideration that he might go after Cole or other victims.
3. Noah, Jacob, and Sophie figure out in a few hours what a highly trained team of experts couldn't in weeks. They then know exactly where to look for Cole, and Noah's search team is the one who finds him.
4. The killer is able to follow and take pics of Cole and Noah, two experienced, seemingly observant FBI agents, for weeks without either one noticing.
5. The killer is exactly in the right place, at the right time to shoot Noah and later abduct Cole.
6. In the middle of the killer's rampage, knowing the killer's blitz approach to abducting his victims, Cole blithely lingers at a stop sign, allowing the killer to break a car window and overpower him.
7. Katie, who's usually so present in the story, is nowhere to be found for days. She doesn't even realize Cole moved out. Why does no one send this girl to her mother's to keep her safe??
8. The killer guesses Noah and Cole's alarm code and is able to break into their house without alerting anyone. Why? Because two FBI agents used their birthdates as code. LMAO (hide spoiler)]...more
I can see why this book is a fan favorite. The Murder Between Us is a thrilling blend of mystery, suspense, and romance.
Following a six year absence,I can see why this book is a fan favorite. The Murder Between Us is a thrilling blend of mystery, suspense, and romance.
Following a six year absence, a serial killer is once again strangling accomplished young women in the Iowa area. The murders are gruesome and terrifying. FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Noah Downing let the killer slip through his fingers once. He won't let it happen again.
Noah calls on the FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit to send him their best profiler. Enter Dr. Cole Kennedy, whom Noah met and slept with in Vegas.
What happened in Vegas was supposed to stay in Vegas, not follow Noah to Iowa. Noah wants Cole so badly it hurts, but Noah isn't out and can never be out (that's Noah's fear talking).
I loved Cole. He was more patient with Noah than Noah deserved. Noah drove me up the fucking wall. He was anxious and moody, toying with Cole's emotions, up one minute, down the next.
There's a break in the case halfway through the story, but I figured there had to be more to the mystery than that, and there was.
The story ends on a hopeful note. Noah and Cole are planning a future together. I hope the second book doesn't mess with their HEA. ...more
Seven of Spades would make a fantastic movie! There are so many action sequences, seeing the story unfold on the big screen would be a wild ride.
LeviSeven of Spades would make a fantastic movie! There are so many action sequences, seeing the story unfold on the big screen would be a wild ride.
Levi and Dom are complex, compelling characters with real human flaws. The secondary characters - some likable, some not - are equally well developed and add dynamic layers to an already thrilling story.
However, I was disappointed in the series finale, mostly because the identity of the serial killer is utterly unbelievable. I had this person in mind as a suspect but kept dismissing them because no way could they have committed the murders as described.
WARNING: BIG SPOILER IN TAGS
(view spoiler)[How does an average-sized woman who isn't particularly fit or strong drag around so many dead bodies? There are a dozen plus bodies buried - that's a lot of heavy lifting and digging, even for a big dude. While Natasha had technical help, physically she was on her own.
She somehow hid and transported the bodies of the four men who hurt Levi. One was placed in an abandoned house; another was dragged to Levi's upstairs apartment. Seriously, how does a smaller person pick up and carry an unwiedly two hundred pounds of dead weight?
On top of that, why would a social worker be welcome in all these situations? Sure, she didn't appear threatening, but that didn't give her carte blanche to stroll into a judge's house on a weekend morning and start pouring drinks.
How did she collect, deliver, and set up hundreds of liquor bottles? How did she sneak into a warehouse full of criminals and drug all their drinks?
There's no way one person can manage all that, and none of it was explained.
Sawyer as the killer would have made a lot of more sense, and even then I would have been skeptical. (hide spoiler)]
That being said, if you like murder mysteries, don't even think about skipping this series. It's an immensely enjoyable, edge-of-your-seat, unputdownable read.
ETA: Even though the identity of the killer is far-fetched, the emotional exploration of vigilante justice is brilliant.
The Seven of Spades targeted the worst of humanity - rapists, pedophiles, human traffickers, white supremacists - because they didn't trust that by-the-book justice was or would be served. And they're not wrong.
Case in point: Brock Turner was sentenced to six months in jail, of which he served only three because the judge thought a longer sentence "would have a severe impact on him.” Never mind the impact on the woman he brutally raped.
The public, including members of law enforcement, was largely sympathetic to Seven of Spades' cause for this reason. I was too. They were ridding the world of evil.
Levi didn't see it that way though. He didn't think one person had the right to play judge, jury, and executioner. Why did the Seven of Spades get to decide who lived and who died?
Topics of moral ambiguity present a fascinating philosophical quandary that Kingsbridge didn't shy away from. The Seven of Spades was not an unsympathetic character, and that's part of what makes this series so fascinating....more
Sanctuary is a sweeping saga of secrets and sin featuring:
Phenomenal world building
Multi-dimensional characters (main and supporting)
Romance
Adven~4.5~
Sanctuary is a sweeping saga of secrets and sin featuring:
Phenomenal world building
Multi-dimensional characters (main and supporting)
Romance
Adventure
Suspense
Lord Paris is sent to Nemeda, the middle kingdom, with Urial (Paris' home) to the north and the Southlands down below, to negotiate a trade deal of some kind. The Urial king mentions oranges, but it's obvious he just wants to get rid of Paris, who's hooking up with the king's son.
Paris, who leaves a brother and sister behind, doesn't expect to return to Urial alive. No one ever does.
He also doesn't expect Nemeda and Brett - the chief of the Hawk clan - to become his home.
Nemeda is composed of eleven tribes, all named after birds: Hawk, Raven, Owl, Vulture, Crane, Eagle, Falcon, Duck, Pelican, and two others that either weren't mentioned or I'm forgetting.
But no matter. The Hawk clan is central to the story because they shelter Paris. As Paris proves himself helpful and kind, Brett can't help but fall in love with the newcomer, but in Nemeda love can be deadly.
That's all I'm going to say about the plot. The less you know going in, the better.
Told from Paris' and Brett's alternating POVs, the story is fast-paced and addictive. It's a "just one more chapter" kind of story, and those are the best kind.
The ending is both a HEA and a cliffhanger, with multiple storylines to be continued in future books (at least I hope so). These include one clan's betrayal, the continuing war with the Southlands, and the Urial king's nefarious motives.
Book 2 can't come soon enough!
Half star off because much to my dismay there were enough typos to be distracting. For shame....more
~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semi-colons~✡~
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