Book Review: Stars & Stripes by Abigail Roux

Title: Stars & Stripes
Series: Cut & Run, #6
Author: Abigail Roux
Genre: Romantic Suspense, M/M Romance
Sensuality Rating: Erotic
Source: review copy from publisher
Published: August 2012 by Riptide Publishing

Special Agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett have managed the impossible: a few months of peace and quiet. After nearly a year of personal and professional turmoil, they're living together conflict-free, work is going smoothly, and they're both happy, healthy, and home every night before dark. But anyone who knows them knows that can’t possibly last.

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.

Reviewed By: J9

In a Nutshell: I know I’ve used the word “favorite” to describe nearly all of the books in the Cut & Run series but I mean it this time! Ty and Zane’s relationship is epic in this book.

The Set Up: FBI agents Ty and Zane have managed a few months of peace in their lives and romance but when they each get called home for emergencies, their relationship will change yet again.

Why I Read this Book: I LOVE THIS SERIES!

What I Liked: You ever get that warm squishy feeling from reading a book…yeah, that here for me. The book opens with Ty and Zane out for a dinner together and the scene started my sighing and it didn’t let up this entire book. It took nearly 2,000 pages in five books to get Ty and Zane to be so emotionally open with each other but readers benefit. I love that this book explores the what’s next question for a committed gay couple.

Ty and Zane each have family emergencies that call them home and what happens at each of their homes is heartwarming and emotionally satisfying. I love Ty and Zane sexy times but the parts that had me rereading weren’t the sexy times but were the emotional times. Nope, I’m not going to spoil what exactly this entails but suffice it to say I was in reader euphoria this entire book.

What I Also Liked: I also love the humor here. Yes, Ty was funny the entire series with his smartass comments but this one reached a new level of gentle humor that I adored. I love that Ty and Zane now know each other well enough to turn to each other for support, strength and motivation in equal measures. Being able to see Ty and Zane’s journey in this series from rugged individuals to a committed couple is utterly delicious. I’m just as invested in their relationship six books in as I was in book one. It’s a rare series that can keep my attention like this. In fact, this is the only series focusing on one couple that’s ever done that and I have to give the author kudos for that.

What I Didn’t Like: Only that I’m caught up on the series now. I devoured this series and am devastated that I’m caught up. I know I’m being dramatic but I honestly feel upset I have to wait for the next book in the series.

IMO: Stellar relationship focused love story with good mystery and charming secondary characters.

J9’s Rating: