| Title | : | Angel's Hero (Angel, #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1016125812 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781612581248 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | ebook |
| Number of Pages | : | 79 |
| Publication | : | First published February 25, 2014 |
Captain Jordan Collins is battered and disheartened in an Afghanistan prison, but definitely not dead, though he learns his own government believes he is. His only mission now is to stay alive and make it home to Angel, if he can find an ally among the enemy. But someone in the US government will stop at nothing to make sure he never leaves that prison, And Jordan must reevaluate the lines between friend and foe if he is ever to return to his Angel.
Angel's Hero (Angel, #1) Reviews
-
This book Angel’s Heart contains the first chunk of a story about two men married to each other who are separated by the demands of their jobs. The action breaks off at the end of this 79-page novella to form a cliffhanger, and you will have to buy the 64-page sequel to find out what happens even though the entire story could have fit smoothly into an average size 143-page novel.
Angel’s Hero weaves together two storylines, which alternate by chapter. You get the present-day story of Aaron, who works for the CIA, as he copes with the disappearance of his husband Jordan, an army captain on assignment to Afghanistan. And you get the flashback chapters that center on Aaron and Jordan’s initial if unremarkable courtship, which made me impatient to get back to the chapters on the more compelling storyline -- the problem of Jordan’s disappearance. The courtship scenes were not very important to the plot and could have been greatly condensed by Aaron into short memories or anecdotes told to family and friends.
Unfortunately, I had another problem with the book beyond its cliffhanger and the flimsiness of its past storyline versus its present storyline, and that is its overall lack of realism, which it reveals in big events and small events. For example, here is a big event: Jordan, an army captain, refuses to obey an order to send his platoon on a military mission in Afghanistan, and he is dismissed from his position and put on a plane back home to his civilian life. Here are the repercussions from that decision on page 37:Jordan […] trailed off and grabbed the remote back, turning the volume up as the words “Relief Mission Stalled in Afghanistan” appeared across the screen. Stalled?
“Due to an unprecedented refusal to carry out orders, Platoon 82 of the US Army denied homeless Afghanistan citizens needed supplies,” the reporter droned. “According to Army sources, the mission was stalled until new leadership could be found, since the platoon captain was sent back to the United States,” her coworker added.
“Yes!” Jordan screamed and kissed Aaron on the lips.
Aaron hugged him tight. “I’m so proud of you.”
“And if I’m separated from service?” Jordan asked.
“Then I’ll know it was for a good reason, and I’ll be all the more proud,” Aaron answered.
The discipline board denied him early promotion, but took no other action against him.
Did this author and her editors do no research? According to Article 90 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) Assaulting or willfully disobeying a superior commissioned officer: “Any person subject to this chapter who […] willfully disobeys a lawful command of his superior commissioned officer; shall be punished, if the offense is committed in time of war, by death or such other punishment as a court-martial may direct, and if the offense is committed at any other time, by such punishment, other than death, as a court-martial may direct.”
Besides, there would have been no "Army sources" to provide details of Jordan's situation to the television media. The U.S. military hasn't cooperated with civilian journalists since getting eviscerated by the media during the Vietnam War. Remember that? Remember how the military kept such tight wraps on the first Gulf War? Did the author just make up stuff and hope we readers were too stupid to know about American history?
And then there are small events such as when Jordan is told to move a 100-pound box from one spot to another ten feet away, and he does so even though he is seriously ill and has a broken ankle. I just don’t believe that he could have managed it. And
And, speaking of implausible, I am wondering why Aaron is described to be over seven feet tall when his height doesn’t factor into the story in any way. If this decision comes from a fetish for tall male characters, wouldn’t something tall but normal like six-feet-two do? I worked with a guy who was six-feet-nine-inches tall with a similar lanky build to Aaron, and he was so freakishly tall that he constantly had to deal with people’s stares and with not being able to fit into his immediate environment. If a character differs that much from the physical norm, he would realistically face countless challenges and unwanted attention about his height. I kept getting distracted as I read about Aaron going through his life (with no real description as if he were medium height) and I tried to picture what it would really be like for a giant.
More impossibilities include the following: To include outlandish plot threads like this without doing the basic research makes me wonder if this author and publisher have contempt for the readers’ intelligence or are just in too big a hurry to publish to get the details correct.
Angel’s Hero may appeal to readers who are between books and needing a quick fix of military-thriller themed gay romance. But it also strikes me as a flawed book that was rushed to publication when it would have benefited from some careful beta reads, fact-checking, and further editing. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via
Hearts on Fire Reviews in exchange for an honest review. -
No big secret that I love established couples and I don’t think there are enough in MM romance. Yes, it is nice to see how a couple meets initially, but for some reason I am partial to those who are already in it for life and then run into adversity. Here we have Jordan and Aaron, whom Jordan calls Angel, who are married and have been together for eleven years. Aaron is CIA and Jordan is an Army officer.
These two have always deployed together and so they are shocked and extremely nervous when Aaron is replaced at the eleventh hour with a man with less than half his experience and knowledge. And thus begins the drama that ensues when Jordan becomes a POW and then considered a KIA. Aaron doesn’t believe it. There is too much unknown and unless he has solid proof he will not accept that his husband is dead.
There is intrigue, secrets, lies, manipulation and treason entwined with love, hope and adoration between Jordan and Aaron. There is also quite a bit of family drama on Aaron’s side and the supportive father on Jordan’s. But then you have Troy, a friend who jumps at the chance at Aaron now that Jordan is dead and out of the picture. He doesn’t take no as an answer very well but promises to use his military status to help Aaron find the proof he needs to accept Jordan’s death. I saw Troy as a snake from the get-go and Aaron’s family was way out of line in trying to force him to mourn their way.
I really liked this story, even though it ends with a slight but exciting cliffhanger, but I can’t help feeling it would have been a solid five star read if it were a full length novel. There is so much going on that is just glossed over and I found myself wanting to know more. I wanted more detail and more emotion. I wanted to feel a deeper connection to Aaron and Jordan but it was weakened by the fast pace.
All that aside, in addition to established couples I also have a love affair with military men too so there was no doubt that I was going to read this story, and even less doubt that I would like it. I just wanted a little more.
Overall Impression: I really liked it
See reviews for both books 1 and 2 at The Blogger Girls :
http://thebloggergirls.com/2014/02/27... -
This is a dual-review of books 1 and 2 in Liz Borino's Angel Series
These books are not stand-alones. They must be read together and in order.
~ ~ ~
My Review:
I had problems with this read, but I followed through and found some virtues in the end. There was a set up to a bigger world with espionage, but that part was left off the page, unfortunately. The plot was good, but had gaps, and often the writing was awkward and even stereotypical at points.
THE CHARACTERS
Jordan Larson - Army Captain - A flirt and brat. Tortured and driven.
Aaron Collins (Angel) - CIA. Seven feet tall.
Troy Hart - The creepy bad guy, and Aaron's superior.
Adeela - Double agent, nurse, spy, conspirator? She's a wonderful, unknown surprise.
Normally I can really add strong descriptors of the characters pointing out things that stood out to me. But, both of the MC's felt flat to me. Like they were the same character. Without the use of their names, I wouldn't have known the difference between the two.
THE STORY
The established relationship was a good start, we know that the characters have background, so when Jordan is sent on a mission that he believes is being mishandled by the military and the government it is understandable that Aaron senses something is wrong. Aaron, who normally is "in" on this type of mission is being shut out.
It seems that these guys have something of a psychic connection, but unfortunately this isn't explored or fleshed out either. It really could have been one of the more exciting structures of the story, but it was only hinted at. Another aspect left unexplored was Troy's motivations for his actions.
I like Adeela. She's a good, strong character in an impossible position.
THE WRITING
Awkward sentence structure, wild timeline hopping and unfortunately a lousy formatted .pdf combined to make this an uncomfortable read for me. I just could never relax into the story.
Never had Jordan concentrated so hard not to see a place as he had not to catch sight of his house.
There was a sex scene in the middle of discussing potential rape and court martial that was terribly misplaced and very uncomfortable. Other sex scenes were cut off and clipped. Then: Jordan slid his tongue along the crease of Aaron's lips, unzipping them.
The brother and father characters were unnecessary and annoying. The father seemed to really only have one purpose, which came at the end of the story. It felt like he was just stuck in, here and there, to take up page space. This could have been handled differently.
There was also some unfortunate stereotyping;
"I shop at Bloomingdale's and Neimen Marcus." Troy's voice heightened in the way gay men's did when they had to ensure that whoever they were speaking to had no doubt about their sexuality. [...]
I think, in a nutshell, what went wrong here is the author tried to squeeze too much into this rather short story. It stayed still in some areas and then ran past others. At one point in the book it says the antagonist "had been messing with them for years", but I thought the whole timeline was only months long.
A few bright spots did develop. Adeela was clever and her dialogue was the best in the story, despite or maybe because of her halted speech pattern. Also, I really believe that the author's plot line was well structured. I think that if she just slows down, paints a more vivid picture and doesn't worry about stuffing sex scenes in to please some readers that she can give us "more" in future books.
~ ~ ~
I would like to thank Liz Borino for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest review.
~ ~ ~ -
2.5 stars
I really liked the book that this tried to be, but overall, I feel it was too big of a story to be told in a novella and ultimately, fell flat.
That, in a nutshell, is why I generally don't read novellas. Some authors are able to pull them off and I don't feel left wanting. It's rare though. Missing scenes, short vignettes, those are things to read novellas for, not a full length story.
Here, we had conspiracy, attempted murder, captivity, and a general sleazeball as a villain all in less than 80 pages. It needed more development and time to unfold naturally. There were times that I had to either go back and reread something, or was just left with a mild case of confusion because either something was just skipped over, I missed it, or it summarized when it would have served the book better to have been further explored. There was far too much telling, and not enough showing.
This book, is almost two stories told simultaneously via flashbacks. The present, where Angel is working with the CIA to prepare for a mission to recover POWs in Afghanistan. Only to learn at the last minute, he has been removed from the mission and must watch as his husband, Jordan, and army captain, leave without him. A mission, that, as far as Angel knows, led to his death.
Meanwhile, Jordan is being held captive in an Afghan prison with the most unlikely ally, who is ultimately responsible for his return home. And while it's not hard to figure out who put him there, it's still enough to further your dislike toward the man. Seriously, he made my skin crawl. I wished that this part of the story would've been better thought out. I thought the plot line for it was very, very weak. For the setting and all the possibilities, it could have been so much more.
Then we have the past, where we see Angel and Jordan meet and fall in love. It was sweet, and I liked them and and wanted to know more. It also gave us a little background on the present mission where Jordan is captured and Angel's work with the CIA.
And holy cliffhanger. That's just cruel.
So, while it's obvious I had several problems with the story, I still found myself liking it enough to want to find out what happened to Jordan, and what Angel would do. I'm even a little tempted to go ahead and read the sequel even though I know I will probably have the same problems. Or possibly, the questions I had in this one, will be answered in the second? Is this one of those sets where it never should've been split up and remained one novel? We shall see...
*A copy of this book was provided by the publisher. A positive review was not promised in return.* -
I just love my military guys and here we get them two for the price of one, who could wish for more? Aaron and Jordan, two guys who are happily married and madly in love.
Now this is what I really liked about this book, rather than the usual two strangers meeting and falling in love we start with two guys in a stable loving relationship and due to their circumstances are torn apart and the fight for their love begins.
Aaron is in the CIA and Jordan is a captain in the army. We are now past DADT and they feel happy in their relationship and have no real worries about the prejudices of others at home, or should they? Jordan is sent to Afghanistan on a mission to free American POW and ends up being taken hostage. This was to be his last deployment before deciding to leave the army, but the mission would prove to be a tougher one than he bargained for. Meanwhile, back in the USA, Aaron is informed by military officers that Jordan’s tags and burnt clothing were discovered at the old prison where he was and had died in the fire. Aaron, is devastated but never believes his Jordan can really be dead. Tags and burnt clothing are no evidence that Jordan is dead in his eyes and he starts his own crusade to try and find him using his contacts in the CIA.
This is where the book for me really began. It was heart-breaking to see how everyone treated Aaron, not believing him, putting it down to the grief process. He refuses to go to Jordan’s funeral, upsetting everyone around him, but strongly believes that with no evidence of a body Jordan can’t be dead. The poor guy must have been heartbroken, but on the other hand the hope he keeps with him, spurning himself on and believing that Jordan is out there somewhere, was probably even more heart-breaking. In Afghanistan Jordan thankfully finds an ally who helps him to escape. Again this was a really nice touch, showing us that nothing is ever truly black or white. Good people exist on both sides and this enables him to plan an escape.
While Jordan is in prison he receives some information that immediately makes him suspicious that everything is not what it seems. Someone on the US side appears to want him dead, but why? I loved this twist in the plot. First you are thinking that he is just being kept as a hostage by extremists for political purposes and gains, but then find out that his own people want him out the way. This increases the tension back home and kept thinking WTF why and who would want this.
The book is one which is based on flashbacks. So we get the goings on of the present day and current situation, but constantly go back and learn how Aaron and Jordan meet. How they propose to each other, which I thought was really imaginative even though it would have scared the shit out of me – lol! How Aaron got his name Angel from Jordan. So we learn about their background and love for each other in the past, their history and what they have been through whilst events in the present press ahead. This is obviously a format whether film or book that not everyone feels comfortable with, but personally I have no problem with it and when well done which it is here for me can add to the intensity of the present. Letting you know about their pasts bit by bit. There is no doubt these guys are made for each other and will do absolutely anything for each other.
“Angel….I help you fly, push you to do new things, feel deeper, believe in things you wouldn’t consider. And you always bring me back to Earth. You’ve taught me the allure of the comfortable. I am so, so lucky to be the man you let behind your walls. Will you make it forever?”
So wow – if that is not a proposal speech then I don’t know what is. I would have said yes immediately. I think I did, but there isn’t a cat in hell’s chance that you would have to got me to say yes in the place where they were!
The whole premise and idea of this book is great, is well written and constructed. However, I just felt it could have been padded out a little more to increase the angst and anticipation whilst enabling me to get a better feeling for the circumstances and the characters. The author does a nice job in keeping the tempo of the book at a fast pace and gives it a real action-thriller feel.
The first book ends on a real cliff hanger, which again some people like and some don’t. I myself don’t mind this; it’s just like any extended story or a film saga that’s in two or more parts. I’m now really looking forward to starting the second book right away, or as they say, to be continued………………….
I’m damned determined to find out what the hell is going on and get my answers. You guys will just have to wait for the next review!
-
Originally reviewed for
The Book Vixen
In a Nutshell: These books must be read together because book one ends on a huge cliffhanger. I really liked the characters and the setup of these two books but they were badly in need of editing, both in style and content.
Why I Read this Book: I enjoy established couples in romance novels and put both men in uniform and I’m really happy!
What I Liked: I really liked these characters and their relationship. I liked how the author does some flashbacks to show readers how Aaron and Jordan meet as well as their first date and how they were married. This invested me in the men’s established relationship which was well done.
I also liked the characters of Aaron and Jordan as well as the life they’ve built together. Aaron is a CIA agent and Jordan an army captain but that’s just their jobs; readers get more like how they grew up and what makes them individuals. I love the moments of calm when the men are post-coital talking about their future plans or the flashbacks to times they supported each other like when Jordan had a family crisis. They had believable issues given the circumstances and I liked how the book made the men talk about these issues.
What I Also Liked: Even though the plot was convoluted and badly in need of editing, it kept my attention. Jordan’s kidnapping and how he returns home drives the book and I was riding right along. Jordan meets someone in captivity who turns out more complex than I initially thought and I liked this a lot.
What I Didn’t Like: I hate to say it but this book needed some serious style and content editing. Superficial errors were there – like words missing or spelled incorrectly, which I can sort of ignore. But the most egregious errors were in the plot. For example, someone would be in a scene talking and suddenly he disappears. There was a huge scene at book one’s conclusion so I re-read that part to see when I missed that person’s exit but found nothing. The most puzzling though was I had no idea what the motivations of the bad guy were—none. The entire plot focuses on this person’s actions, which keep Jordan away from Aaron, and I had no idea why he’d do this—that’s a content issue a good editor would have picked up on.
IMO: With some good editing these two books (which should be one) would be a four star read but with all the content and style errors this is just an okay read.
*review copy via NetGalley* -
This is a story of two military men, Aaron and Jordan, that are married and battling the hardship of Jordan's deployment orders on a POW mission. Aaron was recently relieved of his duties on the special POW mission and has to stay behind while Jordan is whisked far away to Afghanistan. Jordan becomes captured and a prisoner while deployed and everyone back home believes he is dead except for Aaron. Aaron cannot give up and move on from Jordan and continues to fight to find him. There is someone though that is getting in his way of discovering the truth.
This is a story filled with lots of hardship, pain, passion and ultimately love. Aaron and Jordan have a beautiful relationship and Liz creates very real characters that you can relate to on many levels. Their love scenes were not only passionate, but also very playful. I found myself laughing along with them during those scenes. The secondary characters in this story also play an intricate role and are as important to the story as the main characters. This story flashes back in time so that you can see how the characters met and it plays an important part to the flow of this story. The emotions of these characters was so strong, I found myself cheering along or crying with them throughout. This is not just your average M/M romance, there is so much more depth to it. There is a small cliffhanger at the end of this book, but not so bad that you will want to throw your kindle across the room. It ends in a way that explains some of the mystery throughout this book, but leaves you wanting to find out how this will all play out in the end.
If you love a great read that has lots of passion with a great story, then this book is for you. Liz has a way of drawing you in from the very beginning of the story and making you fall in love with her characters. I love the worlds that she creates and I am excited to see what she has in store for us in the future! -
Liz Borino is an author I put on my TBR list quite a while ago but never got round to reading. You guys know how that is right? That list of books and authors we want to read, just as soon as we find the time, would probably fill a room if it was an actual, physical pile rather than a file on our e-readers.
So when these two titles came up for review and the blurbs flashed words like CIA and military, well hello soldier, I was more than happy to volunteer to read them.
You can find my reviews for Angel's Hero and it's sequel Angel's Truth on The Blog Of Sid Love
http://sidlove.com/2014/02/26/series-... -
Really liking where this series is headed. I like Aaron and Jordan as an established couple and the small peeks into their past and how strong their relationship is. That Aaron refuses to give up on Jordan was great, but Troy kinda got on my nerves by totally trying to move in on Aaron. Then to expect him to start dating after only a month after the death of his husband? Looking forward to the next book to see what happens.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. -
Not a bad read, but if I didn't have the 2nd book loaded to go, I would have been pissed at how this one ended.
Also needs a proofreader. Full review on Booklikes and my blog, for both books combined. -
4 1/3 Hearts, triple review from Tams, Cat & Gigi
Review written for
MM Good Book Reviews
Tams Review: 4 ♥♥♥♥ Hearts
Aaron (Angel) and Jordan Collins have been inseparable since they met, unless they were on assignment. As the story in this first book unfolds, the reader is taken back and forth to when they first met, their first date, their wedding and through current events of separation and anxiety as everyone tries to convince Aaron that Jordan has been killed in Afghanistan. But Angel is not convinced, it doesn’t “feel” right to him. So he sets out to prove that his husband, is in fact, very much alive.
The story is also told from both mens POV. Angel is struggling with the possible death of his husband, he refuses to believe it is true. And something doesn’t sit well with him about the events that led up to Jordan being deployed either. Angel was supposed to go on the mission and was pulled at the last minute. And now he has a new boss, Troy, who seems to be very interested in more than just a work relationship with Angel.
Jordan is seriously injured and being tortured in an Afghanistan prison after being betrayed by someone he should have been able to trust. But who was it? Friends become enemies, and enemies become allies, but in his pain induced haze, who can he really trust. The one thing, the only thing that keeps him going is getting home to his Angel.
The writing was a little raw, but I definitely see potential there. And the plot was fantastic, I had no trouble keeping up and the story kept my interest throughout. Angel and Jordan’s love story slowly unfolded in flashbacks told in alternating chapters, which broke up the dramatic issues Angel and Jordan were both dealing with in the present. And I knew there was a snake in the grass from the start. I am so sorry that you have to wait until March to read the conclusion of their story, I will say it will be worth it.
The chemistry between these two is evident, I could have handled a little more detail for certain scenes, but the passion is there. If you like you men in uniform, you will get that in spades here! Book 2, Angel’s Truth, is scheduled to release March 14th so mark your calendars.
Cat’s Review: 5 ♥♥♥♥♥ Hearts
This is the first book and boy oh boy how to start a series! I will warn you be prepared to get the second one!
Angel is a CIA agent and works with his lover Jordan an army Captain. This story is written in such an intriguing way. It tells some of what is going on now, a very secret mission, and recalls things about their past, how they met etc. I fell in love with both men immediately. They have a love and connection to be envied. I would give anything to have what these two men have, and the author captures it in such a powerful way. Both men are very professional and strong and their love exceeds all else. The story line was also very captivating. I’m not real big on military stories but this one is fabulous. It’s not overly political and the mystery is riveting. I was very surprised at the ending and was very happy I had the next book ready to roll.
I will say and I hope this isn’t a spoiler, that there was something going on with Troy, that I cringed about through the story and was happy I was wrong about Angel on that account. It made me like Angel even more and Troy even less.
I highly recommend this if you like military suspense, covert operations, CIA agents, Army Captains ( yes we have hot men in uniforms and suits) a love to die for and a surprise ending.
Gigi’s Review: 4 ♥♥♥♥ Hearts
Liz delivers military suspense in a fast paced and engaging manner. Through a series of chapter by chapter flashbacks from past to present we’re introduced to the characters of Aaron and Jordan in their current military deployment and the past events of how they met. Once all hell breaks loose and Jordan’s situation is known, we volley back and forth until the two time lines converge and the action gets going high speed. I feel like I want to know Aaron more, and I was not quite sure of his history, if any with Troy before Jordan’s deployment, but that’s just a small hitch. The supporting characters of Adeela and Jordan’s dad Elliot, make the story stronger. I find I like Adeela a lot!
Throughout the story we have flashbacks that give us the back ground of how Aaron and Jordan meet, fall in love and of how strong their commitment is to each other. Because of this I never thought, even for a second, that Aaron would fall to Troy’s clutches, and I couldn’t understand why Troy ever thought he would. I was just desperate for Jordan to come home.
At the end of the book we are left in the peak of the action with Jordan appearing at his home, beat, battered and bloody. When Aaron, busy fending off Troys’ advances, hears someone entering his home, he draws his weapon, prepared to disarm the bloodied intruder, until he recognizes the man he loves. So many questions linger, who really allowed Jordan to be captured? We suspect Troy all along, but why did he do it? And is he acting alone?
Angel’s Hero was a fun puzzle, a fast paced read, and a bit of a nail biting adventure wondering how and if Jordan would escape. The sexual content was detailed when necessary, but often that content was implied as the relationship developed. Another highly entertaining read by Liz Borino, be sure to have book two queued up and ready! -
3- 3.5/5
I'm not a fan of lengthy flash-back segments intercepting the presents. But the story was interesting and engaging enough. -
4 Stars from Crystal Marie:
Well, this book combined two of my favorite genres, M/M and the military men. I have always enjoyed books that involve military men, as long as they are semi-realistic. Sorry, that’s just the military brat in me coming out but it really bugs me when obvious things are wrong in a story. But I can say, that I did enjoy the way the author wrote the military parts of this story.
In this part of the story, we are introduced to Aaron and Jordan. Right off the bat, one thing that I have to say about this author was they were able to do the flashbacks in such a way that it added to the story on so many levels. Usually I do not like reading books that have flashbacks because for me it seems like it jars the story too much. But this author was able to pull them off throughout the book and it was just amazing.
I really was able to connect with the characters, even though the story was on the shorter side of books, I still enjoyed that connection. I really enjoyed Jordan’s character throughout the story. I think that he showed an amazing amount of strength and courage throughout the whole book, even though you could tell that he was just as scared as Aaron.
I enjoyed that the author thought to add some additional drama into the book. Now with the way she went about it? Totally didn’t like that, but as I went further into the story, I could understand why she did it that way. I completely loved the fact that even though there was sex happening in the book, it didn’t take over the whole book.
Overall, I thought that this was an extremely well written book. And I will be sure to read more from the author in the future.
5 Stars from Tbird:
Angel’s Hero just captures your heart and interest from page one and leaves you gasping and begging for more by the end. Aaron and Jordan are two gay men who are married and very much in love. Jordan is deployed to Afghanistan with his military unit in hopes of rescuing 15 POWs held there in exchange for a man the Afghans want. While Jordan has no proof that the wanted man is even being held by the USA, he goes to try and strike a deal to get our POWs back home.
While Jordan is gone, Aaron his husband is being showered with attention from Major General Troy Hart. Jordan and Troy have a history that makes Jordan not really trust Troy but he doesn’t feel he can tell Aaron to stay away from him while Jordan is stuck across the ocean. The husbands Skype and keep communication going in all ways while Jordan is deployed, but one night Aaron is woke up with a horrible nightmare about Jordan.
A few days later the dreaded news comes that Jordan has been killed but Aaron refuses to believe it. Determined to find the truth about Jordan, Aaron fights his new battle in life and ends up without a job, friends and not much family support. How can Jordan be dead when Aaron still feels him, there was no proof of the body, they buried an empty casket.
As the end of the book comes, Troy finally shows Aaron a picture of what is supposed to be Jordan’s dead body. The only way Aaron would believe it was him was the tattoo on the lifeless body. It was time for Aaron to accept that the love of his life was gone. The photo gave Troy the opening he needed to come in and win the love of Aaron that is until someone opened the back door and stumbled in begging for help.
I LOVE this book, it is short, easy to read and gives us characters that I fell in love with. I can hardly wait to read the next book in this series to find the answers as to who wanted Jordan dead and why.
*Copy provided for honest review*
Reviewed by Crystal Marie and Tbird for Crystal's Many Reviewers! -
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
CIA Agent Aaron "Angel" Collins is mystified why he is being reassigned from his normal Middle East dossier. Especially as his husband, Capt. Jordan Collins, is being deployed to Afghanistan to secure the release of twenty POW. Usually, both Angel and Jordan are dispatched simultaneously, one to coordinate the intelligence and one to coordinate the military operation. Jordan promises this will be his last mission-- he can't bear the new command, and is happy to focus on going back to school instead of a military life.
Something strange is definitely happening. Jordan is nervous that the POW recovery is destined to fail, as orders and personnel are shifted and swapped. Meanwhile, all the changes seem to be coordinated by Angel's new superior, Major General Troy Hart. Troy is an openly gay man who seems desperate to engage Angel in friendship, or more.
With Jordan deployed and Angel stateside, the two men connect via phone, Skype and other electronic communication. Jordan's bed feeling about the rescue op are confirmed when he is ambushed at the negotiation. He is injured, and lingers on in pain and illness for nearly three months, while he is presumed dead in the fire fight that has ensued. His nurse, Adeela, is the wife of his captor, and a US sympathizer. She strives to keep Jordan alive and gives him any information she can.
Without a body, Angel will not give up hope that Jordan is still alive. Troy is steadfast in pursuit of Angel, who has lost his job and many social connections due to his refusal to attend the burial of Jordan's empty coffin. After months of Jordan being MIA--in Angel's mind--Troy escalates his pursuit of Angel as a lover.
Adeela learns that Jordan is scheduled for execution and orchestrates his escape. If he can survive it, he promises to rescue her, as well. Jordan is so ill it is unclear if he will make it, and the book ends with enough resolution that we are assured Angel will assist Jordan's recovery.
There is a lot of espionage and back-room deals that let the reader know Troy Hart is driving both Jordan's disappearance and scheduled execution. I was interested in this book because I thought the out gay military professional would make for a fresh story. Plus, I like military romance. This book had some great misdirection, as the story unfolded I both real-time and flashback. There are many instances where to love between Angel and Jordan is celebrated. They had been a committed couple for about 8 years before they married (following the repeal of DADT), and their relationship seemed totally supportive of each partner.
I liked the love story. Some parts of the military story seemed implausible--particularly the power Troy Hart had over Jordan's deployment. He is new a new VIA liaison, but still maintains army command. That's a bit unrealistic for me.
The romance was well done, however, and that's the strength of the book. -
Favorite quote: "...the fact is I'm smarter than most people."
I have to admit this is one of the most complicated stories I’ve ever read and it took me a while to get into it enough to keep straight what was going on. Part of that is due to the story jumping back and forth in time. It isn’t a time travel novel but we go from the present to the past frequently. Fortunately, Ms Borino has labeled each jump in time but you’d better be paying attention.
Jordan and Aaron met eleven years ago in college. Today Jordan is an Army Captain and Aaron is a CIA agent. Over time they have tended to be assigned to the same part of the world and have worked as a team because of their extensive knowledge of Middle Eastern politics and Jordan’s ability to speak Farsi. For Jordan’s latest assignment, though, Aaron is mysteriously reassigned to another project in the states. Jordan is trying to broker a deal to release American prisoners of war but the Afghan official in charge of the prison where they are being held wants something in exchange that Jordan is powerless to provide.
When Jordan is himself captured and held in the worst kind of POW prison where he is tortured. He is helped to some degree by an Afghan nurse but she is hindered by the misogynistic society of the Middle East. There is a lot going on in the US and Afghanistan that doesn’t add up. Will Jordan live? Will Aaron fall in love with someone else? Who is to be trusted and who is the real enemy? Even at the end of the story we are left with the cliff-hanger of all cliff-hangers, meaning we have to wait for the sequel, Angel’s Truth to find out what happens.
I had the opportunity to interview Jordan to find out a little more about him. He is unable to reveal much of what I wanted to know but here we go…
1. Hello, Angel. My, you are really tall! How tall are you and how has that affected the way you interact with people?
2. You and Jordan seem to share a special bond, beyond that of most married couples. Does one of you have psychic abilities or do you just know each other really well?
3. When it comes to sex, who likes to top?
4. You’ve been accused of being cold and uncaring when you need more evidence to believe something. Where does that level of mistrust come from?
5. How old were you when you realized you were gay and how did that affect you?
6. Let’s go with some fast round questions…
a. Favorite brand of underwear
b. Smooth, manscaped, or hairy
c. Soft and slow or rough and up against the wall
Thanks, Aaron. We’ll see you again in the next book, Angel’s Truth! -
*review based on an ARC copy*
Aaron (Angel) and Jordan Collins have been inseparable since they met, unless they were on assignment. As the story in this first book unfolds, the reader is taken back and forth to when they first met, their first date, their wedding and through current events of separation and anxiety as everyone tries to convince Aaron that Jordan has been killed in Afghanistan. But Angel is not convinced, it doesn’t “feel” right to him. So he sets out to prove that his husband, is in fact, very much alive.
The story is also told from both mens POV. Angel is struggling with the possible death of his husband, he refuses to believe it is true. And something doesn’t sit well with him about the events that led up to Jordan being deployed either. Angel was supposed to go on the mission and was pulled at the last minute. And now he has a new boss, Troy, who seems to be very interested in more than just a work relationship with Angel.
Jordan is seriously injured and being tortured in an Afghanistan prison after being betrayed by someone he should have been able to trust. But who was it? Friends become enemies, and enemies become allies, but in his pain induced haze, who can he really trust. The one thing, the only thing that keeps him going is getting home to his Angel.
The writing was a little raw, but I definitely see potential there. And the plot was fantastic, I had no trouble keeping up and the story kept my interest throughout. Angel and Jordan’s love story slowly unfolded in flashbacks told in alternating chapters, which broke up the dramatic issues Angel and Jordan were both dealing with in the present. And I knew there was a snake in the grass from the start. I am so sorry that you have to wait until March to read the conclusion of their story, I will say it will be worth it.
The chemistry between these two is evident, I could have handled a little more detail for certain scenes, but the passion is there. If you like you men in uniform, you will get that in spades here! Book 2, Angel’s Truth, is scheduled to release March 14th so mark your calendars. -
4 stars
Aaron ad Jordan have been together for 11 years. Their relationship is one of mutual respect, adoration and loyalty. They were scheduled to work together on a mission overseas, but Aaron (Angel) was told that he was going to be replaced by another agent.
Both agree that this will be the last time they will be separated over work and are looking forward to start their 'new life' as soon as Jordan returns from his mission. However, their lives are turned upside down by the actions of another man who decided to get rid of Jordan so he could get his hands on Aaron.
Once again, Liz Borino delivers a great story that combines romance and an intriguing plot without one element outshining the other.
I loved watching Jordan and Aaron together. I admit that sometimes their 'lovey-dovey' ways had me rolling my eyes, but their bond was genuine and their love for each other palpable. My only complaint would be that I wish I could have seen more of how their connection as it developed over the years. However, Liz Borino did a great job of bringing their already established connection forth so I could overlook that minor fact.
