Straight Up

Dan Stagg Mystery #2

by James Lear

Who is trying to kill the members of an elite special ops team that worked off the radar in Iraq in the '90s? It's up to Dan Stagg to track down the survivors -- the men with whom he stormed an undefended surveillance station, killing everyone inside. And now, many years later, the team is being targeted in what seems like a series of unrelated attacks. Dan teams up with his old comrade Al Benson, once a rising star of the USMC, now a respectable married civilian with a few secrets to hide. As they dig deeper into the secrets of the past, Dan discovers that Benson's looking for more than just answers. An explosive affair threatens everyone's future, and connects Dan to a past he thought he'd left behind.

Genres: M M Romance, Military Fiction, Mystery, Audiobook, Romance, Erotica, LGBT

296 pages, Paperback

First published October 3, 2015

About the author

James Lear is the nom de plume of prolific and acclaimed novelist, Rupert Smith. He lives in London and is the 2008 Winner of Erotic Awards "Best Writer".

Reviews

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

O.M.G., this book is killing me!
I want to say I loved it, but the last 2% just crumbled my world to pieces...

Dan Stagg is a one-man show. This is erotica, not romance. This is so far from romance that it makes even Special Forces look like a couple of guys plucking off daisy petals à la 'He loves me, he loves me not' ;-)

Dan is the lead character and the one who went under my skin. Everyone else is just a fuck, so there's no love interest that you could take seriously here. Dan's a very emotional guy, quick to see 'love' behind a hot and sweaty fuck but unable to commit to anything. The next tight ass that passes him will ALWAYS be his next mission, no matter how many boyfriends or lovers he entertains on the side.

I didn't mind. I never really saw the 'romance' that was established in book 1, anyway, so Dan not being faithful to his hooker-gone-fashion-designing-student boyfriend didn't phase me much.

But what I DID mind is Dan dropping said boyfriend because of an illness (not Aids). No matter what the consequences (inconveniences, no sex, work, etc.), that's something that you simply don't do. That's probably the romance reader in me, but THAT is unforgivable. That's like... the Anti-Christ of romance!

And I'm not even putting my feelings in spoiler brackets here, because I think my romance reading friends would kill me if I recommended this to them without mentioning it...

So, Dan, burn in romance hell!!! (what a Deja-vu feeling, right?)

But okay. Dan Stagg isn't a romance character, so he isn't a romance hero, either.

He's a sex-god. An awesome charismatic hunk, who seduces men of all ages with confidence and his masculine charms, even turning the straightest jocks into bi-curious cocksuckers who lick cum off his hairy chest. Dan makes a point of not actively seducing them, but making them crave to suck his dick, so they don't get second thoughts after a round of orgasms, blaming their gay adventure on Dan, the old gay guy who came on to them.
No, he lets them work for it. When a straight guy expects to get his cock sucked by the muscled, hairy ex-marine, the boy will be sure not to leave the room without having had Dan's cock up his ass and Dan's spunk in his mouth - and begging for more.

Not surprisingly, Dan always succeeds (Well, almost always -and the one scene where the guy actually did tell him 'NO' was priceless, so go check it out ;-)



And yeah, the sex was out of this world. I wonder why people even care about porn when they can read books like this. This is the hottest kind of fiction ever. I never knew books could do that (yeah, I shamelessly stole that line from Disney's Beauty and the Beast).

Even some borderline practices like golden showers (which I have never had any interest in) suddenly seemed like something that would be exciting with a hunk like Dan.
I guess he fried some of my brain cells.

So, this gets the full 5 stars and a favorite status on my shelves!

On top of that, Dan is actually a very likable guy with a great emotional background. The fact that he just can't keep it in his pants is like a flaw of his that he can't change - and doesn't want to.

I had to bite my tongue about the actual cheating going on here, but I still found Dan's adventures amazing. It was just the end that more or less killed Dan for me. I mean, even if there were a third book: Why read on? So I could follow Dan on more of his sexual adventures without even the slightest hope of him ever finding THE ONE?! And even if he did, what would prevent him from doing the same shit again?! No thanks.

But I'm speaking in riddles.

The PLOT (there is one, again, big surprise!!)
Dan Stagg and his boyfriend (from book 1) live apart from each other. Dan is back home in Boston, where he stays near his family, helping his (homophobic and ungrateful) aging parents with their chores , while Jody studies fashion in New York, financed by Dan.

The two rarely see each other and Dan is quickly getting sidetracked from being a faithful long-distance boyfriend, especially when Al Benson, a former marine who served with Dan as his superior, pays him a visit, telling him stories of his picture perfect wife and kids and his second career in software designing. Dan knows his closeted military guys well, though, and soon has his cock balls-deep up the older man's ass, fucking the married guy into the mattress.

Al didn't *just* come to get some man-on-man action, though. He tells Dan about a high-ranking general who is soon to be appointed National Security Adviser at the White House. Dan remembers General Armitage, the guy who led him, Al and two other guys into a black ops mission in Iraq in 1998 that went terribly wrong. Knowledge of this mission might be a keystone to the fall of Armitage and the General is willing to blackmail and kill all parties involved in order to keep the secret away from the press.

When a mysterious conspiracy blogger threatens to uncover compromising material that might cost Armitage his position at the White House, the General's men are closing in for the kill and it takes all of Dan's combat skills to keep himself and Al alive.

To be honest, the military plot was amazing! Even if this wasn't an oversexed erotic thriller, this would have been one fine story, now more so than ever (Thanks to Trump).

Just like book 1, 'Straight Up' is an insanely well written masterpiece that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Don't consider it a romance novel, though. Then you're in for an insanely exciting ride.
I was actually going to say that Dan Stagg was among my all time favorite characters, but I honestly can't. Not with how this ended... That's such a pity, because I totally fell for his charisma and wanted to see him happily settled down. But that's just not an option for the hard-boiled military man...

Still, 5 stars and a favorite!

[Shile (Hazard's Version) on-hiatus · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

Dan Stagg is one hell of a character.

This was an improvement from book 1.

Solid mystery, solid writing and of course Dan being Dan.

I liked it Alot!!

Thank you Moony and Teal for the amazing buddy read. Can't wait for us to dive into book 3. 😘😘💝

[Moony Eliver · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not that I don't *want* to write reviews for these books. It's just that I'm really not sure what to say.

But. Almost everything about this volume worked better for me than the first. I've finally gotten to the point where I think the author has a point. A reason for writing this character in the way that he has, even if it seems to make no sense sometimes, or feels OTT, or appears contrived for the purposes of erotica. (Which, ok fair, but I believe it's not just for that.)

So, yeah. I'm in. Even if a lot of this volume didn't really feel great (outside of the LOLs, still very much present), I think it's a long game.

It fucking better be.

[Fabi NEEDS Email Notifications]

This is not a romance. This is not a romance. This is not a romance.

I had to say it 3 times just to make sure you get the point. This is not a romance. You don't like reading about cheating? Don't read this book.

I don't think I've ever read so much sex in a book with a plot! Holy crap, Dan. It's ok to leave a hole untapped. Zippers were invented for a reason.

I have no idea how to rate it. I enjoyed the story. I think. Although I almost stopped being surprised at each new sex scene. In fact, I was surprised there was one person in the world who could say no to Dan Staggs.

This book was not at all like book 1.

I have to say that our narrator has a very sexy, gravelly voice. I enjoyed the narration very much.

I wonder about book 3. Curious George

[Ulysses Dietz · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Lear’s “Straight Up” seems to be the finale of a two-part series about Dan Stagg, a major in the marines who gave his all for his country and then got pushed out of the service on the wrong side of DADT. He’s a little bitter about that, for several reasons, and has every right to be.

Lear doesn’t give you romance. He’s a great writer. Terse, correct, smart and salted with just enough wry humor to keep it from getting grim. His characters are intense and vivid, particularly his star, Dan Stagg. Lear writes sexy sex. No nonsense, no blather, but not porn or dull repetition either. He’s really good at this. Stagg is arrogant, but broken; sure of his sexuality but unable to really grapple with love. He is sure that any straight man can be had.

And there’s the rub: Dan Stagg is a macho bastard who cheats on his fey, fashion-student lover (without an open relationship). He encourages closeted gay men to cheat on their wives. He taps anything that catches his eye and has made seducing supposedly straight boys an art at which he excels.

