| Title | : | Stars Stripes (Cut Run, #6) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1937551423 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781937551421 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | ebook |
| Number of Pages | : | 292 |
| Publication | : | First published August 13, 2012 |
| Awards | : | Rainbow Award Gay Erotic Romance - The Bobby Michaels Award (2012), DABWAHA Romance Tournament Best Romance of the Year (2013) |
When an emergency call from home upsets the balance of their carefully arranged world, Ty and Zane must juggle family drama with a perplexing crime to save a helpless victim before time runs out.
From the mountains of West Virginia to a remote Texas horse ranch harboring more than just livestock and childhood memories, Ty and Zane must face their fears—and their families—to overcome an unlikely enemy and bring peace back into their newly shared world.
Stars Stripes (Cut Run, #6) Reviews
-
OH.MY.GOD.
HEART-HOGGERS!!!
That's what they are.
(Or will be if a word like that exists!)
How?? How do they do it everytime??
Everytime I think that they can't possibly take anymore space in my heart,they keep on taking more and more and more!!
I am KRAZZY about these two men.
And now.....
YEE HAW,Readers!!!
This time..... Welcome to Texas!!!
Are you ready for some wild rides????
------------------------------------------------------
Ty and Zane are living together now and enjoying some peace (finally)!!At least as much peace as they can muster with Julian's two cats from hell trying to kill Zane (I kid you not)!!
But as is the usual case with these two,trouble always manages to somehow reach them.
Well this time it is in the form of an emergency call from Zane's family.
And voilà ,the fun begins.....
A for Apple.
B for Ball.
C for ????
C for Cats,Readers!!
Small cats,big cats.Nice cats,evil cats.Tame cats,wild cats.....
'He reached for the corner of the map to begin folding it back up.
“You kids go on, then,” Harrison said. “Check out that place.”
“Oh, hell no,” Ty blurted. “I mean, no, sir. Hell no, sir.”
Zane chuckled. “Come on, Ty.”
“What? No. Not me.”
“Chicken,” Zane whispered.
“Yeah, that’s what they think I taste like.”
Zane laughed harder.
“I don’t do big cats, Zane.”
Annie held up a hand. “I’m sorry, why aren’t you going to the sanctuary?”
“He has an unnatural aversion to large felines,” Zane told her.
“It’s not unnatural, Zane. It would be unnatural if I weren’t afraid of something that tried to eat me.” '
And now let me introduce you to the itty bitty kitty,who can give Zane a run for Ty's affections....
....Barnum.
Isn't that cute???
And of course we also have H for Horses,Readers.
It will be unfair not to mention them.
'Ty pointed his good hand at the doors to the barn, where Harrison stood. “I’m not going back in there with that horse.”
Zane flopped the rope against his thigh. “Ty, the horses are not conspiring against you.”
Ty crossed his arms and shook his head. “He looks at me. And he talks to me! And he knows I don’t know what he’s saying!”'
Poor Ty!!
And what about R for Romance??
"The first pop of pre-emptive Fourth of July fireworks over the Alamo made them both jump, and Zane turned so they could watch the fire rain down from the sky through the branches of their oak tree. Another shot soared into the air, bursting into flickering flames of red, white, and blue. People began to hoot and holler. No one was paying them any attention.
Zane looked down at Ty, and Ty grinned. This was nothing special for Ty. In his world, every time Zane’s lips touched his, something somewhere caught fire."
Oh sweet heaven!!!
"Ty’s fingers were on his skin, sliding his boxers to his thighs, and it warmed every inch of Zane’s body as he gazed into Ty’s eyes.
“I was just musing over how perfect you are for me.”
Beautiful!!!Aren't they???
And don't forget S for Steamy!!!
“You okay to mount?” he asked Ty.
“Next time you ask me that, you better be naked.”
Oh yeah!!!
“I missed you.” Zane felt solid against his fingers, and after a week of closing his eyes and imagining it was Zane’s touch in place of his own, Zane’s weight felt incredible against him.
“I’m not going to fuck you here,” Zane said through gritted teeth, though he appeared to be trying to convince himself and not Ty.....
Want more???Go read this book.
But most importantly, we have T for Trouble.
Lots and lots and lots of it.
So,what kinds of troubles do you think these two TROUBLE-MAGNETS attract this time???
Any guesses???
Well,nothing much.
Just men with guns.And getting shot.And some broken bones.And stopping illegal trades outside their jurisdiction.And cats,big ones.Saving them,all the while trying not to get eaten.Getting shot with animal tranquilizers and nearly dying.Dangerous situations.Coming out of closet or being hurled out,however you might look at it......
.....As I said,nothing much.Just the usual.
(Usual for Ty and Zane,that is!)
I know you are wondering how did they manage to get in such deep shit this time,with just a phone call.
So,you need to read this NOW!!!
-------------------------------------------------------------
April 8th!!!APRIL 8th!!!
Have to wait till then for......
Well okay!!No problem!!
**Bangs head**
Anyway,it's time for me to take leave Readers.
Ta-Ta and enjoy this one!! -
REVIEW COMPLETED AUGUST 12, 2012
"Want to go to West Virginia and risk life and limb with me?"
Zane smirked and gave a single nod. "Sounds like fun."
From the blurb
From the mountains of West Virginia to a remote Texas horse ranch harboring more than just livestock and childhood memories, Ty and Zane must face their fears--and their families--to overcome an unlikely enemy and bring peace back into their newly shared world.
"Had a gay bull I had to sell last year. That was a damn nuisance. Gay son? That don't cost me nothing." --Zane's father
There are many paths in life. Some we choose, and some are chosen for us. I like Ty and Zane's path, and I really appreciate it to witness their maturing process. The more I read about them, the more I love them. And I am inclined to think that if you didn't like Armed & Dangerous, it's quite possible that you won't like Stars & Stripes either. Yes, there is some action that includes guns and knives and of course there are the big and scary cats as well, but the crime aspect of the story is only a subplot. Ty and Zane are living together conflict-free. As it was, the conflicts were brought up by other family members. Ty and Zane don't bitch at each other. Sure, the banter and the sharp wit are there, and they like to tease each other pretty regularly, however, it's first and foremost about their evolving relationship. It was romantic. It was sweet and tender. But a good sweet--never sugary sweet. Then again, it was very hawt and passionate too. Having said that, I was so pleased to see their bond of love deepen; Ty and Zane's love is absolutely palpable and it makes me one happy camper, that's for sure.
"You told me if I ever came to Texas you'd teach me how to ride," Ty drawled. The low gravel of his seductive voice never failed to hit all of Zane's happy places.
"I did."
I'd say pun intended. <3 <3 <3
Oh, and let's not forget something substantial: it was loads of fun. Again. If you need to smile and laugh then Ty and Zane deliver in spades. The finger thingie was so hilarious I just had to laugh out loud. Ty's granddad, Chester, is one seriously witty old guy. When Ty was not quite sure how to voice his coming out, Chester simply gave him a leg up. I felt a tingling sensation and his short and smart speech warmed my heart immensely. Yeah, talk about anticipation, huh?
I liked Zane's sister too.
"Well, that explains your disappearance," Annie said. Her lips compressed like she was trying not to laugh. "Is this what they mean when they talk about coming out of the closet?"
Zane glared at her, and she gave up and laughed.
"God, she's as bad with the puns as you are," Ty said from behind the door.
One other aspect of Stars & Stripes is killing me at the moment: I want them to talk about Ty's Many people feared Ty during his time in the Marine Corps. Even now he can be scary and a bit crazy. Then again, Ty is just a big marshmallow under all the gruff sarcasm and badassery. He's kind, funny and loyal. On top of that, he's got a deep sense of honor and righteousness.
One of my very favorite scenes involved Ty and Sadie--absolute super sweetness in perfection. Oh my, Baba was in a puddle at Ty's feet. *le sigh* I *think* Ty would be a wonderful dad. I just loved to see him messing around with Sadie.
Stars & Stripes features many, many endearing secondary characters too. The little Sadie (Zane's niece) is such a cutie-pie. And we all know and love Ty's family already, and Zane's relatives are not half bad either. I will admit that Ty's father surprised me in a very positive way. Well, and then there are a few exceptions though. Zane's mother is a 'shiny' example. Beverly is a miserable, snobbish, and prejudiced woman. As a matter of fact, that's getting me down to see Beverly begrudge her son's happiness.
Overall Stars & Stripes was a very entertaining read. I love Abigail's writing and her sense of humor. It's no wonder that I am so there to read the sequel.
"Stars and stripes, Zane."
"What?"
"It's the Fourth of July. I saw stars, and then I saw stripes."
As a side note
Abigail will be donating 10 % of her earnings from all 2012 sales of Stars & Stripes to the International Exotic Animal Sanctuary in Boyd, Texas, in honor of Ty and Zane, her loyal readers, and Barnum the Bengal tiger and all his brothers and sisters. -
Zane slid his fingertips across Ty’s lips. With a blink, his expression changed, and he was gazing at Ty with such longing and love that he might as well have screamed it at the top of his lungs. “I wouldn’t change it,” he rasped. “Any of it.”
This book made me go through a rainbow of emotions. Anticipation, anxiety, shock, sorrow, happiness, fear, hate, love, swooning (is swoon an emotion? anyway, I did it constantly), I cried happy tears, I cried sad tears, and then when I reached the end of the book it was a mix of both
The story in Stars & Stripes starts with Ty having to go home help his parents, and he brings Zane with him :) They're both happy and at ease with themselves, talking about their pasts and planning a future. But it isn't all peachy, especially when Chester declares to the whole family that Ty and Zane are together
That was a shocker. And the reaction from Ty's family was as well. The way his father reacted
I mean, I get it, but still don't approve. All the others were nice, and I was glad that they both had support from atleast Ty's part of the family. Then came THE CALL
Zane had a family emergency and had to go to Texas, without Ty unfortunately. Someone shot his father and the ranch had problems with tresspassers. Lucky for Zane (
) Ty somehow made it to Texas and joined him in the investigation :) Won't go any further in the story because it's something that should be read and enjoyed, without too much spoilers :)
Ty and Zane were just wonderful. It's so great to see them totally in love, and not affraid to admit it
They talked about a lot of stuff here, and their relationship progressed further. There was talk about a life together, marriage and childern. Enough to say that I was in a constant swoon mode
They had to deal with a lot of things, the most important - being outed to their families. I just have to say one thing - Zane's dad is EPIC!!!
(Ty's words :) ) The man is just brilliant and I love the way he reacted about them being together XD You could see he loves Zane very much and wants him to be happy
Earl, that I didn't expect, but I kinda understand his reaction considering everything we know about him as a character. Still, not my favorite person.
Chester ROCKS
Who else is there? Deuce, Annie and Mara were great too, want to see them more in the upcoming books :)
Beverly is a B*TCH!
She really pushed all the wrong buttons for me. I felt really really bad for Zane.
Other than that, it was a joy to read about those two in Texas
Ty and his nerves around animals
, and Zane with his sexy drawl
Here are some of my favorite scenes :)
- Ty and Zane in bed when the cats came
- Earl talking about his finger being cut off
- Chester announcing to everyone that Ty and Zane are a couple
- T&Z in his room after that whole incident
- the phone sex :D
- when Ty came to Texas and surprised Zane (one of the best scenes EVER, I was misty-eyed after that one)
- Harrison giving a present to Ty
(did I mention how much I love that guy???)
- Zane giving Ty his hat, and the scene in the bar (BEFORE the sh*t)
- the rodeo sex
but it was DAMN HOT!!!!
- meeting the tigers <3
- Zane finding Ty with the tiger
(I cried a bit at that one too, very emotional and sad)
- Zane and Ty in the hospital
- Ty comforting Zane after his talk with his mother (did I mention I hate her???)
- Ty and Sadie sleeping
- T&Z talking about having a family
- Harrison giving Zane the papers (LOVE the man, LOVE, LOVE!)
- the ending
And here are 2 quotes I simply loved <3
Ty lay down with him, curling around him and settling his head on Zane’s shoulder. He’d grown comfortable with the opportunities he had to do this, to lean on Zane both physically and emotionally. It had taken him a long time to come to terms with the fact that it didn’t make him weak. When Zane wrapped his arms around him, it felt right.
For the first time, they were actually discussing their future in concrete terms. They’d both known, on some level, that they intended to spend the rest of their lives together. It felt like a solid force now, though, something as real as the hands that pressed into his back or the lips that met his over and over as they made love.
I'll be waiting for the new book, and I have a feeling I'll do my re-reads of this pretty soon
TY & ZANE FOREVER!!!! -
Second re-read: 13.09.2021
I cannot believe I haven't read this book since 2017!? Oh how I've missed Ty! He's such a great character, perfect actually. I love him to death and my loyalty will always be to him. I adore how close Ty and Zane are in this book, I love Barnum the tiger and I really like Zane's father's POVs; of how he sees Ty and Zane together. I think this book is the highest peek this series has, and if I remember correctly it goes downhill from here. We'll see if I re-read past this one. That said, Ty would be worth it either way. Oh and ‘For the first time, he had a home he actually wanted to call home. The thought made him both ecstatic and melancholy.’ <--- does that mean that Zane didn't feel like his how with his wife was a home? Overall I enjoyed this re-read.Zane rested his head on Ty’s shoulder and Ty rubbed a hand down his back. “Let’s go get ready.”
Zane held on tight. “Not letting go,” he whispered.
“Okay.” Ty drew out the word with a frown. “But that’s going to make dinner awkward.”
⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*TY IS EVERYTHING*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱
Re-read: 22.05.2017
I can not believe I actually re-read this one, I mean, I just read it. But how can I really be shocked? Ty... Ty does something to you. He grabs you, steals your heart and never let you go. There's just something about him. I don't think I've ever loved a character as much as I love Ty. I don't love (mostly like them) the story of the books in this series, but damn...Ty... I can't let him go. He literally owns my heart. And the story/plot in this book is so damn cute as you get to see Ty and Zane in a different light. I think, that in this book I like Zane the most than the rest of the series. I love Ty endlessly in every book. Specially Ty with Barnum. A d o r a b l e.
New Rating - 3.5 stars.
First read review:
This was adorable. A bit boring at times, but so damn adorable. This is, I think, the first time I really felt like Ty Grady and Zane Garrett were a real couple. It was amazing to see and I have to be honest and say that I caught myself smiling multiple times. Ty and Zane's story has been quite interesting, and it's an awesome journey to see how far they've come. And it really makes me determent to finish this series.They waited a few minutes to see if either cat was going to attack, and when it seemed they were safe, Ty rested his hand on Zane’s chest again and closed his eyes. Zane turned his head with infinite care and kissed Ty’s forehead.
Wesson gave him a warning growl.
“Mine,” Zane told the cat.
And God, I loved seeing Ty and Zane through Harrison's eyes. L O V E D it. It was perfect and adorable and so cuuuuute! Probably my favorite... scene/POV in the book. Also, Ty, my dear Ty, he feel so much! He's almost like a kid emotionally, yet still a strong man. I just want to hug and protect him. Just like Barnum, the tiger did.Harrison chuckled. When he looked again, Ty had Zane by the hand and was dragging him toward the old Mustang. Zane only managed to stop Ty’s excited ramblings by grabbing his face and kissing him. Harrison had never seen Zane happier or more at home than he was with Ty’s arms wrapped around him. Even when he’d been with Becky, he’d never lit up quite like he did now. Harrison nodded and turned away. That was enough for his peace of mind.
Quick basic facts:
Genre: - (Adult) Contemporary Romance (M/M)
Series: - Series, Book Six
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Favorite character? - Ty Grady.
Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Sure.
Would I recommend this book/series? - Sure.
Will I read this again in the future? - No.
Rating - 2.5/3 stars. -
Hand to god, I never thought I would love another in this series as much as Fish & Chips.
I was wrong. This is my new favorite of the series.
Ty and Zane were flufftastic with each other, maintained the banter that I've come to love and are still hot like burning between the sheets. Or in the supply closet. Or at the Alamo.
Bless 'em.
I also loved Harrison and Sadie was adorably precocious. Hells bells, even ole crotchety Earl Grady earned a brownie point with his acceptance of them as a couple.
Just the one, though. He's still on my shit list and if he lays a hand on my boy again... someone's feelings are going to get hurt.
But my favorite part was Ty with Barnum... 💞💞💞💞💞
D'awwwww!!! Little kitteh haz a crush.
The mystery didn't really hold my interest all that much but I enjoyed just listening to Ty and Zane have such a good time together in Texas on the ranch and doing all the Texan things all while falling a little harder for each other that I didn't mind.
Zane's mother I could've done without but she did have her moments. Not many but a couple so I'm hoping she'll de-pill as the series evolves.
J.F. Harding was SUPERB! Superlatives fail me for his performance. It was that good.
If you need a feel good read/listen, this is a good choice. -
Okay, this one is my new favorite!
Loved everything about this one! Especially loved the boys going to Texas, learning more about Zane and his family and his past.
Very action packed, that last 20% or so was pretty intense.
Things are so good for Ty and Zane I'm scared to keep reading....I just know shit is going to hit the fan.
Also found it pretty cool that the author visited an exotic animal sanctuary 20 miles from where I grew up....I should go say hi to Barnum!
Or not! :) -
Well, this sucks. Ty, the love of my book-life at the moment, hates Texas. I mean, sure, Texas wasn't all that nice to him, but still, this means our love can never be. I mean, other than the facts that he's gay and in love with another man, I'm almost 20 years older than him, and he's fictional. Oh yeah, and I'm married. Keep forgetting about that little snag. But still, if he liked Texas there may have been a chance for us.
We kinda do.
Fine. I'll keep my husband. He likes Texas. You know, like a SANE person.
So, in this book Ty and Zane end up visiting both of their families and . When they go to Zane's family in Texas there is a mystery going on. First, his father was shot by trespassers, and second, there are missing tigers from a sanctuary on the land adjacent to theirs. So, like cattle rustlers, but with tigers instead? I admit, that's unusual for around here. Not completely unheard of though. During Hurricane Ike, we had a tiger and a lion get loose in Galveston. So, you know, not our first rodeo with tiger stuff. Really, no rodeo could be our first one. We invented that shit.
Best part of the rodeo is when we shove our 5 year old's on sheep and turn them loose. It's called "mutton bustin'". If you survive to adulthood in Texas you are a strong MFer. I don't think this kid is gonna make it. Sorry kid. Again, how can anyone hate Texas?
The thing about Ty and Zane so far in the series is how completely messed up they are in the head. They are both walking psych cases because of the amount of trauma in their pasts. (Plus, Zane's alcohol and drug addiction past.) But slowly we have watched them start to heal a little bit. This book is a major healing point because there is a lot of bandaid ripping going on. They are having those old wounds reopened, whether they want to or not. I like the people they are becoming because of it.
Also, Ty has gotten funnier.
Zane: "How is it that you can love cats so much and hate all other forms of animal?"
Ty frowned. "I don't hate all other animals."
Zane: "Horses. Dogs. Chipmunks."
Ty: "They're twitchy, Zane. And chipmunks have shifty eyes."
Zane: "Moths?"
Ty: "They have erratic flight patterns!"
Oh yeah, that was another strike against our love: he's a cat person. *sigh*
I'm with Ron on this one. -
This is seriously the best series ever (this and Rock chick ofcourse). Loved it !!! Will continue reading on. I am getting a bit nervous because of the reviews on the next 3 books in the series...but I need Ty and Zane so I'm gonna be brave and jump right in there.
-
5++++++++++ stars for Ty and Zane.
Loved it even more.
“I love you," Ty said out of the blue, his voice almost sing-song. Zane laughed. "You're drunk." "I loved you before I was drunk.”
Zane's dad is epic
“Had a gay bull I had to sell last year. That was a damn nuisance. Gay son? That don't cost me nothing.”
March 2017
Im done listening to the audio book .. This was sooo good highly recommended for everyone.. fell hard for Ty and Zane again.
So far this is my favourite book. I love the growth in Ty & Zane's relationship. Chester is my hero, i like that we got to see Zane's family. Ty and Zane are just so sweet
-
This was THE best book of the series so far. Warm and fuzzy and sweet and funny. I can finally join the multitudes in saying "I love Ty and Zane."
-
7th re-read April 2021
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![moonlight ☾ [semi-hiatus]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1645500038i/37448930._UX200_CR0,0,200,200_.jpg)
5 stars ☆
i loved Zane’s family—minus his mom. i know she lowkey had a change of heart by the end but not enough for me to completely love her. i gotta say though, Ty and Zane have literally been through hell and back within these first six books and i’m just shook with how they were able to survive after everything they had to endure with so many near death experiences. i can’t think of a book atm where the mcs have been through this much. 😳 but anyways, i love these two dorks so much. ♡
fav quotes/scenes:
Ty took his arm and continued to walk. Zane watched him out of the corner of his eye, amused and warmed all over.
“I love you,” Ty said out of the blue, his voice almost sing-song.
Zane laughed. “You’re drunk.”
“I loved you before I was drunk.”
Zane stopped walking and pulled Ty around to face him. The evening was full of the noises of summer night revelry, but the sidewalk was empty. He smiled and leaned in to kiss Ty. “I can’t remember a time that I was happier than I am right now.”
Zane nodded, looking drawn and worried. Ty slid his fingers down his lover’s face. He knew where the stress was coming from.
Zane rested his head on Ty’s shoulder and Ty rubbed a hand down his back. “Let’s go get ready.”
Zane held on tight. “Not letting go,” he whispered.
“Well.” Deuce smiled as he moved into the room. Ty stood when he got closer. “I’m proud of you. Both of you. Even if it wasn’t your doing to begin with, you did it nonetheless.”
Ty nodded jerkily, surprised by his reaction to his brother’s words. Emotions welled in him that he didn’t think he was ready for.
Deuce wrapped him up in a hug, his eyes squeezed shut, and when he spoke to Ty in a low whisper, his voice wavered. “You’ll always be my hero, Beaumont.”
Zane had snapped the picture with his phone without Ty knowing, leaving the phone near his hip and capturing Ty from below. Ty had never caught on that Zane was watching him instead of the storm, so wrapped up in whatever it was about storms out on the ocean that seemed to fascinate Ty like they did.
When the rain had hit the beach and Zane had turned to retreat to their room, Ty grabbed him instead and started a waltz in the downpour. When they finished the dance, people applauded from their balconies. It had been the first taste of what life with Ty might be like when they came out.
“Ty and I...we’ve been dating for about a year now.”
Ty’s head shot up, and Annie glanced between them, eyebrows climbing so high her bangs hid them.
“Dating?” Harrison echoed.
Zane met and held Ty’s gaze. “Ty isn’t just my partner at work. He’s my boyfriend. I love him.”
“Oh.” Harrison sounded thoughtful. “Well, that explains it.” He went back to cutting the churro on Sadie’s plate, and Zane and Ty both stared at him, incredulous.
“That’s it?” Ty blurted.
Harrison shrugged and chewed a piece of the sweet bread Sadie had stuffed into his mouth. “Had a gay bull I had to sell last year. That was a damn nuisance. Gay son? That don’t cost me nothing.”
“Are you saying you might want kids one day?”
“I don’t know. Tonight was literally the first time I truly thought I might.”
Ty gaped, at a loss for words. Was this what Zane had been thinking about all night?
Zane remained quiet, watching him for several breaths before echoing. “Tell me what you’re thinking Ty.”
“Uh...I’m thinking...I love you. And I’m glad things didn’t go to plan when we were both younger.”
Zane slid his fingertips across Ty’s lips. With a blink, his expression changed, and he was gazing at Ty with such longing and love that he might as well have screamed it at the top of his lungs. “I wouldn’t change it,” he rasped. “Any of it.” -
Loved it!! Without a doubt, this book is my favorite so far. I loved seeing Ty and Z acting more as a couple as well as them interacting with their families. Lots of action and family drama.
I still can’t decide if I am team Ty or team Zane. I think it’s a tie.
Can’t wait until I read the next one. Although, I did read a few reviews, and I am a little nervous. -
It's official: I have a new favorite book in the Cut & Run Series!
“I love you,” Ty said out of the blue, his voice almost sing-song.
I've had a rough time trying to figure out how to write this review... Truth is - I fucking LOVED this book... Problem is - all of the things which made this particular installment of the Cut & Run Series so successful are massive spoilers, so I'll have to break my review down in a new way:
Zane laughed. “You’re drunk.”
"I loved you before I was drunk."
First off, the majority of this book took place in Texas. Complete with countless Texas / Cowboy jokes and all that... You know who is a proud Texas native? This Chick!
Summer evenings in Texas were apparently blazing hot right up until the sun went down, when they became merely uncomfortably warm.
I was entertained by all the Texas love going on. I enjoyed Ty's hatred of horses, and Zane's Cowboy alter-ego leaking out... Plus all the saucy "ride 'em cowboy" references and sexy stetsons... It all came together to make Texas a character in her own right...
It is not spoilery to tell you that there is a tiger involved (there's a tiger on the cover after all) and I wanted to offer the highest of fives to
Abigail Roux for something I've noticed and appreciated about her books, but never taken the time to point out... DETAILS. Awesome ones... I'm not talking about descriptions - though, those are pretty badass as well - I'm talking about attention to detail which borders on
Easter Egg level.
For instance: A chunk of the story line in this book was spent searching for a Tiger. Now, remember in the beginning of the book when Ty & the rest of the FBI team was chasing the streaker in downtown Baltimore? Remember what detail (besides testicles) was prominent on that streaker? A huge TIGER TATTOO on his chest. That's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to these details... That's merely the first non-spoiler one I could comment on...
AND NOW FOR THE SPOLIERS!
Click at your own risk...
The Big News:
On Big Cats:
In Other News:
Some of My Favorite Moments:
My Other Reviews in the Cut & Run Series:
Cut & Run -
My Review
Sticks & Stones -
My Review
Fish & Chips -
My Review
Divide & Conquer -
My Review
Armed & Dangerous -
My Review
Dine & Dash -
My Review
Stars & Stripes - You're Reading it
Touch & Geaux -
My Review
Ball & Chain -
My Review
Crash & Burn -
My Review
My Reviews in the Cut & Run Universe:
I will update the list as more books are published.
Warrior's Cross -
My Review
Shock & Awe -
My Review
Cross & Crown -
My Review
-
***5 stars for the audiobook version***
Hmm, should I take it as a sign that my first review in 2017 would be for an audiobook? Maybe I should. And probably you, too, because I plan on listening to more audiobooks this year. ;-)
Don't worry, though. I won't bore the pants off you with my reviews for this series, but since the narrator for this book changed again, I just wanted to say how much I loved it. I won't say that J. F. Harding is the best narrator for this series (I loved Sawyer Allerde and Sean Crisden's narration, too), but he is the one I understood best, not to say every single word. This is not a given for me as a non-native English speaker, so I was quite impressed.
Although he didn't gave Zane the swoon-worthy deep voice like Sean Crisden did, I loved how he conveyed all the emotions in this story and he made me laugh out loud with Ty's antics, made me want to hug Deuce after Ty and Zane's outing and made me want to kick Zane's mother in the ass for her behavior. So I can say with a clear conscience that I enjoyed the audiobook version very much. :)
It always comes in handy when the rating for the story tallies with the rating for the audiobook, because - like I said before - this series is, was and always will be a solid five-star-read for me. Each and every single book!
-
This was absolutely, at least to me, the best one in the series!
THE BEST!
