Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE:  Iris

SERIES:  Mike Bravo Ops #1

AUTHOR:  Eden Finley

PUBLISHER:  Self Published

LENGTH:  284 pages

RELEASE DATE:  January 20, 2022

BLURB:

Mike Bravo. Knights in shining … camo.

Iris

I live for adrenaline. The thrill of the chase. And because I work for Mike Bravo, a private black-ops firm, it’s my job to go into dangerous situations. But when we’re called in to extract a military team from a hostile situation, the thrill is so much better. Because one of those men happen to be the golden boy from my basic training days.

Brock “Saint” Harlow was a walking Captain America in the flesh. The perfect soldier.

Now my boss wants to recruit him, and I can’t wait to rub it in his face that he was rescued by me. The class clown. I’m not called Iris “I require intense supervision” for nothing.

Saint

Military life is all I’ve known since I was born. I was raised to be a soldier. But when a top-secret mission fails, I find myself suddenly discharged with nowhere to go. Mike Bravo saved my life, and they want me to join them, but there’s one small problem.

Isaac “Iris” Griffin.

He’s as irresistibly snarky as he always was, only there’s a big difference this time. I’m no longer closeted or scared to live my truth. And the truth is, I’ve always wanted him. It’s against Mike Bravo’s rules to fraternize with other team members, and I always follow orders. But something tells me Iris might be worth the insubordination.

REVIEW:

“I’m getting the distinct impression that every single member of Mike Bravo is a show pony. And possibly slightly unhinged. They’re my kind of people.”

Eden Finley’s new release Iris is fantastic! It’s thrilling and exhilarating, both for the characters and myself. I love black ops/special forces themed romance, with the danger and suspense and alpha males. There’s nothing quite like two vers alpha guys dicking down. Gah! In this case, the men are members of Mike Bravo Ops, a private sector “security” company that is often used by the U.S. government for off-the-record exfiltrations in hostile countries.

Mike Bravo was founded by out-and-proud former Army Ranger, Trav West, who put together his thirteen-member team from primarily LGBTQ+ ex-military who didn’t have it so easy in the armed forces, even post DADT. He gives queer vets a second chance in a safe environment.

Isaac “Iris” Griffin is one such man. There’s some great snarky humor in the book, but the funniest thing for me is what Iris stands for:  I Require Intense Supervision. Iris is indeed a troublemaker, all the way back to his days in basic training ten years ago where he met his frenemies rival, goody-goody golden boy, Brock “Saint” Harlow. Despite their antagonism, they had secret crushes on each other, but while Iris was out, Saint was still closeted. They haven’t seen each other since.

Fate intervenes, though, when Iris and his teammates end up rescuing Saint during an extraction after he’s taken hostage and left for dead in a fictional country in North Africa. Saint is the only one found alive among those captured on his Army black ops team. He loses everything after his rescue: his health and fitness, his job, his purpose, and his family who disowned him for being gay. The Army wipes their hands clean of him, saying he never existed. Naturally, Trav takes him under his wing.

Iris lives for the adrenaline rush his work provides. His job is his life. He would like to have a meaningful relationship, especially since he has no family of his own, but the nature of his work makes it nearly impossible. It’s hard to find a partner who will tolerate all the secrecy, the last-minute departures, the long absences, and the danger. He can be away weeks or months at a time with no contact. Iris doesn’t realize just how isolated he feels and how much he wants someone to come home to until Saint enters his life again.

Mutual attraction comes quickly, as does the playful, flirty banter. Soon it’s full-blown lust. What do you do when you have an adrenaline high and no way to burn it off? Cue the smoking hot, alpha on alpha sex with sexual gymnastics and toys. The pace of the story is well-maintained by the sexy times being interspersed with training, ops assignments, and team camaraderie. My only complaint is the lack of romance and affection. There’s no snuggling on the couch, spooning in bed, or endearing gestures. These are tough guys but I think there’s room for a sweet side, too, without compromising their basic characterization. But overall, Iris and Saint, and all of their teammates, are highly likable men.

The book comes to an excellent conclusion, neither abrupt or drawn out. It’s tied up neatly with love, cuteness, and an HEA.  The epilogue is set a year after they reunite. Now I’m dying to know who’ll star in the next book in the Mike Bravo Ops series. Atlas, Zeus, or Trav, perhaps?

RATING: 

BUY LINK: 

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