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Kage Trilogy #3
Kage Unmasked
Can their love survive the most shocking revelation?
Sexy college senior Jamie Atwood has fallen hard for MMA dark horse Michael "the Machine" Kage. With his hot muscled body, intoxicating green eyes, and proclivity for rough sex, Kage is a potent aphrodisiac to the innocent boy-next-door. The danger, the intrigue, the feel of his strong hand around his throat, the knowledge that his fighter would kill or die for him. From the moment Kage grabbed onto his hips and channeled all that masculine aggression into claiming his body, Jamie was ruined for anyone else.
Passions run high as the lovers try to assimilate into each other's lives: coming out to family and friends, blending into the high-profile MMA world, dealing with Kage's sketchy uncle. But behind Kage's mask of strength and indifference lies a crippling vulnerability, and a devastating secret. As the mask comes off, past traumas surface, dark desires spin out of control, and the damaged fighter is driven to hurt the man he loves more than life itself.
Sexy college senior Jamie Atwood has fallen hard for MMA dark horse Michael "the Machine" Kage. With his hot muscled body, intoxicating green eyes, and proclivity for rough sex, Kage is a potent aphrodisiac to the innocent boy-next-door. The danger, the intrigue, the feel of his strong hand around his throat, the knowledge that his fighter would kill or die for him. From the moment Kage grabbed onto his hips and channeled all that masculine aggression into claiming his body, Jamie was ruined for anyone else.
Passions run high as the lovers try to assimilate into each other's lives: coming out to family and friends, blending into the high-profile MMA world, dealing with Kage's sketchy uncle. But behind Kage's mask of strength and indifference lies a crippling vulnerability, and a devastating secret. As the mask comes off, past traumas surface, dark desires spin out of control, and the damaged fighter is driven to hurt the man he loves more than life itself.
230 pages, Paperback
First published October 25, 2015
108 people are currently reading
1157 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 563 reviews
November 1, 2015
*** This series is so good.One of the best M/M series I've read...I just ADORE Kage and Jamie ***
OH GOD,I'm totally gushing about this series!!
This book finds Jamie and Kage back on track with the realization that Kage's uncle has been deliberately keeping them apart.
I just love these two guys.
They are just perfect together.
Kage is so assertive,hot and so damn sexy.I think I might have actually growled a few times when he gets going!!
And Jamie is still adorably submissive but does have his moments here.
I have loved everything about these books and having read them back to back have been in a happy place,without doubt.
These are some of the hottest M/M sex scenes ever but it's not just about the sex.
It's an amazing story of two people,who were totally meant to be,falling in love...regardless of gender.
These books,for me,are in a different league to a lot of M/M erotic books.
To anyone who enjoys M/M Erotica/Romance I cannot recommend highly enough.
I'm seriously going to miss these boys!!!!
OH GOD,I'm totally gushing about this series!!
This book finds Jamie and Kage back on track with the realization that Kage's uncle has been deliberately keeping them apart.
I just love these two guys.
They are just perfect together.
Kage is so assertive,hot and so damn sexy.I think I might have actually growled a few times when he gets going!!
And Jamie is still adorably submissive but does have his moments here.
I have loved everything about these books and having read them back to back have been in a happy place,without doubt.
These are some of the hottest M/M sex scenes ever but it's not just about the sex.
It's an amazing story of two people,who were totally meant to be,falling in love...regardless of gender.
These books,for me,are in a different league to a lot of M/M erotic books.
To anyone who enjoys M/M Erotica/Romance I cannot recommend highly enough.
I'm seriously going to miss these boys!!!!
January 1, 2016
Final round of the Kage series (for now).
I must say I was really disappointed in this installment. These characters are very extreme sometimes and I've always been pretty tolerant and understanding with them, accepting them the way they are. But enough is enough. I was seriously having problems dealing with it all.
First of all, the author leaves things hanging in the air. It's true that some of them are solved in the following pages, but not at the speed the conclusions should happen. Things come at their own pace, and it's weird when the characters don't waste a second thought about them. If I had a , I wouldn't sleep so profoundly at night, for instance. But it seemed it was alright for them. Jamie feels at ease when he's told that Santori is not dangerous, and just like that, he goes on with his life as if nothing wrong happens even when he's aware he's being .
Secondly, the ending is one of the most inconclusive and illogical I have ever seen. I've complained before that Maris Black is weak in her endings. They are quite rushed for me, they overlook important facts that should be considered. But here it takes a new level. To sum it up, hell breaks loose on page 155 and since then on everything becomes so surrealistic and unbelievable I thought I was watching a David Lynch movie and not a love story.
I rolled my eyes so often I thought the extrinsic muscles of my eyes would explode from the effort. No way in hell this would happen in real life.
Big-super-big spoiler here. Read at your own risk:
I'm more than shocked this all occurred to the author and even more that she was fine with it all because it's more of a dream than a book.
But that wasn't everything. Little details like Vanessa Hall are also forgotten. She appears once and suddenly she is not mentioned again. She should be there somehow, even is she's just Kage's charade. Nothing is told about the process of . Aaron, the good bodyguard, is just smoke, he's not there again. We see nothing of Jamie finishing school or dealing with family issues. All in all, this book could have been the cheer on top in the series but it was in fact lower than a hole in the road. And I feel frustration and disappointment in seeing that yes, that things can be twisted very fast but also feel stupid because I should have seen it coming.
And something I didn't understand at all is why Kage wants to be a MMA fighter with all his being and why Santori has the same obsession. It just doesn't make sense. How can someone be coerced if the bully wants the same thing? I mean, if you threaten someone it's because you threaten to shatter his goals somehow. If the bully and the bullied have the same goal... it's not a real menace, right? Above all when that same bully supports you to achieve your dream. Well, I just want to say that I don't understand the difficult relationship between Kage and Santori, after all the occasions we are repeatedly told that Santori forces Kage follow his wishes, but that they share the same wishes. How can you say Kage is forced to do something he obviously wants to do? And then, why does Kage wants it so badly when his motivations are not clearly defined? It's a bad thing Kage wants to become a fighter or not? I'm clueless in that sense.
So, why didn't I give this book the lowest of ratings? Well, for instance, because I love Kage and Jamie together. They fit that way. I have a love-hate relationship with this trilogy. The books amaze me because I'm hooked, but I also see all those OTT situations and the drama-queen-ish characters and wonder how it's possible I want more. The beginning of the book is written in the same style of the previous installments, which is fine with me. Yes, there were improbable scenes and ridiculous situations but more or less I could take it. So I balanced all the facts and decided it wasn't a total waste, but it was definitely not the book I expected from this author, either.
PS: Everything was supposed to be Italian here: Santori, the Grotto... but then the hotel has a Spanish name: the Alcazar. Uhm, sounds weird to me. Although Las Vegas in the state of Nevada are other Spanish names. So I'm not sure if the author got confused with the Italian and Spanish or not. I'll leave it there.
I must say I was really disappointed in this installment. These characters are very extreme sometimes and I've always been pretty tolerant and understanding with them, accepting them the way they are. But enough is enough. I was seriously having problems dealing with it all.
First of all, the author leaves things hanging in the air. It's true that some of them are solved in the following pages, but not at the speed the conclusions should happen. Things come at their own pace, and it's weird when the characters don't waste a second thought about them. If I had a , I wouldn't sleep so profoundly at night, for instance. But it seemed it was alright for them. Jamie feels at ease when he's told that Santori is not dangerous, and just like that, he goes on with his life as if nothing wrong happens even when he's aware he's being .
Secondly, the ending is one of the most inconclusive and illogical I have ever seen. I've complained before that Maris Black is weak in her endings. They are quite rushed for me, they overlook important facts that should be considered. But here it takes a new level. To sum it up, hell breaks loose on page 155 and since then on everything becomes so surrealistic and unbelievable I thought I was watching a David Lynch movie and not a love story.
I rolled my eyes so often I thought the extrinsic muscles of my eyes would explode from the effort. No way in hell this would happen in real life.
Big-super-big spoiler here. Read at your own risk:
I'm more than shocked this all occurred to the author and even more that she was fine with it all because it's more of a dream than a book.
But that wasn't everything. Little details like Vanessa Hall are also forgotten. She appears once and suddenly she is not mentioned again. She should be there somehow, even is she's just Kage's charade. Nothing is told about the process of . Aaron, the good bodyguard, is just smoke, he's not there again. We see nothing of Jamie finishing school or dealing with family issues. All in all, this book could have been the cheer on top in the series but it was in fact lower than a hole in the road. And I feel frustration and disappointment in seeing that yes, that things can be twisted very fast but also feel stupid because I should have seen it coming.
And something I didn't understand at all is why Kage wants to be a MMA fighter with all his being and why Santori has the same obsession. It just doesn't make sense. How can someone be coerced if the bully wants the same thing? I mean, if you threaten someone it's because you threaten to shatter his goals somehow. If the bully and the bullied have the same goal... it's not a real menace, right? Above all when that same bully supports you to achieve your dream. Well, I just want to say that I don't understand the difficult relationship between Kage and Santori, after all the occasions we are repeatedly told that Santori forces Kage follow his wishes, but that they share the same wishes. How can you say Kage is forced to do something he obviously wants to do? And then, why does Kage wants it so badly when his motivations are not clearly defined? It's a bad thing Kage wants to become a fighter or not? I'm clueless in that sense.
