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Fish Out of Water #2
Red Fish, Dead Fish
Fish Out of Book Two
They must work together to stop a psychopath—and save each other.
Two months ago Jackson Rivers got shot while trying to save Ellery Cramer’s life. Not only is Jackson still suffering from his wounds, the triggerman remains at large—and the body count is mounting.
Jackson and Ellery have been trying to track down Tim Owens since Jackson got out of the hospital, but Owens’s time as a member of the department makes the DA reluctant to turn over any stones. When Owens starts going after people Jackson knows, Ellery’s instincts hit red alert. Hurt in a scuffle with drug-dealing squatters and trying damned hard not to grieve for a childhood spent in hell, Jackson is weak and vulnerable when Owens strikes.
Jackson gets away, but the fallout from the encounter might kill him. It’s not doing Ellery any favors either. When a police detective is abducted—and Jackson and Ellery hold the key to finding her—Ellery finds out exactly what he’s made of. He’s not the corporate shark who believes in winning at all costs; he’s the frightened lover trying to keep the man he cares for from self-destructing in his own valor.
They must work together to stop a psychopath—and save each other.
Two months ago Jackson Rivers got shot while trying to save Ellery Cramer’s life. Not only is Jackson still suffering from his wounds, the triggerman remains at large—and the body count is mounting.
Jackson and Ellery have been trying to track down Tim Owens since Jackson got out of the hospital, but Owens’s time as a member of the department makes the DA reluctant to turn over any stones. When Owens starts going after people Jackson knows, Ellery’s instincts hit red alert. Hurt in a scuffle with drug-dealing squatters and trying damned hard not to grieve for a childhood spent in hell, Jackson is weak and vulnerable when Owens strikes.
Jackson gets away, but the fallout from the encounter might kill him. It’s not doing Ellery any favors either. When a police detective is abducted—and Jackson and Ellery hold the key to finding her—Ellery finds out exactly what he’s made of. He’s not the corporate shark who believes in winning at all costs; he’s the frightened lover trying to keep the man he cares for from self-destructing in his own valor.
330 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 4, 2017
104 people are currently reading
544 people want to read
About the author
Amy Lane
252 books3,476 followersAmy Lane dodges an EDJ, mothers four children, and writes the occasional book. She, her brood, and her beloved mate, Mack, live in a crumbling mortgage in Citrus Heights, California, which is riddled with spiders, cats, and more than its share of fancy and weirdness. Feel free to visit her at www.greenshill.com orwww.writerslane.blogspot.com, where she will ride the buzz of receiving your e-mail until her head swells and she can no longer leave the house.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews
December 19, 2024
August 2018: all the stars the second time around, so I'm rounding my rating up to a solid 5! One word: audiobook! ❤️
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***4.5 Stars***
I lost count on how many times Jackson broke my heart this time. The momma bear in me was in full bubble-wrap-up-mode, but thank heavens Ellery took over and showed Jackson that he will take care of him. Always. Loved this to bits and I can't wait for the next book! ❤️
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I lost count on how many times Jackson broke my heart this time. The momma bear in me was in full bubble-wrap-up-mode, but thank heavens Ellery took over and showed Jackson that he will take care of him. Always. Loved this to bits and I can't wait for the next book! ❤️
August 2, 2018
After I finished "Fish Out of Water", I had to jump right into this one. Just to be clear, these books can not be read as a stand alone ;)
I really loved book 1. I fell in love with Jackson and Ellery, and the suspense had me on the edge of my seat. This one though, blew book one, out of the park for me !!
Now this is a romantic suspense, so be sure you like mystery/suspense, before starting this series, because it plays a very big part of the story.
Jackson and Ellery are still together and Jackson still feels the urge to run every 5 minutes. Jackson (and his cat) is living with Ellery, still trying to heal from everything that went on in book 1. They are not "really" living together, because actually "living together" would make Jackson break in to even more sweats :P
That's not how Ellery sees it though.... Damn but I love Ellery !!
Jackson's friend may have been cleared in the first book, but now they have to deal with the fact that there is still a psycho killer on the loose. One that seems extremely interested in Jackson and making him pay.
This book still has a lot of focus on the mystery/suspence, but it also delves a bit deeper into Jackson and Ellery's feelings. My heart really broke for these two at times.
Jackson has a hard time letting go, and much of this has to do with his past, but Ellery is a hardass all on his own, and I admired him for never once giving up on Jackson. Thankfully his persistence is rewarded and the sexy time this resulted in was delicious.
There is plenty of action, blood and gore. I spend a lot of time on the edge of my seat again. I was also quite happy that Ellery's mom "Lucy Satan" came over for a visit again. She really is my kind of woman !!
I am very curious where this author will take us next ;)
Highly recommended, for those who love mystery/suspense, with some romance going on ;)
August 13, 2018
I recall reading some months ago, maybe it was on Twitter or maybe it was on Facebook, but Amy Lane, rather gleefully, mentioned that she was torturing Jackson and Ellery again. And boy does she! I swear, Jackson must have nine lives like his beat-up cat, Billy Bob, because I'm amazed he lived through all that!
Red Fish, Dead Fish is a continuation of the story that began with Fish Out of Water. In my opinion, Red Fish, Dead Fish doesn't really stand alone. The story is romantic-suspense (heavy on the suspense) and Jackson is my kind of alley cat. He's sarcastic and barely domesticated and Ellery is completely besotted and rather uptight, in a proper kind of way. And though they don't often do "sweet", I've got to say, there is a sweetness to them that really shone through all the sarcasm. I rather loved it.
Throughout the story, Jackson and Ellery are trying to track down the rogue cop from Fish Out of Water, that, as it turns out, is a sociopath and a serial killer. Fun times, yeah? And this dude is sick...and not the good kind of sick that all the kids mean when they say "that's sick.". No, this guy is the thing that nightmares are made of. And Jackson is in his sights.
That particular story arc does get resolved, so we're not left hanging. Well, the serial killer part, anyway. Turns out that there is much more for them to look into, so they're not done. Amy Lane has assured us that Jackson and Ellery will have many adventures, so if you're like me, that is good news, indeed! Especially as Red Fish, Dead Fish did not end on a cliffie, or at least much of one. The next book is set up, so we have much to look forward to. And I hope that Jackson's insurance is paid up!
Regarding the relationship aspect of the story, Jackson is settling into his relationship with Ellery, quite nicely. They are both strongly committed to their relationship by the end of the book, so we're not left hanging there, either, thankfully.
Also, I feel the need to mention that I absolutely love the secondary characters that I've met, so far, in this series. Jade, Kaden, Mike, Ellery's mom -- Taylor -- whom Jackson lovingly calls "Lucy Satan", and the nurses, Dave and Alex, at the hospital where I hope that Jackson gets a frequent flyer discount. They are, all of them, good people who -- amazingly enough -- not only put up with Jackson, but really like him (I admit, I adore Jackson, too, so it isn't such a stretch).
I've really enjoyed what I've seen of this series, so far. I'm happy that Amy Lane has entered the romantic-suspense genre and I'm looking forward to more!
Recommended!
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ARC of Red Fish, Dead Fish was generously provided by the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
Red Fish, Dead Fish is a continuation of the story that began with Fish Out of Water. In my opinion, Red Fish, Dead Fish doesn't really stand alone. The story is romantic-suspense (heavy on the suspense) and Jackson is my kind of alley cat. He's sarcastic and barely domesticated and Ellery is completely besotted and rather uptight, in a proper kind of way. And though they don't often do "sweet", I've got to say, there is a sweetness to them that really shone through all the sarcasm. I rather loved it.
"I love you. I’ve never loved another man like I love you. This thing that just happened to you, it feels like the end of the world. But the man in my arms?” Ellery squeezed him tighter, knowing that even if it hurt, Jackson could take it. “He’s still strong. Still good inside. It hasn’t stopped how I feel about him. It doesn’t change how I feel about you.”
Throughout the story, Jackson and Ellery are trying to track down the rogue cop from Fish Out of Water, that, as it turns out, is a sociopath and a serial killer. Fun times, yeah? And this dude is sick...and not the good kind of sick that all the kids mean when they say "that's sick.". No, this guy is the thing that nightmares are made of. And Jackson is in his sights.
That particular story arc does get resolved, so we're not left hanging. Well, the serial killer part, anyway. Turns out that there is much more for them to look into, so they're not done. Amy Lane has assured us that Jackson and Ellery will have many adventures, so if you're like me, that is good news, indeed! Especially as Red Fish, Dead Fish did not end on a cliffie, or at least much of one. The next book is set up, so we have much to look forward to. And I hope that Jackson's insurance is paid up!
Regarding the relationship aspect of the story, Jackson is settling into his relationship with Ellery, quite nicely. They are both strongly committed to their relationship by the end of the book, so we're not left hanging there, either, thankfully.
Also, I feel the need to mention that I absolutely love the secondary characters that I've met, so far, in this series. Jade, Kaden, Mike, Ellery's mom -- Taylor -- whom Jackson lovingly calls "Lucy Satan", and the nurses, Dave and Alex, at the hospital where I hope that Jackson gets a frequent flyer discount. They are, all of them, good people who -- amazingly enough -- not only put up with Jackson, but really like him (I admit, I adore Jackson, too, so it isn't such a stretch).
I've really enjoyed what I've seen of this series, so far. I'm happy that Amy Lane has entered the romantic-suspense genre and I'm looking forward to more!
Recommended!
-------------------------
ARC of Red Fish, Dead Fish was generously provided by the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
March 17, 2019
Audio - 5 Greg T. stars!!
Story - 4.5 INTENSE STARS!!!
Story - 4.5 INTENSE STARS!!!
June 28, 2024
Review from 2018
I've given this an A+ for narration and an A for content at AudioGals.
Please note that there will be spoilers for Fish Out of Water in this review.
Amy Lane’s Fish Out of Waterwas a fabulous listen; an exciting, fast-paced suspense story, interwoven with a steamy, opposites-attract romance laced with plenty of snark and quieter moments of emotional insight and intensity. Needless to say, Greg Tremblay hit the narration out of the park, so I eagerly jumped into the sequel, Red Fish, Dead Fish, which picks up the story a couple of months later. Following a(nother) near-fatal shooting, private investigator Jackson Rivers is still (and, he insists, temporarily) living with his lover, defense attorney Ellery Cramer, while his house – which was shot to bits in the drive-by in which he was wounded – is set to rights. He’s impatient with his convalescence, he’s jonesing to get back to work and he’s on edge about the status of his… whatever it is with Ellery; Jackson doesn’t do permanence and the deep-seated insecurities that tell him he’s bad news and not good enough for anyone to bother with have him pretty much always poised for flight. Fortunately for Jackson, Ellery has him pegged and is well aware that deep down, Jackson is scared of what’s happening between them and that he’s looking for excuses to run. At least – for the moment – Jackson has nowhere to run TO, and Ellery’s patience and gentle, but inexorable persistence seem to be inexhaustible. Not that Jackson doesn’t drive him nuts at times – he absolutely does – but Ellery is every bit as stubborn as he is, doesn’t take any crap and is prepared to wait for Jackson for as long as it takes.
At the end of Fish Out of Water, Jackson and Ellery had brought down the police corruption ring which had seen Jackson’s brother framed for the murder of a young police officer. But that isn’t quite the end of the matter, because one of the group – the man who is responsible for shooting Jackson and is suspected of being responsible for a number of other murders – has escaped and is still at large. Jackson and Ellery have made the police aware of their suspicions, insisting that Tim Owens is dangerous and should be the focus of an investigation, but they have no concrete evidence – and law enforcement is reluctant to move on Owens as it would then call his arrest records into question and open a massive – different – can of worms. Frustrated, but not giving up, Jackson and Ellery continue to look for information and evidence on their own time, evidence which clearly points towards the fact that Owens has killed many times and isn’t going to stop any time soon. His former partner – part of the corruption ring – may have reined him in somewhat while Owens was on the job, but now, he’s off his leash and is escalating, his preferred victims generally being young, pretty and living on the edge, often having just started turning tricks or taking drugs – and they’re beaten, sexually abused and mutilated before being killed. (I’ll say now that there are some scenes in the story that make for gruesome listening, but there’s nothing worse than anything you’ll have read or listened to in most mystery or romantic suspense novels).
But Owens’ next victim is different – and signals clearly that he has Jackson in his sights. And Jackson – still recovering from physical wounds, emotionally battered as he tries to process the unwanted feelings assailing him in the wake of the death of the woman he can’t call his mother – is vulnerable in a way he’s never been before. While Ellery wants – needs – to somehow prevent Jackson from self-destruction, or at the very least, make sure he comes back to him all in one piece.
Amy Lane has once again done a superb job with the different aspects of this story. The suspense plot is really well put-together – fast-paced, full of action and including some real, tense, edge-of-your-seat moments. And the romance… *sigh*. Jackson and Ellery are terrific together; they’re both strong and stubborn, but in different ways and they complement each other perfectly. We learn more about Jackson’s hellish childhood in this book, and his conflicting emotions about the woman who gave birth to him but who was never his mother, are superbly conveyed and utterly realistic. He’s scarred, and he’s damaged, but he’s not irretrievably broken, even though his conviction that nobody could possibly “want to keep him” makes him do some dumb things in the attempt to pre-empt the break up with Ellery that he’s sure must be coming. Thankfully, Ellery is wise to this and sees through Jackson’s passive-aggressive efforts to put him off, although he does recognise that there might come a time when Jackson really will leave.
“If I come home and the cat’s gone,” he said softly. “Then I’ll know you mean it.”
In between all the gore and the chasing after the bad-guy and Jackson struggling to deal with shit on so many levels, there is still time for some beautifully judged snark:
“Are we going to live?” Ellery asked, acid in his voice.
“Probably not – but I may like you more than anyone else I’ve ever killed.”
and some beautifully sweet moments between our two heroes:
“Because the duplex isn’t mine anymore,” Jackson said softly. “And…and if this place isn’t home, I don’t have anywhere to go.”
Oh, and the steamy sex. Can’t forget the steamy sex :P
Greg Tremblay delivers yet another superlative performance that had me laughing, sighing, biting my nails and tearing up a little bit by turns. I just love his portrayals of the two principals – the slightly gravelly edge he gives to Jackson’s voice brings him vividly to life as this no-fucks-left-to-give sort of guy who protects himself in layers of deadpan snark and sarcasm, but who, beneath it all is a warm, generous human being who – forgive the cliché – wants and needs to be loved. Ellery badly wants to fulfil that function, if only Jackson will let him, and Mr. Tremblay perfectly conveys his frustration over Jackson’s destructive streak, the depth of his affection and longing for Jackson to accept what he is so willing to offer in a lighter, often affectionately exasperated tone that can turn into steely-scary when needed. As is always the case with this narrator, his vocal acting, pacing, differentiation and characterisation are all flawless, and he is an absolute delight to listen to. All the secondary characters are just as impeccably and consistently portrayed; Mr. Tremblay mixes things up by using a variety of accents that feel appropriate, even when they’re not referred to in the text, and his female voices are among the best I’ve heard from a male narrator. Ellery’s formidable mother – nicknamed “Lucy Satan” by a doped-up Jackson in the previous book – makes another appearance, and she’s fabulous – cool, collected and clear-sighted, a tower of strength just when Ellery needs it most.
I read somewhere that there are going to be more books in the series, and I have no doubt that I will gobble them up as soon as they appear; part of the storyline here hints at the involvement of a shady government agency which I am guessing may take a greater role in the next book, and I’m already chomping at the bit. Red Fish, Dead Fish is highly recommended, and I WANT MORE!
I've given this an A+ for narration and an A for content at AudioGals.
Please note that there will be spoilers for Fish Out of Water in this review.
Amy Lane’s Fish Out of Waterwas a fabulous listen; an exciting, fast-paced suspense story, interwoven with a steamy, opposites-attract romance laced with plenty of snark and quieter moments of emotional insight and intensity. Needless to say, Greg Tremblay hit the narration out of the park, so I eagerly jumped into the sequel, Red Fish, Dead Fish, which picks up the story a couple of months later. Following a(nother) near-fatal shooting, private investigator Jackson Rivers is still (and, he insists, temporarily) living with his lover, defense attorney Ellery Cramer, while his house – which was shot to bits in the drive-by in which he was wounded – is set to rights. He’s impatient with his convalescence, he’s jonesing to get back to work and he’s on edge about the status of his… whatever it is with Ellery; Jackson doesn’t do permanence and the deep-seated insecurities that tell him he’s bad news and not good enough for anyone to bother with have him pretty much always poised for flight. Fortunately for Jackson, Ellery has him pegged and is well aware that deep down, Jackson is scared of what’s happening between them and that he’s looking for excuses to run. At least – for the moment – Jackson has nowhere to run TO, and Ellery’s patience and gentle, but inexorable persistence seem to be inexhaustible. Not that Jackson doesn’t drive him nuts at times – he absolutely does – but Ellery is every bit as stubborn as he is, doesn’t take any crap and is prepared to wait for Jackson for as long as it takes.
At the end of Fish Out of Water, Jackson and Ellery had brought down the police corruption ring which had seen Jackson’s brother framed for the murder of a young police officer. But that isn’t quite the end of the matter, because one of the group – the man who is responsible for shooting Jackson and is suspected of being responsible for a number of other murders – has escaped and is still at large. Jackson and Ellery have made the police aware of their suspicions, insisting that Tim Owens is dangerous and should be the focus of an investigation, but they have no concrete evidence – and law enforcement is reluctant to move on Owens as it would then call his arrest records into question and open a massive – different – can of worms. Frustrated, but not giving up, Jackson and Ellery continue to look for information and evidence on their own time, evidence which clearly points towards the fact that Owens has killed many times and isn’t going to stop any time soon. His former partner – part of the corruption ring – may have reined him in somewhat while Owens was on the job, but now, he’s off his leash and is escalating, his preferred victims generally being young, pretty and living on the edge, often having just started turning tricks or taking drugs – and they’re beaten, sexually abused and mutilated before being killed. (I’ll say now that there are some scenes in the story that make for gruesome listening, but there’s nothing worse than anything you’ll have read or listened to in most mystery or romantic suspense novels).
But Owens’ next victim is different – and signals clearly that he has Jackson in his sights. And Jackson – still recovering from physical wounds, emotionally battered as he tries to process the unwanted feelings assailing him in the wake of the death of the woman he can’t call his mother – is vulnerable in a way he’s never been before. While Ellery wants – needs – to somehow prevent Jackson from self-destruction, or at the very least, make sure he comes back to him all in one piece.
Amy Lane has once again done a superb job with the different aspects of this story. The suspense plot is really well put-together – fast-paced, full of action and including some real, tense, edge-of-your-seat moments. And the romance… *sigh*. Jackson and Ellery are terrific together; they’re both strong and stubborn, but in different ways and they complement each other perfectly. We learn more about Jackson’s hellish childhood in this book, and his conflicting emotions about the woman who gave birth to him but who was never his mother, are superbly conveyed and utterly realistic. He’s scarred, and he’s damaged, but he’s not irretrievably broken, even though his conviction that nobody could possibly “want to keep him” makes him do some dumb things in the attempt to pre-empt the break up with Ellery that he’s sure must be coming. Thankfully, Ellery is wise to this and sees through Jackson’s passive-aggressive efforts to put him off, although he does recognise that there might come a time when Jackson really will leave.
“If I come home and the cat’s gone,” he said softly. “Then I’ll know you mean it.”
In between all the gore and the chasing after the bad-guy and Jackson struggling to deal with shit on so many levels, there is still time for some beautifully judged snark:
“Are we going to live?” Ellery asked, acid in his voice.
“Probably not – but I may like you more than anyone else I’ve ever killed.”
and some beautifully sweet moments between our two heroes:
“Because the duplex isn’t mine anymore,” Jackson said softly. “And…and if this place isn’t home, I don’t have anywhere to go.”
Oh, and the steamy sex. Can’t forget the steamy sex :P
Greg Tremblay delivers yet another superlative performance that had me laughing, sighing, biting my nails and tearing up a little bit by turns. I just love his portrayals of the two principals – the slightly gravelly edge he gives to Jackson’s voice brings him vividly to life as this no-fucks-left-to-give sort of guy who protects himself in layers of deadpan snark and sarcasm, but who, beneath it all is a warm, generous human being who – forgive the cliché – wants and needs to be loved. Ellery badly wants to fulfil that function, if only Jackson will let him, and Mr. Tremblay perfectly conveys his frustration over Jackson’s destructive streak, the depth of his affection and longing for Jackson to accept what he is so willing to offer in a lighter, often affectionately exasperated tone that can turn into steely-scary when needed. As is always the case with this narrator, his vocal acting, pacing, differentiation and characterisation are all flawless, and he is an absolute delight to listen to. All the secondary characters are just as impeccably and consistently portrayed; Mr. Tremblay mixes things up by using a variety of accents that feel appropriate, even when they’re not referred to in the text, and his female voices are among the best I’ve heard from a male narrator. Ellery’s formidable mother – nicknamed “Lucy Satan” by a doped-up Jackson in the previous book – makes another appearance, and she’s fabulous – cool, collected and clear-sighted, a tower of strength just when Ellery needs it most.
I read somewhere that there are going to be more books in the series, and I have no doubt that I will gobble them up as soon as they appear; part of the storyline here hints at the involvement of a shady government agency which I am guessing may take a greater role in the next book, and I’m already chomping at the bit. Red Fish, Dead Fish is highly recommended, and I WANT MORE!
February 2, 2019
Greg Tremblay did such a fantastic job of narrating the first book in this series that, even though I only liked it, I immediately purchased the audio for this once I was done.
I liked this story waaaaay better.
I liked this story waaaaay better.
June 1, 2022
*4.5*
Why is this series so good?!! Thriller/mystery, MM, PI/lawyer romance, lots of police action, lots of steam, and the dialogue and snark is on point.
Jackson continues to throw himself into the line of fire, you can feel his self-destructive nature. He's constantly wondering why Ellery cares so deeply for him. Watching Ellery's love slowly disintegrate Jackson's personal walls was written to perfection.
Ellery made a mental note to buy Mike something really expensive and manly for Christmas. Like a tractor or truck nuts or a tool system made of adamantium.Truck nuts lol!!! Are these only in America? At least once a week I see these monstrosities swinging from the back end of a pickup truck. OK I seriously got off track with this book review back to the actual story...
Why is this series so good?!! Thriller/mystery, MM, PI/lawyer romance, lots of police action, lots of steam, and the dialogue and snark is on point.
Jackson continues to throw himself into the line of fire, you can feel his self-destructive nature. He's constantly wondering why Ellery cares so deeply for him. Watching Ellery's love slowly disintegrate Jackson's personal walls was written to perfection.
Ellery stopped and ran tender fingertips over Jackson’s cheekbones, his forehead, his eyelids. “I deserve you,” he whispered. “The good and the bad. Don’t take that away from me.”Love these two!
December 27, 2023
Reread/Relisten: December 2023
When family is in town for the holidays it really puts a halt on reading haha
Love this book like the original time I read it, and just like the first time I wanted to smack Jackson right up the head haha!
It’s impressive how patient Ellory is! Now finally on to book 3! Haha
Original Read/Listen: April 2021
Audio: 5 stars Greg B/T is amazing as always!
Book: 4.5 stars
The action and suspense in this was better than book one.
I will say in the middle of the book I wanted to smack Jackson upside the head. He didn’t realize that he had people who cared if he lived or died and decided to go guns ablazing on his own.... if I could have shaken sense in to him I would have!
But really I enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to see how book three turns out!
When family is in town for the holidays it really puts a halt on reading haha
Love this book like the original time I read it, and just like the first time I wanted to smack Jackson right up the head haha!
It’s impressive how patient Ellory is! Now finally on to book 3! Haha
Original Read/Listen: April 2021
Audio: 5 stars Greg B/T is amazing as always!
Book: 4.5 stars
The action and suspense in this was better than book one.
I will say in the middle of the book I wanted to smack Jackson upside the head. He didn’t realize that he had people who cared if he lived or died and decided to go guns ablazing on his own.... if I could have shaken sense in to him I would have!
But really I enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to see how book three turns out!
April 29, 2018
4.5 Stars
I really, really want to read this,but I also want to hold out for the audiobook version...
I held out for the audio and it was soooooo worth the wait.
I'm having to type this up using my crappy, ancient, slow laptop because my keyboard might have had an accident wherein it collided with a glass of Kool Aid and couldn't be saved...so, forgive horrible formatting, grammar, spelling and whatnot because I can't be bothered to fix it right now.
Once again I found myself having to remember that this is an Amy Lane book. For most of it I kept spacing out thinking it was Rhys Ford...and then one of the characters would do or say something and the differences would stand out. One thing that really stands out in this book was my confusion on why a Defense firm would spend so much money, waste so many resources, and devote so much time to a case where they have no real billable hours. Sure Ellery does a bit of pro-bono, and given that Jackson was their in-house PI it would seem a likely scenario. I guess since investigating this would once again stick it to the police in some way it would look good...for future clients to see what kind of representation and effort they're paying for? (Basically, Rhys always does a good job of outlining the who is doing what for whom and why portions of her stories, so the whole plot here made it slightly easier to remember this was AL's book.) (Even if the snark and banter sounded right out of each others' wheelhouse.)
But I do love the banter; the characters are FAR from perfect and their revelations and emotional growth really had me by the heart-strings. Not sure if there are any plans for another one as it felt pretty complete, unlike at the end of book 1 with its unresolved bits dangling all over the place. I wouldn't mind a 3rd installment...or maybe cross these guys over with another series, again.
The additional stories that followed the main book (in my audio version) were an interesting touch. I know I've read Racing for the Sun, but I think I may need to go back and refresh my memory, then listen once more. And as ALWAYS Greg knocked this out of the park. His narrations make everything better, not even gonna lie.
I really, really want to read this,
I held out for the audio and it was soooooo worth the wait.
I'm having to type this up using my crappy, ancient, slow laptop because my keyboard might have had an accident wherein it collided with a glass of Kool Aid and couldn't be saved...so, forgive horrible formatting, grammar, spelling and whatnot because I can't be bothered to fix it right now.
Once again I found myself having to remember that this is an Amy Lane book. For most of it I kept spacing out thinking it was Rhys Ford...and then one of the characters would do or say something and the differences would stand out. One thing that really stands out in this book was my confusion on why a Defense firm would spend so much money, waste so many resources, and devote so much time to a case where they have no real billable hours. Sure Ellery does a bit of pro-bono, and given that Jackson was their in-house PI it would seem a likely scenario. I guess since investigating this would once again stick it to the police in some way it would look good...for future clients to see what kind of representation and effort they're paying for? (Basically, Rhys always does a good job of outlining the who is doing what for whom and why portions of her stories, so the whole plot here made it slightly easier to remember this was AL's book.) (Even if the snark and banter sounded right out of each others' wheelhouse.)
But I do love the banter; the characters are FAR from perfect and their revelations and emotional growth really had me by the heart-strings. Not sure if there are any plans for another one as it felt pretty complete, unlike at the end of book 1 with its unresolved bits dangling all over the place. I wouldn't mind a 3rd installment...or maybe cross these guys over with another series, again.
The additional stories that followed the main book (in my audio version) were an interesting touch. I know I've read Racing for the Sun, but I think I may need to go back and refresh my memory, then listen once more. And as ALWAYS Greg knocked this out of the park. His narrations make everything better, not even gonna lie.
October 17, 2022
4.5 Stars but rounded up, 'cause Billy Bob. Jackson and Ellery are back, and so is Billy Bob. Because that beat up cat, is my very favorite character. Picking up a few weeks after book 1, Jackson, still recovering from his gunshot wound, is on the trail of Tim Owens, who escaped in book 1. He and Ellery have realized Owens is also an escalating serial killer. I highly recommend reading Fish Out of Water before tackling this. You’ll be pretty lost without the details and Jackson’s history. There are also 4 short stories at the end of this book, from Amy’s blog, that I wished I’d read first, as well.
I had a hard time following along with much of the detail and additional names in the first 30% or so. The plot gets a lot more complex than the first case, there’s more action, more danger and poor Jackson never survives anything unscathed. It’s also a much grittier storyline, getting rather bloody, with a few disturbing details at times. The worst is off-page but FYI, there is some sexual abuse and rape mentioned. It’s tense and exciting but there’s also a psychological element regarding Jackson’s state of mind and fear of commitment. Despite the strong focus on the investigation, there’s also balanced emphasis on the progress of Jackson and Ellery’s relationship. Some very good smexy times too!
