This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Genres: M/M Romance, Romantic Suspense
Published by Riptide
Released on June 7, 2014
Pages: 207
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
Nick and Kelly on a murder case and hunting down a Colonial Era treasure in Boston. I had an absolute good old time traipsing along with them. Of course, their style of doing things involves a mysterious man with amnesia who may or may not be what he claims, the Irish Mob, other treasure seekers and the enigmatic Julian Cross. Oh yes, fasten your safety belts, people, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
This second book in the Sidewinder series is part of the Cut & Run universe and chronologically falls after Ball & Chain. I really don’t recommend reading this one without having read that one to get the full impact of this story, but I suppose it’s possible to manage it right after the first book in this Sidewinder series.
The story opens with Nick O’Flaherty coming back off of desk duty after his surgery to be confronted by a double homicide and an amnesiac as his only witness to the crime. It’s no ordinary robbery gone wrong, but he sets it aside for the weekend to welcome his lover, Kelly Abbott to town for a two week visit. Nick hasn’t seen Kelly in some time.
Kelly arrives to visit Nick just in time to get roped into helping him with his investigation that gets even more dangerous and unusual when Julian Cross pops up claiming to have info about the case and JD the witness seems to be in danger. Kelly and Nick manage some loving, but it is clear that they have to figure out the case before they’ll get any time to themselves.
Unfortunately, Nick realizes quickly that the danger is escalating and he has brought Kelly right into the middle of it. The case takes Nick into situations and trains of thought that he would rather not revisit, but at least he has Kelly there guarding his six and keeping him calm.
The story is no shorty and definitely novel-length, but my goodness did it feel like it went by fast. The pacing on these books is so different and matches with Nick and Kelly’s personalities somewhat. I enjoy them both as narrators and I really enjoy them as a team both as lovers and as two guys working a case. I was delighted with the guest appearance of Julian though I confess he was more ornamental than anything. He was there helping and had his reasons, but he didn’t really impact the story as much as in early books. There are also Ty & Zane cameos. There is still that heavy tension going on between Nick and Ty.
The treasure hunt is the exciting part, but I loved the build of suspense in that scene with the Irish Mob. Nick’s got some depth to his backstory and that was very fascinating stuff there. As to the romance, Nick and Kelly are a firmly established couple and in the open, but it is a new thing so adjustments need to be made as well as some doubts and suspicions dealt with. Nick is presented with a temptation to stray and I confess that I got nervous about thoughts of cheating and love triangles. Fortunately, the author set me at ease with how it went down.
All in all, I enjoyed this sequel in the Sidewinders series or more like a side story in the Cut & Run series. I will definitely continue on. M/M Romantic Suspense lovers would enjoy this one.
My thanks to Riptide publishing for the opportunity to read this one in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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I’ve read about this series for the first time on GR, not everybody loved it but I’m interested !
Yeah, its a spin-off of her Cut & Run series which is more the universal favorite. Personally, I don’t feel like it would do well read alone. I think it works best reading this series where it chronologically fits between the Cut & Run books even if the main characters are different b/c some of the plot and character development plays off each other.
Love those little guest appearances by past characters. Glad to see you’re enjoying these Sophia. A few of my reader/blogger friends love them as well. I might give them a go one day 🙂
I do enjoy them, but if you want to do it right, start with the Cut & Run books, fit in Warrior’s Cross somewhere in there too, preferably before Armed & Dangerous. They all connect. There is even a slight connection between Gravedigger’s Brawl and Touch & Geaux. LOL!
Oh I’ve read one like that where it was so interconnected. Can be fun but whew can get a girl tripped up a bit too.
Yep, I’ve got myself tangled up with four authors who do this right now. At least two of them, I managed to start in the right place, but the others I’ll need to back track.