Monday, October 12, 2015

Review: Cross and Crown by Abigail Roux

Reviewed by Whuppsy
Cross & Crown (Sidewinder #2) by Abigail Roux
Riptide Publishing
Novel: 225pgs
5 Pants Off

Blurb:
When Nick O'Flaherty arrives at the scene of a double homicide to find he has a witness to the crime, he thinks it’s his lucky day. But when he realizes his witness is suffering from amnesia and can’t even remember his own name, Nick wishes he’d gone with his gut and put in for vacation time.

Then Nick’s boyfriend and former Recon teammate, Kelly Abbott, joins him in Boston, and Nick finds his hands a little too full as the case and his personal life collide. The witness he’s dubbed “JD” is being tailed by Julian Cross, a retired CIA hitman. To complicate matters further, JD forms an attachment to Nick that Nick struggles not to respond to as they search for the key to JD’s identity.

Trying to determine whether JD is friend or foe as they investigate the crime puts them on the trail of a much older mystery. When multiple attempts are made on their lives, Nick is forced to turn to old enemies and new allies to solve a centuries-old crime before he and Kelly get added to the history books.


Review
HOLY HANNAH !!! I so couldn’t wait to read this book. To see how Nick and Kelly were evolving in their relationship. This book was a thrill-ride that just wouldn’t quit!!! I’m a HUGE Ty and Zane fan, so these two guys had so much to live up too.  These Guys Knocked It Out Of The Park!!  

As we know from the C&R series, Nick is a detective in Boston and he’s been working desk duty after donating part of his liver for his father. So, you can believe that Nick is ready to hit the streets and get some action!! Nick is the kind of guy who you’d want on your side if things were going off the rails. He is strong, kind, caring and logical. Nick is always so focused on getting to the truth and the bottom of things, that he doesn’t let emotions get in the way. He makes a promise and you better believe that he’ll move heaven and earth to fulfill it.  Nick is such a wonderful character, he’s sexy, dangerous and so very Alpha. 

It’s such a pleasure to get to know more about him.  Kelly is such a great character.  He was the team medic and yet, he’s so much more than that.  He’s got this wonderful job as a counselor for a camp for children.  He’s a wonderful little stoner who seems so laid-back and yet, when it comes to his boys), he becomes rather dangerous. Nick is Kelly’s first relationship with a man and yet, these two just seem to click together. I don’t know if it’s because they’ve known each other for 15 years or not, Kelly is as in love with Nick and Nick is with Kelly. Kelly truly sees Nick in a way that no one else does.  He knows Nick and that allows him to be the very best partner to Nick. Kelly is fun loving, kind, generous and so focused on Nick and their relationship.  It’s really a pleasure to see Kelly open himself up to this love.  

The secondary characters in this book…So Great.  JD, which stands for John Doe, is either a witness or a suspect, is this great mixture of innocence and intelligence.  Hagen, Nick’s partner on the force really cares for him and they really work well as partners.  Julian…what can I say about Julian that we’ve not heard before?  Julian is witty, sarcastic, wicked smart and plain dangerous.   His deadpanned delivery of lines just makes me laugh.  Ty and Zane both make cameo appearances in this story, and we all know about them.  

There was lots of action in this story.  This was a thrill-ride from the first word on the page until the last. They mystery of JD, the Cross & Crown, helping Julian, it was AMAZING!! The gun fights, the chasing clues and Oh My Lanta, the first time that Kelly and Julian meet…WATCH OUT!!  I will say that there was lots of history being shown in this story, so get your thinking hat out!! Hehehe  

As we all know, Abi is a great writer who can blend adventure/suspense and mystery together and make you so invested in her characters and in her story that you fall under her spell and don’t want to get out.  Abi did the very same thing with this book.  She grabbed you and didn’t let go.  What fun this book was.  Abi blended the right amount of suspense/action and humor. My favorite quote was Kelly saying “Romantic, but are you sure this isn’t just a history nerdgasm you’re having right now?”  I giggled for a while after reading that. Nerdgasm.  As you know, Abi does really good hot sex and this book was no exception.  It was hot and yet, it was so intimate between the two of them. The sex doesn’t overwhelm the story, it just adds another layer to Nick and Kelly’s bond.  

I was glad that Nick and Ty spoke, but it was hard to read. Knowing that they aren’t as solid as they had been. However, it was good to see them again, as always. I do hope that Ty and Nick get back to being the way they were.  These guys have been through too much to allow their relationship to end.  
The relationship between Nick and Kelly is smooth and easy.  Not angst-filled in the way that you read about for some couples.  These two men come with their own issues and worries, and yet it’s really sweet to watch them handle being in a relationship.  I smile just thinking about them together.  

So, if you’re ready for another Adventure filled, Thrill-ride…this is the story for you!!  You get to go on such a fun journey and truly meet some Great Characters to fall in love with..this is for you!! So.. grab a drink, get comfy and get lost in a book that you’ll read again and again, many times. 



5 Pants Off
Review: Book 1 Shock & Awe


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