Need for Speed

The Elite, Book 2

By: Brooke Blaine, Ella Frank

Narrated by: Aiden Snow, Christian Fox

Length: 4 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's Summary

Need for Speed is the continuation of Solo and Panther’s story and should only be heard after book one, Danger Zone. 

They train to serve their country.
They strive to be the best.
But only a select few can be....
The Elite  

Mateo Morgan
Call Sign: Solo  

Reckless, arrogant, and bold, Solo is as known in the US Navy for his bad-boy reputation as he is for his skills as a fighter pilot. It’s a surprise to his peers, then, when he’s chosen to train and compete at the most prestigious naval aviation academy in the world. 

Mission Rules:
1. Kick everyone’s ass.
2. Do whatever it takes to win.
3. Do your best to distract the competition.
4. Especially when that competition is a gorgeous blue-eyed perfectionist who makes your blood run hot.  

Grant Hughes
Call Sign: Panther

Disciplined, smart, and confident, Panther can’t afford not to play by the rules. As the son of a top Navy commander, all eyes are on him, and being anything less than number one is unacceptable. 

Mission Rules:
1. Keep it safe in the air.
2. Prove you’re more than Commander Hughes’s son.
3. No distractions. Stay focused.
4. Don’t fall for your competition - especially not the rebellious heartbreaker with lips made for sinning. 

In the heat of the hot California sun, tempers flare and desires ignite as Solo and Panther try to resist their attraction while fighting to be number one. 

With passion this intense, the question remains: Who’s gonna come out on top?

©2020 Ella Frank & Brooke Blaine (P)2020 Audible, Inc.

Neeeeed for the next book stat!

Oh my lort. Panther and Solo are the absolute best. We start to dig deeper in this book. Get to know Solo than just his facade. Also get to know Panther too. Their relationship evolves at a pace that’s natural to them. The flights described in the books is even more epic when they’re narrated. And the sexy times, holy tamales!

Aiden and Christian are perfect as Panther and Solo.

I’m going to dive into the last book of this series. I already know it’s going to be amazing & I can’t wait for the audio version of it.

Hot and yummy!

Audiobook review by Mel
4.5 Blue Roses

4 Blue flames

Dual Narrators Aiden Snow and Christian Fox successfully delivered one of the sexiest series of the year. Everyone knows my Aiden is the best, but coupled with Christian Fox, the pair produced one hell of a ride, or should I say flight? Both these men have a deep and smooth timbre in their voices, which are ideally suited for the testosterone-filled airforce trainee fighter pilot series. They complimented each other and were able to pick up and run with the tension bouncing back and forth. It was magic! They are absolutely a winning combination.

The Series itself is tribute or fanfare to “Top Gun” the movie. Man, could I visualize how the flights went? How they took flight into the air and how the protagonists experienced the velocity and strength of the jets. I watched that movie as a child many-many times. Loving the sexy men in their uniforms and aviator sunglasses, jets, motorbikes, and the speed, and this exactly what the plot is all about.

Panther and Solo are both alpha male personalities. Thanks to the excellent narration, they have stolen my heart and now I am obsessed. They are all kinds of sexy and the chemistry between the two of them is smoldering hot. They have a love-hate relationship in the beginning, which quickly grows into banter and then mutual respect.

As for the cliffhangers…

I would recommend waiting until all three are available on audio. It’s actually one story chopped up in three pieces. This is why I never want to listen to short, audiobooks. It’s quite irritating, imagine, going to the movies and halfway through they stop the movie, tell you to go home and come back in three months to watch the rest. But, I was such an eager beaver to hear my Aiden, I could not click-buy-listen fast enough.

Happy Listening

Hmmm

The second book. Still no idea whatsoever on the point of this book’s storyline …
Good narrators.

The heart is getting deeper in this!

The second story in this series, your heart will definitely feel more. Panther and Solo can no longer deny their attraction. But they need to keep it hidden on base and from Panther's parents. This isn't always easy, especially after Panther is injured in flight. Small cliffhanger at the end, awaiting book three

Cliffhanger did not take from the story - really just introduces the next act nicely.

Excellent Narration by both Aiden Snow and Christian Fox.

Review for the whole trilogy

What a lovely trilogy! If you, like me, went "Wait a minute..." when you watched Top Gun and was just waiting for romance to bloom in the flight academy, this is definitely for you! From the titles to the overall vibe, this will hit the spot.

Solo and Panther have a chance encounter at a bar and sparks definitely fly between them, but when the brooding and very reserved Panther sees the dog tags peeking from Solo's t-shirt, he backs off. The last thing he wants is to get involved with another military man. 

However, the Fates intervene and when he gets to The Elite, the Navy Flight School, he finds Solo there - as his direct competitor for the #1 spot. Both of them have issues: Panther is Navy royalty and his father is a legendary pilot and Solo lost his only brother, a hot shot pilot himself (and his only remaining family member) in a deadly flight maneuver.

Through the books, we will follow Solo relentlessly pursue Panther, Panther giving in and, finally, the unexpected happens: they fall in love.

This was a delight! Relatively low angsty with two heroes to die for. The expected issues of two military men being in a relationship are tackled with a delicate hand by Brooke and Ella and you absolutely fall in love with them as a couple. Loved it! So fun!

Narration: Dear Lawd... Aiden Snow as the broody Panther and Christian Fox as the cocky and playful Solo. End result of this? My ears are singed!!! (Note: Christian Fox needs to UNretire, I swear... a herd of unicorns died in the enchanted forest when he stopped narrating...)

Rep and possible triggers: MM romance. queer romance. Main characters deal with coming out while in the military, mentions of death of family members, life threatening accident on page, hospitalization 

Fantastic series!💜

This was a great story. (This review mostly reflects the entire series)The chemistry was on fire and the banter between all the characters was so much fun. Interesting that it was written in 3 parts because it could have easily been 1 book. Either way, it was a romantic story with just enough sex, drama & humor, to keep you coming back for more. Each book was equally entertaining.
The narration was on fire 🔥🔥🔥. Seriously, Aiden Snow & Christian Fox? Whew, These two were absolutely perfect and performed these characters brilliantly.
This is book 2 and does have a cliffhanger. Lucky for you, all 3 books are published with audio. I highly recommend this book/series.

Sisters Spotlight 💜
#pinkflamingo
#theflock

These men....sigh

I couldn't wait to start this story. The cliffy after book 1 was crazy and I needed to see what would happen next! Mateo and Grant's relationship soars to new levels as they work through what could have been a tragic event. Mateo doesn't give up on Grant. The chemistry between these two is super hot and WOW. I loved how they got so much closer in this part of the story and you could see that they were both falling hard.

The narrators were once again amazing as these two incredible men.

taking shape

Things are taking shape! I left the first book in The Elite Series with some mixed feelings about the predictability and where the romance was going. Even with its big cliffy, I was waffling about continuing with the series. That said, the OCD in me wanted to see where things would go, and spending a few more hours listening to the narration by Aiden Snow and Christian Fox is certainly not a chore.
I really like where this second book in the series is going. Even though we get another cliffy - not as big as the first one, in my opinion, but still a cliffy. Both Solo and Panther have some personal stuff to sort through, and at least one of them just may figure out that things aren't exactly what he thought. These guys are both all alpha, and it's like they don't know how to be any other way. Somehow, though, it works for them. The chemistry between them is good, and the further into the story I got, the more that chemistry comes through. By the time I made it to the cliffhanger in this one, I was pretty well invested in seeing this romance through, and I have to know what happens immediately after the last line in book 2.
So, if you've been undecided about continuing with this series, I'd recommend reading or listening to Need for Speed. I was pleasantly surprised with the way the storyline is taking shape, and these guys have pulled me right in to their story.

Sparks fly...

Need for Speed is part two in Solo and Panther's story. It picks up where book one left off and it was an emotional read, with all the sparks. I loved the way this story and their feelings for each other developed. But we are left with another cliffy!?! I need to see how their story ends asap!

As for the narration, I absolutely love Aiden Snow and Christian Fox as Solo and Panther. Their voices just draw you in and keep you mesmerized.

Great!

I loved the next stop in Panther and Solo’s journey! In this one we get more of their relationship development and overall chemistry. They’re also hiding a lot and so I loved seeing how they navigated their relationship while still keeping it a secret from their friends and Panther’s family. It was definitely entertaining for sure.

I will say, I did mark a half star off for some military blunders.. a hat is called a cover and it’s only worn inside if the member is carrying a firearm and it is always worn outside. The other, Whiplash was described as having her hair professionally styled when they went to the ball, which she would have had to have it done in regulation so unless she has her standard bun done professionally, which seems like a waste, it wouldn’t have been in regs. I know this is being overly picky, but as a military spouse of 15 years, those little nuances bug me.

Overall though, I definitely loved the story and can’t wait for the final installment!

3rd time around

Having discovered this series last year, this is my 3rd time listening to it. And even though it is 3rd time, I still love it as much as I did the first. ❤️❤️❤️

Sizzling

Part 2 of this scintillating tale narrated by champion narrators Fox and Snow. Everything you'd want from a follow on.

Well done Audible another gem, but I'm not amused to find this story is in 3 parts with the final part not available yet!

No HEA or HFN ending in this book! You must buy Book 3.

Action packed

I really enjoyed this series. I was very sad when it ended. I loved the first book best as the tension between them is red hot. This is a good sequel and Aiden Fox is a dream narrator.

cliffy

This cliffhanger was not as dramatic as book 1 but i still dived right into book 3. These 2 characters are on fire and can't wait to get the conclusion.

Part two flying high

Story: The natural flow of the story was very well done in this series. We jump into the plot right where it was left off. I loved the emotional side of the MCs that came out more and more in this part. The authors did a great job capturing the development of the relationship.

Narration: Very good dual narration.

Love these two

God another great instalment to panther and solo! The steam is on point! Loving this story and how they are progressing in their relationship.

I’m hooked!

The cliffhanger ending of book 1 definitely made me want to ignore all the rest of my reading plans and get right to book 2, so that’s exactly what I did. Once again the narration is superb! This time we get a bit more of a slow burn story between Panther and Solo, with a sprinkling of hurt/comfort trope but with the same great banter their characters had in book 1. The chemistry between them is still scorching, but book 2 allows for their budding relationship to build and develop a bit more, and leads directly into book 3!

4.5stars

The same narrators as Danger Zone loved them in the last one and loved them in this. This picked up where the first one left off. Panther, a known hard a$$, really allowed himself to be vulnerable with Solo and developed a new perspective on life after his accident. Solo, being Solo, was the listening ear that he needed and someone that he could depend on. I loved that we got to see the growth in their relationship and them realising that there is more to life than being a fighter pilot. As said in my last review the narrators showed the chemistry between Panther and Solo and I loved every single minute of it.

Also note that this book provided a valuable life lesson, that fear is can be crippling and if we allow it, we can lose opportunities that come our way because we give in to fear.

Melting

Aiden and Christian have done it again, gave voice to these characters in the most amazing way. And that ending…Damn. I’m melting.
Solo and Panther’s story keeps getting better and better. They fit together like two pieces of a puzzle, and the chemistry between them. You could light a room on fire with these two.
I’m loving every single second of this series, and I can’t wait for the next book

Gripping!!

This is the second installment in this fast paced series!!

I was absolutely ecstatic when the author released a second book in this series!

The narrators performed an epic narration.


The characters were relatable and amazing as always.


Can't wait to sink my teeth in the next in this trilogy.