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Bait & Switch #1
Bait
A good boy meets a bad boy. Someone’s losing a halo.
FBI special agent Daniel O’Pray is a straight shooter both in and out of bed. But things get a little weird when Danny is tasked to be the bait in a sting involving the owner of Philadelphia’s most notorious leather bar. One out-of-control moment with nightclub owner Alexi Romanov throws Danny into a tailspin—sexuality included.
Worse, Romanov is a prime suspect in an extortion ring Danny is investigating. And Danny can’t get enough of him.
Danny has spent his life following the rules. So why does breaking them for Alexi feel so damn good? Lines are blurring, putting Danny’s career and his life at risk. His heart, well, that’s in jeopardy, too.
FBI special agent Daniel O’Pray is a straight shooter both in and out of bed. But things get a little weird when Danny is tasked to be the bait in a sting involving the owner of Philadelphia’s most notorious leather bar. One out-of-control moment with nightclub owner Alexi Romanov throws Danny into a tailspin—sexuality included.
Worse, Romanov is a prime suspect in an extortion ring Danny is investigating. And Danny can’t get enough of him.
Danny has spent his life following the rules. So why does breaking them for Alexi feel so damn good? Lines are blurring, putting Danny’s career and his life at risk. His heart, well, that’s in jeopardy, too.
434 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 18, 2016
33 people are currently reading
312 people want to read
About the author
Lissa Ford
11 books134 followersLissa Ford is a sucker for hot guys and a happy ending. Thus writing m/m romances is her idea of a perfect day. A transplanted California girl in snowy upstate New York, Lissa spends way too much time online and trying to keep her cat from destroying the furniture.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
April 17, 2016
3.5 stars
Danny O'Pray is a good boy. He is an FBI Special Agent coming from a family of multiple generation FBI Agents. He has big shoes to fill and wants to live up to his family's good name.
Alexi Romanov is a Russian immigrant who has made a place for himself in the business world as the owner of an exclusive gay-themed nightclub. His past is shrouded in mystery and questionable decisions.
The FBI is after Alexi because they think he is heading up an extortion ring. The case turns into something much more serious, but the fact of the matter is that Alexi is a POI (person of interest) for the FBI. Danny having ANY type of relationship with Alexi would spell career-suicide for him. But Danny throws caution to the wind and starts a sexual exploration of sorts (Danny has never been with a man, save one kiss in his youth) with a man that may be involved in blackmail, extortion and sex slavery. You'd heard of insta-love, but this was a case of insta-lust. And given all we'd already learned about Danny and his dedication to his career, I didn't buy it. I failed to see the passion being all-consuming for Danny, enough to jeopardize everything he has worked his whole life for.
While I didn't buy it, I did go along with the story, suspending my disbelief. I enjoyed the mystery and the investigation very much. I really liked Danny, a salt-of-the-earth kind of guy. He had some great interactions with his beloved family, especially his old Grammie, a Special Agent during the Cold War. I never did warm to Alexi. We was never good enough for Danny in my eyes.
To those who are familiar with Lissa Ford's other books, including my personal 5 star read Doubleback, she writes one hell of a sex scene. But we didn't get that here. These two share a middle-of-the-night blowjob/handjob and a quick and messy mutual jerk-off session. And that is all. No other intimacy. No sleep-overs. No pillow talk. I was pretty bummed out about that. But this story is really about the story itself, an investigation into a blackmail/extortion/sex slave case. The relationship was a side note more than the focus.
Fans of Lissa's will certainly like this one. It has action and mystery and a incredibly likable main character. I'm sure many will be able to feel the simmering passion between Danny and Alexi. And I really loved the last 5% of the book, when everything finally came together.
If you like a good FBI story and mystery with a gay relationship on the side, you will love this one. Others, I recommend with caution. If you need lots of sex and passion, this isn't the book for you.
Galley copy of Bait provided by the author in exchange of an honest review.
This review is also posted at Gay Book Reviews
Danny O'Pray is a good boy. He is an FBI Special Agent coming from a family of multiple generation FBI Agents. He has big shoes to fill and wants to live up to his family's good name.
Alexi Romanov is a Russian immigrant who has made a place for himself in the business world as the owner of an exclusive gay-themed nightclub. His past is shrouded in mystery and questionable decisions.
The FBI is after Alexi because they think he is heading up an extortion ring. The case turns into something much more serious, but the fact of the matter is that Alexi is a POI (person of interest) for the FBI. Danny having ANY type of relationship with Alexi would spell career-suicide for him. But Danny throws caution to the wind and starts a sexual exploration of sorts (Danny has never been with a man, save one kiss in his youth) with a man that may be involved in blackmail, extortion and sex slavery. You'd heard of insta-love, but this was a case of insta-lust. And given all we'd already learned about Danny and his dedication to his career, I didn't buy it. I failed to see the passion being all-consuming for Danny, enough to jeopardize everything he has worked his whole life for.
While I didn't buy it, I did go along with the story, suspending my disbelief. I enjoyed the mystery and the investigation very much. I really liked Danny, a salt-of-the-earth kind of guy. He had some great interactions with his beloved family, especially his old Grammie, a Special Agent during the Cold War. I never did warm to Alexi. We was never good enough for Danny in my eyes.
To those who are familiar with Lissa Ford's other books, including my personal 5 star read Doubleback, she writes one hell of a sex scene. But we didn't get that here. These two share a middle-of-the-night blowjob/handjob and a quick and messy mutual jerk-off session. And that is all. No other intimacy. No sleep-overs. No pillow talk. I was pretty bummed out about that. But this story is really about the story itself, an investigation into a blackmail/extortion/sex slave case. The relationship was a side note more than the focus.
Fans of Lissa's will certainly like this one. It has action and mystery and a incredibly likable main character. I'm sure many will be able to feel the simmering passion between Danny and Alexi. And I really loved the last 5% of the book, when everything finally came together.
If you like a good FBI story and mystery with a gay relationship on the side, you will love this one. Others, I recommend with caution. If you need lots of sex and passion, this isn't the book for you.
Galley copy of Bait provided by the author in exchange of an honest review.
This review is also posted at Gay Book Reviews
March 13, 2017
"We can deal with your past, when you just let us get on with our present."
This book was so right up my alley and I devoured it within not even two days. That alone should be indication enough of how much I loved it. And we are talking about a long book here. The story held me captivated from the first page up until the very last, never a dull or dragging moment.
Danny is a Special Agent with the FBI, following a long family tradition. It is not obligation for him, though, it is passion.
He loves his job and he wants to make a difference, but he feels the pressure that comes with his name, nonetheless. On the one hand, there are his colleages, at least some of them, who give him the side eye because they always suspect some sort of nepotism, of him being favored. On the other hand, there is always the fear of disappointing his family, of not living up to their expectations, even if his family is very understanding and caring in this regard.
When a sting goes wrong, the guilt of having this fear proven right makes him desperately grab for the last chance his boss offers to stay a field agent: an undercover job as a hustler in a gay nightclub to convict the owner as the leader of an extortion ring using sex slaves for bait.
Alexi, owner of Club Fetish, has his own fair share of guilt.
Guilt over events in his past that helped him survive, but led to destroy the lives of innocent bystanders. He is a criminal who tries to left his past behind and who built up something on his own. A name. A business. A life.
When both men meet they are caught by surprise by the pure lust they feel in an instant...
... but there is also something else. No worries, not insta-love, but each man stirs something in the other both did not expect, much less want to pursue. Being together with a cop is bad for business and being together with a criminal – even more so, a suspect – is even worse for the career. Furthermore, Dan is not even sure about his own sexuality, much less out of the closet. To solve the case, Dan has to decide how far he would go, how much he can trust Alexi to be on the right side and what he would do to give them a chance.
Some reviewers said in their reviews that this book is lacking the romance. I would only partially agree. First of all, this is the beginning of a series and with the background of both characters the romance definitely needs development. Alexi is a suspect in a crime after all and there are trust issues left and right. Declaring their undying love for each other would have been less than believable in my eyes. And no, there is no “real” sex in this book, but both men have lots of page-time together and whenever they meet, for me the atmosphere was sizzling, just because of the looks they shared, or the things they said, or when they kissed... I could feel the chemistry there and that was enough for me.
The next book is due this year and I really hope that will be true, because I cannot wait to see where this is going.
This review has been posted on Dirty Books Obsession
March 7, 2016
Review originally posted at Sinfully.
3.5 stars
Bait is a good start to a new series from Lissa Ford. This story focuses primarily on the mystery storyline, with some dark subject matter, while the romance takes a secondary role. The mystery, inspired by a true story, is well written and did keep me guessing who, from a small pool of suspects, was actually involved.
Special Agent Danny O’Pray is third generation FBI. He loves his job, but a recent career setback and the pressure of living up to the storied careers of his grandmother, his father and even his brother are all getting to him. He knows he has to be careful to get his career back on track, but this latest undercover job playing bait in a gay club has him close to a panic wondering if he can get through the job without letting on that he has urges towards men, something he’s been denying and pushing aside. The big problem seems to be the difficulty he has reining in his emotions and not letting them show.
Alexi Romanov is the owner of Fetish, a nightclub and leather bar that has recently played a part in a blackmail and extortion scheme that may also be linked to human trafficking. Romanov is a well-respected businessman and leader in the LGBT community, but he is also a person of interest in the case. When Danny goes undercover to gain access to the VIP room at Fetish, the sparks fly between him and Romanov. Soon Danny’s career isn’t the only thing in danger as he finds the investigation heating up along with the attraction between himself and Romanov.
Lissa Ford does a good job establishing both Danny and Romanov as individuals. Having read and enjoyed her Doubleback series, I was expecting a bit more in the romance aspect. The relationship here really didn’t go past lust, which would be realistic under circumstances with Romanov a person of interest in a high-profile investigation and the short time frame during which the story takes place. I had a little trouble fully believing that Danny would compromise his career so thoroughly for a shot at the man, but the two do have definite on-page chemistry as evidenced in the few sex scenes. Danny has no problem jumping in with both feet once he has the opportunity, and Alexi definitely clouds Danny’s judgment. There are feelings involved, but they really don’t have an opportunity to explore that part of things.
The multiple points of view in the story including both Danny and Romanov, as well as one of the victims of the trafficking ring, worked well, with all the characters having distinct voices. I also enjoyed getting to know Danny’s family especially his feisty grandmother and his mysterious brother, Terrance, who has left Philly to work on the West Coast. I’m not sure what’s in store for the upcoming books, but would love to see what’s going on with him.
Bait worked well as a set up for the relationship and a starting point for the series, with a HFN ending. I’m hoping the next book picks up on Danny and Romanov’s relationship as the two have so much to explore and they are not going to have an easy road. Lissa Ford has done a good job with relationships that have a lot of depth to them in her prior books so I’ll be eagerly anticipating the next installment.
3.5 stars
Bait is a good start to a new series from Lissa Ford. This story focuses primarily on the mystery storyline, with some dark subject matter, while the romance takes a secondary role. The mystery, inspired by a true story, is well written and did keep me guessing who, from a small pool of suspects, was actually involved.
Special Agent Danny O’Pray is third generation FBI. He loves his job, but a recent career setback and the pressure of living up to the storied careers of his grandmother, his father and even his brother are all getting to him. He knows he has to be careful to get his career back on track, but this latest undercover job playing bait in a gay club has him close to a panic wondering if he can get through the job without letting on that he has urges towards men, something he’s been denying and pushing aside. The big problem seems to be the difficulty he has reining in his emotions and not letting them show.
Alexi Romanov is the owner of Fetish, a nightclub and leather bar that has recently played a part in a blackmail and extortion scheme that may also be linked to human trafficking. Romanov is a well-respected businessman and leader in the LGBT community, but he is also a person of interest in the case. When Danny goes undercover to gain access to the VIP room at Fetish, the sparks fly between him and Romanov. Soon Danny’s career isn’t the only thing in danger as he finds the investigation heating up along with the attraction between himself and Romanov.
Lissa Ford does a good job establishing both Danny and Romanov as individuals. Having read and enjoyed her Doubleback series, I was expecting a bit more in the romance aspect. The relationship here really didn’t go past lust, which would be realistic under circumstances with Romanov a person of interest in a high-profile investigation and the short time frame during which the story takes place. I had a little trouble fully believing that Danny would compromise his career so thoroughly for a shot at the man, but the two do have definite on-page chemistry as evidenced in the few sex scenes. Danny has no problem jumping in with both feet once he has the opportunity, and Alexi definitely clouds Danny’s judgment. There are feelings involved, but they really don’t have an opportunity to explore that part of things.
The multiple points of view in the story including both Danny and Romanov, as well as one of the victims of the trafficking ring, worked well, with all the characters having distinct voices. I also enjoyed getting to know Danny’s family especially his feisty grandmother and his mysterious brother, Terrance, who has left Philly to work on the West Coast. I’m not sure what’s in store for the upcoming books, but would love to see what’s going on with him.
Bait worked well as a set up for the relationship and a starting point for the series, with a HFN ending. I’m hoping the next book picks up on Danny and Romanov’s relationship as the two have so much to explore and they are not going to have an easy road. Lissa Ford has done a good job with relationships that have a lot of depth to them in her prior books so I’ll be eagerly anticipating the next installment.
August 8, 2016
Danny O’Pray breaths and bleeds blue. His father is a legend in the Philly FBI bureau, his mother ran the cyber division, even his grandmother was a special agent during the Cold War. That time Granny had to go to the hospital for “emergency appendicitis”? Well, turns out she’d been shot by a Cuban national.
When Danny breaks cover during a drug op, he faces either a desk assignment or being bait for a new sting involving Alexi Romanov and his club, Fetish, which may be Ground Zero for a blackmail / extortion ring involving sex trafficking. When Danny meets Alexi, sparks fly and Danny realizes there may be more to life than the FBI and living up to his family’s expectations.
Please be aware that the rather intricate plot really drives Bait while the love story between Danny and Alexi comes a distant second, with only two sex scenes (plus a really, really, really awkward lap dance). I felt there wasn’t a lot of sizzle between Danny and Alexi, and it didn’t help that this is Danny’s first sexual experience (other than a teenage kiss).
The suspense / mystery component is nicely done, with some good red herrings and I found myself drawn into the horror of sex trafficking and the desperate lives of the young Russian boys at the center of that horror. The story takes place in the space of a few days and the pace keeps your focus. But while the ending ties everything together, it seemed a bit too hurried, and I wanted a longer final scene between Danny and Alexi, or an epilogue showing them a few months afterwards and how their relationship had grown and developed.
If you read this book as a crime procedural with a M/M element, rather than a M/M romance in a law enforcement setting, you’ll enjoy it. But if you are expecting some so very steamy sexy scenes similar to Ford’s Doubleback series, you may be disappointed.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Review also posted at GayBook Reviews.
When Danny breaks cover during a drug op, he faces either a desk assignment or being bait for a new sting involving Alexi Romanov and his club, Fetish, which may be Ground Zero for a blackmail / extortion ring involving sex trafficking. When Danny meets Alexi, sparks fly and Danny realizes there may be more to life than the FBI and living up to his family’s expectations.
Please be aware that the rather intricate plot really drives Bait while the love story between Danny and Alexi comes a distant second, with only two sex scenes (plus a really, really, really awkward lap dance). I felt there wasn’t a lot of sizzle between Danny and Alexi, and it didn’t help that this is Danny’s first sexual experience (other than a teenage kiss).
The suspense / mystery component is nicely done, with some good red herrings and I found myself drawn into the horror of sex trafficking and the desperate lives of the young Russian boys at the center of that horror. The story takes place in the space of a few days and the pace keeps your focus. But while the ending ties everything together, it seemed a bit too hurried, and I wanted a longer final scene between Danny and Alexi, or an epilogue showing them a few months afterwards and how their relationship had grown and developed.
If you read this book as a crime procedural with a M/M element, rather than a M/M romance in a law enforcement setting, you’ll enjoy it. But if you are expecting some so very steamy sexy scenes similar to Ford’s Doubleback series, you may be disappointed.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Review also posted at GayBook Reviews.
August 20, 2016
This was a surprisingly good surprise. The writing is simple and straight forward. The mystery was a good one and who I thought was the bad guy the whole time, wasn't. My only complaint was we had a first time butt virgin who's cherry we never got to see get popped. A frotting scene, one blow job scene and a ftb??? That's all?
Great book but seriously disappointed in the steam. Well it had steam but WHERE WAS MY BUTT SECKS???? Ugh. I guess it's not the authors fault I'm a pervert but come on. A first time GFY (totally my cuppa, btw) and no infiltration of the no-no hole was had? Such wasted potential.
Still recommend for those that like the mystery in their MM without the smexual gratification hehe *winks saucily*
Great book but seriously disappointed in the steam. Well it had steam but WHERE WAS MY BUTT SECKS???? Ugh. I guess it's not the authors fault I'm a pervert but come on. A first time GFY (totally my cuppa, btw) and no infiltration of the no-no hole was had? Such wasted potential.
Still recommend for those that like the mystery in their MM without the smexual gratification hehe *winks saucily*
February 18, 2016
**3.5 stars**
This would have been a solid 4-4.5 star book for me, had it been more focused on the romance. It is a relatively long story and the mystery is very well done, but there wasn't enough interaction between the characters and the romance was pushed aside sometimes, in favor of the action/suspense plot.
That being said, Lissa Ford's characters are always incredibly well sketched, and the MCs in Bait & Switch are no exception. Dan is an FBI agent who falls in love with Alexi, a prime suspect in the case he's working on. I loved that Dan was an imperfect hero. He's not the greatest agent out there; he makes mistakes and acts with too much emotion. He is human and real.
Dan has never been with another man before. I absolutely loved the way his journey to self acceptance was portrayed. Dan knows he is attracted to men. First, it's curiosity and "...some dark awareness— panic". Then, it's anticipation, mixed with denial. And then he's ready to explore, to touch and be touched. And eventually, accept himself and the fact that he loves this man. And whe he does....he's all in!
The mystery is top notch, based on real events and well-researched with a very unexpected twist towards the end. I really didn't see it coming, which is always a great surprise. The action bits are very well described and detailed too.
The only thing that was missing was more romance and interaction between the characters. It's a shame because the chemistry between them was amazing and the couple of steamy scenes were pretty hot. And I know that Lissa Ford can really do romance and steam! Doubleback and Doubledown prove that.
I hope this is a series and we 'll get the chance to see more of Dan and Alexi in the future. I'd read a sequel about these two in a heartbeat.
dnf
February 16, 2016DNF @ 60% -no rating
I was -mistakenly- under the impression that this book was a romance with some action thrown in. Well it turns out that it was the opposite. I am afraid this is a case of it's not you, it's me. I need my romance to be centre stage, otherwise I lose interest. Which I did. Every other page. When I ended up skimming a couple of chapters in a row, I realised I am wasting my time and not doing the book justice either.
It looked good -suspense wise. Just not enough romance for me.
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I was -mistakenly- under the impression that this book was a romance with some action thrown in. Well it turns out that it was the opposite. I am afraid this is a case of it's not you, it's me. I need my romance to be centre stage, otherwise I lose interest. Which I did. Every other page. When I ended up skimming a couple of chapters in a row, I realised I am wasting my time and not doing the book justice either.
It looked good -suspense wise. Just not enough romance for me.
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
June 16, 2016
I don't know why I saw so many reviews of this book saying there were barely any scenes between Daniel and Alexi, that it was a mystery/crime novel first, romance second, and that if you wanted to read a mystery novel first and foremost, this is was your book.
Thing is, to me, while of course the mystery/crime was a HUGE part of this book and the whole plot was centered around it, I thought the romance was pretty big too.
Daniel and Alexi just didn't have a ton of sexual encounters, is all, and I think it worked with the story. If the story does continue with them being the central couple, then I'll expect some more sexy times, even penetrative sex if the author wants to go that far, but not for this novel.
Because Alexi, for a good portion of the novel, is the center of the investigation, and even when Daniel begins to believe he isn't behind the big crime deal, he has his doubts, his worries, and those around him that he works with barking in his ear about it to get him to continually worry if Alexi is a criminal or not.
Not a whole lot of time for deep conversations, long sexual encounters, falling in love - I think they are well on their way by the end of the book, but I think they still have a way to go by the end to get to falling in love. They are incredibly sweet, though, and adorable.
And a lot of the novel, if Daniel and Alexi aren't with each other, it is spent thinking about each other, so it never felt like it wasn't focused on them that much.
And I think they had plenty of scenes together, too, even though few of them involved sexy times - although lemme just say, the ones that did?? Oh boy were they hot! And so so sexy! Whew, did they make my pulse race. These two were HOT together. I definitely do crave more sex scenes with them - and they definitely had that connection.
I would say this book is equal parts a mystery crime novel and equal parts romance. The romance story was entwined with the mystery story. And the mystery was interesting too, if one enjoys that type of story too.
Ugh i just loved this book a lot, and read it all in a day, and it's fairly long, too. Just, in excellent excellent piece of writing, and I'm excited to see if the next book has Daniel and Alexi as the main focus again.
Thing is, to me, while of course the mystery/crime was a HUGE part of this book and the whole plot was centered around it, I thought the romance was pretty big too.
Daniel and Alexi just didn't have a ton of sexual encounters, is all, and I think it worked with the story. If the story does continue with them being the central couple, then I'll expect some more sexy times, even penetrative sex if the author wants to go that far, but not for this novel.
Because Alexi, for a good portion of the novel, is the center of the investigation, and even when Daniel begins to believe he isn't behind the big crime deal, he has his doubts, his worries, and those around him that he works with barking in his ear about it to get him to continually worry if Alexi is a criminal or not.
Not a whole lot of time for deep conversations, long sexual encounters, falling in love - I think they are well on their way by the end of the book, but I think they still have a way to go by the end to get to falling in love. They are incredibly sweet, though, and adorable.
And a lot of the novel, if Daniel and Alexi aren't with each other, it is spent thinking about each other, so it never felt like it wasn't focused on them that much.
And I think they had plenty of scenes together, too, even though few of them involved sexy times - although lemme just say, the ones that did?? Oh boy were they hot! And so so sexy! Whew, did they make my pulse race. These two were HOT together. I definitely do crave more sex scenes with them - and they definitely had that connection.
I would say this book is equal parts a mystery crime novel and equal parts romance. The romance story was entwined with the mystery story. And the mystery was interesting too, if one enjoys that type of story too.
Ugh i just loved this book a lot, and read it all in a day, and it's fairly long, too. Just, in excellent excellent piece of writing, and I'm excited to see if the next book has Daniel and Alexi as the main focus again.
May 7, 2016
4.3 Stars
A M/M Romance Group Team Spin Spellapalooza Challenge read. (Go Team 6 - Living In Spin!!!)
A M/M Romance Group Team Spin Spellapalooza Challenge read. (Go Team 6 - Living In Spin!!!)
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February 21, 2016What happens when you bait a Russian thug turned suave club owner with an undercover sexually confused Irish FBI agent.One hot catastrophe that will have you steaming towards a action packed conclusion.The book delves into the seedy underbelly of human sex trafficking.
March 3, 2016
This was an entertaining book though based on a dark subject.
I loved Danny and Alexei. My biggest complaint is that we didn't get enough of them together. Just a few pages here and there.
I was left wanting a lot more.
I loved Danny and Alexei. My biggest complaint is that we didn't get enough of them together. Just a few pages here and there.
I was left wanting a lot more.
June 7, 2016
This was an incredibly well written story. Fast-paced, taut and tense, it kept me turning pages to see what happened next. The author based this on real events in Philadelphia, but with a MM twist. This was not primarily a romance, although romance happened. There was very little sex, so there was some insta-lust, but not insta-love. It was also quite gritty and brutal at times but not graphic and not dark. There were also moments of humor and snark.
Lissa Ford seems to have put a good deal of research into the story. Much of the book follows the character of Daniel O'Pray, an FBI agent, whose family members have a long history with the agency, including his Mom and Grammie. Wonderful moments with her, she "gets" Daniel the most. He's having some ups and downs with his career doing undercover work, and has to deal with a rather egotistical competitor. At least he has a great partner who's female and helps him keep perspective. The "straight" agent makes a n emotional connection with Alexi Romanov, owner of a gay club, at the beginning of an operation, while posing as a dancer looking for work. Daniel is working the evidence trail of Eastern European boys scamming and blackmailing wealthy closeted gay men, with a possible human slavery connection. After a brief sexual encounter with Alexi, Daniel then finds there are connections to the case with someone Alexi knows. The plot and action evolves from there.
There are occasional switches in POV's from Daniel to Alexi and from one of the young Russian men trapped in a sex-trafficking ring. The switches were clearly separated, with no trouble differentiating the character. It was also well-edited, a refreshing change from so many e-books that are poorly done. I think it was a great plot, that hung together well and was easily followed. Was all the FBI procedure correct? I don't know but it sure sounded right. It was suspenseful, with enough action to keep it exciting.
I was given an ARC by the author, in return for an honest review. It was great to get a chance to be among the first to review this one!
2/14/16 just read this for the second time in a row and loved it just as much! I hope book 2 is more of Danny and Alexi/Casmir with maybe a little more sexy time!
Lissa Ford seems to have put a good deal of research into the story. Much of the book follows the character of Daniel O'Pray, an FBI agent, whose family members have a long history with the agency, including his Mom and Grammie. Wonderful moments with her, she "gets" Daniel the most. He's having some ups and downs with his career doing undercover work, and has to deal with a rather egotistical competitor. At least he has a great partner who's female and helps him keep perspective. The "straight" agent makes a n emotional connection with Alexi Romanov, owner of a gay club, at the beginning of an operation, while posing as a dancer looking for work. Daniel is working the evidence trail of Eastern European boys scamming and blackmailing wealthy closeted gay men, with a possible human slavery connection. After a brief sexual encounter with Alexi, Daniel then finds there are connections to the case with someone Alexi knows. The plot and action evolves from there.
There are occasional switches in POV's from Daniel to Alexi and from one of the young Russian men trapped in a sex-trafficking ring. The switches were clearly separated, with no trouble differentiating the character. It was also well-edited, a refreshing change from so many e-books that are poorly done. I think it was a great plot, that hung together well and was easily followed. Was all the FBI procedure correct? I don't know but it sure sounded right. It was suspenseful, with enough action to keep it exciting.
I was given an ARC by the author, in return for an honest review. It was great to get a chance to be among the first to review this one!
2/14/16 just read this for the second time in a row and loved it just as much! I hope book 2 is more of Danny and Alexi/Casmir with maybe a little more sexy time!
March 2, 2016
I liked the book but I did not love it. I found myself skimming some of it. I liked Daniel and I like Alexi but I found the backstory overshadowed the love story. At the end of the book, the relationship seemed rushed. It shouldn't have felt like that at the end of the story. It was more of a HFN not and HEA. Granted, it's part of a series but I would have liked a little more of the romance to add to the backstory.
February 19, 2016
I knew from reviews this was mystery/suspense first, romance second. Which was very good to know. I wanted primarily a mystery/suspense and this delivered. It was very good.
The romance was also nice, and I would like to see these guys again :-)
The romance was also nice, and I would like to see these guys again :-)
February 24, 2016
Very well-written and suspenseful crime drama with bits of m/m romance thrown in. But it's rather skimpy in the romance department, so unless you're in the mood for more mystery than man love, you might be disappointed.
February 28, 2016
I read the synopsis and was hooked. FBI agent meets leather club owner in a sting operation.
April 25, 2018
A nail-biting read near the end and possible triggers of child-abuse and rape, but I couldn't put it down as the end drew closer.
Daniel is following a long family tradition of being in the FBI but when a bust goes wrong due to his mistake, that career is left on a cliff edge. He is given a chance of redemption by acting as bait for a suspected extortion ring. Unfortunately he falls for the main suspect and that cliff edge starts crumbling.
I enjoyed the story but couldn't understand why when Daniel was so worried about losing his job that he did all he could to make that a happening thing. But that aside I want to read more in the series and see how Alexi and Daniel make their relationship work.
4 stars
Daniel is following a long family tradition of being in the FBI but when a bust goes wrong due to his mistake, that career is left on a cliff edge. He is given a chance of redemption by acting as bait for a suspected extortion ring. Unfortunately he falls for the main suspect and that cliff edge starts crumbling.
I enjoyed the story but couldn't understand why when Daniel was so worried about losing his job that he did all he could to make that a happening thing. But that aside I want to read more in the series and see how Alexi and Daniel make their relationship work.
4 stars
June 9, 2017
3.5 stars
March 10, 2018
I enjoyed the Doubleback series so I thought I would enjoy this book.
The pairing is unbelievable and the mystery is nonexistent.
I rewrote the ending and sent Daniel to San Francisco. Alone.
February 14, 2016
I've been a fan of Lissa Ford for about a year now, ever since I started reading the Doubleback series (which is amazing btw). I was given an ARC by the author, in return for an honest review, so here it goes! If I had to describe this book in one word (thank god I don't!), that word would be 'captivating.' I put off so many responsibilities today because I just couldn't put this book down. At the end of every chapter, I kept saying 'just one more!' until I had finished the book. A great start to another wonderful series! I'm not sure if the next book will be about Casmir and Danny, or if it'll branch off into a story about side characters like many m/m series often do (I truly hope it'll be about Casmir and Danny however, I'm not ready to be done with them!) Other than that, my only wish for the next book is more, longer scenes of interaction between the two main characters!
February 14, 2016
I have really enjoyed reading Lissa Ford's books. I received this one as an advance copy to review and was not disappointed. I enjoyed this one as well as the other books.
That being said, there were just a few things I didn't care for. It seemed to me that there were a few occasions that she put in things that really didn't need to be there and were just filler. While they didn't take away from the story as a whole, I tended to shipped over then rather quickly. It was also a very intense book as far as action.
The hero of the book was well developed and his love interest was as well but I think there could have been more dialog between the two of them. I don't believe that there was enough interaction between them to try and build something.
Over all, I thought this was a good book and am liking forward to the next one.
That being said, there were just a few things I didn't care for. It seemed to me that there were a few occasions that she put in things that really didn't need to be there and were just filler. While they didn't take away from the story as a whole, I tended to shipped over then rather quickly. It was also a very intense book as far as action.
The hero of the book was well developed and his love interest was as well but I think there could have been more dialog between the two of them. I don't believe that there was enough interaction between them to try and build something.
Over all, I thought this was a good book and am liking forward to the next one.
May 8, 2016
So I probably should have read some reviews before starting this book. I would have known that this is a mystery/suspense book waaay more than a romance. I don't know that I'd call it a romance at all. It had some sexy scenes but they were all lust based. I didn't feel a really strong connection between the two MCs but I did enjoy the mystery part of the story. Reading about the boys involved in the trafficking ring was tough. It broke my heart and made me almost cry at one point. I would read more in this series if they were about the same couple and more focused on their romance. Otherwise, I'll probably pass.
March 29, 2016
This was a well written story filled with mystery and intrigue. It had the right amount of suspense and a few twist and turns. The author took us on a journey where FBI agent Daniel was trying to solve a sex trafficking and sex slave enterprise. He is forced to work with a couple unsavory characters and one he becomes "friends" with. The author did a great job of developing the main characters and each had a certain depth to them. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the upcoming ones!
February 24, 2016
2 men on opposite sides of the law? Ok, we may have seen that premise before but the plot itself is original and interesting, based as it is on a real life crime. This is a well executed mystery. Don't go in looking for hot romance, it's a bit light on that but this book doesn't need it. The plot is enough to keep you well entertained.
May 14, 2019
The plot of the book was entertaining and kept me engaged, however the romance was a dud. I would have been OK with this just being the start of a potential relationship - with more to come in future books. However, the author tacked on several boring chapters that read as if they actually had a relationship to save. The pair hooked up in a rushed manner, exactly two times. They had very little in the way of conversation during the book and exchanged only a handful of personal tidbits. The notion that they would be discussing commitment based upon absolutely nothing really confused me.
Also what was up with using "B-Boy" to mean "bar boy". That is simply not a thing. A "B-Boy (or Girl) is a break dancer. Look it up. Every time I read "B-Boy" I had this mental image of scantily clad guys doing weirdly sexual break dancing in front of paying customers.
I'm not sure I want to read anymore about this pair but I would give the author another try.
Also what was up with using "B-Boy" to mean "bar boy". That is simply not a thing. A "B-Boy (or Girl) is a break dancer. Look it up. Every time I read "B-Boy" I had this mental image of scantily clad guys doing weirdly sexual break dancing in front of paying customers.
I'm not sure I want to read anymore about this pair but I would give the author another try.
October 30, 2016
I read this while I had a free go with Kindle Unlimited.
I loved it so much that I bought it when I ended my free trial period.
Great characters, great storyline - It kept me guessing and I loved it!
Would really love to see another book with these characters...
I loved it so much that I bought it when I ended my free trial period.
Great characters, great storyline - It kept me guessing and I loved it!
Would really love to see another book with these characters...
July 18, 2018
It got better...
It took chapter 5 to catch my interest. After that, I enjoyed every bit of it. Only issue I had, there wasn't enough story. Some of it seemed liken it got cut off, and some just went on too much. That is why it's a four, not a five.
It took chapter 5 to catch my interest. After that, I enjoyed every bit of it. Only issue I had, there wasn't enough story. Some of it seemed liken it got cut off, and some just went on too much. That is why it's a four, not a five.
February 16, 2022
2.5 stars
August 24, 2023
So, so, so good. I’m absolutely gutted that the sequel was never brought to life.
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