What do you think?
Rate this book
Metahuman Files #1
In the Wreckage
A Marine with honor. After surviving a horrific chemical attack that turned him into a metahuman, Captain Jamie Callahan got a second lease on life. For three years he’s been working for the Metahuman Defense Force and leading Alpha Team—all against the wishes of his family. The job requires his full dedication, so it’s no surprise Jamie doesn’t have time for a relationship. An enticing one-night stand with a gorgeous stranger is all it takes to show Jamie exactly what he’s been missing. When a mission to take down a terrorist cell brings that same stranger back into his world, Jamie’s life gets complicated. A soldier with secrets. Staff Sergeant Kyle Brannigan was only looking to relieve some stress after a long mission. He didn’t know the hot guy he picked up at a bar was the leader of the MDF’s top field team. When Kyle and his partner get seconded to Alpha Team to help fight a terrorist threat, he has to balance his desire for Jamie against his duty to keep his secrets safe. That gets harder and harder to do amidst regulations both are tempted to break. Two men trying to survive. Giving into passion could cost both their careers. Abiding by the rules will only result in heartache. An attack on MDF headquarters brings with it a choice Jamie and Kyle can’t escape—duty, or love?
338 pages, Paperback
First published February 19, 2017
743 people are currently reading
3473 people want to read
About the author
Hailey Turner
49 books1,967 followersHailey Turner is a big city girl who likes to spoil her cats rotten. She writes science fiction and fantasy with lots of action, epic plots, and romantic relationships that satisfy the heart. Hailey lives in sunny California when she isn’t adding stamps to her passport.
To keep up-to-date with Hailey's future projects, join her mailing list, where you can download free Metahuman Files and Soulbound short stories: https://www.subscribepage.com/haileyt...
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/haile...
Facebook Author page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorHailey...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haileyturne...
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/haileyturne...
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/haile...
Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...
To keep up-to-date with Hailey's future projects, join her mailing list, where you can download free Metahuman Files and Soulbound short stories: https://www.subscribepage.com/haileyt...
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/haile...
Facebook Author page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorHailey...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haileyturne...
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/haileyturne...
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/haile...
Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 666 reviews
Read
March 8, 2017NO RATING,DNF @ 72%
I went into this one knowing it was futuristic.I'm ok with war/military,I enjoy some pnr,haven't really read sci fi but the combination of these element's had my head spinning.I've never had to concentrate so hard while reading a book.The plot wasn't engaging me and there are so many characters thrown at you.
It was kind of like,
Mission,
Sex,
Mission,
Sex,
Mission,
Sex............rinse and repeat.
The sex is very hot but I even started skimming those scenes.I didn't feel any connection between them out of the bedroom or the bathroom or up against the window....yes,it's dirty but there has to be more than hot sex to make a relationship believable.
It's got fantastic reviews,so I'm definitely in the minority.
I went into this one knowing it was futuristic.I'm ok with war/military,I enjoy some pnr,haven't really read sci fi but the combination of these element's had my head spinning.I've never had to concentrate so hard while reading a book.The plot wasn't engaging me and there are so many characters thrown at you.
It was kind of like,
Mission,
Sex,
Mission,
Sex,
Mission,
Sex............rinse and repeat.
The sex is very hot but I even started skimming those scenes.I didn't feel any connection between them out of the bedroom or the bathroom or up against the window....yes,it's dirty but there has to be more than hot sex to make a relationship believable.
It's got fantastic reviews,so I'm definitely in the minority.
March 13, 2020
Most of my friends love Hailey Turner, and I've been trying my best to get into her work. Trying, my friends...
In the Wreckage was... good, even if I had to start skimming the sex scenes eventually (Wha?? Yeah, I know.).
I really enjoy paranormal/urban fantasy romances, but I felt like the romance was buried under all of the sex and mission jargon. I really prefer a character-driven romance, and this was fully plot driven with lots of action and mayhem. I enjoyed the fast pace of the story but I wanted more time with these two men alone and less time with them almost dying or fighting villains.
Even the sex scenes felt repetitive at the end. I tend to like lots of slow burn, and this book couldn't be farther from slow burn. When the sex scenes come too fast and too often, I tend to check out a bit, as I did here.
All in all, a fun read, very heavy on the sex, but I don't think I'm going to be a Metahuman Superfan.
goodreads|instagram|twitter|blog
In the Wreckage was... good, even if I had to start skimming the sex scenes eventually (Wha?? Yeah, I know.).
I really enjoy paranormal/urban fantasy romances, but I felt like the romance was buried under all of the sex and mission jargon. I really prefer a character-driven romance, and this was fully plot driven with lots of action and mayhem. I enjoyed the fast pace of the story but I wanted more time with these two men alone and less time with them almost dying or fighting villains.
Even the sex scenes felt repetitive at the end. I tend to like lots of slow burn, and this book couldn't be farther from slow burn. When the sex scenes come too fast and too often, I tend to check out a bit, as I did here.
All in all, a fun read, very heavy on the sex, but I don't think I'm going to be a Metahuman Superfan.
goodreads|instagram|twitter|blog
October 13, 2021
Re-Read 10/13/2021
I never finished this series and remembered really liking the books I did read. With not much else new out right now decided to go back and start this series over to catch the books I didn't read.
Enjoyed this one just as much the 2nd time.
------------------------------------------------
I was a little hesitant to read this one at first, new authors can be scary. But the more I saw it on my feed and the more reviews I saw, it really had me curious.
And it seriously did not disappoint at all. I don't read a lot of paranormal, much less sci-fi but this was very subdued in those regards.
The suspense and plot had me intrigued the whole book. It was the perfect mix of suspense and romance. And the sex. People, the sex. It was some of, if not the hottest I've ever read. Period.
This was a great start to the series. HFN ending and I am assuming the next book is about the same main characters, but I could be wrong.
Comparable to the THIRDS series, but dare I say better???
I never finished this series and remembered really liking the books I did read. With not much else new out right now decided to go back and start this series over to catch the books I didn't read.
Enjoyed this one just as much the 2nd time.
------------------------------------------------
I was a little hesitant to read this one at first, new authors can be scary. But the more I saw it on my feed and the more reviews I saw, it really had me curious.
And it seriously did not disappoint at all. I don't read a lot of paranormal, much less sci-fi but this was very subdued in those regards.
The suspense and plot had me intrigued the whole book. It was the perfect mix of suspense and romance. And the sex. People, the sex. It was some of, if not the hottest I've ever read. Period.
This was a great start to the series. HFN ending and I am assuming the next book is about the same main characters, but I could be wrong.
Comparable to the THIRDS series, but dare I say better???
April 23, 2018
5+++++++ for the Audio book
The narration was P.E.R.F.E.C.T.
That was some 10 hrs of eargasm. Greg's voice was meant to narrate the shit out of every book. He had different voices for all the many different characters. The experience was like watching a movie on DVD then watching the same on IMAX, 10x better.
I enjoyed the story even more the second time.
The sex scenes were hotter on audio thanks to Greg's sexy voice.
My beautiful People, if you haven't read this book, Get the Audio-book NOW!
And he had the best accent for the love of my life Alexei.
**********************************************
Loved it, Loved it.
This is basically X-men meets fantastic 4 meets that hot, hot porn…
This is a SCI-FI book about Metahumans. Metahumans are humans who were affected by a chemical called splice that altered their DNA and gave them super powers.
I found our Mc’s very likable we have, Jaimie a former marine and now head the MDF Alpha team, I loved him he was easygoing, loyal and very bossy in bed. Oh and I mean bossy. Kyle the soldier, a sniper and submissive in bed who likes it hard. I adored him. Match made in heaven bedroom
I Loved:
- The world building, I felt like I was watching a movie.
- I loved the whole team, I felt their connection.
- The action was engaging and fast paced. Interesting to read.
-The SEX was scorching Hot. I mean Long descriptive and down dirty and I loved every f*****g second of it. Jamie and Kyle got sexual chemistry and when these two got together it was explosive.
I am talking Dildos, Butt plugs, Creampie, bath tub sex, Rough sex.
And the award for the best supporting character goes to my one and only Alexei. I loved this guy so much maybe it’s the grumpy Russian persona.
It was love at first word.
“Have a good time?” Staff Sergeant Alexei Dvorkin asked in Russian, his grey eyes full of concern rather than judgment.
“Is cat out of box,” Alexei told him as he burned the lock off Trevor’s cell door first.
“Think you mean out of the bag.”
“Is what I say!”
“Doors, Inferno. Doors!”
The narration was P.E.R.F.E.C.T.
That was some 10 hrs of eargasm. Greg's voice was meant to narrate the shit out of every book. He had different voices for all the many different characters. The experience was like watching a movie on DVD then watching the same on IMAX, 10x better.
I enjoyed the story even more the second time.
The sex scenes were hotter on audio thanks to Greg's sexy voice.
My beautiful People, if you haven't read this book, Get the Audio-book NOW!
And he had the best accent for the love of my life Alexei.
**********************************************
Loved it, Loved it.
This is basically X-men meets fantastic 4 meets that hot, hot porn…
This is a SCI-FI book about Metahumans. Metahumans are humans who were affected by a chemical called splice that altered their DNA and gave them super powers.
I found our Mc’s very likable we have, Jaimie a former marine and now head the MDF Alpha team, I loved him he was easygoing, loyal and very bossy in bed. Oh and I mean bossy. Kyle the soldier, a sniper and submissive in bed who likes it hard. I adored him. Match made in heaven bedroom
I Loved:
- The world building, I felt like I was watching a movie.
- I loved the whole team, I felt their connection.
- The action was engaging and fast paced. Interesting to read.
-The SEX was scorching Hot. I mean Long descriptive and down dirty and I loved every f*****g second of it. Jamie and Kyle got sexual chemistry and when these two got together it was explosive.
I am talking Dildos, Butt plugs, Creampie, bath tub sex, Rough sex.
And the award for the best supporting character goes to my one and only Alexei. I loved this guy so much maybe it’s the grumpy Russian persona.
It was love at first word.
“Have a good time?” Staff Sergeant Alexei Dvorkin asked in Russian, his grey eyes full of concern rather than judgment.
“Is cat out of box,” Alexei told him as he burned the lock off Trevor’s cell door first.
“Think you mean out of the bag.”
“Is what I say!”
“Doors, Inferno. Doors!”
January 10, 2018
4 Stars
Re-Read January 2018
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3 Stars
I was automatically intrigued by the blurb. Then came all the high ratings. So I thought I was for sure going to enjoy a 5* or at least a high 4* book. I still felt that way about half way through. Then it just started losing its steam and I started drifting while reading. The world building was interesting and so was most of the characters. It wasn't hard to follow the story and I really was invested in it. But soon enough the sex scenes started dragging out so long. I mean they were some sexy times, but I don't need it dragged out in that many pages. I can't believe I'm complaining about the sex, but there it is. I felt the chemistry between Jamie and Kyle when they were getting their freak on, but outside of the bedroom it was hard to believe they were in a relationship considering there wasn't much of one. It was basically sex when they weren't busy fighting the bad guys.
The action in this book was some definite page turners. I liked reading how the team interacted with each other and learning each of the characters power's and how they contributed their power to the team.
I would definitely read the next book. I just hope there is more of a relationship in the next one and the sex scenes get edited down a bit.
Happy reading, dolls! xx
Re-Read January 2018
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3 Stars
I was automatically intrigued by the blurb. Then came all the high ratings. So I thought I was for sure going to enjoy a 5* or at least a high 4* book. I still felt that way about half way through. Then it just started losing its steam and I started drifting while reading. The world building was interesting and so was most of the characters. It wasn't hard to follow the story and I really was invested in it. But soon enough the sex scenes started dragging out so long. I mean they were some sexy times, but I don't need it dragged out in that many pages. I can't believe I'm complaining about the sex, but there it is. I felt the chemistry between Jamie and Kyle when they were getting their freak on, but outside of the bedroom it was hard to believe they were in a relationship considering there wasn't much of one. It was basically sex when they weren't busy fighting the bad guys.
The action in this book was some definite page turners. I liked reading how the team interacted with each other and learning each of the characters power's and how they contributed their power to the team.
I would definitely read the next book. I just hope there is more of a relationship in the next one and the sex scenes get edited down a bit.
Happy reading, dolls! xx
May 18, 2017
I never thought the day would come, that I would willingly read a Sci-Fi book. I did though and you know what...I freaking loved it. Hell must have really fozen over.
Now don't get me wrong. I watch the occasional Sci-Fi on tv. X-men being one of my favorits, which is exactly what this book reminds me of. A delicous MM book, filled with strong X-men...yummy :)
This book takes place in the year 2284, when humans and Metahumes roam the earth (and beyond). Metahumans are humans, that have been exposed to Splice, a certain chemical that is supposed to kill everyone who comes in contact with it. Somehow, certain people are able to survive this chemical, instead of getting killed, they turn into a some sort of super human with super powers. Think super strenght, telepathy, telekinesis, pyrokinesis, super vision, shapeshifting..etc. Like I said...I felt this book is a sort of cross between "Thirds" and X-men.
Jamie Callahan is teamcaptain of the Alpha team of the Metahuman Defense Force. He has been exposed to Splice 3 years ago and he has been Metahuman since. Him and his team work for the goverment, going on missions and fighting wars. They are very close.
One night after a mission and a fucked up lunch with his father, Jamie meets a stranger in a bar and thinks, maybe fucking his frustrations away might not be such a bad idea. Said stanger totally agrees and these two set the bed on fire !!!
After a night of hardcore sex...they say goodbye in the morning, expecting not to cross paths again...however sad this makes them.
So, imagine Jamie's surprise, when he is introduced to Kyle, the sniper that is about to join his team and the man he so thoroughly fucked.
Kyle is surpised to see Jamie again, but also happy. Now if he can only convince the man, that they should continue what they started, even though Jamie is his CO.
I'm not going into the plot more than this, just prepare for tons of action, friendship, secrets and lot's of dirty dirty sex !!
I really liked this one. The world building was amazingly done and I really enjoyed this authors writingstyle. The side-characters were awesome and I found out I have a little weak spot for Alexei ;) I can't wait to see what's gonna happen next.
Thank you Ralu and Denise for this amazing rec !!!
This review has been posted on Dirty Books Obsession
Now don't get me wrong. I watch the occasional Sci-Fi on tv. X-men being one of my favorits, which is exactly what this book reminds me of. A delicous MM book, filled with strong X-men...yummy :)
This book takes place in the year 2284, when humans and Metahumes roam the earth (and beyond). Metahumans are humans, that have been exposed to Splice, a certain chemical that is supposed to kill everyone who comes in contact with it. Somehow, certain people are able to survive this chemical, instead of getting killed, they turn into a some sort of super human with super powers. Think super strenght, telepathy, telekinesis, pyrokinesis, super vision, shapeshifting..etc. Like I said...I felt this book is a sort of cross between "Thirds" and X-men.
Jamie Callahan is teamcaptain of the Alpha team of the Metahuman Defense Force. He has been exposed to Splice 3 years ago and he has been Metahuman since. Him and his team work for the goverment, going on missions and fighting wars. They are very close.
One night after a mission and a fucked up lunch with his father, Jamie meets a stranger in a bar and thinks, maybe fucking his frustrations away might not be such a bad idea. Said stanger totally agrees and these two set the bed on fire !!!
After a night of hardcore sex...they say goodbye in the morning, expecting not to cross paths again...however sad this makes them.
So, imagine Jamie's surprise, when he is introduced to Kyle, the sniper that is about to join his team and the man he so thoroughly fucked.
Kyle is surpised to see Jamie again, but also happy. Now if he can only convince the man, that they should continue what they started, even though Jamie is his CO.
I'm not going into the plot more than this, just prepare for tons of action, friendship, secrets and lot's of dirty dirty sex !!
I really liked this one. The world building was amazingly done and I really enjoyed this authors writingstyle. The side-characters were awesome and I found out I have a little weak spot for Alexei ;) I can't wait to see what's gonna happen next.
Thank you Ralu and Denise for this amazing rec !!!
This review has been posted on Dirty Books Obsession
February 27, 2017
Well shit. I think I'm pretty much fucked out. This might've been the hottest thing I have ever read and in case you haven't noticed Smut is my main cuppa. Fo hizzle, my nizzles. Porn WITH plot, people. Read this shit. I need a cigarette. One warning....read in private *wink*
RTC.
RTC.
August 28, 2018
***4.5 Stars for an amazing debut novel***
This book pushed all my buttons!!!
The blurb is conclusive enough, so I won't go into further detail. You will get the idea what is going on when you read it.
I will just say something about the great job the author did with this book:
As for the worldbuilding... One word: excellent! Everything is described with a passion for detail and you just feel the excitement and the dedication of the author to introduce us to the world she created. So, if you are looking for a fantastic, action-packed sci-fi story with lots of emphasis on paranormal elements, burning-the-sheets hot sex and great characters, don't look any further. You will get it all in this book.
From the very beginning, you will be thrown right into action and it felt like being part of the team. Admittedly, I had to write down the names, functions, special abilities and code names of the team members, because they were introduced in quick succession and my old brain could not memorize them, not for the life of me. A few glances at my notepad helped, though and after a short while I had a feeling I would know each member for ages. The story is a well-made combination of thrilling, hot and personal moments and I think it is safe to say that this book will satisfy the needs of everyone.
What was just meant to be a random hook-up for Jamie Callahan
and Kyle Brannigan
in search of some stress-relief on both sides, turns into something both men feel instantly, but are intent on not pursuing any further. Don't get me wrong, I am not talking about insta-love here (and believe me, I was thanking all my lucky stars for that!), but a connection Jamie and Kyle cannot deny for long when they - albeit involuntarily - meet again as part of the same team. Despite their own principles and the non-fraternization policy of their employer, both men cannot take their hands of each other and what follows is some hot sex and a slow but steady development of deeper feelings.
Jamie has a very complex personality. I loved his caring-at-the-job, but bossy-in-bed attitude. Kyle found in him the Alpha to his Omega, so to speak, with him being more on the submissive side in bed, but a bad-ass in his job, nonetheless.
Speaking of bed... Boy, can this author write sex scenes!!! Long, kinky and hot as hell. Did I mention they were long? As in thirty pages long? Yes, umm, I counted the pages. And that was just the first one. Thirty pages of hot and kinky sex... I was in book heaven! I said to a friend that this was one of the hottest sex scenes I have ever read and I stick by my word. And that was just one of them...
The story itself was exceptionally well written, but the editing could have been a tad better. Umm, I am really not an expert in regards to English grammar and everyone who reads my reviews probably recognizes that in an instant, but I had to read some sentences twice because they just seemed to be strung together without the use of any commas, so it was hard for me to understand them immediately. Some words were missing too, but overall, that did not keep me from enjoying this book immensely and I cannot wait to get my hands on the sequel! Highly recommended!
This review has been posted on Dirty Books Obsession
This book pushed all my buttons!!!
The blurb is conclusive enough, so I won't go into further detail. You will get the idea what is going on when you read it.
I will just say something about the great job the author did with this book:
As for the worldbuilding... One word: excellent! Everything is described with a passion for detail and you just feel the excitement and the dedication of the author to introduce us to the world she created. So, if you are looking for a fantastic, action-packed sci-fi story with lots of emphasis on paranormal elements, burning-the-sheets hot sex and great characters, don't look any further. You will get it all in this book.
From the very beginning, you will be thrown right into action and it felt like being part of the team. Admittedly, I had to write down the names, functions, special abilities and code names of the team members, because they were introduced in quick succession and my old brain could not memorize them, not for the life of me. A few glances at my notepad helped, though and after a short while I had a feeling I would know each member for ages. The story is a well-made combination of thrilling, hot and personal moments and I think it is safe to say that this book will satisfy the needs of everyone.
What was just meant to be a random hook-up for Jamie Callahan
and Kyle Brannigan
in search of some stress-relief on both sides, turns into something both men feel instantly, but are intent on not pursuing any further. Don't get me wrong, I am not talking about insta-love here (and believe me, I was thanking all my lucky stars for that!), but a connection Jamie and Kyle cannot deny for long when they - albeit involuntarily - meet again as part of the same team. Despite their own principles and the non-fraternization policy of their employer, both men cannot take their hands of each other and what follows is some hot sex and a slow but steady development of deeper feelings.
Jamie has a very complex personality. I loved his caring-at-the-job, but bossy-in-bed attitude. Kyle found in him the Alpha to his Omega, so to speak, with him being more on the submissive side in bed, but a bad-ass in his job, nonetheless.
Speaking of bed... Boy, can this author write sex scenes!!! Long, kinky and hot as hell. Did I mention they were long? As in thirty pages long? Yes, umm, I counted the pages. And that was just the first one. Thirty pages of hot and kinky sex... I was in book heaven! I said to a friend that this was one of the hottest sex scenes I have ever read and I stick by my word. And that was just one of them...
The story itself was exceptionally well written, but the editing could have been a tad better. Umm, I am really not an expert in regards to English grammar and everyone who reads my reviews probably recognizes that in an instant, but I had to read some sentences twice because they just seemed to be strung together without the use of any commas, so it was hard for me to understand them immediately. Some words were missing too, but overall, that did not keep me from enjoying this book immensely and I cannot wait to get my hands on the sequel! Highly recommended!
This review has been posted on Dirty Books Obsession
November 17, 2017
Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-Magic Peen & The Jets!
Kidding.
Sort of.
The sex is undeniably hot. Kinky, cock choking, dirty talk, begging, wrecked out bottom, prostate orgasm, orgasm denial; Turner came to play!
Jaime and Kyle are both military which is something else I like. There is a bit of a size difference between them, so another box ticked there.
But here's the deal, there's someone else that I like a whole lot who does all this stuff and does it better, IMO. She also builds a relationship while building intrigue, suspense, what have you. Cordelia Kingsbridge
I couldn't help but compare and actually a lot of it I feel like I've read before. NOT that I'm accusing anyone of plagiarism. I am just saying. Hella similar.
As hot as they are, I don't have a connection with them. Things started off well enough with them being hot for each other and having a one night stand. Both purport not to be interested in anything serious and don't exchange numbers. The next thing I knew Jaime's alphaing out on Kyle while he's trying to hook up after Jaime put the kibosh on any continued shenanigans. Because fraternization rules and Jaime being his CO. Ok. I figured they'd find a way to sneak in some hibbity gibbity anyways because blurb. But then they're basically living together after, like, 2 trips to Pound Town?!?!?
They undoubtedly have sexual chemistry but there's zippity do dah in the way of relationship development. If Jaime's magic peen goes on the fritz I give these two zero chance of going the distance.
Aside from their relaysh, the missions were pretty fun. Shit gets blown up. People get kilt. TENSIONS WERE HIGH! These metahumans have some cool tricks up their sleeves and their unit is definitely close knit.
The worldbuilding is sort of patchy? The metahumans seem to be carrying the lion's share of the worldbuilding because aside from putting the prefix "mega" in front of city names I didn't really notice a difference. They even still drive regular cars. Not even flying cars. #sad
Lastly, this thing are loooooooooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnggggggggggggg. Do not believe that page count on GR. WEB OF LIES!
I liked it well enough to continue on to the next one. Not right away, mind you, but at some point. If for no other reason that to try to figure out why some people are immune to the Splice virus while others die from exposure.
Recommend to people who enjoy porn with very leeetle, like a smidge, of plot. Plot-liters, if you will.
Kidding.
Sort of.
The sex is undeniably hot. Kinky, cock choking, dirty talk, begging, wrecked out bottom, prostate orgasm, orgasm denial; Turner came to play!
Jaime and Kyle are both military which is something else I like. There is a bit of a size difference between them, so another box ticked there.
But here's the deal, there's someone else that I like a whole lot who does all this stuff and does it better, IMO. She also builds a relationship while building intrigue, suspense, what have you. Cordelia Kingsbridge
I couldn't help but compare and actually a lot of it I feel like I've read before. NOT that I'm accusing anyone of plagiarism. I am just saying. Hella similar.
As hot as they are, I don't have a connection with them. Things started off well enough with them being hot for each other and having a one night stand. Both purport not to be interested in anything serious and don't exchange numbers. The next thing I knew Jaime's alphaing out on Kyle while he's trying to hook up after Jaime put the kibosh on any continued shenanigans. Because fraternization rules and Jaime being his CO. Ok. I figured they'd find a way to sneak in some hibbity gibbity anyways because blurb. But then they're basically living together after, like, 2 trips to Pound Town?!?!?
They undoubtedly have sexual chemistry but there's zippity do dah in the way of relationship development. If Jaime's magic peen goes on the fritz I give these two zero chance of going the distance.
Aside from their relaysh, the missions were pretty fun. Shit gets blown up. People get kilt. TENSIONS WERE HIGH! These metahumans have some cool tricks up their sleeves and their unit is definitely close knit.
The worldbuilding is sort of patchy? The metahumans seem to be carrying the lion's share of the worldbuilding because aside from putting the prefix "mega" in front of city names I didn't really notice a difference. They even still drive regular cars. Not even flying cars. #sad
Lastly, this thing are loooooooooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnggggggggggggg. Do not believe that page count on GR. WEB OF LIES!
I liked it well enough to continue on to the next one. Not right away, mind you, but at some point. If for no other reason that to try to figure out why some people are immune to the Splice virus while others die from exposure.
Recommend to people who enjoy porn with very leeetle, like a smidge, of plot. Plot-liters, if you will.
May 14, 2018
5 stars for the audio
3 stars for the book (that’s because of me NOT the book)
I don’t know how many times I have tried to read this book, and gave up. The book is incredibly well written, but dang, chapter 1 starts off with an action packed scene and “several” characters that are all essential to the story. I guess I could have just pushed through and hoped that I remembered who was who and who could do what, but it was just too much, too soon for my scattered-brained-self.
The only way I was able to follow and enjoy this story was by reading AND listening at the same time. So, thank you, Dearest Shile, for putting the audio in my radar. I would have missed out on a really great story and, of course, the “eargasm”..LOL.
The action scenes were totally engrossing. I was wishing for a big screen. I would have loved to watch them all play out.
The MCs, Jaime and Kyle were HAWT. I’m talking…top quality porn. I’m not going to lie, as great as the sex scenes were, they were too long and a bit mind numbing at times. Sex aside, I loved mostly how affection they were with one another.
The only thing that had me cringing in the story was the thought of “synthcafe”. OMG! The horror!!!
I really want to continue this series, but for that to happen, I would need the accompanying audio.
3 stars for the book (that’s because of me NOT the book)
I don’t know how many times I have tried to read this book, and gave up. The book is incredibly well written, but dang, chapter 1 starts off with an action packed scene and “several” characters that are all essential to the story. I guess I could have just pushed through and hoped that I remembered who was who and who could do what, but it was just too much, too soon for my scattered-brained-self.
The only way I was able to follow and enjoy this story was by reading AND listening at the same time. So, thank you, Dearest Shile, for putting the audio in my radar. I would have missed out on a really great story and, of course, the “eargasm”..LOL.
The action scenes were totally engrossing. I was wishing for a big screen. I would have loved to watch them all play out.
The MCs, Jaime and Kyle were HAWT. I’m talking…top quality porn. I’m not going to lie, as great as the sex scenes were, they were too long and a bit mind numbing at times. Sex aside, I loved mostly how affection they were with one another.
The only thing that had me cringing in the story was the thought of “synthcafe”. OMG! The horror!!!
I really want to continue this series, but for that to happen, I would need the accompanying audio.
November 29, 2020
4 Off to a Good Start Stars!
Here’s my 2 cents.
This was a win because of the following
-military badasses with the potential for great team dynamics and where half the members are equally kickass women
-exciting missions and plenty of action that kept me at the edge of my seat
-engaging setup regarding terrorists and the discovery of their diabolical plan that remains to be fully realized
-very explicit smexy smex that has a touch of pain kink and D/s overtones that was hot and varied
-little relationship woes as once the MC’s decide they’re in, they’re all in
Spot on with everything I could want in a military romantic suspense. The fact that this is also a sci-fi dystopia with a touch of Xmen to it and it was all I could ask for and more! I can’t wait to see what else is in store for this special team whose members have some pretty impressive powers that only aid them doing the tough jobs that regular humans can’t!
Simply put, I quite enjoyed this and really, have no complaints!
Here’s my 2 cents.
This was a win because of the following
-military badasses with the potential for great team dynamics and where half the members are equally kickass women
-exciting missions and plenty of action that kept me at the edge of my seat
-engaging setup regarding terrorists and the discovery of their diabolical plan that remains to be fully realized
-very explicit smexy smex that has a touch of pain kink and D/s overtones that was hot and varied
-little relationship woes as once the MC’s decide they’re in, they’re all in
Spot on with everything I could want in a military romantic suspense. The fact that this is also a sci-fi dystopia with a touch of Xmen to it and it was all I could ask for and more! I can’t wait to see what else is in store for this special team whose members have some pretty impressive powers that only aid them doing the tough jobs that regular humans can’t!
Simply put, I quite enjoyed this and really, have no complaints!
Read
March 7, 2017
@51%
Sorry, friends :(
This is not for me.
From the beginning it failed miserably to pick up my interest and there is nothing that makes me want to keep going.
Be aware that I am in the minority, clearly.
The reviews are awesome!
So, kindly ignore me.
July 24, 2020
4 Stars
This one has some fabulously enticing reviews out there already so I won’t waste my time going into too many details. Just know I had a lot of fun reading/listening to this one.
What it had working for it:
• An entertaining and original sci-fi premise
• Great futuristic world-building
• An M/M couple with off-the-charts chemistry
• HOT sex
• A wonderful full cast of characters
• Characters with cool enhanced abilities and even cooler code names
• Men in uniform
• Plenty of (military-type) action and suspense
• KINKY sex
• Female secondary characters who were intelligent and utterly badass
• A brilliant audio narration by the incomparable Greg Boudreaux
• And did I mention the PANTY MELTING sex?
That all sounds pretty great, right!? It was. So why did I give it four stars and not the full 5? Well, because, IMHO, although the stellar sex scenes were one of the stories biggest strengths, I felt, perhaps contradictorily, that the sex scenes were also the books biggest weakness. Regardless of the fact these many scenes made me sizzle and squirm right along with Jamie and Kyle, I felt they went on for too long and occurred too often. Had these scenes been shorter in length and fewer in number, across the story, the entire thing would have had a greater impact. Just my opinion.
However, if too long and too detailed sex scenes are my biggest complaint in my reading, then I’m doing juuuust fine.
Highly recommended to all fans of Charlie Cochet’s THIRDS series and Victoria Sue’s Enhanced series.
This one has some fabulously enticing reviews out there already so I won’t waste my time going into too many details. Just know I had a lot of fun reading/listening to this one.
What it had working for it:
• An entertaining and original sci-fi premise
• Great futuristic world-building
• An M/M couple with off-the-charts chemistry
• HOT sex
• A wonderful full cast of characters
• Characters with cool enhanced abilities and even cooler code names
• Men in uniform
• Plenty of (military-type) action and suspense
• KINKY sex
• Female secondary characters who were intelligent and utterly badass
• A brilliant audio narration by the incomparable Greg Boudreaux
• And did I mention the PANTY MELTING sex?
That all sounds pretty great, right!? It was. So why did I give it four stars and not the full 5? Well, because, IMHO, although the stellar sex scenes were one of the stories biggest strengths, I felt, perhaps contradictorily, that the sex scenes were also the books biggest weakness. Regardless of the fact these many scenes made me sizzle and squirm right along with Jamie and Kyle, I felt they went on for too long and occurred too often. Had these scenes been shorter in length and fewer in number, across the story, the entire thing would have had a greater impact. Just my opinion.
However, if too long and too detailed sex scenes are my biggest complaint in my reading, then I’m doing juuuust fine.
Highly recommended to all fans of Charlie Cochet’s THIRDS series and Victoria Sue’s Enhanced series.
Read
June 10, 2020What an awesome read! What a great recommendation! How can a book be so entertaining, suspenseful and dirty at the same time? This is a good one. Believe me. It has everything you want in a Science Fiction book, with the add of some of the dirtiest sex scenes I've ever read. Yes. Everything.
This is a perfectly written MM Romance. A Sci-Fi novel that takes place on an alternative and very fascinating year 2284.
The world building is fantastic but I don't want to reveal too much, just that something happened that turned some humans in metahumans with different powers: telepathy, telekinesis, shape shifting, ultra strength...
Science fiction fans (myself included) are used to ordinary men becoming superheroes because of radioactive accidents, chemical, or nuclear physics related. We have read about that kind of DNA alteration, wherever it comes, but here the explanation is brilliantly exposed. It's very, very interesting and perfectly settled and, I insist, the world building is extremely well done and appealing.
Apollo, Icarus, Bones, Reaper, Inferno... Are some of their code names. Are they cool, or what? These guys rocks!
I'm not an action girl. Ironically, action bored me to dead if it lacks of another necessary things (necessary to me, I mean, there is nothing wrong in action itself). But the way these guys work together is hot and entertaining as hell. I enjoyed it so much I can't put it in words.
About our hot and incredible great MCs. Well, I don't want spoilers here, leaving you this pleasure for your reading. I just want to say these two are scorching hot together (HOT with capital letters). But they are also a great couple outside the bedroom. They talk and they are funny.
"Fight or fuck," Kyle gasped out, eyes closed, sweaty hair sticking to his flushed face. "See. Told you that you could do both at the same time"
Jaime Callahan is a loyal ex-marine, and a honorable and incredibly hot alpha male. In fact, he is in charge of the the Metahuman Alpha Team. It couldn't be other way. He knows what he wants, he is caring and super dirty (sexually speaking)
"He never thought he´d find someone he was willing to risk his career for until Kyle come along. A single night of passion was enough to make Jaime be selfish and reckless and damn the consequences"
And about Kyle? Kyle Brannigan is the shit too! Well, there's no need of spoilers here either, so I just gonna say he is incredible, he faced his shitty early years becoming a great and loyal guy. He is hot, he likes it hard (oh yeah!), he is strong and also pursues what he wants. He is the perfect match for our Jaime.
"Wonderful, Kyle thought tiredly. Guess I get to cross of buried alive on my Situations I have Been In And Wished I Wasn´t list. Sadly, it was a long list"
Writing a book is a very difficult thing (and a very terrifying process, as well). Writing a good book? A tremendous and enviable accomplishment. But writing a great sci-fi book? To me, it's something so superb and so unlikely that I don't have words (again) to describe the gratifying sensation it made me feel.
I have a kind of Sci-Fi radar (it works with fantasy too) that let me know if the book is being good enough to me, and it involves two things:
First: when I'm not reading the book I spend much time day-dreaming about it. Time I should spend doing other things, of course, but a girl has her priorities ;-)
Second: When a team fight starts and I feel the same level of hotness I usually feel with the sex scenes... And in this book, when someone is using pyrotechnic power, another guy is building a protector shield with his mind, while another is joking about something... Oh yeah, I was totally feeling it!
Well I can't talk here about the same level of hotness because the sex scenes in this book...they are something else. But I must say (and probably is the only "but" I have for the book) that sometimes that scenes were a little too long.
I'm gonna start book two, as soon as I get some sleep. Priorities or not, I still have necessities... I'm not a metahuman, after all.
August 20, 2022
I can't help myself, I have to give this book 5 stars. I just enjoyed it that much!
The scorching hot, many pages long sex scenes sure are one of the main reasons for my rating - seriously, this author can write sex and she pushed all my buttons: edging (T&D), dildos, butt plugs, rough and dirty ~fans herself~ Do I have to say more? My GR friend Heather the Queen of (Smut)Books described it as "porn WITH plot" and I agree :)
So there is a story, too, and a pretty good one! We are talking X-Men in a sci-fi setting. Though sci-fi isn't my favorite subgenre, this book just worked for me. IMO the sci-fi element and world-building weren't the main focus. It's detailed but not overwhelmingly so. There's also action and blood and gore but again, it isn't overdone. And of course there's a romance, albeit a tentative one. This part could have been explored more. There's a connection between the MCs that goes beyond their sexual chemistry but you have to look for it. Deeper emotions are only hinted at BUT I was prepared for this because the blurb states a HFN ending.
There were some minor editing issues. I had to read some sentences twice to make sense of them. English isn't my native tongue so I don't know how much a native speaker will be bothered by them. For me, it didn't matter much and it definitely didn't lessen my enjoyment.
I'm waiting (im)patiently for the next book in this series!!
The scorching hot, many pages long sex scenes sure are one of the main reasons for my rating - seriously, this author can write sex and she pushed all my buttons: edging (T&D), dildos, butt plugs, rough and dirty ~fans herself~ Do I have to say more? My GR friend Heather the Queen of (Smut)Books described it as "porn WITH plot" and I agree :)
So there is a story, too, and a pretty good one! We are talking X-Men in a sci-fi setting. Though sci-fi isn't my favorite subgenre, this book just worked for me. IMO the sci-fi element and world-building weren't the main focus. It's detailed but not overwhelmingly so. There's also action and blood and gore but again, it isn't overdone. And of course there's a romance, albeit a tentative one. This part could have been explored more. There's a connection between the MCs that goes beyond their sexual chemistry but you have to look for it. Deeper emotions are only hinted at BUT I was prepared for this because the blurb states a HFN ending.
There were some minor editing issues. I had to read some sentences twice to make sense of them. English isn't my native tongue so I don't know how much a native speaker will be bothered by them. For me, it didn't matter much and it definitely didn't lessen my enjoyment.
I'm waiting (im)patiently for the next book in this series!!
June 4, 2021
Story-
✮5 Stars✮
💗
AudioBook Narration- ✮5 Stars✮ 💗
*****
Re-read
Love it...again! 💛💚💙💜💖
And now...📖 in to the next book!!! 😍
*****
The book is soo good, I want more! :D
AudioBook Narration- ✮5 Stars✮ 💗
*****
Re-read
Love it...again! 💛💚💙💜💖
And now...📖 in to the next book!!! 😍
*****
The book is soo good, I want more! :D
February 22, 2017
*** Year - 2284. Place - Earth. ***
That is when and where this AMAZING new series begins ! We are introduced to the Metahumans. People, men and women, who have had their lives altered, and now possess unusual powers, like anti-gravity, pyrotechnics, super strength, telekinesis, and more. They are trained to control these powers and many are using them in the military positions. Raised in a privileged family, wealthy, 6'2", Marine Commander Jaime Callahan
is in the MDF, Metahuman Defense Force, and his family disapproves. Looking for a hook-up, Jaime meets Kyle. Their one night stand was off the charts hot as hell, sinfully raw and powerful. Too bad his career doesn't fit with relationships, because he'd like more of hard core Kyle.
Kyle, 28, lean and wiry with green eyes, fit superbly with big muscled Jaime. As lovers, they were wildly perfect.
Kyle is a sniper,
and with his brother, Alexei, are in Special Forces, and have been assigned to an MDF team under the bad ass Commander Callahan (Jaime). :)
This futuristic tale is well done. Interesting descriptions are vivid and enlightening. We are never lost as we follow along on this journey and action packed battles. There's terrific plot flow and marvelous characters, who delight us and keep us excited.
There is a mission of mystery, where humans are being trafficked and disappear.
* We are along for the mission with the special powers being used and the fascinating encounters along the way. This is wonderful, strong, violent, military tale of strategy and intelligence. It's fun with the nicknames and abundant action sequences, plus an index at the end to show us the acronyms and code meanings.
The sexy times with Jaime and Kyle are spectacular,
with sinful pleasures, dirty desires and needs, deep passion, dildos and plugs....! Yikes !
We want these hard core, rough men to succeed in and out of bed.
Through the battles and beyond, we discover Kyle and Alexei's secret, and after their mission and resulting rescue, the men get more time together.
This is a fabulous start to a series, but could stand alone.
It's rough and tumble, sexy and sweet.
I highly recommend this tale. ENJOY !
==============================
Thank you sweet Parvathy for the rec !
===============================
That is when and where this AMAZING new series begins ! We are introduced to the Metahumans. People, men and women, who have had their lives altered, and now possess unusual powers, like anti-gravity, pyrotechnics, super strength, telekinesis, and more. They are trained to control these powers and many are using them in the military positions. Raised in a privileged family, wealthy, 6'2", Marine Commander Jaime Callahan
is in the MDF, Metahuman Defense Force, and his family disapproves. Looking for a hook-up, Jaime meets Kyle. Their one night stand was off the charts hot as hell, sinfully raw and powerful. Too bad his career doesn't fit with relationships, because he'd like more of hard core Kyle.
Kyle, 28, lean and wiry with green eyes, fit superbly with big muscled Jaime. As lovers, they were wildly perfect.
Kyle is a sniper,
and with his brother, Alexei, are in Special Forces, and have been assigned to an MDF team under the bad ass Commander Callahan (Jaime). :)
This futuristic tale is well done. Interesting descriptions are vivid and enlightening. We are never lost as we follow along on this journey and action packed battles. There's terrific plot flow and marvelous characters, who delight us and keep us excited.
There is a mission of mystery, where humans are being trafficked and disappear.
* We are along for the mission with the special powers being used and the fascinating encounters along the way. This is wonderful, strong, violent, military tale of strategy and intelligence. It's fun with the nicknames and abundant action sequences, plus an index at the end to show us the acronyms and code meanings.
The sexy times with Jaime and Kyle are spectacular,
with sinful pleasures, dirty desires and needs, deep passion, dildos and plugs....! Yikes !
We want these hard core, rough men to succeed in and out of bed.
Through the battles and beyond, we discover Kyle and Alexei's secret, and after their mission and resulting rescue, the men get more time together.
This is a fabulous start to a series, but could stand alone.
It's rough and tumble, sexy and sweet.
I highly recommend this tale. ENJOY !
==============================
Thank you sweet Parvathy for the rec !
===============================
March 31, 2017
I am probably totally overanalyzing this book. TOTALLY. I can’t help it. I’m irritated. It’s frustrating to love all the pieces but when you try to put them all together you are missing one.
Emotion.
This book is a total contradiction and I am at a loss about how I feel about it. I don’t know for sure if the book knew what it wanted to be.
When it was adventurous it was page turning excitement.
When it was political it was intriguing.
When it was world building I could see it.
When it was erotic it had me totally hot and bothered.
When it included the secondary characters I felt the connection, the sense of family, the emotion.
But…when it came down to Kyle and Jamie, there was no emotion.
There is something that should be said about stolen glances. Something about maintaining the professional, but not always. There is something so special about the buildup, the longing and taking a fucking chance.
Something that this book was missing.
Romance.
I never felt the deep down want for these two. That overwhelming feeling of just do it, because they just did with no fanfare. There were missions and then there was sex. There wasn’t anything else between the two of them. Nothing.
We got to be in both Jamie and Kyle’s head and I felt I understood them both when it came to everything in their lives but what they were to each other. Jamie could think about his Father, about the missions, about his team but I never got the inner thought from him about Kyle. The want. When he did think of Kyle with any sort of emotion it sounded something like this:
What? You have fallen hard for Kyle because he is a good soldier? There is a lot more in that paragraph but it all pretty much sounds like that. Never once in the book was there any talk about personal feelings. I need to know why you care about Kyle and I don’t want it to be because he is good at his job. Where is the heart in this?
The sex they shared was beyond intimate. The level of trust needed to go where they went together needed a foundation that I just never saw. There was a lot of sex. It was off the charts hot. No lie, it was porn-worthy and had me squirming and looking around. But again, there was a lot of it and if they weren’t working that is all there was. And guys, this was some intense sex and I never understood the connection.
Am I crazy? I don’t know. I think I am over thinking the whole thing. It just sucks because I was really into it. I was excited about all of it except the couple. Ugh.
This book isn’t a romance. It is a sci-fi porn-tastic adventure. Heather said Porn With Plot and I agree, it just wasn’t a romance and I checked, it is tagged as a romance.
You win some and you lose some. I am totally in the minority on this one. Again.
Emotion.
This book is a total contradiction and I am at a loss about how I feel about it. I don’t know for sure if the book knew what it wanted to be.
When it was adventurous it was page turning excitement.
When it was political it was intriguing.
When it was world building I could see it.
When it was erotic it had me totally hot and bothered.
When it included the secondary characters I felt the connection, the sense of family, the emotion.
But…when it came down to Kyle and Jamie, there was no emotion.
There is something that should be said about stolen glances. Something about maintaining the professional, but not always. There is something so special about the buildup, the longing and taking a fucking chance.
Something that this book was missing.
Romance.
I never felt the deep down want for these two. That overwhelming feeling of just do it, because they just did with no fanfare. There were missions and then there was sex. There wasn’t anything else between the two of them. Nothing.
We got to be in both Jamie and Kyle’s head and I felt I understood them both when it came to everything in their lives but what they were to each other. Jamie could think about his Father, about the missions, about his team but I never got the inner thought from him about Kyle. The want. When he did think of Kyle with any sort of emotion it sounded something like this:
This was different in the sense that he cared for Kyle, more than as a fellow teammate. In the short time they’d had together around the demands of their job, Jamie had fallen hard for Kyle, and not only because of how good they were in bed. Kyle understood the demands of being a fighter in the United States military.
What? You have fallen hard for Kyle because he is a good soldier? There is a lot more in that paragraph but it all pretty much sounds like that. Never once in the book was there any talk about personal feelings. I need to know why you care about Kyle and I don’t want it to be because he is good at his job. Where is the heart in this?
The sex they shared was beyond intimate. The level of trust needed to go where they went together needed a foundation that I just never saw. There was a lot of sex. It was off the charts hot. No lie, it was porn-worthy and had me squirming and looking around. But again, there was a lot of it and if they weren’t working that is all there was. And guys, this was some intense sex and I never understood the connection.
Am I crazy? I don’t know. I think I am over thinking the whole thing. It just sucks because I was really into it. I was excited about all of it except the couple. Ugh.
This book isn’t a romance. It is a sci-fi porn-tastic adventure. Heather said Porn With Plot and I agree, it just wasn’t a romance and I checked, it is tagged as a romance.
You win some and you lose some. I am totally in the minority on this one. Again.
February 16, 2018
Did somebody turn up the heat in here?
I'm serious: "DID SOMEBODY TURN UP THE HEAT IN HERE?"
*sidenote: is there anything more glorious than a gif of Elle Fanning fanning herself?!? I think not!
This book was... SIZZLING! My dog Ms. Turner turned up the heat. This was just... FILTHY!
However the 'insta-something' sort of ruined the characterization of Jamie for me. This dude is described as: Soldier: first! Everything else: second!
But after a week, where Jamie and Kyle haven't even really had a conversation, Jamie's suddenly had a 'lobotomy' and done a 180 on his personal beliefs:
The fear of losing Kyle as his forever was a big enough threat to override his guilt at breaking his military oaths.
I reiterate: this was after a week and almost NO conversations (unless you find that: "don't come yet" and "get on your knees" have a DEEPER, hidden meaning?!?
... Yeah, didn't think so!
But as for the rest of it, I was thoroughly entertained. The 'badass-ness' of these people and the humour really worked for me.
Furthermore I was really impressed with the worldbuilding and the pace of the story for the worldbuilding.
I started Rise of the Dragon around the same time as this story, but had to give up because the worldbuilding was non-existent at best. And that really stood out in stark relief to this one, where things are seamlessly woven into the explanations and the plot was complex, but not overwhelming.
I do have one other weird niggle though, and it doesn't drag the plot or the story down, but every time the words 'slim shoulder' were mentioned, I sort of twitched.
(I did have them higlighted, but my Kindle is acting really weird and those highlights are gone?!)
It was this weird fixation on a bodypart, that made me stop and re-read those sentences every time. So not a big deal, but a thing I got sort of stuck on.
I DID like Jamie and Kyle though. They were strong, interesting, tough badasses!
I also liked Alexei a lot, and am really looking forward to his story.
Everybody in this series was pretty hardcore, and besides the weird stuff with 'shoulders', I loved the female characters in this.
No ridiculous caricatures of women here!
I'm serious: "DID SOMEBODY TURN UP THE HEAT IN HERE?"
*sidenote: is there anything more glorious than a gif of Elle Fanning fanning herself?!? I think not!
This book was... SIZZLING! My dog Ms. Turner turned up the heat. This was just... FILTHY!
However the 'insta-something' sort of ruined the characterization of Jamie for me. This dude is described as: Soldier: first! Everything else: second!
But after a week, where Jamie and Kyle haven't even really had a conversation, Jamie's suddenly had a 'lobotomy' and done a 180 on his personal beliefs:
The fear of losing Kyle as his forever was a big enough threat to override his guilt at breaking his military oaths.
I reiterate: this was after a week and almost NO conversations (unless you find that: "don't come yet" and "get on your knees" have a DEEPER, hidden meaning?!?
... Yeah, didn't think so!
But as for the rest of it, I was thoroughly entertained. The 'badass-ness' of these people and the humour really worked for me.
Furthermore I was really impressed with the worldbuilding and the pace of the story for the worldbuilding.
I started Rise of the Dragon around the same time as this story, but had to give up because the worldbuilding was non-existent at best. And that really stood out in stark relief to this one, where things are seamlessly woven into the explanations and the plot was complex, but not overwhelming.
I do have one other weird niggle though, and it doesn't drag the plot or the story down, but every time the words 'slim shoulder' were mentioned, I sort of twitched.
(I did have them higlighted, but my Kindle is acting really weird and those highlights are gone?!)
It was this weird fixation on a bodypart, that made me stop and re-read those sentences every time. So not a big deal, but a thing I got sort of stuck on.
I DID like Jamie and Kyle though. They were strong, interesting, tough badasses!
I also liked Alexei a lot, and am really looking forward to his story.
Everybody in this series was pretty hardcore, and besides the weird stuff with 'shoulders', I loved the female characters in this.
No ridiculous caricatures of women here!
![Profile Image for Megan [At The Cottage].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1634561405i%2F25103878._UY200_CR50%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
June 12, 2024
MM Romance
Superpowers/Military
2 Stars ⭐️
🎵Narrated by Greg B🎵 Love you Greg B but not even your narration could save this one. I’d give you 5 stars for your performance though and for the hot af sex scenes. I own this 😭😭😭 It wasn’t worth the $2.99 I paid obviously. 🙄🙄
I’m obviously in the minority here but fuck was this book boring. It seemed promising after that fuck hot sex scene at the start but the military jargon mixed with details I gave zero fucks about made me so bored. Had I been reading this it would have cured my insomnia but Greg B kept me awake with how great he narrated. I’m kind of salty about that because this book deserved a really good nap and not me thinking it might improve. 😂 I’m not going to lie though I totally skipped through some of their missions and talk about the future because it was so fucking tedious. For this being 250+ years into the future I didn’t feel like much had changed. 🤷🏻♀️
Also, for a book about guys with powers, the only cool one was Alexei with his fire thing. The main character whose name I cannot fucking remember despite having just finished this was just strong. And that made the sex scenes hot because strong guy would hold Ryan down and almost kill him and he could do that because Ryan rapidly healed and couldn’t die but like strong isn’t really the most amazing superpower. It’s kind of boring? 🥱
The thing that killed this for me was all the useless information we got. Strong guy and Ryan get home and are about to fuck but instead we’re stuck in strong guy’s head while he thinks about the housekeeper’s schedule and the fact there aren’t shoes to trip over. Who cares sir, I’m here for the cock. Also the instalove in this was out of control.
This is only part one of strong guy and Ryan’s story too and it ended on a sex scene. The sex scenes were hot. In this last one strong guy made Ryan come like 5 times in a row but most were dry orgasms and earlier in the book he spit roasted him with a dildo in the ass and a cock in the throat but by the end I just wanted off this ride and DNF’d with 4 minutes left.
2 stars for the sex scenes although I feel like I’m being generous. 🤷🏻♀️
Superpowers/Military
2 Stars ⭐️
🎵Narrated by Greg B🎵 Love you Greg B but not even your narration could save this one. I’d give you 5 stars for your performance though and for the hot af sex scenes. I own this 😭😭😭 It wasn’t worth the $2.99 I paid obviously. 🙄🙄
I’m obviously in the minority here but fuck was this book boring. It seemed promising after that fuck hot sex scene at the start but the military jargon mixed with details I gave zero fucks about made me so bored. Had I been reading this it would have cured my insomnia but Greg B kept me awake with how great he narrated. I’m kind of salty about that because this book deserved a really good nap and not me thinking it might improve. 😂 I’m not going to lie though I totally skipped through some of their missions and talk about the future because it was so fucking tedious. For this being 250+ years into the future I didn’t feel like much had changed. 🤷🏻♀️
Also, for a book about guys with powers, the only cool one was Alexei with his fire thing. The main character whose name I cannot fucking remember despite having just finished this was just strong. And that made the sex scenes hot because strong guy would hold Ryan down and almost kill him and he could do that because Ryan rapidly healed and couldn’t die but like strong isn’t really the most amazing superpower. It’s kind of boring? 🥱
The thing that killed this for me was all the useless information we got. Strong guy and Ryan get home and are about to fuck but instead we’re stuck in strong guy’s head while he thinks about the housekeeper’s schedule and the fact there aren’t shoes to trip over. Who cares sir, I’m here for the cock. Also the instalove in this was out of control.
This is only part one of strong guy and Ryan’s story too and it ended on a sex scene. The sex scenes were hot. In this last one strong guy made Ryan come like 5 times in a row but most were dry orgasms and earlier in the book he spit roasted him with a dildo in the ass and a cock in the throat but by the end I just wanted off this ride and DNF’d with 4 minutes left.
2 stars for the sex scenes although I feel like I’m being generous. 🤷🏻♀️
December 16, 2021
I think this author ain't for me, I enjoyed this but I wasn't crazy about it.
It's the writing *sighs*, there is a lot of information dump and considering this is a book about a team of X-man or "metahumans", there were a lot of ops in the way, so when that happened the relationship that the main characters were building was put on hold, it felt like it was muted, like it didn't evolve.
Like 🤔🤔🤔 books that I like, when they are under this types of situations there is always a moment were the character has a thought or an action that makes me remember as a reader that this is a romance, not just action or mystery. In here it didn't happen, it felt like going from reading a romance to a strategy book, so I didn't enjoy that.
That also made the love weird, because it evolved fast, because the book focused a lot on this ops so when they get together it feels rushed, like nothing has happened with them as a couple.
I don't know if I'm explaining myself though, but this is the second first book of a series that I read from this author and I had the same experience, so yeah, she isn't one for me to read.
On to the next! ❤
It's the writing *sighs*, there is a lot of information dump and considering this is a book about a team of X-man or "metahumans", there were a lot of ops in the way, so when that happened the relationship that the main characters were building was put on hold, it felt like it was muted, like it didn't evolve.
Like 🤔🤔🤔 books that I like, when they are under this types of situations there is always a moment were the character has a thought or an action that makes me remember as a reader that this is a romance, not just action or mystery. In here it didn't happen, it felt like going from reading a romance to a strategy book, so I didn't enjoy that.
That also made the love weird, because it evolved fast, because the book focused a lot on this ops so when they get together it feels rushed, like nothing has happened with them as a couple.
I don't know if I'm explaining myself though, but this is the second first book of a series that I read from this author and I had the same experience, so yeah, she isn't one for me to read.
On to the next! ❤
March 5, 2017
*4,5 stars*
I am not really into science fiction. But this book takes place in the 23rd century.
I am not really into metahumans. But this book is full of them.
I am not really into military style novels. But this one is heavy on military operations and soldier talk.
And I LOVED it.
Hailey Turner just gets the balance between all the different elements in her book right:
- the building of a futuristic world (what fabulous detail!)
- the action plot (worthy of a 5 star thriller)
- the development of Jamie and Kyle's relationship (so sweet and so hot it left me breathless)
- the in-depth characterization of both, the MCs and the secondary characters. (I actually really cared for all of them)
- and last but certainly NOT least the sex scenes between Jamie and Kyle.
So, Jamie and Kyle - I loved them.
Jamie shines with his unflappable integrity for his team and his work, and he has got this gentle giant/quiet strength thing going on that is totally irresistible.
Kyle is the snarky one with the golden heart. The one who is strong and loyal who will sacrifice himself rather than have anyone he loves endangered.
The attraction between them is immediate, their compatibility in bed incredible, but it is always more, right from the first time they meet. And when they are thrown together professionally their feelings get a chance to develop.
Which leads me straight back to last point in my list. I may have instantenously combusted once or twice - in fact every single time they have sex. Because .... Holy sh**.
That window scene, the bathroom scene ... Ok. All the sex was just ... leaving me speechless. My advice: Please read at your own risk (and preferably on your own).
But I need to stress this book is more than one of the hottest things I've ever read. I liked the plot a lot, with the author leaving quite a bit of scope for the second book.
Two little niggles:
- this book needs re-editing. Some of the errors were annoying.
- there is mention of something which I assume will happen in book 2 I am not happy about.
On the whole though this book was a huge surprise and a lot of fun, and I can whole-heartedly recommend it! Thank you, Simone, for drawing my attention to it!
I am not really into science fiction. But this book takes place in the 23rd century.
I am not really into metahumans. But this book is full of them.
I am not really into military style novels. But this one is heavy on military operations and soldier talk.
And I LOVED it.
Hailey Turner just gets the balance between all the different elements in her book right:
- the building of a futuristic world (what fabulous detail!)
- the action plot (worthy of a 5 star thriller)
- the development of Jamie and Kyle's relationship (so sweet and so hot it left me breathless)
- the in-depth characterization of both, the MCs and the secondary characters. (I actually really cared for all of them)
- and last but certainly NOT least the sex scenes between Jamie and Kyle.
So, Jamie and Kyle - I loved them.
Jamie shines with his unflappable integrity for his team and his work, and he has got this gentle giant/quiet strength thing going on that is totally irresistible.
Kyle is the snarky one with the golden heart. The one who is strong and loyal who will sacrifice himself rather than have anyone he loves endangered.
The attraction between them is immediate, their compatibility in bed incredible, but it is always more, right from the first time they meet. And when they are thrown together professionally their feelings get a chance to develop.
Which leads me straight back to last point in my list. I may have instantenously combusted once or twice - in fact every single time they have sex. Because .... Holy sh**.
That window scene, the bathroom scene ... Ok. All the sex was just ... leaving me speechless. My advice: Please read at your own risk (and preferably on your own).
But I need to stress this book is more than one of the hottest things I've ever read. I liked the plot a lot, with the author leaving quite a bit of scope for the second book.
Two little niggles:
- this book needs re-editing. Some of the errors were annoying.
- there is mention of something which I assume will happen in book 2 I am not happy about.
On the whole though this book was a huge surprise and a lot of fun, and I can whole-heartedly recommend it! Thank you, Simone, for drawing my attention to it!
March 8, 2017
3,5 stars : an entertaining series
Book 1 in what I believe is a part of a series. The set up : in a futuristic world crawling through the heat, with the fear of a deadly virus for most humans, but for only a few who become “metahumans”, meaning humans with extraordinary powers. They are feared, almost cast out and, for the ones who choose it, part of a special elite military unit.
Think about X-Men in the military and you get it. And, as I am a fan of X-Men, I really enjoyed this first book : fast-action paced, with a solid plot, some good banter among the “metahuman group” with a super kick-ass side character, Katie, and two sexy heroes : Jamie and Kyle. And boy, they are hot together. Let’s just mention one extraordinary power : “enhanced strength and durability” !!
My biggest niggle : insta-lust, insta-love. Sometimes, it works, but here, it was a bit too much for my taste.
That said, I will read book 2 because I really enjoyed the plot, as much as the hotness of this book.
Thank you, Jan and Judith, for an impromptu BR !
Book 1 in what I believe is a part of a series. The set up : in a futuristic world crawling through the heat, with the fear of a deadly virus for most humans, but for only a few who become “metahumans”, meaning humans with extraordinary powers. They are feared, almost cast out and, for the ones who choose it, part of a special elite military unit.
Think about X-Men in the military and you get it. And, as I am a fan of X-Men, I really enjoyed this first book : fast-action paced, with a solid plot, some good banter among the “metahuman group” with a super kick-ass side character, Katie, and two sexy heroes : Jamie and Kyle. And boy, they are hot together. Let’s just mention one extraordinary power : “enhanced strength and durability” !!
My biggest niggle : insta-lust, insta-love. Sometimes, it works, but here, it was a bit too much for my taste.
That said, I will read book 2 because I really enjoyed the plot, as much as the hotness of this book.
Thank you, Jan and Judith, for an impromptu BR !
May 20, 2018
***5 eargasmic stars for the audiobook***
Too bad you can't see my broad grin now... Well, maybe just imagine Julia Roberts with more teeth and you get an idea. ;-)
If I wouldn't already love the story I would do now! ❤️ No one and I happily repeat - no one - can do accents like Greg (Tremblay) Boudreaux and the sex scenes... Yeah, there is no other word for it than pure E.A.R.G.A.S.M.
My original review for the story can be found here.
Too bad you can't see my broad grin now... Well, maybe just imagine Julia Roberts with more teeth and you get an idea. ;-)
If I wouldn't already love the story I would do now! ❤️ No one and I happily repeat - no one - can do accents like Greg (Tremblay) Boudreaux and the sex scenes... Yeah, there is no other word for it than pure E.A.R.G.A.S.M.
My original review for the story can be found here.
August 22, 2019
Well, it's official. I'm Metahuman convert. Thanks Anne! I don't know why I avoided this series before now. I have picked it up and put it down several times. This time I decided to stick with it and boy am I glad I did.
It's definitely action packed and full of interesting characters and world building. I love both Jamie and Kyle and while the romance was lacking in this one, the attraction is there and I loved how neither could stay away from the other.
I will say, though I love me some sex in my books, some of the scenes were waaayyy too drawn out. Especially the one at the end. I would have liked a few more "tender" moments. I can definitely see the potential though for them to be a more swoony couple.
I'll definitely be continuing on with this series. I hear there's another couple that I'm going to love 😉
It's definitely action packed and full of interesting characters and world building. I love both Jamie and Kyle and while the romance was lacking in this one, the attraction is there and I loved how neither could stay away from the other.
I will say, though I love me some sex in my books, some of the scenes were waaayyy too drawn out. Especially the one at the end. I would have liked a few more "tender" moments. I can definitely see the potential though for them to be a more swoony couple.
I'll definitely be continuing on with this series. I hear there's another couple that I'm going to love 😉
February 26, 2017
Wow, this was a wonderful book! It hooked me in right off the bat, not only because of the steamy sex - although that was a big part of it.
We're all the way in the future with this one, in the year 2284 - it's hard for me to even fathom what that will look like, which made me think of how those in the mid 1700's must have felt about what life would be like today, if they thought of that at all, but I digress - and things have advances so much that there is even a chemical of unknown origin that kills 95% of people who come into contact with it. But 5% who do come into contact with it become metahumans - human who gain special powers from it, all because they have something in their DNA that allows them to withstand the chemical (called "Splice").
That's where Jaime Callahan
and Kyle Brannigan
come in. Jaime is the captain of his Alpha Team at the Metahuman Defense Force - one of the few military metahumans at the MDF, whose power is super strength, and Kyle was in the Strike Force, where he was a sniper, and a really excellent one at that. But Jaime and Kyle first meet not as these dangerous men, but as just two random guys in a bar, and they practically run out of the bar after a brief conversation to have an extremely hot one night stand.
Seriously, I felt like I had to fan myself with that very first sex scene. There's writing a sex scene right and then there is wring a sex scene right. Fucking hell, these two were hot as sin together, and they didn't even know each other. But they sure know how to pleasure each other. And the sex only gets better from there, honestly. Like they just take it to new heights in every new sex scene - it's always intense and passionate and off the charts steamy, but there's always something new they do that makes it exciting in each scene. Like fuck, I was immersed in their sex scenes together - well, all their scenes together, really.
Jaime and Kyle had a wonderful chemistry that I loved. Now, the book only takes place over about a month - and we know we're gonna get more books - and they're both so busy with their job (yep, spoiler but But of course he can't stay away from Kyle, and doesn't want to. So they start a tentative relationship - which at this point is more sex than anything - but they only let their other team members (who are like family, mostly to Jaime at this point because Kyle hasn't been there long) know about them, while keeping it a secret from the higher ups and all that.
Over the course of the book we get to see Jaime and Kyle go from strangers to being invested heavily in each other. By the end, they aren't quite at the "in love with you" stage, but they're obviously getting there. And what was once just sex turns into a lot more over the events of the book. And I loved how we got the action and plot mixed so well with their romance. It wasn't just a porn without plot book, it has a story to it, and an interesting one at that, which you'd have to read to find out about.
But I will say that I was as immersed in the action and thriller aspects of the book just as much as the romance.
Also, just like...prepare for hot sex. Truly. Jaime and Kyle are on fire together. There's this one sex scene that involves a blowjob and a dildo and...well, you'll have to read it to find out ;).
I'm happy that this book didn't jump to Jaime and Kyle being immediately in love, either. They definitely both feel a strong connection, but they haven't gotten to in love yet and that's how I see it with them. I mean, it's only been a month and that's not a lot of time to fall in love for most people, I think - or to at least know they're in love. I loved them a lot, but I'm hoping in the next one we see more of their romance so it can evolve to being in love. They're on their way there and they had sweet moments as well as the sexy moments, but it's definitely a happy-for-now ending.
I really ended up loving this book, and I think anyone who loves a book with hot sex scenes, amazing chemistry between two MC's, and a great plot, then you'll hopefully love this. It's for sure worth a read :D
We're all the way in the future with this one, in the year 2284 - it's hard for me to even fathom what that will look like, which made me think of how those in the mid 1700's must have felt about what life would be like today, if they thought of that at all, but I digress - and things have advances so much that there is even a chemical of unknown origin that kills 95% of people who come into contact with it. But 5% who do come into contact with it become metahumans - human who gain special powers from it, all because they have something in their DNA that allows them to withstand the chemical (called "Splice").
That's where Jaime Callahan
and Kyle Brannigan
come in. Jaime is the captain of his Alpha Team at the Metahuman Defense Force - one of the few military metahumans at the MDF, whose power is super strength, and Kyle was in the Strike Force, where he was a sniper, and a really excellent one at that. But Jaime and Kyle first meet not as these dangerous men, but as just two random guys in a bar, and they practically run out of the bar after a brief conversation to have an extremely hot one night stand.
Seriously, I felt like I had to fan myself with that very first sex scene. There's writing a sex scene right and then there is wring a sex scene right. Fucking hell, these two were hot as sin together, and they didn't even know each other. But they sure know how to pleasure each other. And the sex only gets better from there, honestly. Like they just take it to new heights in every new sex scene - it's always intense and passionate and off the charts steamy, but there's always something new they do that makes it exciting in each scene. Like fuck, I was immersed in their sex scenes together - well, all their scenes together, really.
Jaime and Kyle had a wonderful chemistry that I loved. Now, the book only takes place over about a month - and we know we're gonna get more books - and they're both so busy with their job (yep, spoiler but But of course he can't stay away from Kyle, and doesn't want to. So they start a tentative relationship - which at this point is more sex than anything - but they only let their other team members (who are like family, mostly to Jaime at this point because Kyle hasn't been there long) know about them, while keeping it a secret from the higher ups and all that.
Over the course of the book we get to see Jaime and Kyle go from strangers to being invested heavily in each other. By the end, they aren't quite at the "in love with you" stage, but they're obviously getting there. And what was once just sex turns into a lot more over the events of the book. And I loved how we got the action and plot mixed so well with their romance. It wasn't just a porn without plot book, it has a story to it, and an interesting one at that, which you'd have to read to find out about.
But I will say that I was as immersed in the action and thriller aspects of the book just as much as the romance.
Also, just like...prepare for hot sex. Truly. Jaime and Kyle are on fire together. There's this one sex scene that involves a blowjob and a dildo and...well, you'll have to read it to find out ;).
I'm happy that this book didn't jump to Jaime and Kyle being immediately in love, either. They definitely both feel a strong connection, but they haven't gotten to in love yet and that's how I see it with them. I mean, it's only been a month and that's not a lot of time to fall in love for most people, I think - or to at least know they're in love. I loved them a lot, but I'm hoping in the next one we see more of their romance so it can evolve to being in love. They're on their way there and they had sweet moments as well as the sexy moments, but it's definitely a happy-for-now ending.
I really ended up loving this book, and I think anyone who loves a book with hot sex scenes, amazing chemistry between two MC's, and a great plot, then you'll hopefully love this. It's for sure worth a read :D
February 25, 2017
"In the Wreckage is a 100k word steamy m/m sci-fi military romance with a HFN ending. There is military violence within the story that may not be suitable for everyone, as well as explicit intimate scenes not suitable for readers under 18."
According to my book tastes, this should have been a guaranteed 5-star read for me.
It started out hot as hell so I was all in from the get-go.
I really did like the first part of the book. I also liked the last part. But, I didn't love it. :-(
It had a lot of typos, but besides that I didn't really feel the connection between the two MCs. I loved both of them. But I didn't 100% believe in their relationship. Their feelings happened too fast and seemingly without reason other than hot sex. The sex was very graphic and dirty. I didn't mind the first scene, but it was a bit too much for me in subsequent scenes. Maybe because I wasn't really feeling their togetherness.
I loved the family threads. But again, felt they were underdeveloped. I wanted a lot more angst from the story of both of their families. Their friendships could have been more explicitly detailed too. I didn't catch on that Jamie's NCO was his best friend until very late in the story.
Let me finish up with what I did love about the story.
The ins and outs of their military life fascinated me. Their physical enhancements and artillery were wonderful. The world building is also great since it's set in near enough future to make most everything believable. Last, but not least, the action scenes were riveting. Especially the ones with Kyle which got emotional for me.
Overall a really good book with super hot sex scenes, good action scenes and a host of paranormal abilities. All of it set a couple of hundred years in our future.
September 24, 2021
Relistened last week and forgot to mark it!
Still awesome and still UNBELIEVABLY HOT.
Rating/Reviewing the whole series!!!
Writing this post before I keel over from pure awesomeness....
****Highly Recommended Awesomeness****
For fans of #PNR #SecretRelationship #WorkplaceRomance #Superheroes
Why read this series...
1. The MCs...
Jamie Callahan is a metahuman aka human with superpowers. He has super strength, leads his own team, and is super dominant and possessive. #ImTheBoss
Kyle Brannigan is a sniper brought in to assist Jamie's Metahuman team. Little do they know, Jamie and Kyle have met before, and Jamie thoroughly rocked Kyle's world. #JustWhatTheDoctorOrdered
2. The Relationship...
Jamie is Kyle's superior, which means they are not alowrd to be together. That doesn't stop them though... The secrecy is important and they're determined to be together no matter what. #SecretLovers
3. The Action...
Metahumans are basically X-men. They go all around the world, covertly saving it. The series is action packed and full of suspense. #ActionTime
4. The Found Family...
Jamie's team embraces Kyle, and his adoptive brother Alexei, into the fold and protect Jamie and Kyle's secret. They prove to be the family Jamie deserves. #ThereForYou
5. The Heat....
Ms. Turner writes THE BEST AND HOTTEST SEX SCENES. Phew... Jamie is super dominant, Kyle is happy to take whatever he throws at him, and hawt sexy times ensue. #LetsGetReadyToRumble
6. The HEA...
The end of the series is the perfect conclusion to a perfect couple. After all Jamie and Kyle go through, Ms. Turner gives them the HEA they deserve. #ILookIntoTheFutureAndISeeYou
7. The Audiobook...
The audiobook is narrated by Greg Tremblay /Boudreaux and he does an great job bringing a slew of characters to life.
Note that 2 books in the series, book 3 and 6, follow 2 other couples, but the storyline continues throughout the books in order.
#HappyReading
My inspo pics... Christian Hogue as jamie and a youngish Jensen Ackles as Kyle.
Still awesome and still UNBELIEVABLY HOT.
Rating/Reviewing the whole series!!!
Writing this post before I keel over from pure awesomeness....
****Highly Recommended Awesomeness****
For fans of #PNR #SecretRelationship #WorkplaceRomance #Superheroes
Why read this series...
1. The MCs...
Jamie Callahan is a metahuman aka human with superpowers. He has super strength, leads his own team, and is super dominant and possessive. #ImTheBoss
Kyle Brannigan is a sniper brought in to assist Jamie's Metahuman team. Little do they know, Jamie and Kyle have met before, and Jamie thoroughly rocked Kyle's world. #JustWhatTheDoctorOrdered
2. The Relationship...
Jamie is Kyle's superior, which means they are not alowrd to be together. That doesn't stop them though... The secrecy is important and they're determined to be together no matter what. #SecretLovers
3. The Action...
Metahumans are basically X-men. They go all around the world, covertly saving it. The series is action packed and full of suspense. #ActionTime
4. The Found Family...
Jamie's team embraces Kyle, and his adoptive brother Alexei, into the fold and protect Jamie and Kyle's secret. They prove to be the family Jamie deserves. #ThereForYou
5. The Heat....
Ms. Turner writes THE BEST AND HOTTEST SEX SCENES. Phew... Jamie is super dominant, Kyle is happy to take whatever he throws at him, and hawt sexy times ensue. #LetsGetReadyToRumble
6. The HEA...
The end of the series is the perfect conclusion to a perfect couple. After all Jamie and Kyle go through, Ms. Turner gives them the HEA they deserve. #ILookIntoTheFutureAndISeeYou
7. The Audiobook...
The audiobook is narrated by Greg Tremblay /Boudreaux and he does an great job bringing a slew of characters to life.
Note that 2 books in the series, book 3 and 6, follow 2 other couples, but the storyline continues throughout the books in order.
#HappyReading
My inspo pics... Christian Hogue as jamie and a youngish Jensen Ackles as Kyle.
November 5, 2018
Audio Review 21Aug2018: 4.5 Stars
There are just some narrators that I absolutely love to listen to. Greg is quickly becoming my favorite. I mean, he's always been in the Top 5 but the recent spate of titles I've gotten my greedy hands on that feature his voice have just been stellar...and he makes them even better. (So, I must commend those authors that choose him to narrate their titles; good move.)
And I thought that window-sex scene was hot after reading it (3 times)? HOOOOOLEEEEE HELL! Hearing it performed was entirely too much hotness. I kept replaying it - so many times I lost count. It was so good...so smoking hot.
I haven't checked but I really hope he's signed on for the rest of this series. And now to convince the Library to splurge on them...
Original Review 26Feb2017: 4.2 Stars
Holy crap, that was really good! I'm still not sure why or when I picked this up and I only started reading it to use as the 'I' in Spellapalooza but OMG I'm so glad I did.
The story and premise is very interesting and even though there were bits I didn't like (mostly having to do with an abuse of power, violating constitutional rights and some militaristic supremacy aspects) they were totally plausible given it's set 200 years in the future, this is scifi and it's a military team based novel. Doesn't mean I approved, just that it fit the action, intention and characters of the book.
Also, HOLY FUCKSTICKS the sex. It was AMAZING. (Camille, read this!)
The first scene was hot and all but OMFG, the window sex (like wall-sex but see through!) - it was...well, it was a 3x read (one handed). (Just sayin'.)
I'm definitely interested in reading more of this series.
There are just some narrators that I absolutely love to listen to. Greg is quickly becoming my favorite. I mean, he's always been in the Top 5 but the recent spate of titles I've gotten my greedy hands on that feature his voice have just been stellar...and he makes them even better. (So, I must commend those authors that choose him to narrate their titles; good move.)
And I thought that window-sex scene was hot after reading it (3 times)? HOOOOOLEEEEE HELL! Hearing it performed was entirely too much hotness. I kept replaying it - so many times I lost count. It was so good...so smoking hot.
I haven't checked but I really hope he's signed on for the rest of this series. And now to convince the Library to splurge on them...
Original Review 26Feb2017: 4.2 Stars
Holy crap, that was really good! I'm still not sure why or when I picked this up and I only started reading it to use as the 'I' in Spellapalooza but OMG I'm so glad I did.
The story and premise is very interesting and even though there were bits I didn't like (mostly having to do with an abuse of power, violating constitutional rights and some militaristic supremacy aspects) they were totally plausible given it's set 200 years in the future, this is scifi and it's a military team based novel. Doesn't mean I approved, just that it fit the action, intention and characters of the book.
Also, HOLY FUCKSTICKS the sex. It was AMAZING. (Camille, read this!)
The first scene was hot and all but OMFG, the window sex (like wall-sex but see through!) - it was...well, it was a 3x read (one handed). (Just sayin'.)
I'm definitely interested in reading more of this series.
June 30, 2024
Review from 2018
I've given this an A+ for narration and a B for content at AudioGals, which is sort of 4.5 stars.
I know what you’re thinking. “Huh? A military-themed, dystopian sci-fi novel about humans with superpowers set 250 years in the future? That’s not Caz’s normal cup of tea is it?” Well… no. And yes. I like sci-fi in movies and on TV, although I don’t read (or listen to) much of it; but I picked up In the Wreckage mostly because I’m on a narrator glom – and because I’m on a bit of a m/m military romance/romantic suspense kick, so this sounded like a good fit.
Set around 250 years in the future, In the Wreckage is the first book in the Metahuman Files , and plunges listeners straight in to the thick of things, introducing the central characters and the concept of metahumans in the course of an action-packed battle scene. In this version of the future, a deadly chemical agent called Splice – which kills 95% of the people it infects – has led to the creation of a small number of metahumans (the other 5%), changing their DNA and giving them enhanced powers. When recon marine captain Jamie Callahan was exposed to it three years earlier, almost his entire unit was wiped out, leaving him one of only five survivors; and now he leads the Alpha Team of the MDF (Metahuman Defense Force), the deadliest, most badass (and most efficient) team on the force. The powers exhibited by metahumans are diverse; telepathy, telekinesis, pyrokinesis, precognition and teleportation to name just a few, but they’re random and it’s impossible to tell what powers someone will have until after infection. Jamie – whose enhanced power is incredible physical strength and endurance – chose to continue to serve after he became a metahuman, in spite of the disapproval of his wealthy and influential family. His father is a powerful senator with presidential ambitions who wants Jamie to quit the MDF and be part of his campaign, but Jamie isn’t interested. He is dedicated to serving his country and his team is his family – and he’s not going to abandon them.
A particularly fraught meeting with his father is what sends a furious Jamie to a civilian bar looking to drink himself into oblivion – which, given his metahuman metabolism, will take a helluva lot of booze. He’s not been there long when an attractive guy slides onto the bar stool next to him and, in spite of Jamie’s insistence that he’s not interested, propositions him. Jamie doesn’t resist for long, and soon the pair of them head off to a fancy hotel to burn up the sheets. (And I MEAN burn!!) The next morning, they both find themselves strangely reluctant to say goodbye, recognising that there’s a connection between them they’ve never felt with anyone else. Still, Jamie has to get back to his unit and Kyle says he has somewhere to be, so they part, not expecting to see each other again.
But. This is a romance novel (of sorts) so we know that’s not going to be the case. No prizes for working out who the newest member of Alpha Team is. Kyle Brannigan and his adoptive brother, Alexei Dvorkin are seconded to the MDF from an elite (but ‘normal’) special forces unit because Team Alpha is below strength and in need of a sniper (or two). Jamie has always made it a rule never to mix work and pleasure and now he finds himself staring into the face of the man whose brains he’d more than happily fucked out the night before. And that’s not the only surprise in store, both for Jamie and for his team.
In the Wreckage is a fast-paced story, in which the suspense plotline concerns the hunt for a terrorist group intent on creating metahumans of their own and on shutting down any scientists attempting to create a vaccine against Splice. The world-building is strong, and the action sequences are gripping and well-written. Ms. Turner writes the relationships and camaraderie between the members of Alpha Team extremely well and has firmly established the complicated family dynamic between Jamie and his father, which I’m sure is going to come into play more as the series progresses.
I was less enamoured with the relationship between Jamie and Kyle, which is pretty much based on sex, and I didn’t feel there was much of an emotional connection between them. At first, Jamie is reluctant to pick up where he and Kyle left off, due to the non-fraternization policy in the MDF, but when a mission goes pear-shaped a few days later, he does a complete 180 and goes all jealous-alpha on Kyle when he goes out looking for some alternative action after Jamie continues to tell him no. And after this, when both Jamie and Kyle realise there’s no going back, Jamie just shrugs off his “we can’t be together because I’m your CO” thing and instead decides “there aren’t many metahumans and the MDF needs me so let’s go for it”. Jamie and Kyle have great chemistry, but while the sex is undeniably hot (and kinky and dirty), there is (and I can’t believe I’m saying this) too much of it. The sex scenes are long and drawn out, and quite honestly, I’d have been perfectly happy had they been half the length. Or less. Of course, they’re longer in audio than in print, and (also of course) Mr. Boudreaux does a spectacular job with them – he knows how to get into the swing of things without going over the top – but it was only because I love his voice that I stuck with them and didn’t fast-forward when I started to think “okay, can we move on with the actual plot now?”
Greg Boudreaux is a superb vocal actor and … I’m running out of ways to describe just how damn good he is. All the characters – and there are a lot of speaking roles – are expertly differentiated, and he manages to give every single one their own, distinctive voice by employing a wide variety of tones, timbres, accents and pitches. But he does more than that, imbuing each of the major cast members with their own distinct personality as well as a distinctive sound, and it’s his ability to do that that sets him apart from so many of the other narrators out there. The action scenes are perfectly paced and injected with just the right amount of tension and the sex scenes are performed with the sort of confidence and conviction that are essential if the listener is to find them believable. In short, he acts the crap outta this book, as he does with every book he narrates.
In the Wreckage is an entertaining, suspenseful and very steamy listen, and in spite of my reservations over the nature of the central relationship, I enjoyed it. Given this is book one of a five-book series, I’m sure there is room for romantic development in future instalments; plus I’m sufficiently intrigued by the potential storylines, and invested in the characters and their relationships to want to continue with the series. So far, this is the only title in the Metahuman Files available in audio, but I hope the rest will follow in due course.
I've given this an A+ for narration and a B for content at AudioGals, which is sort of 4.5 stars.
I know what you’re thinking. “Huh? A military-themed, dystopian sci-fi novel about humans with superpowers set 250 years in the future? That’s not Caz’s normal cup of tea is it?” Well… no. And yes. I like sci-fi in movies and on TV, although I don’t read (or listen to) much of it; but I picked up In the Wreckage mostly because I’m on a narrator glom – and because I’m on a bit of a m/m military romance/romantic suspense kick, so this sounded like a good fit.
Set around 250 years in the future, In the Wreckage is the first book in the Metahuman Files , and plunges listeners straight in to the thick of things, introducing the central characters and the concept of metahumans in the course of an action-packed battle scene. In this version of the future, a deadly chemical agent called Splice – which kills 95% of the people it infects – has led to the creation of a small number of metahumans (the other 5%), changing their DNA and giving them enhanced powers. When recon marine captain Jamie Callahan was exposed to it three years earlier, almost his entire unit was wiped out, leaving him one of only five survivors; and now he leads the Alpha Team of the MDF (Metahuman Defense Force), the deadliest, most badass (and most efficient) team on the force. The powers exhibited by metahumans are diverse; telepathy, telekinesis, pyrokinesis, precognition and teleportation to name just a few, but they’re random and it’s impossible to tell what powers someone will have until after infection. Jamie – whose enhanced power is incredible physical strength and endurance – chose to continue to serve after he became a metahuman, in spite of the disapproval of his wealthy and influential family. His father is a powerful senator with presidential ambitions who wants Jamie to quit the MDF and be part of his campaign, but Jamie isn’t interested. He is dedicated to serving his country and his team is his family – and he’s not going to abandon them.
A particularly fraught meeting with his father is what sends a furious Jamie to a civilian bar looking to drink himself into oblivion – which, given his metahuman metabolism, will take a helluva lot of booze. He’s not been there long when an attractive guy slides onto the bar stool next to him and, in spite of Jamie’s insistence that he’s not interested, propositions him. Jamie doesn’t resist for long, and soon the pair of them head off to a fancy hotel to burn up the sheets. (And I MEAN burn!!) The next morning, they both find themselves strangely reluctant to say goodbye, recognising that there’s a connection between them they’ve never felt with anyone else. Still, Jamie has to get back to his unit and Kyle says he has somewhere to be, so they part, not expecting to see each other again.
But. This is a romance novel (of sorts) so we know that’s not going to be the case. No prizes for working out who the newest member of Alpha Team is. Kyle Brannigan and his adoptive brother, Alexei Dvorkin are seconded to the MDF from an elite (but ‘normal’) special forces unit because Team Alpha is below strength and in need of a sniper (or two). Jamie has always made it a rule never to mix work and pleasure and now he finds himself staring into the face of the man whose brains he’d more than happily fucked out the night before. And that’s not the only surprise in store, both for Jamie and for his team.
In the Wreckage is a fast-paced story, in which the suspense plotline concerns the hunt for a terrorist group intent on creating metahumans of their own and on shutting down any scientists attempting to create a vaccine against Splice. The world-building is strong, and the action sequences are gripping and well-written. Ms. Turner writes the relationships and camaraderie between the members of Alpha Team extremely well and has firmly established the complicated family dynamic between Jamie and his father, which I’m sure is going to come into play more as the series progresses.
I was less enamoured with the relationship between Jamie and Kyle, which is pretty much based on sex, and I didn’t feel there was much of an emotional connection between them. At first, Jamie is reluctant to pick up where he and Kyle left off, due to the non-fraternization policy in the MDF, but when a mission goes pear-shaped a few days later, he does a complete 180 and goes all jealous-alpha on Kyle when he goes out looking for some alternative action after Jamie continues to tell him no. And after this, when both Jamie and Kyle realise there’s no going back, Jamie just shrugs off his “we can’t be together because I’m your CO” thing and instead decides “there aren’t many metahumans and the MDF needs me so let’s go for it”. Jamie and Kyle have great chemistry, but while the sex is undeniably hot (and kinky and dirty), there is (and I can’t believe I’m saying this) too much of it. The sex scenes are long and drawn out, and quite honestly, I’d have been perfectly happy had they been half the length. Or less. Of course, they’re longer in audio than in print, and (also of course) Mr. Boudreaux does a spectacular job with them – he knows how to get into the swing of things without going over the top – but it was only because I love his voice that I stuck with them and didn’t fast-forward when I started to think “okay, can we move on with the actual plot now?”
Greg Boudreaux is a superb vocal actor and … I’m running out of ways to describe just how damn good he is. All the characters – and there are a lot of speaking roles – are expertly differentiated, and he manages to give every single one their own, distinctive voice by employing a wide variety of tones, timbres, accents and pitches. But he does more than that, imbuing each of the major cast members with their own distinct personality as well as a distinctive sound, and it’s his ability to do that that sets him apart from so many of the other narrators out there. The action scenes are perfectly paced and injected with just the right amount of tension and the sex scenes are performed with the sort of confidence and conviction that are essential if the listener is to find them believable. In short, he acts the crap outta this book, as he does with every book he narrates.
In the Wreckage is an entertaining, suspenseful and very steamy listen, and in spite of my reservations over the nature of the central relationship, I enjoyed it. Given this is book one of a five-book series, I’m sure there is room for romantic development in future instalments; plus I’m sufficiently intrigued by the potential storylines, and invested in the characters and their relationships to want to continue with the series. So far, this is the only title in the Metahuman Files available in audio, but I hope the rest will follow in due course.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 666 reviews