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More Heat Than the Sun #3
The Bridge of Silver Wings
Nikolas and Ben discover that bonds aren't forged with blood or scars but in the hearts of men strong enough to love.
Ben discovers the truth of the adage, 'be careful what you wish for'. Nikolas has exorcised his demons, but when they end up stranded in Russia, the monster inside needs to be let loose. Siberia in winter isn't a place for good men. There is nothing Nikolas won't do to keep Ben alive.
Home again, Nikolas then faces an enemy he can't defeat: Ben Rider himself. Discovering a new family, Ben realizes he's been living too long in the shadows cast by Nikolas's all-consuming love. For the first time, life apart from Nikolas is possible. Is Nikolas strong enough to let Ben go?
294 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 21, 2014
36 people are currently reading
596 people want to read
About the author
John Wiltshire
29 books826 followersJohn Wiltshire is the fictional persona of the author of the More Heat Than The Sun series. After spending twenty-two years in the military perfecting the art
of looking busy whilst secretly writing, John left as a senior officer
when a hastily dug tunnel was ready for use. Now living in New
Zealand (at least until enough money can be raised to leave) John has no plans to return to the army. Unless the world situation gets considerably worse, that is.
of looking busy whilst secretly writing, John left as a senior officer
when a hastily dug tunnel was ready for use. Now living in New
Zealand (at least until enough money can be raised to leave) John has no plans to return to the army. Unless the world situation gets considerably worse, that is.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 217 reviews
December 26, 2014
4.5 stars. Review posted December 11, 2014
"We make money from armaments and war, but spend money putting right the wrongs wars cause?"
Nikolas grinned. "Yes."
"But that's sick!"
"Not at all, it's almost holy. Didn't God create man with free will and then spend the rest of his time pretending to mitigate that first great mistake, just to justify his existence?"
Ben shook his head despairingly. "I think I preferred it when you just drank vodka and watched very dubious porn."
Nikolas Mikkelsen has finally found a way to make good use of his incredible wealth. He set up ANGEL--Agency for Non-Governmental Emergency Logistics. Nikolas prefers to hold the reins, so it goes without saying that he operates as both, head and owner. It's been a year since and while Nikolas intends to send Ben off to Afghanistan on a job, he wants to go to Russia for a few days. Ben is pissed off because he feels excluded from Nik's life since they got back from the Philippines. Now, Ben is not willing anymore to take another brush-off. Ben misses Nik; he's almost obsessed with him and wants to glue himself to his lover. So instead of heading off to Afghanistan, Ben is going along with Nik to Russia. Though what lies in wait there for these two guys beats everything imaginable. A barbaric evil hides in the vast forests of the Siberian taiga, more than ready to strike.
As an afterthought…I think I should stick a needle in Nikolas's body, just so his overinflated ego would shrink a little bit. Sheesh, Ben, as if Nik wasn't already too self-confident and egocentric enough. Ben totally played into Nik's hands. Though, to be fair, Nik loves Ben deeply and there isn't one single thing he wouldn't do for him. They are two halves of a whole. Neither of them could exist without the other one. In German we have this lovely saying "die bessere Hälfte" (the better half) which I love. Apropos Nikolas being willing to do anything to protect Ben? There are plenty of occasions in The Bridge of Silver Wings for Nik to prove what an extraordinarily good and courageous fighter he is and how much he loves Ben. We even get to see a very emotional and scared Nikolas Mikkelsen. You'll have to savor this because it doesn't happen all the time.
Despite the barbaric and very gory scenes, it was hard to put the book down. The storyline was riveting to boot and I was glued to the pages from start to finish. Once again the story is divided in two distinct parts. The shockingly bloody and angsty first part which took place in the Siberian taiga is definitely not for the faint of heart. However, the second part which is set in England was no less interesting. Very different but also very good. The suspense and action of the first part were excellent and the eclectic cast of secondary characters ramped up the entertainment factor another notch. In the vast and dangerous wilderness, Nik is confronted with his past. Don't get me started on other 'minor' problems, i.e. food, shelter, homophobia and health issues. They come all together and make for an absorbing combo. In spite of all the horrors they had to endure, it also enabled Nikolas in particular to finally find his perspective on their relationship.
After getting back to England, new trouble wasn't far away. This time, though, it was Ben who was at the center of attention and who came to a crossroads.
Nikolas Mikkelsen had shed a great deal of his armor plating over the years he'd known Ben. He hadn't needed it, shored up as he was by Ben's unfailing devotion to him. But just occasionally a particularly sharp wounding still occurred.
Without giving away too much, I will only say this: I did understand Ben's need to come out of Nik's shadow but didn't like the Ben I got to know on this occasion. Milling with the wrong people, he turned into someone superficial whose demeanor didn't appeal to me anymore. He came off as very insecure and somewhat pretentious. I must, however, cut him some slack. Some of his acts were out of his control due to the 'circumstances'. Again, I can't go into details in order to not spoil it for you.
But in the end, he was just one man. For the first time, he'd come across something he couldn't fight. It levelled him. He destroyed nothing, but was destroyed. He brought nothing down, but was laid so low he couldn't rise again.
Bottom line, this third installment is irresistibly good and sets another few cobble-stones on Ben and Nik's bumpy journey of chasing away...
Read this series. Seriously. Start now and if you are not wowed after Love is a Stranger, then keep on reading because the series is getting better and better. I have an inkling that This Other Country is going to top it all.
Recommended read.
"We make money from armaments and war, but spend money putting right the wrongs wars cause?"
Nikolas grinned. "Yes."
"But that's sick!"
"Not at all, it's almost holy. Didn't God create man with free will and then spend the rest of his time pretending to mitigate that first great mistake, just to justify his existence?"
Ben shook his head despairingly. "I think I preferred it when you just drank vodka and watched very dubious porn."
Nikolas Mikkelsen has finally found a way to make good use of his incredible wealth. He set up ANGEL--Agency for Non-Governmental Emergency Logistics. Nikolas prefers to hold the reins, so it goes without saying that he operates as both, head and owner. It's been a year since and while Nikolas intends to send Ben off to Afghanistan on a job, he wants to go to Russia for a few days. Ben is pissed off because he feels excluded from Nik's life since they got back from the Philippines. Now, Ben is not willing anymore to take another brush-off. Ben misses Nik; he's almost obsessed with him and wants to glue himself to his lover. So instead of heading off to Afghanistan, Ben is going along with Nik to Russia. Though what lies in wait there for these two guys beats everything imaginable. A barbaric evil hides in the vast forests of the Siberian taiga, more than ready to strike.
As an afterthought…I think I should stick a needle in Nikolas's body, just so his overinflated ego would shrink a little bit. Sheesh, Ben, as if Nik wasn't already too self-confident and egocentric enough. Ben totally played into Nik's hands. Though, to be fair, Nik loves Ben deeply and there isn't one single thing he wouldn't do for him. They are two halves of a whole. Neither of them could exist without the other one. In German we have this lovely saying "die bessere Hälfte" (the better half) which I love. Apropos Nikolas being willing to do anything to protect Ben? There are plenty of occasions in The Bridge of Silver Wings for Nik to prove what an extraordinarily good and courageous fighter he is and how much he loves Ben. We even get to see a very emotional and scared Nikolas Mikkelsen. You'll have to savor this because it doesn't happen all the time.
"If I would not have this exquisite pain of loving you too much."
Despite the barbaric and very gory scenes, it was hard to put the book down. The storyline was riveting to boot and I was glued to the pages from start to finish. Once again the story is divided in two distinct parts. The shockingly bloody and angsty first part which took place in the Siberian taiga is definitely not for the faint of heart. However, the second part which is set in England was no less interesting. Very different but also very good. The suspense and action of the first part were excellent and the eclectic cast of secondary characters ramped up the entertainment factor another notch. In the vast and dangerous wilderness, Nik is confronted with his past. Don't get me started on other 'minor' problems, i.e. food, shelter, homophobia and health issues. They come all together and make for an absorbing combo. In spite of all the horrors they had to endure, it also enabled Nikolas in particular to finally find his perspective on their relationship.
After getting back to England, new trouble wasn't far away. This time, though, it was Ben who was at the center of attention and who came to a crossroads.
Nikolas Mikkelsen had shed a great deal of his armor plating over the years he'd known Ben. He hadn't needed it, shored up as he was by Ben's unfailing devotion to him. But just occasionally a particularly sharp wounding still occurred.
Without giving away too much, I will only say this: I did understand Ben's need to come out of Nik's shadow but didn't like the Ben I got to know on this occasion. Milling with the wrong people, he turned into someone superficial whose demeanor didn't appeal to me anymore. He came off as very insecure and somewhat pretentious. I must, however, cut him some slack. Some of his acts were out of his control due to the 'circumstances'. Again, I can't go into details in order to not spoil it for you.
But in the end, he was just one man. For the first time, he'd come across something he couldn't fight. It levelled him. He destroyed nothing, but was destroyed. He brought nothing down, but was laid so low he couldn't rise again.
Bottom line, this third installment is irresistibly good and sets another few cobble-stones on Ben and Nik's bumpy journey of chasing away...
Noshadows,nodarkness,nolies.
Read this series. Seriously. Start now and if you are not wowed after Love is a Stranger, then keep on reading because the series is getting better and better. I have an inkling that This Other Country is going to top it all.
Recommended read.
April 2, 2015
4.5 "I'd Kill Them All" Stars
Holy Christ, I love these two.
Seriously, whenever I finish one of the books in this series I feel like this:
^*Post-sex cigarette? Count. Me. In.
Nik and Ben are some of my favorite characters ever and definitely in the top of my all time favorite couple list.
In fact, I'm not really one to do any "casting" for any of my reviews, but these two hunks of burning love inspire me to do so for once.
Now I know that the author supposedly sees Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen as Nik, which I totally get and respect...but he's just not doing my ole spank bank any favors.
Sorry...ish.
So without further ado, I bring you my Nik...drum roll please
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*Marton Csokas.
And my Ben
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*Sam Worthington.
I mean just look at these two.
Look at them do the disembark-the-plane sexy walk...
...And the up-to-something-super-serious saunter.
Even Mads Mikkelsen is fucking impressed.
But I digress.
Onto the actual "review" (I use that term loosely).
Like all of the books so far in this series, the plot was very fast paced, with lots of action, violence, gore, and sex.
And you know what you get with that equation?
***PROCEED WITH CAUTION***
***Serious Mathematical Analysis Ahead***
FAST PLOT
+
ACTION
+
VIOLENCE
+
GORE
+
SEX
=
1 HAPPYSLUT WHORE SKANK VAL.
My favorite part of this series is watching Ben and Nik's love grow and their relationship cement.
Nik summed it up with this statement:
"I'd kill them all one by one and feed them to you to keep you alive."
You had me at "kill them all," Nik, you had me at kill them all...
Holy Christ, I love these two.
Seriously, whenever I finish one of the books in this series I feel like this:
^*Post-sex cigarette? Count. Me. In.
Nik and Ben are some of my favorite characters ever and definitely in the top of my all time favorite couple list.
In fact, I'm not really one to do any "casting" for any of my reviews, but these two hunks of burning love inspire me to do so for once.
Now I know that the author supposedly sees Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen as Nik, which I totally get and respect...but he's just not doing my ole spank bank any favors.
Sorry...ish.
So without further ado, I bring you my Nik...drum roll please
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*Marton Csokas.
And my Ben
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*Sam Worthington.
I mean just look at these two.
Look at them do the disembark-the-plane sexy walk...
...And the up-to-something-super-serious saunter.
Even Mads Mikkelsen is fucking impressed.
But I digress.
Onto the actual "review" (I use that term loosely).
Like all of the books so far in this series, the plot was very fast paced, with lots of action, violence, gore, and sex.
And you know what you get with that equation?
***PROCEED WITH CAUTION***
***Serious Mathematical Analysis Ahead***
FAST PLOT
+
ACTION
+
VIOLENCE
+
GORE
+
SEX
=
1 HAPPY
My favorite part of this series is watching Ben and Nik's love grow and their relationship cement.
Nik summed it up with this statement:
"I'd kill them all one by one and feed them to you to keep you alive."
You had me at "kill them all," Nik, you had me at kill them all...
September 4, 2015
Written May 7, 2015
4 1/2 Stars - Exciting, action filled suspense with amazing yummy love. Once again a winner read
Book #3
Two books read in John Wiltshire's series 'More Heat Than the Sun' and I was already an happy dancing addicted JW fan. It was once again time to buddyread with Bev.
The Bridge of Silver Wings is the third book in a so far addictive good, very action filled and hot hot steamy, M/M series.
This girl is happy and satisfied...
In my humble opinion a new delivering installment to a super über intriguing series.
We are all so very different, and have different taste for books, but for me is this almost in the very best Ty & Zane class in terms of the love relationship part. In other parts (second characters, etc.) isn't maybe this series quite as magnificently good, but without doubt good enough to recommend to anyone who likes M/M filled with fun, full speed action, drama, tears and some really heartbreaker moments. Add, sweet intense heat in the bedroom... or elsewhere.
*********************************************************
My reviews, about the main characters and more:
Many things changed in book #1...even more in #2
It's three years after we first met them now and either of these two are simple men to try to make a "normal" partnership life with. At least not Nik, he is full of secrets and in many ways a horrible past. Ben softer, cuter and easier to understand. I really, sincerely, admire Ben and his brave patience. It takes great dearly strong love to manage and it might end grandly heartbreaking beautiful.
*********************************************************
Like the second book is The Bridge of Silver Wings in two parts, with a finished adventure in each part.
I don't want to spoil anything about the plot or the adventures. You must suffer, sob, feel heartbroken and destroy your nails just like I did. ~ Thrilling, scary, funny and so amazing romantic sweet in the same time. In this installment was perhaps the first part more exciting and action-packed, while part II was more anxious and emotional. I liked both. Everything also ended in a good way with a good and reassuring conclusion and a cute and cozy epilogue .
These two MC's, Ben & Nik, are just adorable to follow from book to book. The development of their relationship, and individual inner "change", make this fabulous interesting to follow. A gay couple on my best list.
*********************************************************
Already looking forward to pick up the fourth part, This Other Country. ~ A read with Bev is planned and booked to June 5th. **big silly smile**
I'm in a very good mood today (RL victories) so I raise up my rating to 5 glittering red stars.
I LIKE - tough lovely manly lovebirds
4 1/2 Stars - Exciting, action filled suspense with amazing yummy love. Once again a winner read
Book #3
Two books read in John Wiltshire's series 'More Heat Than the Sun' and I was already an happy dancing addicted JW fan. It was once again time to buddyread with Bev.
The Bridge of Silver Wings is the third book in a so far addictive good, very action filled and hot hot steamy, M/M series.
This girl is happy and satisfied...
In my humble opinion a new delivering installment to a super über intriguing series.
We are all so very different, and have different taste for books, but for me is this almost in the very best Ty & Zane class in terms of the love relationship part. In other parts (second characters, etc.) isn't maybe this series quite as magnificently good, but without doubt good enough to recommend to anyone who likes M/M filled with fun, full speed action, drama, tears and some really heartbreaker moments. Add, sweet intense heat in the bedroom... or elsewhere.
*********************************************************
“We make money from armaments and war, but spend money putting right the wrongs wars cause?”
Nikolas grinned. “Yes.”
My reviews, about the main characters and more:
Many things changed in book #1...even more in #2
It's three years after we first met them now and either of these two are simple men to try to make a "normal" partnership life with. At least not Nik, he is full of secrets and in many ways a horrible past. Ben softer, cuter and easier to understand. I really, sincerely, admire Ben and his brave patience. It takes great dearly strong love to manage and it might end grandly heartbreaking beautiful.
*********************************************************
Like the second book is The Bridge of Silver Wings in two parts, with a finished adventure in each part.
“I think maybe you aren’t a god. Sometimes, I think you’re a devil, a fallen angel too lazy to be truly demonic, so you just hover around us mortals, making mischief.”
‘Ben didn’t care. Nikolas was his Morning Star and nothing Nikolas now said or did could lessen the brilliance of his fallen grace.’
I don't want to spoil anything about the plot or the adventures. You must suffer, sob, feel heartbroken and destroy your nails just like I did. ~ Thrilling, scary, funny and so amazing romantic sweet in the same time. In this installment was perhaps the first part more exciting and action-packed, while part II was more anxious and emotional. I liked both. Everything also ended in a good way with a good and reassuring conclusion and a cute and cozy epilogue .
These two MC's, Ben & Nik, are just adorable to follow from book to book. The development of their relationship, and individual inner "change", make this fabulous interesting to follow. A gay couple on my best list.
“Good is not doing anything you wouldn’t do if I were standing right there with you.”
“I’ve done some very bad things with you standing very close.”
*********************************************************
Already looking forward to pick up the fourth part, This Other Country. ~ A read with Bev is planned and booked to June 5th. **big silly smile**
I'm in a very good mood today (RL victories) so I raise up my rating to 5 glittering red stars. I LIKE - tough lovely manly lovebirds
November 21, 2023
“I'd kill them all one by one and feed them to you to keep you alive.”
Nikolas and Ben continue their story in this third installment of the series, and the most off-the-walls intense yet! This had multiple plot lines and WTF just happened kind of reading.
Gay/MM romance
Extraordinary bond
Anti-hero
Non-stop intensity
Plane crash
Siberia in winter
Cannibalistic mutant bad guys
Violence/gore
Rape (off-page)
New family
Still missing lube
I’ve given up even questioning the lack of lube at this point.
I felt like I read two different books with this one. There were two endings (you’ll get it if you read it). I could’ve done without the soap opera last one, but I do think it was a turning point for Nik.
Was all of this believable? Not really, but I thoroughly enjoyed the story, so I didn’t really care.
I love their love.
"Why don't you ever want a photo of me?"
Nikolas appeared surprised. "I have your face permanently in my mind whether you're present or not. Why would I require a photograph to take the place of that?"
Doesn’t even surprise me that a knitter saved the day.
Nikolas and Ben continue their story in this third installment of the series, and the most off-the-walls intense yet! This had multiple plot lines and WTF just happened kind of reading.
Gay/MM romance
Extraordinary bond
Anti-hero
Non-stop intensity
Plane crash
Siberia in winter
Cannibalistic mutant bad guys
Violence/gore
Rape (off-page)
New family
Still missing lube
I’ve given up even questioning the lack of lube at this point.
I felt like I read two different books with this one. There were two endings (you’ll get it if you read it). I could’ve done without the soap opera last one, but I do think it was a turning point for Nik.
Was all of this believable? Not really, but I thoroughly enjoyed the story, so I didn’t really care.
I love their love.
"Why don't you ever want a photo of me?"
Nikolas appeared surprised. "I have your face permanently in my mind whether you're present or not. Why would I require a photograph to take the place of that?"
Doesn’t even surprise me that a knitter saved the day.
![Profile Image for moonlight ☾ [semi-hiatus].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1645500038i%2F37448930._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
October 21, 2022
"Why don't you ever want a photo of me?"
Nikolas appeared surprised. "I have your face permanently in my mind whether you're present or not. Why would I require a photograph to take the place of that?"
god i didn't think it was possible to fall in love even more with these two the way i felt with the first two books, but they somehow amaze me every time. i adore their love so much. they honestly don't even have that many cute moments, but i think it's why their little, intimate moments hit me the hardest. despite all the shit they've had to endure, they're each other's homes and i just- 🥺🥺
i feel so emotionally exhausted after each of these books bc, so far, each one had been so action packed or drama filled yet i can't stop myself from picking up the next book. lol help 😭 literally both parts of this book had a life or death situation that one, or both, mcs had to endure and i just want them to have a break for once without life getting in the way. 😩
but anyways, Sean and Ben's family can fuck off. :)
Nikolas appeared surprised. "I have your face permanently in my mind whether you're present or not. Why would I require a photograph to take the place of that?"
god i didn't think it was possible to fall in love even more with these two the way i felt with the first two books, but they somehow amaze me every time. i adore their love so much. they honestly don't even have that many cute moments, but i think it's why their little, intimate moments hit me the hardest. despite all the shit they've had to endure, they're each other's homes and i just- 🥺🥺
i feel so emotionally exhausted after each of these books bc, so far, each one had been so action packed or drama filled yet i can't stop myself from picking up the next book. lol help 😭 literally both parts of this book had a life or death situation that one, or both, mcs had to endure and i just want them to have a break for once without life getting in the way. 😩
but anyways, Sean and Ben's family can fuck off. :)
June 30, 2021
Audio - 5 ++++ Stars! Gary Fucking Furlong...nuf said!!!
Story - 4 Stars
I loved these guys and their devotion to each other! I love the action, and the crazy situations they find themselves in and have to get out of. What I'm not a fan of are the unrealistic sex scenes. To be totally honest, I feel the intimacy and passion between them when they are doing anything else but having sex.
Story - 4 Stars
I loved these guys and their devotion to each other! I love the action, and the crazy situations they find themselves in and have to get out of. What I'm not a fan of are the unrealistic sex scenes. To be totally honest, I feel the intimacy and passion between them when they are doing anything else but having sex.
October 31, 2016
Wow these books and these men !! I can't believe half the stuff I've read !!
I really can't go into the plot because that would spoiler the book and you should just read these books without too much knowledge.
Nikolas and Ben are working their way up on my favorite mm couples list. Especially Nikolas. I have liked the guy since the beginning and I am falling for him more and more with each book.
Ben however...he got on my nerves a couple of times, but in the end he thankfully redeemed himself.
These books are pretty hardcore. So far, there has been shocking shit happening in each and every one and I happily gobble it all up !!!
The books in this series always have more parts. In this one I enjoyed part 1 more than part 2, mostly because of the shock factor :P
I can't wait to read what's gonna happen next with these guys, I'm a bit nervous.
Thanks Marte for listening to my ranting about this one ...lol
4,5 stars !!!
November 15, 2016
****4.5 Stars****
The Bridge of Silver Wings starts with Nikolas announcing he is going to Russia, making Ben feel insecure and on the sidelines, as if they weren’t a couple.
Ben is crazy in love with Nikolas to the extent of feeling obsessed with him. Seeing Nikolas most of the times cool as a cucumber drives him nuts. He craves reciprocity. He wants to be wildly loved by Nikolas too. The thing is, Sir Nikolas Mikkelsen is no Ben.
The guy is tough, strong and closed off; he has issues showing his feelings let alone talking about them.
“But don’t tell Ben I’ve admitted any of this. You’ll find as you grow older that it’s best not to tell people how much you love them, for the uncertainty of not knowing makes them want you more. Agreed?”
Making Nikolas talks about his feelings was like pulling a tooth out and here is where the story gets to me, because when we get to see Nikolas cracking and showing some of the feelings he keeps so deep buried inside, when we get to see him exposing his vulnerable side, it’s fucking amazing. He completely disarms me. Swoon.
This far people, I am not rooting for Ben anymore. I am Ben. I stepped inside of this tale and kicked Ben out. I want Sir Nikolas to be mine.
He can be tongue tied about his feelings but he knows very well how to show them, In.Many.Ways.
“Your reward is to treat me?” Nikolas was moving away, off the sunlit.
“Since when has it not been, Ben?”
They go to Russia and the plot takes a turn to one of the most disturbing stories I’ve read so far. Not telling anything, apart from the fact that you have to brace yourself and be brave.
I didn’t like “new” Ben
and for a moment I seriously thought that this was all going downhill. I had nothing to back up his new attitude and I felt the story was losing its depth. It was Nikolas POV who brought me light. His thoughts about what could be happening inside Ben’s head regarding his identity crisis left me in a state of WHT?! How did I miss that? Why didn’t I think about it from this perspective instead of judging him first? Shame on me! Again, a very wise and sensible Nikolas left me in awe with his insightful view of Ben’s crisis and especially with his tenacity regarding biding his time.
Solid everything: plot, story line, characters, support characters, dog, villains, scenario, topped up with a writing style that made me swear under my breath every time I was disturbed whilst reading. It completely drew me in.
The Bridge of Silver Wings starts with Nikolas announcing he is going to Russia, making Ben feel insecure and on the sidelines, as if they weren’t a couple.
Ben is crazy in love with Nikolas to the extent of feeling obsessed with him. Seeing Nikolas most of the times cool as a cucumber drives him nuts. He craves reciprocity. He wants to be wildly loved by Nikolas too. The thing is, Sir Nikolas Mikkelsen is no Ben.
The guy is tough, strong and closed off; he has issues showing his feelings let alone talking about them.
“But don’t tell Ben I’ve admitted any of this. You’ll find as you grow older that it’s best not to tell people how much you love them, for the uncertainty of not knowing makes them want you more. Agreed?”
Making Nikolas talks about his feelings was like pulling a tooth out and here is where the story gets to me, because when we get to see Nikolas cracking and showing some of the feelings he keeps so deep buried inside, when we get to see him exposing his vulnerable side, it’s fucking amazing. He completely disarms me. Swoon.
This far people, I am not rooting for Ben anymore. I am Ben. I stepped inside of this tale and kicked Ben out. I want Sir Nikolas to be mine.
He can be tongue tied about his feelings but he knows very well how to show them, In.Many.Ways.
“Your reward is to treat me?” Nikolas was moving away, off the sunlit.
“Since when has it not been, Ben?”
They go to Russia and the plot takes a turn to one of the most disturbing stories I’ve read so far. Not telling anything, apart from the fact that you have to brace yourself and be brave.
I didn’t like “new” Ben
and for a moment I seriously thought that this was all going downhill. I had nothing to back up his new attitude and I felt the story was losing its depth. It was Nikolas POV who brought me light. His thoughts about what could be happening inside Ben’s head regarding his identity crisis left me in a state of WHT?! How did I miss that? Why didn’t I think about it from this perspective instead of judging him first? Shame on me! Again, a very wise and sensible Nikolas left me in awe with his insightful view of Ben’s crisis and especially with his tenacity regarding biding his time.
Solid everything: plot, story line, characters, support characters, dog, villains, scenario, topped up with a writing style that made me swear under my breath every time I was disturbed whilst reading. It completely drew me in.
April 12, 2018
Ben grinned. “Say it.”
Nikolas shook his head then gasped and doubled up. Ben undid the button for better access, totally in control due to the amount of pain he was now able to inflict. “Say it.”
Nikolas lay back carefully, hissing as Ben’s fingers twisted and squeezed again. Through gritted teeth, he acknowledged, “Ben Rider loves me.” Ben stilled his hand and lay over Nikolas. He kissed him, just into the hollow of his neck, under his ear.
“Say it again.”
“Ben Rider loves me.”
He mouthed up into Nikolas’s golden hair, kissing over the greying temples. “Say it again. Emphasis on me.”
Nikolas cupped Ben’s face and kissed him back. “Ben Rider loves me.”
They climaxed. They hit the top of the climb at the same time with the intensity of the plunging free-fall taking them over. Semen shooting; waves of pleasure; the awful, beautiful sense of helplessness and crashing; and then the loss of rational thought. But they were there together, going through the same powerful loss of self.
When it was over, when they hit the ground, they both understood how that was, too; and when Nikolas collapsed on Ben, hearts racing, cock still twitching spasms deep within him, there were no words needed, no gestures, no reassurances, for they were both men.
So it was with a sense of pleasure almost greater than his orgasm that Ben heard Nikolas murmur into the back of his neck, “Ben Rider loves me.”
Yes, I took my sweet ass time reading this book, but then again, when it comes to lovable character and interesting and gripping story line, who's to call me out on wanting to go through it slowly?
I enjoyed this book way more than the last. The first part was so so so good. It was suspense, and horror and action all rolled into one and I loved it!
The second part of the book however, feels a little bit too drama-y for my taste? Although I do agree it is pretty needed as we see a lot of growth in Ben's character. In this book, Ben annoys me quite a bit with this existential crisis of his that came out of the blue, but what can I say, it happens to the best of us. So who am I to judge?
Nikolas, I love. There is nothing bad or atrocious you can tell me about him that will make me love him any less. He is my baby and he deserves all the love and happiness in the whoooole entireeeee woooorld
Altogether a wonderful read. I am going to continue on with this series! :D
Blog : Click here for more of my reviews
November 16, 2016
*4,5 stars*
This is a 'play' in two 'acts' (Act 1 in Russia and Act 2 in England). And both are crucial for Ben and Nik to be able to take a huge step forward as a couple.
Although each man knows how he feels about the other, neither feels 100% secure in their relationship, expecting - and what heart ache that was - that at one point what they have will fall apart.
Nik worries that Ben will find a different life, a different purpose and maybe someone younger and that he will realise one day that he doesn't need to 'lead Nik's life'.
Nicolas had feared for six xears when Ben Rider woke up and realised he didn't have to live anyone else's life. He could live his own.
Ben worries that he won't be able to hold onto Nik because he isn't 'worthy' or good enough, that he doesn't command Nik's respect because he has so much control over everything he does.
What else had he ever had but his face and his body?
(to Nik) You need this (the excitement) because I'm not enough for you.
The power imbalance between them has been a theme that's been there right from book 1, and is addressed here extensively.
It seems obvious that Nik is sitting in the driving seat in their relationship for pretty much everything, on the surface anyway. And it seems that Ben is living " in the shadow cast by that extraordinary man" - but is he really? We get a lot of soul searching and character development in this respect, and it was awesome to see Ben 'grow up' and Nik learn to let himself (and Ben) go.
As always I enjoyed the intense passion between them , and the deep, raw bond they share. I think my most favourite scene is at the end, when Nik It is a very powerful statement about what's happening between them.
As much as I ooohed and aaahed with Ben and NIk, the action in this book is just a little bit OTT. Imagine one James Bond movie followed by an Agatha Christie mystery and you get the picture.
The MCs go through so much just in the first half of the book it would last anyone a lifetime!
What pleased me was that both men slowly seem to work themselves towards a stage where they can acknowledge that they are a couple in public. (and that they are gay which they still have trouble accepting! Unbelievable, these two!!!)
The epilogue was brilliant and Nik's surprise was epic:
Highly recommended.
This is a 'play' in two 'acts' (Act 1 in Russia and Act 2 in England). And both are crucial for Ben and Nik to be able to take a huge step forward as a couple.
Although each man knows how he feels about the other, neither feels 100% secure in their relationship, expecting - and what heart ache that was - that at one point what they have will fall apart.
Nik worries that Ben will find a different life, a different purpose and maybe someone younger and that he will realise one day that he doesn't need to 'lead Nik's life'.
Nicolas had feared for six xears when Ben Rider woke up and realised he didn't have to live anyone else's life. He could live his own.
Ben worries that he won't be able to hold onto Nik because he isn't 'worthy' or good enough, that he doesn't command Nik's respect because he has so much control over everything he does.
What else had he ever had but his face and his body?
(to Nik) You need this (the excitement) because I'm not enough for you.
The power imbalance between them has been a theme that's been there right from book 1, and is addressed here extensively.
It seems obvious that Nik is sitting in the driving seat in their relationship for pretty much everything, on the surface anyway. And it seems that Ben is living " in the shadow cast by that extraordinary man" - but is he really? We get a lot of soul searching and character development in this respect, and it was awesome to see Ben 'grow up' and Nik learn to let himself (and Ben) go.
As always I enjoyed the intense passion between them , and the deep, raw bond they share. I think my most favourite scene is at the end, when Nik It is a very powerful statement about what's happening between them.
As much as I ooohed and aaahed with Ben and NIk, the action in this book is just a little bit OTT. Imagine one James Bond movie followed by an Agatha Christie mystery and you get the picture.
The MCs go through so much just in the first half of the book it would last anyone a lifetime!
What pleased me was that both men slowly seem to work themselves towards a stage where they can acknowledge that they are a couple in public. (and that they are gay which they still have trouble accepting! Unbelievable, these two!!!)
The epilogue was brilliant and Nik's surprise was epic:
Highly recommended.
July 23, 2015
This third book of the More Heat than the Sun series was an unforgettable reading experience, I’ve never read anything THAT thrilling and hi-speed action packed. I was literally glued to my kindle, was nearly suffering a mental breakdown when I needed to charge the damn thing. :)
OMG! I love challenging books… and each of the two previous books of the series were awesome… but The Bridge of Silver Wings is definitely the best written action packed M/M mystery I’ve ever read.
What happens to Nik and Ben in Siberia... OMG, watching them fighting the wilderness… sometimes it was impossible to keep breathing. I knew in my heart that the guys were going to make it… but getting to this point was nerve wrecking.
Later, halfway through the book, I was hoping I had left the toughest part behind… but far from that, John Wiltshire managed to surprise shock me once again. A different threat is waiting for our guys, one that threatens them as a couple. Oh wow… at one point I needed moral support, without Gina girl I would have been too scared to continue reading. Okay, scratch that, of course I would have kept reading… you get the point:)
However, those guys surely know how to find trouble… and with trouble I mean big fat trouble… and hot, awesome, emotionally charged men loving.
Fuck, I fucking loved every fucking word… and especially one supporting character: Squeezy, who loves to swear like a sailor. :)))
July 15, 2021
Review for the first 3 books in the series—I’ll be vague to avoid spoilers.
I’ve been meaning to start this series for…it’s already been 6 years?! Yes, I’m a little bit late to the party and when I started the first book I thought I was too late to the party because, even though I’ve liked, sometimes even loved, all the other books I’ve read by this author, it took me a while to warm up to Ben and Nikolas’s story.
For one thing, I had forgotten this author seems inexplicably against characters using lube. Or condoms. It’s not fun to wince on the character’s behalf while reading a sex scene. And there are a lot of sex scenes, A LOT. The numb-inducing frequency and the lack of lube weren’t even the most disturbing things about Ben and Nikolas’s sex life. I could also add that if you’re looking for the perfect (or even slightly-adjacent-to-perfect) healthy relationship dynamic, you should probably look elsewhere. Same for realistic events.
For these and other reasons, I was starting to think I might have loved this series when I first added it to my TBR, but maybe I’d lost my chance by waiting too long…? Then something clicked into place halfway through the first book and I was swept away by the OTT madness that is Ben and Nikolas’s life. As far as I’ve seen from the first 3 books, this series doesn’t have much of a structure, aside from the initial constant of . It just follows these two very imperfect men—one a lot more than the other, but since the other doesn’t seem to mind, who am I to judge?—who are deeply and irrevocably in love with each other, even though nobody should ever take them as an example for a healthy relationship, and who attract trouble and mayhem whenever and wherever they go.
Why am I loving it, you may wonder? Well, it’s entertaining to watch, which is a surprise in itself, because usually I’d find this kind of unrealistic plots annoying. I’m not entirely sure why I’m enjoying myself so much going along with these two, except…they fit each other so well, the character and relationship development are one-step-forward-two-steps-backward and Nikolas and Ben sometimes seem to be going around in circles always dealing with the same issues, until you stop, look back and realize they’ve come a long way from where they were at the beginning. I’m also a little bit in love with the twisted way they have of showing affection and care to each other and they come up with some great heartfelt declarations with no sappiness whatsoever, just the way I love.
I think the simple truth is that John Wiltshire’s writing style seems to make everything work for me even when it shouldn’t and I was planning to give at least the first book 3.5 stars, but since I’ve been flying through these 3 books, they’ve probably all earned the full 4-star rating on entertainment level alone.
There are still 5 more books to go (so far) and I might eventually begin to tire of this rollercoaster or, as with most long series, one of the books will not be as good as the others, but for now I’m enjoying the ride.
Content warning:
All the first 3 books:
Book 2:
Book 3:
I might have forgotten something, just approach with caution if you’ve limits about what you’re comfortable reading about. A content warning about what you definitely won’t find, since from what I’ve hinted at you may be wondering:
I’ve been meaning to start this series for…it’s already been 6 years?! Yes, I’m a little bit late to the party and when I started the first book I thought I was too late to the party because, even though I’ve liked, sometimes even loved, all the other books I’ve read by this author, it took me a while to warm up to Ben and Nikolas’s story.
For one thing, I had forgotten this author seems inexplicably against characters using lube. Or condoms. It’s not fun to wince on the character’s behalf while reading a sex scene. And there are a lot of sex scenes, A LOT. The numb-inducing frequency and the lack of lube weren’t even the most disturbing things about Ben and Nikolas’s sex life. I could also add that if you’re looking for the perfect (or even slightly-adjacent-to-perfect) healthy relationship dynamic, you should probably look elsewhere. Same for realistic events.
For these and other reasons, I was starting to think I might have loved this series when I first added it to my TBR, but maybe I’d lost my chance by waiting too long…? Then something clicked into place halfway through the first book and I was swept away by the OTT madness that is Ben and Nikolas’s life. As far as I’ve seen from the first 3 books, this series doesn’t have much of a structure, aside from the initial constant of . It just follows these two very imperfect men—one a lot more than the other, but since the other doesn’t seem to mind, who am I to judge?—who are deeply and irrevocably in love with each other, even though nobody should ever take them as an example for a healthy relationship, and who attract trouble and mayhem whenever and wherever they go.
Why am I loving it, you may wonder? Well, it’s entertaining to watch, which is a surprise in itself, because usually I’d find this kind of unrealistic plots annoying. I’m not entirely sure why I’m enjoying myself so much going along with these two, except…they fit each other so well, the character and relationship development are one-step-forward-two-steps-backward and Nikolas and Ben sometimes seem to be going around in circles always dealing with the same issues, until you stop, look back and realize they’ve come a long way from where they were at the beginning. I’m also a little bit in love with the twisted way they have of showing affection and care to each other and they come up with some great heartfelt declarations with no sappiness whatsoever, just the way I love.
I think the simple truth is that John Wiltshire’s writing style seems to make everything work for me even when it shouldn’t and I was planning to give at least the first book 3.5 stars, but since I’ve been flying through these 3 books, they’ve probably all earned the full 4-star rating on entertainment level alone.
There are still 5 more books to go (so far) and I might eventually begin to tire of this rollercoaster or, as with most long series, one of the books will not be as good as the others, but for now I’m enjoying the ride.
Content warning:
All the first 3 books:
Book 2:
Book 3:
I might have forgotten something, just approach with caution if you’ve limits about what you’re comfortable reading about. A content warning about what you definitely won’t find, since from what I’ve hinted at you may be wondering:
February 19, 2019
My buddy reader is too kind to tell me this, so I'm just going to say it for her.
May 9, 2015
4.5 Lawwwwwwdy, hep me stars on Prism Book Alliance
I cannae help it! These flawed human beings never give up. Ever. There’s a lot to be said for determination that is motivated and fueled by love.
Once again, Wiltshire has surprised me with the initial main event that kicks things off in this story. What the hell would happen next? I probably should know better than to proffer that query, especially having now survived three years and three books with Nik and Ben. Speaking of, Nik and Ben are definitely Nik and Ben, and more.
Nikolas kept his hands on Ben’s face, tilting it towards him so Ben wasn’t tempted to look down. “I don’t tell you enough how much I love you,” he murmured in Danish, their private language now. “You must remember to remind me to tell you. You’re very remiss in this. Who can I rely on in this life if I don’t have you, hmm?”
Wiltshire’s writing gets more exciting and increasingly focused with each book. My heart gets to racing during the unanticipated action scenes. He hi-speed-motors it right to my heart with the intimacy between Nik and Ben. He is constantly feeding the tension, maintaining my connection to it and the characters. As they learn, I learn.
You’ll notice a theme here: Wiltshire is ridiculously good with the surprising turns in his stories and that continues in this book. Both in plotting and typically human decision making, I’m continually shoved into unsuspected directions. This is one of the things I look for most in the stories I choose to read and, for me, makes for some mighty fine storytelling.
The cast of supporting characters is interesting, curious and random, just like life. The greatest thing is that they all play very specific roles that aren’t at all random. Emilia (Emilia!), Squeezy, Radulf (ok, ok, he’s a main character, who are we kidding here), Kate, Phillipa and the rest. Emilia, though, truly, she feels like a mirror for both Nik and Ben, as well as a forecast.
When I look back at everything that happened in this book, it’s a fantastic mash up of a survival story, a deepening romance and the beginnings of more and more a mysterious thing. This is also a story about the family you choose. It’s also brutal and violent, all of it buffeted by loyalty, tenderness and acceptance.
To be manhandled as though a ragdoll made for Wiltshire’s pleasure, I loved being yanked back and forth between melting into a now familiar and happily undignified puddle of goo, thanks to the ceaseless tenderness and heat that are Nik and Ben, and the intense danger and tension that ripped ragged and jagged edges all throughout this story. He has this delicious ability to make it so easy to sink into any scene, especially between these two guys. I had no choice but to surrender, so I did, with pleasure and great relish.
One plot point was pretty easy for me to have figured out from the jump but what it then led to, well, I didn’t see that coming at all.
I feel I can’t say enough about the relationship between Nik and Ben – are you tired of me saying their names? You’d best not be! All of the back and forth, the successes and failures, the progress and loss all feels very natural, never trite or false.
I also can’t say enough about the surprises. Really. This was an engaging and unforgettable reading experience. Anytime I was away from the book, Nik and Ben forced me to miss them. Yep, they did. The bastards. To say they were put through the gnarliest of ringers would just about cover it. At this point, though, more often the external forces were to blame than anything internal, between them.
Finally, I have an official announcement: I’m so very glad that my life will never be without Ben and Nik because, well, it would be a most horrid existence. Dramatic much? Feels familiar. *side eyes them both*
These two, their hearts, they’ve gone and stolen mine, only to hand it back with their spirits forever attached.
I cannae help it! These flawed human beings never give up. Ever. There’s a lot to be said for determination that is motivated and fueled by love.
Once again, Wiltshire has surprised me with the initial main event that kicks things off in this story. What the hell would happen next? I probably should know better than to proffer that query, especially having now survived three years and three books with Nik and Ben. Speaking of, Nik and Ben are definitely Nik and Ben, and more.
Nikolas kept his hands on Ben’s face, tilting it towards him so Ben wasn’t tempted to look down. “I don’t tell you enough how much I love you,” he murmured in Danish, their private language now. “You must remember to remind me to tell you. You’re very remiss in this. Who can I rely on in this life if I don’t have you, hmm?”
Wiltshire’s writing gets more exciting and increasingly focused with each book. My heart gets to racing during the unanticipated action scenes. He hi-speed-motors it right to my heart with the intimacy between Nik and Ben. He is constantly feeding the tension, maintaining my connection to it and the characters. As they learn, I learn.
You’ll notice a theme here: Wiltshire is ridiculously good with the surprising turns in his stories and that continues in this book. Both in plotting and typically human decision making, I’m continually shoved into unsuspected directions. This is one of the things I look for most in the stories I choose to read and, for me, makes for some mighty fine storytelling.
The cast of supporting characters is interesting, curious and random, just like life. The greatest thing is that they all play very specific roles that aren’t at all random. Emilia (Emilia!), Squeezy, Radulf (ok, ok, he’s a main character, who are we kidding here), Kate, Phillipa and the rest. Emilia, though, truly, she feels like a mirror for both Nik and Ben, as well as a forecast.
When I look back at everything that happened in this book, it’s a fantastic mash up of a survival story, a deepening romance and the beginnings of more and more a mysterious thing. This is also a story about the family you choose. It’s also brutal and violent, all of it buffeted by loyalty, tenderness and acceptance.
To be manhandled as though a ragdoll made for Wiltshire’s pleasure, I loved being yanked back and forth between melting into a now familiar and happily undignified puddle of goo, thanks to the ceaseless tenderness and heat that are Nik and Ben, and the intense danger and tension that ripped ragged and jagged edges all throughout this story. He has this delicious ability to make it so easy to sink into any scene, especially between these two guys. I had no choice but to surrender, so I did, with pleasure and great relish.
One plot point was pretty easy for me to have figured out from the jump but what it then led to, well, I didn’t see that coming at all.
I feel I can’t say enough about the relationship between Nik and Ben – are you tired of me saying their names? You’d best not be! All of the back and forth, the successes and failures, the progress and loss all feels very natural, never trite or false.
I also can’t say enough about the surprises. Really. This was an engaging and unforgettable reading experience. Anytime I was away from the book, Nik and Ben forced me to miss them. Yep, they did. The bastards. To say they were put through the gnarliest of ringers would just about cover it. At this point, though, more often the external forces were to blame than anything internal, between them.
Finally, I have an official announcement: I’m so very glad that my life will never be without Ben and Nik because, well, it would be a most horrid existence. Dramatic much? Feels familiar. *side eyes them both*
These two, their hearts, they’ve gone and stolen mine, only to hand it back with their spirits forever attached.
March 18, 2024
5+ stars
The first half of this book was worth a movie script for an action-adventure-horror drama. I knew from the beginning, that Nik and Ben boarding a plane to Siberia would be a bad idea and I was right.
If the book would've been a movie, I would've been sitting with a hand over my eyes and peeking through my fingers, because the tension was so palpable, I just knew something bad would happen. However, my eyes were glued to my Kindle and I could hardly put it down, even if I had to swallow sometimes and hardly slept a wink all night. Some scenes were just creepy as hell...
After surviving the Siberian taiga, there was a short time to recover for Nik and Ben (and me, too! :))
The second half of this book was about Ben, who has to come to terms with the fact that he has a family now. No, actually, both, Nik and Ben, had to come to terms with this fact.
Ben tests his newfound freedom and independence, which causes a sort of a rift in their relationship and there are doubts on both sides about where they stand.
Nevertheless, the second half was no less exciting and action-packed than the first one, with Ben's more than creepy family and it had me once more on the edge of my seat and biting my nails.
I know, I'm repeating myself here, but I love this series! The third book is no exception, if anything, it's the best and my favorite so far.
The first half of this book was worth a movie script for an action-adventure-horror drama. I knew from the beginning, that Nik and Ben boarding a plane to Siberia would be a bad idea and I was right.
If the book would've been a movie, I would've been sitting with a hand over my eyes and peeking through my fingers, because the tension was so palpable, I just knew something bad would happen. However, my eyes were glued to my Kindle and I could hardly put it down, even if I had to swallow sometimes and hardly slept a wink all night. Some scenes were just creepy as hell...
After surviving the Siberian taiga, there was a short time to recover for Nik and Ben (and me, too! :))
The second half of this book was about Ben, who has to come to terms with the fact that he has a family now. No, actually, both, Nik and Ben, had to come to terms with this fact.
Ben tests his newfound freedom and independence, which causes a sort of a rift in their relationship and there are doubts on both sides about where they stand.
Nevertheless, the second half was no less exciting and action-packed than the first one, with Ben's more than creepy family and it had me once more on the edge of my seat and biting my nails.
I know, I'm repeating myself here, but I love this series! The third book is no exception, if anything, it's the best and my favorite so far.
July 8, 2023
WOW! Seriously, WOW.
These are getting better and better. Even though I knew what was happening at the end of the book, I still cringed and wondered how it would all play out.
This one had two different climaxes (aside from those enjoyed between Ben and Nick)! And it had some seriously f’ed up villains!
As always with Gary Furlong, a narration to envy!
These are getting better and better. Even though I knew what was happening at the end of the book, I still cringed and wondered how it would all play out.
This one had two different climaxes (aside from those enjoyed between Ben and Nick)! And it had some seriously f’ed up villains!
As always with Gary Furlong, a narration to envy!
February 28, 2021
4.5 Stars
The Bridge of Silver Wings is the third book in John Wiltshire's More Heat Than the Sun series. You should read the books in this series in order or you will be terribly lost. Also, it is a fantastic series, so well worth the read!
This book starts out about a year after the events in Conscious Decisions of the Heart. Nikolas has started a charity foundation called ANGEL and he and Ben run it and do all kinds of wonderful things with Nik's vast wealth. Nik decides to head back to Russia to scatter Gregory's ashes and Ben accompanies him. And, because nothing can ever go really smoothly, what should have been a short trip of a few days, Nik and Ben end up stranded in Siberia for a couple months. Fun, yeah? Oh, it gets better. No, I'm not going to tell you just how. Suffice it to say Siberia is not on my vacation destination list. These two sure do know how to find trouble. Fortunately, they are good at getting out of it, too.
After they find their way back from that, Ben discovers
Through all that Ben and Nik have been through, they've been each other's anchor. Nik doesn't want to stand in the way of Ben getting his own life, if that is what Ben wants, but by now we know that Nik will do anything to make Ben happy, even if it makes himself miserable. It does actually take a very unexpected gesture on Ben's part for Nik to really believe he isn't losing Ben. I nearly cried tears of happiness, it was so sweet.
By 85% I was back at the edge of my seat chanting "there is a fourth book" over and over because as I mentioned earlier, these boys sure know how to find trouble. I LOVED IT.
Highly recommended.
The Bridge of Silver Wings is the third book in John Wiltshire's More Heat Than the Sun series. You should read the books in this series in order or you will be terribly lost. Also, it is a fantastic series, so well worth the read!
This book starts out about a year after the events in Conscious Decisions of the Heart. Nikolas has started a charity foundation called ANGEL and he and Ben run it and do all kinds of wonderful things with Nik's vast wealth. Nik decides to head back to Russia to scatter Gregory's ashes and Ben accompanies him. And, because nothing can ever go really smoothly, what should have been a short trip of a few days, Nik and Ben end up stranded in Siberia for a couple months. Fun, yeah? Oh, it gets better. No, I'm not going to tell you just how. Suffice it to say Siberia is not on my vacation destination list. These two sure do know how to find trouble. Fortunately, they are good at getting out of it, too.
After they find their way back from that, Ben discovers
Through all that Ben and Nik have been through, they've been each other's anchor. Nik doesn't want to stand in the way of Ben getting his own life, if that is what Ben wants, but by now we know that Nik will do anything to make Ben happy, even if it makes himself miserable. It does actually take a very unexpected gesture on Ben's part for Nik to really believe he isn't losing Ben. I nearly cried tears of happiness, it was so sweet.
By 85% I was back at the edge of my seat chanting "there is a fourth book" over and over because as I mentioned earlier, these boys sure know how to find trouble. I LOVED IT.
Highly recommended.
November 8, 2016
Re-read October-November 2016.
Read October 2015.
Original review:
**** 4,5 awesome stars ****
Two more adventures involving Ben and Nik!
The first story (first half of the book) takes place in Russia, in the middle of nowhere when they end up stranded with a, let's say, "colorful" bunch of people.
-------------------------------------
"We must leave. We must pack up and go now."
-------------------------------------
Holy shit!
Read October 2015.
Original review:
**** 4,5 awesome stars ****
Two more adventures involving Ben and Nik!
The first story (first half of the book) takes place in Russia, in the middle of nowhere when they end up stranded with a, let's say, "colorful" bunch of people.
-------------------------------------
"We must leave. We must pack up and go now."
-------------------------------------
Holy shit!
This part of the book was FANTASTIC! Holy shit, what these guys are going through! Absolutely loved it!
Throughout the whole ordeal I was pretty much:
But also:
-----------------------------------
It was as he turned to go back towards the traps that he saw them--footprints in the muddy riverbank....
-----------------------------------
Easily 5 stars for this story! And the number five is the important thing here too, people! O.o
In the last half of the book Ben discovers he has more family than he knew of. Interacting with them he finds what he has been missing, but also what he's already got.
I'm not saying anymore to spoil it, I'm silent as the grave...
I didn't care so much for this part. I didn't find it particularly interesting, I'm afraid. It was a bit obvious what kind of shit was going down, even if I didn't know the details of it.
I guessed what happened with Ben, so I was kinda waiting for Nik (and the rest) to see the light of day. Loved what the name change meant for Ben and Nik, though!
Throughout the whole ordeal I was pretty much:
But also:
-----------------------------------
It was as he turned to go back towards the traps that he saw them--footprints in the muddy riverbank....
-----------------------------------
Easily 5 stars for this story! And the number five is the important thing here too, people! O.o
In the last half of the book Ben discovers he has more family than he knew of. Interacting with them he finds what he has been missing, but also what he's already got.
I'm not saying anymore to spoil it, I'm silent as the grave...
I didn't care so much for this part. I didn't find it particularly interesting, I'm afraid. It was a bit obvious what kind of shit was going down, even if I didn't know the details of it.
I guessed what happened with Ben, so I was kinda waiting for Nik (and the rest) to see the light of day. Loved what the name change meant for Ben and Nik, though!
April 22, 2017
Third book about Nick and Ben, one of the most insane couple I’ve read about. And in this one, they are still insanely good and so deep into each other, through all the crazy fates thrown in their ways, it’s a wonder they still question their relationship.
But one sure thing, this time, they don’t question their feelings for the other. It’s hot, rough, and so much fun when the word “boyfriend” is finally whispered !!
Thank you, Ariana, for gifting me these three instalments of this series. And now, up to me to keep going on…not gonna be an issue, because yes, Nick and Ben can produce "more heat than the sun" !!
But one sure thing, this time, they don’t question their feelings for the other. It’s hot, rough, and so much fun when the word “boyfriend” is finally whispered !!
Thank you, Ariana, for gifting me these three instalments of this series. And now, up to me to keep going on…not gonna be an issue, because yes, Nick and Ben can produce "more heat than the sun" !!
September 5, 2021
Well, it's no surprise this is the most highly rated book in the series. GR does not lie. (Amazon does, but GR doesn't).
It's not perfect tho. But if you take aside that these books don't really have to have plot, and just focus on the developing and evolving relationship between the MCs, Nik and Ben, then you'll be fine.
This is Ben:
This is Nik:
First there was an adventure against sadistic cannibals in Siberia that was much contrived but suspenseful.
Then, totally unrelated, except the passage of time, there's Ben's own family drama. The only connection through it all is the MC's relationship.
Lots of hot sex scenes. I liked esp. Nik's POV. He's a great anti-hero, while Ben has always just been the shiny, pretty, boy toy to me.
It might be all downhill from here in terms of the rest of the series... we shall see.
It's not perfect tho. But if you take aside that these books don't really have to have plot, and just focus on the developing and evolving relationship between the MCs, Nik and Ben, then you'll be fine.
This is Ben:
This is Nik:
First there was an adventure against sadistic cannibals in Siberia that was much contrived but suspenseful.
Then, totally unrelated, except the passage of time, there's Ben's own family drama. The only connection through it all is the MC's relationship.
Lots of hot sex scenes. I liked esp. Nik's POV. He's a great anti-hero, while Ben has always just been the shiny, pretty, boy toy to me.
It might be all downhill from here in terms of the rest of the series... we shall see.
March 7, 2015
This series is absolutely one in a million and I'm so thankful that I found it. I've been desperate to get my teeth into another great series for the last couple of years and thank God I've finally found one! This book is broken into two parts, both equally as traumatic, though the first book was truly brutal and difficult to read at times. I made it though!
Nikolas, Ben reflected, had a tendency to live his life entirely in his own head, planning, organising. Then, when it suited him to announce his decisions, he did, leaving no room for compromise or discussion. This hobby ANGEL only seemed to increase his godlike delusion.
I'm not sure if it's love or obsession but there is nothing straightforward about the relationship between Nik and Ben. After all the hardship they've faced and the nightmare situations they've been through and survived they just keep on getting stronger.
They wanted to take what was his? They had no idea who they were dealing with.
Nikolas, Ben reflected, had a tendency to live his life entirely in his own head, planning, organising. Then, when it suited him to announce his decisions, he did, leaving no room for compromise or discussion. This hobby ANGEL only seemed to increase his godlike delusion.
I'm not sure if it's love or obsession but there is nothing straightforward about the relationship between Nik and Ben. After all the hardship they've faced and the nightmare situations they've been through and survived they just keep on getting stronger.
They wanted to take what was his? They had no idea who they were dealing with.
March 14, 2016
I really was taking a break after this one...honest I was...
and sadly taking a break lasted for about 2 seconds before I started reading the next book in the series. I think that, more than anything says how much I enjoyed this book and since I have every intention of starting my Christmas reading marathon on December 1st and I have 4 books left in this series. I'm not even sure if this is possible but I'm going to take a shot at reading them all by December 1st. So wish me luck.
This also means that the reviews are going to be brief. In a nutshell I loved this book the first half of the story had me sitting on the edge of my seat it was awesome and gut wrenching and nail biting. I thought the second half was going to loose me. It just wasn't holding my attention like the first half was and then WHAM!!! Sucker punch. It nailed me and reeled me in. So at the end loved it, it was incredible and I'm off to read book #4 This Other Country. Which by the way has already had me going 'what the hell' by the end of the first page...yep, I'm thinking this is gonna' be good.
and sadly taking a break lasted for about 2 seconds before I started reading the next book in the series. I think that, more than anything says how much I enjoyed this book and since I have every intention of starting my Christmas reading marathon on December 1st and I have 4 books left in this series. I'm not even sure if this is possible but I'm going to take a shot at reading them all by December 1st. So wish me luck.
This also means that the reviews are going to be brief. In a nutshell I loved this book the first half of the story had me sitting on the edge of my seat it was awesome and gut wrenching and nail biting. I thought the second half was going to loose me. It just wasn't holding my attention like the first half was and then WHAM!!! Sucker punch. It nailed me and reeled me in. So at the end loved it, it was incredible and I'm off to read book #4 This Other Country. Which by the way has already had me going 'what the hell' by the end of the first page...yep, I'm thinking this is gonna' be good.
August 19, 2016
Éste se queda en 4 peladas, pero no por nada, es que hay tanto lío y tanto sexo (de más, en serio, y que yo lo diga tiene delito) que no he terminado de disfrutar 100% la historia.
Aún así, estoy enganchadísima a esta pareja y a Mr. Wiltshitre y, para variar, ya estoy con el 4 ^^
Aún así, estoy enganchadísima a esta pareja y a Mr. Wiltshitre y, para variar, ya estoy con el 4 ^^
February 6, 2015
I can't really review this. It's too much to think about. Nikolas was amazing in this, just simply amazing in his steadfast love for his Benjamin. And Ben? I wanted to smack the shit out of him once they got out of fucking mother Russia but then he surprised me as much as he surprised Nik. Good Lord. This series, these two wonderfully strong and amazing men, their story is epic. It's an epic romance that is slowly killing me. I have the worst headache because I cried through the last 30% of the book. I heard two songs this morning in my car on the way to work and cried off every bit of mascara because the songs felt like Nik and Ben. I came into work and shrugged off all responsibility to finish this.
Nik and Ben, they grew so much in this book. So much in their love and commitment to one another and just so much as men and into their own. Who would think that they could go through so much and just... ugh. I can't think straight. I want to move on directly to the next book but I am so afraid of what this author is doing to me. Talk about amazing power and control of ones craft. Wiltshire shreds my heart to pieces again and again, I gladly offer it to him on a platter for further mutilation.
Yeah, crying again.
I need therapy after this one.
I am a mess.
Nik and Ben, they grew so much in this book. So much in their love and commitment to one another and just so much as men and into their own. Who would think that they could go through so much and just... ugh. I can't think straight. I want to move on directly to the next book but I am so afraid of what this author is doing to me. Talk about amazing power and control of ones craft. Wiltshire shreds my heart to pieces again and again, I gladly offer it to him on a platter for further mutilation.
Yeah, crying again.
I need therapy after this one.
I am a mess.
May 29, 2016
Like the previous books in the series, this is a couple of stories rolled into one.
The first section sees Ben and Nikolas head off into the Siberian Taiga and, thanks to some dubious choices of fellow passengers and crew, their plane ditches in a lake.
Thus begins an incredible tale of survival against ferocious odds.
The pacing and action develops gradually through one harrowing scene after another. Surprises batter your nerves, startling the reader as much as the men themselves. The tension just builds and builds.
Until Emilia is taken. Rubies and pearls and a price beyond measure.
What follows is perhaps the best written action I've ever come across. It's like one of those breathless long uncut scenes in an action movie. You can't pause to take a breath. It is hard enough to stop and turn the page. In your heart, you know our heroes will survive and hopefully Emilia will as well, but at what cost?
And you're not even half way through the book yet.....
The first section sees Ben and Nikolas head off into the Siberian Taiga and, thanks to some dubious choices of fellow passengers and crew, their plane ditches in a lake.
Thus begins an incredible tale of survival against ferocious odds.
The pacing and action develops gradually through one harrowing scene after another. Surprises batter your nerves, startling the reader as much as the men themselves. The tension just builds and builds.
Until Emilia is taken. Rubies and pearls and a price beyond measure.
What follows is perhaps the best written action I've ever come across. It's like one of those breathless long uncut scenes in an action movie. You can't pause to take a breath. It is hard enough to stop and turn the page. In your heart, you know our heroes will survive and hopefully Emilia will as well, but at what cost?
And you're not even half way through the book yet.....
October 26, 2023
I wrote a joint review of this and book four (This Other Country) for AudioGals, giving an overall grade of A+ for the narration and B+ for the content.
The Bridge of Silver Wings and This Other Country are books three and four in John Wiltshire’s More Heat Than the Sun series of thriller/romantic suspense novels following the exploits of Ben Rider, a former SAS operative, and enigmatic (ex) diplomat Sir Nikolas Mikkelsen, two of the most stubborn Alpha Males who ever stubborned. The books are characterised by fast-paced, dramatic plots – there’s no such thing as ‘low-drama’ in Ben and Nik’s world – lots of humour, terrific dialogue and the continually evolving relationship between the two leads, a pair of complex, damaged and compelling individuals who aren’t always likeable but who always manage to be fascinating.
The Bridge of Silver Wings
Like the two books that precede it, this is a ‘two-in-one’, comprising two different storylines that follow on from each other. The first part of the novel finds Ben accompanying Nikolas on a journey to a remote part of Russia on a very personal mission when their plane crashes in a remote area of Siberia. The plot is your classic “stranded” trope, wherein a mismatched bunch of strangers with different agendas fight each other as well as for survival. Nik and Ben take charge (of course!), assigning tasks to the others – three hunters, including a bigoted ex-cop, with a massive chip on his shoulder (who uses a lot of racist, homophobic and sexist language), a bible-bashing father and his two sons and a grandmother and granddaughter – and formulating a plan to keep them all alive long enough to get to safety. That’s going to be hard enough – but when one of their number turns up dead, killed in a truly horrific manner, it seems that they’re up against more than the terrain and the climate.
It’s no spoiler to say Nik and Ben make it out in one piece – this is book three of nine, after all! – and the second half of the novel is quieter and focused more on relationship and character development, although that’s not to say it’s without drama. Ben – whose mother died when he was a child, and who has long believed he has no family – has inherited a large manor house on the edge of Dartmoor, left him by the father he never knew. While sorting out all the legalities, Nik has discovered that Ben does, in fact, have family – his aunt Camilla Redvers and his cousins John and Natasha – and that the Redvers family is landed gentry with a pedigree going back to the time of the Norman Conquest. Ben is stunned and excited to meet them.
It’s clear right away that something is off, and the author very effectively establishes a sense of disquiet as Ben becomes drawn into his family’s world of partying and fast-living. Nik is obviously hurt, but takes no steps to interfere; not only does he know that’s a sure fire way of pushing Ben further away, he’s also continually weighed down by feelings that he’s not good enough, (despite Ben’s protestations to the contrary), that he can’t bear the thought of Ben being tainted and dragged down by the darkness inside him, so he just observes quietly from the sidelines, knowing Ben needs to work things out for himself and watching as the man he loves becomes… someone else.
Gah, these two are so screwed up there are times you just want to scream and yell at them to get their heads out of their arses!! But their fucked-up-edness is also part of the appeal. Three years have passed since we met them in Love is a Stranger, and Nik, especially, has come a looooong way from the completely closed-off man we met then. He’s still infuriating (I can’t help enjoying the way he uses his cool logicality to wind Ben up!), still full of secrets – and still scarily head-over-heels for Ben (and almost wishing he wasn’t). He still has a tough time speaking about his feelings or showing them, even to Ben – which only makes the raw vulnerability he displays during this part of the story all the more powerful.
This Other Country
There’s a bit less action in this book, although our heroes still face plenty of danger when, to help a friend, Ben and Nik pose as an antagonistic couple and go undercover at a therapy course for gay men. (Nik is impersonating is a gay florist – yes, really – and these scenes are every bit as funny as you’d expect given that description, full of deadpan dry humour and snarky banter.) It turns out – of course – that the ‘therapy’ isn’t at all what they expected and that there’s something sinister going on, and while they’re trying to get to the bottom of it all, they also have the opportunity for some serious self-examination and exploration of their relationship. One of the things that’s always struck me as odd in these books is that despite the fact that Ben and Nik have been in a relationship of some kind for years (eight at this point) – they’re in love, they shag like bunnies at every opportunity – neither of them thinks of himself as gay. This is more of a problem for Nik than for Ben it seems, as part of the tension in this part of the story comes from the fact that Nik is adamant he’s not gay and is, at first, completely resistant to the idea of going undercover as a gay man. I can’t help noticing that the word “bisexual” (or “pansexual” for that matter) never, ever appears in any of the four books in the series I’ve listened to so far, and it’s difficult to believe it never occurs to either of them to suspect they might be another shade of queer – it appears “gay” is the only alternative to “straight” in their vocabulary.
Anyway. The second half of the book takes a sombre turn when Ben sustains a head injury which results in his losing all his memories of the past ten years. Nik’s despair at ‘losing’ Ben like this is palpable and you can almost feel his heart breaking – which really brings home the fact that while he comes across as aloof and completely self-possessed (if you’ve got this far in the series, you’ll have a good idea why he’s the way he is) it doesn’t mean he doesn’t get hurt or doesn’t feel things deeply.
Amnesia plots can be difficult to pull off, but I like them when they’re done well, and this one is. One of the things I like about them in romance is the opportunity afforded for the characters to get to know each other and fall for each other again, often in a way that helps change their relationship for the better. It’s a tough ride for both Ben and Nik (and there’s some very unwanted interference when one of the recurring characters does something utterly despicable), but their intense connection and soul-deep love for one another is so strong that even though Ben can’t actively remember it, he can still feel it.
Gary Furlong delivers yet another pair of outstanding performances here – I honestly think I’ve emptied the dictionary of superlatives several times over when reviewing his work! In addition to the excellent voice acting, pacing, differentiation and vocal characterisations, he absolutely nails the emotional content of the story, which ranges from farcical humour to deep despair as Nik experiences gut-wrenching grief (I had tears in my eyes at those parts L). I adore his version of Nik and Ben; from Ben’s upbeat good humour to Nik’s dry cynicism and everything in between, he captures their multi-faceted personalities perfectly and expertly conveys their deep emotional connection. His comic timing in the lighter moments is spot on, and the recurring characters are portrayed consistently (Squeezy always cracks me up!). Apart from one or two mispronunciations, I have absolutely no criticisms to make of the narration. It’s fantastic on all fronts.
The relationship between Ben and Nik is put sorely to the test in these books, and the trials they face reveal more about their characters and the way they each see their relationship. They reach something of a turning point, with Ben at last realising that Nik really does need him every bit as much as he needs Nik, that Nik is with him because he wants to be and that he’s in it for the long haul; and that he – Ben – doesn’t have to let Nik have his own way all the time to keep him close. Nik experiences his fair share of revelations, too; we’ve watched him slowly unwind over the course of four books, and by the end of this one, he’s become more relaxed and open – with Ben and those close to him at least – and the power dynamics in the relationship have subtly shifted – for the better – as a result.
The More Heat Than the Sun series is crazily addictive, full of danger, drama and high emotion, with a well-drawn secondary cast and two principals you can’t help but root for. The character and relationship development is superb and is what really draws me to these books; Ben and Nik (mostly Nik!) might be seriously screwed-up, but their love for each other is powerful and growing stronger, and I love the way that they complement each other, how they’ve adapted around each other while retaining the essence of what makes them ‘them’. On to book five! get their heads out of their arses!! But their fucked-up-edness is also part of the appeal. Three years have passed since we met them in Love is a Stranger, and Nik, especially, has come a looooong way from the completely closed-off man we met then. He’s still infuriating (I can’t help enjoying the way he uses his cool logicality to wind Ben up!), still full of secrets – and still scarily head-over-heels for Ben (and almost wishing he wasn’t). He still has a tough time speaking about his feelings or showing them, even to Ben – which only makes the raw vulnerability he displays during this part of the story all the more powerful.
The Bridge of Silver Wings
Like the two books that precede it, this is a ‘two-in-one’, comprising two different storylines that follow on from each other. The first part of the novel finds Ben accompanying Nikolas on a journey to a remote part of Russia on a very personal mission when their plane crashes in a remote area of Siberia. The plot is your classic “stranded” trope, wherein a mismatched bunch of strangers with different agendas fight each other as well as for survival. Nik and Ben take charge (of course!), assigning tasks to the others – three hunters, including a bigoted ex-cop, with a massive chip on his shoulder (who uses a lot of racist, homophobic and sexist language), a bible-bashing father and his two sons and a grandmother and granddaughter – and formulating a plan to keep them all alive long enough to get to safety. That’s going to be hard enough – but when one of their number turns up dead, killed in a truly horrific manner, it seems that they’re up against more than the terrain and the climate.
It’s no spoiler to say Nik and Ben make it out in one piece – this is book three of nine, after all! – and the second half of the novel is quieter and focused more on relationship and character development, although that’s not to say it’s without drama. Ben – whose mother died when he was a child, and who has long believed he has no family – has inherited a large manor house on the edge of Dartmoor, left him by the father he never knew. While sorting out all the legalities, Nik has discovered that Ben does, in fact, have family – his aunt Camilla Redvers and his cousins John and Natasha – and that the Redvers family is landed gentry with a pedigree going back to the time of the Norman Conquest. Ben is stunned and excited to meet them.
It’s clear right away that something is off, and the author very effectively establishes a sense of disquiet as Ben becomes drawn into his family’s world of partying and fast-living. Nik is obviously hurt, but takes no steps to interfere; not only does he know that’s a sure fire way of pushing Ben further away, he’s also continually weighed down by feelings that he’s not good enough, (despite Ben’s protestations to the contrary), that he can’t bear the thought of Ben being tainted and dragged down by the darkness inside him, so he just observes quietly from the sidelines, knowing Ben needs to work things out for himself and watching as the man he loves becomes… someone else.
Gah, these two are so screwed up there are times you just want to scream and yell at them to get their heads out of their arses!! But their fucked-up-edness is also part of the appeal. Three years have passed since we met them in Love is a Stranger, and Nik, especially, has come a looooong way from the completely closed-off man we met then. He’s still infuriating (I can’t help enjoying the way he uses his cool logicality to wind Ben up!), still full of secrets – and still scarily head-over-heels for Ben (and almost wishing he wasn’t). He still has a tough time speaking about his feelings or showing them, even to Ben – which only makes the raw vulnerability he displays during this part of the story all the more powerful.
This Other Country
There’s a bit less action in this book, although our heroes still face plenty of danger when, to help a friend, Ben and Nik pose as an antagonistic couple and go undercover at a therapy course for gay men. (Nik is impersonating is a gay florist – yes, really – and these scenes are every bit as funny as you’d expect given that description, full of deadpan dry humour and snarky banter.) It turns out – of course – that the ‘therapy’ isn’t at all what they expected and that there’s something sinister going on, and while they’re trying to get to the bottom of it all, they also have the opportunity for some serious self-examination and exploration of their relationship. One of the things that’s always struck me as odd in these books is that despite the fact that Ben and Nik have been in a relationship of some kind for years (eight at this point) – they’re in love, they shag like bunnies at every opportunity – neither of them thinks of himself as gay. This is more of a problem for Nik than for Ben it seems, as part of the tension in this part of the story comes from the fact that Nik is adamant he’s not gay and is, at first, completely resistant to the idea of going undercover as a gay man. I can’t help noticing that the word “bisexual” (or “pansexual” for that matter) never, ever appears in any of the four books in the series I’ve listened to so far, and it’s difficult to believe it never occurs to either of them to suspect they might be another shade of queer – it appears “gay” is the only alternative to “straight” in their vocabulary.
Anyway. The second half of the book takes a sombre turn when Ben sustains a head injury which results in his losing all his memories of the past ten years. Nik’s despair at ‘losing’ Ben like this is palpable and you can almost feel his heart breaking – which really brings home the fact that while he comes across as aloof and completely self-possessed (if you’ve got this far in the series, you’ll have a good idea why he’s the way he is) it doesn’t mean he doesn’t get hurt or doesn’t feel things deeply.
Amnesia plots can be difficult to pull off, but I like them when they’re done well, and this one is. One of the things I like about them in romance is the opportunity afforded for the characters to get to know each other and fall for each other again, often in a way that helps change their relationship for the better. It’s a tough ride for both Ben and Nik (and there’s some very unwanted interference when one of the recurring characters does something utterly despicable), but their intense connection and soul-deep love for one another is so strong that even though Ben can’t actively remember it, he can still feel it.
Gary Furlong delivers yet another pair of outstanding performances here – I honestly think I’ve emptied the dictionary of superlatives several times over when reviewing his work! In addition to the excellent voice acting, pacing, differentiation and vocal characterisations, he absolutely nails the emotional content of the story, which ranges from farcical humour to deep despair as Nik experiences gut-wrenching grief (I had tears in my eyes at those parts L). I adore his version of Nik and Ben; from Ben’s upbeat good humour to Nik’s dry cynicism and everything in between, he captures their multi-faceted personalities perfectly and expertly conveys their deep emotional connection. His comic timing in the lighter moments is spot on, and the recurring characters are portrayed consistently (Squeezy always cracks me up!). Apart from one or two mispronunciations, I have absolutely no criticisms to make of the narration. It’s fantastic on all fronts.
The relationship between Ben and Nik is put sorely to the test in these books, and the trials they face reveal more about their characters and the way they each see their relationship. They reach something of a turning point, with Ben at last realising that Nik really does need him every bit as much as he needs Nik, that Nik is with him because he wants to be and that he’s in it for the long haul; and that he – Ben – doesn’t have to let Nik have his own way all the time to keep him close. Nik experiences his fair share of revelations, too; we’ve watched him slowly unwind over the course of four books, and by the end of this one, he’s become more relaxed and open – with Ben and those close to him at least – and the power dynamics in the relationship have subtly shifted – for the better – as a result.
The More Heat Than the Sun series is crazily addictive, full of danger, drama and high emotion, with a well-drawn secondary cast and two principals you can’t help but root for. The character and relationship development is superb and is what really draws me to these books; Ben and Nik (mostly Nik!) might be seriously screwed-up, but their love for each other is powerful and growing stronger, and I love the way that they complement each other, how they’ve adapted around each other while retaining the essence of what makes them ‘them’. On to book five!
This review originally appeared at AudioGals.
The Bridge of Silver Wings and This Other Country are books three and four in John Wiltshire’s More Heat Than the Sun series of thriller/romantic suspense novels following the exploits of Ben Rider, a former SAS operative, and enigmatic (ex) diplomat Sir Nikolas Mikkelsen, two of the most stubborn Alpha Males who ever stubborned. The books are characterised by fast-paced, dramatic plots – there’s no such thing as ‘low-drama’ in Ben and Nik’s world – lots of humour, terrific dialogue and the continually evolving relationship between the two leads, a pair of complex, damaged and compelling individuals who aren’t always likeable but who always manage to be fascinating.
The Bridge of Silver Wings
Like the two books that precede it, this is a ‘two-in-one’, comprising two different storylines that follow on from each other. The first part of the novel finds Ben accompanying Nikolas on a journey to a remote part of Russia on a very personal mission when their plane crashes in a remote area of Siberia. The plot is your classic “stranded” trope, wherein a mismatched bunch of strangers with different agendas fight each other as well as for survival. Nik and Ben take charge (of course!), assigning tasks to the others – three hunters, including a bigoted ex-cop, with a massive chip on his shoulder (who uses a lot of racist, homophobic and sexist language), a bible-bashing father and his two sons and a grandmother and granddaughter – and formulating a plan to keep them all alive long enough to get to safety. That’s going to be hard enough – but when one of their number turns up dead, killed in a truly horrific manner, it seems that they’re up against more than the terrain and the climate.
It’s no spoiler to say Nik and Ben make it out in one piece – this is book three of nine, after all! – and the second half of the novel is quieter and focused more on relationship and character development, although that’s not to say it’s without drama. Ben – whose mother died when he was a child, and who has long believed he has no family – has inherited a large manor house on the edge of Dartmoor, left him by the father he never knew. While sorting out all the legalities, Nik has discovered that Ben does, in fact, have family – his aunt Camilla Redvers and his cousins John and Natasha – and that the Redvers family is landed gentry with a pedigree going back to the time of the Norman Conquest. Ben is stunned and excited to meet them.
It’s clear right away that something is off, and the author very effectively establishes a sense of disquiet as Ben becomes drawn into his family’s world of partying and fast-living. Nik is obviously hurt, but takes no steps to interfere; not only does he know that’s a sure fire way of pushing Ben further away, he’s also continually weighed down by feelings that he’s not good enough, (despite Ben’s protestations to the contrary), that he can’t bear the thought of Ben being tainted and dragged down by the darkness inside him, so he just observes quietly from the sidelines, knowing Ben needs to work things out for himself and watching as the man he loves becomes… someone else.
Gah, these two are so screwed up there are times you just want to scream and yell at them to get their heads out of their arses!! But their fucked-up-edness is also part of the appeal. Three years have passed since we met them in Love is a Stranger, and Nik, especially, has come a looooong way from the completely closed-off man we met then. He’s still infuriating (I can’t help enjoying the way he uses his cool logicality to wind Ben up!), still full of secrets – and still scarily head-over-heels for Ben (and almost wishing he wasn’t). He still has a tough time speaking about his feelings or showing them, even to Ben – which only makes the raw vulnerability he displays during this part of the story all the more powerful.
This Other Country
There’s a bit less action in this book, although our heroes still face plenty of danger when, to help a friend, Ben and Nik pose as an antagonistic couple and go undercover at a therapy course for gay men. (Nik is impersonating is a gay florist – yes, really – and these scenes are every bit as funny as you’d expect given that description, full of deadpan dry humour and snarky banter.) It turns out – of course – that the ‘therapy’ isn’t at all what they expected and that there’s something sinister going on, and while they’re trying to get to the bottom of it all, they also have the opportunity for some serious self-examination and exploration of their relationship. One of the things that’s always struck me as odd in these books is that despite the fact that Ben and Nik have been in a relationship of some kind for years (eight at this point) – they’re in love, they shag like bunnies at every opportunity – neither of them thinks of himself as gay. This is more of a problem for Nik than for Ben it seems, as part of the tension in this part of the story comes from the fact that Nik is adamant he’s not gay and is, at first, completely resistant to the idea of going undercover as a gay man. I can’t help noticing that the word “bisexual” (or “pansexual” for that matter) never, ever appears in any of the four books in the series I’ve listened to so far, and it’s difficult to believe it never occurs to either of them to suspect they might be another shade of queer – it appears “gay” is the only alternative to “straight” in their vocabulary.
Anyway. The second half of the book takes a sombre turn when Ben sustains a head injury which results in his losing all his memories of the past ten years. Nik’s despair at ‘losing’ Ben like this is palpable and you can almost feel his heart breaking – which really brings home the fact that while he comes across as aloof and completely self-possessed (if you’ve got this far in the series, you’ll have a good idea why he’s the way he is) it doesn’t mean he doesn’t get hurt or doesn’t feel things deeply.
Amnesia plots can be difficult to pull off, but I like them when they’re done well, and this one is. One of the things I like about them in romance is the opportunity afforded for the characters to get to know each other and fall for each other again, often in a way that helps change their relationship for the better. It’s a tough ride for both Ben and Nik (and there’s some very unwanted interference when one of the recurring characters does something utterly despicable), but their intense connection and soul-deep love for one another is so strong that even though Ben can’t actively remember it, he can still feel it.
Gary Furlong delivers yet another pair of outstanding performances here – I honestly think I’ve emptied the dictionary of superlatives several times over when reviewing his work! In addition to the excellent voice acting, pacing, differentiation and vocal characterisations, he absolutely nails the emotional content of the story, which ranges from farcical humour to deep despair as Nik experiences gut-wrenching grief (I had tears in my eyes at those parts L). I adore his version of Nik and Ben; from Ben’s upbeat good humour to Nik’s dry cynicism and everything in between, he captures their multi-faceted personalities perfectly and expertly conveys their deep emotional connection. His comic timing in the lighter moments is spot on, and the recurring characters are portrayed consistently (Squeezy always cracks me up!). Apart from one or two mispronunciations, I have absolutely no criticisms to make of the narration. It’s fantastic on all fronts.
The relationship between Ben and Nik is put sorely to the test in these books, and the trials they face reveal more about their characters and the way they each see their relationship. They reach something of a turning point, with Ben at last realising that Nik really does need him every bit as much as he needs Nik, that Nik is with him because he wants to be and that he’s in it for the long haul; and that he – Ben – doesn’t have to let Nik have his own way all the time to keep him close. Nik experiences his fair share of revelations, too; we’ve watched him slowly unwind over the course of four books, and by the end of this one, he’s become more relaxed and open – with Ben and those close to him at least – and the power dynamics in the relationship have subtly shifted – for the better – as a result.
The More Heat Than the Sun series is crazily addictive, full of danger, drama and high emotion, with a well-drawn secondary cast and two principals you can’t help but root for. The character and relationship development is superb and is what really draws me to these books; Ben and Nik (mostly Nik!) might be seriously screwed-up, but their love for each other is powerful and growing stronger, and I love the way that they complement each other, how they’ve adapted around each other while retaining the essence of what makes them ‘them’. On to book five! get their heads out of their arses!! But their fucked-up-edness is also part of the appeal. Three years have passed since we met them in Love is a Stranger, and Nik, especially, has come a looooong way from the completely closed-off man we met then. He’s still infuriating (I can’t help enjoying the way he uses his cool logicality to wind Ben up!), still full of secrets – and still scarily head-over-heels for Ben (and almost wishing he wasn’t). He still has a tough time speaking about his feelings or showing them, even to Ben – which only makes the raw vulnerability he displays during this part of the story all the more powerful.
The Bridge of Silver Wings
Like the two books that precede it, this is a ‘two-in-one’, comprising two different storylines that follow on from each other. The first part of the novel finds Ben accompanying Nikolas on a journey to a remote part of Russia on a very personal mission when their plane crashes in a remote area of Siberia. The plot is your classic “stranded” trope, wherein a mismatched bunch of strangers with different agendas fight each other as well as for survival. Nik and Ben take charge (of course!), assigning tasks to the others – three hunters, including a bigoted ex-cop, with a massive chip on his shoulder (who uses a lot of racist, homophobic and sexist language), a bible-bashing father and his two sons and a grandmother and granddaughter – and formulating a plan to keep them all alive long enough to get to safety. That’s going to be hard enough – but when one of their number turns up dead, killed in a truly horrific manner, it seems that they’re up against more than the terrain and the climate.
It’s no spoiler to say Nik and Ben make it out in one piece – this is book three of nine, after all! – and the second half of the novel is quieter and focused more on relationship and character development, although that’s not to say it’s without drama. Ben – whose mother died when he was a child, and who has long believed he has no family – has inherited a large manor house on the edge of Dartmoor, left him by the father he never knew. While sorting out all the legalities, Nik has discovered that Ben does, in fact, have family – his aunt Camilla Redvers and his cousins John and Natasha – and that the Redvers family is landed gentry with a pedigree going back to the time of the Norman Conquest. Ben is stunned and excited to meet them.
It’s clear right away that something is off, and the author very effectively establishes a sense of disquiet as Ben becomes drawn into his family’s world of partying and fast-living. Nik is obviously hurt, but takes no steps to interfere; not only does he know that’s a sure fire way of pushing Ben further away, he’s also continually weighed down by feelings that he’s not good enough, (despite Ben’s protestations to the contrary), that he can’t bear the thought of Ben being tainted and dragged down by the darkness inside him, so he just observes quietly from the sidelines, knowing Ben needs to work things out for himself and watching as the man he loves becomes… someone else.
Gah, these two are so screwed up there are times you just want to scream and yell at them to get their heads out of their arses!! But their fucked-up-edness is also part of the appeal. Three years have passed since we met them in Love is a Stranger, and Nik, especially, has come a looooong way from the completely closed-off man we met then. He’s still infuriating (I can’t help enjoying the way he uses his cool logicality to wind Ben up!), still full of secrets – and still scarily head-over-heels for Ben (and almost wishing he wasn’t). He still has a tough time speaking about his feelings or showing them, even to Ben – which only makes the raw vulnerability he displays during this part of the story all the more powerful.
This Other Country
There’s a bit less action in this book, although our heroes still face plenty of danger when, to help a friend, Ben and Nik pose as an antagonistic couple and go undercover at a therapy course for gay men. (Nik is impersonating is a gay florist – yes, really – and these scenes are every bit as funny as you’d expect given that description, full of deadpan dry humour and snarky banter.) It turns out – of course – that the ‘therapy’ isn’t at all what they expected and that there’s something sinister going on, and while they’re trying to get to the bottom of it all, they also have the opportunity for some serious self-examination and exploration of their relationship. One of the things that’s always struck me as odd in these books is that despite the fact that Ben and Nik have been in a relationship of some kind for years (eight at this point) – they’re in love, they shag like bunnies at every opportunity – neither of them thinks of himself as gay. This is more of a problem for Nik than for Ben it seems, as part of the tension in this part of the story comes from the fact that Nik is adamant he’s not gay and is, at first, completely resistant to the idea of going undercover as a gay man. I can’t help noticing that the word “bisexual” (or “pansexual” for that matter) never, ever appears in any of the four books in the series I’ve listened to so far, and it’s difficult to believe it never occurs to either of them to suspect they might be another shade of queer – it appears “gay” is the only alternative to “straight” in their vocabulary.
Anyway. The second half of the book takes a sombre turn when Ben sustains a head injury which results in his losing all his memories of the past ten years. Nik’s despair at ‘losing’ Ben like this is palpable and you can almost feel his heart breaking – which really brings home the fact that while he comes across as aloof and completely self-possessed (if you’ve got this far in the series, you’ll have a good idea why he’s the way he is) it doesn’t mean he doesn’t get hurt or doesn’t feel things deeply.
Amnesia plots can be difficult to pull off, but I like them when they’re done well, and this one is. One of the things I like about them in romance is the opportunity afforded for the characters to get to know each other and fall for each other again, often in a way that helps change their relationship for the better. It’s a tough ride for both Ben and Nik (and there’s some very unwanted interference when one of the recurring characters does something utterly despicable), but their intense connection and soul-deep love for one another is so strong that even though Ben can’t actively remember it, he can still feel it.
Gary Furlong delivers yet another pair of outstanding performances here – I honestly think I’ve emptied the dictionary of superlatives several times over when reviewing his work! In addition to the excellent voice acting, pacing, differentiation and vocal characterisations, he absolutely nails the emotional content of the story, which ranges from farcical humour to deep despair as Nik experiences gut-wrenching grief (I had tears in my eyes at those parts L). I adore his version of Nik and Ben; from Ben’s upbeat good humour to Nik’s dry cynicism and everything in between, he captures their multi-faceted personalities perfectly and expertly conveys their deep emotional connection. His comic timing in the lighter moments is spot on, and the recurring characters are portrayed consistently (Squeezy always cracks me up!). Apart from one or two mispronunciations, I have absolutely no criticisms to make of the narration. It’s fantastic on all fronts.
The relationship between Ben and Nik is put sorely to the test in these books, and the trials they face reveal more about their characters and the way they each see their relationship. They reach something of a turning point, with Ben at last realising that Nik really does need him every bit as much as he needs Nik, that Nik is with him because he wants to be and that he’s in it for the long haul; and that he – Ben – doesn’t have to let Nik have his own way all the time to keep him close. Nik experiences his fair share of revelations, too; we’ve watched him slowly unwind over the course of four books, and by the end of this one, he’s become more relaxed and open – with Ben and those close to him at least – and the power dynamics in the relationship have subtly shifted – for the better – as a result.
The More Heat Than the Sun series is crazily addictive, full of danger, drama and high emotion, with a well-drawn secondary cast and two principals you can’t help but root for. The character and relationship development is superb and is what really draws me to these books; Ben and Nik (mostly Nik!) might be seriously screwed-up, but their love for each other is powerful and growing stronger, and I love the way that they complement each other, how they’ve adapted around each other while retaining the essence of what makes them ‘them’. On to book five!
This review originally appeared at AudioGals.
February 16, 2015
".....there were no words needed, no gestures, no reassurances, for they were both men."
This sums up succinctly the reason why I love these novels by John Wiltshire. His protagonist characters are Men with a capital M.
Book 3 in the series and the plots get better and better. After the Tsunami survival in Book 2, I really believed things could not possibly get any worse for our intrepid heroes. Well, I was wrong. The first half of this book is not for the faint hearted nor the squeamish - be warned, but these two characters are ex soldiers and they court disaster, action and adventure.
If I didn't know that there was a Book 4, 5 and now a Book 6 in the pipeline, I'd have been convinced several times during the reading of this novel that Ben Rider's life was at an end. Gripping!
The suspense writing is just fantastic, the love these guys feel for one another is portrayed so realistically and the sex, if that's what floats your boat, is incredibly genuine, masculine, dirty and raw.
Brilliant, just brilliant!
Oh!...and to continue the quotation from the first line of this review because it brought a tear to my eye,
"So it was with a sense of pleasure almost greater than his orgasm that Ben heard Nikolas murmur into the back of his neck, "Ben Rider loves me." " :D
5+ golden stars.
This sums up succinctly the reason why I love these novels by John Wiltshire. His protagonist characters are Men with a capital M.
Book 3 in the series and the plots get better and better. After the Tsunami survival in Book 2, I really believed things could not possibly get any worse for our intrepid heroes. Well, I was wrong. The first half of this book is not for the faint hearted nor the squeamish - be warned, but these two characters are ex soldiers and they court disaster, action and adventure.
If I didn't know that there was a Book 4, 5 and now a Book 6 in the pipeline, I'd have been convinced several times during the reading of this novel that Ben Rider's life was at an end. Gripping!
The suspense writing is just fantastic, the love these guys feel for one another is portrayed so realistically and the sex, if that's what floats your boat, is incredibly genuine, masculine, dirty and raw.
Brilliant, just brilliant!
Oh!...and to continue the quotation from the first line of this review because it brought a tear to my eye,
"So it was with a sense of pleasure almost greater than his orgasm that Ben heard Nikolas murmur into the back of his neck, "Ben Rider loves me." " :D
5+ golden stars.
February 1, 2015
what can i say, i am hooked on this series and Ben and Nik. *sigh*
November 25, 2015
I stick to my rating another awesome book.
September 10, 2018
4.5 stars from me.
Well, this is a tale of 2 parts...Part 1 gets 5 stars for the setting in a huge Russian forest, the suspense, the plane crash, the great white hunters..
the whole storyline, the cannibalism, the nail-biting tension and more importantly, the ending which saw the cowardly gigantic slob of an American security expert (read ex cop) get his just desserts (yay!!) but also saw a bible preaching zealot skinned alive, his son burnt alive and another red neck American hunter so badly injured that killing him was the kindest thing to do, and my two favourite survivors of the plane crash (other than Ben and Nik of course), Emilia and her grandmother Ulyana live to fight another day.
Part 2, in which Ben inherits the house in Devon left to him by his father was quite tame by comparison after the nail-biting stuff of part 1, and gets 4 stars. I hated Ben's relatives, freeloaders and wastrels, the lot of them ...and even Ben a little tiny bit I have to say, the silly numpty BUT what made the whole thing bearable was the most puddle of goo making scene in these stories so far (for me anyway). Anyone that has read this series will know that Nikolas (in view of his past) is quite cold and unemotional, detached and aloof. Quite happy to have sex with Ben here, there and everywhere but less than happy to show his feelings. I said to Inge that he's a a little like something that's been deep frozen and is thawing ever so slowly, and that's true cos in this part of the story, Ben is forever trying to get Nik to believe that Ben loves him, and well, what happens is 'so it was with a sense of pleasure almost greater than his orgasm that Ben heard Nikolas murmur into the back of his neck, "Ben Rider loves me." I completely melted into a puddle of goo.....
[[[ The making of the lurve scene at around 66% was just phenomenal, and as I made a note 'Manly men don't need condoms or lube, they just go for it. Ben and Nik are perfection.' This was grown-up sex at its best, the descriptive words used and the visuals they evoked...well, if I EVER get to come back in the afterlife, I DEFINITELY want to come back as a gay guy, just to experience what Ben and Nik experienced...so there!! ]]]
Loads of laughs, lots of love...this series has it all, in spades!!
Well, this is a tale of 2 parts...Part 1 gets 5 stars for the setting in a huge Russian forest, the suspense, the plane crash, the great white hunters..
the whole storyline, the cannibalism, the nail-biting tension and more importantly, the ending which saw the cowardly gigantic slob of an American security expert (read ex cop) get his just desserts (yay!!) but also saw a bible preaching zealot skinned alive, his son burnt alive and another red neck American hunter so badly injured that killing him was the kindest thing to do, and my two favourite survivors of the plane crash (other than Ben and Nik of course), Emilia and her grandmother Ulyana live to fight another day.
Part 2, in which Ben inherits the house in Devon left to him by his father was quite tame by comparison after the nail-biting stuff of part 1, and gets 4 stars. I hated Ben's relatives, freeloaders and wastrels, the lot of them ...and even Ben a little tiny bit I have to say, the silly numpty BUT what made the whole thing bearable was the most puddle of goo making scene in these stories so far (for me anyway). Anyone that has read this series will know that Nikolas (in view of his past) is quite cold and unemotional, detached and aloof. Quite happy to have sex with Ben here, there and everywhere but less than happy to show his feelings. I said to Inge that he's a a little like something that's been deep frozen and is thawing ever so slowly, and that's true cos in this part of the story, Ben is forever trying to get Nik to believe that Ben loves him, and well, what happens is 'so it was with a sense of pleasure almost greater than his orgasm that Ben heard Nikolas murmur into the back of his neck, "Ben Rider loves me." I completely melted into a puddle of goo.....
[[[ The making of the lurve scene at around 66% was just phenomenal, and as I made a note 'Manly men don't need condoms or lube, they just go for it. Ben and Nik are perfection.' This was grown-up sex at its best, the descriptive words used and the visuals they evoked...well, if I EVER get to come back in the afterlife, I DEFINITELY want to come back as a gay guy, just to experience what Ben and Nik experienced...so there!! ]]]
Loads of laughs, lots of love...this series has it all, in spades!!
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