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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
it was a bit confusing how many characters were in this book
i liked nick and kelly’s couple, to see a bit more of ty and nick’s friendship and of course ty and zane’s love
the mystery was okay but nothing out of this world i guess
i liked nick and kelly’s couple, to see a bit more of ty and nick’s friendship and of course ty and zane’s love
the mystery was okay but nothing out of this world i guess
Did I enjoy this book? Maybe more than I should’ve. Do I think it’s a good book for the Cut & Run series? Hell, no.
One thing to know about me - I ADORE side ships/secondary romances. This is probably why I actually didn’t hate this book as much as I thought I would. I even really liked the character focused scenes. My brain needs reassurance so it’s hard for me to read a book before spoiling myself some (which i usually quickly regret), and the reviews mostly seemed to agree that this book was a mess.
And LMFAO yes it is. Deuce, Ty’s brother, is getting married in Scotland, on his rich fiancée’s ancestral home on a private island. Only close friends and family are invited one week before the ceremony to spend some time together. Then murders happen and communications are closed off, and it’s up to Ty, Zane, Nick & Kelly to figure out what’s going on. I loved the Agatha Christie vibes, but from experience I knew the mystery was going to let me down. And it did. The whole thing was messy and convoluted, the culprits were so random and made no sense. The resolution and « plot twist » utterly disappointing and rushed.
Now, the characters. I do love my romances and side ships, but here, Ty and Zane felt like secondary characters to their own series. Nick was without a doubt the heart of this story. And nothing wrong with that in theory, I like him as a character. But for fuck’s sake, he and Kelly have their own series, why hijack Cut & Run and attempt to steal the show (impossible when the lead is motherfucking Ty Grady, loml) when all of this could’ve been explored in his own books? I wouldn’t have minded to see some of him and Kelly here, I think they’re cute and I especially find Kelly hilarious, despite him not playing any important role here compared to the other 3. But the balance in this book was just off.
Loved Ty and Zane as always, and I loved the whole thing where Ty proposed to Zane multiple times and Zane saying no (so brave of him to say no to mister Ty Grady, I know). I understood where Zane came from and I loved them together. And speaking of proposing, I looked up reading order guides to know when to read what book on the combined Cut & Run / Sidewinder series to make sure I had it right and it was even more confusing. Kelly and Nick felt too new to have been so serious and when their emotional scene where Nick proposed and Kelly said yes happened right before Ty’s perfect proposal, I wasn’t so much as pissed as just… confused. That’s sure is a choice. Why have them do it in this book when they have. Their own. Series. One thing I love about Ty and Zane is how it took BOOKS for us to see their relationship grow into what it is, and I know Nick and Kelly have been friends for years before starting dating, but it’s all going so quick I can’t enjoy it. I saw a reviewer say it feels like the author lost interest in Ty and Zane since they’ve found their new favourite in Nick and Kelly and I do have to agree. It makes me fucking sad because I love my babies sm I got ATTACHED OKAY.
Anyway, this is without mentioning the repeated words and similar phrases throughout the book, the convoluted explanations and nonsensical plotholes : people mentioned the whole Nick being unofficially adopted by the Gradys but him not being even invited to Deuce’s wedding in the first place, why was Dick here, Ty coming back « changed » but the whole 4 of them spent the book joking around so huh what… nothing made sense, lots of the events and elements felt forced and again - the reveal that everything had to do with the Cartel was just boring and so out of left field.
Anyway, another day another disappointment but I still love love love Ty Grady, I love him and Zane and I wish they got more from this book. I still like Nick and Kelly, but I would have loved them more if their story could’ve been told in their own series instead of taking so much space here. I am a loyal bitch, resentment is in my DNA, lol. I am so close to the end so I will finish this goddamn series if it kills me, but it makes me sad to see characters I love (even if the series itself I haven’t been enjoying that much lol) get such treatment and being purposefully left to the sideline of their own books.
One thing to know about me - I ADORE side ships/secondary romances. This is probably why I actually didn’t hate this book as much as I thought I would. I even really liked the character focused scenes. My brain needs reassurance so it’s hard for me to read a book before spoiling myself some (which i usually quickly regret), and the reviews mostly seemed to agree that this book was a mess.
And LMFAO yes it is. Deuce, Ty’s brother, is getting married in Scotland, on his rich fiancée’s ancestral home on a private island. Only close friends and family are invited one week before the ceremony to spend some time together. Then murders happen and communications are closed off, and it’s up to Ty, Zane, Nick & Kelly to figure out what’s going on. I loved the Agatha Christie vibes, but from experience I knew the mystery was going to let me down. And it did. The whole thing was messy and convoluted, the culprits were so random and made no sense. The resolution and « plot twist » utterly disappointing and rushed.
Now, the characters. I do love my romances and side ships, but here, Ty and Zane felt like secondary characters to their own series. Nick was without a doubt the heart of this story. And nothing wrong with that in theory, I like him as a character. But for fuck’s sake, he and Kelly have their own series, why hijack Cut & Run and attempt to steal the show (impossible when the lead is motherfucking Ty Grady, loml) when all of this could’ve been explored in his own books? I wouldn’t have minded to see some of him and Kelly here, I think they’re cute and I especially find Kelly hilarious, despite him not playing any important role here compared to the other 3. But the balance in this book was just off.
Loved Ty and Zane as always, and I loved the whole thing where Ty proposed to Zane multiple times and Zane saying no (so brave of him to say no to mister Ty Grady, I know). I understood where Zane came from and I loved them together. And speaking of proposing, I looked up reading order guides to know when to read what book on the combined Cut & Run / Sidewinder series to make sure I had it right and it was even more confusing. Kelly and Nick felt too new to have been so serious and when their emotional scene where Nick proposed and Kelly said yes happened right before Ty’s perfect proposal, I wasn’t so much as pissed as just… confused. That’s sure is a choice. Why have them do it in this book when they have. Their own. Series. One thing I love about Ty and Zane is how it took BOOKS for us to see their relationship grow into what it is, and I know Nick and Kelly have been friends for years before starting dating, but it’s all going so quick I can’t enjoy it. I saw a reviewer say it feels like the author lost interest in Ty and Zane since they’ve found their new favourite in Nick and Kelly and I do have to agree. It makes me fucking sad because I love my babies sm I got ATTACHED OKAY.
Anyway, this is without mentioning the repeated words and similar phrases throughout the book, the convoluted explanations and nonsensical plotholes : people mentioned the whole Nick being unofficially adopted by the Gradys but him not being even invited to Deuce’s wedding in the first place, why was Dick here, Ty coming back « changed » but the whole 4 of them spent the book joking around so huh what… nothing made sense, lots of the events and elements felt forced and again - the reveal that everything had to do with the Cartel was just boring and so out of left field.
Anyway, another day another disappointment but I still love love love Ty Grady, I love him and Zane and I wish they got more from this book. I still like Nick and Kelly, but I would have loved them more if their story could’ve been told in their own series instead of taking so much space here. I am a loyal bitch, resentment is in my DNA, lol. I am so close to the end so I will finish this goddamn series if it kills me, but it makes me sad to see characters I love (even if the series itself I haven’t been enjoying that much lol) get such treatment and being purposefully left to the sideline of their own books.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Avevo letto questo libro in inglese l’anno scorso, ma devo ammettere che è uno di quei casi in cui sono riuscita ad apprezzarlo meglio ad una seconda lettura ed è certamente merito di un’ottima traduzione italiana, che ha reso onore al talento dell’autrice.
Per amor di pignoleria, ho notato anche delle cose sfuggite all’editing (alcune lettere mancanti nelle parole, ‘nessun’altro’ ripetuto nel testo e Alana che diventa brevemente Anna), ma posso assicurare che il libro rimane ugualmente godibile.
In questa saga, Abigail ci ha abituati all’azione, all’adrenalina, ai colpi di scena inaspettati e qui abbiamo tutti questi elementi, racchiusi in una cornice scozzese dalle tinte macabre e inquietanti.
Nelle prime righe, ritroviamo i nostri eroi sei mesi dopo la chiusura del precedente libro. I Sidewinder hanno portato a termine il loro ultimo ingaggio, mentre Zane e Kelly (che ha superato la lunga convalescenza dopo la sparatoria di New Orleans) sono pronti a riabbracciarli. Ma ritornare alla quotidianità non è semplice per nessuno di loro, anche perché ci sono importanti decisioni – da prendere e da subire – che riguardano Ty e Zane da vicino.
