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a_reader_obsessed's review against another edition
4.0
4 Series Finale Stars
I’ve been waiting for over 5 long years for this last chapter in Will and Taylor’s saga, and though a reread would’ve served me well, who has the time for such? However, if you do have the fortitude and ambition to do so, I highly recommend it because often, my cobwebbed filled old brain just couldn't remember the finer details of the previous books and those could’ve, might’ve been helpful. By not doing so, I’m guessing my beer goggles allowed me to let some things slide…
Regardless, what my feeble brain didn’t forget was how much I love Will and Taylor. I think they’ll always hold a special place in my heart because they were one of the first MM’s I had ever indulged in and that sort of thing sticks with you, you know?
Overall, this was a fitting end for these two as they laid to rest old hurts and troublesome chronic issues (mainly in the form of annoying exes that just don’t know when to fucking quit) all the while going through a lot of internal and external turmoil. Never mind the lack of communication these two knuckleheads regularly participate in, but it’s hard to complain about badass ex federal agents who make the most fantastic duo because they know each other so well in and out of the bedroom!
Strong as ever are the feels that Will and Taylor have for each other, and that’s what I like most about them. I just simply basked in and appreciated all the painful and happy emotions as they navigated their complicated, busy, and definitely, dangerous lives.
It took fucking forever for this long awaited “epilogue” (*still grumbling*), but despite its imperfections, it still brought a contented smile to my face and to my heart!
I’ve been waiting for over 5 long years for this last chapter in Will and Taylor’s saga, and though a reread would’ve served me well, who has the time for such? However, if you do have the fortitude and ambition to do so, I highly recommend it because often, my cobwebbed filled old brain just couldn't remember the finer details of the previous books and those could’ve, might’ve been helpful. By not doing so, I’m guessing my beer goggles allowed me to let some things slide…
Regardless, what my feeble brain didn’t forget was how much I love Will and Taylor. I think they’ll always hold a special place in my heart because they were one of the first MM’s I had ever indulged in and that sort of thing sticks with you, you know?
Overall, this was a fitting end for these two as they laid to rest old hurts and troublesome chronic issues (mainly in the form of annoying exes that just don’t know when to fucking quit) all the while going through a lot of internal and external turmoil. Never mind the lack of communication these two knuckleheads regularly participate in, but it’s hard to complain about badass ex federal agents who make the most fantastic duo because they know each other so well in and out of the bedroom!
Strong as ever are the feels that Will and Taylor have for each other, and that’s what I like most about them. I just simply basked in and appreciated all the painful and happy emotions as they navigated their complicated, busy, and definitely, dangerous lives.
It took fucking forever for this long awaited “epilogue” (*still grumbling*), but despite its imperfections, it still brought a contented smile to my face and to my heart!
jrv45's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
suze_1624's review against another edition
4.0
Somewhere 3.5/4* for me.
It has been a while since I read any of Will and Taylor’s previous exploits but they were always action filled.
Not so much in this one - more discord than anything, as the guys go to separate investigations. Will to the new company they are providing security advice for and Taylor to help an old friend.
And old friends for both muddy the waters.
Once the Ashe issue is resolved, we do seem to go down hill very fast into dark relationship territory but then at the end, a massive turnround!!!
It has been a while since I read any of Will and Taylor’s previous exploits but they were always action filled.
Not so much in this one - more discord than anything, as the guys go to separate investigations. Will to the new company they are providing security advice for and Taylor to help an old friend.
And old friends for both muddy the waters.
Once the Ashe issue is resolved, we do seem to go down hill very fast into dark relationship territory but then at the end, a massive turnround!!!
mwana's review against another edition
4.0
Before you read this, to catch you up on a few events, you should probably read [b:Blood Heat|9500620|Blood Heat (Dangerous Ground, #3)|Josh Lanyon|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1286912288l/9500620._SY75_.jpg|14386186] and [b:Kick Start|17412594|Kick Start (Dangerous Ground, #5)|Josh Lanyon|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1361737213l/17412594._SY75_.jpg|24257821], the third and fifth books in the series. You should probably also read [b:Dead Run|12133974|Dead Run (Dangerous Ground, #4)|Josh Lanyon|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1314581996l/12133974._SX50_.jpg|17103768] because it is my favorite in the entire series.
Fans have been waiting for years for the conclusion of the wily misadventures of Will and Taylor.
I have no idea whether I’m glad or sad the series is over and while my ambivalence over Will and Taylor is subject to doubt, Lanyon’s writing certainly isn’t. The staccato lyricism of her prose still keeps her firmly in the favourites aisle.
The novella picks up where Kick Start left off. Will and Taylor are now faux-engaged and running a security agency-- and already they feel in way over their heads. When Taylor’s college ex, Ashe Dekker, shows up asking them for assistance in trying to keep him alive, the situation is even more out there. Will is worried that Taylor bullishly offering to help pro bono is going to spread them thinner than faded muslin. But as Will so eloquently put it, there is no good time for bad things to happen. Will felt that it was up to him to reel Taylor in with this case but things between them are rocky at best. I almost wished this wasn’t mm and was more mystery fiction with gay protagonists so that their angst could be dragged out further and I couldn’t be guaranteed a HEA. Rather, I could be pleasantly surprised by it.
Regardless, Will knew that Taylor was taking it too far. Taylor wouldn’t recognize he was out of his depth if the fucking ocean closed over his head. Fortunately, that's what a loving partner is for- to help withstand the tidal pressure that come from whatever is out to get them.
The action/mystery in this wasn’t as fleshed out as the earlier books but that is something to expect from Lanyon these days. We also get a rushed through climax which is cut short then revisited with flashbacks. But considering the seminal shooting that was the catalyst for Will and Taylor's romance in the first book happened off page and was also revisited through flashbacks, I’m going to accept that it was characteristic of this series.
The thing is however, with Will and Taylor, having gotten a neatly wrapped HEA I feel like their story isn’t over. Lanyon called them ‘episodic’ and they do have the props for such stories. I only wish the author would consider giving them short story episodes as Sherlock and Watson had. That is definitely wishful thinking on my part but hey, a girl can dream, right?
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this copy in exchange for an honest review
Fans have been waiting for years for the conclusion of the wily misadventures of Will and Taylor.
I have no idea whether I’m glad or sad the series is over and while my ambivalence over Will and Taylor is subject to doubt, Lanyon’s writing certainly isn’t. The staccato lyricism of her prose still keeps her firmly in the favourites aisle.
The novella picks up where Kick Start left off. Will and Taylor are now faux-engaged and running a security agency-- and already they feel in way over their heads. When Taylor’s college ex, Ashe Dekker, shows up asking them for assistance in trying to keep him alive, the situation is even more out there. Will is worried that Taylor bullishly offering to help pro bono is going to spread them thinner than faded muslin. But as Will so eloquently put it, there is no good time for bad things to happen. Will felt that it was up to him to reel Taylor in with this case but things between them are rocky at best. I almost wished this wasn’t mm and was more mystery fiction with gay protagonists so that their angst could be dragged out further and I couldn’t be guaranteed a HEA. Rather, I could be pleasantly surprised by it.
Regardless, Will knew that Taylor was taking it too far. Taylor wouldn’t recognize he was out of his depth if the fucking ocean closed over his head. Fortunately, that's what a loving partner is for- to help withstand the tidal pressure that come from whatever is out to get them.
The action/mystery in this wasn’t as fleshed out as the earlier books but that is something to expect from Lanyon these days. We also get a rushed through climax which is cut short then revisited with flashbacks. But considering the seminal shooting that was the catalyst for Will and Taylor's romance in the first book happened off page and was also revisited through flashbacks, I’m going to accept that it was characteristic of this series.
