Rise & Fall

By: Charlie Cochet

Narrated by: Mark Westfield

Length: 8 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's Summary

THIRDS, Book 4 - Sequel to Rack & Ruin

After an attack by the Coalition leaves THIRDS Team Leader Sloane Brodie critically injured, agent Dexter J. Daley swears to make Beck Hogan pay for what he's done. But Dex's plans for retribution are short-lived. With Ash still on leave with his own injuries, Sloane in the hospital, and Destructive Delta in the Coalition's crosshairs, Lieutenant Sparks isn't taking any chances. Dex's team is pulled from the case, with the investigation handed to Team Leader Sebastian Hobbs. Dex refuses to stand by while another team goes after Hogan, and decides to put his old HPF detective skills to work to find Hogan before Theta Destructive, no matter the cost.

With a lengthy and painful recovery ahead of him, the last thing Sloane needs is his partner out scouring the city, especially when the lies - however well-intentioned - begin to spiral out of control. Sloane is all too familiar with the desire to retaliate, but some things are more important, like the man who's pledged to stand beside him. As Dex starts down a dark path, it's up to Sloane to show him what's at stake, and finally put a name to what's in his heart.

©2015 Charlie Cochet (P)2015 Dreamspinner Press

Mark Westfield does it again!

Any additional comments?

Once again, Mark Westfield elevates the story with his wonderful character voices and narration. 5 stars for the audio!

I absolutely love and adore Mark Westfield’s narration of this series! To me, it’s Westfield’s narration that makes this series shine.

I enjoyed this story the best out of the series. I loved getting to see the relationship between Sloane and Dex deepen. I loved seeing Calvin and Hobbs give in to their feelings for one another. Finally, I loved Cael and Ash finally begin to come to terms with the feelings they are having for each other (or really, Ash come to terms, because Cael was already there).

I *didn’t* like Dex lying and going off on his own to investigate. It was good it was cleared up without too many mistakes that Dex wouldn’t have been able to come back from.

One thing I did miss is the humor that was present in the other books. There is some humor just not as much as the other books. However, it’s totally understandable being there was so much pain, etc. happening. This story definitely has a heavier emotional and angst-filled tone than the others in the series, but the emotion is so well done and the story flows really, really well.

Finally, Tony in the end? Classic!

What can I say? This series is full of humor, action, suspense, and sexy times. Couple all of that with Mark Westfield’s narrative delivery, and I’m hooked! Fans of the series won’t be disappointed with this installment. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next audio book in the series!

RECOMMENDED!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Fantastic Series with Fantastic Narration

Wow. Just wow. This book is sooooo full of good feels.

Sloane and Dex are so wonderfully gushy and sweet in this book. Their relationship is definitely cemented by the end.

We get a peek into the mystery that is Hobbs and an amazingly sexy and funny scene between him and Calvin.

Ash is looking like less and less of a hard ass and more and more like the love of Cael’s life.

All of the relationship stuff is amazing. The dialog, like always is hysterical. The spying done is both naughty and funny. The danger… well this isn’t really that “tense” of a book.

The biggest “hurdle” in this story is Dex trying to avenge Sloane’s attack. Predictably, Sloane doesn’t want him involved, and in fact, the team has been ordered to stand down. But… Dex is determined to capture the culprit himself, in Sloane’s name.

I kinda wanted to shake Dex, and totally understood Sloane’s feelings about it. I liked, however, that this was the first time we saw Dex as the guy who might screw up the relationship, and Sloane was doing everything “right” for a change.

All in all this totally appealed to my every romantic sensibility and tickled my funny bone.

I can’t wait for the next installment and I really hope Calvin and Hobbs get their own book ☺



Audio

I really enjoy Mark Westfiled’s narrations. He does a great job differentiating the different and myriad characters. He adds extra touches like altering his voice for telecom and intercom communications. I love even his female characters and his accents are wonderful!

5 of 5 stars

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Reminds me ofFriends--but the Special Ops version

This book starts with an anxious Dex sitting vigil at the bedside of his team leader Sloane, though it becomes apparent very quickly to the hospital staff that their bond is deeper than professional.

Let me first start by saying that one needs to suspend belief in order to enjoy each member of the Disruptive Delta (“DD” for short). For instance, for such a “great” soldier, Dex has difficulty following orders. In every installment of this series, there has been serious situations where Dex completely disregards orders to do what he thinks is best. I both enjoy and dislike his maverick ways. As a cast, Team DD remind me of the show Friends. They are fun and entertaining. I love how loyal and trusting they are with each other. In addition, I am amused by the fact that Team DD seems incapable of keeping secrets from each other.

The narrator really does a great job capturing their personality. Dex’s voice sounds jovial, Sloane sounds serious, Ash sounds a tad snippy, Lettie sounds compassionate etc. I don’t know if I would enjoy this books as much on print as I am used the audiobook format.

What I appreciated most about book 4 was the progression in relationships. Cael and Ash’s impasse in the last book was sad and finally we got the acknowledgment of their feelings for each other. Others getting some love action were Calvin and Hobbes, Seb and Austen, even Lou (Dex’s ex-boyfriend).

Even though most of Team DD experienced some resolution in their respective personal lives here, it’s clear that their professional lives hang in the balance. Dex and Cael’s dad has the bat, and I don’t know what he is doing to do to the team…or to Sloane and Ash’s knee caps.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

One of the best UF series out there.

The first thing you need to know about THIRDS agent Dexter J. Daley is that he lives to bend the rules. He never does what he’s told. He is loving, unruly, and hilarious.

In Dex’s world, being gay is perfectly normal and accepted, but the two co-existing species, humans and therians, are constantly at war. Humans fear the shapeshifting Therians, and Therians resent being forced to register and get tattoos on their necks. The conflict is always brewing and acts of terrorism from both sides are far too common. Enter Therian-Human Intelligence, Recon, Defense Squadron, also known as the THIRDS, whose only mission is to keep the peace between the two races.

Agents Dexter Daley and Sloane ‘Broody Bear’ Brodie are THIRDS agents. One is human and the other is therian. They are both excellent agents, but personally they’re as different as they can be. They are also partners, on and off work. Dex is a half-glass-full type of person, loveable, extroverted and funny. He is very close to his father and brother and he makes friends with seeming ease. Sloane Brodie is none of the above. Having lost his previous partner and lover, he is very careful with his feelings. It’s always one step forward, two steps back between him and Dex. But he is strong, honest and fair, even when someone doesn’t deserve it.

Rise & Fall is the fourth book in Charlie Cochet’s THIRDS series, and like the three before, it left me completely in awe. This is how everyone should write paranormal fiction, M/M fiction, action, romance… everything. This is how everyone should write. Enough said.

I remember starting this series with a very healthy dose of skepticism. I didn’t need another Cut & Run series, with two amazing, all-powerful agents perfect in everything they do. I wanted strong, but fallible men with a great sense of humor and a romance I could actually enjoy. But Charlie Cochet must have known exactly what her readers crave because she gave us a series that is both amazing and insanely popular.

I can’t say too much about the plot in Rise & Fall for fear of spoiling some important detail from the previous two books, but I can say that this book is the biggest emotional rollercoaster so far. By now, the Destructive Delta agents are all very familiar to us: Ash, Cael, Letty, Hobbs and others have become our close friends. There’s so much going on in this series, plenty of action and danger from all sides, but the characters are what makes it truly stand out, and their weird dynamic is a constant source of amusement.

Mark Westfield narrates the story beautifully. He is the perfect person to bring us Dex’s light-hearted perspective. Every emotion comes through loud and clear in his voice, and although I read this one the second it came out, I couldn’t resist getting the audio when it finally showed up.


I highly recommend this series to anyone looking for excitement, excellent characters and a whole lot of action. Oh, and laughter. Lots and lots of it.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Can't wait for #Five!!!!

Mark Westfield is such a good narrator!!! He us especially good with the female voices. Most male narrators are horrible with their feminine cgaracters. He is awesome. As for the review, if you are a fan, you already know. If not, start with book 1 and fall in love!!!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Buddy cop meets rom-com

love these books, this team, and all the sexy coup. more words words words words

Watch out...

The stories keep getting better and better. I enjoy how Cochet intertwines all aspects of the story. Though the main characters are Sloan and Dex...whom I love and adore, I can see where Cochet is beginning to fill in some of the other character's stories and how it's a pivotal part of the story. Dex is my man!!!

So much fun!!!

I am so happy these books are a continuous story line. I love investing in characters through many books. Getting to know these guys and their team in depth is very rewarding for me!!! Charlie has a great sense of humor too which adds to the enjoyment!

breathtaking

incredible amount of Romance and wonderfull development of her character so far I'm so pleased with this latest novel and cannot wait to get started her on the other one which I have already bought!

I love this series!

Which scene was your favorite?

It is a toss up between Dex at the hospital with Sloan, or Dex saving his brother.

Any additional comments?

I like how in this book you see Dex fallible, he always seems to do the right thing in his relationship with Sloan, but in this story he make some bad choices. I like that because it makes his character more real.

Sooooo good!

AUDIO REVIEW

I'm seriously loving revisiting this series in audio! I loved them when I read them the first time but it's a whole new experience in audio. As with the previous books Mark Westfield delivers fabulous narration. This is the book I fell in love with Ash Keeler, in the previous books Ash was just a bit of an ass but in this book he really shows his true colours and I just adore him.

This book picks up where book 3 ended on a mega cliff hanger! At the end of book 3 Sloan gets blown up in a car explosion meant for Ash. This book follows his recovery and Dex's single minded determination to seek justice, even going against Sparks orders and lying to Sloan.

Their relationship is tested in this book but their love and strength really emerges in this one and it was lovely to listen to. Sloan finally pulls his head out his ass and admits his true depth of feeling for Dex and they even takes it one step further in a particularly intense scent towards the end!

Secondary characters were again amazing. We get to know some of the other characters in this book particularly Seb and Austen who is hilarious. The other couplings in Destructive Delta become more intense in this book and there is one down right hilarious scene involving Hobbs, Calvin, Dex and Lou's converted catering van that was soooo funny in audio.

I'm so excited for book 5! Cael and Ash in audio eeeek!!!

Another winner

If you could sum up Rise & Fall in three words, what would they be?

Brilliant, addictive, compulsory.

What other book might you compare Rise & Fall to, and why?

It's only possible to compare this with the other THIRDS audios and it's just as fabulous as the others.

Have you listened to any of Mark Westfield’s other performances? How does this one compare?

All of his work with the THIRDS books. I look forward to hearing more from him.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

All I can say is " White latex" and the last half dozen pages!

Any additional comments?

These books and audios just can't come fast enough!

Superb

If you could sum up Rise & Fall in three words, what would they be?

Fun, fast, fantastic

Who was your favorite character and why?

cannot choose, love them all, although I would like a Sloane of my own

What about Mark Westfield’s performance did you like?

He's excellent, the feeling of the books are really brought to life, the characterisations and the voices. He communicates the passion, the anger, the regret, and the humour. He's perfect for this series.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, and I have done a number of times!

Any additional comments?

It amazes me that certain other books have achieved acclaim when they are barely literate, but gems such as these are missed. Even if you don't like the sex scenes skip past them the rest of the books are worth it, they stand without the erotica, which can't be said for all m/m books.