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kathydavie's review against another edition
5.0
Third in the Cut & Run erotic romantic suspense series revolving around Special Agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett. The setting is a cruise ship at Christmas.
It's been a few weeks since Sticks & Stones, 2.
My Take
Huh. The first sixty pages is all about the thieves and fencing. Then, all of a sudden, it's smuggling. I gotta confess, I never considered them the same. Still it is too funny, and Roux/Urban have timed this perfectly, allowing us to get to know Grady and Garrett, which makes the effort these two have to go through on the cruise ship in their undercover roles so hilarious. As far as their fellow agents know, these two are the ultimate tough guys, and they're finally being allowed to be themselves in public.
Lord, this was intense! I couldn't read fast enough for all the action even as Roux/Urban address Zane's fears about heights, their fears about falling in love, and only one admitting it.
It's those T-shirts! I love Ty's T-shirts: out standing in his field, oh, yeah, LOL.
Hmm, Zane comes from money?
Ty ain't kidding. Love is like a free fall, with no nets.
With all the possibilities for ways for things to go wrong. It's worse. A twist I had not expected.
Oh, well, that's not fair! The Bianchis get their cabin and the boys get a cell, *grin*?
I do enjoy Roux/Urban's writing. Sure, it's mostly sex with the boys, but they also slip a story in and around it all that will catch you up and make you race.
The Story
Chance allows Grady and Garrett to impersonate two low-profile thieves the FBI has been wanting for some time. The catch? The thieves are not brothers. And the rough-and-tumble, he-man is gonna have to get waxed and bleached!
It's almost an illegal undercover assignment. The boys will have to steer clear of Interpol, Europol, Scotland Yard, and the Italian Guardia di Finanza. Among others.
The Characters
Special Agents Ty Grady, a former Marine who needs to be doing, and Zane Garrett, practically an idiot savant with numbers, a drug addict, and alcoholic, are partners beating the crap out of each other.
Special Agents Michelle Clancy, Fred Perrimore, Scott Alston, and Harry Lassiter are having too much fun with the thought of Ty and Zane's undercover assignment.
Special-Agent-in-Charge Dan McCoy is enjoying this too much. Stacy Knight handles briefing and debriefing of agents when new or unusual tech will be used. Assistant Director Richard Burns is McCoy's boss.
Corbin, the brains of the operation, and Del Porter, pretty arm candy, are known for their high-dollar thefts. Lorenzo Bianchi with his lovely wife, Norina, and Vartan Armen are their partners.
The Cover
The cover, oh, yeah, definitely "Welcome on Board" for this cruise with the boys. Thank god Urban/Roux are including that lifesaver in the spare white background. We could easily find ourselves overboard from laughing.
The title is too funny, a case set at sea on a cruise ship. Well, what else can you call it but Fish & Chips.
It's been a few weeks since Sticks & Stones, 2.
My Take
Huh. The first sixty pages is all about the thieves and fencing. Then, all of a sudden, it's smuggling. I gotta confess, I never considered them the same. Still it is too funny, and Roux/Urban have timed this perfectly, allowing us to get to know Grady and Garrett, which makes the effort these two have to go through on the cruise ship in their undercover roles so hilarious. As far as their fellow agents know, these two are the ultimate tough guys, and they're finally being allowed to be themselves in public.
Lord, this was intense! I couldn't read fast enough for all the action even as Roux/Urban address Zane's fears about heights, their fears about falling in love, and only one admitting it.
It's those T-shirts! I love Ty's T-shirts: out standing in his field, oh, yeah, LOL.
Hmm, Zane comes from money?
Ty ain't kidding. Love is like a free fall, with no nets.
With all the possibilities for ways for things to go wrong. It's worse. A twist I had not expected.
Oh, well, that's not fair! The Bianchis get their cabin and the boys get a cell, *grin*?
I do enjoy Roux/Urban's writing. Sure, it's mostly sex with the boys, but they also slip a story in and around it all that will catch you up and make you race.
The Story
Chance allows Grady and Garrett to impersonate two low-profile thieves the FBI has been wanting for some time. The catch? The thieves are not brothers. And the rough-and-tumble, he-man is gonna have to get waxed and bleached!
It's almost an illegal undercover assignment. The boys will have to steer clear of Interpol, Europol, Scotland Yard, and the Italian Guardia di Finanza. Among others.
The Characters
Special Agents Ty Grady, a former Marine who needs to be doing, and Zane Garrett, practically an idiot savant with numbers, a drug addict, and alcoholic, are partners beating the crap out of each other.
Special Agents Michelle Clancy, Fred Perrimore, Scott Alston, and Harry Lassiter are having too much fun with the thought of Ty and Zane's undercover assignment.
Special-Agent-in-Charge Dan McCoy is enjoying this too much. Stacy Knight handles briefing and debriefing of agents when new or unusual tech will be used. Assistant Director Richard Burns is McCoy's boss.
Corbin, the brains of the operation, and Del Porter, pretty arm candy, are known for their high-dollar thefts. Lorenzo Bianchi with his lovely wife, Norina, and Vartan Armen are their partners.
The Cover
The cover, oh, yeah, definitely "Welcome on Board" for this cruise with the boys. Thank god Urban/Roux are including that lifesaver in the spare white background. We could easily find ourselves overboard from laughing.
The title is too funny, a case set at sea on a cruise ship. Well, what else can you call it but Fish & Chips.
farah_sk's review against another edition
5.0
ty: *tries to drown zane*
zane: u wanna colour my tattoos?☺️
zane: u wanna colour my tattoos?☺️
gillianw's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars (rounded up)
Well, fucking hallelujah, I've finally seen a glimpse of what makes this series so beloved by so many people. While Ty and Zane still have their moments of weirdness around each other (emotional honesty is such a bitch, amirite?), things get very hot and heavy between them as they are given an undercover assignment posing as a married couple. On a cruise ship, no less. These two are best when they're going at it like bunnies, less so when they actually have to sit down and talk to one another. But, they do seem to be getting better at it - there's nothing like a life or death situation for spilling secrets, I guess.
All in all, a huge improvement over book one but this series still has room to impress me. Let's see what the next book brings.
Well, fucking hallelujah, I've finally seen a glimpse of what makes this series so beloved by so many people. While Ty and Zane still have their moments of weirdness around each other (emotional honesty is such a bitch, amirite?), things get very hot and heavy between them as they are given an undercover assignment posing as a married couple. On a cruise ship, no less. These two are best when they're going at it like bunnies, less so when they actually have to sit down and talk to one another. But, they do seem to be getting better at it - there's nothing like a life or death situation for spilling secrets, I guess.
All in all, a huge improvement over book one but this series still has room to impress me. Let's see what the next book brings.
notruse's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
zaza_bdp's review against another edition
4.0
Quel délice ce troisième tome ! Je l'ai dévoré de bout en bout, j'ai ri (beaucoup), j'ai flippé (un peu), j'ai swooné (à mort), bref, j'ai adoré !
Même si je trouve que le contraste entre ce tome et les précédents est assez "brutal" du point de vue de l'évolution des rapports entre les deux hommes, j'ai pris un immense plaisir à les voir se lâcher et explorer en plein jour leurs sentiments et leurs émotions.
Finalement, c'est en se glissant dans la peau d'un autre qu'ils peuvent laisser libre cours à leurs envies, comme si ça les dédouanait, en quelque sorte. Parfois les cartes sont brouillées, on est dans un jeu de faux-semblant, et j'ai trouvé ça très réussi.
L'intrigue policière n'est qu'un prétexte, elle n'est pas très développée et encore une fois, la résolution de l'affaire est trop expéditive à mon goût, même si je sais très bien que l'enjeu de cette série n'est pas là.
J'ai aimé voir Ty et Zane avoir besoin l'un de l'autre, s'aider à tour de rôle, mettre un bon gros électrochoc quand il le faut ! Et puis cette déclaration, je la sentais arriver, je ne pensais pas y avoir droit dans ce tome, et ma mâchoire s'en est décrochée ! Ty m'a parfois fait mal au coeur, quand on connaît ses sentiments, sa résignation ... Zane est toujours aussi peu loquace, mais c'est avec son corps et ses gestes qu'il exprime ce qu'il ressent. Et puis il y a ce cadeau que j'ai hâte de voir entre les mains de Ty, ainsi que l'explication qui va avec ! Et puis ces passages autour de leurs alliances respectives ... ça aussi, j'ai aimé !
La transformation de Ty est très drôle, l'imaginer en blondinet raffiné et énamouré est très amusant, il pourrait avoir l'air vraiment ridicule, mais non. Et Zane, dans ce rôle du mec friqué, snob et un peu froid ... Paradoxalement, être dans la peau de Corbin lui permet de se lâcher autant que de s'abriter.
Une valeur sûre donc, un troisième tome au top avec une traduction vraiment extra, je tiens à le souligner, moi qui suis si exigeante dans ce domaine !
Même si je trouve que le contraste entre ce tome et les précédents est assez "brutal" du point de vue de l'évolution des rapports entre les deux hommes, j'ai pris un immense plaisir à les voir se lâcher et explorer en plein jour leurs sentiments et leurs émotions.
Finalement, c'est en se glissant dans la peau d'un autre qu'ils peuvent laisser libre cours à leurs envies, comme si ça les dédouanait, en quelque sorte. Parfois les cartes sont brouillées, on est dans un jeu de faux-semblant, et j'ai trouvé ça très réussi.
L'intrigue policière n'est qu'un prétexte, elle n'est pas très développée et encore une fois, la résolution de l'affaire est trop expéditive à mon goût, même si je sais très bien que l'enjeu de cette série n'est pas là.
J'ai aimé voir Ty et Zane avoir besoin l'un de l'autre, s'aider à tour de rôle, mettre un bon gros électrochoc quand il le faut ! Et puis cette déclaration, je la sentais arriver, je ne pensais pas y avoir droit dans ce tome, et ma mâchoire s'en est décrochée ! Ty m'a parfois fait mal au coeur, quand on connaît ses sentiments, sa résignation ... Zane est toujours aussi peu loquace, mais c'est avec son corps et ses gestes qu'il exprime ce qu'il ressent. Et puis il y a ce cadeau que j'ai hâte de voir entre les mains de Ty, ainsi que l'explication qui va avec ! Et puis ces passages autour de leurs alliances respectives ... ça aussi, j'ai aimé !
La transformation de Ty est très drôle, l'imaginer en blondinet raffiné et énamouré est très amusant, il pourrait avoir l'air vraiment ridicule, mais non. Et Zane, dans ce rôle du mec friqué, snob et un peu froid ... Paradoxalement, être dans la peau de Corbin lui permet de se lâcher autant que de s'abriter.
Une valeur sûre donc, un troisième tome au top avec une traduction vraiment extra, je tiens à le souligner, moi qui suis si exigeante dans ce domaine !
a_reader_obsessed's review against another edition
5.0
5 Stars! - Reread 3/24/2024
Both these guys are non communicative idiots and full of contradictions.
They want the closeness but can’t handle it.
They have the feelings but can’t admit it.
Fabulous undercover “fake” relationship that is anything but.
Deliciously addicting and I’m all for it!
————————————————
5 Stars!
*Update - Reread 2/6/15*
This stands out as one of my favorites in the series.
Ty and Zane go undercover as a criminal gay couple. This is quite the lucky break since they don't really have to pretend, and it's also the perfect opportunity to learn more about each other. Again, danger lurks around every corner, starkly testing their own strengths and weaknesses.
As they role play, the lines blur between what's real and what's not. This was one of the smexiest entries in the series yet! Though these guys wonderfully fail to suppress their interest and growing feelings, they each continue to think the other couldn't possibly want more than a benefits only relationship. However in the end, confessions are made and commitments are promised. Let the swooning begin in earnest!
Cut & Run Series
1. Cut & Run - 5 Stars
2. Sticks & Stones - 5 Stars
3. Fish & Chips - 5 Stars
4. Divide & Conquer - 5 Stars
Warrior’s Cross - 4 Stars
5. Armed & Dangerous - 5 Stars
6. Tigers & Stripes 5 Stars
7. Touch & Geaux - 5 Stars
8. Ball & Chain - 5 Stars
9. Crash & Burn - 5 Stars
Both these guys are non communicative idiots and full of contradictions.
They want the closeness but can’t handle it.
They have the feelings but can’t admit it.
Fabulous undercover “fake” relationship that is anything but.
Deliciously addicting and I’m all for it!
————————————————
5 Stars!
*Update - Reread 2/6/15*
This stands out as one of my favorites in the series.
Ty and Zane go undercover as a criminal gay couple. This is quite the lucky break since they don't really have to pretend, and it's also the perfect opportunity to learn more about each other. Again, danger lurks around every corner, starkly testing their own strengths and weaknesses.
As they role play, the lines blur between what's real and what's not.
Spoiler
I kinda chuckled to myself listening to this as Ty reminded me a bit of Jory. Handsome, adept with many skills, a charmer of epic proportions. He's got tricks up his sleeves that no one sees coming and many are enraptured, including Zane. Ever present is the subtle foreshadowing about future plot points that are more obvious, and I marvel at these well placed chess pieces and their looming implications.Cut & Run Series
1. Cut & Run - 5 Stars
2. Sticks & Stones - 5 Stars
3. Fish & Chips - 5 Stars
4. Divide & Conquer - 5 Stars
5. Armed & Dangerous - 5 Stars
6. Tigers & Stripes 5 Stars
7. Touch & Geaux - 5 Stars
8. Ball & Chain - 5 Stars
9. Crash & Burn - 5 Stars
fresholivebread's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Ty and Zane go undercover as married as they navigate their relationship and the case. They're more open/vulnerable, and their dynamics and banter remained excellent. There are measures of their true selves and feelings while undercover, which really shows in their open affection and quieter moments. Their romance is still kinda burning slow, as these idiots are still somewhat guarded. At least Ty can admit that he's in love, while Zane still struggles with articulating.
The parts where Zane was having it rough felt real and raw, and Ty's just *there* for him all the way - tough love and otherwise ♥. They're endearingly flawed, but they're each other's person. The steam is 👩🏻🍳😘 - fucking hot and deliciously rough at the same time. The action is decently fun, but I'm 100% here for Ty/Zane, really loved them together. CW:alcoholism
The parts where Zane was having it rough felt real and raw, and Ty's just *there* for him all the way - tough love and otherwise ♥. They're endearingly flawed, but they're each other's person. The steam is 👩🏻🍳😘 - fucking hot and deliciously rough at the same time. The action is decently fun, but I'm 100% here for Ty/Zane, really loved them together. CW:
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction and Alcoholism
ann13reads's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
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
4.5
fae_princess_in_space's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
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? Yes
5.0
Y’all, I am utterly obsessed with this series. Like hardcore. All of these books have such a different vibe to them yet the incredible relationship between Ty and Zane just keeps building.
In this one they are undercover as a gay couple on a cruise ship, tracking down some international art smugglers and we got to see a whole new side to Zane and Ty; with Ty in a more submissive twink role and Zane as a criminal mastermind (in their undercover roles obvs). There were so many twists and turns and of course so much hurt/comfort I could die.
This series is the gift that just keeps on giving.
In this one they are undercover as a gay couple on a cruise ship, tracking down some international art smugglers and we got to see a whole new side to Zane and Ty; with Ty in a more submissive twink role and Zane as a criminal mastermind (in their undercover roles obvs). There were so many twists and turns and of course so much hurt/comfort I could die.
This series is the gift that just keeps on giving.
drez80's review against another edition
2.0
*SIGH* I really don't understand why I don't love these guys like everyone else, but I'm about done with them. I liked book 2 better than book 1, but with this book, I'm back to being bored, and I really don't like Ty or Zane. They have no connection. They never communicate, just use sex to avoid talking, like that's going to help their relationship. When things get rough, they pull back. There's no discussing their struggles, just assuming the other will get upset or doesn't want to talk about because they don't want to get serious. In a previous book Ty knows something is going on with Zane, but instead of trying to talk to him, he just gets mad and starts staying at his own apartment to avoid Zane. When one does try to have a serious conversation, the other pulls back. They are afraid of confrontation and avoid it at all costs, rather than getting it out in the open and talking about it. There was a part in this book where Zane knew Ty was lying, but he didn't want to start a fight, so he let it go. And they do things like this all of the time. They also realize that they don't know each other all that well even though they've been together for a while now. How about you try communicating? That's how actual adult couples get to know each other. So frustrating!
I think for my sanity and my high BP I'm going to have to stop reading these guys.
I think for my sanity and my high BP I'm going to have to stop reading these guys.