Jade has a greater role in much of the story, and Ellery’s mom, “Lucy Satan” makes appearances. Secondary characters are always solidly written in Amy’s stories. This series is quite a departure from most of her other stories. You’ll find a few similar elements of angst but she’s absolutely killed it by branching out to suspense. Pun intended! Highly recommended for lovers of this genre and the style and substance the author is known for.
*ARC provided to me by the publisher via Jessie G Books Reviews for review purposes*
I had a hard time following along with much of the detail and additional names in the first 30% or so. The plot gets a lot more complex than the first case, there’s more action, more danger and poor Jackson never survives anything unscathed. It’s also a much grittier storyline, getting rather bloody, with a few disturbing details at times. The worst is off-page but FYI, there is some sexual abuse and rape mentioned. It’s tense and exciting but there’s also a psychological element regarding Jackson’s state of mind and fear of commitment. Despite the strong focus on the investigation, there’s also balanced emphasis on the progress of Jackson and Ellery’s relationship. Some very good smexy times too!
Jade has a greater role in much of the story, and Ellery’s mom, “Lucy Satan” makes appearances. Secondary characters are always solidly written in Amy’s stories. This series is quite a departure from most of her other stories. You’ll find a few similar elements of angst but she’s absolutely killed it by branching out to suspense. Pun intended! Highly recommended for lovers of this genre and the style and substance the author is known for.
*ARC provided to me by the publisher via Jessie G Books Reviews for review purposes*
February 5, 2019
What can I say...when it works, it works...
I considered trying to write a whole new review for this book but honestly I couldn't think of anything to say that was truly different or better than my original review for 'Red Fish, Dead Fish' other than to say that once again Greg Tremblay did a totally fabulous job of narrating this book giving Jackson and Ellery even more depth and character and making me love this couple even more.
'Red Fish, Dead Fish' is the second book in Amy Lane's 'Fish Out of Water' series and like the first one I was gobsmacked. I loved this book. It was more complex, grittier and the sexy times...well they were sexy and sadly Jackson did not come out of things unscathed.
There's a serial killer on the loose and he's got a specific target in mind...and it's Jackson. He's going after anyone he can who's connected to him, but Jackson's surrounded by a strong group of people who care...people like Jade. She's more than his best friend's sister, she's his friend and she loves him like family, his neighbor and friend, Mike. Lucy Satan or more affectionately known as Ellery's mother and my idol...when I grow up I wanna' be just like her. But most importantly he's got Ellery and Ellery's a shark in the courtroom but out of it he's a man in love willing to use every trick he has at his disposal to save Jackson not just from Owen but from himself...
Ellery is awesome. He's got his priorities and he understands that this is not just war...against Owen, it's a battle for love...his love for Jackson and in his eyes all's fair in both.
And Jackson...Jackson is about as cuddly as a brillo pad and yet he's the one who breaks my heart over and over again...
Like the first book we're given a story in it's entirety with possible links to what's going to come next but definitely not a cliffhanger. You could easily read this one and stop there if you wanted to but I would however strongly recommend reading the first book to give yourself a better understanding of the connections between a lot of the secondary characters and the MCs. Again not a necessity but potentially the difference between 'it was ok' and 'I loved it'.
I tend to be more a fan of series that have a different couple in every book but when it works and it's done well like it was in Abigail Roux's series 'Cut & Run' or Josh Lanyon's 'Adrien English' and more recently Eden Winters' 'Diversion' or Kate Sherwood's 'Common Law' series, I will happily jump on board for a series with storylines as strong as the men who carry them and while this is only the second book in Amy Lane's 'Fish Out of Water' series it's shaping up to be excellent and for me the only thing that's missing right now is the next book and maybe more Lucy Satan because...damn that woman rocks. I truly hope that Ms Lane isn't going to keep me waiting too long before I get to share a new adventure with Jackson and Ellery.
*************************
An audio book of 'Red Fish, Dead Fish' was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I considered trying to write a whole new review for this book but honestly I couldn't think of anything to say that was truly different or better than my original review for 'Red Fish, Dead Fish' other than to say that once again Greg Tremblay did a totally fabulous job of narrating this book giving Jackson and Ellery even more depth and character and making me love this couple even more.
'Red Fish, Dead Fish' is the second book in Amy Lane's 'Fish Out of Water' series and like the first one I was gobsmacked. I loved this book. It was more complex, grittier and the sexy times...well they were sexy and sadly Jackson did not come out of things unscathed.
There's a serial killer on the loose and he's got a specific target in mind...and it's Jackson. He's going after anyone he can who's connected to him, but Jackson's surrounded by a strong group of people who care...people like Jade. She's more than his best friend's sister, she's his friend and she loves him like family, his neighbor and friend, Mike. Lucy Satan or more affectionately known as Ellery's mother and my idol...when I grow up I wanna' be just like her. But most importantly he's got Ellery and Ellery's a shark in the courtroom but out of it he's a man in love willing to use every trick he has at his disposal to save Jackson not just from Owen but from himself...
"That's sweet you think your cat loves anybody as much as he loves you. No. Because once you're out of my life, he's coming after me. Think about it, Jackson. Me, all alone in the house, you not there to protect me--I'd be naked."Transparent. And effective.
Ellery is awesome. He's got his priorities and he understands that this is not just war...against Owen, it's a battle for love...his love for Jackson and in his eyes all's fair in both.
And Jackson...Jackson is about as cuddly as a brillo pad and yet he's the one who breaks my heart over and over again...
"Because the duplex isn't mine anymore," Jackson said softly. "And...and if this place isn't home, I don't have anywhere to go."and then you put these two together and the romance is off the charts, I mean seriously these two take sweet talk to a whole new level...
"Are we going to live?" Ellery asked, acid in his voice.Now tell me that just doesn't just melt you into a puddle of goo on the floor. Ok, seriously there are actual words of love spoken between these two and yeah, at times it's different and maybe not quite what you'd expect but it's also sweet and heartbreaking. As determined as Ellery is to make things work between him and Jackson and to make Jackson see how good they are together, Jackson's equally determined that he just doesn't deserve this and that he's not good enough for Ellery...he's just an alley cat that no one's ever really going to want to keep.
"Probably not--but I may like you more than anyone else I've ever killed."
Like the first book we're given a story in it's entirety with possible links to what's going to come next but definitely not a cliffhanger. You could easily read this one and stop there if you wanted to but I would however strongly recommend reading the first book to give yourself a better understanding of the connections between a lot of the secondary characters and the MCs. Again not a necessity but potentially the difference between 'it was ok' and 'I loved it'.
I tend to be more a fan of series that have a different couple in every book but when it works and it's done well like it was in Abigail Roux's series 'Cut & Run' or Josh Lanyon's 'Adrien English' and more recently Eden Winters' 'Diversion' or Kate Sherwood's 'Common Law' series, I will happily jump on board for a series with storylines as strong as the men who carry them and while this is only the second book in Amy Lane's 'Fish Out of Water' series it's shaping up to be excellent and for me the only thing that's missing right now is the next book and maybe more Lucy Satan because...damn that woman rocks. I truly hope that Ms Lane isn't going to keep me waiting too long before I get to share a new adventure with Jackson and Ellery.
*************************
An audio book of 'Red Fish, Dead Fish' was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
January 26, 2022
Me... swooning so hard for these two men
Also Me: A total simp for Ellery
Wants to put Jackson in bubble wrap
and protect him forever.
Me: Crying over how beautiful this relationship is
ALSO ME: Jackson you sensitive IDIOT he walked HOME.
Me: Crying with Ellery when Jakson is hurt and crying with Jackson when Ellery is in danger because HE GOT ATTACHED AND THIS ONE IS MINE.
And don't get me started about Lucy Satan and Billi Bob.
AND THE STEAM GOOD LORDT.
Also Me: A total simp for Ellery
Wants to put Jackson in bubble wrap
and protect him forever.
Me: Crying over how beautiful this relationship is
ALSO ME: Jackson you sensitive IDIOT he walked HOME.
Me: Crying with Ellery when Jakson is hurt and crying with Jackson when Ellery is in danger because HE GOT ATTACHED AND THIS ONE IS MINE.
And don't get me started about Lucy Satan and Billi Bob.
AND THE STEAM GOOD LORDT.
January 15, 2019
5 stars for the audio. If Greg Trembley could read all books it would make me want to buy more on audio. He really is a fantastic narrator.
3.5 stars for the story. These books are entertaining enough. They have action, drama and romance. I do like the messes Jackson seems to find himself in but I do not particularly care for the mental and physical damage that come along with them. Lucky there is Ellery Kramer, who seems to find a way to keep him grounded.
3.5 stars for the story. These books are entertaining enough. They have action, drama and romance. I do like the messes Jackson seems to find himself in but I do not particularly care for the mental and physical damage that come along with them. Lucky there is Ellery Kramer, who seems to find a way to keep him grounded.
March 17, 2019
Sometimes opposites really do attract...
'Red Fish, Dead Fish' is the second book in Amy Lane's 'Fish Out of Water' series and like the first one I was gobsmacked. I loved this book. It was more complex, grittier and the sexy times...well they were sexy and sadly Jackson did not come out of things unscathed.
There's a serial killer on the loose and he's got a specific target in mind...and it's Jackson. He's going after anyone he can who's connected to him, but Jackson's surrounded by a strong group of people who care...people like Jade. She's more than his best friend's sister, she's his friend and she loves him like family, his neighbor and friend, Mike. Lucy Satan or more affectionately known as Ellery's mother and my idol...when I grow up I wanna' be just like her. But most importantly he's got Ellery and Ellery's a shark in the courtroom but out of it he's a man in love willing to use every trick he has at his disposal to save Jackson not just from Owen but from himself...
And Jackson...Jackson is about as cuddly as a brillo pad and yet he's the one who breaks my heart over and over again...
Like the first book we're given a story in it's entirety with possible links to what's going to come next but definitely not a cliffhanger. You could easily read this one and stop there if you wanted to but I would however strongly recommend reading the first book to give yourself a better understanding of the connections between a lot of the secondary characters and the MCs. Again not a necessity but potentially the difference between 'it was ok' and 'I loved it'.
I tend to be more a fan of series that have a different couple in every book but when it works and it's done well like it was in Abigail Roux's series 'Cut & Run' or Josh Lanyon's 'Adrien English' and more recently Eden Winters' 'Diversion' or Kate Sherwood's 'Common Law' series, I will happily jump on board for a series with storylines as strong as the men who carry them and while this is only the second book in Amy Lane's 'Fish Out of Water' series it's shaping up to be excellent and for me the only thing that's missing right now is the next book and maybe more Lucy Satan because...damn that woman rocks.
********************
An ARC of 'Red Fish, Dead Fish' was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
'Red Fish, Dead Fish' is the second book in Amy Lane's 'Fish Out of Water' series and like the first one I was gobsmacked. I loved this book. It was more complex, grittier and the sexy times...well they were sexy and sadly Jackson did not come out of things unscathed.
There's a serial killer on the loose and he's got a specific target in mind...and it's Jackson. He's going after anyone he can who's connected to him, but Jackson's surrounded by a strong group of people who care...people like Jade. She's more than his best friend's sister, she's his friend and she loves him like family, his neighbor and friend, Mike. Lucy Satan or more affectionately known as Ellery's mother and my idol...when I grow up I wanna' be just like her. But most importantly he's got Ellery and Ellery's a shark in the courtroom but out of it he's a man in love willing to use every trick he has at his disposal to save Jackson not just from Owen but from himself...
"That's sweet you think your cat loves anybody as much as he loves you. No. Because once you're out of my life, he's coming after me. Think about it, Jackson. Me, all alone in the house, you not there to protect me--I'd be naked."Ellery is awesome. He's got his priorities and he understands that this is not just war...against Owen, but a battle for love...his love for Jackson and in his eyes all's fair in both.
Transparent. And effective.
And Jackson...Jackson is about as cuddly as a brillo pad and yet he's the one who breaks my heart over and over again...
"Because the duplex isn't mine anymore," Jackson said softly. "And...and if this place isn't home, I don't have anywhere to go."and then you put these two together and the romance is off the charts, I mean seriously these two take sweet talk to a whole new level...
"Are we going to live?" Ellery asked, acid in his voice.Now tell me that just doesn't just melt you into a puddle of goo on the floor. Ok, seriously there are actual words of love spoken between these two and yeah, at times it's different and maybe not quite what you'd expect but it's also sweet and heartbreaking. As determined as Ellery is to make things work between him and Jackson and to make Jackson see how good they are together, Jackson's equally determined that he just doesn't deserve this and that he's not good enough for Ellery...he's just an alley cat that no one's ever really going to want to keep.
"Probably not--but I may like you more than anyone else I've ever killed."
Like the first book we're given a story in it's entirety with possible links to what's going to come next but definitely not a cliffhanger. You could easily read this one and stop there if you wanted to but I would however strongly recommend reading the first book to give yourself a better understanding of the connections between a lot of the secondary characters and the MCs. Again not a necessity but potentially the difference between 'it was ok' and 'I loved it'.
I tend to be more a fan of series that have a different couple in every book but when it works and it's done well like it was in Abigail Roux's series 'Cut & Run' or Josh Lanyon's 'Adrien English' and more recently Eden Winters' 'Diversion' or Kate Sherwood's 'Common Law' series, I will happily jump on board for a series with storylines as strong as the men who carry them and while this is only the second book in Amy Lane's 'Fish Out of Water' series it's shaping up to be excellent and for me the only thing that's missing right now is the next book and maybe more Lucy Satan because...damn that woman rocks.
********************
An ARC of 'Red Fish, Dead Fish' was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
January 4, 2020
Red Fish, Dead Fish is the second book in the series and I would suggest reading Fish Out of Water first to get more of Jackson's background and the case that brought he and Ellery together, which continues here.
Ellery and Jackson are picking up the pieces of their lives after the events of the first book and are now living together in Ellery's place while Jackson is recovering from his injuries and his townhouse is being fixed up after it got shot up to hell in the last book. Well, maybe "living together" isn't quite accurate, because Jackson spends far too much time thinking about how he can walk away from Ellery with his three-legged cat Billy Bob in tow and not have to deal with all those feelings he has for Ellery but can't quite share yet:
About halfway through the book I finally understood how profoundly fucked up Jackson was by his childhood. At points in the book Jackson's actions are unfathomable but as it hits home how damaged he is, it's heartbreaking. As Ellery's mother (who I always picture being played by the marvelous Christine Baranski) asks him “Are you worried that he’s too damaged to stay?” Amy Lane does a stellar job of enriching Ellery's character (who I thought was underdeveloped in the first book) and showing just how deeply he feels about Jackson:
I received an ARC from Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
Ellery and Jackson are picking up the pieces of their lives after the events of the first book and are now living together in Ellery's place while Jackson is recovering from his injuries and his townhouse is being fixed up after it got shot up to hell in the last book. Well, maybe "living together" isn't quite accurate, because Jackson spends far too much time thinking about how he can walk away from Ellery with his three-legged cat Billy Bob in tow and not have to deal with all those feelings he has for Ellery but can't quite share yet:
So many lovers—and only Ellery took him this way. Dorky, prissy, uptight Ellery, who could make Jackson lose his inhibitions. His mind. His heart.The case Ellery and Jackson are working on is truly horrid with a psychopathic killer fixated on Jackson and killing people with "just a little bit of street dirt and some physical beauty. Tim Owens liked to take the “dirty pretty” ones and make them not so pretty anymore." There are some scenes in this book that I found deeply disturbing; although at times, the murder plot line all seemed overly convoluted and it hard to keep track of exactly what was happening, and who was who.
About halfway through the book I finally understood how profoundly fucked up Jackson was by his childhood. At points in the book Jackson's actions are unfathomable but as it hits home how damaged he is, it's heartbreaking. As Ellery's mother (who I always picture being played by the marvelous Christine Baranski) asks him “Are you worried that he’s too damaged to stay?” Amy Lane does a stellar job of enriching Ellery's character (who I thought was underdeveloped in the first book) and showing just how deeply he feels about Jackson:
Ellery would marry him in a heartbeat, whether that meant he got shot tomorrow and Ellery had to live the last four months all over again, or whether that meant he got killed tomorrow and Ellery would cry for the rest of his life.While the crazed killer plot is resolved by the end of the book, there are new (and confusing) ties to a nefarious government agency that will probably carry us into the next book in the Fish Out of Water series. Unfortunately, by the end of Red Fish, Dead Fish it felt like the mystery / murder / suspense plot was the price I had to pay in order to read the "good stuff" - this tender relationship that is slowly unfolding between Ellery and Jackson.
I received an ARC from Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
October 28, 2019
WOW.
Just wow. This might be one of the best things I have read/heard from Amy Lane - and that's saying a lot since everything the woman writes is pretty spectacular.
I love Jackson and Ellery, how great they are together, how strong Ellery can be and allowing Jackson to take that comfort and let his guard down, how they snark and bitch but totally get each other.
And Jackson. Jackson is gonna break your heart in this one, what he goes through and has gone through in the past will totally break you, but he has Ellery now, and a whole family of his friends and now Ellery's mom (Lucy Satan is the very best) and he's gonna be okay, he just needs some TLC to get there.
There is plenty of plot AND romance in this one. And Greg does a perfect job narrating this one as well. There are also 4 short stories at the end of this story (I almost wish they had been at the beginning? Since they span books 1 and 2) and introduces some of the characters from Racing for the Sun, which this series overlaps with.
Can't wait to start book 3!
ETA 10/28/19 - re-listening to this series again to refresh and prepare for the newest book in the series, Fish on a Bicycle! (although, that one's not out in audio and there's no ETA on it since DSP is all f-ed up right now) Just as amazing the second time listening! Jackson and Ellery are my OTP!
Just wow. This might be one of the best things I have read/heard from Amy Lane - and that's saying a lot since everything the woman writes is pretty spectacular.
I love Jackson and Ellery, how great they are together, how strong Ellery can be and allowing Jackson to take that comfort and let his guard down, how they snark and bitch but totally get each other.
And Jackson. Jackson is gonna break your heart in this one, what he goes through and has gone through in the past will totally break you, but he has Ellery now, and a whole family of his friends and now Ellery's mom (Lucy Satan is the very best) and he's gonna be okay, he just needs some TLC to get there.
There is plenty of plot AND romance in this one. And Greg does a perfect job narrating this one as well. There are also 4 short stories at the end of this story (I almost wish they had been at the beginning? Since they span books 1 and 2) and introduces some of the characters from Racing for the Sun, which this series overlaps with.
Can't wait to start book 3!
ETA 10/28/19 - re-listening to this series again to refresh and prepare for the newest book in the series, Fish on a Bicycle! (although, that one's not out in audio and there's no ETA on it since DSP is all f-ed up right now) Just as amazing the second time listening! Jackson and Ellery are my OTP!
March 18, 2018
I felt like Red Fish, Dead Fish was a really strong sophomore installment to the Fish Out of Water series.
There's a solid mystery element, suspense in trying to figure out serial killer Owens' next move, some pretty hairy situations Jackson stupidly puts himself in, and even a bit of suspense in just how far Ellery is willing to go for Jackson and their relationship. Spoiler: He's willing to go all the way.
I loved the way Ellery handles Jackson. Their relationship is so much better this time around. They seem more comfortable with one another and Ellery knows Jackson so well he's able to anticipate certain boneheaded moves before it ruins everything.
I really liked that Red Fish, Dead Fish ties up most of the loose ends from Fish Out of Water and we get an ending where Jackson and Ellery are in a good place relationship-wise, while opening a side plot to be explored in a future story. Yes, it technically ends on a cliffhanger, but it's not the kind that will probably drive anyone nuts.
I have loved listening to this series because I can get lost in Greg Tremblay's voice and just sit back and enjoy. He has great character voices, and he paces his delivery to really draw out the suspense.
While Red Fish, Dead Fish could possibly be read as a standalone, there's a lot happening that directly ties in to Fish Out of Water, so I would definitely recommend reading/listening to Fish Out of Water first for background and the case that finally brought Jackson and Ellery together as a couple.
P.S.: The audiobook includes a bonus after the book of four stories that were posted on various blogs before Red Fish, Dead Fish began that Greg narrates for the listener. Two of the stories involve Ace and Sonny from Racing for the Sun and the action from these stories is discussed in Red Fish, Dead Fish. I sort of wish they'd been at the beginning of the audio rather than the end.
Audio copy of Red Fish, Dead Fish (Fish Out of Water #2) provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange of an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
Initial thoughts: I still think this series is very reminiscent of Rhys Ford's mysteries with plenty of action, pain, and blood...but maybe that's because I link Greg and Rhys so closely in my mind?
August 7, 2017
Inspired by JD Robb and other legends of romantic suspense, the very versatile Amy Lane decided to pen her very own series of romance and action, with a pair of competent, resourceful and deeply damaged protagonists at its center. The deeply damaged, in this case, applies to one half of the couple – Jackson Rivers – the former policeman who was, years ago, betrayed and abandoned by his department, his colleagues, and everyone else that was supposed to protect him.
We first met Jackson and Ellery last year in Fish Out of Water. A year between books is a very long time to wait, but it might be necessary to heal our poor hearts from all the pain Jackson puts us through. Red Fish, Dead Fish picks up more or less where the first book left off, and it promptly delves into the consequences of their first case together. Jackson is wounded inside and out and he’s seemingly recuperating, but he is skittish, vulnerable and slow to commit to Ellery, no matter how much the handsome lawyer wants him to. The guys are still struggling to understand the true depths of the case and they have a tough time getting law enforcement to believe them. While they investigate, the serial killer sets his sights on them in return and does irreparable damage to Jackson’s already fragile psyche.
I realize Jackson is the intended star of this book (even with couples someone is usually at the forefront), but I love Ellery even more. His no nonsense, steady approach to life is very appealing. He never allows himself to be pushed around or pushed away, but he is gentle even when he’s firm. He is the very definition of reliable and I adore him for it.
Red Fish, Dead Fish contains references to Racing for the Sun, Amy’s 2013 novel which I, unfortunately, haven’t read. Because of the links and explanations, the plot becomes somewhat convoluted for a time, but it clears up when the focus turns back to Jackson and Ellery’s personal struggles. Those who haven’t read Racing for the Sun might just have to power through as I did. In my opinion, connecting the two burdened this book unnecessarily.
There are four short stories at the end that I regret not having read first. They would have made the convoluted parts easier to swallow. Anyone delving into this should go in that order and make life easier on themselves. That said, this series is a must read for fans of the genre who don’t mind reading about flawed, reticent men in love.
In conclusion, Red Fish, Dead Fish is another success from an author who doesn’t know how to offer anything less.
We first met Jackson and Ellery last year in Fish Out of Water. A year between books is a very long time to wait, but it might be necessary to heal our poor hearts from all the pain Jackson puts us through. Red Fish, Dead Fish picks up more or less where the first book left off, and it promptly delves into the consequences of their first case together. Jackson is wounded inside and out and he’s seemingly recuperating, but he is skittish, vulnerable and slow to commit to Ellery, no matter how much the handsome lawyer wants him to. The guys are still struggling to understand the true depths of the case and they have a tough time getting law enforcement to believe them. While they investigate, the serial killer sets his sights on them in return and does irreparable damage to Jackson’s already fragile psyche.
I realize Jackson is the intended star of this book (even with couples someone is usually at the forefront), but I love Ellery even more. His no nonsense, steady approach to life is very appealing. He never allows himself to be pushed around or pushed away, but he is gentle even when he’s firm. He is the very definition of reliable and I adore him for it.
Red Fish, Dead Fish contains references to Racing for the Sun, Amy’s 2013 novel which I, unfortunately, haven’t read. Because of the links and explanations, the plot becomes somewhat convoluted for a time, but it clears up when the focus turns back to Jackson and Ellery’s personal struggles. Those who haven’t read Racing for the Sun might just have to power through as I did. In my opinion, connecting the two burdened this book unnecessarily.
There are four short stories at the end that I regret not having read first. They would have made the convoluted parts easier to swallow. Anyone delving into this should go in that order and make life easier on themselves. That said, this series is a must read for fans of the genre who don’t mind reading about flawed, reticent men in love.
In conclusion, Red Fish, Dead Fish is another success from an author who doesn’t know how to offer anything less.
August 22, 2017
What a great second book - Ellery & Jackson are awesome together. They compliment each other and show strength when the other is struggling or vulnerable. Poor Jackson really cops it - constantly, how much danger and injury can a person withstand ??? I love his never say die attitude but he really needs Ellery to calm his thoughts and actions. This storyline continues with the deep corruption in the police force, council and now the higher ups in the military. Can't wait for the next book to see what happens to these guys 😎
August 3, 2017
4 Stars
Red Fish, Dead Fish is book two in Amy Lane's "Fish Out of Water" series, published by Dreamspinner press. This book is NOT a standalone, a reader would be totally lost if they attempt to read this story without reading, Fish Out of Water . In this story we are back with Jackson and Ellery as they navigate their relationship, avoiding being murdered, tracking a killer, and dealing with Jackson's emotional hangups. Jackson has had a very difficult life. Where some kids got birthday parties, Jackson got dinner, if he was lucky. Some kids parents went to parent-teacher conferences...Jackson's mom only acknowledged him when she needed something. So, to say Jackson has emotional hangups and difficulty trusting, believing in someone, or even believing in love...is putting it lightly. Jackson is messed up. He believes the worst will always happen. He believes he doesn't deserve any happiness. He believes that any glimpse of normalcy he may get, will be gone in the blink of an eye...so why even acknowledge it?
“Sometimes stuff is easy to do because it’s right, Jackson. You ever think of that?” Jackson wrinkled his nose. “You’ve met me, right?”
Ellery. He is the balm to Jackson's soul. He is the glue that holds the shaky Jackson together. He is in Love with Jackson. He is afraid he will never get his happy ending, because the man he loves may stop fighting to survive. He has to be very careful with Jackson, who may be tough as nails when dealing with criminals -- he is as fragile as cracked glass on the inside. So, Ellery has to show him love and support Jackson - just right - or Jackson may run, like his tom cat.
“If I come home and the cat’s gone,” he said softly. “Then I’ll know you mean it.”...“You two deserve each other,”...“I deserve you,” he whispered. “The good and the bad. Don’t take that away from me.”
Throughout this book there are a lot of ups and a lot of downs. Ellery has to protect Jackson from himself, several times; and gently nudge Jackson into realizing that he is in their relationship for the long haul and that Jackson will never be alone again. Watching Ellery fiercly love and protect a skittish and traumatized Jackson, was pretty emotional. Jackson, has a LOT of stuff to work through in this book...and I am not sure he fully recognizes just how strong he is.
This story had some epic laugh out loud moments such as Grape Tea I will never forget and a very industrious paper route. Overall, this story is a prime example of why I adore Ms. Lane's writing - she can combine angst, suspense, trauma, romance, and comedy unlike any other to create a story you will never forget! Oh, don't forget the hotness. Lane can write some down right filthy, yet, sexy as hell scenes, her men are NOT shy!
"Jackson needed to be taken irrevocably. He needed to belong, inside and out, to the man who’d hauled him from the darkness to the light."
Another win for Amy Lane - these characters will live with mr forever and I can only hope we will see more of Jackson & Ellery, with their three legged tom cat and maybe some kittens, in the future.
4 Fishy Stars!!
❥❥**´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•`*Review Copy provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Jaime from Alpha Book Club
Red Fish, Dead Fish is book two in Amy Lane's "Fish Out of Water" series, published by Dreamspinner press. This book is NOT a standalone, a reader would be totally lost if they attempt to read this story without reading, Fish Out of Water . In this story we are back with Jackson and Ellery as they navigate their relationship, avoiding being murdered, tracking a killer, and dealing with Jackson's emotional hangups. Jackson has had a very difficult life. Where some kids got birthday parties, Jackson got dinner, if he was lucky. Some kids parents went to parent-teacher conferences...Jackson's mom only acknowledged him when she needed something. So, to say Jackson has emotional hangups and difficulty trusting, believing in someone, or even believing in love...is putting it lightly. Jackson is messed up. He believes the worst will always happen. He believes he doesn't deserve any happiness. He believes that any glimpse of normalcy he may get, will be gone in the blink of an eye...so why even acknowledge it?
“Sometimes stuff is easy to do because it’s right, Jackson. You ever think of that?” Jackson wrinkled his nose. “You’ve met me, right?”
Ellery. He is the balm to Jackson's soul. He is the glue that holds the shaky Jackson together. He is in Love with Jackson. He is afraid he will never get his happy ending, because the man he loves may stop fighting to survive. He has to be very careful with Jackson, who may be tough as nails when dealing with criminals -- he is as fragile as cracked glass on the inside. So, Ellery has to show him love and support Jackson - just right - or Jackson may run, like his tom cat.
“If I come home and the cat’s gone,” he said softly. “Then I’ll know you mean it.”...“You two deserve each other,”...“I deserve you,” he whispered. “The good and the bad. Don’t take that away from me.”
Throughout this book there are a lot of ups and a lot of downs. Ellery has to protect Jackson from himself, several times; and gently nudge Jackson into realizing that he is in their relationship for the long haul and that Jackson will never be alone again. Watching Ellery fiercly love and protect a skittish and traumatized Jackson, was pretty emotional. Jackson, has a LOT of stuff to work through in this book...and I am not sure he fully recognizes just how strong he is.
This story had some epic laugh out loud moments such as Grape Tea I will never forget and a very industrious paper route. Overall, this story is a prime example of why I adore Ms. Lane's writing - she can combine angst, suspense, trauma, romance, and comedy unlike any other to create a story you will never forget! Oh, don't forget the hotness. Lane can write some down right filthy, yet, sexy as hell scenes, her men are NOT shy!
"Jackson needed to be taken irrevocably. He needed to belong, inside and out, to the man who’d hauled him from the darkness to the light."
Another win for Amy Lane - these characters will live with mr forever and I can only hope we will see more of Jackson & Ellery, with their three legged tom cat and maybe some kittens, in the future.
4 Fishy Stars!!
❥❥**´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•`*Review Copy provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Jaime from Alpha Book Club
August 6, 2017
**** Read the short stories at the end of the book first ****
** This novel begins a few months after the end of Fish Out of Water - a time frame in which four short stories included at the end of the book have happened. If you like reading in order, as I do, check the TOC for "Accompanying Stories" - after the last chapter "New Currents to Explore." They are not essential to understanding the novel, but one scene in particular will be a lot clearer for having read them. And they're fun, with a bit of Ace and Sonny in them. :) **
The novel itself follows Jackson and Ellery, as they try to find dirty cop and killer Owens, the bad guy who slipped away in book 1. Despite the evidence they have against him, law enforcement is oddly reluctant to help them out. Until you realize that one issue with revealing a cop gone bad is that every case he touched as a cop is now tainted. Every bad guy he took off the street, every one of his testimonies in court, now has a chance to be undone. That's a can of worms that the department, already dealing with the fall-out from two bad cops, doesn't want to face unless forced to. So it's up to our guys to track down a killer who likes his victims young, pretty, and a bit dirty.
This book doesn't stand alone - Jackson's frenetic self-destructive tendencies, his vision of a relationship as an inevitable failure that he might as well just precipitate, reflects his past that we saw in book 1. Ellery's determination to hang on to this half-wild alleycat of a guy, despite the inevitable bites and scratches, makes sense when you know what they went through together.
The action is wild and non-stop. You have to posit that Jackson has the sky-high pain threshold of a young Labrador Retriever in the hunting field, to believe some of the things he manages to do. But then Jackson has faced a world of past pain, and learned to deal with it, as chronic sufferers do, so it only rarely pinged my limits. There is a lot of heat, and also tenderness expressed mainly as heat, because that's the only kind Jackson will take, or give. There are good cops, mediocre cops, bad cops, and a creepy new antagonist or two. The ending is solid for this piece of the story, but new bad guys still loom on the horizon.
For some reason the angst in this series doesn't stab me as deeply as some Amy Lane books do. (She delivers as good a blow to the heart as anyone I've ever read, in many of her angstier stories.) I'm not sure whether it's Jackson's self-destructiveness and bad choices, or the somewhat frenetic pace, but I was dragged through exciting times on page and felt moderate sympathy, particularly for Ellery, but less intense empathy. Jackson's story is full of pain, maybe so full that there's no resting point from which to experience it, so I read this as more thriller than romance. I think maybe in book 3, now that Jackson isn't struggling against the relationship trap so hard, the next story might be the one where his heart can show past the crazy. I'll definitely pick it up and find out.
** This novel begins a few months after the end of Fish Out of Water - a time frame in which four short stories included at the end of the book have happened. If you like reading in order, as I do, check the TOC for "Accompanying Stories" - after the last chapter "New Currents to Explore." They are not essential to understanding the novel, but one scene in particular will be a lot clearer for having read them. And they're fun, with a bit of Ace and Sonny in them. :) **
The novel itself follows Jackson and Ellery, as they try to find dirty cop and killer Owens, the bad guy who slipped away in book 1. Despite the evidence they have against him, law enforcement is oddly reluctant to help them out. Until you realize that one issue with revealing a cop gone bad is that every case he touched as a cop is now tainted. Every bad guy he took off the street, every one of his testimonies in court, now has a chance to be undone. That's a can of worms that the department, already dealing with the fall-out from two bad cops, doesn't want to face unless forced to. So it's up to our guys to track down a killer who likes his victims young, pretty, and a bit dirty.
This book doesn't stand alone - Jackson's frenetic self-destructive tendencies, his vision of a relationship as an inevitable failure that he might as well just precipitate, reflects his past that we saw in book 1. Ellery's determination to hang on to this half-wild alleycat of a guy, despite the inevitable bites and scratches, makes sense when you know what they went through together.
The action is wild and non-stop. You have to posit that Jackson has the sky-high pain threshold of a young Labrador Retriever in the hunting field, to believe some of the things he manages to do. But then Jackson has faced a world of past pain, and learned to deal with it, as chronic sufferers do, so it only rarely pinged my limits. There is a lot of heat, and also tenderness expressed mainly as heat, because that's the only kind Jackson will take, or give. There are good cops, mediocre cops, bad cops, and a creepy new antagonist or two. The ending is solid for this piece of the story, but new bad guys still loom on the horizon.
For some reason the angst in this series doesn't stab me as deeply as some Amy Lane books do. (She delivers as good a blow to the heart as anyone I've ever read, in many of her angstier stories.) I'm not sure whether it's Jackson's self-destructiveness and bad choices, or the somewhat frenetic pace, but I was dragged through exciting times on page and felt moderate sympathy, particularly for Ellery, but less intense empathy. Jackson's story is full of pain, maybe so full that there's no resting point from which to experience it, so I read this as more thriller than romance. I think maybe in book 3, now that Jackson isn't struggling against the relationship trap so hard, the next story might be the one where his heart can show past the crazy. I'll definitely pick it up and find out.
September 24, 2018
I enjoyed this book immensely. Even though the culprit was known from the beginning Ms Lane made the story suspenseful, filled with adrenaline and good investigative work! Jackson is such a complex character. On one hand he is like a cat - he has, it seems, nine lives and he always lands on his feet no matter what life throws at him. On the other hand he shows this vulnerable side where you see his broken dreams of childhood and motherly love that would never be, the tale of shattered body and damaged soul that looked to be fading until Ellery took him, wrapped him in the blanket of love and comfort and made him whole again.
Ellery deserves a medal in perseverance, sheer stubbornness and ability to see beyond the surface. He is the type of man that once he loves he will give himself completely. I loved how he knew when to push Jackson and when to back away, when to use humor and deflect and when to be open and true. Their relationship is wrought with obstacles, life debris and ghosts of life past that keep turning up like a bad penny. But they move forward, struggle to get up when they fall and just keep being themselves - freaking bada$$es!
The murder count goes in double digits, the brass is scared and ignorant, and it's up to Ellery and Jackson to bring the hammer of justice down. They seek, they interrogate, they chase and run through rain of bullets to finish the mad game of a psychopath who is intent on playing and killing his pray. It's dirty, vile and bloody brilliant - the case is closed, they are still alive barely but they will keep fighting together because they make one heck of a team. I highly recommend it!
Ellery deserves a medal in perseverance, sheer stubbornness and ability to see beyond the surface. He is the type of man that once he loves he will give himself completely. I loved how he knew when to push Jackson and when to back away, when to use humor and deflect and when to be open and true. Their relationship is wrought with obstacles, life debris and ghosts of life past that keep turning up like a bad penny. But they move forward, struggle to get up when they fall and just keep being themselves - freaking bada$$es!
The murder count goes in double digits, the brass is scared and ignorant, and it's up to Ellery and Jackson to bring the hammer of justice down. They seek, they interrogate, they chase and run through rain of bullets to finish the mad game of a psychopath who is intent on playing and killing his pray. It's dirty, vile and bloody brilliant - the case is closed, they are still alive barely but they will keep fighting together because they make one heck of a team. I highly recommend it!
August 31, 2018
I enjoyed this way more on the last re-read and am changing my rating to 5 stars.
I had a weird reading experience with the next book in the series, but Ellery and Jackson are amazing MCs!
I had a weird reading experience with the next book in the series, but Ellery and Jackson are amazing MCs!
March 13, 2018
I really enjoyed this. I grabbed me from page one (or I should say minute one, since I listened to the audio version). I really like the MCs and Amy Lane's grittier mystery focused storytelling really works for me. There was a bit more focus on the romance than in the first book, mainly Jackson working on accepting that he could love someone and be loved by someone and I thought it was done so well. I also thought the mystery was compelling and creepy. My only complaint is that there were apparently some short stories that took place between book one and this book and I didn't know about them until they showed up at the end of the audio. I was glad they were there, because the characters kept referring to things I had no memory of and while sometimes my memory isn't great, it's not that bad so I knew I had to be missing something. I wish I'd known before I started but, oh well, it was nice to have them included in the audio. I'm also going to have to read Racing for the Sun, since the MCs from that book show up in the short stories and the ending makes me think they'll play a part in the next installment of this series.
