| Title | : | Warriors Cross |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1615810307 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781615810307 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | ebook |
| Number of Pages | : | 316 |
| Publication | : | First published August 1, 2009 |
| Awards | : | Rainbow Award LGBT Cover (2009) |
Julian's love and devotion are all Cameron could have hoped for and more. But when his ordinary life meets and clashes with Julian's extraordinary lifestyle, Cameron discovers that trust and fear can go hand in hand, and love is just a step away from danger.
Warriors Cross Reviews
-
5 utterly brilliant and beautiful stars for this book and couple
Unfortunately for me, when I started reading this book I got sick
It started out as a mild form of butterflitis stomachitis. After a few chapters I got the fever and started melting every now and then, my throat had some problems so I couldn't speak properly, it all came out as squeeling. Near the end matters got worse. My butterflitis stomachitis grew into acute sobbitis, which manifested through my eyes and the constant tear-leaking. And for some reason my hormones went all wild and I was very emotional. Luckily for me, the medicine I took at the end of the book cured me, I think it's called happyendingamol, so I'd recommend it if you ever get sick like me
Even though I was sick, I enjoyed the book so so much
the writing is excellent, and I was glued to my reader untill I finished :)
Cameron and Julian - ohhh what a wonderful couple, I simply adore them! The chemistry they have is through the roof
The book starts in the restaurant where Cameron is a waiter, and Julian is a regular customer. This is full of glances, looks, slow conversation that will get your nerves and anticipation high like a rocket! It was just intense! Cameron doesn't know practically anything about Julian, but he's infatuated for months, and on Christmas Eve they talk
and Julian walks Cameron home
and Cameron takes his hand
that whole scene was utter perfection, one of the best romantic scenes I've read
So they start a relationship and everything goes slowly :) I won't say anything else about the story, don't want to ruin it if you decide to read the book :) I'll just say that they are so wonderfull together, so sweet, I simply adored them
The ending (last 30% or so) was intense, but considering the genre and Julian's occupation that isn't a big surprise XD I WISH that tense part was shorter, it kinda dragged the story, but oh well. I'd give it 4 stars for that, but I simply can't, I know, I'm stupid, that's not the way to review, but I just can't. The characters were so good, they overshadowed any fault the book might have, and I loved them so much that they deserve 5 stars, if not even more.
Best scenes:
- Cameron and Julian exchanging glances in the restaurant (well, every damn scene with them in the restaurant is 5 star worthy
)
- the first time Julian spoke to Cameron
- Christmas Eve, Julian and Cameron walking in the street (major meltdown
)
- first sex scene - HOT! Jeez was it hot!
- when Cameron thinks he won't see Julian again
- when Julian finds Cameron on the bathroom floor
- Julian giving Cameron the present
- the moving of Cameron's boss
- the funeraaalll oh that was sad
- the ending of course
This was a wonderful read, I simply love this book and it definitely goes in my favorites
Can't wait to read about Cameron and Julian in the Cut&Run series
Buddy re-read with Nicole and Shelly<3
-
4.5 Stars
I went to bed on Sunday night, telling myself I’d just start the book and read a few pages...
...A few hours and 40% later, I knew I had a problem (of the best kind). I reluctantly put the book down at midnight and proceeded to have fabulous dreams starring Julian Cross. It was a good night.
All day at work on Monday my students keep yattering away (kids, sheesh), distracting me from my thoughts of Cam and Julian and their ridiculously tangible chemistry. I read through my lunch break – which I never do – and when that final bell rang at the end of the day, I made a mad dash to my car and got home in record time just to dive back into the book.
Needless to say, I really enjoyed this one. I went in feeling obligated to read this, when all I really wanted to do was dive head first into
Armed & Dangerous. I’m really glad I followed advice (thanks, R); I now have no doubt that Cam and Julian’s appearance in my now upcoming next read (Armed & Dangerous) will be all the more epic. I can not wait!
To be clear, I now worship at the altar of Julian Cross. *swoon*
****************************************
Re-read: November, 2017
There seem to be two schools of thought regarding this book. Some readers are bored to tears and don't see the appeal of the characters and their love story, while others find the characters delicious and the romance astounding. I'll admit, when I first read this story a few years ago, I experienced both extremes, absolutely loving the beginning of the story where Cam and Julian first came together, and then I felt it petered off around the halfway mark, leaving me with an unmemorable impression of the second part of the story.
My second reading experience produced very, very different reactions regarding that once perceived slower second half. This time around I still felt Cam and Julian shared some of the most amazing sexual tension I've ever read and I still adored their initial coming together, but I also found myself completely engrossed with what came after, following the slow-reveals of Julian's life, and witnessing the personal tolls and imminent dangers his profession placed on him and Cam (and others). I think I simply connect to the writing and the characters themselves. Or maybe my new experience all depended on my current mood!? Whatever the case, I've decided to bump my rating up and add this to my favourites folder because, to me, Cam and Julian's story is one of the most romantic things I've ever read. -
A beautiful tale of the dangers of forbidden love, and a must read for Cut & Run Fans!
“To your limp...” he said solemnly.
There is something satisfying about being engrossed in a universe as detailed and elaborate as the one which Abigail Roux and Madeleine Urban have created. Warrior's Cross is the first of the spinoffs created from the
Cut & Run series... The tone was decidedly different than that of Ty & Zane's whirlwind relationship, but it was no less entertaining or well written...
Ty and Zane formed a partnership through various dangerous experiences and slowly built a romantic relationship. Cameron and Julian however, formed a romantic relationship first and slowly layered in the danger. Their love is sweeter, with significantly fewer punches to their lover's face.
There's a phrase I don't think I've ever used before, but I'm going to use it now:
Insta-Love Done Right
It wasn't that these two gentleman fell in love at first sight - it took many months - but there was barely any interaction between them during that time... They fell hard, but it was a slow burn. The pair grew accustomed to seeing each other once a week at a restaurant were Cameron worked. Julian would come in every Tuesday, order the same thing, and barely say a word to Cameron. Once the pair took the leap into each other's arms, it was an intense, overwhelming attraction which neither could fight...
JULIAN CROSS
“Someone would have to be out of their mind not to come back to you. I walked through a blizzard to get here.”
CAMERON JACOBS
It wasn’t logical that he would choose Julian over his own safety, Cameron knew. He would, though, and logic be damned.
CAMERON'S PUPPIES:
COBALT, SCARLET, SAFFRON, & SNOWFLAKE:
“Westies aren't mean. They're tenacious.”
JULIAN'S CATS:
SMITH & WESSON:
“My cats would turn your dogs into hairballs,”
There was a perfect moment where the differences between Cameron & Julian were laid out within the metaphor of their pets..."...he’s not one of us, just like you said. He’s the kind of man who if you gave him a gun and told him he had two choices—“shoot one of your dogs or shoot yourself in the head”—he’d put the gun to his ear and pull the trigger.”
Couple of Notes:
“Hell, Jules, you’d do the same thing if someone did that to you and your goddamned cats,” Blake said in amusement. “No,” Julian murmured with a shake of his head.
“No, there’s a third option. People like us, we’re third-option people. We take the gun, stuff it in the person’s mouth, and eliminate the problem. Walk off into the sunset with our kitty.”
- Is anyone walking Cameron's Puppies? I don't know if that bothers me because I have to walk my dogs after a long day at the office and I want fictional characters to share the plight of walking puppies in the snow?
- What was the dynamic between Julian, Blake, and Preston? We never really get clarification on that... I hope we gain a clearer picture in
Armed & Dangerous.
- Why Oh Why would you get Cameron a job in this mysterious "business" after spending the entire book protecting him from these people?
The Ending:
“It’s called a warrior’s cross. The garnet and the gold symbolize the Roman god Mars,” he explained quietly. “The god of war.”
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 -
My Review
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 - You're Reading it
Shock & Awe -
My Review
Cross & Crown -
My Review
-
2.5, will round it up to 3 stars...
Eventually finished it.
I tried... I just couldn't buy it.
I found Cameron to be quite naive.
I wanted to like this one as I have loved the books in the Cut and Run series that I have read so far...
Even with a certain theme running through it, it didn't work for me.
-
I read this because the main characters are going to be in the next book of the series I'm reading. I thought it would be fun to get their background. I'm not sure it was worth the bother. We'll see.
yeah, okay, maybe not.
This romance was kinda dumb. There was this insta-love thing going on when our narrator didn't even know the guy's address, phone number, or, you know, his real name. I don't know, it just seemed a little ridiculous that there could be any real feelings when they only had contact one evening a week and never had a real conversation.
Then, the ending stuff was soooooo melodramatic and bullshitty that I was eye-rolling. This was some soap opera worthy stuff. If an evil twin showed up I wouldn't have even blinked with the kind of stupidity that was going on here.
Aww, that's so romantic! I bet she loved being surprised like that! -
Buddy read with Wacky Blacky Must Have HEA tomorrow! I bet they all die at the end, mwahahaha!!!!!
FINAL RATING: 3.5 stars
I'm rounding up to four because I think I just expected something different...that's what I get for skimming reviews.
My Own Synopsis:
Cam is a waiter at a posh Chicago restaurant. He's content with his lot in life...he has no big aspirations to be rich or powerful, he's a simple guy with simple tastes. Everything he is reflects his simple character. He is friends with everyone he works with, he's good at his job, he has a few fluffy white dogs at home to greet him.
The biggest excitement for Cameron, it seems, is Tuesday nights. That's when HE comes in. Without fail, a mysterious dark haired, gorgeous hunk of man sits at Cam's table, orders the house wine and the daily special, and never says a word...no yes, no, or anything. Just nods and looks. Until one day he does...Mr. Mystery speaks! He begins to (very) slowly have a certain repertoire with Cam. As their one and two word conversations turn into more lengthy discussions, Cam begins to notice that this man watches him with a certain look in his eyes. Though he doesn't even really begin to let himself hope that the hotness personified is gay, let alone that he would be interested in plain, unassuming Cam, there comes a day that Mystery Man makes it clear that he's interested."All I do is serve the food."
"And all I do is sit there and watch you."
As Cam slowly comes to accept the attraction that he feels for the man may be reciprocated, he also begins to learn little bits about him...such as his name, Julian. But he also begins to notice things about Julian...some are obvious, like the way he always sits with his back to the wall, eyes alert, scribbling notes in a little notepad. Others are intuitive; such as the intense, nearly feral look in his eye and the sometimes too self contained demeanor in which he carries himself.
And so it goes...how can a normal, everyday average guy and a mysteriously dangerous and secretive stranger find a way to be together?
****************************************************************"Cameron swallowed with difficulty. "You look at me like there's nothing else int he world," he whispered to Julian nervously. "There's not right now, " Julian answered immediately. " It's Tuesday."
My Thoughts:
The first part of this book was full of that magical, giggly, squishy, sexually charged feeling of a new relationship. It was made better because of the mystery surrounding Julian. He's quite the badass, it seems, and yet he's not obvious about it. That's one thing that made me like him even more. He's not at all what I expected. Neither was Cameron for that matter. While Julian is the stoic, self contained mystery at first, he slowly turns into a somewhat romantic figure...sweet most often with little bouts of passionate lover. Cam starts off almost feminine in his attitudes and actions. He's an extremely passive guy, more than I was prepared for. Almost too much at times. I will say that Cam does have a few moments that he sticks up for himself and doesn't let Julian unintentionally run rough shod over him.
I think I expected this to be a romantic suspense novel. For the most part, it was straight up contemporary romance, and with only one fairly nondescript sex scene. I also expected more bow-chicka-bow-wow. Nope...only one :(:( The middle of the story fell pretty flat for me. I think it needed more moments of levity...more moments of quiet for these two in which their relationship was portrayed as solid. But every scene with these two together had them solving (or trying to solve) some sort of conflict. I just never got to the point that I felt comfortable with them as a couple. Their solid relationship never manifested for me, even though they are supposedly together for months. Maybe this was due to Julian's mystery profession that only allowed them to be together two days a week. **shrug** But for me, it kept me from really accepting these deep emotions that they apparently felt for each other. Well, that and the fact that Julian remains a mystery for pretty much the entire book. In fact, there isn't EVER a moment in which his job is spelled out. You have to sort of make an educated guess.
When the action picks up during the last parts of the book, my attention was again captured. I had to laugh at myself because even though I knew what had actually happened at one point, I was still on the edge of my seat and choking up...just at the possibility that what was insinuated was true!"He'd faced many things in his life that most people never faced, but he was not immune to terror. He's discovered tonight that being scared for someone you cared about was an entirely different animal from simply fearing for your own life and limb."
Overall, I enjoyed getting to know these two as a couple. They just seem to fit each other...they seem to be polar opposites, really, but they fit like puzzle pieces. And I put the book down feeling as if they were meant to be. Julian allows Cam to have a solid, confident influence in his life, and Cam gives Julian the comfort of simply being loved and accepted without fear. Beautiful love story!!!"When I'm with him I feel like one of the good guys."
-
Sorry folks, I know I am the dissenting opinion here, but I just didn't really care for this book. It wasn't bad, just "ok" for me, thus the 2 stars.
So what was my problem? First, I found the story to move at a terribly slow pace. It's a 303-page novel, and nothing remotely exciting starts to happen until after 200 pages in; and even after that, it's still not all that exciting! I guess I was expecting this book to have a little more action/intrigue/gun-fighting/etc in it than what it actually did. In fact, there's only one action scene in the whole novel. Pretty much the whole story is about Julian and Cameron's supposed "romance" and how Julian is big, bad, and mysterious. Now, I could have gotten over the fact that this novel was not the action-packed thriller that I had expected, but I'm sorry to say that I didn't really find the "romance" all that believable either. Actually, I found the whole thing to be completely baffling. Julian and Cameron have nothing in common (as far as I could tell) aside from physical attraction. Julian hardly even talks! And Cameron just whines the entire novel about how he doesn't understand why Julian cares about him. And he's got a point! I don't understand it either! I just never really got the whole true-love vibe since, even by the end of the novel, I never really felt like I knew anything about the characters.
Bottom Line: I wasn't a fan of the story or the characters, but it is well-written technically and there are plenty of other people who loved it. -
3.5 Stars!
I should've probably rounded down on this one, there was definite skimming involved with the first half. Not much happened other than Julian and Cam's interactions at the restaurant.
But it picked up the second half and I'm glad I read it just for the background of the two characters prior to starting Armed and Dangerous.
Definitely disappointed by the lack of steam. But a pretty decent ending.
Back to Ty and Zane I go! -
I was reliably informed (multiple times) that Warrior's Cross was a must read prior to reading Armed & Dangerous. Reportedly, Julian and Cameron play instrumental roles in book 5 of the Cut & Run series. I can't speak to that at this juncture but, I can say I was quite bored by Warrior's Cross.
It could easily have been a novella rather than a novel. There was far too much restaurant talk-opening wine, smelling corks, prep areas… blah, blah, blah. I don't understand how this is supposed to be either engaging or titillating. I couldn't even get excited about Julian's line of work. I found the whole thing about as scintillating as watching paint dry.
I can understand Cameron's appeal to Julian to a certain extent but, I'm still dubious about their long term plausibility. Cameron is naive and doesn't ask a lot of questions which is exactly what should appeal to a hit man. He's also significantly smaller than Julian so… there is that. Ordinarily, I would classify this as instalove but it's not that exactly, it's more like the story began in the middle of their relationship. I didn't feel them fall in love. I was just told to believe it.
Like I said, Julian's a hit man which, theoretically, should bring a certain excitement level yet, it fell flat. Most of the "jobs" happened off the page except the vendetta a.k.a. Arlo Lancaster that comes to town in search of Julian. Yet, even that was only moderately exciting. Perhaps, knowing Julian and Cameron make an appearance in Armed & Dangerous took some of the wind out of those sails.
In a nutshell, the plot was thin. The characters aren't all that likable. It's far too long. There certainly wasn't enough sexy time. Overall, it was kind of a snoozefest thus, I can only muster up 2 stars. -
Solid 3.5. It would have been a 4.5 if not for the dogs. DOGS NEED TO POO AND PEE SOMEWHERE! Maybe they were paper trained or something but wondering how in the heck the dogs were ok for overnight trips with just food kept bugging me and pulling me out of the scenes. Even before the first and only sex scene I kept thinking "He just got home from 10 hours of work. Why hasn't he taken the dogs out?...He's gonna take the dogs out right?" I had to go back and re-read the scene to actually follow the sexing once I knew the dogs weren't going out that night. The distraction repeated every time with him arriving after a long shift or leaving for days was mentioned.
Everything else criticized in other reviews didn't bother me a bit. POV changes were easy to follow. The other big one seems to be Cam not grabbing people. Sometimes you just love someone because they are who they are and together it just works. Not all of us have to be the dark handsome staranger. What Julian needed was comforting and sweet. Cameron was and I understood the freaking out too. Things were being withheld from him and he didn't know what.
Their first conversation outside of work was magical. A sentence or two about a dog walker or paper training would have raised this from a decent book to an excellent one. -
All the excitement of
Armed & Dangerous left me so fired up, that I wasn't quite ready to relinquish Julian and Cameron. I wanted to know what all the heavy hints were all about, not to mention finally see one of their physical encounters to the end, instead of just the teasing glimpses. You don't just make those characters all lovey-dovey and hot-n-bothered, only to have the scene play out off screen! I don't care that they weren't the main couple, that was just mean!
Unfortunately, all I ended up getting here were a lot of longing stares, cryptic statements, playful puppies, and way too many fade-out sex scenes. Was there a hard-limit for on-screen intercourse, that the authors had to follow? Because all I got from it was frustration, on top of my overall boredom.
Speaking of boredom, why was the story only told from Cameron's point of view?! I mean, the guy was a waiter with basically no life outside his work?? Sure, some pining can go a long way to achieve those yummy stomach-butterflies, but too much of it is just painful(ly dull) to go through.
Score: 2.3/5 stars
Nowhere near the excitement of the sequel, just cute, fluffy, and towards the end, rather heavy-handed with the soap-opera tropes. -
![moonlight ☾ [semi-hiatus]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1645500038i/37448930._UX200_CR0,0,200,200_.jpg)
meh, i think i prefer julian and cameron’s dynamic/interactions more in armed & dangerous compared to here but julian was entertaining enough for me to keep reading.
preston though?? i loved him. <3 -
Re-read 24th April 2018
I’m so glad I decided to include this in my series re-read. I nearly skipped it this time around in my desperation to get to Armed & Dangerous.
I really like Julian. I mean come on who doesn’t love a handsome man surrounded by mystery. Cameron is cute and adorable just like his westies and while I liked him I wasn’t sure I liked him for Julian at first but the more time we spent with them together the more they grew on me. And I’d seriously forgotten just how dry and funny Preston is.
Original review.
At first glance Julian and Cameron are complete opposites who have nothing in common. Cameron is slight and blends in well which helps him with his job as a waiter. He’s happy with his job, his life and his dogs the only mystery in his life is the tall handsome man who visits the restaurant on Tuesday's, he sits in Cameron's section rarely speaks always orders the special, Cameron is intrigued and attracted to this man who's name he finally discovers is Julian.
I read this book before Armed and Dangerous after discovering that these two characters appear with Ty and Zane and I'm glad I did I really enjoyed this book and it made Armed and Dangerous so much better knowing the background of these two first.
I'm trying to make an effort to write more reviews since I enjoy reading everyone else's so much but if I don't do it as soon as I've finished I just get into my next book so sorry this review is later than it should be. -
Let me just say that I only read this book for because I love the Cut and Run series. That said, this book was a let down for me. I didn't get any of the heat and buildup from Julian and Cam that I got from Zane and Ty. They were totally lukewarm. I didn't get a sense of why they loved each other either. Because Cam was so loving and Julian was so hot?? The spark wasn't there for me in this book. I still love Abigail Roux's writing and found it an enjoyable read but it was lackluster for me.
-
Stayed up until 4am to finish this book because I just couldn't put it down. It was that good. Even with all the "fade to black" sex scenes. The writing is superb. I really felt what they were going through and it mad e me want to read their book from the Cut & Run series all over again just so I can have more of them.
I have to go to work now. On 3 hours of sleep. Totally worth it though. -
Read 10/2013
Re-read 06/2015
Re-read 10/2015
Re-read 05/04/2016
Re-read 3/20/2018 I truly wish this had audio. JF Harding or Brock Thompson would be wonderful choices.
re-read 5/2/2020 -
There is only one rating: 5 Big Fat Stars - It's just a beautiful love story - I'm saved!
I think I have a slight preference for low-key, a little melancholy stories. I wish of course both beautiful romance and just enough heat, but the plot feel free to amble a little slow. Is there only desire to turn the page, unspoken and unanswered questions, some hesitation (from me) about how everything will end up - don't I need much more. Just as that, I thought it was in this wonderful love-story.
Cameron Jacobs is a waiter at a restaurant named "Tuesday". Once a week is a tall, very handsome, black dressed guest there and eat alone. He never says anything, just nods, and always chooses the daily specials and the house wine. Cameron look forward to Tuesday nights when the mysterious man usually come. The man's name is Julian Cross and at Chrismas Eve (a Tuesday), he asks Cameron if they can't meet outside after closing time. Cameron invites the man home.“No, Julian murmured with a shake of his head. No, there’s a third option. People like us, we’re third-option people. We take the gun, stuff it in the person’s mouth, and eliminate the problem. Walk off into the sunset with our kitty.”
What Julian does for a living and who he really is, is a mystery to both the reader and Cameron far into the story. There are many secrets and circumstances that aren't explained. It's a mystery around the well-dressed and thick-skinned Julian, he comes and disappears. Cameron, however is quite simple, just a regular guy who lives a quiet life. Maybe he's a bit of a loner. He enjoys his job as a waiter and his four little cute puppies at home.
There is always a certain sadness, combined with a breathtaking underlying expectation of what will happen in this as nicely told novel. I love every well-written line and sentence.
Every now and then it's really fun too, both men (or the authors) have a sense of humor.“Preston,” Julian’s hoarse voice said from under one of the pillows. “Please kill me,” he requested miserably.
“I’m sorry, sir, but that will have to wait. You have a visitor.”
Cameron confidence is not always the best. He can't himself understand what Julian sees in him, and the uncertainty is amplified part of all that is secret, and long unknown to him, around Julian. The answers to most of his questions are vague and there is a feeling of something dark and dangerous lurking around the corner.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I must write a few lines about friendship too: That girl Miri, Cameron's colleague and friend (really?), she made me so angry. Why nag and raise concern with a thousand questions about some conditions she knew nothing about. Why not just say: "I'm happy for you. I'm here if you need a hand or someone to talk to." Did she really cared about her friend? Maybe she wanted her friend a good life, but in my opinion she showed it usually just the wrong way. Cameron, please, don't listen to bad advice from nasty friends. Believe in what you feel - belive your lovers word.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For me is this story very, very romantic and the heat and love scenes are indescribably beautiful described. There is a big, big attraction, lovingly and tenderly. I love both Cameron and Julian from the first moment. I constantly keep my thumbs hard for the two men to get together and a good (as it usually feels completely impossible) "Happily Ever After".“Fuck it,” Julian finally breathed in annoyance. He reached for Cameron's other hand and pulled until Cameron was facing him. “I belive I may be in love with you,” he bluted.
~ ~ ~
“I just... needed to say that,” Julian went on as he released one of Cameron's hands and waved at his own head. “Outside of my head.”
The ending is unbearably dramatic and I'm breathless. At a time, I actually thought that the heart would stop and just shouted: No, no! Nothing is certain and no answers to all my questions is given until just at the end. Cleverly of the two authors - they keep me on edge through the book. For me as a reader does just that, this wonderful book about Cameron and Julien, to an obvious "fiver".
Another great book by Urban and Roux to love. Superb drama, delicately told, great attraction and love, and the two men steaming hot about. Everything in my taste - a new favorite book and a new favorite couple. Read it!
I Like - and love very much.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A friend,
Blacky (her review), advised me to read this story before I started reading book #4 and #5 in the wonderful
Cut & Run series. This story ”Warrior's Cross” and/or characters, if I understand correctly, has importance in Ty and Zane's exciting, "FBI world" in the future. -
Final rating: 3.5/5 stars
“Would you believe me if I told you I was shot?” he finally asked with a mischievous glint in his black eyes.
Cameron stared at him. “Shot? Like, shot? By a gun?”
Julian tilted his head and nodded. “It’s hard to be shot with a knife.”
So...i read this only because Cameron and Julian appear in the
Cut & Run series, or so i have heard. But it can be read as standalone as well, so you can read it without reading Cut & run at all. Anyway, it was interesting book, but i was not over hyped with it. I actually skipped through some parts (sue me) and i found first half of the book just...boring... Second half made me read it till the end without stopping though, and it was interesting thing that it didn't invoke any crying or tear jerking from me.
But i still have some questions that i don't know if they were answered since i was too tired to think and remember. Is Julian supposed to be an .
What i really loved though is that it's not an insta love - there was a lot of stalking first and such. But, Cameron and Julian aren't as interesting as Ty and Zane, therefore - one star down and half star for me being actually bored through the first part, where i thought i wouldn't be.► CHARACTERS:
♦ Julian:“Someone would have to be out of their mind not to come back to you. I walked through a blizzard to get here.”
Julian is a wonder of nature. He thinks he is a good guy, while actually he isn't an angel either. He has two sides: the one where he kills because he enjoys it and it thrills him, and the other one where he is gentle, kind and caring and loving, good friend and good lover. Not to mention his obsession with his two pretty and weird cats. I love cat lovers. Anyway...
♦ Cameron:“He’s the kind of man who if you gave him a gun and told him he had two choices—“shoot one of your dogs or shoot yourself in the head”—he’d put the gun to his ear and pull the trigger.”
“Hell, Jules, you’d do the same thing if someone did that to you and your goddamned cats,” Blake said in amusement.
“No,” Julian murmured with a shake of his head. “No, there’s a third option. People like us, we’re third-option people. We take the gun, stuff it in the person’s mouth, and eliminate the problem. Walk off into the sunset with our kitty.”
Cameron was nice...but to me he looked like Damsel in distress, like my friend said.
He has backbone though, but he was sometimes overreacting and it irritated the hell out of me. He was scared sometimes, and i understand that, and he did think about consequences of being in relationship with Julian, but he didn't trust him enough. he didn't trust Julian that he would keep him safe. Still, i approve of his thinking too, since it was quite reasonable, but still.....@_@
He was just ok character and that's it. No feelings at all for him. Except i adore his four puppies <3
♦ Everyone Else:
Blake is a funny guy, interesting and shady as hell. Miri is cool, though she didn't appear so much and Arlo Lancaster is just ....weird? And Preston was awesome too :D► OVERALL:
Not bad, but not really impressed either. Still, it was fun and i look forward to seeing these two in Cut & Run► REVIEW(S) RELATED TO THIS BOOK:
◉
Cut & Run (Cut & Run #1)
◉
Sticks & Stones (Cut & Run, #2)
◉
Fish & Chips (Cut & Run, #3)
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Divide & Conquer (Cut & Run, #4)
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Warrior's Cross (Cut & Run #4.5)
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Armed & Dangerous (Cut & Run, #5)
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Stars & Stripes (Cut & Run, #6)
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Touch & Geaux (Cut & Run, #7)
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Shock & Awe (Sidewinder, #1; Cut & Run #7.5)
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Ball & Chain (Cut & Run, #8)
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Cross & Crown (Sidewinder, #2; Cut & Run #8.5)
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Crash & Burn (Cut & Run, #9)
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Part & Parcel (Sidewinder, #3; Cut & Run #9.5) -
Oh. My. God.
Could this book be more boring? I don't think so.
The story basically comes down to this:
I have a crush on him, but he doesn't notice me:(
He noticed me, but he's not serious about me:<
He's serious about me, but could he love plain ol' me?;{
He loves me, but why, why, WHYYYYYYY?
Oh, I'm such a nobody, how could he really love me???
He says he loves me, but I'm just sooo insecure and unworthy.
I love him, he loves me, but we can't be together.
We're not together, but I want us to be together.
I'm mad at him, I love him, I'm pissed at him, I long for him... Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah...
Awesome. NOT.
I finally figured out what's wrong with Roux/Urban books.
The authors create some main characters - this time around it's a whiny cinderfella and supposedly an uber mysterious (but not really) hard ass assassin, and plan a story for them. They probably map out the turning points: characters meet, characters hook up, fall in love, encounter some crisis in a relationship, then comes the villain, the confrontation etc, etc, and when they're done, the problems begin. While reading "Warrior's Cross" I had this feeling that Roux and Urban had no idea how to get from point A to point B to point C, what to do with characters between those important moments, how to fill the story with, well, a story. And not of the boring and repetitive variety. The kind that makes us love and understand the characters, the kind that surprises us and leaves us envious of often ordinary people living extraordinary lives.
"Warrior's Cross" could work as novella, but wasting so much words while having nothing worth reading to say is just unforgivable. This book doesn't have enough substance to be a successful suspense/mystery, and the romance is simply meh, so what's left? A staggering lack of creativity and imagination on the part of Abigail Roux and Madeleine Urban. -
4 BIG, HUGE, HUMONGOUS, ENORMOUS, MASSIVE STARS!!!
It would have been a perfect 5, but for some reason one of the main characters(read: Cameron)annoyed me to the highest level. So even though he's a male I am putting him on my stupid-irritating-heroin shelf because I did feel like he was some chick and not a guy while reading it.
About the story
Simple, normal and boring waiter Cameron has a crush on one of the guests in the restaurant where he works, but little does he know that that ENIGMATIC, GORGEOUS, DEVASTATINGLY BEAUTIFUL, SIN WORTHY, ADORABLE, TOTALLY LICKABLE FROM HEAD TO TOE, HANDSOME ALPHA MAN whose name is JULIAN CROSS has an eye on him for months...
Finally they spend one passionate night together, which I must admit made me very very jealous of Cameron, and start a relationship. Cameron practically doesn't know anything about Julian, and Julian wants to keep it that way because he doesn't want to put him in any danger because of his job and doesn't want Cam to be scared of him... but to keep someone in your life eventually you have to start sharing...
Cameron
Oh my.... where to start... how to even put it in words?
I really don't know why but I didn't like him from the start and if there wasn't this ENIGMATIC, GORGEOUS, DEVASTATINGLY BEAUTIFUL, SIN WORTHY, ADORABLE, TOTALLY LICKABLE FROM HEAD TO TOE, HANDSOME ALPHA MAN JULIAN I wouldn't even finish this book.
Cameron was so annoying and I was so frustrated with him, and every time he started thinking about their relationship and doubting Julian my reaction was this:
[image error] -
3/5 stars
I’m a bit conflicted about how to rate this book.
It started amazing, definitely a 5 stars books, but then it just stops and it got kinda boring and I ALMOST couldn’t deal with it anymore but I hate DNF books and I was so close to finishing so I thought “fuck it, I’m going to finish”.
I don’t regret it but it didn’t change my life like I was hoping too.
I had too many expectations for it and it just didn’t live up to it. Is not a bad book, not at all, just wasn’t a win for me. I’m sad about that.
The romance was the major part of this book and I was totally up for it because damn I’m a whore for good romance. And this was good until the scene were they grew apart. And I was just left there like
And at that moment I knew that this was going to make me angry and that it was going downhill from there.
A lot of people love this book and I can see why, but just didn’t work so well for me. But I still ship them, because they were great together, but so many shit and bad decisions happen that just left me so freaking angry and I hate feeling angry.
And the side characters? Great, I adore them. They are the second best thing about this book.
The first? Well, Julian.
And I need to immediately start reading her other series that I’m sure I’m going to love it. At least I hope. -
I bumped this up my TBR list because of the upcoming release of
Armed & Dangerous (it is a crossover with Warrior's Cross.)
Some random thoughts while I read this:
- I liked Cameron and Julian all right but my favourite was Preston. He's blond, he's Irish, he's a trained assassin. Any chance he could get his own book?
- I didn't get why Cameron had to be so plain, so nondescript, so ordinary. It made me wonder what gorgeous gorgeous Julian found in him. OK, I'll admit it. I liked Julian better. But Cameron was a little boring. And, by the way, what did he need the kick boxing lessons for if he all but pissed himself when Lancaster showed up at his condo?
- There was only one, pretty basic, sex scene pretty early in the story. I would have liked to see more of them together in bed. Convince me they were right for each other on a physical level as well. I wanted to see scorching hot passion. I wanted to see them devour each other. I wanted to see Julian practicing some of his killer skills (pun intended?) on Cameron, make Cameron feel special, loved, possessed, dominated. Shake Cameron's world.
- Cameron's swarm of puppies irritated me. I'd take Julian's monster cats, Smith and Wesson, over them anytime.
- Miri. Can someone please shoot her? What a nosy, irritating bitch! -
DNF @ 12%
I might have fallen asleep while reading through this book.
It was boring as hell. I even tried skimming, and I got bored skimming. Like? How is that even possible? Beats me.
I don't care for Cameron. I don't give two flying fucks for Julian.
All Cameron does :
- stalks Julian
- swoons
-thinks about Julian
-swoons
- *julian is hot* *fangirls*
-dreams about Julian
Do you get the vibe now? ALL this guy thinks and does is about Julian. At least as far as I read.
Julian. Julian. Julian.
Why. O' Why. Does your world revolves around Julian, my dear sweet, innocent, Cameron?
All Julian does :
-brood
-not talk
-be tall, dark, mysterious
-be exceptionally hot (according to Cameron and half of the world)
-oh have I mention, brood and be hot?
I don't even know why I am getting so worked up over this book. I wanted to like it, but I don't know. It just flopped. Big time. And I guess that's why I'm so upset? I don't fucking know.
I give up trying to continue reading. I'll just read the reviews on this book to get their backgrounds and relevance to book 5 of Cut& Run.
Blog :
Click here for more of my reviews -
This book is an odd mix of seriously slow burn and ridiculously fast-paced drama and it basically acts as the introduction to characters who play a major role in book five of Cut & Run.
I love Julian Cross, he's such a study in contrasts between the cold-hearted and clinically efficient assassin and the man who falls head over heels for a nobody waiter.
Cameron I fluctuate between loving and really disliking, even while I can completely empathise with his predicament. I just find him frustratingly easily influenced by what other people think of his relationship with Jules instead of how it makes him feel.
Anyways, the actual mechanics of this book aren't as well defined as the Cut & Run series but it's still a decent romantic suspense. -
4 Stars!
*Update - Reread 2/21/15*
Though this can be read completely as a stand alone, I do recommend it before
Armed & Dangerous in the Cut & Run series. As the blurb says, Cameron is content and happy in his simple life. He makes good money, has great friends, and gets a big thrill weekly when his enigmatic crush comes to sit in his section every Tuesday.
Cameron is drawn to this dark, quiet, broody stranger, and it seems fortuitous when one night, Julian offers to walk him home. What ensues is a passionate affair, but there are many secrets that Julian has. Does Cameron walk away or accept that there are some things he may never know, things he might not want to know?
