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kacelaface's review
4.0
I received an advance review copy of this title from author Carolyn Crane in exchange for an honest review.
I was beyond excited to hear that Carolyn Crane had a new series in the works. Huzzah! Then I read the description for The Associates series and, I will admit, I was a bit skeptical. A romantic suspense spy novel? From one of my favorite Urban Fantasy authors? I need not have worried.
Against the Dark is a super-fun read and a great start to a new series. This book has it all: interesting characters, lots of action, moral conundrums, steamy sex scenes and NERDS! One of my favorite aspects of Carolyn Crane’s writing is the flirty, sexy dialog she creates for her characters and there’s plenty of that banter in Against the Dark.
My only (sort of) complaint is the length. Note before you buy that Against the Dark is what I consider a short novel – fewer than 300 pages. The story does not suffer for the short length though, the plot does not feel rushed the book reaches a satisfactory conclusion – I just would have liked to spend some more time with these characters and in the world Ms. Crane created. I guess that means I’ll be back for Associates Book # 2!
I was beyond excited to hear that Carolyn Crane had a new series in the works. Huzzah! Then I read the description for The Associates series and, I will admit, I was a bit skeptical. A romantic suspense spy novel? From one of my favorite Urban Fantasy authors? I need not have worried.
Against the Dark is a super-fun read and a great start to a new series. This book has it all: interesting characters, lots of action, moral conundrums, steamy sex scenes and NERDS! One of my favorite aspects of Carolyn Crane’s writing is the flirty, sexy dialog she creates for her characters and there’s plenty of that banter in Against the Dark.
My only (sort of) complaint is the length. Note before you buy that Against the Dark is what I consider a short novel – fewer than 300 pages. The story does not suffer for the short length though, the plot does not feel rushed the book reaches a satisfactory conclusion – I just would have liked to spend some more time with these characters and in the world Ms. Crane created. I guess that means I’ll be back for Associates Book # 2!
laurenjodi's review against another edition
4.0
Against the Dark
3.5 Stars
Angel Ramirez thought she had left her life of crime behind her. But when her friend's aunt is kidnapped for ransom, she agrees to one more job. Unfortunately, the simple heist becomes more complex when Angel is caught by undercover agent, Cole Hawkins, and he blackmails her into helping him stop a vicious killer involved in the production of snuff films.
The suspense plot is rather unrealistic and very predictable. Nevertheless, the romance is intense as Cole and Angel have smokin' hot chemistry and their banter is fun.
Cole is an intriguing mix of Alpha and Beta heroes. On the one hand, he is as nerdy as they come with his logistics fixation and attention to detail, but on the other, he is no slouch in the possessive and domineering department either.
Although she does exhibit one or two TSTL moments, Angel's intelligence, resourcefulness and fierce loyalty make her an extremely likable heroine. Moreover, her safecracking skills are atypical for a woman in the romantic suspense genre, which makes her all the more intriguing
The villain is smarmy and his business is depraved beyond belief. That said, his menace is never fully realized and the final confrontation is anti-climactic.
All in all, a solid start to the Associates series and the nature of the agency and it's mysterious leader is compelling enough to continue.
3.5 Stars
Angel Ramirez thought she had left her life of crime behind her. But when her friend's aunt is kidnapped for ransom, she agrees to one more job. Unfortunately, the simple heist becomes more complex when Angel is caught by undercover agent, Cole Hawkins, and he blackmails her into helping him stop a vicious killer involved in the production of snuff films.
The suspense plot is rather unrealistic and very predictable. Nevertheless, the romance is intense as Cole and Angel have smokin' hot chemistry and their banter is fun.
Cole is an intriguing mix of Alpha and Beta heroes. On the one hand, he is as nerdy as they come with his logistics fixation and attention to detail, but on the other, he is no slouch in the possessive and domineering department either.
Although she does exhibit one or two TSTL moments, Angel's intelligence, resourcefulness and fierce loyalty make her an extremely likable heroine. Moreover, her safecracking skills are atypical for a woman in the romantic suspense genre, which makes her all the more intriguing
The villain is smarmy and his business is depraved beyond belief. That said, his menace is never fully realized and the final confrontation is anti-climactic.
All in all, a solid start to the Associates series and the nature of the agency and it's mysterious leader is compelling enough to continue.
lizzy_22's review
3.0
Thoroughly average, was hoping for better since I love her Illusionists series. Might try another to see if a different couple floats my boat.
sadie_rae's review
3.0
Initially I was planning on giving this a 4 star rating. Now, I'm settling with 3 stars but I almost want to go with 2. This book has action, suspense, thieves, gun fights, a Great antagonist, and somewhere in there a man veiled in mystery calling the shots. This, by all accounts, should be a kick ass book!
What didn't work... Cole our leading H. Not just Cole but his organization or group or whatever it is. Everything is so black and white with them, there is no grey area, no thinking that 'hey, this person made a mistake in the past but since then they have cleaned up their act'. No, instead it's 'this person is the enemy, I need them but I can't trust them and I should just leave them to die'.
Ok, so sure everything worked out(-ish) in the end but I'll admit that I have lots of unanswered questions. Big one here, who was the mole or informant? Yes we know that there was a leak in the organization but who was it? There are other questions that went unanswered as well but the more I think about this book the more it bugs me. I don't think that I'll be reading more of this series.
2.5 - 3 stars
What didn't work... Cole our leading H. Not just Cole but his organization or group or whatever it is. Everything is so black and white with them, there is no grey area, no thinking that 'hey, this person made a mistake in the past but since then they have cleaned up their act'. No, instead it's 'this person is the enemy, I need them but I can't trust them and I should just leave them to die'.
Ok, so sure everything worked out(-ish) in the end but I'll admit that I have lots of unanswered questions. Big one here, who was the mole or informant? Yes we know that there was a leak in the organization but who was it? There are other questions that went unanswered as well but the more I think about this book the more it bugs me. I don't think that I'll be reading more of this series.
2.5 - 3 stars
fresholivebread's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
An ex-thief gets blackmailed into helping dark ops agent in his crusade. He's a sexy, dirty talking alpha math geek; she's a savvy, beautiful firecracker. They're brilliant and they match up very well. A bit insta-lust to start but feelings are developed amidst bickering and in the do or die situation, which adds 🔥 tension to their scorching romance. But half of their first sex scene, hot as it is, is also a bit sketchy (they were filmed, he knows, she doesn't, stopping will blow their cover, but it was dealt with fast ). And loved how he risked it all to protect her. Lovely HEA and a very fun read, even if the villain's end is a bit anti-climatic!
Content Warnings
Minor: Trafficking, Rape, Torture, and Murder
Mild mentions of children being trafficked for the creation of snuff filmsingypingy2000's review
2.0
It had the simplistic-cute thing going on, but a bit too "look at my abs" and 'trying to find myself' for my tastes.
cmdc325's review
3.0
This an ok romantic suspense. I found myself not really caring about either character. Also I wanted more of their alone time together or maybe more of their adventures at the end.
setaian's review
5.0
After going straight for five years, Angel finds herself pulled back into the life of crime when her aunt is kidnapped and held for ransom. The price for her aunt's freedom is that she and her friends get into Walter Borgola's mansion, open a safe that is all but impossible to open and steal a fortune worth of diamonds.
After she succeeded in cracking the un-crackable safe, Cole tracks down Angel and makes her an offer she can't refuse. Either she goes back into Walter Borgola's mansion and cracks another safe or he will turn her in. Borgola isn't one to be taken lightly, he's sadistic and perverted and kills for fun, but the price of failure is the death of hundreds of innocent children being trafficked into the U.S., and Cole is all too willing to sacrifice both Angel and himself for a chance at saving them.
This book is amazing. I read book two Off the Edge a week or so ago, and on the strength of it I just had to get book one and read it right away. I've heard a few people say they thought Off the Edge was better than this one, but I'm not seeing it. Both are (in my opinion) 5 Star reads for anyone who loves romantic suspense.
Now...I just need Carolyn Crane to hurry up and give me book 3!!!
After she succeeded in cracking the un-crackable safe, Cole tracks down Angel and makes her an offer she can't refuse. Either she goes back into Walter Borgola's mansion and cracks another safe or he will turn her in. Borgola isn't one to be taken lightly, he's sadistic and perverted and kills for fun, but the price of failure is the death of hundreds of innocent children being trafficked into the U.S., and Cole is all too willing to sacrifice both Angel and himself for a chance at saving them.
This book is amazing. I read book two Off the Edge a week or so ago, and on the strength of it I just had to get book one and read it right away. I've heard a few people say they thought Off the Edge was better than this one, but I'm not seeing it. Both are (in my opinion) 5 Star reads for anyone who loves romantic suspense.
Now...I just need Carolyn Crane to hurry up and give me book 3!!!