Dan Stagg is young enough to be my son, and he’s the kind of gay man for whom I have no respect, the kind of gay man I’ve spent my life as a gay man avoiding. His sacrifice in the marines is no excuse, nor is his mistreatment at the hands of our government. He behaves badly and at moments makes me ashamed of being gay.

And yet, as with Lear’s first Stagg novel, “The Hardest Thing,” I liked Dan Stagg. A lot. This is Lear’s gift as an author. He’s good at wringing every bit of inner, self-critical good out of Dan Stagg. For all my dislike of what he does and the way he lives, Dan Stagg earns my sympathy. His internalized pain and loss, his intense feelings of self-disgust, his guilt at his cheating and dislike of closeted gays who marry to hide; somehow the honesty of his thoughts mitigates the dishonesty of his actions.

“They were guaranteed to fail. And that was what I wanted, because that’s what I thought I’d deserved. That’s what I deserve.”

He doesn’t quite forgive himself for who he is, which makes it possible for me to forgive him, just a little.

The mystery plot is anxiety inducing and tense, and Stagg is heroic and brave in all the ways you’d expect a marine (or James Bond) to be. At the end of the book, I wished him well, and hoped for a future that was brighter than the life he’d lived up to then.

The ending of the book felt like an ending. It didn’t seem to suggest a third episode in the Dan Stagg mysteries – but maybe James Lear will surprise me again. Maybe I’ll even read it.

[LenaRibka · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 stars


Please make sure:

1)You read the first book before you pick up this one.
1)You do not confuse this book with a MM Romance genre, because it is not. It is James Lear.

"Erotic literature comprises fictional and factual stories and accounts of human sexual relationships which have the power to or are intended to arouse the reader sexually. A common feature of the genre is sexual fantasies on such themes as prostitution, orgies, homosexuality, sadomasochism, and many other taboo subjects and fetishes, which may or may not be expressed in explicit language."

I don't know another author who writes such sophisticated and satisfied gay porn erotica as James Lear. If you delete all sex scenes, the length will be reduced to a half, the writing will stay on the same high level, and you probably won't even miss sex- because the mystery will grab all your attention. BUT...it won't be James Lear any more.

The Hardest Thing, the first book in the series, was my first James Lear. I rated it with 3 stars. I was an idiot.
Actually I'd like to re-read it now, to compare my thoughts. Now, when I became a huge fan of the author's works. And not only under this pen name. The man can write. And HOW. And he can write EVERYTHING. But no one can write gay porn erotica in such exquisite literary way as James Lear.

[Teal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dan, Dan, Dan.

Really, that could just be my review. Lord knows I thought it often enough while reading this. Talk about someone who’s his own worst enemy. Which is so relatable. By the end I was marveling at how much I could identify with this driven, complicated character who is, at least superficially, completely unlike me. And yet.

In my review of the first book I called it — for lack of a better word — a comedy. But this time around the tone is more sane and sober. Yes, there are still laugh-out-loud moments, but with the OTT-ness reined in, this proved to be a solid and serious mystery novel. In fact it turned out to be the best mystery I’ve read in quite some time.

Of course Dan still can’t keep it in his pants, and rarely encounters a straight guy he can’t seduce:

“I’m not, you know. Gay.”
“Right.” I grabbed his dick. “Me neither.” He gasped as I started to stroke him, and buckled at the knees. “I just like fucking guys.”

But with pickup lines like this one, who could be expected to resist?:

“Don’t worry. You’re not going to end up in the ER. I know what I’m doing.”

Such a sweet-talker.

Dan recognizes his behavior as out of control, and struggles with guilt and self-loathing. His gullibility and self-delusions about love seem rooted in a desperate longing for redemption. While he has moments of insight…

I can’t live without conflict. War zones suited me well, so now I create as much conflict in my personal life as I possibly can.

…he still ends up behaving like a human wrecking ball. By the end of the story I was ready to boot him out on his ass, disgusted by the damage he’d managed to wreak.

So I’m going to need a bit of a break before I’m ready to pick up the next book. But this was a solid, satisfying read, far more consistent in tone than the first, stronger and all the more disturbing because of it.

A big thank you to my fellow buddy readers, Moony and Shile — it would have been much less fun if I'd had to read these books alone. There was so much that needed to be shared and laughed at and ranted about. It’s been fun.

