Crash & Burn

This is a review for the entire series, not just this one book.The series was recommended to me on social media by a friend of a friend who said it was different from most male/male books as the focus was on the plot, characters and story-line rather than the sex. Thus, I decided to give the first book a go; I really enjoyed it and ended up buying, reading and enjoying the entire series.As the person recommending it to me said it is not all about the sex. In fact the sex does not make up a great part of the series; yes, there is a fair amount of sex and there are some detailed and long scenes. However, it doesn't seem forced and step-by-step, it feels very real and about two men in love, not just two men having sex. Also, for the most part the sex was a necessary part of the books and moved the story forward rather than just being there in order to titivate.I got caught up in the world of Zane & Ty and enjoyed the case aspect of the books as well as the personal aspects. It showed a different side to the FBI from what I had hitherto seen or read. All of the characters were real and far more than just cardboard cut-outs - even those who had very small, at times 'walk on', parts. The writers are clearly fanfic writers (which is not a criticism or a negative thing, quite the opposite) who have branched out into mainstream writing and have, for the most part, made an extremely good job of doing so. The fact that I did read the whole series is proof of that. It is a series I thoroughly enjoyed and read all the way through without breaking off to read any other books.So why have I only given it three stars? Well, because there were a few things which irked and even irritated me and spoilt to an extent my reading of the series.Firstly: Why, oh, why, oh why, with twenty-six letters from which to choose, did the writers decide to give both leading men surnames that began with the same letter? That's one of the huge no-nos in writing. It completely spoilt the first book for me, as every time the surname was used by anyone other than Zane or Ty, I had to pause and remember (even go back on occasions) who was being spoken to or about. That even happened a few times in later books. Given in one of the books the authors use a similar thing when they give another pair of lovers the same initials but reversed, I'm guessing they thought it was cute or something - it really wasn't; it was very annoying.Secondly: The chapter lengths in a lot of the books were far, far, far too long. Twenty, thirty, in some cases forty minutes for a chapter (and I'm a pretty fast reader) is a ridiculous length.Thirdly: The formatting in some books could have been better. There was a lack of proper hyper-links in some of the contents pages (i.e. you couldn't go to a particular chapter) & also the fact that a couple of the books only allowed you to see the reading time of the whole book rather than the length of individual chapters. These mistakes are unnecessary as it is so easy to create a contents page with links to chapters.Fourthly: The price. I bought the ebooks and thought, especially given the formatting in some books, them to be somewhat expensive for what they were. I would have expected them to have been priced at a least a pound less than they were.Would I recommend the series? Yes, insofar as it's a good, well-written, gripping series with very good characterisation and plots and a male/male romance where the sex is not the main theme of the books. On that score it's very recommendable. However, due to the above mentioned 'issues', at the price the books are I'm not certain I could wholeheartedly recommend the series - not without mentioning the cons as well as the pros.All that said, it is a series which I shall reread.

Whatever you thought of Ball & Chain (not great, if I'm honest - don't get me wrong, still good, but not classic - too much Nick for my liking), this last instalment (sob!) of the Cut & Run series is AMAZING.All the loose ends, all the characters come out to play & yes, all those little bits of information & puzzles that Abi has carefully constructed over the last ?8 years of writing this series, all come to fruition. Clever - very clever.It's brilliant. It made me laugh & catch my breath, because... Well, it's down to the writing of the characters. I've grown to love them. Ty & Zane are incredibly written characters (wouldn't they make a brilliant TV/film series - especially if Eric Bana played Zane & Karl Urban Ty!) who you really want to live/survive/be.Whatever mistakes may have been made with certain others in the series (I think Stars & Stripes is still - marginally, my favourite), the way the characters have grown is just brilliant.I read a lot & couldn't wait to download this on the 28th when the publisher released it (I've bought the paperback too). As I read so much (too much probably), some stories & characters get lost, but these characters really stick in my head & have done ever since I started reading them 3 years ago - they're also the go to comparison (sorry other authors). I am gutted to see the series end, but this instalment is back to Abi at her best.Well done Ms Roux, but can I ask, pretty please, that you don't stop here? Please???! And yes, I know there's the Sidewinder series, but Nick & Kelly? They're just NOT Ty & Zane are they?

Absolutely wow...what can I say..This book just blew me away.....It was everything I'd worked my self up for.....I could not have made it through this book without my Cut&Run group on fb.....All my guys and ladies too who held my hand through reading it...it was not an easy read but it was an amazing one....We have Ty and Zane obviously but we have Sidewinder too and also Liam Bell who I decided at the start of the series that he was not a complete bad guy...love it when I'm right......I loved the start although my heart was in my mouth I had faith in Zane even if I am a Ty girl...Zane in this one got deeper into my heart.....I knew he'd come good as always.....But to me Nick and Ty were just heartbreaking...I don't want to say anything that might spoil things but they really did have to find their way back to each other......bad ass Kelly was just amazing but my heart broke for him too (Kelly girl here)...A totally amazing finish to an amazing series...I was pushed to read this for months and I'm totally glad I listened I really am glad I took a chance on Ty and Zane.....I've never been so taken with a series this dramatic and action filled...like watching a film in your head....amazing and I wish I could give it more stars....When I've calmed down from all the action I may just go back to the start..Knowing what I know now I'm sure it will be an even better ride next time x