Beneath This Mask

Enhanced World, Book 3

By: Victoria Sue

Narrated by: Nick J. Russo

Length: 7 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

Gael Peterson has spent years hiding behind the enhanced abilities he wears like a mask, even though he is an important, confident member of the FBI’s exclusive H.E.R.O. team. The hurt and betrayal of his mom’s abandonment and his father’s fists are secrets buried deep beneath the ugly scars on his face, and he doesn’t trust Jake, his new, regular human partner, with any of them. In a world where those with special abilities like Gael’s are regarded as freaks and monsters, it won’t be easy for him to rely on Jake to have his back, especially when the abilities of a vulnerable, nonspeaking, enhanced child make that child a murder suspect.

Tempers rise, and loyalties are challenged, and when the serial killer targeting the enhanced finally sets his sights on Gael, not only will Gael have to trust Jake with his secrets, he might have to trust him to save his life.

©2018 Victoria Sue (P)2018 Dreamspinner Press

4.5 Stars

The Enhanced series keeps kicking it up a notch and is definitely getting better with each installment and what makes them even better, for me, is how much I love Nick J. Russo's narration of the characters. I love how well Nick J. Russo brings the story and characters to life. His character voices are great and consistent, his tone and pitch are good, and his pacing is terrific.

Told from a dual POV, Beneath This Mask has a fantastic plot, a lot of action, some of which is pretty intense, and some sexy times interspersed between crises.

What Gael goes through in this story...*shudders* Victoria Sue put him through the ringer and not just in the will-they-won't-they-get-their-stuff-together relationship with Jake. There's a lot of information that comes out in this installment, and you should make sure to read the first two books before starting Beneath This Mask, because even though this has a different character set's POV, it is not (in my opinion) a standalone.

This series is sexy as hell, super entertaining, and a great listen with awesome narration.

Recommended!

All the Feels!!!

We get to know Gael in this book. I adore him, he’s a great best friend to Talon and has always been kind to Finn.

Who would have thought that such a great guy has been thru so much and is still hiding so much pain?
His struggles broke my heart. Oh my.. Gael. 💖

Jake’s introduction to the group was a mixed bag and is to be expected. He’s also in a weird position being from one group to now working with H.E.R.O.

Jake & Gael’s relationship development was a heck of a ride, but boy were the sexy times hot as ever! 🔥🔥🔥🔥

I cried during that “I want a family with you” special scene. It was so beautiful and perfect for Gael and for Jake and cemented their love and commitment. 💖

Nick J Russo, you killed it!!! Your narration conveyed so much emotions and your performance was amazing! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

the feels just keep on coming

I skipped the second in this series. I can't remember why but now I feel like I missed something. I remembered Gael as being sort of happy go lucky and outgoing but in this book he comes across more reserved, introverted, shy even. I still heart him but I'm thinking a backtrack is in order.

He's partnered with Jake because there is a killer on the loose who is targeting the enhanced. The whole team is put on the case but Jake and Gael don't exactly hit it off right away. Expect a dibble of enemies to lovers and a dabble of hurt comfort. Let's just say the scar on Gael's face runs deeper than his face and he needs someone to really see him, to love him.

The thriller aspects are fairly evenly matched with the romantic elements making this a true romantic suspense. Through a series of events a little autistic boy, Derrick, who was born with FAS is blamed for a death. He's also enhanced and Gael connects with him immediately. Pretty much all the events surrounding Derrick and his detention hit WAY TOO close to home and the recent immigration issue/separation of families/stripping of rights which had a me more than a little verklempt. Often. Thankfully, he has some people on his side who are vocal and the way this storyline evolved gave me a serious case of the warm fuzzies.

Gael and Jake's relationship evolved quickly and I kind of wish it was given more time to breathe, but I do understand how relationships can evolve quickly in intense situations. However, by the end of the story I was on board with Jake and Gael being truly committed to each other as partners in work and life.

There isn't an abundance of sex but there is a big guy bottoming! 🙌

There are also some torture scenes that could potentially be triggering for some, so exercise caution. However, this segued into an awesome finish. Beneath This Mask finished strong! Country strong!

Nick J. Russo did a terrific job with the voices. He differentiated them well so I never had to really pay attention to who was talking because all the voices were distinct and he emoted well.

Recommend to fans of paranormal, sci-fi and action adventure stories.

p.s. ZOMG!!!!!!!!!!! I CANNOT WAIT FOR VANCE'S BOOK!!!!!!!!! Eli is going to climb him like a tree. And it is going to epic. EPIC!

#LGBTQ #hurtcomfort #paranormal #romanticsuspense

yay

loved this one. very compelling story and it was nice to have more mature relational and emotional dynamics. the ending was so sweet too

Nick nails this!

This is the third book the Enhanced series and I think it’s best read as a series. You could probably figure things out, but you’d be missing an awful lot.

If you’ve read the first books, you have an idea of what the Enhanced are and how they and the humans have historically interacted. Jake and Gael have some similar concerns as they pair up. Just as Finn and Talon had to learn to work together so do they. (I was a big Gael fan in book 1 and he did not disappoint here!)

The story is a lovely mix of Gael and Jake learning to work together and love one another as well continued action as we meet more bad guys.

I think fans of the series will love this and love Jake and Gael as a couple and if you’re new to the series, you should probably start with book 1.

Highly recommended!

4.5 of 5 stars

Audio

Jo my gahd! I love Jake's voice! I make no bones that I'm a big Nick Russo fan, and I've always enjoyed Victoria Sue's books, and I've previously enjoyed this series narrated by Nick - a lot! - But.... I thought Jake's particular character was fantastic in a way that really made him stand out.
Nick is only getting better with all his narrations and I'm so glad to see him whenever I do as narrator, because I know I'll enjoy the book and that he will (most likely) improve my enjoyment of the book more than just reading it.
This is a tough story - lots of people/characters/voices and Nick nails it!
Highly recommended!
6 of 5 stars


5 of 5 stars


Overall
5 of 5 stars

Made me cry

This book destroyed my heart! I loved it so much I was tears by the end of it! I highly suggest reading this series.

Spidey Senses Confirmed

Very good job giving hints that something isn't quite right but not actually giving anything away. I did not see that coming until it was too late. Wow. I cannot wait for the next installation if this series. Excellent read.

Fantastic Series, Nick J. Russo is perfect

Ah, the sweet anticipation. Good news for fans of Victoria Sue’s Enhanced series, our patience has paid off. Beneath This Mask is out in audio, narrated by the sensational Nick J. Russo, and it is worth the wait! This is Gael’s tale in the continuing story of the agents in the FBI’s H.E.R.O. team, and the series must be read in order.

One of my favorite aspects of the Enhanced series, aside from the sweetly smutty sex, is how well developed the plot lines are. Victoria Sue pulls out another excellent story with Beneath This Mask. There are some heavy subjects covered in this one, and this wonderful author works her magic to tug on your heartstrings. The delicate topics are important aspects to the continuing story arc, but if you’re sensitive please check the tags.

From the very beginning of this series Gael has intrigued me. Between his unusual abilities, his stoic demeanor, and his incredibly heartbreaking backstory, this hunky enhanced agent has quite a fan club! I know I’m not alone in wishing for him to find a little romance. As soon as Jake was introduced at the end of the second book, I knew he’d be the perfect man for Gael.

Between his scars and his history of past abuse, Gael can’t imagine anyone being attracted to him. Jake sees beyond the physical when he looks at Gael, and he’s got it bad! Gael does everything he can to avoid the handsome former ENu agent, but Jake isn’t giving up - and his persistence pays off. These two are adorable together, and when they finally work it out, oh boy the sparks start flying.

It feels as though the bigotry and prejudice toward enhanced humans is just getting worse. Not only are folks going out of their way to avoid the enhanced, they’re also rushing to accuse them of every crime that occurs. This unjust behavior reaches a new low in Beneath This Mask when the suspect is an enhanced child with special needs.It’s no surprise Gael would reach out to this child, but also that he’d become a champion for him. Just another example of what an amazing guy he is, selfless and brave. A true hero.

I’ve been waiting a long time now for my man to get his happy ending, and it feels like this book was over way too soon. I’ve got my fingers crossed we’ll get another installment in Gael and Jake’s story, after all Gael still has a lot of trauma to work through and their journey is a good one.

Beneath This Mask is another excellent episode in the Enhanced series and if you haven’t given this one a go, I urge you to start with Five Minutes Longer. This isn’t your typical Sci-Fi Romance, and Nick J. Russo’s creative and upbeat narration is the perfect compliment to Victoria Sue’s fantastic story.

Russo's narration broke me!

Independent reviewer for Divine Magazine, I was gifted my AUDIO copy of this book.

This is book three in the Enhanced Series. I wouldn't say it was necessary for you to have read books one and two, but it might give you a better reading experience. It would also give you a a better experience of these men, and just what being Enhanced means.

Gael doesn't want a regular human partner, especially not one from the task force they have all come to hate. But Jake is different, he's not got that inbuilt hatred the others seem to have. When Jake and Gael come across a non-verbal Enhanced child, who later becomes a murder suspect, Gael has to put his feelings aside, even if they threaten to be his very undoing.

Oh Gael, Gael, Gael! My heart bled for this man, it really did! He's in a whole lotta pain, and he hides it from the others in his team, who are his family too. But Jake?? Jake sees, really SEES Gael, and Gael isn't entirely sure he wants to be seen.

While there is the murders of the Enhanced as the back story, what I particularly loved about this one, was the emotions involved between Gael and Jake. With the emotions involved with turning, and the aftemath of that. Gael's history wasn't the best before that point, but it became a whole lot worse after. Jake has his own demons, and when Gael finds out what that is, he lashes out, quite LITERALLY. But he does come around, once the awful truth becomes clear.

It's not as explicit as books one and two, but it doesn't need to be. I did find it a little more graphic, though, but I think that really IS needed.

When Gael is caught by the one doing the murders ( I knew! I knew when that person first showed up, I KNEW they were no good, that something bad would happen!) his feeling for Jake, his own abilities are used against him, and Gael has to trust the guys find him in time. And after that, when Gael pulls away from Jake?? That boy pulls out all the stops to make Gael SEE Jake, he really does. That Jake wants a family with Gael, and all who come along too. And I cried then, great heart wrecking sobs, because it's such a beautiful scene!

We are introduced to Sam, AKA Angel, who pushes ALL of Vance's buttons and then some! Can't wait for their story, really can't. But I'll wait for the audio, don't wanna flip between reading and listening.

Again, Nick J Russo narrates. This above mentioned scene? When Jake makes Gael SEE Jake?? I have no doubts, none at all, that it's the way that scene was deliver by Russo, his NARRATION, that wrecked me! Reading would not have had the same impact, not for me, anyway. Russo KILLS it, he absolutely does.

His voices are clear and consistent across all three books, he has a way of getting so much emotions across, that really is beyond compare. I love his narration, so please keep them coming!

5 stars for the book
5 stars for the narration
5 stars overall

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**

Heartwarming!!

This is the third installment of the Enhanced series and this one almost did me in. We once again are submerged into a world where bigotry takes on a whole new meaning. Our FBI team of H.E.R.O.’s continue to grow and another enhanced member Gael, gets assigned his regular human partner Jake. This pairing was especially important because Gael was the only member of the team that had both internal and external scars as a result of his transformation when he was a kid. And up till now we have seen Gael as Talon’s, the teams leader, second in command and best friend. We learn that behind all that confidence Gael is hiding secrets and years of pain.

Jake comes to the team as a former member of SWAT and the dreaded ENu team. He is excited to be a part of the team but knows he will have to earn their trust especially Gael’s. This book was a more difficult read than the others. The hate towards the enhanced whether they were young kids or adults was hard to read. They were treated like untrustworthy freaks. But overall it was Gaels pain that left me feeling raw. I love every minute of it though. And Nic Russo’s portrayals of the characters was seriously good.