I don't remember when was the last time I laughed so hard while reading a book. I always loved the humor between Ty and Zane but in this one I was laughing from the first page and I don't think I even stopped til the end! I loved every f***ing page! And I didn't want it to end, no no! But as I was reaching to the end, as much as I was dreading to finish it, because that meant no more Ty and Zane til april and no more laughing, I couldn't wait to see how will it end! And the end!
OMG SO F***ING ADORABLE!
HAPPY TEARS ALERT!
Soooo about the story....
We have coming out of closet in both their families! And we have coming out of closet literally.... oh yes that was one seriously hot scene! Actually I think I re-read every hot scene at least two times! At least! If you read this book please make arrangement for you to NOT TO BE DISTURBED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!
There is no way I could say which scene was my favorite in the book because this whole book is screaming:
SERIOUSLY THE BEST OF THE BEST FROM THE START TO THE END! YOU WILL BE HAPPY AND YOU WILL BE SAD! YOU WILL BE FANNING YOURSELF THE WHOLE TIME! YOU WILL BE AROUSED AND YOU WILL WANT TO CRAWL IN THAT BOOK AND POSITIONED YOURSELF BETWEEN THOSE TWO DELICIOUS MALE SPECIMENS (if you know what I mean :D)!
I loooooooved what Texas did to Zane as much as Ty did! I mean, please! How can a writer be so cruel and make someone such as Zane is?!?!?!!?!?!? Seriously where is justice in that to only read about someone like Zane?! I am damaged for all other book-alpha-males! I wanted to hold him when his mother was such a bitch! How can you be so cruel and cold to your son?! Especially after everything he has gone through and not to see that Ty is the reason your son is not ok now, but HAPPY SO MUCH HE COULD BURST! Isn't that enough?
Thank god for Harrison! How he accepted Ty from the very beginning simply because his son is finally laughing again.... isn't that so adorable?!
Ok the way Tys dad reacted... seriously not cool but at least it was not because of who Ty loves, it was because of not telling the truth years ago and running away... And Chester! what to say you simply gotta love that character!
I won't even try to comment how kitties any size love Ty, that is too funny to read...
Now when it comes to some scenes(read: phone sex, rubbing in car, closet sex, "stetson" sex...).... mmmmmm yep you would want to be in Tys shoes.... really... *taking deep breaths to calm myself*
And OMG I almost forgot! The talk about their future.... and the scene when Zane gives Ty his 'Stetson' hat and tells him that back in high school if you give your girlfriend your stetson you want her for the rest of your life.... *SERIOUSLY MELTING*
What else to say... I wanna give my 'stetson' hat to Zane :)
And I just have to say that I am not happy that there wasn't described scene when Zane licked Ty...... Whoa! Why don't we have that scene?! Seriously why did even Zane have to mention that he did it?!?!!? *very frustrated*
"...a six-pack he had once licked whipped cream from...." -
Reread February 2020
I forgot how much I enjoyed Ty and Zane in Texas. It was every bit as exciting as the first time. Special mention: Bailey and Barnum, the bengal tigers, who won special place in Ty's heart. I loved the family dynamics in both Grady's household and Garrett's. It brought to the forefront the stark difference in both Ty and Zane's upbringing and what shaped them. I am so glad that Ty was able to pull Zane out of that one, because, Beverly the mother from Hell, was just bad. Spent wonderful time with my guys Ty and Zane, suspiciously behaving horses and fierce kitties.
**********************
This book was absolutely clawsome! I loved it! It was the purrfect mix of love, adventure, intimacy and family drama! Ty and Zane are so funny and sweet! Awww. With every book more and more pieces are added to create a very fine picture of these two men: who they were, who they are now and where they are going. Ty and Zane are finally ready to be out with their families. It takes courage, Chester Grady and Harrison Garrett's nudge to finally take the plunge, and the moments are filled with happiness, trepidation and humor - very beautiful.
This time around Ty and Zane travel to the wilds of Texas to help out Zane's family. As always it turns into a nightmare for everyone. Thefts, missing animals and greedy people nearly destroy the family with Ty and Zane right in the middle of the madness. Some moments were truly spectacular, some were hilarious. I loved every page. This series is shaping up to be an all time favorite! I highly recommend it! -
Favorite Quote: “Oh Jesus Ty. Are you okay?”
Ty closed his eyes again. He tried to speak, lips barely moving.
“What?” Zane asked as he leaned closer.
“I hate Texas.”
If I had to write a one sentence review of this book, I’d probably say, “Ty wears a Stetson while doing dirty deeds to Zane.” Is there really anything else you need to know? Seriously, some hot cowboy sex takes place in this book.
I think we are in such a great place in this series. Ty and Zane are in love, and I can’t get enough of it. In this installment, we head to Texas, as Zane’s father has been shot on his ranch. Zane has a rocky relationship with his mother in particular, but feels like he is needed down there to investigate what is happening on the extensive ranch his family owns. After a few days, Ty can’t stand being away from Zane and so he pulls a few strings and finds himself in Texas as well. They soon learn Zane’s dad didn’t get shot randomly. Exotic tigers are missing from the neighboring wild life sanctuary, and the mystery unfolds from there. Let me just say, Ty plus escaped tigers will bring on many, many laughs. For such a tough dude,Ty has many animal issues:
“How is it that you can love cats so much and hate all other forms of animals?”
Ty Frowned. I don’t hate all other animals.”
“Horses. Dogs. Chipmunks.”
“They’re twitchy, Zane. And chipmunks have shifty eyes,”
“Moths?”
“They have erratic flight patterns!”
Besides the mystery, we get a lot of really good one on one Ty and Zane time. Before they go to Texas, they make a quick stop in West Virginia to visit Ty’s parents and although they are only there a short time, their visit makes a very big impact. I’ll let you uncover why yourself. But I have to say, Mara Grady made me laugh and laugh with this conversation:
“We wouldn’t need your help normally, but this morning I cut your daddy’s finger off, and he says he can’t hold a hammer.”
Ty shot his head up. “You what?”
“Cut his finger off,” Mara said again, as if she hadn’t realized the news would be shocking.
And once they get up there, her abrasive humor still made me laugh:
“Whatever it takes,” Mara said. She stood and went to the refrigerator. “All of you shitheads need Jesus so far as I’m concerned.”
Zane almost chocked on his tea.
And while she might be crazy, she loves her boy and became one of my favorite supporting characters.
Down in Texas, Zane isn’t quite as lucky. His mother does not approve of her son, before she even knows he is gay. They have a very cold relationship, one that wears heavily on him. Ty is there to lighten the mood, but there are still a lot of issues Zane must work out.
Best of all being in Texas make Zane and Ty mighty horny! Not that it takes a lot. But Zane’s southern accent comes into play, as well as Ty walking around in a cowboy hat. Now that Zane and Ty are in love, we start the process of telling their friends and family and of them thinking of the future. I seriously can’t get enough of these two when they are alone and they talk to each other from their hearts. Abigail Roux does such a great job at giving us tons of mushy time between them, but with enough erotic sex and funny one-liners that it isn’t corny.Their love is so overpowering, sexy and sweet. I can’t help but grin during the entire book. I’m not sure of another romance couple out there that affects me the way these two do. I try to savor every book because I know one day Roux will say, no more. But until then, enjoy this series everyone. It’s special.
Rating: B+ -
Okay, this one. This one is the one. My absolute FAVORITE in the series, no doubt about it!!!
I'm having a hard time figuring out how to write a coherent review for Stars & Stripes, because I just finished it, my emotions are all over the place and I'm still grinning like a damn fool... *heavy sigh* Okay... here goes nothing...
Warning: This review may contain unmarked spoilers, so read at your own risk!
Ty & Zane have been enjoying a few months of peace and quiet, falling into a pleasant routine. They've been living together for a while and they're blissfully happy. To Zane's horror, Ty is taking care of Julian Cross' (
Warrior's Cross) cats, Smith and Wesson, which Ty adores, but Zane swears they're evil and trying to kill him."Good kitty."
"Why do you encourage them?"
"They're good kitties."
"They're your minions."
"Everyone needs a minion or two."
"You won't be so pleased when you find me ground up in their food bowl one day."
All that's interrupted soon enough when they both get calls from their families, asking for help. First they head to West Virginia to visit the Gradys, whom need help installing a new roof. God, I missed these people a great deal, they're just awesome! One time after dinner, Chester, that hilarious old fart, just outs Ty & Zane to the rest of the family without blinking an eye."All's I'm saying is love's a blessing, no matter all the same." [...]
"What?" he asked. "Y'all didn't know they was sweethearts?"
After a little bit of shock and some lashing out because this was Ty's reason for joining the Marines, the Gradys just accept the news and welcome Zane into the family. A few days pass and Zane gets a phone call, after which he rushes to go home to Texas in order to see what's going on with his family. He goes alone, but Ty senses his lover needs him, so he joins him soon enough.
We finally get to meet Zane's family. Harrison Garrett, his father, is one hell of a man. I really liked him and the support he showed Zane throughout the whole book. Also, the way he just accepted the nature of Ty & Zane's relationship, when Zane told his family about them, was amazing!"Had a gay bull I had to sell last year. That was a damn nuisance. Gay son? That don’t cost me nothing."
Annie, Zane's sister, was very sweet, along with her cute daughter, Sadie. Just like Harrison, she can see how much of a good influence Ty has had on her brother, that he's brought Zane back to life. That's why she wholeheartedly agrees with their relationship."Zane," Annie said with a hand on his shoulder. "Go find a state that allows it, and marry that man."
But damn, Beverly, Zane's mother was, and I shall quote Ty for good measure, a frigid bitch. I hated that despicable raging bitch with a passion! UGH!
So... Ty & Zane are following a trail of the trespassers , doing their best to shed some light on the whole situation. Meanwhile, they visit an animal sanctuary for big cats, where Ty falls head over heels in love with Barnum, a Bengal tiger. I was smitten with the tiger, too, especially since he saved Ty's life more than once. Ah, who am I kidding, I'm a sucker for big cats anyway...
The horses, though... Ty was just hilarious with them! The guy plays with 600 pound tigers, but horses (and chipmunks, dogs, even moths) make him nervous... So precious!"I want you to put 'He didn't want to ride the damn horse' on my tombstone."
"Noted," Zane said with a grin. "You did okay."
Ty & Zane are wonderful in this book! They're very tender and more than ever, they talk, they're honest and they discuss their future and things they didn't dare talk about before. Coming out to their families and acting like a couple in public has been a big step for them and has obviously done them a lot of good. The faith they have in each other is incredible and they're happy, very much so. Zane trusts his partner, no matter what bullshit people are talking about him.He had no doubt that he knew who Ty was now, inside and out. He knew every one of Ty's quirks and weak spots and favorite things. He knew what Ty found funny and what annoyed him. He knew what would break his heart. He knew how to touch him to drive him wild, and when to back off when Ty was having a bad day. He knew that Ty was kind and loyal and funny, that he had a deep sense of honor and righteousness. He knew that Ty would die to save a stranger, and kill to save a friend. That was the type of man he was.
For the first time, they were actually discussing their future in concrete terms. They’d both known, on some level, that they intended to spend the rest of their lives together. It felt like a solid force now, though, something as real as the hands that pressed into his back or the lips that met his over and over as they made love.
Let's not forget the sex, though, which was INCREDIBLE!
The ending was so beautiful.
Alright... I think I should stop now, even though I could go on and on... Just read this book and see for yourself how BRILLIANT it is!
* * * * *
First read: May, 2014
Re-read: April, 2016
* * * * *
My other reviews in the Cut & Run series:
will be updated as soon as new books are published
Cut & Run (Cut & Run, #1) -
my review
Sticks & Stones (Cut & Run, #2) -
my review
Fish & Chips (Cut & Run, #3) -
my review
Divide & Conquer (Cut & Run, #4) -
my review
Armed & Dangerous (Cut & Run, #5) -
my review
Dine & Dash (Cut & Run, #5.5) -
my review
Stars & Stripes (Cut & Run, #6) - you're reading it
Touch & Geaux (Cut & Run, #7) -
my review
Ball & Chain (Cut & Run, #8) -
my review
Crash & Burn (Cut & Run, #9) -
my review
My reviews in the Cut & Run spinoffs:
will be updated as soon as new books are published
Warrior's Cross -
my review
Shock & Awe (Sidewinder, #1) -
my review
Cross & Crown (Sidewinder, #2) -
my review
Important note: I highly recommend the books to be read in the following order...
will be updated as soon as new books are published
Cut & Run;
Sticks & Stones;
Fish & Chips;
Divide & Conquer;
Warrior's Cross;
Armed & Dangerous;
Dine & Dash;
Stars & Stripes;
Touch & Geaux;
Shock & Awe;
Ball & Chain;
Cross & Crown;
Crash & Burn ... -
*3rd read 2020*
Just as damn amazing as before. *sigh* SO romantic. 🥰🥰
And Beverly Garrett can still kiss my ass. Twice.
*Re-read 2018*
God, do I love them! So freaking good, I want to turn around and read it again, right now! *swoon*
Also, Zane's mom can still kiss my ass.
*1st read 2013*
*sigh* And now I'm going to be sad, because there's no more Ty & Zane to read until
Touch & Geaux is released in April. Even though the blurb and teasers for that book are making me think I'm going to be a total wuss and not read til I know it won't hurt me.
This book was much different from the others, in that this one was most definitely a romance. Ty & Zane have let go of being afraid of loving each other, and they've now said almost everything to each other that you can say to the one you love. The thing now is that being together has just about become the most important thing, and not just being together, but being together openly. This is a problem, because the FBI has a strict fraternization policy and Ty & Zane are now living with each other. Since they can't be open in Baltimore, they end up coming out to their families.
There were still lots of moments that made my heart squeeze, but at least this was the kind that feels good. I won't ever get tired of Ty & Zane together. Best of all, these guys (and their wackadoo families) make me LAUGH. So much funny here. For all that the dynamic has shifted, some things (thank goodness) still remain the same.
Of course, nothing is ever entirely easy for the guys. While they are in West Virginia, Zane gets a call from his sister in Texas and has to go home because his dad has been shot. Ty ends up joining him, and they have to figure out who's trespassing on the Garrett ranch and why they would shoot Harrison Garrett.
Ty & Zane get a lot of different reactions to coming out, both in West Virginia *LOVED Chester and what he said to them <3* and Texas. They are quickly becoming used to being publicly affectionate with each other. In fact, I'm wondering if they'll be able to hide it once they go back to Baltimore. Guess I'll have to wait and see, but I'm still scared of the next one.
Despite the lack of excitement (better known as no one trying to kill either Ty or Zane at every turn), there was plenty of drama, at least in Texas. I was engaged and entertained, the story flowed well. The new characters introduced (primarily Zane's family) were mostly enjoyable and one in particular was a very well done, cold-hearted witch. I'm still fuming over the things she said & did.
Great, enjoyable read and so damn sweet to see them happy together. -
I was originally going to give this 5 stars but then I read the next in the series and it was just so amazing and a total 5 star for me that I had to drop my rating for this one to 4 stars .... logical - maybe not?? I really should do my reviews straight away after reading a book but I was traveling and just had not time.
Ty is just too cute. I love him. Love Zane too.
Like Zane's dad. Not too keen on the Mom.
Onwards and upwards to read the next book ...
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4,7 SWEET SWEET SWEET SWEET SWEET TIGER STARS!!!
Stars & Stripes was the sweetest sequel of the whole series for me until now. Everything here, absolutely EVERYTHING was sticky like honey!
My number one - Barnum, a Bengal tiger with a floppy ear from Exotic Animal Sanctuary, Texas. Is it possible not to fall hard for this sweetie?!
It is why Ty did! Lucky Ty, it was mutually!
What do we have here?
♥ Texas! The reason why Zane had to come back home was not very pleasant, but- I can't help myself!-TEXAS WAS SWEEEEEET!!!
Alone for the reason to see Ty in cowboy hut!!
♥ Horses!. Ty think they are horrible, but it is the reason why they are sweeeeet!!
♥ Families!. We know Ty's family, and here we are introduced to Zane's family. They are all- except his mother- very nice people!
I ask myself why for god sake he had no contact to them all this years?!
Okay, this problem was fixed here! And the problem with his inheritance was solved also with the best results for Zane!
Is it not sweeeeeet?
♥ The tiger!!! Sorry, I'm repeating myself, but Barnum is the most sweeeeetest sweetie I have ever known as tiger! Barnum has a perfect feeling for timing. It was always at the right time on the right place!
I'd like to adopt it, but Ty was unfortunately quicker!
♥ ZANE!! Zane was like a big sweet lollipop. Do you know what they are good for?!
♥ EVEN THE ACTION SCENES WERE EXTREMELY SWEET!!!
You won't believe me until you read it yourself. Doesn't matter that they were supposed to be dangerous, I have not noticed it!
♥ SEX! SEX was sticky sweeeet! AND HOT!!! There are 3 great sex scenes. I was about to pack my suitcase and book a one way ticket to Texas!
"You're so getting laid tonight."
"Lucky me."
My last thoughts:
Normally I should got a sugar shock at least around a half of the book because of so much sweetness!
Normally I start to roll my eyes if there are too much sugar in my books. I am allergic to it.
Normally it is a point for me to start to be a sarcastic bitch. I can't help myself, I am not that sweet as you could think. Sometimes.
Though I have to disappoint all of you who hoped to read a sarcastic review here!!!! No No No!!!
In spite of the fact that at the end of the book I was lying buried under multiple layers of chocolate, cream and sugar icing near to collapse because of too much SWEETness, I am still badly in love with this two guys!!!!
This tiger adventure in Texas was FUN PURE!!!
I was smiling reading it, I was smiling turning the last page and I think I still have a stupid smile on my face.
AND I WANT MORE!!!!"...There are so many paths in life. Some we choose, and some are chosen for us. We walk our paths without looking down and that's the life we lead. The only things you'll get from guessing where another path would have gone are questions you can't answer and heartache you can't ever soothe."
Zane met Ty's eyes, gazing at him as a sense of calm seeped into his bones. He smiled. "You're like a damn walking fortune cookie, you know that?"
I know it. -
Stars & Stripes by Abigail Roux is the sixth in a gay romance series. In my review of the fifth book, Armed & Dangerous, I talk a little more about why I was hesitant to pick these books up but did anyway. I also talked about my Abigail-Roux-probably-ought-to-be-scared-of-me-because-I’m-such-a-rabid-fan-level of obsession. Seriously, y’all. There are no words for how much I LOVE THIS SERIES, OMG.
So, Abigail Roux had a co-writer for the first four books, but I am definitely a huge fan of her solo writing endeavors. The writing is much more polished, and I’m pretty sure she did basically all of the real plotting from the beginning anyway. In this installment, Ty and Zane, our two favorite FBI agents and lovers, hit the road. First, they spend a little time in West Virginia with Ty’s family. The bulk of the book, however, is spent in Texas getting to see Zane’s family for the first time. Chaos ensues, as it inevitably does around our boys. (Also: Ty with a new unlikely finger injury? Check!)
I love Ty’s family. Seriously. Even Earl when he acts like a jackass. But Ty’s grandpa Chester? I have never wanted to hug someone so bad in my life. You guys – he steals the show in Stars & Stripes. No lie. If you’ve read the book, I am 100% sure you agree with me. The only downfall of seeing them in this book was how brief it was.
Zane’s parents are a mixed bag. His mom is TERRIBLE. Luckily, his dad almost makes up for it. In fact, he is up there with Chester as one of my favorite parts of the book. (Best line in the whole thing too…gay bulls. *snort*)
The mystery is throwaway for me in this one, it didn’t really do anything for me at all. Do I care? No. There was so much quality Ty & Zane time that Stars & Stripes is one of my favorite books in the series anyway. Every single time they are able to express their feelings to each other, I melt into a puddle of fangirly goo. It took them a long time – and several books – to get here, and I am enjoying every second of it. (Especially since I’ve got a feeling things won’t be so smooth in the next book, Touch & Geaux.)
To Sum it Up:
-If the thought of two tough, rugged FBI agents falling in love with each other intrigues you, this series is for you.
-If the thought of two tough, rugged FBI agents constantly butting heads with each other intrigues you, this series is for you.
-If the thought of two tough, rugged FBI agents getting it on at every available opportunity doesn’t intrigue you – you can skip those parts, this series is for you. -
Posted on
Under the Covers
Just when I thought I couldn’t love this series any more than I already do, Roux gives us a fantastic, heartfelt, yet adventure-filled ride with STARS & STRIPES! This book blew my mind from beginning to end. Just 30 pages into this book, Roux had me laughing out loud and also crying with the amount of heartbreak. If there is one M/M couple out there who has my heart, it’s Ty and Zane. The trials and tribulations they have experienced by being together are finally brought up in STARS & STRIPES. Readers who have been following this series will finally get what they have been praying for: Ty and Zane come out to their parents. But the reveal isn’t an easy one.
Their parents are just now finding out that their children are gay and they don’t always take it well. Some are more accepting than others and that just warms my heart, but at the same time, there are a few who simply can’t stand the fact that their son is gay and it just breaks my heart to read about this happening to my two favorite guys.
Added to that stress is the fact that Zane’s father has been shot in Texas. So Zane takes a trip back home where he hasn’t been in a while to try and figure out what has happened. It turns out that more is going on because dangerous animal predators, the Benal tigers are going missing from their shelters. Panic arises in Texas as these tigers continue to be taken.
In comes Ty, providing a helping hand (even though one hand is broken), yet nothing can separate Ty from Zane. They are in it together and when Zane is feeling the wrath from his mother, Ty is there to remind him that he is not alone.
STARS & STRIPES was a thrill to read from the very first page. Roux seems to have taken this series in stride and doesn’t seem like she has any intentions of slowly down anytime soon. It was perfect, the ideal blend of the wickedly entertaining hysterics and so much passion and love. So much.
Worthy of note is the Roux’s ability to write sex scenes. I’ve read so many sex scenes both of the M/M genre and not, but none of them can truly compare to the ones we’ve seen in this series and particularly this book. Roux fuses rough, dirty rutting with passionate embraces and lingering kisses. It’s as if Roux possesses a secret ingredient that she adds into these scenes to make them more delicious. Whatever it is, I hope she had a hoard of it in her keeping. It’s gold!
STARS & STRIPES is easily one of my favorite reads of 2012 and Ty and Zane are my favorite M/M couple ever. Roux just writes on a higher calibre and I think STARS & STRIPES tops even that!
Favorite Quote #1:
“Is that a mirror in your pocket, baby?” he said to Clancy with a goofy leer. “’Cause I can sure see myself in your pants.”
Favorite Quote #2:
“How is it that you love cats so much and hate all other forms of animal?”
Ty frowned. “I don’t hate all other animals.”
“Horses. Dogs. Chipmunks.”
“They’re twitchy, Zane. And chipmunks have shifty eyes.”
“Moths?”
“They have erratic flight patterns!”
*ARC provided by publisher
P.S. I am stoked about a character named Annie in this. Just. Because.
Want more? Check out my interview with Abigail Roux on
Under the Covers
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Re-read 25th April - 28th April 2018
Another fabulous read I really can’t get enough of these two.
Ty’s T.shirts don’t feature as strongly now (I assume that must have been one of Madeleines things) but we have.
Gravity –It’s the Law
The more I read about Ty the more I fall in love with him, he’s a loveable enigma.
Ty frowned. “I don’t hate all other animals.”
“Horses. Dogs. Chipmunks.”
“They’re twitchy, Zane. And chipmunks have shifty eyes.”
“Moths?”
“They have erratic flight patterns!”
“Come on, Elmer. Let’s go find a glue factory,” Ty said to his horse, who tossed its head and snorted as if in argument.
“Uh-huh, you know why? Opposable thumbs, bitch!”
“Man’s crazy,” Zane’s uncle said to Harrison. Zane grinned. Harrison nodded and they watched Ty argue with the horse. “Seems to work for him.”
“That’s why I’m up here, and you’re the one wearing the saddle,” Ty told his horse as they headed off.
Original review.
This time it's the turn of Zane's family, another interesting bunch. As always the writing is fabulous we've come so far with these two and hopefully there's a lot longer to go it will be a very sad day when this series ends. I read this book again the other night and I'd forgotten just how funny it is, it was a mistake reading it in bed as I was shaking with laughter and tears were rolling down my face, just love these guys. -
Ty and Zane go to WV to help rebuild a shed after Ty's father has an injury. Chester shows us he is much smarter and observing than the family gives him credit when he sees what these two men mean to each other. Ty's parents react differently than expected and bones are broken. Zane has to rush to Texas when his father is shot leaving Ty behind. But as we all know Ty can't be without Zane too long.
The entire Texas adventure is part funny as heck, part frustrating, and part frightening. Zane's mother is a class A bitch.....his father is fantastic. In all of this the men get involved with big cat abduction, suspected drug running, horses that talk to Ty ( he doesn't understand them), sweet niece with a pink pony, homophobes, big hats,and a big Bengal tiger who loves Ty. Its interesting, suspenseful, and has lots of love. Typical adventures for our two Special Agents! -
Another amazing read. Each time I finish a book in this series, I think it's the best one yet, and this one is no different. It just keeps getting better and better. Since I don't do re-reads, I am going to be crying some serious tears when I finish this series and say good bye to Ty and Zane.
-
What can I say... I still adore Ty and Zane and will continue to read each new book in the series but I think this book stretched the boundaries of reality. I mean, come on, a gay couple coming out in Texas and West Virginia receiving immediate acceptance from most people. That just wouldn't happen. I live in the liberal north east and even still, two guys holding hands in a local bar would turn more than a few heads. This isn't the Village. Don't get me wrong, I think it should be totally commonplace and totally accepted and a non-issue but that isn't reality. Also, why are they so freaking good at everything. Amazing painter, world-class singer... come on. Still, I adore Ty and Zane so I'm willing to suspend reality but it didn't read true to me in many ways. Hoping for a marriage proposal in the next book though!
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Read for the third time June 2022
Upgrading to 2,5 stars not that it matters.😂
Yeap, I still have to agree with my original review below:
this is waaaaaaay too sappy, particularly on Zane's side. I counted FIFTEEN (!!!) ILYs, and I might have missed some. 🙄
The writing is bristling with platitudes and general statements. There is so much 'gazing' and 'gooing' happening, it was totally out of character for both men, but Zane seems a completely different man from before.
In short: Still my least favourite book in the series, despite some great and hot moments. I was gutted when I read it first, but of course I went for the last three books eventually!
original review
I have loved this series so far, and I really love Ty and Zane.
But this....did disappoint on quite a few levels.
My main complaint is how sugary their relationship has suddenly become. All the rough and tumble between them is gone, and what's left are endless declarations of ' I love you' (not even teenagers say it that often) and some behaviour completely out of character, imo.
I really don't get why Zane falls apart because he hasn't seen Ty for a week. A mere week! And the guy's over forty! Of course Zane would miss Ty, but he is actually having a crisis! That's simply too unrealistic for me. In the first book they were apart twice, once for half a year. I did get them pining, then.
There is that, and then there is the plot. It really does stretch the imagination. I have never read this series for the crime plots. Ty and Zane's adventures were a nice frame-work for the development of their relationship. And okay, some things might have been a bit unlikely, but it never bothered me so far. Here I was scratching my head quite a few times. Escaped tigers (in Texas) apart, I would like to have these questions answered:
I missed some conflict between Ty and Zane. There was nothing to resolve, and that's where the spice was before, so it's not surprising I found this a bit flat.
Anyway, enough of my ranting. I am a bit sad I didn't enjoy this as much as the previous books. And it also cost substantially more. At this stage I'm not sure if I'll read the remaining three books.
