Gabriel Sandalini is an undercover police officer who has worked hard to infiltrate the Botelli crime family and he knows he's got to be close to being able to bring them down. After a chance encounter in a club and the realization he might be falling for another drug lord's right hand, Miguel Ortega, he knows he needs to focus on the task at hand. But when Ortega seems to be falling for him, too, neither of them have any idea how it might all play out.

I hadn't expected to enjoy this one as much as I did. It started off a bit fast, but it really got into a good groove. I did pick up on a couple of twists before they happened, but I got the sense that was intentional on the part of the authors. I'm excited to pick up the next book to see what happens next... ( )

Start to finish idealized romanticism. Which, is the point I guess. ( )

Oh boy.



This is my first time reading from either of these authors (Yes, I know. What rock have been hiding under? Lemme alone) So I'm not sure if this was their better work or worst. Mexican Heat isn't horrible but there are flaws. Well to me anyway.

I'm not sure if each author chose a half to write and tried to blend it together because it's definitely reading like 2 separate books trying to meld. The first half I thought was rougher than the second half. Especially after the main character's first hook up in the club, it dragged. I was B-O-R-E-D especially in Mexico.

We have a undercover cop, Gabriel/Gio falling for an under boss, Ortega. Ortega and Gio met on a one night stand and now learn their crime factions will be working together. And there's sex and a sort of HFN ending. Good for them. There's plot twists and surprises, bullets, and a shocking disability.

I'm not rehashing the plot-this book is too popular for you not to look it up. I'm going to rate this 3 stars because it's just one of those books where it sort of worked, sort of didn't.



So let me discuss my issues:

- If Gabriel is not interested in Gina(his undercover 'charge' is in love with Gabriel)...why would he care about her well being after his own tragedy? If he didn't seem to really care in the first half...why?

- A blind man shooting a gun? Really? Let's be fucking honest...would you go into a room with a blind man packing a gun? If you would, you're going to love this book.

- The whole weird meld of two books that portrayed different sides of the main characters. I wished it was consistent through out.

-And my biggest issue which I couldn't stop scratching my head about. The part where I went:



Gabriel's asshole...first it felt electric pulses, then it was described as his palsied channel" (I'm going to get to this) and then it had a seizure.

I was worried that it would need life support or some CPR to his ass because its going through some serious shit. I don't get squicked out by the lamer adjectives for asshole, for the most part. But palsied channel...



PALSIED CHANNEL!

Well the good thing about it is if I ever decide I want to become a drag queen...I have a good name.

*sigh*

I'm not that anxious to read more of this series but if it is ever released, I'd take a gander to see if it actually got better. Plus I'd read more from both authors...not any time soon. But in the future, so it counts for something. Right?" ( )

I really enjoyed this book. One thing that bothered was the Spanish that was used; it was wrong and not well thought out. It's as if they used a translation tool and didn't bother running it through an actual Spanish speaker. I've always enjoyed Josh Lanyon's books, and this was no different; just that one thing bugged. ( )

A total shoot em up action adventure novel complete with buff heroes, bad guys and tequila shots off butts. I was so just waiting for someone to chime in with, ’say hello to my little friend.’ It certainly did require a certain suspension of disbelief, but for all that I did enjoy it a great deal. And, it was such a long book!

The novel is in two parts. While the 1st hooked into my undercover cop fiend and fascination with men and big guns, it was the 2nd part that appealed more. The wounded soldier with life changing injuries shtick just floats my boat.

What drew me in was how well the characters fit together. Gabriel was feisty and fiery with Miguel being a perfect conterpoint with his smooth and charming nature. It also made me laugh several times when Miguel is trying to be somewhat romantic and admittedly getting just a little dribbly and Gabriel just scoffs at him. Towards the end Gabriel has the most classic line, “Jesus, the shit you talk, Antonio. Go on.” It was so perfect and had me sniggering. Such a heavy moment and yet it was this ability to poke fun that made me feel that the novel had a lighter side and did not take itself too seriously. I think, that had it lacked these moments of levity the characters would not have been as diverting as they was and I would have been a little more dubious about the premise.

As the book ended in such an interesting place with the characters still in the early stages of a relationship, I’ll be very keen to see what the authors do next. I think Gabriel has a lot more developing to do as a character and I am eager to see the next installment.

Check out the book here via MLRP, or you can get it in ebook from Samhain. ( )