The thing is however, with Will and Taylor, having gotten a neatly wrapped HEA I feel like their story isn’t over. Lanyon called them ‘episodic’ and they do have the props for such stories. I only wish the author would consider giving them short story episodes as Sherlock and Watson had. That is definitely wishful thinking on my part but hey, a girl can dream, right?
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this copy in exchange for an honest review
pam_h's review against another edition
4.0
I just realized I never finished reviewing this series...grrrrr. Three weeks and 13 books later is way too much for my memory, but I will say I did not have the problems with this finale that a lot of readers did. But I can also see why it would have been a disappointment after waiting SIX YEARS!!! What an interesting writer you are, Josh Lanyon.
I actually considered stopping after Book 5 since there were such mixed reviews on this one, but the guys didn't quite feel settled enough for me to be fully satisfied. And this one did the work of getting them there in my mind, so I was happy with it.
I do think she made some odd choices all things considered, but I really don't know how much of that would have even registered if I weren't such a prolific review reader. The stakes felt the same as the rest of the series, and something was going to have to come to a head with the new business one way or another.
The whole reason I liked this series so much was how real their complex personal dynamic feels to me, regardless of all the shenanigans that may be going on around them, and JL impresses me so much as an author because of how much of that dynamic is in the undercurrents of their interactions without being spelled out moment by moment. Which I'm sure means we all have our own spin on them based on our own experiences, and mine meant I really needed this half-baked business they both quit their jobs for, with what turned out to be a major imbalance of power in such a life-altering decision, to have a serious impact on their lives and their relationship. That is not something that just works itself out. (As much as I loved Book 5, and I really, really did.)
I think that's why the book felt like a disaster to some, while to me the disaster of it just felt like the natural result of this ridiculous situation they found themselves in. Chaos breeds chaos, you reap what you sow, etc., etc.
So yes, they lost the plot of their lives a bit, but I guess it felt like if they could come through the other side of that wack-ness and pull it back together, they can officially make it through anything. And I hadn't been quite convinced they could before this point.
And my interpretation is that Taylor hadn't been convinced either, which can lead to ... extreme or unusual behaviors, let's say -- lashing out, self-destructive, pushing boundaries on a subconscious level to get your answer one way or the other. And I think this particular ex, whose, was the one person who could trigger such a strange, subconscious spiral.
Ok, maybe I *do* remember some details after all! I really did love this series, finale and all
I actually considered stopping after Book 5 since there were such mixed reviews on this one, but the guys didn't quite feel settled enough for me to be fully satisfied. And this one did the work of getting them there in my mind, so I was happy with it.
I do think she made some odd choices all things considered, but I really don't know how much of that would have even registered if I weren't such a prolific review reader. The stakes felt the same as the rest of the series, and something was going to have to come to a head with the new business one way or another.
The whole reason I liked this series so much was how real their complex personal dynamic feels to me, regardless of all the shenanigans that may be going on around them, and JL impresses me so much as an author because of how much of that dynamic is in the undercurrents of their interactions without being spelled out moment by moment. Which I'm sure means we all have our own spin on them based on our own experiences, and mine meant I really needed this half-baked business they both quit their jobs for, with what turned out to be a major imbalance of power in such a life-altering decision, to have a serious impact on their lives and their relationship. That is not something that just works itself out. (As much as I loved Book 5, and I really, really did.)
I think that's why the book felt like a disaster to some, while to me the disaster of it just felt like the natural result of this ridiculous situation they found themselves in. Chaos breeds chaos, you reap what you sow, etc., etc.
So yes, they lost the plot of their lives a bit, but I guess it felt like if they could come through the other side of that wack-ness and pull it back together, they can officially make it through anything. And I hadn't been quite convinced they could before this point.
And my interpretation is that Taylor hadn't been convinced either, which can lead to ... extreme or unusual behaviors, let's say -- lashing out, self-destructive, pushing boundaries on a subconscious level to get your answer one way or the other. And I think this particular ex, whose
Spoiler
heart he'd broken in the way he's always known Will could break hisOk, maybe I *do* remember some details after all! I really did love this series, finale and all