julia's Reviews > Backdraft

𝟬𝟰/𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟬 ~ 𝟰.𝟳𝟱 ✩
𝟭𝟬/𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟭 ~ 𝟰.𝟱 ✩

❝I’m worried about you, Seong-Jae. Sometimes…sometimes you seem so far away.❞
❝I do not mean to, Malcolm.❞

𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰 ♫
— 𝗔𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝟭𝟭𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁
— 𝗣𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹


BACKDRAFT was an interesting read for me. On the one hand, I was very meh on the case. As I said before, I much prefer cases that involve a bit more drama and hit the guys a little bit harder… However, I will say… I commend McCade for actually incorporating and infusing his cases with realism. I like that McCade never sugarcoats or glorify the BPD and he constantly encourages us the audience to question Malcolm and Seong-Jae as cops.


On the other hand, BACKDRAFT absolutely nailed the growing romance between Seong-Jae and Malcolm. As always, these two have this pure chemistry that damn near leaps off the page. Moreover, I like how bringing Malcolm and Seong-Jae together has been a clear and definite process. Both men are coming into this new relationship with a ton of baggage. And despite how infuriating it can be sometimes, I appreciate that things aren't magically great between them. They still have their communication issues, and that's okay. They're still working on their relationship. That said, there were a lot of sweet and steamy moments in this book, so… do with that information what you will.


All in all, BACKDRAFT was a worthy installment to the Criminal Intentions series. We saw a lot of progress between Mal and SJ, and while that ending had me wanting to yeet my Kindle, I refrained. I think my main "issue" with BACKDRAFT was the case. It wasn't my favorite, but that's okay… as established i'm not really here for the cases. Side-note, I cannot believe that once again I'm almost finished with season one!! I can't wait to dive into season two, I swear.

❝Why are you so hot when you’re so bossy?❞
❝Not even I have enough psychological training to unpack that statement.❞

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𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦: 𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗢𝗡 𝗢𝗡𝗘

𝟭. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗻𝘀 - 𝟰.𝟱 ✩
𝟮. 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗸 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲𝘀 - 𝟯.𝟱 ✩
𝟯. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗘𝘆𝗲 - 𝟰 ✩
𝟰. 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 - 𝟰.𝟲 ✩
𝟱. 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁 - 𝟱 ✩
𝟲. 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗦𝗺𝗼𝗸𝗲 - 𝟰 ✩
𝟳. 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 - 𝟰.𝟮𝟱 ✩
𝟴. 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲 - 𝟰.𝟳𝟱/𝟱 ✩
𝟵. 𝗔 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲'𝘀 𝗙𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗲 - 𝟰.𝟮𝟱 ✩
𝟭𝟬. 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁 - 𝟰.𝟱 ✩
𝟭𝟭. 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼 - 𝟯.𝟱 ✩
𝟭𝟮. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿'𝘀 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲: 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗜 - 𝟯.𝟮𝟱 ✩
𝟭𝟯. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿'𝘀 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲: 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗜𝗜 - 𝟰 ✩
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(original review - may 14, 2020
4.75 stars!



Ahhhhh every single time I think "there is no way Cole McCade can top that last book" I am proved wrong and want to backhand own damn self for doubting McCade's amaziningness! Like this series is just so so SO good!

“I don’t want to take you for granted. I want to be with you. And I want to make it abundantly clear.”

And Malcolm half wondered if he would chase Seong-Jae away by loving him too much, instead of not enough.
---> Malcolm truly is the best man ever! He is the heart of this series.

The case was great! Mal and Seong-Jae are honestly one of my all time favorite couples I've ever read about! The side characters are solid and really add to the series and have actual depth. And on top of it all McCade has an underlying mystery that is rapidly being uncovered as the first season comes to a close! I am so in awe of how McCade does such a good job keeping me invested in Seong-Jae and Malcolm as a couple. They had some mad unresolved sexual tension in the first 6 books and I was so scared that once they got together I wouldn't be as invested in them as a couple. HA I was worried for nothing because somehow I'm even more invested in them together! I love seeing both men open up to each other little by little falling in love and learning to trust one another.

You are my shelter
--->and thus the feels are released! Seong-Jae emoting is just the best.

You, Malcolm thought, his heart so full its overflow felt as painful as weeping, are more beautiful than I deserve.

Basically this was just a rant of how amazing Cole McCade is as an author and an official PSA demanding that everyone read this series!! This series just gives me all the emotions and I don't want to see Seong-Jae or Malcolm hurt! Let these men have an amazing vacation somewhere where they don't need to bring their phones!

Thompson scowled, flicking a resentful look at Seong-Jae. “And? Do you have any demands?” “Only one,” Seong-Jae said, inclining in a bow. “Have a lovely day.”
--->As much as I love Seong-Jae when he emotes I also love snarky Seong-Jae as well ;)

“I take deep pleasure in intimacy with you, Malcolm. More than merely physical pleasure. I am not driven by sex in my attractions…but I am quite fond of sex in my attachments.”



“People do not love me. People think I am a cold, rigid automaton who speaks oddly and makes them uncomfortable and frequently says the wrong thing in delicate situations.”
---> Reading this just made me want to b-slap anyone who ever made him feel like this!!

I'd say the only reason not a full five stars is because it took me a bit to get into this one but once I did it was full steam a freaking head!!



...........also that ending though!!! Shit just got freaking real!!! I am really hoping and praying that Seong-Jae doesn't shut Malcolm out!! Like bro remember you need your partner!!