We Don't Need Another Santa

Bent Oak, Texas #5

by Bix Barrow

An MM Holiday Hitman Romance with Humor, Pets, and Suspense

One retired hitman, one actor just out of rehab, and a Santa sack full of complications

Even though I don’t need to pose as a third-grade teacher anymore, I stuck around to keep Seth, one of my students, and his brother Robin from being abused by their slimy stepfather. It’s their lucky Christmas Eve when I find out Robin accidentally killed the jerk while protecting Seth, because who better to help them dispose of the body than a retired hitman-slash-operative?

But Santa also delivers the boys’ uncle, famous actor and tabloid headliner Lucas McCord. I’m trying to decide if I can trust him with the boys’ well-being—and possibly my cold, withered heart—when an ill-timed photo has the press announcing I’m Lucas’ boyfriend and the key to fixing his reputation.

The skills I honed in my former life are strangely useful navigating the perils of Hollywood, but when I come face-to-face with an enemy from my past, I’ll use every weapon in my arsenal to keep Lucas and the kids safe.

We Don’t Need Another Santa is a low-angst, humorous holiday romance featuring a retired hitman, an actor trying to turn his life around, two kids in need, stray dogs, an inconvenient body, barbecued brisket, and beaver onesies.

We Don’t Need Another Santa is a novella continuing the hitman’s story from What’s Santa Got to Do with It but can be read as a standalone.

Genres: Contemporary, M M Romance, Romance, Holiday, Christmas, LGBT

170 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 26, 2024

About the author

When Bix Barrow got an idea for her first book, it ended up turning into her second — and thus the first two stories in the Bent Oak, Texas series emerged. An aspiring author for most of her life, it took a foray into the MM romance genre to spark the steamy scenes and blazing banter Bix now weaves into her novels. Accompanying her on her writing exploits are her two dogs and multitude of cats (six at last count). An avid traveler, Bix has started to view her expeditions as interviews for her future home. Born and raised in Texas, she is eager to move somewhere with fewer politicians, hurricanes and flooding.

Reviews

[Sarita Chapdelaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

We Don't Need Another Santa is a great addition to the Bent Oak, Texas series and I really enjoyed it. I love that Phillip gets his own story and that we get to see several characters from the previous books as well. Lucas and Phillip are perfect for each other and are both all in to make sure that Seth and Robin finally get the life and the family that they deserve. They will do anything for them and will have to put that to the test the night that they meet. There are a few tense moments but also a lot of hilarious ones as well and I love how their relationship evolves even though it is very quick. The ending is perfect and I can't wait to see what the author has in store for us next.

I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.

[Raven and Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! You really need to read What’s Santa Got to Do With It first though. These characters are worth reading. Trust me. All the books in this series are. Phillip may be a retired hitman but that doesn’t mean he lets down his guard around those he cares about. And he has come to care very deeply for Lucas and his two nephews. Lucas just wants to be there for his nephews and prove the doubters wrong that this time he will stay clean. This story contains all the love and mayhem required of a Bix Barrow book. Great story and worth a read!

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this novella is best read after What’s Santa got to do with it as it continues on from there. This is another well written story that has drama, some angst and plenty of fun, former hitman turned substitute teacher Phillip stays longer than planned after he notices Seth one of the boys in his class with bruises as well as his brother Robin, as he’s about to sort the problem and accident occurs and the boys uncle Lucas enters the scene and sparks fly and we get a great holiday read with appearances by Steve and Baz, and a Hea for Phillip, Lucas and the two boys. Worth a read.

[Melduk · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was great to read Phillips story after the last book in the series. The storyline was fairly fast paced but very engaging. These two are perfect for each other and for the two boys. It is also wonderful that the previous characters are so involved in this book as they are all so endearing. An intriguing and enjoyable read.

[DeeNeez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am sold! I have found a new author that will go on my must-read list. I have not read any of the previous books in this series, but it didn’t stop me from enjoying this book! Two brothers need help. Enter one retired hitman/operative turned substitute teacher to the rescue. From start to finish, this was action packed, a touch of humor, tender hearted when needed, and over all a great read. Highly recommend.

[Denise GremoryKohta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! I wanted Phillip to get a story. I wanted to know more about him. My heart broke for what Seth and Robin had been through. Yes it’s a pretty quick jump to a relationship but there are reasons and it makes sense. I was so happy to see a demisexual character. That just made the flow even more perfect. I highly recommend reading every book in this series. I received an arc from GRR and am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Malia Winger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute novella to wrap up a whirlwind holiday in Bent Oak, TX. Lucas McCord is leaving rehab only to find out the nephews he didn't know he had have been left alone with an abusive stepfather. And he is the only thing on their list to Santa. When he shows up to claim them he is confronted with retired hitman, Phillip. This story is packed with action, guns, shady activity and beaver onesies! It is the perfect end to the holiday season.

[Jimbo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought this story was heartwarming and I am a sucks for dad and sons... so for me...tops!

[Pontiki · Rating 4 out of 5]

While Phillip is working as a substitute teacher after retiring from his hit man career, he notices Seth, one of his students, is quiet. He sees bruises on him, and goes to see his stepfather, threatening him to stop or else.

The stepfather doesn’t change, and in fact, has his older step son work two jobs to pay the rent. But, when Phillip decides to kill him and help the kids, he overhears the boys and realizes their stepdad died, falling on a table in the midst of fighting with Robin.

He meets Lucas, the boys’ uncle, when he goes to help them with removing the body, and he learns Lucas just got out of rehab and came right away.

The adventure begins as they get rid of the stepdad, making it look like he took some money from Lucas for their care and decided to leave town. The boys help out, and Lucas carries the body with Phillip, then the men drive out to discard it. It upsets Lucas, and Phillip takes care of him.

They admit their attraction, but Phillip is demisexual, so Lucas treads carefully. They take the boys out for breakfast, and are caught by paparazzi because Lucas is an actor, so they move up the agenda, agreeing to try dating.

From there, Lucas has to face a party with drugs and alcohol, but Phillip helps him, and faces his own past nemesis as well.

The two commit to a relationship, and the boys have a chance at having a healthy, happy family life.

This was a kooky, fun novella, though it had a dark theme it reads like a cartoon caper, and it works. I love Phillip, who sounds formal, but again, he’s a softie underneath. The boys are sweet, and Lucas seems determined and kind hearted.

I received this ARC for free and am giving it my honest review in appreciation.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Seth and Robin, two young brothers accidently kill their cruel stepfather, their teacher and former Hitman/Operative Phillip steps in to help them with the aid of their unknown Uncle Lucas, an actor. Nothing binds a couple together like murder. In this slow burner book, the attraction is fast but they commit to taking their time even when their hand is forced by the public. I enjoyed the possessiveness and cool headed logic of Phillip and the insta love for the boys by Lucas. I received a copy of this book through Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest opinion.

[Joanne Mccorkell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved that this book literally picked up from where Steve and Baz left it. While I wasnt overly impressed with the formal speech of Phillip, I did really love how both Phillip and Lucas put the boys first. Though the speed in which this relationship took off was realllly fast

Having returning characters was good also.

[Rachwithheadinabook · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is best read after the book - What’s Santa got to do with it. The hitman Phillip gets his happy ever after, as do children Robin and Seth. I enjoyed this book as much as I did the one before. It will go on my Xmas reread pile.

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Retired Hitman Phillip was posing as a third-grade teacher to lie low when he discovered that Seth and Robin were being abused by their stepfather so he stayed around longer than he intended to keep them safe. On Christmas Eve he discovers that Robin had accidentally killed him while protecting Seth. So he felt he was the right person to dispose of his body. At the same time, Santa delivered the boys' uncle Lucas McCord who is a famous actor who is never out of the tabloids. Phillip needs to assess if he is trustworthy enough to care for the boys as he is recently out of rehab. An ill-timed photo in the press has them announcing that they are boyfriends and the key to repairing his reputation. Phillip's skills are perfect for navigating Hollywood and when he comes face-to-face with an old enemy he will use every weapon he has to protect them all.

This was a sweet story and I loved that both men were focused on the safety of the boys so anything between them was in some ways coincidental. There were some cute moments in the story as well as some funny moments and I found it a fun read. Easy to understand and pick up the feelings of the characters. This was an MM story with some mature content.

I received a free copy of this book from MM Book Buzz's 12 Days of Xmas giveaway.

Please note this is a novella continuing the hitman’s story from What’s Santa Got to Do with It but can be read as a standalone.

[Jo Atkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't know whether to cheer or cry with this novella. The circumstances of the story were tragic but probably happening all over the world. The outcome was perfect in that you get to see the children set up but also the adult characters get a happy ending too. Great read.

[Julie Underhill · Rating 5 out of 5]

We Don’t Need Another Santa by Bix Barrow is a Bent Oak, Texas novella. You may want to read her other books in that series as some of the characters and action from them appear in this story. Phillip is a former hit man/government operative who has retired but is finishing out one final assignment. For this he is a 3rd Grade teacher and one of his students, Seth, has caught his attention. He learns all about his family which includes his older brother Robin, and discovers that their mother died and they are living with their abusive stepfather. He follows them one night right before Christmas and discovers that Robin accidently killed him and they are trying to figure out how to dispose of the body. That is where Phillip comes in and is going to help them, since he knows all the ways to do this, especially with his operative friends. When they arrive at the apartment they see Lucas McCord, a famous Hollywood actor, who just got out of rehab for the lifestyle he wants to end. He just found out that morning that Robin and Seth are his nephews and he wants to do everything he can to help them, even if it means disposing of a body. At first no one trusts him but as time goes on the boys come to who he really is and so does Phillip, especially after they work together to get rid of the body. This leads to them setting up a home together in a house Phillip inherited as well as helping everyone out. Lucas starts to feel an attraction to Phillip but he is pan and demisexual so their relationship takes some time to warm up, and warm up it does as they both find themselves in situations by themselves and with the boys that lead them to wanting to form a family for real. It comes to a head when a picture of the 4 of them hits the internet and they have to decide how this should play out. With Phillip’s background and their newfound love they face it together, even though it gets them into some interesting and stressful situations, and they are able to build their lives they way they want to. I really enjoyed this story. There was some suspense and some angst but the characters were up to it. Phillip was very interesting, especially with his past, but when he made up his mind to show his love he did it fearlessly. Lucas had had a rough past but knew where his priorities were and that was with his nephews and then with Phillip. Robin and Seth were so brave and had been through so much but they also loved each other and were willing to do whatever it took to stay together. Phillip’s friends also helped in big ways as they stood by them when things got tough with people out to get them. There were also some very hilarious scenes that had me laughing out loud like the onesies from Buc-ee’s, as well as some very hot love scenes once Phillip knew he wasn’t going to give up Lucas or the boys. I highly recommend this book, especially if you like reformed hit men stories with some suspense that involve movie stars and hurt children that come to find their forever family. There was a lot happening in this shorter book but it was very well done.

[Guardian.angel54 · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, if you haven't read the first book, What's Santa got to do with it, then I urge you to run out and grab it, as it totally sets up the setting and the cast of characters perfectly.This novella is the perfect accompaniment to that book, and, in fact, picks up pretty much where that one ends - focusing the story from the point of view of Philip, the retired assassin (well, kind of ... maybe) turned school teacher. His desire to help a student and his brother that are in trouble leads him to contact the boys estranged uncle, Lucas - a former party boy actor, who is fresh out of rehab and trying to turn his life around. Their attraction is instant but the author takes their time to allow the two men to grow closer, while focusing on how to best take care of the boys, and it feels realistic.

There are two main areas that I think the author totally nailed it and one of those is in depicting Philip as demisexual. Sometimes an author will use this term but then rush the character into a physical relationship and Bix Barrow did not do this. Philip takes the time to explain his sexuality to Lucas and there is no rush for physical interaction. In fact, both characters behave quite respectful towards each other and I really appreciated that the author showed a real understanding of this. Additionally, the author took a very positive and proactive stance on mental health and the benefits of seeking therapy - for both the abused boys and also, Lucas, who is struggling with his alcohol addiction and self worth. In both cases there were discussions regarding finding a therapist and, again, the author didn't just ignore the mental health of the characters but made it a positive move in the right direction.

For a novella, this work sure packs a lot of story into its pages and, really nothing was left out. The appearances of the characters from the first book just tied the two volumes together seamlessly and I enjoyed every bit of reading it. I do hope the author considers revisiting this world because I very much want to see what else these men can get up to. Definitely recommend these books!

[Anne Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly, let me say I’ve got this book from gay romance reviews and this is me leaving my honest review.
I’ve got to say this is the first book. I’ve read from this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
This book had a bit of everything really you’ve got a retired hitman who goes to be a school teacher but sees a student that he thinks is being physically abused at home so he goes and warned Seths stepdad that if he sees anymore bruises on this lad he’ll come back. lo and behold the next day Seth comes to school with more bruises so Philip plans to go and kill this man. But when he sees the Seth walking with his older brother Robin, Philip knew something was wrong. And this is when they both explain that their stepfather is dead. Robin had accidentally killed him. So Philip plans to go to the house get the boys out of there and dump the body. But when they get there, they find the boys uncle a very famous actor who had just learnt about the boys and just finished his time in rehab Lucas McCord, waiting for them. Lucas plans to take care of the boys, he will do anything to keep them safe. So what do they do??
And that’s Going to tell you because I enjoyed the storyline so much, it was other than the dead body, a beautiful story about a hitman who never wanted a relationship because of his job you’ve got two boys who crave being cared for because they’ve been through so much since their mother died and then you’ve got Lucas who got caught up in the hype and his drinking got out of hand so he decided he needed rehab and he really wanted to succeed and finding out he had two nephews, who desperately needed him, gave him that strength to never look back. But then little events happen like Seth calling Philip uncle Philip and it melted his heart. And his attraction to Lucas was a real storyline of itself. Absolutely enjoyed this book, and I really look forward to reading more from this author.

[Bill Bottomley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy. This review is submitted voluntarily.

Phillip is a temporary elementary school teacher after retiring from a career involving some rather shady actions. He first appeared in the previous book in the series (“What’s Santa Got to Do with It”) and has been keeping his eye on brothers Robin and Seth whose stepfather has been abusing them starting in that book. The brothers have an uncle, Lucas, who’s an actor currently in rehab. He leaves rehab right after getting his phone back and finding a message from a colleague advising him of the brothers’ plight. He heads straight for Bent Oak, Texas, planning to separate the boys from the stepfather. On arrival, however, he meets the boys and Phillip who have come to dispose of the stepfather’s body, after Robin accidentally killed him. The scene of them getting rid of the body is hilarious. It does on the other hand give Phillip and Lucas enough to size up the other and start falling in love. After several adventures, they eventually get their happy ending.

The two MCs are both flawed but overcome the difficulties in fun ways. The scene at the home of a film producer late in the book had me laughing. The secondary characters, mainly the two boys, make substantial contributions to plot development, all while taking the situation with equanimity if not excitement. The characters from previous books in the series appear as well and add to the humour. The plot is straightforward, though Phillip’s past “career” is never openly explained. I found that this added to the fun of the book.

I happily recommend this book to all lovers of MM romance.

[Jack Harkness · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alan Shackleford & the Wild Hogs

Another great installment in the Bent Oak, TX series by Bix Barrow. One of the main characters is Lucas McCord, a famous movie actor who has gotten out of rehab for alcohol addiction. The other is Phillip Downs, a mercenary hitman who is posing as a temporary elementary school teacher.

Phillip learns one of his students, Seth Clements, an 8-year old and his brother, Robin, 17, are being abused by their stepfather, Alan. Robin had to dropout from high school to work two jobs for the rent that their stepfather refuses to pay. Robin also is taking care of Seth and taking the brunt of the beatings to keep Seth safe.

As Philipp is planning to do away with Alan, he overhears the brothers discussing how deal with Alan's body. Alan who was drunk, stumbled and fell hitting his head on a table and died. Phillip steps in to help the boys.They make it to their apartment and run into their mother's estranged brother, Lucas.

Lucas left his family at age 15 to escape from the hell of his family who he had just come out to. Lucas learns he has nephews and of the hell they are living in. He drops everything in order to get the boys away from their stepfather. And the drama begins.

This is a quick read, but fascinating too. I love the Bent Oak, TX series and am happy with this story. It makes more sense if you read the previous books, but this is a standalone. I recommend reading this book.

[Mvm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 5th book in the Bent Oak, Texas series and continues the same high standard set in the other books in the series. Though this is billed as a stand-alone book, the reader will gain the utmost enjoyment by reading the series in order to fully experience the character development and the cross-over characters that go from book to book. In this installment, Phillip is a substitute elementary school teacher on a "job" investigating the death of two of his friends. Once of the children in the class catches his attention, and after a bit of investigation on his own he decides to keep an eye on brothers Robin and Seth whose stepfather has been abusing them. The book picks up where the previous book in the series ("What’s Santa Got to Do With It") ends. An estranged uncle who is an actor and learns about them and their situation as he is leaving rehab. Luke, immediately heads to Ben Oak, TX with the intention of rescuing them from their stepfather. Upon his arrival he learns that one of the brothers accidently killed the step father and Phillip in in the midst of hiding the body with the brother's help. Luke joins the effort and there are plenty of LOL moments as they dispose of the body. The bond of the foursome grows after several other adventures leading to a happy ending for all.

[Kendra Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phillip is a retired hitman posing as a teacher. He's staying close to protect one of his students (Seth) and his brother (Robin). When an accident happens he's right there to help the boys and continue protecting them. When they arrive at the boys apartment they find out that the uncle that Seth wrote Santa about is sitting outside. It doesn't take long for their Uncle Lucas to get their trust because he's there to make sure they have a good life. Now we have the four of them cleaning up the mess and getting rid of the evidence. It doesn't take long for all of them to adopt each other and become the found family they all need.

This is a short, quick, low-angst romance. It is a good story that is executed well. The characters all have good chemistry between them in there different relationships. There's some lap over with the previous book so we get to see other characters and get an update on their situations. I really liked how Phillip and Lucas made sure that the boys were the primary concern and started doing what they needed to feel loved and safe. This is the perfect book for a nice day of reading.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Philip Downs is a reformed hitman whose undercover work becomes his new vocation and is the reason he ends up as a family man. His unlikely characteristics--gentle, thoughtful, well-spoken--win him the trust and respect not only of the boys he's trying to protect but of their uncle, actor Lucas McCord, who is also undergoing his own reform. They form a cautious bond with each other, but Philip's demisexuality puts the brakes on anything deeper until he feels the pull of sexual attraction. It's a sweet love story, heartwarming in how they come together to safeguard Lucas's nephews, and steamy when the sexual attraction becomes mutual and then becomes more. It's too rushed after circumstances force them to agree to the charade of being boyfriends, and I find Philip's speech patterns--he NEVER uses contractions, for example-- to be stilted and somewhat unrealistic, which is why I can't round it up to 4 stars. But they're both engaging characters, and I like that Philip is a Black man. Interracial MM romances are in short supply.

[Traci S · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolute delight! I read and loved the prior book What's Santa Got to Do with It?, so I loved the chance to continue the story with Phillip and Lucas. This is a short read, but the story is so full of action and I loved the mix of suspense and romance. There’s a lot going on in the plot. We have a former hitman turned school teacher, a Hollywood actor just out of rehab, two boys who need a home, a dead body to deal with, and a beautiful happy ending. It’s very impressive, it never feels rushed or incomplete. I especially loved how grounded Philip and Lucas felt in the middle of so much drama. They both are dedicated to protecting Seth and Robin and being together helps them do that. I loved the pace of their relationship despite the insta family, it’s felt purposeful- not just a convenience. A really perfect novella!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Didi Ps · Rating 4 out of 5]

Philip is a retired hitman, now substitute teacher, who ends up taking a special interest in a couple of students when he sees they are being abused by their stepfather. Lucas is the boys’ uncle, & as soon as he hears of their problems, comes to find them in order to help them.

I was surprised at how little the kids were affected by their stepfather’s death. No matter how it happened, even if he wasn’t a nice man, they should have been in tears from the stress of it all.

As for seeing if Lucas is trustworthy, it’s safe to assume that when he helped Philip hide the stepfather’s body, that he was indeed someone who could be trusted.

A bit before the end, it became very dramatic, almost like a soap opera (a bit too much for me).

However, the HEA ending was cute.

I received this free ARC, and this is my honest review.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The blurb pretty well tells the important stuff, and don’t want to give spoilers, so I’ll just say I really enjoyed this book. The characters are really engaging, there is humor as well as seriousness, Seth is adorable, Robin takes such good care of his brother, the two boys show remarkable fortitude in light of the body, and Lucas was a surprise with just getting out of rehab. Phillip was the stabilizing influence most of the time, but Lucas stepped up when needed. I didn’t read What’s Santa Got To Do With It yet, but will add it to my TBR pile to get more of Phillip. Not a long read but a fun read. Found I also have book 1 in my TBR pile already, so I can catch up with more of the crew from Bent Oak, Texas. A great series, maybe a book about Dirk and Drake, the band members from Melodious Moon could be next.
I received an ARC of this book and this is my voluntary review.

[C.B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feel good story really touched me. Phillip was a covert operative for agencies that worked in and outside of the law. He thought the term 'hitman' was a bit, basic. His is working as a substitute third grade teacher and his concerned suspicions are raised by one of his students, Seth and by association, his older brother, Robin. He appeared on track to being a Math prodigy and he wrote an unusual letter to Santa that got his Spidey senses tingling. Through a set of unusual circumstances their lives personally intersected and he got to meet the boys' Uncle, Lucas. The four embarked on a secretive adventure that opened their eyes and challenged them in life changing tests. Phillip and Lucas are outstanding men, heroic and Seth and Robin are adorable. Good story, well done! I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Preluxe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love love it!

This series has been amazing but this book was probably my favorite! I had stumbled on this one while looking for a new book and wanted to read it right away, but since it was 5th in a series I figured I'd start at the beginning. But if you're like me and found this one first, it can be read as a standalone! You'll get a lot more of the background if you read the 4th book first, since Phillip is a big part of that story but still doable if you just want to jump straight into this one. Although reading from the first book was definitely my preference, since they were all amazing and I loved all the characters!

I'm really hoping we see a spin off for the security company, I think that would be super fun. Maybe Jason's brother needs to go first? *hint hint* ;)

[Jennifer O'Malley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book the best from the series or it's a very close second to the previous book. Though it could have been because it didn't have extra transcripts/excerpts in each chapter.

Phillip and Lucas have a cute insta-love and insta-family thing going on. Which I'm all for, though this seemed a little rushed even for this type of story. That being said, I still really enjoyed it.

The drama that happens about 3/4 of the way was equally a bit out of left field yet obvious... I know, that's a paradox. But that's just how it is.

Overall, I liked it though and would keep reading new books in the series, if there are any more. Not sure if there will be any more books, though there's certainly more characters that could be explored.

[kadairh · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I enjoy reading this author, but I felt this one was not as successful as the first one in the series "What's Santa Got to Do with It?", possibly because it has a somewhat staccato feel to the voice of Phil. It may be to reflect how he works i.e. unemotional but felt like a little bit disconnected for the character that was established in the previous book, who seemed a bit livelier.

That said, as usual a reliable read from Bix Barrow, and includes most of the characters from the previous book at points. Also has an almost insta-relationship which actually feels ok and the relationship with the two brothers is heartwarming.

Also love the title pun on Tina Turner's We Don't Need Another Hero - had that song in my head before I started to read it :D and love that the previous title is a homage to her as well (only just realised from writing this).

Good read and if you haven't read the first book, recommend doing that first!

I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this novella in the Bent Oak series, and ex-hitman Phillip and recovering alcoholic and movie star Lucas are terrific as the MCs. We met Phillip in the previous book, and I was so glad that he and his pupil Seth and brother Robin got their own story and Lucas was the perfect addition to their group.
This story was sweet, funny, emotional and had intrigue and suspense with the perfect level of heat appropriate for the characters. Although it’s a novella, it had well-developed characters and plot and did not feel short, and while it’s centred on a character from the previous book in the series, it could easily be read as a stand-alone. Highly recommended.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.