So, why didn't I give this book the lowest of ratings? Well, for instance, because I love Kage and Jamie together. They fit that way. I have a love-hate relationship with this trilogy. The books amaze me because I'm hooked, but I also see all those OTT situations and the drama-queen-ish characters and wonder how it's possible I want more. The beginning of the book is written in the same style of the previous installments, which is fine with me. Yes, there were improbable scenes and ridiculous situations but more or less I could take it. So I balanced all the facts and decided it wasn't a total waste, but it was definitely not the book I expected from this author, either.
PS: Everything was supposed to be Italian here: Santori, the Grotto... but then the hotel has a Spanish name: the Alcazar. Uhm, sounds weird to me. Although Las Vegas in the state of Nevada are other Spanish names. So I'm not sure if the author got confused with the Italian and Spanish or not. I'll leave it there.
November 3, 2021
3 stars.
overall rating for the whole series - 4 stars.
this was a really fun, enjoyable series overall. i basically binged the whole thing in one day lol.
we finally get to find out Kage’s full story in this book, so yay! obviously it was super tragic and sad, but nothing that surprising. you can kind of piece together a lot of the details, before the actual full story finally gets told.
we got a lot of cute and sexy moments between Kage and Jamie in this. i’m honestly such trash for these two, you have no idea… they are just so fucking perfect together. these two had such great chemistry, it was hard not to root for them. they did have a lot of stupid misunderstandings and the lack of communication was a little facepalm inducing at times, but somehow i didn’t find it overwhelmingly annoying. i just wanted these two idiots to be happy more than anything.
the ending was definitely super cute, but it seemed a little rushed overall. i was just left craving a little more happy times at the end tbh, especially because of what they went through. it just all got tied up a little too quickly for me.
we definitely got some very dramatic, OTT plots in this, but i honestly ate them all up…🤣 some authors just have a knack for making me enjoy the most outrageous plots and it seems like this author is one of them. i’m definitely interested in checking out more of this author’s work now.
if you ever feel like reading an addictive, quick paced, steamy, passionate, angsty series, with very lovable, but complicated characters, i definitely recommend this series.
this honestly wasn’t anything that special overall when i really think about it, but it had such an addictive quality to it. i honestly couldn’t put these damn books down. as i mentioned, i binged all three books in a single day, so i count that as a win.😌
overall rating for the whole series - 4 stars.
this was a really fun, enjoyable series overall. i basically binged the whole thing in one day lol.
we finally get to find out Kage’s full story in this book, so yay! obviously it was super tragic and sad, but nothing that surprising. you can kind of piece together a lot of the details, before the actual full story finally gets told.
we got a lot of cute and sexy moments between Kage and Jamie in this. i’m honestly such trash for these two, you have no idea… they are just so fucking perfect together. these two had such great chemistry, it was hard not to root for them. they did have a lot of stupid misunderstandings and the lack of communication was a little facepalm inducing at times, but somehow i didn’t find it overwhelmingly annoying. i just wanted these two idiots to be happy more than anything.
the ending was definitely super cute, but it seemed a little rushed overall. i was just left craving a little more happy times at the end tbh, especially because of what they went through. it just all got tied up a little too quickly for me.
we definitely got some very dramatic, OTT plots in this, but i honestly ate them all up…🤣 some authors just have a knack for making me enjoy the most outrageous plots and it seems like this author is one of them. i’m definitely interested in checking out more of this author’s work now.
if you ever feel like reading an addictive, quick paced, steamy, passionate, angsty series, with very lovable, but complicated characters, i definitely recommend this series.
this honestly wasn’t anything that special overall when i really think about it, but it had such an addictive quality to it. i honestly couldn’t put these damn books down. as i mentioned, i binged all three books in a single day, so i count that as a win.😌
August 28, 2023
Absolutely great series with fantastic narration by JF Harding.
************
Kage Trilogy
Book 1 - Kage - 4.25 stars
Book 2 - Kage Unleashed - 4.5 stars
Book 3 - Kage Unmasked - 4.25 stars
************
Kage Trilogy
Book 1 - Kage - 4.25 stars
Book 2 - Kage Unleashed - 4.5 stars
Book 3 - Kage Unmasked - 4.25 stars
September 14, 2018
3.5 Stars
The title is really fitting for the story. In this book, we find about Kage's past and all the secrets! And that affects their love-life.
Can their love survive the most shocking revelation?
Told in dual POV, 1st person. It's well-written and both characters were still likable. It's the third installment in the "Kage Trilogy" and has to be read in order. Overall, it was a good read and hope you enjoy it as well!
The title is really fitting for the story. In this book, we find about Kage's past and all the secrets! And that affects their love-life.
Can their love survive the most shocking revelation?
Told in dual POV, 1st person. It's well-written and both characters were still likable. It's the third installment in the "Kage Trilogy" and has to be read in order. Overall, it was a good read and hope you enjoy it as well!
October 10, 2017
5++++ for the Audio version
All of these guys have got someone to go home to after the fight. They’ve got their baby, I’ve got mine: Jamie Atwood. That’s who I love. He’s the one I go home to at night, and who patches me up after I get beaten down.”
This book was an emotional roller coaster, I got hooked to the audio and never looked back.
Kage and Jamie got chemistry, there was no faking i felt their connection, enjoyed their journey and growth. I don’t regret picking up this series. IMO this relationship was so f****d up , and they deserve each other.
All I can say is I loved it. Was it OTT at times .. ummmm! YES did I care Nope !.
I’ve got to say Kage’s POV at times had me like:
The sex was HOT and frequent in this one and i loved that, can’t complain.
I felt like the ending was rushed and got a little soapy.
Kage laughed again, smiled his dazzling smile, and sent a subtle wink to the camera— to me. And my heart melted when he said, “Sorry, guys. I’m already taken.”
Jamie you Lucky Bastard.
Overall I had an amazing time listening to the audio book.
Jamie and Kage
October 29, 2015
***3.5 Stars***
He was mine, and I loved him. But fuck if the man wasn't dangerous.
After gobbling up all three books in almost as many days, my addicting journey with Kage and Jamie has come to an end. Unfortunately, the ending has left me a bit underwhelmed.
Let's start with the positives.
♥ Jamie and Kage have finally worked through most of their issues as a couple. They've gotten to a place where they truly do trust each other and know that whatever comes their way, they can handle together.
♥ Jamie stepped up to the plate and was more than a lover for Kage. He still had his moments of naivete and immaturity, but he had also grown and come into his own. He felt comfortable enough in himself and in their relationship where he could flip the script and be the aggressor...take the lead and fight for what he wants.
He wasn't domineering, and he wasn't an alpha, but he was a quiet conqueror. He must have been, because he'd certainly conquered me.
He had a shy and quiet confidence about him, which you could see building and growing over the course of the three books. He wasn't intimidated by Kage's life anymore, rather he accepted it and stood beside Kage ready to tackle whatever came their way.
...this thing with Kage? This was a whole 'nother level. I was playing in the big leagues now, and I was pretty sure I deserved Rookie of the Year.
♥ I loved the development of Jamie's friends and family. Their reaction to Kage and Jamie's relationship was just what the guys needed to give them the boost that things will be okay and that everything will work out. Even douchey Braden won me over by the end. And Jamie's dad ended up stealing the spotlight from his mom....which if you'd told me that in the beginning, I would have given you "you're crazy!" squinty eyes.
Unfortunately, there were also some serious letdowns.
- The big buildup revealing Kage's childhood felt underdeveloped. Almost like the author wasn't fully committed to "going there." The manner in which the reveal happened was intriguing, but I wanted more. More details. More emotion. It was as though you were given the story and the author was like "isn't that sad?" And then she followed that up with a three week time jump where Kage miraculously dealt with his issues. Ta da. Cured. Meanwhile, I'm still left with about a dozen questions.
- The final showdown with Kage's uncle was over the top, not very believable, and frankly felt slapped together. Almost as though the author had ideas of what she wanted to happen and then just threw it all together. Too many ideas and not enough OOMPH in the execution. It lacked the intensity that was promised over the course of the series. Also, I have a hard time believing that Jamie would have no residual effects of what went down.
- And speaking of intensity...where was the dark, passionate and all consuming sex that Kage and Jamie craved. Again, what was given in the first couple of books ended up feeling watered down here. The darker urges that bonded them so uniquely were lackluster and few and far between.
- Finally, which this is more of a personal issue, I don't feel like this is a true HEA ending. Maybe HFN's are more of the author's style (this is my first time reading Maris Black)? But a few things are still open ended for me. Maybe she'll write more of Jamie and Kage? Maybe she likes the reader to use their imagination about where the characters go from here? But my first thought after reading the last line was, "that's it?"
Overall, I've enjoyed my time with Kage and Jamie and do hope we get more of them in the future. Even though it's now time for me to detox from this addicting series, I wouldn't mind another hit down the road.
November 11, 2015
I've got no one to blame but myself. I should've quit after book 1, but the cliffhangers demanded I keep going. Damn book OCD forcing me to finish. I'm obviously the minority- but I felt like I was reading a different series than everyone else. The melodrama and the OTT storyline only intensified here. All I could do is shake my head at times.... I don't think this author's writing is for me. I don't want to turn this into a ranting review so I'll stop here.
May 11, 2019
5 Emotional Stars
This trilogy has gutted me on so many levels, what an emotional rollercoaster! My heart broke over and over for Jamie and Kage.
These two men love and need each other so much, their feelings seem to come off the pages at you while reading. All the dramas of the previous books come to a boiling point in this one and what a head fuck it was! Learning about Kage's pained childhood and what his uncle had done broke my heart.
My reviews for this trilogy have been vague because I don't want to give anything away. I have loved everything about this trilogy, if I had one complaint it would be that it ended to soon. I WANT MORE!!!!
Full of drama, suspense, heat and a little crime this is a fantastically written trilogy. I am off to 1-Click all the Maris Black books I can find ;).
This trilogy has gutted me on so many levels, what an emotional rollercoaster! My heart broke over and over for Jamie and Kage.
These two men love and need each other so much, their feelings seem to come off the pages at you while reading. All the dramas of the previous books come to a boiling point in this one and what a head fuck it was! Learning about Kage's pained childhood and what his uncle had done broke my heart.
My reviews for this trilogy have been vague because I don't want to give anything away. I have loved everything about this trilogy, if I had one complaint it would be that it ended to soon. I WANT MORE!!!!
Full of drama, suspense, heat and a little crime this is a fantastically written trilogy. I am off to 1-Click all the Maris Black books I can find ;).
February 17, 2018
⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Was that it?*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱
It was an okay ending, but I felt like we didn't really get any closure... do we get more? I mean, I feel like we didn't get enough of Jamie Atwood (21) and MMA fighter, Michael ‘The Machine’ Kage
“What are you doing?” I growled, sounding more amused than the angry I was going for. “Trying to keep you here,” he said earnestly, locking his eyes on mine. “You can stay in my bedroom, and we’ll just lock the door and have mad sex twenty-four-seven.”
Quick basic facts:
Genre: - (New Adult?) Contemporary Romance (M/M)
Series: - Series, Book Three.
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Favorite character? - Michael ‘The Machine’ Kage
Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Unsure.
Would I recommend this book/series? - Unsure.
Will I read this again in the future? - No.
Rating - 2.5 stars.
November 17, 2025
Reread November 2025
RTC
Original Review:
“If you knew him better, you wouldn’t be worried, though. He knows what he’s doing. Nothing he does is ever accidental.”
4.25⭐️
This was a rough ride and it took twists I wasn’t expecting. With everything that went down I don’t feel like everything had enough room to breathe. I felt like everything happened far too fast and we didn’t get enough time to digest it and learn more things deeply with more emotions. If it was drawn out I feel like I would have personally had more of an emotional reaction to some of the things that happened. Either way, I am happy they got their HEA but it still didn’t hit as good as the 1st installment but was better than the second. I will continue to with the next trilogy sometime soon.
January 9, 2016
4.5 stars for this one. Half star penalty for the pantry sex.
February 23, 2018
WELCOME TO THE MACHINE.
I devoured these three stories. I practically mainlined them like they were heroin and I was on a bender. I enjoyed them thoroughly and couldn't read and turn the pages fast enough.
That being said, it's not the greatest of plots (there are plot holes I could drive a semi truck through), the characters are sometimes caricature-like, the mental health professional is terribly portrayed (and in real life would probably be sued for malpractice), and there are so many instances where I was absolutely floored by just how unhealthy the relationship between Jamie and Michael is I can't even count them all (possessiveness, jealousy, rage-filled, dub con...nope...can't count 'em). I mean, I absolutely, unequivocally disagree with their "relationship" as it's described in the books. It's a toxic, horribly dysfunctional relationship that I can't see ever being truly healthy or functional.
The stories remind me of an M/M rougher sex version of Katy Evan's "Real" and Jamie McGuire's "Beautiful Disaster".
That being said, Jamie is just as fucked up as Michael, though he doesn't have same kind of skeletons in his closet. Ultimately, they deserve each other. They feed off each other and they're whole together. A whole lot of what, I can't really say, but whole nonetheless.
So, cheers, Ms. Black, for getting me to enjoy something I would normally be screaming my head off about. Kudos for getting me to put aside my own personal preferences to simply enjoy these stories.
NOTE: I'm reviewing all three books together because they are not standalones. The first two end in cliffhangers and the third ties it all up.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
I devoured these three stories. I practically mainlined them like they were heroin and I was on a bender. I enjoyed them thoroughly and couldn't read and turn the pages fast enough.
That being said, it's not the greatest of plots (there are plot holes I could drive a semi truck through), the characters are sometimes caricature-like, the mental health professional is terribly portrayed (and in real life would probably be sued for malpractice), and there are so many instances where I was absolutely floored by just how unhealthy the relationship between Jamie and Michael is I can't even count them all (possessiveness, jealousy, rage-filled, dub con...nope...can't count 'em). I mean, I absolutely, unequivocally disagree with their "relationship" as it's described in the books. It's a toxic, horribly dysfunctional relationship that I can't see ever being truly healthy or functional.
“Obviously, other people can see what you can’t. It makes sense. When people are in a new relationship, they have blinders on, and in your case it’s worse. You’re a lot like your mother. You see what you want to see. The two of you just float around in this world you’ve made up for yourselves, and any time reality doesn’t suit you, you just ignore it.”
“I think I’m in love with him, Dad.”
The stories remind me of an M/M rougher sex version of Katy Evan's "Real" and Jamie McGuire's "Beautiful Disaster".
The problem was that I was selfish. I’d wanted him. Hell, even that was sugar-coating it in my favor. I’d wanted to take his innocence, and fuck him, and hold his face down in the pillow, and take every ounce of pride he had. I wanted him to worship me. I wanted to use his body until I’d had my fill, only now I wasn’t sure if that point of satisfaction would ever come. I’d underestimated my own capacity for feelings, and in doing that I’d altered his life forever.
There was no way we could keep going on the course I’d set us on.
That being said, Jamie is just as fucked up as Michael, though he doesn't have same kind of skeletons in his closet. Ultimately, they deserve each other. They feed off each other and they're whole together. A whole lot of what, I can't really say, but whole nonetheless.
As always, pain was part of our relationship, and I cherished the physical pain, the way it reminded me. It was the emotional pain I couldn’t stand.
“I love you, Jamie,” he growled against my ear. “I’ll do anything for you.”
“Oh, God. I love you, too.”
So, cheers, Ms. Black, for getting me to enjoy something I would normally be screaming my head off about. Kudos for getting me to put aside my own personal preferences to simply enjoy these stories.
NOTE: I'm reviewing all three books together because they are not standalones. The first two end in cliffhangers and the third ties it all up.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
November 1, 2015
Overall book rating 5+++++++++ I'm already taken stars
Audio book N/A
Book Cover 4 stars
WOW...... What the hell can I say??????? What a freaking journey!!!!!
I went from this
Straight to this
And the rest of the book went like this
@ the end I loved every word. This was just one of those books you will never forget it was real, it was raw and it was awesome as hell!!!!
I will Love Kage and Jamie till the end of time - Love you boys to death!!!
Audio book N/A
Book Cover 4 stars
WOW...... What the hell can I say??????? What a freaking journey!!!!!
I went from this
Straight to this
And the rest of the book went like this
@ the end I loved every word. This was just one of those books you will never forget it was real, it was raw and it was awesome as hell!!!!
I will Love Kage and Jamie till the end of time - Love you boys to death!!!
November 2, 2015
I'm not sure I was reading the same book as everyone else giving this 5 stars. I have read other books by Maris Black and enjoyed them but this series really disappointed me. Jamie was an immature whiny jerk for most of the story. Really--Cameron who he had barely exchanged a few words with? Jamie went from an accomplished sportsman who played basketball in college to a twink between books 1 and 3. I liked Kage but felt the whole plot about his life was unbelievable. The therapist slapping Jamie? The fact Aaron didn't tell them where she was when he was with Aldo all the time and must have known? No explanation as to why Aaron chose Kage? What happened to the Uncle brushed off even though there was a dead man in his appt? Just unlikeable characters, weak plot and unbelievable resolution. Color me very disappointed.
August 25, 2025
3rd reread, August 25th 2025
Apparently I loved this series more 10 years ago. I enjoyed the first 2 installments of this series very much. But this one not so much. It dragged a bit on and then the ending felt too rushed. That was was some OTT stuff happening at the end….
Overall a good 4 stars for the whole series.
*******************************************
Review to come.
Apparently I loved this series more 10 years ago. I enjoyed the first 2 installments of this series very much. But this one not so much. It dragged a bit on and then the ending felt too rushed. That was was some OTT stuff happening at the end….
Overall a good 4 stars for the whole series.
*******************************************
Review to come.
December 27, 2020
This was a crazy mix of incredibly hot sex, dark drama (including murders, yes, plural), I love yous, and sweet funny coming out to family and friends. I loved it.
