Fries Before Guys (SWAT Generation 2.0 Book 2)

4 1/2 STARS!

Forbidden desire at it’s best! FRIES BEFORE GUYS is book two in Lani Lynn Vale’s delicious KPD SWAT Generation 2.0 series and center around the chief of police’s son Derek and the teen photographer we saw in a previous book Avery. The story line has so much happening that you can’t take your eyes off it for a minute. Lots of sass, loads of sexual tension and so much heart you just can’t stand it. Really enjoyed them!

Avery is a character that makes you want to take her under your wing and be her family. She’s lost both of her parents in recent years and is struggling to just get by and finish school. Her photography business is keeping her busy and it’s at a photo shoot for the police force calendar where she meets the man she can’t stop thinking about .. only problem is, he treats her like someone else’s kid sister.

Derek takes charge of the scene as soon as he walks in. He’s self-assured, always aware and lusting after someone he can’t have. What’s a guy to do? When situation after situation keeps popping up around her, he decides he’s going to be there for her no matter what … and when he decides to be all in, the chemistry is off the charts!

I highly recommend this book and the series as a whole to anyone who enjoys a sassy writing style with a boatload of heart, steamy scenes, and a surrounding cast of close friends and family. You can’t go wrong with Kilgore Police Department! Looking forward to more in the series.

This is the story of Avery Flynn, oh and Derek Roberts, the hunky Mr. February, yes he’s in here too!

I will say straight up my eyes leaked tears from the heartache Avery had been through, the build-up of that devastating time in her life and the descriptions so poignant I’d defy anyone to not get choked up. Avery is such a strong, brave young woman who had so much go wrong in her life, yet, got back up each time determined to keep going by herself. I felt a lot of admiration for the young woman who at nineteen was light years ahead in maturity than others her age. Derek showed himself to be a bit of a chip off the old block! He certainly has the caring qualities of his father, as well as the temper. I truly didn’t find the age gap between these two characters to be an issue at all, they fit together so well.

The storyline intrigued me greatly. Why anyone wanted to get Avery was baffling and although there are snippets of clues, it’s not until the end that you find out everything, well played by the author.

A thoroughly entertaining story that does have a happy ever after but you might still need some tissues.

Reviewer: Robyn

LLV writes the most amazing stories with intriguing characters that pull you into that world. Derek is such a jerk to Avery but when we finally know that he is hiding his feelings for her and makes for a swoon-worthy moment. Avery can’t catch a break! She has one heart break upon another for a few years and it seems like there is no end in sight but oh my gosh the strength of her to be able to endure. She is such a strong character, I want to be her when I grow up. This is a slow burn romance with some twists that keep you glued to your kindle. I want the next book in the series!!

Fries Before Guys, not so sure about that. If I had a guy like Derek I would give up fries in a heartbeat. Avery is a young woman who has had knock after knock and Derek is the man of her dreams, but when the stigma of her age keeps him at arms length, Avery prepares herself for another knock. As drama surrounds Avery and the chemistry and pull becomes too much, Derek decides there will be no denying it any longer. An emotional story that confronts bullying, loss, doubt and fear. This is a love story that will have the words securing themselves around your heart and the emotions burrowing into your soul.

Valentine Fries

Avery is doing the annual police calendar and is massively attracted to Derek, who will be Mr February Unfortunately, when she asks him out, he rejects her advances but not because he doesn’t want her but because he doesPoor Avery has the worst luck and nothing seems to go her way

I loved this story, in that LLV once again takes a story and turns it into a complicated mess that you’re left trying to put the pieces together, and rest assured by the end you know ALL

Looking forward to more SWAT

4.5 stars – Avery is a true heroine in this one.

I don’t usually think of the male or female leads as being hero/heroine, but Avery definitely fits the bill in this one. The amount of trauma, bad luck, rough times, etc. that she has to go through and that she keeps pulling herself up and making the best of things – wow just wow.

There were a couple of things that kept me from giving it 5 stars:
1) I felt that Derek and Avery became intimate a little too quickly and the circumstances were definitely not ideal for finally giving in. That left me a little unsettled.
2) I also felt that there were some unresolved explanations for what her parents did and why. Part of the twists play into this and I was definitely NOT expecting that.

I didn’t necessarily like Derek from Book #1, but I knew Lani Lynn Vale would redeem him and she did. Derek and Avery are sweet together and the way he steps up for her along with the entire KPD team is heartwarming.

Avery deserves all the happiness, especially after all the sh** she’s been through!! This one had depth of character – I read it in a day – it kept me enthralled with what would happen next.

I voluntarily requested and read an advance reader copy.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review for Stephanie’s Book Reports.

Sometimes people come into a person’s life and make their heart skip a beat. Those people are called cops. Well, one cop in particular. A SWAT officer for the Kilgore Police Department, to be specific. The first time Avery Flynn saw Derek Roberts, she was photographing him for the first annual Kilgore Police Department SWAT calendar. He was leaned back in his squad car, shirtless, and giving her a smile that was completely between them. A smile that hinted at what he wanted to do to her later. When she scrounges up the courage to ask him out after the photo shoot, he laughs in her face. Well, screw you, too, Mr February.
Derek Roberts never really paid attention to the photographer. She was a mousy girl who dressed like a twelve-year-old girl. Her tight leggings, extra baggy Star Trek t-shirt denoting her a Klingon captain, and her surprisingly clean Chucks didn’t leave much of an impression. Now, the outfit that she was in weeks after he rebuffed her? Yeah, now that caught his attention. Too bad that happens when he’s trying to save her from what’s sure to be death thanks to an unhinged native Texan who’s convinced she was the reason he lost his last chance at a million dollars. When he tries to save her, she tells him she’s rather take a cattle prod to the forehead than go anywhere with him. Challenge. Accepted.

If you have read the first book in this series then I am sure you were just as curious about Avery as I am and now we have her story. This is a quick read simply because I was so into the story and I loved how sweet it was. However don’t forget that this book has a side of crazy in it too. Avery is a very inspirational character. If she gets knocked down then she is right back up and fighting again. I absolutely loved her. Derek is equally amazing and she is and their story is one your going to fall in love with. You don’t want to miss this one.