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Shadows & Kink #1
Partners
TDA agents Travis Wilder and Ian Hawke are fuck ups. As members of a covert organization that battles terrorism in a world that’s lost its political, economic and social infrastructure, their job is to find and neutralize dangerous terrorists. But neither Travis nor Ian have been able to complete a mission successfully in recent months. Travis kills his targets while Ian beds his. In an effort to save his two best agents, their handler makes them partners.
Ian, with his upper-crust British accent and flirty behavior is everything that attracts Travis and repels him at the same time. For Ian, the taciturn, domineering former Force Recon officer represents a temptation he knows better than to succumb to. But working and living together builds a unique bond between the two. As sexual tension spirals higher between them, as their secrets and kinks are revealed, their need for each other becomes undeniable. They're two broken men forced into a partnership neither of them wants…a partnership guaranteed to be their salvation or their destruction.
Ian, with his upper-crust British accent and flirty behavior is everything that attracts Travis and repels him at the same time. For Ian, the taciturn, domineering former Force Recon officer represents a temptation he knows better than to succumb to. But working and living together builds a unique bond between the two. As sexual tension spirals higher between them, as their secrets and kinks are revealed, their need for each other becomes undeniable. They're two broken men forced into a partnership neither of them wants…a partnership guaranteed to be their salvation or their destruction.
- GenresM M Romance
100 pages, ebook
First published April 18, 2014
57 people want to read
About the author
Lex Valentine
83 books198 followersAward-winning author Lex Valentine writes across genres from contemporary to urban fantasy but mostly M/M these days. A native of California, Lex lives in Orange County, with her husband Rott and a bunch of cats she collectively calls “babies.” She's a 17 year employee of a 100+ year old cemetery, builds her own computers and is generally considered the IT geek at work and to her family and friends.
A member of the Romance Writers of America, Lex is active in her local Orange County chapter and is a past treasurer for PASIC. Her publishers include Loose Id, Ellora's Cave, and MLR Press. She's the author of the self-published ARe and Amazon best selling series Souls in Bondage.
Lex loves to hear from her readers. Her door is always open at lex@lexvalentine.com or on her personal or author Facebook pages.
Website: http://lexvalentine.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/lexvalentineauthor
Facebook: http://facebook.com/cemeterywinter
Twitter: http://twitter.com/lexvalentine
A member of the Romance Writers of America, Lex is active in her local Orange County chapter and is a past treasurer for PASIC. Her publishers include Loose Id, Ellora's Cave, and MLR Press. She's the author of the self-published ARe and Amazon best selling series Souls in Bondage.
Lex loves to hear from her readers. Her door is always open at lex@lexvalentine.com or on her personal or author Facebook pages.
Website: http://lexvalentine.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/lexvalentineauthor
Facebook: http://facebook.com/cemeterywinter
Twitter: http://twitter.com/lexvalentine
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 21, 2014
A review by The Blogger Girls.
This pulled me in pretty quickly. I’m not normally a huge fan of futuristic stories, but I didn’t have any trouble with this one. It takes place about 20 years in the future after the world has been turn upside down. Travis and Ian are operatives with 15 year contracts working for a covert organization whose main goal is to take out and/or neutralize terrorists that have basically taken over.
Unfortunately, both Ian and Travis have been having a difficult time lately and been screwing up their respective missions. As a last chance effort, their handlers decide to take a different route with them. They can either learn to live and work as a team with them both succeeding, or they will both be put on desk jobs for the rest of their contracts.
Both guys have bad history, though Ian seems to have gotten the worst of it. His violent past causes him to shy away from weapons while, at the same time, uses sex and seduction to disassociate from relationships. Travis is extremely smart, but a bit of a loose cannon, using excessive force to get the job done. Essentially, Travis must keep Ian from using sex to accomplish their missions while Ian must keep Travis from killing everyone. In the meantime, it seems their handlers (who have a much more personal connection with these guys) believe that Travis and Ian becoming partners in every sense may be their only chance. Of course, they both fight the idea.
