Two cops walk into a bar. Mason, the bartender, waits for the punch line, because no way in hell are these ridiculously hot men real cops. They’re straight out of a cop-fetish fantasy. But he quickly learns that Jack and Gray are the real deal, and they want him in the worst way.
What starts as a night of hot, three-way sex becomes a lot more. The two cops fulfill Mason’s submissive fantasies, but they also meet a more basic need, comfort. They want to take care of Mason, to offer him unconditional friendship, but their concern for him unnerves Mason more than even the kinkiest sex.
To find happiness with his new partners, Mason must change his belief that love is as much a fantasy as a pair of gorgeous, handcuff-wielding cops landing in his bed.
Review
Mason is a bartender and gets picked up by established couple Gray and Jack. Both Jack and Gray are pretty dominant and Mason is to be more the more submissive partner in their three-way relationship.
At first Mason is reluctant to get involved with an established couple because he’s been hurt in the past. But… Gray and Jack are very persistent, the sex is hot and both guys seem sincere when they convince him they both care about Mason.
There is a bit of BDSM in this… not a lot, but enough that if this isn’t your thing, you might skip it. Mason is very submissive. (I’d have rated this higher if it weren’t for the BDSM, so keep that in mind.)
I liked Jack and Gray and found them funny and sexy. I didn’t love Mason… he was a bit to insecure and frustrating for me to find him as an equal in this threesome.
Overall, I thought it was a fairly good ménage story and it caught my interest enough to pick up the second book in the series.
Cole Renzo thinks his greatest challenge is to behave for the remainder of his term at Halfway House. Until he meets his new boss, Ty Calloway, a man who ticks off every box on Cole’s list of interests.
A sought-after restorer and customizer of exotic and collectible cars, Ty had enough confidence to command what he wanted in life, until one fateful night changed everything. Almost two years later, he’s slowly rebuilding his life with great control. He’s defied the odds and works tirelessly to be the man he once was—but he still feels broken.
Cole’s candor and unfiltered personality awaken Ty’s barely-remembered desire to greet each new day with a smile, while Ty’s unwavering acceptance of Cole’s quirks and brash humor makes Cole feel as if he fits in for the first time in far too long. When a nemesis threatens Ty’s personal restoration and the things he holds dear, Cole is determined to protect their relationship, even if that means sacrificing everything he’s worked so hard to achieve.
But Ty will have to let his guard down, surrender control, and admit he needs Cole first, even if that puts himself at risk of breaking beyond repair.
Review
This is book three in The Men of Halfway House series. I think, technically you could read this as a standalone with no problem, but why the heck would ya? The other two books are amazing and really give you the background for this book. So… I’m going to assume you’ve read books one and two…
We met Cole in book two. He’s loud, impetuous, impractical, mouthy and in a word – Trouble. He’s also an (ex) car thief who is at the HH after spending 2 years in prison for stealing a car and refusing to “rat out” his co-conspirators.
Cole has a hard time transitioning to a legit life because of his impetuousness. Finally, Aidan comes through with the perfect job for him, doing custom restorations for his brother Ty. The deal is this: Hunter gave Cole a sweet car if Cole can manage to do his time at the HH in four months. Nobody thinks that will be easy.
Ty is Aidan’s brother. He’s in the family business (Aidan is the black sheep!) of car restoration but he’s still recovering from a serious car accident that took the lives of his parents and put him in a coma for 6 months. Ty is the opposite of Aidan. He’s shy, reserved, blushes at the drop of a hat and has a dark cloud hanging above his head.
When Ty meets Cole there is instant attraction on both sides. So much so that Cole puts his foot in his mouth – again – and Aidan puts his fist in Cole’s face for it! Though Ty makes Aidan apologize for it later, Aidan makes it clear that if Cole hurts Ty in any way losing the car will be the least of his worries.
Well, as it turns out, Cole took to the work at the shop like a fish to water. He’s found his groove at last and things look great from that perspective. His only glitch: Ty. Ty turns Cole on like nothing else and makes him crazy.
Ty wants to keep things between him and Cole professional – of course – but he just can’t stay away. Cole attracts him like a moth to a flame. They dance around each other for weeks until finally giving in to their mutual desires.
There is more than just the romance going on in this story. Cole has some family issues to resolve and Ty is dealing with survivor’s guilt, physical limitations and an ex-employee trying to blackmail him.
And then there’s Aidan… I’m hoping his story is next… he’s got something going on with Hunter’s former partner Jessie and it looks to be a great story!
**
So I am a huge Jaime Reese fan. Her first book was amazing and frankly every book since has only gotten better. The thing that amazes me about this book in particular is the length. It is a fairly long book and there is not one word that could be edited out! All of it is wonderful and important to building this beautiful story.
The romance between Ty and Cole is both a slow burn and an instant wildfire. They flirt and tease and touch and torment each other endlessly, but the final coming together takes weeks and when it does happen it is really moving and powerful.
I love seeing J and Matt again (wish we could hear about Cam and Hunter too, but seeing as they’ve disappeared…). I love the “hint” that maybe J and Matt might one day expand their little family!
Cole has to be my most favorite character so far. Man! He’s funny, honest, charming, adorkable, can do ANYTHING (and he knows it), cocky, insecure, sweet, raunchy… just a perfect mixture of everything. Ty is his perfect foil because he’s so shy, yet subtly aggressive, confident but tentative… another delightful mix.
I have to admit, in a lot of books the “non romance” part is just boring to me and it takes effort to pay attention to those parts. Not true here. The blackmailing, the family drama, the events in the shop… these are all captivating.
I really feel that Jaime’s writing has gotten better and better as the series has progressed and her world building and characterizations are top notch. I had to stop and slow down several times when I was reading this because I just wanted to savor how good it was.
I really appreciate how Jaime handles the sexual tension and the sex itself in her books. It’s so romantic and yet scorching hot at the same time. Her word choice, especially, helps to create this setting and I love that I’m not ever thrown out of the story by phrasing that doesn’t seem to match the characters for the sake of “making the sex hotter”.
Overall a truly amazing book that I know I’ll read again and again. I can’t wait for Aidan’s story and I am ever so hopeful that we will see the entire series on Audiobooks soon.
That’s all bartender and recent college graduate, Julian Hallowell has had on his mind for the past year. Julian may have no idea what he wants to do with his life, but he definitely knows he’s in love with the boy next door: the one in the next room to be exact, his roommate, Danny Wallace.
Danny owns a used textbook store just off campus, and while Julian has done his level best to make Danny fall for him, all his hard work appears to have been in vain. Danny doesn’t seem to view Julian as anything other than that–a roommate and friend. So when new guy in town Andy Baker asks him out on a date, Julian can’t think of a good reason to say no.
Julian has already instituted a Reverse Operation Danny plan, which he’s positive will purge all thoughts of love and lust for his roomie out of his head. He’s ready to move on and start looking for his next Mr. Right, and Andy just might fit the bill.
Review
Julian has had a crush on his roommate, Danny, forever, and just when he’s given up on having him – ie moving on – Danny makes a play for him.
There is a lot of humor in this story. Julian is a hysterical gay man with a lot of fun quirks – clumsiness, sugar addiction, a flair for fashion. His mother is hysterical as well, and has a big heart. Gabby, the female best friend also provides comic relief.
Danny – well, I just never liked Danny. As the story progresses we see and finally “understand” more about Danny and his motivations, but it was really hard for me to forgive him… and that, ultimately influenced my opinion of the book.
I think that this is one of those books that will either hit it’s mark and make you a fan, or it will count as a miss. For me it was a miss (not enough to deter me from trying another Ethan Day book). The romantic in me was just so unsatisfied by the ending. I really needed Danny to do more to win Julian back and the lack of “making up” left a sour taste in my mouth. (It is a HEA, though.)
Writing/Editing 3
Romance 2
Sex/Heat 4
Storyline 2
World Building/Characterizations 5
Humor 5 – it is really funny!
Overall for the book 3.5 of 5 hearts
Audio
Jason Frazier, hands down is one of THE BEST narrators of this genre. He is a PERFORMER. He gets inside the heads of all the characters and makes them all unique and outstanding.
I had read the book before and was not impressed by the story overly much (as you can tell by review) but when I saw that Jason Frazier narrated the book I had to have it anyway.
I’ve said it before and it still holds true, Jason’s narrations remind me of the old days of radio soap operas in that he can create this entire “movie” without pictures for us just by how much personality he puts into each one of his characters.
There are a few truly gifted performers in this genre who bring a story to life more than just tell a tale and Jason is one of them.
I adore his narrations and give this one a 6 out of 5 hearts.
Lovers Taggart Brody and Justice McKinney possess special abilities that make them valuable to agencies who employ—or enslave—people with extraordinary talents. When tragedy tears them apart, Justice finds purpose working for the good guys: ACRO, the super-secret Agency for Covert Rare Operatives. But he never forgets Taggart or the past they once shared.
Heartbroken, Taggart runs from who he is . . . right into the arms of Ian Bridges. But Ian, battling his own demons, betrays Tag to the terrorist organization Itor. After months of torture, Tag manages to escape, but kills an ACRO agent in the process.
With nowhere left to turn, Tag disappears into the Alaskan wilderness, but it’s only a matter of time before his enemies track him down. He reaches out to Justice, and somehow Ian finds him too, hoping to right his wrongs. With ACRO and Itor both bearing down, the three men must figure out how to forgive, how to work together, and how to love each other—or the coming battle will destroy them all.
******************
Twenty percent of all proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to the It Gets Better Project.
The It Gets Better Project’s mission is to communicate to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth around the world that it gets better, and to create and inspire the changes needed to make it better for them. Visit their website for more information and to find out how you can get involved.
Review
Tag and Justice are boyhood friends with special powers. They become lovers but separate when their mothers are killed by the evil Itor and they don’t agree on how to get even.
While separated Tag meets and falls in love with Ian who ends up getting Tag kidnapped and tortured by Itor.
Finally Tag is free, Justice has found Tag and now Ian has found Tag and Justice. Both men want Tag but Tag isn’t sure he wants either man back.
A huge blizzard and an avalanche lock all three men together in a cabin in Alaska, forcing them to make decisions about the rest of their lives.
**
Threesomes can be hard to write/read. The romantic soul in me finds it hard to accept Tag and Justice opening their relationship to Ian, but Sydney Croft does a pretty good job of selling it.
There is a lot of detail covered in this relatively short story. Action. Explosions. Intrigue. Special powers. And a fair amount of sexy times too.
If you are a fan of threesomes you will find this very satisfying. If you love secret agent/ x-men type paranormal stories, this has a lot to offer. If you are a romantic purist, you may be disappointed.
Blurb
