The Fall: Love in O'Leary Book 1, May Archer

"Grief is not linear."  It's been a long year for Everett.  He's locked his heart away so far behind a wall of misplaced loyalty that he finds himself traveling a dark, twisting road on the way to care for his stubborn, homophobic grandfather in a town he never wanted to see again.  A little accident however, derails that trip and introduces him to the local law...a seriously hot specimen who makes Ev feel things he swore he was done feeling forever.  Silas is intrigued by the reluctant man he finds limping on the side of a dangerous road.  Turned on too.  As they grow closer it's clear that there are some serious emotional hurdles they'll each have to clear to find their HEA...but only if the person behind the disappearances from the town can be stopped because it's more than just their relationship in danger.

I'm pretty sure I loved almost everything about Everett.  There were many times that I was completely frustrated with his determination to push Silas away but I felt so much sympathy for his struggle.  Dealing with your own grief is never easy.  And for him to take the advice of so many professionals and still feel totally lost?  How is that easy or healthy?  So when he meets the man who could possibly give him everything his heart yearns for, everything he was hoping for but lost, his response is absolutely understandable and equally exasperating.

Silas, on the other hand, kept me interested mostly by being vexing.  The constant denials, the total dick move at the bar, his pushing based on his own hurt feelings...so many things frustrated me.  But I totally loved him.  He was such a perfect match for Everett and the honesty of his heart as well as his personal hangups made him so very human.

Whenever their relationship hit an obstacle I was so bothered by their reactions but by the time they got their resolution I honestly can't see it going any other way.  Everett's moment of realization is in a pretty dramatic situation but I loved his reflection on it...recognizing that hearing his own thoughts voiced by a crazy person is, well, crazy went a long way to making me find humor rather than disappointment in his weakness.

Speaking of the crazy, the "villain" is pretty obvious once they're introduced.  We knew a big moment was coming but while who ended up being involved turned out to be predictable, it was the lead-up to it that was interesting.  And the surprise confession was exactly that; a surprise that brought everything full-circle and answered the grief of so many people gave closure in a way that just accepting grief hadn't been able to do up to this point.

With a story filled with so much grief we could have had a melodramatic set of events and emotionally unstable characters that didn't achieve necessary growth or evolution.  Instead, our first look into the love lives of O'Learians gives us humor, passion, softness, healing, acceptance, growth, intrigue, uniqueness, and love.  I kind of want to live there...between a town that sees a rainbow flag as a field of phallic objects, nosy neighbors who want everyone to find their love match, and the bakery with treats I seriously drool over, who wouldn't want to be a part of their world?

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Justice for Hope: Badge of Honor Book 12, Susan Stoker

Take the Cinderella trope mixed with It Could Happen to You all with a darker edge and you have Hope Drayden's story.  Grief, pain, struggle...there's only so much you can take when you're on the run.  But Hope has her little boy with her and she's determined to survive for him.  When she meets Calder Stonewall she's reluctant to trust him.  He's law enforcement, big, awkward, imposing...and yet she's surprised to find that her son and a small part of her soul trusts him.  Calder is determined to create a place for himself in her life, to support, encourage, and to love her.  But an unknown enemy threatens everything they're building.

Calder has a quiet strength about him that I enjoyed quite a lot.  I found his bumbling endearing when he would overshare, babble, or say those slightly disturbing things that didn't make it through the filter.  I would have liked it if his endearing quirks were consistently present throughout the story instead of pretty much ending right after he shows up at the diner.  Most things go away with the ease of comfort he finds with more time with Hope but the things that made him so very unique seemed to be lost and set aside in favor of his declarations of intention.  I loved that he wore his heart so clearly on his sleeve for Hope, and especially Billy, but in and amongst all those heartfelt, direct, fierce statements I wanted a little more of his brand of unique.

Hope was straightforward in her character.  A fierce mother, a kind mother, an alluring woman with a spine of steel and an open heart.  I'm glad she wasn't so determined to do everything on her own that it was to her detriment, that she didn't allow her stubborn will to usurp her good sense.  Because when she opened her mind she also opened her world to the amazing community Calder brought with him.  That when she needed help in a big way, she had friends and adopted family at her back and in her corner.

While the dramatic element was expected, the villain was not.  It was a surprise that both dropped the severity of the moment while at the same time making it scarier.  When we don't have a name for the enemy it has you jumping at any and all shadows and threats.  The resolution was sweet and triumphant.  Where family is everything, this story made sure to keep that love as a focus throughout.  Love, healing, relief, support...when you have a family surrounding you with those things what you really find is freedom.

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Gravity: Savages and Saints Book 2, C.M. Seabrook

The broken pieces of him matched the broken pieces of her.  While it's always our hope and intent to be whole by ourselves, for some of us it takes help, companionship, love.  Someone to fill our voids and help us achieve what we couldn't on our own.  Kade and Sophie are both aching but if they can let go of their fear and insecurities they can find a new happiness they were too grief-stricken to imagine before.

With Kade being big, broody, gorgeous, and celibate, I was almost expecting more intensity and misplaced frustration.  But what we got was a soft, feeling man with a heart so big and so fragile that I was almost nervous that Sophie wouldn't live up to my hopes for her.

She did, though.  Sophie was all kinds of fragile herself and it was her misplaced guilt that was breaking her the hardest.  The steel in her spine regarding her ex wasn't always apparent but the evidence of it was in her courage to leave, courage to stay with Kade, and courage to save the ones she could.  Her penchant for running often hid that strength but sometimes there's wisdom in getting away.  Unfortunately her past can run just as fast and far as she can.

The drama in the story was angsty and full of intimations of the deeper darkness in everyone so we're nowhere near the end of everyone's redemption and healing but we're making slow, steady progress.  Kade and Sophie both had to face up to their grief and pain as individuals but also together.  They each brought about that confrontation but also provided the balm necessary to soothe one another.  With the sweet, sappy, and childish (in all the best ways) ending I'm so full of feels for them, their journey, and the future they're building.  Such a fantastic story!

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Dead Reckoning: Cold Case Psychic Book 2, Pandora Pine

Ronan and Tennyson are slightly estranged because they just can't seem to get on the same page after tragedy found them and almost took Ten's life.  A ghostly visitor will bring them back together, if only to solve the case.  It'll take everything Ronan has to overcome his fear and hesitation if he wants Ten to take him back.  But he's not the only one who has some groveling to do.  Ten will have to face his past and swallow his pride if he ever hopes to keep Ronan's heart.  Except a serial killer is threatening everything with his penchant for torturing and murdering young, disowned, and vulnerable gay men.  They'll have to make peace with one another while attempting to solve the case and catch the monster,  but time is short and they might not be able to have both love and justice.

Tempers and tantrums are alive and well in the second story of the series.  Can't say that's my favorite.  But what's different here is the complete openness and softness of Ronan's heart.  The way he bears his soul in those vulnerable moments completely capture my affections.  Ten's stubbornness is becoming a fierce rival to Ronan's own and by the end of this story it's winning by leaps and bounds.  Only time will tell if Ten can reign it in and keep his man.

The drama is high in this story and the situation is quite intense.  There are quite a few police procedural things that I'm extremely leery of, specifically the sharing of information with the media.  I have a hard time believing that Ronan would and should be giving the vast amount of details to a guy known for trying to get a scoop even if he's "helping" the investigation.  And stating that he's giving a "bare bones" account while still providing specific detail is not actually a "bare bones" account.  Also, I'm pretty sure the FBI should have been involved in this one...  These instances are getting more and more obvious to the point that it's distracting—and we're only on the second book of the series...

Despite the loose lips and the ridiculous number of times Carson can't seem to stop reading people without permission, I enjoyed the story.  The villain, however, was predictable as soon as they showed up on the page and the escalation of the dramatic events was equally anticipated.  I was disappointed in Fitzgibbon's lack of self-control in a certain pivotal moment, even if it was understandable, but the other side of him that we get to see as he takes on certain responsibilities was wonderful.  I'm eager to see more of him in the coming books.  In the epilogue we're set up to see a huge issue and change that may alter the course of few books in the series before we get back to its titular focus and I am so ready to dive into the next story to see the ramifications.

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All He Ever Needed, Cate Ashwood

The transition from friends to lovers is not one that every friendship can survive.  When Ethan reveals to Jase his long-held secret it's met with stunned silence, then full support, and finally incredible interest.  Ethan's revelation and Jase's reaction to it is promising but neither man is willing to look beyond their week away from everyone and everything to see how their day-to-day lives will affect the changes their time in the cabin has wrought.  Time will tell if their budding romance can endure the scrutiny of the outside world; it just might spell the end of their easy decades-long friendship too.

Ethan and Jase are cute together and I really liked how their friendship was first and foremost for most of the book.  While they were definitely stoking the fire between them during their time in the cabin, the time spent in that idyllic setting showed that they were aware of where they started and where it could lead, from the ramifications to their actions and to the tenderness between them.  Seeing that they had such a great foundation I was looking forward to how they would build on that for the romantic aspect of their relationship and if it would really stand up to their normal lives.

I generally have a hard time when jealousy is used as the main kick in the pants necessary for admitting and expressing feelings.  It felt here like it was an afterthought that could have gone without, especially with Jase's revelation earlier that day.  Tyler's part was predictable, all except for his counsel to Ethan regarding Jase.  I loved that he called him out for their epic miscommunications and abysmal communication in general.  Someone had to say it, not just the reader shouting at our book either in our heads or out loud.

Jase's freak-out is predictable and so was Ethan's reaction.  Both men are dealing with their respective paths in understandable ways and though their end resolution is good, it's Jase's courage that steals all the attention.  Despite all of Ethan's frustrations, once Jase fully commits he goes the distance and beyond to ensure that the future he wants is the future he gets.  With his determination and dedication to creating a future with Ethan the story took all the right turns to get to a great HEA that was full of love and acceptance.  Their journey to get there was definitely bumpy and the ending was well-earned.

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Quick Reads and Quick Reviews, 26

  

• Love & Libations: Holidays and Heroes Book 2, Patricia D. Eddy
• Suave as Shift: The Protectors Unlimited Book 2, Keira Blackwood
• Master Wanted: Rent-a-Dom Book 2, Piper Scott and Susi Hawke

Tackling abuse of any kind in a relatively short story is a feat not many should tackle.  In this story it was covered pretty well.  I liked that both MC's were very real and despite their inner strength, there were quite a few vulnerabilities.  It made them much more relatable.  Garrett is captivated from the start and for good reason.  Lilah is written very well.  While she is in an abusive relationship and can't see the full extent of how bad things are going to get, she's a spitfire when she has her back against the wall.  It shows that she's a survivor once her eyes are truly opened to her situation.  What she sees in Garrett is safety but that safety scares her.  I liked Garrett's approach and reactions in every single moment.  He was an understanding hero that is truly worthy of love, compassion, and support.  Lilah's fear does get the best of her and I didn't appreciate Roe's interference at all.  To look out for Garrett is good, but for Roe to berate someone who is healing from trauma and reacted badly (to the words that came out of Roe's own mouth, by the way) wasn't helpful or endearing or supportive.  Aside from that, I enjoyed this read and was grateful for the tact and honesty used to describe and write about an abusive relationship.  3.5 stars.

From the very beginning Lincoln was very into himself.  Not usually a problem but his descriptions of himself along with the "sunglasses at night" coolness got to be too much.  The way he treated Juliana, the way he saw her and all she could be as a partner, however, was shockingly great.  I wasn't expecting that of him.  Juliana was quite insecure and had trouble with her own past with her father but she grew by the end of the story as she reconciled her past with who she really wanted to be.  With the foreshadowing from the witch I expected a bit more to happen at the end of the story rather than leaving it with little cliffhanger-type feelings.  Overall, the story was a nice story but was super cheesy and I felt like my eyes were going to roll so hard they'd get stuck.  2.5 stars.

I honestly adored how capable Robin was.  He was more than a pretty face and a commanding tone.  He was snarky, brilliant, intelligent, quick-thinking, passionate, caring, creative, and a helluva sexy imagination.  There were a few things I was leery of, like breaking trust as a Dom, but the way he handled the different personas was actually a relief, a surprise, and a joy.  Allowing himself to take control but then to set boundaries so he could be truly himself and to help Troy in the best way possible was incredibly admirable.  For Troy's part I was never made to feel his age or their difference in generations all that much.  Aside from the occasional joke or the informational mentions of Troy's age, I just saw two men navigating a tricky yet passionate personal relationship and a stressful yet successful working partnership.  While everything did work out in the end, the way they got to that point was a pretty steady progression with only a minor freak-out over a major issue.  Both Troy and Robin's interplay was entertaining to read and I think my favorite aspect of this was the roles they both played.  To have the younger, slighter omega be the Dom was an interesting dynamic that intrigued me right from the start.  There was very low angst and a very happy ending.  4.5 stars.

Gorgeous: Commander in Briefs Book 2, Kristy Marie

A wounded soldier with a tenuous grip on his present fears his past because of the immense weight of his guilt and he's doing everything in his power to avoid a happy future.  An optimistic young woman with her own painful past changes everything about her present to pursue the future she wants.  It takes love and well-meaning sarcasm from friends and family to get them both to see the changes they need to make in order for them to find healing, redemption, and freedom from grief...and hopefully they'll also find a life together.

Cade Jameson is a man of honor but he doesn't believe in himself anymore; not after he put his lusty appetites over his team's mission.  I have a hard time with men who screw pretty much anything that walks and it took me a bit of time to warm up to Cade but only for that reason.  Once I got beyond my own personal reservations and saw him for who he truly is, it was easy to love him.  His damage is severe and it's his own guilt that's eating him alive.  The relationships he cultivates with the men around him and his commander are pivotal for his survival as well as his well-being even though he's determined to keep them all at arm's length.  Well, everyone except his commander.  His bond with her is deep, deeper than he ever knew it could be.  But it's not the type of relationship that he wished for in the recent past.  He actually needs another kind of love to be whole again.

Brecklyn Bennett is a spitfire in a quirky, beautiful package.  I don't know that I agreed with her choice to give up her entire life for one man but I did like how her life turned out.  She knew what was in her heart and had the strength to build a new life, one she enjoyed even more than the one she dreamed about, and I could respect that.  When she wasn't letting her insecurities or fear of discovery get in the way, she was quite likable.  Finding a home among the men of the plantation was just what she needed in her own life and the side benefit of creating something with Cade was icing on the cake.

Overall, their story was filled with ups and downs and so much emotion that it was a relief when they all found resolution.  There were quite a few times that Breck's immaturity grated as well as Cade's hurtful words.  When deep conversations were eschewed in favor of more sex I grew weary and doubtful that they were building something based on a solid foundation (though I will definitely admit to enjoying their sexual shenanigans).  There could have been a lot more in the way of open honesty and even some counseling for Breck.

I grew to truly enjoy the whole cast and am looking forward to more of the men's stories.  While the first book in the series was a DNF for me, the main characters featured there are some of my favorite characters here in Gorgeous.  I may give it another try in the future but I'm honestly not going to count on it.  That being said, this was written beautifully as was the redemption and healing found by the end.  There was an incredible amount of steam and the tender moments were truly touching.  I enjoyed this story very much and am a fan of the world created here and will definitely be back for more.

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Author Bio

A self-proclaimed reader enthusiast, Kristy started her writing journey back in 2009, reading and writing when her daughter was napping. Establishing her place in Corporate America (because something had to pay the bills), writing became her dirty, late-night secret.

After eight long years, she released her debut novel, Commander in Briefs. It was a long road, but she can honestly say, the road less traveled had the most beautiful sights.

The only thing Kristy Marie loves as much as reading and writing is sports! Especially those that require muscles and a nice ass. Her favorite is, and always will be, baseball. She's such a fan, that she even married her small town's high school's centerfielder where they still live with their three badass kids.

Commander in Briefs is her first series but definitely not her last.

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TICK-TOCK: EOD Book 1, Jane Harvey-Berrick

Coming November 1, 2018...

The first book in the newest romantic suspense series

from Jane Harvey-Berrick...

A story of courage and compassion in the darkest places

“What’s the time, Mr Wolf?”

Forget SEALS, Marines, Fighter Pilots - I have the most dangerous job in the world. And I love it.

James Spears is part of an elite group who lives and breathes danger. Where others run from it, he walks towards it, calm, focussed ice-cold. James is a top EOD operative.

Explosive…

Ordnance…

Disposal…

You’d call him a bomb disposal expert. Or crazy. A guy with a death wish. He’s heard it all before and he doesn’t give a shit. He’s the best.

They say he doesn’t have blood in his veins, he has ice. They say he has no nerves.

All that’s about to be tested.

Amira is recruited by the CIA to infiltrate a terrorist cell living in rural Pennsylvania. She’s the perfect plant, no one would ever suspect her. Because her brother was killed when a bomb was dropped on the Syrian hospital where he was working as a doctor. And now hate burns deeply inside her. She’s perfect.

That’s what they tell James when he’s told to train her to be the best damn bomb-maker there is. In a secret camp, deep in the woods, James teaches her everything he knows about building bombs. He’s not a praying man, but now he’s really hoping that he’s doing the right thing.

Can he trust her? Will she ever trust him? Who is playing who? And who will pay the ultimate price?

Codename: Hansel and Gretel

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Waiting for Sunrise: Baytown Boys Book 7, Maryann Jordan

Two lonely souls find a haven with one another.  Belle and Hunter have a lot in common and the town they live in is the perfect setting for affection to grow into something warm and long-lasting.  It's not a perfect place though, and danger lurks closer than either of them realize.  If Belle can't truly make peace with herself and her past and if Hunter can't resolve the problems nipping at his heels none of their affections will have a chance to dig deep and grow into their own happily-ever-after.

Belle is the kindest, sweetest, most giving nurse but all that light came from darkness.  Just like the sunrises she watches each morning, she decides to let darkness, disappointment, and negativity be washed away by the promise of a new day, a new start, a new chance to do some good.  And when a man shows up that just might be able to add a lot more good to her world she'll find out that it takes more than good thoughts and hard work to make love last.  Sometimes dreams might have to change.

Hunter, however, is determined to make sure all Belle's dreams come true.  But only if he can work out his own issues.  He's got a weight hanging over him that keeps him from going all-in with Belle but he just can't seem to help himself and stay away from her.  No stranger to an unfortunate past himself, he finds empathy in and for Belle.  Their hearts sink deeper and deeper the closer they get to one another and if Hunter doesn't get his issues sorted all the closeness in the world won't change the dangers and circumstances that could keep them apart.

Both Hunter and Belle were nice characters.  They had depth, heart, and strong wills.  Together they made an ideal partnership in every way that mattered.  I felt for Belle and her struggles with her past.  Childhood and adolescence can be tricky and sometimes hurtful periods in life and while many people could easily become bitter, jaded, or hardened I respected and admired that Belle chose to be the wonderful person she was.  She was a strong character despite her insecurities and knee-jerk reaction to Hunter's revelation; I enjoyed her because she was multi-faceted and real.

Hunter was more of a mystery because of his specific circumstances but his earnestness and care for Belle showed the heart of a good man.  As a partner for Belle he provided support, genuine care and concern, and love.  They were well-suited and a pleasure to read about.

While it was a bit slow at first, there were hints here and there that kept the story moving to a dramatic reveal that ignited the romantic conflict between Hunter and Belle.  While that was resolved wonderfully by the end, the actual drama, once it was clear that the climax had arrived, was kind of like a firework: big, loud, and attention-grabbing but quickly fades.

The secondary dramatic conflict in the story revolving around their professions was kind of a surprise.  I actually didn't see the culprit as the culprit because I was caught up in my suspicions about other characters.  Well-played.

All in all I really enjoyed this story.  It was sedate most of the time but not boring.  There was an incredible amount of tenderness, in fact, that was the most consistent thing in the entire book.  I loved how supportive and devoted both Belle and Hunter were of one another.  Adding the drama from the nursing home and the trailer park gave even more interest into them as individuals because of Belle's relationship with a young woman and Hunter's possibly shady dealings.  A great story with great MC's that earn their place in a series with the other stellar residents of Baytown.

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A Ferry of Bones and Gold: Soulbound Book 1, Hailey Turner

When you owe a blood debt to gods who see humans as pawns for their own games and retaliations, you're not left with too many options other than to fulfill it the best way you know how.  But for Patrick, he finds that each and every time he comes close to fulfilling that debt the odds are increasingly against him.  With the help of a sexy wolf he's both drawn to and wary of, he'll get the chance to test everything he's made of, everything he could become.  But those tests and trials just might be the death of him.  His past is back to finish what was started in a blood-covered basement and the event that shattered Patrick's world.

Patrick has a lot of guilt and while I wanted his history and the details of the pivotal moments of both his childhood and the Thirty-Day War a lot sooner than we get them, I felt that they came at the right time and were confessed to the right person.  Though I did feel that the reveal was a little tame compared to the events that preceded it.  I'm hoping we get a little more detail about it all and all the intricacies of the gods' meddling in Patrick's upbringing as the series progresses.  We're given a good basic picture of who this man is and why he is the abrasive, seemingly apathetic, and aggravated man we meet so I'm really interested in deepening that understanding.

Jono...there wasn't actually a lot of information about him.  We get quite a few basics, a general set-up for who he is and why he's in a position to be a partner to Patrick, but we get very few instances of his point of view or detailed musings about his past, motivations, and feelings.  I want so much more it's not even funny.  Though I will say that each time we get a chapter from him it felt well-placed and well-timed...I just want more; especially about his past and his relationship with his beast and patron.

There's a solid cast and I have to say my favorite members are the ones that show up right near the very end.  Patrick's old unit steals the show and I hope so hard that they get a lot more page time.  As the story gets more crazy and exciting there are quite a few loose ends, tangents, and events that don't get wrapped up in book one of this series, as is expected.  I'm looking forward to more confrontations with Ethan, seeing more magic, and watching Patrick and Jono navigate their bond.

The writing sucked me in right from the very beginning.  Each time I had to step away (heaven forbid that my kids needed to eat) as soon as I picked the book back up it was like I never left.  Hailey Turner is consistently amazing at creating a vivid story that engages the reader in so many ways.  Intimate moments are tender yet still pack a serious punch, chemistry is palpable, action leaps from the page and makes you read faster to catch up with your increased heart rate, and while each story in a series ends on a slightly open-ended note for both the couple(s) and the plot it's not a cliffhanger or an ending that's just a ploy to get you to purchase the rest of the series.  You're compelled to get the rest of the series because it's just That. Damn. Good.  So it is with the Soulbound series.

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Roadster: Iron Ladies Book 1, Danielle Norman

"Here, take this, you need it.”

Those words used to mean something different to Adeline Morgan. Once upon a time, they preceded her next high.

Now they had a deeper meaning, they were the sacred code of a whisper network of women. Women who'd been helped by The Iron Ladies. The wives of controlling husbands. The partners of cheating men. The lovers of playboys leading secret lives.

As an Iron Lady, Adeline helped them all. And she loved every minute of it. And with each case Adeline grew jaded. Every man had the potential to break hearts and destroy lives.

Until she met the one determined to prove her wrong.

He didn’t want to break her heart…he wanted to steal it.

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Author Bio

Before becoming a romance writer, Danielle was a body double for Heidi Klum and a backup singer for Adele. Now, she spends her days trying to play keep away from Theo James who won’t stop calling her or asking her out. 

And all of this happens before she wakes up and faces reality where in fact she is a 50 something mom with grown kids, she's been married longer than Theo’s been alive, and now get her kicks riding a Harley.

As far as her body, she can thank, Ben & Jerry’s for that as well as gravity and vodka. But she says that she could never be Adele’s backup since she never stops saying the F-word long enough to actually sing.

Danielle writes about kickass women with even better shoes and the men that try to tame them (silly silly men).

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Pros & Cons of Vengeance, A.E. Wasp and May Archer

Umm...YES.  So much freaking YES about this book!  There was drama, intrigue, captivating characters, snark and banter, humor, chemistry as a group, incredible steam as a couple, revenge on a truly monstrous human being, and captivating potential for the rest of the series.  What more could I want?

Steele and Breck were a fantastic pairing.  I enjoyed their dynamic, their banter, and their sexually charged interactions; they were addictive from the outset.  The two of these men started out one way but do quite a bit of softening and maturing through the events of this story.  Though their romantic timeline is quite short, it's kind of a "when you know, you just know" situation, yet we actually get a lot of depth in their evolution because both of them get to struggle through processing their past and how they got to the place in which they now find themselves.

Steele had a slightly darker past and when we first meet him he comes across as arrogant, self-assured, and immature.  Along the way however, we see that he's much deeper and thoughtful than we're led to believe.  He wears more of a light gray hat rather than a black hat when it comes to what he does for a living.  When we learn the reason for his darker moments and why he was blackmailed into coming to the funeral in the first place we get to see his heart laid bare and a vulnerability that colors his entire outlook on his worth.

Breck however, sees much more than the cocky Casanova; he sees down to the broken pieces and accepts all of them.  Having grown up in a less-than-ideal family and suffering the consequences of his egg-donor's abysmal life choices, Breck is aware of the complexities of people and their decisions.  His own are a bit...colorful, to say the least.  But finding himself in bigger trouble than he ever thought possible, it's through this ordeal that he finds both humility and strength.

Since this story is the first of the series we get an introduction to the entire crew of misfits.  While not exactly a Danny Ocean crew set-up, it's just as well put together.  Each character has their role, unique background and skills, and their own flavor to add to the group.  There's no trust at first and barbs were often pointed yet cautious because of the circumstances (and person) that brought them together.  A comradeship is formed, if not trust, and it made for magical moments as they "sub-vocalized" during mission ops, offered their particular brands of insight, and found a common pursuit they could all fully support together.

Certain characters rubbed me the wrong way in the beginning but as the story progressed they "softened", showed a personality that could be liked, even enjoyed.  So much so, in fact, that I'm so freaking excited for the next book, and the next, and the next...  Tenterhooks, my friends, tenterhooks.

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