Review: Divide & Conquer by Abigail Roux

Title:  Divide & Conquer
Author:  M. Urban, Abigail Roux
Series:  Cut & Run, #4
Publisher:  Dreamspinner
Release Date:  October 14, 2011
Pages:  313
Rating:  

 

Baltimore, Maryland, is a city in alarming distress. Rising violence is fanning the flames of public outrage, and all law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, are catching blame. Thus the FBI’s latest ideas to improve public relations: a municipal softball league and workshops for community leaders. But the new commitments just mean more time Special Agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett have to spend apart when they’re happily exploring how to be more than by-the-book partners.

Then the latest spate of crime explodes in their faces—literally—throwing the city, the Bureau, and Ty and Zane’s volatile partnership both in and out of the office into chaos. They’re hip-deep in trouble, trying to track down bombers and bank robbers in the dark with very few clues, and the only way to reach the light at the end of the tunnel together requires Ty and Zane to close their eyes and trust each other to the fiery end.

“First time I saw you, after I got over hating you, I knew,” he said, echoing Ty’s words, “I knew I’d fall in love with you."

I ABSOLUTELY loved and adored DIVIDE & CONQUER. These books are getting better and better with each new book in the series. I never want Cut & Run to end. I need my Ty & Zane fix! In the previous book, Ty had told Zane that he loved Zane. So in this book Zane is trying to wrap his brain around that. But what remains to be true is, he can not get Ty Grady out of his mind!

“Well, you know my type," Ty responded with a saccharine smile as he passed Zane's desk. "No self control and loads of mental issues.”

One thing that I was excited to see before I started reading this installment was how Ty and Zane's relationship would change now that Ty told Zane that he was in love with him. One thing I loved was Ty being jealous of the hot waiter. And also Ty's Reacon Team makes their appearance in this book. And he comes out to them and we find out Ty's best friend, Nick had the hots for him. Oooooohhh!

Yeah, it might take Zane four months to decide if he loved someone, and then more to decide if that was a good idea. Ty didn't mind waiting.”

DIVIDE & CONQUER had a awesome plot and this book was really about Zane coming to a decision to Ty's "I love you". I loved this book from beginning to end. Ty and Zane had hilarious moments, great sex scenes, as usual. Oh, and that ending? Why end it like that? I swear these authors prefer torture by cliffhanger madness!

read more

Review: Fish & Chips by Abigail Roux

Title:  Fish & Chips
Author:  M. Urban, Abigail Roux
Series:  Cut & Run, #3
Publisher:  Dreamspinner
Release Date:  December 6, 2010
Pages:  314
Rating:  

 

Special Agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett are back on the job, settled into a personal and professional relationship built on fierce protectiveness and blistering passion. Now they're assigned to impersonate two members of an international smuggling ring-an out-and-proud married couple-on a Christmas cruise in the Caribbean. As their boss says, surely they'd rather kiss each other than be shot at, and he has no idea how right he is.

Portraying the wealthy criminals requires a particular change in attitude from Ty and Zane while dealing with the frustrating waiting game of their assignment. As it begins to affect how they treat each other in private, Ty and Zane realize there's more to being partners than watching each other's backs, and when the case takes an unexpected turn and threatens Ty's life, Ty and Zane will have to navigate seas of white lies and stormy secrets, including some of their own.

“That’s my gun,” Ty said in an offended voice. “They hid my gun in the sex toys? That’s not right, man.”

I swear these Ty and Zane books are getting better and better with every book. I am quite enjoying myself at this point. In FISH & CHIPS we have Ty and Zane going undercover and posing as a married couple. How fun! And because of that they can be a little bit more affectionate in public now, well way more than they were before.

“You’re so freaking romantic. I don’t know how I keep my pants on.”

I adored all moments Ty and Zane got it on white roleplaying with the married couple they were pretending to be. And them being totally sexy and sweet! I don't particularly like the mystery, but I love just watching this beautiful relationship develop. In the first book it was a couple of rounds of addictive hot fucking, but now we have something real and beautiful developing and I just love it!

"I didn't just say it to get you to jump. I'm in love with you Zane," he admitted in a calm,clear voice. "I have been for a while.”

In the previous book Ty had realized his feelings for Zane and Zane is wrapping his mind around this thing he has going on with Ty. At the end of the book I ended up being so happy, because Ty confesses to Zane that he loves Zane. Now I am really excited for the next book because this is going to be all that is on Zane's mind, right?

read more

Review: Sticks & Stones by Abigail Roux

Title:  Sticks & Stones
Author:  M. Urban, Abigail Roux
Series:  Cut & Run, #2
Publisher:  Dreamspinner
Release Date:  January 25, 2010
Pages:  348
Rating:  

 

Six months after nearly losing their lives to a serial killer in New York City, FBI Special Agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett are suffering through something almost as frightening: the monotony of desk duty. When they're ordered to take a vacation for the good of everyone's sanity, Ty bites the bullet and takes Zane home with him to West Virginia, hoping the peace and quiet of the mountains will give them the chance to explore the explosive attraction they’ve so far been unable to reconcile with their professional partnership.

Ty and Zane, along with Ty’s father and brother, head up into the Appalachian mountains for a nice, relaxing hike deep into the woods... where no one will hear them scream. They find themselves facing danger from all directions: unpredictable weather, the unrelenting mountains, wild animals, fellow hikers with nothing to lose, and the most terrifying challenge of all. Each other.

In STICKS & STONES Ty invites Zane to come with him and spend time with his family. So this one ended up slowing down on that cop/suspense storyline just a tad bit and focus more on the main characters which I loved.

Zane wondered if Ty was a mama‟s boy. He tipped his head to the side, watching them as he picked out a piece of warm bread, and thought maybe so. Not that he would ever voice that opinion to Ty until he was good and ready to die.

We get to meet Ty's family and I loved his family. His dad is a little bit of an ass and scary, his mother is sweet and welcoming, his brother is cool beans, and no comment on his grandpa. They were a very welcoming family. And I loved those moments. We get a very boring mystery, which I was bored to death with.

“I don’t know,” Ty said. “I don’t know if I love him or not. I think… I think I could if he let me,” he said, admitting more to Deuce than he’d even been willing to admit to himself.

And I enjoyed the character development between Ty and Zane. Ty is coming to terms that he may be in love with Zane. Oh.my.god. Yes! Yes! Yes! I just have to say, I never thought he would admit it first, even just to himself or anybody for that matter. And I almost forgot, we actually get to find out what his name really is. I really can't wait to see what happens next!

read more

Review: Cut & Run by Madeleine Urban

Title:  Cut & Run
Author:  Madeleine Urban, Abigail Roux
Series:  Cut & Run, #1
Publisher:  Dreamspinner
Release Date:  September 1, 2008
Pages:  348
Rating:  

 

A series of murders in New York City has stymied the police and FBI alike, and they suspect the culprit is a single killer sending an indecipherable message. But when the two federal agents assigned to the investigation are taken out, the FBI takes a more personal interest in the case.

Special Agent Ty Grady is pulled out of undercover work after his case blows up in his face. He's cocky, abrasive, and indisputably the best at what he does. But when he's paired with Special Agent Zane Garrett, it's hate at first sight. Garrett is the perfect image of an agent: serious, sober, and focused, which makes their partnership a classic cliche: total opposites, good cop-bad cop, the odd couple. They both know immediately that their partnership will pose more of an obstacle than the lack of evidence left by the murderer.

Practically before their special assignment starts, the murderer strikes again this time at them. Now on the run, trying to track down a man who has focused on killing his pursuers, Grady and Garrett will have to figure out how to work together before they become two more notches in the murderer's knife.

I wanted to read more M/M Romance books and CUT & RUN pops up everywhere, so of course I had to read it. I admit I had to drop it, because it was hell for me the first time. And I'm not a huge mystery/suspense/cop fan. So, I gave it another go. For my Second go at it, CUT & RUN turned out much better and I can appreciate some Ty and Zane!

“Ty Grady was a rude, insufferable, egotistical, stinking son of a bitch, and Zane was going to figure out how to tune him out. Otherwise, he just might give in to the pressure and kill the bastard, for the good of humanity.”

What I really did enjoy was Ty & Zane's relationship. They both hate each other completely at the beginning of this book. And are always insulting each other and giving each smart remarks. It.was.hilarious. I absolutely love these two. I really can't wait this relationship to develop more.

He turned to look at the door and narrowed his eyes. So, Rule Number One, apparently, was that he wasn’t allowed to crack a smile during foreplay. “Got it.”

What I didn't like was that it was heavy on the "mystery/suspense/cop" stuff to me, or it had seemed like it was. And I'm not a fan of that stuff. I think CUT & RUN was one of those first book syndrome books for me. I'm glad I gave this book a second chance and all because of the possibility of falling in love with an amazing m/m couple.

read more