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cadiva's review
4.0
Well that didn't go where I'd expected it to but it was still an utterly thrilling ride.
A complex plot brings misfit Tobias into the orbit of PI Sullivan and the narrative took off with a bang.
I must commend the author here for the clever way this book incorporated the mystery and suspense elements from book one but in such a radically different direction, I don't think anyone would have guessed it.
I also think she did an incredible job in showing just why Tobias was so willing to submit and why he needed to be used in the way Sullivan wanted him.
This type of kink isn't even remotely in my wheelhouse but I understood totally Tobias' absolute desire for the pain and the complete trust he gave over when doing so.
Sullivan took a while to let his feelings slip through his rigid control, but once they did, his personality made so much sense.
And enigmatic Ghost is even more mysterious here than in book one and I honestly have no clue how this plot line is going to be wrapped up in his book but I can't wait to find out.
A complex plot brings misfit Tobias into the orbit of PI Sullivan and the narrative took off with a bang.
I must commend the author here for the clever way this book incorporated the mystery and suspense elements from book one but in such a radically different direction, I don't think anyone would have guessed it.
I also think she did an incredible job in showing just why Tobias was so willing to submit and why he needed to be used in the way Sullivan wanted him.
This type of kink isn't even remotely in my wheelhouse but I understood totally Tobias' absolute desire for the pain and the complete trust he gave over when doing so.
Sullivan took a while to let his feelings slip through his rigid control, but once they did, his personality made so much sense.
And enigmatic Ghost is even more mysterious here than in book one and I honestly have no clue how this plot line is going to be wrapped up in his book but I can't wait to find out.
golem's review
4.5
Well-written, well-plotted suspense + (very hot) queer BDSM romance. Not a queer author but she knows her kink, or at least has researched it really, really well. Contains major spoilers for the (weaker) first book, so you might as well read that one first.
(But also--let's permanently kill the trope of "If [competent woman #1 and competent woman #2] got together, they could take over the world!" No. This is not feminist.)
(But also--let's permanently kill the trope of "If [competent woman #1 and competent woman #2] got together, they could take over the world!" No. This is not feminist.)
mj_'s review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Slow start; glad didn't stop reading
terriaminute's review
5.0
Wow. Typically the middle book in a trilogy is the weaker one, but that is not so for Hard Line.
Church's story was intense and harrowing. But Tobias's, while no less complex while furthering the plot, has a core of intrinsic good that left me deeply happy for him and Sullivan. If you had trouble enduring with Church, Tobias is a balm.
I am hungry for book 3, wildly curious about what happens for Ghost.
Church's story was intense and harrowing. But Tobias's, while no less complex while furthering the plot, has a core of intrinsic good that left me deeply happy for him and Sullivan. If you had trouble enduring with Church, Tobias is a balm.
I am hungry for book 3, wildly curious about what happens for Ghost.
amyaislin's review
5.0
Loved this book. Sullivan and Tobias were so complimentary. I won't speak to the BDSM angle of this story--I don't know enough about it to tell if the way it was done in this novel was right or wrong. But it seemed to work well for Sullivan and Tobias's relationship.
I wasn't a fan of the blackmail aspect of this book, but Tobias's characterization is so well done that you can't help being on his side even though he's blackmailing someone. I liked how smart Sullivan was, I liked how Tobias wasn't so stubborn that he couldn't admit his mistakes. Everything just worked so well in this book, from the various plot threads to the 3-dimensional characters to the BDSM to the secondary cast of characters. It all came together so smoothly and fluidly.
Great writing, and highly recommended.
I wasn't a fan of the blackmail aspect of this book, but Tobias's characterization is so well done that you can't help being on his side even though he's blackmailing someone. I liked how smart Sullivan was, I liked how Tobias wasn't so stubborn that he couldn't admit his mistakes. Everything just worked so well in this book, from the various plot threads to the 3-dimensional characters to the BDSM to the secondary cast of characters. It all came together so smoothly and fluidly.
Great writing, and highly recommended.
zaung's review
4.0
I cannot express how much I love a good mystery with a romance. And this one comes with a dash of thriller too.
I read this without realising it was a second book, so for all of 3 chapters I was a bit WTF, but once I got my head around it, I was picking up all the cards it was laying down.
The characters are fun, the sex was hot, and the plot was an enjoyable ride.
I read this without realising it was a second book, so for all of 3 chapters I was a bit WTF, but once I got my head around it, I was picking up all the cards it was laying down.
The characters are fun, the sex was hot, and the plot was an enjoyable ride.
melonreads's review
4.0
This was a very tightly plotted book, that's for sure. Sidney Bell has now written 3 books and I have to say that she's very very good at building suspense and her intricate plots are always well planned out. I liked Tobias and I liked Sullivan. I really enjoyed the bantering. I LOVED the Russian mob suspense element. I wish that there had been more tension or angst between Tobias and Sullivan - they got together, had some hot, dirty sex with a side order of BDSM and they confessed their love for each other and I just felt like the relationship aspect was missing something. But overall, she continues to be a must read author for me.
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