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First in Line #2
Breach Point
Michael McCabe doesn’t take vacations—especially not after nearly losing his brother to a psychotic arsonist. But when an explosion rocks his enforced getaway in Tahiti, the off-duty SWAT officer is pulled into a crisis that looks like far more than bad luck.
Alex Kessler came to the islands to scatter his late wife’s ashes—a final step in a grieving process that’s consumed him for a year and a half. The last thing he expects is to be swept into danger…or into the guarded orbit of a man like Michael.
When the threat follows them back home to Seattle, survival means trust—and what began as a single violent incident spirals into something secret files, hidden agendas, and a classified operation known only as Project Asphodel.
As the danger escalates, so does their connection—raw, unexpected, and impossible to ignore. Sometimes what happens in Tahiti doesn’t stay there. Sometimes, it follows you home.
Breach Point is a fast-paced romantic suspense novel with opposites attract, protector, first-time, and hurt/comfort themes—and a guaranteed happily ever after.
Alex Kessler came to the islands to scatter his late wife’s ashes—a final step in a grieving process that’s consumed him for a year and a half. The last thing he expects is to be swept into danger…or into the guarded orbit of a man like Michael.
When the threat follows them back home to Seattle, survival means trust—and what began as a single violent incident spirals into something secret files, hidden agendas, and a classified operation known only as Project Asphodel.
As the danger escalates, so does their connection—raw, unexpected, and impossible to ignore. Sometimes what happens in Tahiti doesn’t stay there. Sometimes, it follows you home.
Breach Point is a fast-paced romantic suspense novel with opposites attract, protector, first-time, and hurt/comfort themes—and a guaranteed happily ever after.
250 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 14, 2025
91 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
December 28, 2025
ARC review
Another fantastic book from these series.
Alex had lost his wife and he went to Tahiti to move on. What he encountered was so much more.
Michael needed time off and his brothers made take a vacation in Tahiti. What he didn't expect to find was love.
Neither of them expected the other but they couldn't resist their connection.
I love the whole suspense too, it was very well written
Another fantastic book from these series.
Alex had lost his wife and he went to Tahiti to move on. What he encountered was so much more.
Michael needed time off and his brothers made take a vacation in Tahiti. What he didn't expect to find was love.
Neither of them expected the other but they couldn't resist their connection.
I love the whole suspense too, it was very well written
August 1, 2025
A great book which I'd loved, both characters are hot together for their brief time on the island. Mystery follows them home but also dangers. my full blog review link
July 15, 2025
In this second installment of the three-book series "First in Line" by the talented and romantic storyteller Declan Rhodes, a family of first responders and professionals learns about Project Asphodel. Named after the flowering fields where those who perish wait to learn their afterlife fate.
The series focuses on the McCabe family, the sons of a highly respected fire chief. Most of them are first responders who willingly rush into danger, while others flee from it. In this story, Seattle PD SWAT officer Michael McCabe is convinced by his brothers that he needs a break, so they send him to Tahiti.
There, he meets Alex Kessler, a history and ethics professor, who is there to scatter his late wife’s ashes after she was killed in a car accident.
The two men bond over their shared experiences in Tahiti and their lives in Seattle - where they both live - even though they were unaware of each other before this trip. An explosion sends Michael running toward the fire. During his attempt to save someone held captive, chaos results in his catching fire and perishing in the fiery remains of a boat.
When his identity is revealed, so is part of his past, specifically, that he is the son of the man developing and deploying Project Asphodel. This project aims to neutralize individuals with the potential for wrongdoing, as determined by an algorithm. Michael is accused of killing the secretive leader’s son and is placed on administrative leave when he’s flown back to the U.S.
The story highlights the loyalty and precision of the McCabe family, who discover that secret operatives are targeting Michael. Alex, whose relationship with Michael has deepened, also faces danger. Told with rich detail and a fast-paced, movie-like plot, the McCabe team and Alex uncover the link to Project Asphodel and realize both government and rogue contractors are targeting them.
It's an exciting read filled with contemporary facts, and it becomes even more intense when the team pushes to involve the Seattle PD to help protect Michael during his leave. The woman who contributed to the algorithm provides them with a USB drive containing evidence and reveals the truth about Project Asphodel through a clever VPN and server hide-and-seek method.
The ending is both beautiful and perplexing; the love between Alex and Michael is uplifting. Yet, it’s shocking that such events can happen and that so many in government failed to prevent the ‘neutralization’ of individuals, despite the algorithm’s 37% accuracy rate. It's also incongruent that Seattle PD would not want to protect their member while he's out on the standard administrative leave after an incident, and that an international corporation is hunting him down.
Declan Rhodes demonstrates his talent with complex technical subjects, enriching his narrative with authoritative language and realistic scenarios. He also adds flair by developing the love story between Alex and Michael, who will have heroic adventures in the next book.
The series focuses on the McCabe family, the sons of a highly respected fire chief. Most of them are first responders who willingly rush into danger, while others flee from it. In this story, Seattle PD SWAT officer Michael McCabe is convinced by his brothers that he needs a break, so they send him to Tahiti.
There, he meets Alex Kessler, a history and ethics professor, who is there to scatter his late wife’s ashes after she was killed in a car accident.
The two men bond over their shared experiences in Tahiti and their lives in Seattle - where they both live - even though they were unaware of each other before this trip. An explosion sends Michael running toward the fire. During his attempt to save someone held captive, chaos results in his catching fire and perishing in the fiery remains of a boat.
When his identity is revealed, so is part of his past, specifically, that he is the son of the man developing and deploying Project Asphodel. This project aims to neutralize individuals with the potential for wrongdoing, as determined by an algorithm. Michael is accused of killing the secretive leader’s son and is placed on administrative leave when he’s flown back to the U.S.
The story highlights the loyalty and precision of the McCabe family, who discover that secret operatives are targeting Michael. Alex, whose relationship with Michael has deepened, also faces danger. Told with rich detail and a fast-paced, movie-like plot, the McCabe team and Alex uncover the link to Project Asphodel and realize both government and rogue contractors are targeting them.
It's an exciting read filled with contemporary facts, and it becomes even more intense when the team pushes to involve the Seattle PD to help protect Michael during his leave. The woman who contributed to the algorithm provides them with a USB drive containing evidence and reveals the truth about Project Asphodel through a clever VPN and server hide-and-seek method.
The ending is both beautiful and perplexing; the love between Alex and Michael is uplifting. Yet, it’s shocking that such events can happen and that so many in government failed to prevent the ‘neutralization’ of individuals, despite the algorithm’s 37% accuracy rate. It's also incongruent that Seattle PD would not want to protect their member while he's out on the standard administrative leave after an incident, and that an international corporation is hunting him down.
Declan Rhodes demonstrates his talent with complex technical subjects, enriching his narrative with authoritative language and realistic scenarios. He also adds flair by developing the love story between Alex and Michael, who will have heroic adventures in the next book.
May 27, 2025
Alex and Michael . . .
Michael McCabe’s brothers knew he needed to get away and try to relax. He was tormented, working himself to death, losing himself. So they bought a plane ticket to Tahiti for him and made sure he got on the plane. Walking the beach, in a quiet area, he met a man and they wordlessly connected, each seeming to need the other, each seeming to understand the need for quiet and just being there. Alex Kessler, a history professor, had come here to scatter his wife’s ashes. She had been killed in an auto accident. He could look at Michael and almost read him like a book, as no one else ever had, and it seemed a comfort to Michael. They exchanged phone numbers just in case one or the other needed the contact at a later time. And Michael took him to spend the night at his bungalow. Meeting Michael had already made a small shift in Alex’s unbearable grief and gave him hope and a feeling of safety. He wasn’t healed yet, but he felt whole and alive again. And when he walked back inside the bungalow, Michael was now awake and saw the change. Words again were not needed. But the ache in Alex’s heart was bearable now. And just as Michael had noticed someone set up a recording camera in the dark yesterday, Alex heard the click of a camera shutter as he walked inside and wondered why someone would take a picture of him?
While they ate at an outdoor restaurant next to the marina, the two got to know each other, discovering both lived in Seattle! Alex asked about his job, so he told him he was an off-duty SWAT officer with Seattle PD. Unlike how other’s reacted, Alex said it explains a lot about how he moved, his constant awareness of his surroundings, unusual scars… and Alex looked at him with acceptance and respect rather than disgust or a sick curiosity. He immediately recognized Michael not wanting to stop moving, to need to run forward into danger to protect others, fitting the “guardian archetype” perfectly, putting himself between othrs and harm even at personal cost. That pattern occurs all through history. Then suddenly an explosion sounded as the pressure around them changed, smoke rose with the smell of burning fuel, melted wires, scorched metal. Before his brain caught up, Michael ran to the boats to identify the explosion… fuel tank, engine, or bomb? Alex saw Michael’s entire body calculating, assessing, and planning with each stride he took and all the pieces locked into place as to who Michael was, forged to respond to disasters without wasting a moment. Alex had spent years studying disasters safely from the margins, never understanding helplessness, and as he stood next to the creaking deck, unable to move, he began to understand.
Michael began looking for the source of the explosion, having smelled an accelerant. He saw a man dragging a bleeding body, not moving with rescue in mind. It was a planned retrieval by a private corporate contractor. He shouted at the man to let the victim go, but the man reached behind his back and Michael ran toward him and a tactical knife was now in the man’s hand. As they fought, Michael recognized he'd had military combat training. When Michael got the knife, the man backed up and began to fall into the burning wreckage behind him, looking at Michael as he said, "Tell her... the deal's off". And the crazy crowd stood there and recorded the entire scene with their phones, pulling him into whatever had been going on here… something far bigger than an explosion. And now, it will follow him back home because it isn’t over yet.
Michael McCabe’s brothers knew he needed to get away and try to relax. He was tormented, working himself to death, losing himself. So they bought a plane ticket to Tahiti for him and made sure he got on the plane. Walking the beach, in a quiet area, he met a man and they wordlessly connected, each seeming to need the other, each seeming to understand the need for quiet and just being there. Alex Kessler, a history professor, had come here to scatter his wife’s ashes. She had been killed in an auto accident. He could look at Michael and almost read him like a book, as no one else ever had, and it seemed a comfort to Michael. They exchanged phone numbers just in case one or the other needed the contact at a later time. And Michael took him to spend the night at his bungalow. Meeting Michael had already made a small shift in Alex’s unbearable grief and gave him hope and a feeling of safety. He wasn’t healed yet, but he felt whole and alive again. And when he walked back inside the bungalow, Michael was now awake and saw the change. Words again were not needed. But the ache in Alex’s heart was bearable now. And just as Michael had noticed someone set up a recording camera in the dark yesterday, Alex heard the click of a camera shutter as he walked inside and wondered why someone would take a picture of him?
While they ate at an outdoor restaurant next to the marina, the two got to know each other, discovering both lived in Seattle! Alex asked about his job, so he told him he was an off-duty SWAT officer with Seattle PD. Unlike how other’s reacted, Alex said it explains a lot about how he moved, his constant awareness of his surroundings, unusual scars… and Alex looked at him with acceptance and respect rather than disgust or a sick curiosity. He immediately recognized Michael not wanting to stop moving, to need to run forward into danger to protect others, fitting the “guardian archetype” perfectly, putting himself between othrs and harm even at personal cost. That pattern occurs all through history. Then suddenly an explosion sounded as the pressure around them changed, smoke rose with the smell of burning fuel, melted wires, scorched metal. Before his brain caught up, Michael ran to the boats to identify the explosion… fuel tank, engine, or bomb? Alex saw Michael’s entire body calculating, assessing, and planning with each stride he took and all the pieces locked into place as to who Michael was, forged to respond to disasters without wasting a moment. Alex had spent years studying disasters safely from the margins, never understanding helplessness, and as he stood next to the creaking deck, unable to move, he began to understand.
