Alpha Chef

J.T.'s Bar #2

by Sue Brown

When Greg Mitchelson’s home is torched and his employer killed, Greg fears it's retribution for his past testimony against a notorious drug gang. Alone, with no money and only the clothes on his back, Greg turns to Colm Riordan, the Deputy US Marshal who's protected Greg for the last 3 years. But Riordan doesn’t return Greg’s phone calls, and the local Marshal’s office refuses to help him.In desperation, Greg goes on the run to Wyoming to find his brother, Mitch, whom he hasn’t seen in over a decade. As he reconnects with his brother, Riordan appears, searching for his missing witness. But Greg needs the answers to a lot of questions before he’ll trust Riordan again. Why didn’t he return Greg’s call? Is Riordan there to help Greg – or kill him?

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, LGBT, Fiction, Military Fiction, Action

186 pages, Paperback

First published September 27, 2017

About the author

Hot guys, big hearts, Sue's world.
Sue Brown is a Londoner with a dream to live on a small island. Coffee fuels her addiction to writing romance with hot guys loving each other, and her Adorkadog snores in harmony as she creates.

Reviews

[Cadiva · Rating 3 out of 5]

I preferred this one over book one, there was a bit more action, the plotting seemed far more sensible and didn't have any loose ends coming out of left field.

There were more sex scenes in this one but not enough that it overwhelmed the narrative. Overall, I think I felt the attraction between these two better.

It was cool to catch up with the rest of the team and to see that Jake and Cole are still going strong and that Si and Howie's romance is also flourishing. I didn't spot anything specifically being set up for a third book so I'm not sure if this is the end of the JT's Bar series or not.

#ARC received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review

[Antisocial Recluse · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an entertaining action story, adding new characters to the group from book one, “Alpha Barman”. Greg is Mitch’s long-lost brother, on the run since his WITSEC identity was discovered, not knowing if he could trust the US Marshals, including his contact, Colm Riordan. There is a lot that happens in the story with Mitch and Greg, and Jake and Mitch’s old black ops team, but mostly with Riordan, who has more than a professional interest in Greg. They’re also being chased down by criminals and there’s a mole in the Marshals service.

Characterization was kind of minimal, but a large part of the narrative concerns Mitch and Greg reconnecting, so that did add to it. Mitch was unaware of why Greg left home and what had happened with their parents. The dialogue is occasionally choppy, jumping from one subject and character, into a side discussion and back again. There was some banter and sibling snark, plus Moose and Howie, who worked in the bar, added some humorous moments. The action plot was straightforward and had a couple of tense action scenes. I can’t say I felt strongly about the romance aspect, as there was almost no buildup shown. Some previous attraction was mentioned, a few looks were exchanged, then they’re falling into bed and into love. It was in the midst of a crisis and they did have some history, so I took it at face value.

It was a clearly written, easy read, and held my attention, wanting to find out what might happen to Greg and why he and Mitch were apart for so long. Finding out later how Greg and Riordan could be together, made the epilogue worthwhile. If you want a decent, light, entertaining read, with suspense and action sequences, this may work well for you.

*An ARC was provided by the author or publisher in return for a fair and honest review for Jessie G Books Reviews*

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (8/17/2019)! 🎁

[Kirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

We follow on from Jake and Mitch’s story in book one of the series where Mitch’s brother had just made an appearance in Wyoming at Jake’s bar. Living life in WITSEC after witnessing a murder by a drug kingpin and then the realisation that there’s a mole in the Marshal’s office, who can he trust? He’s living life on the run and turns to his estranged brother Mitch for help. I wasn’t sure if I could trust Colm Riordan at first―the Deputy US Marshal assigned to Greg for the last three years―because of him going AWOL when Greg needed him after the fire at Greg’s workplace where his friend and employer is killed, and then not being able to contact him or his partner, it all seemed a bit iffy. Then Riordan turns up at the bar and with the help of Mitch and the team and they end up holed up at a cabin to keep Greg safe and try to work out what the hell’s happening and who the mole might be. At the cabin, things heat up between Greg and Riordan, after all Greg has wanted him for a long time and he finds out the feeling is mutual. Things escalate from here on in and there’s much drama, shooting and enough action to shake a stick at and here we find out if Greg’s trust has been misplaced. Throw in a nasty homophobic father and some great supporting characters and you have a really nice romance with plenty of thrills and suspense to keep your interest. I hope there’s more to follow as I want to see what happens with Si and Howie.

Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMG Reads.

[Valeria DePaula · Rating 5 out of 5]

✔ Letto! Greg il fratello di Mitch, dopo essere stato cacciato di casa ancora minorenne dopo essersi dichiarato ai suoi genitori. Ha dovuto svolgere diversi "lavoretti" per non morire di fame e attraversare il paese il più lontano possibile dai suoi. Ma stanco voleva un lavoro stabile ed ha risposto a un annuncio per pulire la piscina in una magione, solo che non sapeva che nel suo primo giorno di lavoro che andrebbe a finire sotto la protezione testimone per per 14 anni. Non ha potuto contattare il fratello da allora, che a quei tempi si era arruolato. Era solo e doveva continuamente nascondersi perché aveva mandato in prigione l'uomo che aveva ucciso il suo quasi datore di lavoro.
Con il ritorno del assassino, la vita di Greg è in pericolo di nuovo,  trovandosi solo, scappa. Solo che questa volta, sa dove si trova il suo fratellone e lo va a cercare.
Questo libro mi è piaciuto di più del primo. Almeno a me è sembrato più azzeccato, con meno battutine superficiale e più nello stile della Brown. E, i personaggi del primo libro presenti anche in questo sono stati una bella aggiunta e rivedere come procedono le cose nel JT's Bar e i loro particolari clienti è stato molto bello. Ho avuto l'occasione con questo libro di rivalutarli positivamente tutti quanti, principalmente Jake. E i due fratelli Mitchaelson sono i miei  preferiti 😍
Libro corto, scritto bene e scorrevole dove le occasione nella vita vanno colte e la famiglia non sempre ha bisogno di un vero legame di sangue per essere tale.
Per me è ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ e 💋

[Elyxyz Elyxyz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devo dire che questo secondo capitolo della serie è stata una bellissima sorpresa, perché mi è piaciuto più del primo. Si merita 4 stelle belle piene e anche un pochetto di più.
Ho adorato la storia del povero fratellino di Mitch, Greg ne ha passate di tutti i colori, ma è rimasto un uomo buono, pronto a rialzarsi anche se la vita lo ha bastonato parecchio.
È stato piacevole ritrovare i precedenti protagonisti e tutta la squadra, sentire ancora il cameratismo e le punzecchiature varie, nonché l’affetto che lega questi uomini duri, d’un pezzo, ma che sanno ancora commuoversi. L’istinto di protezione e la cocciutaggine di Mitch per Greg fanno sorridere e intenerire.
È una bella storia che parla di seconde possibilità e della ricerca della felicità, di affetto e amore. C’è un bel po’ di movimento e non ci si annoia. Mi è piaciuto molto anche il coprotagonista Colm Riordan, che si fa apprezzare per varie ragioni, anche se avrei usato più il suo nome rispetto al cognome, almeno delle scene d’intimità.
Sarei curiosa di sapere se ci sarà un terzo libro prima o poi, ma intanto vi consiglio questo.

[Mari Cardenas · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars!

Greg has been in witness protection for 14 years and while it's not an ideal situation, he'd made the most of it, especially during the last three years in which he'd been able to enjoy certain stability. However, that all changes one night when he's walking toward his apartment only to find it in flames and when he returns to his workplace, a bomb explodes, killing his boss. When he tries to contact his handler, he gets no answer and when he contacts the local Marshal's office, he's cut by the person who responds. Not knowing who he can trust, he hitchhikes to Wyoming where his brother Mitch is living now. Mitch is happy to know Greg is alive, but saddened and angry when he learns of all Greg has had to go through since their father threw him away for being gay. As they reconnect, Greg's handler, Colm Riordan, reappears on the scene, but Greg is unsure if he can trust Riordan, no matter how drawn he is to the man.

I loved Greg and felt so bad for all he went through. His near-death experience on the heels of being thrown out of his house, having to go into witness protection and practically living with a target on his back for so many years. His reunion with Mitch was heartbreaking, but I was so glad both Mitch and Jake had his back. I wasn't too sure about Riordan at first. His actions were a bit shady, but it all was explained in a satisfying manner and I warmed up to him. While I'm not certain how ethical it is for a US Marshal to seduce a witness under his care, it was undeniable there was a lot of chemistry between them and once they finally gave in to it, they were really hot together.

I loved Mitch and Jake and all the guys from Mitch's team, they were awesome and funny.

All in all, this was a great read, very fast-paced and action-packed. If I could've asked for something more, it'd be to have had a bit more of Riordan and Greg's backstory to see how it all began, because it felt a bit too forced at first. Other than that, this was a very good addition to the series. Very recommendable!

*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet! Absolutely love Sue Brown's style!

[Diverse · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

++++++++++++++

This is book two in Sue Brown's J.T's Bar series. I will start off by saying you do need to read book one Alpha Barman first. With so many characters in play with this series it can get confusing so follow along.

Alpha Chef has action and questions just like in book one. In this book we are dealing with Greg, Mitch's estranged brother. Of course his arrival brings on loads of emotion, more questions, confusion, and suspense.

There were some good action scenes in this story which I loved. I was leary about certain characters and had serious issues with Colm Riordan... You will too.

The re-connection of Mitch and Greg seemed to be the main focus of this book. While it is a romance for Greg and Colm, throughout the entire story it felt like the brothers were truly the stars of this show.

Colm and Greg have a history and honestly it was the saving grace of their relationship. They were very wam bam and now I love you which I didn't adore all that much but I kept in mind that they have known each other awhile. I would have loved to see more build up with these two to grasp their chemistry.

Loved the brothers and all the black OPs guys. Very entertaining, angst-free, and enjoyable.

[Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently found this series and fell in love with these characters. This story starts with a surprise and if pretty full of action throughout. This has to be one of the most heartbreaking stories I’ve read in quite awhile. How parents can toss kids away is beyond me. Greg sure is an example that made me want to cry. It appears nothing in his home life was ever good for him. Yet somehow he turns out to be a great guy. As his story is told I could not help but shake my head a number of times. Thankfully the author found a way to make his relationship with his brother turn out okay. It is also interesting to watch how he handles his interactions with his Marshal. I’ve loved each of the stories I’ve read in this series but I sure have a soft spot for this one. I hope the author carries forward these characters since I’m interested where they end up.

[Bo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really liked the first book, but this one not so much.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

migliore del precedente,buona trama e protagonisti non male

[Ivy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Full review at :
https://optimumm.blog/2017/11/11/review-alpha-chef-by-sue-brown/



Gregory Mitchelson is a witness in the WITSEC program. For 14 years, he was someone else, protected by the US Marshall office, he moved from town to town in order to stay safe and alive.
When his flat and job are burned to the ground, he has no other choice but to reach out to the only person he trusts. His Brother Mitch.
US Marshall Colm Riordam is in charge of Greg’s protection, so when he went missing, he flew through the country to find him and protect him.

Colm and Greg have known each other for the last 3 years. 3 years together, being protectee and protector when they only want to be together for good.

I liked this book, much better than the first one.

Gregory is a sweet man, he only wants to be left in peace, loved, and accepted for who he is. When he discovered that his father accepted Mitch’s homosexuality when he throws him on the street for being gay, it broke my heart. But Greg is strong, smart and when he has the chance to have his family back, he didn’t hesitate.
Colm is overprotective with Greg. He wants him in his life, bed and heart, and he’s ready to do anything to achieve his goal.

It was a pleasant reading, the team is present, we get news from Riley (aka my new wet dream), Si and Howie (My favorite couple), Mitch and Jake and of course, Moose, Carl and Wyatt.
I liked the story, the plot was good, too bad it wasn’t more developed, but it works for me like that.

Sue Brown has a real talent, her writing is good and fluid.
The only thing that bothered me was the absence of a connection between the characters. We knew that Greg and Colm are crazy about each other, but it wasn’t well described, it was just on the surface.

But, like I said, it was still a good book with adorable characters and a good plot.

It’s 3.5 OptimuMM for me, and I can’t wait for the next one, it better be Si and Howie, I’m dying to read about them.



***I would like to thank the author for the privilege and opportunity of reading this ARC. My review is an honest opinion of the book ***

[Susan65 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Blogger Girls

This is a great follow up story to the first book, Alpha Barman. Mitch and Jake were amazing characters in the first book, and it was only logical that I would be excited to see Mitch’s brother, Greg, get his happy ending with his crush, and protector, Colm, too. Cool name, I love the Irish. But what I loved most was being back with all the men from Mitch and Jake’s special forces team. I am a sucker for books that have great secondary characters that follow along in the series and this one fits the bill.

Greg is in Witness Protection, and Colm is his contact within the US Marshal’s office. But there is a mole inside the US Marshals and Greg is now on the run, again. He has nowhere to run but to his brother, whom he hasn’t seen in fourteen years. In addition to Greg and Colm admitting, and finally acting on their feelings, Greg and Mitch also have a ton of time to make up. Fourteen years and then Greg falling off the face of the planet requires a few heart to hearts. It was probably some of the best parts of the book, honestly.

What I never quite understood, though, was why their father accepted Mitch but not Greg. Greg didn’t understand it either so maybe it was written to be vague, on purpose. At least the mom finally came around. I will never understand parents who choose a spouse over a child, but it happens in real life and in fiction so if you want realism, there you have it. Sad, but true.

I am looking forward to seeing where J.T.’s bar takes us from here. This is turning into a must-read series for me and I highly recommend to everyone else, too.

Overall Impression: I really liked it!

[Romanticamente Fantasy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lo avevano trovato un’altra volta. Avrebbe dovuto trasferirsi. Un’altra città, un altro lavoro, un altro nome. Merda! Il cuore di Greg batteva all’impazzata mentre correva, sentendo il panico avere la meglio e il sangue pulsargli nelle orecchie. Le lacrime gli pizzicavano gli occhi, e non era solo colpa del fumo. Avrebbe sentito la mancanza di Raleigh, il primo posto in cui si era sentito a casa. Corse verso la tavola calda, da cui era uscito solo cinque minuti prima. Sperava che Willie avrebbe capito. Gli sarebbe mancato e, anche se sapeva che fermarsi a parlargli sarebbe stato pericoloso, non gli importava. Willie era una brava persona. Era stato come un padre per lui. Un padre migliore di quanto il suo fosse mai stato, e si meritava una spiegazione… o qualcosa del genere. L’unica che Greg potesse dargli.”

Nel libro precedente Jack e Mitch sono finalmente riusciti a venire a capo dei loro problemi, sono tornati a essere una coppia, e per loro è cominciato un periodo rilassante. Nella storia narrata in Alpha Chef i due protagonisti lavorano insieme nel bar che Jake e Howie gestiscono: una vita ben diversa da quella di un agente addestrato per missioni particolari. La loro pace viene messa alla prova solo dalle riunioni della squadra speciale, di cui entrambi hanno fatto parte, che al ritorno di ogni missione si presenta al bar a festeggiare, per rivederli e stare insieme, e permettere anche a Simon di riabbracciare il fidanzato Howie. È proprio durante una di queste liete occasioni che al bar si presenta un uomo che lascia Mitch stupefatto e incredulo, ma anche molto felice. Greg Mitchelson si trova in grossi guai, da anni vive sotto mentite spoglie e fa parte del programma protezioni testimoni e per questo la sua vita prevede sempre uno zaino pronto, con pochi effetti personali. E dire che negli ultimi tempi era convinto di essere finalmente riuscito ad avere una parvenza di normalità! Ma ora sa di essere stato rintracciato, qualcuno conosce la sua nuova identità, dove lavora, e quando non riesce a mettersi in contatto con Riordan, lo sceriffo che si è occupato di lui negli ultimi tempi, e il suo ufficio non sembra intenzionato ad aiutarlo, decide di rivolgersi all’unico uomo che sa farebbe di tutto per aiutarlo: Mitch. Il fratello maggiore che non vede da anni e che ha scoperto, dall’articolo di un giornale, ha fatto parte di un gruppo di militari altamente addestrati.

Mitch è felicissimo di aver ritrovato il fratello minore, nel corso degli anni ha fatto più di una ricerca, rivolgendosi anche a investigatori privati, e ha chiesto aiuto pure ai propri superiori, senza ottenere nessun risultato. Il poterlo riabbracciare, però, porta anche rimorso e dolore. Riaverlo nella sua vita vuol dire, infatti, scoprire molte cose spiacevoli sulla sua famiglia. Quel padre che lo ha sempre messo in ansia con i suoi giudizi, e con cui ha un rapporto abbastanza freddo, col suo fratellino si è comportato in modo ignobile, scacciandolo di casa poco tempo dopo che lui si era arruolato. E quella non era stata l’unica volta in cui lo aveva rinnegato. Solo, e alla ricerca di un lavoro, il giovanissimo Greg si è trovato al posto giusto nel momento più sbagliato e ha visto qualcosa che ha messo la sua vita nelle mani dei federali e della protezione testimoni. E ora l’ufficio dei federali sembra compromesso: qualcuno dall’interno sta passando vitali informazioni. Per questo, quando Riordan si presenta al bar troverà Greg circondato da persone sospettose, che non intendono lasciarglielo portare via.

Sono dei gran bei personaggi quelli che Sue Brown mette in campo in questa serie: uomini forti che sanno battersi, ma che dopo tanto tempo hanno deciso di avere una vita più tranquilla, godendosi il loro amore. Mitch è stato un ottimo caposquadra, si è sempre occupato dei suoi uomini, e quando scopre la verità sulla vita del fratello è furioso, anche con se stesso. Non si era mai reso conto di come fosse davvero suo padre, ha creduto alle sue bugie e scoprire la verità lo devasta. Per la prima volta si rende conto delle differenze con cui l’uomo ha sempre giudicato i suoi figli. Mitch, con la sua prestanza fisica e i suoi ammirevoli risultati scolastici, è riuscito a rientrare nelle grazie di quell’uomo dall’amore paterno scadente. Tuttavia, non aveva mai compreso quanto questo, però, avesse messo il fratello in una situazione precaria, rendendolo più ribelle, e più soggetto al disprezzo paterno. La madre non fa una figura migliore, si salva solo all’ultimo momento, ma non per quanto mi riguarda, infatti il racconto delle sue motivazioni è per me da brividi. Greg ha vissuto praticamente senza sapere mai dove sarebbe stato il giorno dopo, incapace di avere anche il tempo di andare a scuola, e si accontenta di lavori precari. Almeno fino a quando uno dei tanti sceriffi, che si sono succeduti negli anni prima di Riordan, non gli ha trovato lavoro in una tavola calda. Quell’esperienza faticosa gli ha permesso di capire che cucinare è la sua passione e, da quel momento, fare il cuoco lo ha reso, se non felice, soddisfatto. Durante il suo ultimo lavoro, durato più degli altri, era riuscito anche a farsi degli amici, credendo che quella volta sarebbe stato diverso. Quando lo incontriamo, è un uomo stanco di fuggire, in preda alla paura, che non ha nessuno su cui può contare, tranne due persone: uno sceriffo, che non risponde al telefono e per cui lui ha sempre provato una forte attrazione, e un fratello che non vede da decenni, eppure si rivela coraggioso e disposto ad andarsene per non mettere in pericolo le persone che frequentano il bar. Ora anche per lui, finalmente, si intravede la fine di un lungo incubo e la possibilità di avere un lavoro, un fratello, una casa e forse anche un uomo che lo ami. Ma prima dovrà scoprire le vere intenzioni di Riordan.

È un libro che si legge con grande piacere, molto scorrevole e anche abbastanza breve. L’unico appunto che posso fare all’autrice è il non aver sfruttato una trama che aveva molti intriganti risvolti. La parte suspense, infatti, per quanto ben scritta, si risolve in poche pagine e troppo frettolosamente, renderla un po’ più corposa avrebbe reso tutto ben più stuzzicante. Avere a disposizione personaggi così addestrati e non usarli, se non per brevi attimi, è un gran peccato. Nonostante questo è una serie davvero molto carina, che al momento non sembra avere ulteriori capitoli. Ma forse fra qualche tempo… potremmo avere come protagonisti gli altri personaggi della squadra.

Lucia63 - per RFS

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hadn’t read the first story before I started this one and I think I should have. Greg is an original, strong character who hasn’t had the best life. His dad kicked him out after discovering he was gay, and that was after his brother left for the army. When he got to California, he was a witness to a murder and almost killed himself. And then he went into the witness protection program.

Although the suspense was good, well for the first part of the story anyway, the romance was lacking. The relationship between Greg and Riordan was hot, but the ending left everything open, as if the next book would continue their story, but it would be in the periphery.

There wasn’t a build up to their romance, only an attraction that flared quickly when they find themselves alone in a secluded cabin. And I didn’t like how easy the threat Greg had spent 14 years running from was eliminated. Then Greg’s parents make an appearance, his dad unaccepting as ever. And one scene where Greg brought up wanting to be a lawyer and the bristling when Riordan called him a line cook, saying he had found his niche and was happy. All of this was unnecessary.

It seemed to me that everything was thrown at the story, leaving it a bit unformed and left me wanting more everything; suspense, romance, and a defined relationship between Greg and Riordan more than boyfriends.

[Lora Graham · Rating 2 out of 5]

1. I didn’t feel any chemistry between Greg & Colm, & found myself skimming over all their sex scenes, even the first one.
2. I was slightly bothered by Colm sleeping with the witness he was still protecting.
3. After running scared from a bad guy for 14 years, to say Greg’s final confrontation with Delgado was anticlimactic is an understatement.
4. Delgado finding Greg was ridiculously easy and made no sense. Just like him being able to get someone employed in the US Marshal’s office.
5. When are they going to stop sleeping on the floor of the bar? These are grown, and supposedly large, men. The government should be able to get them hotel rooms, or if it’s an issue of closeness for protection purposes, Jake & Mitch need to add more rooms to the bar.
6. When are Jake & Mitch going to stop living in the bar?
7. Si is even more annoying (after getting with Howie) than in the first book, and now I just don’t like him.
8. I didn’t like when Colm & Olivia both made it known that they thought Greg was above being a “fry cook”. That’s what he enjoyed doing!
9. The “skirmish” between Moose & Wyatt was highly unnecessary and should’ve been left out.
10. The secret set up between all the agents was highly convoluted.

[ButtonsMom2003 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great suspense, great story!

I've read a couple of other books by Sue Brown but they were fairly short. Alpha Barman is the first novel I've read and I loved it. This story has a bit of everything: suspense, second chance romance, hot covert ops guys, mystery and a twist. And lots of sexy time.

Jake Tyler left the covert ops group he worked for after his sister was murdered by her husband, Riley, who was also Jake's best friend. Jake's testimony helped put Riley away for life. When Riley escapes and comes looking for him, Jake's former boss sends his old team to protect him. That team just happens to include Mitch Mitchelson who was Jake's lover and housemate. Now Jake must face the man that he ran away from when his world fell apart.

Once I started reading this book I devoured it. I was totally engrossed in the story right from the prologue. The pace was quick, the writing smooth and I became invested in the characters and wanted them to get their HEA. The epilogue was great and wrapped things up very well while at the same time setting things up for the next book. Alpha Chef is next up on my to-be-read list (TBRL)

***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***

[MN Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my new favorite books. Love to read about strong men who aren't ashamed to show their romantic side, even though romance is sometimes interrupted by lost work partners and guys with guns.

Greg and Colm have known each other for year. Greg as a protected witness and Colm the US Marshall assigned to protect him. When Greg's past catches up with him, he goes to locate his long lost brother in Idaho who is running a bar with his husband.

I don't want to give much away, but attraction happens, sexy time happen, guns and fights happen and they get their HEA. Much love for this series.

[Beverly Southern Babes Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

It feels like I’ve been waiting for this book forever, but it hasn’t been that long. An it didn’t disappoint.

I loved Jake and Mitch’s story and I couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen by the end of the first book. So make sure you read it first. Greg and Riordan’s story was just as good. You finally get the questions answered. The Who, what, why and how. Everything just comes together in a sweet little package. With some shootings , laughs and drama of course. I still want Si’s story though, I’m sure that one would be interesting. Can’t wait to see what comes next.

[Mags · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wont bother with more

This is a bit of a mess of a book. Theres spelling mistakes, random letters throughout, then the names of characters are mixed up during key dialogue speeches. The overall storyline was intriguing but delivery fell short, with random nonsense happening in middle of the storyline which added nothing to it. No depth to characters and a personality transplant for them midway through the book.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

I loved this book even more than the first one which is a rarity for me. These two just pulled in my heart strings from the first chapter. Loved it.

[Tori Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 heart review for Love Bytes Reviews.

A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. This review was originally posted at Love Bytes Reviews, please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, interviews, and giveaways!

Alpha Chef picks up right where Alpha Barman left off, and continues the story of a group of men involved with a small bar in Wyoming called J.T’s Bar. In Alpha Barman, we met Jake Tyler (the J and T of J.T.’s Bar), as he is rebuilding his life after leaving a special ops group. His sister was murdered by his best friend and fellow team member, Riley. After Riley was convicted, Jake quit his job and left his lover, also a fellow team member, and headed to Wyoming where he buys a bar. Eventually Jake and Mitch, the abandoned lover, reunite and Mitch also quits the team to settle in Wyoming and help run Jake’s bar. At the very end of the book, a man walks in to the bar, and Mitch recognizes him as his long-lost brother Greg.

This book is Greg’s story… Greg is the younger brother of a perfect son, and always a disappointment to his parents. Once they found out he was gay, they booted him out of the house. Greg made his way to Los Angeles, and while on a job interview manages to witness a gang shooting, plays dead, and eventually goes in to witness protection. After many years, several moves, and multiple handlers, he’s once again on the run. This time he can’t reach his handler Colm Riordan, or Riordan’s partner. He realizes something is happening at the Marshall’s office, and he can’t trust anyone. He is left with no option other than to find his brother. Who he hasn’t seen since before he left home. So he heads to Wyoming and walks in to J.T.’s Bar. Imagine his surprise, when he finds his brother and his male lover!

Mitch could not be happier to see his brother, and the two quickly catch up. Mitch immediately wants to help Greg, and he and Jake offer him a job and a place to stay. But before Greg can even settle in, Riordan shows up, informing him that the guy who wants him dead has been released from prison and is headed his way. What follows is an action packed story of Riordan trying to keep Greg alive, with the help of Mitch and his friends. All while the two fall in love…

So I had some issues with this book, and with Alpha Barman, which I just read. My big problem is that you can clearly tell that both of these books are written by someone who doesn’t live in the US. Even the name of the first book. I’ve never heard anyone called a barman in the US. Admittedly I don’t hang out in bars in Wyoming, but that just isn’t what we call the guys that serve drinks. That’s a bartender. There was a phrase used in both books that I had to look up, “like chalk and cheese”, which appears to be a British phrase, not something I’ve ever heard. There were a few other smaller things like that, plus a few editing issues. It was all enough to pull me out of the story.

I liked Greg and Colm quite a bit. I liked the bond that formed between them as the story progressed, it was clear to me that Colm cared about Greg, both on a personal level and a profession level. The plot started off ok for me, but then it got to be really unbelievable. It wasn’t clear how the bad guy was able to track down Greg so easily, or even why he was so hot to kill Greg. There was a weird thing involving Colm’s partner that didn’t make sense to me. But I did like the inclusion of Mitch and Jake, and the other guys at the bar, and there is a good thing that happens involving family that worked very well for me toward the end. I liked how Greg’s character developed throughout the story, Colm was harder for me to get a read on, but I liked Greg. There were several really nice sex scenes between the two men, and I liked how their story ended.

I feel like both of these books had potential, but needed to be edited by someone in the US who could catch the British-isms and the typos. Also some clean up on the plots, there was just so much that I couldn’t accept in both stories. I generally like books written by Sue Brown, her Morning Report series is fantastic, she’s also got a series about a veterinarian office that I enjoyed too. But I think the plots in both of the books in this series got away from her a bit.

If you are looking for an action filled book with some good sex scenes, and are ok with an unrealistic plot, then by all means read this book. Read Alpha Barman first though, or you won’t know who these guys are.

[Jenny Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mitch's brother that he hadn't seen in over a decade, just walked into J.T's... That's where we left off last book and picked up in this one..
On the run from a gangster after witnessing a mob hit and the WITSEC falling down on the job, he's compromised. After being kicked out of his family home at 18, and his brother joining the army and not leaving on good terms, he didn't have anyone to turn to when the Marshal's that were supposed to have his back, suddenly didn't. Now, his life in jeopardy and nothing but the clothes on his back and the meager money he had in his pocket, he had to get out of there, and fast. Deciding the only person he had that he could trust was his brother, he hitchhiked to nowhere town, Wyoming and hoped that his brother didn't turn him away....

Of course his brother didn't, because as long as Greg has been thinkin about MItch...Mitch's been tryin to find Greg...I loved their relationship and I loved seeing a sweeter side to Mitch... He doesn't only love Jake, his love for his brother was cute....

Now, Riordan, read the whole book, still dunno how to pronounce his name.... but I wasn't sure about him... I literally went almost the whole book and didn't know if we could trust him. I knew Greg had feelings for him, but, after Riordan didn't show up when Greg needed him, getting brushed off by the marshal's and then him showing up out of the blue... I just didn't trust him... It almost cost him his life....more than once... Still, I knew Mitch wouldn't have left him with someone that wasn't trust worthy and that's the only reason I feel like I was able to let my guard down and hope for the best with them...
With a mole in the marshal's and nobody knowing who you could trust while the man that putGreg in WITSEC was after him to kill him, Riordan and Greg go into hiding at Howies cabin and that's where things get hot and heavy with them....

Can I also just say that I'm super bummed about Si and Howie and I really hope they work it out and that there's a next book. If not, I dunno if I'll be able to handle it. How unnecessary!!

But, alls well that ends well because the alpha's in this story take care of their family and Jake and MItch make it clear that once they've claimed you... there's no going back. I also wish that the guys would've gotten some better karmic justice with their homophobic, A-hole father.. I mean, he did ruin both of their lives and with as trigger happy as the whole clan are, I don't see why the man was left breathing... I really dont.... Blah....

Either way though, it ended well and everybody (except Si and HOwie) were happy and healthy and together and in love....and what more could you ask for really, (except for Si and Howie, of course) but I'm holding out hope for them.... Great addition to a great series!
4 stars from me!

[Love Bytes Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Kimberley

This is the second book in the series and this one was just as fabulous and as action packed as the first one. This story gives us Greg, Cole’s aka Mitch baby brother.

Greg’s life goes sideways when he ends up at the wrong place at the wrong time which resulted in him ending up in WHITSEC.

Just when Greg starts to get comfortable in his new location, his life goes sideways again which required him to go on the run when he couldn’t reach his handlers.

This story was heartbreaking and heartwarming in a weird way. Heartbreaking in what Greg’s life at home was like as a child and what he went through afterwards and heartwarming in his reunion with his big brother. It was absolutely sweet to see how happy Cole was to be reunited with the baby brother he spent so many years desperately searching for.

Like the first book, it has action and suspense, romance and sexy times. This time, you have the sweet relationship between these brothers. To me, that was the part I loved the most. Cole was protective of his baby brother. When Greg showed up out of the blue, seeking safety and shelter, Cole immediately went into big brother protector mode. And his brothers at arms jumped into the fray right along with them.

Riordan’s character was cool but the chemistry between the two MCs felt just a tad bit off for me because you don’t get much of their backstory. You get brief snatches here and there but not a whole lot of background of their relationship prior to the present.

What I love about this author’s writing style is that she expertly tells the story involving all of her characters without losing focus of the main characters. The background activity enhances the MCs in a way. I like that a lot.

As with the first book, there were minor editing hiccups but again, they weren’t enough to be distracting or detract from my overall enjoyment of the story.

The author does a great job of combining action, suspense, romance and humor in the storyline. This story didn’t have an HEA ending. It was more of a HFN ending. I am really looking forward to reading the third book.

This book was provided for free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.

[Carra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alpha Chef is the second book of the J.T’s Bar series, and I found myself liking this story more than the first one. For me, the drama was more gripping and I was more invested in Greg and Colm’s relationship in this story. I’m not sure though that the title is the right fit for the story, as the main plot of the story doesn’t really lend itself toward a title fixed on one particular aspect of Greg’s life, especially since that aspect is only mentioned a couple of times mostly in passing. I actually found Colm to be the more alpha of the two. Regardless of that fact, I found the story itself enjoyable though like with the first book of the series, the main climax of the suspense portion of the story seemed to come earlier than expected so that the last third of the book was mostly tying up loose ends and solidifying the relationship.

I mentioned that I thought Colm was the more alpha character, I found him to have the strong, protective personality that I associate with alpha males—particularly in his role as a US Marshal. Greg is also a strong character, but his is more of an inner strength that keeps him going and persevering even after all that he’s been through. I wish we could have seen some of the relationship development between the two men before the events of this book started to see where those seeds of their developing emotions were planted, just to get more insight into how their attraction began.

I really liked the portions of the story dealing with Greg and his brother Cole (Mitch) reconnecting. This added some good depth to the story and we get to see Cole doing his alpha protective thing again, this time with his brother now that he has him back. I was also happy to see the other returning characters from the first book, in particular Si and Howie—my interest is piqued with them and the potential conflict that may be arising between them (Howie is such a sweet guy!).

Alpha Chef skims close enough to 4 stars for me to round it there as my final rating, and I think those readers who read Alpha Barman will like Alpha Chef even more. This book is meant for readers 18+ for adult language and sexual content (mmm…Greg and Colm sure do have some hot chemistry going on!).

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 out of 5 stars

Description ~

When Greg Mitchelson’s home is torched and his employer killed, Greg fears it's retribution for his past testimony against a notorious drug gang. Alone, with no money and only the clothes on his back, Greg turns to Colm Riordan, the Deputy US Marshall who's protected Greg for the last 3 years. But Riordan doesn’t return Greg’s phone calls, and the local Marshal’s office refuses to help him.

In desperation, Greg goes on the run to Wyoming to find his brother, Mitch, whom he hasn’t seen in over a decade. As he reconnects with his brother, Riordan appears, searching for his missing witness. But Greg needs the answers to a lot of questions before he’ll trust Riordan again. Why didn’t he return Greg’s call? Is Riordan there to help Greg – or kill him?

My Review ~

Alpha Chef is the second book in the J.T's Bar series by author Sue Brown. I would recommend reading these books in order because the characters from the first book appear often in the second book.

This book was better than the first book for this reader. I really liked the two main characters, and I liked the story with Mitch and Greg finally connecting after all these years, but there were still some things that didn't necessarily work for me. That's not to say that the book overall wasn't enjoyable.. it was. The things that didn't work for me may work fine for other readers. I felt that some things were just glossed over too easily and the romance with Riordan and Greg was overly sudden. However I thought those two worked well together as a couple and felt better to me than then Mitch and Jake in the first book.

The plot for this book was more cohesive than the first book but still had some points that just were rushed to move the plot forward. The story was still very readable it just felt too easy for a romantic suspense story, which is the main plot point. Again the story still worked it just could have had a touch more added to the back story and the suspense part of the plot for me.

I can say that this is a decent read, pacing isn't bad, and the core group of characters works well together and enhances the story.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

This is an entertaining and action packed story, a similar style to the first book in this series and I did enjoy the ride. This book focuses on Greg, who after getting kicked out by his father for being gay, ends up in witness protection. He’s spent most of his adult life hiding and avoiding but eventually it all catches up to him again, and this time the Marshall’s service isn’t there to help so he turns to his older brother Mitch. The reunion isn’t easy, neither man really knowing what happened to the other over the years, but the two are happy to be together again. When Greg’s Marshall Riordan shows up, questions have to be answered before Greg can trust him again, and even after that, there is the question of the feelings and attraction lingering between the two men. All that plus a dangerous drug cartel that is after Greg leads to an action packed story.

I enjoyed this story and getting to see Mitch and Jake again, along with their team. I think that really played well with this story. Greg has had a pretty rough time and now that he’s found Mitch he doesn’t want to leave him again. The two come to an understanding about their past and want a future. But Greg is in danger and it’s Riordan’s responsibility to protect him. Riordan is also battling his attraction to Greg, something that’s been there from the beginning. These two find themselves alone and hiding in a cabin and that’s where they have to deal with their feelings. I liked these two together, it felt like a good match and something that had already been developed. Riordan is so very protective of Greg, even in the calm moments and I enjoyed that side of him. I really liked seeing Greg grow in confidence as well, in his job and relationships. He was so very likeable, I just wanted him to be happy! There is good character development and a lot of action and overall, an enjoyable read. I’ve definitely enjoyed this series and these characters and the intense situations this group seems to find!

[Sognare Leggi e Sogna... · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recensione completa:https://sognare2017.wordpress.com/201...

Non vedevo l’ora di leggere questo secondo libro!
Ho amato tanto il primo e tutti i suoi protagonisti, una buona parte li ritroveremo anche in questa storia, per cui se volete conoscerli un po’ meglio vi consiglio di leggere “Alpha Barman”.
La scrittrice ha nuovamente saputo creare una storia appassionante, ricca di personaggi interessanti e stuzzicanti.
Pur essendo un libro quasi esclusivamente popolato da uomini (e che uomini!), la trama è colma di dolcezza e romanticismo pur non mancando una buona dose di ottimo e appassionato sesso!
Un intreccio di situazioni altamente adrenaliniche come inseguimenti, esplosioni, sparatorie, zuffe, il tutto sapientemente mixato da una scrittura semplice e fluida, mai volgare ma molto intrigante e coinvolgente, senza mai un momento di noia o di eccessiva violenza visti alcuni argomenti trattati.
Il rapporto di coppia tra i due protagonisti, ma anche delle altre coppie presenti nella storia, pur essendo cariche di forza, testosterone ed erotismo sono di una tenerezza e dolcezza disarmante; anche le dinamiche tra i due fratelli sono molto emozionanti, il loro ritrovarsi dopo tanto tempo, il loro prendere posizione e proteggersi l’un l’altro contro tutto e tutti si ha quasi la sensazione di sentire quegli abbracci, le pacche sulle spalle, vivi il loro dolore, le loro paure, le loro lacrime, la loro felicità.
Poche le donne presenti ma sono belle toste e sanno essere incisive al momento giusto.
Gustatevi questa storia carica di avvenimenti, emozioni e colpi di scena; state sicuri che non vi deluderà assolutamente, io già non vedo l’ora di leggere il terzo!

[Feel The Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

 Recensione a cura di Lilith per Feel the Book

A diciotto anni, Greg viene buttato fuori di casa perché gay.
 Decide di farcela da solo e così va in cerca di un lavoro, ma non appena lo trova e dà inizio alla sua nuova vita, rimane vittima di una sparatoria nella quale muore il figlio del suo datore di lavoro, che si scopre essere anche un boss del narcotraffico.
Greg, che viene soltanto ferito, diventerà l’unico testimone del fatto, finendo così nel programma di Protezione Testimoni.
Quattordici anni dopo, lui è ancora nascosto.
Una sera si ritrova la casa in fiamme e il locale dove lavora esplode e quando cerca il suo contatto tra gli sceriffi federali, Colm Riordan, e gli viene detto che è fuori sede, Greg, in preda al panico, scappa, con solo quello che ha addosso, senza nessuna meta.
Dopo anni di lontananza, decide di tornare dal fratello Cole, con cui si era lasciato in un modo non proprio civile. L'incontro si rivela invece essere molto dolce; Greg si confida con il fratello, gli racconta quasi tutto, e Cole gli promette di aiutarlo, offrendogli un lavoro.
Ed è proprio allora che spunta anche Riordan in cerca del suo testimone.
Si scopre così che il killer contro cui Greg aveva testimoniato è stato scarcerato, e Greg è in pericolo di vita e… Non posso raccontare altro per non farvi perdere l’emozione di questa lettura.
Posso solo aggiungere che la parte poliziesca è ben amalgamata con la storia d'amore, si toccano problemi come l'omofobia, la corruzione (anche se in maniera marginale), l'abbandono e il ritrovo degli affetti familiari.
 Consigliato? Sì: storia avvincente e interessante; personaggi ben delineati; ben scritto; scorrevole; suspense; amore e... Leggetelo, dopo Alpha Barman ovviamente!

Editing recensione a cura di The Goddess per Feel the Book