Brothersong (Green Creek #4), by TJ Klune

 

Blurb:

In the ruins of Caswell, Maine, Carter Bennett learned the truth of what had been right in front of him the entire time. And then it—he—was gone.

Desperate for answers, Carter takes to the road, leaving family and the safety of his pack behind, all in the name of a man he only knows as a feral wolf. But therein lies the danger: wolves are pack animals, and the longer Carter is on his own, the more his mind slips toward the endless void of Omega insanity.

But he pushes on, following the trail left by Gavin.

Gavin, the son of Robert Livingstone. The half-brother of Gordo Livingstone.

What Carter finds will change the course of the wolves forever. Because Gavin’s history with the Bennett pack goes back further than anyone knows, a secret kept hidden by Carter’s father, Thomas Bennett.

And with this knowledge comes a price: the sins of the fathers now rest upon the shoulders of their sons.

 

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Published:

October 13, 2020

BOATK Books

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packpackpack

and 

Stupid Carter… 

Readers, I am not an especially gifted reviewer. I read books and I either love them or not, and I write down how they made me feel. It’s my way. With that, even if I had the vocabulary to adequately explain what Brothersong made me feel, what it was to me, I’m not sure I could do it.

As with the other books in the series, there are things that happen, both good and bad, that just can’t be spoiled. It’s wrong to do so, so me telling you how I feel should be easier. It’s not. It’s hard to explain how many times my heart beat out of my chest. It’s impossible to really explain what I was feeling when I was bawling. I mean, what do I do? Do I keep a tally every time I cry or something? Just know that it hurt. But it’s also very hard to explain all the laughing I did, all the smiling and cheering.  Just know that it happened a lot… eventually.

There are many moments during this book where I had to take a breath.  A deep breath. I was so very lonely. It’s hard to read an ARC of a book like this one. While you read it you feel the need to discuss. Like, really discuss what the heck is going on because the feelings are so visceral, so real, that you need an outlet. THANKFULLY, I have a dear friend from another blog who was also reading along at the same time I was. I gotta tell you though, I was faster than she was and so while I could chat here and there, it was so hard because I was finished a day before she was and OMG did I want to talk about it.

There is a moment deep into the book where I wanted to call my friends and get all giddy with excitement because I know that when they get to this part where Jessie is so like Willow, it was the most awesome thing ever. And yes, only Buffy fans will understand that but my dudes, it was epic shit. Tj is so good at writing badass women in this pack. And seriously… Team Human for the win. That includes the people of Green Creek. Those humans. Talk about taking your breath away. What an amazing group of people. I want to live in a town filled with these people. They’re so special and will always hold a place in my heart.

There were moments when I cursed Thomas because of the countless mistakes he made. And then pages later I was praising him for the beauty in his soul. There were times, many of the actually, when I could not get enough of Elizabeth because she is wise beyond her age. She’s such a strong woman, wolf, mother, guide. Elizabeth lays down some serious truths throughout the book that are HUZZAH worthy. I want Elizabeth to be my mom.

So many times, I cheered for Gavin for the strength he had. No matter how scary the choices were before him, he dug in and did the right thing not just for Carter or the pack, but for himself. He’s so strong and I don’t think he understood his own strength, or his worth, for a really long time.

There were times when I could not believe what I was reading because it was some trippy shit happening and yet it was so beautiful I cried continuously. I had huge tears running down my face for pages and pages at a time because of the sacrifice for the sake of packpackpack. Kleenex was always in my had for those pages so I could see.

If readers have paid very close attention to the happenings of all the pack over the previous books, and even in this one, the climatic events that lead to the pack and their HEA are not surprising. They’re actually expected. But that does not take away from watching them really unfold. When things start to come to that point of no return, I felt like I knew what would happen… and I did to an extent. It didn’t matter though. It didn’t make it easier. It didn’t make it less beautiful and wonderful.

The Bennet pack has made many sacrifices. The sins of the fathers and all that. Yes, plural. But it’s not just the fathers. There is so much that they have to contend with, and Carter and Gavin have so much to deal with to get to the end. But all of those sacrifices do pay off, and they pay off beautifully.

I want to say this book was perfect, but it was not. I’m not sure there is a book out there that is. It won’t be for everyone, but it was totally for me. At times I wanted more time with just Carter and Gavin, but then I remembered their love story really started in another book altogether. It’s not Gavin’s fault Carter was Stupid Carter for so long. And I loved the way the story has to build up from this dark and sad beginning because it’s not a happy time at all. I mean, remember where we left off in Heartsong.  I love that it was also not just about Carter and Gavin… as with all the books, this is a story about a pack, a family. All of them play a huge part in the overall ending of the story, so I’m really glad they all get good page time. It was important for me to see everyone there, present and accounted for, doing their part. I would be remiss if I also did not mention that I believe, had it not been for the bond between Carter and Kelly, our wonderful Carter would not have made it. The bond between these two brothers is like no other, and that’s so clearly shown here. I mean, it’s called Brothersong for a reason. It’s enjoyable and beautiful and I loved every minute of my heart breaking and being made whole again.

So, in closing… to Tj if he ever reads this… Thank you. There are books that you read and they stick with you throughout your life. Sometimes it is not just one book, but a series. You can read a series that evolves into more than you ever thought possible, thus sticking to you in a way you can’t even explain. You’re given this gift of a story that lasts years. It’s a series about a family that goes through more than any other family, or person, should have to go through in their lives to find a happy ending. You’re given this gift of a family that becomes part of you and your family. You feel it down to your bones that these people, these wolves, they’d be your family if you could choose them for real. So every joy, every triumph, every happiness they feel, you feel too. But along with that, every trial, every sadness, every loss… you feel that down to your bones right along with them. Reading this series hurts so good. It hurts but it also heals. It’s a journey I’ve taken that I’ll never forget. I’m forever grateful that I was able to read these books and be a part of this family in my own way. This gift… and it is a gift, it’s one of the best blessings I can think of. At the core of the Bennet Pack is love. So much love. Thank you for showing me and the world this love.

packpackpack

Recommended.

~kristie

 

 

Better Than People, by Roan Parrish

 

Blurb:

Simon Burke has always preferred animals to people. When the countdown to adopting his own dog is unexpectedly put on hold, Simon turns to the PetShare app to find the fluffy TLC he’s been missing. Meeting a grumpy children’s book illustrator who needs a dog walker isn’t easy for the man whose persistent anxiety has colored his whole life, but Jack Matheson’s menagerie is just what Simon needs.

Four dogs, three cats and counting. Jack’s pack of rescue pets is the only company he needs. But when a bad fall leaves him with a broken leg, Jack is forced to admit he needs help. That the help comes in the form of the most beautiful man he’s ever seen is a complicated, glorious surprise.

Being with Jack—talking, walking, making out—is a game changer for Simon. And Simon’s company certainly…eases the pain of recovery for Jack. But making a real relationship work once Jack’s cast comes off will mean compromise, understanding and lots of love.

Buy Links:

The Ripped Bodice

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Amazon

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ibooks

Published:

August 25, 2020
Carina Press

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Reading Parrish’s books is like an iced cold glass of water on a scorching hot day. Always refreshing, delicious, wonderfully thirst quenching, and so very welcome. Better Than People was not any different than reading any of her other books. Of course, different people, situations, and circumstances, but something wonderful just like I’ve come to expect from her work.

I loved this story so much. I needed sweet and kind, and this is exactly that. It’s incredibly romantic and heartwarming to read and I could not put it down. I’m sitting here thinking about it and it makes me want to read it again just to have that feeling back. This book made me so happy, and I really needed that. Bonus points for fur babies galore, and super sweet artistic type humans.

Recommended, obviously.

~kristie

 

 

Digging Deep, by Jay Hogan

 

Blurb:

Drake Park has a complicated life. As a gay male midwife, he’s used to raising eyebrows. Add Crohn’s disease and things get interesting—or not, considering the sad state of his love life. Experience has taught Drake that most men are fair-weather sailors when it comes to handling his condition—gone for dust when things get rough. Staying healthy is a full-time job without adding in any heartbreak, so a little loneliness is a small price to pay. If he says it often enough he might even believe it. One thing for sure, the cop who arrested him isn’t about to change that.

