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stemtherapy's review against another edition
4.0
This was good. Good tension, interesting story and Ty/Zane relationship just keeps getting better and better. I do love the Sidewinder gang as well (Nick/Kelly), I just had to pretend I did not read Shock and Awe. Towards the middle of the story line, the list of characters and suspects expanded dramatically and it was hard to keep everyone straight (who is who again?). But, the book ended with a satisfying and engaging mystery solved -- that was both surprising and with some kick ass awesome moments! Yes, some of this story was outlandish and highly improbable ... but so is much in the rest of this series. Still I love it ... and love these books. I will be sad when the series is over ... I don't want it to be over ...
christyduke_5117's review against another edition
5.0
It's almost insane how much I love the 'Cut & Run' series by Abigail Roux. I am madly, and I mean madly, in love with B. Tyler Grady and I can't seem to get enough of him. I adore Zane, too, don't get me wrong. Ty wouldn't work without Zane, and vice versa. But Ty holds my heart and he always will. I was terrified that 'Ball & Chain' was going to be the final book in the series, but the author has assured me that there is one more before she's finished. Whew.
It's been six months since Sidewinder was deployed and now they're finally back home. Zane and Ty are thrilled to be reunited but even better? Ty and the rest of the guys are done serving their country and are free men. Deuce calls Ty to ask him to be his best man and for Zane to be a groomsman at his wedding the following week (what?) in Scotland. Deuce also asks Ty to bring one of the guys and his date cause Deuce needs people he trusts to watch over his bride-to-be and their daughter. Hmmm, something hinky is going on. Of course Ty gets Nick to come along, and his date? Well, that'd be Kelly, of course. *grins* In an aside, I thought it was hysterical that Nick and Kelly hadn't told anyone that they're in a relationship, although Zane seemed bemused at times and a little curious. They were going to tell Ty on their way home from Scotland, but, well.....let's just say murder screwed that up. It's not healthy to go on vacation with Ty and Zane. It really isn't.
I noticed that the tone of this book was different from the previous ones and for a while I was afraid that would bother me. It turned out that it didn't. Several of the previous installments and especially the last one, 'Touch & Geaux', were packed full of intense drama and 'Ball & Chain' was a little more lighthearted than what I'm used to. I mean, granted, it wasn't completely all happy, happy, joy, joy, but it also didn't drag me under and instead, this book gave me a chance to see Ty and Zane when they were able to be out in public and there were very few personal issues going on with them. In typical fashion, the author did use this tale to get a few things said between Nick and Ty. Their friendship has been strained since the whole disaster that happened in New Orleans and it was time for them to clear the air.
Now, I've heard the grumblings going on from other fans of this series. People have said that this book really wasn't a 'Cut & Run' series book, but that, instead, the author simply wrote another book in her spinoff 'Sidewinder' series. I have to disagree. It made perfect sense for Ty to have brought Nick with them to Scotland since Ty trusts Nick, and Kelly, with the lives of his loved ones. I did not feel that any part of this book belonged more to Ty and Zane or to Nick and Kelly. Since there is only going to be one more book in this series, I felt that overlapping is appropriate and it's a way to end this series on the right note. That's all I'm going to say about that.
I loved it. I was worried that I was going to be able to figure out the whodunit, but, as usual, the author surprised me. I'm so very, very, very glad that there'll be one more book because I think Ty and Zane have a few more mysteries up their sleeves. Thank you, Abi!
NOTE: This book was provided by Riptide Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
It's been six months since Sidewinder was deployed and now they're finally back home. Zane and Ty are thrilled to be reunited but even better? Ty and the rest of the guys are done serving their country and are free men. Deuce calls Ty to ask him to be his best man and for Zane to be a groomsman at his wedding the following week (what?) in Scotland. Deuce also asks Ty to bring one of the guys and his date cause Deuce needs people he trusts to watch over his bride-to-be and their daughter. Hmmm, something hinky is going on. Of course Ty gets Nick to come along, and his date? Well, that'd be Kelly, of course. *grins* In an aside, I thought it was hysterical that Nick and Kelly hadn't told anyone that they're in a relationship, although Zane seemed bemused at times and a little curious. They were going to tell Ty on their way home from Scotland, but, well.....let's just say murder screwed that up. It's not healthy to go on vacation with Ty and Zane. It really isn't.
I noticed that the tone of this book was different from the previous ones and for a while I was afraid that would bother me. It turned out that it didn't. Several of the previous installments and especially the last one, 'Touch & Geaux', were packed full of intense drama and 'Ball & Chain' was a little more lighthearted than what I'm used to. I mean, granted, it wasn't completely all happy, happy, joy, joy, but it also didn't drag me under and instead, this book gave me a chance to see Ty and Zane when they were able to be out in public and there were very few personal issues going on with them. In typical fashion, the author did use this tale to get a few things said between Nick and Ty. Their friendship has been strained since the whole disaster that happened in New Orleans and it was time for them to clear the air.
Now, I've heard the grumblings going on from other fans of this series. People have said that this book really wasn't a 'Cut & Run' series book, but that, instead, the author simply wrote another book in her spinoff 'Sidewinder' series. I have to disagree. It made perfect sense for Ty to have brought Nick with them to Scotland since Ty trusts Nick, and Kelly, with the lives of his loved ones. I did not feel that any part of this book belonged more to Ty and Zane or to Nick and Kelly. Since there is only going to be one more book in this series, I felt that overlapping is appropriate and it's a way to end this series on the right note. That's all I'm going to say about that.
I loved it. I was worried that I was going to be able to figure out the whodunit, but, as usual, the author surprised me. I'm so very, very, very glad that there'll be one more book because I think Ty and Zane have a few more mysteries up their sleeves. Thank you, Abi!
NOTE: This book was provided by Riptide Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
january313reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
_mynameishappiness's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.25
red3horn's review against another edition
2.0
I can officially mark this as read and that's the most positive thing I can say.
Taking a year off before reading this again did help, I admit I wasn't as grumpy, but this is Ty & Zane and I was bored. The mystery started out decent but about half way through I started skimming to get to the "big deal" I already knew about.
Nick & Kelly didn't bug me as much this time 'round and I like that Ty figured out how to get his answer.
There were a few surprises at the end that will make the next book interesting.
At the end of it all; I had to read this. I owed it to one of my favorite couples who I fell so hard for in the first book and continued to adore... I mean, this IS TY & ZANE after all.
So... here is to finishing and hoping the next book unfuck's its shit and ends with the biggest HEA these two deserve
***** Original Review - 3/11/2014 *****
Putting Ty & Zane in a time out for now. I can't keep reading and feeling this way about my boys. My boys...what happened to one of my favorite couples EVER? Ugh. I am stopping at 41% and frankly I skimmed most of that.
I am sad.
I am beyond upset.
I am quite frankly pissed off right now.
Maybe I will come back to it when I feel like trying again, maybe I won't.
I agree Nick, "It's like a bad joke."
This sucks.
Taking a year off before reading this again did help, I admit I wasn't as grumpy, but this is Ty & Zane and I was bored. The mystery started out decent but about half way through I started skimming to get to the "big deal" I already knew about.
Nick & Kelly didn't bug me as much this time 'round and I like that Ty figured out how to get his answer.
There were a few surprises at the end that will make the next book interesting.
At the end of it all; I had to read this. I owed it to one of my favorite couples who I fell so hard for in the first book and continued to adore... I mean, this IS TY & ZANE after all.
So... here is to finishing and hoping the next book unfuck's its shit and ends with the biggest HEA these two deserve
***** Original Review - 3/11/2014 *****
Putting Ty & Zane in a time out for now. I can't keep reading and feeling this way about my boys. My boys...what happened to one of my favorite couples EVER? Ugh. I am stopping at 41% and frankly I skimmed most of that.
I am sad.
I am beyond upset.
I am quite frankly pissed off right now.
Maybe I will come back to it when I feel like trying again, maybe I won't.
I agree Nick, "It's like a bad joke."
This sucks.
otterinprogress's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this installment of the Cut & Run series! Ty and Zane remain my favorite m/m couple and I think the authors do a decent job of keeping the conversation fairly realistic and relatable considering the circumstances they put the characters in (murder, PTSD, relationships, etc.).
Looking forward to the next one!
