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Zero at the Bone #1
Zero at the Bone
After witnessing a mob hit, surgeon Jack Francisco is put into protective custody to keep him safe until he can testify. A hitman known only as D is blackmailed into killing Jack, but when he tracks him down, his weary conscience won't allow him to murder an innocent man. Finding in each other an unlikely ally, Jack and D are soon on the run from shadowy enemies.
Forced to work together to survive, the two men forge a bond that ripens into unexpected passion. Jack sees the wounded soul beneath D's cold, detached exterior, and D finds in Jack the person who can help him reclaim the man he once was. As the day of Jack's testimony approaches, he and D find themselves not only fighting for their lives... but also fighting for their future. A future together.
Forced to work together to survive, the two men forge a bond that ripens into unexpected passion. Jack sees the wounded soul beneath D's cold, detached exterior, and D finds in Jack the person who can help him reclaim the man he once was. As the day of Jack's testimony approaches, he and D find themselves not only fighting for their lives... but also fighting for their future. A future together.
308 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 6, 2009
About the author
Jane Seville
10 books855 followersJane Seville is an author living in Columbus, OH. She enjoys reading and writing about good-looking men doing naughty things to each other. She grew up around gay men; her mother directed the local gay men's chorus. Then she went off to a women's college, where as you might guess, she was surrounded by gay women. Despite not being gay herself, Jane has always had a deep connection to the gay rights' movement and continues to do whatever she can to help its advancement.
Jane loves cooking, VH1 pop culture shows, inventing her own craft projects and walking her Newfoundland.
Jane loves cooking, VH1 pop culture shows, inventing her own craft projects and walking her Newfoundland.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,525 reviews
December 21, 2014
Nick's Very First Giffy Review
There's D the sexy hit man
And Jack the sexy doctor
There's lots of this
And lots of this
Even some of this
And I was left like this
Read The Book!!!
There's D the sexy hit man
And Jack the sexy doctor
There's lots of this
And lots of this
Even some of this
And I was left like this
Read The Book!!!
May 13, 2013
New review posted May 13, 2013*****Re-read and buddy read with Rosalinda, May 2013. Thank you, Rosa, it was a pleasure! *mwah*
Jack is a maxillofacial surgeon with a subspecialty in craniofacial surgery. Maxillofacial surgeons treat injuries, diseases, and defects in the skull, jaw, neck, and face. After witnessing a mob hit in an underground garage, Jack is put into protective custody to keep him alive until the trial begins and he can testify. D is a hit man and a former D’s credo is to kill bad people who deserve to die and Jack sure doesn’t fall into this category since he was an innocent bystander as well as a very important witness. Though the hit is contrary to D’s beliefs, he must accept it because he’s been blackmailed into killing Jack. Tracking Jack down is a piece of cake for D. Once there, however, D is struck by his conscience, and instead of killing him, D “kidnaps” Jack to protect him with his own life.
Now they are on the run and are forced to work together to survive this thrilling and dangerous journey. For more than ten years D had only trusted one person but in his heart he wanted to trust Jack, and yet it scared him because trust can be misused easily. Though when Jack unravels D and can see the ‘real’ man beneath his cold exterior, D begins to yearn for something more than his harsh and lonely life as a hit man. Even though D suppressed his needs, wants, desires, and dreams Jack helped him to reclaim the man he once was. While on the run, these two men forge a strong bond that develops into a deep yet unexpected love that could weather any misgivings.
Loved D’s sense of humor.
The book title is pretty intriguing. It comes from the poem Snake by Emily Dickinson. Besides, the fact that Jack is a maxillofacial surgeon could also be related to the title. Jack specializes in facial reconstructive surgery. When Jack performs a surgery he can ‘see’ the bone structure beneath the patient’s face. Also, as this story unfolds, I got the impression that Jack is reassembling the ‘real’ person within D. Plus, Jack is incredibly fascinated by D's architectural skull and his bone structure.
Hot damn! I forgot how fabulous this book is! Back in May 2011 I popped my M/M cherry with Zero and I am super duper happy to tell you that my re-read was so worthy of my time. A few weeks ago I removed it from my all-time favorites shelf (don’t ask me why I did that), but it’s right back where it belongs. Zero features fantastic MCs and an interesting cast of secondary characters. A solid plot, great dialogue and some intense men lovin’ kept my interest throughout the whole book. There sure was not one single dull moment to be found. Zero is an intense and wonderful love story. Honestly, the writing is excellent and some paragraphs are stunningly beautiful. Behind all the harshness and violence of the plot as well as D's character, something incredibly intimate and tender is hidden and needs to be unraveled. The build-up is rather slow yet beautifully done and the story provides many, many memorable scenes between D and Jack. I marvel at the beauty of anything and everything that Zero provides. I truly loved it! In fact, it was even better the second time around.
More often than not I get annoyed by too much narrative and inner monologue. Funnily enough, that’s exactly what I loved about Zero because the author is so incredibly skilled and kept D’s internal tensions and struggles palpable and engaging through exceptionally good narrative and inner monologue. D’s heart-breaking background story shaped him into the man he is today, but there is always hope for a change. Hope to live a ‘normal’ life again. D is ‘damaged goods’, with a tortured soul and heart, and he is void of emotions and feelings. I think the author conveyed his guilt with an intense clarity of thought and offered the reader a very intimate look inside a criminal’s mind, who despite everything, still has a conscience. In fact, the man was standing at a personal crossroads and wanted to seek redemption eventually. Hence, Zero is not only a simple love story, it’s so much more. Jack seemed to be the trigger to D’s personal atonement, because in the end D could only feel worthy of Jack’s love after having achieved atonement to a certain extent. Also, Zero lives and breathes intimacy, and I truly adored the moments of utter stillness and tenderness. On the other hand, however, the lovely, tender and vulnerable moments went hand in hand with frantic lovemaking that was truly stunning. Besides, I was privy to the privilege of witnessing D coming completely and utterly undone and Jack was right there to hold him. He wouldn’t let him go. Ever.
For the last ten years D acted like a machine, he did avoid any emotional attachment to every human being. He didn’t even know what love is. And then slowly yet steadily D is flooded by so many confusing emotions and a never ending yearning for Jack. A yearning that hurt in its intensity, and yet it helped to keep the tension between these two very palpable. As a matter of fact, the sexual tension between Jack and D is extremely well done. Not every author is able to convey the physical attraction through words in such a powerful way like Jane Seville did in this story. And while the sex wasn’t overly hot or explicit, the beautiful prose and their mutual longing, need and passion made it so incredibly sexy and sensual. I felt like all of their feelings leapt right off the pages and into my heart, and I treasured those moments immensely. D and Jack are perfect together, but I believe that D totally made this story. I loved his character to pieces, and his accent endeared him even more to me.
Now that inner monologue made me cry.
Zero at the Bone is a book full of heart, emotion, passion, beauty, and soul. Read it.
Jack is a maxillofacial surgeon with a subspecialty in craniofacial surgery. Maxillofacial surgeons treat injuries, diseases, and defects in the skull, jaw, neck, and face. After witnessing a mob hit in an underground garage, Jack is put into protective custody to keep him alive until the trial begins and he can testify. D is a hit man and a former D’s credo is to kill bad people who deserve to die and Jack sure doesn’t fall into this category since he was an innocent bystander as well as a very important witness. Though the hit is contrary to D’s beliefs, he must accept it because he’s been blackmailed into killing Jack. Tracking Jack down is a piece of cake for D. Once there, however, D is struck by his conscience, and instead of killing him, D “kidnaps” Jack to protect him with his own life.
Now they are on the run and are forced to work together to survive this thrilling and dangerous journey. For more than ten years D had only trusted one person but in his heart he wanted to trust Jack, and yet it scared him because trust can be misused easily. Though when Jack unravels D and can see the ‘real’ man beneath his cold exterior, D begins to yearn for something more than his harsh and lonely life as a hit man. Even though D suppressed his needs, wants, desires, and dreams Jack helped him to reclaim the man he once was. While on the run, these two men forge a strong bond that develops into a deep yet unexpected love that could weather any misgivings.
"I'm not going anywhere with you."
"D'you have a fuckin' death wish?" HAL hissed at him. "Those fuckers are gonna come after me fer not killin' you, and they're gonna come after you fer not bein' dead yet, and no one can protect you from them! No one, ya hear? Not the Marshals, not the police, not the goddamned Neighborhood Watch! Yer only shot is ta stick with me!"
"I'm sorry," Francisco snapped. "I've just never met a professional killer before, and I'm having a little trouble with the degrees of morality here." He sat back in his seat, exhaling. "I guess I shouldn't judge. Your rules saved my life, didn't they?"
"Reckon so."
A few tense minutes passed until Francisco sighed and his shoulders sagged. "I'm…"
"Don't worry about it," D said, cutting him off. "Yer right. I am bad folks."
Francisco said nothing for a few beats. "I don't think you're bad," he murmured.
"Look, it must be real nice and comfy on top a that high horse," D said, suddenly snarling, "but you ain't lived in my world and it's jus' fine fer you ta judge when you don't gotta make them kinda choices."
Loved D’s sense of humor.
"Holy shit," Jack said. "Are we taking over a small country?"
D snorted. "Gotta be prepared." He looked up at Jack's face, frowning. "What?"
Jack shrugged. "It's just…" He sighed. "I'm starting to see words like 'accessory' and 'accomplice' floating around my head."
D barely reacted. "How about 'dead on arrival'? Ya like that better?"
Jack nodded, pressing his lips together. "Get more ammo. Ammo is good."
"Ooh, she said, and pulled out her own binoculars.
D looked at her. "Hey!"
"What? You'd deny a hardworking girl a little eye candy?"
"This ain't Halloween."
"What's that mean?"
"Means I ain't sharin' my candy. Gimme them glasses."
"(…)Let me give you another shot--"
"Another one? My ass ain't no pincushion."
"For prophylaxis."
"Prophyl-whatsis? Ain't that a condom? What the hell you plannin', doc?"
Jack chuckled. "Prophylaxis is any preventative measure, like flossing to prevent gum disease. Condoms are sometimes called 'prophylactics" because they're a preventive measure against insemination.(…)"
The book title is pretty intriguing. It comes from the poem Snake by Emily Dickinson. Besides, the fact that Jack is a maxillofacial surgeon could also be related to the title. Jack specializes in facial reconstructive surgery. When Jack performs a surgery he can ‘see’ the bone structure beneath the patient’s face. Also, as this story unfolds, I got the impression that Jack is reassembling the ‘real’ person within D. Plus, Jack is incredibly fascinated by D's architectural skull and his bone structure.
Jack shifted a little closer on the couch and spoke softly. "You thought if you could keep the dark away from me, that maybe some of it would leave you too."
D turned to look at him, and Jack saw something naked and exposed in his expression, set free by the That stoniness was gone, and Jack could see the child D had once been, and the and it damned near broke his heart to see that man buried so deeply within the man D was now, a man he clearly detested but could not escape. His eyes were wide and shining. "I cain't remember what things look like without it," he said, his voice hoarse and shaky.
He just persisted, touching D where he'd like to be touched, caressing the tension from his muscles, urging him on with his hands, trying to tell him with his body it's okay, it's okay to want me, it's okay to feel it, it's safe to show it.
D was pouring himself into Jack's arms, his body, and the deluge was fierce; Jack clung to him like a barnacle, holding him fast in his arms. I've got you. I've got you. I've got you. The thought ran over and over in his mind as D heaved great swoops of breath past Jack's ear, swoops that had sobs caught at their dregs, as if he'd found something old and unexpressed at the very tidal bottom of his lungs now dragged into the open air by the exertion.
I'm not letting go of you.
D's features tugged inward, like he'd just remembered something. Jack didn't move. D blinked a few times, and then slowly leaned closer, lowering his face toward the crook of Jack's shoulder. Brow furrowed, he inhaled. Jack saw his eyes flutter closed and his features smooth out as if he were falling asleep right where he stood, falling into a daydream or a memory.
"Oh," he sighed, long and weary, the sight of sinking into a favorite chair after long hours of standing. "Ya smell like sun," he murmured. D's voice was raw, like a man under hypnosis. "Ya know that smell? That toasty-skin smell, like ya get after goin' ta the beach?" He nodded a little. "I love that smell."
"Jack, I…I dunno how--"
"It's okay. Take your time."
"I gotta tell ya…" He trailed off again.
"I know."
"Don't…don't let go a me." This last was so quiet as to almost be inaudible.
"I won't. Not ever."
"You're not the last man on Earth. Not now."
D stared at him, his eyes misting over. Two tears spilled over his lids and slid down his cheek. Jack wiped them away with his thumbs and leaned forward until their foreheads were pressed together. He could hear D's ragged breathing; he felt another solitary tear drip onto his leg. How long had it been since this man had allowed himself an emotional release? How far could he really expect him to come back in one night?
Hot damn! I forgot how fabulous this book is! Back in May 2011 I popped my M/M cherry with Zero and I am super duper happy to tell you that my re-read was so worthy of my time. A few weeks ago I removed it from my all-time favorites shelf (don’t ask me why I did that), but it’s right back where it belongs. Zero features fantastic MCs and an interesting cast of secondary characters. A solid plot, great dialogue and some intense men lovin’ kept my interest throughout the whole book. There sure was not one single dull moment to be found. Zero is an intense and wonderful love story. Honestly, the writing is excellent and some paragraphs are stunningly beautiful. Behind all the harshness and violence of the plot as well as D's character, something incredibly intimate and tender is hidden and needs to be unraveled. The build-up is rather slow yet beautifully done and the story provides many, many memorable scenes between D and Jack. I marvel at the beauty of anything and everything that Zero provides. I truly loved it! In fact, it was even better the second time around.
More often than not I get annoyed by too much narrative and inner monologue. Funnily enough, that’s exactly what I loved about Zero because the author is so incredibly skilled and kept D’s internal tensions and struggles palpable and engaging through exceptionally good narrative and inner monologue. D’s heart-breaking background story shaped him into the man he is today, but there is always hope for a change. Hope to live a ‘normal’ life again. D is ‘damaged goods’, with a tortured soul and heart, and he is void of emotions and feelings. I think the author conveyed his guilt with an intense clarity of thought and offered the reader a very intimate look inside a criminal’s mind, who despite everything, still has a conscience. In fact, the man was standing at a personal crossroads and wanted to seek redemption eventually. Hence, Zero is not only a simple love story, it’s so much more. Jack seemed to be the trigger to D’s personal atonement, because in the end D could only feel worthy of Jack’s love after having achieved atonement to a certain extent. Also, Zero lives and breathes intimacy, and I truly adored the moments of utter stillness and tenderness. On the other hand, however, the lovely, tender and vulnerable moments went hand in hand with frantic lovemaking that was truly stunning. Besides, I was privy to the privilege of witnessing D coming completely and utterly undone and Jack was right there to hold him. He wouldn’t let him go. Ever.
For the last ten years D acted like a machine, he did avoid any emotional attachment to every human being. He didn’t even know what love is. And then slowly yet steadily D is flooded by so many confusing emotions and a never ending yearning for Jack. A yearning that hurt in its intensity, and yet it helped to keep the tension between these two very palpable. As a matter of fact, the sexual tension between Jack and D is extremely well done. Not every author is able to convey the physical attraction through words in such a powerful way like Jane Seville did in this story. And while the sex wasn’t overly hot or explicit, the beautiful prose and their mutual longing, need and passion made it so incredibly sexy and sensual. I felt like all of their feelings leapt right off the pages and into my heart, and I treasured those moments immensely. D and Jack are perfect together, but I believe that D totally made this story. I loved his character to pieces, and his accent endeared him even more to me.
Now that inner monologue made me cry.
Jus hold me a little longer, Jack. Tell me again that ya wanna be with me, fer real, cross yer heart 'n' let me know you ain't foolin' cause I dunno how or when it happen but somehow I come ta need ya like air, like blood. Touch me again like ya do with them gentle hands make me feel like somethin' precious. Say it again that ya love me, cause hearin' that was like openin' up some big bottomless well that ran dry years back and it cain't never hear it enough, but once more, one more time and maybe I'll believe it a little more, and then a little more the next time, till someday I believe it fer true enough ta be able to say it back ta you like y'oughta hear it said cause God knows I love you more'n my own life, more'n anythin' in this world, but it cain't get outta me yet cause I still ain't the man I need ta be, the man who's gonna stand before you and declare.
Zero at the Bone is a book full of heart, emotion, passion, beauty, and soul. Read it.
September 1, 2015
"self-indulgent, overlong, and inauthentic," he snarled.
reads like fanfic, and probably was.
not a total horror-show; there was tension, and that opening chapter or two was pretty good.
as far as canonical MM reads go, i am now something like 3-for-1,093 in terms of agreeing with consensus.
fuck it, fuck this book, and fuck you too.
*smiles sweetly*
reads like fanfic, and probably was.
not a total horror-show; there was tension, and that opening chapter or two was pretty good.
as far as canonical MM reads go, i am now something like 3-for-1,093 in terms of agreeing with consensus.
fuck it, fuck this book, and fuck you too.
*smiles sweetly*
June 2, 2013
Why doesn't this author write MORE?!?! I adored this book! Jane Seville just BLEW MY MIND!
There are so many amazing reviews of this book by many of my Goodreads friends. A few days have gone by since I have read this book and the characters and their chemistry are still with me. I'm having trouble organizing my thoughts so I'll just blurt out a few highlights:
1) Can I just say how much I love that Jack was an oral surgeon?! As someone who really knows and understands oral surgery, I think that the author did a kick butt job of accurately describing the profession and the training involved. I felt like I connected with the character based on this alone (though I know I'm crazy biased). I automatically loved him because he was a dentist- I couldn't help myself!
2) I don't know why but I have a thing for grunty, quiet, reticent main characters so, of course, D was amazing for my tastes. I loved how you really got to see him fall apart and let Jack in, emotionally. It was beautiful to read.
3) This author has a serious way with words. She describes things so gorgeously and skillfully that I really felt like I was there with the guys, going through the action with them. I loved her style and it really enhanced my reading experience.
What would I have improved? I didn't love the epilogue and I think some of the sex scenes could have really used more description (like about 100 pages of excruciating detail!!). I also wanted more character description: I couldn't picture the two MCs well at all. I didn't even know that D had light hair until the end of the book. However, the positives far outweigh the negatives here. Amazing book Ms. Seville!!
There are so many amazing reviews of this book by many of my Goodreads friends. A few days have gone by since I have read this book and the characters and their chemistry are still with me. I'm having trouble organizing my thoughts so I'll just blurt out a few highlights:
1) Can I just say how much I love that Jack was an oral surgeon?! As someone who really knows and understands oral surgery, I think that the author did a kick butt job of accurately describing the profession and the training involved. I felt like I connected with the character based on this alone (though I know I'm crazy biased). I automatically loved him because he was a dentist- I couldn't help myself!
2) I don't know why but I have a thing for grunty, quiet, reticent main characters so, of course, D was amazing for my tastes. I loved how you really got to see him fall apart and let Jack in, emotionally. It was beautiful to read.
3) This author has a serious way with words. She describes things so gorgeously and skillfully that I really felt like I was there with the guys, going through the action with them. I loved her style and it really enhanced my reading experience.
What would I have improved? I didn't love the epilogue and I think some of the sex scenes could have really used more description (like about 100 pages of excruciating detail!!). I also wanted more character description: I couldn't picture the two MCs well at all. I didn't even know that D had light hair until the end of the book. However, the positives far outweigh the negatives here. Amazing book Ms. Seville!!
September 18, 2012
This book was incredibly well written by Jane Seville and has all the ingredients for a great read....action, kidnapping, courtroom drama, car chases, shoot outs, a big dose of humour and a beautifully told romance between two very unlikely characters.
5 Glorious Stars
We meet Dr. Jack Francisco in a Police interview room, still covered in the blood of a woman he saw murdered, before his very eyes.....Maria Dominguez. She was due to testify against her ex husband, one of the Dominguez Brothers for his part in the Brothers illegal drug trade operation. In this underworld of crime...all threats are illiminated.
Jack was scared....very scared. Sitting in a room with faceless, suited men, bombarding him with questions, repeating the same answers over and over again, he is confused and bewildered. He is about to be whisked away into witness protection....to become anonymous, to become a nobody. Checked out of his previous life as a top surgeon which he had trained for and worked hard to achieve. All his dreams and future life would be gone.....He has witnessed a crime and with all his well meant notions of good verses evil, he was prepared to stand up for what was right and testify and so far, HE, was still alive.....but for how long?
D is an assassin, a hired cold blooded killer. He has no past. He has no name. He has no life. He is like a machine and performs like a robot, without feeling or concern. He gets a hit, does the hit, moves on......simple! Mmmmm....except he does have a code, no kids, no women and no innocents. So when his handler asks him to take the hit on Jack and he refuses...someone else has other plans and blackmails D into taking it!
So our two MC's meet. Jack, in witness protection, on a never ending loop of boredom filled with mind numbing nothing-ness, goes hiking to relieve the tedium, try to exhaust himself to escape the futility of it all. Arriving home he finds a man, sitting in a chair in the shadows (heart was pounding at this point, all kinds of "Oh No" and expletives, entering my head). When he, cool as you like, stands slowly all quiet menace and deadly intent, lanky frame, shorn hair, stubble and sunglasses! inside.....really! (OK at this point I was drooling and open mouthed in anticipation) Jack knows he is going to die and surprisingly embraces it, as he no longer has to live in fear of it.......So, OK, we know he does't go through with it, as that would be the end of the story!!
Jack is fascinated by D and his analytical brain wanted answers, he wanted to know what was beneath that steely resolve. He should be afraid and in a way he was. But he had seen that small display of emotion from the man that had been hired to kill him, with his indecision when faced with the kill shot. So stilted and unemotional was D that Jack started referring to him as Hal (2001-Space Odyssey computer) in his mind. In fact Jack did a lot of talking to himself, arguing with himself, his inner monologue and musings were hilarious, and it was fun to watch his constant indecision.
As we see more of D we are let inside the complex gates and barriers he hides behind. He has a heart and Jack is slowly wearing those defences down, he can see beyond this persona that D has created and he doesn't see the coldness and the cruelty....there is more to D. Only D cannot see past the darkness and is unable to remember what life was like without it, he wants to protect Jack from it, he wants him to remain the kind, funny innocent man that he is.
The relationship evolves amongst all the madness and it is both beautiful and tender in all its complexities. It is fragile and tentative as D lets Jack in, past the barriers, to see the tragedy and hurt that have framed this man into "D" he slowly crawls out of the darkness and is desperate to keep hold of the man that trusts him and has opened his heart to what life can truly be like.
I loved this book, the voices of the two MC's are so distinct, their personalities were intense and so real, I could see them and hear them in my minds eye. I did struggle however with D's accent for the first few pages, unable to decipher it, but when I got the southern drawl, that was all 'D' their voices were perfect and I was on a roll.
Which brings me to my only gripe with regard to Zero. When I read I like to have an image and voice to go with the character, this is usually provided by the author with snippets of information at the beginning to help us build a picture of this person of persons in our mind. Even though we are given a full description of D's look, all drool-worthy and lusciousness that he is, the same is not true of Jack. We learn early on he has blue eyes..that's it! Later on towards the end we finally learn he has dark hair...that's it! Which also goes for the accent, which was OK for me but I know a few people have has issue with, if it was pointed out that D was a southern boy, it would all have been good.
There are some sex scenes in this book and the build up to them was amazing, all tummy flutters and anticipation, only to fall flat on the deed. My original theory, was that as the barriers were broken down, it would improve and it did slightly, but it was still all fired up to only deliver a sizzle. Having said that, this book is more about the emotional connection that develops over time, rather than the sex and that was all fine with me, even though I am sure a few of my pervy friends would say otherwise!!
5 Glorious Stars
We meet Dr. Jack Francisco in a Police interview room, still covered in the blood of a woman he saw murdered, before his very eyes.....Maria Dominguez. She was due to testify against her ex husband, one of the Dominguez Brothers for his part in the Brothers illegal drug trade operation. In this underworld of crime...all threats are illiminated.
Jack was scared....very scared. Sitting in a room with faceless, suited men, bombarding him with questions, repeating the same answers over and over again, he is confused and bewildered. He is about to be whisked away into witness protection....to become anonymous, to become a nobody. Checked out of his previous life as a top surgeon which he had trained for and worked hard to achieve. All his dreams and future life would be gone.....He has witnessed a crime and with all his well meant notions of good verses evil, he was prepared to stand up for what was right and testify and so far, HE, was still alive.....but for how long?
D is an assassin, a hired cold blooded killer. He has no past. He has no name. He has no life. He is like a machine and performs like a robot, without feeling or concern. He gets a hit, does the hit, moves on......simple! Mmmmm....except he does have a code, no kids, no women and no innocents. So when his handler asks him to take the hit on Jack and he refuses...someone else has other plans and blackmails D into taking it!
So our two MC's meet. Jack, in witness protection, on a never ending loop of boredom filled with mind numbing nothing-ness, goes hiking to relieve the tedium, try to exhaust himself to escape the futility of it all. Arriving home he finds a man, sitting in a chair in the shadows (heart was pounding at this point, all kinds of "Oh No" and expletives, entering my head). When he, cool as you like, stands slowly all quiet menace and deadly intent, lanky frame, shorn hair, stubble and sunglasses! inside.....really! (OK at this point I was drooling and open mouthed in anticipation) Jack knows he is going to die and surprisingly embraces it, as he no longer has to live in fear of it.......So, OK, we know he does't go through with it, as that would be the end of the story!!
Jack is fascinated by D and his analytical brain wanted answers, he wanted to know what was beneath that steely resolve. He should be afraid and in a way he was. But he had seen that small display of emotion from the man that had been hired to kill him, with his indecision when faced with the kill shot. So stilted and unemotional was D that Jack started referring to him as Hal (2001-Space Odyssey computer) in his mind. In fact Jack did a lot of talking to himself, arguing with himself, his inner monologue and musings were hilarious, and it was fun to watch his constant indecision.
As we see more of D we are let inside the complex gates and barriers he hides behind. He has a heart and Jack is slowly wearing those defences down, he can see beyond this persona that D has created and he doesn't see the coldness and the cruelty....there is more to D. Only D cannot see past the darkness and is unable to remember what life was like without it, he wants to protect Jack from it, he wants him to remain the kind, funny innocent man that he is.
The relationship evolves amongst all the madness and it is both beautiful and tender in all its complexities. It is fragile and tentative as D lets Jack in, past the barriers, to see the tragedy and hurt that have framed this man into "D" he slowly crawls out of the darkness and is desperate to keep hold of the man that trusts him and has opened his heart to what life can truly be like.
