Reviewed byRoberta
TITLE: Hell & High Water
SERIES: THIRDS Book 1
AUTHOR: Charlie Cochet
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 296 Pages
BLURB:
When homicide detective Dexter J. Daley’s testimony helps send his partner away for murder, the consequences—and the media frenzy—aren’t far behind. He soon finds himself sans boyfriend, sans friends, and, after an unpleasant encounter in a parking garage after the trial, he’s lucky he doesn’t find himself sans teeth. Dex fears he’ll get transferred from the Human Police Force’s Sixth Precinct, or worse, get dismissed. Instead, his adoptive father—a sergeant at the Therian-Human Intelligence Recon Defense Squadron otherwise known as the THIRDS—pulls a few strings, and Dex gets recruited as a Defense Agent.
Dex is determined to get his life back on track and eager to get started in his new job. But his first meeting with Team Leader Sloane Brodie, who also happens to be his new jaguar Therian partner, turns disastrous. When the team is called to investigate the murders of three HumaniTherian activists, it soon becomes clear to Dex that getting his partner and the rest of the tightknit team to accept him will be a lot harder than catching the killer—and every bit as dangerous.
REVIEW:
This is the first book in a new series THIRDS and it was pretty damn AMAZING!! I have never laughed so hard and fell in love with a character so fast. This book has it all, romance, action and mystery. It was a thrill ride from the first word until the very end.
Dex J. Daley is HPF who testified against his partner after he shot an unarmed Therian kid. From that moment on, he was targeted by HPF officers and constantly attacked by those who are supposed to have his back .Dex is being sent into the THIRDS as a way of keeping him safe from his fellow officers. Dex is the adopted son of his father’s partner after his parents were killed when he was 5 years old. Dex has a younger brother, Cael who is Therian and whom Dex loves with his whole heart. Cael and Maddock, his father both work in the THIRDS, so it’s now a family tradition. Dex was in a long term relationship and that ended when he testified against his partner, yet even though Dex was hurt, he’s still so strong and able to move forward. Dex is this great character who has this really sunny outlook and never lets things get to him. He finds the best in every situation. Dex has this really wonderful sense of humor that has you laughing out loud. Even though Dex’s life hasn’t been the greatest, it’s wonderful to see this man who takes what life throws at him and comes out stronger each time. Dex is so kind and generous and yet for all his good times, silly persona, he is this really smart, keenly intelligent agent. I guess it’s because he was on the HPF for 10 years before transferring to the THIRDS. Dex is the kind of guy that you’d totally be friends with and if you got in trouble, you’d call him because you know that he’d help you out. Dex is truly one of the best characters that I’ve seen on written in a long time and you’ll read just to see what he does next.
Sloane Brodie is a first generation Therian who has worked in the THIRDS since he was 16. Sloane is a Jaguar Therian and he’s the Team Leader of Destructive Delta. Sloane is the broody, mysterious, strong and silent type. Sloane hasn’t had the best life and yet, he’s made the best of it. His former partner, Gabe was not only his partner at work, but also his boyfriend. Gabe was killed on the job and Sloane and his team haven’t dealt with his death very well. Sloane especially has had a hard time with it as his relationship with Gabe was not only professional but personal as well. Sloane is really a great guy, it just takes awhile for it to come about. He cares for his team, as they are his family. He really doesn’t want to like Dex, yet it’s hard not to like this guy whom everyone seems to like.
The secondary characters in this book were AMAZING. I totally love Ash!! He’s this snarky, sarcastic ASS you you just can’t help but fall for. He is the comedic opposite from Dex and yet their banter is great. Cael, Dex’s younger brother is this sweet character who I can’t wait to hear more about. Calvin and Hobbs…yeah, I giggled too. These two guys are just so precious together. I can’t wait to get more into their story. I know that they grew up together, but there is something there…you can just feel it. Rosa and Letty….the two female THIRDS agents are just kick-ass!! They are strong female characters that didn’t distract from the main characters. Issac Pierce, Gabe’s brother and a fellow HPF officer…well, there is just something about him. You know that feeling you get when you read a character and you just don’t really believe them….that was my feeling about him. Maddock, Dex and Cael’s father and their boss at the THIRDS, he’s just so great!! He’s dealt with Dex and Cael and the way that he loves his boys and yet allows them to be grown men…it was wonderful to see. He’s a great boss and an even better father. I love their relationship and their banter is just GREAT!!
There was a mystery/suspense aspect to this story. There are people getting killed and the evidence points to a Therian perp and yet…they can’t really get a handle on this case. I have to say that Charlie did a great job on this aspect of the story. You were thrown into this mystery and it kept you thrilled and entertained the entire time. The action scenes in this story were great. I have to say that you’ll be pulled into this story and it won’t let go!! You’ll be so taken with these characters that when the book ends, you’ll do what I did….have my mouth open and be like…NOOOOOOOO!!!
Now there are brief periods of intimacy between Dex and Sloane. They weren’t salacious. In fact, it was really sweet, these intimate moments between Dex and Sloane. The showed that these two men were really attracted to each other and yet, they have so much to lose by doing so. I love how these moments really felt like they were connecting to each other and it was just for the sake of having sex on screen.
This is again the first in a series and I have to say that this was such a great start!! You can’t wait for the second book to come out!! I want them all right now, so I can enjoy these AMAZING characters in one fell swoop. Charlie has done a great job with this book and you’ll be so glad that you picked this book up.
So, sit back and enjoy the ride!! Let Dex, Sloane and the gang take you on a thrill ride that won’t let you go!! From the first word until the very last word…you’ll be HOOKED on this story and it won’t let you go!!
RATING: 
BUY LINKS:
I haven’t read it. But it is on my list