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Mexican Heat #1 Crimes&Cocktails Series Manufacturer: MLR Press List price: $15.99 16 new & used available from $14.35. |
| A new romantic crime series from the combined talents of popular award winning authors Laura Baumbach and Josh Lanyon. Tough, street-smart SFPD Detective Gabriel Sandalini is willing to do whatever it takes to bring down West Coast crime boss Ricco Botelli -- including a dangerous, deep undercover gig as one of Botelli's hired guns. But Gabriel's best laid plans may come crashing down around him when he falls hard for the sexy, suave lieutenant of a rival Mexican drug lord. Turns out his new love interest may have a few secrets of his own: secrets that could destroy both men and the fragile bond between them. |
Mexican Heat #1 Crimes&Cocktails Series
Customer Reviews / Mexican Heat #1 Crimes&Cocktails Series
| I'm a fan of Josh Lanyon's and have read all of his published works thus far, so you can imagine that I was looking forward to the release of this particular novel. I've always liked the Adrien English series and have enjoyed the way that Mr. Lanyon crafts his characters. Possibly the only recommendation I'd normally make to him is that he should make his books even more substantial. Longer, certainly. With a little more action. This book, a collaboration with Laura Baumbach, is significantly more substantial, with a more complex plot and some heavy danger involved. Here, Gabriel Sandalini, an undercover cop, finds himself near the end of his assignment, possibly about to participate in the takedown of a major drug lord. As his own position becomes more tenuous, he finds himself drawn to Ortega, the second-in-command for another drug lord. The story of how the two men interact with each other and of what happens relative to the takedown is engrossing, and the other characters in the novel are well-drawn and interesting, even if at times they are more than a little stereotypical. What's wonderful here is the two main characters and their passion for each other. Usually, when I read a "gay" novel, I'm disappointed by how much of the novel is just prelude to sex. Here, the sexy scenes are long enough and VERY explicit--enough to satisfy almost anyone who reads the novel for those alone. But the rest of the book is satisfying as well, and I didn't get the sense that everything revolved around the sex. (Although it didn't take long at all for the first sex scene--it's maybe 10 pages in--talk about jumping straight in!) As always with Mr. Lanyon's work, the lead characters are multi-faceted and intriguing to read about. Gabriel is by turns funny, damaged, annoying, strong. Ortega is sexy, patronizing, enigmatic. Both are easy to like and even love. I really like the fact that the two writers blended their work seamlessly. I honestly can't tell that two different people wrote this book; it's that nicely done. I see from Mr. Lanyon's website that at least two more books are planned in this series. I can't wait! (I also plan to pick up Ms. Baumbach's books now, based on how much I liked this one.) |
| It has been years since I read South Border where I first know about Gabriel and Antonio. It was short but it stuck with me because of these 2 intriguing characters. I wanted to know how these 2 met and Gabriel's plight and past. So glad Laura and Josh decides to continue their story in this amazing collaboration. Even before getting my hands on this I know it will be good but having finished it I am just speechless at how well this seamless collaboration is written. Suspenseful, gritty, riveting there is no letting up in the plot at all. From page 1, I am pulled into both men's dark world as undercover cops. And their romance is sizzling hot and as suspenseful from the time they met. The crime world setting would please anyone who wants thrilling and heart stopping scenes, spice and excitement in the plot. For me it is the 2 characters and their developing relationship which takes precedence. Laura and Josh has really surpassed themselves in developing these 2 characters. Gabriel is a most complex character yet so vulnerable. From the time he was young, he has to fight hard for what he wants. A "little" spit fire and adrenalin junkie with an attitude, Gabriel avoids love at all cost because it was just not worth the mental baggage. The older Antonio is just the opposite. A 100% alpha male who exudes confidence and sex he is in complete control and just my type of favorite hero. To top it all, Antonio wants Gabriel. The first part of the book is a roller coaster ride as tension mounts both in their investigation and their almost lethal attraction towards one another. The second part is as compelling as it is heart wrenching. Told from Antonio's view point, I love Antonio's character even more as this caring alpha stubbornly holds on to a devastated Gabriel. Emotionally charged, touching and stirring, their developing love so well expressed, the second part realy gets to me. The suspenseful scenes both in the beginning and the ending of the 2nd part is soo well written. As for the last page, just a few words but impactful and of course leave me hungry for more. This one is definitely up there on my top list of gay and M/M romance and I have read a lot. So glad there are 2 more in the series but Nov 2009 seems so far away for the 2nd book. |
| Ever since I read Dark Horse earlier this year, I have become a big fan of Josh Lanyon's writing. He is as author who writes incredible and realistic stories, with a romance thrown in between two strong men who seem to live on the edges of society. So is the case with his latest, Mexican Heat. Josh co-wrote Mexican heat with author Laura Baumbach, owner of the on-line publisher Man Love Romance Press. These two are a great writing duo and I can't wait to see what else they have in store. If their future books are anything like Mexican Heat, I will be there to read it. Gabriel Sandalini is the self tortured hero of this story. He is an undercover SFPD Detective who has infiltrated the West Coast crime syndicate as a gunman. One night, while he is at a gay club, he catches the eye of one of the club goers. Gabriel doesn't think much of it, even though the stranger is quite the looker. Gabriel has other things on his mind such as helping take down the boss of the Mexican Mafia. As Gabriel makes his way around the club, he finds an empty office where he needs a moment of quiet, and is caught. The stranger who catches him, bends him over the office desk, and even though Gabriel tries to escape, he can't because the stranger has incapacitated him. One thing leads to another, and Gabriel is forced to have some hot and sweaty sex with the stranger. (Some may think this is a forced seduction scene. But we do see, that Gabriel could at any point stop everything that is happening to him. The stranger may hold him down and have his wicked way with Gabriel, but Gabriel has the strength and power to stop this man. The stranger even asks if Gabriel wants it, and Gabriel is very vocal in his answer, which is a very loud, yes.) This is one hot, HOT sex scene, especially because Gabriel doesn't know what this guy, who basically ravishes him, looks like. It is the best sex Gabriel ever has, because he likes to be dominated, and his one-night stand lover does that very well. Gabriel is in for quite a shock when he comes face to face with this stranger again. Miguel Ortega is the second in command to a Mexican drug lord. He also still has a very deep interest in Gabriel, but Gabriel tries his hardest to stay away from Ortega because they don't have any chance of a future with one another. But since both of the crime families they work for will become business associates, Gabriel has no choice but to be around Ortega. Ortega must go down to Mexico to meet some drug runners and Gabriel goes with him. These two have such incredible sexual tension between them, that they know that this business trip will end up with both of them in bed together. And when they arrive in Mexico, and Gabriel is almost blown up, Ortega is there to protect him. Gabriel can't help but give into Ortega's seductive techniques, and they spend a passionate night together in bed. This is another wonderful, hot sex scene between these two men. Alcohol is used in a playful way. Ortega has a way with his hands and mouth, and wants everything from Gabriel. He may want his body, but most importantly he wants his love. The reason Ortega is so protective over Gabriel is a bit twist to this story that I had no clue was coming till more than half way through reading. Gabriel can't see how special he has become to Ortega. He denies his feelings for Ortega because he thinks that Ortega is his enemy. These two are surrounded by the possibility of death wherever they go and the fact that they may not have a future with one another, makes their relationship very poignant and emotional. You will be on the edge of your seat wondering if Gabriel and Ortega will be safe and happy. Something does happen to Gabriel, that I think went a bit too far, as if to cement what Gabriel and Ortega have between each other is very real. Other than that, I really could find no other complaints. Mexican Heat is an excellent and suspenseful action pack story, as well as a romance that singes the pages with its heat. The attraction both Gabriel and Ortega have for one another is smoking hot, and one of the best romances I have read this year. Katiebabs |
| This is a nice entertaining read..I finished it in one evening. The characters were fleshed out fairly well. The two main protagonists, however, fell within the typical gay archetypes: the more sexually dominant older figure and the more passive younger guy. I do give the authors credit in that within this construct there was some give and take in the dynamic between both lead characters. I liked how the authors shifted the voice of the novel midstream from one lead to the other. It was interesting to compare the thoughts of the second lead with the first lead's perception of him. It would have been more interesting if there had been more of a disconnect between Antonio-- as he was -- and Gabriel's perception of him. I also liked how the authors didn't sugarcoat the ending. Antonio and Gabriel relationship deepened as the novel progressed and moved beyond the superficial. |
| Mexican Heat #1 Crimes&Cocktails Series Italian mob boss Botelli and Mexican mob boss Sanchez become partners. Botelli has the customers and Sanchez has the best suppliers, and caught in the middle is SFPD Det. Gabriel Sandalini, undercover in Botelli's gang and gay, both conditions could get him killed in a heartbeat. Botelli's sister Gina want Gabriel for a boy toy, Sanchez wants to remove him from Gina, Botelli wants whatever will get bigger profits and Gabriel has the HOTS for a man who turns out to be Sanchez's right hand man. This is a heart stopping cop thriller with danger at every turn and a absolutely fantastic story. |
Mexican Heat #1 Crimes&Cocktails Series
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