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Variable Onset
To catch a killer, a special agent and his former student will need to get close—to their target, and each other. Layla Reyne returns with a stand-alone romantic mystery.
When the serial killer known as Dr. Fear seemingly reemerges after a cooling-off period, Special Agent Lincoln Monroe wants on the case. He knows his research on the calculating criminal, who targets couples and uses their worst fears to kill them, could prove invaluable. But nothing can prepare Lincoln for the agent waiting for him in Apex, Virginia: a brash and cocky former student. Carter Warren is everything Lincoln is not, and somehow everything he wants. And they’ll be going undercover. As newlyweds.
For Carter, seeing Lincoln again—and flustered to boot—pokes his raging bear of a crush something fierce. He thinks posing as lovers will provide the perfect bait for Dr. Fear. But pretending to be married forces them to confront fears of their own…like giving in to the very real chemistry between them.
With evidence pointing to the possibility of a copycat killer, Lincoln and Carter will have to race to separate truth from fiction. But when another couple goes missing, finding the killer will test every ounce of their training, skills and the strength of their bond like never before.
This book is approximately 72,000 words
When the serial killer known as Dr. Fear seemingly reemerges after a cooling-off period, Special Agent Lincoln Monroe wants on the case. He knows his research on the calculating criminal, who targets couples and uses their worst fears to kill them, could prove invaluable. But nothing can prepare Lincoln for the agent waiting for him in Apex, Virginia: a brash and cocky former student. Carter Warren is everything Lincoln is not, and somehow everything he wants. And they’ll be going undercover. As newlyweds.
For Carter, seeing Lincoln again—and flustered to boot—pokes his raging bear of a crush something fierce. He thinks posing as lovers will provide the perfect bait for Dr. Fear. But pretending to be married forces them to confront fears of their own…like giving in to the very real chemistry between them.
With evidence pointing to the possibility of a copycat killer, Lincoln and Carter will have to race to separate truth from fiction. But when another couple goes missing, finding the killer will test every ounce of their training, skills and the strength of their bond like never before.
This book is approximately 72,000 words
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 4, 2020
65 people are currently reading
527 people want to read
About the author
Layla Reyne
53 books1,029 followersLayla Reyne is the author of What We May Be and the Agents Irish and Whiskey, Fog City, and Perfect Play series. She writes sexy, intense LGBTQIA+ romance featuring competent adults in kitchens, sports arenas, car chases, and other high-stakes situations. Whether it’s adrenaline-fueled suspense, rival athletes, vampires and shifters in alt-realms, or love mixed with mouth-watering foodie goodness, queer folks finding happily-ever-afters is guaranteed.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 204 reviews
December 7, 2024
3.3 "a horny housewife no longer has to choose between csi or a hallmark special" stars !!!!
Thanks to the author, Netgalley and Carina Press for an ecopy. This was released May 2020 and I am providing an honest review.
This is my first read of the subgenre of queer romantic suspense. This far surpassed by expectations despite a lot of eyerolling and suspension of disbelief.
There is an awful lot to like in this novel. The writing is crisp. The plot is well layered. There are many interesting and varied minor characters. The two main romantic leads are adorable as puppies and cranky like old kitties. The chemistry was believable and hot. The thriller aspects were interesting and this had a very made for tv vibe about it. I was entertained thoroughly and rooting for these two dudes while they were on the hunt for a serial killer and a copycat while navigating their hearts and cooling their loins.
The romance was much more believable than the thriller aspects. I would have liked more gritty realism rather than theatrics. There was sometimes too much cheez as well but I'm not gonna lie I was teary eyed several times.
Did I like and enjoy this...yes very much...
Would I read more romantic suspense....perhaps
Thanks to the author, Netgalley and Carina Press for an ecopy. This was released May 2020 and I am providing an honest review.
This is my first read of the subgenre of queer romantic suspense. This far surpassed by expectations despite a lot of eyerolling and suspension of disbelief.
There is an awful lot to like in this novel. The writing is crisp. The plot is well layered. There are many interesting and varied minor characters. The two main romantic leads are adorable as puppies and cranky like old kitties. The chemistry was believable and hot. The thriller aspects were interesting and this had a very made for tv vibe about it. I was entertained thoroughly and rooting for these two dudes while they were on the hunt for a serial killer and a copycat while navigating their hearts and cooling their loins.
The romance was much more believable than the thriller aspects. I would have liked more gritty realism rather than theatrics. There was sometimes too much cheez as well but I'm not gonna lie I was teary eyed several times.
Did I like and enjoy this...yes very much...
Would I read more romantic suspense....perhaps
April 5, 2020
2.5
What Layla Reyne does consistently well (that I've noticed) is research whether it be technology or forensics, she puts the time in to make her stories authentic. I appreciate that a great deal.
Variable Onset toys with some tried and true psychological thriller themes that I also appreciated. Lincoln and Carter work in differing capacities for the FBI and are thrown together again on a serial killer case that involves a close friend of Lincoln's having last seen each other 8 yrs ago when Carter was a loudmouth, somewhat obnoxious student of Lincoln's.
The case involves a probable copycat of a notorious and still at large serial killer. I figured out who it was really quickly. I hate when I do that.
See the rest on the blog then later here.
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Pre-read blathering.
Serial killers & romance go together like peas-n-carrots.
What Layla Reyne does consistently well (that I've noticed) is research whether it be technology or forensics, she puts the time in to make her stories authentic. I appreciate that a great deal.
Variable Onset toys with some tried and true psychological thriller themes that I also appreciated. Lincoln and Carter work in differing capacities for the FBI and are thrown together again on a serial killer case that involves a close friend of Lincoln's having last seen each other 8 yrs ago when Carter was a loudmouth, somewhat obnoxious student of Lincoln's.
The case involves a probable copycat of a notorious and still at large serial killer. I figured out who it was really quickly. I hate when I do that.
See the rest on the blog then later here.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Pre-read blathering.
Serial killers & romance go together like peas-n-carrots.
May 11, 2020
I love reading mystery and suspense. There was a time when that was the only genre I read, but then came romance and MM romance and I was hooked... Layla Reyne gives me a combination of all and I really appreciate that ;)
Now let me start off by saying that this is a mystery/suspense first...all the rest takes a backseat in this story but that doesn't mean it is less important. It is not a hearts and flowers book though, so don't expect too much on the love and kisses front. Though there are kisses....
While the suspense builds, so does the sexual tension between Lincoln and Carter.
The slow build was extremely slow in this one and even with my love for all the mystery, I have to admit I could have done with a bit more romance...
Still, it kept me on the edge of my seat and I was utterly captivated...
If you are a fan of the mystery/suspense genre and you don't mind the romance taking a backseat, then you should really give this one a go.
An ARC was provided to
in exchange for an honest review
May 4, 2020
Between the complex, thrilling mystery and the seriously hot, slow-burn romance, Layla Reyne’s Variable Onset is one amazing ride! Cover to cover, Ms. Reyne held me spellbound with the steadily mounting tension and all the twists and turns this story takes. Variable Onset is brilliantly written, and I loved it!
Catching the serial killer and solving the mystery take the front seat in this exciting story, but there’s enough unresolved sexual tension between the main characters that the romance is never far from the surface. Their mutual attraction is intense, and Ms. Reyne keeps it up throughout the entire novel.
FBI Agent Lincoln Monroe is a happily divorced father of a teenager, and content teaching forensic genealogy in his Quantico classroom. It’s been years since he’s worked in the field, but when the daughter of his highly revered mentor is kidnapped, Lincoln steps up and agrees to go undercover and help solve the case. At the top of his list of issues (and he’s got a few): his partner-to-be is his most annoying (but incredibly gorgeous) former student, Special Agent Carter Warren.
Still crushing on his former professor, Carter has carried a torch for Lincoln for the past eight years. Needing a cover for the mission, Carter seizes his chance and slips a wedding ring on Lincoln’s finger! It’s the fake relationship trope, and this one’s a real delight. Layla Reyne clearly had so much fun with it, and I love seeing these two men dance around each other. Their chemistry is amazing, and Variable Onset is a superb romance.
The suspense builds steadily as Lincoln and Carter work their way through the clues to solve the mystery. After all, the clock is ticking! It’s a clever story, with the creepy serial killer and their copy-cat. Plus, there’s a bonus of wonderful descriptions of this charming college town, filled with intriguing characters and some very interesting goings-on within the community.
I’ve just discovered Layla Reyne’s amazing stories, and I can’t wait to see what this talented author comes up with next. I know Variable Onset is billed as a standalone novel, but I'd sure love to see Lincoln and Carter tackle some more mysteries. I’m keeping my fingers crossed this is the start of a fantastic new series.
Catching the serial killer and solving the mystery take the front seat in this exciting story, but there’s enough unresolved sexual tension between the main characters that the romance is never far from the surface. Their mutual attraction is intense, and Ms. Reyne keeps it up throughout the entire novel.
FBI Agent Lincoln Monroe is a happily divorced father of a teenager, and content teaching forensic genealogy in his Quantico classroom. It’s been years since he’s worked in the field, but when the daughter of his highly revered mentor is kidnapped, Lincoln steps up and agrees to go undercover and help solve the case. At the top of his list of issues (and he’s got a few): his partner-to-be is his most annoying (but incredibly gorgeous) former student, Special Agent Carter Warren.
Still crushing on his former professor, Carter has carried a torch for Lincoln for the past eight years. Needing a cover for the mission, Carter seizes his chance and slips a wedding ring on Lincoln’s finger! It’s the fake relationship trope, and this one’s a real delight. Layla Reyne clearly had so much fun with it, and I love seeing these two men dance around each other. Their chemistry is amazing, and Variable Onset is a superb romance.
The suspense builds steadily as Lincoln and Carter work their way through the clues to solve the mystery. After all, the clock is ticking! It’s a clever story, with the creepy serial killer and their copy-cat. Plus, there’s a bonus of wonderful descriptions of this charming college town, filled with intriguing characters and some very interesting goings-on within the community.
I’ve just discovered Layla Reyne’s amazing stories, and I can’t wait to see what this talented author comes up with next. I know Variable Onset is billed as a standalone novel, but I'd sure love to see Lincoln and Carter tackle some more mysteries. I’m keeping my fingers crossed this is the start of a fantastic new series.
April 15, 2020
There's definitely good value in this standalone from Layla as you get three intertwined plot threads mixing together.
The main story is a suspense thriller with a side order of romance but it also includes an element of self-discovery.
Brilliantly researched, as is anything from this author, I felt the pacing moved along well with the serial killer investigation.
I changed my mind multiple times on who I thought the bad guy was, and I really liked the secondary copycat killer plot.
The twists were interesting and my initial guess turned out to be half right but not the killer's actual identity .
I really loved the small college town vibe of the setting and the people who lived there, it had a very strong sense of place.
One element I was both disappointed in, but also totally understand why it was like that, was the relationship between Carter and Lincoln.
I think the narrative decision to keep them apart physically apart from some hot kisses and serious UST absolutely made sense.
But I would have loved to have had more of them once they finally became a couple at the end of the story.
They were a perfect match and, while the story is investigation first, romance second, I still felt sad we only got to see them together in love at the very end because I loved them as a partnership.
I'm not going into the plot itself, it worked for me, I liked the twists and turns it took and I liked how it incorporated forensics.
Carter was a delight, confident, brash but with a vulnerable centre, while Lincoln, a decade older, had that sexy intelligent nerd vibe.
I know this is a standalone, but I'd love to read them investigating more FBI cold cases.
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
The main story is a suspense thriller with a side order of romance but it also includes an element of self-discovery.
Brilliantly researched, as is anything from this author, I felt the pacing moved along well with the serial killer investigation.
I changed my mind multiple times on who I thought the bad guy was, and I really liked the secondary copycat killer plot.
The twists were interesting and my initial guess turned out to be half right but not the killer's actual identity .
I really loved the small college town vibe of the setting and the people who lived there, it had a very strong sense of place.
One element I was both disappointed in, but also totally understand why it was like that, was the relationship between Carter and Lincoln.
I think the narrative decision to keep them apart physically apart from some hot kisses and serious UST absolutely made sense.
But I would have loved to have had more of them once they finally became a couple at the end of the story.
They were a perfect match and, while the story is investigation first, romance second, I still felt sad we only got to see them together in love at the very end because I loved them as a partnership.
I'm not going into the plot itself, it worked for me, I liked the twists and turns it took and I liked how it incorporated forensics.
Carter was a delight, confident, brash but with a vulnerable centre, while Lincoln, a decade older, had that sexy intelligent nerd vibe.
I know this is a standalone, but I'd love to read them investigating more FBI cold cases.
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
August 12, 2020
⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Lacked Depth*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱
Look, this was somewhat cute, however, the timeline was too short, there was little romance, too much focus on the case than the relationship, and the ending wasn't all that. My biggest problem was that none of the characters were Alpha enough for my taste. I need a least one character to be dominant. To be in charge. But it wasn't like that here. Then there was the sexy times, which were practically non existent. Overall, I needed way more for this book to truly enjoy it, but it was still enjoyable enough to pass the time.
Th Characters:
The list is long so I've put it in a spoilers tag.
Quick basic facts:
Genre: - (Adult) Contemporary Romance (M/M).
Series: - Standalone.
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Favorite character? - Carter Warren.
Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Yes.
Would I recommend this book/series? - Both yes (to pass time) and no (for something good).
Will I read this again in the future? - No.
Rating - 2.5 stars.
April 15, 2020
3.5★'s Rounded Up
Another reminder to myself that I love mystery and even more, I love suspense. This book had both and I liked it for those reasons. I also liked the location. It had this small townish bubble feeling and add in Winter, yeah, it totally read like being inside a snowglobe. A snowglobe full of murder, haha!
The Author did a fantastic job at building momentum. There were times while reading and they were piecing together all the clues I swear I could hear the dun-dun-dun type music playing in the back ground. I could feel their excitement and how they knew they were almost there. All the suspects made sense and I never was sure who actually was the killer the entire read.
So yeah, all those aspects of the story were good, good, good.
But the romance? I really liked the idea of it but feel like there just wasn't enough throughout and when there finally was the chance, they didn't take it. And then, when we finally got it, it was just not enough. But, the idea of it I loved. These two had been super attracted to each other just at the wrong time. Not that this time was the right time, but it kind of was. I think I would have just liked a bit more personally, but, Serial Killer investigations probably aren't the best time for romance. It feels like it might grow on me though, so I may change my mind once I sit on it a bit. Who knows?
All throughout the read I thought for sure this would be a series, but with the end, I feel like maybe that's it for these two.
This was a quick read that kept my attention. It had pretty much the feel I have come to expect from this Author and keeps her on my want to read list.
**ARC provided by the author via Eliza Rae Services in exchange for an honest review.**
Another reminder to myself that I love mystery and even more, I love suspense. This book had both and I liked it for those reasons. I also liked the location. It had this small townish bubble feeling and add in Winter, yeah, it totally read like being inside a snowglobe. A snowglobe full of murder, haha!
The Author did a fantastic job at building momentum. There were times while reading and they were piecing together all the clues I swear I could hear the dun-dun-dun type music playing in the back ground. I could feel their excitement and how they knew they were almost there. All the suspects made sense and I never was sure who actually was the killer the entire read.
So yeah, all those aspects of the story were good, good, good.
But the romance? I really liked the idea of it but feel like there just wasn't enough throughout and when there finally was the chance, they didn't take it. And then, when we finally got it, it was just not enough. But, the idea of it I loved. These two had been super attracted to each other just at the wrong time. Not that this time was the right time, but it kind of was. I think I would have just liked a bit more personally, but, Serial Killer investigations probably aren't the best time for romance. It feels like it might grow on me though, so I may change my mind once I sit on it a bit. Who knows?
All throughout the read I thought for sure this would be a series, but with the end, I feel like maybe that's it for these two.
This was a quick read that kept my attention. It had pretty much the feel I have come to expect from this Author and keeps her on my want to read list.
**ARC provided by the author via Eliza Rae Services in exchange for an honest review.**
June 5, 2020
I've given this a B+ at AAR, so that's 4.5 stars
Layla Reyne is an author who can be a bit hit and miss for me, yet something about her writing keeps me coming back to her books. I thoroughly enjoyed her début series, ( Agents Irish and Whiskey ) but was less enthusiastic about the follow up ( Trouble Brewing ), even though I liked the characters and most of the plotlines. In fact, there are a lot of things I like about her books – likeable characters, complex plots, snappy dialogue and steamy love scenes, plus Ms. Reyne’s ability to write movie-style action scenes is impressive. All those ingredients were there in her last couple of series, but they didn’t seem to gel quite as well as before.
So I’m really pleased to report that her latest novel, Variable Onset, turned out to be a welcome return to form. It’s a standalone, and is one of her best books to date, containing a well-executed, complex plot and two fully fleshed-out leads whose romance unfolds at a pace that allows the author to properly develop the chemistry between them and really build the UST.
The story revolves around the hunt for a serial killer who has managed to evade capture for decades. The notorious Dr. Fear preys on couples, kidnapping and torturing them, preying on their deepest fears (fire, claustrophobia, drowning…) until the victim begs for death – and then repeats the torture with the second victim. The killer strikes in cycles and goes to ground after each one; now it seems that they may have just become active again and for the first time, the FBI may have a clue as to where this person might be.
Special Agent Lincoln Monroe has been with the FBI for fifteen years, the last ten of them at Quantico, where he teaches courses in forensic science. He loves what he does, but his specialty in forensic genealogy has seen him being pulled into more and more active investigations recently. Field work doesn’t really play to his strengths, but when he learns Dr. Fear appears to have embarked upon his next killing cycle, he immediately accedes to his boss’ request for help on the case. Even more bad news awaits however; the latest couple to have been abducted are the daughter of Lincoln’s former mentor (who was the last agent to have tracked Dr. Fear) and her fiancé. If the killer remains true to form, they have less than forty eight hours to find them alive.
It’s truly a race against time, and Lincoln makes his way to the small town of Apex, Virginia, to meet with the agent he’ll partner in their search for the couple and the killer. In his rush to get underway, Lincoln wasn’t even told the agent’s name – and the last thing he expects is to arrive at his new ‘home’ to find a party in full swing. Even more unexpected, the door is opened by Carter Warren, a former student – the trainee of his nightmares, and of the occasional fantasy – who drags him inside, presses a wedding ring into his hand and immediately introduces him around as Professor Lincoln Polk, the new university librarian – and his new husband.
Carter had a huge crush on Lincoln back when he was at the academy, and thinks his geeky professor has grown even hotter with age. He wanted Lincoln on the case because he’s the Bureau’s resident expert on Dr. Fear and created their cover as a couple in the belief that it might draw them out – but is also determined not to pass up the chance to broaden his working partnership with Lincoln into something more.
The suspense plot is clever, twisty and dark as Lincoln and Carter realise that not only is Dr. Fear killing again, but they’ve got a copycat to deal with as well – whom Dr. Fear seems to want them to catch. Suspects and red herrings abound but clues don’t – and even when one does surface, it seems to offer more questions than answers, and I changed my mind about the identity of the villain several times. Layla Reyne’s research is always impeccable, and her forays into investigative detail are fascinating; plus she does a great job evoking the small college town atmosphere and of fleshing out the secondary characters.
The two leads are strongly characterised and three dimensional, and their slow-burn relationship is full of crackling sexual tension. Lincoln is in his early forties and co-parents his teenaged daughter with his ex-wife (who he counts as one of his best friends). He’s meticulous, dedicated and a bit prickly, his daughter is the most important person in his life and he’s cautious about relationships, having been burned in the past, but can’t deny the pull he feels towards Carter – has felt since the first time they met eight years earlier. Back then, Carter was an aggravating smartarse – and one of Lincoln’s brightest students. Too smart, too cocky, too flirtatious and too damn attractive for his own good, he was exactly the sort of trouble Lincoln didn’t need, and not much of that has changed in the last eight years. Or that’s what Lincoln believes at first. Quickly he comes to see that while Carter is still gorgeous, talented and outgoing, he’s also kind, highly competent and clever, and that they’re a good fit, both professionally and personally.
Variable Onset is a terrific read – a fast-paced, suspenseful mystery combined with a sexy, slow-burn romance that is just right for this particular story. I liked how the fake relationship adds to the romantic tension with both men wondering whether their growing feelings are due to their enforced proximity or something more; it’s not an uncommon trope, but I liked the way it was handled here. I would perhaps have liked to see a little more of Carter and Lincoln’s togetherness at the end of the book, but ultimately I’m happy with the way things played out between them. I did, however have a couple of issues with the plot; one, I found the resolution of the main Dr. Fear plotline a little clumsy and two, I’d have liked a little more time spent on the personal quest that led to Carter’s being in Apex in the first place.
