Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: Eagle Grip
SERIES: The Guardian Series ( Book 3)
AUTHOR: Max Walker
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
LENGTH: 198 pages
RELEASE DATE: August 3, 2016
BLURB:
Isaac Hawk’s life wasn’t going as planned. He was living in a crummy apartment with a future career that left him feeling empty inside and a love life that had him feeling even emptier. On a whim, he decides to drop out of the police academy so that he can at least try and fix one aspect of his crumbling future. The only problem with his rash decision? A negative balance in his bank account and no way to pay for rent.
Diego Cruz seemed to have things set. He was on his way to Rome so he could bring home an Olympic gold medal in gymnastics. His mind and body were honed in and focused on that one goal. He was going to make all the sacrifices in his life mean something by competing and coming out on top. He was determined to find a reason to move past the deep regret of leaving Isaac the way he had all those years ago.
When Isaac reluctantly accepts a job working as security for the American gymnastics team, he knew his path would cross with Diego’s. What he wasn’t expecting was the flood of emotions that would overpower the both of them after their chance encounter. Things are made more complicated by the obsessive behavior on display from Diego’s ex-boyfriend.
Isaac and Diego will each have to face their past and realize that sometimes you have to hold on to those second chances with an eagle grip.
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EAGLE GRIP is a hot and steamy, gay romance novel with no cliffhangers. It is the third book in The Guardian series but can be read as a standalone.
REVIEW:
I have grown to really anticipate the next book coming in this series. Max Walker has become a new favorite.
Isaac Hawk is the first born son of Tristan and Adrian, the two FBI agents from the first book in the series, “Cover Me”. He is attending the police academy and living with three major stoners in a roach-infested apartment in Southern California. Not the life he had envisioned as a teenager. But that life was jerked away from him, in a blink of an eye, by his long-term boyfriend’s homophobic father. Isaac has only been attending the academy because he thought it would please his two dads.
In a rash move, Isaac quits the academy without a “Plan B”. He has no plan for what he is going to do next or how to even pay for his life. Enter Colton, Isaac’s cousin. Colton is Sean & Connor’s son from “First Down”. He was there for his cousin during his darkest hours and always has his best interest at heart. He figures out, really quickly, what’s up with Isaac and arranges a job for him to hold him over. The only problem is that the job entails being a body guard for the US Men’s Gymnastic Olympic team. The same team that his first true love has qualified to compete on. The money from this job would “tide him over” until he can figure out what his future will be, and going to Rome and seeing the Olympics in person and close up would be an amazing once-in-lifetime trip. But…can Isaac risk seeing and being around Diego again after all his hurt???
I have to admit I was confused about the Olympics being set in Rome. They are currently playing each night on our television being broadcast from Rio. I double-checked the release date to see if it was a re-release. Then it finally dawned on me **insert Gibb’s head slap** this is in the future! Duh! Isaac and Colton are small children in the second book and it was pretty current. I love that automobiles drive themselves and accidents are extremely rare. The cars don’t even have steering wheels! You just get in, push a location on a screen and the car takes you there. You can have a conversation, take a nap, read…the possibilities are endless. Think how awesome it would be on a sightseeing trip. How I would love this in my lifetime. When you grow older you wouldn’t have to be dependent on others to get to appointments and shopping.
I get that Isaac has major trust issues. How he was essentially dumped was horrible. I am thankful that Diego and Isaac didn’t just fall into bed immediately. But…there might have been a bit too much angsty talking to themselves inside their heads. I know it is not an easy thing to do, putting your heart back out on the line but Isaac had the perfect example that second time, that love can really work. It just slowed down the story a bit for me.
I really loved this story and this series. I really love a great sports story and this book delivered. Sean and Connor will always be my favorites but I have a warm spot in my heart for all these men. I can’t wait for the fourth book to come out. It will be Colton’s story and I fell for this little cutie as a boy and then he warmed my heart even more with his love and caring ways for his cousin in this book. This is a great series.
RATING: 
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