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

Oct 25, 2013 Samantha rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, mm-read

And he’ll rip through your life like a tornado.

I don't know what it is about these two, but they just work so well for me.

I really adore Tom & Proph, and I loved getting a look at their adventures in New Orleans and seeing just a little more of what makes them tick.

And together, the two of them are just... fireworks. So hot and lovely and the right dab of messed up. I thoroughly appreciate it, and them, and look forward to more of them. ...more

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Nov 11, 2013 SueM rated it really liked it

Shelves: cop-agent-military-pi, conspiracy, bingo-challenge, tats-piercings

Thankfully, S.E. Jakes does provide a relatively satisfying sequel to Catch a Ghost where the reader is left with neither an HFN or HEA.

Prophet and Tom reunite four months after the end of the previous novel when both come to protect Tom's aunt in the midst of a hurricane. It seems that their time apart not only provided for a really hot, sexy reunion, but also let the two men decide what was important in their screwed-up lives--each other. Of course, knowing that they want to have each other i ...more

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Oct 27, 2013 Kerry rated it really liked it

Shelves: m-m, series, e-book-own, kobo

3.5 stars

I am a little disappointed with this follow-up to Catch a Ghost. I was hoping for more revelations and spilling of secrets between Prophet and Tom. They are still too closed-off from one another. I am starting to lose their connection. I'm sure the author is purposely keeping the secrets hidden so that they can slowly be revealed in future novels, but I don't want to be strung along for too long.

I really look forward to the next novel in a spin-off series, Dirty Deeds, which will be th ...more

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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

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Aug 26, 2014 Arch Bala rated it liked it

Shelves: best-series, best-covers, military, book-boyfriend, law-enforcement

As a follow up to “Catch A Ghost” from the Hell Or High Water series, Long Time Gone focuses on Tom Boudreaux as he finally faces his tumultuous past. Set in New Orleans in the middle of a hurricane, Tom found himself arrested for murder and with his partner Prophet helping to clear his name. With death and past ghosts on their feet, Tom and Prophet realized that there’s actually a lot more that they have to do to neither one of them expected to be confronted with.

I’m actually glad that this one ...more

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