Enemies of the State

Executive Office Series, Book 1

By: Tal Bauer

Narrated by: John Solo

Length: 14 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

Newly elected President Jack Spiers's presidency is rocked from the very beginning, and he's working furiously to keep the world from falling apart. Between terrorism attacks ripping apart Europe, Russia's constant posturing and aggression, and the quagmire of the Middle East, Jack is struggling to keep his campaign promise - to work toward a better, safer world.

For Special Agent Ethan Reichenbach, Jack is just another president, the third in 12 years. With Jack's election, he's been promoted, and now he's running the presidential detail, which puts him side by side with Jack daily. He's expecting another stuffed suit and an arrogant DC politician, but Jack shocks him with his humor and humanity.

There are rules against a Secret Service agent and one of their protectees developing a friendship - big rules. Besides, Jack is straight as a ruler, and a widower, and Ethan has always avoided falling for straight men. Ethan keeps his distance, but Jack draws him in, like gas to a naked flame, and it's a lure he isn't strong enough to turn away from.

Contains mature themes.

©2016, 2019 Tal Bauer (P)2020 Tantor

Great entertainment.

I didn’t want to stop listening and I didn’t want it to end. I’m glad there is another book in the series.

fantastic

This novel makes me want to reduce the number of stars I've given other novels because it's so very good. The characters are compelling, a lot is going on, and it has depth and richness throughout.

Forbidden Love, Explosions, and Conspiracy

Newly elected President Jack Spiers is working with global leaders to bring piece to the Middle East. He is the first of several national leaders to arrive for a summit. Apparently the intel about the area risks was wrong because the motorcade is attacked by terrorists in route. An IED explodes, rolling the president’s SUV. He wakes up after a few minutes of being unconscious, realizing he and the Secret Service are under gunfire. Luckily, they are picked up by helicopter not long after. But the President doesn’t want to leave. Two men hold him down to prevent him from jumping out of the chopper. This is because the President has witnessed the terrorists capturing Ethan Richenbach, the President’s Secret Service Detail Lead, who the president is secretly in love with. He can’t bare to leave him behind.

This book was half political thriller/mystery half mm romance. The romance was sweet. I _LOVE_ how Ethan waited for Jack to be ready and did not push him at all. This was such a big deal for me. I also like how the Secret Service agents had a change of heart after they realized Ethan and Jack’s relationship, and covered for them.

This book is a lot of audio for the money. It’s sweet and I heart John Solo as narrator. I’m planning to listen to all audiobooks available by this author.

Before reading, I recommend you write down and be familiar with the characters listed at the beginning of the book:
White House:
→ Jack Spiers: President of the United States.
→ Ethan Reichenbach: Head of Presidential Secret Service Detail.
→ Scott Collard: Presidential Secret Service Detail Agent.
→ Levi Daniels: Presidential Secret Service Detail Agent.
→ Luke Welby: Presidential Secret Service Detail Agent.
→ Elizabeth Wall: Secretary of State.
→ Jeff Gottschalk: Chief of Staff.
→ Pete Reyes: Press Secretary.
→ General Bradford: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs.
→ General Porter Madigan: Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs.
→ Lawrence Irwin: Director, CIA.
→ Peter Stahl: Director, Secret Service.
→ Lieutenant Adam Cooper: Leader of USMC Special Operations team.

Russia:
→ Sergey Puchkov: Russian President.

Saudi Arabia:
→ Prince Faisal al-Saud: Royal head of the Saudi Intel. Dir.
—————-
Update 2023: This is the most important book in my life because Jack and Ethan are in my head almost every day. They are my meditation

Was excited to see this

This is by far one of my FAV series and I was soo excited to see it I bought it immediately! However, I didn't feel that this narrator's inflections and the words he chose to emphasis added value to the book. Additionally, I didn't care for the voices he gave to the main characters. JMHO

Perfect, Wonderful.

This audiobook is wonderful if felt like I was there facing all their challenges with them.
This book became alive .
With Tal Bauer’s words with perfect narration of John Solo you cannot go wrong .
Absolutely brilliant.

Loved this...oh so much

Tal Bauer is a new to me author but I knew who John Solo was so I figured I would give this a shot. I am soooo glad I did!!! I loved every minute of this. Packed with action, emotions and love. Ethan and Jack are amazing and I love them! I can't wait for the rest of this series. Tal and John are perfect together!!

A great surprise

I got a recommendation for this book and I thought it was just romance. Little did I know I was up for a movie level of conspiracy that had me shook at every turn! I beg anyone to please listen to this book because the performance makes it 10x better!

Suspense and action

Very fast moving story with a lot of action like all Tal's books and superbly narrated so you can easily visualize the characters and the unfolding events. Well done!

Wow

Could not put this down. So so so well told and narrated. A real and exciting MM treat.

loved the book. not so much the narrorator

I love jon solo. I really do, but I found his performance super whiney in this series
I wish they Tal went for Sean Crisden or Greg Tremblay for this series. he pulled me out of the book so many times cause the narrorator was so freaking whiny and didn't match either of the MCs. Very disappointing. I dont know if I'm going to buy the rest of the series if he does the same whiny narration for the other books