[Trio · Rating 5 out of 5]

So. Freakin'. GOOD! - a third Dan Stagg novel is promised by the author for May this year In the Ring: A Dan Stagg Novel and I can't wait!

"Lust makes cowards of us all..."

The Dan Stagg guide to sexing up the straight guy.

Damn I wish this wasn't the end of the audio series! Such great mysteries, but - wow - Dan Stagg is incredible. I just want to know what happens to him... I'm not going to spoil it for anyone by commenting here, but I can't wait to find out what the next 6-18 months of his life bring him.

And that ending gah, I'm going to go back and re-read the last two chapters because they were so heartbreaking and intense and wonderful and just so Dan.

An amazing series, 5 stars aren't enough.

Also - gotta say, both audio books were wonderful. I usually bear a grudge when they switch narrators during a series, but both Charles Carr who did The Hardest Thing and Todd Stevens who did this one were spectacular. They each brought something different to Dan's character and I loved them both.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hmmm... It was the usual James Lear with his variety of sexual acts etc. but I'm not sure I liked this version of 'submissive' Dan. I prefer 'alpha' Dan! 3.5 stars

[KatieMc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, when I read the first Dan Stagg book The Hardest Thing I may have been distracted by the campiness of the Jack Reacher gay-sex laced parody. I certainly enjoyed it, but I may have missed a really good plot. This sequel makes me want to go back and pay attention to the story. Wow, surprisingly good. And unsurprisingly it was very sexy. And for James Lear fans keeping score, yes this featured water sports!.

[Ronie Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dang, he did ya boye dirty

[Ikhneumon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The "James Lear" pen name has become a brand synonymous with clever, satirical, erotic takes on such established genres as the Edwardian mystery, historical adventure, and suspense thriller. Heavy on the sex and light on psychological, or hell, even anatomical reality, they are fun, playful, escapist romps.

"Straight Up" defies those expectations. Sure, it's as heavy on fantastic sex as any other Lear creation. But it's not very much fun. In fact, it's downright bleak. Dan Stagg, the deeply flawed antihero of this series-in-the-making, lays bare every one of his shortcomings for our (and his own) rueful perusal, and fails to overcome any of them. Although Dan and his allies ultimately manage to prevail over the shadowy bad guy, by the end of the novel every single relationship has been crushed by suspicion, betrayal, and disappointment.

That this journey into darkness succeeds not only as a mystery but as erotic fiction is the highest testament to the author's craft. It's astonishingly good writing. It's just not what we've come to think of as a James Lear novel.

[Bo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Completely Unique Man Gets More Complex

Dan Stagg is one of the most complex, unique, and totally messed-up characters I have come across in ages. He's a solid ex-military openly gay hard ass with a sweet and much younger lover from the first book in this series. But in this book he quickly falls into every single sexual and plot-driven circumstance thrown in his way, mostly with great remorse but little will-power.

I found this to be a mid-life crisis journey for a man whom I had much better feelings for after finishing the first book. Yet, as it ended, I wondered whether or not the next one would bring us back to the man we admired and loved in The Hardest Thing, or bring us further negative development of a character who has too many flaws already.

But I will buy the next one because I have hope.

[Denis · Rating 5 out of 5]

If Jack Reacher were gay, he might have adventures like these - this is a pacy thriller with a brilliant protagonist and lots of vividly described gay sex. I can only hope that this series will continue...

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Following on from the first book we have Dan Stag now in a long distance relationship with Jody who he rescued in "The Hardest Thing". Jody has gone to fashion college in New York and Dan is back in his home town working at a gym. The main gist of this book though is Dan being contacted by a former marine team mate to investigate the death of his close friend in a suspicious fire in New York which in turn leads the main story - a mystery as to why his former marine colleagues are being targeted by assassination squads.
As always the writing is superb with a ton of hot sex but all is not well with Dan and Jody's relationship. Not saying any more about the story but at the end of the book I began to really despise Dan in his use of other characters and complete self-centredness.
Good writing, good story but ultimately unsatisfying (for me)
3 Stars

[Anke]

Is that a typo? August 2015???
Almost a year :(

Update Oct. 25:
Back to the TBR with you - had a look at the final few pages (shame on me, I know) and it looked like a rather unsatisfactory ending. So, I can't get myself to return to you right now. But I will. Later. For sure.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

[Special thanks to Martin for recommending the book to me.]

The second book of the series seems to be more mystery plot-oriented as compared to the first novel. I enjoyed the story much more in this book as compared to the first one. There's slightly less sex scenes/erotica in this book, since Mr Lear has decided to focus a little more on the narrative. I personally preferred the erotica in the first book, and I find them hotter than the ones in the second installment. If you've liked the first book, this is definitely worth reading.

The next portion of the review may contain spoilers!

Dan is an arrogant and manipulative narcissist, verging on sociopathic behaviour, even more so than the first book. If he took a course in 'Asshole 101', now he just graduated from 'Asshole 102' class. In book one, he was just a philander trying to have sex with every guy he came across. In this book, it's pretty much the same. Except that this time, he's in a supposed relationship with Jody, his "lover", whom he blatantly cheated on without much remorse, and always finding some excuse to justify his hookups.

His inner monologues are entertaining to read, and at times it was actually pretty hilarious. Some of his comments were witty and he had sarcastic humour which I appreciate. There's many times I couldn't stand his delusional justifications to have sex with a new guy he meets. I rolled my eyes so many times they might as well have dropped out of my sockets. Right, Dan, Riiight..

All the characters in the book have extremely flawed personalities and morality, so it was very hard for me to like or care for the characters. When Kahn appeared in the story and actually rejected Dan's advances for sex, it surprised me as Dan ALWAYS manages to screw whomever he wants. I actually started to really like Kahn's character and thought, "Finally a decent character!", until the end where he started to fool around with Dan as well, which was disappointing because even the scene was a really brief one. You could have at least rewarded me with a hot erotica by taking away the only decent character, Mr Lear.

By the end of the book, I actually felt pretty sorry for Jody. Dan was such an ass for treating Jody that way and taking the coward's way out. To be honest, I had such a negative impression on all the characters and like Dan, I thought Jody was cheating on him as well. Therefore I was surprised that he was sick and keeping it a secret from Dan.

I enjoy Lear's writing and narrating style for his story, so I definitely would like to read the third book.

Plot - 4
Erotica - 4.5

Final rating - 4.5

[Emanuel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started this as a 'omg this is going to be soo bad' and I'm more than glad to admit that the joke's on me cos I enjoyed this way more than I should.

Dan Stagg is the definition of hot mess and an MC that doesn't hide or run from his flaws. It was quite refreshing to read a character that's so honest about all the things he's not good at or doing wrong rather than wallow in the misery and play the 'damaged goods' card.

He's also surprisingly insightful at times, funny, sexy and horny AF, which I appreciated a lot! The plot isn't exactly genre-defining, I could do with less inner monologue but I enjoyed the lols and the sex and it kept my interest enough to make me want to go back and read the first book of the man that is Dan Stagg.

[Amyiw · Rating 4 out of 5]

How this is book classified as a romance? The only thing in it that relates to romance is sex, there is a lot of sex. Here is the problem, there are 4 different people and none are the romantic focus. I would call this an erotic mystery, not romance at all.

So saying that, it is actually really good. But again, not as a romance, don't expect any romance here. There is a very confused gay man who wants to fuck anything that moves that looks good and wants the same, even if they might not know it. On a side note, one sex scene is down right disgusting to me, which since I read a lot of erotica mm, ff, mmf, bdsm, etc... that is saying a bit. But when bodily functions of the bathroom variety are used... well at the least, it is not sexy, or even erotic. OK, one scene involving the golden shower variety.

Having said that disclaimer, Dan is contacted by an old army buddy, one that he used to be highly attracted to. He is in a relationship with a young university student but... they are pretty far away from each other in distance and the guy is being distant himself. Dan believes a young trainer at the gym he work in is interested. Let's just say that Dan is definitely not exclusive. That is the first but not only proof of that. So the army buddy comes and tell Dan about his life, kids and wife, and that an old army buddy has died in suspicious circumstances. He wants Dan to investigate. Well Dan's first investigation is why this buddy was so important to him, and what was between them. He finds out and initiates more while thinking his friend might be delusional about anything strange. He starts an investigation and it leads to questions but he is not sure he wants to look further, especially since the army buddy isn't answering his calls. This of course has Dan wondering about his relationships with his boyfriend and the one at the gym.

Dan's life is pretty screwed up since the army kicked him out during DADT when he is caught "with his pants down". He works at a gym and pretty much lives in a dump. These relationship make him think of what he wants in life but really he has no idea and the sex doesn't help but confuse the point.

This book seems like reality come to life in the sense of the emotions of a screwed up former gay soldier who blames himself for much but is angry about so much more. There are definite funny moments where I laughed out loud, sex scenes that were hot, and sex scenes that made me cringe, all the while we get the mystery solved and get Dan Stagg embarking on a new turn in his life, positive turn and hopefully he will, answer some of those questions that just became more muddled. I never wanted to stop and enjoyed most of the read, felt a little bad for him in the end at the same time hopeful.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a unique series, and Dan is a unique character. He's paranoid, somewhat lost, falls in love too easily, and sleeps around too much. But he's compelling in a way that's unlike any other character I can think of. I look forward to the next book in the series.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with all James Lear's books--great story with a lot of heat!!

[Antisocial Recluse · Rating 1 out of 5]

63% DNF

Watersports. Just NO! It sort of had a plot, completely overwhelmed by sex. With, like, everybody he knew. First and last James Lear.

[Cleo · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. I enjoyed this one slightly more than Book 1.

[Chey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The raunchiest piece of lit I think I’ve ever read. Bravo.

[Migs Fiel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even hotter than the first book, compromising the mystery side of the book, which was okay by me. I just did not like the ending. I like sad endings and cliffhangers, but not bad endings which do not make sense to me. It could have ended in a lot of ways better than what actually happened, which seems unexplained and irrational to me. But I would still read the next book, if ever there will be.

[Monica Vidal · Rating 4 out of 5]

You better hide your man cause Dan Staggs'in da house and there will be no straight man left when he's gone.

At this point I don't even roll my eyes anymore at Dan's shenanigans, because what would be the point? The guy has sex with every single man that crosses his path. I'm not even exaggerating. There's just ONE guy that said no and even then, by the end of the book, he couldn't resist anymore.

Do we like Dan? I'm not so sure. he's incapable of being faithful, there's one. He has sex with every men he meets and has a tendency to fall in love and out of it too easily. He left his faux-boyfriend after finding out the guy had a serious disease . So, I'm kinda on the fence here.

But the sex scenes are pretty epic and if you've read my other reviews you know I have no standards. LOL

[Marte - Thunderella · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmmm.... no more, I think. I'm stopping at 45%. No rating.

While I enjoyed the first book in the series, this one wasn't to my taste. Dan Stagg does too much fucking around while at the same time thinking/pining/longing for his boyfriend. He also thinks his boyfriend is having an affair, so Dan feels it's almost "in his right" to have one (several) too. It didn't sit well with me. I know this is not a romance series, but the first book kinda had that feel anyway. I feel the first one ended hopeful and even sweetly, so I'm choosing to keep that memory, and forget what I've read in this book. Dan just keeps making stupid decisions, and the mystery story arc isn't very interesting either.

[Fez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took me a while to finally finish this. It started out strong and yes very steamy in a great way… but then it got a bit over the top(the steamy scenes I mean). It was just hard to believe how everything turned out the way it did (specifically the Dan-Al-Lee scene… like really even Lee who was new to hooking up with gays barely hesitated doing the things Al did to him/made him do). Also every guy Dan hit on just happened to be gay/bi… like what? He made 0 mistakes? That just doesn’t happen in real life…

Now I did enjoy the military mystery in this story. I’m glad the book didn’t only revolve around the steamy scenes and it’s consequences/effects. There was an actual conflict and resolution! I was also hooked on the conflict.

[Franky · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have thoroughly enjoyed many of James Lear’s books, but this is trash. Dan Stagg is a cheating irresponsible POS. This book doesn’t in any sense resemble romance. It’s simply a Dan Stagg whore around fuck-fest & I’m not interested. I felt nothing but emptiness & emotional betrayal by the time it was finished & quite honestly the ending didn’t come quickly enough. The mystery part of this filth was so amateurish & lazy that I figured out the entire case less than halfway through.

[Brian Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good action thriller - plenty of sex because Dan Stagg is always on the lookout for it. A bittersweet ending but maybe a fresh start for Major Stagg.