Even though Ian has been a bit of a man whore up to this point, we get glimpses into his past explaining a bit into why this is the case. Oh, and he is also a submissive, but there’s glimpses into that as well. Some of the flashbacks are quite brutal and definitely had me cheering for Ian through the whole story. He is such a damaged individual; it is hard not to feel for him.
Travis hasn’t had the best of things either, though nothing compares to Ian’s troubles. He has had a few failed relationships where he now believes men only want him for his brawn and abilities as a Dom. Again, there is more to this story as well. I really hope the plan works, and that these two are able to heal each other, though I’m afraid it isn’t going to be that easy.
There is a lot of backstory being told here, unfortunately through flashbacks, which I am really not fond of. There were also a few things that felt off, like them being pushed to screw each other, but, all in all, I was intrigued to the end which, by the way, is when they finally do have sex. There wasn’t really any BDSM stuff in this segment other than segments from Ian’s past and hints of it the future. This ends with the set up that they are now starting a relationship and going to work as a team, still under the watchful eyes of their handlers. I read this in just about one sitting, wasn’t quite ready for it to end, and am excited for the next one.
back-burner-for-now
April 19, 2014I'm a huge fan of V.J. Summers's hetero stories and am very excited to read this, but found this in a community review here on GoodReads:
I will save this book and read the series when it is complete.
If you love those HFN / cliffhanger series that follow the same MC's through the twists and turns ...this is definitely an excellent start to a promising series.Cliffhangers make me crazy if the next installment has not been written yet. That's just my thing when it comes to books. I can handle cliffhangers in movies and actually love them in TV series, but not in books.
I will save this book and read the series when it is complete.
May 7, 2014
Excellent world building, love both guys...but now I am ready for book two...BRING IT ON!
May 27, 2014
**Sighs** Ian and Travis!!!
So this was my first book by either of these awesome authors. I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I can't wait to read some more from these ladies. I a fan for life now. I love when I explore social media and BAM a great cover or awesome book promo makes me wanna dive in and devour a book. That's exactly how I came across this fabulous beginning of a story series that I am sure is gonna have me addicted. This is a book set in the future and it is information packed. It is about anti-terrorists operatives whose missions are to take out all terrorists. You know sorta Mission Impossible/James Bond.
Our first hero is Travis who seems to only be able to deal with his missions by total extermination even when the agency doesn't assign him to kill. He keeps messing up and his job is in jeopardy because of it. Then there is the sex addict Ian...whew just HOT!! Ian cant seem to keep his thing in his pants and is always sleeping with the enemy. Well the agency is not to pleased with him either. So basically they decide to force these to independent men to partner up and learn to work together or they will be behind a desk.
Since this is going to be a series in this first book we learn that both of our heroes have somewhat tragic pasts. Ian has endured so much violence that he hates weapons and uses sex as a coping measure to feel. Travis just doesn't trust easily and has been used by most of his exes. See Travis is a DOM and craves control. Love me a Hot DOM! Ian is a natural submissive but he also shows some "Switch" capabilities that I loved! We don't get much BDSM in this installment but the story most definitely sets the scene for this to be explored. The chemistry of these two is sexy. They do their damnest not to acknowledge it but soon there is just no avoiding it as they are being forced to be partners in every aspect. What I loved was that as these two sexy men realize that their attraction is real we get to experience their emotions. Travis, our Dom, shows so much vulnerability that I just wanted to hug and cuddle him up. Ian sorta becomes the strength in the relationship convincing Travis that despite his raunchy past, he wants to try this lovers/partners thing. Once these men finally explore each other sexually it is romantic and so sizzling!! I had to take a few breaths for sure and get out the fan.
This book is a cliffhanger, which I have never been a fan of cause we have to wait for the next one for so long...lol but hey it is why I love reading. I hope VJ and Lex don't keep me hanging for a long time...hehehe hint hint!!! This was a great beginning and I seriously can't wait for more. If you love a little James Bond go one-click and let Ian and Travis capture your heart like they did mine.
So this was my first book by either of these awesome authors. I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I can't wait to read some more from these ladies. I a fan for life now. I love when I explore social media and BAM a great cover or awesome book promo makes me wanna dive in and devour a book. That's exactly how I came across this fabulous beginning of a story series that I am sure is gonna have me addicted. This is a book set in the future and it is information packed. It is about anti-terrorists operatives whose missions are to take out all terrorists. You know sorta Mission Impossible/James Bond.
Our first hero is Travis who seems to only be able to deal with his missions by total extermination even when the agency doesn't assign him to kill. He keeps messing up and his job is in jeopardy because of it. Then there is the sex addict Ian...whew just HOT!! Ian cant seem to keep his thing in his pants and is always sleeping with the enemy. Well the agency is not to pleased with him either. So basically they decide to force these to independent men to partner up and learn to work together or they will be behind a desk.
Since this is going to be a series in this first book we learn that both of our heroes have somewhat tragic pasts. Ian has endured so much violence that he hates weapons and uses sex as a coping measure to feel. Travis just doesn't trust easily and has been used by most of his exes. See Travis is a DOM and craves control. Love me a Hot DOM! Ian is a natural submissive but he also shows some "Switch" capabilities that I loved! We don't get much BDSM in this installment but the story most definitely sets the scene for this to be explored. The chemistry of these two is sexy. They do their damnest not to acknowledge it but soon there is just no avoiding it as they are being forced to be partners in every aspect. What I loved was that as these two sexy men realize that their attraction is real we get to experience their emotions. Travis, our Dom, shows so much vulnerability that I just wanted to hug and cuddle him up. Ian sorta becomes the strength in the relationship convincing Travis that despite his raunchy past, he wants to try this lovers/partners thing. Once these men finally explore each other sexually it is romantic and so sizzling!! I had to take a few breaths for sure and get out the fan.
This book is a cliffhanger, which I have never been a fan of cause we have to wait for the next one for so long...lol but hey it is why I love reading. I hope VJ and Lex don't keep me hanging for a long time...hehehe hint hint!!! This was a great beginning and I seriously can't wait for more. If you love a little James Bond go one-click and let Ian and Travis capture your heart like they did mine.
June 13, 2014
I am so totally in love with this book and these two MCs. Travis Wilder is former Force Recon and a soldier at heart. He definitely has a shoot first and ask questions later attitude. Having been burned in the past by someone of wealth, Travis has a true and complete hatred of anyone from a wealthy background. After being injured in the military and having to retire, Travis ends up working for TDA tracking down and bringing in terrorists. The unfortunate part is he keeps killing his targets instead of bringing them in for interrogation.
Ian Hawke grew up in a very affluent world. When the world changed horribly during his youth, Ian was forced to change his habits, and he was taken advantage of and lost everything he held dear. After all of these changes, Ian decided to use his looks to his advantage, and he became an agent for TDA. He was one of the best agents when seduction was the name of the game, but he ended up overusing his talents, and his boss is at the end of his rope.
Both Ian and Travis are given an ultimatum: either find a way to work together to fix their issues or end up riding a desk. Since neither one of these men could survive that, they put their best foot forward and do their very best. Travis hates just about everything about Ian and his background, while Ian is scared to have anyone close to him again.
They are both fighting a losing battle with their shared attraction, however, and eventually they do give in to their desires. Just as was meant to happen, they became stronger as a team, but Travis’s overbearing nature, while hot as hell, could be too much for Ian when they are field tested for the first time.
When they identify the leader of a terrorist organization, they realize there is something more going on and possibly the biggest thing to happen since the huge terrorist attacks that changed their lives forever so many years ago. These two men could be the last best hope for a free America.
I cannot tell you how much I loved this book. This was a very strong start to what is a very promising and inventive series. This book has set a strong foundation for the future books to come and gave me plenty of background information on both MCs and the people around them. I was quickly drawn into the story, and it just seemed to flow until I was surprised that it was over. I haven’t read a lot of dystopian stories, but this one ranks at the top of my list. It is definitely an opposites attract story, and I can’t wait to see what is in store for them next. I highly recommend this book.
