Samhain Publishing Presents
https://www.samhainpublishing.com/author/1591/se-jakes
Blurb
Phoenix Inc, Book 1
When your past closes in, running isn’t always an option
The jobs Marcus Lowry works for at Phoenix, Inc. Investigations are quick and easy, and they don’t give him the nightmares his days as a CIA operative did. That is, until he gets involved in a case that grabs him by the throat and won’t let go.
Cole Jacobs left behind his old life on the streets to make a name for himself rebuilding high-end and vintage cars and bikes. But when a stalker threatens to kill him—and to hurt anyone who stands in his way—his past closes in on him, and he’s not sure where to turn.
The last thing Marcus wants to do is take on a charity case, and to say that he and Cole don’t see eye to eye at first is putting things mildly. But when the first attempt on Cole’s life nearly kills them both, Marcus realizes that Cole is in real danger, and Cole is forced to reveal everything. Almost everything. Because Cole’s deepest secrets could destroy them both.
Morgan’s Review
Cole is in trouble. His past has found him and he doesn’t know who to trust. Luckily, one of his customers from the garage is Sytx (from Bound by Law) now a PI. Styx enlists the help of another PI, Marcus, an ex CIA agent, to help guard and protect Cole from the stalker.
At first Marcus doubts Cole’s story because Marcus has been burned by con-men in the past and Cole has secretive written all over him. These doubts nearly get Cole killed when the stalker plants a bomb and now the stalker is stalking both men. To stay safe, they both must hide while Styx, Law and Paolo try to figure out who the stalker is and how to stop him.
While in hiding, Marcus pushes every button Cole ever had and Cole manages to push quite a few of Marcus’ as well. It doesn’t take much time before their “fighting” turns to … sex.
Marcus and Cole don’t really trust each other, they both have painful pasts that they aren’t willing to share, but their lust is uncontrollable.
Meanwhile, the stalker is getting more inventive and manages to find them – even in Marcus’ best hiding spot. Now the two men are living in the house of the three hot PIs and being surrounded by their obvious love for one another doesn’t make their relationship any easier – or any less hot.
Just when Marcus and Cole think they’ve managed to spill all their secrets, it seems another one pops up, threatening any fragile link they manage to form. Even after the bad guy gets caught, neither man knows where he stands with the other.
It takes a leap of faith and a boatload of honesty, but eventually they do come around to admitting their feelings and committing themselves to one another – forever.
**
This is almost an extension of Jakes’ Men of Honor series in that we get to hang out, quite a bit, with Paolo, Law and Styx. For those of you bothered by ménage, while those boys do mess around a bit, the bulk of this story centers around just Marcus and Cole and they are strictly one-man-guys.
I just love Jakes’ characters. They are always deliciously screwed up, tough, yet vulnerable. She has a flair for putting in just the right amount of danger and tension to make the relationship feel like a life rope.
The sex is off the charts hot and the ending is very, very satisfyingly sweet.
There were times when I had to stop and re-read passages because she shifts POV all over the place, more so than I remember from reading previous works. However, it really didn’t diminish my enjoyment of the story.
I loved Cole and Marcus and look forward to a new series featuring broken heroes.
I give it 4.5 of 5 hearts.
