Long Time Gone (Hell or High Water, #2) in Riptide Publishing

Oct 13, 2013 Debra ~~ seriously slacking on her reviews ~~ rated it really liked it

Shelves: cops-detectives-feds-investigators, part-of-series-or-serial, m-m, military-mercs

This was a solid follow-up to Catch a Ghost. It had a different feel for me though, I found it a bit more emotional as more of Tom's background was revealed.

It picks up where the last book left off, Prophet has cut ties with EE and Tom is partnered up with Cope. Tom hasn't heard from Prophet in months even though he has been pouring his heart out to him in daily e-mails. When the two finally get back together, it is intense and hot. They soon find themselves partnering up to clear Tom's name whe ...more

7 likes · Like · see review

Aug 25, 2013 BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme rated it liked it

Shelves: suspense, netgalley-reviews, m-m, erotica

Is this a foreign flick? The constant turmoil in Long Time Gone is exhausting. In the second book in this spin off series, the kinky erotic takes a complete back seat to the suspense. For those who are looking for panty wetting m/m manlove, this is probably not the book to read.

This book is about Tom and his past ~ his very screwed up and terrible past. That there are still places where the sins of the father are put upon the son, is just mind blowing. I hurt for Tom. He's a survivor yet he con ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Sep 16, 2013 Feliz rated it it was amazing

Shelves: contemporary, m-m

For me, there’s one word that describes both Prophet and Tom perfectly: self-sabotage. It’s something they both excel at, in regard to their professional lives and even more so in regard to their personal lives–read:relationships (of any kind, but especially the romantic variety and especially with each other). It’s so easy to have self-sabotaging characters veer into the TSTL category. But the beauty of this story is that these two don’t do that, even though they do some rather stupid things. I For me, there’s one word that describes both Prophet and Tom perfectly: self-sabotage. It’s something they both excel at, in regard to their professional lives and even more so in regard to their personal lives–read:relationships (of any kind, but especially the romantic variety and especially with each other). It’s so easy to have self-sabotaging characters veer into the TSTL category. But the beauty of this story is that these two don’t do that, even though they do some rather stupid things. I forgave them time and again, just like they did each other, and just like they began to forgive themselves in the end. And I forgave them because these two deeply scarred, violent and essentially unapproachable characters seriously grew on me; they had me rooting for them and cheering them on to look beyond past hurts and injuries and into a shared future.

While the first Hell or High Water book, Catch a Ghost, ended with Prophet and Tom separated–and Prophet even having quit Extreme Escapes Ltd, the secret black ops organization he’d been groomed by his former boss Phil to take over–Long Time Gone shows their reunion, and that particular scene is hot as hell and explosive like–yes, like a volcanic eruption in a hurricane. Literally. Because it’s a hurricane hitting New Orleans that brings them together right then and there, and as they meet somewhat unexpectedly when the storm is about to reach its climax, so do they. For these two are men that have a hard time talking about their respective pasts and even more so about their emotions, in general and to each other in particular. They’re better at communication when physicality is involved, an that’s what makes the frequent sex scenes in this book actually necessary.

Not to mention the fact that the sex scenes in this book are the best I’ve read in a long time. Completely in tune with their characterizations, Prophet and Tom are rough with each other, almost violent at times, and yet there are moments of tenderness that are all the more heartbreaking for their rarity. For a long time, sex is the only way for them to express how much they need each other, and eventually, it’s through sex that they come to open up to each other. It’s a beautiful development of their relationship and their respective characters.

While the characterizations were great and very well-whought, I had problems with the setting. Despite all the alligators and cemeteries and voodoo, the place didn’t come alive with me. For some reason I kept picturing the events taking place in a cold location, and every time the heat was mentioned, it threw me out of the story flow. There were also several convenient happenstances and jack-in-the-box appearances of supportive characters I couldn’t relate to.

As a whole, the actual plot of this book struck me as rather far-fetched and once again, somewhat all over the place; I felt as if all those murders, kidnappings, arrests, and even the hurricane only happened to make our heroes look good and to further their relationship. But I was okay with that; picking up this book I didn’t expect realism. I wanted ecapism, suspense and passion, and that’s exactly what I got.

This was a fast-paced, action-filled story with surging emotions and fiery passion at the end of which I felt like I’d really gained insight in what made these two men tick. Their story still isn’t done yet, but at least they’re now ready to face the future together. Highly recommended.

Long Time Gone ist the second book in the Hell or High Water series, and I don’t think it can be read as a standalone; to much of the story only really becomes accessible to the reader in context with the first book. The first book, Catch a Ghost (reviewed here) and Long Time Gone are essentially an entity.

review originally written for www.reviewsbyjessewave.com ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Nov 13, 2013 Trish rated it it was amazing

Shelves: m-m, suspense, funny, mystery

What did I think...... Hells Yeah this was a great follow up to Catch a Ghost

We learn a lot more about Tommy. Their relationship is officially a relationship and the testosterone is still at full throttle.

My opinion still remains....Cillian best stay away from Prophet!

1 like · Like · see review

Oct 25, 2013 Evaine rated it really liked it

Shelves: e-books, adventure, m-m

My review is here. 4.5 Stars ...more

Like · see review

Oct 28, 2013 Liz (Bugetta) rated it really liked it

Shelves: audiobook, contemporary-romance, romantic-suspense, mystery-and-suspense, smexy-times, m-m-romance, e-book, military, part-of-a-series, re-read-someday

3.5* Re-read (via audio book) 5/4/17: Still a wild ride but even though I was somewhat familiar with how things were going to end, I still found the last part of the book really hard to follow. I think it has a lot to do with Jakes' writing style (lots of short sentences and quick POV shifts). I feel like I need to re-read the last part with Tommy and Prophet to see how they fixed things to get their HFN.

12/4/13: What a wild ride! ...more

Like · see review