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Road Trip #3
Under Pressure
Sonny and MJ really want to think they're retired, but after an old enemy of MJ's blows up their boat, they know they have a lot of running to do. Still, there's no hostages around to cramp their style, and they have each other, so life is good. At least until Cowboy, an old friend of MJ's, looks them up. Cowboy brings a whole host of problems with him, including Duncan, a very interesting professor with surprising ties to MJ. When the boys decide to investigate Duncan's origins, it leads them back to their old allies, Paddy and Neil, who were pretty happy to say goodbye after their last adventure together. When Neil is kidnapped, though, Paddy knows he has to help MJ and Sonny to get help in return. Enemies are coming out of the woodwork, MJ doesn't know who to trust, and Sonny finds out a few things that shake him down to the very foundation of his life. Will the boys be able to survive this third installment of the Road Trip series? Other books in the Road Trip series include Racing the Moon and Steam and Sunshine.
344 pages, Paperback
First published March 18, 2009
1 person is currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
B.A. Tortuga
382 books632 followersTexan to the bone and an unrepentant Daddy's Girl, BA Tortuga spends her days with her hounds and her beloved wife, texting her grandbabies, and eating Mexican food. When she's not doing that, she's writing. She spends her days off watching rodeo, knitting, and surfing Pinterest in the name of research. Following their own personal joys, BA and Julia heard the call of the high desert and they now live in the New Mexico mountains. BA's personal saviors include her wife, her best friends, and coffee. Lots of coffee. Really good coffee.
Having written everything from fist-fighting rednecks to cowboy daddies to werewolves, BA does her damnedest to tell the stories of her heart, which is committed to giving everyone their happily ever after. With books ranging from hard-hitting BDSM, to fiery passions, to the most traditional of love stories, BA refuses to be pigeon-holed by anyone but the voices in her head.
Having written everything from fist-fighting rednecks to cowboy daddies to werewolves, BA does her damnedest to tell the stories of her heart, which is committed to giving everyone their happily ever after. With books ranging from hard-hitting BDSM, to fiery passions, to the most traditional of love stories, BA refuses to be pigeon-holed by anyone but the voices in her head.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 20, 2009
first, let me get it out of the way that I'm completely frustrated that i have to wait for the next book.
I've loved this series and wasn't sure how another installation would compare but Under Pressure absolutely kept up with the first two books. Sonny & MJ are still hot, the writing is still fun, and the new characters fit in seamlessly.
Tortuga picks up exactly where Steam & Sunshine left off and runs with the previously set fast pace, switching scenes easily between the newcomers (duncan & MJ's old buddy cowboy), Neil & Patrick and MJ & Sonny, tying everything together in a fun kind of way. These guys are all pretty straight-forward kind of characters- their motivations are simple and consistent: stay with their guy & stay alive. Their inherent craziness makes them fun to follow.
I did kind of blink at the newest revelation of government experiments (nope, not gonna tell you) but it actually worked and somehow kind of made sense without seeming too out there.
Fantastic light reading, and although I usually hate books that leave me hanging until the next comes out, this one is worth it.
I've loved this series and wasn't sure how another installation would compare but Under Pressure absolutely kept up with the first two books. Sonny & MJ are still hot, the writing is still fun, and the new characters fit in seamlessly.
Tortuga picks up exactly where Steam & Sunshine left off and runs with the previously set fast pace, switching scenes easily between the newcomers (duncan & MJ's old buddy cowboy), Neil & Patrick and MJ & Sonny, tying everything together in a fun kind of way. These guys are all pretty straight-forward kind of characters- their motivations are simple and consistent: stay with their guy & stay alive. Their inherent craziness makes them fun to follow.
I did kind of blink at the newest revelation of government experiments (nope, not gonna tell you) but it actually worked and somehow kind of made sense without seeming too out there.
Fantastic light reading, and although I usually hate books that leave me hanging until the next comes out, this one is worth it.
October 25, 2012
More of the same: if you like the first two books, you’ll probably like this one
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 7/10
PROS:
- I like Tortuga’s stream-of-consciousness writing style; I think it’s funny. (Examples: “Wait? Was it? [Dang.] He. Yeah. Food. He needed. Food.” ”He dropped the pillow and bolted, heading for the door, everything in him going rabbitrabbitrabbit.”)
- My favorite thing about the previous book, Steam and Sunshine, was the introduction of another couple besides MJ and Sonny. My favorite thing about THIS book is the introduction of yet another couple. It keeps the story from becoming mundane, I think.
- The author does a good job of showing a deepening emotional connection between Sonny and MJ with each book. They’re still constantly fighting and baiting each other and snarling and biting (all of which leads to rough sex, of course--and more split lips than I care to count). However, there are quite a few more tender moments in this book than in the previous ones. I’m convinced at this point in the series that those two characters are deeply in love with each other, yet Tortuga manages to avoid anything resembling mushiness.
- The ongoing plot in this series is tense at times and pretty interesting overall. This volume has some weird (in a good way), bordering-on-science-fiction developments.
CONS:
- The one complaint I have with Tortuga’s ADHD writing style is that it makes different characters’ POVs all sound very similar. In most cases, if I were to read several paragraphs in isolation, I wouldn’t be able to tell whether I was in MJ’s, Paddy’s, or Duncan’s head. They’re all a little bit psycho.
- The first book, Racing the Moon, seemed pretty complete when I finished it--enough so that I was surprised to discover it had a sequel. The second book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, but at least none of the main characters are in any immediate danger. This book, though? This one ends on a big, BAD cliffhanger.
