Transactional Dynamics

Hazard and Somerset: A Union of Swords, Book 3

De: Gregory Ashe

Narrado por: Tristan James

Duración: 12 h y 29 m

Resumen del Editor

Emery Hazard is ready for Valentine’s Day. He’s made reservations months in advance, he’s ordered flowers, and he’s got a boyfriend he wants to treat right — even if John-Henry Somerset occasionally lets the dishes sit in the sink a little too long. They even have an extra reason to celebrate this year: Somers has received a special commendation for his police work.

Everything begins to go wrong, though, when Hazard’s ex-boyfriend shows up on their doorstep. Billy claims he just needs help getting away from an abusive partner, but Somers believes Billy has other motives, including designs on Hazard.

When men who have been hired to track Billy show up in Wahredua, Hazard agrees to help his ex elude them. But as Hazard prepares to sneak Billy out of town, a woman is murdered behind the local gay bar, and Somers’s investigation leads him towards Hazard’s ex.

As Hazard and Somers find themselves working together to find the killer, they both must confront a hard truth: Everything comes at a cost — career success, healthy relationships, and even justice. The only question is if they’re willing to pay the price.

©2020 Gregory Ashe (P)2020 Gregory Ashe

More angst, more pain

I’m finally writing a more detailed review for this book!! This is my fourth time reading this and it’s finally getting a review. I don’t know how that happened, but apparently I just like pain. So here we are.

Gregory Ashe is just very good at giving us an established couple and making them WORK for their HEA. He does this very well. The books end in a HFN, I feel. You think just because someone proposed, it’s going to be all sunshine and rainbows for the next couple of books? Think again. The fact that this series has contained mysteries in (relatively) short story arcs and still brings something new to the couple’s relationship with every book is what keeps me hooked.

While this book does not end with an immediate cliffhanger (everything is fine at the end between Hazard and Somers, but we don’t know who the Keeper of Bees is yet), there IS a cliffhanger in the excerpt for the following book (if you’re following along by text). But good news! Wayward is already out so you can just jump right into the next book after reading this one.

Content notes include homomisia, emotional abuse, violence, gaslighting, alcoholism, mentions of domestic abuse, threats of lying about rape, mentions of drug use, misogyny, dirty cops, mentions about sex work, and a minor character (a grandmother) with an illness.

This book made me an emotional wreck at times because Hazard and Somers have been together long enough to know how to push each other’s buttons and what to say to each other in the heat of an argument to really twist the knife. In this book, there’s a few mysteries going on. One involves the return of someone from Hazard’s past - Billy Rolker. Billy is a community theater actor and we know that he cheated on Hazard way back in book 1, and I guess we didn’t really have to think much about him since then. He’s shown up briefly in the Borealis series, but he’s mostly been out of Hazard’s life. Until now.

Billy is very manipulative and maybe even a psychopath. He knows exactly what to say and do to get Hazard riled up and he is intent to be a wedge between Hazard and Somers. Billy claims to want Hazard’s help and that he’s on the run from an ex (not the same guy he cheated on Hazard with) and now this ex is out to kill him.

In the middle of all this, North and Shaw are drawn into Wahredua as well. I think I would like a short or something (and I think there’s actually one in the works) where it’s nothing but Hazard, Somers, North, and Shaw all together. Might make for a very chaotic time. I love North and Shaw so it’s fun to see them in this book and to read about them from Hazard and Somers’s POV because it’s interesting to see someone on the outside witnessing North and Shaw’s constant (exasperating?) banter.

We don’t really get much headway with the Keeper of Bees story with this book. But what I think this book does is set up a situation where changes are coming to the police force. They’re getting exposed as corrupt cops so who is going to be left in the station?

Dulac is still Somers’s detective partner and he has an absurdly patient boyfriend at his side now (who we met in the last book). I don’t get that relationship and I guess I never will. That’s a mystery for another day.

One of the other mysteries in this book is one that Somers and Dulac has to investigate concern a murder outside the Pretty Pretty. It’s twisty but overall, not that interesting? I don’t know. I think I liked it on my first read, but by my fourth time reading this book, I find myself wanting to skip those scenes altogether and get back to the Hazard and Somers relationship drama.

The relationship part of this story is a lot of angst and a lot of pain. But at a level where I feel my heart breaking and then feeling like everything is alright by the end so it’s actually not too much pain? I don’t know. I think the author manages to always hit that perfect spot of angst for me in this series and it’s why I keep coming back to them again and again.

As for the audiobook, Tristan James does an amazing job as always. I remember the first time I ever heard an audiobook performed by him, I was just feeling okay about it but I wasn’t in love with it, you know? But now, I really feel like he is perfect and he really brings this series alive and I couldn’t imagine anyone else voicing Emery Hazard and John-Henry Somerset. It’s evident in the fact that I’ve listened to these audiobooks over and over again that I really love his performance and his work narrating this series! I love that Gregory Ashe was able to sign Tristan James on to produce all these audiobooks even after Tantor didn’t continue producing the books into audio. I highly recommend this series by audiobook if you’ve never tried!

It hurt so good!

Oh the feels! Mr. Ashe is getting so good at breaking my heart and putting it back together again. Another fantastic mystery. But more so, I really am astounded at the realness he portrays in Hazard and Somers relationship. I mean, I think I looked up and squinted at my husband several times remembering similar marital arguments. Unwashed dishes with daggered words and all. Anyhow, I’m anxiously awaiting the next installment because . . . beekeeper!

Also, I loved the cameo of the author’s other books characters. I think it’s time for me to finally start on Orientation!

I never want to leave a review without a resounding ovation for the narrator! I could listen to him read my grocery list!

Omg

Well that hurt. A lot. I love how realistic these two are for their characters, but man does it hurt to watch/hear sometimes.

drama, drama, drama ...

📖 Story comment: I keep getting half way though these books and thinking "Sommers is such a d!*k, his ego needs checking, his continual manipulation of Hazard is just wrong - because Hazard is so emotionally stunted he just doesn't get how the "real world" works, the relationship is toxic and it really needs to end!" ... and then Somers redeems himself ... I don't know why I keep sticking it out, but here I am ... again I guess it could have something to do with the excellent writing and complexities of the characters!

drama, drama, drama ... there's a lot going on in this book - both inside and outside the relationship. I enjoyed the "murder" case, bringing Billy in from Hazard's past, and North and Shaw - but i'm getting over Grey Dulac very quickly!

... still frustrating ... but i'm still listening 😆

🎧 Narrator comment: Personally I love Tristan James as a narrator, I find his tones soothing and go through phases where he's just what I need to soothe the jagged edges of my psyche. He suits these characters, he has good timing and inflections and brings the story to life.

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📌 Where does it fall on my personal scale? 6
• 1 not my thing • 2 didn't like the narration • 3 didn't keep my attention • 4 was good, but once was enough [3⭐] • 5 enjoyed it [4⭐] • 6 will listen again if i'm in the mood for the narrator [4⭐] • 7 goes on the "re-listen" list [4⭐] • 8 kept me up past bed-time [4.5⭐] • 9 recommended to family/friends [4.75⭐] • 10 own it in all formats [5⭐] • 11 keep a copy with me at all times [5⭐]

Still Love ❤️ These Guys!

You would think after 10 books it would be more of the same...not at all. I love the fact I sometimes need to go back and hear a scene over again because the next seen referred to something unexpected.

The characters are getting more interesting and the relationship....well let’s just say I don’t want the throttle their necks like I did when I first “met” them!

And Hazard’s relationship with Evie (his step daughter) makes me smile every time! Let alone the relationship with Evie’s father!

I know there are more books in the series but that doesn’t make me want to get to the end...it makes me enjoy the ride!

Another roller coaster

Another roller coaster split between heartbreak and laugh-out-loud moments. When Hazard's ex comes to town, it's clear from the beginning that things are going to go south, but the push and pull of all the ways both Hazard and John Henry are broken make it even more of a mess than I was expecting. The backdrop of the case is pretty standard Hazard and Somerset (with Dulac thrown in for fun), but it's the tender moments when they come together in the midst of all the craziness that brings the story to such a satisfying end.

The author has built such a rich world that there are moments when I'm convinced the places he describes are real, and I want to take a road trip to visit them. Having North and Shaw in town was like having my cake and eating it, too. Although Tristan James is amazing, I hear North and Shaw in my head with the voices their narrator gives them, so it kept throwing me off, but it's not something that can be avoided.

Hazard and Somerset are the best!!

These books are so great!!! As usual the story and the narrator are perfect! I enjoyed seeing Shaw and North! Every time I listen to a Hazard and Somerset book, I think how is every book so good? I don’t think I’ve read any other series with this many books or even less books that are all so good!! I highly recommend all of the Hazard and Somerset books!!

