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zaza_bdp's review against another edition
4.0
Youhouuuu on est de retour chez les THIRDS avec ce spin-off !!! Et quelque part, c'est un des tomes que j'attendais le plus, car voilà ENFIN l'histoire d'Austen ! C'est un personnage secondaire qui pour moi se démarquait beaucoup, et je mourais vraiment d'envie que Charlie Cochet lui consacre un livre, et cette fois, c'est fait ! ♥
Si côté intrigue, cela reste assez plat et contraste avec les pétarades et mille rebondissements des tomes de la série initiale, l'ensemble du roman est néanmoins très sympa, avec un gros accent mis sur la famille, que dis-je, la tribu (!!) Zachary.
En effet, le love interest de ce cher Austen n'est autre que Zach (Osmond Zachary), plus connu sous le sobriquet de Yoggi Bear. Vous vous souvenez forcément de cet amateur de cheesy doodles, qui avait contribué à l'entrée fracassante de Dex dans le tout premier tome des THIRDS (non mais rien que de repenser à cette scène, et je suis en train de ricaner comme une dinde) ! Eh oui, notre ours va enfin voir son attirance pour Austen se concrétiser !
Cela fait des années que les deux hommes se plaisent mutuellement, mais n'ont jamais franchi le pas. Il faudra que les choses se mettent un peu à chauffer pour qu'Austen sorte de sa réserve, et vienne en aide à Zach. Sur le plan de l'intrigue et des méchants de l'histoire, je regrette que Charlie Cochet ait repris un des arcs narratifs de la série initiale, pour moi, cela manque d'originalité, mais les premiers évènements servent de déclencheur pour qu'Austen se "bouge" enfin.
Les personnages sont très bien développés, j'attendais énormément d'Austen, et je n'ai pas du tout été déçue. Je dois admettre néanmoins que j'ai parfois été décontenancée par ses changements brutaux d'attitude, mais il a tellement toujours été habitué à jouer un rôle et à se blinder que c'est devenu une seconde nature pour lui de passer d'un registre à l'autre. Sa toute première rencontre avec la mère de son chéri est à la fois drôle et émouvante, car en un seul geste, elle va complètement bouleverser Austen, et à partir de là, c'est un peu le début de la fin (mais la meilleure fin qui soit ! ^^).
La romance est pleine de tendresse et de douceur, évidemment elle est aussi parsemée de moments sexys, Austen et Zach forment vraiment un joli couple. Les personnages secondaires sont évidemment très présents, et même parfois carrément envahissants. Les membres de la tribu Zachary sont vraiment tous sympas, même si certains peuvent passer aisément pour des ours mal léchés. J'ai beaucoup aimé la mise en avant de ces liens qui les unissent, et de cet amour qu'ils ont les uns pour les autres (un amour parfois vache, soit dit en passant). Forcément pour Austen, c'est un sacré choc des cultures, et finalement, c'est ce dont il a manqué toute sa vie. J'ai également bien apprécié retrouver Sparks, qui se montre sous un jour un peu différent ici, et je me prends à rêver d'une histoire qui lui serait consacrée, rien qu'à elle.
J'espère vivement que Charlie Cochet poursuivra ce spin-off car le futur couple qu'on y entrevoit donne très envie d'en savoir plus, et j'avoue que je n'aurais rien contre le fait de retrouver toute cette bande familiale, que j'adorerais d'ailleurs voir interagir avec Dex !
Si côté intrigue, cela reste assez plat et contraste avec les pétarades et mille rebondissements des tomes de la série initiale, l'ensemble du roman est néanmoins très sympa, avec un gros accent mis sur la famille, que dis-je, la tribu (!!) Zachary.
En effet, le love interest de ce cher Austen n'est autre que Zach (Osmond Zachary), plus connu sous le sobriquet de Yoggi Bear. Vous vous souvenez forcément de cet amateur de cheesy doodles, qui avait contribué à l'entrée fracassante de Dex dans le tout premier tome des THIRDS (non mais rien que de repenser à cette scène, et je suis en train de ricaner comme une dinde) ! Eh oui, notre ours va enfin voir son attirance pour Austen se concrétiser !
Cela fait des années que les deux hommes se plaisent mutuellement, mais n'ont jamais franchi le pas. Il faudra que les choses se mettent un peu à chauffer pour qu'Austen sorte de sa réserve, et vienne en aide à Zach. Sur le plan de l'intrigue et des méchants de l'histoire, je regrette que Charlie Cochet ait repris un des arcs narratifs de la série initiale, pour moi, cela manque d'originalité, mais les premiers évènements servent de déclencheur pour qu'Austen se "bouge" enfin.
