Book safety, content warnings, and tropes down below. Beware: Ridiculous amounts of quotes incoming.

How is each touch like the first fucking time?

Oh my, I had silly amounts of fun reading this book. Initially I didn’t even want to start it because it’s book 1 of a series with the same couple, but I literally couldn’t resist the blurb, and after like 10 pages there was no way I was stopping unless something terrible happened. An infamous thief gets captured by the police, gets the choice between prison and boot camp, and is eventually teamed up with a super-badass black ops group? Say no more. I can’t even explain how much I’ve been wanting a book exactly like this.

My birth brought no one joy. I can only hope my death brings no sorrow, either. And yet, what pathetic sort of existence ends without grief? Without tears?

It was plenty funny, the action was actioning, the fantasy elements were easy to grasp, and the romance. Y’all, I’m such a sucker for a really good slow burn, and this one was done so well. The small finger touches, looking when the other isn’t looking, when you can feel the connection and relationship slowly build and evolve… If it’s done well I’ll take that over something super spicy and fast burning any day, and this was done very well. The spice we got was quality as well, and waiting for it made it all the more hot when it happened.

He snorts. “And you have absolutely no sense of self-preservation.” I open my mouth to protest, but he’s right. I don’t. Like, none. Zip. Zero. In fact, if I weren’t such an indomitably cheerful soul, I’d probably be suicidal.

It’s a little painful to end on a tentative HFN when the next book isn’t out for months, but oh well. I shall live.

“Mic working?” “Yessir.” “Good. Let’s roll.” My eyes roll before I do because what a very tightwad military thing to say.

⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️

⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️
Urban fantasy
Slow burn
Infamous thief
Action & suspense
Grumpy/sunshine
Opposites attract
Neurodivergent MC
Forced proximity
Hurt/comfort
Endless banter
Mystery
Military black ops group
Parkour

⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Graphic violence
Implied parental abuse
Drugging
Explicit sexual content
Mild bullying/workplace hazing
Injured MC
On-page killing
Gun violence
Death of a side character
Vomiting

⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: No
POV: 1st person, single POV
Genre: Urban romantasy
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: N/A. No penetration in book 1. Assumed versatile.
Main characters’ age: 26 and 33
Series: Serial with the same couple
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Pages: 391

Forget shit’s creek and its missing paddle, I’m up a monster-infested mountain with spaghetti-legs and no tour guide.

“Can I tell you a secret?” “My gut says I should say no.” “You can’t tell anyone, okay?” My voice scrapes out of my throat in a rasp. “But sometimes, I listen to songs made after 1980. And emo.”

We lie like that for a long time. Side by side. Wordless. Pinkie fingers brushing because anything more would feel like … something. And we’re both far too cowardly for that.


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