Book Review: Armed & Dangerous by Abigail Roux

Title: Armed & Dangerous
Series: Cut & Run, #5
Author: Abigail Roux
Genre: Romantic Suspense, M/M Romance
Sensuality Rating: /Erotic
Source: review copy from publisher
Published: May 2012 by Dreamspinner Press

Left alone in Baltimore after his unpredictable lover bails, Special Agent Zane Garrett takes his frustration out on everything in his path until he is ordered to Chicago to back up an undercover operative. When he gets there, though, he finds himself face to face with his wayward partner, Special Agent Ty Grady. They have to deal with the uncertainty lingering between them while they work to retrieve their intended mark, a retired hit man and CIA wet-works operative named Julian Cross.

Ty, once a marine and now an FBI hotshot, has a penchant for being unpredictable, a trait Zane can vouch for. Zane is a man who once lived for his job but has come to realize his heartbreaking past doesn’t have to overshadow his future. They're partners, friends, lovers, and the go-to team for unusual cases. With Cross and his innocuous boyfriend, Cameron Jacobs, in tow, Ty and Zane must navigate the obstacles of a cross-country trek, including TSA pat-downs, blizzards, their uncooperative prisoners, CIA kill teams, a desperate lack of sleep or caffeine, and each other. Ty and Zane are determined to get Julian Cross to DC in one piece, but it’s starting to look like it might be the last thing they do.

Reviewed By: J9

In a Nutshell: Taking a deep breath here but I think this is my favorite book of the entire series. Or at least it’s neck to neck with book one in the series, Cut & Run (my review), which is my other favorite.

The Set Up: FBI Agent Zane is ordered to Chicago to provide backup for another agent. When he lands in Chicago the other agent turns out to be his wayward partner, Ty. Zane and Ty are tasked with bringing a hit-man to Washington, even though the CIA rogue agents will kill anyone to prevent this from happening. Ty and Zane thought this case would be an easy one but now stuck on the road with storms, a killer and his lover in tow, lack of sleep, caffeine and each other, this case turns worse than they could have imagined.

Why I Read this Book: Cannot stop reading this series...turning into a Cut & Run zombie…will go through anything to get the next book…

What I Liked: Oh wow! I mistakenly thought books one through four were emotional intimate but I had no idea what was to come! Each book progresses Ty and Zane’s relationship in baby steps and it was leading up to this. This is the book where the men stop trying to protect themselves emotionally and blast themselves open for each other. Their sexual intimacy reflects this incredible emotional intimacy which they fought long and hard for and boy, oh boy, did I have to turn the AC up to read this!

I also adored that even though Zane and Ty have emotional intimacy, it only strengthens their work partnership. I love that both Zane and Ty remain their own unique selves while being in this tremendous relationship. There is a scene with Zane and Ty arguing about the radio station that perfectly illustrates their complicated relationship and gave my tummy happy butterflies.

What I Also Liked: I was worried when Madeleine Urban, the author who created Zane, stopped writing the series that Zane’s character would suffer but that didn’t happen. Zane’s character was seamless between this book and the previous four. And since I love Zane, that was a good thing.

I also enjoy the crossover story between the hit-man, Julian and his boyfriend, Cameron from Warrior’s Cross (my review). Readers should read Warrior’s Cross before reading this book since it will enhance the mystery plot.

What I Didn’t Like: Love, love, love this book.

IMO: Ty and Zane are mine but you can borrow them for the time it takes to read this book and the entire series.

J9’s Rating: