Crossfire

by Jackie Keswick, Emma Griffin (Illustrator)

Martin Pendleton was the most beautiful man I'd ever met. He was also the first man I'd ever been attracted to.

I'm Dean Gilchrist, and my twin sister Cat and I run a small tech startup. Looking for angel investors isn't my favourite way to spend time. Not even when they're gorgeous and charming. But there's gorgeous and charming, and then there's Martin Pendleton.

I've no idea why Martin caught my eye. Could be his charisma. Could be the hint of frost at his temples. Could be his voice. All I know is looking at him gives me the shivers and one word from him can turn me back into the awkward, tongue-tied nerd I used to be. Nobody else has ever managed that. It's all very strange.

Stranger still, Cat is totally fine with my sudden interest in batting for the other team. Not that I've done an awful lot of batting for the regular side, you understand. And I have no idea how to go about wooing a guy. But the way Martin makes me feel? I've got to try this even if it kills me. And with the way bullets suddenly start flying… it just might.

Contemporary MM romance novella set in England, featuring a romantically unenthusiastic introvert with an awesome twin sister and a sophisticated older man with a secret. An introspective little love story.

Genres: M M Romance, Contemporary, Romance

129 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 13, 2018

About the author

Jackie Keswick writes a mix of suspense, action adventure, fantasy and magical realism. She loves stories with layers, plots with twists and characters with hidden depths. She adores friends to lovers stories, tales of unexpected reunions and second chances, and men who write their own rules. She blogs about English history and food, has a thing for green eyes, and is a great believer in making up soundtracks for everything, including her characters and the cat.

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH JACKIE:
Website
Bookbub
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram

LIST OF BOOKS

Reviews

[Antisocial Recluse · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the Job Hunt series but this story did little for me. It’s written well enough but lacks in the way of plot line. The app developer angle was logical but I didn’t understand Cat and Dean’s sideline. How do you make money off of that? It sounded like it would be blackmail but that’s not how it was presented. Then there was the Olivia situation, which was all resolved by Martin off-page. So, it wasn’t really suspense. Not erotica either as sex wasn’t a focus. The whole relationship build was primarily exposition and not much time shown with Martin and Dean together. I’m also trying to avoid saying Dean and Martin because I can only visualize a drunken singer. It wasn’t a terrible story but it didn’t excite my interest in either the plot or characters. Just middling.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I honestly don’t know. I finished this yesterday and it’s taken me until now to try come up with a rating some parts I wasn’t to give it 2 others I wanted to give it four.
I know it’s only a novella but we got none of Cat and Deans back story so that’s all a bit of a mystery. I completely understand the app developer and marking side but this side business. Seriously how many angel investors are going to have marital issues that these too can help with that in my opinion just wasn’t needed.
Martian and his mobile ex wife it’s set in London now America I just found it hard to believe. Ok I get the disgruntled ex wife I even get the trying to kill him. But not the mob aspect.
As well as Cat and Dean you only get hints of a back story but you need these if your going to have character who are the way they are because of their past.
What I did like was the tension between Martian and Dean and I loved the relationship with Dean and his sister but unfortunately that’s about all.

I received an arc copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Ayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first I have read from this author and I enjoyed her writing style. The writing was relatable and easy to flow through. Though, this book is not at all what I expected.

I will say It took me a minute to really get the whole picture. We meet Dean after he has already taken an interest in Martin, which I was a little sad about, I wanted to see that initial attraction. And there is a lot going on throughout the story. The book kept my interest but I could not help but feel that this short book could have been put into two separate books with all of the information in it. The book was jam packed with details. I wish we could have explored some things that are mentioned in the book a little more. I liked Dean and I wanted to know Martin a little more!

A few things tackled in this book.. mob connections, divorce, people getting shot at, crazy ex-wife.. i.e. mob connections, a sassy twin sister (that I love, and honestly wouldn't mind her story), and a gay for you trope (for one character).

I would definitely recommend this read!

[Emily Seelye · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this short novella, and except for a few random typos, it was written well enough. But, there was too much packed into 100 pages, and more telling, not enough showing, particularly when it came to the sex scenes. They could have been drawn out and sexier.

[Xanthe · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book with a lot of potential. Started off really well and exciting with possibility of hot attraction, great relationships and a good bit of drama.
But as much as it promised, it didn't really deliver.
The MC's - Dean and Martin - take time connecting, first through work and then personally. However, a date that goes really well turns sour when a bullet or two is fired their way. This is where drama, tension and thrills could ensue but everything seems to be glossed over and quickly tied up neatly with a bow.
I love the relationship between Dean and Cat, twins who work together and have been very reliant on each other their whole lives after a turbulent childhood that we don't hear much about.
The setting for the story is great! I love the walk that is taken by Dean and Martin through London as they head to a restaurant and after a jazz club. You get a real sense of being in a large city with all of the high end buildings and high number of people
This is my first book by this author and though this one fell a bit flat I am interested in other books by them, especially after reading other reviews.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review

[DC · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just did not like this story. The plot line was sort of all over the place - app developers, mysterious “sideline”, mob connections - and never really pulled together cohesively. And I didn’t care for the characters. Dean and Cat, 23-year old twins but something just seemed very off and the “special connection” twins feel came across as forced and cold. And Dean’s constant overanalyzing of just about everything was really tiresome. Martin was pretty much a mystery throughout. So we get some answers regarding his relationship with Olivia, but clearly he was very wealthy which was never explained. Aa for the barely-there romance between Dean and Martin, well, was the pilot light on because I was feeling no heat. Things started to heat up a bit bit but then the rather abrupt ending just doused the flame.

[Helen Oakes · Rating 3 out of 5]

*arc received in exchange for an honest review*

I feel like this book had a lot of potential - twins starting their own business, new beau, scheming ex-wife, the mob - and I think it would have delivered in a full length novel so that the author had the pages to expand the drama. As much as I enjoyed reading the romance between Martin and Dean it was barely there. It was almost an afterthought which is a shame when it should have been the central focus. However, I did enjoy the read and read it all in one sitting so it was a definitely a down the middle read. Great read but it just needed something extra to give it them missing stars.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing short story with several strands woven in together. Dean and Caitlin's app-writing business, Martin and Olivia funding the business, the relationship between Martin and his wife - or lack of, and Dean's attraction to Martin.
I felt some parts were only glossed over. I would have liked to have read more of Olivia and Martin's backstory plus Caitlin and Dean's app business, which at first was an integral part of the story at the beginning, faded into the background.
This is cleverly written but I only wish there was more to it. This would have made a great full length novel.

[Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a novella, it packed a lot in, all of which kept my interest. There was enough material for a full length novel.
Dean and his twin, Cat, run a fledgling software company. They meet Martin and Olivia, a married but separated couple, who are interested in investing in the company. I wondered a little how the attraction between Dean and Martin would play out, considering the wife angle, but it was understandable.
There is a bit of everything – attraction, suspense, a bit of fun, mob involvement and an HEA.
I enjoyed this quick read.

I received an ARC with no obligation to leave a review.

[Esther Alayeto · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short and quick but sweet read. It's fast-paced but flows seamlessly and doesn't feel rushed. Dean and Martin are attracted to each other and have great chemistry but just as they get started, someone is shooting at them! Martin seems to know who the culprit is, can he stop them in time and still get his HEA with Dean?
I voluntarily reviewed a advanced reader copy of this book.

[jennifer Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but sweet

Jackie packed a lot into a short book but it worked out so beautifully. It is amazing that so much happened, so much was touched upon is a small amount of time without feeling like anything was missing. Very well written.

[Monika · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, the most of the important and interesting stuff in this book did not happen on the page. Big downer. Also too much concentration on sex instead of concentration on story and character development (both did not happen and the story was completely all over the place).

[Patdbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice story. Interesting the jump from innocent chasing to having the mob after them. But I like it.

[tammy rufo · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute short read, didn't really get a feel for the characters, would love a part two.