If I Ever (Hell or High Water #4) by SE Jakes

I've been waiting for this book for YEARS, literally. Re-reading (or rather listening) to the 3 previous installments right before starting this one was a must because there's A LOT of details to be remembered and too little of them re-explained. I remembered that from my initial read so I'm glad I gave myself this reminder - I recommend you do as well.

I started reading this one hyped up and VERY impatient. I wanted to be able to envision John DEAD. Nothing less than that, but first I had to endure Tom and Prophet struggling to deal with Prophet keeping secrets YET AGAIN and Tom's reaction, as usual, isn't very accepting. Prophet kept pushing Tom away but unlike his usual self he wasn't pushing him away physically. He needed him WITH him. He knows Tom can help with the John issue but it's not just that. Tom grounds him. He is essential to him. So while I WAS annoyed with him, I was also proud as well because in a way it was a maturer version of Prophet, one who is ready for a relationship to last or outlast John Morse.

Daylight Again (Hell or High Water #3) by SE Jakes

This is my last re-read (re-listen really) and I can't WAIT to start reading the last installment. The book ended with a big reveal, one that both men (though mostly Tom) have been circling around concerning the triggers to Prophet's flash backs. It's going to make things A WHOLE LOT complicated. 

In this book Prophet and Tom are a couple. For real. They are living together (since Tom got evicted at the end of the last installment) and though Prophet still won't come back to EE, Tom works there still. It took quite a lot but Prophet is opening up to Tom more and more, realizing Tom can handle it, can handle HIM. He even trusts him in his most valued secret - his eyesight situation (which is getting worse). It was truly heart breaking to listen to. They are quite domesticated now if you can believe it, I could even say they are becoming a sort of a family and there are starting to think about the future (well, Tom does at least..). 

Long Time Gone (Hell or High Water #2) by SE Jakes

I originally read (and reviewed) this one 5 years ago but I'm re-reading it (or rather, re-listening) to it now since the 4th and last installment was FINALLY released on the end of January. I gotta say that though I remembered quite a lot about the series I forgot a bunch too, so I was happy getting a reminder of Tom and Prophet and how they were at the beginning. For me, Tom was always the favorite of the two, maybe because even though he too can be a "wise ass" and be all macho macho guy, he was always the first to reach out to Prophet and try to smooth things out. To make a relationship out of their maybe friendship (with benefits..) - which is exactly how this book started. 

The last book finished with Tom choosing Cope as his partner.  It was quite a blow to Prophet though he himself wasn't willing to talk to Tom and smooth things out so they can turn the next page AS partners. Yet even when Tom and Prophet were far far away, Tom tried reaching out to him - writing him e-mails every day, mainly talking to him, trying to communicate even if after months he got NO reply. Yet Prophet DID get his messages but he couldn't read them, because he KNEW it would mean dropping everything he has been doing and he couldn't do that, not now. He wasn't ready. Yet before he dropped totally out of the grid in a way that would prevent him of ever (?) returning he did read them and getting to the very last one he realized he has to come back because Tom's aunt Della might be in danger of the hurricane planned to hit New Orleans (while Tom is in Eritrea and can't get away).  

Catch a Ghost (Hell or High Water #1) by SE Jakes

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. 

Not Fade Away (Hell or High Water #3.5) by SE Jakes

An easy read. Mostly sexually oriented. Tom finds out that Prophet used to and have been going with Mal to BDSM clubs and he sort of gets jealous. I guess it's also about the fact that everyone is saying how "the same" Mal and Tom are. Prophet explains to Tom in words and in actions why they aren't that alike mainly in the fact that while Tom needs surrendering to someone he trusts what Mal on the other hand needs pain so it's better having someone he trusts (aka Prophet) there seeing that nothing is getting out of hand. 

I have a feeling that this short novella was mostly to get people interested in reading more of Mal and Cillian even though it was about Prophet and Tom. Which I understand but I would still rather have something more about Tom and Prophet especially when the series is nearing it's end and Mal and Cillian are going to have their own series and they DID have enough written time on the previous novels. 

There isn't a really "story line" here. It's mostly the sex and what it means to both of them. It was nice enough but I would rather have more plot line, something more to the story especially as I'm kinda bummed that the 4th and last book in the series "If I Ever" isn't out today as it was supposed. Jakes says on her Facebook page that it's going to be out either on November or December.. Another thing I'm bummed about is the fact that Jakes doesn't remind us what happened in previous installments which means I have to think of how to remind myself enough about all the details and all the side characters BEFORE the last book.

Additional Details: Kindle Ebook, 48 pages, 6 October 2014 / On GoodReads

 

 

ABOUT THIS SERIES
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) ★★★★