In the Ruins

Publisher's Summary

Truth and lies.

Captain Jamie Callahan knows the Metahuman Defense Force frowns on fraternization. For once in his life, he’s breaking all the rules. Having Staff Sergeant Kyle Brannigan on his team and in his bed is worth the risk of being found out. When a mission comes down requiring Alpha Team to go undercover in order to infiltrate a criminal alliance, Jamie knows it won’t be easy. Putting his family’s name on the line is nothing compared to the role the MDF wants him to play - that of a billionaire’s son, discharged from the military, with a lover on his arm, looking to make his own shady business deals.

Dirty little secret.

Kyle knows the only way to be with Jamie is to hide their relationship from their superiors. Waking up to Jamie at home is more important than being together in public, or so Kyle thought, until he comes face to face with what he’s been missing. Pretending to be a couple on paper for the sake of the mission thrusts Kyle into a world of incredible wealth and a social status he’s not sure he belongs in, but he’ll do anything to stay by Jamie’s side.

Play the game to win.

Surrounded by the enemy, Jamie and Kyle need to trust each other now more than ever. Their covers - and the life they’re trying to build together - depend on it.

In the Ruins is a 105,000-word steamy gay sci-fi military romance with a HFN ending that skirts HEA. There is military violence within the story that may not be suitable for everyone, as well as explicit intimate scenes not suitable for listeners under the age of 18. This is a sequel to In the Wreckage, and listening to the first book in the series would be helpful in enjoying this one.

©2017 Hailey Turner (P)2018 Hailey Turner

Broome's Books

First, let me talk about the greatness of Greg Boudreaux as a narrator. He's got one of those voices that just hit the spot (with everyone but Annabelle, but that's just nitpicking about southern accents). I could probably listen to him speak with an English or a Scottish accent for days. Oh and the Russian accents *shiver*. I loved hearing Alexei's speaking parts. Boudreaux had a way with differentiating between different characters with his voice. I didn't get lost in conversation sections. I knew who was talking and how they were feeling in that moment. He made it very easy to get lost in this world and I highly recommend listening to his work. I already have his other three works in my to listen list. 

Now on to the story! 

In the Ruins picks up a few months after In the Wreckage ends. We see the MDF going undercover to continue their fight against a group of criminal organizations who are working together, instead of fighting each other, for power. 

They utilize Jamie's family wealth as the background for the teams covers. There are a lot of challenges that come with this. Jamie has to become a person he used to be and never wanted to be again; selfish, overbearing, unkind. Kyle experiences what Jamie's life was like before the Marines and just how wealthy Jamie's family is. 

Also, Jamie and Kyle can publicly be together due to Kyle's cover as Jamie's arm candy. They can hold hands, they can kiss, they can sleep in the same bed without having to sneak out of the room early in the morning. These two men have chemistry that is out of this world. It's obvious that that their relationship has continued to grow. The scenes with only two pair of them together, oh boy. Just turn the AC down and grab a fan, cause things just got hot. They are beyond intense. 

Their mission was always at the forefront of their minds. Even if I lost track of what the mission actually was at some points. I liked that the action balanced out with the romance parts. This universe that Turner has created is amazing. I could see what Jamie's apartment looked like. Then I could see 2285 London, the underground, the museum where the gala took place. The way she described the characters and the settings, it was opulent. That's the only word that would do this world justice. 

There were a few parts that dragged on for me and got a bit slow. I think it may be because I got so attached to Alexei. Will I continue this series? Most likely. I really enjoy the detail Turner puts into her novels and her characters. Should you read this? If you like sci-fi, military, steamy romances, yes. One hundred percent yes.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Narrator is the icing on an already great cake

So happy another installment of this series is available on audio, can’t wait for the rest! This was an unexpectedly excellent Kindle Unlimited series, I highly recommend reading the whole thing.

Mostly this review is to rave about the narrator’s performance. Already one of my favorite narrators, Greg Boudreaux had an extra challenge with the amount of international accents needed for this book. He did a fantastic job, making an already good book a great listening experience.

PS - if someone can get him to perform a book with a lot of Irish and Scottish men, that would be just lovely :)

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Really enjoying the series but only 2 books.

l enjoying this story. Didn't like how his book ended and that don't have the other books in this series on audibles. I wouldn't have bought the books if I knew I wasn't going to be able to get the full series. Would have given 5 stars if the full series was made available.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

One of my favorite series

So I can't wait for the rest of the series to come out on audiobook format. I've read the entire series myself but generally if I do a re-read I'd rather listen to it. Hailey Turner is one of my personal favorite authors (no qualifiers). I'm also enjoying her newest series as well. The author is fantastic at world building and in capturing the camaraderie between the characters as well as the blossoming love story. The intimate scenes as well as the action scenes are done remarkably well in my opinion. I just love everything Hailey Turner puts. out.

As for the narrator I've enjoyed his narration on some other books and this was no different, he has a pleasing voice. I do wish he would sometimes do a little bit more emoting during certain scenes.

Excellent Narrator Saves The Story

Full disclosure- I'm here for the ScFi story, not gay erotica. I would have enjoyed book 2 so much more if it had been told from the perspective of another main character, like Kyle's brother. I loved book one but I really didn't need a rehash of how Jamie and Kyle roll in bed or Jamie's family drama. (I like butt sex as much as any gay guy, but seriously, TMI !)... The metahuman story line seemed to take back seat to more Jame/Kyle play time. Apart from the sex, the plot in book two is all about political intrigue (kinda boring) and Jamie's ongoing conflicts with his farther. Lots of over the top angst that seemed out of character for a guy like Jamie. The metahuman good guy/bad guy battles are minor and infrequent.
I'll consider book three with caution (and rubber gloves).

Excellent!

I had not gotten a chance to listen to the first one in the series so I did not know what to expect...OMG, it was phenomenal! Greg Boudreaux brought this amazing book to life in a way that totally made you feel like you were part of the action! I cannot wait to listen to the next one!

Amazing Narration, Wonderful Story

What an amazing story. Greg Boudreaux does a great job with suspense, love and especially with the different voices!!!

I wouldn't recommend listening to the story without listening to the first one. Though you can keep up there is so much back story with all the characters and its worth knowing. Plus, the first story is also amazing.

Jamie and Kyle work wonderfully together. The trust between the two is on point and needs to be to overcome the challenges they face in this suspenseful, action packed mystery that will keep you on your toes from the very beginning to the very end.

I will be recommending this series.

You don't want to miss this one!

Overall 5 Stars!

In the Ruins is book 2 in The Metahuman Files series and it needs to be read/listened to in order.

First of all, I'm absolutely in love with Hailey Turner's writing and her world-building. It's detailed, but not overwhelmingly so, action-packed and fast-paced and very, very sexy. There are some elements of D/s and damn if Jamie and Kyle aren't hot, hot, HOT together! *fans self* The chemistry between them and their team carried off well from the first book and I'm really enjoying the dynamics and seeing them in action. I'm not particularly fond of multiple POVs in book, but it worked well here and I'm intrigued about Sean and Alexei and hope to see more of them in the future.

The narration was amazing! Greg Boudreaux's talent is undeniable and I just adored all the different voices and accents he managed for the great array of characters, both masculine and feminine. He provided the necessary inflections and emotions to his voice to elevate the book from something that was already really good into fantastic.

Really, you can't go wrong with this one, just don't forget to pick book 1 up first. ;)

Don't miss out on this amazing story!

What a great addition to the Metahuman Files series! I love the world that Hailey has created. This story has it all! Sci-fi, action and romance. I got lost in the wonderful word created by Hailey. The characters that she has brought to life! The action is intense and not predictable. The chemistry between Jamie and Kyle continues to be off-the-charts sizzling that jumps out of the page.

Greg Boudreaux does an amazing job in giving these amazing characters voice. He adds so much depth and dimension to an already deeply written story.

I couldn't stop listening!

The universe presented in this series is a scary place, with a chemical used in bombs that can either kill a person or give him or her a new power. Kyle and Jamie have each been turned into metahumans in separate attacks, and now work together with others like them to try to make the world safer. These two are wonderful together - smart, sexy, and devoted to each other. Their team is like family to each other, and I love all their interactions. The plot is horrifying and brilliant, and it almost seemed that I was watching a movie rather than listening to a book during especially action-packed scenes.
The narrator took an amazing story and made it even better. He brought the characters to life so well, I never had to wonder who was speaking.
This book is excellent. I haven't read or listened to book one, but this one still held my interest from beginning to end. I do plan on listening to both books in order soon to get the full effect of a great story, and I hope that more of the series will be on audio soon.

Awesome

Greg Boudreaux His accents for Alexi spot on, for each character I love his voice. Can't wait for the rest of this series. A new fan here.
The book seemed more alive with this is audible.

Great second instalment

Another exciting instalment in this military/sci-fi series - the action shifts to London and I was pleased at the way the author incorporated it into the story (I've done a lot of walking backwards and forwards through those tunnels under Exhibition Road on the way to South Ken station!) The overarching plotline of the series - terrorist groups are out to create Metahumans of their own - really kicks into gear, and we get to meet Jamie's friend, Liam - thirteenth in line to the British throne - and a new team-member, ex CIA agent, Sean Delaney. Hm. Alexei doesn't like spooks. Although... he might like this spook...

I'm loving the storyline about Jamie and his family - he really is stuck between a rock and a hard place, caught between his desire to serve his country and his love for his family (and he does love them, no matter that they drive him up the wall) - and there's more relationship development in this one. In In the Wreckage what was going on between Jamie and Kyle was more of a full-on shagfest, but now there's the sense that what's between them is more than that. There's still some full-on shagfesting going on, but I was pleased by the relationship stuff as well ;)

Greg Boudreaux is excellent as ever - he sports a suitably posh English accent as Liam (and the few other English characters in the story), and although there are a lot of male characters in the main cast, they're well differentiated so there's no confusion as to who you're listening to. My one niggle is that there's a scene featuring an Irish character who sounds mostly Scottish. But that's it -otherwise, it's a strong performance that hits all the highs and lows and everywhere in-betweens.

Fingers crossed the rest of the series will come out in audio soon.

A cracking sequel!

This is fast becoming one of my favourite series at the moment, the plot is exciting, the world building and characters well developed and the chemistry between Jamie and Kyle is HOT!
I believe that Hailey Turner has 5 books in the series so far, and I hope there are plans for the other 3 to go on audio, with the exceptionally talented Greg Boudreaux continuing to narrate as he has the vocal range and ability to vocalise all the different foreign accents perfectly.

Love the series so far, but

I do love a series and I really liked this one narrated by Greg Boudreaux. But I have to issues.

1 the sex even though isn’t often is excessive. I know some people think it’s hot, but it makes me blush like a school ma’am after a while. I know, I know I’m a prude but wow it does go on and on and on.

2. Greg’s narration sometimes jars me. I’ve listened to other narrators and even though I do like Greg’s voice, sometimes it sounds stilted with no clear definition of character.

Apart from that a good solid book, with a great ending to start the next book in the series.