18% Gray (Task Force Iota, #1) in Read with Pride Northwest

Oct 17, 2012 Kelly (Maybedog) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: what-lgbtqia, where-grr-mine, what-male-protagonist, how-ebook, what-sf, what-mm-read, what-mm, why-favorite-author, what-sf-fantasy-crossover, what-hurt-comfort

Light and fluffy but interesting sf that wasn't just an excuse for the romance. Hot sex as always. Some angst but not a ton, lots of near-death, heart aching for the one I love kind of stuff. Yummy. The nunette was a bit much as was the too-perfect family but it was still wonderful. 4.5 rounded up to five because it just made me feel good. ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Jun 18, 2012 ttg rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: m-m, reviews

An overall fun and enjoyable m/m sci-fi romance that’s set a hundred years in the future. The U.S. has been split between Red and Blue states, and crossing borders has all the big issues of crossing into a hostile country. Matt, a young extraction agent from Blue Oregon, crosses into Red Idaho to rescue a gay soldier who was captured and is being “re-educated”. To Matt’s chagrin, he realizes his extraction is the same guy who bullied him in high school for being gay. Even with that bitter irony, An overall fun and enjoyable m/m sci-fi romance that’s set a hundred years in the future. The U.S. has been split between Red and Blue states, and crossing borders has all the big issues of crossing into a hostile country. Matt, a young extraction agent from Blue Oregon, crosses into Red Idaho to rescue a gay soldier who was captured and is being “re-educated”. To Matt’s chagrin, he realizes his extraction is the same guy who bullied him in high school for being gay. Even with that bitter irony, he finds James, and they struggle to evade Idaho’s militias to get to freedom, and along the way, discover a lot more about themselves as well as about James’s empathic talents, a “gift” implanted by the military, and wanted by everyone.

I know some readers have commented about the usage of acronyms, new technical terms, and dialects that the characters use, but these points didn’t really faze me too much. (I actually dug the term “tech pantry” once I figured out what it was.) I think those points will matter depending on the reader, but overall, it was pretty easy for me to go with the flow on this one.

I liked the MCs a lot. Matt and James had very nice, developing chemistry, and I liked how James’s empathy played into their relationship. I also appreciated the fact that Matt has a physical disability (with one of his legs), but he handled it really well, and still was a good soldier.

My only points off is that Matt, early on in the book, figures out how to shut James out from exploring his mind. It’s never really explained how he can do this, or if anyone else can do this. (No one else mentions this.) As a reader, it was an easy point to let go of and move on, but I did wonder later if this was something special with Matt or if anyone could shut James out if they tried. That point wasn’t really explored in this book. (Maybe it will later?)

There’s a nun character who pops up late in the book who I found irritating, over-the-top, and needless. I think she was there for humor, but I wondered if the author could have written her out completely while still accomplishing everything she needed to do for the story. There also didn’t seem to be any need for customs paperwork to move the nun, where as it was explained earlier that there was this whole process to formally extract people, so I thought that was confusing, and didn’t seem to fit well.

The two main characters and their growingly tender relationship with each other won me out over these points though, so I did overall enjoy the book, and I hear the sequel continues their story more, so I’m looking forward to checking that out next. ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Apr 02, 2014 Shelby rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: action-adventure, suspense, enemies-to-lovers, violence, psychic-abilities, bad-boys-to-steal-your-heart, sci-fi, assassin-spies, deserve-additional-reads, eminently-rereadable

I've been meaning to get around to reading the sequel to this novel and figured at this point it's been so long a re-read was in order before picking up the next one. I'm actually really glad I did. I did enjoy just as much on the re-read. I liked the futuristic world set up here, it's an interesting idea. And after the last year we've had politically and the charged nature of politics in the country currently this felt even more applicable. Blue vs Red and how that would shake out into an actua ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Nov 10, 2011 Mtsnow13 rated it really liked it

Shelves: m-m, erotica, military, seal-covert-or-black-ops, paranormal-scifi, romance, less-than-300-pages

This was actually a pleasant read! The idea of the confederate states, and breaking up of the Union was very intersting. I didn't expect to enjoy it, and think it was enlightening as to what 'could' happen. I am hoping it never comes to something like this, but it is nice to know there could possibily be places and people that would be available to 'rescue' or give an out to those that would be in need. Interesting premise. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Dec 04, 2011 Mickie rated it it was amazing

Wow Simply wow

This book on one level was a lot of fun with some laugh out loud moments but on another level given the Political climate in the U.S.A. its chilling.

What I liked
1. Matt and James. hot sexy snarky fun.
2. A horny nun
3. Miz Horse

I loved a bunch of other stuff But I don't want to spoil the book You really need to read it.

I really hope Anne Tenino takes thisworld she has built and runs with it because if she writes it I will buy it. ...more

Like · see review