Title: Safety In Numbers
Series: Sizzling Miami #5
Genre: MM Romance
Genre: MM Romance
Author: Jessie G
Release Date: 31 October 2015
Cover Artist: Andrew Reyna
Blurb
“Bros stick together no matter what.”
When Chris and Liam made that promise, they had no idea how important it would become or how it would be tested in the most brutal way. Nine years later, their bond cemented in blood, that relationship is all they have to hold on to.
“No matter what happens, this friendship will be the one constant we can count on.”
When Billy and Owen made that promise, they knew exactly how dangerous the world could be. They survived prison by protecting each other and they survived freedom by holding that promise sacred. Now they want more than just to survive and they want it from the brothers whose bond is as strong as their own.
“We are stronger together than we’ll ever be apart.”
When Owen reaches his breaking point, Chris jumps at the chance to make things right for all of them. With the future in their grasp, will they realize their strength is in their numbers and finally become the family they crave?
Author’s Note: This is NOT a foursome, but the story of two couples that needed to be told together.
Excerpt
That silence hid a lot from their friends, but Liam knew Chris was plagued with memories far worse than his. That’s why they decided not to celebrate alone this year. Billy and Owen were expected any minute and it was the first time they invited anyone to join them. The anniversary was bittersweet for them and they chose to celebrate it because becoming brothers meant that much to them. “Do you think they’ll find it stupid?”
Chris just shrugged as if it was no skin off his back what they thought and Liam knew that was just bravado. Fact was, they both very much cared what the two men thought. “Liar.”
His brother sighed and dropped his head back. As if shit wasn’t fucked up enough, they fell for two bastards just as fucked up as they were. “I know you’re worried about Owen. The business with Colin is growing out of their control and I’m not sure why he thinks it’s a good thing. Is he trying to prove something? And the middle of the night phone calls from the FTR? He’s looking more and more fragile every day.”
Liam knew he wasn’t stating anything new. What he didn’t know was what Chris intended to do about it. Lately, when it came to Owen, Chris conveyed zero intent and seemed to be waiting for Owen to read him as effortlessly as Liam did. Their brother bond had been forged through blood and he was afraid Chris’s expectations of Owen were unreasonable. “Do you see his face every time he thinks he’s failed to understand you? The weight of it is crushing.”
Instead of regret, all Liam saw was anger in Chris. It wasn’t a common emotion for Chris and Liam could name every time he saw it. The fact that Chris knew what he was capable of if provoked had made him extremely conscious of that emotion and he often went to great lengths to contain it.
Owen was the very definition of insecure. Just the type to inspire Chris’s protective instincts, which Liam knew for a fact Owen did. Hell, he inspired Liam’s protective instincts. Owen was stubborn though and he often distanced himself, keeping things bottled up until they manifested elsewhere. Like in panic attacks that felt like heart attacks, which he also tried to hide. Liam nearly lost it when they found out that Billy was keeping Owen’s secret.
Chris nodded slowly, as if he completely followed Liam’s train of thought and waited for him to connect the dots. And just like that, Liam understood. “You’re pissed because he doesn’t come to you when the panic sets in. That he hides it from you and they hide it from us.”
It made total sense, but he had to wonder if they were expecting too much. After all, they couldn’t call what was going on with either man a relationship. No, they were four fucked up bastards trying to come together in some romanticwhat? Not a foursome, eww…he loved Chris, but yeah, that just wasn’t happening. And Owen wasn’t his type any more than Billy was Chris’s type. But—always with the fucking buts, right?—what was happening was very definitely happening to the four of them, and Liam now had to wonder if that was the problem, because trying to come together was definitely not the same as being together.
Chris shook his head and shifted in his seat. No, he was right. It wasn’t just their brother bond that made it impossible to move forward as two separate couples. Billy and Owen had formed their own unique friendship in prison and were no more likely to move forward without the other one either. “Just once, couldn’t we have done something the easy way?”
The fire door banged open and Liam turned to see Billy and Owen, arms full of brightly wrapped packages, struggling to pull a huge cluster of balloons through the door. It was a shocking contrast to their dark thoughts and so uncharacteristically sweet of both men. Billy caught their surprised stare and yelled, “Is this where the party’s at?”
“It is now.” It might seem silly, but it was exactly what they needed and exactly who they needed it from. Maybe they hadn’t been expecting too much at all. Liam rose to give them a hand and glanced down to see the look of longing in Chris’s eyes and thought maybe it was time they all expected more.
Review
*ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
This is book five in the Sizzling Miami series which reveals
the story of the freaky foursome, Chris, Liam, Billy and Owen. Throughout the
series the reader has been fed little titbits of their interaction and leaving
questions about their story. Just what was going on between them? Well here, at
last, all is revealed and I was so thankful that it didn’t turn out to be a
foursome romp. This is definitely a two for the price of one. Two HEAs? Oh yes!
Step Brothers Chris and Liam have been through so much in
their lives and both are hiding the secret of their reason for their time in
prison. Chris has always been the protector and has always remained silent
since the incident that drove them to be in prison. His self-imposed silence has
been a puzzle to all who come to interact with him but then something happens
to trigger his ending his vow of silence.
Billy and Owen met whilst they were both in prison and it
was from this time that Billy became Owen’s support and protector which has
remained constant ever since.
Usually I am not a fan of shared HEA but after reading
Safety in Numbers I totally get why it had to be done this way. All four main
characters are so intertwined with each other, that it would be impossible to
do as two separate books. It also gave the storyline the intensity and depth
their histories needed to reveal the complexities of these four gorgeous but
damaged men.
I have always loved Chris as I always fall for the strong and
silent type so to see him and Owen finally sort out their shit and get it on
was a winner for me. Owen was not a favourite of mine for most of the series
but after fully understanding what this broken man had been though, made me
want to hug him.
The revelation though was Billy. My Billy Bear. He was
quickly established as the one I fell for. He was such a beautiful soul. The
way he made sure he was right for Liam before taking the plunge was so special
and when these two hooked up well the heat-o-meter went sky high!
The series would definitely need to be read in order before
attempting to read this one. There are so many names, so many men and needing
to know how they all fit into the storyline that the new reader would be lost.
As a stalwart fan I still have to stop and remind myself who was who and what
had happened in the previous books. It’s a series that definitely keeps you on
your toes but one that is so glorious to throw yourself into. It almost makes
you feel part of this special family of wonderful but damaged men who have
fought so hard to become their true selves. Another great addition to the
series. Four stars for the fabulous four!
Character interview with Chris
What’s your job like?
I’m an auto mechanic and I’m going back to school to learn about motorcycles. Before my mother married Liam’s father, I was sure I was going to school to be an Electrical Engineer. When that all blew up, I was just happy to get work and honored that Bull saw something in me that he decided to put me through school. Now I love the work, especially the restorations, and I’m really looking forward to getting my hands on some bikes.
Would you rather be respected or feared? Why?
Respected. I’ve lived in fear and it’s not a pretty place. Yeah, I’m a big guy, strong, and I’ll fight to the death if pushed to it, but I’d rather not. I don’t want that ugliness in my life and don’t want anyone I care about to look at me in fear. I’d rather be the guy you can count on, the positive influence, maybe even an inspiration.
What’s your favorite book?
Uhm. Yeah. I’m not a big reader, that’s Liam. You’ll find a stash of romance books under his bed.
If you could go anywhere, all expenses paid, where would you go?
Colorado. Jessie would kick my ass if I told you why, so I’ll just say that it’s in the book.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m a lover, not a fighter, but I will fight for those I love. For more, see the answer to #4
Message from Jessie
Thank you so much for hosting Safety in Numbers today. Good luck to all who enter the rafflecopter and if anyone has any questions, I’ll be stopping by to answer. - Jessie
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Meet the author - Jessie G
Like many readers, the dream of being a writer has been with me a long time. After three decades of trying, I'd begun to doubt. Thanks to social media, I followed my favorite authors hoping to glean some words of wisdom as I pounded out half-formed ideas with alarming regularity. Two repetitive themes emerged: to be a great writer you must read a lot and your butt must be in the chair every day like it's a job. The more you write, the easier it will be to write and the better you will be at writing. I took that advice to heart and write every day. With six published books to date, three series in the works and a full schedule of releases planned for the next two years, it's been amazing to have made this dream my reality.
I am a firm believer in marriage equality, love at first sight, power dynamics and happily ever after. I'm a lover of strong secondary characters and series filled with families, biological or chosen. All are themes you'll find throughout my books.
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