I loved this book, the voices of the two MC's are so distinct, their personalities were intense and so real, I could see them and hear them in my minds eye. I did struggle however with D's accent for the first few pages, unable to decipher it, but when I got the southern drawl, that was all 'D' their voices were perfect and I was on a roll.
Which brings me to my only gripe with regard to Zero. When I read I like to have an image and voice to go with the character, this is usually provided by the author with snippets of information at the beginning to help us build a picture of this person of persons in our mind. Even though we are given a full description of D's look, all drool-worthy and lusciousness that he is, the same is not true of Jack. We learn early on he has blue eyes..that's it! Later on towards the end we finally learn he has dark hair...that's it! Which also goes for the accent, which was OK for me but I know a few people have has issue with, if it was pointed out that D was a southern boy, it would all have been good.
There are some sex scenes in this book and the build up to them was amazing, all tummy flutters and anticipation, only to fall flat on the deed. My original theory, was that as the barriers were broken down, it would improve and it did slightly, but it was still all fired up to only deliver a sizzle. Having said that, this book is more about the emotional connection that develops over time, rather than the sex and that was all fine with me, even though I am sure a few of my pervy friends would say otherwise!!
November 6, 2016
This book is something like watching an action mafia movie, only it has more personal drama and gay heroes
The writing style is unusual, not like what I'm used to, so it took me a while to get over it and just read. D has some strange accent and speaks jargon all the time, so it took me a while to get used to that too lol
So the story is about Jack, the doctor with the perfect life, witnessing a murder done by the mob, and of course, after he goes to the witness list they all want him dead. D, the mysterious contract killer, is blackmailed into taking the hit to Jack. Although he's a killer, he can't bring himself to kill an innocent man, so he and Jack are forced to run together because they are both targets now.
It went really slow with them in the beginning, I was squealing all the time, just waiting for something to happen
and then they held hands
and it just started from there, the first sex really shocked me because it was relatively early in the book, but the first kiss <3 Oh that was wonderful
Jack was totally Ok with his sexuality from the start, he had no problems admitting to himself he was attracted to D, but D... poor guy, complex all over. I felt really bad for him, and then I loved him so much seeing how he gradually fell in love with Jack, and what he was willing to do to keep him alive and assure he had his perfect life back :)
My favorite scenes (and I have to say 2/3 of them made me cry)
Spoilers ahead!!!
- D being shot and sick, and Jack taking care of him <3
- them holding hands for the first time
- their first kiss
- after Jack got kidnapped, the lovely scene where they held each other
- the goodbye before Jack went to court
- the talk of how their life would be like if they were together
- the letter for Christmas (oh I cried my eyes off on this one)
- the package for Valentine's Day
- the perfect ending of course
I really really loved this book, 5 stars from me :)
I'll have to get these short stories
The writing style is unusual, not like what I'm used to, so it took me a while to get over it and just read. D has some strange accent and speaks jargon all the time, so it took me a while to get used to that too lol
So the story is about Jack, the doctor with the perfect life, witnessing a murder done by the mob, and of course, after he goes to the witness list they all want him dead. D, the mysterious contract killer, is blackmailed into taking the hit to Jack. Although he's a killer, he can't bring himself to kill an innocent man, so he and Jack are forced to run together because they are both targets now.
It went really slow with them in the beginning, I was squealing all the time, just waiting for something to happen
and then they held hands
and it just started from there, the first sex really shocked me because it was relatively early in the book, but the first kiss <3 Oh that was wonderful
Jack was totally Ok with his sexuality from the start, he had no problems admitting to himself he was attracted to D, but D... poor guy, complex all over. I felt really bad for him, and then I loved him so much seeing how he gradually fell in love with Jack, and what he was willing to do to keep him alive and assure he had his perfect life back :)
My favorite scenes (and I have to say 2/3 of them made me cry)
Spoilers ahead!!!
- D being shot and sick, and Jack taking care of him <3
- them holding hands for the first time
- their first kiss
- after Jack got kidnapped, the lovely scene where they held each other
- the goodbye before Jack went to court
- the talk of how their life would be like if they were together
- the letter for Christmas (oh I cried my eyes off on this one)
- the package for Valentine's Day
- the perfect ending of course
I really really loved this book, 5 stars from me :)
I'll have to get these short stories
May 14, 2015
4.5 Stars!
This book collected so much dust on my kindle shelf it's not even funny.
Yeah....just call me an
...because this book was good. Really good.
Now, I have some minor complaints. It was a bit long. 9700+ loc...yeah #lengthaversion
And the sex was about 3 steps up from fade to black. Not descriptive and detailed at all.
But damn, I loved this one anyways.
D...
D was quiet and moody and closed off. But when he wasn't, he was so sweet.
I wish he would have talked "normal" but I got over that.
Despite the length, I was never bored.
There were plenty of edge of your seat moments. But the pace was slow, slower than I prefer...which made for a nice slow burn though between D and Jack.
The story was great. The characters were great.
I think a "sequel" has been in the works? Is still in the works? I don't know...since this one was released in 2009. But I would definitely read more from this author.
This book collected so much dust on my kindle shelf it's not even funny.
Yeah....just call me an
...because this book was good. Really good.
Now, I have some minor complaints. It was a bit long. 9700+ loc...yeah #lengthaversion
And the sex was about 3 steps up from fade to black. Not descriptive and detailed at all.
But damn, I loved this one anyways.
D...
D was quiet and moody and closed off. But when he wasn't, he was so sweet.
I wish he would have talked "normal" but I got over that.
Despite the length, I was never bored.
There were plenty of edge of your seat moments. But the pace was slow, slower than I prefer...which made for a nice slow burn though between D and Jack.
The story was great. The characters were great.
I think a "sequel" has been in the works? Is still in the works? I don't know...since this one was released in 2009. But I would definitely read more from this author.
April 18, 2020
Written January 8, 2015
Re-reading - ...this time listening to the 13:20 hrs audiobook narrated by Alan Smith.
This was one of my first M/M romances back in May 2013 and I loved it. Soooo very much. Still loving it?
YAY!! ...still 5 big stars
I'm glad I read it first but the audiobook was a fun way to meet these amazing lovebirds and enjoy this thrilling storyplot once again. I feel I missed a bit of D's way of funny talking here but all in all okay done by this narrator and not a boring minute.
As I said to a friend: “It was a good audiobook. I enjoyed these 13 listening hours and I might do it once more in the future, this is maybe my all time favorite M/M book.”
**********************************************
My original review:
(I first read Zero at the Bone, Jane Seville's only, but amazing enjoying, suspense romance 8-10 May, 2013. I dare not read what I wrote then but I guess it still applies.)
**********************************************
Written May 11, 2013
5 Huge Stars - A great lovestory and a thrilling escape & hunt plot for an eternal happiness end
The surgeon Jack Francisco becomes a witness to a mob murder and is put into protective custody until he can testify.
A hitman known as just "D" becomes forced a contract to kill the blueeyed doctor. According to D's own code of whom he takes elimination contracts on, he instead, takes Jack on a run. D sees as his task to ensure that Jack will be able to testify in the trial.
An action loaded escape begins...
When I started reading this novel, I thought I'd got an suspense story with some pieces of added nice M/M romance stuff. But o'boy how wrong I was. I had instead received a grand, tenderly told, love story about two very different men. Two men from completely different worlds, with different backgrounds, experiences and life situations.
# Jack is easygoing, think well of others and cares about right and wrong. He is successful at work but a little lonely. Setting up as a witness against the Mafia, he wants to do it, although it will change his whole future and life.
# D however, has lived in the shadows for so long that he doesn't allow himself any feelings or kind of normal life anymore. He is one of the best in his field, but have since long lost every hope for himself. He has no friends or any human contact with others outside the "job".
What's so nice is that Jack immediately rely on D - D is his lifeline and savior against the danger. The story tells us step by step, how the this two approaches and find one another. They are both strong and emotional men, but find it really hard and difficult to dress their feelings in words for starts. It leave actions and gestures to show the way. And it does, they are both willing to risk everthing for each other.
These guys are two wonderful and easily loved characters. Two so different characters, but they are now both deep inside my book-boy-heart for a very long time.
There is so much happening in this story and I will not even try to share a single percent of everything. You just read it! To say, however, is that this is a book about two men who find their true love. It's about their hardships to achieve the new love and in the background is a really exciting action-story going on. You get some nail bits scenes and a thrilling persistent anxiety until the end. The death threats are there all the time and I wondered nervously how it could work out and be a wonderful HEA at the end. But don't worry it IS a true romance - you get what you want - a nicely finished LOVE story.
Any heat and steam? Yes, described in the finest way, tenderly and lovingly.
An added plus for the superb finish with a long and glorious epilogue. Among the better ones I've read in a long time. It provides, as this novel in general, a lull in the narration of the events. I could feel each scene, know what D and Jack felt and had time to enjoy the wonderful sweet dialogue. Did I mention D's dialect? [tough at first for a girl who learned English in school] It is absolutely a great fun to read D's "voice" and it gave me so much more to his character.
A great, hot and thrilling read. Sweet and lovely D & Jack -
Love it, love that, love them...
I LIKE - Enormously good, I'm more than satisfied.
*****
Don't miss to read three nice shorties with small glimpses of Jack and D's daily life after the novel ended Date Night, Time After Time, Liar (ten pages each - available for free to download).
There is also a Christmas story and A Very D Christmas (some fifty pages - to buy).
Re-reading - ...this time listening to the 13:20 hrs audiobook narrated by Alan Smith.
This was one of my first M/M romances back in May 2013 and I loved it. Soooo very much. Still loving it?
YAY!! ...still 5 big stars
I'm glad I read it first but the audiobook was a fun way to meet these amazing lovebirds and enjoy this thrilling storyplot once again. I feel I missed a bit of D's way of funny talking here but all in all okay done by this narrator and not a boring minute.
As I said to a friend: “It was a good audiobook. I enjoyed these 13 listening hours and I might do it once more in the future, this is maybe my all time favorite M/M book.”
**********************************************
My original review:
(I first read Zero at the Bone, Jane Seville's only, but amazing enjoying, suspense romance 8-10 May, 2013. I dare not read what I wrote then but I guess it still applies.)
**********************************************
Written May 11, 2013
5 Huge Stars - A great lovestory and a thrilling escape & hunt plot for an eternal happiness end
The surgeon Jack Francisco becomes a witness to a mob murder and is put into protective custody until he can testify.
A hitman known as just "D" becomes forced a contract to kill the blueeyed doctor. According to D's own code of whom he takes elimination contracts on, he instead, takes Jack on a run. D sees as his task to ensure that Jack will be able to testify in the trial.
An action loaded escape begins...
"Pizza's good"
Francisco sat up, frowning. "Oh, you want some?"
"I'm hungry too." D watched Francisco's bemused expression. "What?"
Francisco shrugged, shaking it off. "I don't know. It's just weird that you, you know... eat."
When I started reading this novel, I thought I'd got an suspense story with some pieces of added nice M/M romance stuff. But o'boy how wrong I was. I had instead received a grand, tenderly told, love story about two very different men. Two men from completely different worlds, with different backgrounds, experiences and life situations.
# Jack is easygoing, think well of others and cares about right and wrong. He is successful at work but a little lonely. Setting up as a witness against the Mafia, he wants to do it, although it will change his whole future and life.
# D however, has lived in the shadows for so long that he doesn't allow himself any feelings or kind of normal life anymore. He is one of the best in his field, but have since long lost every hope for himself. He has no friends or any human contact with others outside the "job".
What's so nice is that Jack immediately rely on D - D is his lifeline and savior against the danger. The story tells us step by step, how the this two approaches and find one another. They are both strong and emotional men, but find it really hard and difficult to dress their feelings in words for starts. It leave actions and gestures to show the way. And it does, they are both willing to risk everthing for each other.
These guys are two wonderful and easily loved characters. Two so different characters, but they are now both deep inside my book-boy-heart for a very long time.
..."I'd bite of one side a the shell real careful-like, so non a the syrup spilled, then suck all the gooey out, then fish out the cherry with my tounge, then I'd just have the chocolate shell left and I'd nibble on it 'til it was gone."...
There is so much happening in this story and I will not even try to share a single percent of everything. You just read it! To say, however, is that this is a book about two men who find their true love. It's about their hardships to achieve the new love and in the background is a really exciting action-story going on. You get some nail bits scenes and a thrilling persistent anxiety until the end. The death threats are there all the time and I wondered nervously how it could work out and be a wonderful HEA at the end. But don't worry it IS a true romance - you get what you want - a nicely finished LOVE story.
Any heat and steam? Yes, described in the finest way, tenderly and lovingly.
An added plus for the superb finish with a long and glorious epilogue. Among the better ones I've read in a long time. It provides, as this novel in general, a lull in the narration of the events. I could feel each scene, know what D and Jack felt and had time to enjoy the wonderful sweet dialogue. Did I mention D's dialect? [tough at first for a girl who learned English in school] It is absolutely a great fun to read D's "voice" and it gave me so much more to his character.
"What would it have been like?" Jack whispered. Lying on their sides, face to face, just staring at each other for what felt like hours, drifting off and waking again.
D sighed, tucked his hand underneath his head. "Maybe...get a house. Never had no house a my own."
"With a garden."
"Yeah, so's you could come inside smellin' like sunshine after weddin."
A great, hot and thrilling read. Sweet and lovely D & Jack -
Love it, love that, love them...
I LIKE - Enormously good, I'm more than satisfied.
*****
Don't miss to read three nice shorties with small glimpses of Jack and D's daily life after the novel ended Date Night, Time After Time, Liar (ten pages each - available for free to download).
There is also a Christmas story and A Very D Christmas (some fifty pages - to buy).
May 9, 2021
I've had this book for years and this is the first time I actually got past the first few pages.
Here's why:
"Just do it. Fuckin' do it. You can live with it. You cain't live with what'll happen if you don't, and that ain't no figure a speech. Only takes a second. Two shots. Shut them eyes a his lookin' at you like they see through ta yer bones..."
Authors: I cannot stress this enough:
Don't try to write out accents phonetically!
FFS!
Plus, I spent the entire book trying to figure out what this accent was supposed to be. It doesn't work for any accent I've heard. My daughter and I guess that it was supposed to be Southern, but... we are here, in the South, and that is NOT a Southern accent. Not even close. It doesn't flow in Southern, believe me I tried. Even my very British husband, OfJilly, speaks in more of a Southern accent than this. Plus, he never once uttered the word "y'all". I mean, come on! There isn't a self-respecting Southerner in this here Bible Belt that doesn't say y'all. That and the plural form of y'all, which is all-y'all. And, he never was fixin' to do anything either. How can you do something if you aren't fixin' to do it first? You would be vastly unprepared for the task!
This cat is so damn smart! He really knows how to trigger that chick.
My list of complaints about this book will be vast and laced with profanity. So, giddy-up folks cuz I'm fixin' to unload on this fucker.
List of Grievances
1. The accent. As mentioned above. It sucked. Just write the words normally and say there was a drawl or something. It would make reading it easier and probably be nicer for the writer to not freak out their spell-check before it auto-dials the ambulance because it thinks you're stroking out.
Clippy -Man's true best friend. Suck it, dogs!
2. The angst. The hitman guy is supposed to be a shell without human emotions, right? Well, fucking wrong! His shell was fuller than a pinata, but instead of delicious candy that you totally knock over the blindfolded kid who bust it open to get to, you get angst. I mean he was angstier than middle school student with PMS and a hopeless crush on the cutest boy in school. His mental whining was endless. He could easily get a job in hell just by following people around and telling them what he is thinking about.
Yeah, sorry, and hey, will you be my wingman with the hitman dude? I'll take the other guy.... any other guy.
3. The OTT everything. Nothing was believable. Not one thing. I mean, I am willing to suspend belief for books at a normal level, but this one was just asking too much. If you are trying to set-up a story set in modern days with regular humans and a law enforcement deal going on, your artistic liberties can only go so far before they get to be eye-rolling material. Humans just cannot do some of the things we were supposed to believe in this story. Running from bullets, setting a line of gasoline on fire to make something explode? Those things aren't real. They are cheesy movie shit.
Right? It's so dumb. I mean, how many helicopters are out there each day and how many blow up? Very few, right? It has to be very few or else we would probably hear about it. I don't think they are as explosive as movies try to make them out to be. I feel like that would be a problem IRL.
4. It was way too long. I don't need to read 100 pages of them doing mundane shit like making dinner and doing yard work, and then suddenly read a scene from the A Team, and then right back to them dusting the house. Just condense it, please, for the love of all that is holy! I felt like I aged while I tried to get through this thing.
Wow, I really need a lip wax. Unless OfJilly wants to explore bisexuality.. I think I'll wake him up and ask him. He loves when I wake him up to ask him random shit.
5. .... oh screw it. That's enough to make my case. The accent alone was enough. I don't need to mention Stockholm Syndrome, too many long sex scenes, or the fact that the author made HUGE mistakes in writing out those sex scenes. Do your homework on gay porn before trying to write it! The assholes of the world will thank you.
Except this asshole. I'm not a fan, y'all.
On to the next book.
Here's why:
"Just do it. Fuckin' do it. You can live with it. You cain't live with what'll happen if you don't, and that ain't no figure a speech. Only takes a second. Two shots. Shut them eyes a his lookin' at you like they see through ta yer bones..."
Authors: I cannot stress this enough:
Don't try to write out accents phonetically!
FFS!
Plus, I spent the entire book trying to figure out what this accent was supposed to be. It doesn't work for any accent I've heard. My daughter and I guess that it was supposed to be Southern, but... we are here, in the South, and that is NOT a Southern accent. Not even close. It doesn't flow in Southern, believe me I tried. Even my very British husband, OfJilly, speaks in more of a Southern accent than this. Plus, he never once uttered the word "y'all". I mean, come on! There isn't a self-respecting Southerner in this here Bible Belt that doesn't say y'all. That and the plural form of y'all, which is all-y'all. And, he never was fixin' to do anything either. How can you do something if you aren't fixin' to do it first? You would be vastly unprepared for the task!
This cat is so damn smart! He really knows how to trigger that chick.
My list of complaints about this book will be vast and laced with profanity. So, giddy-up folks cuz I'm fixin' to unload on this fucker.
List of Grievances
1. The accent. As mentioned above. It sucked. Just write the words normally and say there was a drawl or something. It would make reading it easier and probably be nicer for the writer to not freak out their spell-check before it auto-dials the ambulance because it thinks you're stroking out.
Clippy -Man's true best friend. Suck it, dogs!
2. The angst. The hitman guy is supposed to be a shell without human emotions, right? Well, fucking wrong! His shell was fuller than a pinata, but instead of delicious candy that you totally knock over the blindfolded kid who bust it open to get to, you get angst. I mean he was angstier than middle school student with PMS and a hopeless crush on the cutest boy in school. His mental whining was endless. He could easily get a job in hell just by following people around and telling them what he is thinking about.
Yeah, sorry, and hey, will you be my wingman with the hitman dude? I'll take the other guy.... any other guy.
3. The OTT everything. Nothing was believable. Not one thing. I mean, I am willing to suspend belief for books at a normal level, but this one was just asking too much. If you are trying to set-up a story set in modern days with regular humans and a law enforcement deal going on, your artistic liberties can only go so far before they get to be eye-rolling material. Humans just cannot do some of the things we were supposed to believe in this story. Running from bullets, setting a line of gasoline on fire to make something explode? Those things aren't real. They are cheesy movie shit.
Right? It's so dumb. I mean, how many helicopters are out there each day and how many blow up? Very few, right? It has to be very few or else we would probably hear about it. I don't think they are as explosive as movies try to make them out to be. I feel like that would be a problem IRL.
4. It was way too long. I don't need to read 100 pages of them doing mundane shit like making dinner and doing yard work, and then suddenly read a scene from the A Team, and then right back to them dusting the house. Just condense it, please, for the love of all that is holy! I felt like I aged while I tried to get through this thing.
Wow, I really need a lip wax. Unless OfJilly wants to explore bisexuality.. I think I'll wake him up and ask him. He loves when I wake him up to ask him random shit.
5. .... oh screw it. That's enough to make my case. The accent alone was enough. I don't need to mention Stockholm Syndrome, too many long sex scenes, or the fact that the author made HUGE mistakes in writing out those sex scenes. Do your homework on gay porn before trying to write it! The assholes of the world will thank you.
Except this asshole. I'm not a fan, y'all.
On to the next book.
July 13, 2013
Buddy reading with Melissa <3 <3
The plot it was amazing!!I highly recommend this story for those who enjoy thrillers and romantic suspense while appreciating a slow build romance.
Zero at the Bone is about a surgeon(Jack) whose life is in peril when he becomes a witness to a mob hit..D is an assassin and he can choose and what he doesn't want to do..But this time he can't refuse,he is blackmailed into killing Jack.When D meets Jack, he really isn't able to kill the man,the innocence of the man is clear in his eyes and D is tired to let people die due to an event that isn't their fault.
So they go on the run and are forced to work together to keep unknown forces from killing them both.Not knowing who to trust or where to turn except to each other...
The relationship between Jack and D is intense and emotional.
Jack definitely is the more expressive type and his personality fits with why he doesn’t let things drop with D.He’s curious and honest.The last fact makes for amusing moments when he finally admits his attraction to D and what will happen from there on.His devotion to D!! He starting worries over why he allowed himself and D to develop a relationship.
D is yummy with a sexy accent assasin!!His blunt nature especially with Jack is a great set up for laughs and smiles.I apreciate how layered he was!!D turns from enemy to protector and he appoints himself the only protector of Jack...
The ending was what I wanted for Jack & D!!Setting up home,loving and caring for each other and having a happy life together.
For more reviews you can check mine and Kristinas's blog. :D
my link text
The plot it was amazing!!I highly recommend this story for those who enjoy thrillers and romantic suspense while appreciating a slow build romance.
Zero at the Bone is about a surgeon(Jack) whose life is in peril when he becomes a witness to a mob hit..D is an assassin and he can choose and what he doesn't want to do..But this time he can't refuse,he is blackmailed into killing Jack.When D meets Jack, he really isn't able to kill the man,the innocence of the man is clear in his eyes and D is tired to let people die due to an event that isn't their fault.
So they go on the run and are forced to work together to keep unknown forces from killing them both.Not knowing who to trust or where to turn except to each other...
The relationship between Jack and D is intense and emotional.
Jack definitely is the more expressive type and his personality fits with why he doesn’t let things drop with D.He’s curious and honest.The last fact makes for amusing moments when he finally admits his attraction to D and what will happen from there on.His devotion to D!! He starting worries over why he allowed himself and D to develop a relationship.
D is yummy with a sexy accent assasin!!His blunt nature especially with Jack is a great set up for laughs and smiles.I apreciate how layered he was!!D turns from enemy to protector and he appoints himself the only protector of Jack...
The ending was what I wanted for Jack & D!!Setting up home,loving and caring for each other and having a happy life together.
For more reviews you can check mine and Kristinas's blog. :D
my link text
May 20, 2013
Review to come soon
Thanks Baba for the BR.
August 14, 2020
Alright folks, what can I say? I loved this one. With a few caveats:
1) You have to suspend belief. Just leave all credibility at the door and come inside this crazy unbelievable story. Go along for the ride.
2) Ignore the lack of editing. Just forget everything that pisses you off about typos and grammar and all of that. Forget it. Let it slide off you like water off a duck's feathers.
3) Never mind about a smooth, perfect flow, just the right pace with the right things happening at the right time. And don't look beyond the last paragraph looking for maybe a few more pages thinking - huh? it ended right THERE?? Weird...
4) Don't be annoyed that sometimes without warning POVs shift, and even from 3rd person past POV to first person present POV, just don't be bothered by it. Pfft, let it roll...
NOW. You're ready to enjoy this ULTRA-EXPENSIVE, un-professionally proofed (as in, was it proofed at all???) book. Which has golden nuggets of memorable writing on almost every page amidst the rough edges :)
As you see below, I love D. Just love him to pieces. He carried the whole story for me. And look, I had a couple moments of admiration for Jack, and I kinda get why D falls for him, but that was about it. Jack is more "normal" shall we say - he has all kinds of doubts, normal emotional responses to situations and I didn't like the fact that he was still doubting his relationship with D after everything D has done for him while they were separated toward the end, but on the other hand, it's understandable.
Now D-- Lord, he ticks all my boxes for fave type of Hero:
(BTW, he's blond, and if he let his hair grow, it would be curly blond... I struggled to find the perfect images for him, but here are some):
A little too hairy, it's true, but like the gruffy macho man-ness of it all :P
* Man's man
* Man of few words, but feels soooooo deeply
* Total opposite of man-whore - the guy was celibate for 10+ years!!! Not since his ex-wife! And several years since he even jerked off! Like WHAT?? Pretty much a virgin. And it was a PLEASURE in so many ways to see him come alive
* Total badass- like how he tags on the implicit and explicit "dumbass" at the end of most sentences :P
* Once he loves, that's IT. Nothing else for him. Literally. If Jack died, he was going to off himself, and if he lived, he was never going to have sex again. Given his lack of activity and interest for 10+ years!! I believe him. And if that seems totally abnormal to some ppl, what did I tell you about suspending belief? I happen to LOVE it.
So the story went like this:
*Jack witnessed a murder that got him some really powerful enemies and D is an assassin blackmailed to do him. Except D has a conscience
* I liked best the first 1/3 when they're getting to know each other despite D's reticence. Jack's persistent and unafraid. Was doing a double-take when they suddenly started thinking about their "feelings" for each other and I was like - WHAT? What did I miss? I missed nothing. This is one of those sudden things you gotta get over in this book
* Then, there's like 1/3 of nonstop sex. Which I didn't mind AT ALL. But sorta disorienting in the middle of an action/ assassin/ killers after you book. Suddenly turned into erotica. Oh and suspend all belief about protection and lube bc first time they did it - there was neither. And oh! It just went right in with a bit of pain. Done. SUSPEND ALL BELIEF PPL!! And every time since the first time, no condom in sight. So......
* Anywho, then we get into the action again and suddenly secret friends of D's are coming out of the woodwork - like this whole X thing that I was like, OK, where are we planning to go with this - set up for next novel? Where is the next novel BTW?? Weird.
* Then some more sex sprinkled in there, then not much of a final "climax" to the whole situation, sort of main conflict just went away
* Then it was epilogue of how an ex-assassin was living life with a surgeon, D struggling with a particularly bad case and thinking about marrying Jack and...
THE END.
Eh????
Well, it was entertaining, and like I said I enjoyed D to the max, so... what the hay, 5 stars.
5% in , I do not regret forking over $10. Worth it already.
Here's D, except with hair...
Maybe this is D, but retaining Jason Statham's bad-assed-ness.
Or this:
Annnnnndddd, back to Jason:
1) You have to suspend belief. Just leave all credibility at the door and come inside this crazy unbelievable story. Go along for the ride.
2) Ignore the lack of editing. Just forget everything that pisses you off about typos and grammar and all of that. Forget it. Let it slide off you like water off a duck's feathers.
3) Never mind about a smooth, perfect flow, just the right pace with the right things happening at the right time. And don't look beyond the last paragraph looking for maybe a few more pages thinking - huh? it ended right THERE?? Weird...
4) Don't be annoyed that sometimes without warning POVs shift, and even from 3rd person past POV to first person present POV, just don't be bothered by it. Pfft, let it roll...
NOW. You're ready to enjoy this ULTRA-EXPENSIVE, un-professionally proofed (as in, was it proofed at all???) book. Which has golden nuggets of memorable writing on almost every page amidst the rough edges :)
As you see below, I love D. Just love him to pieces. He carried the whole story for me. And look, I had a couple moments of admiration for Jack, and I kinda get why D falls for him, but that was about it. Jack is more "normal" shall we say - he has all kinds of doubts, normal emotional responses to situations and I didn't like the fact that he was still doubting his relationship with D after everything D has done for him while they were separated toward the end, but on the other hand, it's understandable.
Now D-- Lord, he ticks all my boxes for fave type of Hero:
(BTW, he's blond, and if he let his hair grow, it would be curly blond... I struggled to find the perfect images for him, but here are some):
A little too hairy, it's true, but like the gruffy macho man-ness of it all :P
* Man's man
* Man of few words, but feels soooooo deeply
* Total opposite of man-whore - the guy was celibate for 10+ years!!! Not since his ex-wife! And several years since he even jerked off! Like WHAT?? Pretty much a virgin. And it was a PLEASURE in so many ways to see him come alive
* Total badass- like how he tags on the implicit and explicit "dumbass" at the end of most sentences :P
* Once he loves, that's IT. Nothing else for him. Literally. If Jack died, he was going to off himself, and if he lived, he was never going to have sex again. Given his lack of activity and interest for 10+ years!! I believe him. And if that seems totally abnormal to some ppl, what did I tell you about suspending belief? I happen to LOVE it.
So the story went like this:
*Jack witnessed a murder that got him some really powerful enemies and D is an assassin blackmailed to do him. Except D has a conscience
* I liked best the first 1/3 when they're getting to know each other despite D's reticence. Jack's persistent and unafraid. Was doing a double-take when they suddenly started thinking about their "feelings" for each other and I was like - WHAT? What did I miss? I missed nothing. This is one of those sudden things you gotta get over in this book
* Then, there's like 1/3 of nonstop sex. Which I didn't mind AT ALL. But sorta disorienting in the middle of an action/ assassin/ killers after you book. Suddenly turned into erotica. Oh and suspend all belief about protection and lube bc first time they did it - there was neither. And oh! It just went right in with a bit of pain. Done. SUSPEND ALL BELIEF PPL!! And every time since the first time, no condom in sight. So......
* Anywho, then we get into the action again and suddenly secret friends of D's are coming out of the woodwork - like this whole X thing that I was like, OK, where are we planning to go with this - set up for next novel? Where is the next novel BTW?? Weird.
* Then some more sex sprinkled in there, then not much of a final "climax" to the whole situation, sort of main conflict just went away
* Then it was epilogue of how an ex-assassin was living life with a surgeon, D struggling with a particularly bad case and thinking about marrying Jack and...
THE END.
Eh????
Well, it was entertaining, and like I said I enjoyed D to the max, so... what the hay, 5 stars.
5% in , I do not regret forking over $10. Worth it already.
Here's D, except with hair...
Maybe this is D, but retaining Jason Statham's bad-assed-ness.
Or this:
Annnnnndddd, back to Jason:
June 11, 2021
Re-read my this is wordy and angsty and D is stuck in his head talking with odd accent. Found it daunting at first, ridiculous too, but I still kinda like it!
-- --
I keep debating with myself but WTF I'm putting this at 5* and leaving it there :p
It was among the first m/m stories I read and it has flaws but I enjoyed it, gruff D with his weird accent and clever innocent Jack. A big bad killer with a heart, the man who saves him while being saved. A touch ridiculous but so what. I like the contrast of characters, the different strengths and how they come together.
It's a PTP for Brokeback (which I've not watched (life is to short for shitty endings) but such a different story premise it would be churlish to complain.
Also there's 'extra fics' in the verse available.
-- --
I keep debating with myself but WTF I'm putting this at 5* and leaving it there :p
It was among the first m/m stories I read and it has flaws but I enjoyed it, gruff D with his weird accent and clever innocent Jack. A big bad killer with a heart, the man who saves him while being saved. A touch ridiculous but so what. I like the contrast of characters, the different strengths and how they come together.
It's a PTP for Brokeback (which I've not watched (life is to short for shitty endings) but such a different story premise it would be churlish to complain.
Also there's 'extra fics' in the verse available.
September 21, 2011
Warning: I’m not going to make friends with this review. In fact: I might lose some, ha! But Zero at the Bone -practically considered a classic in the m/m genre- didn't do it for me. Most I can make of it is: ‘meh’, which translates to 2,5 stars.
It started out well: I really liked the premise of the story, I liked the fact that Jack held his own despite being helpless in the situation and I was intrigued by the dark and brooding D. I loved D's internal monologue about his vault, in which he kept his dark secrets hidden from the world, and I really liked the way the men interacted... Basically: I was pretty much satisfied until around 40% in.
Sadly: as the story progressed, the plot became more silly, the characters more annoying (Jack) and flat (D) and the whole thing just got too sappy for my taste.
Jack turned into a damsel in distress. And I don't use the term 'damsel' loosely: he became a girl. His level of passive aggressiveness rivaled that of many (annoying) PNR heroine. On top of that, he kept wanting to talk. And when I mean 'talk' I mean: pressuring D for his inner most thoughts -to the point of coming across as inconsiderate and demanding.
And as for D: his short sentences and his aggravating accent (does anyone actually talk like that?) got on my nerves after a while. He seemed like a caricature, the archetype of the brooding, dangerous mystery man. Intriguing initially, but silly after a while.
The plot was far fetched but made some sense until about halfway into the book. Ending the story there (and leaving it semi open) would have been a better idea, I would have given it a 4 star rating at that point. But no: the book just went on and on and on. And with that, the story lost its pace, excitement and most of all: credibility. It became a weird mixture of bad action movie meets bad soap opera.
The main plot about the bad guy following D didn't make any sense at all. Besides: I was surprised by the fact that all supposed professionals turned incompetent and the amateur Jack suddenly had professional skills. I also didn't get how our guys changed from grown men to two adolescent girls, to the point of getting into some PDA while they had a gun to their heads. Also: (minor detail but no less annoying) what was up with sex in the beginning? No lube, no preparation? Really?
And to top off all this silliness: there was a huge dose of sap. And I hate sap.
So, all in all: Zero at the Bone was a huge let down for me. I'm sure it's enjoyable for some, but if you're one for a more realistic and nuanced approach and you're not a big fan of sap, skip this.
It started out well: I really liked the premise of the story, I liked the fact that Jack held his own despite being helpless in the situation and I was intrigued by the dark and brooding D. I loved D's internal monologue about his vault, in which he kept his dark secrets hidden from the world, and I really liked the way the men interacted... Basically: I was pretty much satisfied until around 40% in.
Sadly: as the story progressed, the plot became more silly, the characters more annoying (Jack) and flat (D) and the whole thing just got too sappy for my taste.
Jack turned into a damsel in distress. And I don't use the term 'damsel' loosely: he became a girl. His level of passive aggressiveness rivaled that of many (annoying) PNR heroine. On top of that, he kept wanting to talk. And when I mean 'talk' I mean: pressuring D for his inner most thoughts -to the point of coming across as inconsiderate and demanding.
And as for D: his short sentences and his aggravating accent (does anyone actually talk like that?) got on my nerves after a while. He seemed like a caricature, the archetype of the brooding, dangerous mystery man. Intriguing initially, but silly after a while.
The plot was far fetched but made some sense until about halfway into the book. Ending the story there (and leaving it semi open) would have been a better idea, I would have given it a 4 star rating at that point. But no: the book just went on and on and on. And with that, the story lost its pace, excitement and most of all: credibility. It became a weird mixture of bad action movie meets bad soap opera.
The main plot about the bad guy following D didn't make any sense at all. Besides: I was surprised by the fact that all supposed professionals turned incompetent and the amateur Jack suddenly had professional skills. I also didn't get how our guys changed from grown men to two adolescent girls, to the point of getting into some PDA while they had a gun to their heads. Also: (minor detail but no less annoying) what was up with sex in the beginning? No lube, no preparation? Really?
And to top off all this silliness: there was a huge dose of sap. And I hate sap.
So, all in all: Zero at the Bone was a huge let down for me. I'm sure it's enjoyable for some, but if you're one for a more realistic and nuanced approach and you're not a big fan of sap, skip this.
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
May 24, 2022DNF @33%
I'm sorry, but I just wasn't feeling it.
This is so over-the-top angsty and drags so much, that it genuinely gave me a bit of a headache.
The characters are extremely annoying and the big bad hitman was honestly more like a 14 year old schoolgirl having an angst-fest over something as mundane as walking through the supermarket or having to look into his crush's eyes. I'm sorry, but come on now.
The romance was extremely underdeveloped and was complete insta-love, which wouldn't be that terrible if it weren't for the fact that the hitman dude had supposedly let no one in for the past 10 years, shutting all of his emotions completely off, but then he looks into this random dude's eyes and he's basically in love? Riiiiiiiight.
All Jack and D did was fight. The tenderness was absent and there was nothing sweet about them together. They were always bickering and I couldn't see why either one of them would care about the other so much, let alone be head-over-heels in love with them.
The suspense was dumb. The action was dumb. The mystery was dumb. I didn't care.
This is also far too long. I feel like half of the time they were just making coffee or something, doing absolutely nothing interesting.
Maybe this could have been somewhat enjoyable if it was a lot shorter, but now it just became annoying to have to spend so much time with these tiresome characters and this dragged-out plotline.
I'm sorry, but I just wasn't feeling it.
This is so over-the-top angsty and drags so much, that it genuinely gave me a bit of a headache.
The characters are extremely annoying and the big bad hitman was honestly more like a 14 year old schoolgirl having an angst-fest over something as mundane as walking through the supermarket or having to look into his crush's eyes. I'm sorry, but come on now.
The romance was extremely underdeveloped and was complete insta-love, which wouldn't be that terrible if it weren't for the fact that the hitman dude had supposedly let no one in for the past 10 years, shutting all of his emotions completely off, but then he looks into this random dude's eyes and he's basically in love? Riiiiiiiight.
All Jack and D did was fight. The tenderness was absent and there was nothing sweet about them together. They were always bickering and I couldn't see why either one of them would care about the other so much, let alone be head-over-heels in love with them.
The suspense was dumb. The action was dumb. The mystery was dumb. I didn't care.
This is also far too long. I feel like half of the time they were just making coffee or something, doing absolutely nothing interesting.
Maybe this could have been somewhat enjoyable if it was a lot shorter, but now it just became annoying to have to spend so much time with these tiresome characters and this dragged-out plotline.
December 12, 2017
Read again for the Re-Romancing Favorites Challenge and I loved it just as much as the first time I read it.
Original review from Nov 2009:
Dr. Jack Francisco witnesses a murder as he leaves work one day and before he knows it his life has changed completely. Taken into protective custody and moved across country until he can testify against the killers, Jack finds himself separated from his friends, family and patients. While he is naturally upset at the situation Jack is at heart a good and honorable man and knows that he needs to do everything he can to bring the killers to justice.
D is a hit man with a conscience. An apparent cold and ruthless killer he nevertheless draws the line at killing innocent "good" people. When his handler brings him the contract to kill a witness to a murder he turns it down. Unfortunately for D someone is determined to make him take the job. Blackmailed but with no clue as to who is forcing him D accepts the contract to kill Jack Francisco. But when he's face to face with his intended victim D can't kill him. He recognizes that Jack is a good man and instead of killing him D knows he must protect Jack from the other hit men who are sure to accept the contract that he isn't fulfilling.
What follows is an action packed thriller that is full of suspense and action yet at the same time is also an emotional and sensual story. These two men are total opposites yet develop a connection that profoundly affects their lives. I really loved both Jack and D. Jack is outgoing, secure in who he is, looks for the good in others and I found his personality to be a good foil for D's quiet and taciturn nature. For all that D is a killer and appears to be totally unemotional he is in fact a man who has suffered so much and done things he's sure he can never be forgiven for. Full of guilt for a tragedy he blames himself for he has closed himself off from his emotions.
On the run from the people that are after them both they find themselves drawn more and more to each other. Jack is able to slowly get D to open up and start to accept that he is in fact not just the killer he judges himself to be but rather a man who has seen and done both good and bad in his life. I absolutely loved the way the relationship between them develops from their first meeting where D holds Jack's very life in his hands to the end of the story where it's clear that they have found in each other a love that makes them complete in all ways.
The secondary characters in this story are also very well written. From the agents helping Jack to the bad guys trying to kill him as well as D's associates, these characters all contribute in some way to the storyline. In a book this long, over 300 pages, it would be easy to populate it with 'filler' characters but in this case the flow and development of the story incorporates the secondary characters quite well.
Another aspect that I really enjoyed was the attention to detail presented throughout the book. The ins and outs of being a hit man as well as the information on the Witness Protection program was very interesting to read. I enjoyed the adventure as D and Jack went on the run as well as the more relaxing times as they hunkered down and got to know each other. Reading the book I could so clearly see what a fabulous movie it could be. Two heroes, one noble and kind, the other a tortured soul needing to be saved, bad guys galore, lots of thrills and adventure and through it all a wonderfully emotional love story with some super hot sex scenes. I'd plunk down my money at my local movie theater to see it. And buy the DVD to watch it again and again.
This absolutely fantastic story is intense and gripping from page one to the very end and you just won't want to put it down. The plot is fast paced yet flows really well throughout. The strength of the story however is in the characters themselves, Jack and D and the dynamics of their relationship. I loved how Jack was slowly able to get D to let him see the real man under the hit man facade and that D was able to lean on Jack and come to believe in himself once again. While there are several explicit and hot sex scenes in the book they are not in any way the main focus of the book. Instead it's the emotional bond and the trust and love that develops between these two very different men that's the focus of the book.
Zero at the Bone is one of the most intense and satisfying stories I've read this year. Wonderfully written with great characters and a tightly woven plot this is a book that I know I'll enjoy reading many times over. Definitely 5 stars and I highly recommend it.
Original review from Nov 2009:
Dr. Jack Francisco witnesses a murder as he leaves work one day and before he knows it his life has changed completely. Taken into protective custody and moved across country until he can testify against the killers, Jack finds himself separated from his friends, family and patients. While he is naturally upset at the situation Jack is at heart a good and honorable man and knows that he needs to do everything he can to bring the killers to justice.
D is a hit man with a conscience. An apparent cold and ruthless killer he nevertheless draws the line at killing innocent "good" people. When his handler brings him the contract to kill a witness to a murder he turns it down. Unfortunately for D someone is determined to make him take the job. Blackmailed but with no clue as to who is forcing him D accepts the contract to kill Jack Francisco. But when he's face to face with his intended victim D can't kill him. He recognizes that Jack is a good man and instead of killing him D knows he must protect Jack from the other hit men who are sure to accept the contract that he isn't fulfilling.
What follows is an action packed thriller that is full of suspense and action yet at the same time is also an emotional and sensual story. These two men are total opposites yet develop a connection that profoundly affects their lives. I really loved both Jack and D. Jack is outgoing, secure in who he is, looks for the good in others and I found his personality to be a good foil for D's quiet and taciturn nature. For all that D is a killer and appears to be totally unemotional he is in fact a man who has suffered so much and done things he's sure he can never be forgiven for. Full of guilt for a tragedy he blames himself for he has closed himself off from his emotions.
On the run from the people that are after them both they find themselves drawn more and more to each other. Jack is able to slowly get D to open up and start to accept that he is in fact not just the killer he judges himself to be but rather a man who has seen and done both good and bad in his life. I absolutely loved the way the relationship between them develops from their first meeting where D holds Jack's very life in his hands to the end of the story where it's clear that they have found in each other a love that makes them complete in all ways.
The secondary characters in this story are also very well written. From the agents helping Jack to the bad guys trying to kill him as well as D's associates, these characters all contribute in some way to the storyline. In a book this long, over 300 pages, it would be easy to populate it with 'filler' characters but in this case the flow and development of the story incorporates the secondary characters quite well.
Another aspect that I really enjoyed was the attention to detail presented throughout the book. The ins and outs of being a hit man as well as the information on the Witness Protection program was very interesting to read. I enjoyed the adventure as D and Jack went on the run as well as the more relaxing times as they hunkered down and got to know each other. Reading the book I could so clearly see what a fabulous movie it could be. Two heroes, one noble and kind, the other a tortured soul needing to be saved, bad guys galore, lots of thrills and adventure and through it all a wonderfully emotional love story with some super hot sex scenes. I'd plunk down my money at my local movie theater to see it. And buy the DVD to watch it again and again.
This absolutely fantastic story is intense and gripping from page one to the very end and you just won't want to put it down. The plot is fast paced yet flows really well throughout. The strength of the story however is in the characters themselves, Jack and D and the dynamics of their relationship. I loved how Jack was slowly able to get D to let him see the real man under the hit man facade and that D was able to lean on Jack and come to believe in himself once again. While there are several explicit and hot sex scenes in the book they are not in any way the main focus of the book. Instead it's the emotional bond and the trust and love that develops between these two very different men that's the focus of the book.
Zero at the Bone is one of the most intense and satisfying stories I've read this year. Wonderfully written with great characters and a tightly woven plot this is a book that I know I'll enjoy reading many times over. Definitely 5 stars and I highly recommend it.
June 14, 2013
First off, I've gotta say that I love this cover...rarely do I see a cover match up so exactly with what I have in my head but this D and Jack is perfect...body language and all. D is sort of badass and standoffish, Jack is a bit more boyish and nervous. I love it!!!
This is a story about a hit man, D, and and his mark, Jack. You'd think that no excuse is good enough to convince you that a man who kills other people for a living could be a good person, but D can change your mind. He's not ALL good. He still kills people. But he gets to choose which jobs he takes, and he would normally pass a job like Jack up...D does have some scruples. Under threat of exposure, D is forced to put a gun to Jack's head...if only D didn't fell like he was losing his own humanity...
Jack has worked for the last decade to get to where he is now...a maxillofacial surgeon who has not one but two college degrees, his work is his life. But now life as he know it is over. He's under witness protection after witnessing a mob like hit on an innocent woman, and has been forced to give up everything he's ever known...friends, family, job, house, life...
Now they are on the run together, hiding from some really bad people...people who used to be D's bosses and colleagues...who can and are trying their hardest to find Jack and D. But D's really freaking good at hiding. Which leads to a lot of down time for these two. A lot of time to to know each other. And their romance is so slow building, growing by miniscule increments. It's easy to see how these two fall in love...and it's real love, not the kind of lust that is life affirming in the face of death. Because D is just that badass, and Jack becomes quite proficient at badassery as well...
Honestly, the best part of this book for me was watching D accept who he is...not as a gay man, but as a man. A person deserving of the love that Jack has to offer him. I just feel so bad for D. His lot in life has been one of pure hell, all of it not under his own control. Circumstances have led him again and again into tragedy, and it's no wonder that he's shut down his emotions to the extent that he has. The way that Jack is able to get inside him is what fairy tales are made of if they're not made up by Disney. This dawning realization that Jack could very well be his soul mate...it's breathtaking.
The sex is fairly PG13 for the most part...I'd not call this erotic at all. It's more romance than anything. It's a story of two people from such opposite walks of life who are thrown into circumstances that almost seem serendipitous. D and Jack are just meant to be together. They heal each other, they soothe each other, and this is their story...Oh, and the epilogue!!!! Made me so happy...all is not automatically bright and shiny for these two. But you do know how much they love each other, and you can feel how content they are.
This is a story about a hit man, D, and and his mark, Jack. You'd think that no excuse is good enough to convince you that a man who kills other people for a living could be a good person, but D can change your mind. He's not ALL good. He still kills people. But he gets to choose which jobs he takes, and he would normally pass a job like Jack up...D does have some scruples. Under threat of exposure, D is forced to put a gun to Jack's head...if only D didn't fell like he was losing his own humanity...
"He didn't like to think about how far gone he was into the abyss that even the humanness of lust was now foreign to him. At least he still felt hunger, and cold, and the craving for nicotine. How long until event hose animal sensations left him? Would he eventually be left with nothing but a set of skills that suited him for only one profession, and a head full of things he didn't want to know? Maybe he's disconnect enough that he would no longer swear, or piss, or get stupid songs stuck in his head. He's been told over and over again that he'd have to become a machine, but he hadn't really believed that he would. He knew better now."
Jack has worked for the last decade to get to where he is now...a maxillofacial surgeon who has not one but two college degrees, his work is his life. But now life as he know it is over. He's under witness protection after witnessing a mob like hit on an innocent woman, and has been forced to give up everything he's ever known...friends, family, job, house, life...
Now they are on the run together, hiding from some really bad people...people who used to be D's bosses and colleagues...who can and are trying their hardest to find Jack and D. But D's really freaking good at hiding. Which leads to a lot of down time for these two. A lot of time to to know each other. And their romance is so slow building, growing by miniscule increments. It's easy to see how these two fall in love...and it's real love, not the kind of lust that is life affirming in the face of death. Because D is just that badass, and Jack becomes quite proficient at badassery as well...
Honestly, the best part of this book for me was watching D accept who he is...not as a gay man, but as a man. A person deserving of the love that Jack has to offer him. I just feel so bad for D. His lot in life has been one of pure hell, all of it not under his own control. Circumstances have led him again and again into tragedy, and it's no wonder that he's shut down his emotions to the extent that he has. The way that Jack is able to get inside him is what fairy tales are made of if they're not made up by Disney. This dawning realization that Jack could very well be his soul mate...it's breathtaking.
"To think I almos' put a bullet between them eyes, and took that life that now I'd die ta save, and I never woulda known what he was in the world, and who he was or could be, and I woulda never even known what I was misin', nor known how right it could feel just ta lay my fingers alongside his."
The sex is fairly PG13 for the most part...I'd not call this erotic at all. It's more romance than anything. It's a story of two people from such opposite walks of life who are thrown into circumstances that almost seem serendipitous. D and Jack are just meant to be together. They heal each other, they soothe each other, and this is their story...Oh, and the epilogue!!!! Made me so happy...all is not automatically bright and shiny for these two. But you do know how much they love each other, and you can feel how content they are.
August 22, 2015
*4.5 stars*
Why did I wait so long to read this book??? Why? Feel free to tell me I 've been stupid.
First of all, D is Jason Statham. He is, it's not just me, right? Seriously, look!
What can I say that hasn't already been said?
Very long book, but I never got bored, not for one second. Fast paced, with a surprise around every corner, this is probably the BEST romantic suspence I 've ever read.
The dual POV that changed quite often worked great, and when we sometimes got the POV of some secondary characters, it was really needed.
I loved how the hard core hitman took one look at Jack and knew he wouldn't kill him...
"Biggest damned eyes I ever saw on any man, and bluer’n the sky down in Bryce Canyon. Big enough ta hold all the life in him so’s I can see it, the life they want me ta take, the life I’ll hafta stand here and watch leave him."
I loved how falling in love with Jack, made D come alive and change...
“You thought if you could keep the dark away from me, that maybe some of it would leave you too.”
............................
“Thanks for my life.”
“Thanks for mine.”
I loved the sexy times, the times when they had to leave each other, the funny moments, the chocolate-covered cherries...I loved every single thing.
The only reason I removed half a star is because I wanted a little more background on Jack. He says he's gay, doesn't mention any previous relatonship to a man but he 's been married to a woman. It confused me a little but it didn't really bother me.
If there is someone out there who hasn't read this, do it now!
Where is this author? Doesn't she write anymore? Now that I 've found her!
Why did I wait so long to read this book??? Why? Feel free to tell me I 've been stupid.
First of all, D is Jason Statham. He is, it's not just me, right? Seriously, look!
What can I say that hasn't already been said?
Very long book, but I never got bored, not for one second. Fast paced, with a surprise around every corner, this is probably the BEST romantic suspence I 've ever read.
The dual POV that changed quite often worked great, and when we sometimes got the POV of some secondary characters, it was really needed.
I loved how the hard core hitman took one look at Jack and knew he wouldn't kill him...
"Biggest damned eyes I ever saw on any man, and bluer’n the sky down in Bryce Canyon. Big enough ta hold all the life in him so’s I can see it, the life they want me ta take, the life I’ll hafta stand here and watch leave him."
I loved how falling in love with Jack, made D come alive and change...
“You thought if you could keep the dark away from me, that maybe some of it would leave you too.”
............................
“Thanks for my life.”
“Thanks for mine.”
I loved the sexy times, the times when they had to leave each other, the funny moments, the chocolate-covered cherries...I loved every single thing.
The only reason I removed half a star is because I wanted a little more background on Jack. He says he's gay, doesn't mention any previous relatonship to a man but he 's been married to a woman. It confused me a little but it didn't really bother me.
If there is someone out there who hasn't read this, do it now!
Where is this author? Doesn't she write anymore? Now that I 've found her!
Read
January 23, 2015DNF at 24%
I am sorry but I couldn't finish this one.
Normally I give a book that I couldn't finish only one star.
And write at least a small explanation WHY I didn't like a book.
But can I rate a book if I've read less than 30%?
Do I need then to explain WHY I don't like it?
I didn't care about the plot.
I didn't care about the main characters.
I didn't care even if it would be dry or with lubricant.
Or when and how.
Did I answer your question?
This book and me just don't have chemistry.
Read Adam's review, he nailed it.
I am sorry but I couldn't finish this one.
Normally I give a book that I couldn't finish only one star.
And write at least a small explanation WHY I didn't like a book.
But can I rate a book if I've read less than 30%?
Do I need then to explain WHY I don't like it?
I didn't care about the plot.
I didn't care about the main characters.
I didn't care even if it would be dry or with lubricant.
