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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
I listened to this on Audio and the narration and story were really enjoyable. Suspense, grumpy boys and sexy times
I was given Bone To Pick by T.A. Moore as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I loved this book so much I had a difficult time putting it down for 5 min. This story was full of emotion and tension you wanted to know what would happen next.
The story revolves around an FBI Special Agent Javi Merlo and K9 Deputy Cloister Witte, his partner Bourneville (K9) and also the kidnapping of a 10 year old boy named Drew Hartley.
The MC's work their way from despising each other to tolerating each other in order to find Drew. as the MC's work together they find it hard to resist the attraction as well. The partnership between Cloister and his K9 Bourneville was fascinating in how well connected the two were to each other that you can see how important a K9 unit is to helping in cases such as kidnapping or any lost person. T.A. brings the emotions of every parent and sibling that loses a child to the forefront where you keep trying to figure out who and what happened to him but also the guilt that it was somehow their fault. The scenery is brought to life so much so that you can feel the Santa Ana Winds and sand whipping around your face and body where you want to go take a shower. Each page you turn you are hoping against hope that they find the child and that Javi and Cloister can get past their issues and stay together.
The story revolves around an FBI Special Agent Javi Merlo and K9 Deputy Cloister Witte, his partner Bourneville (K9) and also the kidnapping of a 10 year old boy named Drew Hartley.
The MC's work their way from despising each other to tolerating each other in order to find Drew. as the MC's work together they find it hard to resist the attraction as well. The partnership between Cloister and his K9 Bourneville was fascinating in how well connected the two were to each other that you can see how important a K9 unit is to helping in cases such as kidnapping or any lost person. T.A. brings the emotions of every parent and sibling that loses a child to the forefront where you keep trying to figure out who and what happened to him but also the guilt that it was somehow their fault. The scenery is brought to life so much so that you can feel the Santa Ana Winds and sand whipping around your face and body where you want to go take a shower. Each page you turn you are hoping against hope that they find the child and that Javi and Cloister can get past their issues and stay together.
This book is one of my favorite types of stories, a layered mystery with clues leading to a bigger story arc that also includes a dash of romance. The author did justice to my favorite type of story. The fact that a dog is a main character is an extra perk... really. It couldn't possibly be the reason I picked up this book in the first place .
I can’t begin to imagine how difficult missing persons cases, particularly children, must be on law enforcement officials. Those jobs, in and of themselves, are often very stressful but adding a young child’s disappearance along with everything that goes hand in hand with them – i.e., more press and scrutiny, family drama, and cold trails – and the pressure must be stratospheric. Throw in a missing ten-year-old boy, a sheriff’s deputy with way too much baggage and a severe case of insomnia, an FBI agent who has his own laundry list of issues along with an enormous intimacy problem, and a ‘Bone to Pick’ has hit the nail on the head of a suspenseful, erotic romance.
Cloister and Javi couldn’t be more different if they tried. Cloister is a K-9 handler with the sheriff’s department, lives in a rented Airstream trailer at the park by the ocean, is an insomniac of epic proportions (all relating to childhood trauma), and has a major issue with authority. Javi is a designer-suit-wearing FBI Special Agent, rents a gorgeous loft downtown, has burned more than one bridge in his career, believes sharing a coffee cup is too intimate, and thinks technology is far better than K-9 units any day. To say they’ve knocked heads on more than one case is a mild understatement. In fact, the last time they worked together, Cloister punched Javi.
Please find my full review at Rainbow Book Reviews
Cloister and Javi couldn’t be more different if they tried. Cloister is a K-9 handler with the sheriff’s department, lives in a rented Airstream trailer at the park by the ocean, is an insomniac of epic proportions (all relating to childhood trauma), and has a major issue with authority. Javi is a designer-suit-wearing FBI Special Agent, rents a gorgeous loft downtown, has burned more than one bridge in his career, believes sharing a coffee cup is too intimate, and thinks technology is far better than K-9 units any day. To say they’ve knocked heads on more than one case is a mild understatement. In fact, the last time they worked together, Cloister punched Javi.
Please find my full review at Rainbow Book Reviews
*Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.*
Bone to Pick is a mystery involving a missing child. What was originally thought to be just a singular case turns into a serial killer case as the FBI and Police follow the clues to find the missing boy. This is not a romance. It does involve sex between two men who hate each other. FBI agent Javi is called to work the missing boy case. Javi is one of the biggest jerks (the politest term I could think of) I've read in a book. He's a condescending snob and rude with a superiority complex. In his own mind, he's better and smarter than everyone else. And, after reading this case, it's definitely only in his own mind.
Javi has to work the case with the local police department and K9 officer Cloister, who doesn't come close to meeting Javi's standards. Cloister is too stupid, ugly, dog loving, redneck and white trash to meet Javi's standards. Cloister didn't seem like a bad guy, at least I didn't hate him. He was smart and thought outside of the box. He has a passion for finding missing children and with the little shared about his childhood, his passion and determination were understandable. Cloister was the reason this case came to a conclusion, along with several others along the way. Not that he received credit from anyone for the work he's done. I enjoyed Cloister's relationship with his K9 partner. What I didn't like about Cloister was his willingness to allow someone like Javi to use him.
I thought the mystery with all the twists, turns and clues was well done. I think the serial killer was pretty obvious but I overlooked him for a while because I allowed Javi and Cloister to distract me. Once I decided to ignore that part, I quickly realized who the killer was.
There was no relationship at the end of this story, so there was no HEA there. There was a conclusion to the case, which seemed to be wrapped up. I'm not sure if this is a standalone book or if another book will follow. For me, there is nothing that could be done to redeem Javi and make him a likable character. In fact, there was a point that I was rooting for the serial killer.
For the mystery part of this book, I'd definitely rate it 4 stars. It was well done, interesting and kept me turning the page. But, for the whole story combined, I'd give it 3.5 stars.
Bone to Pick is a mystery involving a missing child. What was originally thought to be just a singular case turns into a serial killer case as the FBI and Police follow the clues to find the missing boy. This is not a romance. It does involve sex between two men who hate each other. FBI agent Javi is called to work the missing boy case. Javi is one of the biggest jerks (the politest term I could think of) I've read in a book. He's a condescending snob and rude with a superiority complex. In his own mind, he's better and smarter than everyone else. And, after reading this case, it's definitely only in his own mind.
Javi has to work the case with the local police department and K9 officer Cloister, who doesn't come close to meeting Javi's standards. Cloister is too stupid, ugly, dog loving, redneck and white trash to meet Javi's standards. Cloister didn't seem like a bad guy, at least I didn't hate him. He was smart and thought outside of the box. He has a passion for finding missing children and with the little shared about his childhood, his passion and determination were understandable. Cloister was the reason this case came to a conclusion, along with several others along the way. Not that he received credit from anyone for the work he's done. I enjoyed Cloister's relationship with his K9 partner. What I didn't like about Cloister was his willingness to allow someone like Javi to use him.
I thought the mystery with all the twists, turns and clues was well done. I think the serial killer was pretty obvious but I overlooked him for a while because I allowed Javi and Cloister to distract me. Once I decided to ignore that part, I quickly realized who the killer was.
There was no relationship at the end of this story, so there was no HEA there. There was a conclusion to the case, which seemed to be wrapped up. I'm not sure if this is a standalone book or if another book will follow. For me, there is nothing that could be done to redeem Javi and make him a likable character. In fact, there was a point that I was rooting for the serial killer.
For the mystery part of this book, I'd definitely rate it 4 stars. It was well done, interesting and kept me turning the page. But, for the whole story combined, I'd give it 3.5 stars.
4.5 Hearts
This book is a sample of why I have a shelf titled “Partridge Family Related”, because you know the chorus to their famous song…
“I think I love you so what am I so afraid of
I'm afraid that I'm not sure of a love there is no cure for
I think I love you isn't that what life is made of
Though it worries me to say that I never felt this way”
Yup. It’s one of those books and I’ll state it here, we don’t end with an HEA but we do end with a very strong HFN that after a couple books, I am coming to expect from the author. They work because they fit the characters even though I want a grand over the top ending, what we get works for the couple.
So, this was really freaking good. The story is thankfully told from both POV’s of Javi and Cloister so we don’t have to guess what’s going on while these two go from being pissy with one another to finally getting it on. The pissy doesn’t exactly go away completely, because they like to egg the other man on, but it’s more playful whereas when we first get them on page, its simple animosity.
Cloister Witte is a K-9 officer in the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department whose job is to work with his partnered pup, Bourneville, to find the missing and bring them home. It’s not a random job for Cloister as we learn his older brother went missing and was never found so it’s a life promise to do his job well. Cloister and Bourneville are good at what they do and they have been called out to an ex-hippie development called the “Retreat” in to find missing 10 year old Drew Hartley.
When Cloister gets to the Retreat he’s met by the Special Agent in Charge Javier “Javi” Merlo whom he’s met before and almost decked. Javi and Cloister don’t have the friendliest of relationships at the beginning but they are forced to work together to bring Drew home. When they actually start working together, they are amazing. I love the way they would push the other’s buttons and really it was all just foreplay and them fighting the way they feel. Javi can tell himself all he wants that he only wants to use Cloister for sex and not get involved but the FBI Agent doth protest too much.
There is so much in this story that I loved. The mystery was fantastic and all the twists and turns with the other cases that tied into Drew’s disappearance were woven into the storyline so well. The trust it takes to work closely with someone the way Cloister and Javi do spills over into the trust that the two men have with one another when it comes to them becoming intimate. Again, Javi can call it just sex all he wants but he is so into Cloister in so many ways, he would miss the chance to kiss him if it were his last thought ever.
Ack!
I adored Cloister even though a few times he made my heart hurt. The relationship he has with Bourneville is stunning and I have always admired the intelligence of K-9 dogs and their handlers. Dogs aren’t dumb, I have four myself and they learn so fast. It would be amazing to watch a K-9 in action and see them hunt to find the missing person. All the commands Cloister uses, how Bourneville is a working dog but she’s still totally a dog who begs, wines and wants to be around “her human” made this dog lover so very happy to have her as a focal character in this story.
But Cloister has becoming one of my favorite MC’s for sure. There was something about him that tugged at me to sit up and pay attention and it wasn’t the running, being a romantic or his love of dogs. He has a past and it’s a hard one to shake but he tries every day to make up for what he couldn’t do before, bring his brother home. Though it wasn’t his fault, Cloister has tried to bring the missing home to their loved ones. Goodness. That man was a blessing to read and who he becomes in the bedroom was gorgeous. Yeah. These two don’t have much page time being romantic or together but the times we get were swoony and to be frank, fucking hot. That use of a hook on the back of the door… just saying.
Javi, Javi, Javi…what am I going to do with you? I know that working in Plenty at a blended Sherriff’s station is what you had planned but you fit there, you know? You fit because Cloister is there and you’re getting used to Bourneville, even if she likes to watch. You are more than just a booty call with tacos and it’s so obvious you are falling for Cloister because we all know what you thought when you had that flash dude. You drive me nuts, but you’re hot in bed and you would totally put yourself on the line to protect the innocent. Goodness but I loved being in your head.
Bone to Pick began with the frustration of a K-9 officer wanting to set a Special Agent straight and vice versa. It began with frustration that led to a mystery of epic and creepy proportions that brought the romance to a fruition that teased with the best intentions. I wouldn't mind another helping of these two both in another case or um, position. Where did my gutter mind just go?
OOOH!!! One last thing and then I will shut up!
OMG that epilogue was exactly what I needed even though I wanted more because I am greedy. The line about it not being a date because Cloister didn’t bring wine… OMG TIMES TEN! It gives me hope that Javi will get to taste that certain vintage on his tongue one day and thank Cloister properly with all sorts of demands and directives… in bed.
This book is a sample of why I have a shelf titled “Partridge Family Related”, because you know the chorus to their famous song…
“I think I love you so what am I so afraid of
I'm afraid that I'm not sure of a love there is no cure for
I think I love you isn't that what life is made of
Though it worries me to say that I never felt this way”
Yup. It’s one of those books and I’ll state it here, we don’t end with an HEA but we do end with a very strong HFN that after a couple books, I am coming to expect from the author. They work because they fit the characters even though I want a grand over the top ending, what we get works for the couple.
So, this was really freaking good. The story is thankfully told from both POV’s of Javi and Cloister so we don’t have to guess what’s going on while these two go from being pissy with one another to finally getting it on. The pissy doesn’t exactly go away completely, because they like to egg the other man on, but it’s more playful whereas when we first get them on page, its simple animosity.
Cloister Witte is a K-9 officer in the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department whose job is to work with his partnered pup, Bourneville, to find the missing and bring them home. It’s not a random job for Cloister as we learn his older brother went missing and was never found so it’s a life promise to do his job well. Cloister and Bourneville are good at what they do and they have been called out to an ex-hippie development called the “Retreat” in to find missing 10 year old Drew Hartley.
“We’ve got a request from the Feds for a K-9,”
“Is there no one else available? Last time I was seconded to them, I ended up on a disciplinary after I nearly decked the Special Agent in Charge.”
When Cloister gets to the Retreat he’s met by the Special Agent in Charge Javier “Javi” Merlo whom he’s met before and almost decked. Javi and Cloister don’t have the friendliest of relationships at the beginning but they are forced to work together to bring Drew home. When they actually start working together, they are amazing. I love the way they would push the other’s buttons and really it was all just foreplay and them fighting the way they feel. Javi can tell himself all he wants that he only wants to use Cloister for sex and not get involved but the FBI Agent doth protest too much.
There is so much in this story that I loved. The mystery was fantastic and all the twists and turns with the other cases that tied into Drew’s disappearance were woven into the storyline so well. The trust it takes to work closely with someone the way Cloister and Javi do spills over into the trust that the two men have with one another when it comes to them becoming intimate. Again, Javi can call it just sex all he wants but he is so into Cloister in so many ways, he would miss the chance to kiss him if it were his last thought ever.
Javi wasn’t a profiler, but he wasn’t blind either, and he’d been watching Cloister. If you wanted to have dark, detailed fantasies about someone, you needed to pay attention.
I want to say so much but I don’t want to spoil the mystery.
Ack!
I adored Cloister even though a few times he made my heart hurt. The relationship he has with Bourneville is stunning and I have always admired the intelligence of K-9 dogs and their handlers. Dogs aren’t dumb, I have four myself and they learn so fast. It would be amazing to watch a K-9 in action and see them hunt to find the missing person. All the commands Cloister uses, how Bourneville is a working dog but she’s still totally a dog who begs, wines and wants to be around “her human” made this dog lover so very happy to have her as a focal character in this story.
No falling in love, Cloister reminded himself as they walked up the drive to the shiny blue front door. No getting overattached like a stray dog shown some affection. Javi Merlo was just a hot asshole who got under Cloister’s skin, not the next ex-boyfriend he was going to disappoint. He fell easily. It didn’t mean he was any good at it.
But Cloister has becoming one of my favorite MC’s for sure. There was something about him that tugged at me to sit up and pay attention and it wasn’t the running, being a romantic or his love of dogs. He has a past and it’s a hard one to shake but he tries every day to make up for what he couldn’t do before, bring his brother home. Though it wasn’t his fault, Cloister has tried to bring the missing home to their loved ones. Goodness. That man was a blessing to read and who he becomes in the bedroom was gorgeous. Yeah. These two don’t have much page time being romantic or together but the times we get were swoony and to be frank, fucking hot. That use of a hook on the back of the door… just saying.
He grabbed the collar of Cloister’s jacket—the leather butter soft under his fingers—and pulled him in for a kiss. The dog came in too, but Javi supposed he had to get used to that.
Javi, Javi, Javi…what am I going to do with you? I know that working in Plenty at a blended Sherriff’s station is what you had planned but you fit there, you know? You fit because Cloister is there and you’re getting used to Bourneville, even if she likes to watch. You are more than just a booty call with tacos and it’s so obvious you are falling for Cloister because we all know what you thought when you had that flash dude. You drive me nuts, but you’re hot in bed and you would totally put yourself on the line to protect the innocent. Goodness but I loved being in your head.
Bone to Pick began with the frustration of a K-9 officer wanting to set a Special Agent straight and vice versa. It began with frustration that led to a mystery of epic and creepy proportions that brought the romance to a fruition that teased with the best intentions. I wouldn't mind another helping of these two both in another case or um, position. Where did my gutter mind just go?
OOOH!!! One last thing and then I will shut up!
OMG that epilogue was exactly what I needed even though I wanted more because I am greedy. The line about it not being a date because Cloister didn’t bring wine… OMG TIMES TEN! It gives me hope that Javi will get to taste that certain vintage on his tongue one day and thank Cloister properly with all sorts of demands and directives… in bed.
I downloaded this a while ago (mainly because I knew there would be a dog in it) then read it within a day once I finally got started. And then didn't sit down to write this review until almost a week later. Clearly, I'm on a roll.
Anyhow. I loved it. I mean, any book where there's a dog called Bourneville with the nickname Bon Bon is already a winner to me. As a bonus, the human characters were interesting as well, as was the mystery and overall story. I mean, okay, the humans in question — Javi in particular — aren't exactly the best our species has to offer (as opposed to Bourneville, who is wonderful) but that also made it more interesting. At least Javi knew he was an asshole and didn't seem all that proud of it. So there's that.
Also, there's just a lot of potential there. This is a series, after all, and I don't expect the characters to be perfect after the first book. We're in this for the long haul.
But yeah! The characters were intriguing, if a bit harsh at times, but that felt reasonable considering their backstories and personalities. The case was gripping (although not very difficult to figure out) and the writing was good. It's an overall solid and enjoyable read, as long as you can accept some rudeness between the main characters (they DO get better, though).
Also, Bon Bon.
Anyhow. I loved it. I mean, any book where there's a dog called Bourneville with the nickname Bon Bon is already a winner to me. As a bonus, the human characters were interesting as well, as was the mystery and overall story. I mean, okay, the humans in question — Javi in particular — aren't exactly the best our species has to offer (as opposed to Bourneville, who is wonderful) but that also made it more interesting. At least Javi knew he was an asshole and didn't seem all that proud of it. So there's that.
Also, there's just a lot of potential there. This is a series, after all, and I don't expect the characters to be perfect after the first book. We're in this for the long haul.
But yeah! The characters were intriguing, if a bit harsh at times, but that felt reasonable considering their backstories and personalities. The case was gripping (although not very difficult to figure out) and the writing was good. It's an overall solid and enjoyable read, as long as you can accept some rudeness between the main characters (they DO get better, though).
Also, Bon Bon.
An interesting police procedural/crime mystery. The story is captivating and kept me engaged until the end.
Unfortunately I still walked away with questions about both, the victims and the perpetrator.
The MCs are a mixed bag. I really liked Cloister and his K-9 dog. I was fascinated by their working relationship. I am not a fan of Javi. He's a bit of a ladder climbing a*hole more concerned with himself than anyone else. The only other character that stood out was "the mom" and she annoyed the hell out of me.
I struggled a bit with wording and phrasing and there are still quite a few typos. But overall I enjoyed the story.
Merged review:
An interesting police procedural/crime mystery. The story is captivating and kept me engaged until the end.
Unfortunately I still walked away with questions about both, the victims and the perpetrator.
The MCs are a mixed bag. I really liked Cloister and his K-9 dog. I was fascinated by their working relationship. I am not a fan of Javi. He's a bit of a ladder climbing a*hole more concerned with himself than anyone else. The only other character that stood out was "the mom" and she annoyed the hell out of me.
I struggled a bit with wording and phrasing and there are still quite a few typos. But overall I enjoyed the story.
Unfortunately I still walked away with questions about both, the victims and the perpetrator.
The MCs are a mixed bag. I really liked Cloister and his K-9 dog. I was fascinated by their working relationship. I am not a fan of Javi. He's a bit of a ladder climbing a*hole more concerned with himself than anyone else. The only other character that stood out was "the mom" and she annoyed the hell out of me.
I struggled a bit with wording and phrasing and there are still quite a few typos. But overall I enjoyed the story.
Merged review:
An interesting police procedural/crime mystery. The story is captivating and kept me engaged until the end.
Unfortunately I still walked away with questions about both, the victims and the perpetrator.
The MCs are a mixed bag. I really liked Cloister and his K-9 dog. I was fascinated by their working relationship. I am not a fan of Javi. He's a bit of a ladder climbing a*hole more concerned with himself than anyone else. The only other character that stood out was "the mom" and she annoyed the hell out of me.
I struggled a bit with wording and phrasing and there are still quite a few typos. But overall I enjoyed the story.
Javi is a dick and he totally ruined this book for me.
I super enjoyed this one! The mystery was interesting, the writing was engaging, and the characters were fascinating with some seriously hot chemistry. I knew the kind of sexual dynamic I wanted between the characters within the first few chapters and I was SUPER happy that I got what I wanted, LOL.
I will say, both characters clearly have a bunch of issues and a ton of past baggage that was alluded to, but really not fully fleshed out. It didn't bother my *too* much, as it didn't feel overly coy, but it's pretty clear that it will be coming up in future books.
I also should warn that the book is pretty open ended in terms of the relationship, and while it's *certainly* not unhappy by any means, I'd also hesistate to even use the term HFN. Things are still pretty casual and unresolved between the characters, which is, again, clearly going to be explored in future books. I didn't mind at all, and enjoyed the realism and the fact that it wasn't quite so formulaic the way a lot of MM romances can feel, but readers who absolutely need a gooey HEA with proposals and insa-love will be disappointed.
I will say, both characters clearly have a bunch of issues and a ton of past baggage that was alluded to, but really not fully fleshed out. It didn't bother my *too* much, as it didn't feel overly coy, but it's pretty clear that it will be coming up in future books.
I also should warn that the book is pretty open ended in terms of the relationship, and while it's *certainly* not unhappy by any means, I'd also hesistate to even use the term HFN. Things are still pretty casual and unresolved between the characters, which is, again, clearly going to be explored in future books. I didn't mind at all, and enjoyed the realism and the fact that it wasn't quite so formulaic the way a lot of MM romances can feel, but readers who absolutely need a gooey HEA with proposals and insa-love will be disappointed.