Hell & High Water

Well crap - and I mean that in a good way because it's obvious that this is going to be a series but that means the HEA is going to be a bit long in coming. I shouldn't complain because what I like a lot about series is the slow build and evolution of the the MC's relationship. It sucks to have to wait. Sigh.

Suffice it to say there are a ton of details in this book - it's our world but with shifters since there are plenty of pop culture references peppered throughout. The supporting cast was awesome, the world building was thorough and omg, the amount of snark that comes out of Dex's mouth leads to plenty of lol ridiculousness. If you want action with tough alphas, interspersed with snippets of tender vulnerability and heat, then this show more is your book. Can't wait for the next installment! show less

Charlie has written the beginning to what would appear to be a great series.

I loved our two MCs, but especially Dex. Sloane had a mountain of unresolved issues. Dex had a multitude of reasons to be depressed/down. But Dex was determined to make the world, his team and especially Sloane, better through lightening up their attitudes. And it worked. Great stuff from this type of character - keeping a level of seriousness within the light-heartedness. And in my opinion, Charlie pulled this off beautifully.

We have the dangler at the end for story continuity - not a cliff-hanger, just a taster :) I'm looking forward to reading more.

I have never laughed so much reading any novel, much less this kind of romance. The first part, before Dex is "transferred" to the THIRDS, is one side of him. But when he finds the people he needs, the whole person comes out, including the joyful smartass.

I got this free, on "sale" and it is hands-down the best free novel I've ever read and among the best novels I've read, total. Very clever, hook me on a long series. I see what y'all did there... *buys next book*

Bonus YAY, it's also the cleanest read - I noticed a single typo, missing end-quotes. Remarkable line editing.

This is a great book, but it didn't show its full potential.

May I start with saying how well thought-through this world is? There weren't any things where I went like "But wait, how does this...?" Perfect world-building. The reader learns about history without it sounding boring or like fact dropping. There are politics and different opinions. Plus there are no magical grow-with-you-while-shifting-clothes.

It was refreshing how there was no big talk about Dex being not straight - it was simply accepted. Speaking of Dex: He made me laugh so much. Such a smart mouth. And he really were. Great case of show don't tell.

I enjoyed the team dynamics (and there were dynamics even between side characters, who often get forgotten in stories) and show more the romance as well. Again, I had fun reading about them.

Special points for no assholish boyfriend. Of course what he did wasn't great, but it was realistic, so...

Sounds perfect, right? It nearly was, but only nearly. The mystery part was... well. Seriously, it was very obvious what was happening and that's sad, because the other things were so great. Plus Hell & high water ends with a cliffhanger - and if you know me, you know I feel like that's kinda blackmailing the reader to buy the next. I know a lot of authors do that (maybe even have orders to end a book like that), but still. No big deal, but it still annoys me a little. show less

Second read 6/5/17:

I loved this again, maybe even more than the first time through! The details, the world building, the imagination that went into this amazing story...I loved every second of rediscovering this world. Favorite again for year.

I've thought about this book many times in the years since I read it the first time, so it definitely left a great impression, and, to me, is the height of this particular sub-genre.

I still adore Dex beyond belief (I totally want to absorb his personality!), and love the slow-burn between him and Sloan. Also looking forward to the other couples' stories later this series.

Original review 11/19/14:

"'Your pupils are dilated. Does that mean you want to fuck me or eat me? Because I might have a problem show more with one of those.'"

Hell f*cking yes!

The action=faced-paced awesomeness
The humor=had me laughing my ass off
The music references=that's the way aha, aha, I like it, aha, aha
The blood, murder, mayhem, and mystery=super engaging
The world building=completely engrossing and wonderful-->why is our world not like this?
The writing=a little long-winded, but beautiful
The attraction and love component=a bit fast, but very nicely (and hotly) done
The build up for the next book=left me panting for more

And that's just a quick summary. Loved this story, was completely wrapped up in it and finished this in one day (and yes, at 1am when I have work early in the morning). But it was 100% worth it. show less

I want to read this. Sounds fun. And everyone's raving about it.

And every time I see this title in my feed, I read it:
Hell & High Water (TARDIS, #1)

I need a life.

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2.5 stars

While reading this book, I was feeling equally amused and pissed off.

Amused because I'm a superhero geek (= every time I hear the word "Marvel" and "movie" in the same sentence I revert to a 9-year-old (boy)) and this pushed all my buttons. It has bad-ass shifters, it has banter. It has mystery and crime-solving. It has hot smex scenes (that's the 26-year-old me taking). So okay, it has some unfortunate interior descriptions, but who cares, right? Heroes!

By all accounts it should have been my favourite book of the year.

But the amusement didn't last show more long. The banter was juvenile and Dex reminded me of a more juvenile version or Tony Stark (if that's even possible). The "superheroes" were anything but competent, given their intensive training. The "mystery" should have been solved in the first quarter of the book.

No traces of a Therian but the throat clawed out, and the marks looking like the Therian was standing on hind legs. And in a world where Therians are barely tolerated, Dex (with all his 10 years of detective experience) doesn't even think in passing that it might be a Human posing as Therian? I find that insulting.
And then you have Pearce, who was suspicious as hell, has a metal workshop, and had motive that was strong enough his alibi should have been questioned, but wasn't. GRrrrrrr!

The things I was able to ignore in the beginning (like the fact that Dex's personality did a one-eighty three chapters in) slowly started grating on my nerves.

And in the end, for me this book was a whole lot of awesome ideas, most of them already done in comics, executed poorly. show less

1.5 stars.
Here is why:

On the one hand it's full of my favorite elements:

- it's funny;
- it has dangerous alpha shifters;
- it has a man-child;
- it's a mystery-suspense;
- it has a damaged hero;
- it has a Dr. Evil an evil maniac;
- it reminds me of Wolverine, Star Trek, and V (nod to NannyOgg) put together.

Those are mostly pleasant memories, but read on.

On the other hand:

- most of the time it's funny in a silly, juvenile, deserves-a-weak-"meh-he-he" way;
- it has a 33 year old man-child, who in fact belongs in high school with the rest of the bullies, the drama and the immaturity;
- it offers a very predictable suspense - Iron claws? Yep, figured that one out right away after no trace of any shifter was ever found at any of the crime show more scenes

;
- the bad guy is so. fucking. obvious! I really don't like it when an author makes their characters ...what's the word? - not smart :/ It makes me feel like I am supposed to be all the way down at their level to enjoy the book;
- which brings me to Star Trek.
We have the most elite forces here, Marine, Seal, James Bond Hulk level and beyond.
Dex passes all the tests including the physical parts of it, apparently. But during the whole length of the book he is completely incapable of defending himself. Not once did he come out as a winner. Not once! James Kirk can now safely recruit him to serve as part of the security team on board the Enterprise, because the Enterprise security never fails to fail. Except for the Captain, who has a secret knowledge of this one very special maneuver. What's it called, I wonder?



Oh, right, and Spock's famous Vulcan pinch.

- not only they are unable to deduct who the enemy is, they don't have common sense to at least be cautious around the person who is the most vested in this havoc.
It only takes the possible suspect a take-out and a lousy "i'm sooo soowwy!" to melt a big bad alpha.


- extensive interior design descriptions, sometimes at the most inconvenient times;
- abused expression "almost creamed his pants (while doing something)" wore off fast. Really fast.


Bottom line: I did enjoy the book in places, but I am not sure I will continue on when the sequel comes out. show less