Cops, correction officers and firemen are the guys who keep us safe. They serve and protect the citizens of the world, and give us some serious heat at the same time. Chris Owen gives us cops with On the Clock, where Detective Strang has a murder to solve and a guy from another department to share it with. Gallagher is in computer crimes, and since the victim of their case was strangled at his computer, it's a natural match. The two share an obvious attraction, but will they get so wrapped up in each other that they can't solve the case?' From CB Potts comes Nothing's Ever Easy, about Corrections Officer Grant, who despairs of ever finding a man who can get past what he does for a living. A chance encounter with a mysterious cab driver gives him hope, making him wonder what matters what you do for a living, or the kind of living you do. In Flesh and Blood by Tory Temple, Chance and Tucker of Heat fame return. Tucker's having issues with what he feels is hate directed at him and his lover because of their relationship. Can Chance get Tucker back on track before things crash and burn? Alexa Snow serves up Mitch, a policeman with a life that should be smooth sailing. Unfortunately, his boyfriend is getting on his nerves, he has a murder to solve, and he has a mysterious stranger telling him all the details no one but the killer could know. Can Mitch make sense of the chaos before the killer chooses another victim? See what makes the men who save lives and catch the bad guys so hot! Lock up your copy of To Serve and Protect today!
I live in southern California, the land of no seasons. (Is wind a season?) I live with three dogs, two cats, and some tortoises. I'm married to a firefighter, which is great in the sense that some nights I get the TV all to myself, but not so great in the sense that some nights I have to figure out what to do when the washer starts leaking. (Or when there's a bat in the house, which is a thing that happened when he was working.)
Most of my books are centered around the firehouse. When you spend a lot of time around firemen, you write what you know! And what's hotter than a fireman?
Chris Owen's story was amazingly tame for him and while it wasn't very exciting it also wasn't bad either, I'm kind of happy to have managed to read something of him without clenching my teeth. The mystery wasn't really spectacular but the characters were interesting and it was the first time I read about someone working in computer crimes in a story, was pretty interesting. A detective has to work a murder investigation where the victim is basically a cave throll, who spent his life holed up in his apartment and sitting in front of his computer practically 24/7. Computer crime expert, Gallangher, the man who found the unlucky guy dead, is both curious about the murder and attracted to the detective investigating it.
CB Potts' story had the most original character's setting imo, Correctional Officer, but sadly that's the extend of my praises. That story was easily the worst of the bunch but also thankfully the shortest one. A correctional officer has trouble finding a date that won't run at the mention of his job. After drinking himself in a stupor because of his failed latest date, he's shoved home in a cab with a Taxi driver that isn't put off by our prison guard and all about making him release his tension by giving up control for once.
Tory Temple's "Heat" firemen, Tucker and Chance were next up with Flesh and Blood~ Since I absolutely adore that series it was really great reading more of them in a short story about acceptance and Tucker's insecurities about their partnership in society.
Last but not least, Alexa Snow's Trace Evidence. The best story of the anthology, great characters facing relationship problems after being together for 5 years, intriguing mystery with a side of paranormal activity and a nice dose of angst to cover it all~ Very sweet conclusion to a good anthology.
I'm pretty sure I will be buying it in print later on.
All of the stories were very well written and completely entertaining. None were all that long so I didn't get emotionally involved with anyone but still enjoyed them all the same. My favorites were the 2 police stories by Chris Owen and Alexa Snow probably because they both had cases to solve. Two of the stories involved established couples and two were new couples so it made for a nice mix. Lovely way to spend and afternoon.
I only read one story in this book Tory Temple - Flesh and Blood. This part was like a long epilogue for Chance and Tucker. They made a commitment to each other before their friends and family. Which was realistic and emotionally complete. I liked it!