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REVIEW: Sleight Of Hand by Charlie Cochet
The Kings: Wild Cards: Sleight Of Hand – Charlie Cochet
Former Special Forces Green Beret, Sacha “Joker” Wilder, is well-versed on the subject of demolitions. As a silent partner of Four Kings Security, Joker spends his days working alongside his brothers-in-arms and his best boy, Chip—a bomb-sniffing Belgian Malinois with sass. Years of military and private security experience have prepared Joker for almost anything, except the explosive attraction between him and Giovanni Galanos.
When Gio returns from his travels abroad, everyone is charmed by the handsome billionaire philanthropist, but in Joker’s experience, anyone who’s too good to be true usually is. Gio is hiding something, but the more time Joker spends around Gio, the more his walls start crumbling, leaving him exposed and at risk of losing his heart, something he swore he would never do. Love is for suckers, and that’s not him.
For years Gio has dedicated his life to his charity work, helping people around the globe, but when things go horribly wrong during one particular trip, Gio decides it’s time to come home for good. The desire for family, and a certain ex-Green Beret with a chip on his shoulder, has Gio eager to restart his life Stateside. For all of Sacha’s blustering and griping, no one makes Gio feel safer. If only Sacha could see how right they are for each other.
Danger lurks in the shadows as someone sets their sights on Gio, and secrets are forced into the light. If Gio and Joker are to have any kind of future together, they’ll have to face difficult truths, because where love is concerned, it’ll take more than sleight of hand to make things work.
The Kings: Wild Cards series is a spin-off of the Four Kings Security series.
Among the ex-Special Forces Green Beret co-owners of the Four Kings Security, cybersecurity specialist Jack is my favorite. But my most anticipated story is his best friend, Joker’s.
Our boy Joker is the group’s wild child. He grabbed my attention from the start. He hates being called by his real name, Sacha. He boldly declared he was never going to fall in love, EVER. He is short of stature, with an even shorter fuse, sloppily dressed, occasionally skips showers yet still managed to be very adorable. Jack might be his brother but his best friend is Chip, his black, bomb-sniffing Belgian Malinois. This lovable duo charmed their way into everyone’s hearts.
When Gio made his appearance and Joker expressed his dislike of the do-gooding billionaire, I knew right off the bat that what these two have was something special. The author teased us with glimpses of their USTs-filled, long-distanced interactions in previous installments. Gio has always been upfront about his interest in Joker who he calls Sacha. This, despite never having met him face to face yet.
Now home after a long stint abroad, he was very determined to show his beloved Sacha how good they could be together. Meanwhile, Joker was very determined not to fall for Gio’s considerable charms. Still, the very enticing billionaire has a way of breaking through his walls.
The magic of Sleight Of Hand was how it brought Gio and Joker together in the most delicious and satisfying way possible even if we already know what to expect. I loved how naturally Gio and Joker fell for each other and the way Joker came to terms with his feelings. This was one of the most enjoyable and well orchestrated relationship progressions I’ve ever encountered. The chemistry was off the charts!
Joker’s antagonistic approach to Gio stemmed from preconceive notions fueled by trust issues. Despite his best efforts to disliked the billionaire, he was attracted to him. The more time he spent with Gio, the more he realized how truly kind-hearted and sincere about his intentions the other man was.
Gio is awesome! He is sweet, generous and caring. He is a self-made billionaire who’s always smiling and genuinely enjoys helping people. He has so much love to give. Joker was surprised at how much the billionaire cared for him. Also, the man loved his dog Chip almost as much as he did. So really, our boy stood no chance of resisting.
I lived for that moment when things fell into place for Joker and he realized, oh fuck, he was indeed in love! With last person he expected to fall for. It was so damn GOOD!
My favorite part was how the two showed they care. These are men who take action. And their gestures, no matter how grand or small, really showcased the depths of their feelings. Joker, for all his griping about Gio, always made sure the busy man had eaten properly. What Gio did near the end made me a bit emotional. It was a touching tribute that meant the world to Joker.
The book is mostly romance with bits of action/suspense and mystery to move things along. The bad guy’s identity was very obvious but even with the elements of predictability, the story never felt stale to me. The plot moved fast while still giving Gio and Joker enough time to slow-burn their way towards each other (and make us squee).
The book is written in that inimitable Charlie Cochet style that’s always humorous, engaging and immersive. There were a lot of ridiculous dialogues and gags. Also, very thorough with details, especially the actions, yet never dragging.
The best thing about her books are the people and their wonderful dynamics. Joker and Gio belonged to a big family of ex-Green Berets, their boyfriends and their friends. Since the first time I meet this group in Jack’s book, Stacking The Deck, they felt very real to me. The author created such a fabulous cast, every one of them is memorable. And watching them interact with each other is always a treat.
However, the real star of the show is Chip. I loved all his cute doggy antics! New dog Cookie is also a sweetheart. You need to see how Cookie came into the picture. This part is pure heart-melter!
Sleight of Hand gave us everything we hoped for for our boys, Joker and Gio. Theirs was a fun, emotional, fluffy, sweet, delicious and happy coming together, with furry friends to light their way and human friends to cheer them on. Well played, Charlie Cochet!
Rating:
4.5 Stars – perfection is only half a step awaySoundtrack: Wild Heart
Artist: Bleachers
Album: Strange DesireP.S.
Sleight of Hand is best read after meeting all the Kings, Jack and their fabulous Boyfriend Collective in the sister series, Four Kings Security and The Kings: Wild Cards Book 1, Stacking The Deck.
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SLEIGHT OF HAND
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RELEASE BLITZ: A Right To Know by Jude Tresswell (Excerpt & Giveaway)
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REVIEW: Acsquidentally In Love by K.L. Hiers
Sucker For Love Mysteries: Acsquidentally In Love – K.L. Hiers
Nothing brings two men—or one man and an ancient god—together like revenge.
Private investigator Sloane sacrificed his career in law enforcement in pursuit of his parents’ murderer. Like them, he is a follower of long-forgotten gods, practicing their magic and offering them his prayers… not that he’s ever gotten a response.
Until now.
Azaethoth the Lesser might be the patron of thieves and tricksters, but he takes care of his followers. He’s come to earth to avenge the killing of one of his favorites, and maybe charm the pants off the cute detective Fate has placed in his path. If he has his way, they’ll do much more than bring a killer to justice. In fact, he’s sure he’s found the man he’ll spend his immortal life with.
Sloane’s resolve is crumbling under Azaethoth’s surprising sweetness, and the tentacles he sometimes glimpses escaping the god’s mortal form set his imagination alight. But their investigation gets stranger and deadlier with every turn. To survive, they’ll need a little faith… and a lot of mystical firepower.
A super fun take on the Lovecraftian mythos featuring TENTACLES!
Acsquidentally In Love is the opener of A Sucker For Love Mystery, a series about hapless humans trying to solve mysteries while stumbling upon (and dating) elder gods along the way.
Our boy Sloane is a grieving son who witnessed his parents being stabbed to death in a ritual gone wrong 19 years ago. Since then, he dedicated his life trying to find the hooded man who killed them. Well-meaning friends set him up on a date. The man, Lochrain, failed to show.
The one who showed up was Azaethoth the Lesser a.k.a. Loch, inhabiting the body of the murdered Lochrain and vowing to avenge his favorite worshipper. God and detective set out to find the killer. The god also wasted no time claiming the detective as his mate. Sloane quickly discovered the joys of Loch’s various wiggly parts. So glad our boy could finally catch a break.
LOVE Loch! He can be a cheesy dork at times but I adored the way he adores Sloane. This trickster god was a whirlwind who swept our boy off his feet since day one and hasn’t stopped showering his mate with affection ever since. Mischievous and sneaky as expected of the patron of thieves but also surprisingly benevolent towards his followers. He never hesitates to comfort distraught humans when he knows they needed it. He also likes making children smile.
The story is set in a paranormal universe of where most elder gods are asleep and have been rendered irrelevant. A dominant religion has taken over. Sloane and his parents are followers of the old ways. Like all followers of the ancient gods, Sloane is blessed with a gift. His power is starlight. Loch fondly calls him his Starkiller.
The mystery ties in both old and new cases. I already expected that but I don’t mind the predictability. I was having a lot of fun. While the story touches upon revenge, death, grief, religion and afterlife, it doesn’t dwell on the heavy feels. It kept the tone consistently humorous and upbeat, breezing through the world-building and the plot, stopping only for some steamy tentacular shenanigans.
This is the only book I could read during my hiatus. It’s a great book to read during troubled times because it’s light, fluffy, fast-paced, low-angst and funny. I don’t have to think too much about anything. At the same time, the story still has enough substance to keep it from being completely mindless.
Personally, I think the Lovecraftian mythos is fascinating but the stories themselves are somewhat dull affairs. Acsquidentally In Love gives us an effervescent version complete with a lovable eldritch god and a sweet romance that makes you go aaw. If tentacles are your appendage of choice, this one will have you squirming with delight. If you are curious about the trope and want to see how it’s done, this is a good place as any to get in touch with those extra limbs.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Starlight
Artist: Jai Wolf feat. Mr Gabriel
Album: The Cure To Loneliness
If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of Acsquidentally In Love. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.
You can also use my Bookshop affiliate links to buy paperbacks and MP3 CD audiobooks and help support independent bookstores.
