Review of Psycho Romeo(Ward Security #1) by Jocelynn Drake & Rinda Elliott

by Jocelynn Drake & RindaElliott

4 stars

The Ward Security Series is a spin-off of the Unbreakable Bonds Series.

Geoffrey Ralse is known for being the life of the party. He loves the club scene, hanging with his friends, and flirting with whomever catches his eye. He certainly isn’t going to stop living his life just because some would-be stalker starts sending him threats.

But it all changes when Geoffrey is drugged and wakes up half naked in his own home with a new message from his stalker.

He needs help and there’s only one person he trusts…

Protective Agent Sven Larsen has been fighting Geoffrey’s flirtatious advances for months, even though he’s impossibly drawn to the man. There’s no way he can be around him twenty-four/seven and not finally crack. But one look at Geoffrey’s haunted eyes, and he knows there’s no way he’s letting Geoffrey walk out of Ward Security without him.

Even if it means breaking his own rules, he will keep Geoffrey safe.

Authors of the incredible Unbreakable Bonds series have another fast-paced thriller in Psycho Romeo, the first in the Ward Security series.  We are so happy to have the collaboration of these great authors, and Psycho Romeo Is a terrific start to their new series.

The good?

-      -    Visiting our friends:  Although this is a new series, it does cross over into the Unbreakable Bonds boys, and yes, we did first meet Geoffrey and Sven in that series.  We really enjoyed that is a new series, but we still visited with all our boys.  We were sad to see the end of the Unbreakable Bonds series, and so happy that Psycho Romeo is a bit of a spinoff.

-     -     Build-up:  there is some sweet chemistry between Geoffrey and Sven.  They have great dialogues, banter and really see each other.  And when they finally give into temptation, Psycho Romeo is scorching hot, just like we knew it would be.

-      -    The Mystery or Thriller: Psycho Romeo is a romance, but also a Thriller/Mystery, and it delivers on both.  Even when the sexy times pick up there is always the undercurrent of the mystery, it is a great balance.  We really enjoyed this in the Unbreakable Bonds series, and glad that Psycho Romeo captured this magic.  The mystery moves the book along, and really bonds Sven and Geoffrey together. Psycho Romeo was loaded with action.

-     -     Geoffrey:  In the previous series, and at the start of this one Geoffrey comes across as a a self-absorbed, social media obsessed, throw away character.  But he is so redeemed in Psycho Romeo, and thank goodness as we really liked him.  Psycho Romeo goes into Geoffrey’s backstory and helps make him truly worthy of Sven and a happy ever after.

The not so good?

-     -     Continuation of a story?  The good and bad.  This presents as a continuing story and you don’t really have to read the Unbreakable Bonds series, but you will be on a steep learning curve for Psycho Romeo.  We liked that we got to visit with our beloved boys, but we also wanted a bit on a new story.  We have seen the bodyguard-client story before from these authors, and wished they would have taking their co-writing magic to a brand new story and characters.

Psycho Romeo is a fast-paced, action-packed, sexy read, and we really enjoyed every minute.  But, we do suggest that you finish the Unbreakable Bonds series first to get as much enjoyment as possible.

Review of Devour by Jocelynn Drake and Rinda Elliott

by Jocelynn Drake and Rinda Elliott

4 Stars

Ian Pierce is the chef and part owner of the hottest restaurant in Cincinnati, his chosen family is full of happy relationships, and the scruffy, snarky cop who has been haunting his dreams is one step closer to being in his bed. But everything comes crashing down when the past he narrowly escaped nine years ago comes to a deadly head.

Hollis Banner was enamored of Ian at first sight. He’s kept his distance, knowing the gorgeous, self-confident man is out of his league. Yet there’s no standing aside when Boris Jagger escapes a raid. Jagger's world has been nearly destroyed and this time, the crime boss is coming after Ian and his friends personally.

Hollis will do whatever it takes to keep Ian safe as they escape to a safe house with a couple of Ian's overprotective friends. And Ian finds himself in a race to unlock painful memories—memories containing information that could take down the very last of Jagger's illegal operations forever.

This is the book 4 in the Unbreakable Bonds series, and much anticipated!  The Unbreakable Bonds Series follow a group, a family of sorts, of 4 men through their journeys to love, all tied up in an action mystery. Being a series, you really do need to read the 3 previous books to actually understand what is happening.

This last installment is about Ian, a young chef, with a tragic past that has come back to hurt him.  Ian was sold by his parents at a young age into sex-slavery, and although years later, and a free man, Boris Jagger his captor still have an axe to grind him and his friends. Hollis Banner is a cop who is seriously attracted to Ian, and has put himself in an undercover position is Jaffer’s employment.  

This was a great read, and a great tie up for the series.  We loved re-visiting the other characters, wish there was more Snow-Jude loving, and seeing where they are after a year of relationships.  The bond between Lucas, Ian, Snow and Rowe really make this book special.  They are such individual characters that you feel like you know them all and their reactions. 

But Devour focuses around Ian and Hollis and man, it is sweet like you know it should be.  Hollis is a blue-collar cop, who likes casseroles and beer and Ian optimizes a pretty-boy.  And they work together.  Ian need that strong man, and Hollis finds himself playing nurturer and really needing that.  But the sweetness doesn’t overwhelm the steam.  Whoo boy, the steam is fantastic, and the building relationship, after a year of flirting, is just what we need as a reader.  We love Ian and really hoped he would get that happy ending and thank goodness Devour delivers.