Michael began looking for the source of the explosion, having smelled an accelerant. He saw a man dragging a bleeding body, not moving with rescue in mind. It was a planned retrieval by a private corporate contractor. He shouted at the man to let the victim go, but the man reached behind his back and Michael ran toward him and a tactical knife was now in the man’s hand. As they fought, Michael recognized he'd had military combat training. When Michael got the knife, the man backed up and began to fall into the burning wreckage behind him, looking at Michael as he said, "Tell her... the deal's off". And the crazy crowd stood there and recorded the entire scene with their phones, pulling him into whatever had been going on here… something far bigger than an explosion. And now, it will follow him back home because it isn’t over yet.
May 20, 2025
Mild Spoilers!
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This started out really good! But then after they're stateside, it slows down a bit. Yes, there's action going on, but the way it was written makes it sound slow... I also didn't like how the two MC's just happen to know all this info that's well outside of their job description. Yes, it's fiction, but it was too unrealistic. And lastly, I didn't like how their sexual preferences aren't discussed (in the first scene, they don't talk until after the fact, and it's never said anywhere else that the professor is the automatic bottom every time.
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This started out really good! But then after they're stateside, it slows down a bit. Yes, there's action going on, but the way it was written makes it sound slow... I also didn't like how the two MC's just happen to know all this info that's well outside of their job description. Yes, it's fiction, but it was too unrealistic. And lastly, I didn't like how their sexual preferences aren't discussed (in the first scene, they don't talk until after the fact, and it's never said anywhere else that the professor is the automatic bottom every time.
May 10, 2025
I received a free copy. This review is submitted voluntarily.
Michael McCabe, a SWAT officer in Seattle, has been sent to Tahiti with orders from his brothers to relax and enjoy life. During a walk on the first day, he meets Alex Klessen, a widower and history professor at Seattle University and spends the night with him. During breakfast the next day, there’s an explosion aboard a yacht in the marina and Michael rushes toward it to try to save any survivors. He sees a man in fatigues and a mask dragging a security guard. After telling him to drop the guard, the man pulls a knife but loses the battle and slips to his fiery death. Michael is immediately arrested and interrogated for the murder of a billionaire’s son. He is freed by the US Embassy and sent home immediately. He is placed on leave and decides to stick to himself and not involve anybody. Meanwhile, Alex left Tahiti early as well and is doing research into a company and discovers a project that involves killing without human oversight. He discovers that he is under surveillance by persons unknown, so he reconnects with Michael. From here they play cat and mouse with those same unknown persons on the way to resolving the mystery and their happy ending.
This was really well written and kept me on the edge of my seat right up to the end. The mystery format was new to me from this author, but having read the previous book in the series, I wasn’t surprised at the quality of the writing. The plot is fairly complex, and Mr. Rhodes carries it off with aplomb. His descriptions of nature and the environment of the protagonists are captivating. The main characters are very realistic, and both have problems that they overcome. Each of them cannot erase the other from their mind. The MCs are well described, and I found myself rooting for them from the outset. The secondary characters, including Michael’s brothers, are equally real and in fact, those brothers are the only true secondary characters as they fight to expose the immoral program. Thus, it’s fair to say that they make serious contributions to plot development.
I have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending this book.
Michael McCabe, a SWAT officer in Seattle, has been sent to Tahiti with orders from his brothers to relax and enjoy life. During a walk on the first day, he meets Alex Klessen, a widower and history professor at Seattle University and spends the night with him. During breakfast the next day, there’s an explosion aboard a yacht in the marina and Michael rushes toward it to try to save any survivors. He sees a man in fatigues and a mask dragging a security guard. After telling him to drop the guard, the man pulls a knife but loses the battle and slips to his fiery death. Michael is immediately arrested and interrogated for the murder of a billionaire’s son. He is freed by the US Embassy and sent home immediately. He is placed on leave and decides to stick to himself and not involve anybody. Meanwhile, Alex left Tahiti early as well and is doing research into a company and discovers a project that involves killing without human oversight. He discovers that he is under surveillance by persons unknown, so he reconnects with Michael. From here they play cat and mouse with those same unknown persons on the way to resolving the mystery and their happy ending.
This was really well written and kept me on the edge of my seat right up to the end. The mystery format was new to me from this author, but having read the previous book in the series, I wasn’t surprised at the quality of the writing. The plot is fairly complex, and Mr. Rhodes carries it off with aplomb. His descriptions of nature and the environment of the protagonists are captivating. The main characters are very realistic, and both have problems that they overcome. Each of them cannot erase the other from their mind. The MCs are well described, and I found myself rooting for them from the outset. The secondary characters, including Michael’s brothers, are equally real and in fact, those brothers are the only true secondary characters as they fight to expose the immoral program. Thus, it’s fair to say that they make serious contributions to plot development.
I have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending this book.
May 31, 2025
Michael a swat officer is sent to Tahini by his brothers to rest and rewind and meets Alex they feel things for each other and Alex lives in the same town he is a professor. They exchange numbers and plan to get together after vacation but then it went haywire after Michael tried to stop a man from being killed but then Lars fell into the fire that caused a boat to explode. Michael lost his father’s badge in the stuffer and was taken into custody by the police there and told them everything the US diplomat sent him home. He was suspended and an article was written about him that was the only way Alex knew what happened to Michael. Michael had powerful enemies after him but not the reason why, Alex decided to research the company connected to Lars. When he went to find some articles about Evelyn he was locked out and someone had logged into his laptop and searched it and deleted his findings also got a message to stop researching but used his wife’s program to hide what he found. Alex finds his door tampered with, Michael tells Alex to stay away until his place was broken into so went to Micheal’s place and two of his brothers helping them found out a program that kills people and it had killed Alex’s wife. Michael sees cars he never seen before so the 4 got out of town went to a cabin Evelyn shows up and gives them the information and what to do to stop that program from taking over the world even the parts the government didn’t know and also the company that made it. The company sent their men after them but with all of the obstacles thrown at them the word got out, Lars had been trying to correct the mistake of the program it wasn’t working the way it was supposed to. Once the info was out others came out about the program, Miles had been targeted by it ended in a ranger bunker. The FBI came and took them and were going to court but then a Presidential pardon came through, the President hadn’t wanted that program. Lar’s son brought Michael back the badge he lost and now living away from most people and Alex working remotely.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 17, 2025
Wow! An outstanding romantic thriller guaranteed to take your breath and have you on the edge of your seat.
Michael, SWAT team member has his life turned upside down after his brothers stage an intervention and send him to Tahiti for a much-needed break. If he doesn't go they all know something will give, he will likely collapse. He has been trying to hold himself together for too long now. This trip is meant to be a holiday, what it becomes is a nightmare though one which may have a silver lining.
Alex, history teacher and widow of eighteen months is in Tahiti to release his wife's ashes into the ocean, her wish. He is lost, lonely, a shadow of who is was before she was taken from him. Now he is here, trying to say goodbye, to take the next step. He certainly isn't expecting a long dormant part of him to be awakened, for one night with a stranger, sharing secrets and deepest thoughts as well as simply peace. He never could have anticipated it being so incredibly life changing.
Both men are from Seattle suggesting that this holiday romance could continue when they return home but then the bomb happens, Michael throws himself into the fray only to find himself framed for a murder. Alex is pulled in too, as a witness and as someone who was seen with Michael. It almost breaks Michael but when they both return home there are things that they have both seen and heard that they realise make no sense and they start to do their own investigation. Michaels brothers get caught up in it all too for what they find is that the deeper they dig, the more conspiracy they find, at the highest levels, the greater the threats become. Will they be strong enough to face what is coming for them, to share the truth they have discovered and come out the otherside whole and still together.
This is a thrilling story, closely woven plot and hurt-comfort romance all in one and it is excellent. If you like your thrillers to keep you guessing this one is for you, if you like your romances edgy, this one is for you. Go ahead, get a copy!
Michael, SWAT team member has his life turned upside down after his brothers stage an intervention and send him to Tahiti for a much-needed break. If he doesn't go they all know something will give, he will likely collapse. He has been trying to hold himself together for too long now. This trip is meant to be a holiday, what it becomes is a nightmare though one which may have a silver lining.
Alex, history teacher and widow of eighteen months is in Tahiti to release his wife's ashes into the ocean, her wish. He is lost, lonely, a shadow of who is was before she was taken from him. Now he is here, trying to say goodbye, to take the next step. He certainly isn't expecting a long dormant part of him to be awakened, for one night with a stranger, sharing secrets and deepest thoughts as well as simply peace. He never could have anticipated it being so incredibly life changing.
Both men are from Seattle suggesting that this holiday romance could continue when they return home but then the bomb happens, Michael throws himself into the fray only to find himself framed for a murder. Alex is pulled in too, as a witness and as someone who was seen with Michael. It almost breaks Michael but when they both return home there are things that they have both seen and heard that they realise make no sense and they start to do their own investigation. Michaels brothers get caught up in it all too for what they find is that the deeper they dig, the more conspiracy they find, at the highest levels, the greater the threats become. Will they be strong enough to face what is coming for them, to share the truth they have discovered and come out the otherside whole and still together.
This is a thrilling story, closely woven plot and hurt-comfort romance all in one and it is excellent. If you like your thrillers to keep you guessing this one is for you, if you like your romances edgy, this one is for you. Go ahead, get a copy!
May 23, 2025
Breach Point is a standalone contemporary MM romance by Declan Rhodes and is the second book of the First In Line series. So far this series has followed the romance of the McCabe brothers, and this time it is SWAT officer Michael's turn to find his HEA. There is no need to have read the previous book, although the couple do pop up briefly, but if you're into a firefighter romance, it's probably worth going back to read that if you're new to the series.
This is an action packed with a relationship that borders on instalove. Michael McCabe is on leave, he needs to switch off and take a break. The stress from his job as a SWAT officer is not good for his health. Michael seems to be looking for trouble, though, when he gets thrown into an international plot while on his island getaway. The problem, is that he has just met Alex Kessler, an academia who is also from Seattle, and they started an island fling.
When danger follows both Michael and Alex home, the men are thrown back together. The forced proximity has them re-examining the feelings swirling between them. They both have baggage, but that's what makes them relatable as both individuals and as a couple. These are two deep and complex guys, yet between the danger and the plotting and the running, they begin to make something real.
I really liked both characters. Michael is your quintessential hero, while Alex the unintentional hero who is thrown into the action. This is a story which starts and hits the ground running. I couldn't put it down until I got all my answers!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is an action packed with a relationship that borders on instalove. Michael McCabe is on leave, he needs to switch off and take a break. The stress from his job as a SWAT officer is not good for his health. Michael seems to be looking for trouble, though, when he gets thrown into an international plot while on his island getaway. The problem, is that he has just met Alex Kessler, an academia who is also from Seattle, and they started an island fling.
When danger follows both Michael and Alex home, the men are thrown back together. The forced proximity has them re-examining the feelings swirling between them. They both have baggage, but that's what makes them relatable as both individuals and as a couple. These are two deep and complex guys, yet between the danger and the plotting and the running, they begin to make something real.
I really liked both characters. Michael is your quintessential hero, while Alex the unintentional hero who is thrown into the action. This is a story which starts and hits the ground running. I couldn't put it down until I got all my answers!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 26, 2025
Wow!!! I could not put this book down, reading it in one sitting. You have action, mystery, suspense, political intrigue, conspiracy, romance and sex, all rolled into one, with AI tech at its most terrifying. The blurb sets it up so well, I don’t want to add much more, other than to say the McCabe’s are back featuring Michael, the Seattle SWAT officer with Alex, a history professor, caught up in a dastardly plot, with support when it counts from Michael’s brothers Marcus (of book 1, Burn Pattern) and Miles, the four fighting to stop a classified operation before it gets out of control. Michael and Alex met in Tahiti and had a connection when all h*ll broke loose and their lives weren’t the same. As the two spend more time together as the danger increases, the connection moves to something more, something they weren’t expecting but which helps them see it through to the end.
Although a romance, the action part played out like a movie playing in my head, immersed in what was going on, first mentally cheering Michael and Alex on as they were drawn in, then when Miles and Marcus joined them, I was cringing when needed, on the edge of my seat as the danger increased, and cheering them on as they persevered and eventually came out on top.
Declan Rhodes is an author I follow, I enjoy his books and get drawn in quickly, but I think this one is his best one yet. I was totally engaged from beginning to end, very satisfied with how things turned out, and ready for book 3 to see ifthis one could be topped, but I’m not sure how. I would definitely recommend the First In Line series, and this book in particular. I’d give 10 stars if I could.
Although a romance, the action part played out like a movie playing in my head, immersed in what was going on, first mentally cheering Michael and Alex on as they were drawn in, then when Miles and Marcus joined them, I was cringing when needed, on the edge of my seat as the danger increased, and cheering them on as they persevered and eventually came out on top.
Declan Rhodes is an author I follow, I enjoy his books and get drawn in quickly, but I think this one is his best one yet. I was totally engaged from beginning to end, very satisfied with how things turned out, and ready for book 3 to see ifthis one could be topped, but I’m not sure how. I would definitely recommend the First In Line series, and this book in particular. I’d give 10 stars if I could.
May 18, 2025
Breach Point is the second book in the First in Line series about the first responder, McCabe brothers.
Declan Rhodes has outdone himself with the second book in the series. This book hooks you with the very first page and the action does not stop until you are finished. As with Burn Patterns, the first book in the series, this story is a blending of action, suspense, and romance.
Michael McCabe is former military and active member of the police SWAT team who is running himself into the ground. His brothers take it upon themselves to send him to Tahiti to decompress before he goes over the edge. When he has an instant connection with college professor Alex Kessler who came to the island to fulfill a promise to himself and his late wife.
Just as Michael and Alex start to get to know each other they are torn apart by violence on the island and forced home. The violence and conspiracy surrounding it follows both men back to the states. Alex knows he is in danger and knows the one person who can protect him is Michael.
As the story unfolds the relationship between Michael and Alex develops. Alex has to learn to let himself love again while Michael needs to let himself be open to trusting and loving other people. This means not only Alex but his brothers, who play prominently in the story line of the novel.
This is a well-done story. It is the best in the series and I cannot wait to read Matthew’s story next.
Declan Rhodes has outdone himself with the second book in the series. This book hooks you with the very first page and the action does not stop until you are finished. As with Burn Patterns, the first book in the series, this story is a blending of action, suspense, and romance.
Michael McCabe is former military and active member of the police SWAT team who is running himself into the ground. His brothers take it upon themselves to send him to Tahiti to decompress before he goes over the edge. When he has an instant connection with college professor Alex Kessler who came to the island to fulfill a promise to himself and his late wife.
Just as Michael and Alex start to get to know each other they are torn apart by violence on the island and forced home. The violence and conspiracy surrounding it follows both men back to the states. Alex knows he is in danger and knows the one person who can protect him is Michael.
As the story unfolds the relationship between Michael and Alex develops. Alex has to learn to let himself love again while Michael needs to let himself be open to trusting and loving other people. This means not only Alex but his brothers, who play prominently in the story line of the novel.
This is a well-done story. It is the best in the series and I cannot wait to read Matthew’s story next.
May 11, 2025
Gripping Action and Intrigue from Start to Finish
Breach Point is a roller-coaster ride of suspense and adrenaline. From the moment an explosion disrupts Michael McCabe's supposed vacation in Tahiti, the story races forward with relentless momentum. Teaming up with history professor Alex Kessler, whose personal mission becomes entangled with McCabe's fight for survival, they uncover a labyrinth of secrets and danger that follows them back to Seattle.
What I loved most about this book is its gripping pace and the authenticity of its main characters. McCabe and Kessler are not just heroes but flawed individuals dealing with real-life struggles, which adds depth to the narrative. Rhoades' writing style keeps the action intense and the stakes high, making it impossible to put the book down.
Breach Point is a must-read for fans of action-packed thrillers. It's a story that grabs you from the first page and doesn't let go, with twists and turns that will keep you guessing. I was thoroughly sucked into the suspense and intrigue, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a thrilling read that delivers on every level.
Thank you to GRR and the author, Declan Rhodes for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Breach Point is a roller-coaster ride of suspense and adrenaline. From the moment an explosion disrupts Michael McCabe's supposed vacation in Tahiti, the story races forward with relentless momentum. Teaming up with history professor Alex Kessler, whose personal mission becomes entangled with McCabe's fight for survival, they uncover a labyrinth of secrets and danger that follows them back to Seattle.
What I loved most about this book is its gripping pace and the authenticity of its main characters. McCabe and Kessler are not just heroes but flawed individuals dealing with real-life struggles, which adds depth to the narrative. Rhoades' writing style keeps the action intense and the stakes high, making it impossible to put the book down.
Breach Point is a must-read for fans of action-packed thrillers. It's a story that grabs you from the first page and doesn't let go, with twists and turns that will keep you guessing. I was thoroughly sucked into the suspense and intrigue, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a thrilling read that delivers on every level.
Thank you to GRR and the author, Declan Rhodes for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
May 17, 2025
Breach Point is the second in the series but works perfectly well as a standalone. Here we see the second oldest McCabe brother, Michael, meet and fall for Alex, a history professor, with their relationship developing against the backdrop of a very readable action-thriller storyline.
Their meeting is a hot hookup in a tropical idyll, but what follows is a test to the instant attraction and draw to each other that both Alex and Michael feel as they become embroiled in a national security issue. No spoilers, but it's a good one!
This author was new to me coming into this series and whilst I appreciated book one, this instalment had me hooked from the beginning. The action plot and topic that drives it are on point, the pacing worked for me and the layered characters had a depth I really enjoyed. It's a nice romance, too, coming as a surprise to both MCs.
My advice? Leave your real-world logic at the door and suspend belief for a bit (or not!), curl up on the couch and ride this rollercoaster of a story. A very good 4*.
An e-copy was provided by GRR. This is my honest opinion.
Their meeting is a hot hookup in a tropical idyll, but what follows is a test to the instant attraction and draw to each other that both Alex and Michael feel as they become embroiled in a national security issue. No spoilers, but it's a good one!
This author was new to me coming into this series and whilst I appreciated book one, this instalment had me hooked from the beginning. The action plot and topic that drives it are on point, the pacing worked for me and the layered characters had a depth I really enjoyed. It's a nice romance, too, coming as a surprise to both MCs.
My advice? Leave your real-world logic at the door and suspend belief for a bit (or not!), curl up on the couch and ride this rollercoaster of a story. A very good 4*.
An e-copy was provided by GRR. This is my honest opinion.
May 18, 2025
Michael McCabe, a SWAT officer on an unwanted vacation in Tahiti due to his brother's near-death experience, finds his break disrupted by an explosion, hinting at something more sinister than bad luck. There, he encounters Alex Kessler, who is in Tahiti to scatter his late wife's ashes. They are unexpectedly drawn into the unfolding violence, and their connection deepens as the threat follows them back to Seattle. They must learn to trust each other as they uncover secret files, hidden agendas, and a classified operation called Project Asphodel, which puts them in danger. Their initial violent encounter evolves into an unexpected and profound connection as they work together to unravel the truth. What started in Tahiti doesn't end there; it follows them home.
I loved this story which was danger and drama from the start to the ending skilfully woven around the love story between Alex and Michael which was full of passion. The various settings were clearly described and the other characters were easy to see in your mind. Easy to read, feel and understand. This MM story with mature content.
I loved this story which was danger and drama from the start to the ending skilfully woven around the love story between Alex and Michael which was full of passion. The various settings were clearly described and the other characters were easy to see in your mind. Easy to read, feel and understand. This MM story with mature content.
May 28, 2025
This is the second book in the First In Line series and it can be read as a standalone read. The entire series features a McCabe brother in each book. This is the story of Michael McCabe and Alex Kessler. Michael is a SWAT Police Officer in Seattle. He has been sent to Tahiti by his brothers as he desperately needs a break. They are afraid he will break if he doesn't take a break. It is there that he meets Alex. Alex is a widower and history professor at Seattle University. He is at Tahiti to scatter his wife's ashes. The two meet and there is instant chemistry. At breakfast the next day, a boat blows up and Michael rushes to help. That is the action that separates the two of them and puts their lives on a new unwanted path. Their lives are threatened and they decide to work together to solve this mystery. This is their story. The book is written well and is easy to read. This is an action packed story. It will keep you on your toes until the very end. I look forward to the next book in this series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 26, 2025
At the end of Burn Patters Marcus sends Michael to Tahiti to stop him burning out. You see Michael is SWAT and due to his intense job needs a break.
Alex is in Tahiti to say goodbye to his deceased wife. What he doesn't expect is to have an instant attraction to Michael and then get put in danger.
This story was intense as I got drawn in to the life threatening mystery that started on Tahiti. The romance after that first meeting was a slow burn, which left me to concentrate on Alex's investigation. To be honest, what Alex was investigation had me thinking what if it was real and how would we know if was out there, god it was scary. As you can tell I was hooked, Alex and Michael work well as a team and like the investigation, their relationship was fervent.
Getting to see Michael and his brothers working together you can see how good they all are at the jobs and I loved seeing them all work together.
More intense then the first one and a great addition to the series
Alex is in Tahiti to say goodbye to his deceased wife. What he doesn't expect is to have an instant attraction to Michael and then get put in danger.
This story was intense as I got drawn in to the life threatening mystery that started on Tahiti. The romance after that first meeting was a slow burn, which left me to concentrate on Alex's investigation. To be honest, what Alex was investigation had me thinking what if it was real and how would we know if was out there, god it was scary. As you can tell I was hooked, Alex and Michael work well as a team and like the investigation, their relationship was fervent.
Getting to see Michael and his brothers working together you can see how good they all are at the jobs and I loved seeing them all work together.
More intense then the first one and a great addition to the series
June 3, 2025
Wow what an excellent book! I am a sparse user of exclamation points, but wow!
Throughout this storyline Alex, a history professor who is letting go of his late wife her ashes at the same resort as overworked SWAT officer Michael is send to by his family for R&R. After a great night together their lives changes yo something they could never have thought off.
If a book is ever published in a timeframe that all this could be about to happen. is happening or might happen the overall storyline is just that on point.
Declan created a story that read like a dream and pulled me into the unsavoury world of people who pick money and power over common sense and humanity. Some tech conpany top and parts of government go rouge.
Through it all The McCabe brothers, Alex stand and fight/ push back with the help of Lars and Evelyn in crucial eays and points
After all the upheavel Alex & Michael do fnd their spot on te coast towards a quieter live and their hfn/hea however long that might be.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Throughout this storyline Alex, a history professor who is letting go of his late wife her ashes at the same resort as overworked SWAT officer Michael is send to by his family for R&R. After a great night together their lives changes yo something they could never have thought off.
If a book is ever published in a timeframe that all this could be about to happen. is happening or might happen the overall storyline is just that on point.
Declan created a story that read like a dream and pulled me into the unsavoury world of people who pick money and power over common sense and humanity. Some tech conpany top and parts of government go rouge.
Through it all The McCabe brothers, Alex stand and fight/ push back with the help of Lars and Evelyn in crucial eays and points
After all the upheavel Alex & Michael do fnd their spot on te coast towards a quieter live and their hfn/hea however long that might be.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2025
This was my first book by Declan Rhodes. He knows how to write a compelling, suspenseful love story. Two items lowered this book down to 4 stars for me: First, given that Alex is a first-time bottom who has never been with a man, the first two intimate scenes contained no mention of what would be very necessary physical preparation / stretching. It could have been as simple as adding another sentence to each scene instead of making me think "wow, that's gonna hurt." Second, I found a half-dozen continuity breaks in the story ... scenes where the description was amiss or was actively contradicted the next time that scene was referenced. The author's support team - beta readers, copy editors, proofreaders - should have caught these. Despite these areas needing improvement, I enjoyed reading about the McCabe bothers and will likely check out the other stories in this series at some point in the future.
May 18, 2025
This is a great suspense/political thriller/mystery book.
The storyline is actually quite frightening and I just hope not too real. It is complex and you need to focus on it so you don't loose track. But it's gripping and well set up and thought through.
If you read Burn Pattern, the first in this series, you already know the McCabe family and they are all back in force as well. I love how they stick together, support without asking. It's possible to read this book without the first one but I think you gain more from it if you read them in order.
Michael and Alex make a great couple, meeting by chance and then pushed together by the aftermath of the events in Tahiti and then running for their lives.
They both have baggage but when they start to lean on each other they realise that they don't have to do everything on their own.
It's also not a damsel-in-distress-story, Alex definitely keeps up on his own.
I can't wait for the next one.
The storyline is actually quite frightening and I just hope not too real. It is complex and you need to focus on it so you don't loose track. But it's gripping and well set up and thought through.
If you read Burn Pattern, the first in this series, you already know the McCabe family and they are all back in force as well. I love how they stick together, support without asking. It's possible to read this book without the first one but I think you gain more from it if you read them in order.
Michael and Alex make a great couple, meeting by chance and then pushed together by the aftermath of the events in Tahiti and then running for their lives.
They both have baggage but when they start to lean on each other they realise that they don't have to do everything on their own.
It's also not a damsel-in-distress-story, Alex definitely keeps up on his own.
I can't wait for the next one.
May 19, 2025
Top Pot donuts, brick, drones, Italian sausage lasagna, flash drive, tomato garden, apocalypse kit, The Stasi, blackberry cobbler
A sexy scene in Tahiti opens this story. Then it only drags a bit while the stage is set and characters are established. Once everything is in place, the pace picks up. The plot sort of resembles the 2002 Tom Cruise movie, "The Minority Report". This book is just as intriguing and suspenseful. But, this has hot, spicy MM action, too!
The MCs are Michael McCabe, a Seattle PD SWAT officer and Alex Kessler, a history professor at Seattle University; they meet in Tahiti. They're there for very different reasons. The actual plot begins at a Tahiti marina, then moves to Seattle and the PNW. The imagery is vividly painted; the story is brought to life, and I marveled at magnificent scenic potrayals.
The story kept me riveted and on edge throughout the book. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and absolutely recommend this.
A sexy scene in Tahiti opens this story. Then it only drags a bit while the stage is set and characters are established. Once everything is in place, the pace picks up. The plot sort of resembles the 2002 Tom Cruise movie, "The Minority Report". This book is just as intriguing and suspenseful. But, this has hot, spicy MM action, too!
The MCs are Michael McCabe, a Seattle PD SWAT officer and Alex Kessler, a history professor at Seattle University; they meet in Tahiti. They're there for very different reasons. The actual plot begins at a Tahiti marina, then moves to Seattle and the PNW. The imagery is vividly painted; the story is brought to life, and I marveled at magnificent scenic potrayals.
The story kept me riveted and on edge throughout the book. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and absolutely recommend this.
June 5, 2025
Breach Point surprised me. I went in expecting a steamy romance, but what I got was more of a high-stakes action thriller—with a side of M/M romance woven through it. And honestly? That worked better than I thought it would.
This book is full of tension, explosions, SWAT-level danger, and the kind of emotional walls that only start to come down when someone truly unexpected crashes into your life. Michael and Alex aren’t your typical romance couple—they’re damaged, guarded, and caught in a world where vulnerability could be fatal.
It’s not a swoony, romantic slow burn. It's raw. It’s intense. It's about surviving—grief, danger, your past—and still finding a connection worth risking everything for.
For me personally, I prefer steamier, more romance-focused stories—but that’s just my taste. This book still deserves 5 stars for what it is, not what I expected.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book is full of tension, explosions, SWAT-level danger, and the kind of emotional walls that only start to come down when someone truly unexpected crashes into your life. Michael and Alex aren’t your typical romance couple—they’re damaged, guarded, and caught in a world where vulnerability could be fatal.
It’s not a swoony, romantic slow burn. It's raw. It’s intense. It's about surviving—grief, danger, your past—and still finding a connection worth risking everything for.
For me personally, I prefer steamier, more romance-focused stories—but that’s just my taste. This book still deserves 5 stars for what it is, not what I expected.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 22, 2026
'Breach Point' (First in Line series, Book 2) written by Declan Rhodes (Kindle)
Fabulous tale; this series is shaping up to be one of my favorites!
It's got lots of action, hot guys, international intrigue including spies working for who knows who, hot guys, serious & funny interactions between 4 brothers (and their mama), interesting co-workers and other assorted characters...
and did I mention 4 hot guys and their partners or potential partners? (major yum!)
Rhodes is definitely a master of action-adventure storylines and M/M hookups turning into love stories!
And who isn't into potential conspiracy theories? (um, well maybe some people, lol, but not me; it's political catnip!)
I like that Rhodes digs into people's back-stories and what may be their baggage, or emotional kryptonite. It makes for a well-developed and much more complex and intriguing tale. Well done, you!
Great tale...waiting for more!
Two thumbs up! 👍👍
Fabulous tale; this series is shaping up to be one of my favorites!
It's got lots of action, hot guys, international intrigue including spies working for who knows who, hot guys, serious & funny interactions between 4 brothers (and their mama), interesting co-workers and other assorted characters...
and did I mention 4 hot guys and their partners or potential partners? (major yum!)
Rhodes is definitely a master of action-adventure storylines and M/M hookups turning into love stories!
