Book Review: Zero at the Bone by Jane Seville

Title: Zero at the Bone
Series: Zero at the Bone, book 1
Author: Jane Seville
Genre: Romantic Suspense, M/M Romance
Sensuality Rating: Erotic
Source: review copy provided by publisher
Published: April 2009 by Dreamspinner Press

After witnessing a mob hit, surgeon Jack Francisco is put into protective custody to keep him safe until he can testify. A hitman known only as D is blackmailed into killing Jack, but when he tracks him down, his weary conscience won't allow him to murder an innocent man. Finding in each other an unlikely ally, Jack and D are soon on the run from shadowy enemies. Forced to work together to survive, the two men forge a bond that ripens into unexpected passion. Jack sees the wounded soul beneath D's cold, detached exterior, and D finds in Jack the person who can help him reclaim the man he once was. As the day of Jack's testimony approaches, he and D find themselves not only fighting for their lives... but also fighting for their future. A future together.

Reviewed By: J9

In a Nutshell: Excellent MM romance with plenty of well-paced suspense.

The Set Up: Jack is a surgeon who witnesses a mob hit and is in protective custody. Hitman D is blackmailed into killing Jack but his conscience won’t let him kill innocent Jack so he takes it upon himself to keep Jack safe until he can testify and save both their lives. D’s cold, emotionless exterior is thawed by Jack’s passion but what future could they possibly have together?

Why I Read this Book: I’ve been reading through best of MM lists and this is on most of those lists.

What I Liked: Jack and D have an almost compulsion to bond. D’s hitman-persona has been carefully calculated to let D do his job and he doesn’t expect Jack to awaken him sexually or emotionally but that’s just what Jack does and I adored watching this. Jack’s warmth, compassion and resolve are admirable but his self-reflection and honesty made me love him and root for him to win D over. D predictably opens his emotional door to Jack only to slam it shut; this offered brilliant emotional intimacy but also invested me as reader in the men’s relationship. The relationship is developed as Jack and D run from the mob mastermind trying to kill them both so the intensity of action is mellowed by the times the men almost set up house together and live in hiding. I loved this feeling of two men against the world turning to each other for solace and affection but finding an emotional bond neither expects nor wants.

What I Also Liked: I *adored* the plot. Normally I’m not a mystery fan but I loved it here. D is way more complicated than a simple hitman and this slowly unfolds in parallel to the plot of keeping Jack safe. D has a guardian angel, X, who mysteriously helps the men and I LOVED how this unfolded. I didn’t expect it but loved the resolution and what it meant for D. I admit the moment I found out who X was, I texted Brianna and squeed about it; no, she hasn’t read the book nor does she intend to but she kindly humored me. (Thanks Book Buddy!)

What I Didn’t Like: I wanted a bit more relationship resolution at novel’s end, I won’t lie. What was there was delicious big time, yes, but it wasn’t far enough for me. Then I find out the author has four short stories featuring D and Jack so that explains it—she needed more relationship meat on the bone for subsequent stories. I’m not a fan of this but you know I’m going to read them!

IMO: This is an excellent MM romantic suspense fans of the genre should absolutely put on their TBR and will no doubt devour as I did.

 

J9’s Rating: