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Pros & Cons #2
Pros & Cons of Deception
FIVE JOBS. FIVE CHANCES FOR REDEMPTION. One thing’s for sure: these men are no angels.
There’s nothing like being blackmailed by a dead man to really bring a group of cons together. The deal is simple, we do the jobs and Charlie’s lawyer wipes the slate clean for each of us, one at a time.
Job number two lands right in my lap. I’m Bond. Wesley Bond. (I can’t resist saying it that way. Blame my dad, if you can find him.) You could call me a hacker. I redistribute wealth - moving it from rich slimebags to poorer but infinitely more deserving people - and make a tidy profit as I do. My mission, should I choose to accept it, is to bring down some modern-day slave traders.
I definitely choose to accept it.
With the life of the one person in this world I love on the line, I can’t afford any screw ups or distractions. Unfortunately, my biggest distraction is my biggest asset - Danny Monroe. Danny is a leftover complication from our first job; a victim of the vicious senator we’d gotten locked up. He’s a smart, funny, gorgeous, ex-prostitute, who can’t seem to keep his clothes on. I can’t seem to keep my mouth shut around him. But I need a fake boyfriend, and Danny is the only option.
Fooling the world into thinking we’re in love will be easy; fooling myself that I’m not might be impossible.
We don’t know who the bad guy is, we have no idea how to prove anything. There’s no internet on the island, no cell service, and i’ll have only the bare bones of my gear. If I’m going to do this, I’m going to need all the help I can get.
Like it or not, we’re all in this together.
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 20, 2019
84 people are currently reading
419 people want to read
About the author
A.E. Wasp
42 books620 followersAfter time spent raising children, earning several college degrees, and traveling the world with the U.S. State Department, she is returning to her first love - writing.
A dreamer and an idealist, Amy writes about people finding connection in a world that can seem lonely and magic in a world than can seem all too mundane. She invites readers into her characters’ lives and worlds when they are their most vulnerable, their most human, living with the same hopes and fears we all have. An avid traveler who has lived in big cities and small towns in four different continents, Amy has found that time and distance are no barriers to love. She invites her readers to reach out and share how her characters have touched their lives or how the found families they have gathered around them have shaped their worlds.
Born on Long Island, NY, Amy has lived in Los Angeles, London, and Bangkok. She currently lives in Fort Collins, Colorado for who knows how long.
A dreamer and an idealist, Amy writes about people finding connection in a world that can seem lonely and magic in a world than can seem all too mundane. She invites readers into her characters’ lives and worlds when they are their most vulnerable, their most human, living with the same hopes and fears we all have. An avid traveler who has lived in big cities and small towns in four different continents, Amy has found that time and distance are no barriers to love. She invites her readers to reach out and share how her characters have touched their lives or how the found families they have gathered around them have shaped their worlds.
Born on Long Island, NY, Amy has lived in Los Angeles, London, and Bangkok. She currently lives in Fort Collins, Colorado for who knows how long.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 169 reviews
September 17, 2024
snark, sass and hilarious banters. the team are getting to know each other better a month later and becoming friends AND I AM ALL FOR IT. these guys are funny!!!!!! communicating over the ear pieces during the mission were my favorite parts. especially teasing the silver fox FBI agent daddy for wearing boy-shorts and ’Thing One’ freaking out over the toilet repairs😂😂
for this mission, the guys are stuck on an island resort and each has a job working there. tough guy bodyguard as camp childcare provider crying over Lilo & Stitch; ex-escort as maintenance guy and his twin as a dance instructor, posh con artist as a groundskeeper and FBI agent as a bartender in skimpy shorts!
Wes and Danny are sweet together after a month of bickering, slow burn with a lot of sexual tension, my kind of romance even though the ‘I love yous’ felt fast.
for this mission, the guys are stuck on an island resort and each has a job working there. tough guy bodyguard as camp childcare provider crying over Lilo & Stitch; ex-escort as maintenance guy and his twin as a dance instructor, posh con artist as a groundskeeper and FBI agent as a bartender in skimpy shorts!
Wes and Danny are sweet together after a month of bickering, slow burn with a lot of sexual tension, my kind of romance even though the ‘I love yous’ felt fast.
August 2, 2022
This didn't have the same pull as the first one at all but hopeful for book three. Scratch that. My book app unfortunately did not have the other books in the series. It's getting quite annoying that the book app only have a few of a series and jumps over or cuts of in the middle
September 22, 2019
I am loving this series.... A cross between Charlie’s Angels and mission impossible with a team of hot dues with dubious history. The interaction, the snark, the interplay between these guys is great. This mission is all about Wesley the genius hacker making rights at a ritzy island spa. And he needs a fake boyfriend for his cover. Danny, the newest team member from the last mission is it. I love the fake boyfriend trope! I was hooting with laugher with Steele’s antics with the kids under his supervision. I’m so curious what the next mission and who will be the focus next.
August 9, 2020
Book Reaction: https://neverhollowed.com/2019/09/14/...
Rating: 4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits
Rating: 4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits
March 6, 2019
3.75 stars!
The second book in the Pros & Cons story was pretty good overall, but could have been better in my opinion. I think Danny and Wesley had chemistry...more in the second half. There was much of them in the first half, I feel, and not a lot connection. Once they got onto the island I felt more chemistry and I felt more of a connection between them, but at first it was like...oh, Wesley's jealous but how did we get to this point? It didn't feel quite earned to me.
But then they had more and more scenes and fell more and more for each other and I started to feel that connection and chemistry between them. I still think the "I love you"'s came WAY too early but the ending was definitely HFN and not HEA. I think this could have been longer or at least just had deeper conversations between Danny and Wesley to make the "I love you" more believable.
I thought the plot was interesting and they were doing a good thing, and it got really exciting at the end - although wow,
I very much enjoyed the dynamic between all the main characters and their group - they really are a family - although I did feel there was a little too much talk about sex and finding all these guys hot and this and that was sexy and so on and so forth. I felt like say "okay, cool it" because they had conversations over the coms about sex so many times it got to be a bit much.
So overall I enjoyed this, especially in the second half when it really picked up, and Danny and Wesley were slow to form a connection, imo, but once they did it was great - and there's only one sex scenes, but it is really hot. - and I was a little annoyed at the end that there wasn't enough alone time between Danny and Wesley and the epilogue being about Leo and Al, not them. Not that I mind Leo and Al, but I would have preferred a more solid ending between Wesley and Danny.
The second book in the Pros & Cons story was pretty good overall, but could have been better in my opinion. I think Danny and Wesley had chemistry...more in the second half. There was much of them in the first half, I feel, and not a lot connection. Once they got onto the island I felt more chemistry and I felt more of a connection between them, but at first it was like...oh, Wesley's jealous but how did we get to this point? It didn't feel quite earned to me.
But then they had more and more scenes and fell more and more for each other and I started to feel that connection and chemistry between them. I still think the "I love you"'s came WAY too early but the ending was definitely HFN and not HEA. I think this could have been longer or at least just had deeper conversations between Danny and Wesley to make the "I love you" more believable.
I thought the plot was interesting and they were doing a good thing, and it got really exciting at the end - although wow,
I very much enjoyed the dynamic between all the main characters and their group - they really are a family - although I did feel there was a little too much talk about sex and finding all these guys hot and this and that was sexy and so on and so forth. I felt like say "okay, cool it" because they had conversations over the coms about sex so many times it got to be a bit much.
So overall I enjoyed this, especially in the second half when it really picked up, and Danny and Wesley were slow to form a connection, imo, but once they did it was great - and there's only one sex scenes, but it is really hot. - and I was a little annoyed at the end that there wasn't enough alone time between Danny and Wesley and the epilogue being about Leo and Al, not them. Not that I mind Leo and Al, but I would have preferred a more solid ending between Wesley and Danny.
June 7, 2020
Another fun instalment in this exciting series as predicted.
I loved how adorable Danny was and how he managed to worm his way into Wesley's misanthropic heart. Lol
The story was great although I could've done without the nail biting near-death experience getting to the end. Yes, I know these men are criminals and are bound to face some danger bit It still worried my poor heart.
Nonetheless, I enjoyed how this group of men is gradually turning into a family and cannot wait for Leo's story(although I know it's definitely going to be the last in the series).
Next Book please!
I loved how adorable Danny was and how he managed to worm his way into Wesley's misanthropic heart. Lol
The story was great although I could've done without the nail biting near-death experience getting to the end. Yes, I know these men are criminals and are bound to face some danger bit It still worried my poor heart.
Nonetheless, I enjoyed how this group of men is gradually turning into a family and cannot wait for Leo's story(although I know it's definitely going to be the last in the series).
Next Book please!
August 11, 2021
Reread via audiobook August 2021:
Alexandre Steele ***4 Stars***
Tor Thom ***3 Stars***
Story: ***4 - 4.5 Stars***
Alexandre Steele ***4 Stars***
Tor Thom ***3 Stars***
Story: ***4 - 4.5 Stars***
March 4, 2021
God, I love this series! It's totally unreal and exaggerated, but I love these characters and the fast-paced action.
Already in the previous book, I totally fell in love with this group of characters. I really like the dynamics between them, they share a true brotherhood, even if they do not match at first glance. This is clearly seen in how well they work together and in their daily banter.
As for Danny and Wes, we expected this from the beginning. And I'm not angry about it. In my opinion, these two fit together perfectly. Together, they make a really cute couple. At no time did I have any doubts about their feelings.
The plot is also very good, although I think the case that Steel and Breck worked on in the previous book was a bit more interesting. But I'm not going to complain. Especially since working on the island was an opportunity for so many wonderfully funny situations and dialogues. And it cannot be said that this story is devoid of tension, especially in the final chapters. Although if you're looking for a totally unexpected ending, you won't find one here. But that's not what this book or the series is about either.
I just like stories like this, the kind with a grain of salt, on the verge of parody. I like this lack of realism when it comes to the plot, the fast pace and sharp dialogue. That's why I find this series cute. If that's not your cup of tea, this won't be a good series for you. As for me, I will certainly read more books in this series, I am looking forward to meeting these guys again.
Already in the previous book, I totally fell in love with this group of characters. I really like the dynamics between them, they share a true brotherhood, even if they do not match at first glance. This is clearly seen in how well they work together and in their daily banter.
As for Danny and Wes, we expected this from the beginning. And I'm not angry about it. In my opinion, these two fit together perfectly. Together, they make a really cute couple. At no time did I have any doubts about their feelings.
The plot is also very good, although I think the case that Steel and Breck worked on in the previous book was a bit more interesting. But I'm not going to complain. Especially since working on the island was an opportunity for so many wonderfully funny situations and dialogues. And it cannot be said that this story is devoid of tension, especially in the final chapters. Although if you're looking for a totally unexpected ending, you won't find one here. But that's not what this book or the series is about either.
I just like stories like this, the kind with a grain of salt, on the verge of parody. I like this lack of realism when it comes to the plot, the fast pace and sharp dialogue. That's why I find this series cute. If that's not your cup of tea, this won't be a good series for you. As for me, I will certainly read more books in this series, I am looking forward to meeting these guys again.
June 4, 2024
Review from 2019
I've given a C- for Tor Thom's narration (he's on my "nope" list now) and a B- for Alexandre Steele's - and a C for content at AudioGals.
The Pros & Cons of Deception is the second book in the Pros & Cons series, and the synopsis for the series – a group of misfits is blackmailed into carrying out a series of missions left to them by a dead man – sounded like a mash-up of Leverage, Charlie’s Angels and Ocean’s Eleven and as though it might be fun. Having finished this instalment, I not sure that “fun” is the word I’d use to describe it; in fact, it turned out to be rather silly, with a bunch of grown men acting and talking like hormonal, teenaged-boys, and a plot so thin as to be see-through.
Retriever of illicitly obtained information Charlie Bingham is dead, and in his will, he left instructions for his lawyer, Miranda Bosley (yes, really ;)) to bring together a disparate group of men – some of them criminals, some not – in order to carry out his last instructions in exchange for the destruction of the information Charlie held on each of them. In the previous book, The Pros & Cons of Vengeance, ex-Special Forces Close Protection specialist Steele Alvarez was instructed to take down a dirty Senator – and along with hacker Wesley Bond, grifter Carson Grieves, thief Ridge Pfeiffer and disgruntled FBI Agent Leo Shook – set about doing just that. Along the way, he and the team rescued two young ex-hookers – Breck and Danny – from a violent situation, and Steele fell for Breck (who happens to be Ridge’s brother). When this book opens, we find them all, together with the enigmatic housekeeper Josie (whom the author bills as an “International Woman of Mystery”), comfortably holed up in Charlie’s luxury home in Miami.
I have to say here, that although the story mostly works as a standalone, I found myself a bit lost during the prologue – in which Miranda and the mysterious “Interested Party” discuss the next mission – and the first chapter, which features all the characters interacting and bantering with each other in a way that made it difficult for me to get much of a handle on who was who. It’s on me that I haven’t read or listened to the previous book, but the narration didn’t help; I had issues with Tor Thom’s performance in The Hunt recently, and sadly, found the same problems here, which made it difficult for me to settle into the listen. So I felt like the person who arrived late to the party and was wondering what I’d missed.
Anyway. The next mission is to be entrusted to Wesley, the group’s red-haired, freckled and slightly nerdy hacker/tech specialist, who has few social skills and gets tongue-tied around anyone he finds attractive. (Which means he has a tendency to put his foot in his mouth around the gorgeous Danny.) The information Miranda passes to Wesley points to a people trafficking and slavery operation being run at the exclusive White Sands Resort, a private holiday retreat for the mega-rich situated on a private island off the Florida coast. It seems that most of the people working there are from Central and South America or the Philippines; they’re recruited through an employment agency and are then forced to remain there and to work for next to nothing, with no possibility of leaving because their passports are taken from them and held by the resort’s owner. Wesley’s mission (should he choose to accept it!) is to bring down whoever is running the scam.
Somewhat implausibly, he manages to get his team-mates jobs at the resort – which just happens to need a handful of new staff – leaving Wesley to pose as a wealthy guest. Except a guy on his own at a resort likely to be full of couples is going to stand out like a sore thumb, so he finds himself reluctantly asking the charming and distractingly handsome, nineteen-year-old Danny to be his fake-boyfriend for the duration of the mission.
As soon as they arrive on the island, it’s obvious there’s something underhand going on. The staff are not well treated, the owner’s personal assistant, Davis, looks like a model but his demeanour screams “Fed” rather than “PA”, and his son, Brandon is a creep determined to get his hands on Danny as quickly and as often as possible. Something which, naturally, doesn’t go down at all well with Wesley.
I like the fake-relationship trope in general, and it works reasonably well here, although there isn’t much chemistry between Wesley and Danny and their romance is basically insta-lust. Wesley is – quite rightly I thought – concerned about the fact that Danny is only nineteen (Wesley is twenty-seven) and has spent the last two years (since he was thrown out by his conservative, well-to-do family for being gay) on the streets, although Danny is surprisingly well-adjusted about it all and doesn’t dwell on his experiences or want others to dwell on them. I liked that he was forward-looking and wanted to get on with the rest of his life now he was in a position to do so. There’s no real romantic conflict though; Danny and Wesley are attracted to each other and apart from Wesley’s concern over Danny’s relative youth, there’s nothing to prevent their being together. The fake-relationship doesn’t stay fake for very long (no surprise there), and the ILYs come pretty much out of the blue; the guys spend time together being couple-y for the sake of their cover, and time together privately, but I never got the sense of a relationship or connection developing between them. Also not developed is the plot; there’s very little investigating going on here, and very little suspense; Wesley’s moment of discovery takes place off-screen so all the listener knows about what he’s been doing as regards finding out the truth about what’s going on at White Sands is when he tells everyone that he’s found it!
I’ve listened to both narrators once before and have definitely preferred one to the other. I reviewed Tor Thom recently in The Hunt by J.M Dabney and Davidson King, and sadly didn’t find much to like about his narration there. But I like to give narrators a couple of tries to impress me, so I decided to listen to him again; unfortunately, the results were the same. He has a very deep voice (think Aiden Snow but nowhere near as good!) but speaks in a kind of soft, half-whisper most of the time, and he has a habit of taking breaths mid phrase or sentence, which really messes with the natural rhythms of speech. Once again, he delivers the narrative and most of the dialogue in a bored monotone and his character differentiation is minimal – what little there is is done with very broad strokes. Wesley and Danny both speak in a slightly higher register than many of the other characters, so while it’s possible to work out that one of them is speaking, it’s pretty much impossible to tell which one. And the female characters… ugh. Alexandre Steele, on the other hand, was much more pleasant to listen to. His performance is animated and expressive, and his vocal characterisations far more distinct, so it was easier to identify speakers aurally. But while he has a pleasant speaking voice, there was no way I could buy him as a youth of nineteen. Age isn’t something I normally bother about too much when listening to a book; I don’t expect a nineteen-year-old character to be performed by a nineteen-year-old narrator! – but there was just too much of a disconnect here.
I read the sample chapters of The Pros & Cons of Deception on Amazon when I started writing this review (to check some names and spellings) and from that, I suspect the “fun” element I felt was missing in the audio may well be present in the print version. So if you like the sound of a drama-light heist-type caper with lots of banter and want to check it out, I’d suggest sticking with print rather than going with audio.
Note: Genre is listed as Romance & Suspense at Audible, but it’s not much of either!
I've given a C- for Tor Thom's narration (he's on my "nope" list now) and a B- for Alexandre Steele's - and a C for content at AudioGals.
The Pros & Cons of Deception is the second book in the Pros & Cons series, and the synopsis for the series – a group of misfits is blackmailed into carrying out a series of missions left to them by a dead man – sounded like a mash-up of Leverage, Charlie’s Angels and Ocean’s Eleven and as though it might be fun. Having finished this instalment, I not sure that “fun” is the word I’d use to describe it; in fact, it turned out to be rather silly, with a bunch of grown men acting and talking like hormonal, teenaged-boys, and a plot so thin as to be see-through.
Retriever of illicitly obtained information Charlie Bingham is dead, and in his will, he left instructions for his lawyer, Miranda Bosley (yes, really ;)) to bring together a disparate group of men – some of them criminals, some not – in order to carry out his last instructions in exchange for the destruction of the information Charlie held on each of them. In the previous book, The Pros & Cons of Vengeance, ex-Special Forces Close Protection specialist Steele Alvarez was instructed to take down a dirty Senator – and along with hacker Wesley Bond, grifter Carson Grieves, thief Ridge Pfeiffer and disgruntled FBI Agent Leo Shook – set about doing just that. Along the way, he and the team rescued two young ex-hookers – Breck and Danny – from a violent situation, and Steele fell for Breck (who happens to be Ridge’s brother). When this book opens, we find them all, together with the enigmatic housekeeper Josie (whom the author bills as an “International Woman of Mystery”), comfortably holed up in Charlie’s luxury home in Miami.
I have to say here, that although the story mostly works as a standalone, I found myself a bit lost during the prologue – in which Miranda and the mysterious “Interested Party” discuss the next mission – and the first chapter, which features all the characters interacting and bantering with each other in a way that made it difficult for me to get much of a handle on who was who. It’s on me that I haven’t read or listened to the previous book, but the narration didn’t help; I had issues with Tor Thom’s performance in The Hunt recently, and sadly, found the same problems here, which made it difficult for me to settle into the listen. So I felt like the person who arrived late to the party and was wondering what I’d missed.
Anyway. The next mission is to be entrusted to Wesley, the group’s red-haired, freckled and slightly nerdy hacker/tech specialist, who has few social skills and gets tongue-tied around anyone he finds attractive. (Which means he has a tendency to put his foot in his mouth around the gorgeous Danny.) The information Miranda passes to Wesley points to a people trafficking and slavery operation being run at the exclusive White Sands Resort, a private holiday retreat for the mega-rich situated on a private island off the Florida coast. It seems that most of the people working there are from Central and South America or the Philippines; they’re recruited through an employment agency and are then forced to remain there and to work for next to nothing, with no possibility of leaving because their passports are taken from them and held by the resort’s owner. Wesley’s mission (should he choose to accept it!) is to bring down whoever is running the scam.
Somewhat implausibly, he manages to get his team-mates jobs at the resort – which just happens to need a handful of new staff – leaving Wesley to pose as a wealthy guest. Except a guy on his own at a resort likely to be full of couples is going to stand out like a sore thumb, so he finds himself reluctantly asking the charming and distractingly handsome, nineteen-year-old Danny to be his fake-boyfriend for the duration of the mission.
As soon as they arrive on the island, it’s obvious there’s something underhand going on. The staff are not well treated, the owner’s personal assistant, Davis, looks like a model but his demeanour screams “Fed” rather than “PA”, and his son, Brandon is a creep determined to get his hands on Danny as quickly and as often as possible. Something which, naturally, doesn’t go down at all well with Wesley.
I like the fake-relationship trope in general, and it works reasonably well here, although there isn’t much chemistry between Wesley and Danny and their romance is basically insta-lust. Wesley is – quite rightly I thought – concerned about the fact that Danny is only nineteen (Wesley is twenty-seven) and has spent the last two years (since he was thrown out by his conservative, well-to-do family for being gay) on the streets, although Danny is surprisingly well-adjusted about it all and doesn’t dwell on his experiences or want others to dwell on them. I liked that he was forward-looking and wanted to get on with the rest of his life now he was in a position to do so. There’s no real romantic conflict though; Danny and Wesley are attracted to each other and apart from Wesley’s concern over Danny’s relative youth, there’s nothing to prevent their being together. The fake-relationship doesn’t stay fake for very long (no surprise there), and the ILYs come pretty much out of the blue; the guys spend time together being couple-y for the sake of their cover, and time together privately, but I never got the sense of a relationship or connection developing between them. Also not developed is the plot; there’s very little investigating going on here, and very little suspense; Wesley’s moment of discovery takes place off-screen so all the listener knows about what he’s been doing as regards finding out the truth about what’s going on at White Sands is when he tells everyone that he’s found it!
I’ve listened to both narrators once before and have definitely preferred one to the other. I reviewed Tor Thom recently in The Hunt by J.M Dabney and Davidson King, and sadly didn’t find much to like about his narration there. But I like to give narrators a couple of tries to impress me, so I decided to listen to him again; unfortunately, the results were the same. He has a very deep voice (think Aiden Snow but nowhere near as good!) but speaks in a kind of soft, half-whisper most of the time, and he has a habit of taking breaths mid phrase or sentence, which really messes with the natural rhythms of speech. Once again, he delivers the narrative and most of the dialogue in a bored monotone and his character differentiation is minimal – what little there is is done with very broad strokes. Wesley and Danny both speak in a slightly higher register than many of the other characters, so while it’s possible to work out that one of them is speaking, it’s pretty much impossible to tell which one. And the female characters… ugh. Alexandre Steele, on the other hand, was much more pleasant to listen to. His performance is animated and expressive, and his vocal characterisations far more distinct, so it was easier to identify speakers aurally. But while he has a pleasant speaking voice, there was no way I could buy him as a youth of nineteen. Age isn’t something I normally bother about too much when listening to a book; I don’t expect a nineteen-year-old character to be performed by a nineteen-year-old narrator! – but there was just too much of a disconnect here.
I read the sample chapters of The Pros & Cons of Deception on Amazon when I started writing this review (to check some names and spellings) and from that, I suspect the “fun” element I felt was missing in the audio may well be present in the print version. So if you like the sound of a drama-light heist-type caper with lots of banter and want to check it out, I’d suggest sticking with print rather than going with audio.
Note: Genre is listed as Romance & Suspense at Audible, but it’s not much of either!
February 24, 2020
An entertaining story and good enough to keep me interested in finding out what comes next...full review to follow, soonish!
Five jobs, five chances at redemption and this is job #2…
Deception’s the theme for this job and the man that Charlie thinks can pull it off is none other than…’Bond’…Wesley Bond. What can I say he couldn’t resist, and neither could I.
Wesley’s a computer specialist. Some might call him a ‘hacker’ who specializes in the redistribution of wealth…a modern-day Robin Hood if you like. I prefer computer specialist since computers are his weapon of choice for his undertakings whether its redistributing someone’s finances or gathering information. Give him a computer and he’ll give you results and he’s going to need them if he wants to be successful in his mission to take down modern day slave traders.
We’ve not only got everyone back on board for this mission, but the team is growing. Along with Steel Alvarez comes Breck the man he rescued and fell in love with, in the previous book and with Breck, comes his best friend and fellow victim from book #1 Danny Monroe.
Wesley’s assignment takes the team to a vacation resort on a tropical island and while for some it’s a working vacation for Wesley and Danny the sexy, funny, smart, gorgeous and did I mention sexy? ex-prostitute…if you want to know what else you missed then do your homework and go back and read/listen to the first book…now, where were we…oh…that’s right Wesley and Danny, they’re going undercover as…you guessed it lovers…let the fun begin.
Once again A. E. Wasp has created a story that’s filled with action, adventure, drama, intrigue, suspense, danger and more than a few laughs. As Wesley and Danny begin their pretense of being lovers…which, is really not a hardship for either man given the strength of their attraction to each other.
Considering the fact that Wesley is the ideal image of what Danny wants in a man…he’s smart, sexy and those baggy clothes that he hides under haven’t really done their job because Danny’s sure there is one sexy toned body underneath it all.
Now if Wesley could just keep from being so distracted by Danny and keep his feet out of his mouth whenever he talks maybe he could actually figure out how to let Danny know what he really thinks of him and how he really feels…then their relationship could be more than pretend.
While I enjoyed Wesley and Danny’s relationship follies. This time for me the real star was the mission and the hijinks that were involved. In both the previous story and this one the times when these men were working together and wearing their communication devices were hilarious no to mention that this time around with the exception of Wesley and Danny the men were cast into ‘jobs’ that…well, let’s just say their qualifications were dubious at best and circumstances more often than not were entertaining awkward…between the scantily dressed bartender, militarized daycare and what sounded like a bathroom mishap worthy of Abbott & Costello with some interesting B&E on the side…well, things were entertainingly dicey at times.
The real mystery for me so far is…who is Josy, really? Because I’m pretty sure she’s not just a housekeeper/cook/den mother for these men and then there’s the question of Leo’s phone friend…’you can call me Al’, ok…but Al, I’mma just wondering what’s your real name?
Once again, the narrators were Alexandre Steele and Tor Thom and once again, I was delighted with the audio performance of this story. I’m looking forward to the next adventure in this series and I have zero doubt that I’ll be holding out for the audio book. After listening to the first two books on audio, I truthfully can’t imagine that I’d enjoy reading these stories nearly as much as I enjoy having them read to me.
*************************
An audio book for ‘The Pros & Cons of Deception’ was graciously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Five jobs, five chances at redemption and this is job #2…
Deception’s the theme for this job and the man that Charlie thinks can pull it off is none other than…’Bond’…Wesley Bond. What can I say he couldn’t resist, and neither could I.
Wesley’s a computer specialist. Some might call him a ‘hacker’ who specializes in the redistribution of wealth…a modern-day Robin Hood if you like. I prefer computer specialist since computers are his weapon of choice for his undertakings whether its redistributing someone’s finances or gathering information. Give him a computer and he’ll give you results and he’s going to need them if he wants to be successful in his mission to take down modern day slave traders.
We’ve not only got everyone back on board for this mission, but the team is growing. Along with Steel Alvarez comes Breck the man he rescued and fell in love with, in the previous book and with Breck, comes his best friend and fellow victim from book #1 Danny Monroe.
Wesley’s assignment takes the team to a vacation resort on a tropical island and while for some it’s a working vacation for Wesley and Danny the sexy, funny, smart, gorgeous and did I mention sexy? ex-prostitute…if you want to know what else you missed then do your homework and go back and read/listen to the first book…now, where were we…oh…that’s right Wesley and Danny, they’re going undercover as…you guessed it lovers…let the fun begin.
Once again A. E. Wasp has created a story that’s filled with action, adventure, drama, intrigue, suspense, danger and more than a few laughs. As Wesley and Danny begin their pretense of being lovers…which, is really not a hardship for either man given the strength of their attraction to each other.
Considering the fact that Wesley is the ideal image of what Danny wants in a man…he’s smart, sexy and those baggy clothes that he hides under haven’t really done their job because Danny’s sure there is one sexy toned body underneath it all.
Now if Wesley could just keep from being so distracted by Danny and keep his feet out of his mouth whenever he talks maybe he could actually figure out how to let Danny know what he really thinks of him and how he really feels…then their relationship could be more than pretend.
While I enjoyed Wesley and Danny’s relationship follies. This time for me the real star was the mission and the hijinks that were involved. In both the previous story and this one the times when these men were working together and wearing their communication devices were hilarious no to mention that this time around with the exception of Wesley and Danny the men were cast into ‘jobs’ that…well, let’s just say their qualifications were dubious at best and circumstances more often than not were entertaining awkward…between the scantily dressed bartender, militarized daycare and what sounded like a bathroom mishap worthy of Abbott & Costello with some interesting B&E on the side…well, things were entertainingly dicey at times.
The real mystery for me so far is…who is Josy, really? Because I’m pretty sure she’s not just a housekeeper/cook/den mother for these men and then there’s the question of Leo’s phone friend…’you can call me Al’, ok…but Al, I’mma just wondering what’s your real name?
Once again, the narrators were Alexandre Steele and Tor Thom and once again, I was delighted with the audio performance of this story. I’m looking forward to the next adventure in this series and I have zero doubt that I’ll be holding out for the audio book. After listening to the first two books on audio, I truthfully can’t imagine that I’d enjoy reading these stories nearly as much as I enjoy having them read to me.
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An audio book for ‘The Pros & Cons of Deception’ was graciously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
April 24, 2019
I think I loved this one even more than the first one. really, this story gets better and better ... and yes, you have to read it in order!
I have to confess, Steele and Breck were a bit annoying inbetween but overall this was a great read.
so please, if you have not read the first book till now: get your hands on that one
I have to confess, Steele and Breck were a bit annoying inbetween but overall this was a great read.
so please, if you have not read the first book till now: get your hands on that one
March 5, 2019
4.5 Stars!
Pros and Cons of Deception is book 2 in the series and I definitely suggest reading the first book before delving into this one. Not only was it a fantastic read, but it sets things up and explains how the guys came to work together and meet each other.
The new case the guys were working on was a bit slow, and although I kind of figured who the bad guy was beforehand, it still had quite a few twists and turns there at the end that took me by surprise.
I loved Wes and Danny together. While it was obvious they were both attracted to each other, it was a bit of a slow-burn because Wes couldn't get past Danny's age and I kind of wanted to slap him upside the head and make him see that Danny had lived through more than a lot of other kids his age. However, despite my (and their) frustration, once they finally gave in to what they felt, it was absolutely combustible and sweet and hot and could we clone Wes, because I so want a boyfriend like him.
I adored getting to know some of the other guys a bit better, although Carson and Ridge still remain a bit of a mystery. I'm so looking forward to the rest of the books in the series, although I will admit I'm a bit partial to Leo and Al's story! I live for those scenes at the end of the books.
This was a fun, engaging read! I was laughing out loud at the guys' antics and while the case took a bit of a backseat to Danny and Wes's romance until the end when it picked up pace and damn if the action wasn't absolutely enthralling. Can't wait for more!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
February 3, 2021
Even better the second time around!
March 1, 2019
Time for the second job of this mess Charlie left and it's so good. This time is computer hacker/genius Wesley Bond. This series has been exciting. I'm so looking forward to the next ones. And considering what I think Ridge was up to, yeah, I'm ready to see what's next.
Wesley really isn't a dick. He may be a criminal, but what he steals he gives to people in need. Kind of like a modern day Robin Hood. The only problem is, he's not good with people. Sure behind a screen it's not too bad, but face-to-face is a different story. And Wesley is having a hard time with the latest addition to the group, Danny. Danny, who is perfection personified, for Wesley. Danny, who is sin walking. Danny, who is nineteen. Wesley can't get past that one. But the more time he spends with Danny, the harder it is to ignore the chemistry they have. Especially now that this job entails them being boyfriends. The longer they are undercover, the more Wesley wishes this were real, as far as the two of them. And when danger strikes, Wesley is terrified for Danny and wants to protect him every way possible. He has to finally admit what he's feeling. But he doesn't know if he will get to tell Danny before it's too late. Because the danger has finally made itself known, and it's not a pretty picture.
From the minute Danny came along, Wesley has been infatuated with him. But in order to fight the feelings, he acts like a dick. And some of those comments dig a little too hard for Danny. They hurt. He didn't choose the life of prostitution for shits and giggles. He was supposed to be in college, living the life. With Danny, I feel like Josie. You just want to take him under your wing, fatten him up on good food, hug him often and show him love his clearly been missing. This new job isn't easy for Danny. Well, being with Wesley is easy but being pawed at by sleazoids is not a fun day for him. Brings up too many bad thoughts and memories. But he's tired of everyone thinking he's nothing. A nobody who can't do anything. When actually the opposite is true. And I want to hug him even more.
For Wesley, I wanted to shake him. Often. I know he doesn't have great people skills, but some of the blows he shoots are Danny are way below the belt. And even with the chemistry shooting between them, I almost didn't like him. He just went too far with Danny, too often. He redeemed himself with this job. Finally. And I got to see a side of Wesley that endeared him to me. When I finally found out what he really does behind those computer screens.
This job was tough for everyone. Another scumbag in need of shutting down. The more they dug, the more disgusting it was. And the surprises made it worse. But it's another page turner. You never quite know who's going to do what and how it's going to go. But the best part of everyone else…? Wait til you see what Steele’s job is in this one. It's hilarious! These are really good books. You need to read them in order though. And I can't wait for the next!
http://lovebytesreviews.com
Wesley really isn't a dick. He may be a criminal, but what he steals he gives to people in need. Kind of like a modern day Robin Hood. The only problem is, he's not good with people. Sure behind a screen it's not too bad, but face-to-face is a different story. And Wesley is having a hard time with the latest addition to the group, Danny. Danny, who is perfection personified, for Wesley. Danny, who is sin walking. Danny, who is nineteen. Wesley can't get past that one. But the more time he spends with Danny, the harder it is to ignore the chemistry they have. Especially now that this job entails them being boyfriends. The longer they are undercover, the more Wesley wishes this were real, as far as the two of them. And when danger strikes, Wesley is terrified for Danny and wants to protect him every way possible. He has to finally admit what he's feeling. But he doesn't know if he will get to tell Danny before it's too late. Because the danger has finally made itself known, and it's not a pretty picture.
From the minute Danny came along, Wesley has been infatuated with him. But in order to fight the feelings, he acts like a dick. And some of those comments dig a little too hard for Danny. They hurt. He didn't choose the life of prostitution for shits and giggles. He was supposed to be in college, living the life. With Danny, I feel like Josie. You just want to take him under your wing, fatten him up on good food, hug him often and show him love his clearly been missing. This new job isn't easy for Danny. Well, being with Wesley is easy but being pawed at by sleazoids is not a fun day for him. Brings up too many bad thoughts and memories. But he's tired of everyone thinking he's nothing. A nobody who can't do anything. When actually the opposite is true. And I want to hug him even more.
For Wesley, I wanted to shake him. Often. I know he doesn't have great people skills, but some of the blows he shoots are Danny are way below the belt. And even with the chemistry shooting between them, I almost didn't like him. He just went too far with Danny, too often. He redeemed himself with this job. Finally. And I got to see a side of Wesley that endeared him to me. When I finally found out what he really does behind those computer screens.
This job was tough for everyone. Another scumbag in need of shutting down. The more they dug, the more disgusting it was. And the surprises made it worse. But it's another page turner. You never quite know who's going to do what and how it's going to go. But the best part of everyone else…? Wait til you see what Steele’s job is in this one. It's hilarious! These are really good books. You need to read them in order though. And I can't wait for the next!
http://lovebytesreviews.com
August 19, 2024
I absolutely loved the concept of this series and book 1 was fantastic so I was super excited to start book 2 right away. Unfortunately it was a miss for me. I still enjoyed the concept but I just wasn’t excited for either the romance or the action like I was with book 1. Not sure if it was just me or not so still worth a try if you enjoy this author and loved book 1!
August 23, 2021
Well written story with crazy good characters. I liked the whole Mission Impossible theme. It was a refreshing change from the same old book featuring guy meets guy.
August 20, 2019
This was (in my opinion) so much better than book one, mainly because I had been waiting to see what happened between Wes and Danny. I fell in love with them as they were introduced, and learning more about their pasts and them getting to know one another was everything I needed to read.
Wesley is everything I had hoped he would be - kind, adorable, and no filter when talking to a certain swimmer.
Danny is so much stronger than I thought in book one and I am glad. He has had such a crap time the last couple of years and I am so glad he is finding a family that accepts him as he is.
As this is the second book, I don’t feel like I can say a lot since Spoilers so I will say that this series so far is one of the most exciting adventures I have read about!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
Wesley is everything I had hoped he would be - kind, adorable, and no filter when talking to a certain swimmer.
Danny is so much stronger than I thought in book one and I am glad. He has had such a crap time the last couple of years and I am so glad he is finding a family that accepts him as he is.
As this is the second book, I don’t feel like I can say a lot since Spoilers so I will say that this series so far is one of the most exciting adventures I have read about!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
December 9, 2020
Suspense and humor
AE Wasp is now a solo author for this series and I did enjoy book one a lot. I’m no author but I can’t imagine it’s easy to take over characters and/or traits another writer helped create. I think this sequel furthered the series premise nicely. The growth of Wesley and Danny’s romance was well-paced and I really liked that we got to see them as they connected and Wesley’s defenses began to break down. They generated some decent chemistry. The action plot was much like book one insofar as the highly improbable level of talents each man is given and unlikely electronics and uses of technology. I was also side-eyeing antics and actions perpetrated while they’re supposed to be covert. Still a enjoyable read, light on steam but heavy on relationships and friendships. Looking forward to the next.
AE Wasp is now a solo author for this series and I did enjoy book one a lot. I’m no author but I can’t imagine it’s easy to take over characters and/or traits another writer helped create. I think this sequel furthered the series premise nicely. The growth of Wesley and Danny’s romance was well-paced and I really liked that we got to see them as they connected and Wesley’s defenses began to break down. They generated some decent chemistry. The action plot was much like book one insofar as the highly improbable level of talents each man is given and unlikely electronics and uses of technology. I was also side-eyeing antics and actions perpetrated while they’re supposed to be covert. Still a enjoyable read, light on steam but heavy on relationships and friendships. Looking forward to the next.
July 15, 2021
4.5 stars
dnf-2024
May 27, 2024DNF - after trying this for the third time, I'm calling it quits. Sobbing! It had such promise.
November 25, 2024
Darum geht’s:
Nach dem Tod des geheimnisvollen und super reichen Charlie werden fünf Männer, die ihn kannten, in seinem luxuriösen Haus versammelt. Charlie hat etwas gegen jeden von ihnen in der Hand und verlangt posthum, dass jeder der fünf einen bestimmten Auftrag erfüllt. Dann werden die Beweise gegen sie vernichtet.
Der Meisterhacker und Technikgenie Wesley soll sich darum kümmern, dass die Angestellten einer luxuriösen Urlaubsinsel unter menschenunwürdigen Bedingungen arbeiten müssen, denn sie sind Opfer eines Menschenhändlerrings geworden.
So fand ich’s:
Steele hat seine Aufgabe in Band 1 dieser Reihe schon erledigt und wäre frei, seiner Wege zu gehen. Doch er bleibt, um den anderen bei ihren Aufgaben zu helfen. Auch Danny, der bei Steeles Aufgabe zu ihnen gestoßen ist, will helfen und fungiert als Wesleys Lover, damit sie als verliebtes Pärchen weniger auffallen als Wesley alleine. Die anderen Teammitglieder schleusen sich als Angestellte im Resort ein.
Auf Schnüffeltour nach den versklavten und ausgebeuteten Angestellten können sie sich über ein modernes Kommunikationssystem miteinander verständigen, das in einem Backenzahn versteckt ist. Das führt zu vielen witzigen Dialogen, denn die Männer nehmen sich ständig gegenseitig auf die Schippe, und das ganze Team muss zum Beispiel mit anhören, wie Breck als angeblicher Hausmeister mit einer wildgewordenen Toilette kämpft. Die Zeit im Inselresort ist gefüllt mit viel Humor und sich steigernder Spannung. Allerdings fand ich diese Episode ein bisschen zu lang; eine leicht geraffte Version hätte mir besser gefallen oder wenn der Focus etwas mehr auf der zu lösenden Aufgabe gelegen hätte statt auf den Plänkeleien.
Schon bevor Wesley und Danny als angebliches Paar auftreten müssen, hat es zwischen ihnen gefunkt und die Zeit, die sie beide eng zusammen verbringen, lässt es heftig zwischen ihnen knistern. Der nerdige Wesley und der erst 19jährige Danny, der seine eigene Stärke gerade entdeckt, sind ein tolles Paar und es macht Spaß mitzuerleben, wie sie sich heftig ineinander verlieben. Genauso unterhaltsam war das Zusammenspiel aller Männer, die inzwischen ein gut funktionierendes Team geworden sind und zwischen denen große Sympathie herrscht – wenn nicht gar mehr.
Drei Aufgaben und vier Bände warten noch auf uns. Also weiter geht’s mit Ridge und seiner Mission.
Nach dem Tod des geheimnisvollen und super reichen Charlie werden fünf Männer, die ihn kannten, in seinem luxuriösen Haus versammelt. Charlie hat etwas gegen jeden von ihnen in der Hand und verlangt posthum, dass jeder der fünf einen bestimmten Auftrag erfüllt. Dann werden die Beweise gegen sie vernichtet.
Der Meisterhacker und Technikgenie Wesley soll sich darum kümmern, dass die Angestellten einer luxuriösen Urlaubsinsel unter menschenunwürdigen Bedingungen arbeiten müssen, denn sie sind Opfer eines Menschenhändlerrings geworden.
So fand ich’s:
Steele hat seine Aufgabe in Band 1 dieser Reihe schon erledigt und wäre frei, seiner Wege zu gehen. Doch er bleibt, um den anderen bei ihren Aufgaben zu helfen. Auch Danny, der bei Steeles Aufgabe zu ihnen gestoßen ist, will helfen und fungiert als Wesleys Lover, damit sie als verliebtes Pärchen weniger auffallen als Wesley alleine. Die anderen Teammitglieder schleusen sich als Angestellte im Resort ein.
Auf Schnüffeltour nach den versklavten und ausgebeuteten Angestellten können sie sich über ein modernes Kommunikationssystem miteinander verständigen, das in einem Backenzahn versteckt ist. Das führt zu vielen witzigen Dialogen, denn die Männer nehmen sich ständig gegenseitig auf die Schippe, und das ganze Team muss zum Beispiel mit anhören, wie Breck als angeblicher Hausmeister mit einer wildgewordenen Toilette kämpft. Die Zeit im Inselresort ist gefüllt mit viel Humor und sich steigernder Spannung. Allerdings fand ich diese Episode ein bisschen zu lang; eine leicht geraffte Version hätte mir besser gefallen oder wenn der Focus etwas mehr auf der zu lösenden Aufgabe gelegen hätte statt auf den Plänkeleien.
Schon bevor Wesley und Danny als angebliches Paar auftreten müssen, hat es zwischen ihnen gefunkt und die Zeit, die sie beide eng zusammen verbringen, lässt es heftig zwischen ihnen knistern. Der nerdige Wesley und der erst 19jährige Danny, der seine eigene Stärke gerade entdeckt, sind ein tolles Paar und es macht Spaß mitzuerleben, wie sie sich heftig ineinander verlieben. Genauso unterhaltsam war das Zusammenspiel aller Männer, die inzwischen ein gut funktionierendes Team geworden sind und zwischen denen große Sympathie herrscht – wenn nicht gar mehr.
Drei Aufgaben und vier Bände warten noch auf uns. Also weiter geht’s mit Ridge und seiner Mission.
April 5, 2019
This was just as much fun as book1 - what a great sequel!
Topic wise, it deals with the exploitation of guest workers and a bit witth the trauma of getting kicked out as a teenager and sexual abuse. It didn't delve too deep into either topics, still keeping the mood light, but it also doesn't gloss over the hard scenes or conversations. In that sense a bit more closure would have been appreciated.
All the hacking, crime and heist stuff wasn't the most elaborate, but I didn't mind that or that in the end it was once more Josie who saves the day.
I enjoyed myself a lot reading this one and I loved that despite Danny and Wesley being the clear protagonists of the book, most other characters didn't get pushed too far in the background. Except Carson. I'm curious about him the most, and he felt almost forgotten at times.
Content warnings include: kidnapping, character gets taken as hostage at gunpoint, sexual harassment, exploitation of guest workers, sex on-page, several instances of characters involuntarily getting overheard/overhearing others during sexual activities, references to past homelessness and sex work as concesquence of getting kicked out for being gay as a teen and abuse of sex workers, references to past domestic abuse, murder in self defense and covering up said murder.
One misanthropic hacker redistributing wealth could only do so much, but I was more than that now. I was part of a team.This wonderfully played on the strenghts of it's sequel, keeping the humor and overall lightness while still keeping the satisfaction of knowing some truly horrible people are getting fucked over. It was made even greater by the team having formed bonds and dynamics by now, which lead to a lot of fun situations.
Sometimes even the good guys had to fight a little dirty. Sometimes, to bring the truth to light, you needed to employ a little deception.
Game. On.
Topic wise, it deals with the exploitation of guest workers and a bit witth the trauma of getting kicked out as a teenager and sexual abuse. It didn't delve too deep into either topics, still keeping the mood light, but it also doesn't gloss over the hard scenes or conversations. In that sense a bit more closure would have been appreciated.
All the hacking, crime and heist stuff wasn't the most elaborate, but I didn't mind that or that in the end it was once more Josie who saves the day.
I enjoyed myself a lot reading this one and I loved that despite Danny and Wesley being the clear protagonists of the book, most other characters didn't get pushed too far in the background. Except Carson. I'm curious about him the most, and he felt almost forgotten at times.
Content warnings include: kidnapping, character gets taken as hostage at gunpoint, sexual harassment, exploitation of guest workers, sex on-page, several instances of characters involuntarily getting overheard/overhearing others during sexual activities, references to past homelessness and sex work as concesquence of getting kicked out for being gay as a teen and abuse of sex workers, references to past domestic abuse, murder in self defense and covering up said murder.
November 9, 2021
I loved this book even more then the first one, Wesley captured my heart instantly but thats no surprise since I seem to always enjoy the tech types. Danny is adorable and I love how he doesn't let himself be talked down too, he may have been through a lot but his no damsel in distress.
The plot of this book was incredible as allowed every character a role and chance to show off their skills. Each taking a position on the island and working as a team to catch the bad guy, so many hilarious scenes and banter as see the guys friendship grow across the series.
Also enjoyed the romance between Wes and Danny, that it had a slow burn feel despite their attraction from the start. The lingering looks, teasing from Danny and those kisses. Along with protective and jealous vibes, it was just so much fun. Can see them falling in love as spend more time together and truly compliment one another.
Oh must mention the use of the communication devices throughout between everyone. Code names, compliments and so much banter between the group that made every scene a lot of fun. There is some mystery and action scenes too, which is always great for me as perfect bit of tension and towards the final resolution of their task.
Also appreciate how the epilogue and start gives more of the 'interested party' and talk with Leo. As he is one of my favourites, excited to read the rest of the series.
Overall an exciting, fast paced, humourous and steamy romance all wrapped up in a beautiful setting. Lovely ending for Wesley and Danny together, as stay with the team and intrigued to see what's next for the group!
The plot of this book was incredible as allowed every character a role and chance to show off their skills. Each taking a position on the island and working as a team to catch the bad guy, so many hilarious scenes and banter as see the guys friendship grow across the series.
Also enjoyed the romance between Wes and Danny, that it had a slow burn feel despite their attraction from the start. The lingering looks, teasing from Danny and those kisses. Along with protective and jealous vibes, it was just so much fun. Can see them falling in love as spend more time together and truly compliment one another.
Oh must mention the use of the communication devices throughout between everyone. Code names, compliments and so much banter between the group that made every scene a lot of fun. There is some mystery and action scenes too, which is always great for me as perfect bit of tension and towards the final resolution of their task.
Also appreciate how the epilogue and start gives more of the 'interested party' and talk with Leo. As he is one of my favourites, excited to read the rest of the series.
Overall an exciting, fast paced, humourous and steamy romance all wrapped up in a beautiful setting. Lovely ending for Wesley and Danny together, as stay with the team and intrigued to see what's next for the group!
October 7, 2019
Much like the first book in the series, I liked this but didn’t love it.
The good:
-I really do love all these criminals, stuck living together, solving crimes, getting on each other’s last nerve, slowly forming bonds and friendships. This part is top notch and lots of fun. I’ve come to like all these men.
-Danny and Wes were very cute together.
The not as good:
-While Danny and Wes were cute together and it wasn’t as insta love as Steele and Breck from the previous book, things did progress to love so quickly that it put me off a little. Yes they were flirting in the previous book but it really went from flirting to love fast.
-Like the last book, some things, especially the ending, were very OTT, ridiculous and a little cheesy.
Bottom Line: Again, liked but didn’t love, will still definitely read the next one when it comes out. The love aspects haven’t worked for me yet with these, but the friendship and relationships between this ragtag group of misfits is worth the read.
The good:
-I really do love all these criminals, stuck living together, solving crimes, getting on each other’s last nerve, slowly forming bonds and friendships. This part is top notch and lots of fun. I’ve come to like all these men.
-Danny and Wes were very cute together.
The not as good:
-While Danny and Wes were cute together and it wasn’t as insta love as Steele and Breck from the previous book, things did progress to love so quickly that it put me off a little. Yes they were flirting in the previous book but it really went from flirting to love fast.
-Like the last book, some things, especially the ending, were very OTT, ridiculous and a little cheesy.
Bottom Line: Again, liked but didn’t love, will still definitely read the next one when it comes out. The love aspects haven’t worked for me yet with these, but the friendship and relationships between this ragtag group of misfits is worth the read.
February 15, 2019
Pros and Cons of Deception by A.E. Wasp is the second in their Pros and Cons series. I’m happy to say I was able to read and enjoy Deception without having read the first book. Their characters are so vivid it was easy to keep them straight even without detailed backstories in the second book. The main character, Wesley Bond, is perhaps my favorite character of the five cons and the two twinks rescued in the first book. I also really like Josie and can’t wait to find out her history. The wrong Wesley and company have to right is very topical and a challenge to all their skills. I enjoyed the suspense of not knowing who the bad guy was and the dramatic way in which they wound up taking him down. While the premise of crooked guys being blackmailed into doing good is not new, it is given a fun gay twist in this series, which will go on my TBR list now!
February 10, 2019
This is the second book in the Pros & Cons series and just as exciting as the first.
This time our 5 con artists, plus the 2 boys they rescued in the first book are sent to investigate the guest worker program at an all inclusive resort.
Wesley, the genius hacker and Danny, are asked to pose as resort guests that are in a relationship. As they’ve already been eying each other, it wasn’t too much of a hardship.
This book has a bit of everything: age gap fake relationship that becomes real, mystery and intrigue.
I very much enjoyed this and could barely put it down, I had the bulk of the book read in a day.
*ARC provided by author
This time our 5 con artists, plus the 2 boys they rescued in the first book are sent to investigate the guest worker program at an all inclusive resort.
Wesley, the genius hacker and Danny, are asked to pose as resort guests that are in a relationship. As they’ve already been eying each other, it wasn’t too much of a hardship.
This book has a bit of everything: age gap fake relationship that becomes real, mystery and intrigue.
I very much enjoyed this and could barely put it down, I had the bulk of the book read in a day.
*ARC provided by author
March 30, 2019
I have really enjoy A E Wasp's writing. She has good character development, an interesting plot and is funny to boot. This book was centered around Danny and Wesley. Although Danny is a former rent boy (out of necessity) he is also a sweet summer child, very sweet and trusting. Wes is more jaded but is a really good guy.
The series is exciting and just plain interesting and I am can't wait for the next book!
The series is exciting and just plain interesting and I am can't wait for the next book!
August 26, 2021
So... I would like to start with one thing. The idea of Charlie's angels intrigued me, but there are things that i hate. Firstly, everything so far is a little bit too convenient and...easy. Their tasks and how they complete them. Secondly, love at first sight. I would say not even very believable. Thirdly, it's boring and cliche. I will read the rest of the books, but i don't think that i will change my opionion.
March 3, 2019
I did not like this one as much as the first, but I still enjoyed the hell out of it. I loved the banter between all the guys as usually, of course on it was brought up a notch on this one.
I was a little disappointed that this wasn’t Shook’s story... but after reading this one, I would take a guess that it’s getting saved for last.
I was a little disappointed that this wasn’t Shook’s story... but after reading this one, I would take a guess that it’s getting saved for last.
February 1, 2025
I like the band of misfit cons working together for a better world. Bunch of Robin Hoods 🏹
This case was a little over the top and the crew commenting on everything was silly (got onto my nerves) but I'm excited enough to continue with the thief's HEA
This case was a little over the top and the crew commenting on everything was silly (got onto my nerves) but I'm excited enough to continue with the thief's HEA
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