The drama is completely over the top. There is a fake engagement story which is not really my thing, and that annoyed me. But it was really fun and funny, yet emotional and angsty.
I see there is another trilogy, but I prefer leaving them to their perfect HEA and stopping here.
❤️❤️❤️
The drama is completely over the top. There is a fake engagement story which is not really my thing, and that annoyed me. But it was really fun and funny, yet emotional and angsty.
I see there is another trilogy, but I prefer leaving them to their perfect HEA and stopping here.
❤️❤️❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 7, 2019
So we're just going to call it a day at 5 stars for the series because I basically tore through this like the world didn't exist and I'm on to the spin off series...'Santori'...so overall an awesome series and definitely recommended on audio J.F. Harding has done a superb job with this one.
April 10, 2022
I devoured this trilogy with pleasure!
Only I realized that the alternate covers of these books have nothing to do with the characters? I prefer the first covers.
It was delicious to accompany kage and Jamie, but nothing is perfect. The problem with the third book is the end of it. I found it incomplete and unexplained as to what happened in peter santori's death. How did they manage to explain it to the police? Why did Aaron change his mind and help Jamie and Kage? Things that went unexplained.
I would be disappointed with this lack of explanation of the facts at the end, but I found that there are 3 more books, I hope these explanations are given in the other trilogy.
I will keep my note 4.5 stars, this taking into account all 3 books, but this third book deserved a 4, because of this lack of explanation I mentioned.
I plan to start the next trilogy soon! I hope it's not I plan to start the next trilogy soon! I hope I'm not disappointed. I'm afraid of stories that have too many books and end up getting lost. I hope that's not the case with this one. I really like Jamie and Kage. 💟
Only I realized that the alternate covers of these books have nothing to do with the characters? I prefer the first covers.
It was delicious to accompany kage and Jamie, but nothing is perfect. The problem with the third book is the end of it. I found it incomplete and unexplained as to what happened in peter santori's death. How did they manage to explain it to the police? Why did Aaron change his mind and help Jamie and Kage? Things that went unexplained.
I would be disappointed with this lack of explanation of the facts at the end, but I found that there are 3 more books, I hope these explanations are given in the other trilogy.
I will keep my note 4.5 stars, this taking into account all 3 books, but this third book deserved a 4, because of this lack of explanation I mentioned.
I plan to start the next trilogy soon! I hope it's not I plan to start the next trilogy soon! I hope I'm not disappointed. I'm afraid of stories that have too many books and end up getting lost. I hope that's not the case with this one. I really like Jamie and Kage. 💟
November 20, 2015
Por fin! Doy mi palabra que aunque he tenido la tentación, me he leìdo hasta la última pàgina y ha sido...horrible.
Libro absolutamente mediocre con una trama ridìcula y unos protagonistas que no inspiran la màs mínima simpatìa.
Se me escapa totalmente que cuente con tan buenas crìticas, creo que deberìamos exigir màs calidad, nos gusten o no las historias que nos cuentan los libros, con una trama solida y coherente y unos personajes definidos.
Libro absolutamente mediocre con una trama ridìcula y unos protagonistas que no inspiran la màs mínima simpatìa.
Se me escapa totalmente que cuente con tan buenas crìticas, creo que deberìamos exigir màs calidad, nos gusten o no las historias que nos cuentan los libros, con una trama solida y coherente y unos personajes definidos.
March 3, 2024
reread March 2024
4.5/5 stars
if there was an actual epilogue it would be a solid 5 stars maybe even more.
4.5/5 stars
if there was an actual epilogue it would be a solid 5 stars maybe even more.
January 14, 2016
“Sorry, guys. I’m already taken.”
– Michael Kage
#MeDEAD
I didn’t know it was already published! I’m kinda pissed with myself for not subscribing to Maris Black’s newsletter after I read the first book. GRRR!!!
I just want to thank Maris Black for making me watch UFC. I never watched it before I read this series. Now I’m hooked. LOVE IT! To be honest though, I just watch those fights with hot guys on it… SORRY! *grin*
*MC’s Corner*
• BTW, I LOVE THE NEW COVERS!
• I cant wait for your next book Maris Black! I’m excited!
@gleekidMC
April 6, 2023
3.5
The ott drama of books 2 & 3 was just too much for me this time around, but I still had some fun with this reread.
The ott drama of books 2 & 3 was just too much for me this time around, but I still had some fun with this reread.
September 25, 2019
Re-read 9/25/19
I'm soo sad that I'm done with these books. Of course I will be reading them again and again, but still...
I absolutely loved this series. It's def. going in my top 5 of favorite trilogies.
Kage and Jamie were awesome together....damn I want a Kage of my own ;)
Not gonna spoil the plot, just gonna advise you to read these books. I loved the suspense, the drama, the emotion and the hot as hell sex !!!
5 stars from me !! This is an author I will be following in the future :)))
I'm soo sad that I'm done with these books. Of course I will be reading them again and again, but still...
I absolutely loved this series. It's def. going in my top 5 of favorite trilogies.
Kage and Jamie were awesome together....damn I want a Kage of my own ;)
Not gonna spoil the plot, just gonna advise you to read these books. I loved the suspense, the drama, the emotion and the hot as hell sex !!!
5 stars from me !! This is an author I will be following in the future :)))
July 23, 2016
oh my god, it's sooooo good!
Absolutely incredible - several times I actually got chills. It was almost too intense, too good (don't listen to me, I'm just still reeling from the whole experience).
Seriously, one of the best trilogies I've ever read, or in my case listened to - J.F. Harding was amazing.
Best scene? The pantry - blue hand print (oh my god, too funny).
Absolutely incredible - several times I actually got chills. It was almost too intense, too good (don't listen to me, I'm just still reeling from the whole experience).
Seriously, one of the best trilogies I've ever read, or in my case listened to - J.F. Harding was amazing.
Best scene? The pantry - blue hand print (oh my god, too funny).
November 24, 2015
Great final installment to an addictive trilogy. Gonna miss these two immensely.
July 16, 2024
Jamie and Kage were very toxic and definitely didn't have an ideal relationship, and yet for whatever reason I read the 3 books of this series in two days because I simply couldn't stop, I needed to know what was going to happen.
The ending did feel a bit anticlimactic and I’m not sure how I feel about it that I know that there are 3 more books about Jamie and Kage. Can I just pretend this is their HEA?
The ending did feel a bit anticlimactic and I’m not sure how I feel about it that I know that there are 3 more books about Jamie and Kage. Can I just pretend this is their HEA?
December 27, 2020
* 10 Stars*... Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious !!!
Book 3) Wonderfully written tale by Maris Black of two men who need and want each other and the obstacles in the way. This is more than an interesting trilogy, it's a deeper look at a relationship that grows into amazing love, with true commitment and devotion. There is nothing simple about this. Michael Kage is a MMA fighter, Jamie, his new publicist. Well done anticipation, attraction, fulfilling that yearning and becoming the most important person in each others life, with super hot erotic M/M sexiness, wow !
We get a lot of twists and turns and we find out just how evil Kage's uncle is. Jamie's family is adorable about them being together, and I love Jamie's Dad taking Kage for a ride and "talk". Jamie doesn't want their relationship to cost Kage his future in the UFC, so they are still out of the public eye.
I liked that Jamie is getting stronger and more confident in his personal growth, coming out to their friends and standing up for himself and Kage. This is a thrilling story that is fast paced, impossible to put down. Absolutely ecstatic with happiness over the ending.
Gosh, all three tales are gritty, deep, amazing, sexy, roughly heartwarming, and hopeful. Loved it !!!
Highly recommended series for any romance lover. ENJOY !!!!
======
Book 3) Wonderfully written tale by Maris Black of two men who need and want each other and the obstacles in the way. This is more than an interesting trilogy, it's a deeper look at a relationship that grows into amazing love, with true commitment and devotion. There is nothing simple about this. Michael Kage is a MMA fighter, Jamie, his new publicist. Well done anticipation, attraction, fulfilling that yearning and becoming the most important person in each others life, with super hot erotic M/M sexiness, wow !
We get a lot of twists and turns and we find out just how evil Kage's uncle is. Jamie's family is adorable about them being together, and I love Jamie's Dad taking Kage for a ride and "talk". Jamie doesn't want their relationship to cost Kage his future in the UFC, so they are still out of the public eye.
I liked that Jamie is getting stronger and more confident in his personal growth, coming out to their friends and standing up for himself and Kage. This is a thrilling story that is fast paced, impossible to put down. Absolutely ecstatic with happiness over the ending.
Gosh, all three tales are gritty, deep, amazing, sexy, roughly heartwarming, and hopeful. Loved it !!!
Highly recommended series for any romance lover. ENJOY !!!!
======
April 10, 2023
Sigh. I’m so glad that Kage and Jamie finally got their happy ever ending. But what a roller coaster ride it was getting there! The torturous electric buildup. Brutal MMA fighting. Kage’s looming tragic background. An evil manipulative uncle. The angst. Crazy hot sex. It all made for a highly bingeable series!! And to think that I still have the Santori trilogy—a continuation of their story—to look forward to. These crazy kids just keep on giving.
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