Well, I liked it, but didn't really like it...I have some nitpicks. So, Ali's got some people after her and she goes to her brother's best friend for help. She's known him (and been in love with him) for over a decade and vice versa.
This had a decent amount of suspense. The characters are likable. But, the romance was so-so. It's the "I'm in love with best friend's sibling" trope, but can't have them because it's my best friend's sibling/not good enough. Whatever. Last I checked both were adults and didn't need anyone's permission. I thought the back and forth (I want you, but can't have you! and Made a move/said something, but then a push back) was too much and lasted too long before they finally got together. I also thought the ending a bit rushed. 
Ali was a well written character. I felt I knew her. Nate not so much. I knew next to nothing about him and that was the same at the end. While I liked Ali, be warned. She has a weak stomach and threw up 4 times. The other thing? She doesn't cuss. It's crapola. HE double hockey sticks. Frank even apologies for cussing (yes, women have delicate ears and will go ape shit should they hear a curse word!). Insert eye-roll here.
I thought Becky and Frank (who also happen to be the couple featured in the next book) had a strong story-line in this book. I am definitely pro-Becky. I thought she was fantastic and kick ass. I loved that she was so unconventional. Frank? I'm calling him a misogynistic asshole! I thought Becky was tolerated, because they NEED her skills, but at the same time, was not really one of THEM. Her goal is to be one of THEM. She takes steps to make that happen, and Frank, tells her she will never be one of them. And if she leaves, he will sabotage her chances. Now, it doesn't say what his reasoning was (beyond "for her own good"), but I can't help but think it's because: 1. Becky is a woman. 2. He likes Becky. 3. He must therefore "protect" her. I'm curious if he redeems himself because I thought this book had good, strong female characters that didn't venture into TSTL territory and could hold their own.
Featured in this book: Frank (Boss), Rebecca (Becky), Ethan (Ozzie), Dan (Dan Man), Patti
Someone does die. Wonder if Dagan will join?
Mentioned: Billy (Becky's brother), Christian, Rock, Steady, Mac, Jamin

Halloween Bingo:  Suspense square.  

I said it was readable.

It almost went and made a liar out of me.

Okay to be honest, it was readable. But it also tried really hard not to be. from calling dollar bills “George Washingtons” (no.never) to referencing Ashton Kutcher on punked, it really read like someone trying too hard to stay current and failing like your 69 year old grandfather that wasn’t even current in his day.

I didn’t love reading paragraphs about their firepower.

I also didn’t enjoy when the hero, Nate, said to the heroine, Ali, about how he wanted her (when she decided to ask if he ever laughs in the middle of the night—don’t get me started): “he wanted to plunge into her balls deep till she’s wriggling like a fish on a line.” Here’s the smelling salts cause I can tell you all just up and fainted from the swoons.

And I do appreciate dialects in books, but I didn’t get Nate’s. It was all contractions and lack of vowels. He said C’min instead of come in. I don’t get it. Or "what'r'doin" ??

The narrative style was tough to take, third person, lots of PoVs but with lots of "ugh" and weird expressions peppered in. And "Uh yeah," Not weird for us on goodreads, or even in a book in general, but from this point of view it felt off.

the couple's trajectory is non-existent and this book showcases exactly why romantic suspense hasn't been my bag. Neither the romance nor the suspense are satisfactory. Another best friend of big brother rescues and always loved little sister, luckily the feeling's mutual because they have sex then decide to get married after lusting after each other in the first 50%. Ultimately, I didn't care about them. None of them. 1.5

For the last week of June, I have a full load to read. All new, fresh reading to juice up my reading mojo.

 

Friday Free Read/COYER Summer 2017: The Bull Rider's Homecoming by Allie Pleiter. This is on my COYER reading list so I figured kill two birds with one book. I have read another book by this author that I enjoyed so I am hoping for another great read.

 

BL-opoly Read/Pop Sugar Challenge: Ellis Island (Ellis Island #1) by Kate Kerrigan. Irish immigrant to NYC during the 1920s satisfies the prompt "book written/about refugees or immigrants".

 

RB Bingo: Hell on Wheels (Black Knights, Inc #1) by Julie Ann Walker. Still trying to find a book that fits in the "Never read genre/subgenre" square. I bailed on the rock star series when it became clear the series was about all the other employees of the band and not about the band members. This book is a combination of motorcycle club and military romance, which are other niches I don't read. Thank goodness for OverDrive.

 

COYER Summer 2017: A Lady for Lord Randall (Brides of Waterloo #1) by Sarah Mallory. This is the first in a trilogy. I am kicking myself for reading that kidnapped romance when I could have just waited for COYER to start and used this book instead.

 

Random Pick: Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson because it is due back to the library at the end of the week.

I didn't really like Nate at the beginning, but I warmed up to him. Ali rocked, though... Just enough naivete to balance out her courage. I very much enjoyed this story, but I wish Nate talked a bit more.

The back of your neck is trying to tell you something...are you going to listen?

Well, of course you are. Your a woman walking down the street and was taught by a very overprotective brother that when that sixth sense kicks in, you listen to it. Especially when just a few months ago you got the news that your brother just passed away and you know for certain he didn't die from working on his bike.

So what do you?

You go to the one place that doesn't make sense....her brothers outfit the he joined after the Marines. The place where her brothers best friend Nate Weller lives....a Chicago Motorcycle shop called the Black Knights Inc....Inc being something other than a Motorcycle shop! When she finally gets the nerve to go up there to ask help she sees that this has got to be the last place on Earth that she should be in....but with that mugging only last night and that sense that someone has followed her Nate Weller is going to be her knight in shining leather to help her out!

Nate Weller has done some things in his life that he's not proud of....decisions that he made that he wishes he could take back but knows that life isn't that nice. Especially when life hands him Ali Morgan, his recent deceased best friends "little" sister. Ali is beyond being little and for a Kindergarten Teacher she packs more strength in her little petite body than he could in his 6 abs or more!! He knows that he must keep his unsaintly hands off of her, but when he hears that someone is after Ali....more to the point wanting Ali "deleted"....he's going to have to suck it up and help her through this and his own demons as well. Once he puts that men who want to harm Ali behind bars (or under 6 feet of clover) he'll leave Ali alone and be content with his own life.

He just wishes that Ali would cooperate.