Stars & Stripes

Just when you think you have just read the best one in the series along comes another one that changes your mind completely. This one allows us to see more of Zane & Ty's families as the two leave Ty's family in the West Virginia mountains to go to Texas to help Zane's family when Zane's father is shot. We also see the two guys searching their hearts thinking about more of a life together and what it would mean for both of them both personally and professionally. The series is touching, romantic...and sometimes down right comical with the wit that can only be Ty and Zane. Looking forward to the next one.

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THIS REVIEW CONTAINS QUOTES BUT I DON'T THINK THEY ARE REAL SPOILERS?>


I've said this before about the Cut & Run series; This is what I read male/male romance for.

"What?" he asked. "Y'all didn't know they was sweethearts?"


THE STORY

For me, this was a transitional book in the series. I'm not going to summarize this book but I will tell you Abi did something here that I wish authors would do more often; she allowed an entire book to focus on relationship and character building while keeping an engrossing plot in the background. I wouldn't want that in every book but when a series has been going for a while I think it's great to take a time out and focus on the world and pull it all together. Abi did this here, perfectly.


Having someone to show more be proud of was in indescribable feeling.


THE WRITING

Abi's hilarious sense of humor was everywhere in this book, making this sweet romance light and enjoyable and most worthy of a re-read, just to be sure you don't miss any of those pun-y references.

"Maybe spend a night in Beaumont."

Plus, this woman can write romance. Whew! Hot, hot romance.

"Hot is hot, baby."

If I have to criticize anything here it would be the uncomfortable (for me) use of the word, "baby". It was used just a little too often, but I'm sure that's a personal preference.

I flew through this book, it was so well put together. The editing was terrific and made for a zip-fast read with no slow spots, just perfect pacing.

THE CHARACTERS

Ty - "Ty's tanned face and a day's worth of stubble was possibly the most beautiful thing Zane had ever laid eyes on..." We love Ty 'cus he's a big, dangerous, sexy kid. And man, can he, um, Ride!

Zane - "I'm going to start calling you Tytanium." "That's clever." "I know." We love Zane because he loves Ty. He's darker, more contemplative and damn sexy.

Harrison - "Well, then. I guess we can't all be perfect." I really like Zane's father and I'm glad he has his horses.

Beverly - I don't even want to think about her!

Anne - Love her!

Chester - Genius!


The romance in this book is delightful. The action is quick and fun to read. The sex is as hot as Texas in July and Ty and Zane are so beautiful together that they'll stay with you forever. I love, love, love 'em.

"You sounded like you needed me."

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Take a look at my Male/Male Romance Book Blog:


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The best of the series thus far, this is a Ty and Zane story that fulfills all the potential that kept me coming back for more. Hilarious dialogue, believable adventure, and a love and chemistry that fairly leaps off the page. Ty and Zane coming out added an element of sweetness to the story. These guys are so capable, it's hard not to believe that they were the only people who could actually stand in the way of their own happily ever after... no one else stands a chance of defeating them.

Reread: 17 - 19 August 2018
5 stars
Gosh I love this story - so much humour and crazy in it that it can't help but keep me entertained. I still get jolted out of the story when the size of the ranch is mentioned. I'd walk half the size of that ranch around one of our paddocks in a couple of hours. And the 100 acres that the Big Cat Sanctuary sits on would be a short-term holding paddock ~ you could see it end-to-end unless trees/undulation obscured the view. It wouldn't take longer than 30 mins to walk the perimeter fence.

Regardless I love this book and I loved Barnum.

Narrated by JF Harding. Fabulous 5 stars.

Reread: 13 - 18 June 2015
5 stars
I think I enjoyed this more the second time around, perhaps because I knew that there were some show more 'size' issues on the ranch that I couldn't get my head around, so I just let it pass over my head ;)

The relationship development in this book is significant - Ty & Zane really open up ~to themselves and their families and that move allows them so much more freedom.

It was great to finally meet Zane's family and to understand more of his background and how it shaped him.

I can't wait for this to come out in audio so that I can listen to it for my next reread!

Read: 16 - 21 December 2012
4.5 stars

I loved the 'gentle' development of Zane & Ty's relationship in this edition of their lives, however Abi didn't disappoint on the action either... There were heaps of 'laugh out loud' moments and plenty banter.

Coming from an Australian agricultural background I found some of the horse/employee/acreage ratios a bit confusing on the ranch, but decided to give up thinking about it and just go with the flow :)

*meow* show less

Well...it's been a few books since I did a true review but this one just calls for more. As my favorite book of the series (thus far) I just gotta fangirl, swoon, cry and go all out nuts over how I feel about these two.



After this they're back on top of my favorite couples list...sorry Brad/Kyle, Charlie/Travis and Cam/Julian.
Ok...first let me say that this review contains some story line spoilers so read on at your own discretion. If you have not yet read this book or this series yet then...





Have I made myself clear?

This book not only contains some of the hottest moments between these two, IMO, it has the most heart, openness and love expressed between these two men thus far. Yes, this is definitely part of the journey these men are show more on...but after 5 books it's wonderful to see them truly open and happy.
Plus we have boots, tigers, closets, and Ty riding a cowboy horse in a Stetson...



Oh my god...what just happened??

And yet even with all of those moments, for me it was the moments with their families that touched me the most. Aside from the bitch..and yes Beverly...you know exactly what you are...the remaining family members brought me to tears. Their love for these two and seeing them experience for themselves how truly happy these two men are was so much more than I could have ever hoped for.

“Don’t matter who you love, son,” he said. “As long as you do it well.”

We get a little more of the mystery that is Ty Grady. I'm scared honestly for what lies ahead in the next book but I know it will all work out for these beautiful two men and it's some doors that need to be opened...I'm just hoping my heart can take what's inside. And with Book #9 soon to be here...I can only hope that Annie was giving us a hint of what's to come. “Go find a state that allows it, and marry that man.”


Thank you to my Secret Santa, Marco, for making this 4 for 4! Every selection was a winner.
BR with Elsbeth, Marte and Momo (reread for them)...what a ride ladies!


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I try not to judge my guilty pleasure reading books too harshly. After all, they're not meant to be rocket science, neurobiology or whatever we're comparing these things to now-a-days. That said, I've got some issues.

First, Zane and Ty are from WV and TX. It's stereotyping, but it's still truthful to say that both of these states don't have a high rate of accepting alternative lifestyles. Yet here both families are, pretty much a-ok with everything. Killed a lot of possibility for suspense there, too, but we'll let them go, in favor of my real complaint here.

This is a romance story. It's not along the usual vein but it is a romance and part of what I liked was that they were passionate and sweet with each other. I don't like my romance show more to be all "wham, bam, thank you ma'am". The first 5 books managed that. This book is all hair pulling and extreme. I'm going for romance and not porn here and it appears with the loss of Urban we get porn and twice the cliches and this is the most cliched series I've ever read, so that's saying something. If I hadn't already bought the next book in preparation for a cruise I'd be done with this series after this book. The first few pages I've seen of the next book do not excite me but I'm going to try to read it. I paid for it after all. show less

My definite favourite. Far less gratuitous angst than the other books and the MCs feel more mature and settled. The secondary characters were likable (or unlikable depending on the character) and the story felt much more cohesive with a nice blend of romance, mystery, and drama. It had some real LOL moments, as well as one or two that brought a tear to my eye.