And it keeps getting better...

I loved the first book in this series, Hell & High Water, and if it is even possible, I loved this one more. Dex and Sloane are just the perfect couple, minus the baggage, secretiveness, and emotional distance. But through the course of working together and recognizing the bond that they share, the cast of characters and the thrill and mystery of journey kept this story moving faster than I would have liked. Mark Westfield's narration was again, fantastic and added so much to Charlie Cochet's words. I cannot say to much with out spoiling, but if you read the first one...the second one is a definite must read. On to the next one in the series...

7 people found this helpful

Amazing sequel!!!

In this sequel we find Sloane and Dex still trying to get that evil Issac and his anti-Therian thugs. This plays in the background while we watch the developing romances of (practically) the entire team Delta Destroyers. And it is AWESOME!

Sometimes the second book in a series can have a tough road to travel because they are stuck in the middle – the relationship has started, but it is not in its dramatic finish-stage. There are only a limited number of mile-stones that can be covered. This sequel has absolutely no problems keeping things moving and keeping us on the edge of our seats.

First, Sloane has some deep, dark secrets that are keeping him from letting Dex “in”. When one of the psychiatrists from the early days of THIRDS is captured, Sloane’s secrecy is threatened. Sloane has to decide if he wants out of the relationship now, or dig in deeper.

Second, Dex is facing his own inadequacy issues: he isn’t Therian, he isn’t ex-military, he isn’t Gabe… But he doesn’t spend a lot of time dwelling on this. That just wouldn’t be him. Instead, Dex continues to be hysterical and we get another drunken night out, this time with the ex! Lou is great and ends up giving Sloane pointers on how to handle Dex.

The other team members (Calvin and Hobbs, Cael and Ash) have their own stories move forward too. I am hoping to see their stories in the “Couples TBA” at the end of the series.

I absolutely love Charlie’s version of shifters. My favorite part of this book was Therian training where Dex is being shown how Sloane (in Jaguar form) is bonding with Dex. It is HYSTERICAL but oh so damn sweet too. I hope we get to see more of the Therians in their animal form in future books.

There is a partial ending in this book that leaves you very satisfied but the door is still wide open to trouble, setting the stage for book 3. I love the advancement of all the relationships in this book and look forward to seeing who does what next.

6 out of 5 stars, even better than book one! I highly recommend this book and the entire series!

Audio:

Mark Westfield did another amazing job with this narration. Sloane is delightfully growly, Tony is deep and rumbly, Isaac is twangy and greasy… all the guys are well represented. I really enjoyed the dream sequences and the “coms” where Mark alters his voice to sound like it’s being broadcast over the airways.
I really think he adds to the story and makes it even more of a great entertainment than just reading it alone.

I think you I can easily say this is a book narration that makes the listening as adventurous (or even more) than the reading.

I highly recommend this narration and give it a 6 of 5 stars.

3 people found this helpful

Defining relationships and Work expectations

Book 1 felt like a probation period for Dex. This book saw Dex embraced as a member of The THIRDS. It also saw Dex and Sloane trying to figure out what exactly they were doing with each other.

Favorite audiobook moment was Cael telling Sloan about Dex and the Vaccum. Funniest scene EVER. I kept rewinding it and laughing. Excellent rendition by the narrator. I read some reviews where Dex's humor annoyed those readers but it's because Dex hides a lot behind jokes, laughter and a jovial personality. It's his coping mechanism with life's hurts and he has had a lot of hurts.

Given the drama with these two, I certainly see why fraternizing with co-workers is frowned upon. It has brought tension to the workplace and it clouds judgment. I also wonder how the people tasked with protecting society can't tell everyone in their organization is boinking their partner.

I am impressed with the writing because it is full of humor and the world building is good. I look forward to book 3 and more about the vigilante group. Face it, the tide didn't turn until the vigilantes got involved, so I actually like them. I will wait for the audiobook Jan 2015.

I enjoy the narrator and the job he is doing.

2 people found this helpful

Interesting

I listened to this book because i like sci-fi or fantasy and liked the fact that it didnt sound like one more of the one million shifterstories that you cant tell apart. And even though it is -sort of - a shifter story, its not like the ones i have read before and the univers the author has created is very interesting. The story holds a lot of promise and i will listen to the third book when its released. That being said, i think the MCs needs a character boost - you dont really get the feeling that you know them, kind of like they are unfinished somehow. The second book helped- so Im hopefull.

2 people found this helpful

WOW!!! Even better than the first book

I love this book and this narrator! With out mark Westfield I doubt Dex would be as memorable. Best book!

1 person found this helpful

I'm a New Fan of the Series!

I want more, and more, and more... this series is like one of those addictive tv series that you wait all week for and then as soon as its over, you count down until the next week. In a mishmash of romantic comedy and superhero manga, the books will hook any reader that gets through the world building details in book one. With book two, the action steps up and the characters shine even brighter. You've gotta love the way the narrator tells this story.

This series has a new fan in me!

1 person found this helpful

Excellent 2nd installment

This is a great series, but you really have to read in order to get the full effect. In this installment Dex and Sloane's relationship continues to progress, however Sloane is having a hard time moving forward from Gabe. He continues to push Dex away until he realizes how much he has to lose if he loses Dex. There is action and drama as the search for Isaac continues and we get more insight to some of the other couples in Destructive Delta. The witty banter and interaction between the characters continues to be my favorite thing about this series. I've already read the 3rd book and can't wait for it to come to Audible. The narrator's silky bass voice is great for most of the characters and he does a great job. Definitely worth a credit.

1 person found this helpful

Better then the first!

Oh man I thought the first book was good, this one just knocked it out of the park!!! Damn sexy and hella funny!!

Not as attention grabbing as the first one

Okay first Mark Westfield does a really good job but I wish that he was giving a 2-3 seconds gap when the POV changes. One second it's "Isaac thought of ....... ." and then without as much as a pause "Dex was considering....". Yes the paragraph where the POV changes starts with the MC's name but it is quite jarring when listening to it and having to change gears like that mentally.

Now as far as the story goes I'm sorry but 2/3rds of it was Sloane mopping around and being pissed because Dex defied orders and only coming to the realization of the hows and whys he feels like that after Cael pretty much chewed him out, plus baiting for the other 3 couples in the series. That's what they story left me with after I finished it. Ash and Dex's shenanigans aren't as entertaining as the author thinks and so much tension and aggravation between them I think would be detrimental in the dynamics of a team.

Also for being 2 hours less than the first book it seemed a bit endless.

- 4 stars -

Spoilers*


I thought this was a pretty good book. I did struggle with it, along with taking a break, because I had the feeling that this book was going to be rather dark and depressing. Thankfully I was wrong.
Let me just say that I was correct when I wrote that Dex had more to lose than Sloane did by being in a relationship together. I was literally like "I knew it! " when Dex was going on about how everything was between himself and Sloane, how he wanted to be more but was constantly being hurt by Sloane because of his fear of being in another relationship or not having gotten over Gabe. He wanted to Sloane to be with him, to trust him, and Sloane is still coming to terms with himself.
That dream Sloane kept having was oddly prophetic with how a lot of the aspects of the dream came true.
I am glad that Sloane is being honest with Dex about his past and seems to be coming more to terms with his fear and on wanting to be with Dex. It was so cute how happy Dex was that Sloane asked him to go on a date and referred to themselves as boyfriends. The karaoke scene at the bar and Dec getting drunk was hilarious. I also liked the fact that even though Ash and Dex don't get along, Ash can still come to Dex's defense.
Overall, it was an interesting book and I liked that Hobbs older brothers were introduced (for some reason I thought Seb was the oldest out of the three of them), we got a hint at where Calvin and Hobbs are at in their relationship, a hint at Hudson and Sebs relationship, along with Ash and Cael's relationship.

* Narration *
I thought the narrative was pretty good. I kept thinking that Seb's voice was a bit inconsistent though. But with so many characters, it probably is hard to give each character a unique voice or get voices mixed up.