I enjoyed the way the author went about telling the story. The use of flashbacks gave glimpses into Jordan and Aaron's relationship and the dual POVs helped me to understand how deeply connected these two were and how their situation at the moment had affected them.
The plot was intriguing if a little over the top. But every fact and every event fell into place nicely.
In Angel's Hero we get to experience how deeply connected Jordan and Aaron are and how committed they are to each other. We also get clues as to what is going to go wrong, who is behind it and why. It sure packed a punch with its mixture of romance and mystery.
Series Review at LeAnn's Book Reviews. -
I Received An ARC Of This Book In Exchange For My Honest Review!
This is part 1 of a 2 part series so it does end with a cliffhanger. Don't worry though because part 2 "Angel's Truth" is out now and available for download.
This book introduces us to Jordan, a Army Captain, and Aaron, a CIA Agent. These two are married and through a series of flashbacks that cover the last ten years or so we see how changes over time with Gay rights and marriage approvals impacted the lives of Jordan and Aaron.
From the moment they met Jordan knew that Aaron was his "Angel" and his forever. It wasn't a one sided attraction at all. Aaron also knew that Jordan was his "Hero" and his forever. They have a strong love and are very connected to one another.
Jordan leaves on his last mission for the Army but something goes wrong and at a scheduled meeting he ends up getting captured and taking prisoner. It doesn't take long after his meeting takes place for Jordan's government to declare him dead. Something that Aaron doesn't believe because they have no proof. There's no body or DNA evidence just a burned uniform and dog tags. Aaron's refusal to accept that Jordan is dead puts him on the outs with his job which he loses and his family. Without proof that Jordan is dead he won't give up on his search.
Join Angel in his search for clues or proof that Jordan is either alive or dead. Join Jordan while he deals with captivity and betrayal. Will the Hero find his way home to his Angel and if so what is going to be waiting for him when he gets there? Liz Borino manages to deliver a book that is suspenseful and romantic at the same time. She kept me on my toes and the edge of my seat from beginning to end. I couldn't put this book down a definite must read. -
(I received a free copy of this book from Lazy Day Publishing, through NetGalley, in exchange for a review).
(This review may contain spoilers).
I found this book to be a really quick, easy read with main characters I could relate to and a plot I cared about being resolved.
I felt that the strongest thing in this book was the relationship between Aaron and Jordan. Although I'm not that keen on flashbacks being used as a plot device, it was good to see glimpses of how they met and how their relationship progressed. Besides, a lot of the scenes were really very sweet.
I was a little disappointed that it took a while to get to the part about Aaron believing that Jordan was dead - and that it came across as more of a summary as Aaron tried to find out the truth. I think that part of the book could have been extended and I wasn't exactly sure what Aaron was trying to do half of the time.
The scenes where Jordan was held as a prisoner came across really well and I could really feel what he was going through. I do think a lot of the escape was skipped over when it could have been further explored, though.
Not many of the supporting characters came across in great detail, but those that did were quite well-written, though the only one I really liked was the woman who helped Jordan. I felt that her reasons for doing so came across really well.
The scenes that were thoroughly explored - like Jordan's and Aaron's romance - were written really well and with quite a lot of detail. I noticed a few errors in the writing, but nothing that was really major.
By now, I have finished reading book two - and I'm going to write the review now. -
Part 1 of Liz Borino’s 2-part series. Be warned, this ends in a cliffhanger – but the sequel comes out in just a few weeks, so readers won’t have to wait too long for resolution. Also DO NOT read the blurb and excerpt for part 2 (Angel’s Truth) at the end of part 1 before finishing part 1, unless you want spoilers. Which you shouldn’t. It’s a short book, only about half the length of her recent offerings, so you can read it without peeking!
Unlike some of Liz’s other books, I would put this in the romantic suspense category. A married male couple is separated by war and duty and lies: Jordan is presumed dead in hostile territory; Aaron is seeking the truth, even as this causes his friends and family to turn their backs on him. As the current events take place, both men reflect on their past together and we see their romance/backstory unfold in stark contrast to the separation and despair of the present. (Going back and forth in time did not bother me.)
The story contains love and romance, but also some gritty suspense, torture in captivity, betrayal, at least one character you may hate, and the faith two men have in each other against all odds. Jordan and Aaron are both strong characters, different from both each other and Liz’s previous leads. In Adeela, an Afghan military nurse, Liz has created one of her strongest and most sympathetic female characters to date.
I really can’t say much more without wandering into spoiler territory.
(Note for readers of Liz’s Mine & Director’s Cut series, this book contains less sex and no BDSM elements.)
** ARC read in return for review ** -
: This is the first book and boy oh boy how to start a series! I will warn you be prepared to get the second one!
Angel is a CIA agent and works with his lover Jordan an army Captain. This story is written in such an intriguing way. It tells some of what is going on now, a very secret mission, and recalls things about their past, how they met etc. I fell in love with both men immediately. They have a love and connection to be envied. I would give anything to have what these two men have, and the author captures it in such a powerful way. Both men are very professional and strong and their love exceeds all else. The story line was also very captivating. I’m not real big on military stories but this one is fabulous. It’s not overly political and the mystery is riveting. I was very surprised at the ending and was very happy I had the next book ready to roll.
I will say and I hope this isn’t a spoiler, that there was something going on with Troy, that I cringed about through the story and was happy I was wrong about Angel on that account. It made me like Angel even more and Troy even less.
I highly recommend this if you like military suspense, covert operations, CIA agents, Army Captains ( yes we have hot men in uniforms and suits) a love to die for and a surprise ending -
A
Joyfully Jay review.
