Beneath This Mask

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

Awesome book!

I love this series and the latest book was well worth the wait. Nick Russo is an extremely talented narrator who adds another layer of awesomeness to thus story. Victoria Sue’s characters always feel real with talents and flaws.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Very Good - Worth My Credit!

This series keeps getting better. The author's writing was tight, the mystery/action plot was tense and the romance was well done. The Big Bad in this one... shudder! Gael just about broke my heart and I was glad he got his HEA. More than the earlier entries (which I also really enjoyed)... Oh the feels! As always, Nick Russo does a really good job bringing this ensemble cast to life. And he really excelled this time, in ramping up the suspense as well as bringing the tender moments to life.

Definitely worth a credit! And I'm looking forward to the next book in the series - hoping it is snarky Sawyer! Or guarded Eli! Or cuddly Vance! LOL, ok, any of the fellas!

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.

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.

Great story, great narration.

I read this book when it was first published and now I was able to enjoy it all over again when I listened to the great audio performance by Nick Russo. My husband and I actually listened to this one together. He has become a big fan of Victoria Sue's Enhanced Series and we plan to listen to the next one together when it is released.

Below is a copy of my original review.

Broke me up in places but put me back together again. I loved it!

I love the Enhanced series so much. The characters are interesting; the fact that each character's ability is so different from the others is fascinating. I don't know how Victoria Sue comes up with her story ideas but, as a reader, I'm grateful that her brain works the way it does. 😊 She writes in several different genres and I have loved all of them.

Beneath This Mask is a fantastic story but there are scenes that made me want to run and hide. I don't mean that as a bad thing at all. It's just that parts of the story are so intense that I wanted to scream and cry at what was happening.

The blurb tells us that Gael was abandoned by his mother and abused by his father; the extent of this abuse is horrifying and yet it helped to shape him into the caring person that he is now. There are twists and turns to this story and things happen that I didn't see coming.

I won't lie, there are scenes of torture in this book that made me shudder. However, I didn't feel that they were there just for the shock value. They were necessary for us to know just how horrible the psycho-bad-person really is. I don't want to give the impression that this story contains only dark things; there are many light-hearted places filled with bantering among the team members that I loved.

I guess I should say a little about the romance between Gael and Jake because this is also a significant part of the story . The two of them don't get off to a good start when they are partnered up but later on there's a spark that can't be denied. When these two guys finally give in and get together the fireworks really go off.

I really don't feel like I can say much more without giving things away. I do think that this can be read as a standalone but your enjoyment would be enhanced (no pun intended) if you read books one and two first.

Love Sweet Strong Men

I love Nick J. Russo, He has made these characters shine, Awesome Voice actor, love the story I can't wait for the next one in the series. Victoria Sue does some of best Hurt/Comfort Fluff and Nick make every moment just as intense. I cried and smiled and felt warm fuzzy feeling all over

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

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!

Very nice sequel

very nice sequel and awesome narration.
I very much enjoyed listening to this Audible . I don't give it 5 stars , because it doesn't dazzles me .
I give 5 stars very easily, but I'm changing that now.
I getting more discriminating now .

good addition to the world.

strong 3.75 stars. well written however the time frame these people fall in love is kind of ridiculous o_O