Quando Deuce chiede al fratello di essere il suo testimone di nozze, Tyler non esita un istante e parte con Zane alla volta della selvaggia Scozia, con destinazione una piccola isola privata, dispersa nell’oceano. Anche Nick e Kelly li seguono, poiché la ricca famiglia della futura sposa ha ricevuto preoccupanti minacce e Deuce vorrebbe accanto persone qualificate e di cui si fida, anche se spera che sia solo un’inutile precauzione.
Purtroppo per lui, come direbbe don Abbondio: “Questo matrimonio non s’ha da fare”, perché i preparativi sono macchiati da una serie di omicidi e da macabri ritrovamenti, la trama si infittisce di sensazioni lugubri, angoscia e tensioni emotive e psicologiche, mentre il passato e il presente si mescolano e antichi livori riaffiorano. Il confronto tra Ty e Nick è necessario, si rivela interessante e arricchisce sicuramente i personaggi. Anche Kelly ha parecchio spazio in questa storia e mi è piaciuto molto il suo rapporto con Nick. A chi non l’ha ancora fatto, suggerisco di leggere il primo spin-off di questa serie, ‘Conseguenze inaspettate’, così da avere un quadro più completo su questa coppia.
Ma, ritornando a questo libro, posso assicurare che azione e introspezione sono ben mescolate, la parte poliziesca – in una dimora spettrale, fra alcove, segreti e possibili traditori – e quella sentimentale si alternano sapientemente, tenendo il lettore col fiato sospeso, ma sapendolo anche coccolare con un sacco di amore, con scene sensuali davvero hot e al contempo dolcissime, senza dimenticare ironia e toni quasi comici, che bilanciano le parti drammatiche.
Anche se ci sono diversi sconvolgimenti emotivi, per una volta non è l’amore di Ty e Zane ad essere messo in discussione, anzi. I nostri eroi avranno modo di crescere insieme ancora di più e il finale del libro, ne sono certa, vi farà battere il cuore un po’ più veloce.
Cosa aspettate ancora? Correte a leggerlo!
Per amor di pignoleria, ho notato anche delle cose sfuggite all’editing (alcune lettere mancanti nelle parole, ‘nessun’altro’ ripetuto nel testo e Alana che diventa brevemente Anna), ma posso assicurare che il libro rimane ugualmente godibile.
In questa saga, Abigail ci ha abituati all’azione, all’adrenalina, ai colpi di scena inaspettati e qui abbiamo tutti questi elementi, racchiusi in una cornice scozzese dalle tinte macabre e inquietanti.
Nelle prime righe, ritroviamo i nostri eroi sei mesi dopo la chiusura del precedente libro. I Sidewinder hanno portato a termine il loro ultimo ingaggio, mentre Zane e Kelly (che ha superato la lunga convalescenza dopo la sparatoria di New Orleans) sono pronti a riabbracciarli. Ma ritornare alla quotidianità non è semplice per nessuno di loro, anche perché ci sono importanti decisioni – da prendere e da subire – che riguardano Ty e Zane da vicino.
Quando Deuce chiede al fratello di essere il suo testimone di nozze, Tyler non esita un istante e parte con Zane alla volta della selvaggia Scozia, con destinazione una piccola isola privata, dispersa nell’oceano. Anche Nick e Kelly li seguono, poiché la ricca famiglia della futura sposa ha ricevuto preoccupanti minacce e Deuce vorrebbe accanto persone qualificate e di cui si fida, anche se spera che sia solo un’inutile precauzione.
Purtroppo per lui, come direbbe don Abbondio: “Questo matrimonio non s’ha da fare”, perché i preparativi sono macchiati da una serie di omicidi e da macabri ritrovamenti, la trama si infittisce di sensazioni lugubri, angoscia e tensioni emotive e psicologiche, mentre il passato e il presente si mescolano e antichi livori riaffiorano. Il confronto tra Ty e Nick è necessario, si rivela interessante e arricchisce sicuramente i personaggi. Anche Kelly ha parecchio spazio in questa storia e mi è piaciuto molto il suo rapporto con Nick. A chi non l’ha ancora fatto, suggerisco di leggere il primo spin-off di questa serie, ‘Conseguenze inaspettate’, così da avere un quadro più completo su questa coppia.
Ma, ritornando a questo libro, posso assicurare che azione e introspezione sono ben mescolate, la parte poliziesca – in una dimora spettrale, fra alcove, segreti e possibili traditori – e quella sentimentale si alternano sapientemente, tenendo il lettore col fiato sospeso, ma sapendolo anche coccolare con un sacco di amore, con scene sensuali davvero hot e al contempo dolcissime, senza dimenticare ironia e toni quasi comici, che bilanciano le parti drammatiche.