3.75 stars
Angel’s Hero is the first of a two-part set that tells the story of Aaron and Jordan both in present day, as well as in flashbacks to their lives together over the past 11 years. There is a nice balance between present day and flashback, and we see some of the issues the guys face as they start dating during Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and later are able to marry once it is repealed. The guys are a likable couple and we get a sense of Aaron’s stubbornness, perseverance, and commitment to his husband, as well as Jordan’s sense of honor and duty. The story started a little slow for me as we got all the set up to the politics behind why Aaron was being left behind, what the military command is doing, and why they were upset about it, etc. But as the book shifts to the suspense side with Jordan’s capture and Aaron looking for clues as to what really happened, the story picks up nicely. I wish the book hadn’t revealed the bad guy so quickly, given we have another book coming. It seems like that is mystery that would have been suited to the second half. But I still like the suspense angle and look forward to seeing how things develop in the second book.
Read Jay's review in its entirety
here. -
Aaron Collins is a CIA agent who has worked in the government long enough that he does not take much on faith. Aaron has a nickname that only the love of his life calls him, Angel. Therefore, when the Army comes to him reporting the death of his husband Jordan, Aaron wants proof, like a body. Therefore, the CIA agent does what he does best and looks in it to find an answer.
Jordan Collins is captain in the Army. He has one last mission then he is out of the Army and looking to spend more time with his husband, Angel. What happens is he get taken prisoner and with his county not looking for him because they all think he is dead makes Jordan realize that he has to save himself if he wants to go home to Angel.
Angel’s Truth is the first book in the Angel series by Liz Borino. I found this book well written. The main and secondary characters were interesting and engaging. My only issue with this book is it was not long enough and not as flushed out as I would have liked. However, I enjoyed reading this story and I wanted to know what happens next. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. -
Nanee's Review:
I absolutely loved Aaron "Angel" and Jordan. I loved how the author wrote between the past when Angel and Jordan met, their lives together and the present. This story hooked me right off the bat, I loved every minute of it. I originally wished it was longer but felt with the way it was written is was perfect the way that it was. Jordan takes his job protecting the United States of America seriously he's a hero in my book, the torture emotionally and physically he endured to get home to his husband was awe inspiring. I loved that Angel never gave up hope, I loved how he fought, kicked and screamed for assistance to find the love of his life, his best friend and soul mate. Their love for each other is amazing. I loved this story and cannot wait to read book 2. I hated the emotional scars Angel endured by the hands of a "Friend". I loved how Jordan called Aaron "Angel". Author Liz Borino is one I will be looking to read more from. 5 stars
Review by Nanee at upallnightreadallday.blogspot.com -
This author is always a good choice. I have always enjoyed her books. Her characters could be real people and they feel that way as you read her stories. Aaron and Jordan have met at a government meeting of some sorts. They both work for the government and are high ranking. They hit it off well and the rest is history. They are a couple and she takes us on bits and pieces of there history together which is nice. Jordan has one last mission before he retires and this time Aaron is not going with him. He always has been and for some reason something just does not feel right. Then all of a sudden Troy a higher ranking official has started talking to Aaron as soon as he leaves on his mission to talk to Afgani officials to release American POW's. This is a first of a two book story. They are very quick reads!! Can never go wrong with this author.
I received this ARC from the author via Net Galley for my honest review. Thank you, Net Galley. -
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Angel’s Hero is very well-written and easy-to-read. It’s fast paced and had me on the edge of my seat throughout. I did have a little trouble at the beginning. It seemed to just jump into the middle of a story, but that was cleared up through flashbacks. I loved the loyalty and love Aaron and Jordan had for each other. The author did a wonderful job of pulling at my emotions. I felt like crying at so many points in this story. There were times I wanted to just yell “No, don‘t do it.” It was also interesting to get the experience of having a loved one go overseas and an idea of the politics of war. Overall, a really good book. I can’t wait to read the next book for the conclusion of this great love story.
4-Bombs
Reviewed by Tracy -
I was asked to review this amazing book from Netgalley. It starts off with 2 men who are husband and husband. 1 is a CIA agent and the other is a Army Captain.
Jordan Collins is an Army Captain that is sent away to Afghanistan for his last deployment, where he is supposedly killed in a fire at a prison camp, whilst his husband Aaron 'Angel' Collins who is a CIA agent is left at home and not believing that Jordan is dead without a body. The story goes back and forth between the past 11 years (not every year lol) that they had been together. Someone is trying to split the boys up. Troy Hart is the Major General and he is trying to maneuver on to Aaron. Has Major General Troy got something to hide? All will be revealed in Angel's Hero. -
This is kind of a mixed book for me. I'm not thrilled with being divided in to two books like it has been. I'm also not thrilled with the constant flashbacks. They were not smooth and were very jarring. I liked the established relationship but I felt I couldn't get a good grasp on the couple as individual or together since their lives were doled out in pieces through flashback. I didn't get why Angel connected with Terry so well especially considering Jordan's dislike of the guy. I'm also not real clear why Jordan didn't tell Angel that Terry was the one that almost got his men killed. On the up side I was somewhat drawn to what is going on with Terry and the plot he had going on. I also am curious about what will happen to Jordan and Angel now the Jordan is back.
-
What seems to be a routine mission starts off with a little apprehension from the get-go. Aaron is taken off the mission abruptly, without a real explanation as to why, the first of many little nuggets the author gives that tell us something is not quite on the up and up. So with Jordan off to Afghanistan, Aaron holds down the fort stateside, waiting for his return, not knowing how difficult their life is about to become. I was also not disappointed; this one kept me on my toes.
See the entire review at The Novel Approach:
http://thenovelapproachreviews.com/20...
