L.J. Hayward

I can’t believe I’m saying this but I loved this novella even more than the original.

Jack and Ethan decided that they would keep things between them physical whenever they cross paths but looks like that’s happening way too often. Ethan can’t seem to want to keep away and keep interfering in Jack’s operations. It’s also probably because he is concerned for Jack’s safety and wants to make sure he is doing fine, but will never say it out loud. Jack knows that he is developing show more feelings for Ethan that are definitely more than sex and loves having him around but will never acknowledge that.

The way they both want to protect each other while also denying their true feelings is too endearing. Ethan shuts down and runs away quite a lot when things get intense but I love the fact that he always comes back and listens to what Jack has to say. His implicit trust in Jack is too sweet and it’s nice to see more of the other side of the assassin Ethan Blade.

I can’t wait for the next book to release because I’m sure it’ll be another sexy roller coaster adventure. show less

There's a Romance discussion going on on Twitter after people were dismissive about tropes. Oh, sweet summer children... News flash: every story since stories were invented contains tropes - shorthand elements to cut explanations to a minimum. They're particularly useful in genre and sub-genre fiction. When you see the taciturn man with a badge and cowboy boots, leading a horse, you have a pretty good idea what to expect. That's a trope. Our minds love these mental shortcuts and love even show more more when they're tweaked or subverted, or pushed to 11 as King did with the super-fan trope in Misery.

Tropes are good. This book has many - but they're either tweaked or subverted, and the surprises are delightful surprises. I mean, come on. Our main character Jack is a super spy working for the Austrailasian super-state. He is in quite the pickle in the opening scene, a trope James Bond books and movies taught us. But the assassin is a surprise. And continues to be a surprise. For pretty much the entire book. What should have annoyed me but instead lent the story even more tension is the alternating 'then' and 'now' chapters. Even the last line's a nice 'oh yeah.' And I have to say, the sex scenes definitely kept pace with the level of the rest of the story. I wish all romance writers could manage that.

I loved this book. I want to see it in movie form. Animated would be fine. Someone get on that! show less

God damn. Where the hell do I start.
If the first book was action-packed, this one was positively bursting at the seams. There was so much happening in there that the cliffies at the end of each chapter were an exquisite torture. Add to that the crazy emotional rollercoaster of our two sexy boys and I was getting dizzy. There’s not one dull page in this book.
All the fast-paced serial killer fun stuff aside, I loved how Hayward really developed both of the MCs over the course of the series. show more Ethan was so vulnerable in there, it actually hurt to see sometimes. I wanted to hug him and never let go. So much has been revealed about his past. It didn’t make him an open book, though, but showed just how strong he really is to survive what was done to him.
Jack pulled on my heartstrings, too. Even though a couple of the first ‘after' chapters were so ambiguous that I thought he’d cheated on Ethan and wanted to strangle him. When it was all explained, however, I felt for him, because, let’s face it, dating Ethan is no walk in the park.
I loved loved LOVED it. This series has been moved to one of my top three all-time favorites by now, but it’s a pretty flat podium up there. And it still keeps getting better (How in the hell is that POSSIBLE?!). I don’t know how I’ll survive book three if this trend continues (but I hope it will!). I am so freaking happy that I’ve found these, even if it was a total accident. It would be such a shame to miss out on such amazing books! show less

I don't know how it's possible, but the story keeps getting better and better. If this continues, I might expire from the emotional overload alone. It's officially there in my top 5 series, and I don't see that changing any time soon.

The first chapter in Ethan's POV was totally unexpected and simply floored me. I'd needed some insight into his mind from the very beginning, but it was just so much to take. And as much as I LOVED reading it, giving the readers a mere glimpse might be a good show more strategy after all, Ms. Hayward! I think everyone is just too emotionally invested in Ethan by now (it's not just me, right?), and Jack's narration is more... easily digestible? Safer. Even though that boy grew on me, too, and he's not a rock himself. All the almost-kisses? Man... Jack's getting there, but he's sure taking his time!
Just one more left. I wanted to savor this series, as it's not finished yet, but I just can't go slow with this one. The wait's gonna be a bitch. Fingers crossed for the third book being published soon! show less