Release Day Review: Love in the Line of Fire by Michael Murphy #Review #Giveaway

Author: Michael Murphy
Book: Love In The Line Of Fire
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publication date: January 23, 2017
Length: 192 pages 



Reviewed by Meredith


Synopsis

Agent Jonah Pratt heads the Secret Service team guarding the President’s husband. When a routine day turns into a dangerous assassination attempt, the stranger who dives into the melee and takes down the assassin complicates the situation, sparking Jonah’s anger.

Just back from multiple tours of duty in Iraq, Benji hides the fact that he brought the war home with him and that it continues to haunt him. His actions in stopping the would-be assassin are more instinct than strategy. And his first conversation with a furious Jonah doesn’t end well.

Losing a member of his team turns Jonah’s world upside down. And if Benji seems to know exactly what Jonah is experiencing, it’s because he went through the same thing in combat. Jonah’s work consumes him, leaving little room in his life for anything else, and Benji focuses on his studies, working to keep his nightmares at bay. But when they get together, Jonah and Benji recognize a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for love and happiness—one worth fighting for.

Buy Links

Dreamspinner Press

Amazon

Review

When I read the blurb for this book I had to have it. A secret service agent and a military guy? Where do I sign up. In my mind I thought it was going to be a big action suspense sort of thing with a romance weaved in. It wasn't exactly that. Love in the Line of Fire was much more emotional than I thought it would be. It didn't really focus so much on what Jonah and Benji do. It was more about who they are and how they make a relationship work.

The opening of this book was very suspenseful and then sad. When a lone gunman shoots at the President's husband and takes out one of Jonah's men it really tore at my heart. More so when we realize how close he and Jonah were. Of course this was the same moment we met Benji. His entrance is one for the grandkids. It's how these two meet and how their story begins.

I adored Benji throughout this entire book. He helped Jonah cope with the loss of his friend, he guided him through dating and romance, he rubs his aches and pains from him. He is just an amazing person. He suffers from PTSD and at one point it affects Jonah and his relationship horribly.

Now, I didn't hate Jonah. I found his shyness toward Benji in the beginning to be refreshing. As the head of security for the President's husband he doesn't have a lot of times where he doesn't have to make choices. When Benji takes the reins it's a beautiful thing. Jonah isn't horrible to Benji but I did find him undeserving of his love. Especially when Benji reacts out of fear, slight paranoia, and love. This also affects Jonah's job and it was how Jonah treated Benji after that that really bothered me. I didn't feel the forgiveness. It just didn't come across like I think it should have. I would have made Jonah grovel until his knees bled.

Other than that it's a love story about two alpha guys with a lot of busy in their lives. They need each other and they need a lot better communication. It's not high on the action and suspense but it is very high on the emotion and medium on the angst.

Giveaway

Enter the monthly review giveaway!

Contest ends January 31st!

Thanks!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Release Day Review: Coin of the Realm by Michael Murphy #Review #Giveaway

Author: Michael Murphy
Book: Coin of the Realm
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publication Date: August 15, 2016
Length: 210 pages


Reviewed by Morningstar



Synopsis

Timothy Mitchell worked his way from humble beginnings to graduate school in Washington, DC. The end is in sight—but so are his funds. Determined not to let his dream slip through his fingers, Timothy goes from part-time jobs to modeling for art classes, to stripping, and finally to working as an escort to pay his tuition.

The nation’s capital is full of powerful men and secrets, which Timothy learns firsthand when he takes on a client who demands absolute anonymity. Even though Timothy realizes he’s sleeping with one of the most influential men in the world, he must keep up the facade. Despite that, their association moves from sex to love.

But power and secrets also mean danger. When Timothy is violently abducted off the street, all because of what—and who—he knows, his lover must make a decision: risk his power and position or lose the man he loves.

Buy Links

Dreamspinner Press

Amazon

Review

If you found yourself in a crossroads; give up everything you had worked really hard to achieve or do what you had to keep it even if it meant selling your body; could you do it or would you walk away?

Timothy Mitchell is the guy who had come from nothing but worked hard and finally made it to graduate school in D.C. but now he is in a bind because the part-time job isn’t enough to survive on in this expensive city and his savings is all dried up. One thing leads to another and now he is an escort and suddenly finds himself with a client who demands complete and utter anonymity. But what neither him nor the man he now knows would happen, is love.

Timothy is a really good guy who just wants to go to school and figure out how he wants to use his degree when he is done. But life is a struggle but he never lets that get him down, not for long. What happens next is a series of secret meet ups with blindfolds and strip searches that moves to long talks and dates. This is truly a really sweet and cute story about two guys from different walks of life falling in love but there are some major points that you have to suspend your belief in reality for. If you are able to suspend that belief it was truly a good story. I did struggle with this part because as much as I loved the characters and the overall storyline those parts knocked me out of the story making it difficult to get absorb back in.

Of course with these two men coming from different walks of life there was a lot for them to overcome and work through especially since the mystery man hasn’t had a relationship in his life so it is all new to him. Timothy although young comes across as mature most times and doesn’t stand to be walked all over no matter who is doing it. Of course being with the man he is coming to love also comes with danger and dangerous people willing to take to get what they want. Both characters are really well fleshed out and make a perfect couple even with the difficulty in finding a way to be together.

Although there were parts that fell short for me if you are looking for a sweet romance this fits the bill!

Giveaway

Enter the monthly review giveaway!

Swag Pack of Fun!

Contest ends August 30th!

a Rafflecopter giveaway