by Aidan K. Morrissey

I usually don't read character lists at the beginning of a novel because in a totally fiction novel, they're meaningless until they actually do something and I regard it as lazy writing. This one was an exception because the vast majority of the characters are really people from history, even the cat!

By the time I got to Part One I already could see that the author had done his research, and that's a big part of what makes a historical fiction novel enjoyable to me. I especially love books set in Ancient Egypt and though I found this one a little slow moving, I enjoyed having that era brought to life for me from a different perspective than I've read before.

Part of me wants to give this an extra star for the historical research, but the dialogue is stiff and the story just doesn't flow well. Still, it's worth persevering.

but this time it’s not the God and Day’s world that we’re visiting. This time we get to see more of the Bounty Hunters. We first met Judge back in “Nothing Special #4: Don’t Judge” and we’ll see him a bit here as well but he’s not the focus of this story, he’s had his day in court so to speak.

However, those who read that book may also remember Duke, the owner of the bail bond company that Judge works for and Judge’s occasional no strings attached lover. Having said all that, you now basically know the connection between ‘Nothing Special’ and this series or at least this book. So, you don’t have to read the previous series but there’s some good stuff there so you might want to consider it.

For those who enjoyed Ms Via’s series ‘Nothing Special’ on audio if you enjoyed the narrator as much as I did than you’re in for the added treat of once again being able to enjoy the narrations of Aiden Snow. I was more than a little happy to know that Aiden Snow was the narrator for this first book of the series and I admit my fingers are crossed that he’ll be continuing with the rest of this series as well.

Just to be clear Duke is one of the MCs in this first book of the series ‘Promises, The Bounty Hunters’ and his love interest is none other than Vaughan Webb, classic gentleman with an old soul who’s just returned after 7 years from studying abroad with a newly printed law degree in hand as part of his plan to prove himself worthy of the man he loves…that’s right he’s set his sights on none other than Duke Morgan…his daddy’s best friend and if you didn’t see that coming than all I can say is you should have read the blurb.

While Duke and Vaughn’s story is essentially contained within this book, I’m sure we haven’t seen the last of them either. I wasn’t sure how this was going to work for me because of not just the age difference but the fact that Duke is best friends and business partners with Vaughn’s father. Surprisingly I ended up being ok with it and I think that due for the most part to the dynamics between the two men. This really wasn’t a case of ‘daddy complex’ if anything Vaughn was the aggressor in this pairing.

Vaughn's been in love with Duke for years, it was part of his motivation to travel and study abroad for his law degree. He wanted to put some time and distance between himself and Duke so that when he was done what he needed to do it would help Duke to see him not as a ‘boy’ but as a man who’s been out in the world making his way and experiencing life…Vaughn’s a man with a plan and the determination to make it happen. Vaughn’s 27 when he returns to his hometown ready to claim the man he wants. So while Duke’s a fair bit older than him that still doesn’t make Vaughn any less of a mature adult. I loved that this story never felt like there was an imbalance of power between these two MCs and believe the opportunity for this to happen was there on more than one occasion.

As I mentioned earlier, we first met Duke back in ‘Don’t Judge’ book #4 of the ‘Nothing Special’ series. What we see in this story is that Duke was far more hurt by what happened between him and Judge but even he conceded that he wasn’t the right person for Judge, but more importantly he also comes to realize that Judge wasn’t the right person for him and that his happiness is waiting in someone else’s arms.

Despite the fact that events seem to be conspiring against these two men Vaughn’s determination to have the man of his dreams will not be easily dashed and he is determined to succeed whatever the cost and the cost is, to say the least surprising but Vaughn’s up to the challenge.

Vaughn and Duke’s story may have had some over the top moments but at the end of it all, it was a sweet and enjoyable romance that I really enjoyed.

However, there was more than just Vaughn and Duke to this story. This is also the beginning of another story. One that’s about Vaughn’s father, Roman ‘Quick’ Webb and a certain adorable doctor that I really liked and to be honest I’ve got my fingers crossed that Quick has to do some serious grovelling on this one. When it comes to being a dad and a best friend Quick’s got it nailed. He was awesome to bad when it comes to just being a decent human being, he has moments filled with ‘fail’. I admit it I vacillated back and forth with him because one minute he had me gushing and sighing with how much I liked him and the next minute I was thinking someone needed to punch him in the junk…that’s right in the junk!!! He was that much of a jerk. So needless to say  I need this story because in my heart of hearts I don’t believe he’s as mean of a person as he was but I’m really curious to know what would make someone so nice act like such a jerk…what can I say inquiring minds want to know.

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An audio book of “Promises Part 1” was graciously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

each story has given me something that I’ve really enjoyed and/or found compelling enough to make me want to keep reading, so for me if I can come away with at least a few memorable things from a story it’s a win from there all that remains to be determined is ‘how much of  a win’.

It really shouldn’t come as any surprise that for me this series seems to be on a roll as each book is becoming successively more enjoyable and while the last two books have gotten 3.5 stars from me this one gets a solid 4 stars from me.

I think in many ways this book was just what the series needed for me it felt a bit more relationship focused rather than police story. While I enjoy a good mystery or crime drama I also enjoy a story that gives me relationships that I can watch and enjoy the progression of and I got that in spades with ‘Nothing Special V’ plus there were some wonderfully humorous moments as God and Day prepared to tie the knot and the team gets a new member or two while other members of the team make a bid for changes to their job description. It may be all in a days work but even God’s got limits on how many days he can work with out rest (I hear it’s around 6).

When Edwin Steele’s uncle, councilman Rasmus Steele shows him a video tape of God’s team, knowing that this is the team that he needs to be on if he’s ever going to find his faith restored, Edwin’s a little more dubious about his uncle’s convictions. But one look at Tech the team’s technology/computer genius he concedes that maybe he needs to at least give things a chance.

Tech is left speechless when the gorgeous RECON marine greets him and when he finally remembers how to use his words, the words he use may be meant to impress but what comes out causes a world of hurt for Edwin Steele as Tech blurts out more information about Steele’s past than he should possibly be able to find out.

Tech and Steele get off to a very rocky start but the attraction’s strong and both men are determined to get past the awkward first meeting and see where things can go. These two men have quickly become my favorite pairing in this series. Although the couple that’s coming in the next book may give Tech and Steele a run for their money, but we’ll discuss this a little later.

Ok, to recap…so far we’ve got God and Day trying to get their act together in regards to their wedding nuptials and get ready to testify in court and of course that’s not the only complication being presented by their day job…after all they are cops and there might have been a huge drug bust that went a little sideways resulting in the death of a major drug dealer and Ro getting shot. We’ve got Tech and Steele playing an interesting game of ‘come here, come here, come here, no get away, get away, get away’ it’s a fun game. Sssoooo….you’d think this would be enough to keep these team of alpha males busy… right? Nope, not even close…because in the midst of all this drama who should wander in but Day’s old college friend/lover, Prescott Vaughan. Interesting little side note here…the first book that I ever read by this author was ‘You Can See Me’ which is Prescott’s story, so needless to say, I was a bit of a geek about him showing up in this story. So yes, this definitely gave the story another plus for me and if you think I’m finally done well…nope, wrong again there’s still more and for me it’s a biggie…

It’s the thing that solidified this story’s position my favorite so far for me…first we get to see a bit more of SWAT team leader, Ivan Hart and while he’s been in previous stories this character hasn’t really grabbed my interest a whole lot but he did this time in part this was due to his interactions with the other new member of God and Day’s team one Lennox Freeman (otherwise called ‘Free’). We really only get little bits and pieces of these two men here but  those bits and pieces were enough to get me back to audible.com to look for that book on audio and oh happy me ‘His Hart’s Command’, #6 in the ‘Nothing Special’ series is out and on audio and has the same narrator as the previous books which for me is a total delight to know because 1. I really love the continuity of the same narrator for a series and 2. Aiden Snow has done a stellar job of giving voice to this collection of bold, brash, alpha males and their world.

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An audio book of ‘Nothing Special V’ was graciously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

I've listened to this series from the first book and honestly for the most part it's been ok not great not bad just ok but with some memorable moments, that is until now...

I very much enjoyed the last book "Nothing Special V" which was about Tech and his recon marine Edwin Steele but at the end of that book there were some things that hinted at who this book would be about and while we've met Ivan Hart, the leader of the S.W.A.T. team that backs up God and Days task force in previous books it was only at the end of 'Nothing Special V' that we get a hint of Lennox Freeman hacker extraordinaire and best friend to Tech. 

Ivan and Lennox worked for me...they just clicked and I loved these two men together. Ivan in all his alpha male bravado but still seeming so vulnerable when we get a peek at his insecurities when it comes to his relationship with Lennox and his struggles to overcome the insecurities that he was left with as a result of his marriage. I just loved Ivan, he really was a big old teddy bear. 

Lennox has a past that speaks to abuse and while he struggles with his fears in certain situations he never stops working to overcome them and not let those fears run his life. He's truly one of the bravest characters in this series and I absolutely loved how much he wanted to give Ivan the type of relationship that he deserved...loving and supportive. It's actually what both men deserve and it was such a positive force for both men to draw on. I also really, really enjoyed Lennox and his snark...seriously no one does snark like a Brit.

"His Hart's Command" is by far my favorite story in this series and once again the narration is provided by Aiden Snow giving the listener the continuity of voices for characters and narration that can truly mean the difference between an ok listening experience and a truly enjoyable one.

As with previous stories the author has left us with a potential pairing for a possible future story and in this case neither man is a member of God and Days task force but they are every bit as alpha male as the men in previous stories and with names like Fox and Bull how could I not want that story...so, I'm just going to keep my fingers crossed that this is going to be a thing and hopefully it'll be a thing one day soon.

While I appreciated having been offered a copy of this book for review I own this one because I was so anxious to listen to this one that I purchased a copy as soon as I saw that it was available...which was basically as soon as I finished listening to 'Nothing Special V'...what can I say 'will power, I has none and I regret nothing!'

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Book one of this series was about God and Day and in book number two we watched Sin and Furi fall in love but here in ‘Here Comes Trouble’ it’s Ruxs and Green the enforcers for the ‘Atlanta PD Narcotics Task Force’ they’re the men who hit the streets frequently at considerable expense to the task force budget and gather information for the task force that allows them to do their job. While both of these characters have appeared in previous stories, their presence has been minor, but in this story, they are the central characters and we get to find out a whole lot more about both of these men and their relationship to each other than as work partners.

Detective Mark Ruxsberg and Chris Green are partners at work and best friends…Chris is bi and while he’s not in the closet, he’s also not taking out any ads in the local paper. He hasn’t even bothered to tell his partner and best friend…the same partner and best friends who’s starting to wonder about things…things like what it would be like to kiss Ruxs…to maybe  pin him up against a wall and do things…things that definitely take their relationship beyond the strictly platonic. What Ruxs doesn’t realize is that Greens been having those same thoughts about him for a whole lot longer and while it’s slippery slope that these men find themselves on as they go from friends to lovers their equally determined not to lose their friendship along the way.

Threaded throughout this budding romance we have plans for a drug bust…because hello! Narcotics Task Force and the drama of Ruxs mother…seriously I’m so with Green about this woman…I have zero compassion for her…sorry…not sorry and last but not least we have Curtis the  young man that we met in the first book when God and Day stopped him from robbing a convenience store. Curtis is definitely more present in this story and while I would have liked to see his character better defined, he’s got potential and hopefully if he continues to appear in future stories we’ll see him gain a more cohesive personality that presents a clearer image of who he is but I definitely enjoyed the interaction between Ruxs and Green both as friends and as lovers as they worked together along with the rest of their team to create a family for Curtis.

In spite of the fac that I do think it’s happened a little too quickly, even for people their age…I’m ok with the idea of Curtis and Genesis as a couple. I admit it’s been a few years but I do remember how easy it is to feel like you’re in love when you’re their age but I’m hoping that the future brings more character and relationship growth for both of these young men before we see them actually settled into a committed relationship and truthfully for me this is something that’s ok as a sidebar in future stories but  I’m hoping the stories stay focused on the members of the Atlanta PD Narcotics Task Force.

And once again it’s the talented narrations of Aiden Snow that has not only brought this story to life but provided me with the voices that I have come to associate with this group of men. ‘Don’t Judge’ was the first book in this series and my first time listening to this narrator but here we are at ‘Here Comes Trouble’ book number three and with each book I’m enjoying this narrator more and more. While most of his audio books to date are m/f stories I’m certainly going to be keeping an eye out for future audio books in the m/m genre by this narrator. But in the meantime, there’s always ‘Don’t Judge’ the next book in the A.E. Via’s ‘Nothing Special’ series to be enjoyed.

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An audio book of ‘Here Comes Trouble’ was graciously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.