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Love in Xxchange #5
Ex's and O's
Adam Masterson paid a steep price for doing the right thing, but it might be more than worth it if he can get through tough cop Les Stanton-and if they can survive one man’s plans for vengeance.
All Adam Masterson tried to do was the right thing-stop a psychotic man from hurting anyone else. While he may have succeeded, he also put himself in the crosshairs of the man’s wealthy father, and Adam soon finds himself battered, homeless and unemployed. When his mother is also evicted from her home, Adam packs up his car and takes Charlene, his mother, with him as he heads to Texas to plead for help from someone he isn’t sure will help.
When officer Les Stanton pulls over the beater car with Montana plates, he already knows who is in the vehicle. His friend Josh has been complaining about his partner, Nick, helping out the too-attractive blond from Montana. Les soon finds himself irresistibly drawn to Adam. Even his fear of Charlene can’t keep him away. Now, if he can just let go of the past and learn to trust, he and Adam might have a chance-unless one wealthy man swearing vengeance destroys them both.
Reader Advisory: This book was previously released elsewhere. It has been revised and re-edited for release with Total-E-Bound.
All Adam Masterson tried to do was the right thing-stop a psychotic man from hurting anyone else. While he may have succeeded, he also put himself in the crosshairs of the man’s wealthy father, and Adam soon finds himself battered, homeless and unemployed. When his mother is also evicted from her home, Adam packs up his car and takes Charlene, his mother, with him as he heads to Texas to plead for help from someone he isn’t sure will help.
When officer Les Stanton pulls over the beater car with Montana plates, he already knows who is in the vehicle. His friend Josh has been complaining about his partner, Nick, helping out the too-attractive blond from Montana. Les soon finds himself irresistibly drawn to Adam. Even his fear of Charlene can’t keep him away. Now, if he can just let go of the past and learn to trust, he and Adam might have a chance-unless one wealthy man swearing vengeance destroys them both.
Reader Advisory: This book was previously released elsewhere. It has been revised and re-edited for release with Total-E-Bound.
225 pages, ebook
First published September 19, 2011
4 people are currently reading
185 people want to read
About the author
Bailey Bradford
191 books552 followersA few things about me...
I am a married mom of four who spends most of the day writing, either on stories or at the blog. I love to write as much as I love to read. I am generally quiet and laid back, choosing to let things slide off me rather than stick and irritate me.
And it's really hard trying to think of descriptives for myself, so I'll just let y'all e-mail me or comment at the blog if there's something specific you'd like to know, and spare you from reading a boring bio:D
I am a married mom of four who spends most of the day writing, either on stories or at the blog. I love to write as much as I love to read. I am generally quiet and laid back, choosing to let things slide off me rather than stick and irritate me.
And it's really hard trying to think of descriptives for myself, so I'll just let y'all e-mail me or comment at the blog if there's something specific you'd like to know, and spare you from reading a boring bio:D
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 3, 2021
I thought that this book was good
December 24, 2022
'Ex's and O's' is the fifth installment in the 'Love in Xxchange' series and you would think by now that it might be beginning to slow down in the excitement and the plot lines. Well, you'd be wrong, as I was, in believing that. Bailey Bradford is going strong and I adored Adam and Les's story as much as the four previous ones. Plus, I was a page into this installment when I was laughing so hard it made my stomach hurt, and that right there told me I would enjoy this story.
Adam was introduced in Nick's story and I really liked him from the beginning. I mean, he befriended Nick and was a shoulder for him to lean on plus gave him great advice about getting Josh back. Not everyone would have done that. When I next saw Adam he's refusing to bareback, and good for him, this total freak he met at a bar, he's trying to get away, and then making fun of the crazies teenie weenie. See why I laughed? Unfortunately for Adam, the crazy is the son of a very wealthy man, Mitchell Rollins, and when Adam helps get him arrested before he can hurt anyone else, Adam's life goes down the toilet. His job is gone, he gets evicted, he tries to move back home with his mom and then she's evicted too. Rollins sends a group of men around who beat the hell out of Adam and due to no other options, Adam packs himself and his mom up and heads to Texas to try to get some help from the only friend he has left, Nick. On a side note, I absolutely adored Adam's mom, Charlene!
