anya_doesntmatter's review against another edition
4.0
Fast Paced. Steamy. Suspenseful.
There's a lot to like about this story. Both MC's are strong men whom were struggling with their own demons. I liked how fast paced the story was. Everything flowed smoothly, I also loved the sex and dirty talk. There isn't a lot of sex but what was there ( which I think is the right amount), was well written. There was lots of suspenseful moments that had my heart race a couple times regardless of the voice in the back of my mind saying the ending will be predictable.
I wish I were able to rate this book higher but there were a couple missed opportunities for both MC's to have more in depth conversations about their experiences which I thought would have brought them even closer together. I was a bit disappointed by that and I just couldn't shake that feeling of " this was almost perfect!"
Cari Z. is one of my favorite writers and if you've never read a Cari Z. book then hop to it!
My recommends: [b:Tempest|27304319|Tempest|Cari Z.|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1446416665s/27304319.jpg|47356747] [b:Opening Worlds|13013557|Opening Worlds (Worlds, #1)|Cari Z.|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1320529116s/13013557.jpg|18175448]
*ARC provided for Review via Netgalley*
scarletine6's review against another edition
3.0
I had a hard time gelling with this book. The narration by Nick J. Russo was, surprisingly, really choppy for the first two chapters and the dialogue sounded awkward and stilted. The author added either an interview snippet of Therapy notes to the start of each chapter. This did not help with the flow of the story at all.
The sex scenes were super hot, but because of the chopping introduction to Elliot I was unsure of his character throughout the book. Lennox was solid, but his PTSD flashback thing has been done a million times before, and better!
All in all, it was entertaining, but not the kind of book I would fangirl over.
The sex scenes were super hot, but because of the chopping introduction to Elliot I was unsure of his character throughout the book. Lennox was solid, but his PTSD flashback thing has been done a million times before, and better!
All in all, it was entertaining, but not the kind of book I would fangirl over.
claudia_is_reading's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed the mystery storyline in this book. It was very well done and kept me guessing for 3/4 of the book. At that point, I kind suspected who was the real culprit, but wasn't completely sure I had got it right.
I like that we get a whole bunch of suspects, all of them with valid reasons to go after Elliot, who has a very erm.... colourful past after all. That makes it's easy to get really engrossed in the story, and I kept wondering what would happen next.
I liked Lennox, he is a very competent, very capable man, and Elliot is lucky to get him by his side during all these events. And his daughter is cute, so more points for him :P
The romance... I didn't get very engaged with it. Maybe because they didn't seem to be into each other that much, except for sex.
But that didn't diminish my enjoyment of the book, at all. And it's only my opinion :P
I like that we get a whole bunch of suspects, all of them with valid reasons to go after Elliot, who has a very erm.... colourful past after all. That makes it's easy to get really engrossed in the story, and I kept wondering what would happen next.
I liked Lennox, he is a very competent, very capable man, and Elliot is lucky to get him by his side during all these events. And his daughter is cute, so more points for him :P
The romance... I didn't get very engaged with it. Maybe because they didn't seem to be into each other that much, except for sex.
But that didn't diminish my enjoyment of the book, at all. And it's only my opinion :P
josy's review against another edition
4.0
A huge thank you to Dark Night Sound and Dorian Bane who donated this audiobook to the M/M Romance Group's 8th Anniversary Celebration!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~ 3.5 stars ~
I liked this book! The mystery was great and kept me guessing but something was missing. I can't really put my finger on it. I don't think it was the romance playing second fiddle to the mystery because I love good mysteries and don't necessarily need hearts and flowers to enjoy a story. It's also not that I didn't like the characters because I did! Maybe it was the way the story was told. Maybe I wanted both MCs to talk more to each other about their troubled pasts instead of being given only glimpses here and there. I don't know. What I do know is that I'm looking forward to reading more by Cari Z. !
A quick word about the audiobook: Nick J. Russo was amazing as always!! He is one of my favorite narrators!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~ 3.5 stars ~
I liked this book! The mystery was great and kept me guessing but something was missing. I can't really put my finger on it. I don't think it was the romance playing second fiddle to the mystery because I love good mysteries and don't necessarily need hearts and flowers to enjoy a story. It's also not that I didn't like the characters because I did! Maybe it was the way the story was told. Maybe I wanted both MCs to talk more to each other about their troubled pasts instead of being given only glimpses here and there. I don't know. What I do know is that I'm looking forward to reading more by Cari Z. !
A quick word about the audiobook: Nick J. Russo was amazing as always!! He is one of my favorite narrators!
suze_1624's review
4.0
3.75/4*
I have enjoyed Cari Z's shorter stories so was interested to see how I got on with a longer one - very well!
I liked the plot, the gradual reveal of Elliott's background and stalker and the whodunnit style for the attacks.
Lennox and Elliott started out as a hot one night stand which came back to haunt Elliott really but worked out in the end. Nice mix of support characters, the twists and turns of who was behind all the mayhem kept going right to the end.
Enjoyed it, it read fairly pacy and kept me in the story the whole way.
I have enjoyed Cari Z's shorter stories so was interested to see how I got on with a longer one - very well!
I liked the plot, the gradual reveal of Elliott's background and stalker and the whodunnit style for the attacks.
Lennox and Elliott started out as a hot one night stand which came back to haunt Elliott really but worked out in the end. Nice mix of support characters, the twists and turns of who was behind all the mayhem kept going right to the end.
Enjoyed it, it read fairly pacy and kept me in the story the whole way.
the_novel_approach's review
5.0
Elliott McKenzie had it all as a patent lawyer, and lost everything quickly after some illegal dealings. He almost went to jail and became an addict after being shot. Once he got himself clean, and with inspiration from an aged movie star, he started a new endeavor called Charmed Life. His program is geared to help give addicts, criminals, etc., a second chance. Everything is going great for Elliott until someone starts stalking him.
Lennox West is a former Staff Sergeant. After serving time in Afghanistan and witnessing the tragedies of war, he’s seeing a psychiatrist for his PTSD. One bad experience with nightmares has kept him from having his daughter stay overnight, but he makes every effort he can to make up for lost time with Lee, even putting up with his high-stung ex-wife. Lennox has a job he enjoys, working for a high end personal security company, Castillion.
Lennox’s ex-sister-in-law, Serena, who happens to be Elliott’s personal assistant, sets up a meeting with Lennox and Elliott. Of course, Elliott doesn’t think he needs any type of protection, but when he lays eyes on Lennox West, his opinion certainly changes. From notes to pictures, a pair of shoes, car wrecks, danger and action, whose stalking Elliott?
Cari Z. may have felt like Friendly Fire took her out of her comfort zone, but she created an amazing mystery. I really liked Elliott, his fedora and his sense of humor, along with Lennox being a little more serious, but they made a great couple. The connection between Elliott, Lee and Lennox was a highlight too.
Serena has a great personality and has a very good understanding of Lee. Lee proves, for a thirteen-year-old, that she understands more than Lennox thinks she does. Cari Z. really gave these characters life with their upbeat personalities. Friendly Fire is a first time read for me by this author, and I hope she takes a chance again and writes another mystery. This book was absolutely entertaining!
Reviewed by Maryann for The Novel Approach Reviews
Lennox West is a former Staff Sergeant. After serving time in Afghanistan and witnessing the tragedies of war, he’s seeing a psychiatrist for his PTSD. One bad experience with nightmares has kept him from having his daughter stay overnight, but he makes every effort he can to make up for lost time with Lee, even putting up with his high-stung ex-wife. Lennox has a job he enjoys, working for a high end personal security company, Castillion.
Lennox’s ex-sister-in-law, Serena, who happens to be Elliott’s personal assistant, sets up a meeting with Lennox and Elliott. Of course, Elliott doesn’t think he needs any type of protection, but when he lays eyes on Lennox West, his opinion certainly changes. From notes to pictures, a pair of shoes, car wrecks, danger and action, whose stalking Elliott?
Cari Z. may have felt like Friendly Fire took her out of her comfort zone, but she created an amazing mystery. I really liked Elliott, his fedora and his sense of humor, along with Lennox being a little more serious, but they made a great couple. The connection between Elliott, Lee and Lennox was a highlight too.
Serena has a great personality and has a very good understanding of Lee. Lee proves, for a thirteen-year-old, that she understands more than Lennox thinks she does. Cari Z. really gave these characters life with their upbeat personalities. Friendly Fire is a first time read for me by this author, and I hope she takes a chance again and writes another mystery. This book was absolutely entertaining!
Reviewed by Maryann for The Novel Approach Reviews
annen's review
4.0
This was my first Cari Z book so I didn't know what to expect but I was pleasantly introduced to her.
The writing quality is really good, it reads like she took time to research all the different subjects that are in this book so they feel authentic and realistic.
I loved the chemistry between Elliot and Lennox, I could feel it throughout the book.
The only thing I didn't like about it is how rushed the beginning of the relationship was. The sex,feelings and attachment came on too fast for my liking and yet the book ended up more of a HFN which was a bit of a let down too.
The suspense was quite well done such that I was surprised by one of the bad guys but I think I saw the other one for what they were very early on. Still it kept my heart pumping with dread and anticipation especially at the end.
I loved that these characters were not perfect people, their pasts were tumultuous and they had made mistakes that were not excused or whitewashed.
The writing quality is really good, it reads like she took time to research all the different subjects that are in this book so they feel authentic and realistic.
I loved the chemistry between Elliot and Lennox, I could feel it throughout the book.
The only thing I didn't like about it is how rushed the beginning of the relationship was. The sex,feelings and attachment came on too fast for my liking and yet the book ended up more of a HFN which was a bit of a let down too.
The suspense was quite well done such that I was surprised by one of the bad guys but I think I saw the other one for what they were very early on. Still it kept my heart pumping with dread and anticipation especially at the end.
I loved that these characters were not perfect people, their pasts were tumultuous and they had made mistakes that were not excused or whitewashed.
claudia_is_reading's review
4.0
I really enjoyed the mystery storyline in this book. It was very well done and kept me guessing for 3/4 of the book. At that point, I kind suspected who was the real culprit, but wasn't completely sure I had got it right.
I like that we get a whole bunch of suspects, all of them with valid reasons to go after Elliot, who has a very erm.... colourful past after all. That makes it's easy to get really engrossed in the story, and I kept wondering what would happen next.
I liked Lennox, he is a very competent, very capable man, and Elliot is lucky to get him by his side during all these events. And his daughter is cute, so more points for him :P
The romance... I didn't get very engaged with it. Maybe because they didn't seem to be into each other that much, except for sex.
But that didn't diminish my enjoyment of the book, at all. And it's only my opinion :P
I like that we get a whole bunch of suspects, all of them with valid reasons to go after Elliot, who has a very erm.... colourful past after all. That makes it's easy to get really engrossed in the story, and I kept wondering what would happen next.
I liked Lennox, he is a very competent, very capable man, and Elliot is lucky to get him by his side during all these events. And his daughter is cute, so more points for him :P
The romance... I didn't get very engaged with it. Maybe because they didn't seem to be into each other that much, except for sex.
But that didn't diminish my enjoyment of the book, at all. And it's only my opinion :P