But none of those issues affected my enjoyment of the book one whit. I’m sure Ms. Reyne’s many fans will enjoy it, and if you haven’t read anything of hers before, this would be a great jumping-in point. Carter and Lincoln are engaging, relatable characters, and I’ll be at the front of the queue if Ms. Reyne decides she’s got more of their stories to tell.
Layla Reyne is an author who can be a bit hit and miss for me, yet something about her writing keeps me coming back to her books. I thoroughly enjoyed her début series, ( Agents Irish and Whiskey ) but was less enthusiastic about the follow up ( Trouble Brewing ), even though I liked the characters and most of the plotlines. In fact, there are a lot of things I like about her books – likeable characters, complex plots, snappy dialogue and steamy love scenes, plus Ms. Reyne’s ability to write movie-style action scenes is impressive. All those ingredients were there in her last couple of series, but they didn’t seem to gel quite as well as before.
So I’m really pleased to report that her latest novel, Variable Onset, turned out to be a welcome return to form. It’s a standalone, and is one of her best books to date, containing a well-executed, complex plot and two fully fleshed-out leads whose romance unfolds at a pace that allows the author to properly develop the chemistry between them and really build the UST.
The story revolves around the hunt for a serial killer who has managed to evade capture for decades. The notorious Dr. Fear preys on couples, kidnapping and torturing them, preying on their deepest fears (fire, claustrophobia, drowning…) until the victim begs for death – and then repeats the torture with the second victim. The killer strikes in cycles and goes to ground after each one; now it seems that they may have just become active again and for the first time, the FBI may have a clue as to where this person might be.
Special Agent Lincoln Monroe has been with the FBI for fifteen years, the last ten of them at Quantico, where he teaches courses in forensic science. He loves what he does, but his specialty in forensic genealogy has seen him being pulled into more and more active investigations recently. Field work doesn’t really play to his strengths, but when he learns Dr. Fear appears to have embarked upon his next killing cycle, he immediately accedes to his boss’ request for help on the case. Even more bad news awaits however; the latest couple to have been abducted are the daughter of Lincoln’s former mentor (who was the last agent to have tracked Dr. Fear) and her fiancé. If the killer remains true to form, they have less than forty eight hours to find them alive.
It’s truly a race against time, and Lincoln makes his way to the small town of Apex, Virginia, to meet with the agent he’ll partner in their search for the couple and the killer. In his rush to get underway, Lincoln wasn’t even told the agent’s name – and the last thing he expects is to arrive at his new ‘home’ to find a party in full swing. Even more unexpected, the door is opened by Carter Warren, a former student – the trainee of his nightmares, and of the occasional fantasy – who drags him inside, presses a wedding ring into his hand and immediately introduces him around as Professor Lincoln Polk, the new university librarian – and his new husband.
Carter had a huge crush on Lincoln back when he was at the academy, and thinks his geeky professor has grown even hotter with age. He wanted Lincoln on the case because he’s the Bureau’s resident expert on Dr. Fear and created their cover as a couple in the belief that it might draw them out – but is also determined not to pass up the chance to broaden his working partnership with Lincoln into something more.
The suspense plot is clever, twisty and dark as Lincoln and Carter realise that not only is Dr. Fear killing again, but they’ve got a copycat to deal with as well – whom Dr. Fear seems to want them to catch. Suspects and red herrings abound but clues don’t – and even when one does surface, it seems to offer more questions than answers, and I changed my mind about the identity of the villain several times. Layla Reyne’s research is always impeccable, and her forays into investigative detail are fascinating; plus she does a great job evoking the small college town atmosphere and of fleshing out the secondary characters.
The two leads are strongly characterised and three dimensional, and their slow-burn relationship is full of crackling sexual tension. Lincoln is in his early forties and co-parents his teenaged daughter with his ex-wife (who he counts as one of his best friends). He’s meticulous, dedicated and a bit prickly, his daughter is the most important person in his life and he’s cautious about relationships, having been burned in the past, but can’t deny the pull he feels towards Carter – has felt since the first time they met eight years earlier. Back then, Carter was an aggravating smartarse – and one of Lincoln’s brightest students. Too smart, too cocky, too flirtatious and too damn attractive for his own good, he was exactly the sort of trouble Lincoln didn’t need, and not much of that has changed in the last eight years. Or that’s what Lincoln believes at first. Quickly he comes to see that while Carter is still gorgeous, talented and outgoing, he’s also kind, highly competent and clever, and that they’re a good fit, both professionally and personally.
Variable Onset is a terrific read – a fast-paced, suspenseful mystery combined with a sexy, slow-burn romance that is just right for this particular story. I liked how the fake relationship adds to the romantic tension with both men wondering whether their growing feelings are due to their enforced proximity or something more; it’s not an uncommon trope, but I liked the way it was handled here. I would perhaps have liked to see a little more of Carter and Lincoln’s togetherness at the end of the book, but ultimately I’m happy with the way things played out between them. I did, however have a couple of issues with the plot; one, I found the resolution of the main Dr. Fear plotline a little clumsy and two, I’d have liked a little more time spent on the personal quest that led to Carter’s being in Apex in the first place.
But none of those issues affected my enjoyment of the book one whit. I’m sure Ms. Reyne’s many fans will enjoy it, and if you haven’t read anything of hers before, this would be a great jumping-in point. Carter and Lincoln are engaging, relatable characters, and I’ll be at the front of the queue if Ms. Reyne decides she’s got more of their stories to tell.
May 3, 2020
Carter and Lincoln
I loved this ingenious crime story, it was complicated, intriguing, and very well thought out.
The tension between Carter and Lincoln was awesome even though I had a hard time with the slow burn.
Lincoln was Carter’s teacher eight years ago. Carter was the biggest brat and had a crush for Lincoln that never faded.
Both special agent they have to find the senator’s daughter and her partner.
It seems they are taken by dr. Fear or maybe even a copycat. Years ago there had also couples disappeared and now Lincoln and Carter are undercover as husbands to solve the case.
But this particular case is wider than anyone could know and then there is another couple missing!
They flirt a lot and bit by bit we get to know them on a deeper level. Cocky becomes vulnerable, brat becomes silent. Biased opinions flying out of the window. One with an amazing family and one with none.
The two men close together made me smile widely. For my pleasure I missed some more romance, the slow burn was killing. The crime here was perfectly put together!
Beautifully and widely written crime. Something to watch on screen!
I loved this ingenious crime story, it was complicated, intriguing, and very well thought out.
The tension between Carter and Lincoln was awesome even though I had a hard time with the slow burn.
Lincoln was Carter’s teacher eight years ago. Carter was the biggest brat and had a crush for Lincoln that never faded.
Both special agent they have to find the senator’s daughter and her partner.
It seems they are taken by dr. Fear or maybe even a copycat. Years ago there had also couples disappeared and now Lincoln and Carter are undercover as husbands to solve the case.
But this particular case is wider than anyone could know and then there is another couple missing!
They flirt a lot and bit by bit we get to know them on a deeper level. Cocky becomes vulnerable, brat becomes silent. Biased opinions flying out of the window. One with an amazing family and one with none.
The two men close together made me smile widely. For my pleasure I missed some more romance, the slow burn was killing. The crime here was perfectly put together!
Beautifully and widely written crime. Something to watch on screen!
Read
May 29, 2020DNF. Time of death 24%
The FBI undercover storyline seemed unbelievable and implausible to me, and I just couldn’t get suspend my disbelief. Add to that, future plot points dropped so conspicuously into the story that it read like fan fiction. The forensic genealogy aspect was promising but when the two MCs setup a secret forensics lab on a construction site... I was out
The FBI undercover storyline seemed unbelievable and implausible to me, and I just couldn’t get suspend my disbelief. Add to that, future plot points dropped so conspicuously into the story that it read like fan fiction. The forensic genealogy aspect was promising but when the two MCs setup a secret forensics lab on a construction site... I was out
October 3, 2021
Eh, it was fine. I liked both of the MC's but I wasn't too invested in the story.
June 9, 2021
3.5✨
•A serial killer who kidnaps and then kills his victims by making them face their phobia is back.
•A forensic expert/ professor is assigned undercover to track down the killer with the help of an ex-student turned FBI agent who is pining for his professor for the last 8 years.
•I know the plot sounds very familiar but the author discusses lots of techniques and minute details of forensics science.
•The sexual tension was killing from the very start.
•The plot was fast-paced and you have to keep track of characters and names. But the melodramatic final chase made me bored and reduce 1/2✨from my rating.
- Between, do sane people name their kids Harry, Berry and Larry??? 🤣🤣🤣
•A serial killer who kidnaps and then kills his victims by making them face their phobia is back.
•A forensic expert/ professor is assigned undercover to track down the killer with the help of an ex-student turned FBI agent who is pining for his professor for the last 8 years.
•I know the plot sounds very familiar but the author discusses lots of techniques and minute details of forensics science.
•The sexual tension was killing from the very start.
•The plot was fast-paced and you have to keep track of characters and names. But the melodramatic final chase made me bored and reduce 1/2✨from my rating.
- Between, do sane people name their kids Harry, Berry and Larry??? 🤣🤣🤣
February 11, 2021
Good cozy mystery with elements of steam, plenty suspense and two cases that span decades. Despite the not so small hiccup in the beginning with the whole undercover gig and the entire letter agency's lack of prep for their agent and a whole slew of surprises that would never happen IRL, I was able to put it aside and enjoy the town of Apex, a slow burn age gap romance ( I mean 8 years slow burn) and a good case of investigative work.
Two agents, Carter and Lincoln, worked well together and were well suited for being undercover husbands. There were some funny moments involving locals at Apex as well as some tender moments between two men who held feelings for each other for 8 long years. The mystery of the killer was solved for me 3/4 into the book, but I enjoyed the chase and how clever Lincoln was in figuring out little clues left by Carter.
The ending chapter was so romantic and heartfelt what with the second mystery being on display. It was personal, sweet and a bit steamy in the end. Both men were a little bit in love and a lot smitten, ready to start a life together free from the past and looking forward to their future.
Two agents, Carter and Lincoln, worked well together and were well suited for being undercover husbands. There were some funny moments involving locals at Apex as well as some tender moments between two men who held feelings for each other for 8 long years. The mystery of the killer was solved for me 3/4 into the book, but I enjoyed the chase and how clever Lincoln was in figuring out little clues left by Carter.
The ending chapter was so romantic and heartfelt what with the second mystery being on display. It was personal, sweet and a bit steamy in the end. Both men were a little bit in love and a lot smitten, ready to start a life together free from the past and looking forward to their future.
April 16, 2020
I feel like such a negative Nancy lately. First the arc of Annabeth Albert’s new one and now this one. I think I need to stop requesting ARCs for a while...Although I did love Lily Morton’s new one. Anyway, I didn’t love this. I started off really liking it and then it lost me in the middle and the end was not my favorite. This is very surprising as I’ve loved every book I’ve read by this author so far. And I did like parts of this. I’d rate it overall as like but not love. Full review to come closer to review or when I get my act together. 😔
May 10, 2020
Look. I read the blurb. It said that two dudes who happen to be into each other have to go undercover as a couple to catch a serial killer. I didn't expect high levels of gritty realism. I just wanted some fun...but I didn't get it because there's "low levels of realism" and there's "nobody thought for more than 0.2 seconds if the circumstances used to have the characters fake-makeout make even a tiny bit of sense".
The serial killer they are hunting targets couples. He abducts them, does nasty serial killer things to them for a while and then kills them after a certain amount of time. He's taken another couple and they estimate that they have another 30 hours so...they decide to pretend to be a couple in the hope that the serial killer targets them. After killing the other couple presumably because from the way he's described I did get the impression that setting up the special serial killer playground that is specifically targeted for each victim is going to need time. Besides...the couple that's currently missing is a straight couple and the previous victims we hear about were straight as well, so wouldn't it be better to try this undercover routine with one as well? Just in case the killer has a type?
Additionally, Lincoln, one half of the couple, hasn't been in the field in years (he teaches) and gets now thrown into it again, when what he seems to actually need is therapy...more than any of the characters on Criminal Minds and both of these grown men who went through the FBI academy can't stop thinking about their nether regions for long and get a hard-on every time they get into the personal space of the other dude because deep down (hihihi) they're still teenagers.
And the writing style was just...dull. Everything gets overexplained and the voices of the two were indistinguishable.
The serial killer they are hunting targets couples. He abducts them, does nasty serial killer things to them for a while and then kills them after a certain amount of time. He's taken another couple and they estimate that they have another 30 hours so...they decide to pretend to be a couple in the hope that the serial killer targets them. After killing the other couple presumably because from the way he's described I did get the impression that setting up the special serial killer playground that is specifically targeted for each victim is going to need time. Besides...the couple that's currently missing is a straight couple and the previous victims we hear about were straight as well, so wouldn't it be better to try this undercover routine with one as well? Just in case the killer has a type?
Additionally, Lincoln, one half of the couple, hasn't been in the field in years (he teaches) and gets now thrown into it again, when what he seems to actually need is therapy...more than any of the characters on Criminal Minds and both of these grown men who went through the FBI academy can't stop thinking about their nether regions for long and get a hard-on every time they get into the personal space of the other dude because deep down (hihihi) they're still teenagers.
And the writing style was just...dull. Everything gets overexplained and the voices of the two were indistinguishable.
May 4, 2020
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.75 stars
Variable Onset is a fabulous suspense that kept me eagerly turning pages as I dug into the exciting story. I have always enjoyed Layla Reyne’s romantic suspense books, but this story really takes things up a notch in terms of the mystery side of things. Here we get into the nitty gritty of the investigation and it is clear Reyne has done her research as the details just pop throughout the case. Carter is an excellent undercover agent who excels at disappearing into his cover and is able to finesse his suspects and witnesses as he digs into the case. Lincoln is an expert at forensic genealogy and is able to pull tiny details seemingly out of nowhere to build leads and find buried connections. Reyne really takes the time to highlight the investigative process here and I was totally engrossed in the story as I followed along with the case. There is a dark, twistiness here as we delve into the mystery and slowly the pieces all come together. This isn’t necessarily a big flashy suspense story (though there are some very exciting and scary moments), it’s more of an old-fashioned investigative thriller as the men piece together the case and slowly discover the secrets behind Dr. Fear. I found it fascinating and really compelling.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
4.75 stars
Variable Onset is a fabulous suspense that kept me eagerly turning pages as I dug into the exciting story. I have always enjoyed Layla Reyne’s romantic suspense books, but this story really takes things up a notch in terms of the mystery side of things. Here we get into the nitty gritty of the investigation and it is clear Reyne has done her research as the details just pop throughout the case. Carter is an excellent undercover agent who excels at disappearing into his cover and is able to finesse his suspects and witnesses as he digs into the case. Lincoln is an expert at forensic genealogy and is able to pull tiny details seemingly out of nowhere to build leads and find buried connections. Reyne really takes the time to highlight the investigative process here and I was totally engrossed in the story as I followed along with the case. There is a dark, twistiness here as we delve into the mystery and slowly the pieces all come together. This isn’t necessarily a big flashy suspense story (though there are some very exciting and scary moments), it’s more of an old-fashioned investigative thriller as the men piece together the case and slowly discover the secrets behind Dr. Fear. I found it fascinating and really compelling.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
May 13, 2020
✮4 Stars✮
May 21, 2025
Quand un roman me propose de suivre une enquête policière haletante menée par un duo masculin qui vit en même temps une romance passionnée, moi, j'achèèèèèèèèèète.
Le résumé de Rapprochement de force avait donc tout pour me séduire et globalement, ça l'a plutôt fait, avec en plus la découverte d'une plume dont je ne manquerai pas de lire d'autres écrits très bientôt, histoire de voir si ça confirme ma première impression.
Mais revenons donc à Lincoln, prof de généalogie médico-légale (ça envoie du rêve...) et à Carter, son ancien étudiant maintenant agent spécial du FBI, spécialisé en infiltration.
La fille de l'ancien mentor de Lincoln, accessoirement sénateur et ancien agent du FBI, et son petit copain viennent d'être kidnappés par le Dr Peur (ça aussi, ça envoie du rêve...), sur qui ils avaient enquêté plus de dix ans auparavant, quand Lincoln était encore agent de terrain. Lincoln est sans doute celui qui connait le mieux ce serial killer qui n'a jamais été identifié, sa particularité étant de se servir des peurs les plus profondes de ses victimes pour les tuer.
Voilà donc Lincoln parti pour Apex, petite bourgade de Virginie, où un agent spécial a trouvé une piste intéressante. Sauf que si Lincoln savait qu'il allait se faire passer pour le nouveau bibliothécaire, il ignorait qu'il allait être affublé d'un mari, ce fameux agent spécial... qui n'est autre que l'étudiant sur qui il fantasmait 8 ans plus tôt. Cet étudiant sexy, intelligent en diable, au sourire ravageur...
Carter, qui se trouvait à Apex pour une autre affaire, plus personnelle, a trouvé une piste qui semble sérieuse pour débusquer le Dr Peur... ou le copycat qui semble s'inspirer de ses crimes. Et il a demandé l'assistance de Lincoln, son ancien professeur, celui sur qui il fantasmait 8 ans plus tôt quand il suivait ses cours...
L'attraction est explosive dès le premier regard, forcément, ce qui couvait 8 ans plus tôt peut s'enflammer maintenant, d'autant que Lincoln et Carter doivent jouer aux yeux de la ville le jeune couple amoureux.
Mais au fur et à mesure que l'enquête avance, la tension monte et leurs peurs cachées menacent de leur exploser à la figure.
L'enquête est plutôt bien fichue, entre fausses pistes et discussions enflammées des deux hommes autour de l'enquête, même si tout semble s'accélérer trop vite sur la fin après avoir (parfois) un peu trainé en longueur.
J'ai aimé que cette enquête ne soit pas là juste pour servir au rapprochement mais qu'elle existe vraiment, avec une galerie de personnages secondaires plutôt intéressants, couplé avec cette ambiance petite ville où tout le monde sait tout et tout le monde se mêle de tout.
J'aurais peut-être aimé un peu plus de tension entre les deux hommes, mais la temporalité est quand même serrée, vu que tout se passe en une semaine, il faut donc que ça aille vite.
J'ai trouvé Carter très touchant par son côté bravache qui dissimule tant de fragilité, et je suis satisfaite qu'il ait enfin les réponses à ses questionnements, ce qui lui permet de vraiment avancer. Quand à Lincoln, sa personnalité est bien construire, son intelligence brillante, et j'ai aimé sa relation avec les 3 femmes de sa vie. Les deux hommes sont plutôt complémentaires et vont bien ensemble.
L'épilogue permet une jolie conclusion et un clin d’œil aux retrouvailles dès deux hommes au début de l'enquête.
Bref, je suis assez satisfaite de cette lecture et je lirai d'autres romans de l'auteur avec curiosité.
Le résumé de Rapprochement de force avait donc tout pour me séduire et globalement, ça l'a plutôt fait, avec en plus la découverte d'une plume dont je ne manquerai pas de lire d'autres écrits très bientôt, histoire de voir si ça confirme ma première impression.
Mais revenons donc à Lincoln, prof de généalogie médico-légale (ça envoie du rêve...) et à Carter, son ancien étudiant maintenant agent spécial du FBI, spécialisé en infiltration.
La fille de l'ancien mentor de Lincoln, accessoirement sénateur et ancien agent du FBI, et son petit copain viennent d'être kidnappés par le Dr Peur (ça aussi, ça envoie du rêve...), sur qui ils avaient enquêté plus de dix ans auparavant, quand Lincoln était encore agent de terrain. Lincoln est sans doute celui qui connait le mieux ce serial killer qui n'a jamais été identifié, sa particularité étant de se servir des peurs les plus profondes de ses victimes pour les tuer.
Voilà donc Lincoln parti pour Apex, petite bourgade de Virginie, où un agent spécial a trouvé une piste intéressante. Sauf que si Lincoln savait qu'il allait se faire passer pour le nouveau bibliothécaire, il ignorait qu'il allait être affublé d'un mari, ce fameux agent spécial... qui n'est autre que l'étudiant sur qui il fantasmait 8 ans plus tôt. Cet étudiant sexy, intelligent en diable, au sourire ravageur...
Carter, qui se trouvait à Apex pour une autre affaire, plus personnelle, a trouvé une piste qui semble sérieuse pour débusquer le Dr Peur... ou le copycat qui semble s'inspirer de ses crimes. Et il a demandé l'assistance de Lincoln, son ancien professeur, celui sur qui il fantasmait 8 ans plus tôt quand il suivait ses cours...
L'attraction est explosive dès le premier regard, forcément, ce qui couvait 8 ans plus tôt peut s'enflammer maintenant, d'autant que Lincoln et Carter doivent jouer aux yeux de la ville le jeune couple amoureux.
Mais au fur et à mesure que l'enquête avance, la tension monte et leurs peurs cachées menacent de leur exploser à la figure.
L'enquête est plutôt bien fichue, entre fausses pistes et discussions enflammées des deux hommes autour de l'enquête, même si tout semble s'accélérer trop vite sur la fin après avoir (parfois) un peu trainé en longueur.
J'ai aimé que cette enquête ne soit pas là juste pour servir au rapprochement mais qu'elle existe vraiment, avec une galerie de personnages secondaires plutôt intéressants, couplé avec cette ambiance petite ville où tout le monde sait tout et tout le monde se mêle de tout.
J'aurais peut-être aimé un peu plus de tension entre les deux hommes, mais la temporalité est quand même serrée, vu que tout se passe en une semaine, il faut donc que ça aille vite.
J'ai trouvé Carter très touchant par son côté bravache qui dissimule tant de fragilité, et je suis satisfaite qu'il ait enfin les réponses à ses questionnements, ce qui lui permet de vraiment avancer. Quand à Lincoln, sa personnalité est bien construire, son intelligence brillante, et j'ai aimé sa relation avec les 3 femmes de sa vie. Les deux hommes sont plutôt complémentaires et vont bien ensemble.
L'épilogue permet une jolie conclusion et un clin d’œil aux retrouvailles dès deux hommes au début de l'enquête.
Bref, je suis assez satisfaite de cette lecture et je lirai d'autres romans de l'auteur avec curiosité.
May 8, 2020
I finally figured what it is, specifically, that bothers me about Layla Reyne's writing! It's a big deal because it's been bothering me ever since the first book I read of hers. And at this point, I've read eight. But before I get into that, the synopsis.
The main characters are both associated with the FBI. Carter is a field agent, while Lincoln decided a while ago that fieldwork wasn't for him and starting teaching at Quantico. It was this job that led to Carter and Lincoln meeting, the former being a student. A loud and annoying one. And now, ten years later, a serial killer called Dr. Fear has resurfaced, and Lincoln's expertise can help catch him. And that's how he and Carter end up going undercover, as newlyweds.
Lincoln isn't happy about it. But Carter definitely is, given the huge crush he had, and still has, on Lincoln. And as they work on the case, they get to know each other for real. Beyond the new-teacher-and-cocky-student roles.
And so, the novel is one part romance and one part murder mystery. And I have to say, both parts are done very well. The chemistry between Lincoln and Carter is there from the beginning. And not just physical. They're on a clock, and stakes are high. It requires them to quickly learn to communicate and to form a trust. The mystery is good because the author gives just the right amount of hints for the reader to realize who Dr. Fear is right before it's revealed.
Now, getting to what I started the review with. I went through my other reviews and a lot of them mention how the writing, especially in action scenes, doesn't flow well. And until now, I couldn't figure out what was disrupting the flow. I think I finally have the answer. It's... over-describing.
I wish I'd highlighted an example from the book. But basically, Layla Reyne describes actions too much. If someone's waving, it can't be just that. It has to be that the person raised their forearm and moved it from side to side. And with action scenes, they need to be snappy. You need to feel like you're experiencing the scene in real-time. Such an over-description would be needed if the action was particularly significant, one that should feel like it's in slow-motion. But when all actions are like that, a picture isn't clearly formed.
She does a similar thing with conversations too sometimes, when lines of dialogue are interspaced with paragraphs of thoughts or whatever. So it seems like the conversation is taking way too long.
I don't know if anyone else has had a similar issue with Layla Reyne. I'm just glad to have finally figured out what was bothering me for so long. It doesn't change anything, though. It doesn't mean I'm going to stop reading the author's books or anything. I enjoyed this book, just as I've enjoyed others by her. And I'm looking forward to what she'll write next.
Thank you to the author and publisher for the advanced copy.
The main characters are both associated with the FBI. Carter is a field agent, while Lincoln decided a while ago that fieldwork wasn't for him and starting teaching at Quantico. It was this job that led to Carter and Lincoln meeting, the former being a student. A loud and annoying one. And now, ten years later, a serial killer called Dr. Fear has resurfaced, and Lincoln's expertise can help catch him. And that's how he and Carter end up going undercover, as newlyweds.
Lincoln isn't happy about it. But Carter definitely is, given the huge crush he had, and still has, on Lincoln. And as they work on the case, they get to know each other for real. Beyond the new-teacher-and-cocky-student roles.
And so, the novel is one part romance and one part murder mystery. And I have to say, both parts are done very well. The chemistry between Lincoln and Carter is there from the beginning. And not just physical. They're on a clock, and stakes are high. It requires them to quickly learn to communicate and to form a trust. The mystery is good because the author gives just the right amount of hints for the reader to realize who Dr. Fear is right before it's revealed.
Now, getting to what I started the review with. I went through my other reviews and a lot of them mention how the writing, especially in action scenes, doesn't flow well. And until now, I couldn't figure out what was disrupting the flow. I think I finally have the answer. It's... over-describing.
I wish I'd highlighted an example from the book. But basically, Layla Reyne describes actions too much. If someone's waving, it can't be just that. It has to be that the person raised their forearm and moved it from side to side. And with action scenes, they need to be snappy. You need to feel like you're experiencing the scene in real-time. Such an over-description would be needed if the action was particularly significant, one that should feel like it's in slow-motion. But when all actions are like that, a picture isn't clearly formed.
She does a similar thing with conversations too sometimes, when lines of dialogue are interspaced with paragraphs of thoughts or whatever. So it seems like the conversation is taking way too long.
I don't know if anyone else has had a similar issue with Layla Reyne. I'm just glad to have finally figured out what was bothering me for so long. It doesn't change anything, though. It doesn't mean I'm going to stop reading the author's books or anything. I enjoyed this book, just as I've enjoyed others by her. And I'm looking forward to what she'll write next.
Thank you to the author and publisher for the advanced copy.
March 25, 2024
I've given this a C+ for narration and a B+ for content at AudioGals.
I have a somewhat hot/cold relationship with Layla Reyne’s books. They can be a bit hit and miss for me, but I keep coming back to them because despite their flaws, they’re pretty entertaining. The author can create intensely likeable and compelling characters, and she’s great at constructing fast-paced action sequences and interesting plotlines, but at times those plots have been overly complicated and a bit frenetic, so much so that they’ve overshadowed the romance and left little space for character and relationship development. I loved her début Agents Irish and Whiskey series, but was less convinced by its spin-off, Trouble Brewing (even though I really liked the central characters) – so I was pleased when her standalone romantic suspense novel Variable Onset marked a welcome return to form.
The plot revolves around the hunt for an elusive serial killer known as Dr. Fear, who has been killing for many years but has so far evaded capture. Dr. Fear targets couples, kidnapping them and then torturing them by confronting them with their deepest fears until they beg for death – and acts in cycles, killing several victims and then going to ground for years before starting up again. When Variable Onset begins, they’ve just become active again – and for the first time ever, the FBI might just have a plausible lead as to their whereabouts.
Special Agent Lincoln Monroe has been an instructor in forensic science at Quantico for around ten of his fifteen years with the FBI. Field work was never something he felt particularly suited for, but when he is asked for help by his former mentor Oliver Kirk, now a US senator, Lincoln isn’t going to turn him down. Kirk’s daughter and her fiancé have been abducted by Dr. Fear, and if the killer remains true to form, Lincoln and his new temporary partner are going to have less than forty-eight hours to find them.
Lincoln immediately sets out for the small town of Apex in Virginia, where he’ll meet his new partner and commence the search for the couple and the killer. In his haste to get away, Lincoln didn’t even have time to ask the name of the person he’d be working with – and he certainly wasn’t expecting to find a party in full swing at the house he’s going to be living in. Tired and more than a bit grumpy, Lincoln is about to knock on the front door when it’s opened by the last person he expects – or particularly wants – to see: Special Agent Carter Warren, possibly the brightest of his former students, definitely the cockiest and, over the last eight years, the subject of the occasional night-time fantasy. With a big smile on his face, Carter pulls Lincoln inside, presses a wedding ring into his hand and promptly introduces him to everyone as the university’s new librarian. And his new husband.
Carter had a massive crush on his geeky professor back at the academy and thinks he’s even hotter now. He asked for Lincoln to be assigned to this case because he’s the bureau’s expert on Dr. Fear, and Carter created their cover as a married couple in the hope it might draw the killer out. But he’s also not going to miss an opportunity to work with Lincoln and maybe broaden a working relationship into something more.
The suspense plot is clever, with plenty of twists, turns, red herrings and unwelcome surprises as Lincoln and Carter realise that not only are they dealing with Dr. Fear, but there’s also a copycat out there – whom Dr. Fear seems to want them to catch. There are suspects aplenty but clues are thin on the ground – and even when one does turn up, it seems to ask more questions than it offers answers. Ms. Reyne provides considerable insight into the investigative process here – something she always does well – and also does a great job fleshing out the secondary characters and creating the slightly claustrophobic atmosphere that so often seems to cling to small towns where everybody knows your name – and your business.
The chemistry between Lincoln and Carter is off-the-charts electric, and their romance is a terrific slow-burn. I really appreciated that the author takes the time to build their attraction and doesn’t have them knocking boots straight away; their fake-marriage gives plenty of moments that are just dripping with sexual tension, but they’re professionals and act like it. In terms of personality, they’re complete opposites – Lincoln is a bit buttoned-up; he’s meticulous, dedicated and can be rather prickly, where Carter is more lively and outgoing – but Lincoln can’t deny the pull he feels towards the other man, or that it’s the same pull he felt towards him eight years earlier when they first met. To start with, he wonders if Carter has changed all that much, but he soon realises that while Carter is as gorgeous and infuriating as ever, he’s also kind, intuitive and highly competent – and that they’re a good fit, personally as well as professionally.
On the downside, there’s an underdeveloped sub-plot here that concerns Carter’s search for answers about his past. It’s satisfactorily – if maybe a bit too conveniently – resolved, but it had no real bearing on the suspense plotline and the book would have worked just as well without it. And while the romance is nicely done – the UST is fabulous – the author puts a sex scene into the last chapter which, again, is largely unnecessary. I know there are expectations – especially in m/m – that there has to be sex in romance novels, but sometimes, less is more.
Tristan James is a narrator I’ve listened to and reviewed fairly often – although not recently. He’s a favourite with many m/m listeners and I’ve rated some of his performances fairly highly, but his narrations aren’t working as well for me as they used to. I like his voice well enough and his pacing is okay – maybe a little on the slow side but not horribly so – but his vocal characterisations and character differentiation can be inconsistent. The secondary characters are well-differentiated, and his portrayal of Lincoln is fine – he’s opted to use his natural speaking voice (or close to it) for the character – but I didn’t much care for his interpretation of Carter. Mr. James pitches his voice higher than Lincoln’s – so much so that the first time I heard him speak, I thought it was a female character, and I had to remind myself several times throughout the audio that it wasn’t. It’s an odd choice, and there are several occasions where Mr. James begins a passage of Carter’s dialogue at the higher pitch and slowly meanders downwards so that by the end of it, I thought it was Lincoln speaking, which made me wonder if he’d forgotten which character he was supposed to be voicing! (This “voices mix-up” is something I’ve noted in other performances of his, so it’s not a one-off.) It doesn’t happen all the time, but it’s noticeable and irritating when it does – and it threw me out of the story a few times.
Variable Onset is definitely one of Layla Reyne’s best books, but unfortunately, the narration doesn’t really do it justice. My advice would be to stick to print if you can.
This review originally appeared at AudioGals .
I have a somewhat hot/cold relationship with Layla Reyne’s books. They can be a bit hit and miss for me, but I keep coming back to them because despite their flaws, they’re pretty entertaining. The author can create intensely likeable and compelling characters, and she’s great at constructing fast-paced action sequences and interesting plotlines, but at times those plots have been overly complicated and a bit frenetic, so much so that they’ve overshadowed the romance and left little space for character and relationship development. I loved her début Agents Irish and Whiskey series, but was less convinced by its spin-off, Trouble Brewing (even though I really liked the central characters) – so I was pleased when her standalone romantic suspense novel Variable Onset marked a welcome return to form.
The plot revolves around the hunt for an elusive serial killer known as Dr. Fear, who has been killing for many years but has so far evaded capture. Dr. Fear targets couples, kidnapping them and then torturing them by confronting them with their deepest fears until they beg for death – and acts in cycles, killing several victims and then going to ground for years before starting up again. When Variable Onset begins, they’ve just become active again – and for the first time ever, the FBI might just have a plausible lead as to their whereabouts.
Special Agent Lincoln Monroe has been an instructor in forensic science at Quantico for around ten of his fifteen years with the FBI. Field work was never something he felt particularly suited for, but when he is asked for help by his former mentor Oliver Kirk, now a US senator, Lincoln isn’t going to turn him down. Kirk’s daughter and her fiancé have been abducted by Dr. Fear, and if the killer remains true to form, Lincoln and his new temporary partner are going to have less than forty-eight hours to find them.
Lincoln immediately sets out for the small town of Apex in Virginia, where he’ll meet his new partner and commence the search for the couple and the killer. In his haste to get away, Lincoln didn’t even have time to ask the name of the person he’d be working with – and he certainly wasn’t expecting to find a party in full swing at the house he’s going to be living in. Tired and more than a bit grumpy, Lincoln is about to knock on the front door when it’s opened by the last person he expects – or particularly wants – to see: Special Agent Carter Warren, possibly the brightest of his former students, definitely the cockiest and, over the last eight years, the subject of the occasional night-time fantasy. With a big smile on his face, Carter pulls Lincoln inside, presses a wedding ring into his hand and promptly introduces him to everyone as the university’s new librarian. And his new husband.
Carter had a massive crush on his geeky professor back at the academy and thinks he’s even hotter now. He asked for Lincoln to be assigned to this case because he’s the bureau’s expert on Dr. Fear, and Carter created their cover as a married couple in the hope it might draw the killer out. But he’s also not going to miss an opportunity to work with Lincoln and maybe broaden a working relationship into something more.
The suspense plot is clever, with plenty of twists, turns, red herrings and unwelcome surprises as Lincoln and Carter realise that not only are they dealing with Dr. Fear, but there’s also a copycat out there – whom Dr. Fear seems to want them to catch. There are suspects aplenty but clues are thin on the ground – and even when one does turn up, it seems to ask more questions than it offers answers. Ms. Reyne provides considerable insight into the investigative process here – something she always does well – and also does a great job fleshing out the secondary characters and creating the slightly claustrophobic atmosphere that so often seems to cling to small towns where everybody knows your name – and your business.
The chemistry between Lincoln and Carter is off-the-charts electric, and their romance is a terrific slow-burn. I really appreciated that the author takes the time to build their attraction and doesn’t have them knocking boots straight away; their fake-marriage gives plenty of moments that are just dripping with sexual tension, but they’re professionals and act like it. In terms of personality, they’re complete opposites – Lincoln is a bit buttoned-up; he’s meticulous, dedicated and can be rather prickly, where Carter is more lively and outgoing – but Lincoln can’t deny the pull he feels towards the other man, or that it’s the same pull he felt towards him eight years earlier when they first met. To start with, he wonders if Carter has changed all that much, but he soon realises that while Carter is as gorgeous and infuriating as ever, he’s also kind, intuitive and highly competent – and that they’re a good fit, personally as well as professionally.
On the downside, there’s an underdeveloped sub-plot here that concerns Carter’s search for answers about his past. It’s satisfactorily – if maybe a bit too conveniently – resolved, but it had no real bearing on the suspense plotline and the book would have worked just as well without it. And while the romance is nicely done – the UST is fabulous – the author puts a sex scene into the last chapter which, again, is largely unnecessary. I know there are expectations – especially in m/m – that there has to be sex in romance novels, but sometimes, less is more.
Tristan James is a narrator I’ve listened to and reviewed fairly often – although not recently. He’s a favourite with many m/m listeners and I’ve rated some of his performances fairly highly, but his narrations aren’t working as well for me as they used to. I like his voice well enough and his pacing is okay – maybe a little on the slow side but not horribly so – but his vocal characterisations and character differentiation can be inconsistent. The secondary characters are well-differentiated, and his portrayal of Lincoln is fine – he’s opted to use his natural speaking voice (or close to it) for the character – but I didn’t much care for his interpretation of Carter. Mr. James pitches his voice higher than Lincoln’s – so much so that the first time I heard him speak, I thought it was a female character, and I had to remind myself several times throughout the audio that it wasn’t. It’s an odd choice, and there are several occasions where Mr. James begins a passage of Carter’s dialogue at the higher pitch and slowly meanders downwards so that by the end of it, I thought it was Lincoln speaking, which made me wonder if he’d forgotten which character he was supposed to be voicing! (This “voices mix-up” is something I’ve noted in other performances of his, so it’s not a one-off.) It doesn’t happen all the time, but it’s noticeable and irritating when it does – and it threw me out of the story a few times.
Variable Onset is definitely one of Layla Reyne’s best books, but unfortunately, the narration doesn’t really do it justice. My advice would be to stick to print if you can.
This review originally appeared at AudioGals .
April 30, 2020
4.25 stars!
This was really good, a definite win for me.
Lincoln Monroe is an FBI agent who hasn't been out in the field since before his 13 year old daughter was born, instead being a professor at the FBI teaching new recruits. But he's been following a case for over a decade, the one about Dr. Fear, a serial killer who takes couples and makes them face their worst fears before killing them.
He was inactive for about 12 years, but the killings have started again, and there also seems to be a copycat.
And when Lincoln's old mentor, Senator Oliver Kirk's - who was the lead investigator the first time Dr. Fear was active - daughter goes missing, Lincoln is asked by him to go on the case, as he knows it better than almost anyone. And an Agent in the area where Dr. Fear is suspected to be found some clues as well, and is put on the case.
That Agent happens to be Carter Warren - who it is briefly mentioned was in San Fran (so in the Fog City books) on a case, although I don't remember Carter in those books - who was Lincoln's student 8 years prior, and who was a thorn in his side...and who Lincoln was definitely attracted to. Nothing happened, but it's 8 years later, Carter isn't his student and is now his partner...where they are undercover and have to pretend to be married...what could go wrong?
This was a good story, very suspenseful, a well thought out mystery, that had me guessing at every turn, even when I had my suspicions, and a great lead couple.
My only gripe, really, is that I wish this had focused more on their romance. It's there and what is there is wonderful and I loved it, but there wasn't enough. And given that this seems to be a standalone, it bothers me even more that this felt more like the mystery was the main genre and romance was the secondary one. It was there, but so many time these two got interrupted, or they had to focus on the case, or they pulled back, etc etc. I just need more with them.
That's to not even start on the fact that there was all this build up to a sex scene and the one we got was woefully short, undetailed and glossed over. I know it's not everything, sex scenes, so this didn't anger me too much and overall didn't detract from the story from me really, but I just feel that you could take out the small page or two of them being intimate and there would be no difference in the story at the end, really. The sex scene was unnecessary because it went by really fast and didn't get into the intimacy of it, of them being in love, which it should have, I think, after all the time waiting for it. I always say, if you're not going to seem like you care about your sex scene (i.e., glossing over it, making it over really quickly, etc) then don't put it in, because what's the point? Even in romance, because I mainly want the sex scenes in romance books for the romance of it all. Not to just be a quick paragraph with no details. No thanks. Either put in the effort or don't have it in the story.
So that lack bothered me and what was there could have been better, hence my .75 stars off. But the rest of the book? Was done so well and I loved it and it was very enjoyable, and Lincoln and Carter were great together and sweet and the romance, at least, really came off between them in the parts of romance we did get. (Still should have gotten more, imo.)
So overall, I this was a win for me. I definitely recommend it, it was a great story, very well done. I just had some niggles that made this not quite a 5 star rating for me.
***ARC generously provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review***
This was really good, a definite win for me.
Lincoln Monroe is an FBI agent who hasn't been out in the field since before his 13 year old daughter was born, instead being a professor at the FBI teaching new recruits. But he's been following a case for over a decade, the one about Dr. Fear, a serial killer who takes couples and makes them face their worst fears before killing them.
He was inactive for about 12 years, but the killings have started again, and there also seems to be a copycat.
And when Lincoln's old mentor, Senator Oliver Kirk's - who was the lead investigator the first time Dr. Fear was active - daughter goes missing, Lincoln is asked by him to go on the case, as he knows it better than almost anyone. And an Agent in the area where Dr. Fear is suspected to be found some clues as well, and is put on the case.
That Agent happens to be Carter Warren - who it is briefly mentioned was in San Fran (so in the Fog City books) on a case, although I don't remember Carter in those books - who was Lincoln's student 8 years prior, and who was a thorn in his side...and who Lincoln was definitely attracted to. Nothing happened, but it's 8 years later, Carter isn't his student and is now his partner...where they are undercover and have to pretend to be married...what could go wrong?
This was a good story, very suspenseful, a well thought out mystery, that had me guessing at every turn, even when I had my suspicions, and a great lead couple.
My only gripe, really, is that I wish this had focused more on their romance. It's there and what is there is wonderful and I loved it, but there wasn't enough. And given that this seems to be a standalone, it bothers me even more that this felt more like the mystery was the main genre and romance was the secondary one. It was there, but so many time these two got interrupted, or they had to focus on the case, or they pulled back, etc etc. I just need more with them.
That's to not even start on the fact that there was all this build up to a sex scene and the one we got was woefully short, undetailed and glossed over. I know it's not everything, sex scenes, so this didn't anger me too much and overall didn't detract from the story from me really, but I just feel that you could take out the small page or two of them being intimate and there would be no difference in the story at the end, really. The sex scene was unnecessary because it went by really fast and didn't get into the intimacy of it, of them being in love, which it should have, I think, after all the time waiting for it. I always say, if you're not going to seem like you care about your sex scene (i.e., glossing over it, making it over really quickly, etc) then don't put it in, because what's the point? Even in romance, because I mainly want the sex scenes in romance books for the romance of it all. Not to just be a quick paragraph with no details. No thanks. Either put in the effort or don't have it in the story.
So that lack bothered me and what was there could have been better, hence my .75 stars off. But the rest of the book? Was done so well and I loved it and it was very enjoyable, and Lincoln and Carter were great together and sweet and the romance, at least, really came off between them in the parts of romance we did get. (Still should have gotten more, imo.)
So overall, I this was a win for me. I definitely recommend it, it was a great story, very well done. I just had some niggles that made this not quite a 5 star rating for me.
***ARC generously provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review***
May 7, 2020
2.65 stars rounded up
I'm rounding this up for a couple of reasons: One, I finished this one without any trouble. I've had a declining reading mood for few days, I couldn't settle on a book to read... until this one. Two, I liked that it wasn't full steam and well, the secondary characters were enjoyable to read.
Unfortunately for the main characters and the story itself, it was rather MEH for me. When it comes to mystery/crime stories, serial killer is my first favorite trope (second is cold cases)... so I always have slightly high expectation. Weeellll, I guessed the serial killer here pretty much the first moment he appeared on page... and the ?? .
I felt that the investigation was going round and round... but the nail in that coffin was that I thought Carter was doing a VERY STUPID act as an FBI agent that "said" to be very good in the field. SERIOUSLY?! Yeah, THAT's the way to do it! NOT
*Cue Ami rolling her eyes so hard*
Anyway, the relationship also felt off to me. Lincoln and Carter haven't seen each other for eight years. And their previous interactions seemed to be limited to the class that Lincoln taught. So the familiarity of the two of them right from the beginning just didn't work for me. It was weird chemistry and ended up feeling like instant love. Plus my hatred of the endearment "baby"
I loved Layla Reyne's debut book that I read few years back... but after that one, I wasn't feeling her stories. I actually haven't read any of her books for the past three years. So maybe we're just not that compatible 🤷🏻♀️
I'm rounding this up for a couple of reasons: One, I finished this one without any trouble. I've had a declining reading mood for few days, I couldn't settle on a book to read... until this one. Two, I liked that it wasn't full steam and well, the secondary characters were enjoyable to read.
Unfortunately for the main characters and the story itself, it was rather MEH for me. When it comes to mystery/crime stories, serial killer is my first favorite trope (second is cold cases)... so I always have slightly high expectation. Weeellll, I guessed the serial killer here pretty much the first moment he appeared on page... and the ?? .
I felt that the investigation was going round and round... but the nail in that coffin was that I thought Carter was doing a VERY STUPID act as an FBI agent that "said" to be very good in the field. SERIOUSLY?! Yeah, THAT's the way to do it! NOT
*Cue Ami rolling her eyes so hard*
Anyway, the relationship also felt off to me. Lincoln and Carter haven't seen each other for eight years. And their previous interactions seemed to be limited to the class that Lincoln taught. So the familiarity of the two of them right from the beginning just didn't work for me. It was weird chemistry and ended up feeling like instant love. Plus my hatred of the endearment "baby"
I loved Layla Reyne's debut book that I read few years back... but after that one, I wasn't feeling her stories. I actually haven't read any of her books for the past three years. So maybe we're just not that compatible 🤷🏻♀️
February 23, 2024
Lincoln et Carter avec un Culomètre à 🍑
📣 Livre reçu en service presse.
Ok, j'ai pris l'habitude d'accepter que les enquêtes soient pas ouf puisque c'était d'abord un livre de romance, MAIS LÀ, c'est top. Bon après, je fais un disclaimer, je suis quand même une lectrice de romance pas de thriller policier 🤣
Lincoln est professeur en médecine légale à l'université quand la disparition de la fille de son ancien mentor le fait revenir sur l'enquête du tueur en série Dr Peur qui sévissait 10 ans auparavant. Et pour cela, il va devoir faire semblant d'être marié à son ancien élève Carter qui ne lui était pas indifférent à l'époque.
Slowburn, fake dating et différence d'âge, mais que demande le peuple ?! Dès le début, j'ai été prise dans l'action de l'enquête, on ne nous laisse pas le temps de nous ennuyer, l'auteure placent les bases de l'enquête de suite, nous explique ce qui s'est passé avant avec le tueur et ce qu'on va devoir chercher.
Entre les deux protagonistes, on sent l'alchimie tout de suite, Lincoln est carrément déboussolé au début car il apprend son récent mariage qu'en mettant les pieds dans sa nouvelle couverture, d'ailleurs il n'y découvre son nouveau mari qu'à ce moment. Ils vont devoir d'abord arriver à vivre ensemble, à faire semblant pour pouvoir enquêter sans se faire prendre et repousser leurs sentiments respectifs qui leur pendent au nez. C'est presque beau à voir pour une lectrice de romance comme moi !
Du côté de l'enquête, je l'ai trouvé très recherchée et pertinente. Je suis nulle en ce qui concerne trouver les réponses de moi-même, mais j'ai été entraînée dans le récit, dans les indices disséminés ça et là. En plus, pour l'acte final, la psychologie des personnages est étonnante, l'explication très bien trouvée et j'ai été bien surprise !
Bref, ça a totalement marché pour moi et je vais en faire la promo partout !
📣 Livre reçu en service presse.
Ok, j'ai pris l'habitude d'accepter que les enquêtes soient pas ouf puisque c'était d'abord un livre de romance, MAIS LÀ, c'est top. Bon après, je fais un disclaimer, je suis quand même une lectrice de romance pas de thriller policier 🤣
Lincoln est professeur en médecine légale à l'université quand la disparition de la fille de son ancien mentor le fait revenir sur l'enquête du tueur en série Dr Peur qui sévissait 10 ans auparavant. Et pour cela, il va devoir faire semblant d'être marié à son ancien élève Carter qui ne lui était pas indifférent à l'époque.
Slowburn, fake dating et différence d'âge, mais que demande le peuple ?! Dès le début, j'ai été prise dans l'action de l'enquête, on ne nous laisse pas le temps de nous ennuyer, l'auteure placent les bases de l'enquête de suite, nous explique ce qui s'est passé avant avec le tueur et ce qu'on va devoir chercher.
Entre les deux protagonistes, on sent l'alchimie tout de suite, Lincoln est carrément déboussolé au début car il apprend son récent mariage qu'en mettant les pieds dans sa nouvelle couverture, d'ailleurs il n'y découvre son nouveau mari qu'à ce moment. Ils vont devoir d'abord arriver à vivre ensemble, à faire semblant pour pouvoir enquêter sans se faire prendre et repousser leurs sentiments respectifs qui leur pendent au nez. C'est presque beau à voir pour une lectrice de romance comme moi !
Du côté de l'enquête, je l'ai trouvé très recherchée et pertinente. Je suis nulle en ce qui concerne trouver les réponses de moi-même, mais j'ai été entraînée dans le récit, dans les indices disséminés ça et là. En plus, pour l'acte final, la psychologie des personnages est étonnante, l'explication très bien trouvée et j'ai été bien surprise !
Bref, ça a totalement marché pour moi et je vais en faire la promo partout !
May 6, 2020
I love a good serial killer story and Layla Reyne is one of those authors who can weave a brilliant plot that will keep you at the edge of your seat.
This book kept me guessing. I had my own theories, and although they didn't really pan out, the ending was satisfying. It was action packed, full of suspense, and with a lot of twist and turns. The romantic aspect of the story took a backseat but not so much that we forgot about it. The romance between Lincoln and Carter was slow building... I mean this was really slow burn and I liked it.
There were some things that had me scratching my head, and with these investigations threw me off a little bit in the middle of the book.
But all in all it was a good read
This book kept me guessing. I had my own theories, and although they didn't really pan out, the ending was satisfying. It was action packed, full of suspense, and with a lot of twist and turns. The romantic aspect of the story took a backseat but not so much that we forgot about it. The romance between Lincoln and Carter was slow building... I mean this was really slow burn and I liked it.
There were some things that had me scratching my head, and with these investigations threw me off a little bit in the middle of the book.
But all in all it was a good read
September 29, 2024
2,5🌟
Je n’ai été emballé ni par la romance ni par l’intrigue.
Je ne me suis pas attaché aux personnages, je trouve que les émotions restent en surface, sans approfondissement.
L’enquête autour d’un serial killer et son copycat ne m’a pas plus convaincu.
On voit venir les choses de loinnn 🙄
Je n’ai été emballé ni par la romance ni par l’intrigue.
Je ne me suis pas attaché aux personnages, je trouve que les émotions restent en surface, sans approfondissement.
L’enquête autour d’un serial killer et son copycat ne m’a pas plus convaincu.
On voit venir les choses de loinnn 🙄
May 13, 2020
4 Stars!
RTC
I was given an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
RTC
I was given an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
dnf
January 11, 2021DNF @ 54%
April 19, 2020
I was on the fence with this grade, but I'm going to bump it up because I'm so thrilled to see Reyne return to
Agents Irish and Whiskey
form. Great tension, excellent plot & sexy chemistry between her principal characters. YES!
4.5 stars
Variable Onset features a pair of FBI agents on the hunt for a serial killer who's been active for decades. Dr. Fear kills in pairs; after kidnapping their victims, they torture them with whatever is their deepest, darkest fear (drowning/fire/claustrophobia/rats...) until the victim succumbs or begs for death. Then, Dr. Fear repeats the torture with the second victim. The FBI has never been able to figure out what links the victims, but when Variable Onset begins, Dr. Fear is active again, and this time the FBI may have a lead on his location.
Although happiest teaching in the classroom, Special Agent Lincoln Monroe can't help thinking his specialty - forensic genealogy - could make him an important asset on the newly established Dr. Fear task force. When the head of the bureau drops in on one of his classes, he's initially worried he might be in trouble (but for what?), but hopeful he's there to discuss the investigation. He is. An agent in the field thinks he has a lead that might lead them to the killer - and the bureau wants Monroe to partner with him on the investigation. Undercover field work doesn't play to Lincoln's strengths, but he's eager to find Dr. Fear, too, and he agrees to go.
When Lincoln first met Carter Warren eight years ago, it was lust at first sight. But working as an instructor at Quantico, he's scrupulously avoided relationships with any of his students. Carter, however, was a special kind of torture. Handsome, loud and brash, always eager to be the center of attention - Special Agent Carter Warren was the trainee of his nightmares, and occasional fantasy - and it was a relief when he finally returned to the field. So when Lincoln finally arrives at the address in Apex where he'll be staying for the foreseeable future - and discovers a house party already underway - he's annoyed, but unsurprised to see Agent Warren open the door.
Carter Warren was tracking a lead of different sort when he came across a connection to Dr. Fear in Apex. He quickly called it in, and the bureau told him they were sending him forensics expert Lincoln Monroe to help with the investigation. Carter hadn't forgotten how hot Lincoln was eight years ago, and when he opens the door to his knock, his first thought is that his instructor has gotten even more good looking - and that he’s still annoyed with him. Before Lincoln can blow their cover, he pulls him aside and hands him a wedding ring, and then introduces him to their curious group of onlookers as his new husband, Professor Lincoln Polk. Convinced he’s already sabotaged the partnership before it can begin, he’s relieved when Lincoln follows his lead and plays along.
Oh friends, I loved this combination from the start of the novel to the end. Carter just wants to be loved, and he’s wanted Lincoln - “L” - since they met eight years ago. He’s determined to make more out of this partnership than just finding Dr. Fear - which he has every intention of doing - and he’s the perfect foil to his prickly, cautious and brilliant partner. L’s been burned by boyfriends before, and he isn’t eager to jump into a relationship. He has a great life teaching at Quantico and parenting his teenage daughter with his ex-wife, and isn’t looking for someone who might not want a ready made family. But Carter is a constant, lovely, surprise. He’s gentle and kind, clever and capable, and their close proximity puts L’s resistance to the test. When he eventually learns what brought Carter to Apex in the first place, it gives him the final push he needs to pursue a relationship...but the case - and Dr. Fear - gets in the way. These two are a terrific match-up, and Reyne does a terrific job building the tension of their slow burn relationship. If I have any complaint about this story, it’s that she draws out the slow burn a tad too far, and leaves it too late for readers to enjoy them as a couple. Okay - it’s my biggest complaint, and I wish we had more of them as a couple! You will too.
Meanwhile, they have a serial killer - and a possible copycat - on the loose. The case is twisty and dark, the clues are hard to find, and there are suspects everywhere they look. Dr. Fear has somehow stayed under the radar for decades, but both Carter and L can feel they’re getting close to indentifying them. I won’t spoil the investigation for you, and I promise you Reyne leads her readers on a merry chase trying to figure out who our villain really is. But while the big reveal is a nice and nasty surprise, the climatic ending is a bit clunky. Dr. Fear doesn’t follow his usual modus operandi, and Reyne substitutes “action,” for substance and tension. Dr. Fear is careful and disciplined, but acts out of character the moment Carter and L begin to close in on them. It’s a disappointment.
Look, I thought this was terrific and I couldn’t put it down. I’m curious if the author has plans to make this a series - oh, please!!!!!! And hopeful we get to see more of these two coupled up. Like I mentioned earlier, there’s entirely too much slow burn tension, and too little actual sexy-times. Carter and L deserve more screen time as lovers and partners, and readers just want more.
Give it to us. Please!
4.5 stars
Variable Onset features a pair of FBI agents on the hunt for a serial killer who's been active for decades. Dr. Fear kills in pairs; after kidnapping their victims, they torture them with whatever is their deepest, darkest fear (drowning/fire/claustrophobia/rats...) until the victim succumbs or begs for death. Then, Dr. Fear repeats the torture with the second victim. The FBI has never been able to figure out what links the victims, but when Variable Onset begins, Dr. Fear is active again, and this time the FBI may have a lead on his location.
Although happiest teaching in the classroom, Special Agent Lincoln Monroe can't help thinking his specialty - forensic genealogy - could make him an important asset on the newly established Dr. Fear task force. When the head of the bureau drops in on one of his classes, he's initially worried he might be in trouble (but for what?), but hopeful he's there to discuss the investigation. He is. An agent in the field thinks he has a lead that might lead them to the killer - and the bureau wants Monroe to partner with him on the investigation. Undercover field work doesn't play to Lincoln's strengths, but he's eager to find Dr. Fear, too, and he agrees to go.
When Lincoln first met Carter Warren eight years ago, it was lust at first sight. But working as an instructor at Quantico, he's scrupulously avoided relationships with any of his students. Carter, however, was a special kind of torture. Handsome, loud and brash, always eager to be the center of attention - Special Agent Carter Warren was the trainee of his nightmares, and occasional fantasy - and it was a relief when he finally returned to the field. So when Lincoln finally arrives at the address in Apex where he'll be staying for the foreseeable future - and discovers a house party already underway - he's annoyed, but unsurprised to see Agent Warren open the door.
Carter Warren was tracking a lead of different sort when he came across a connection to Dr. Fear in Apex. He quickly called it in, and the bureau told him they were sending him forensics expert Lincoln Monroe to help with the investigation. Carter hadn't forgotten how hot Lincoln was eight years ago, and when he opens the door to his knock, his first thought is that his instructor has gotten even more good looking - and that he’s still annoyed with him. Before Lincoln can blow their cover, he pulls him aside and hands him a wedding ring, and then introduces him to their curious group of onlookers as his new husband, Professor Lincoln Polk. Convinced he’s already sabotaged the partnership before it can begin, he’s relieved when Lincoln follows his lead and plays along.
Oh friends, I loved this combination from the start of the novel to the end. Carter just wants to be loved, and he’s wanted Lincoln - “L” - since they met eight years ago. He’s determined to make more out of this partnership than just finding Dr. Fear - which he has every intention of doing - and he’s the perfect foil to his prickly, cautious and brilliant partner. L’s been burned by boyfriends before, and he isn’t eager to jump into a relationship. He has a great life teaching at Quantico and parenting his teenage daughter with his ex-wife, and isn’t looking for someone who might not want a ready made family. But Carter is a constant, lovely, surprise. He’s gentle and kind, clever and capable, and their close proximity puts L’s resistance to the test. When he eventually learns what brought Carter to Apex in the first place, it gives him the final push he needs to pursue a relationship...but the case - and Dr. Fear - gets in the way. These two are a terrific match-up, and Reyne does a terrific job building the tension of their slow burn relationship. If I have any complaint about this story, it’s that she draws out the slow burn a tad too far, and leaves it too late for readers to enjoy them as a couple. Okay - it’s my biggest complaint, and I wish we had more of them as a couple! You will too.
Meanwhile, they have a serial killer - and a possible copycat - on the loose. The case is twisty and dark, the clues are hard to find, and there are suspects everywhere they look. Dr. Fear has somehow stayed under the radar for decades, but both Carter and L can feel they’re getting close to indentifying them. I won’t spoil the investigation for you, and I promise you Reyne leads her readers on a merry chase trying to figure out who our villain really is. But while the big reveal is a nice and nasty surprise, the climatic ending is a bit clunky. Dr. Fear doesn’t follow his usual modus operandi, and Reyne substitutes “action,” for substance and tension. Dr. Fear is careful and disciplined, but acts out of character the moment Carter and L begin to close in on them. It’s a disappointment.
Look, I thought this was terrific and I couldn’t put it down. I’m curious if the author has plans to make this a series - oh, please!!!!!! And hopeful we get to see more of these two coupled up. Like I mentioned earlier, there’s entirely too much slow burn tension, and too little actual sexy-times. Carter and L deserve more screen time as lovers and partners, and readers just want more.
Give it to us. Please!
May 11, 2020
4.5 stars - When Carter stumbles on a lead to catch serial killer, Dr. Fear, while searching for details on his own past, he requests the help of his former professor and special agent, Lincoln Monroe, who he has harbored a crush for ever since they met in Lincoln’s classroom. The two go undercover as husbands in the small town of Apex to hunt and lure out Dr. Fear and what they believe to be a copycat killer.
I loved these guys. They each have past issues they are dealing with – Lincoln with his crippling performance anxiety, and Carter with his fear of never being good enough stemming from his mysterious childhood in foster care. Of course, these are ideal issues for Dr. Fear to exploit. While they search for clues, they must face Lincoln’s problem in the course of their undercover work, while Carter’s issues are dealt with a bit later on. Regardless, they are not glossed over, and both know they must be dealt with in order for them to have a relationship.
I enjoyed the slow burn in this one. They don’t just jump each other even though the chemistry is obviously front and center. Thankfully, they put their relationship, physical or otherwise, on the back burner while they take care of solving the mystery and saving lives. We get to see beyond the cocky and confident façade to the vulnerable man inside, as well as the strong silent type who shows a flirty side. They come from completely different family backgrounds, both past and present, but it is clear they are exactly what each of the needs.
This was another enjoyable hit for me from Ms. Reyne. I’m a bit disappointed we won’t be seeing these guys again, but I am looking forward to whatever she comes up with net.
Review written by Love Bytes Reviews.
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