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Match Grade
SOME MATCHES SPARK AN INFERNO
Eirik Haldurson is a hitman. Kidnapped at age five and cruelly trained by his captor, he is today one of the most sought-after contract killers alive. Emotional distance from his targets, brutally beaten into him until it became second nature, is now the only way he can function. Lately though, that distance has started to elude him.
And when a Colombian drug cartel contracts Eirik to take out ex-soldier-turned-vigilante, Matt Moreno, distance is suddenly as close as heat to fire. And all hell breaks loose.
This book is part of CRIMINAL DELIGHTS. Each novel can be read as a standalone and contains a dark M/M romance.
These books are for adult readers who enjoy stories where lines between right and wrong get blurry. High heat, twisted and tantalizing, these are not for the fainthearted.
Eirik Haldurson is a hitman. Kidnapped at age five and cruelly trained by his captor, he is today one of the most sought-after contract killers alive. Emotional distance from his targets, brutally beaten into him until it became second nature, is now the only way he can function. Lately though, that distance has started to elude him.
And when a Colombian drug cartel contracts Eirik to take out ex-soldier-turned-vigilante, Matt Moreno, distance is suddenly as close as heat to fire. And all hell breaks loose.
This book is part of CRIMINAL DELIGHTS. Each novel can be read as a standalone and contains a dark M/M romance.
These books are for adult readers who enjoy stories where lines between right and wrong get blurry. High heat, twisted and tantalizing, these are not for the fainthearted.
144 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 3, 2019
44 people are currently reading
285 people want to read
About the author
G.B. Gordon
13 books94 followersG.B.Gordon worked as a packer, landscaper, waiter, and coach before going back to school to major in linguistics and, at 35, switch to less backbreaking monetary pursuits like translating, editing, and writing. Having lived in various parts of the world, Gordon is now happily ensconced in suburban Ontario with the best of all husbands.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
May 8, 2019
3.5 stars
This story reads like the beginning (or an extended prologue) of a very promising series. There’s lots of action and undeniable chemistry between two very likeable MCs, but something was missing for me. Maybe an extra 100 pages?? Or dual POV, since we're only given Eirik's thoughts? I hope the author is considering turning this into a series because there’s definitely potentional for it.
Ends with a strong HFN.
This story reads like the beginning (or an extended prologue) of a very promising series. There’s lots of action and undeniable chemistry between two very likeable MCs, but something was missing for me. Maybe an extra 100 pages?? Or dual POV, since we're only given Eirik's thoughts? I hope the author is considering turning this into a series because there’s definitely potentional for it.
Ends with a strong HFN.
May 10, 2019
This wasn't quite what I was expecting but I did end up enjoying it. When I think "dark" I think Flesh Cartel. "Match Grade" is more transgressive than dark, IMO. Then again, "dark" is a relative term.
Eirik is a contract killer with a stellar reputation and thus in demand. However, it's abundantly clear that he's lost the stomach for it, but his client wants someone dead and is willing to pay through the teeth for it so Eirik accepts another job. Begrudingly.
He soon regrets his choice once he begins surveilling his target who hits a little too close to home. He realizes that he's dealing with a compeer rather than a novice. It also complicates matters that he finds is target highly attractive.
Eirik tells the entire story but it seems Mateo recognizes him for who and what he is at first sight. The contract falls apart almost before its begun and in a split second they join forces to fight other enemies.
Everything happens on fast forward in "Match Grade" from their connection to joining forces to joining their lives and I was actually ok with that. Within the constraints of 140-odd pages I thought both characters were fairly well developed with good chemistry and the action sequences were uptempo.
True, I would've thought a trained hitman would be more impervious; but there are extenuating circumstances and I enjoyed that he and Mateo were able to begin building something far more rewarding than what was previously on offer for Eirik.
Recommend to fans of romantic suspense and cat lovers. Bonus points for Cyrus being bossy and precocious even as a wee kitten.
A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
Eirik is a contract killer with a stellar reputation and thus in demand. However, it's abundantly clear that he's lost the stomach for it, but his client wants someone dead and is willing to pay through the teeth for it so Eirik accepts another job. Begrudingly.
He soon regrets his choice once he begins surveilling his target who hits a little too close to home. He realizes that he's dealing with a compeer rather than a novice. It also complicates matters that he finds is target highly attractive.
Eirik tells the entire story but it seems Mateo recognizes him for who and what he is at first sight. The contract falls apart almost before its begun and in a split second they join forces to fight other enemies.
