READING: Divide & Conquer (Cut & Run #4) by Abigail Roux and Madeleine Urban

Publication date: October 14 2011
Published by: Dreamspinner Press
Genre: MM, Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense, Crime
Rating: 

Baltimore, Maryland, is a city in alarming distress. Rising violence is fanning the flames of public outrage, and all law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, are catching blame. Thus the FBI’s latest ideas to improve public relations: a municipal softball league and workshops for community leaders. But the new commitments just mean more time Special Agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett have to spend apart when they’re happily exploring how to be more than by-the-book partners.

Then the latest spate of crime explodes in their faces—literally—throwing the city, the Bureau, and Ty and Zane’s volatile partnership both in and out of the office into chaos. They’re hip-deep in trouble, trying to track down bombers and bank robbers in the dark with very few clues, and the only way to reach the light at the end of the tunnel together requires Ty and Zane to close their eyes and trust each other to the fiery end.

2nd read (Oct 13 2018)
I pretty much have the same opinion of D&C as I did the first time. This time however, I enjoyed parts that I didn't particularly like back in May, and parts I did like back then I was like meh about now. That always happens with re-reads though; you brace yourself for the bad parts, that way they don't look that bad the second time around.
D&C is too convoluted. Important things are happening that should have been explored further but weren't because they were just too many. It's like they shoved all their ideas in a 320 pages hoping it will make for a glorious book, but it didn't.
It's not bad, but it'd be better if the content, properly developed this time, was split between two books. 

Zane realizes he loves Ty, Ty sings (!), Ty's Bronco gets blown up, new female character is introduced (a novelty for C&R books) from Ty's past and she was gone the next minute, Zane is blinded, Zane declares his love to Ty as they slow dance (I mean...), we meet Ty's friends, which is a huge, huge deal, Ty comes out to them, which is even a bigger deal, Nick kisses Ty (!!!), Zane gets his sight back, Zane and Ty are trapped under rubble in an old mausoleum, Zane declares his love to Ty (again), Ty leaves him. Plus, you know. The bombings and bank robberies or whatever. It was just too much.

1st read (May 13 2018)
Omg are you kidding me with that ending???

I still can't decide if this book is a 4 or a 5. There were a couple of moments I didn't particularly like, important moments that were brushed off casually, suffering from bad writing, and others I absolutely loved. It's never been more apparent that these books are written by two completely different people.
Let's say it's 4 and a half. For now.

READING: Fish & Chips (Cut & Run #3) by Abigail Roux and Madeleine Urban

Publication date: December 6 2010
Published by: Dreamspinner Press
Genre: MM, Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense 
Rating: 

Special Agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett are back on the job, settled into a personal and professional relationship built on fierce protectiveness and blistering passion.
Now they're assigned to impersonate two members of an international smuggling ring-an out-and-proud married couple-on a Christmas cruise in the Caribbean. As their boss says, surely they'd rather kiss each other than be shot at, and he has no idea how right he is. Portraying the wealthy criminals requires a particular change in attitude from Ty and Zane while dealing with the frustrating waiting game of their assignment.
As it begins to affect how they treat each other in private, Ty and Zane realize there's more to being partners than watching each other's backs, and when the case takes an unexpected turn and threatens Ty's life, Ty and Zane will have to navigate seas of white lies and stormy secrets, including some of their own.

2nd read (Oct 7 2018)
Absolutely loved it! Can't believe I liked it even more than the first time!
Granted, the story was a bit shitty (no doy), but Ty and Zane's relationship is just so addictive. Its dynamics, their banter, their sex scenes, everything about them just draws you in. 

Ty and Zane's relationship development couldn't have been done in a more beautiful way: having real feelings blending in with their undercover characters actions making them wonder if they are indeed real or something they have to do or say to keep their covers, is just brilliant.
Also, pliant, submissive Ty might be the best thing that's ever happened, just saying. 

Very different vibe than Sticks&Stones; summery and fun, as opposed to cold and miserable. Surprisingly, I loved both and that is solely, and I cannot stress this enough, because of Ty and Zane. If it weren't for them, I would have abandoned all hope after Book 1. Also, I have to enjoy the early good ones while I can, before everything starts going to shit :(

1st read (May 10 2018)

READING: Sticks & Stones (Cut & Run #2) by Abigail Roux and Madeleine Urban

Publication date: January 25 2010
Published by: Dreamspinner Press
Genre: MM, Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense 
Rating: 

Six months after nearly losing their lives to a serial killer in New York City, FBI Special Agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett are suffering through something almost as frightening: the monotony of desk duty. When they're ordered to take a vacation for the good of everyone's sanity, Ty bites the bullet and takes Zane home with him to West Virginia, hoping the peace and quiet of the mountains will give them the chance to explore the explosive attraction they've so far been unable to reconcile with their professional partnership.
Ty and Zane, along with Ty's father and brother, head up into the Appalachian mountains for a nice, relaxing hike deep into the woods... where no one will hear them scream.
They find themselves facing danger from all directions: unpredictable weather, the unrelenting mountains, wild animals, fellow hikers with nothing to lose, and the most terrifying challenge of all. Each other.

2nd read (Sep 18 2018)
Loved it even more than the first time 👌😍
(They can't be the same writers as C&R, surely! It's so differently written, it's bizarre.) Ty might have started as an asshole, but S&S is definitely the turning point for his character and for his relationship with Zane. If you still hate him after this, don't bother reading any further.
The scene with Zane in the mountain where they are both having a cigarette, will forever be embedded in my mind. So tender and emotional-absolutely beautiful.

Sticks&Stones could easily be a stand alone book and an awesome one at that. Hands down the best one of the whole series for me.

1st read (May 9 2018)
It's official: I'm addicted to Ty and Zane ❤️
Much much better than C&R. 

READING: Cut & Run (Cut & Run #1) by Abigail Roux and Madeleine Urban

Publication date: September 30 2008
Published by: Dreamspinner Press
Genre: MM, Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Suspense, Crime
Rating: 

A series of murders in New York City has stymied the police and FBI alike, and they suspect the culprit is a single killer sending an indecipherable message. But when the two federal agents assigned to the investigation are taken out, the FBI takes a more personal interest in the case.

Special Agent Ty Grady is pulled out of undercover work after his case blows up in his face. He's cocky, abrasive, and indisputably the best at what he does. But when he's paired with Special Agent Zane Garrett, it's hate at first sight. Garrett is the perfect image of an agent: serious, sober, and focused, which makes their partnership a classic cliche: total opposites, good cop-bad cop, the odd couple. They both know immediately that their partnership will pose more of an obstacle than the lack of evidence left by the murderer.

Practically before their special assignment starts, the murderer strikes again this time at them. Now on the run, trying to track down a man who has focused on killing his pursuers, Grady and Garrett will have to figure out how to work together before they become two more notches in the murderer's knife.

3d read (Nov 12 2018)

Who would have thought I'd read this one twice in two months?? Definitely not me!
I'm so glad I did though, because third time was definitely the charm.

Reading C&R in paperback was an entirely different experience. Even though I re read it back in September on my Kindle and I didn't really like it, reading it now I realised I didn't remember a few very important things, entire discussions between Ty and Zane forgotten, like the one they had at the apartment at Greenwich for example. Isn't that odd? It's like I was reading this book for the first time wondering how the hell did I miss whole chunks of the story the first two times?? Ty and Zane's connection was way more real and intimate this time and when they had to split, I felt their pain and heartbreak. Even Ty, who I thought was a real dick the first 2 reads, now I found him sad and quite somber, even more so than Zane.

I don't know how to describe it, it was very peculiar reading C&R for the third time in paperback. Maybe now that I have finished all 9 books, it dawned on me that there will never be any new books and I didn't want to let go just yet. Maybe, having read 9 books, makes re reading C&R more emotional but also more comprehensible, I don't know.

For those of you who didn't really like C&R after the first time but ended up liking the series (very big possibility I'm the only one) please give this one another chance. Make sure to get it in paperback and really pay attention to every little detail. I guarantee it'll surprise you!

2nd read (Sep 13 2018)
Slightly worse the second time around. Ty and Zane's connection was not as strong as I remembered and I kinda hated Ty. He was terrible to Zane, using him to let out all his frustration from being closeted, even coming across as homophobic at times. He was an asshole, plain and simple. I still loved Zane, even though I found him a lot sadder this time.
The writing was very bad and editing was non existent.
I keep waiting for this:

"I absolutely do still plan to re-write, re-edit, and re-release the Cut & Run series books[...] As for what I intend to do to them, they will most certainly receive a proper Riptide edit. The POV shifts in the first book will be resolved, and I think we can all agree that's both necessary and a serious challenge. So the first book will look quite different."

That was from 2 years ago, and I am now resigned to the fact that it will never happen :( 

1st read (May 4 2018)