Another winner!!

I was given a free copy of this audiobook in return for an honest review

I love this series. Once more there is a murder mystery for Hazard and Somerset to solve, with a little tease to the “Bee Keeper” mystery. But much of the book is focused on their stormy relationship. And this one broke my heart for Hazard. He is not doing OK. His horrible ex boyfriends show up to just complicate his life and one really should be shot. Although this series could be listened to as a stand alone series, I think the listener will get more out of it if they listen to the first series and get the back story of some of these guys. There are also references to events in the first series.

In this book, Hazard is put through the ringer and for the first time I got REALLY mad at Somerset for his actions. Even though they were eventually “explained” I am still mad. I assume there is an eventually HEA or at least a HFN at the end of this series, but I’m questioning whether these guys SHOULD be together. There is just so much baggage. That said, I’m hooked on these two and look forward to continuing their journey. What can I say about Tristan James except bravo on another stellar performance. You rock!

excellent

if you can get used to the 2 main characters (John & Em) its AWESOME!

An intense emotional rollercoaster

4.5 stars. I feel like this book should come with a warning:

"GET READY FOR PAIN. *alcohol is not optional.*" 👀 I'm just sayin'. This one messed me up but good. I'm not sure I know what to say here.

In this book, Hazard and Somers' relationship takes the hardest knock yet. These two always have to genuinely work at being together. Being together, loving each other, is one of the most singular important things in their lives, so work at it they do. They both have their issues, and mostly they honestly know what those are, and try to keep them under control. But sometimes knowing what you have a problem with doesn't keep it from being a problem.

Hazard's ex Billy shows up at his door, begging him for help with the people that are after him. Hazard, being Hazard, cannot turn down anyone who needs his help, not even Billy. At the same time, a new murder case falls in Somers' lap, so he gets tied up with that. Along with the case comes Dulac, Somers' partner, who's always work of a different sort. 🙄 In the midst of all this, there's home repairs, Evie's ballet classes, errands, dinners to cook, and all the thousand and one little things that have to be done every day, and the arguments these things tend to occasionally cause.

These are normal, everyday things, and it's part of what makes Ree and John real and human, relatable. But the unusual, not-so-good things in their pasts make the way things go in this part of their life together anything but usual. When things inevitably blow up, it very nearly obliterates them. And I'm not gonna lie, it nearly blew me up too. 😭😭

John-Henry Somerset let me down so badly. I love Emery Hazard fiercely, but let's face it, he can be a real asshole, sometimes deliberately, hilariously so. John normally has endless patience and good humor but he can be just as flawed and wrong as the next person. He really screws up this time and I was so afraid he had broken something permanently. No matter how bad these guys do screw up, the love they have never wavers *thank God* and John does everything he can to apologize and redeem himself. 😍 I've got to say he pours everything he has into it, and no matter what, Hazard loves him.

Gregory Ashe's writing continues to be outstanding, if not even a little bit disturbing. *side-eyes GA* No author should be able to reach into my heart and head and affect me so literally, and few things I've ever read are able to do it as completely as Hazard and Somers can. Let me explain something. I am NOT a fan of angst. I avoid it and will pass a book if I see readers saying that it was bad. This one in particular broke my heart and made me cry, made me so furious at one point I had to stop reading, I thought my head was going to explode. Even this is not enough to make me give Ree and John up. ❤️ None of that sounds like a good thing but it's a true, sincere compliment to the author. Ok, it's maybe somewhat twisted but that's just me. 🤷🏼‍♀️

The case was damn well done, and though I did end up being right in my suspicions, there were several things I didn't anticipate that still managed to surprise me. And just to keep it creepy, the Keeper of Bees makes it clear he's still there in the background. Worse, Hazard is still somehow in his plans.

One thing that has got to happen is Hazard getting some help for his apparent PTSD. He absolutely cannot go on this way, it's going to crush him.

Mixed in with all the dark, there's still moments of light and pure satisfaction. Hazard's relationship with Evie is adorable, I love them together, and I love how he loves Evie. Hazard vs the park moms made me actually laugh out loud, they didn't know who they were playing with! 😂😂 And my favorite was that little psychopath Billy getting to meet North and Shaw, which I look forward to doing myself when I get to their series!

As a note for the audiobook, Tristan James's narration is excellent, allowing me to get lost in this world, which is everything I could want. Despite all the heartache, this was another amazing piece of Hazard & Somers story.

Disclaimer: A copy of the Audio book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.