Justin Mallory has years of bad decisions to make up for, starting with agreeing to join the CIA after being recruited out of the Marines. Now he chooses the jobs and he works alone. It’s safer that way, and he can make sure the good guy always wins.But this job…he can’t do alone. Two pharmaceutical researchers are dead and a dangerous drug is on the cusp of winning FDA approval if he doesn’t … doesn’t track down the culprit behind the lies and murders.
Gabriel Prescott is a well-trained, efficient, and cold-blooded killer. After a brutal betrayal left his lover dead, Gabriel is out only for himself. But when this lucrative contract lands in his lap, he can’t pass it up. Even if it means working with the unpredictable and insane Justin Mallory.
Dodging bullets and secret meetings find them depending on each other. And one hot, frantic night together leads to a hidden sweetness…and questions of whether they could possibly have something more.
Newly Edited
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The newly expanded Deadly Lover is the first book in the Exit Strategy series. It is an excellent and wild opener for this series. Thoroughly engaging with non-stop action, intriguing characters that are quite likeable and a mystery with just enough twist and turn to make one keep on guessing until the end.
I can’t wait to read the next part of this series.
Definitely 5 stars!
I liked Justin and Gabriel together, even if I didn’t totally buy them as the elite operators they were supposed to be. I’m a big fan of the story where two guys have to work together to accomplish their mission even when they prefer to work alone. I like the friction that generates and here that ignites a really hot relationship. Their motives here are different, but if they succeed lots of people win. I look forward to more in this series.
This was better all around with the edits and the addition of the novella at the end.
Justin is so sunshiney for an assassin. Gabriel, supposedly the grump in this duo, isn’t really grumpy. He’s just…kinda sad I think. So watching him become happy is well worth their journey.
Lots of action, very hot, not so grumpy loves sunshine, good time
I can NOT say enough good things about this book. I’m in book heaven right now!!
You seriously need to read it, It’s crazy good!!!
I love books with unique, non-run of the mill characters so when I can pick up a crime family or mercenaries I grab it. Justin is working for himself and his handler brings him a very high dollar case, that will help him get closer to his goals of getting out of the business. At first, he isn’t interested, then when he hears the amount he can’t pass it up. Two doctors have been killed over their research for a cancer cure and someone wants him to find out who murdered them and to take that person out as well. However it is not a one-man job and his handler has just the man for him…. maybe in more ways than one.
Gabriel is sexy with an accent and also a mercenary and they tiptoe around each other at first but soon give into attraction.
I loved both of these men, the storyline was pretty good if not a bit underdeveloped but still interesting enough. I loved the peek into Gabriel’s past and would have liked more of Justin’s. I did love the end and want the next book ASAP.
I love Kenneth Obi’s narration. I loved the slight accent and the voice of Justin that was not a tough growly man’s voice. I felt it gave him more relatability.
3.5
Justin Mallory, American mercenary who never targeted children and rarely women is hired to track down the missing proof that something was wrong with the drug as well as uncover who was hiding it. after two doctors researching a cancer treatment drug, were killed. Justin is very interested, especially with the twenty-two million dollars paycheck, but “It’s a two-man job.”
Gabriel Prescott, is the second Russian mercenary brought in to finish the job.
While working the case the two men grow closer, depending on each other and are unable to deny the chemistry between them.
The story is action packed, it is an exciting and thrilling new series, that is a quick read, and ends with a HFN.
This could have been a solid 4* read, but it is in dire need of a thorough grammar check!
Sexy! Explosive!
This book is just sexy and explosive! Putting two main characters who have a lot of secrets between them largely because of the business they are in, and both so attractive, looks and brain combined, you have one story that is as explosive as it can be. Justin and Gabriel, in each of their interactions and dialogues are just sending out hotness and sparks, a sure recipe for a “scorching hot” story. They each have their secret pains to carry, each have doubts and have been hurt in one form or another. Gabriel, afraid to love again for fear of a repeat of what happened in his past, and Justin just world-weary of it all. But these two are amazingly strong beautiful men who found their purpose in life, however taxing and soul-wrenching they may be. Their story begs you to root for them to have their “happily ever after.” I can’t wait for the sequel to see what happens to this “wasn’t-a-good-idea-at-first-but-now-willing-to-give-it-their-all-kind-of-relationship” of these two. Amazingly hot novel Ms. Jocelynn Drake, thank you and CONGRATULATIONS!
Jocelynn Drake gives Deadly Lover the perfect amount of edginess and angst and tells an amazing story.
Justin and Gabriel have demons, and they have regrets and they certainly don’t like working with a partner, so I love how the author handles the slow burn on their way to discovering that having a partner isn’t so bad. In work, and in life. But wait, not so fast, this job may be done, but there’s some clean up that needs attending to…
This author writes some of the very best M/M romantic suspense, and Deadly Lover is the first in a new series, so I highly recommend you pick this one up!
The introduction of both main characters, their adventures are able to keep us in a great tension, but what I appreciate the most is the fact that both men understand the unique chance they got to love, they do their best to follow it, and are willing to start building their lives together.