Reviewed by Jackie at The Novel Approach
Ian Hawke grew up in a very affluent world. When the world changed horribly during his youth, Ian was forced to change his habits, and he was taken advantage of and lost everything he held dear. After all of these changes, Ian decided to use his looks to his advantage, and he became an agent for TDA. He was one of the best agents when seduction was the name of the game, but he ended up overusing his talents, and his boss is at the end of his rope.
Both Ian and Travis are given an ultimatum: either find a way to work together to fix their issues or end up riding a desk. Since neither one of these men could survive that, they put their best foot forward and do their very best. Travis hates just about everything about Ian and his background, while Ian is scared to have anyone close to him again.
They are both fighting a losing battle with their shared attraction, however, and eventually they do give in to their desires. Just as was meant to happen, they became stronger as a team, but Travis’s overbearing nature, while hot as hell, could be too much for Ian when they are field tested for the first time.
When they identify the leader of a terrorist organization, they realize there is something more going on and possibly the biggest thing to happen since the huge terrorist attacks that changed their lives forever so many years ago. These two men could be the last best hope for a free America.
I cannot tell you how much I loved this book. This was a very strong start to what is a very promising and inventive series. This book has set a strong foundation for the future books to come and gave me plenty of background information on both MCs and the people around them. I was quickly drawn into the story, and it just seemed to flow until I was surprised that it was over. I haven’t read a lot of dystopian stories, but this one ranks at the top of my list. It is definitely an opposites attract story, and I can’t wait to see what is in store for them next. I highly recommend this book.
Reviewed by Jackie at The Novel Approach
May 1, 2014
REVIEWED FOR PRISM BOOK ALLIANCE
Books set in the future are not something I normally read and I must admit I really enjoyed this!
We are 20 years in the future and the world has changed beyond recognition. Terrorists have caused death and chaos and compromised the government. A group of officials has banded together and set up a task force to infiltrate and remove the terrorist groups.
Ian and Travis are two of the top operatives in the field but lately neither has been working to the best of their ability. Their modes of operation when in the field differ vastly but their past lives and trauma are finally catching up with them.
When Ian was literally rescued and brought to the team he was a submissive with an abusive master. When out in the field he has been using his overt sexuality more and more until it is now compromising missions and endangering others. Travis has a military background and has been left damaged by his previous relationships. He is currently trigger happy and his last three extractions have resulted in the death of his target.
The book is told with flashbacks that explain what happened to each man to bring them to this point. I’m not always a fan of books jumping backwards and forwards but this worked well and was necessary to give you the background to both mens situations and how the world had broken down.
Travis has had a bumpy ride where relationships are concerned and has built some pretty big walls around his heart to protect himself. The naturally dominant man has been living as a virtual monk for a long time and is left very unsettled when having to face Ian and his ‘in your face’ sexuality. Ian is a slut and a fan of one night stands. A relationship isn’t even on his radar until he is faced with living with Travis who actually seems to ‘care’ about the man, simple things like cooking a meal mean the world to him.
In a last ditch attempt to save both men from a desk job they are partnered together in every sense. Not only must they live together, train together and work together their bosses are hoping they can become lovers and help heal each other. This was left with a HFN ending and I am looking forward to book 2 later in the year.
Books set in the future are not something I normally read and I must admit I really enjoyed this!
We are 20 years in the future and the world has changed beyond recognition. Terrorists have caused death and chaos and compromised the government. A group of officials has banded together and set up a task force to infiltrate and remove the terrorist groups.
Ian and Travis are two of the top operatives in the field but lately neither has been working to the best of their ability. Their modes of operation when in the field differ vastly but their past lives and trauma are finally catching up with them.
When Ian was literally rescued and brought to the team he was a submissive with an abusive master. When out in the field he has been using his overt sexuality more and more until it is now compromising missions and endangering others. Travis has a military background and has been left damaged by his previous relationships. He is currently trigger happy and his last three extractions have resulted in the death of his target.
The book is told with flashbacks that explain what happened to each man to bring them to this point. I’m not always a fan of books jumping backwards and forwards but this worked well and was necessary to give you the background to both mens situations and how the world had broken down.
Travis has had a bumpy ride where relationships are concerned and has built some pretty big walls around his heart to protect himself. The naturally dominant man has been living as a virtual monk for a long time and is left very unsettled when having to face Ian and his ‘in your face’ sexuality. Ian is a slut and a fan of one night stands. A relationship isn’t even on his radar until he is faced with living with Travis who actually seems to ‘care’ about the man, simple things like cooking a meal mean the world to him.
In a last ditch attempt to save both men from a desk job they are partnered together in every sense. Not only must they live together, train together and work together their bosses are hoping they can become lovers and help heal each other. This was left with a HFN ending and I am looking forward to book 2 later in the year.
April 19, 2014
There was a lot to like about this story - the "not so distant future" world they build is believable and tight, the back story for each MC is also believable and that what makes them heart wrenching, even the building romance is kind of believable but I wanted to see more of it on the page and less of it in thought. That said you want to root for them to find each other and their HEA.
This is why it only got three stars from me. You do get an HFN with the promise of a Book 2 to continue the story. The final chapter pissed me off unrealistically, the setup for the potential HEA to get screwed up down the line for military goals is there and that makes me ask myself if I invested enough yet to buy the next book when it comes out.
It's truly a personal preference but while I love series books, I like each book to have it's own set of MC's and a story (some suspense or something else) that ties all of them together. This HFN cliffhanger makes me wonder how badly the authors are going to screw with the characters (especially two who are already so damaged) before we get to a satisfying conclusion.
If you love those HFN / cliffhanger series that follow the same MC's through the twists and turns ...this is definitely an excellent start to a promising series.
This is why it only got three stars from me. You do get an HFN with the promise of a Book 2 to continue the story. The final chapter pissed me off unrealistically, the setup for the potential HEA to get screwed up down the line for military goals is there and that makes me ask myself if I invested enough yet to buy the next book when it comes out.
It's truly a personal preference but while I love series books, I like each book to have it's own set of MC's and a story (some suspense or something else) that ties all of them together. This HFN cliffhanger makes me wonder how badly the authors are going to screw with the characters (especially two who are already so damaged) before we get to a satisfying conclusion.
If you love those HFN / cliffhanger series that follow the same MC's through the twists and turns ...this is definitely an excellent start to a promising series.
April 20, 2014
I am trying to find the words so that it doesn't seem as though I am attacking this author. This is just a very poorly constructed story. Everything about it is weak. The characters never settled in. Their personalities seemed to alter and switch. The re was far too much backstory that could have been condensed and still informed the reader what it needed to know. There was def Italy no real BDSM/Dominant/submissive element. It was fake. There needed to be a well-researched and then execution of a true D/s relationship. The organization these two works for seemed silly and not well thought out. I. Fact, it reminded me of a comedy of what the ICoS organization is. I'm sorry. It is just not a well thought put, executed story. Not recommended.
May 18, 2014
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.75 stars
Partners is the first book in the Shadows & Kink series. At just 100 pages, it is a focused read, as there is a lot of information to absorb between the futuristic setting and the characters themselves.
The story opens with a flashback of Travis in the desert. He has lost pieces of his soul as he became the perfect military killing machine. We then join up present day as Travis and Ian meet for the first time in the locker room of the TDA. Travis, just coming out of the shower, is at a slight disadvantage, but the attraction between the two is instant.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
3.75 stars
Partners is the first book in the Shadows & Kink series. At just 100 pages, it is a focused read, as there is a lot of information to absorb between the futuristic setting and the characters themselves.
The story opens with a flashback of Travis in the desert. He has lost pieces of his soul as he became the perfect military killing machine. We then join up present day as Travis and Ian meet for the first time in the locker room of the TDA. Travis, just coming out of the shower, is at a slight disadvantage, but the attraction between the two is instant.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
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