I originally read this book in the beginning of 2014. I'd say it's been a while ;) But now was the right time to re-read (or rather - re-listen) as Jakes has FINALLY released the 4th and last installment in the series. I'm re-writing my review since I found it to be too all over the place.
I'll start by saying I really enjoyed this one. It's fast paced and though the relationship buildup can be "tedious" at times I mostly blame myself.. I'm used to stand alone books, at least where relationship are concerned, but this one is more realistic because these two hardened men, who have LOADS of secrets and issues, NEED their time before an emotional relationship can form. I actually really appreciated that because it was more believable seeing them act upon their attraction but MUCH more hesitant to show ANY kind of emotion and care toward one another.
Prophet Drews has worked for EE Enterprise - a private security and operations company - almost from it's beginning. Though he seemed to have a lot of misgivings with the big boss - Phil Butler - in the end, he knows Phil is grooming him to replace him once he is off the field and THAT will happen sometime soon though WHEN exactly they don't know. Prophet has known for a while now he has a medical condition which in the end render him blind. That's a HUGE secret Prophet keeps from most of everyone around him. But that's not his only secret.. His past, mostly losing his best friend since childhood - John Morse - while serving as Navy SEALs together changed him. He is determined even years later to find out what TRULY happened to him.
Tom Boudreaux is new at EE. Lucky or unlucky for him, Phil was planning on partnering him with Prophet who seems to be unable to keep a partner. Well, it wasn't much easier for Tom. While Prophet simply doesn't get "attached", Tom's ex-partners were ALL killed. bad luck they say. Bad luck.
They are both quite reluctant to working together but their first case throws them into the water if they like it or not and this case is VERY personal for Prophet. John's younger brother Christopher gets killed in what seems to be a wrestling fight. Trying to find the one to blame for the murder is much more difficult than they anticipated but generally through bitching and complaining about one another, being unable to fully trust each other they still seems to work well together. But mostly injury prevents them from finding more than the basics about the case.
Regrouping after getting well takes them even further from the case, since it's not really a "case" for EE anymore. But the person who got Christopher killed hasn't said the last word and so he takes someone else Prophet cares about and this time they are WAY over their heads. This is when the past truly comes knocking on Prophet's door and Tom unable to look away follows him to (almost) a certain death.
While this book doesn't end with a cliff hanger or anything like it, it's a very unstable place for Prophet and Tom. Too many things were said and even more were UNSAID between them. Tom has made many attempts to get closer to Prophet who in turn keeps pushing him away and Tom is sick and tired of it. Prophet from his side KNOWS he is pushing Tom for the wrong reasons but it's much easier for him to keep flirting with his Spook friend next door - Cillian - than accepting Tom's attempts and actually ACTING upon his feelings. But it's so difficult especially after all the stuff from his past floating around him, now more than ever.
Originally I gave this book 4 stars review for a very specific reason and I still stand behind it. This series is TOO similar to "Cut & Run" by Abigail Roux. While I enjoyed this series, I can't ignore the HUGE resemblance between Ty to Prophet and Zane to Tom. They have similar traits and mannerisms and also there are some sub-plots or issues from both characters' past which are strangely similar. Yet I accept these two series ARE different and for me they both have a place.
I'll be continuing on to listen to the next one very soon :)
Originally Read (Kindle Edition): 26-27 January 2014.
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Rating:
★★★★★ |
Audio
Book |
260
pages
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Read on:
5-7 February 2019
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Hell or High Water is a 4 book MM Romance series by SE JAKES telling us the romance between Elijah "Prophet" Drews (a former navy SEAL) and Tom Boudreaux (former FBI). As a new member of "EE" (Extreme Escapes Ltd. - A private contracting firm), Tom is partnered with Prophet who isn't into having a partner. From there you can guess what happens :)
Each book has it's own story line / missions but there is a wider arc of story for all books. In the first book we learn more about Prophet (the case involve someone from his past) and the second gives us the background on Tom (taking place in where Tom grew up). The third build to the last novel and final confrontation of the wider story line. With the in-between novella mostly being about releasing sexual tension (which they do A LOT in this series which personally I'm less of a fan..). The fourth and last installment FINALLY deals with the big villain - Prophet's former best friend and SEAL team member John Morse ending this series with a bitter sweet note of everything that was lost, but enough that is still left to mend and heal. I can see Prophet and Tom living a long and happy life together.
I like the series but don't LOVE it. I have a few issues with it. Firstly, you better remember all the small details and who's who and what's their agenda when you go through the series because there is hardly any explanation to things that happened in the previous books or in the past and were re-visited. Second issue is I feel this series has too many similarities in MC to the Cut & Run series by Abigail Roux. Prophet is too much of a Ty and Tom is too much of a Zane. I do feel like these two series ARE independent and there is a "place" for both of them and yet I have my misgivings sometimes. My third issue I mentioned above - there is WAY too much sex. While there's a good reason - them using sex to communicate emotionally - it was TOO DAMN MUCH for me.
Free Falling (published 5 September 2012) ★★★★★
This is a standalone short novella telling us of Mitch and Blue, two EE
Ltd. operatives. Their story line takes place before Hell or High Water.
The
both of them have their appearances in some of the next books but they
bare no significant to the main story lines.
Dirty Deeds (published 13 January 2014) ★★★
This is an intended as a spinoff. Currently it's only a short novella of
Mal, former
teammate of Prophet in charge of shadowing Cillian - Prophet's neighbor
and a spook who Prophet suspects knows more than he's should about their
business. This one takes place in the same time
line as (and a bit after) the third book of "Hell of High Water".
Honestly, did really like this one so I don't think I'll continue with
this one whenever the next ones are published.
Books:
1. Catch a Ghost (published 13 September 2013) ★★★★
2. Long Time Gone (published 28 October 2013) ★★★★½
3. Daylight Again (published 5 May 2014) ★★★★
3.5. Not Fade Away (published 14 August 2014) ★★★
4. If I Ever (published 21 January 2019) ★★★★
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