Book Talk Reivew; When The Devil Drives

Jack and Ethan are everything! 

Work-life balance for a spy may be an oxymoron, but Jack Reardon likes a good challenge. And he’s almost bested this one. He’s settled into his Meta-State promotion as a field leader and into his new team with a second he can trust. Shop in order, he can take a day or two off when Ethan blows into town, their bargain finally starting to paying off.

Assassin Ethan Blade has few pleasures in his life—a decent cup of tea, a job well done, racing his fleet of supercars, and Jack. With plans to combine the last two into one thrilling weekend, Ethan’s attempt at having a normal, happy life may deliver everything he’s ever desired—or backfire spectacularly.

Jack and Ethan made a bargain, but the deal is thrown into jeopardy when the expectations and identities of the dealmakers shift—stoking the fires of doubt and jealously. Not to mention a contract killer out for revenge and an illness that threatens to reveal closely guarded secrets. Rewards are on the table for both men, maybe bigger than they even realize, if only they can renegotiate—and survive.

*

L.J. Hayward is a huge tease! That's really all I have to say. 

Jack and Ethan have settled into a comfortable arrangement. As Jack admits to himself they have a relationship thing going on. What started out as sex has evolved into something that neither of them are sure of. 

Ethan proves he wants more when he drags Jack to the Gold Coast. Ethan driving one of his supercars is probably the hottest things ever. He's already sexy and dangerous, put him behind the wheel and his hot factor goes up by a thousand. While he can't put a name to the things he feels for Jack, you can tell there is something there. 

Jack is feeling out of sorts. Just when he gets comfortable with the arrangement he has with Ethan revelations that he feels more for him knocks him on his ass. While he doesn't know what that explosion in his chest is, he knows it means something. 

The jealousy on both sides is fun. Because they have to admit to themselves that they care. This is where the teasing on L.J. Hayward's part comes in. Just when you think you'll going to get that elusive kiss something prevents it. The fact that Jack was even considering kissing Ethan is huge. I know when they finally get there it's going to be explosive, but ugh! The wait might just kill me. 

Again, this novella is too short. While I enjoyed seeing Ethan and Jack come to terms with their relationship in their own ways, they still have a long way to go. Jack is an idiot, but by the end of the second short I think he's made some progress. How it'll all play out in the next novella and second book is the question. 

L.J. Hayward knows how to give her readers what they want without giving them what they want. Reading these novellas, seeing how Jack and Ethan's relationship evolves makes me all that more curious what she has up her sleeve for the second full-length novel. 

These two characters are so real for me. Jack's development from the first book to now is vast. His emotions towards Ethan are all over the place. He has yet to admit to himself just how deeply he cares. While he does admit they're in a relationship thing, he has yet to fully realize just how deep in he is. It's one reason I am dying for the kiss. Because I feel like when it happens all the feelings will come to the surface. But I'm also scared that Jack will run if he realizes how deep in he is. 

L.J. Hayward might just kill me with this series, but I'm okay with that. 

*Quote- 

"With a muffled thump, that grenade in Jack’s chest went off again."

"He wound his fingers through Ethan’s, feeling him grip back, as desperate, as tight. Burying his face in Ethan’s neck, he locked his lips on the pulse thrumming under the corner of his jaw so he wouldn’t do other, silly, things with his mouth."

"Between the threads of doubt and confusion there was still that intangible magnetism, drawing Jack to Ethan. An allure of not just physical attraction, but a need to know the truth, to find the man beneath the assassin."

"All the doubts of the past minutes fled and Jack laughed. This was why he was here. This sense of connection and shared moments. The idea that laughter could be born from one of the most harrowing events in Jack's life all because of the man standing beside him. The man whose unabashed smile could make Jack think dangerous thoughts." 

"When Ethan returned, Jack would do everything he could to make sure he didn't leave again."  

"This was Jack's man—peaceful, perfectly in control, finally at one with the world that was speeding by so fast it was just a blur of light and shade. It didn't even matter that Jack seemed to have disappeared from Ethan's perceptions. Getting the chance to see this again was worth the invisibility."