Everything happens on fast forward in "Match Grade" from their connection to joining forces to joining their lives and I was actually ok with that. Within the constraints of 140-odd pages I thought both characters were fairly well developed with good chemistry and the action sequences were uptempo.
True, I would've thought a trained hitman would be more impervious; but there are extenuating circumstances and I enjoyed that he and Mateo were able to begin building something far more rewarding than what was previously on offer for Eirik.
Recommend to fans of romantic suspense and cat lovers. Bonus points for Cyrus being bossy and precocious even as a wee kitten.
A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
April 14, 2021
2.5 Stars
Told in single POV, 3rd person, it’s in the Criminal Delights Universe but it can be read as a standalone. The MCs’ relationship was too insta-lust for my taste and what about love? Was there any? Because I couldn’t feel it or even their chemistry. The story itself was too rushed and wasn’t supposed it to be a dark story? Actually, it was more like a cute one! I wish we had Matteo’s POV beside Eirik. Maybe that way it could be more enjoyable! Overall, Match Grade was a disappointment but hope you enjoy it more than me!
Told in single POV, 3rd person, it’s in the Criminal Delights Universe but it can be read as a standalone. The MCs’ relationship was too insta-lust for my taste and what about love? Was there any? Because I couldn’t feel it or even their chemistry. The story itself was too rushed and wasn’t supposed it to be a dark story? Actually, it was more like a cute one! I wish we had Matteo’s POV beside Eirik. Maybe that way it could be more enjoyable! Overall, Match Grade was a disappointment but hope you enjoy it more than me!
May 9, 2019
Entertaining
This was really not dark in a way I expected, even though there’s lots of dead people before it ends. The action and suspense held my attention well but the first half or so, introducing Eirik and Matt as characters, then the way they came together, felt incomplete. I wanted to get a more authentic feel from their actions, even with the out of the ordinary trope. Things improved in the second half as the plot line expanded. A good read, I simply wasn’t able to become immersed in the story as I would have liked.
This was really not dark in a way I expected, even though there’s lots of dead people before it ends. The action and suspense held my attention well but the first half or so, introducing Eirik and Matt as characters, then the way they came together, felt incomplete. I wanted to get a more authentic feel from their actions, even with the out of the ordinary trope. Things improved in the second half as the plot line expanded. A good read, I simply wasn’t able to become immersed in the story as I would have liked.
May 5, 2019
I didn’t know what to think of Eirik Haldurson at first; this detached, cold, killing machine but as I read on we see that the guy is not as detached as you’d think, and as we delve deeper into his psyche he’s got way more layers than we’re led to believe. This was a hard-hitting, brutal tale of a man borne into a life of the business of death, pure and simple, indoctrinated to believe life is expendable, where emotions don’t—and can’t—play a part. But the human mind is a complex organ and there comes a point when all the conditioning means jack and all the indoctrination starts to fragment. Eirik is contracted to take out Matt Moreno, but Matt is like nobody he’s ever met before, and affects Eirik in a way that life will never be the same again. There’s also business of a Colombian drug lord to sort out before Eirik and Matt can even begin to fathom what’s building between them. This book was a delight to read. I love it when we see two tough, hard and well matched men lose their heart (and wait till you meet Cyrus!). This was intense, nail-biting, full of heart and packing a ton of heat (pun intended) and the Sun Tzu quotes were superb.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMG Reads.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMG Reads.
March 9, 2021
This book was well written, but everything seemed to fast and easy. Like when they go to take out the cartel boss and they handled more than thirty people without a problem, it was too easy, I was expecting something more will happen, but nothing happened. It was another action romance in the series. I liked the story, it just wasn't the dark story I had been hoping for. But the suspense and action was enough to hold my attention right to the very end.
May 27, 2019
This didn't work for me at all. It was insta-lust and then insta-love. Totally unbelieavable and not at all "dark" as the tag warned. It was not for the "faint of heart". It's more for those that like a bit sappy and unrealistic. The writing was fine, I'm just not the intended audience.
January 23, 2021
Book Reaction: https://neverhollowed.com/2020/05/15/...
Rating: 4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits
Rating: 4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits
December 1, 2024
3.75 stars. I enjoyed it and loved that it was a kitten in the mix. Not really dark but kinda cute in parts and I enjoyed the couple. Would have like to read more about them.
June 14, 2019
This was an ok read. Not really as dark as would’ve expected. I really like both of the characters individually but when they’re together... meh. I feel like their relationship progressed too quickly for it to be believable to me or make me care about it. But also I get it, it’s a short ass book and the author had a lot of ground to cover. I feel like this book would’ve been absolutely incredible if there was like an extra 150 pages to map out a storyline with a good pace because there are a lot of moments in this book that are just great.
May 2, 2019
Sometimes you find a book that surprises you. This one surprised me in a very good way.
The story goes something like this: Eirik is a hitman, he was taken from a very early age and he was taught to be what he is now – a weapon. He takes contracts, gets the job done, and moves on to the next thing. He doesn’t have much time to dwell on relationships, his job and life style doesn’t really allow it. The day he decides to take his last job it all changes. That last job is to kill Matt Moreno.
Moreno is this ex soldier guy who is incredibly hot, and ridiculously charming. He’s also just as smart as Eirik, so in a way, Eirik found his match. For his part, Eirik is more of a quiet kind. I liked his ARC a lot because he went from being this broody, moody guy, to this broody but sweet guy, like the more you read the more you realized that under that hard façade there is a soft soul.
What comes from the moment these two meet is a fun, sexy, and darkish ride that I think is worth every penny you’ll spend. There’s a lot of what we call in Spanish “estira y afloja”, you can feel the struggle they feel of wanting to move forward and thinking that it might be a tremendously bad idea to do so – this adds tension to the dynamic, and it makes it insanely sexy.
Their chemistry is amazing. They are fun together, smart together, brave together, and sexy together (Oh. The. Sexy).
Like I said at the beginning of this review, I was surprised that I liked this that much… Not because I thought it was going to be a bad book (I’ve always loved G.B Gordon’s stories), but because early in the story I realized that this book had a cartel in it… and well, if you know me you know how I feel about cartel stories. Now, here’s the thing about cartel stories: there is a tendency to make it look like the whole population of a county is evil because there are cartels there. There’s this weird thing where authors make it look like everyone who lives there is directly involved with the cartels and loving it. It demonizes the people, and as a Mexican woman, it infuriates me. So, I am always, always cautious with these kind of books, and I admit, I am almost always ready to hate them. So, imagine how wonderful I felt when I read a book that dealt with it in a good way, in a way that it didn’t demonize all Colombians. The ending in the action department felt a little , well, fictional (hahahaha yes, I know this is fiction. You'll see what I mean when you read it). I just felt like things don't usually stop/end as easily as the book made it look. So, i confess i was in a bit of disbelief when I got to that part.. The ending for Eirik and Matt was great though. I liked it.
Because there are latinos involved some of you may be wondering if there’s any Spanish. If you are, then know that yes, there is. It’s very little, though. And while I can’t speak for Colombian colloquialism, so I can’t say much of the use of colloquial phrases, the spelling and grammar are well used. There isn’t much of it, just a few phrases scattered through the book, and I felt that it was great that way. My only observation on this, is that the Spanish phrases are in italics, and I am not a fan of that. I know that there are plenty of people out there don’t mind, but to me it feels unnecessarily theatrical. I know that in a lot of cases this particular thing isn’t on the authors, but on the editors/publisher, so whether is one or the other, I wish they changed this rule/idea that it’s best to highlight it that way, because it really isn’t.
The story is short, and the ending, in my opinion, leaves room for more installments, and I hope Mr. Gordon takes a risk and goes for it, because the characters and the story’s foundation is strong enough to have something to work on for a couple of more books, at least. It'd be wonderful to read about more of their adventures, and their lives... And Cyrus. You're gonna love Cyrus - he's this cute little thing that is part of the story, and he was absolutely adorbs. I'm definitely ready for more.
Also, this book is part of a series, but the stories aren't connected between them, since it's like an anthology of stories written by different authors. This book picked my curiosity, so I will be definitely looking up more books from this series, and reading them.
Disclaimer: I recieved a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story goes something like this: Eirik is a hitman, he was taken from a very early age and he was taught to be what he is now – a weapon. He takes contracts, gets the job done, and moves on to the next thing. He doesn’t have much time to dwell on relationships, his job and life style doesn’t really allow it. The day he decides to take his last job it all changes. That last job is to kill Matt Moreno.
Moreno is this ex soldier guy who is incredibly hot, and ridiculously charming. He’s also just as smart as Eirik, so in a way, Eirik found his match. For his part, Eirik is more of a quiet kind. I liked his ARC a lot because he went from being this broody, moody guy, to this broody but sweet guy, like the more you read the more you realized that under that hard façade there is a soft soul.
What comes from the moment these two meet is a fun, sexy, and darkish ride that I think is worth every penny you’ll spend. There’s a lot of what we call in Spanish “estira y afloja”, you can feel the struggle they feel of wanting to move forward and thinking that it might be a tremendously bad idea to do so – this adds tension to the dynamic, and it makes it insanely sexy.
Their chemistry is amazing. They are fun together, smart together, brave together, and sexy together (Oh. The. Sexy).
Like I said at the beginning of this review, I was surprised that I liked this that much… Not because I thought it was going to be a bad book (I’ve always loved G.B Gordon’s stories), but because early in the story I realized that this book had a cartel in it… and well, if you know me you know how I feel about cartel stories. Now, here’s the thing about cartel stories: there is a tendency to make it look like the whole population of a county is evil because there are cartels there. There’s this weird thing where authors make it look like everyone who lives there is directly involved with the cartels and loving it. It demonizes the people, and as a Mexican woman, it infuriates me. So, I am always, always cautious with these kind of books, and I admit, I am almost always ready to hate them. So, imagine how wonderful I felt when I read a book that dealt with it in a good way, in a way that it didn’t demonize all Colombians. The ending in the action department felt a little , well, fictional (hahahaha yes, I know this is fiction. You'll see what I mean when you read it). I just felt like things don't usually stop/end as easily as the book made it look. So, i confess i was in a bit of disbelief when I got to that part.. The ending for Eirik and Matt was great though. I liked it.
Because there are latinos involved some of you may be wondering if there’s any Spanish. If you are, then know that yes, there is. It’s very little, though. And while I can’t speak for Colombian colloquialism, so I can’t say much of the use of colloquial phrases, the spelling and grammar are well used. There isn’t much of it, just a few phrases scattered through the book, and I felt that it was great that way. My only observation on this, is that the Spanish phrases are in italics, and I am not a fan of that. I know that there are plenty of people out there don’t mind, but to me it feels unnecessarily theatrical. I know that in a lot of cases this particular thing isn’t on the authors, but on the editors/publisher, so whether is one or the other, I wish they changed this rule/idea that it’s best to highlight it that way, because it really isn’t.
The story is short, and the ending, in my opinion, leaves room for more installments, and I hope Mr. Gordon takes a risk and goes for it, because the characters and the story’s foundation is strong enough to have something to work on for a couple of more books, at least. It'd be wonderful to read about more of their adventures, and their lives... And Cyrus. You're gonna love Cyrus - he's this cute little thing that is part of the story, and he was absolutely adorbs. I'm definitely ready for more.
Also, this book is part of a series, but the stories aren't connected between them, since it's like an anthology of stories written by different authors. This book picked my curiosity, so I will be definitely looking up more books from this series, and reading them.
Disclaimer: I recieved a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 16, 2019
This wasn't as dark as some of the other ones I read, but it has its moments, so beware of a few triggers. There is violence, death, murder, and it doesn't go into graphic detail, but one of the MCs, Eirik, dealt with abuse. Including his parents deaths and their kidnapping. But with this one, it's more of action/suspense and I think most of you guys would be alright with it. It's really good. It has a surprise twist to it, that I kind of saw/didn't see. I figured something to a point but not at this level and it made it more interesting to me. I really liked it.
As the blurb says, Eirik is an assassin. Contract killer. He's one of the best there is, but lately his game is getting a little off. During his kills or even setting up for the op, he's been having flashbacks. Most of the time while he's making his move. And it's leaving him frozen, frightened, and unable to comprehend what's going on. He doesn't understand why he's being plagued with this after all this time but he tries to keep going. But it's getting too hard. When he tries to back out of the next contract by throwing in a huge fee, thinking they'd never pay, he got the surprise of his life. They're going to pay. Something about this feels off but he goes for it anyway. Just when he's making his move to get the target, he gets another surprise of his life. The tables have turned on him, and so much more. He's at a loss what to do and finally made peace with the fact that his end may have finally come.
When you're in a job like Eirik’s, you can't afford for things to go wonky. It requires all of your concentration or you become the victim instead of your target. So when Eirik starts having flashbacks and such during his kills, it's scary. And I would have been freaking probably worse than he was. Of course, he wasn't exactly calm either. Not that he was loud, but definitely freaking out. But considering all that he has been through in his life, yeah, I'd have flashbacks too.
I don't want to give anything away so I guess I will leave it at this. It's a good book. I like the way it turned. The twists made things a lot more interesting and it became a page turner.
http://lovebytesreviews.com/
As the blurb says, Eirik is an assassin. Contract killer. He's one of the best there is, but lately his game is getting a little off. During his kills or even setting up for the op, he's been having flashbacks. Most of the time while he's making his move. And it's leaving him frozen, frightened, and unable to comprehend what's going on. He doesn't understand why he's being plagued with this after all this time but he tries to keep going. But it's getting too hard. When he tries to back out of the next contract by throwing in a huge fee, thinking they'd never pay, he got the surprise of his life. They're going to pay. Something about this feels off but he goes for it anyway. Just when he's making his move to get the target, he gets another surprise of his life. The tables have turned on him, and so much more. He's at a loss what to do and finally made peace with the fact that his end may have finally come.
When you're in a job like Eirik’s, you can't afford for things to go wonky. It requires all of your concentration or you become the victim instead of your target. So when Eirik starts having flashbacks and such during his kills, it's scary. And I would have been freaking probably worse than he was. Of course, he wasn't exactly calm either. Not that he was loud, but definitely freaking out. But considering all that he has been through in his life, yeah, I'd have flashbacks too.
I don't want to give anything away so I guess I will leave it at this. It's a good book. I like the way it turned. The twists made things a lot more interesting and it became a page turner.
http://lovebytesreviews.com/
May 6, 2019
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.5 stars
Match Grade is part of the Criminal Delights series and the books are written by different authors, but all linked by having a darker theme. This is the first one I have read in the series and it can be read as a standalone. For a series that is billed as being darker, this book wasn’t all that dark for me. Eirik is a hit man and Matt takes the law into his own hands, but this book didn’t come across to me as being overly dark. The characters are morally questionable, sure, but we first meet Eirik when he is already having a crisis of conscience.
The first part of this book had me hooked as we meet Eirik on the job. We then see how the job is wearing on him and then he meets Matt. The men spark at first glance and their first casual touch only heats the flame. The set up is then intriguing as to how these two will get together. There is action and movement and fighting, as well as some inner turmoil and heated exchanges.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
3.5 stars
Match Grade is part of the Criminal Delights series and the books are written by different authors, but all linked by having a darker theme. This is the first one I have read in the series and it can be read as a standalone. For a series that is billed as being darker, this book wasn’t all that dark for me. Eirik is a hit man and Matt takes the law into his own hands, but this book didn’t come across to me as being overly dark. The characters are morally questionable, sure, but we first meet Eirik when he is already having a crisis of conscience.
The first part of this book had me hooked as we meet Eirik on the job. We then see how the job is wearing on him and then he meets Matt. The men spark at first glance and their first casual touch only heats the flame. The set up is then intriguing as to how these two will get together. There is action and movement and fighting, as well as some inner turmoil and heated exchanges.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
May 3, 2019
What I liked about this book are the action scenes—very vivid, dynamic, intense. Especially hand-to-hand combat episodes. So if you are looking for a suspense-filled read, that’s a good choice.
As for the main character, Eirik… While the figure of a “bad boy” who is good at heart is certainly interesting, he doesn’t look entirely convincing to me. Even when he doesn’t have flashbacks that prevent him from doing his job efficiently, he often behaves rather… um… unprofessionally for someone who’s been trained to be a killer since his childhood and is considered to be one of the best hitmen alive. Also, I’m wondering how he could have become such a great lover during his solitary life…
But on the whole, it’s such a quick-paced read that there’s a good chance you might not notice any discrepancies :)
As for the main character, Eirik… While the figure of a “bad boy” who is good at heart is certainly interesting, he doesn’t look entirely convincing to me. Even when he doesn’t have flashbacks that prevent him from doing his job efficiently, he often behaves rather… um… unprofessionally for someone who’s been trained to be a killer since his childhood and is considered to be one of the best hitmen alive. Also, I’m wondering how he could have become such a great lover during his solitary life…
But on the whole, it’s such a quick-paced read that there’s a good chance you might not notice any discrepancies :)
May 2, 2019
Eirik is a hitman with a problem, he’s just not sure what it is. Trained from a young age to kill, he’s suddenly not sure if that’s what he wants the rest of his life to be. His next target is waiting for him and Eirik decides that the sexy, charismatic man just might be the answer to everything.
Matt knew Eirik was coming for him so he was ready. He got so much more than he expected. As they negotiate not killing each other the attraction between them explodes. Leaving each man slightly untrusting but hopeful. To get rid of the contract on Matt they will have to work together, bringing them still closer to each other.
I really like a good action book. Throw in a vulnerable, hot hitman with a kitten named Cyrus and it’s just good clean fun. (Not to clean though, there is a lot of blood and sexy times).
I’ve read several of the Criminal Delights books and while this one isn’t as dark as some, it still works well as an addition to the series.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.
Matt knew Eirik was coming for him so he was ready. He got so much more than he expected. As they negotiate not killing each other the attraction between them explodes. Leaving each man slightly untrusting but hopeful. To get rid of the contract on Matt they will have to work together, bringing them still closer to each other.