Caleb Ashton does not have a complicated life. A senior detective with the Whangarei Police Department, he likes his job and is good at it. He works hard and plays hard, happy to enjoy as many men as he can while he’s still young enough—or at least he was. These days he feels adrift for the first time in his life, and the only thing sparking his interest—a certain prickly young midwife.

But can Drake find enough faith to risk opening his heart again? And does Caleb have what it takes to cope with the challenges Drake’s condition presents?

Buy Links:

Amazon

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Dreamspinner Press

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Published:

August 6, 2019
Dreamspinner Press

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Okay, so I think what attracted me to this story when I read the blurb was the Crohn’s disease. Weird? Maybe. But I see a lot of commercials on TV for all kinds of medications. I’ve heard that it’s a strange thing in kind of specific to America… not sure. Anyway, there is always some new drug commercial that is for people with Crohn’s disease and I wanted to know more about it. But with this book, I really wanted to see how it’s dealt with in the story. And wow! I don’t know if this story really goes into the depth of what it would be like for most people who have Crohn’s disease, but I think it gave me some insight.

The story deals pretty deep into the struggles that Drake goes through every day. Honestly, it’ horrible, and from what I gathered in the story, his is not quite as severe as others, butt still, terrible at times, embarrassing, and uncomfortable. I felt like I learned a lot, but in a way that brought comedy to a life that isn’t fun at all. Drake has a good life, good job he loves, and great friends and family. He’s still lonely though, but getting into a relationship with someone who not only understands him, but his disease as well… Well, it’s a hard combo for him to find. Then all of a sudden, in walks this asshat detective, Caleb, and his life gets turned upside down. It’s not only Drake who has his like turned around either, but Caleb as well. Caleb is a no dating kind of guy. He’s more interested in one night stands than hiss in relationships. He’s never actually even had a relationship at all so when he finds himself wanting to try with Drake, it hits him like a ton of bricks.

This is a slow burn romance that never feels like the burn is too long. It’s sweet and quirky, and the wooing that Caleb does to win over Drake is creative and so funny at times. Caleb is inventive and makes Drake’s Crohn’s disease something they can joke about in a way that is not hurtful or insulting. It’s quite adorable. The struggles they have to break down those solid walls they’ve both built up over the years, and let one another in, felt so real and authentic. It was hard to read at times, and sad, and so very good.

Aside from one very tragic and horrible moment, I really enjoyed this. So much more than I thought I would. If you can get through that trigger warning, I think it is worth the read.

Trigger warnings for a very unfortunate death of a child. It it pretty graphic and as a reader, you are right in the thick of it when Drake, as a midwife, is dealing with this very sad and tragic moment. It is a huge catalyst to movement of the story forward but is very hard to read. I would say that if you’re sensitive to this, you can skip a lot of this part of the story when it starts to happen, but don’t let it stop you from trying this book out.

Recommended.

~kristie

 

 

World Turned Upside Down, by Elyse Springer

 

Blurb:

After three winters in Antarctica, Simon Bancroft is an old hand on the ice. The harsh weather and extreme isolation aren’t for everyone, but he enjoys the tight-knit community at McMurdo Station… and lately he’s enjoyed watching the hot new researcher, Asher Delaney, who’s recently arrived to study the aurora. But Simon’s just a janitor. Asher doesn’t even know he exists.

When Simon’s friends propose a wager, he gets a chance to introduce himself to Asher at last. But Asher defies all of Simon’s assumptions, and suddenly he finds himself reevaluating everything he thought he knew about Asher, himself, and falling in love at the bottom of the world.

Buy Links:

Amazon

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Dreamspinner Press

kobo

Published:

August 9, 2019
Dreamspinner Press

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This was a sweet, very cute, and interesting story. Despite the predictable moments, I found myself really invested in Simon and Asher. A good portion of the story is informative since I’ve never been to Antartica. I mean, not many people have, right? Knowing that this story is told by someone who’s actually been there and experienced what it is like, it made the story more authentic and interesting.

Asher and Simon were too cute. I found them simply adorable, and while it was clear where the story was headed, I enjoyed the ride the entire way. Simon is sweet and unsure of himself, while Asher is exactly the same, even though you really have no idea until he and Simon start to get to know each other. I loved that the stereotype of the big and burley dude who is a scientist was totally smashed when we meet Asher. He’s a big guy, wicked smart, and 100% sweet and kind, not at all what people might think he’s like. Asher and Simon were really great together. I loved the slow burn and the entire getting-to-know-you part of the story. I loved that it was not rushed, and it felt so real.

Extra points go to Springer for all the cool info I learned about being on the ice. I know it’s just a drop in the bucket, but it was really cool to read about.

Recommended.

~kristie

 

 

How to Be a Movie Star (How to Be #2), by TJ Klune

 

Blurb:

Josiah Erickson wants to be a movie star. The problem with that is so does half of Los Angeles. But he’s on his way, what with memorable roles as a TV show background cadaver and a guy in a commercial for herpes medication. All he needs is his big break. And that break may come in the form of a novelist who goes by the enigmatic name of Q-Bert.

Q-Bert, who is ready to make his directorial debut in a film Josy would be perfect for. Q-Bert, who Josy may or may not have a friend-crush on, and potentially something more. Being demisexual can be confusing.

From the City of Angels to the small mountain town of Abby, Oregon, Josy will give his all to make sure his dreams come true—even the ones he never thought possible.

Buy Links:

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Publisher

Published:

February 12, 2019
Dreamspinner Press

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Look, I could try and write some eloquent review where I go on and on about how wonderful this book is. I could add in all the little things I loved, all the things I cried over and those other things I smiled huge. But all I want to do is jump on the rooftops and scream at the world that they need to read this book. This is one of those stories where, when you are reading, and then when you finish, you feel like this book could end wars. You feel like it could make literally EVERY PERSON IN THE UNIVERSE SMILE AND HUG THEIR NEIGHBOR. You feel like if you don’t buy this book and force everyone you know to read it, you’d not be a good person because you guys… this is how I feel right this moment.

How to Be a Movie Star is delightful in a similar way that Normal Person was, only it could be even sweeter. I don’t know because it’s been a while since I read that book. (I might have to go back and read it again soon because I don’t want to leave these guys.) See, it’s all Josy. He’s the absolute best person a person could be. He’s the nicest person. He’s open and honest, caring and kind. He’s got, as fans of this series would know, the best family he could ever ask for. Not his parents, nope, not them. But Casey and Gus, We Three Queens, Serge and Xander, Lottie, and even Starla, his agent… they’re the best friends and family in the world. And then he meets Q-Bert.

The wonderful Quincy is awkward, shy, suffers from anxiety and depression, and is the perfect match for Josy. They actually make each other better people. They make each other *want* to be better people. Their connection is incredibly cute, their friendship so inspiring, their crush for each other and feelings made me feel all warm and squishy. Their story is literally happiness. It’s all happiness!

While Josy and Quincy are in Abby filming this super weird movie that when we get glimpses of I honestly want to see a it happen for real, the feelings grow stronger and stronger. Their friendship solidifies and great things happen.

There is literally no angsts to speak of, and I think that’s mostly because of the way Josy is…he’s just so open and understanding. He might get sad from time to time, but he knows he has a great support system in his little family of friends, so he’s secure in a way that I wish more people could be. If anyone wanted a class on how to be a good person, they’d just need to try and be more like Josy.

Literally everything about this book made me happy. I laughed so much while reading it. I cried a little too, but I think a lot of those tears were because something amazing and beautiful was happening and, seriously, how can you NOT cry when something amazing and beautiful happens?

So here I am, shouting from the metaphorical rooftops, asking you all to read this book. It is happiness making. It is beautiful and so pure with love and friendship that my heart will be forever warm every time I think about it.

Highly recommended.

~kristie

 

 

Kairos, by Mary Calmes, Narrated by Michael Fell

 

Blurb:

Sometimes the best day of your life is the one you never saw coming.

Joe Cohen has devoted the past two years of his life to one thing: the care and feeding of Kade Bosa. His partner in their PI business, roommate, and best friend, Kade is everything to Joe, even if their relationship falls short of what Joe desires most. But he won’t push. Kade has suffered a rough road, and Joe’s pretty sure he’s the only thing holding Kade together.

Estranged from his own family, Joe knows the value of desperately holding on to someone dear, but he never expected his present and past to collide just as Kade’s is doing the same. Now they’ve stumbled across evidence that could change their lives: the impact of Kade’s tragic past, their job partnership, and any future Joe might allow himself to wish for….

Buy Links:

Audible

Dreamspinner Press

Published:

March 16, 2018
Dreamspinner Press

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Kairos is a book that I liked when I read it, but I think I liked it more on the listen. There’s something about the pacing that Michael Fell has that kept me more interested in the story than I was before. His character voices for Joe and Kade were good, but it was more about the tone, the way he was able to tell this story with feeling, bringing the entire story into my ears and making it more visual than just reading did. His female voices were also very good, something I really appreciated.

The story itself it typical Mary Calmes. It’s fast paced, packed with a ton of characters (some important, others not so much), lots of UST, and it left me wanting more. Add in the excellent narration and I was even more greedy for a sequel than I was before. It’s a fun read, but for me, even more fun to listen to. All of the Mary Calmes fans out there who love audio books will love this. There is a brightness to the story that brought a smile to my face.

~kristie

Twisted and Tied (Marshals, #4) by Mary Calmes

 

Blurb:

Deputy US Marshal Miro Jones finally has everything he ever wanted. He’s head-over-heels in love and married to the man of his dreams, his partner Ian Doyle, he’s doing well at work, and all his friends are in good places as well. Things are all tied up nicely… until they’re not.

Change has never been easy for Miro, and when situations at work force the team he’s come to depend on to break apart, and worst of all, his and Ian’s individual strengths put them on two separate paths, he’s pretty certain everything just went up in smoke. But before he can even worry about the future, his past comes for a visit, shaking his world up even more. It’s hard to tell what road he should truly be on, but as he learns some paths are forged and others are discovered, it might be that where he’s going is the right course after all. If he can navigate all the twists and turns, he and Ian might just get their happily ever after. 

 

Buy Links:

Dreamspinner Press

Amazon

kobo

 

Published:

March 12, 2018
Dreamspinner Press

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“Hold me tighter, ‘kay?”

So this is it. The end. Not the end of the Marshals, but the end of Miro’s story. The end of his tale… and what a tale it has been.

I met Miro, Ian, and Chickie Baby in September of 2015. I picked the Marshals series up a little bit late. I’d been a fan of Mary’s work for a while, but for some reason I’d just never had the opportunity to start this series. Once I read the first book, I was hooked forever. In the years since, I’ve read and reread all the books more times than I can count. I’ve listened to the audio books even more. The audio is my go-to for listening while working, cleaning the house, working out… pretty much anything. I love the voice Tristan James gives to the boys, but I just also love having them with me. I’m serious when I say that this is one of my all time favorite series. I’ve already read Twisted and Tied twice, and starting on release day, I’m going to read it again because now I need to read it with my friends who also have a healthy love for all things Marshals.

Twisted and Tied is a wonderful ending to Miro’s story. I know that we’ll see him again… him, Ian, and hopefully, Chickie Baby. But for them as main characters, this is it. I think Mary not only made me happy with this finish, but surprised the heck out of me. I went into this expecting one thing, and while I got that (sort of), I really ended up with something else altogether. I had expectations for a wedding and having this pick up right where Marshals 3 left off. That’s not what happens really, but I did get some wedding action. It was better than I’d hoped and I had tears running down my face forever because of it.  I had expectations for what the family of Miro, Ian, and Chickie Baby would end up looking like. what I got was even better. It feels better. I mean I really feel good about there they are both personally and professionally. I also had a super massive expectation for what happened to Dr. Craig Hartley. I can’t spoil you but let me just say, what happens shocked me big time. I was blown away because of my reaction to it. I’m happy with what goes down, I will say that. The feelings that were pulled out of me while reading this book, especially the Hartley stuff… I never thought I’d have those feelings. Not ever.

If I had one thing I questioned the need for, it’s the very end. Some things happen that felt like they came out of nowhere and I struggled to find the reasoning. And maybe not even the reasoning, but the placement. I don’t think I’m ruining anything by saying this book takes place over the span of like 3 or 4 days. It’s quick, as most of their stories are. They’re moments in the life of… but this is fast moving and high energy. And then the last two chapters happen and they sort of didn’t fit where they were. At least for me. Maybe they would have if there was an Epilogue. That would have been good because those last two chapters, while good and fun and important because this is their family, the family they’ve chosen, I’d wished maybe that it wasn’t just thrown in at the end… maybe spread out a bit.

BUT. With all of that, I can still say I’m so happy with this book. So very, very, very happy.

Twisted and Tied ends a story, but one, or two more will take over. We have Redeker and Callahan coming. We also have something going on with Eli.  Sigh… I do love Eli Kohn. I’m really looking forward to where Mary goes with is story, particularly because he’s become so close with Miro. Out of all the guys, Eli has been a real stand out character. So more Marshals are to come! They really can’t get here fast enough. Until that time, I’m going to keep rereading this one, as well as the others. I’ll keep relistening. I won’t be patient though. Never that.

Fans of the Marshals series, hurry and get this book so we can all talk about it. You’re really going to be delighted with the story, how it things play out. You’re going to smile a lot. You’re going to cry… sometimes in unexpected places. Your heart will be as full as mine is. So to Miro, Ian, and our favorite dog, Chickie Baby… all the love.

~kristie

On the Edge of Scandal (Snow & Ice Games, Book 3), by Tamsen Parker

 

Blurb:

Bronwyn Perry is the star of the US women’s hockey team, and she and her boyfriend Brody Hill have been hockey royalty since they’ve been in high school. Brody unexpectedly fails to make the men’s team but still comes to Denver to support his girl at the Snow and Ice Games. Or so Bronwyn thinks.

Ash Levenson is the coach of the women’s SIG hockey team. His primary responsibility is to keep his team happy, healthy, and primed to win. Though he’s close in age to his players, he’s been doing this for a while and mostly, it’s easy to keep his eyes on the puck. He’s always been able to discard any crush he might have on any of the women he’s coached…until Bronwyn.

When Bronwyn and Brody’s romance comes to a very public and very ugly end, Ash has to get his star player’s head back in the game and ready to dominate on the rink. Which may mean spending a little time off the ice…

Buy Links:

Published:

February 6, 2018
St. Martin’s Press

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This started out really great. A story that builds on the the development of the characters is almost always going to win me over. The character build up for coach Ash Levenson is really solid. I felt like I had a good handle on who he was, where his feelings were coming from, and I really saw the affection he had for Bronwyn. The same could be said for Bronwyn, but not at the same level. With Bronwyn, I felt like I started to understand her, only to be infuriated by her decisions. 

Bronwyn is a really strong female character, excellent hockey player, with a great personality… when she’s not second guessing herself or hanging around her boyfriend. The times where she’s strong are counterbalanced by the times she’s really not, and when she looses confidence in herself she becomes this other person all together. And honestly, to me, she read as really immature and childish at times. The more I read, the more I started to dislike her. It was like I had this instant affection towards her, only to have it turn around rapidly.

And speaking of her boyfriend… for someone who comes off as strong willed, sure of herself in almost all things, and a fierce competitor, I could not figure out why she put up with so much shit from that dude. Yes, they’d been together for a really long time, since both were really young, but how she was able to be so independent and amazing in every other aspect of her life, and then let him walk all over her, belittle her, and treat her like shit was beyond me. This made it even harder for me to connect with her.

The times when I really disliked Bronwyn were when she’d talk about how Ash was not her type, not the greatest looking guy, yet something made her want to “board that train”. When Bronwyn and Ash do get intimate, it really felt like he was using him. And in reality, she was at first. She had no idea of his true feelings, and that’s not her fault, but the way she comes off in her POV really rubbed the wrong way. The way things start between these two didn’t sit well with me.

BUT! All of that was this back of my mind, simmering dislike for some things. For the rest of it, I found the story good. I liked the way Ash is so passionate about the way he coaches, how the women on the team play, that he is a positive coach for them, and his dedication to them. I wished there was more hockey in the book because those couple of times we get them on the ice were really fun. And while Bronwyn ends one long lasting relationship and dives head first into another the very next day without even realizing it, finding love after only a couple of weeks, I appreciated that Ash had this long budding crush on her. It helps the insta-insta love aspect of their story go down easier.

All in all I suppose this was not my favorite of the series, at least I don’t think, but it’s not my least favorite either.

~kristie

 

 

Zero Hour (Wired & Dangerous, Book 1), by Megan Erickson

 

Blurb:

The Fast and the Furious meets Mr. Robot in USA Today bestselling author Megan Erickson’s sexy new romantic suspense series.

Hacker extraordinaire Roarke Brennan lives each hour – each breath – to avenge his brother’s murder. His first move: put together a team of the best coders he knows. They’re all brilliant, specialized, and every one an epic pain in his ass. Only now Wren Lee wants in too, threatening to upset their delicate balance. The girl Roarke never allowed himself to want is all grown up with sexy confidence and a dark past … and she’s the wild card he can’t control.

Roarke might still think she’s a kid, but Wren’s been to hell and back. Nothing and nobody can stop her – especially the tatted-up, cocky-as-all-hell hacker. But when years of longing and chemistry collide, Wren and Roarke discover that revenge may be a dish best served blazing hot.

Buy Links:

Published:

January 30, 2018
Forever (Grand Central Publishing)

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When I got this, I knew I’d like it because it’s Megan Erickson. She’s just a great storyteller, you know? What I didn’t expect was just how much I’d love it. And I’m not surprised so much as really fucking pleased.

Zero Hour has this exciting thriller/mystery/revenge plot that kept me on the edge of my seat. It was difficult to put down as each chapter lead into the next, leaving me wondering what the heck was going to happen to my heroes, how they were going to get out of the mess they were in, and when we might get Jock’s book. Well, as it happens, I know that Jock’s book is next in this series, and I could not be more excited. As for the rest? Lets just say that yea, they get into it. Really into it. The problem is, it’s never just hacking that needs to happen. Sometimes, to do a a job, you need to actually talk to the bad guys in person, go undercover, plant a virus, and do other various highly illegal or suspicious things. So this team of hackers not only need to know their way around a computer, they need to be willing to go all out.

All out is what this team does best. Sort of… I mean, they’re not perfect. They really are hackers first, so all of those things that also need to happen don’t come easily and problems pop up. So one of the things I absolutely loved about this book is the fact that they make mistakes, they get out of situations by the skin of their teeth, and not everything runs smoothly.

Another thing I loved, loved, loved, is the balance between action/hacking/romance. Because in all honesty, at its heart, Zero Hour is a romance novel too. Erickson does a great job of keeping the romance in balance with everything else, giving readers a chance to take a breath, just not too long of one, before the next batch of action takes place. And these characters, Wren and Roarke, they are really well developed. Past history is clearly and succinctly explained, lending to the way the romance plays out. So when these two are having all the feels, and trying to deny them, it feels right. Having the history so well laid out made for a more believable connection. They’re also seriously hot together. Steaming. Add in the rest of the team, all of whom have interesting backgrounds I’m wanting to explore, and I’m a happy camper. Wren and Roarke also butt heads… a lot. But my dude seriously has a boundaries problem and when he oversteps them, he really oversteps them. Having Wren put him in his place was a thing of beauty.

Speaking of the team… Not only does Jock, new love of my life, get the next book, but also coming will be Erick, Wren’s brother. His story is one I’m also very excited for based on all the information we learn in Zero Hour. To say I have a bunch of theories about how his book will play out is an understatement. I’m also crossing my fingers that other team members Marisol and Dade get their own book(s). They’re both mysterious and compelling, so help me convince all who need to be convinced to make this happen, would you?

To close, I loved this book, in case you couldn’t tell. This was a lot of fun to read and I’m adding this to my reread rotation.

Cheers Megan! You knocked this one out of the park.

~kristie