Atmospheric, romantic, fraught with tension - a beautiful love story between two men trying to reconcile telling the truth and knowing the truth. There are consequences when they attempt to bridge their disparate lives despite the many reasons they shouldn't. The question is, is it worth it? Absolutely. -
I gave up and just jumped from 60% straight to the end. I recommend this book to insomniacs. The constant whispering, sighing and murmuring generate a drowse-inducing atmosphere. Nothing much ever happens to disrupt it, and somehow even murder and sex are rendered boring. I am ready for a nap now...
-
re-read April 2018
~3.5 stars~
This time, I liked it a bit better than the first time.
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3 stars
I read this book in preparation of
Armed & Dangerous, book 5 in the Cut & Run series, where Julian and Cam play a big role. And I really hope that Armed & Dangerous won't be as boring as Warrior's Cross.
It took me a week to read this story, far longer than it should have and IMHO it was far too long, what was said could have easily fit in half the pages. Nothing about it could hold my attention for long, neither the relationship between Julian and Cameron nor Julian's job as a hit man, which should have been exciting. But we don't get to see most of what he's doing in his line of work. He comes back injured time and time again but nothing is really said about what happened to him.
Now, I understand the need for secrecy with Julian's profession and that this probably was meant to underline the fact that he's a mysterious character who nobody truly knows. But this is what made me question the undying love both Cam and Julian profess for each other over and over again. Cam asks himself throughout the whole story why someone like Julian loves him and honestly, I asked myself the same thing. I can accept the fact of falling in love despite not knowing each other well, but staying in love, building a relationship, risking your life for the other without even knowing your partner's real name? That's too far-fetched for me to make me believe it.
Both men meet at the restaurant Julian goes to every Tuesday night where Cam is his waiter. Julian doesn't speak one word to Cam for almost a year but Cam is drawn to him nonetheless by his good looks and the mysterious air that surrounds Julian. Later, Julian confesses that he has fallen in love with Cam the first time he saw him and Cam followed him down this path as soon as Julian began speaking to him. What? Now you could say that they were attracted to each other when they first met and got to know each other later to strengthen their connection and relationship. But no. Nothing like that happened. Until the end of the book, Cam knows next to nothing about Julian because he is afraid to ask the questions he wants to know the answers to and because Julian is the master of non-answers.
Based on this book alone I would seriously question the possibility of their HEA but since they are clearly still a loving couple in Armed & Dangerous, I suppose Julian let his guard down later on and let Cam in on his life. I hope I will be able to get into the relationship between these two once I get to read more about them in Armed & Dangerous. -
**3.75 stars**
I’ve got a bit of a conundrum with this one. It’s like all the pieces are there and everything was put together correctly, but something is off with the finished product.
First things first...let me let the whore out. I wanted more sex damnit! ONE...I’ll repeat ONE sex scene is not enough for me.
Was it hot? Hell yes...especially with all the buildup leading up to it……so I made myself comfortable knowing it was good times ahead, only to be left with...
Too much fade to black for me. It took away from feeling the soul deep connection that these two characters had for each other. Throughout a good portion of the book you're TOLD how deep this connection is, rather than being shown and letting the emotion seep in while reading.
Cameron and Julian spent a large portion of the book going in circles talking about Julian's "profession" and the dangers of it without exchanging any substantive information. It became repetitive and frustrating....putting a lag in the progression of their relationship.
However, putting that aside, whenever Julian's snarky and witty personality would come thru, it was such a treat. His banter with Preston and Blake was hilarious!! The scene with Julian recovering after being attacked by a dog is a five star all on its own.
Somehow, even thru all the circular and redundant dialogue, by the end you're rooting for these two. Cameron was such a soft and pure balance to Julian's rough and dark life. The emotion ended up being there even though the road was bumpy and you truly believed that these two DID belong together.
-
Thank you for reading it with me Kelly sweetie :)
I Loved this book :) Not really sure why as it wasn't as hot as I usually like. I think it was Julian who made it more than worth while :) :)
I would like to give a special thank you to the lovely Vishous who kindly recommended this wonderful book to me :) She is so sweet telling me there was a character in it who she absolutely adored- Cam
This is for you V to say thank you sweetie :)
She told me she thought Cam was
*Funny
*Sweet
*Caring
*Lovable
*Thoughtful
*And most of all she loved his sensitive nature :)
So I thought well I must try it if she thinks a character is SO AMAZING!!
I'm sorry V I did try to LOVE Cam as much as you did. I really really did. I guess I just love the bad guys when you love the guys who are better at showing their inner emotions.
But that's OK we are all allowed to love characters for all of their different traits :) :)
I will also keep my promise and let you know if I find any books with characters in JUST LIKE CAM :) :)
I loved Julian but Cam (sorry to say) grated on my last nerve!!! I wanted to slap him across his cheeks and tell him to stop being so soft!
I would have done but then he would have cried even more and I couldn't stand how much he cried as it was :S
Sorry V for not LOVING Cam like you did. I know you think he is WONDERFUL BUT I just can't see it myself :( :(
I loved reading
Armed & Dangerous afterwards which has them in it.