I really like a good action book. Throw in a vulnerable, hot hitman with a kitten named Cyrus and it’s just good clean fun. (Not to clean though, there is a lot of blood and sexy times).
I’ve read several of the Criminal Delights books and while this one isn’t as dark as some, it still works well as an addition to the series.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.
May 8, 2019
Match Grade: Criminal Delights - Assassins by G.B. Gordon
3 stars
M/M Action, Romance
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
This is a strange story. It's about a tormented assassin who is finding out that there might be more to live. Eirik is a character who is difficult to get to know. You think he's one dimensional for much of the story, but overall, there are layers beyond what he shows.
Matt knows that he has a target on his back. He's known for a while. But, when he comes across Eirik, he can't help but be intrigued.
These two characters together have a fragile friendship. They believe that they could really care for each other, but in reality, they don't know much about each other. While this book is a short one, I wanted more character development.
I'll see if the second book is going to bring a more cohesive story, but this one just missed the mark for me. There is not much darkness in the story. You're kind of wondering why Matt and Eirik are together and it just felt incomplete.
3 stars
M/M Action, Romance
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
This is a strange story. It's about a tormented assassin who is finding out that there might be more to live. Eirik is a character who is difficult to get to know. You think he's one dimensional for much of the story, but overall, there are layers beyond what he shows.
Matt knows that he has a target on his back. He's known for a while. But, when he comes across Eirik, he can't help but be intrigued.
These two characters together have a fragile friendship. They believe that they could really care for each other, but in reality, they don't know much about each other. While this book is a short one, I wanted more character development.
I'll see if the second book is going to bring a more cohesive story, but this one just missed the mark for me. There is not much darkness in the story. You're kind of wondering why Matt and Eirik are together and it just felt incomplete.
June 1, 2019
"The cracks are how the light gets in. "
Matt is so damn adorable! Retired military, deadly, dangerous and oh so damn cocky.
He made the story.
"the sound of his craquelure lacquer shattering into a million pieces"
Eirik worked on muscle reflex and instinct. He knew something was wrong. And coming face to face with Matt just made it real.
I did have a bit of trouble with the 'insta' roll over and give in relationship but as things progressed it made sense. He was tired, nothing clicked for him anymore.
Not until that laugh, until the moment he saw Cyrus poke his head out.
Crack - Shatter - Beat
These two gave me all the feel goods. I know, don't judge, despite the blood and mayhem I couldn't help but smile they were such opposites which made them so perfect.
Matt is so damn adorable! Retired military, deadly, dangerous and oh so damn cocky.
He made the story.
"the sound of his craquelure lacquer shattering into a million pieces"
Eirik worked on muscle reflex and instinct. He knew something was wrong. And coming face to face with Matt just made it real.
I did have a bit of trouble with the 'insta' roll over and give in relationship but as things progressed it made sense. He was tired, nothing clicked for him anymore.
Not until that laugh, until the moment he saw Cyrus poke his head out.
Crack - Shatter - Beat
These two gave me all the feel goods. I know, don't judge, despite the blood and mayhem I couldn't help but smile they were such opposites which made them so perfect.
May 11, 2019
Cyrus pushed this up to 4 stars, otherwise probably 3.5 - enjoyable read, liked the characters.
March 6, 2022
I'm glad this wasn't a long one. The cat was cute and I'm glad Matt had a one track mind. Was a lot lighter than the rest, falling into more of a hitman redemption or wake up call.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2019
Was good, more of a thriller/romance instead of a dark romance, so I was highly disappointed in that - but for a thriller it was great. I found the relationship progression was quite abrupt and I did not like that one bit .. from one thing to another I felt like I had whiplash. Still a great thriller though!
May 8, 2019
I received a free copy to read and review for Wicked Reads.
I am sure I am in the minority with my opinion on this book but it wasn't very dark. I was expecting so much more. There were so many pages in the beginning that didn't have dialogue that I was losing interest fast. I need dialogue, not a monologue. When Eirik and Matt meet they both finally met their match. Besides a few hot sex scenes I was really underwhelmed by the story.
I am sure I am in the minority with my opinion on this book but it wasn't very dark. I was expecting so much more. There were so many pages in the beginning that didn't have dialogue that I was losing interest fast. I need dialogue, not a monologue. When Eirik and Matt meet they both finally met their match. Besides a few hot sex scenes I was really underwhelmed by the story.
Want to read
June 23, 2019
Part of the Criminal Delights series. While part of a series each can de be read as a standalone:
May 7, 2019
Listen....this was not what I expected.
This wasn’t dark. AT ALL. The “bad guys we love” that were the MCs ended up being really good guys. One was really a good guy avenging his family and the other one was brainwashed.
Only the first sex scene was hot the rest I just skipped with the exception of a BJ halfway through the book that was hot.
The fight scenes were basic as hell and dint raise my blood pressure at all. I really don’t get how people are praising them; I’ve read better fight scenes.
At around 70% I lost interest and skimmed through the book.
This wasn’t dark. AT ALL. The “bad guys we love” that were the MCs ended up being really good guys. One was really a good guy avenging his family and the other one was brainwashed.
Only the first sex scene was hot the rest I just skipped with the exception of a BJ halfway through the book that was hot.
The fight scenes were basic as hell and dint raise my blood pressure at all. I really don’t get how people are praising them; I’ve read better fight scenes.
At around 70% I lost interest and skimmed through the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 9, 2019
DNF @ %50. This wasn't what I expected and it also felt extremely rushed. If Eirik is an assassin then I'm the President of this country. I thought the Criminal Delights books were supposed to be dark?
May 9, 2019
3-3.5 Stars
There are a bunch of (standalone) books from the “Criminal Delights” series and this is only the second book of the series I read so far. Compared to the other one (I’ve read), I think MATCH GRADE is pretty mild for an assassin story - at least from what I expected. Yes, there were body counts and pretty graphic descriptions on how the blood spilled. Yet most of them told as an aside and thus didn’t really pack a punch on the gruesomeness of it all.
MATCH GRADE had assassin Eirik Haldurson face to face with ex-soldier turned cartel destroyer Matt Moreno. Eirik’s deep-buried conscience rebelled, he ended up join forces with his target and helped turning the table on the cartel themselves. As the story was told from Eirik’s POV, reader could sense his struggle from the get go. His saving an abandoned orange tabby kitten - naming him (Cyrus) and caring for him - was the big crack of armor around his heart before he actually met his target. So. An assassin with an orange tabby cat, who then fixated on a handsome stranger and fell head over heels in love.
Along with mild assassin vibe, the romance between Matt and Eirik was rather swift and instant. Perhaps as a homage to assassins’s fast way of life, so to not grabbing at what they want fast enough they might get left behind? But overall MATCH GRADE for me was heavier on the romance rather than other issue. Which is somewhat a bummer as I thought - given more tweak and exploration on both men past and background - this piece still got potential to be much better. But that’s me.
Piques aside, after two of these standalone book I think I’m game to peruse the backlist titles to find others (from the series) to read. If nothing, “Criminal Delights” certainly presenting unorthodox characters on the spotlight, often with not-usually-my-cup-of-tea tropes and sub-genres that nonetheless stirred my interest.
Advance copy of this book is kindly given by the author in exchange for an honest review.
There are a bunch of (standalone) books from the “Criminal Delights” series and this is only the second book of the series I read so far. Compared to the other one (I’ve read), I think MATCH GRADE is pretty mild for an assassin story - at least from what I expected. Yes, there were body counts and pretty graphic descriptions on how the blood spilled. Yet most of them told as an aside and thus didn’t really pack a punch on the gruesomeness of it all.
MATCH GRADE had assassin Eirik Haldurson face to face with ex-soldier turned cartel destroyer Matt Moreno. Eirik’s deep-buried conscience rebelled, he ended up join forces with his target and helped turning the table on the cartel themselves. As the story was told from Eirik’s POV, reader could sense his struggle from the get go. His saving an abandoned orange tabby kitten - naming him (Cyrus) and caring for him - was the big crack of armor around his heart before he actually met his target. So. An assassin with an orange tabby cat, who then fixated on a handsome stranger and fell head over heels in love.
Along with mild assassin vibe, the romance between Matt and Eirik was rather swift and instant. Perhaps as a homage to assassins’s fast way of life, so to not grabbing at what they want fast enough they might get left behind? But overall MATCH GRADE for me was heavier on the romance rather than other issue. Which is somewhat a bummer as I thought - given more tweak and exploration on both men past and background - this piece still got potential to be much better. But that’s me.
Piques aside, after two of these standalone book I think I’m game to peruse the backlist titles to find others (from the series) to read. If nothing, “Criminal Delights” certainly presenting unorthodox characters on the spotlight, often with not-usually-my-cup-of-tea tropes and sub-genres that nonetheless stirred my interest.
Advance copy of this book is kindly given by the author in exchange for an honest review.
December 30, 2019
Among the four books I've read so far in the Criminal Delights series, this is the first one with leads that are not difficult to get behind. Matt is actually an all-around good guy, charismatic but deadly when necessary. Eirik is a former contract killer who's trying to redeem himself . I may think that he'd still need to be accountable for his prior kills, but at the very least his twisted tutelage under the man who killed his parents didn't warp him irreparably. That speaks of great inner fortitude, which in itself is admirable.
The sexual component of the story isn't as strong as with the others tho. That might be because those scenes are so refreshingly vanilla, so I ain't complaining. One can only take so much blood, tears, and guts in one's erotica before he begs for some respite.
I'm rating this 7/10 or 3 stars out of 5.
The sexual component of the story isn't as strong as with the others tho. That might be because those scenes are so refreshingly vanilla, so I ain't complaining. One can only take so much blood, tears, and guts in one's erotica before he begs for some respite.
I'm rating this 7/10 or 3 stars out of 5.
May 4, 2019
4.25 stars
A definite upgrade from the last two Criminal Delights books. I enjoyed the action and the play by play the author brought the is I really enjoyed.
A definite upgrade from the last two Criminal Delights books. I enjoyed the action and the play by play the author brought the is I really enjoyed.
November 17, 2019
Kinda cute and fun.
April 30, 2019
You know, this may not be the first book in this series but this is the first book that I have read. I will say this, I will be going back now and reading the other books to see if they are even half as good as this one is. I was looking forward to this book when I read the description but I was not sure if I was going to like it or not.....turns out that I loved it. This was a very good read. It is action packed. There was so many surprises in this book. Not to mention the danger as well. This was a well planned, thought out book that was written in a way to keep the reader interested through out the whole read. And it definitely did that.
This is a book about two unlikely men. One is a killer the other is a former military turned vigilante. One has a contract to kill the other. But when the time comes for this to happen, something else happens instead and now neither man will ever be the same again.
Eirik is an a contract killer. He does not do it because this is what he has always wanted to do but rather because this is what he was taught to do. He had no choice but to become who he is. But now this is just starting to become to much and Eirik wants out. Problem is he has one last job that he has to do and this job will be enough to help him get out and not have to go back.
His contract is on a former military man named Moreno. Eirik knows this will not be an easy job but he knows it is too late to back out now. Before this job can take place Eirik messes up his carefully laid plans by making a connection. One night after returning home Eirik has to take out his trash and heard something from instead a plastic bag. To his surprise he finds a neglected kitten. Though Eirik fully intends to take the kitten to the shelter he always comes up with a reason as to why he can’t. So now he has something he is responsible for. Which is the last thing he wanted.
When Eirik goes to finish off the job with Moreno he is in for another surprise because Moreno was awaiting his arrival. After much fighting and much consideration this two men decide to come up with the most unlikely plan....help each other.
Can two men that are so opposite find a way to make things work in the most unlikeliest situations? Now both men are on the hit list and if they want to survive they will have to work together somehow.
This was such a great read. I could not stop reading this book once I started this book. This is the first book in this series that I have read but it will not be the last. I can’t wait for the next book to come out. Will definitely be reading more by GB Gordon in the future.
Was given this galley copy for free for an open and honest review
This is a book about two unlikely men. One is a killer the other is a former military turned vigilante. One has a contract to kill the other. But when the time comes for this to happen, something else happens instead and now neither man will ever be the same again.
Eirik is an a contract killer. He does not do it because this is what he has always wanted to do but rather because this is what he was taught to do. He had no choice but to become who he is. But now this is just starting to become to much and Eirik wants out. Problem is he has one last job that he has to do and this job will be enough to help him get out and not have to go back.
His contract is on a former military man named Moreno. Eirik knows this will not be an easy job but he knows it is too late to back out now. Before this job can take place Eirik messes up his carefully laid plans by making a connection. One night after returning home Eirik has to take out his trash and heard something from instead a plastic bag. To his surprise he finds a neglected kitten. Though Eirik fully intends to take the kitten to the shelter he always comes up with a reason as to why he can’t. So now he has something he is responsible for. Which is the last thing he wanted.
When Eirik goes to finish off the job with Moreno he is in for another surprise because Moreno was awaiting his arrival. After much fighting and much consideration this two men decide to come up with the most unlikely plan....help each other.
Can two men that are so opposite find a way to make things work in the most unlikeliest situations? Now both men are on the hit list and if they want to survive they will have to work together somehow.
This was such a great read. I could not stop reading this book once I started this book. This is the first book in this series that I have read but it will not be the last. I can’t wait for the next book to come out. Will definitely be reading more by GB Gordon in the future.
Was given this galley copy for free for an open and honest review
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