All Jake ever wanted was a perfect life with a bonded mate. He soon finds that life is never that easy and things can go very wrong. After having his heart ripped out twice already, Jake decides the perfect life doesn’t exist. That is, until he meets Zach and Quad.
Quad Cash is an enforcer for the Bourne Coalition but leads a double life. He's a mercenary and has just been handed a contract to take out a Russian drug lord. But things go wrong and he barely escapes with his life.
Leaving a life of luxury behind, Zach becomes an enforcer in Stillwater. He's lusted after Jake for three years, but when Zach is kidnapped by a man who swears he has intel that he doesn’t, his life is forever changed.
Can three men on different paths come together to build a life together, or will the insurmountable forces destroy them all?
Quad Cash is an enforcer for the Bourne Coalition but leads a double life. He's a mercenary and has just been handed a contract to take out a Russian drug lord. But things go wrong and he barely escapes with his life.
Leaving a life of luxury behind, Zach becomes an enforcer in Stillwater. He's lusted after Jake for three years, but when Zach is kidnapped by a man who swears he has intel that he doesn’t, his life is forever changed.
Can three men on different paths come together to build a life together, or will the insurmountable forces destroy them all?
Title: Just Breathe (Primal Heat #5)
Author/s: Lynn Hagen
Publication Date: June 2015
ISBN 13: 9781632594044
Buy it from Bookstrand
Maria's Rating: ★★★★
Author/s: Lynn Hagen
Publication Date: June 2015
ISBN 13: 9781632594044
Buy it from Bookstrand
Maria's Rating: ★★★★
I don't usually read menage; the first and the only time I'd given it a chance, the book was so poorly written and so ridiculous I nearly gouged my eyes for even trying. But even without that, the idea makes me squirm and for me it's just hella unthinkable that three people would be totally cool with... y'know, being in a relationship together and acting like that's normal. I don't care if it's straight or gay; heck, I don't care if it's between a monster and a human - I really just prefer reading romantic relationships between two people.
Anyway, I decided to give this a go because it appeared to be the last one in the series. And besides if there ever turns out to be another coming after this then I'd save time and jump on the sixth book.
This book was actually well written for most part, although something could be said about the swift 'resolution' of the other conflicts brought up in the previous books (e.g. the necessity for Dane to drink Lucius' blood because he was dying, and Lucius wanted Syn to help him find his traitor brother). It was rushed and it disappointed; I really expected more since Hagen is usually fond of drawn out battle scenes.
I have to say, however, that Hagen's latest materials are a far cry from how bad her first ones were; she has definitely improved over the years, particularly in pacing, fleshing out characters, and telling a balanced relationship. It showed in this book, and I was very glad for it. I still found some typos while reading, however, and although they were not really distracting, I felt bad because the editor should have been able to point them out and got them fixed before publication. Hagen certainly deserved better than that, especially since she a relatively established name in the book's publishing house.
I started the book rooting for Jake and Zach, but as the story progressed, Jake proved to be an exasperating main character. He came across as whiny and desperate and overall a pain in the ass who wanted to get laid and fast. I understand he was trying to get over how Zach had ditched him, but really, developing feelings for Quad while still pining for Zach AND keeping Quad at bay was a total dick move. I know, I know, this is menage, and he needed to NOT get over both guys, but honestly, it was painful to read. I don't know how many times I muttered "please fucking calm your dick, Jake" to myself while reading the book, especially when he decided he'd go for Manny, too, since Quad no longer appeared to be interested in him. Seriously, how needy and pathetic could one person be? He never really endeared himself to me, and most especially not when he said he wanted both Zach and Quad. At the same time. Even if it's menage. You can tell me I'm missing the point of menage, and I know I am, but it really got to me.
I got tired of Jake's shit barely fifty percent into the book, so when I saw an opening aka sexual tension that didn't involve Jake somehow, it was only natural for me to jump ship and be Team ZachQuad instead. Without Jake in between. Screw that indecisive, horny sonofabitch.
I liked Zach. Of course I wanted to whack him in the head when he couldn't even bother with a call to Jake after what happened between them, but overall he was a chill guy. I sympathized with him after his torture in the hands of the Russian, and I felt bad because the mistake that wasn't even his own cost him so much. I thought there was more chemistry between him and Quad (not to mention A LOAD OF SEXUAL TENSION), because they were at each other's throats prior, and it was hella interesting to find them... working things out between them after what had happened. I was actually giddy when I read Quad comforting Zach while the latter was having nightmares. Quad claimed that he was just guilty that Zach got mistaken for him and took the torture that was intended for him, but what the hell. He rescued the guy, kept him in his home while he healed, and comforted him when he was plagued by nightmares. There was too much good material to make them into a fantastic pairing, and they totally were.
I have this theory that Hagen actually ended up liking Zach and Quad together better than the menage with Jake. For one, Zach and Quad got to have an actual private sex without Jake, which was hilarious in a twisted sort of way, because they claimed to tolerate each other for Jake. But nope, Quad and Zach humped like bunnies without Jake in there between them, and Quad actually bit Zach to establish a sort of claim on him. Quad told Zach not to hide anything from him, and they even engage in a playful banter in the middle of sex. HOW AMAZING IS THAT.
Overall, I liked the book, but I'm definitely Team ZachQuad all the way! I'd read it again for those two, really. I wish Hagen had gone in that direction instead; I certainly would have given it one more star if it did.
Anyway, I decided to give this a go because it appeared to be the last one in the series. And besides if there ever turns out to be another coming after this then I'd save time and jump on the sixth book.
This book was actually well written for most part, although something could be said about the swift 'resolution' of the other conflicts brought up in the previous books (e.g. the necessity for Dane to drink Lucius' blood because he was dying, and Lucius wanted Syn to help him find his traitor brother). It was rushed and it disappointed; I really expected more since Hagen is usually fond of drawn out battle scenes.
I have to say, however, that Hagen's latest materials are a far cry from how bad her first ones were; she has definitely improved over the years, particularly in pacing, fleshing out characters, and telling a balanced relationship. It showed in this book, and I was very glad for it. I still found some typos while reading, however, and although they were not really distracting, I felt bad because the editor should have been able to point them out and got them fixed before publication. Hagen certainly deserved better than that, especially since she a relatively established name in the book's publishing house.
I started the book rooting for Jake and Zach, but as the story progressed, Jake proved to be an exasperating main character. He came across as whiny and desperate and overall a pain in the ass who wanted to get laid and fast. I understand he was trying to get over how Zach had ditched him, but really, developing feelings for Quad while still pining for Zach AND keeping Quad at bay was a total dick move. I know, I know, this is menage, and he needed to NOT get over both guys, but honestly, it was painful to read. I don't know how many times I muttered "please fucking calm your dick, Jake" to myself while reading the book, especially when he decided he'd go for Manny, too, since Quad no longer appeared to be interested in him. Seriously, how needy and pathetic could one person be? He never really endeared himself to me, and most especially not when he said he wanted both Zach and Quad. At the same time. Even if it's menage. You can tell me I'm missing the point of menage, and I know I am, but it really got to me.
I got tired of Jake's shit barely fifty percent into the book, so when I saw an opening aka sexual tension that didn't involve Jake somehow, it was only natural for me to jump ship and be Team ZachQuad instead. Without Jake in between. Screw that indecisive, horny sonofabitch.
I liked Zach. Of course I wanted to whack him in the head when he couldn't even bother with a call to Jake after what happened between them, but overall he was a chill guy. I sympathized with him after his torture in the hands of the Russian, and I felt bad because the mistake that wasn't even his own cost him so much. I thought there was more chemistry between him and Quad (not to mention A LOAD OF SEXUAL TENSION), because they were at each other's throats prior, and it was hella interesting to find them... working things out between them after what had happened. I was actually giddy when I read Quad comforting Zach while the latter was having nightmares. Quad claimed that he was just guilty that Zach got mistaken for him and took the torture that was intended for him, but what the hell. He rescued the guy, kept him in his home while he healed, and comforted him when he was plagued by nightmares. There was too much good material to make them into a fantastic pairing, and they totally were.
I have this theory that Hagen actually ended up liking Zach and Quad together better than the menage with Jake. For one, Zach and Quad got to have an actual private sex without Jake, which was hilarious in a twisted sort of way, because they claimed to tolerate each other for Jake. But nope, Quad and Zach humped like bunnies without Jake in there between them, and Quad actually bit Zach to establish a sort of claim on him. Quad told Zach not to hide anything from him, and they even engage in a playful banter in the middle of sex. HOW AMAZING IS THAT.
Overall, I liked the book, but I'm definitely Team ZachQuad all the way! I'd read it again for those two, really. I wish Hagen had gone in that direction instead; I certainly would have given it one more star if it did.
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