Title: Blood & Tears (2nd Edition)
Series: Flesh 03
Author: Ethan Stone
Genre: Mystery, Suspense
Length: Novel (244pgs)
ISBN: 978-1-63476-105-5
Publisher: DSP Publications (11th August 2015)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 4 ½ Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: The last thing Gabe Vargas wants to do after nearly dying is to leave his young son. But that’s exactly what FBI Agent Drew Bradley is asking him to do. According to Drew, the only way to protect Gabe and find his wife’s killer is to fake Gabe’s death.
With an already established adversarial relationship, protecting a hothead like Gabe isn’t exactly a picnic for Drew either. But Drew lets his guard down and a desire for Gabe leaves him confused. Before the crime can be solved, Drew will have to risk more than his life. He’ll also have to risk his heart.
1st Edition published by Dreamspinner Press, July 2011.
Purchase Link: https://www.dsppublications.com/books/blood-tears-by-ethan-stone-128-b
Review: This story is part of a series and must be read in order. This story is the 2nd edition and the story has been re-written slightly, it has gone from 3rd person POV to 1st person POV but other than some minor scene extension the storyline mainly remains the same.
Wow! Ethan Stone you have done it again!! You have brought us yet another incredible suspense/mystery.
We start this one with Gabe in hospital after being nearly killed in an attack that saw Violet brutally murdered. Gabe has to go into hiding with the FBI agent that he blames for the death of Casey (his male lover), Agent Drew Bradley. As these two spend time together their feelings change into attraction. Drew is horrified because even though he has nothing against gays he himself cannot be gay. Gabe is determined to see what can happen between them, while Drew denies the attraction.
I wasn’t sure how I felt at first about Drew going from very straight to being gay but this author handled it brilliantly, you can feel Drew’s confusion and guilt over feeling something for a man especially when he was *taught* (insert *screamed at*) that it is a sin and the struggle as he works through what he is comfortable doing with Gabe.
Gabe is brilliant as he works through his guilt over Violet’s death and his attraction to Drew; he is also an incredible father to Victor balancing what he feels for Drew and what Victor needs. The suspense is thrilling and gripping, just who did attack Gabe and Violet and why? We also see Cristian Flesh and Colby Maddox return, as ghosts from the past emerge and try to destroy both Cristian and Gabe.
If you love brilliant, gripping, suspense, mystery, brainwashing and hot man on man sex this is definitely the book for you. P.S. There’s a fantastic exclusive excerpt from the next book Closing Ranks for us to enjoy!