Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: How to Hack a Hacker
SERIES: Unholy Trifecta
AUTHOR: AJ Sherwood
NARRATORS: Iggy Toma & Antonio Amato
LENGTH: 6 hours and 25 minutes
PUBLISHER: Podium Audio
RELEASE DATE: October 11, 2022
BLURB:
Staying away is Kyou’s number one rule when it comes to protecting the sexy real-estate developer.
Kyou has a routine. A system. He guards Brannigan Genovese, hacks for his family of choice, and drinks far too much caffeine for any living being. Only a few things can completely disrupt his routine to cause him trouble:
•Brannigan buying up real estate from the Irish Mob
•Kyou’s band of brothers figuring out who Brannigan actually is
•Ivan
•Feelings for one Brannigan Genovese
Oddly enough, it’s the feelings that get Kyou in the most trouble. Because when Brannigan is in danger, Kyou ignores all his brain’s protestations and breaks every rule he has to save the man, including his number one.
And damn the consequences.
REVIEW:
Note: This is the third in this series and contains major spoilers for the previous books. It is recommended to listen to them in order.
Kyou has been “watching” Brannigan Genovese for years. None of his found family know exactly why or for exactly how long he’s been doing this, but it’s clear it is Kyou’s obsession. When Bran begins buying up property from the Irish Mob in Boston, Kyou is furious that he’s putting himself in danger. He contacts Bran on on one night, he actually goes to the same place as Bran is having another lackluster date. But Bran figures out that he is there after Kyou helps him out. And then the hunt is on – because Kyou’s found family tracks him down 🙂
After it’s clear that Bran is no definitely in danger, Kyou goes to get him to keep him safe so they finally meet. Of course the chemistry is off the charts, but both are a bit nervous about how things will change. Bran wants nothing more that to be with Kyou – he’s been so curious about him for years as they have flirted via digital means for a long time. He’s surprised by how beautiful Kyou is and he’s even more surprised about Kyou’s reasons for protecting him. There is also the little matter of Kyou’s found family that is shocking to Bran. I mean who ever hears of an assassin, a mercenary, a doctor in training, a thief and a child hacker in training as a family. But it works.
Bran is grateful to Kyou for everything he’s done but he’s also worried about him. It’s clear that Bran and his family are a real obsession for Kyou and it’s kept him from sleeping, having any sort of a normal life at all. Not that Kyou minds. But all of his friends are concerned. Bran’s family is also grateful for Kyou’s protection but Kyou is worried that they will not accept him since he’s a hacker and Bran’s family has spent 20 years getting out of the crime business. Needless to say those fears are unfounded, but still real in Kyou’s mind. Thankfully they both have a lot of support to help them figure out a way forward.
I loved this addition to this series. Kyou finally gets his own happy ending. He’s been the stalwart support for his found ragtag family of skilled criminals with hearts of gold 🙂 Finally they have to chance to pay him back for all the help he’s been over the years. Remy/Widow is especially helpful and she wants everybody to be happy and stay. With Kyou’s skills and those of the rest of the team of Ivan and Aiden, Carter and Ari, and even Ivan’s old competitor Trixie, they are able to do what needs to be done to protect Bran and his family so that Kyou and Bran can finally work on a life together and Kyou can stop working 24/7. It’s taken a huge toll on him that isn’t evident until things get pretty bad. I loved the way that Bran wanted to protect Kyou back for all that he had done for him. But Kyou needs protection from his own obsessions even more than outside enemies. Everyone works together to get them their HEA 🙂
This audio was fantastic. I loved the continuing dual narration of Iggy Toma and Antonio Amato. They continue to bring this interesting group of people to vivid life. Kyou’s exasperation and everyone else’s fun at his expense is threaded throughout this performance in such a way that it ties back to the previous books and keeps us firmly in the action of the current story. Both Mr. Toma and Mr. Amato do a fabulous job of narrating this fast-paces story and imbuing it with just the right amount of energy to thoroughly entertain. The tender moments between Kyou and Bran are very well done and welcome relief from the action/danger sequences. I found myself still laughing out loud at the antics of this whole mismatched group. Well done and highly recommended.
RATING: 
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