FishWithSticks' Fishbowl

I've loved all these books, but this one is my favorite so far.

These Virgil Flowers books are getting better and better. They have the twists and turns like the Davenport book, but it's a little lighter fare, in that "That Fucking Flowers" isn't as dark or thuggish as Davenport. Still, Lucas will always be my favorite. LOL.

These Virgil Flowers books are getting better and better. They have the twists and turns like the Davenport book, but it's a little lighter fare, in that "That Fucking Flowers" isn't as dark or thuggish as Davenport. Still, Lucas will always be my favorite. LOL.

I picked this up to have a little escapism from the manhunt for the second Boston Marathon Bombing suspect. A book that starts with 80+ people dead wasn't really the lighthearted fare I needed. LOL

I picked this up to have a little escapism from the manhunt for the second Boston Marathon Bombing suspect. A book that starts with 80+ people dead wasn't really the lighthearted fare I needed. LOL

One of the best Flowers books to date. I wasn't sure I was going to like Virgil, since I'm totally a Davenport girl, but I really enjoy him. And I laugh every time says "That fucking Flowers" LOL. Looks like the next one is coming up soon. YAY!

One of the best Flowers books to date. I wasn't sure I was going to like Virgil, since I'm totally a Davenport girl, but I really enjoy him. And I laugh every time says "That fucking Flowers" LOL. Looks like the next one is coming up soon. YAY!

My review originally posted at: http://wickedlilpixie.com/2013/04/08/guppy-reviews-touch-and-geaux-by-abi-roux-and-a-web-hunt/

After having their faces plastered across the news during a high-profile case, FBI Special Agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett have become more useful to the Bureau posing for photo ops than working undercover. Just as Zane is beginning to consider retirement a viable option, Ty receives a distress call from a friend, leading them to a city rife with echoes from the past.

New Orleans wears its history on its streets, and it’s the one place Ty’s face could get him killed. Surrounded by trouble as soon as they land, Ty and Zane are swiftly confronted with a past from which Ty can’t hide—one with a surprising connection to Zane’s.

As threats close in from all directions, both men must come to terms with the lives they’ve led and the lies they’ve told. They soon discover that not all their secrets are out yet, and nothing lasts forever.

I think that's the longest title I've ever had for a post of mine. LOL. If you're here for the Cut & Run Web Hunt, be sure to scroll to the end for more info!

I'm a HUGE fan of this series. I devoured the previous 6 books and Warrior's Cross in less than a week and have been waiting for the latest installment, Touch & Geaux. I stayed up all night reading it, SHRIEKED at the ending, and I have no idea when book 8 is releasing. *sob*

Ty Grady and Zane Garrett are two FBI agents who are partners both professionally and romantically. While they're "out" to their families, and to Ty's former Force Recon team, they haven't outed themselves professionally yet. This book starts with a typical day at the office for Ty and Zane. They're getting called into the boss's office. This time they've being "selected" to be part of a calendar put together by a first responder organization for charity. And like any good FBI agents who have often been deep undercover, they are thrilled! Seriously, there's some serious pouting going on.

McCoy smiled, though he looked as if he was trying not to. “Am I to assume the two of you will agree to representing the Bureau in this?”

“I think ‘agree’ is too strong a term,” Zane said. “This is a bad idea. Remember when we were on TV?”

“Yes, Grady got fan mail for a month.”

“I did?”

“We burned it, as you should all evil things,” McCoy answered.

And off they go to the calendar shoot. From there things start moving at a breakneck pace. A party, a panicked phone call from a friend, a worried flight to New Orleans, a kidnapping, a murder, and that's just the first three chapters!

Of all the books in this series, this one was the most heartbreaking. Ty and Zane have some issues that come up which causes MAJOR problems, both between the two of them, AND within the trouble in the book. However, if I try to review any of it, it'll give too much away. I, personally, LOATHE spoilers, so I hate spoiling anything for anyone else. Just know that I spent a lot of this book sobbing. And the very end? The last two lines? Shrieked AND sobbed. I think I broke something. I KNOW I scared the cat.

All that said, the issue that comes up between the two seemed a little…forced. While my heart totally broke for these guys, in the back of my head I was thinking it was a little TOO left field. I don't know that we've really seen the seeds of this sown throughout the rest of the books. I think if Ms. Roux had written one more book where she dropped a few more hints, it wouldn't have seemed so sudden. Of course, the shock and suddenness are what makes this whole argument so heartbreaking, so you decide.

Also, Ty and Zane have dealt with Nick O'Flaherty before. He was Ty's best friend and his "second" in Ty's Force Recon team. Nick, we've learned from past books, was in love with Ty. In fact, last time we saw him was when Ty told his team about Ty and Zane. Nick took it so well he kissed Ty and begged Ty to leave Zane. Yet, in this book, there's none of that tension between the three of them. Sure, we assume they've dealt with it, and there have been calls between Nick and Ty, and even Nick and Zane, but Zane is way too possessive of Ty to have let that go so soon, especially with all the tension in this book. And with the problems between Ty and Zane, even though Nick doesn't do anything to drive a wedge between them, there should have been more insecurity on Zane's part.

All in all, I loved this book. I think it's one of the best of the series. Ms. Roux began these books co-writing with Madeleine Urban, and I think there was a period of adjustment where Ms. Roux needed to learn who Ms. Urban's characters really were before Ms. Roux hit her stride. I think she's found it. Ty and Zane are far less interchangeable for me than they were in previous books. Well done.

Now, on to the Cut & Run Web Hunt.

Here's what you need to do: Collect all of the favorite Cut & Run series quotes today to be eligible for great prizes from Riptide Publishing and Abi Roux! More details about the web hunt can be found here: Touch & Geaux Release Week Party.
I was asked to choose a favorite quote from any of the series, and it was tough. Much harder than I was expecting it to be! Not because it was difficult to find one, but because it was difficult to choose JUST ONE. LOL. Mine is from Stars & Stripes. This book makes me laugh more than any of the others in this series.

Ty has been "outted" by his grandfather to his parents. As a result, Ty's dad Chester punched him and Ty punched him back, breaking his hand in the process. They've returned from the hospital and Ty and Zane are sharing a quiet moment in their room when Ty's brother Deacon, aka Deuce, comes in.

Deuce: "I slipped some…surprises in the tea after y'all left. Ma and Dad should both sleep 'til noon. I might have killed Grandpa, we'll see in the morning."

Ty laughed. "Thank you, Deacon."

"Least I can do for my big brother."

Lynda the Guppy
aka Minion Guppy
aka The Fish With Sticks

My review originally posted at: http://wickedlilpixie.com/2013/04/08/guppy-reviews-touch-and-geaux-by-abi-roux-and-a-web-hunt/

After having their faces plastered across the news during a high-profile case, FBI Special Agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett have become more useful to the Bureau posing for photo ops than working undercover. Just as Zane is beginning to consider retirement a viable option, Ty receives a distress call from a friend, leading them to a city rife with echoes from the past.

New Orleans wears its history on its streets, and it’s the one place Ty’s face could get him killed. Surrounded by trouble as soon as they land, Ty and Zane are swiftly confronted with a past from which Ty can’t hide—one with a surprising connection to Zane’s.

As threats close in from all directions, both men must come to terms with the lives they’ve led and the lies they’ve told. They soon discover that not all their secrets are out yet, and nothing lasts forever.

I think that's the longest title I've ever had for a post of mine. LOL. If you're here for the Cut & Run Web Hunt, be sure to scroll to the end for more info!

I'm a HUGE fan of this series. I devoured the previous 6 books and Warrior's Cross in less than a week and have been waiting for the latest installment, Touch & Geaux. I stayed up all night reading it, SHRIEKED at the ending, and I have no idea when book 8 is releasing. *sob*

Ty Grady and Zane Garrett are two FBI agents who are partners both professionally and romantically. While they're "out" to their families, and to Ty's former Force Recon team, they haven't outed themselves professionally yet. This book starts with a typical day at the office for Ty and Zane. They're getting called into the boss's office. This time they've being "selected" to be part of a calendar put together by a first responder organization for charity. And like any good FBI agents who have often been deep undercover, they are thrilled! Seriously, there's some serious pouting going on.

McCoy smiled, though he looked as if he was trying not to. “Am I to assume the two of you will agree to representing the Bureau in this?”

“I think ‘agree’ is too strong a term,” Zane said. “This is a bad idea. Remember when we were on TV?”

“Yes, Grady got fan mail for a month.”

“I did?”

“We burned it, as you should all evil things,” McCoy answered.

And off they go to the calendar shoot. From there things start moving at a breakneck pace. A party, a panicked phone call from a friend, a worried flight to New Orleans, a kidnapping, a murder, and that's just the first three chapters!

Of all the books in this series, this one was the most heartbreaking. Ty and Zane have some issues that come up which causes MAJOR problems, both between the two of them, AND within the trouble in the book. However, if I try to review any of it, it'll give too much away. I, personally, LOATHE spoilers, so I hate spoiling anything for anyone else. Just know that I spent a lot of this book sobbing. And the very end? The last two lines? Shrieked AND sobbed. I think I broke something. I KNOW I scared the cat.

All that said, the issue that comes up between the two seemed a little…forced. While my heart totally broke for these guys, in the back of my head I was thinking it was a little TOO left field. I don't know that we've really seen the seeds of this sown throughout the rest of the books. I think if Ms. Roux had written one more book where she dropped a few more hints, it wouldn't have seemed so sudden. Of course, the shock and suddenness are what makes this whole argument so heartbreaking, so you decide.

Also, Ty and Zane have dealt with Nick O'Flaherty before. He was Ty's best friend and his "second" in Ty's Force Recon team. Nick, we've learned from past books, was in love with Ty. In fact, last time we saw him was when Ty told his team about Ty and Zane. Nick took it so well he kissed Ty and begged Ty to leave Zane. Yet, in this book, there's none of that tension between the three of them. Sure, we assume they've dealt with it, and there have been calls between Nick and Ty, and even Nick and Zane, but Zane is way too possessive of Ty to have let that go so soon, especially with all the tension in this book. And with the problems between Ty and Zane, even though Nick doesn't do anything to drive a wedge between them, there should have been more insecurity on Zane's part.

All in all, I loved this book. I think it's one of the best of the series. Ms. Roux began these books co-writing with Madeleine Urban, and I think there was a period of adjustment where Ms. Roux needed to learn who Ms. Urban's characters really were before Ms. Roux hit her stride. I think she's found it. Ty and Zane are far less interchangeable for me than they were in previous books. Well done.

Now, on to the Cut & Run Web Hunt.

Here's what you need to do: Collect all of the favorite Cut & Run series quotes today to be eligible for great prizes from Riptide Publishing and Abi Roux! More details about the web hunt can be found here: Touch & Geaux Release Week Party.
I was asked to choose a favorite quote from any of the series, and it was tough. Much harder than I was expecting it to be! Not because it was difficult to find one, but because it was difficult to choose JUST ONE. LOL. Mine is from Stars & Stripes. This book makes me laugh more than any of the others in this series.

Ty has been "outted" by his grandfather to his parents. As a result, Ty's dad Chester punched him and Ty punched him back, breaking his hand in the process. They've returned from the hospital and Ty and Zane are sharing a quiet moment in their room when Ty's brother Deacon, aka Deuce, comes in.

Deuce: "I slipped some…surprises in the tea after y'all left. Ma and Dad should both sleep 'til noon. I might have killed Grandpa, we'll see in the morning."

Ty laughed. "Thank you, Deacon."

"Least I can do for my big brother."

Lynda the Guppy
aka Minion Guppy
aka The Fish With Sticks

An excellent addition to the Lucas Davenport series. In fact, this was the Lucas of the early years, the one who walks a very fine line between cop and vigilante.

One GLARING continuity error from the previous Davenport book (Storm Prey), but nothing plot related.

And OMG!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE SANDFORD DID THAT TO THE ONE CHARACTER!!!!!!

An excellent addition to the Lucas Davenport series. In fact, this was the Lucas of the early years, the one who walks a very fine line between cop and vigilante.

One GLARING continuity error from the previous Davenport book (Storm Prey), but nothing plot related.

And OMG!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE SANDFORD DID THAT TO THE ONE CHARACTER!!!!!!

Another winner from Shannon Stacey! A cute, fun, sexy read.

I love the relationships between all the Kowalskis, One of the things Ms. Stacey does so well is large, close families, and I really just wanted to move there and sneak into the family in whatever way I could!

Not to mention The Newlywed Game had me roaring with laughter.

Another winner from Shannon Stacey! A cute, fun, sexy read.

I love the relationships between all the Kowalskis, One of the things Ms. Stacey does so well is large, close families, and I really just wanted to move there and sneak into the family in whatever way I could!

Not to mention The Newlywed Game had me roaring with laughter.

Read January 11, 2011
Re-Read June 5, 2011

LOVED it. Loved Kevin. He and all the Kowalskis are just such a great family. I loved how the youngest Kowalski would run up and tell the baby jokes. LOLOL.

Read January 11, 2011
Re-Read June 5, 2011

LOVED it. Loved Kevin. He and all the Kowalskis are just such a great family. I loved how the youngest Kowalski would run up and tell the baby jokes. LOLOL.

Everyone I know RAVED about how great this book was. Honestly, I hated it. I liked the Hero more than the Heroine, but that's not saying much. I found the heroine to be whiny and way to "oh, poor me". She felt her life was WORSE THAN ANYONE ELSE'S EVER and she spent A LOT of the book whining about it and playing stupid, childish games.

All of this was compounded by the fact that it was written in first person.