Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Swings & Roundabouts

SERIES: The Power of Zero #4

AUTHOR: Jackie Keswick

PUBLISHER: self-published

LENGTH: 366 pages

RELEASE DATE: May 13, 2018

BLURB:

Jack Horwood. Vigilante, hacker, security specialist. Partner to Gareth Flynn. Adoptive father to their two teenage boys. Happily juggling long days and short nights.
Gareth Flynn. Ex-army officer. Ace negotiator. Righter of wrongs. Family man. Away from home more often than he likes.
Desperate for a relationship reset, Jack treats Gareth to a romantic getaway and Sweden’s frigid peace gives them the break they both need. But Jack’s a trouble magnet and the next dead body just a wild skidoo ride away.
Can love, teamwork, and trust survive the troubles that follow them around? Can Jack save what’s become so important to him?

REVIEW:

So I’m a happy, happy chick. A little birdie told me (thank you Mrs. Jackie *wink*), that this series is not over yet, and that just makes my day. I’ve have grown so in love with these boys, it’s not even funny. These four bring so much out of you in reading their journeys, and believe me when I say, this one is no different. This one is just as intense, bit it’s different now. Things are changing, there’s more at stake. And it’s basically time to shit or get off the pot.

Gareth, of all people, has been doubting himself so much lately. With being gone at every turn for Aiden, he’s missing out on so much. They finally got custody of the boys and it seems since then, he’s not had any time to enjoy them. Or Jack. And he’s wondering if they need him at all. Meanwhile, Jack is being the more level headed one, and enjoy his role as guardian of the boys with Gareth. He loves picking them up from school and sharing their lives. But don’t think he hasn’t noticed something is off with Gareth. And Nico. It doesn’t help when Gareth’s mom starts making comments that may all isn’t hunky dory between them. Jack decides to start at the top. He decides it’s time to get away.

He sets it all up and sweeps Gareth away for a surprise getaway. Just the two of them. Just when things are finally starting to settle and they’re starting to relax and deal with some of the elephants in the room, they find a dead body in their hotel room. And it’s the ex of a friend of Jack’s. Before you know it, they’re involved in the investigation one way or another, and things are getting rougher at home with the boys. When they finally crack the case, Nico starts to open up, and so does Gareth. And Jack is kind of floundering. He does all he can to get home in time for the boys to help and does all he can to set Gareth straight and get them on the same path again, but he doesn’t know if it will be in time or if his little family will fall apart.

Each book, in this series, has about ripped me apart in some way shape or form. All of them got to me in this one, again. Gareth, normally being the rock, is so unsure of himself, he’s doubting his place in the family. Jack, who is usually out of whack, is more together, but because he doesn’t know how to help Gareth or Nico with what’s bothering them, is causing him to doubt and want to run almost. Nico, who is usually the stronger of him and Daniel, is lashing out. Which is good in a way, because it’s better than shutting down, but he’s pushing everyone away because he can’t deal with what’s in his head. And Daniel, the normal all quiet, meek one, went so far as to punch he crap out of Nico. And if you know these two boys, that’s a ‘what the hell?’ moment.

Each one of these boys is having to come to grips with change and their pasts. All in different ways. And if you can’t find a way to work it out and together, it can break you apart. Which nobody wants, but no one is sure of how to fix. I have to say, I love Gareth and Jack so much more than I thought possible. Even with all the crap with work and between them, the boys come first. That’s never a doubt with them. They make sure, even miles and miles away, that those boys have what they need. Even if it’s them talking at 4 in the morning. They take their roles as guardians seriously, and I love it.

With Gareth and Jack, it was almost weird to see the roles reversed a bit. But it’s a lot of changes in their lives in a short amount of time, with a lot of work and garbage mixed in. It’s bound to take their toll. Especially when the constant need to be gone for work, keeps them apart. It’s hard to stay grounded to their roots and each other. So this was an emotional road for the both of them. Not that it hasn’t been already. But with all the new changes, and all the pent up non communication, it had to come to a head. And it was a hard read for it. But so worth it.

I can’t even begin to describe how worth it. These guys are fighters. Even at their lowest, they keep fighting. And I can’t get enough of them.

RATING: 

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