Or when and how.
Did I answer your question?
This book and me just don't have chemistry.
Read Adam's review, he nailed it.
March 19, 2013
BUDDY READ WITH THE BEAUTIFUL LINDSAY
Thank you so much Kelly for the recommendation I LOVED LOVED LOVED it
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This book really surprised me as I usually go for books which are full of hot sex. YES you heard right I am shallow and love books with sex sex and more sex! But with this book something gripped me and kept me reading. Even now I'm not sure what it was? Maybe it was
*The well written story
*The gripping characters
*The fact D and Jack overcome past issues and move forward together or
*The sexy D
I think it was all of the above
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FAVOURITE QUOTES
Would I recommend this book to others? YES, definitely. ALL m/m readers need to give it a try
Thank you so much Kelly for the recommendation I LOVED LOVED LOVED it
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This book really surprised me as I usually go for books which are full of hot sex. YES you heard right I am shallow and love books with sex sex and more sex! But with this book something gripped me and kept me reading. Even now I'm not sure what it was? Maybe it was
*The well written story
*The gripping characters
*The fact D and Jack overcome past issues and move forward together or
*The sexy D
I think it was all of the above
[image error]
FAVOURITE QUOTES
'People are living out there. How can they? I'm in here with some kind of assassin and he has a gun with which he might shoot me at any moment, and meanwhile people are driving to the grocery store and screwing each other and cooking meals and watching f@cking Oprah!'
'Jack slowly stretched out his pinky finger until it grazed the side of D's hand..D didn't withdraw; instead his hand flinched a little closer. Emboldened Jack covered D's hand with his own: D turned his palm up and their fingers slid together, interlacing and fitting together against each other...'
'He didn't want to exchange deep and tender caresses during a long slow coupling. He wanted to get f@cked by the only man he'd ever been to bed with...Jack just wanted D to drill him through this mattress until he couldn't walk'
Would I recommend this book to others? YES, definitely. ALL m/m readers need to give it a try
September 4, 2012
Maybe it's that I'm getting more demanding or impatient, or no longer feel the need to suffer through books that aren't holding my interest, but at 35% I just gave up. I had high hopes for this one. There were lots of great reviews and I really liked the premise, but the actual delivery fell short.
Jack, a surgeon, witnesses a murder and agrees to testify. He's taken into protective custody. D, an assassin, takes the job to take him out. Everything was going well, right up until the moment these two actually meet. I like the author's writing style; she actually made me laugh out loud a few times but the pacing on this just didn't work for me. D is a hardened shell of a man who only lives to kill, so to have him go from that to a guy talking about feelings and wanting to give up his life for Jack needed a slow, firm hand guided by nuance and subtlety. What we got was hokey sappiness. D's journey was not given its due. The dialogue was groan worthy. Don't have D tell us, about a third of the way in, that he feels like he's been dead inside and now he feels alive (rolls eyes), show us!! I couldn't even see a hardened assassin saying some of the stuff that came out of his mouth. I did enjoy Jack taking care of him while he was hurt, but that brings us to the other problem.
Why was D so inept?? If he's supposed to be one of the best out there, then the mercenary world is truly in shambles.
Jack was, by turns, sassily cute and naive and annoying. You don't have someone shake a lifetime of mistrust in days by asking them a million questions and forcing them to talk to you. And what was up with his self-lubricating orifice? First time sex with no lube whatsoever and no difficulty being penetrated AND he was able to come seconds later without D touching his penis at all. Gay men everywhere should be so lucky.
I realize that there are lots of people who liked this book, but I can't recommend it with any seriousness.
Jack, a surgeon, witnesses a murder and agrees to testify. He's taken into protective custody. D, an assassin, takes the job to take him out. Everything was going well, right up until the moment these two actually meet. I like the author's writing style; she actually made me laugh out loud a few times but the pacing on this just didn't work for me. D is a hardened shell of a man who only lives to kill, so to have him go from that to a guy talking about feelings and wanting to give up his life for Jack needed a slow, firm hand guided by nuance and subtlety. What we got was hokey sappiness. D's journey was not given its due. The dialogue was groan worthy. Don't have D tell us, about a third of the way in, that he feels like he's been dead inside and now he feels alive (rolls eyes), show us!! I couldn't even see a hardened assassin saying some of the stuff that came out of his mouth. I did enjoy Jack taking care of him while he was hurt, but that brings us to the other problem.
Why was D so inept?? If he's supposed to be one of the best out there, then the mercenary world is truly in shambles.
Jack was, by turns, sassily cute and naive and annoying. You don't have someone shake a lifetime of mistrust in days by asking them a million questions and forcing them to talk to you. And what was up with his self-lubricating orifice? First time sex with no lube whatsoever and no difficulty being penetrated AND he was able to come seconds later without D touching his penis at all. Gay men everywhere should be so lucky.
I realize that there are lots of people who liked this book, but I can't recommend it with any seriousness.
August 29, 2018
Oldie but still a goodie! ❤️
The audiobook took some getting used to, but Alan Smith captured the characters perfectly and I ended up totally loving it.
The audiobook took some getting used to, but Alan Smith captured the characters perfectly and I ended up totally loving it.
March 22, 2013
This was great. I dip into M/M now and again. It is not my usual reading genre. Loved this one. Really good story - kept me guessing all the time. Jack was great but D. was yummy. Only complaint was they way he talked - just got on my nerves a bit but eventually got used to it. Good sex - not too much for me. Plot was great - lovely to see the way D. opened up to Jack and you could really feel how in love they were. The author has a few more short stories on her webpage which were set after this one finished and they were great to read also. It was sort of left open that there could be a sequel as D. is still on a Case ..... would be nice to see how they are getting on further down the line. Think I might be off to catch me a Highlander now.
November 16, 2013
I love it when authors do a ' mix up ' and veer away from the expected. Jane Seville takes an anti hero assassin like D and pairs him with ' Mr normal ' Jack who is in the wrong place at the wrong time and weaves one of the best gay fiction stories around them that I think I will ever read. This book has everything - a proper gutsy, gritty crime backstory that never loses pace or excitement ( edge of the seat stuff ) and one of the best m/ m romances in the genre that starts slowly and ends up packing a real emotional punch. The list of adjectives to describe this story are endless as it has lots of different layers to it. Exciting, sexy, tender, poignant, witty, funny, sensual, surprising.......... and perfectly balanced love scenes ,in amount and description. Bliss!
The love that grows between the MC's makes this book the success it is and for me is the true heart of the novel. It was a privilege to be on the outskirts watching it unfold and it will NEVER leave my Kindle library. I first read this a couple of years ago and constantly watch out to see if Jane Seville has produced anything else, but as yet no joy, so for now I'll just have to keep coming back to Jack and D for my fix - No hardship!
EDITED 14/11/13
Just finished reading this for the second time and don't need to alter my original review but just want to add that I didn't think it possible to enjoy this any more than I did the first time round, but holy hell that was an amazing reread! Buddy read it with my awesome girlies Tina and Gina and had a blast! Thanks my loves. If I could quadruple the rating on this I would.. Jack & D you are in my heart forever!
What a love story... I go gooey just thinking about it. Slow burning but passionate and so exciting.. Anything that could be picked at just goes right out of the window because of the way it grabs my heartstrings and engages my emotions. An all time favourite with two of my most loved men. Delightful, delicious and sublime! One can only hope that one day they come back and let us into their lives again... I keep wishing!
The love that grows between the MC's makes this book the success it is and for me is the true heart of the novel. It was a privilege to be on the outskirts watching it unfold and it will NEVER leave my Kindle library. I first read this a couple of years ago and constantly watch out to see if Jane Seville has produced anything else, but as yet no joy, so for now I'll just have to keep coming back to Jack and D for my fix - No hardship!
EDITED 14/11/13
Just finished reading this for the second time and don't need to alter my original review but just want to add that I didn't think it possible to enjoy this any more than I did the first time round, but holy hell that was an amazing reread! Buddy read it with my awesome girlies Tina and Gina and had a blast! Thanks my loves. If I could quadruple the rating on this I would.. Jack & D you are in my heart forever!
What a love story... I go gooey just thinking about it. Slow burning but passionate and so exciting.. Anything that could be picked at just goes right out of the window because of the way it grabs my heartstrings and engages my emotions. An all time favourite with two of my most loved men. Delightful, delicious and sublime! One can only hope that one day they come back and let us into their lives again... I keep wishing!
February 25, 2019
MM-mystery-romance; this is the hole I've dug myself into, and I'm staying there, especially when there are stories as awesome as this one!
This book has been popping up, on and off, for quite some time, but for some reason the blurb didn't get my motor running, and boy am I sorry that I haven't picked it up before now!
This story was well-written, it had AWESOME, fleshed-out characters and an action-mystery that kept my attention.
So D is a hitman with a conscience, of sorts. His handler Josy gets the 'job-offers' and then D decides whether the target is a 'bad enough' person for him to pay a visit. (He has his own moral compass on who deserves to die.)
Jack is a 'head-doctor' (not brain or feelings, but the skull and such, I could not even pronounce his title, let alone spell it) and one day when he is leaving work, he witnesses a murder by some men from a Familia.
Jack is one of the coolest characters I've read in a long time. He has grit, personality and a great moral compass; he's a GOOD guy, who is also smart. In his mind there is no question whether he will testify or not.
D is blackmailed into paying Jack a 'visit', and even though Jack is in Witsec, 'they' have his new address, and sends D there.
D really doesn't want to kill an 'innocent' victim, and when he meets Jack, he cannot go through with it.
Since other hitmen can be next in line for the 'job', and since there is something fishy with the whole situation (both for Jack AND D), D decides to help Jack and keep him safe until the trial.
What follows is a slowburn romance and an action-packed mystery.
D is so freaking cool, and the things he can do, felt real.
I have no clue whether this is how hitmen operate, but the whole story was so well-written and gripping, that I had no issues believing that D was a 'real' person. I loved how hardcore he was, and even though his moral compass is sort of skewed, and he acts like a machine, this dude was just... AWESOME.
They go on the run together until the trial, and hole up in different places, while getting to know each other.
D's origin story is heartbreaking, but Jack just keeps digging and nagging and being Jack, that slowly but surely, D opens up.
I really loved the development between them, and I loved the 'doubts' Jack had later on, since that felt real as well, considering how they met and the high pressure situation they were in.
There wasn't a lot of action when they were holed up, but the pressure was still ON, and you could FEEL it in their interactions and their personalities.
Also MAJOR props to X and Churchill! These two were FREAKING amazing, supporting characters, and Ms. Seville did an amazing job of keeping me on my toes during the whole story in a: who-can-you-trust-limbo?
The only problem I had with this book, were the smexy times. The rest of the book and the characters were so fleshed-out and developed, BUT the smexy times were lacking.
It read like there was next to no prep, they have sex without a condom and the smexy times weren't really described, but skipped over, and that was annoying since the rest was so well-done.
BUT I loved the ending, I loved Jack and D and I loved the development of the story, most of this book was just freaking amazing.
There is no doubt in my mind that the next book in the series (the full novel, not the short stories) will be a one-click-buy for me. Come on Ms. Seville, we need more fantastic Jack and hardcore D!
This book has been popping up, on and off, for quite some time, but for some reason the blurb didn't get my motor running, and boy am I sorry that I haven't picked it up before now!
This story was well-written, it had AWESOME, fleshed-out characters and an action-mystery that kept my attention.
So D is a hitman with a conscience, of sorts. His handler Josy gets the 'job-offers' and then D decides whether the target is a 'bad enough' person for him to pay a visit. (He has his own moral compass on who deserves to die.)
Jack is a 'head-doctor' (not brain or feelings, but the skull and such, I could not even pronounce his title, let alone spell it) and one day when he is leaving work, he witnesses a murder by some men from a Familia.
Jack is one of the coolest characters I've read in a long time. He has grit, personality and a great moral compass; he's a GOOD guy, who is also smart. In his mind there is no question whether he will testify or not.
D is blackmailed into paying Jack a 'visit', and even though Jack is in Witsec, 'they' have his new address, and sends D there.
D really doesn't want to kill an 'innocent' victim, and when he meets Jack, he cannot go through with it.
Since other hitmen can be next in line for the 'job', and since there is something fishy with the whole situation (both for Jack AND D), D decides to help Jack and keep him safe until the trial.
What follows is a slowburn romance and an action-packed mystery.
D is so freaking cool, and the things he can do, felt real.
I have no clue whether this is how hitmen operate, but the whole story was so well-written and gripping, that I had no issues believing that D was a 'real' person. I loved how hardcore he was, and even though his moral compass is sort of skewed, and he acts like a machine, this dude was just... AWESOME.
They go on the run together until the trial, and hole up in different places, while getting to know each other.
D's origin story is heartbreaking, but Jack just keeps digging and nagging and being Jack, that slowly but surely, D opens up.
I really loved the development between them, and I loved the 'doubts' Jack had later on, since that felt real as well, considering how they met and the high pressure situation they were in.
There wasn't a lot of action when they were holed up, but the pressure was still ON, and you could FEEL it in their interactions and their personalities.
Also MAJOR props to X and Churchill! These two were FREAKING amazing, supporting characters, and Ms. Seville did an amazing job of keeping me on my toes during the whole story in a: who-can-you-trust-limbo?
The only problem I had with this book, were the smexy times. The rest of the book and the characters were so fleshed-out and developed, BUT the smexy times were lacking.
It read like there was next to no prep, they have sex without a condom and the smexy times weren't really described, but skipped over, and that was annoying since the rest was so well-done.
BUT I loved the ending, I loved Jack and D and I loved the development of the story, most of this book was just freaking amazing.
There is no doubt in my mind that the next book in the series (the full novel, not the short stories) will be a one-click-buy for me. Come on Ms. Seville, we need more fantastic Jack and hardcore D!
November 16, 2013
This story was amazing! Absolutely, positively OMG I actually hugged my ereader after AMAZING!!! And I actually considered staring over immediately and reading it again! (yes, I think I may have some obsessive compulsive issues as well)
This was about Jack a maxillofacial surgeon who works at Johns Hopkins In Baltimore, MD (which is quite cool for me because i actually have one, and he works at Johns Hopkins). Leaving work one day he witnesses a woman getting murdered, he hides so no one sees him and watches the whole thing. He reports it to the authorities, they put him in protective custody so the crime organization who committed the murder can't get him. Now Jack in quite likable, friendly, he takes care of himself, outgoing, people like him and he is attractive, not snobby or condensing because he is a big time doctor. Someone i could honestly see myself wanting to hang out with. But Jack found his life boring and mundane, the only thing that kept him company at night was whatever movie was on TCM.
Now D is a hit man, and he is being blackmailed to kill Jack (I am not going to tell you how because you are going to read the book). But D decides not to, but he just can't walk away because he knows someone else will if he won't. So D forces Jack to go on the run with him. And so off they go!
Now what totally made D believable for me was the way the writer introduced me to him. The fact that he is gay never comes up till later, so i put it out of my mind honestly. What I was introduced to was a man who was barely existing, someone who didn't feel human anymore. And while he and Jack were on the run D hardly communicates with Jack, all Jack gets are grunts and stares most of the time, and the writer let's you into D's head to see how difficult and how tortured D really is.
Now as the story moves along D and Jack get closer and to be honest I can't see how the writer is going to get them "together" honestly. And then that magic moment happens...a single touch between them, a seemingly innocent touch and my heart goes all a flutter! (boy am I easy...lol).
The other thing I liked about this story is D is not your typical hero, he is a hit man, normally he is the bad guy in the story. And what I liked was how dark, tortured and honestly scary D was. While he definitely evolved in this story, parts of his personality never changed. While he opened up to Jack more and more and learned how to share his feelings and emotions, he was still a brooding, tough, scary don't want to meet him in a dark alley guy. So the fact that he just happened to be gay i found totally believable.
This story was action packed, it moved along fast, I never skipped a page or a paragraph it kept me glued to my chair. The chemistry between Jack and D I could feel, and the sex was hot and beautiful (yes, beautiful). And every time I see chocolate covered cherries i am going to think of this story (no I am not going to mention why because you are going to read the book remember).
I am happy....
Re-read November 2013
I just wanted to say this is the first book I have re-read and OMG I loved it just as much the second time around. I want to thank Macky and Tina for the awesome BR. This book did not have one slow moment for me, it moved along and I was always at the edge of my seat. I had forgotten so much of this book and now I am swooning all over again!!!!
This was about Jack a maxillofacial surgeon who works at Johns Hopkins In Baltimore, MD (which is quite cool for me because i actually have one, and he works at Johns Hopkins). Leaving work one day he witnesses a woman getting murdered, he hides so no one sees him and watches the whole thing. He reports it to the authorities, they put him in protective custody so the crime organization who committed the murder can't get him. Now Jack in quite likable, friendly, he takes care of himself, outgoing, people like him and he is attractive, not snobby or condensing because he is a big time doctor. Someone i could honestly see myself wanting to hang out with. But Jack found his life boring and mundane, the only thing that kept him company at night was whatever movie was on TCM.
Now D is a hit man, and he is being blackmailed to kill Jack (I am not going to tell you how because you are going to read the book). But D decides not to, but he just can't walk away because he knows someone else will if he won't. So D forces Jack to go on the run with him. And so off they go!
Now what totally made D believable for me was the way the writer introduced me to him. The fact that he is gay never comes up till later, so i put it out of my mind honestly. What I was introduced to was a man who was barely existing, someone who didn't feel human anymore. And while he and Jack were on the run D hardly communicates with Jack, all Jack gets are grunts and stares most of the time, and the writer let's you into D's head to see how difficult and how tortured D really is.
Now as the story moves along D and Jack get closer and to be honest I can't see how the writer is going to get them "together" honestly. And then that magic moment happens...a single touch between them, a seemingly innocent touch and my heart goes all a flutter! (boy am I easy...lol).
The other thing I liked about this story is D is not your typical hero, he is a hit man, normally he is the bad guy in the story. And what I liked was how dark, tortured and honestly scary D was. While he definitely evolved in this story, parts of his personality never changed. While he opened up to Jack more and more and learned how to share his feelings and emotions, he was still a brooding, tough, scary don't want to meet him in a dark alley guy. So the fact that he just happened to be gay i found totally believable.
This story was action packed, it moved along fast, I never skipped a page or a paragraph it kept me glued to my chair. The chemistry between Jack and D I could feel, and the sex was hot and beautiful (yes, beautiful). And every time I see chocolate covered cherries i am going to think of this story (no I am not going to mention why because you are going to read the book remember).
I am happy....
Re-read November 2013
I just wanted to say this is the first book I have re-read and OMG I loved it just as much the second time around. I want to thank Macky and Tina for the awesome BR. This book did not have one slow moment for me, it moved along and I was always at the edge of my seat. I had forgotten so much of this book and now I am swooning all over again!!!!
July 30, 2019
This was one fine book. I loved the action, the suspense and the way Ms Seville chose to tell the story, but I absolutely adored the main characters - Jack and D. The juxtaposition of Jack's unreserved honesty and D's guarded reserve appealed greatly to me. I really liked the side characters and the mystery of X, D's friend, and their remote yet at the same time close relationship. Told from multiple POVs, the story depicts immeasurable pain, boundless courage and undying love between two men who despite their differences found common ground and dared to reach for the impossible.
Jack Francisco's life was ordinary - respected colleague, good-looking man and possibly a good friend. But all of that was snatched away when he unwittingly became the only witness to a murder. And after choosing to stand up and testify, his life was no longer his own. So, when he looked into a barrel of a hired gun, he thought it was over. Not quite yet! Call it Fate or not, but in the next moment he found himself on the run with the man who was supposed to kill him. Who knew that that which didn't kill him, would become the love of his life. I loved Jack's patience, his faith in D and his unfailing belief that D is deserving of love, happiness and bright future despite his past. His care of D till the very end made me admire him even more. And his testimony on the stand was the s*exiest thing ever!!!!
D is stone cold assassin. He fears that one day he will simply cease to exist, since it's hard to feel anything at all. But despite all those that he killed, he lives by a certain code of his own - never kill an innocent. So when he is blackmailed into eliminating the witness who couldn't be any cleaner, he simply can not do it. Thus starts their trip to outrun the killers, assassins, traitors and bullets. D lost faith in human kindness, closed himself off completely, and yet here he was - a man willing to be there for him without expecting anything in return. The shift between them was so subtle, and D's shell started to crack.
Both men open up to each other either due to forced proximity or simply because it's time. Jack is there to help D purge the poison that is slowly eroding him from inside, he is there to help D find himself again and give him something worth fighting for. From awkward moments to the most intense intimacy known to me, both D and Jack choose each other and fight for their future no matter how long or short it might be. Some moments were truly heart-warming, some almost made me cry. D has changed so much. After all he has been through, his capacity to love and cherish really amazed me. And while Jack hasn't suffered any great downfalls in his life, his courage and devotion to D and his willingness to sacrifice himself was truly admirable.
The story was truly suspenseful even during quiet moments - it was in the air just hovering over them. From one emotional high to another, this book kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved Jack's time alone when he tried to determine what it was he felt for D. I loved D's dedication to making sure they both have a future they want. And I loved when D became Anson again. The epilogue was absolutely marvelous. I can't find enough words to express how much I love these men, the journey they've had and the happy future they have yet to live! Highly recommend it! Amazing book!!!
Jack Francisco's life was ordinary - respected colleague, good-looking man and possibly a good friend. But all of that was snatched away when he unwittingly became the only witness to a murder. And after choosing to stand up and testify, his life was no longer his own. So, when he looked into a barrel of a hired gun, he thought it was over. Not quite yet! Call it Fate or not, but in the next moment he found himself on the run with the man who was supposed to kill him. Who knew that that which didn't kill him, would become the love of his life. I loved Jack's patience, his faith in D and his unfailing belief that D is deserving of love, happiness and bright future despite his past. His care of D till the very end made me admire him even more. And his testimony on the stand was the s*exiest thing ever!!!!
D is stone cold assassin. He fears that one day he will simply cease to exist, since it's hard to feel anything at all. But despite all those that he killed, he lives by a certain code of his own - never kill an innocent. So when he is blackmailed into eliminating the witness who couldn't be any cleaner, he simply can not do it. Thus starts their trip to outrun the killers, assassins, traitors and bullets. D lost faith in human kindness, closed himself off completely, and yet here he was - a man willing to be there for him without expecting anything in return. The shift between them was so subtle, and D's shell started to crack.
Both men open up to each other either due to forced proximity or simply because it's time. Jack is there to help D purge the poison that is slowly eroding him from inside, he is there to help D find himself again and give him something worth fighting for. From awkward moments to the most intense intimacy known to me, both D and Jack choose each other and fight for their future no matter how long or short it might be. Some moments were truly heart-warming, some almost made me cry. D has changed so much. After all he has been through, his capacity to love and cherish really amazed me. And while Jack hasn't suffered any great downfalls in his life, his courage and devotion to D and his willingness to sacrifice himself was truly admirable.
The story was truly suspenseful even during quiet moments - it was in the air just hovering over them. From one emotional high to another, this book kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved Jack's time alone when he tried to determine what it was he felt for D. I loved D's dedication to making sure they both have a future they want. And I loved when D became Anson again. The epilogue was absolutely marvelous. I can't find enough words to express how much I love these men, the journey they've had and the happy future they have yet to live! Highly recommend it! Amazing book!!!
September 1, 2016
My impression reading this book?
It's like watch a very good action movie!!!
Jack
He is a very talented surgeon in the witness protection program. He saw a murder, and have no choice... he must testify against one of the most powerful and danger criminal organization.
D
(yeah, a letter... his name you will know only after a while)
He is a hit man.
Incredible cliché (sorry) but the better way to describe him is: a assassin with conscience. He pick his jobs, and use his "god/evil" judgment to decide who must die by his hands.
The plot and the writing is amazing! I love the suspense and the action! There are so many facts, secondary characters, and the main characters running against time! Everything was breathless!
I must say also something about the different point of views (POV). Both Jack and D will narrate, and the different POV were perfect! This is one of the rare books I found were when the POV chance also the mind of the writer is different! I hate two narrator thinking identical figures of speech (for example) and little details like that made me love the reading.
It was a very pleasurable reading, and regardless the action it's also a very romantic story.
Both men are very strong and the romance is not something easy to them... so when start it will be heartbreaking!
So, 5 stars. Amazing book! I would love to see it as a movie!
BTW, to read more about Jack and D you can check the writer's blog
June 18, 2011
Wow! Um...just, WOW
This book has everything in it: mystery and intrigue, romance and great sexual tension, action and suspense. And lots of sex! D, a big, bad ass hit man being forced to kill Jack, state's witness and former practicing doctor. Well, things don't exactly turn out as planned.
In the beginning, I immediately loved Jack because he reminded me a lot of myself. Especially when he had to nurse D back to health and how he always asking D a bunch of questions. D would have went ahead and killed me because I never would have known when to shut my mouth. But somewhere in the middle of all this, I totally fell in love with D. He was such a passionate man and all he needed was Jack to dig in and open up that vault he had sealed tightly shut for so many years. I loved seeing how D slowly opened up and shared little pieces of himself at a time with Jack. It was very endearing and just made me want to reach out and give him a big hug. Jack was right there and able to look past D's rough and tough exterior and see the real man inside.
Great book!
This book has everything in it: mystery and intrigue, romance and great sexual tension, action and suspense. And lots of sex! D, a big, bad ass hit man being forced to kill Jack, state's witness and former practicing doctor. Well, things don't exactly turn out as planned.
In the beginning, I immediately loved Jack because he reminded me a lot of myself. Especially when he had to nurse D back to health and how he always asking D a bunch of questions. D would have went ahead and killed me because I never would have known when to shut my mouth. But somewhere in the middle of all this, I totally fell in love with D. He was such a passionate man and all he needed was Jack to dig in and open up that vault he had sealed tightly shut for so many years. I loved seeing how D slowly opened up and shared little pieces of himself at a time with Jack. It was very endearing and just made me want to reach out and give him a big hug. Jack was right there and able to look past D's rough and tough exterior and see the real man inside.
Great book!
October 23, 2011
I love this book, it had everything, action, romance, suspense and humor, I absolutely loved Jack and D, wow the chemistry between them jumped out at you from each page, they clicked beautifully. The continuous banter was hilarious and the suspense scenes had me on the edge of my seat, intense and gripping. Emotionally its lovely when D opened his heart to love, slowly coming in from the cold. I couldn't put it down, its that good, a thrilling and wonderful story. Jack and D are fabulous guys, I highly recommend you go and read it, if you haven't already.
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