Anche se ci sono diversi sconvolgimenti emotivi, per una volta non è l’amore di Ty e Zane ad essere messo in discussione, anzi. I nostri eroi avranno modo di crescere insieme ancora di più e il finale del libro, ne sono certa, vi farà battere il cuore un po’ più veloce.
Cosa aspettate ancora? Correte a leggerlo!
"Ball & Chain" is the eighth book in the "Cut & Run" series and after all the heartbreaking drama and action in "Touch & Geaux", this installment was supposed to be bring back a smile to my face. I wanted FBI Special Agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett to go back to their snarky but sweet back-and-forth, and while there is some of that in this book, I was...wait for it...slightly disappointed with "Ball & Chain". *pause for shocked silence* Don't get me wrong; I still enjoyed the book as a whole but I wanted it to be about Ty and Zane, not Ty and Zane plus Nick O'Flaherty and Kelly Abbott. I mean, come on, that's what the "Sidewinder" series is for! >.<
After Ty and the rest of the Sidewinder team, minus Kelly, return from their six-month deployment, they're noticeably battle weary but it's obvious that returning to duty as Marines took its toll most on best friends Ty and Nick. Add to that Ty needing to make a life changing decision when he returns to the office and the poor guy is off-kilter. They aren't any closer to figuring who the mole in the office is and who's been handing over information to Zane's enemies and now he has to adjust to life back on home soil.
A phone call from his brother Deacon, aka Deuce, asking Ty to be best man at his wedding in Scotland and Zane to be a groomsman and including a member of Sidewinder because of threats being made to his soon-to-be father-in-law's business gets Ty's attention and, naturally, he calls best bud Nick, who, in turn, brings Kelly as his plus one. Once they get to the island that Deuce's father-in-law owns, things start to go awry and bodies start piling up around them. Stuck with no form of escape or calling for help, the four guys try to figure out what's going on before more people die.
There is one particular murder that was quite sad, mostly because of who the victim was and his connection to one of the guys. The thing was, the enormity of what happened was glossed over and not really given the significance it should have received. Maybe that's just me but I would have preferred less of the Nick and Kelly interactions if it meant this specific murder was treated as the event it was rather than just one among the others.
Ty and Nick have had their issues in the past and it seems that Nick has been keeping his true feelings of how he views his friendship with Ty buried deep...until he gets to Scotland. Even the death of their Sidewinder teammate, Eli Sanchez, who was killed in the first book, is mentioned, meaning that Nick's been pissed for a while now. While Ty and Nick do have their moments here (not THOSE kinds of moments, people...get your minds out of the gutter), when I read "Cross & Crown", the second book in the "Sidewinder" series, I was once again confused about the state of their friendship...but I'll save that for my next review. ^.^
There's also the return of Liam Bell. Is this guy good or bad? What he does in the book is also weird because it doesn't even come into play in the second Sidewinder book. So, I couldn't help but wonder why the heck he was even included in this "Cut & Run" book since he was already featured in the previous installment and his ties to Ty and Zane were no longer of much significance. Again, I say, it should have been saved for a Sidewinder book!
As I mentioned earlier, my biggest issue with this installment had to do with Ty and Zane sharing the attention with Nick and Kelly. Yes, Nick and Kelly may have been essential to the story but I don't think they had to have equal billing here because that's what it felt like to me. This is a "Cut & Run" book, not a "Sidewinder" book, so I was a bit peeved by Nick and Kelly stealing the spotlight from the actual lead characters. Naturally, there's nothing much I can do but bitch and moan about it but I just felt as if Ty and Zane were already being slowly pushed aside since the series is ending in favor of Nick and Kelly. *sniffle, sniffle*
The positives? 1. Figuring out what the heck was going on and then finding out just how determined the mastermind of the whole plan was to make the person he was after suffer. 2. Nick's family drama...but I still wish that had been saved for a "Sidewinder" book instead of it being brought to light here. 3. Ty and Zane, Ty's persistence (you'll get what I mean when you read the book), and Ty's grand gesture at the end of the book. It was just...perfect and so Ty and Zane. ♥
So, now we get to the rating... I was torn deciding what to finally give it. I LOVE this series and, based on my past reviews, you know that I've been giving each book (and ficlet), at least five stars. My loyalty to Ty and Zane made me want to give this book the same rating or, at the very least, a 4.5, but I have to go with my personal feelings and stick with what the rating I feel it deserves. "Ball & Chain" gets four stars out of five...and that was more painful for me to put into words than you can imagine. >.<
After Ty and the rest of the Sidewinder team, minus Kelly, return from their six-month deployment, they're noticeably battle weary but it's obvious that returning to duty as Marines took its toll most on best friends Ty and Nick. Add to that Ty needing to make a life changing decision when he returns to the office and the poor guy is off-kilter. They aren't any closer to figuring who the mole in the office is and who's been handing over information to Zane's enemies and now he has to adjust to life back on home soil.
A phone call from his brother Deacon, aka Deuce, asking Ty to be best man at his wedding in Scotland and Zane to be a groomsman and including a member of Sidewinder because of threats being made to his soon-to-be father-in-law's business gets Ty's attention and, naturally, he calls best bud Nick, who, in turn, brings Kelly as his plus one. Once they get to the island that Deuce's father-in-law owns, things start to go awry and bodies start piling up around them. Stuck with no form of escape or calling for help, the four guys try to figure out what's going on before more people die.
There is one particular murder that was quite sad, mostly because of who the victim was and his connection to one of the guys. The thing was, the enormity of what happened was glossed over and not really given the significance it should have received. Maybe that's just me but I would have preferred less of the Nick and Kelly interactions if it meant this specific murder was treated as the event it was rather than just one among the others.
Ty and Nick have had their issues in the past and it seems that Nick has been keeping his true feelings of how he views his friendship with Ty buried deep...until he gets to Scotland. Even the death of their Sidewinder teammate, Eli Sanchez, who was killed in the first book, is mentioned, meaning that Nick's been pissed for a while now. While Ty and Nick do have their moments here (not THOSE kinds of moments, people...get your minds out of the gutter), when I read "Cross & Crown", the second book in the "Sidewinder" series, I was once again confused about the state of their friendship...but I'll save that for my next review. ^.^
There's also the return of Liam Bell. Is this guy good or bad? What he does in the book is also weird because it doesn't even come into play in the second Sidewinder book. So, I couldn't help but wonder why the heck he was even included in this "Cut & Run" book since he was already featured in the previous installment and his ties to Ty and Zane were no longer of much significance. Again, I say, it should have been saved for a Sidewinder book!
As I mentioned earlier, my biggest issue with this installment had to do with Ty and Zane sharing the attention with Nick and Kelly. Yes, Nick and Kelly may have been essential to the story but I don't think they had to have equal billing here because that's what it felt like to me. This is a "Cut & Run" book, not a "Sidewinder" book, so I was a bit peeved by Nick and Kelly stealing the spotlight from the actual lead characters. Naturally, there's nothing much I can do but bitch and moan about it but I just felt as if Ty and Zane were already being slowly pushed aside since the series is ending in favor of Nick and Kelly. *sniffle, sniffle*
The positives? 1. Figuring out what the heck was going on and then finding out just how determined the mastermind of the whole plan was to make the person he was after suffer. 2. Nick's family drama...but I still wish that had been saved for a "Sidewinder" book instead of it being brought to light here. 3. Ty and Zane, Ty's persistence (you'll get what I mean when you read the book), and Ty's grand gesture at the end of the book. It was just...perfect and so Ty and Zane. ♥
So, now we get to the rating... I was torn deciding what to finally give it. I LOVE this series and, based on my past reviews, you know that I've been giving each book (and ficlet), at least five stars. My loyalty to Ty and Zane made me want to give this book the same rating or, at the very least, a 4.5, but I have to go with my personal feelings and stick with what the rating I feel it deserves. "Ball & Chain" gets four stars out of five...and that was more painful for me to put into words than you can imagine. >.<
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Sidewinders never say die.
Like an adult version of the Goonies, with gay romance, Scottish castles, hidden tunnels, and bad puns. Oohrah, I do, and everyone's favorite shovel weilding grandpa make this an amazing must-read.
Like an adult version of the Goonies, with gay romance, Scottish castles, hidden tunnels, and bad puns. Oohrah, I do, and everyone's favorite shovel weilding grandpa make this an amazing must-read.
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes