2013 Top Read Review: Sticks & Stones by Abigail Roux

Sticks & Stones 

by Abigail Roux, Madeleine Urban

(Cut & Run #2) 

Six months after nearly losing their lives to a serial killer in New York City, FBI Special Agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett are suffering through something almost as frightening: the monotony of desk duty.

When they're ordered to take a vacation for the good of everyone's sanity, Ty bites the bullet and takes Zane home with him to West Virginia, hoping the peace and quiet of the mountains will give them the chance to explore the explosive attraction they've so far been unable to reconcile with their professional partnership.

Ty and Zane, along with Ty's father and brother, head up into the Appalachian mountains for a nice, relaxing hike deep into the woods... where no one will hear them scream.

They find themselves facing danger from all directions: unpredictable weather, the unrelenting mountains, wild animals, fellow hikers with nothing to lose, and the most terrifying challenge of all.

At a glance: Stick & Stones is an intense read with action, mystery and an emotional and hot budding romance.

The Characters: Ty and Zane are two FBI agents that are so messed up and share a dysfunctional partnership and are in love but neither can see it. Ty is ex-military smart ass. Zane is an uptight by the book agent.

The Plot: Ty and Zane are finding it after to cope with the events in Cut and Run and have been on desk duty until they can get their heads on straight. Both are ready to head back into the field but after not passing their mental evals they are forced to take a vacation. But this is no relaxing vacation on a beach. It's chalked full of life and death events on a mountain.

Lasting Impression: I love this series. Ty and Zane make my heart break for them in their hard times and make me laugh my ass off during the funny/snarky times. Many are thinking that M/M is not for them but you should try this series. It's not so much about a gay couple but about two people that work together and grow to love each other. They just happen to be men.

“You’re okay,” Zane said quietly but clearly. “Just focus on me for a few minutes. What’s the first thing that comes to mind?” While talking, he was gently wiping away the blood. Ty blinked at him, opening his mouth as he thought the very first thing that came to mind when Zane prompted him. I love you. He snapped his mouth closed and stared at Zane, unable and unwilling to answer”

2013 Top Review: Cut & Run by Madeleine Urban, Abigail Roux

Cut & Run 

by Madeleine Urban, Abigail Roux 

(Cut & Run #1)

A series of murders in New York City has stymied the police and FBI alike, and they suspect the culprit is a single killer sending an indecipherable message. But when the two federal agents assigned to the investigation are taken out, the FBI takes a more personal interest in the case.

Special Agent Ty Grady is pulled out of undercover work after his case blows up in his face. He's cocky, abrasive, and indisputably the best at what he does. But when he's paired with Special Agent Zane Garrett, it's hate at first sight. Garrett is the perfect image of an agent: serious, sober, and focused, which makes their partnership a classic clich: total opposites, good cop-bad cop, the odd couple. They both know immediately that their partnership will pose more of an obstacle than the lack of evidence left by the murderer.

Practically before their special assignment starts, the murderer strikes again this time at them. Now on the run, trying to track down a man who has focused on killing his pursuers, Grady and Garrett will have to figure out how to work together before they become two more notches in the murderer's knife.

First I have to give a shout out to Jen over at Red Hot Books for bullying me into reading Cut & Run. THANK YOU!!!

I went into reading Cut & Run with the attitude, sweet hot M/M sex and nothing else in mind..... This is not a fluff book with hot sweaty men going at it. Well there is hot sex but that's not the main focus. Cut & Run has a real back bone.

The M/M romance aspect of the book was really just the cherry on top of a great read. I was so caught up in the serial killer case and what was going to happen next. I really had to use my brain to work the case with Ty and Zane. And I love watching cop shows I enjoyed taking the clues that was given to use a little a time and watching the case unfold.

Ok so the plot was entertaining now lets talk about the romance part of the book. Ty is an ex-Marine working undercover cases and profiling for the FBI. He is all alpha and a real smart ass when the story starts. Zane is the clean cut company's man and works at a desk at the FBI. They are sexy version of the Odd Couple.

There is so many times that you think the two is going to kill each other and there is no way they are going to be able to work together much less have a romance. But some of their moodiness is the sexual tense. They are both attracted to each other but don't act on it thinking there is no way the other feels the same. Then all it takes as on well place touch and the fire ignites. When Ty and Zane aren't beating the crap out of each other or calling each other asshole they are all over each other.

It was beautiful to watch the romance unfold. Yeah the sex was hot but the actual romance was heart breaking. By the time we get to the end of the story they have changed places and Ty is the clean cut company man and Zane is the pissy acting undercover agent. See both men wear a mask and in between their moody swings we get a look into what kind of man each of them might be.

I just LOVED EVERYTHING about this book, the action, mystery and romance. If you've never read a M/M I highly recommend making this your first one to try.

Series Reading Order:
Cut & Run (Cut & Run #1)
Sticks & Stones (Cut & Run, #2)
Fish & Chips (Cut & Run, #3)
Divide & Conquer (Cut & Run, #4)
Armed  Dangerous (Cut & Run, #5)
Dine & Dash (Cut & Run, 5.5)
Stars & Stripes (Cut & Run, #6)  
Touch & Geaux (Cut & Run #7)