Another week, another bunch of reading. But before I make my recommendation for this week, remember to click on the badge beside this text to get to the list of blogs participating in the mini hop. Unlike my posts, which are all unrepentantly MM, the other posters cover all the other quiltbag letters so you should be able to find someething to appeal.
Last week I recommended a short historical – the gorgeous Skybound by Aleksandr Voinov – this week I’m recommending another serial known as the Cut and Run books initially by Madelaine Urban and Abigail Roux from Dreamspinner and now by Ms Roux on her own from Riptide . There are seven titles in the series, plus at least one spin off novel and some freebie shorts and flash fiction, and a large and very active fandom.
Now I’m not a natural fangirl but I can appreciate good story telling and interesting characters, both of which appear in these stories. Some of the early ones have been criticised for a wavering point of view, and yes, sometimes that can be a little distracting, but one soon gets ones eye in and by the end of the first book I found I was too caught up in the story to notice it.
The premise is quite familiar – mismatched FBI agents partnered to investigate a series of murders, including that of another agent. During their investigation they brave dangers while despising each other, bickering, coming to blows, then falling into an antagonistic sexual relationship before reaching a status of mutual respect. Obviously there’s more to it than that. There’s a robust joy in the depiction of these two flawed and initially quite unlikeable men. Both have very deep issues to overcome and in each book, as their relationship solidifies, a little piece of the puzzle is revealed and another problem is addressed and, if not solved, coped with. There is an excellent cast of supporting characters and the plots are lively, violent and exciting – exactly my preferred type of reading whether the two heroes spend much time in the sack or not. This pair do enjoy quite a lot of bedroom time but not so much to be deleterious to the plot or at completely unbelievable times and places. Highly recommended romps – I am eagerly anticipating the next instalment in November.
Elin Gregory 
I heard this series got better. However, after trying to read the first one, I quit cold. The “banter” between the two FBI agents was never-ending and soon began to grate and sound childish. I interpreted is as constant sniping at each other. To me, it sounded like two women fighting.
But hey, that was me. I know the series is very popular. It seems a lot of readers have a high tolerance for whiny nitpicking between two characters. ;/
I asked AJ to tell me the plot in book 1 and how it ended because I DNF. It sounded terrific! But I could not get past the early relationship between them.
I’m pretty sure that the extended conversations are a result of the way the first books were written. I’ve written in a similar fashion with friends, both male and female, and the conversations are far more like natural dialogue than those in a piece of published fiction where the author will cut as much extraneous material as possible. The latest titles are much snappier – whether that’s due to Ms Roux’s sole authorship or Riptide’s editing I can’t say. I’m sure that you, as a professional editor, are deeply offended by things that an ignoramus like me just accepts, ignores or skims over.
I don’t even remember the editing. I just recall their banter being cute at first, then less engaging, then downright annoying.
But to each their own! You make later entries in the series sound interesting. Maybe I’ll give the series another try.
I don’t think the overall tone changes much over the books, other than to get a little more emotionally lush, so you probably won’t enjoy them any more than the first. But the plots are excellent. I really enjoy fiction where there’s a load of stuff going on apart from the relationship. Some of the secondary characters are brilliant.
Grinning at your “unrepentantly M/M”…I am unrepentantly F/F, so we are a balance.
Sometimes the books that are a bit rough around the edges can be the most compelling. Even though we work hard to refine our craft, I think that making it too perfect can (sometimes) make it a bit bland.
I’m interested in Theo’s comment about banter. I wonder when banter is annoying and when it’s entertaining? Hm…
I’m interested in Theo’s comment about whiny nitpicking. I don’t remember it that way but then I’m a girl so maybe that’s the problem.
I’m often baffled by bits of stories where jokes are being made about things for which I – late middle aged, Welsh, rural inhabitant – have no cultural reference. Or sometimes it’s a case of different types of humour not travelling well. Banter can be very boring if you’re not getting the jokes and, in any case, it mustn’t go on for too long. 😀 very much like sex scenes in fact.
Not quite my genre, (murder, FBI investigation), but I love your reviews and posts every week. I am learning about a whole bunch of books I never knew!
I’ll try to come up with something a bit more romantic next week then. Romance, and especially contemporary romance, isn’t really my genre either, hence all the western, war and crime stories. But I have read and enjoyed a few.
Thanks for the rec, Elin! Some of these books are on my wish lists already & your rec moves them closer to the top. I keep saying “after this ms I’ll work on the PNR mystery” & maybe reading a mystery or three would help. 🙂
~Charley
I, too, have found the series enjoyable, Elin! Although I’ve not gotten to the latest few … yet! Thanks for reminding me!