US | UK
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
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RELEASE BLITZ: Head Over Tentacles by K.L. Hiers (Excerpt & Giveaway)
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RELEASE BLITZ: Land On Me by Matthew R. Corr (Excerpt & Giveaway)
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BLOG TOUR: Ghost Light Killer by Dahlia Donovan (Excerpt & Giveaway)
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RELEASE BLITZ: Ghost Light Killer by Dahlia Donovan
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BLOG TOUR: To Poison A Prince by Aldrea Alien (Excerpt & Giveaway + Q & A with Author)
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REVIEW: Love Is A Stranger by John Wiltshire
More Heat Than The Sun: Love Is A Stranger – John Wiltshire
Ex-SAS soldier Ben Rider falls in love with his enigmatic married boss Sir Nikolas Mikkelsen, but Nikolas is living a lie. A lie so profound that when the shadows are lifted, Ben realises he’s in love with a very dangerous stranger. Ben has to choose between Nikolas and safety, but sometimes danger comes in a very seductive package.
Note: long post so you can skip to the last paragraph for the TL,DR version if you want
Love Is A Stranger is built on layers upon layers of secrets, with just enough hints of the dark and dangerous to keep you on the edge, all wrapped up in old world suave and sophistication that charms and seduces. Very Much like Nikolas Mikkelsen.
The story is told in Ben Rider’s POV. He’s involved with the married Nikolas. The story drops you right smack in the middle of their affair. They worked in what I gather is some government department handling sensitive missions. Basically, they’re secret agents.
Nikolas is married for 10 years to a high-ranking lady in the royal family. Now, this part initially put me off this series. Cheating is a deal-breaker for me. But I’ve seen some glowing reviews and I was very curious to see how the author would make their relationship work. Quite spectacularly as it turned out.
At first, it would seem Nikolas has all the power. Older, richer, cold and aloof, yet very charismatic. Also, the boss. It was pretty obvious that Ben was in awe of the man. As the story progressed, we see the gradual shift in dynamics as Ben work his way through the chinks in Nikolas’ armor.
This could have been a serious, heavy book but the bright spots of dry humor really gave the story the levity it needed to keep the weight off. Usually this is when Ben is calling Nikolas out on his shit. I loved it when Ben is being very irreverent with the older man. Not only is it really funny but it also makes Nikolas less cold figure on a pedestal, more warm-blooded person.
While this is a very Nikolas book, Ben’s character is just as complex. Blessed with model perfect looks, he had no qualms using it to get the job done. I really liked that he thinks of his looks as just another tool. He’s good at his job and doesn’t hesitate to maim, torture and/or kill to get what he wants. He also has a bratty side that loves to annoy his older lover. And boy, does he like to eat. We get Ben’s backstory but the latter parts teased us with more reveals in the future.
My favorite part about Ben, apart from his super snarky attitude, is his sheer determination to love Nikolas in any way he can have him.
“If this is love for you, then you are in love with a ghost, with the illusion of a man. Is that enough for you?”
“Would you let me have that? If you do, then I will find the man. I’ll breathe life back into the ghost.”
Ben and Nikolas are two beautiful, dysfunctional people that started their relationship backwards. They now had to figure out how to do it for real. Their chemistry sizzled right from page 1 and continued to set off smoke alarms with the way they played off each other throughout the book. Sometimes ridiculous, frequently fucked up, these two really deserved each other.
The plot has, initially, a slice of life-ish feel to it. Generally, a book would cover one major mission. This one had Ben tackling a few missions during the course of the story, especially at the first half where the plot had things happening before establishing the set up. It was almost a spy procedural in a way.
These parts had some very shocking revelations! Without giving too much away, it pave the way for the two men to really begin their relationship. The next portions admittedly meandered just like the two meandered through their days. This could be considered the honeymoon phase. Sadly, this saggy middle made me put the book on hold for a while.
The story picked up at the third arc. That is when it took a much darker turn when Nikolas’s past caught up to him. The plot already covered some disturbing elements early on but this time it was way worse. That the man has a troubled past has been hinted from the start but I never realized how very troubled it really is. From the unspeakable abuses that began in his childhood to his career in shadow agencies, Nikolas is a man who lives a lie within a lie.
Love Is Stranger is a riveting spy thriller and the beginnings of an epic love story. It does a good job setting up the succeeding books. The first parts could be struggle to go through. The character and story development doesn’t happened until much later on. But stick around for the twisty turny plot, the witty dialogue, the crazy awesome chemistry, and, most especially, when the layers start peeling off one by one.
P.S.
Open-ended conclusion but most of the books are out so you won’t have trouble bingeing.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Stranger
Artist: Covey
Album;
If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of Love Is A Stranger. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.
US: Kindle | Audiobook
UK: Kindle | AudiobookYou can also use my Bookshop affiliate links to buy paperbacks and MP3 CD audiobooks and help support independent bookstores.
LOVE IS A STRANGER: US |UK
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BOOK BLITZ: Pretty Savage by T.A. Kunz (Excerpt & Giveaway)
