A rogue Black Ops unit with the president in their crosshairs.A Secret Service agent who will break every rule.A president falling for the one person he shouldn’t—a man.Newly elected President Jack Spiers’s presidency is rocked from the very beginning, and he’s working furiously to keep the world from falling apart. Between terrorism attacks ripping apart Europe, Russia’s constant posturing and … constant posturing and aggression, and the quagmire of the Middle East, Jack is struggling to keep his campaign promise—to work toward a better, safer world.
For Special Agent Ethan Reichenbach, Jack is just another president, the third in twelve years. With Jack’s election, he’s been promoted, and now he’s running the presidential detail, which puts him side by side with Jack daily. He’s expecting another stuffed suit and an arrogant DC politician, but Jack shocks him with his humor and humanity.
There are rules against a Secret Service agent and one of their protectees developing a friendship—big rules. Besides, Jack is straight as a ruler, and a widower, and Ethan has always avoided falling for straight men. Ethan keeps his distance, but Jack draws him in, like gas to a naked flame, and it’s a lure he isn’t strong enough to turn away from.
As the two men collide, rules are shattered and the world teeters on the verge of war, and a rogue Black Ops unit bent on destruction sets Jack in their deadly crosshairs. Ethan must put everything on the line in order to save the man he’s come to love, Jack’s presidency, and the world.
*** Expanded second special edition, with 15,000+ additional words, expanded scenes, and character artwork.
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I don’t know why I waited so long to read this series. It’s amazing! It’s action packed, full of twists and turns you won’t see coming, and with some romances that you’ll remember forever. The last book was a bit too drawn out for my taste, but what an amazing series.
I came late to this series but wow I devoured all three in a week. Amazing reads
I definitely should have read it sooner. It was way better than I thought it would be. The politics aspect that I worried about was rather interesting especially since it contributed to main characters development. Oh gosh, Ethan’s depth of feelings for Jack and his pain were felt in every word and every glance he directed at the man. I got invested into the story immediately. Tal Bauer writes in a certain way that just pulls me in. And starting the book with intrigue and a touch of mystery is definitely the best move!
Another aspect of the story that really fascinated me was the workings of the White House and all its inhabitants. Wow, the detail and thought put into this side of story made it so compelling to read. I loved little tidbits, the dark humor the agents shared when it got too much.
I wonder why the author started Jack’s POV around 28% mark and not sooner. I guess they wanted to show Jack through Ethan’s perspective before letting me decide for myself if I liked him. Oh, how could I not! Jack is such a personable character, a man of strength and loyalty that inspires absolute respect from those around him. I liked how slow the author stared with their relationship. From coworkers they turned to friends, then it all went deeper. I loved the fun, the touching and the tense moments between them. The intimate times were so sweet as well as passionate and always filled with emotions. That was not scratching an inch. Both Jack and Ethan risked so much, but in the end life wasn’t worth living without the said risk. Tal Bauer made me feel all of this. It was intense, on steroids intense, and I loved it.
The political intrigue, the subtle way small pieces were inserted here and there were very clever. I enjoyed the puzzle, the chase and the action, boy was there action and teeth rattling suspense! I couldn’t tear myself away! I loved the secondary characters that played important role in Jack and Ethan’s relationship. Some were friends, and some were not. I was surprised as to who was not.
The story was so worth reading, and I am berating myself for not picking it up sooner. I loved the pace, the plot twists and especially the mushy parts where both men who were quite formidable and at times fierce mooned over each other and said such sweet things that teeth would normally rot but in this case made this book even better. Hello, my new book boyfriends!
To put it in a nutshell: fast paced, suspenseful, engrossing, moderate to high steamy, impassioned and moving, with plot twists that will keep you guessing and with a cast of characters that will make you love, hate, cry and get angry but will bring the story to a spectacular finale with a nice HFN. I loved it!
Phenomenal book and series. Clever, intense, gripping. Loved it.
It’s been a long time–too long–since I experienced a book, or a series, that completely blew my mind and left me longing for more. A story that captured my heart and my imagination and took me on a journey so emotional, so terrifying, yet so uplifting I was left utterly astounded by it. A book that made me sob uncontrollably, but was so overwhelming in every way that I could not, for the life of me, put it down long enough to compose myself. An author whose passion is reflected in every word, on every page, from beginning to end.
Enemies of the State is that book. The Executive Office is that series. And Tal Bauer is that author. I will be forever grateful to the reader whose comment in a random Facebook group led me to this discovery, because I will never, ever, forget this powerful, absolutely epic series. A series I will go back to, time and time again, with characters that have taken up residence in my soul.
I’ve just finished crying my way through Enemies of the State for the second time in two weeks. The first time, I devoured it, and it devoured me. A flight attendant on my cross-country journey kept checking on me and bringing me water while I sobbed, gripped my e-reader with deadly force, and defied anyone else to interrupt me. I downloaded the rest of the series as soon as we landed, and finished it in less than two days. The second time, I read slowly, savoring the story, hoping it would never, ever end. Still, it ended too soon. And I will always want more of Jack Spiers and Ethan Reichenbach. Always.
This book–this series–has it all. I felt every sensation; I lived and breathed with Jack and Ethan, experiencing the events that shaped their journey in a visceral way that nearly defies description. Gripping … breath-taking … scorching hot … intelligent … passionate … compelling … heart-pounding … uplifting …. riveting … utterly unique … believable … terrifying … heart-breaking … all of the above, and so much more.
Thank you, Tal Bauer, for this brilliant, flawless story. It’s the best thing I’ve read in 2019, and, in fact, better than any series I’ve read in the last five years. For someone who reads and reviews 2-3 books a week, I hope that speaks for itself. You’ve made a fan for life.
Some books are a book Tal Bauer books are epic.
I forgot to add a review to book bub so am adding now.
This was such a riveting read so much more than five stars !
This is a book that you just can’t put down, the writing was awesome and and extremely detailed the research into this book was amazing it would have take Tal Bauer many painstaking hours..
I learnt a lot about the politics and the secret service …
The main characters are Jack Spiers who is the newly elected President of America and Special agent Ethan Reichenbach…
These two men find each other as they share a connection that draws them closer together they can’t now ever be apart.. happenings in the world continue to draw me in as Jack and Ethan continue trying to bring peace to America .
The Executive Office series is one hell of a wild ride. Bauer knows his stuff–not only has he written the ultimate forbidden romance, he’s also written an incredibly juicy political thriller with more twists and turns than a roller coaster. One of the best series I’ve ever read. If you love MM romance and intelligent political thrillers, start this series now. You won’t regret it!
Firstly, this series is not for everyone. Please read the blurb and then decide if you want to read it. If you do decide to read it, you won’t regret it! The character development is wonderful, the pace is fast and the dialogue is very entertaining. It is the first of a trilogy and I have had the last book on my Kindle but I don’t want to start it because I don’t want to finish Jack and Ethan’s story!!!
This is one of those books that is so good and tells such an amazing story, I can’t believe I hadn’t read it sooner. Jack and Ethan are such strong, well written characters with so much determination to save the world. While the romance was outstanding, I really enjoyed the political thriller aspect of this book. I can’t wait to see more of the coup plot to be revealed. Don’t miss this series; it won’t disappoint.
Nobody, and I mean nobody writes like Tal Bauer. Bold statement, I know! This is my second novel by him, The Murder Between Us was the first and the story instantly grabbed me. When I saw that we were doing Enemies of the State for a buddy read I was skeptical but excited. There have been too many times with authors where I have absolutely fallen in love with their writing only to find out that it was a fluke but that is not the case with Bauer. Instantly Jack and Ethan had my heart but what’s more the story held my attention from start to finish and the emotions, OMFG the emotions!!
Jack Spier is the recently elected President of the United States and a widower for going on 15 years now. When he was elected, he knew his job was going to be demanding but he never expected to be so lonesome. He is surrounded by people, but they are all there to help him in running the country and not one of them is there to just be by his side. Jack starts to lean on the one person he probably shouldn’t, his head of security Ethan Reichenbach. After sneaking in and out of his home base several times he starts to rely on him more than he ever thought possible. It isn’t until one night Ethan kisses Jack that everything starts to change…
“When you love someone, really love them, you’ll do anything. Figure anything out. Because having them in your life is worth more to you than living without them. That’s how I felt about Ethan.”
Ethan Reichenbach head of security for POTUS Jack Spier, he is a by the book veteran who has been through several presidents at this point and knows his job and the boundaries he is not to cross. That is until Mr. President starts to lean on him more and more and even though Ethan knows he is crossing every line he has always enforced he can’t seem to help himself. After many nights of pool, baseball games, dinners and easy conversation Ethan makes a move, but he soon realizes that his feelings are very much one sided and has to find a way to cope with the fact that he is fallen in love with the president, and he doesn’t feel the same.
This story has soooo much more than a love story, the love between Jack and Ethan is like the icing on top of the best birthday cake you’ve ever had. The president is a target for a rogue Black Ops unit all while trying to navigate his way around his new position. I won’t go too much into that because you deserve to let the story unravel in the way that Bauer wrote it, you will not be disappointed!!
A rogue Black Ops unit, a Secret Service agent breaking all the rules and the president falling in love for the one person he shouldn’t. Tal Bauer’s Enemy of the State book one in his Executive Office trilogy will leave you guessing from start to finish while simultaneously breaking your heart and putting it back together. Book two Enemy of My Enemy promises to deliver just as much of a punch as book one and I am thrilled to continue with Jack and Ethan’s story as well as seeing what kind of trouble they will get themselves into this time.
Yes I finally, finally started this series and it’s so worth the hype! You all know I’m a romantic suspense junkie but the political aspect was reason it made me a bit wary. I thought it might go over my head but fortunately I really enjoyed it! I loved Jack and Ethan so so much!!!!!
This is a slowburn romance with dual POV and I loved the progress for their relationship from best friends to more. The texts between them always bring a smile to my face and I love how Jack is such a goofball! Jack and Ethan have such great chemistry and I’m going to start the next book soon!
Immediately fell for both the main characters and I’m pretty sure a new addiction is on the rise. I really liked the writing style and the action scenes always kept me on edge. If you love an action filled romantic suspense, definitely check this out!
P.S: Interesting secondary characters, especially Faisal and Adam
5 stars. This starts off slow, then wow! It’s was amazing. The romance was chemistry filled awesomeness!
If Jack Bauer, Jack Ryan and Jason Bourne got together and decided to tell a story with intrigued, politics and terrorism that included believable, beautiful, tormented characters thrown into dangerous, terrifying and ultimately life-affirming circumstances who just happen to fall in love along the way; this book and it’s sequels would be just the sort of story they would tell. It’s edge of your seat, fly by the seat of your pants, no holds barred, never say die, pulse-pounding non-stop action with an unexpected love the likes of which has never graced the halls of the real-world White House. Or, at least the Top Secret files have never seen the light of day if it has…
It was a tortuously beautiful read that kept this reader up way too late at night falling in love with Jack and Ethan and, as always, rooting for these good guys.
Keep up the brilliant writing! I’ve finished the 2nd book and can’t wait to read the next! Whew! What a ride!
Excellent techno thriller with an M/M romance twist that breaks all the rules the Secret Service, and breaks them all for loyalty and love. President Jack Spiers and special agent Ethan Reichenbach are two very special men forced into a hazardous, life-threatening race to save the world from war and destruction, while they try to find a way to just be in love. Great, edge of your seat action, great romance. A must-read first book in a truly enjoyable series.
Such an amazing journey. I loved everything about this story – the characters, the plot, the tension. A real page turner! Can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
Tal’s protagonists in this book won my heart and have kept it for years. It’s a wild ride that definitely requires several tissues, and I enjoy every minute each time I reread the series. Marvelous work!