REVIEWED by Jen B.
TITLE: Promises: The Next Generation
SERIES: Bounty Hunters #5
AUTHOR: A.E. Via
PUBLISHER: Via Star Wings
LENGTH: 262 Pages
RELEASE DATE: August 28, 2018
BLURB:
Duke Webb has run the most successful bail recovery agency in Atlanta for over twenty years. That’s because he has a team of trained, competent hunters backing him up to keep his name feared on the streets. But Duke knows that nothing can go on forever. His hunters are in committed relationships and ready to settle down, and so is he. That’s what leads him to start his new training program.
“That’s the new vision for Dukes. Veterans operating and tracking behind the scenes with a new powerhouse apprehension team on the streets.”
Brian and Quick are the first to offer up two new recruits.
Kellam Knight has studied martial arts under his sensei, Quick, since he was eight years old. A tossed-out reject from high-society, Kell has a problem fighting on the right side of the law. If he sees an injustice, he has to correct it. He doesn’t have to run and cower from his enemies anymore, he’s a fighter who can protect himself and others. When Quick offers Kell the opportunity to join Duke’s training program, he’s all in. Except he’s not prepared for the straight, over-confident, extremely disciplined, sexy man Brian has recruited to be his partner.
Tyrell Jenkins’ world was flipped upside down when his father never returned home from his last deployment. He’d been Ty’s teacher, mentor, his guide to living a righteous life as a good man. His father didn’t raise him to be like every other young, stereotypical male in Atlanta. Instead, he’s been taught to be respectful, to speak the language of real men. When Brian King – his father’s most trusted comrade – finally comes to him with the truth, he doesn’t come alone. He comes with trained men hidden in the shadows… and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join a brotherhood unlike any other.
REVIEW:
This starts out a little slow as it shows us where Kell and Ty each are in their lives before they are recruited to be the new trainee partners of Duke’s Bail Bonds/Bounty Hunter company. It is time for the original members to take a more behind-the-scenes role, and Kell and Ty are set up to be the newest street team.
These guys each have interesting backstories. Kell was high society but kicked to the curb when he came out at 15. On his own, he sought refuge in dojo where “Quick” found him and showed him there was something else to focus on. Fast forward approximately 15 years, and he is now a master in four different disciplines. His biggest issue up to this point has been controlling his anger and keeping his lethalness in check when trying to save others in trouble. Quick is also a member of Duke’s company and recommended Quick for the job. I kept trying to figure out why, at his age, he was still so short on money, but I never really figured it out.
Tyrell (Ty) is a different being. He was brought up by his African father who taught him how to be a “good man” and how to treat others respectfully. He really didn’t fit in where he lived in the hood, doing somewhat shady delivery jobs, but he was doing so in order that he could provide the best care for his ailing mother. Yet, he spent oodles of money on his clothing. Things just didn’t seem to be adding up for me with him. He had been going through life in search of his “queen” (think a gay “Coming to America”) and mourning the loss of his military father, something for which he never got any answers. Then, Brian, an old friend and military brother of Ty’s dad, with those answers and following up on his father’s wishes to look after Ty, recruits him for Duke.
Ty and Kell seem unlikely partners, but it is clear from the get go that they click and are exactly what the other has been looking for or needing. Kell is a bit different in that he is almost always completely covered up in what sounds like ninja wear, though he has other reasons for doing so. Ty’s respectfulness of even the little things, such as Kell’s dress, sets the tone for their relationship and enables Kell to open up to him. The biggest issue I had with this story was the pacing. It starts out slow, picks up and then gets pretty interesting as the guys meet and start training. But then, it seems to skip time, and before you know it, they are engaged, but have barely spoken. Very expensive jewels are given cementing the pairing, and while it is all explained on Ty’s side, it felt as though Kell was just accepting everything without much explanation or hesitation. On the other hand, these guys took things very slowly. I don’t think they even kissed until after the engagement. So, the pacing had me frequently questioning whether I missed pages.
I did love seeing the other bounty hunter crew and watching them in action, and some of this was definitely interesting. Overall, however, I wasn’t wowed and struggled a bit not to skim my way to the finish line. I am a huge fan of Ms. Via and am definitely looking forward to jumping back into some of her other series.
RATING:
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