Erryn reviews Transactional Dynamics (Hazard and Somerset: A Union of Swords Book 3) by Gregory Ashe (Published by Hodgkin and Blount, March 27, 2020, 444 pages. Audiobook released May 19 2020. Narrated by Tristan James. 12 hours 29 minutes in length.)
Why I listened to this: I am loving this series..
To Dana’s review of the audiobook click here.
Blurb:
Emery Hazard is ready for Valentine’s Day. He’s made reservations months in advance, he’s ordered flowers, and he’s got a boyfriend he wants to treat right — even if John-Henry Somerset occasionally lets the dishes sit in the sink a little too long. They even have an extra reason to celebrate this year: Somers has received a special commendation for his police work.
Everything begins to go wrong, though, when Hazard’s ex-boyfriend shows up on their doorstep. Billy claims he just needs help getting away from an abusive partner, but Somers believes Billy has other motives, including designs on Hazard.
When men who have been hired to track Billy show up in Wahredua, Hazard agrees to help his ex elude them. But as Hazard prepares to sneak Billy out of town, a woman is murdered behind the local gay bar, and Somers’s investigation leads him towards Hazard’s ex.
As Hazard and Somers find themselves working together to find the killer, they both must confront a hard truth: Everything comes at a cost — career success, healthy relationships, and even justice. The only question is if they’re willing to pay the price.
Buy links: Audible | Amazon | B&N | Add to Goodreads
My review:
North and Shaw! I was introduced to Gregory Ashe through the Orientation series, so I have a soft spot in my heart for these two men. Their sniping and griping and love. I was thrilled to see them drop by even if they bring trouble. Well, rather they’re following trouble. Emery Hazard and John-Henry Somerset have settled into a routine that’s working for them. Somers is still working with the Wahredua police department, Hazard’s PI business is slowly but steadily growing. Life raising their daughter is pretty sweet.
Until Hazard’s ex Billy shows up. And where Billy goes, trouble is sure to follow. He claims he’s running from an abusive ex – a story that’s sure to activate Hazard’s protective instincts. But all is not as it seems.
Then a woman gets murdered behind the Pretty Pretty – the local gay bar – and Somers gets drawn into a murder mystery. Where there are plenty of suspects, but very few answers. The victim has just as many secrets as everyone else in town and I have to say, I did not expect that dénouement.
And Billy? Well, let’s just say North and Shaw are persistent. I’ll also say that the scene with all of Hazard’s exes at the Pretty Pretty broke my heart. I wondered how Hazard and Somers were going to get past that. But then it’s Valentine’s Day and…well, that proved interesting as well. Life is never boring with these two.
Finally, Tristan James narrates this series and does it well. So well that I forgot that Charlie David narrates the Orientation series. Tristan does a great job with North and Shaw, just like Charlie does when Hazard and Somerset visit St. Louis. I love the little interactions with the series – Easter Eggs for us die hard fans. And I am a fan – off to the next book.
My rating:
9.5/10 Pots of Gold (95% Recommended) – Compares to 4.75/5 Stars
I’m a long-time Midwesterner. I’ve lived in Chicago, Bloomington (IN), and Saint Louis, my current home. Aside from reading and writing (which take up a lot of my time), I’m an educator.
*****
To read Dana’s review of The Rational Faculty (Hazard and Somerset: A Union of Swords Book 1) click here.
To read Dana’s review of Police Brutality (Hazard and Somerset: A Union of Swords Book 2) click here.
To read Dana’s review of Transactional Dynamics (Hazard and Somerset: A Union of Swords Book 3) click here.
To read Dana’s review of Wayward (Hazard and Somerset: A Union of Swords Book 4) click here.
To read Dana’s review of The Keeper of Bees (Hazard and Somerset: A Union of Swords Book 5) click here.
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