Criss Cross

Okay, I will admit there was an element of predictability. Oh come on, Roger and his gallons of free coffee -suspicious! And I can't blame Vic for his TSTL behaviour, there were mitigating circumstances. But this didn't diminish my enjoyment.

There are a couple of really hilarious moments: rogering Roger and the mini-mental breakdown as a result of Vic's new hypersensitivity to ghosts, who now chase him like he's covered in come-get-me ghost pheromones. I know a mental breakdown is not something to laugh at but the way it was written...the hysterical screaming -it was difficult not to laugh my ass off.

Stoic Maurice also gave me an unexpected chuckle as he releases Vic into Jacob's care, I won't say more but once a cop, always a cop. His show more timing was perfect!

It was really sad reading about Vic's unconscious attacks on Jacob and him desperately trying not lose him because of it. But don't worry it all works out in the end when Vic begins to relax into his relationship with Jacob, finally trusting him by taking it to the next level. I was so happy for them both, it made my heart swell in response. show less

Woah...I just read one of the most blood-pumping, sexy, affecting sex scenes ever. Seriously. I was lying on my bed reading it, and when I got to the end, I just felt like I needed a smoke, a fan, and to engage in some smoldering after-sex banter while wrapped in a silky bed sheet. Jeez, that was amazing, I feel like I need a nap to recover.

Okay, now that I've mentioned that...everything in this book was so, so good. Better than the first, it made me crack up at the random one-liners and little statements Vic would think up, I did not expect the mystery thread to go there at all, and the growing relationship between Vic and Jacob was (smokin', heartfelt, interesting, well-done) beautiful. And I just love the concept behind this world of show more paranormal abilities.

I am definitely moving on to book 3 soon, soon, soon. Highly recommended series. show less

This book would fly by even if it weren't so short. At least it's almost 200 pages this time around, rather than a mere 89 pages like the first.

There's not a strong outright mystery for Vic to put his magic-mojo detective skills towards, but instead the problems hits closer to home. He has to figure out who to trust and ends up trusting the wrong people for the wrong reasons despite best intentions, but hey, how many books and movies would we be without if that common plot trope didn't exist?

Victor is still enjoyable as the troubled and awkward psych who stumbles through his relationship with Jacob like he's walking in a field filled with landmines, and this isn't helped by the introduction to a bizarre ex who shoots hostility with one show more statement, flirtation with the next.

Criss Cross mainly focuses on the romantic relationship angles, but it ends by digging into a dark theme and shows what happens when Victor is misled by the wrong people. Creepy stuff, it's dark world that's creatively done.

While the introduction in the first book made bedroom play hot, it's a little repetitive and overdone here, making it almost erotica rather than m/m romance. It carries enough story to make it worth reading though, and was hard to put down despite small annoyances. show less

I loved the book, especially the love scene at the end and also how the plot twisted and turned. An added attraction was seeing that Maurice was there at the end. This is only book #2 and I have already read several of the other books...out of order of course, so I know that the story plots well from one book to the next. This is a paranormal cop series, with same sex partners and a slew of interesting, strange characters and happenings. It may seem a bit strange to describe paranormal creepy stuff as fun, but Jordan Castillo Price has a way of bringing all the fun and more to the table no matter what the main characters face. I couldn't help but love Vic and Jacob. Anyone who needs to have their books follow perfectly in a storyline show more and not have to wonder why or how something occurred will really want to read these in order. show less

The longer format of this entry in the PsyCop series really did wonders for the main plot line development, which made me very happy. There was more space in this installment to build suspense and develop a mystery that had you genuinely worried for the safety of the characters you've begun to love. And really, if you haven't already fallen in love with the characters, why are you reading the book?

Speaking of characters, Price again does a masterful job with character development, making each character feel distinct in both personality and voice despite the first person narrative in which the novel is written. Price uses Criss Cross to give readers a bit more back story for the main characters and the world they inhabit, to bring Jason show more and Vic's relationship almost to the point where Vic can admit he's in love (and with Vic that's a big deal!) and introduces readers to another fascinating member of the gang - Chase. Chase, Chase, Chase... I think that this will be one character to watch out for! Just how deep does his psychic ability run? Does he know? Or is he willing to admit it, even to himself?

I'm so looking forward to seeing where this series goes.

PS - Can I just say that I love, love, love the story notes after most of the stories in this series? I enjoy the opportunity to see into the mind of the author as it were, learning about the inspirations and motivations behind the stories and characters. show less

Criss Cross starts off right where Among the Leaving left off. Jacob is homeless due to the events in Among the Living and staying with Vic. The transition is not easy on Vic, but the guys' relationship is new, Jacob seems confident and Vic, typical to his personality - - internally worries and questions everything. JCP hits so many things right with this series and this book is no exception.

Setting: Urban and Chicago. JCP gets it so right. She knows the city. The opening scene begins with Vic fishing with his partner – sounds ideal right? Ha – not if you are fishing on the Southside of Chicago. Here is an excerpt from that scene, "A train clanged by to the north of us and the scream of a siren drifted by from a stretch of elevated show more highway. Nature." Ha – nature in Chicago.

Characters: JCP gradually introduced 4 key characters in Among the Living. There is no overloading of people and readers do not need to try and keep names straight. JCP slowly leads readers into her stories. She puts flesh on the characters and lets them out to play so we can get to know them. We see their flaws and some of their good qualities. Criss Cross continues with the main four characters (Carolyn, Jacob, Vic, and Lisa) and adds another character – Crash. Crash, what a fun character – a little bit punk, a little bit new age and a lot of attitude. "A man's hand, wrist covered in black O-ring bracelets and silver on every finger … Crash was maybe thirty, with spiked-up bleached white hair and a ring through his nose."

While the story is told from Vic's first person point of view, each character seems to exist independent of Vic. Vic's insecurities and worries continue. In that same fishing scene, Vic asks, "Shouldn't I have, uh … a lifejacket on?" His partner answers, "S'okay, Victor. Water ain't but waist high." Poor Vic, he makes me want to hold his hand, the guy never gets a break.

Drama: JCP builds up to it slowly. We meet new characters, we get re-acquainted with the ones we already knew and then bam – the drama begins. Not all is well with Vic, he is sick and has to undergo numerous tests. But don't worry, despite his problems, Vic is the same old lovable, insecure and worried guy, "I thought of the not-gay brochure I'd stuffed into my back jeans pocket."

"She slipped a pamphlet into my hands. On the cover was a triangle with a rainbow inside and I nearly spewed the bagel the nurse had given me. Jesus Christ, how'd she know I was gay? It was the blowjob. They'd found traces of semen in my mouth. Oh God, I was so fired. And then I'd lose my health coverage, and then my liver would explode."

Poor Vic, not only does he have to deal with seeing dead people everywhere he has to worry about his employer finding out that he is gay, his employer finding out that he is dating another cop and now he has health issues.

Sex: JCP can write SEX (all caps necessary to express how damned well she writes the sex). These books are not for readers sensitive to sex scenes and they are not for readers who are bothered by gay relationships.

In the end, Vic surprises himself – and the readers. PsyCop is one of my favorite urban fantasy series and I highly recommend it. show less

I eat these books up like candy. When I am done with one I am eager to read the next one right away. I try to hold myself back because there are only six books, most of them novellas, and a couple of shorts. Not enough!! (You can only buy the bundle from Price's own website.) it's a struggle though, like eating only one potato chip, to mix my metaphor.

This one was no exception. The protagonist, Vic, has low-self esteem even though he's very powerful which is actually partially why. The quantity and physicality of the ghosts he sees as one of the most powerful mediums around drive him almost crazy so he has to take a cocktail of drugs just to stay sane.

The problem here is that he now has to quit these drugs cold turkey and the ghosts are show more getting worse than ever before. His fear and disgust feel very real as Price relates the action. I could feel Vic breaking apart under the onslaught.

Which made for a good level of drama and a little action to add to the best part of these books: Vic's humor. He isn't necessarily trying to be funny, well sometimes, but his bleak vision of his immediate future and how he's going to mess up and his dry humor, mixed with the times he really does fail and in a spectacular way, is truly laugh out loud funny to me. I think the character is adorable and I want to hang out with him or at times knock some sense into him then take him in my arms and remind him what a great person he is.

He wouldn't be interested though, and for good reason, not just because he's gay. (His neuroses about acting too gay or trying too hard not to act too gay and failing are hilarious.) He has a perfect, amazing boyfriend who finds Vic's insecurities adorable, too. Jacob's the perfect amount of protective mixed with the perfect amount of standing back and letting Vic take care of himself.

Although Vic does't understand what Jacob sees in him, their love is beautiful. It's gentle and caring and supportive and they have amazing sex. The latter isn't the most original that I've seen but it shouldn't be, it wouldn't fit the story. The scenes are different enough to make them each hot and enjoyable, which is really what matters, at least to me. :)

The only problem I have with these books is the resolution of the plot. The final action just isn't long enough. The problem is solved too soon and too easily. I want the drama to last long enough so that I am actually worried, that there is suspense. As it is, the conflict is being resolved just as we're finding out about it. In this case, there could easily have been a long chase that would have fit with the plot, the characters, and the series that would have fit in right where the final "battle" was. As it was, the danger was so short it didn't even really register as danger. I think if those kinds of scenes lasted longer, this could easily have been a novel rather than a novella. I need my heroes to be in peril for a little longer.

This book also introduces a new character, Crash, who is apparently a regular in the series. (Well there is a very brief mention of him in the short that is .5 in the series but that really doesn't count.) I don't really like him and I hate that he's always coming on to Vic, so I hope he improves as the series progresses and knocks that behavior off.

Despite the weak ending, I still loved this book and had to read a short right after to get another fix. I highly recommend this and the whole series.

If you are interested in reading this series with the silly name, read the free short Thaw available from Smashwords. It's not very funny, not like the series, but it's very sweet. show less