It was so, so easy to fall hard for Les. He's a giant of a man, who likes action and doesn't understand feelings and most definitely isn't about to talk about them. He had a crappy childhood with an evil mom who killed his brother and tried to kill him, so he's got a pretty healthy fear of women and attachments. The fact he's still a virgin he's attributed to a really low sex drive, not that he might be attracted to men. Of course, he's never been attracted to anyone until he meets Adam, although Les figures his abnormal responses are due to the shot of prednisone Josh gave him at the hospital for his chest cold. HA! When these two finally get together it is sweet and oh so hot!
When Chase, the private investigator who helped Adam put the crazy man away, shows up in Texas having obviously been beaten, again, to within an inch of his life, it would appear that old man Rollins isn't done with Adam yet. Factor in the lawyer, James Stratton, prior employee of Rollins, who is also best friends with Chase and helped get Rollins's son arrested, has disappeared without a trace, and the intrigue gets even more intense. Of course, the author has also introduced new characters who might end up with their own stories. And, this made a great way for the author to bring Chance, Rory, Max, Bo, and Nick around to help watch over Adam and Charlene, and allow them all to get to know one another. Just more people added to the family Chance and Rory made, plus the guys all fall in love with Charlene and her baked goods!
The ending of this book was super exciting filled with betrayal, fear, hurt, anger, justice, and a whole lot of love. I really enjoyed Adam and Les's story and recommend it wholeheartedly. 'Ex's and O's' can be read as a stand-alone but in my opinion it should be read as part of the series and in order. As always, I'm looking forward to what Bailey Bradford brings me next!
NOTE: This book was provided by Total-E-Bound for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Adam was introduced in Nick's story and I really liked him from the beginning. I mean, he befriended Nick and was a shoulder for him to lean on plus gave him great advice about getting Josh back. Not everyone would have done that. When I next saw Adam he's refusing to bareback, and good for him, this total freak he met at a bar, he's trying to get away, and then making fun of the crazies teenie weenie. See why I laughed? Unfortunately for Adam, the crazy is the son of a very wealthy man, Mitchell Rollins, and when Adam helps get him arrested before he can hurt anyone else, Adam's life goes down the toilet. His job is gone, he gets evicted, he tries to move back home with his mom and then she's evicted too. Rollins sends a group of men around who beat the hell out of Adam and due to no other options, Adam packs himself and his mom up and heads to Texas to try to get some help from the only friend he has left, Nick. On a side note, I absolutely adored Adam's mom, Charlene!
It was so, so easy to fall hard for Les. He's a giant of a man, who likes action and doesn't understand feelings and most definitely isn't about to talk about them. He had a crappy childhood with an evil mom who killed his brother and tried to kill him, so he's got a pretty healthy fear of women and attachments. The fact he's still a virgin he's attributed to a really low sex drive, not that he might be attracted to men. Of course, he's never been attracted to anyone until he meets Adam, although Les figures his abnormal responses are due to the shot of prednisone Josh gave him at the hospital for his chest cold. HA! When these two finally get together it is sweet and oh so hot!
When Chase, the private investigator who helped Adam put the crazy man away, shows up in Texas having obviously been beaten, again, to within an inch of his life, it would appear that old man Rollins isn't done with Adam yet. Factor in the lawyer, James Stratton, prior employee of Rollins, who is also best friends with Chase and helped get Rollins's son arrested, has disappeared without a trace, and the intrigue gets even more intense. Of course, the author has also introduced new characters who might end up with their own stories. And, this made a great way for the author to bring Chance, Rory, Max, Bo, and Nick around to help watch over Adam and Charlene, and allow them all to get to know one another. Just more people added to the family Chance and Rory made, plus the guys all fall in love with Charlene and her baked goods!
The ending of this book was super exciting filled with betrayal, fear, hurt, anger, justice, and a whole lot of love. I really enjoyed Adam and Les's story and recommend it wholeheartedly. 'Ex's and O's' can be read as a stand-alone but in my opinion it should be read as part of the series and in order. As always, I'm looking forward to what Bailey Bradford brings me next!
