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RELEASE BLITZ: Nothing Special by Casey Cox (Giveaway)
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EXCERPT REVEAL: Nothing Special by Casey Cox (Excerpt & Giveaway)
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REVIEW: Swat Ed.: Fox & Bull by A.E. Via
Nothing Special: Swat Ed.: Fox & Bull – A.E. Via
A fox can set many traps to catch his targetābut this one only needs one to catch his.Dominic āBullā Walker is used to the simpler things in life. Give him his own land to work, a strong horse, and twelve hours of daylight, and he is a contented man. But when someone threatens to take away the successful ranch that took him two years to rebuild, heāll accept any help he can get to defend it.
Mandel āFoxā Tucker is a sixth-generation SWAT soldier. Itās embedded in his bones to protect and serve his community. So when he gets word of the vandalism occurring on the Walker Ranch, he quickly volunteers the free time he has, thanks to his recent suspension.
The brief visit Fox had with Bull four months ago had been a contentiousābut powerfulāencounter. Therefore, heās not surprised when he shows up on his doorstep unannounced and has to pull out some of his best tricks to get past the six-foot-four, stubborn Texan.
Fox is only there to safeguard whatās most important to Bull. But being on the ranch brings an awareness to him that he embraces with both hands. Nature, peace⦠loveāthings he never found in the city.
This book contains the love story of two new characters. It is a part of a series but can be read as a standalone.
There are no multiple pairings or sharing. Ends in a very HEA.Trigger Warning:Mild police violence. Scenes are not graphic.
I have always been a big fan of the Nothing Special series since the beginning. Admittedly, many of the books were messy. It wasnāt until the 6th book, His Hartās Command, that the series hit its stride. The 7th book, Ex Meridian, is my absolute favorite. It continues its winning streak with the 8th installment.
Fox & Bull is the second SWAT Ed. The titular characters were introduced in the previous book’s epilogue. The two met for only a couple of hours but each made quite an impression on the other. Fast forward to the present time and we got Bull still trying to catch glimpses of his favorite SWAT soldier on the nightly news.
Meanwhile, Fox, tired of being disrespected and unappreciated when he was doing his job well, decided to take a break. He grabbed the opportunity to investigate a break-in at the Walker ranch just so he could see the unforgettable cowboy one more time.
Fox is a cunning, smart-talking cop who’s very good with a rifle. Bull is a hardworking man of few words. An astute businessman who built a successful ranch from the ground up after his old one was destroyed by a calamity. They are just a couple of guys who wants to love and be loved in return. Is that too much to ask?
Fox has gone through hookups and one-night stands with people who fantasized about dating a SWAT soldier. But when things get serious, they were actually too chicken shit to put in the hard work required in a real relationship. Bull was engaged at one point but the bastard left him to die during a flood. So I couldn’t really blame the poor man for not immediately jumping into Fox’s arms no matter how badly he wanted to or how charming the other man was.
The first scene they were together made me LOL. Bull got so tongue-tied and awkward at seeing his crush again, he tried to say three greetings all at once. He’s such a sweet guy! I was rooting hard for him.
There was a deadline hanging over their heads. Fox will be called back to work after a couple of months. The author did a great job making each moment Fox was in the ranch count. The passion and heat jumped off the page. But what I loved most was how the story was able to convey, in the cozy domesticity and everyday ranch business, the way the two cherished each other tenderly.
This is a wonderfully done opposites attract, slow-burn romance with a minor mystery, some action, and lots of humor. Itās more romance-focused than all the other books. Thereās less action, with most of these scenes happening in the beginning and at the end. A huge chunk is spent with Fox building rapport with Bullās employees, learning ranch work, and falling in love with a horse.
The book had a fluffier feel to it as well. All the books had a strong sense of family and camaraderie. With the previous stories, the bonds are formed among people who constantly risk their lives for each other. Here, there is still that strong connection but the dynamics has a softer vibe. This is perhaps because the bonds are formed among people in a safer, homier setting. (Not sure if I’m explaining this part properly. Sorry if I’m not making sense (^_^;))
The book is populated with lovable characters, both old and new. We see a lot of Hart and his boyfriend, Free, stars of the first SWAT Ed. Bull’s pop, Walker, and their housekeeper, Emma, were a riot! They are his biggest cheerleaders and all but claimed Fox their son-in-law the second he made his appearance at the ranch. Fox and Dale’s interactions were also hilarious. Bull’s best friend/ranch manager was very determine to cockblock Fox in the name of protecting Bull. Until Fox sicced a young, and very interested, ranch hand, Ridge, on the interfering idiot.
There was OTT ridiculousness near the ending when God and his squad bulldozed their way into the ranch. I was rolling my eyes at all the silly male posturing. It’s a thing with this series. Sometimes it works, sometimes it’s just plain stupid.
Another niggle is Mercy, Bull’s horse. He said he had the horse since he was a little boy. He is now 33. Mercy is, what, more than 20 years old? I’m not sure about a horse’s lifespan but that horse is really old. And Bull is still working him hard.
Minor quibbles aside, I enjoyed this story a lot. Fox and Bull are great additions to Nothing Special‘s impressive roster of alpha males. As a couple, they light up the page with their fabulous chemistry and unwavering devotion to each other. Their romance was a building of trust, and a promise of commitment. These are two men who truly appreciated what a precious gift it is to find someone brave enough to stick around.
.Rating:
4 Stars ā minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Just Stay
Artist: Mauve
Album:P.S.
Fox & Bull can be read as a standalone but is best experienced after meeting God, his husband, Day, and their merry band of troublemakers. Check out my reviews of the first seven books:
Nothing Special
Nothing Special Books 2-6
Ex Meridian
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SWAT ED.: FOX & BULL
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LAST YEAR I WAS READING…(October 6, 2021)
This meme was created by Reading Marie. Itās a great meme because itās nice and easy to do.
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LAST YEAR I WAS READING…(July 14, 2021)
This meme was created by Reading Marie. Itās a great meme because itās nice and easy to do.
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LAST YEAR I WAS READING…(April 7, 2021)
This meme was created by Reading Marie. Itās a great meme because itās nice and easy to do.
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LAST YEAR I WAS READING …(January 6, 2021)
This meme was created by Reading Marie. Itās a great meme because itās nice and easy to do.
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MY TOP 10 READS OF 2020
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REVIEW: Ex Meridian by A.E. Via
Nothing Special VII: Ex Meridian – A.E. Via
Police Lieutenants, God and Day are under intense pressure from the chief to take back control of Atlantaās streets.The last thing their task force needs is a pair of trained killers in town with a personal score to settle.
Take a man and strip him of his ability to feel compassion, empathy, remorse, or any of the emotions that make him human, but leave the ones that ignite rage and aggression and you have the perfect killing machineānow imagine two of them.
Code names Ex and Meridian are synonymous for āguaranteed deathā to international terrorists. Two broken men from the same crooked streets, recruited into an unsanctioned government program that few know about. Trained to operate most efficientlyālethallyātogether.
When Ex returns from an op in Bolivia to learn his little brother has been accidentally killed in a feud between drug gangs, heās stateside before he can consider the rules heāll be breaking, and of course Meridian is right beside him. Thereās mayhem on the streets of Atlanta and the police are losing control. If Godfrey and his elite team of detectives canāt get the job done then theyād be happy to lighten their caseloads for them. And Ex nor Meridian care about doing it quietly.
āI know who you are.āThe man grunted when Ex turned to leave.āYouāre the fucking devil.ā
Meridian walked past, glaring one final time.āSay that loud enough⦠maybe God will save you.āBut after their first run-in with the big lieutenant and his protective husband, Day, Ex and Meridian start to reevaluate their own relationship. Wondering if they could be even deadlier if they let loose the feelings for each other that theyāve been forced to suppress for years.
Meridianās dark eyes stayed locked on his, āA man who can fight beside the one he loves doesnāt make him weaker, Exāit makes him more dangerous.ā
No multiple pairings. No cliffhangers. Ends with a HEA.
Note: This title focuses on two new characters in the series. And while it can standalone, there are appearences from prior main characters.
Note: This is a partners-to-lovers, out-for-you, action romance.
Note: There are depictions of violence in this novel.
A grieving brother out for revenge.
A killer whose blood is literally cold.
An assassin who kills with a whisper.
The Devil in the house of God.
A most compelling partners-to-lovers romance that slow-burned for eight years! Squee~!
OTT action and suspense that’s perfectly balanced with the rest of the plot.
God and Day’s boys coming together with their bounty hunting friends.
Some of God’s most vulnerable moments!
Day still winning and annoying everyone with his mouthy ways.
The King brothers’ most painful memories coming out in the open.
Ruxs and Green are tested as they have never been before!
Ex seeing Meridian in the truest light.
Meridian giving Ex the world. Ex doesn’t even need to ask. ā„(Ėā£ĖŌ )
The baddest, toughest alpha pair of ’em all!
Meridianās dark eyes stayed locked on his, āA man who can fight beside the one he loves doesnāt make him weaker, Exāit makes him more dangerous.ā
P.S.
Okay, so I’m addicted to this series and I’m sticking around for good or bad. Luckily, it’s mostly good. The last two books showed huge improvements. My thoughts on the rest of the books here.
Ms. V’s books here.Rating:
5 Stars ā absolutely perfectSoundtrack: This Is A Call
Artist: Les Friction
Album: Dark Matter -
PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE (Feb 5, 2020)
I found this tag on Chelle’s Book Ramblings . It’s simple and fun. I thought I would put my own spin on it and make it a weekly thing.