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petra_reviews_mm's review
4.0
(I read the new extended version and decided to rate this older one because I'm not sure I'll read the short story... or continue with the series... not that it was bad but the ending was a bit too open. I wouldn't mind a cliffhanger actually lol. Plus the first 30 % were a bit hard to get through.).
This was a really great romance. I loved the relationship development. Mainly the growing affection and possessivenes of both men.
What I found lacking was the mystery plot. I mean. Our guys do some reckless decisions that pose threat to innocent people and I was thining that they could've avoided that. I mean, they are assassins for frick's sake. They should be way more stealthy and sneaky.
And the mystery was actually pretty simple and just dragged on. The guys just waited for two weeks for some hacking to finish and then they finally do their thing...
So that was my only disappointment. The action scenes were really great and suspenseful. The romance was so good and the smut was top tier. Like meltingly top tier. Wow.
some tropes:
grumpy/sunshine
alpha males
forced proximity
mutual protectiveness
fake boyfriends
hurt/comfort
versatile couple
This was a really great romance. I loved the relationship development. Mainly the growing affection and possessivenes of both men.
What I found lacking was the mystery plot. I mean. Our guys do some reckless decisions that pose threat to innocent people and I was thining that they could've avoided that. I mean, they are assassins for frick's sake. They should be way more stealthy and sneaky.
And the mystery was actually pretty simple and just dragged on. The guys just waited for two weeks for some hacking to finish and then they finally do their thing...
So that was my only disappointment. The action scenes were really great and suspenseful. The romance was so good and the smut was top tier. Like meltingly top tier. Wow.
some tropes:
grumpy/sunshine
alpha males
forced proximity
mutual protectiveness
fake boyfriends
hurt/comfort
versatile couple
carosi's review against another edition
2.0
Is it just me or does nothing really happen in this book?! 🤔
valerieullmerauthor's review
4.0
The original idea for this book is a good one. Both Justin and Gabriel are mercenaries and while the work alone, their handler asks them to work on a $22 million dollar case together, finding out who killed two doctors who worked at a pharmaceutical company. The action is wonderful and how the author writes the personality of both men makes the characters completely realistic. The subplot, while a bit simple, takes an obvious back seat to the romance (or what I would call really hot sex) between Justin and Gabriel. The scenes when Justin and Gabriel are together, whether they are working, relaxing, having sex, or cooking, they are explosive on the page. But there were many times the typo's, the swap of names during one's POV (Gabriel's POV but the author calls him Justin and vice versa), and grammar mistakes that I usually gloss over without stopping drew me out of the story over and over again.
The internal conflict, especially Gabriel's, was wonderful. He wasn't ready to open up to Justin but he couldn't help but like him a little bit more every time they spoke. Justin didn't have a tragic backstory as Gabriel had, but in their line of work led them not to trust many people, and he found himself counting more and more on Gabriel and liking it. The book ends without a total commitment between the two and there is a continuation of their story in the next Exit Strategy book.
I have to say I will read the next one because I want to know what happens between the two. (You get a small excerpt of the next book at the end of this one) but I hope that the grammar and editing problems that plagued this one won't affect the next.
The internal conflict, especially Gabriel's, was wonderful. He wasn't ready to open up to Justin but he couldn't help but like him a little bit more every time they spoke. Justin didn't have a tragic backstory as Gabriel had, but in their line of work led them not to trust many people, and he found himself counting more and more on Gabriel and liking it. The book ends without a total commitment between the two and there is a continuation of their story in the next Exit Strategy book.
I have to say I will read the next one because I want to know what happens between the two. (You get a small excerpt of the next book at the end of this one) but I hope that the grammar and editing problems that plagued this one won't affect the next.
shemi's review
2.0
So many errors. I feel like the writing was good but there was no editing. Honestly feeling very picky so maybe that's why I found this book just Meh. It kinda felt like a Catch a Ghost by S.E. Jakes wanna be.
jacqueleenthereadingqueen's review
4.0
This was a great start to a new series by Jocelynn Drake. There was good chemistry between the two MCs Gabriel and Justin with just the right amount of steam dotted throughout the suspense aspects of the story. The fact that both these men were bad ass mercenaries was icing on the cake. I adored Justin's shall we say quirky personality. Gabriel was much more stoic but Justin's personal brand of sass seemed to bring him out of his shell a bit by the end. Very enjoyable read and the preview of book 2 at the end got me all gimme gimme for the next one. 4 stars
Side note that many have already touched on was the editing. I deducted half a star in my rating due to the fact that the errors were bad enough to actually be distracting, such as using the wrong name. Many times I had to go back and re read a paragraph because I thought I missed something.
Side note that many have already touched on was the editing. I deducted half a star in my rating due to the fact that the errors were bad enough to actually be distracting, such as using the wrong name. Many times I had to go back and re read a paragraph because I thought I missed something.
jessilwow12's review
5.0
**Warning: this text may contain spoilers** I never have to worry about a slow read with Jocelynn. Whether solo or co-author the writing is always quick and the story fast paced. Deadly Lover yet again has dynamic and intriguing main men who I want to cuddle even with all their sharp edges. I can't wait to see what all she has in store for these two! Justin and Gabriel just ignite on the page together. They are intense and when they finally come together they burn up the pages. The hot factor doesn't compete with the ongoing mystery and plays well off each other. I was racing to the end right along with them! Great start to a series with a lot of intrigue and room to grow the series as a whole. You will find yourself laughing at the snark and swooning a bit as these men find their way. And I am so ready to see what's next!