This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Published by Riptide
Released on August 9, 2013
Pages: 300
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
You know a book is hecka good when not even a tenth of the way through you’re checking the release date on the next book and groaning because it’s not out yesterday. This book knocked my socks off from page one when the irascibly endearing Prophet Drews makes his appearance and then the epic ‘gasoline to flame’ meeting of two Titans when he finds himself paired up with Tom Boudreaux for the next mission. The shadow world of covert ops is dark and gritty, but makes for a suitable backdrop for the story of these two guys.
The mission takes a dip into Proph’s past and touches a few of Tom’s ghosts too. Both men are pushed hard by the circumstances and by each other. Tension is high and danger is always present. The only thing scarier is that they get past the hard walls they built around themselves over the years and start to know and trust each other. The danger comes to a head and Prophet is left to make a huge no win decision dredging up all the demons from the past that he struggles to contain. Tom has to make a hard choice in the end too.
While the mystery that the mission presents them is intriguing and deliciously twisty like I enjoy and the characters were so well written, it was the relationship between Prophet and Tom that took over this book for me, pulled me in and had me so eager to see it progress. And this is saying something because getting to know these guys through the alternating points of view just never got old. This relationship is not easy or simple, but it is loaded with passion. It was painful and it was exquisite all at the same time. And in the end…let’s just say that book two cannot come soon enough. So many things are left unresolved, but this isn’t a problem because I am thrilled that this is an ongoing series.
This was one of the best series openers that I’ve ever read and I can recommend it to those who enjoy grittier plots, multi-faceted difficult characters in a spicy m/m romantic suspense.
My thanks to Net Galley and Riptide Publishing for the opportunity to read this book for review purposes.
About S.E. Jakes
SE Jakes writes m/m romance. She believes in happy endings and fighting for what you want.
You can contact her the following ways:
You can email her at authorsejakes@gmail.com
You can post to her Facebook page: Facebook.com/SEJakes
You can Twitter her: Twitter.com/authorsejakes
You can post on her Goodreads Group: Ask SE Jakes
You can follow her on Tumblr: http://sejakes.tumblr.com
You can ask her a question as part of the Ask The Author program on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/4595…
Truth be told, the best way to contact her is by email or in blog comments. She spends most of her time writing but she loves to hear from readers.
***
SE Jakes is the pen-name of New York Times Bestselling Author Stephanie Tyler (and half of Sydney Croft!)
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This one sounds sooooo good!
I asked to review it when I found out that it was like Abigail Roux and Madeline Urban’s Cut and Run series. Similar, but good in its own right. Love m/m detective/spy team stories.
Ah love when that happens and you start scoping out the next book so quick. lol I still haven’t gotten into m/m but plan on trying it at some point. So many of my friends love it. Glad this one really worked for ya!
Sophia is our expert m/m reviewer! I have tried a few and I must be reading the wrong authors. So glad she picks the best books to review!
LOL! Yeah, you probably got a hold of some of the women authors who don’t know how to get into a man’s head to get it just right. There are five of those for every one decent one. I just try to hunt down ones with general story plots that interest me and cross my fingers they get the romance right. ;D
LOL! Yeah, you probably got a hold of some of the women authors who don’t know how to get into a man’s head to get it just right. There are five of those for every one decent one. I just try to hunt down ones with general story plots that interest me and cross my fingers they get the romance right. ;D
I slid into it gently when I was given a series that would be classified as sweet historical romance. I didn’t even realize what I was reading until I was already vested in the story and characters. I loved it and then sought out more broadening my taste gradually so that I don’t really see a romance as m/f or m/m so much anymore. Some writers can pull off a genuine feel of what a relationship with two men or two women is really like, but others don’t quite hit it right.
This one sounds sooooo good!
Ah love when that happens and you start scoping out the next book so quick. lol I still haven’t gotten into m/m but plan on trying it at some point. So many of my friends love it. Glad this one really worked for ya!