Mexican Heat (Crimes & Cocktails, #1)

by Laura Baumbach, Josh Lanyon

book data

33 ratings, 4.42 average rating, 11 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		54%
4		33%
3		12%
2		0%
1		0%

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published

October 26th 2008 by MLR Press

binding

Paperback, 272 pages

url

http://www.laurabaumbach.com/Mexican_Hea...

characters

Miguel Ortega, Gabriel Sandalini

isbn

1934531057 (isbn13: 9781934531051)

description

A new romantic crime series from the combined, finely blended talents of popular award winning authors Laura Baumbach and Josh Lanyon.

Toug...more

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01/30/09

Elaine rated it:

(review of other edition)

bookshelves: bought-feb-09, cops--sherrifs--private-i-s, gay--mm---mmf--romance, romantic-suspense

Read in February, 2009

I'm going to be counting the months and weeks until the next installment is out. I hope there IS one. No way is this story over!

Mexican Heat is my cup of tea since I love romantic suspense and being in my MM phase, it has the best of both worlds for me. Miguel was the consummate undercover hero. Sexy, unflappable and deadly, he got me all hot and sweaty though the air-con in my bedroom was at full blast. Gabriel, on the other hand, was prickly and as volatile as his Latino counterpar...more I'm going to be counting the months and weeks until the next installment is out. I hope there IS one. No way is this story over!

Mexican Heat is my cup of tea since I love romantic suspense and being in my MM phase, it has the best of both worlds for me. Miguel was the consummate undercover hero. Sexy, unflappable and deadly, he got me all hot and sweaty though the air-con in my bedroom was at full blast. Gabriel, on the other hand, was prickly and as volatile as his Latino counterpart was cool.

Both men are part of undercover operations from different agencies - Gabriel is from the SFPD while Miguel is from the FBI though neither knows that. As far as Gabriel is concerned, he's falling for the bad guy and he just can't do that, can he? While he's shittin' himself to follow through with the op and get out alive, he's hating the fact that the man he can't get enough of will be going down with the rest of the villains. After all, Miguel is the 2ic of Sanchez, the Mexican druglord that Gabriel's mob-boss, Botelli, wants to partner-up with.

Playing cat and mouse all the way, the two men attached to two different factions have to make nice to seal the deal except they're making much more than nice. I liked that this was a "real" romantic suspense in that it wasn't one of those page-after-page of non-stop sex with a dash of mystery thrown in. What sex scenes there were was intense and when there wasn't any sex, the sexual tension, nevertheless, burnt up the pages since both protagonists are together from start to end.

Baumbach and Lanyon have succeeded in giving me a dispassionate, lethal hero in Miguel who maintains his undercover role throughout the sting yet is clearly falling head over heels for Gabriel. I followed every thump of his heart for the younger man and man, when he hears Gabriel is a cop...

The latter part of the story deals with how the two men adjust to reality following the end of their operation. Though they are no longer undercover, the danger is not over and while they continue to fight for their survival, they also have been given the chance to test their love for each other.

Miguel as Antonio, his real name, is a protective motherhen who drives Gabriel nuts but I'm glad to be given a chance to experience this loving, tender side of a man who has had to do some unmentionable things (no details given so not to worry) to become the right-hand man of the Mexican druglord.

I have absolutely NO negative remarks for Mexican Heat. I'd waited a few weeks for this story to come out in e-book and it was everything I hoped it would be. Now, if only I could get my hands on South of the Border, which apparently is a short short story about Antonio and Gabriel after the events in MH.(less)

Like this review? yes (9 people liked it)

4 comments

02/06/09

Sandy rated it:

bookshelves: keepers

Read in February, 2009

Really probably more like 4.5 stars

I really liked it. The sex scenes were very hot, erotic and well done. There was a lot of chemistry between the two guys, Gabriel and Antonio. There were also some pretty heart breaking moments, too. The mob/drug cartel stuff wasn't that thrilling to me which is why I'd only give it 4.5. It just isn't my thing. But I really enjoyed reading what these guys went through and am looking forward to the next in the series (which I hear should come out at ...more

Like this review? yes (7 people liked it)

14 comments

02/06/09

Brenda (natesmomb) rated it:

(review of other edition)

bookshelves: --ebooks-read, -2009-ebooks-read, m-m

Read in February, 2009

A great story with 2 distinct parts before the drug bust and after it. I felt the story and characters were well written. I was kept reading by a need to find out if Gabriel and Antonio were going to be able to work things out together. I'll definitely be looking forward to next installment in this series.

Like this review? yes (6 people liked it)

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02/11/09

Sarah rated it:

(review of other edition)

bookshelves: glbt-fiction

Read in February, 2009

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....more

Like this review? yes (3 people liked it)

1 comment

04/30/09

Katie(babs) rated it:

Gabriel Sandalini is the self tortured hero of this story. He is an undercover SFPD Detective who has infiltrated the West Coast crime syndicate as a gunman. One night, while he is at a gay club, he catches the eye of one of the club goers. Gabriel doesn’t think much of it, even though the stranger is quite the looker. Gabriel has other things on his mind such as helping take down the boss of the Mexican Mafia. As Gabriel makes his way around the club, he finds an empty office where he needs a...more Gabriel Sandalini is the self tortured hero of this story. He is an undercover SFPD Detective who has infiltrated the West Coast crime syndicate as a gunman. One night, while he is at a gay club, he catches the eye of one of the club goers. Gabriel doesn’t think much of it, even though the stranger is quite the looker. Gabriel has other things on his mind such as helping take down the boss of the Mexican Mafia. As Gabriel makes his way around the club, he finds an empty office where he needs a moment of quiet, and is caught. The stranger who catches him, bends him over the office desk, and even though Gabriel tries to escape, he can’t because the stranger has incapacitated him. One thing leads to another, and Gabriel is forced to have some hot and sweaty sex with the stranger. (Some may think this is a forced seduction scene. But we do see, that Gabriel could at any point stop everything that is happening to him. The stranger may hold him down and have his wicked way with Gabriel, but Gabriel has the strength and power to stop this man. The stranger even asks if Gabriel wants it, and Gabriel is very vocal in his answer, which is a very loud, yes.) This is one hot, HOT sex scene, especially because Gabriel doesn’t know what this guy, who basically ravishes him, looks like. It is the best sex Gabriel ever has, because he likes to be dominated, and his one-night stand lover does that very well.

Gabriel is in for quite a shock when he comes face to face with this stranger again. Miguel Ortega is the second in command to a Mexican drug lord. He also still has a very deep interest in Gabriel, but Gabriel tries his hardest to stay away from Ortega because they don’t have any chance of a future with one another. But since both of the crime families they work for will become business associates, Gabriel has no choice but to be around Ortega.

Ortega must go down to Mexico to meet some drug runners and Gabriel goes with him. These two have such incredible sexual tension between them, that they know that this business trip will end up with both of them in bed together. And when they arrive in Mexico, and Gabriel is almost blown up, Ortega is there to protect him. Gabriel can’t help but give into Ortega’s seductive techniques, and they spend a passionate night together in bed. This is another wonderful, hot sex scene between these two men. Alcohol is used in a playful way. And you know that act of rimming that I really don’t care for? Well, I even found that great! Ortega has a way with his hands and mouth, and wants everything from Gabriel. He may want his body, but most importantly he wants his love. The reason Ortega is so protective over Gabriel is a bit twist to this story that I had no clue was coming till more than half way through reading.

Gabriel can’t see how special he has become to Ortega. He denies his feelings for Ortega because he thinks that Ortega is his enemy. These two are surrounded by the possibility of death wherever they go and the fact that they may not have a future with one another, makes their relationship very poignant and emotional. You will be on the edge of your seat wondering if Gabriel and Ortega will be safe and happy. Something does happen to Gabriel, that I think went a bit too far, as if to cement what Gabriel and Ortega have between each other is very real. Other than that, I really could find no other complaints.

Mexican Heat is an excellent and suspenseful action pack story, as well as a romance that singes the pages with its heat. The attraction both Gabriel and Ortega have for one another is smoking hot.(less)

Like this review? yes

1 comment

02/22/09

Erin rated it:

bookshelves: mysteries, romance

Read in February, 2009

This book really impressed me, and I'm sad that the sequels haven't been published yet, because there's enough left unresolved at the end that I want to read more.

I wasn't crazy about the POV division, wherein part 1 is just Gabriel's POV and part 2 is just Antonio's. I see why it was done that way, but I kind of missed Gabriel's perspective in part 2 (although you know Gabriel well enough by that point that you can guess how he'd react to things). I like also how the romance comes ...more

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05/25/09

Kirsten rated it:

Read in May, 2009

A lot of the m/m romance I've read has sucked pretty bad. This one was surprisingly good. The sex-scenes had a few bobbles (Wait, does this guy have four hands?) but the relationship between the men was captivating. The plot was exciting and action-packed, although there was one fairly predictible bit. I'd be interested to see what these authors come up with next.

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02/15/09

Mariana rated it:

(review of other edition)

Read in February, 2009

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.

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05/25/09

Montana rated it:

(review of other edition)

bookshelves: glbt, i-own, mystery

Read in May, 2009

The writing in this collaboration between Josh Lanyon and Laura Baumbach isn't nearly as crisp as I'm used to in Lanyon's solo books, and the more florid style isn't particularly to my tastes.

I also had a hard time losing myself in the plot because I kept wondering if the portrayal of various ethnic characters would be considered stereotypical by someone of that ethnic group—which, in all fairness, may be entirely my own issue.

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