- I point this out with each volume, but I think it bears repeating. There’s tons…seriously, TONS…of sex. There are 9 sex scenes in the first 10 chapters (which is about the first third of the book), just to give you an idea.
Overall comments: I’m enjoying this series; the characters are interesting, the exposition is funny, and the continuing plot is pretty good. However, you should like (or not mind) a lot of sex with your stories if you’re considering this book or either of its predecessors.
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 7/10
PROS:
- I like Tortuga’s stream-of-consciousness writing style; I think it’s funny. (Examples: “Wait? Was it? [Dang.] He. Yeah. Food. He needed. Food.” ”He dropped the pillow and bolted, heading for the door, everything in him going rabbitrabbitrabbit.”)
- My favorite thing about the previous book, Steam and Sunshine, was the introduction of another couple besides MJ and Sonny. My favorite thing about THIS book is the introduction of yet another couple. It keeps the story from becoming mundane, I think.
- The author does a good job of showing a deepening emotional connection between Sonny and MJ with each book. They’re still constantly fighting and baiting each other and snarling and biting (all of which leads to rough sex, of course--and more split lips than I care to count). However, there are quite a few more tender moments in this book than in the previous ones. I’m convinced at this point in the series that those two characters are deeply in love with each other, yet Tortuga manages to avoid anything resembling mushiness.
- The ongoing plot in this series is tense at times and pretty interesting overall. This volume has some weird (in a good way), bordering-on-science-fiction developments.
CONS:
- The one complaint I have with Tortuga’s ADHD writing style is that it makes different characters’ POVs all sound very similar. In most cases, if I were to read several paragraphs in isolation, I wouldn’t be able to tell whether I was in MJ’s, Paddy’s, or Duncan’s head. They’re all a little bit psycho.
- The first book, Racing the Moon, seemed pretty complete when I finished it--enough so that I was surprised to discover it had a sequel. The second book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, but at least none of the main characters are in any immediate danger. This book, though? This one ends on a big, BAD cliffhanger.
- I point this out with each volume, but I think it bears repeating. There’s tons…seriously, TONS…of sex. There are 9 sex scenes in the first 10 chapters (which is about the first third of the book), just to give you an idea.
Overall comments: I’m enjoying this series; the characters are interesting, the exposition is funny, and the continuing plot is pretty good. However, you should like (or not mind) a lot of sex with your stories if you’re considering this book or either of its predecessors.
December 9, 2013
http://www.scuttlebuttreviews.com/201...
Under Pressure begins immediately where Steam and Sunshine let off, again focusing on Sonny and MJ, who’s unraveling mentally a bit, but including glimpses of Neil and Paddy in their separate lives.
Then we’re introduced to Cowboy, an assassin who has been hired to get a vial of blood from, and kill Duncan, who is a professor with a rather unusual ability that connects him to the others. Luckily, Cowboy and MJ have been friends for years, and Cowboy calls MJ to figure out this completely unexpected side of Duncan.
Under Pressure is focused on figuring out who in their pasts are causing the recent disruptions of their lives. This goes deeper than the last book, in terms of ironing out MJ's past, as well as Paddy's and Duncan's, which are all intertwined through one person.
Tortuga has continued the switch-it-up point of view, and with six characters’ to keep track of, there were a few places I had to re-read, but that doesn’t ruin the rhythm for me. Plus, Tortuga doesn't go back and re-write the scene from a different perspective; rather she barrels through from whoever's mind makes most sense.
This book ends with a serious cliffhanger, so if you’re just starting this series, buy the fourth book at the same time. You’re going to want to read it immediately. Trust me, I was utterly pissy for a good year while waiting for the fourth book when I first read Under Pressure.
Under Pressure begins immediately where Steam and Sunshine let off, again focusing on Sonny and MJ, who’s unraveling mentally a bit, but including glimpses of Neil and Paddy in their separate lives.
Then we’re introduced to Cowboy, an assassin who has been hired to get a vial of blood from, and kill Duncan, who is a professor with a rather unusual ability that connects him to the others. Luckily, Cowboy and MJ have been friends for years, and Cowboy calls MJ to figure out this completely unexpected side of Duncan.
Under Pressure is focused on figuring out who in their pasts are causing the recent disruptions of their lives. This goes deeper than the last book, in terms of ironing out MJ's past, as well as Paddy's and Duncan's, which are all intertwined through one person.
Tortuga has continued the switch-it-up point of view, and with six characters’ to keep track of, there were a few places I had to re-read, but that doesn’t ruin the rhythm for me. Plus, Tortuga doesn't go back and re-write the scene from a different perspective; rather she barrels through from whoever's mind makes most sense.
This book ends with a serious cliffhanger, so if you’re just starting this series, buy the fourth book at the same time. You’re going to want to read it immediately. Trust me, I was utterly pissy for a good year while waiting for the fourth book when I first read Under Pressure.
November 19, 2009
I really liked this book of the series about Sonny and MJ plus their assorted friends. Paddy and Neil from the previous volume join in and some new friends are added, named Colby/Cowboy and Duncan/Doc.
A lot of the unanswered questions about the background of the weird goings on in the earlier volumes are answered. I thought it was interesting how fairly light on the action (and heavy on the sex scenes) most of this book was, and yet it feels much more like an action/adventure than a romance.
Very well done!
A lot of the unanswered questions about the background of the weird goings on in the earlier volumes are answered. I thought it was interesting how fairly light on the action (and heavy on the sex scenes) most of this book was, and yet it feels much more like an action/adventure than a romance.
Very well done!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews