Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: With a Friend’s Strength

SERIES: Badges and Bullets #2

AUTHOR: Brittany Cournoyer

PUBLISHER: self-published

LENGTH: 2571 kb

RELEASE DATE: July 26, 2019

BLURB:

After surviving two brutal attacks that nearly killed him, Bradley Danforth was determined to put them behind him and move on with his life. He moved into a new house on the other side of town and made a new resolve to live his life to the fullest. Only, Bradley can’t seem to get the one person out of his mind who let him down the most, Max Donohue. When he starts receiving threatening messages, Max is the first person Bradley turns to for help.

Max is a homicide detective who quickly learned that the job is about more than catching the bad guy and being a hero. When he’s assigned a cold case he’d rather leave alone. Max knows he must face a past he buried a long time ago so he can close it once and for all. Max is soon immersed in more than just a murder as he discovers evidence of corruption and a massive cover up. The combination of working the cold case and battling his demons is enough to send Max into a downward spiral, but when Bradley comes to him for help, Max finds the strength to do whatever he can to keep him safe.

Will Max step up to the challenge he failed to overcome before, or will someone succeed in ending Bradley’s life once and for all?

With a Friend’s Strength is the second installment of the Badge and Bullets series featuring the same two characters. It is a suspenseful murder mystery that depicts detailed crimes, strong language, and adult situations. While this series will include a romance, it’s a slow burn that develops throughout the series.

REVIEW:

For the love of Pete, can poor Bradley catch a break? Lol wow. Another hell of a thrilling book in this series. Between Max and Bradley having to face the demons of old and new one, I don’t know who has it worse right now. I’m in major book hangover world right now. Just wow. 

Just when Bradley is finally getting on with his life. He’s making new friends, enjoying his new home, ad even though he and Max have a weird ‘relationship’ they text almost every day, even if just to say goodnight. Everything seems to be falling into place, until he finds a note on his windshield. And the terror starts again. Only this time, he has no idea who it is because his previous serial killers are in jail. The note leads to phone calls, emails, and other things. And Bradley is terrified to have to go through this again. Meanwhile, !ax is trying his best to be there for Bradley, but a cold case file he’s trying to solve has brought up his own past memories of losing his brother and what his mother said to him. And it’s sending him on a spiral. Thankfully, having to help Bradley is keeping him a bit more focused but one person can only take so much and both are overdue. Max loses it one night in Bradley’s arms and Bradley loses it later on, when his life is yet again on the line as a gun is pointed at him to kill him. And yet again, Max may not make it in time.

I swear after all these two have been through already, you’d think they’d catch a break or two. But, this story definitely gives you some insight into Max and why he is the way he is. And let me tell you, it makes me want to smack the holy crap out of some people for sure. It’s gets real personal with Max and the shit that man has had to endure. And even though he can be a grumpy little ass, he’s a good man. He doesn’t always feel that way, and I get why. Especially now. But he is. He takes his work seriously and there are times that job can leave you numb, but it’s when you feel the worst, you know you still feel. And he still feels. You’ll see.

Bradley I just wish could get some peace. He hasn’t had peace since the attack. Just when he finally gets to a point where he’s not quite looking over his shoulder at every second, and here we go again. I just want to hide him away somewhere where no one can get him. But he keeps going. He doesn’t think he’s brave or strong, but he is. He keeps fighting. Some days he may wonder if it’s worth it but he keeps going.

I can’t wait to see where this goes next. This series is incredible. The characters are so complex but not at the same time. The writing is excellent. It keeps you on the edge of your seat, or biting your nails. The way a good thriller should.

RATING: 

BUY LINK: 

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