October 11, 2017
Man, I am starting to love Amy Lane more and more. I'm so happy I gave this author a chance. All I'd heard before reading her books was that she wrote a LOT of angst, like that was her thing. And while that's true, she does it soooo well.
Ellery rubbed Jackson’s pouty bottom lip with his thumb. “I am insecure because you are….” He laughed, embarrassed. “Really hot.”
Jackson ducked his head. “So are you!”
~*~
“Tough. I love you. I’ve never loved another man like I love you. This thing that just happened to you, it feels like the end of the world. But the man in my arms?” Ellery squeezed him tighter, knowing that even if it hurt, Jackson could take it. “He’s still strong. Still good inside. It hasn’t stopped how I feel about him. It doesn’t change how I feel about you.”
Jackson goes through the grinder in this. I seriously had to wonder how he keeps surviving, because like holy shit? It's one thing after another in this. Some, he gets into himself because he's a stubborn ass who thinks he has to go it alone, and some is just thrust upon him by this shitty world.
But now Jackson has Ellery, who is just as big a stubborn ass, because he doesn't give up on Jackson, not once. He almost dares Jackson to leave him like Jackson is trying to get Ellery to leave him, but Jackson never does, for all his fear and insecurities and walls build up around him.
Ellery smashes through all those walls in this, eventually. And when they're down, and it's them together, it's beautiful. It's real and honest.
In this follow up to the first lovely novel, we find Jackson and Ellery still trying to track down Owens, and every few weeks a body shows up that they know Owens killed. But the police won't do shit because they don't want to have to uncover even more possible corruption done by Owens when he was a cop. Ugh. It's unfortunately realistic.
But these two don't give up, and in their pursuit of a seriously disturbed serial killer, horrible shit happens. To them - Jackson especially - and around them. The fear I felt throughout wondering if Owens was going to pop up out of nowhere and get them, that they'd find him and it'd all go wrong. It's wonderful writing, even if I hated seeing Jackson in so much goddamn pain and Ellery in pain because of his pain.
But also, Jackson is such a stubborn ass. He has to be pushed to the breaking point to easily and readily accept help. He does so grudgingly every other time. It gets soooo frustrating every time he says "I'm fine" while his shoulder is mangled to shit and he gets stabbed a little bit more and has bruises everywhere and also .
It's like Jackson was put under a pile of shit under a pile of bigger shit in this book. But the good thing was that he had Ellery there to pull him out of it, every step of the way. Their love is special and amazing and passionate.
Also, I love Jade and Mike too. They are awesome secondary characters and they continue to be amazing in this.
Jackson and Ellery eventually .
The ending is defffinntely telling us there is going to a third book. Given that there's another possible psychopath still at large, I got the feeling the ending was not the very end, and we're getting another one. We gotta get another book haha. The ending was fairly open ended, so I didn't get a feel that this was it.
And I'm excited for that book, because I'd love to read more Jackson and Ellery. These two together are electric and passionate and sweet and adorable.
Loved this!
Ellery rubbed Jackson’s pouty bottom lip with his thumb. “I am insecure because you are….” He laughed, embarrassed. “Really hot.”
Jackson ducked his head. “So are you!”
~*~
“Tough. I love you. I’ve never loved another man like I love you. This thing that just happened to you, it feels like the end of the world. But the man in my arms?” Ellery squeezed him tighter, knowing that even if it hurt, Jackson could take it. “He’s still strong. Still good inside. It hasn’t stopped how I feel about him. It doesn’t change how I feel about you.”
Jackson goes through the grinder in this. I seriously had to wonder how he keeps surviving, because like holy shit? It's one thing after another in this. Some, he gets into himself because he's a stubborn ass who thinks he has to go it alone, and some is just thrust upon him by this shitty world.
But now Jackson has Ellery, who is just as big a stubborn ass, because he doesn't give up on Jackson, not once. He almost dares Jackson to leave him like Jackson is trying to get Ellery to leave him, but Jackson never does, for all his fear and insecurities and walls build up around him.
Ellery smashes through all those walls in this, eventually. And when they're down, and it's them together, it's beautiful. It's real and honest.
In this follow up to the first lovely novel, we find Jackson and Ellery still trying to track down Owens, and every few weeks a body shows up that they know Owens killed. But the police won't do shit because they don't want to have to uncover even more possible corruption done by Owens when he was a cop. Ugh. It's unfortunately realistic.
But these two don't give up, and in their pursuit of a seriously disturbed serial killer, horrible shit happens. To them - Jackson especially - and around them. The fear I felt throughout wondering if Owens was going to pop up out of nowhere and get them, that they'd find him and it'd all go wrong. It's wonderful writing, even if I hated seeing Jackson in so much goddamn pain and Ellery in pain because of his pain.
But also, Jackson is such a stubborn ass. He has to be pushed to the breaking point to easily and readily accept help. He does so grudgingly every other time. It gets soooo frustrating every time he says "I'm fine" while his shoulder is mangled to shit and he gets stabbed a little bit more and has bruises everywhere and also .
It's like Jackson was put under a pile of shit under a pile of bigger shit in this book. But the good thing was that he had Ellery there to pull him out of it, every step of the way. Their love is special and amazing and passionate.
Also, I love Jade and Mike too. They are awesome secondary characters and they continue to be amazing in this.
Jackson and Ellery eventually .
The ending is defffinntely telling us there is going to a third book. Given that there's another possible psychopath still at large, I got the feeling the ending was not the very end, and we're getting another one. We gotta get another book haha. The ending was fairly open ended, so I didn't get a feel that this was it.
And I'm excited for that book, because I'd love to read more Jackson and Ellery. These two together are electric and passionate and sweet and adorable.
Loved this!
January 15, 2019
✮4.5 Stars✮
💗
May 17, 2018
Dear heaven this book put me through the wringer. The crap Jackson and Ellery had to deal with...... Jackson was right. They need some peace. But what a book. What a series. And 'Lucy Satan'. Lmao! I had forgotten that from book 1. I so want a book 3, which i think the are is, but poor Jackson needs a break.
December 11, 2023
2023 re-read: Still love this series. This is comfort reading, for me.
READ THESE BOOKS.
Now that that's out of the way... I've never read a series with a couple this intense - in the worst and best ways imaginable. The one that comes closest is Mary Calmes's Marshals series (first one is All Kinds Of Tied Down). The difference is, both Ellery and Jackson are wickedly intense, their actions tied thoroughly to their personalities and pasts. The complications Jackson causes are ones he cannot help, so you read teeth bared, understanding but horrified, sharing Ellery's fear and anger... Yeah. The supporting cast is fantastic. The bad people are omg awful. The hearts of these two guys take hits and come out fighting. That's what hauled me into this series to begin with. You'll fall in love as you're cringing or crying or laughing.
Read this series. I've just started the (prequel) story of Sonny and Ace, (Racing for the Sun), but I paused to write this review at the end of Red Fish, Dead Fish and before the (four) Accompanying Stories, two of which are with Sonny and Ace. I'm savoring these; the next book in the Fish Out of Water series isn't out yet. Read that in a whining tone, please.
READ THESE BOOKS.
Now that that's out of the way... I've never read a series with a couple this intense - in the worst and best ways imaginable. The one that comes closest is Mary Calmes's Marshals series (first one is All Kinds Of Tied Down). The difference is, both Ellery and Jackson are wickedly intense, their actions tied thoroughly to their personalities and pasts. The complications Jackson causes are ones he cannot help, so you read teeth bared, understanding but horrified, sharing Ellery's fear and anger... Yeah. The supporting cast is fantastic. The bad people are omg awful. The hearts of these two guys take hits and come out fighting. That's what hauled me into this series to begin with. You'll fall in love as you're cringing or crying or laughing.
Read this series. I've just started the (prequel) story of Sonny and Ace, (Racing for the Sun), but I paused to write this review at the end of Red Fish, Dead Fish and before the (four) Accompanying Stories, two of which are with Sonny and Ace. I'm savoring these; the next book in the Fish Out of Water series isn't out yet. Read that in a whining tone, please.
October 12, 2017
***********************************
I decided I'm going to wait until I know when the next book in this series is coming out, before cracking this one open. THEN I'll be pouncing on this ❤️❤️❤️ (after I DM/message with Amy this week)!! Since this one will probably end on a semi-cliffhanger too, I want to at least see the 3rd book on the horizon ... That and I don't want to finish this book yet :-). I absolutely ADORED the first book [ALL the stars ❤️] and I am not in a hurry to get to the end. Thankfully, Amy Lane said there would be "at least" one more book, so hopefully, there are many more to come :-)!!!
If you haven't started this series yet, DO!! Very very HIGHLY recommended ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!!
December 7, 2023
19.03.2018, 06.04.2022, 10.11.2023
~ 4.5 stars ~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you are like me and kinda OCD when it comes to the right chronological order of books in a series, my advice is to start this book at the back. There are 4 short stories added after the end of Red Fish, Dead Fish that happened between Fish Out of Water and this book. If you are listening to the audiobook, the short stories start at chapter 21.
~ 4.5 stars ~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you are like me and kinda OCD when it comes to the right chronological order of books in a series, my advice is to start this book at the back. There are 4 short stories added after the end of Red Fish, Dead Fish that happened between Fish Out of Water and this book. If you are listening to the audiobook, the short stories start at chapter 21.
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