NOTE: This book was provided by Total-E-Bound for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
November 27, 2014
2014 Re-read:
A surprising number of pairings in this series are between guys in their early twenties and ones around forty. Also a surprising number are virgins or near-virgins – apparently that’s especially popular in the older guys. Strange. To be fair, Les might be a lot younger than I initially suspected. He’d be at least twenty-eight to Adam’s twenty-three (so young!) – and that’s nothing at all, really. (To be honest, Nick’s age confused me significantly more since it made him so very much older than his half-siblings for no reason I am able to detect.)
Anyway, as for this volume, I could have done without that last sex scene; it served no purpose for the story or the characters. (Well, they got off spectacularly, so I probably should phrase that differently.)
That’s not a big deal, though. Neither are the proofreading issues. I really don’t mind these as much here because the narrative flows nicely and lacks that amateur grinding some other authors produce.
Still over the top in that mushy way. But I am enjoying it – no doubt about it. It’s brainless fluff but of the good, satisfying type. The type that feels easy but doesn’t lack emotional impact or even a certain amount of depth.
And it doesn’t irritate me whatsoever. So glad. I hope very much that this keeps up.
I try to avoid flashing back to my bad experience with another of this author’s series. I’d been waiting so long for the continuing volume, looking forward to it so much – and it utterly and completely failed. Still need to continue reading that series. But not just now. There’s still some angsty, traumatized, mushy goodness to be had here. Plus this series has spawned an offshoot. Yep, I’m sticking with this until I need a break. <3
2011 Review:
This one was good too, although the couple was extremely reminiscent of the previous one. In personality and sexuality. Not exact duplicates but the parallels couldn’t be ignored. Not that this was a bad thing, just saying.
The trauma just keeps piling up for characters who might be protagonists in future books. Luckily the main guys escaped this time (except of course for Les and his traumatic childhood) but this author sure has a thing for extreme violence and deep trauma. It’s an odd contradiction to the otherwise sane way she deals with things.
Emotions were again pleasurably high. But the ending was longer than it needed to be and padded to hell with sex scenes. This actually took away some of the joy in having the big problems resolved, finally. Even if the sex scenes were pretty good again in this book. Still, I can only take so much, when it does not serve an actual purpose in the story, before I get bored.
A surprising number of pairings in this series are between guys in their early twenties and ones around forty. Also a surprising number are virgins or near-virgins – apparently that’s especially popular in the older guys. Strange. To be fair, Les might be a lot younger than I initially suspected. He’d be at least twenty-eight to Adam’s twenty-three (so young!) – and that’s nothing at all, really. (To be honest, Nick’s age confused me significantly more since it made him so very much older than his half-siblings for no reason I am able to detect.)
Anyway, as for this volume, I could have done without that last sex scene; it served no purpose for the story or the characters. (Well, they got off spectacularly, so I probably should phrase that differently.)
That’s not a big deal, though. Neither are the proofreading issues. I really don’t mind these as much here because the narrative flows nicely and lacks that amateur grinding some other authors produce.
Still over the top in that mushy way. But I am enjoying it – no doubt about it. It’s brainless fluff but of the good, satisfying type. The type that feels easy but doesn’t lack emotional impact or even a certain amount of depth.
And it doesn’t irritate me whatsoever. So glad. I hope very much that this keeps up.
I try to avoid flashing back to my bad experience with another of this author’s series. I’d been waiting so long for the continuing volume, looking forward to it so much – and it utterly and completely failed. Still need to continue reading that series. But not just now. There’s still some angsty, traumatized, mushy goodness to be had here. Plus this series has spawned an offshoot. Yep, I’m sticking with this until I need a break. <3
2011 Review:
This one was good too, although the couple was extremely reminiscent of the previous one. In personality and sexuality. Not exact duplicates but the parallels couldn’t be ignored. Not that this was a bad thing, just saying.
The trauma just keeps piling up for characters who might be protagonists in future books. Luckily the main guys escaped this time (except of course for Les and his traumatic childhood) but this author sure has a thing for extreme violence and deep trauma. It’s an odd contradiction to the otherwise sane way she deals with things.
Emotions were again pleasurably high. But the ending was longer than it needed to be and padded to hell with sex scenes. This actually took away some of the joy in having the big problems resolved, finally. Even if the sex scenes were pretty good again in this book. Still, I can only take so much, when it does not serve an actual purpose in the story, before I get bored.
December 22, 2011
I was getting antsy for this book to end. When I started, I saw I had about 250-reader pages. A nice-size novella, IMO. In the end, though, the story lacked that X factor which makes me emotionally-invested in the characters and plot. Three stars (meaning 'average') is an accurate rating for my experience.
Les' and Adam's romance was warm and fuzzy and no complaints there. The suspense thread was too thin and side-lined too much for a romantic thread that didn't quite have enough to justify the page count. As I said, the latter was warm and fuzzy, the MCs get together early and quickly without anything to stand in their way. When the suspense's turn came towards the end, it was a classic case of too little, too late (but here, I speak as a suspense-action lover).
Most times, when I check the page number it's to see how many more pages I have left, it's to give me a sense of what's coming (anticipation if I'm reading Romantic Suspense) or that's all I'm going to get:0 (insta love and HEA) but halfway through Ex's and O's, I was checking the page count simply to see how much more I'd have to drag myself through.
I have the entire series but read this first. I haven't checked but Josh and Nick are probably the MCs from a previous book. Ex's & O's isn't a bad book. It was just too long for what it contained.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot - Charlene, Adam's mother, may be protective, honest-to-goodness good, loving etc, etc but her relationship with Adam kinda squicked me out. Mothers may know/sense just about everything about their children but in this case, Charlene's presence was much too intrusive and a little 'unnatural' (no, not in a sexual sense). She was demanding way too much info about her son's relationship and the intimate aspects and I was, frankly, disturbed, even though other reviewers never even noticed. I cringed at the thought that life with Adam comes with his mother, as Les seems to have happily accepted.
Les' and Adam's romance was warm and fuzzy and no complaints there. The suspense thread was too thin and side-lined too much for a romantic thread that didn't quite have enough to justify the page count. As I said, the latter was warm and fuzzy, the MCs get together early and quickly without anything to stand in their way. When the suspense's turn came towards the end, it was a classic case of too little, too late (but here, I speak as a suspense-action lover).
Most times, when I check the page number it's to see how many more pages I have left, it's to give me a sense of what's coming (anticipation if I'm reading Romantic Suspense) or that's all I'm going to get:0 (insta love and HEA) but halfway through Ex's and O's, I was checking the page count simply to see how much more I'd have to drag myself through.
I have the entire series but read this first. I haven't checked but Josh and Nick are probably the MCs from a previous book. Ex's & O's isn't a bad book. It was just too long for what it contained.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot - Charlene, Adam's mother, may be protective, honest-to-goodness good, loving etc, etc but her relationship with Adam kinda squicked me out. Mothers may know/sense just about everything about their children but in this case, Charlene's presence was much too intrusive and a little 'unnatural' (no, not in a sexual sense). She was demanding way too much info about her son's relationship and the intimate aspects and I was, frankly, disturbed, even though other reviewers never even noticed. I cringed at the thought that life with Adam comes with his mother, as Les seems to have happily accepted.
May 15, 2012
4 Hearts
First published at MM Good Book Reviews
http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.co...
Adam does a good thing and now he’s been chased out of the city along with his mom. Les feels attraction for someone for the first time when he pulls over a car with Montana plates, now if only he can get over the fear of the man’s mom.
This is a brilliantly written story, we have big macho Les who is terrified of becoming ill and women (especially mothers) and lithe sexy Adam who knows how to fight and look after himself. These two men come together when Adam needs it most and we see them both letting down walls and letting each other in. Les has more complex issues that will break your heart and make you want to mother him. While Adam hopes that Les really is the man for him.
The storyline is good and the characters are great, we met both the MCs in the last Xxchange book and this story is fantastic for the two of them. It’s great that we get to know both of them so well. Charlene (Adam’s mother) is a fantastic supporting character as are Josh and Nick (Meant to Be). There were a few characters in this one that I would love to meet again; namely Chase, James, Billy and Talbot.
I recommend this to those who love hot sex, great men, a wonderful storyline and a great happy ending.
