@debbiereadsbook, @Totally_Bound, @AliyahBurke96, #Contemporary, #Erotic, #Romance, #Men_in_Uniform, #MultiCultural, 5 out of 5 (exceptional)

 

Temporary Home

Sometimes past demons need to be faced before one can embrace what the future offers, and who better to slay them than a Marine?

 

Gunnery Sergeant Sam Hoch travels to the Pac Norwest upon receiving word his mentor and the closest thing to a father he's had, has taken a turn for the worse and is in the hospital. Once there he meets a woman who is unlike any he's ever met before. A former Marine herself, she opens up her home to him so he can be near his family.

 

Roxi Mammon isn't positive it's smart to allow Sam to stay with her, not with her immediate physical reaction to him. She's heard tales of him from her best friend, his sister, and now having met him she is even more impressed by the man the Corps has turned him into—a silent, strong type. Passion grows between them and soon she finds herself falling for the Recon Marine. And falling hard.

 

As things escalate between them, Sam has to accept his past doesn't control him if he plans on keeping Roxi in his future. Can he understand that this is the one woman who can give him something more? Will he silence the fear within him and tell Roxi she's the one for him? Will he realise that he deserves more than just a temporary home?

 

Alone With You

A construction worker and a security expert tangle beneath the heated skies of San Antonio.

 

Pierce ‘Tuck’ Carter has been in love with his neighbour across the hall pretty much since she moved in over there. They’re good friends and do many things together but he wants to take it to the next level. Friends with benefits for starters, then beyond.

 

Ariel Greene is secretly crushing on her neighbour. One night after drinking she wakes the next morning in his bed and flees. Has she just crossed a line they can’t recover from?

 

Tuck pursues her, wanting more, however one of his exs, each of their jobs and his intense dislike of her putting herself in danger doesn’t make the road an easy one. Will Ariel and Tuck learn to work it all out before something else happens, or will it take the near loss of one to make the other realise what had almost been lost forever?

 

Till We Ain't Strangers Anymore

Sometimes a stranger isn’t a stranger at all, but the one you’ve needed all along.

 

Brent ‘Killer’ Agers is on leave. He needs to heal up and is tired of dealing with stuff around him so he takes a drive, ending up in Haversham, MT, deciding to rent a cabin and recover that way. Little does he know that the woman he couldn’t get out of his mind will be in his life once more.

 

Maya Brennan is content with her life running the local Bait & Tackle shop. Everything was going according to plan until the day he walked into her office looking to rent a cabin.

 

She’s never forgotten the man she had the fling with in Hawaii but by his reaction, he doesn’t recall her in the slightest. Once he figures it out, Brent is ready to find a way to prove they’re not strangers any longer. This Recon Marine may be facing his greatest battle yet.

 

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Without a doubt this one is my favourite of the series so far. While reading it I just could not get over how far both Hsin and Boyd have come. I adored Monterrey and all that happened there but I was always a little uneasy about how intense their relationship was throughout that period, mostly because as is their way the lack of communication meant that neither of them was truly sure where they stood.

I don’t think I have ever questioned the fact that these two love each other, it was always so very clear that they had something incredibly special but I think the biggest problem for them both was that neither truly understood what was expected of them. Sin had absolutely no idea how to navigate a personal relationship, he had no experience with them, and everything that Sin does in terms of human interaction seems to be guess work. Boyd also as far as I could see had very little idea on the workings of a functional relationship. (I mean seriously, look at the women who birthed him.) Lou was his only real experience and he was so young at the time that I’m not sure it can be compared to what he has with Sin, even when they both met Boyd was still so young, I do think that he needed that time apart to grow, to come into himself while not under a cloud of depression. Just like I think Sin needed that time apart from Boyd when he was being treated for his illness and living a life outside of ‘The Box’ and participating somewhat in society. They both needed each other at the start so that they could start living life but they also needed the time they spent apart so that they could discover who they really were, once that started to happen, once they were both healthy and somewhat at peace? WOW!!!

“It doesn't change that I still want him, I still want to be with him, I still feel like the fucking air has been sucked out of the room when he walks in and I still think about him all the time.”



"Sin was more important to him than anything or anyone else and he would gladly give up his life for the opportunity to try to protect and save him."

Monterrey will always be special but the time the boys spent in Vermont was just the absolute business. Vermont is my new favourite.



But it also has made me kind of sad. Sad because it really was very beautiful to witness them both away from The Agency and the pressure that is their everyday life. I’m very worried about what is to come now. I’m worried about the new administration and I’m worried about what Sin and Boyd are about to go through. The little bit of peace seemed too good to be true while it was happening and unfortunately that proved to be the case.

”He wanted to say something more. That he wouldn't have wanted to spend the time any other way. That whatever else he'd have been doing didn't matter. That Boyd meant more to him than anything else in existence. That Sin never wanted him to leave the bed. That he never wanted to let him go into the uncertainties of tomorrow.”



"Things never work out for us. It's always the calm before the storm. Maybe it will always be this way until we finally fucking die in this place."

Outside forces have always caused these two the most pain and as long as they can weather the storms that those forces bring I think that they will be okay. I’m just not looking forward to those storms though. I’m terrified if I’m honest.

The Interludes also brought us the force of nature that is Emilio Vega. Emilio is just one of the most amazing characters I have ever come across.



No matter what way I look at it I’m pretty sure that I should hate him but I just couldn’t. In fact I’m pretty sure I’m in love with him. Boyd and Kassian actually discussed the Emilio effect.

"I don't understand it. I hated him before I met him because of what I thought he'd done to Hsin. I love Hsin; I'll always side with him. Yet when I met Emilio it was hard to hate him the way I had before. He's come onto me a few times, even twice bringing up a ridiculous idea of a threesome with Hsin--"

He shook his head to himself and made a face.

"You'd think I'd dismiss it entirely like I would with anyone else but something about that damn man makes the question stick in the back of my head. I tell myself I'm only intrigued because he looks so much like Hsin but who knows, maybe it's just his charm."

"It's got to be," Kassian muttered, looking irritated by it. "Bastard."

That charm hops off the page it really does. No matter what fucked up or crazy shit he does I found myself forgiving him. There is an incident with Carhart that was just not okay and I ended up feeling sorry for him at the end of it all. HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE? It’s absolute madness. I will say one thing though, I agree with him on one point. Carhart is totally messing with his head.

”You even have commitment issues with criminal activities”

Yet again at the end of The Interludes I have no answers. Yet again I have only questions. I know I’m in for some pain. I know the next 1200 pages are going to be a rollercoaster. But I do think that at the end, the people who need to know will know that:

I decided to review the series as a whole, because it makes the most sense. So, try to bear with me, since this might get lengthy, and will contain a lot of gushing praise.

First off, this series made me wonder how many amazing books I dismiss on the grounds of them not being 'my type' or being too long. Now, since I like a lot of different genres, I sometimes end up giving a book such as ICoS a chance. I initially thought the dystopian setting wouldn't be my thing–so utterly wrong!–and I was taken aback by the length of the series–imagine my surprise when I wanted it to be even longer!

Frankly, I have to thank my girls with whom I BRed Evenfall in the first place, because if it weren't for them, I'm not sure I would have given in anytime soon–or ever.

I don't even know how to begin to say what this series means to me... It consumed me for a few months, and I became so involved in this incredible world that I put Fade on hold for almost 3 months, because I couldn't bear with the thought of it ending. When I picked it up again, it was like coming home. ICoS has become my absolute favorite series ever, and I'm afraid nothing will top it soon. It was BRILLIANT, undeniably so!!!

Warning: This book demands a lot of feelings!

There are friendships built, as well as destroyed, there are relationships born, there's love, but also heartache, there are misunderstandings, and life-altering experiences. The characters have to deal with abuse–both psychological and physical–pain, manipulation, complete loss of control over their lives, trauma, violence, and a bunch of other things not meant for the weak of heart, or for readers who simply do not enjoy angst. Because, let me tell you, Afterimage was the most angsty book I've EVER read! In spite of all the fucked up things, the series also portrays incredibly strong bonds, loyalty, love, redemption, hope, and a flicker of happiness. Frankly, it's an emotional rollercoaster–it will make you angry, it will rip your heart out and stomp all over it, it will make you cry, but it will also make you snort with laughter, feel for the characters, and you will fight and hope right along with them. Oh, and let's not forget the heat factor, because there are a lot of steamy scenes which will have you hyperventilating. ;-)

The setting

IcoS takes place in a post-apocalyptic future, and revolves around the Agency, a heavily protected organization, which does all the dirty work of the government. They are the very definition of the ends justifying the means, no matter which consequences those who are involved have to suffer from. Needless to say, I was completely fascinated by the dystopian world created by the authors. The details painted such vivid images into my brain, that I couldn't help but feel I was right there all along. I was lost inside this amazing world for months!



The plot

There's an expansive period of time over which ICoS takes place–about 6 years, give or take. Naturally, that means that a LOT of things happen–agent trainings, promotions, missions, relationship changes, near-death experiences, vacations etc. Because of the details, the reader comes to know each and every character quite well, concerning their pasts, hidden desires, fears, dreams, and everything in-between. The Agency is based in Lexington, but there are missions all over the world, including France, Russia, Spain (Monterrey–aka best mission ever), China etc.

The characters

Hsin Liu Vega aka Sin



Sin... Oh, man! How does one even begin to describe him? Sin has been dealt a shitload of crap his whole life, basically. He had a very difficult childhood, having had to put up with a lowlife mom, an absent father, and a life in a brothel in China, where he was abused for years. Eventually, his father came to the rescue, having no clue how to deal with or much less raise a child, so he trained Sin, he turned him into the best assassin, a living weapon. At the age of 14, Sin was recruited by the Agency, and the blows just kept coming from then on out. People called him the Monster, they were afraid of him, and the Agency treated him no better–they only sent him on killing sprees, they locked him up, tortured him, punished him, and worsened his mental illnesses. Along came Boyd, who turned Sin's world around, and who made him feel again. Once he opened up to Boyd and started trusting him, Sin changed for the better–he was passionate, he poured everything into the relationship, learned to communicate, he was protective, and would have died for his partner. Sin is very complex–he's gorgeous, sarcastic, intelligent, perfect at doing his job as an assassin, fearless, quick-witted, and tough. Frankly, I could go on and on, because I am so smitten with him, it's not even funny!

Boyd Beaulieu



Boyd has had his fair share of pain, too. His father died when he was just a kid, and his mother became a key player at the Agency, and later recommended him to be Sin's partner. Boyd is androgynous and openly gay, and that has led to people treating him a certain way and hurting him badly. He is beautiful, and at the beginning, he's just as cold as his mother, having closed off to protect himself because of past trauma. But beneath that, there's an amazing person, who's brave, a talented artist, clever, strong, and a reliable friend. When it came to Sin, Boyd made some mistakes which pissed me off–because how dare he hurt my baby–but then again, their relationship was dysfunctional on both sides for a while. [Warning–for those of you who loathe it: That includes cheating.] Regardless, he loved Sin fiercely, he saved him, he was the first person to fight for his partner, and he never left his side.

Emilio Vega



Emilio fucking Vega is, to sum it up, sex on legs! He lives by his own rules, bows down to no one, is handsome and sexy, fucks both men and women, takes drugs, drinks, doesn't give a shit, and exudes charm, which attracts people. He's also a hilarious mofo, and his banter had me snort-laughing on multiple occasions. He's been through a lot, and managed to rise and make something of his situation every time, for which I admired him, and my heart broke every time he dropped the emotionless asshole act and showed his humanity. That especially applied to his relationship with Carhart, with whom he always let his guard down, and who managed to hurt him more than anyone. Needless to say, I just wanted to hug him at those times. I really adored Emilio!

Zachary Carhart



Zachary aka General Carhart is hard for me to describe, because I loved him, but there were times when I wanted to hurt him real bad. Carhart is like a second father to Sin, but because of his position at the Agency, he has to make a lot of heartless decisions on Sin's account, and that made me angry. On the other hand, he also protected Sin, so I guess I eventually forgave him for the other crap. Another thing which killed me was his whole attitude towards Emilio. Their relationship has always been fucked up, but Carhart was always aware of the fact that Emilio loved him, but he still didn't allow himself to pursue his own feelings, and ended up hurting Emilio too many times to count. The moment when he finally gave in was fantastic.

Kassian Trovosky



Kassian is practically the opposite of Sin in every possible way. He has the same status at the Agency, but while Sin is seen as the Monster, Kass is the Perfect Agent, and everyone looks up to him–Sin gets a kick out of sarcastically calling him Captain America, haha. Well, obviously, he's anything but perfect. He is an alcoholic and has numerous personal demons which make him suffer. I really liked his friendship with Boyd and willingness to stand up and fight for his friends in general.

Ryan



Ryan is just awesome! He is one of Boyd's closest friends, and among the only people who are not afraid of Sin–on the contrary, he admires him greatly. Ryan is clever, friendly, enthusiastic, and an optimist–despite having his own hardships in life. He is also brilliant and warmhearted.

Owen



Owen is pure sunshine, he lights up boring debriefings, he's always hyperactive, because he drinks a gallon of coffee a day to help with his sleep deprivation. In spite of his jokes and games, he's highly intelligent. I loved him!

Vivienne Beaulieu



To say I had conflicted feelings about Vivienne would be an understatement. See, she's a major bitch, fucking ice queen and gets the worst mother of the century award. Still, when she allowed a flicker of her feelings to show, and her mask cracked just a bit, I kind of felt bad for her, and understood the reasons why she had to be who she was. But mostly, I hated her with a passion for everything she put Boyd through. For all that crap, she had no excuse whatsoever.

Other characters

Of course there are many more characters than the ones I mentioned, but I merely listed the most important of them all.

Conclusion

Brilliant series! Almighty authors! Fantastic reading experience!



Important note

The books are free. You can download them here. You're welcome! ;-)