Free Falling

Extreme Escapes, Ltd

By: SE Jakes

Narrated by: Dorian Bane

Length: 4 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's Summary

Sometimes falling in love is the most dangerous thing of all.

Blue is a thief who lives for adrenaline and danger. And when he meets Mick, a mercenary, he's hit with a buzz of attraction like the rush of a high-rise job without a safety rope. But after making plans to get together, Mick leaves him hanging, and Blue vows never again.

A year later, Mick watches helplessly as Blue stumbles into the middle of one of Mick's jobs. Risking his cover and their lives, Mick saves Blue and cares for him as he recuperates, but neither man has any idea how to handle the intimacy this forces them into.

Once Blue is safe, Mick redoubles his efforts to take down the drug lord responsible - and disappears. Blue goes after him, determined to return the favor and rescue the man he loves, no matter the cost.

©2014 SE Jakes (P)2018 Riptide Publishing

A thief, A merc, Sex drugs. WOW!

The trouble with spin-off type series is occasionally you feel lost. I am not sure if this is a spinoff or if some of the characters get spinoffs but I do Know Profit is In another Series. There is a prologue that fills us in on how these two guys actually met and a bet leaving Blue high and dry and wondering about Mick.
Fast forward a year later and Mick runs into Blue again. This time Blue is targeted by the bad guys and drugged with a sex drug. Mick rescues them. Que in some really sexy times.
Mick is shocked to see Blue again ( but is he) you find out why I say this later in the book.) Mick hides Blue out but has to go back to finish his job. Blue's sister is dying and Blue has to leave the safe house. Que in the tears. Grab some tissues. Clue in another twist ( though I would have liked to have seen this job. It kinda fades to black here.
There is a lot of twists, action, drama and of course sex.

Dorian Bane does a great job narrating giving all the characters a distinctive voice and adding action and intrigue to the story.
If you like May/ December (Mick is quite a bit older than Blue, Thieves, Mercenaries, bad boys, a great romance and some hot sex you will like this. I can't wait for more in this series. I just hope they are a little more longer.

The Thief and the Spy- Sizzling Hot Action Romance

It has been some time since I devoured each new release in the author's Hell or High Water Series and a few books loosely attached to this world, but there was one story I had not taken the opportunity to visit until now. Encountering it newly released in audio format with a favorite narrator was just the kick in the pants I needed to grab it.

As I indicated, Free Falling, is something of a crossover book. It bridges the Men of Honor and the Hell or High Water series. I've not read the Men of Honor series and encountered Mick and Blue as associates with Prophet and Tom in the Hell or High Water books. After listening to this one, I don't think it would work as a standalone or a prequel, very well. There is not much introduction to the world of the book and I felt like there was an assumption that the reader is already familiar with the series setting and the characters.

Free Falling is the story of how Mick and Blue came together through a series of encounters- some on and some off page- and gave more of their background.
While I'm as up for a lot of gritty and hot loving as the next person, I felt the plot suffered as a result of the device used to reunite this pair and give the motivation of the plot. I felt the relationship suffered because not once, but twice (making it nearly half the book) we spend with one or the other of this pair out of their minds due to some super-charged date rape drug that puts the poor recipient into a lust-filled craze for hours. The first time it happened it was defying belief (medically, particularly), but to have it occur again? Wish the plot could have gone with something else to have this pair working together in and out of the bedroom.

But for all my frustration with the date rape drug, I did feel this pair had some good chemistry. So opposite and so much more than they seemed to each other. I had a good time when they were locked away together in Mick's place driving each other nuts with their snark and Blue's antics. I was gulping back emotions when Blue was with his sister in the hospital and Mick came to support him. I would definitely love to see more of this pair working together.

As to the narration work, Dorian Bane was a great fit for this pair of rough and tumble guys, the dangerous world, and sizzling encounters. I had no trouble imagining what I was hearing from the characters to the storyline itself.

In summary, I was glad to finally get Mick and Blue's story, wish the drug hadn't been a part of it, but loved the action scenes and the pairs' chemistry. Those who are fans of either/both the Men of Honor and Hell or High Water series will love getting this story.

Feeling Blue

I love Blue. Mick is Great but Blue steals the spotlight for me. Dorian did a wonderful job and I enjoyed the audio as much as I did reading it. SE Jakes pulls out such wonderfully flawed characters that snatch you up and make you fall in love. I will listen and read this many times I have no doubt. Trust me if you are reading this review you will love it.

Exciting!

You don't need to be an EE fan to enjoy this one, though Prophet does make a few appearances.

The kind of kink I expect from SE Jakes, and an exciting little mystery too boot. Audio performed by Dorian Bane.

Where is SE Jakes now?

IMHO this is not a standalone novel. If I hadn't been reading along in the Hell or High Water Series I think I would have been very confused. As it stands, this is a very cute, super funny and sexy side story about some characters that Tom and Proph run with.
I wish I knew if this was a series that is over, because I have a hard time recommending it to people as it is. The author literally left us all hanging and - I don't know why - so I don't want to be mad at her - but... I kinda am mad at her.
She's an amazing writer with fantastic characters and plot devices but she's lousy at keeping her readership happy.

Dorian Bane did a nice job with the narration - these guys are gritty and his voice fits that blue collar feel.

Hard to give this a recommendation - but... it is really good so...

4 of 5 stars

Enjoyable Story

The story premise is good and the characters are likeable. The narration was good though not to my taste.