First published at MM Good Book Reviews
http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.co...
Adam does a good thing and now he’s been chased out of the city along with his mom. Les feels attraction for someone for the first time when he pulls over a car with Montana plates, now if only he can get over the fear of the man’s mom.
This is a brilliantly written story, we have big macho Les who is terrified of becoming ill and women (especially mothers) and lithe sexy Adam who knows how to fight and look after himself. These two men come together when Adam needs it most and we see them both letting down walls and letting each other in. Les has more complex issues that will break your heart and make you want to mother him. While Adam hopes that Les really is the man for him.
The storyline is good and the characters are great, we met both the MCs in the last Xxchange book and this story is fantastic for the two of them. It’s great that we get to know both of them so well. Charlene (Adam’s mother) is a fantastic supporting character as are Josh and Nick (Meant to Be). There were a few characters in this one that I would love to meet again; namely Chase, James, Billy and Talbot.
I recommend this to those who love hot sex, great men, a wonderful storyline and a great happy ending.
February 6, 2020
The story of Adam and Les was fun but dangerous from page one. It draws you in, makes you care for these guys as much as the other men from the Love Xxchange series. There were a few typos' s/misspellings throughout that took away from the book but overall a short fun read.
January 19, 2012
I wasn't sure at about 30% in if I liked this one. I found myself getting confused trying to keep all the names straight and trying to figure out what was happening. I would have taken a star off for that but I have not red the earlier books so I didn't think it was fair. After that the book got much better and clearer and I started to develop a real like of Les and Adam. Charlene, however, is a different egg. I'm not sure how comfortable I was with her being all chatty Cathy with the sex pushing and all that. And the comment in the bedroom about the boys practicing safe sex (condoms in wastebasket) that was just eww...just eww. And I am a mom. Still I liked her inner strength and her slight kookiness. Les's background was shocking - and I didn't see that coming really. Also there was a little too much sex here - it doesn't come at expense of plot exactly .. it just felt like a bit of overkill. I do find myself liking virgin stories lately (who knows..maybe it's been so long since I've been one and middle age has me reminiscing? LOL)
Overall I enjoyed the book. I'd say 3.5 stars but I rounded up!
Overall I enjoyed the book. I'd say 3.5 stars but I rounded up!
October 9, 2011
It's well written, has a couple of attention grabbing main characters in Les and Adams, lots of interesting secondaries,action and plenty of high emotion and angst. I like both of these guys. Adam for standing up for what's right and not letting others walk over him and Les for stepping forward in his desire for Adam despite his confusion. Then there's his childhood background that's a mess and still affecting him into his adult life. It's amazing these two manages to make a go of a life together but Ms. Bradford uses the skill that I've come to expect from her and realistically brings them together. I can't wait for the next one where we get to see what happens with Chase.
January 25, 2012
I like that this is a series. I, unfortunately, read this out of order, and am interested in reading the back stories. I notice this one had better ratings then the others in the series, but I like the author's writing style enough, that I think it will be worth getting all the previous books, as well as additional ones that are published in the future.
A pleasant read, and some angst, but not too much. The suspense and addition of the other characters pulls me in to this particular series.
A pleasant read, and some angst, but not too much. The suspense and addition of the other characters pulls me in to this particular series.
December 17, 2014
I read this book before any others in the series and it didn't ruin the story for me at all. I did not feel like I missed anything in what I was reading and that was really refreshing for me. This was a very good book. I liked the drama/mystery aspect of the story and it didn't last too long where I was in anticipation for ridiculous amounts of time. I really loved watching Adam fall in love and mature. Good book.
November 12, 2013
I enjoyed this story, but I probably would have given it four stars if the author hadn't reused the premise of the adult virgin who just thought he had a low sex drive until he met the perfect man. It was a bit distracting since she has already used that scenario once in this same series.
September 25, 2011
4.5 stars
September 26, 2011
Bailey Bradford has a talent that can get you so caught up in her books you never what them to end.
September 9, 2016
3.5 stars
January 30, 2012
This is the first book I read that use the Munchhausen syndrome. I think that it's the best one of the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2012
Another nice story in this series.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews