READING: Stars & Stripes (Cut & Run #6) by Abigail Roux

Publication date: August 13 2012
Published by: Dreamspinner Press
Genre: MM, Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Suspense, Crime
Rating: 

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. 

2nd read (Oct 24 2018)
My opinion still stands-I believe Stars&Stripes is absolutely adorable and I love it. 
Ty and Zane are perfect together, and in S&S they finally realise there won't be anyone else for them and that they will spend the rest of their lives together. Coming to that realisation so naturally and smoothly, made for one very sweet, very cute book. But also hot and steamy because, you know, Ty and Zane. Those 2 in this one...*fans herself* Just read it, that's all I'm saying.

Tiger, shmiger. Who cares? Yes, it was ridiculous but also kinda funny. I let myself get drawn in by the whole Texas scene so I didn't really mind, to be honest. Give me horses, Stetsons and lassos and I'm good to go! Probably what Ty was thinking as well, that's why he couldn't get his hands off Zane :P

I knew I would love Stars&Stripes right from the start. Ty waking up next to Zane playfully flicking Zane's nose while Zane was sleeping, while he was swatting Ty's hand in his sleep and Ty was chuckling, I mean how can that not melt your heart? Adorable ❤

1st read (Jun 24 2018)
I know a couple of my friends and die hard C&R fans didn't like this one, and I get why, but I couldn't help but love it. 
It was, I'm pretty sure, the most romantic book of the bunch so far. I guess that is why I liked it so much and others didn't. I never pegged myself as a big softie, quiet the opposite actually. But these two just melt my heart. They can do whatever, no matter how ridiculous, and I will find it adorable and super cute. In Stars&Stripes they were like fireworks together, every time they looked at each other I could feel how much in love they were, and the whole book from beginning to end was about that. After a year of living together and six books, I think it was necessary and they totally deserve it. To just be with each other and be completely in love. 
Loved both ↓

coming outs to their families, I must admit Ty's more than Zane's for the sole reason that we didn't know much about Zane's family until now. Zane's father's line about the gay bull is one for the ages!

Loved both sex scenes-possibly the best in the whole series ("Must be the Stetson"), loved the whole melancholic Texas vibe and Zane's accent coming out and driving Ty crazy, Zane's southern get up, the fact that they couldn't keep their hands off each other, and, because I don't want to repeat myself, everything Tane related.
Zane's utter idolisation of Ty is just phenomenal. We always see Ty through his eyes (Ty's POV are very rare) and that's why he always appears to be so cool, good at everything, very smart, loyal and honourable, hot as hell and everything anyone could ever wish for. In other words, Ty can do no wrong as far as Zane is concerned. He is completely devoted to him, and that is why I think even the tiniest misstep from Ty will absolutely devastate Zane. I don't want it to happen, but I'm afraid it will in book 7, I can see it coming :/

Granted, the story was simplistic, to put it mildly, and the tiger thing completely unnecessary and over the top. If you think about it though, aren't all story lines in C&R books very simple because they focus more on Ty and Zane's relationship? I mean, let's be honest, I am not reading this series for the amazingly complex and original story line. And after six books, Ty and Zane's relationship needed to go forward and mature, and not be limited to hard fucking and sexual tension all the time. It is natural and lovely and was described beautifully in Stars&Stripes. 

Are there really only 3 books left???? *shudder* Can't even think about that right now...