And who isn't into potential conspiracy theories? (um, well maybe some people, lol, but not me; it's political catnip!)
I like that Rhodes digs into people's back-stories and what may be their baggage, or emotional kryptonite. It makes for a well-developed and much more complex and intriguing tale. Well done, you!
Great tale...waiting for more!
Two thumbs up! 👍👍
May 9, 2025
I had read a few of Declan Rhode's books that were sports related and quite romantic and depicted a peaceful venue. So, when I started to read this book which opens on a beach, I thought I would encounter the venue and romance of those other books, but this quickly became an action-packed book with the romance being strong but taking second place to the fast-moving action that somehow smoothly worked out. It was a mystery at the same time that kept me glued to the book.
The fact that an author can write so strongly of a peaceful village with characters who are and have been friends and also write a book like this with fast action and mystery and be so good at both tells me this is an author I will read more than the three or four books I have now read. He will be one of my go-to authors.
The fact that an author can write so strongly of a peaceful village with characters who are and have been friends and also write a book like this with fast action and mystery and be so good at both tells me this is an author I will read more than the three or four books I have now read. He will be one of my go-to authors.
May 13, 2025
This book had me on the edge of my seat from the start (the boat blows up and it's non-stop action all the way to the end). Alex & Michael meet in Tahiti - Alex is there to release his wife's ashes, and Michael is there to take a break from his job as a SWAT officer in Seattle. They make, they sleep together almost immediately, and then the boat blows up and the action starts. I loved the side characters (Michael's brothers and his mother). The brothers & Alex work together to get the info out and stop the release of a new weapon (think pre-crime executions kinda like Minority Report) while the clock ticks down.
This can be read as a standalone. The first book was Marcus & James' story, and while they are part of this book, it's not necessary to have read the first book to understand this one (although you really should read the first book because it's just as good as this one).
This can be read as a standalone. The first book was Marcus & James' story, and while they are part of this book, it's not necessary to have read the first book to understand this one (although you really should read the first book because it's just as good as this one).
May 21, 2025
WOW did Michael and Alex ever have a hot start! This book was hard to put down once I started, from the first paragraph I was drawn in. Both characters were really well developed, I feel like they could exist out in the world somewhere for real. Their relationship was really genuine once they reconnected. Born a little out of the like for each other, and then the danger they encounter throughout the story. I loved the storyline; it was really well constructed and kept me completely engaged. The side characters were also really likeable and well developed, I can't wait to go back and read Marcus's book and going forward, the rest of the brothers! I liked all of their individual characters :) Overall, this was a pretty awesome story, I will definitely read the rest of the series and more from this Author in the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 23, 2025
This is the second book in the First in Line series. I didn’t care for the first book, but very much enjoyed this one. Michael and Alex meet in Tahiti. They have instant chemistry. But before they have time to get to know each other, there is an incident on the island. Michael’s first responder instincts kick in and he finds himself in the middle of a death investigation. Things heat up after they return home. Alex is a professor and his curiosity about the incident and people involved puts him in the crosshairs. Soon he and Michael and eventually Michael’s brothers are racing time to expose an unethical and deadly AI project. The story will suck you in and keep you turning pages! I’m curious to see if the next book will feature Miles or Matthew. I received a copy of this book from GRR and this is my honest opinion.
May 29, 2025
Outstanding! Michael, is SWAT. He finally gives in heading to Tahiti, knowing he needs the break after his brother dies at the hand of a deranged arsonist. Alex, comes to Tahiti to scatter the ashes of his dead wife. An explosion is an event that draws the two strangers together and the danger follows them back to Seattle. Once home, what was once relative peace, descends to secrets, mysteries, a classified operation and more danger that neither man expected but both find themselves up to the challenge. What better way to get to know another person better than while fighting for your life and trying to solve an unexpected mystery? We follow them down the mystery rabbit hole and hope we come out whole. Nice cover art! Well done! Excellent series! I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 27, 2025
I think I'm perhaps not the right audience for this, LOL. It was fine, but I felt like there were some pretty huge plot holes, and I honestly didn't see how the two main characters fell so hard so fast. A couple of my main issues with the plot: The ending was also kind of easily fixed and strange ().
All in all, I'm not intrigued enough to continue with the series.
All in all, I'm not intrigued enough to continue with the series.
May 12, 2025
One more author to follow, it was the first book I read by this author and now I will have to follow closely
I had never read a book of this trope, suspense and romance, and I loved it.
Michael McCabe, a SWAT officer in Seattle, has been sent to Tahiti with orders from his brothers to relax and enjoy life. During a walk on the first day, he meets Alex Klessen, a widower and history professor at Seattle University and spends the night with him.
Before returning home, an explosion and a death, mixes everything between the 2 MCs
This was really well written and kept me on the edge right up to the end.
Definitely a real page turner, and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book. But first I have to read the first one
I had never read a book of this trope, suspense and romance, and I loved it.
Michael McCabe, a SWAT officer in Seattle, has been sent to Tahiti with orders from his brothers to relax and enjoy life. During a walk on the first day, he meets Alex Klessen, a widower and history professor at Seattle University and spends the night with him.
Before returning home, an explosion and a death, mixes everything between the 2 MCs
This was really well written and kept me on the edge right up to the end.
Definitely a real page turner, and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book. But first I have to read the first one
May 15, 2025
This is not only a sexy MM romance because it’s also a brilliantly written thriller. And…it’s very current. Rhodes has out done himself on this novel. Two very unlikely men find each other and then their world turn upside down. Here are some notes I took as I read: healing, intuitive encounters, tokens, exploration, complicated grief, twists when you totally don’t expect them, AI algorithms, intrigue, questioning one’s worth, cognitive dissonance, it’s clinical, historical analysis/algorithms, espionage, black ops, secret agents, ethics, egos, and “it was about his presence”. The novel is a page turner and will keep you on your toes and part of the plot, as I’ve previously mentioned, is current historical fiction. Or is it, fiction that is? I’ll repeat – sexy. Hang on and enjoy!!
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