Looking forward to the next one!
idamus's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars, my least favourite, not becacuse of Team Sidewinder, I like those guys too, but all the wedding stuff was rather off-putting, the twists and turns in the plot were great though.
notruse's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
tyler1413's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
janessaalexis's review against another edition
3.0
A few thoughts:
1. While I don't mind this new romance between these two newly important side characters, and while I agree the authors have been hinting that this romance was in the making (so it wasn't completely out of left field), it was still felt really strange reading about a couple that was nonexistent in the last SEVEN NOVELS, and yet somehow had such an important part in this novel. (Note: I understand that there's some kind of spin-off series that explains how this new couple came to be, but I find it really annoying and inconvenient that that information wasn't presented & detailed in THIS novel. I want to read about Ty & Zane, not this new couple. The least I could get was some background into their relationship if they were going to become such important characters in the series).
2. The 180 between Nick & Ty. Again, for the past SEVEN NOVELS, we're told that they are the best of friends, yet suddenly there is all this... tension between them, that's seemingly been brewing for the past several years?
3. A certain important side character dying... I mean, really? Did anyone else find that really random and almost completely unnecessary? Also, where was the closure? I mean, he's dead. He'd been around a lot in the past SEVEN NOVELS, but barely got a funeral in this one?
4. In general, I thought the plot was extremely convoluted, especially considering this series' track record. Why over-complicate the story when the previous SEVEN NOVELS had been relatively straightforward, engaging and fun?
5. Lastly, when comparing this novel to the past SEVEN NOVELS, more than being upset, I'm annoyed that this book exists. While the previous novels haven't been particularly earth-shattering or life-changing, they were consistently fun, engrossing reads. And with each addition to the series, there were always some improvements from one novel to the next. So I find it supremely annoying that this book was such a setback from the rest of the books! Didn't we have enough setbacks in the last one? Why are we recycling old ideas? If not for that last scene with Nick, and the tender moment between Zane & Ty, there really wouldn't have been anything redemable about the book. Frankly, halfway through, I wish I'd just given up and skipped to read the last few pages. It would have saved me a lot of time and a lot of headaches.
The only reason this book gets a three stars is because of how much I've enjoyed the past SEVEN NOVELS and those last few pages of the book which will no doubt lead into a (hopefully) great finale.
For now, though, I think I need to take a break. I'm still trying to process how far downhill this book has gone.
1. While I don't mind this new romance between these two newly important side characters, and while I agree the authors have been hinting that this romance was in the making (so it wasn't completely out of left field), it was still felt really strange reading about a couple that was nonexistent in the last SEVEN NOVELS, and yet somehow had such an important part in this novel. (Note: I understand that there's some kind of spin-off series that explains how this new couple came to be, but I find it really annoying and inconvenient that that information wasn't presented & detailed in THIS novel. I want to read about Ty & Zane, not this new couple. The least I could get was some background into their relationship if they were going to become such important characters in the series).
2. The 180 between Nick & Ty. Again, for the past SEVEN NOVELS, we're told that they are the best of friends, yet suddenly there is all this... tension between them, that's seemingly been brewing for the past several years?
3. A certain important side character dying... I mean, really? Did anyone else find that really random and almost completely unnecessary? Also, where was the closure? I mean, he's dead. He'd been around a lot in the past SEVEN NOVELS, but barely got a funeral in this one?
4. In general, I thought the plot was extremely convoluted, especially considering this series' track record. Why over-complicate the story when the previous SEVEN NOVELS had been relatively straightforward, engaging and fun?
5. Lastly, when comparing this novel to the past SEVEN NOVELS, more than being upset, I'm annoyed that this book exists. While the previous novels haven't been particularly earth-shattering or life-changing, they were consistently fun, engrossing reads. And with each addition to the series, there were always some improvements from one novel to the next. So I find it supremely annoying that this book was such a setback from the rest of the books! Didn't we have enough setbacks in the last one? Why are we recycling old ideas? If not for that last scene with Nick, and the tender moment between Zane & Ty, there really wouldn't have been anything redemable about the book. Frankly, halfway through, I wish I'd just given up and skipped to read the last few pages. It would have saved me a lot of time and a lot of headaches.
The only reason this book gets a three stars is because of how much I've enjoyed the past SEVEN NOVELS and those last few pages of the book which will no doubt lead into a (hopefully) great finale.
For now, though, I think I need to take a break. I'm still trying to process how far downhill this book has gone.