Les personnages sont très bien développés, j'attendais énormément d'Austen, et je n'ai pas du tout été déçue. Je dois admettre néanmoins que j'ai parfois été décontenancée par ses changements brutaux d'attitude, mais il a tellement toujours été habitué à jouer un rôle et à se blinder que c'est devenu une seconde nature pour lui de passer d'un registre à l'autre. Sa toute première rencontre avec la mère de son chéri est à la fois drôle et émouvante, car en un seul geste, elle va complètement bouleverser Austen, et à partir de là, c'est un peu le début de la fin (mais la meilleure fin qui soit ! ^^).
La romance est pleine de tendresse et de douceur, évidemment elle est aussi parsemée de moments sexys, Austen et Zach forment vraiment un joli couple. Les personnages secondaires sont évidemment très présents, et même parfois carrément envahissants. Les membres de la tribu Zachary sont vraiment tous sympas, même si certains peuvent passer aisément pour des ours mal léchés. J'ai beaucoup aimé la mise en avant de ces liens qui les unissent, et de cet amour qu'ils ont les uns pour les autres (un amour parfois vache, soit dit en passant). Forcément pour Austen, c'est un sacré choc des cultures, et finalement, c'est ce dont il a manqué toute sa vie. J'ai également bien apprécié retrouver Sparks, qui se montre sous un jour un peu différent ici, et je me prends à rêver d'une histoire qui lui serait consacrée, rien qu'à elle.
J'espère vivement que Charlie Cochet poursuivra ce spin-off car le futur couple qu'on y entrevoit donne très envie d'en savoir plus, et j'avoue que je n'aurais rien contre le fait de retrouver toute cette bande familiale, que j'adorerais d'ailleurs voir interagir avec Dex !
bitchie's review against another edition
4.0
Now, this is what I wish all the other side stories in this series had been. All of the others, Ash and Cael, Calvin and Hobbes, they just seemed to take a backseat in their own stories, to Dex and Sloane, but this right here, Cochet put Austen and Zach front and center, and it was great.
There wasn't as much action here, the story was mostly Austen dealing with Zach and his huge family, but I was perfectly ok with that. It also set a couple of things in motion, including a potential story with one of Zach's brothers and Austen's best friend.
I loved Zach's huge family and how welcoming they were, but I'd like to know how the baddies managed to get into their huge compound unnoticed. Otherwise, though, this was a nice addition to this world, even if it's a bit lacking in the action/mystery department.
There wasn't as much action here, the story was mostly Austen dealing with Zach and his huge family, but I was perfectly ok with that. It also set a couple of things in motion, including a potential story with one of Zach's brothers and Austen's best friend.
I loved Zach's huge family and how welcoming they were, but I'd like to know how the baddies managed to get into their huge compound unnoticed. Otherwise, though, this was a nice addition to this world, even if it's a bit lacking in the action/mystery department.
a_reader_obsessed's review against another edition
4.0
4 Stars!!
Ahhhhh, there’s the Cochet I know and love!
Zach is my favorite kind of MC and that’s nice and BIG. Ha! At 7’4”, 310 pounds, this wonderous package of pure manly man is basically the poster child of gentle giant to the max. Unf. All he wants to do is love on Austen. Yes please!
Now, Austen’s one lucky bastard to garner the attention of such a teddy bear, but he’s a little bit prickly. He’s had a shit deal dealt to him and no one has ever cared about Austen nor thought him deserving of such. The last thing he needs is any emotional attachment. Nope. However, when Zach’s life is threatened, Austen finds himself forced into close quarters with 90+ members of all things bear and he doesn't know what to do with them or himself. It’s the fucking twilight zone of familial good feels!
Seriously, this series can do no wrong and I apologize for my review that is not a review. Newbies just need to start with [b:Hell & High Water|22267616|Hell & High Water (THIRDS, #1)|Charlie Cochet|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1402315007s/22267616.jpg|41645331] and veterans need to catch up if they haven’t already. I loved pretty much everything about this because it brought the laughs, the adorbs, the sexy, and those twisty feels that I always revel in! Cochet can’t write fast enough for the next in series!!
Ahhhhh, there’s the Cochet I know and love!
Zach is my favorite kind of MC and that’s nice and BIG. Ha! At 7’4”, 310 pounds, this wonderous package of pure manly man is basically the poster child of gentle giant to the max. Unf. All he wants to do is love on Austen. Yes please!
Now, Austen’s one lucky bastard to garner the attention of such a teddy bear, but he’s a little bit prickly. He’s had a shit deal dealt to him and no one has ever cared about Austen nor thought him deserving of such. The last thing he needs is any emotional attachment. Nope. However, when Zach’s life is threatened, Austen finds himself forced into close quarters with 90+ members of all things bear and he doesn't know what to do with them or himself. It’s the fucking twilight zone of familial good feels!
Seriously, this series can do no wrong and I apologize for my review that is not a review. Newbies just need to start with [b:Hell & High Water|22267616|Hell & High Water (THIRDS, #1)|Charlie Cochet|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1402315007s/22267616.jpg|41645331] and veterans need to catch up if they haven’t already. I loved pretty much everything about this because it brought the laughs, the adorbs, the sexy, and those twisty feels that I always revel in! Cochet can’t write fast enough for the next in series!!
indusnm's review against another edition
4.0
After the terrible way the original thirds series ended, I wasn't expecting much. But thankfully Cochet left off the Mary Sue characters and brought the series back to her strengths. Families aren't dysfunctional and committing mass murder for each other, and most people aren't super human though there are moments when Austin's superiority gets a bit annoying.
I wish Cochet would get over the bad trope that her heroes need to be unbeatable and universally loved. Most of all do well being totally average. That said, without latter thirds dex popping up and making everyone love him everywhere, this book was a lot better than the last few. Zach's family was amazing, though I wish there were more women kicking ass and less maternal figures, but sexism is par for the course in m/m romance. Cochet used to be the exception to that, but not lately. I've sadly stopped expecting better in this genre.
I wish Cochet would get over the bad trope that her heroes need to be unbeatable and universally loved. Most of all do well being totally average. That said, without latter thirds dex popping up and making everyone love him everywhere, this book was a lot better than the last few. Zach's family was amazing, though I wish there were more women kicking ass and less maternal figures, but sexism is par for the course in m/m romance. Cochet used to be the exception to that, but not lately. I've sadly stopped expecting better in this genre.
kaitlin_durante's review against another edition
4.0
Oh man Zach and Austen's book was exactly what I wanted for them.
Zach and his family just warmed my heart.
I loved Austen and Bray's relationship too and hope to see him get his own book.
Zach and his family just warmed my heart.
I loved Austen and Bray's relationship too and hope to see him get his own book.
teresab78's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 improbable stars
So, this contained all the snark, sexiness, and action that I've come to expect from this universe. It also had the far fetched plot line that you need to just accept and not think too hard about.
I like Austen and Zach (though why the baby of the family ended up with his surname as a nick name baffles me) I can see the set up for future novels in this world and I’ll probably read all of them just for fun.
So, this contained all the snark, sexiness, and action that I've come to expect from this universe. It also had the far fetched plot line that you need to just accept and not think too hard about.
I like Austen and Zach (though why the baby of the family ended up with his surname as a nick name baffles me) I can see the set up for future novels in this world and I’ll probably read all of them just for fun.
sammy_lou's review against another edition
5.0
I don't know why I waited so long to read this book. I fell in love with the thirds series and we met Austen and Zach. The cheesy doodles incident between Zach and Dex will forever be remembered and laughed at.
The first chapter starts with a bang! Zach gets injured and Austen comes to see him. He has been watching over Zach for years and knows his 90+ size family. Zach's family is so funny and I just love the dynamics between them.
Austen puts Zach in hiding because of the attempts made on his life. His family butt in and now his family is along for the ride. It forces Zach and Austen to be in close proximity to each other. Austen does his best to push Zach away but he is a very stubborn bear. When they finally get their heads out of their arses, it's all systems go. They had so much built up tension so the sex scenes were hot.
I felt like the mystery wasn't as big as others, but it didn’t bother me. They just blunder through and try to see who is after Zach. I was more for the romance on this one. This book was a great addition to the thirds universe, it just makes me want to see a story for a certain pair from this book.
The first chapter starts with a bang! Zach gets injured and Austen comes to see him. He has been watching over Zach for years and knows his 90+ size family. Zach's family is so funny and I just love the dynamics between them.
Austen puts Zach in hiding because of the attempts made on his life. His family butt in and now his family is along for the ride. It forces Zach and Austen to be in close proximity to each other. Austen does his best to push Zach away but he is a very stubborn bear. When they finally get their heads out of their arses, it's all systems go. They had so much built up tension so the sex scenes were hot.
I felt like the mystery wasn't as big as others, but it didn’t bother me. They just blunder through and try to see who is after Zach. I was more for the romance on this one. This book was a great addition to the thirds universe, it just makes me want to see a story for a certain pair from this book.
mynameiskate2807's review against another edition
5.0
**********Contains Spoilers**********
I really enjoyed this book and I thought that it was a good addition to the THIRDS Universe. I’ve been intrigued by Austen, the prickly bad a*se cheetah Therian the moment he was introduced and the more he featured during the THIRDS Series, I wanted to know more about him. Austen and Zach had a moment when Zach protected Austen years’ prior after he’d been injured. Even though Austen feels something for the gentle giant, bear Therian Zach he has so many enemies and doesn’t want those enemies to target Zach or any of his massive, supportive and loving family so he pushes him away multiple times. He’s also scared because he doesn’t want Zach to look at him any differently if he knows about everything Austen has done being a TIN operative.
When Zach foils an assassination attempt and ends up in the killers crosshairs, He knows that Austen is the best person to keep him alive. Zach hopes that it’ll bring them closer together but Austen has every intention of walking away as soon as the danger is over. I thought the chemistry between Austen and Zach was completely off the charts, as well as hot as hell. Austen and Zach are so different but they balance each other out. I thought it was awesome that Austen decided to fight Zach’s eldest brother Colin to show the Zachary family especially Colin’s youngest and smallest son that you don’t need to big to be able to take on someone much bigger.
Because he was born early and is going to be smaller than usual it doesn’t mean that he can’t be a THIRDS Agent like his father and uncles. Austen kicked Colin’s a*se it was beautiful thing. I found it funny how confused Austen was when his family was congratulating Colin, even though he was beaten by a smaller opponent. Zach told him that they are congratulating Colin because he did extremely well going up against a seasoned TIN Agent. I really enjoyed seeing Austen start to slowly let his walls down where Zach, and his family to a lessor extent is concerned. I’m hoping that we get more books from the THIRDS Universe, especially from some of the characters we’ve gotten to know during the THIRDS Series. Like Taylor, Angel, Dom, West and maybe the hinted during this book like Brayden and one of Zach’s brothers Edan. I’m looking forward to reading the TIN Series. I’d definitely recommend this book, series, universe and author to everyone.
I really enjoyed this book and I thought that it was a good addition to the THIRDS Universe. I’ve been intrigued by Austen, the prickly bad a*se cheetah Therian the moment he was introduced and the more he featured during the THIRDS Series, I wanted to know more about him. Austen and Zach had a moment when Zach protected Austen years’ prior after he’d been injured. Even though Austen feels something for the gentle giant, bear Therian Zach he has so many enemies and doesn’t want those enemies to target Zach or any of his massive, supportive and loving family so he pushes him away multiple times. He’s also scared because he doesn’t want Zach to look at him any differently if he knows about everything Austen has done being a TIN operative.
When Zach foils an assassination attempt and ends up in the killers crosshairs, He knows that Austen is the best person to keep him alive. Zach hopes that it’ll bring them closer together but Austen has every intention of walking away as soon as the danger is over. I thought the chemistry between Austen and Zach was completely off the charts, as well as hot as hell. Austen and Zach are so different but they balance each other out. I thought it was awesome that Austen decided to fight Zach’s eldest brother Colin to show the Zachary family especially Colin’s youngest and smallest son that you don’t need to big to be able to take on someone much bigger.
Because he was born early and is going to be smaller than usual it doesn’t mean that he can’t be a THIRDS Agent like his father and uncles. Austen kicked Colin’s a*se it was beautiful thing. I found it funny how confused Austen was when his family was congratulating Colin, even though he was beaten by a smaller opponent. Zach told him that they are congratulating Colin because he did extremely well going up against a seasoned TIN Agent. I really enjoyed seeing Austen start to slowly let his walls down where Zach, and his family to a lessor extent is concerned. I’m hoping that we get more books from the THIRDS Universe, especially from some of the characters we’ve gotten to know during the THIRDS Series. Like Taylor, Angel, Dom, West and maybe the hinted during this book like Brayden and one of Zach’s brothers Edan. I’m looking forward to reading the TIN Series. I’d definitely recommend this book, series, universe and author to everyone.
jacqueleenthereadingqueen's review against another edition
5.0
Like many THIRDS fans, Austen has been on our radar and sneaking into our hearts every time he appears. I have been not so patiently awaiting his happily every after, not to mention any tidbit of info I could gleam about this mysterious man.
Austen does not believe in happy endings. Life has taught him that it's never fair and true good is hard to find if it even exists at all. That is until he meets Zach. Zach is an anomaly to Austen. No matter how hard he tries to antagonize or push his buttons, Zach never wavers in his calm and kind treatment of Austen. As much as that confuses Austen, it also intrigues him to the point where he spends his free time checking up on him from the shadows. The only person who comprehends the most how Austen feels is his fellow TIN agent Brayden. Brayden is Austen's best friend and sometimes friend with bennies, but that's where their relationship ends. Brayden knows how Austen feels about Zach:
“He makes you wish for something you shouldn’t be wishing for.”
Zach, sweet bear therian Zach. He was so patient and understanding with Austen. Even when Austen would lash out at him he never resorted to being unnecessarily cruel. It was also adorable how his whole family supported him in his quest for Austen's heart. Along with Brayden, whom I truly adored, Zach's family brought a nice touch to the story. Austen and Zach's HEA was definitely a hard one. There were plenty of road blocks and of course a crazy mysterious bad guy sending out hired killers after them. That's what made their finally getting together so great.
It struck him then how lucky he was. Austen had hidden his heart away, unwilling to allow anyone to claim it, but with Zach, he’d not only allowed Zach in, but he’d chosen to gift his heart to Zach.
The ending felt a tad bit rushed to me, or maybe that's just me wanting more . I could have read a hundred more pages of Austen and Zach, especially if it included some more peeks of Brayden. As a side character I really enjoyed him and hope to read about his HEA with a certain brother. 4.5 stars
Austen does not believe in happy endings. Life has taught him that it's never fair and true good is hard to find if it even exists at all. That is until he meets Zach. Zach is an anomaly to Austen. No matter how hard he tries to antagonize or push his buttons, Zach never wavers in his calm and kind treatment of Austen. As much as that confuses Austen, it also intrigues him to the point where he spends his free time checking up on him from the shadows. The only person who comprehends the most how Austen feels is his fellow TIN agent Brayden. Brayden is Austen's best friend and sometimes friend with bennies, but that's where their relationship ends. Brayden knows how Austen feels about Zach:
“He makes you wish for something you shouldn’t be wishing for.”
Zach, sweet bear therian Zach. He was so patient and understanding with Austen. Even when Austen would lash out at him he never resorted to being unnecessarily cruel. It was also adorable how his whole family supported him in his quest for Austen's heart. Along with Brayden, whom I truly adored, Zach's family brought a nice touch to the story. Austen and Zach's HEA was definitely a hard one. There were plenty of road blocks and of course a crazy mysterious bad guy sending out hired killers after them. That's what made their finally getting together so great.
It struck him then how lucky he was. Austen had hidden his heart away, unwilling to allow anyone to claim it, but with Zach, he’d not only allowed Zach in, but he’d chosen to gift his heart to Zach.
The ending felt a tad bit rushed to me, or maybe that's just me wanting more . I could have read a hundred more pages of Austen and Zach, especially if it included some more peeks of Brayden. As a side character I really enjoyed him and hope to read about his HEA with a certain brother. 4.5 stars
missawn's review against another edition
3.0
I have not had good luck with this author and/or this series. The writing style does not seem to appeal to me at all -- it just doesn't work for me. It is hard to pin down exactly what I don't like about these books since on paper they are everything I usually really like. But I think its a combination of lack of chemistry (most MCs are exceptionally attractive and that is relied upon heavily and results in only lukewarm chemistry) and the humor that is often more silly and annoying than funny. I really did not believe that Austen was a deadly killer/spy as that trait appears abruptly before it quickly disappears. Zach was just way too nice and perfect ... perfect family ... just perfect. Their relationship was odd and difficult to understand. I also feel like I have read aspects of this story before ... it reminded me quite a bit of Rhys Ford's Sinners series. Also, there are quite a lot of characters (from previous books) that I could not place or remember ...
Despite really loving the concept and the premise of this particular book -- unfortunately, this book and this series did not deliver as I hoped. This unfortunately was just an okay read for me ...
Despite really loving the concept and the premise of this particular book -- unfortunately, this book and this series did not deliver as I hoped. This unfortunately was just an okay read for me ...