Meet two men who need each other’s help but don’t realize it until it’s almost too late.Noah is gay and terrified someone might find out. So much so that when he was blackmailed with pictures of himself with another man, instead of coming clean, he left his SEAL team without a word.The other man is openly gay Mason, a former Marine and now part of the FBI’s Joint Terrorist Task force. It takes … eight years after their first meeting in the desert for a chance event bring the two men together again. Now Noah must decide if he’s ready to accept who he is or if it’s easier to cut and run. Can they navigate the obstacles in their path to build a relationship? And why does the thought of that scare them more than investigating a group of terrorists?
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3.5 angst-ridden stars rounded up because of Mason’s heart…
The demons in our minds come in many different guises. For Noah it’s his true self and he fights relentlessly against it. When a moment of connection destroys everything he’s ever worked for he’s more convinced than ever to deny who he really is. For Mason it’s his mantle of responsibility that bleeds into his grief and increases his drive at work to the point of obsession. His superiors don’t see that drive as a good thing and are wary of where it will lead. One bright point is a reconnection between two friends that quickly becomes more. Noah and Mason’s story isn’t a continuous growth from that point on, however, it’s based on it and revisited with heavy emotions and disappointments that they’ll need to conquer together if they plan to keep something special.
Mason’s general attitude and his vulnerability resonated well for most of the story. He came across as a well-rounded character that I enjoyed reading about. If it wasn’t for his willingness to be open and honest about his heart I don’t think he and Noah would have ever stood a chance. I did think that his advertised obsession about the case had little validity because the case and any deciphering got set aside so often with only the basics revisited each time. Instead, we saw a bit of multiple personality disorder when it came to dividing his work mind and his interactions with Noah. That disconnect didn’t sit well and made the revelations and fallout of the case seem a bit awkward. Despite that, he was still my favorite in this story because he felt the most complete with a believable depth and motivation.
Noah was much more conflicted. I struggled with him because of his penchant for running and his vehement denials and dismissals of his identity and any counsel or support Mason offered. His personal road to accepting all of himself was rather stunted. The underlying fear and conditioning was understandable and I would have appreciated his journey a lot more if it actually went somewhere. Rather than a deepening or an evolution with a clear resolution, we get lots and lots and lots of angst and then a relatively lighthearted “it’s all good” type of moment. The switch was a bit abrupt and we’re left to wonder if it’s because of the peril Mason was in or if the truth and love finally got through his walls. He said all the right things at the end, and while that was lovely, it just felt unsound.
The writing was captivating despite the content being frustrating. I enjoyed the overall story and felt for the characters and wished so hard for everything good to finally find them. The terrorist drama was touched on but not really built up well nor did it have a truly satisfying conclusion due to the “monologue moment” from the mole that magically tied everyone and everything together. If there were a better balance between the progression of the case and all its facets along with the relationship’s ups and downs this would have been a fantastic story. As is, it was a good one that needed a bit more tweaking.
In and out of sight, but never out of mind
In LA Bryce’s ‘In His Sights,’ Mason’s pain bled right into me from the get-go and running into Noah set the stage for an incredible ride of two men battling demons too strong for one person to handle.
I absolutely loved these two men’s personalities and the challenges they faced – individually and together. I knew Noah would eventually make that breakthrough and stop battling his mind to follow his heart. At times, I worried it might be too late. I must say their poor bodies can take a whole lot of physical abuse, but their nursing each other melted my heart. Mason and Noah deserved a happy ending with each other.
If you enjoy m/m romantic suspense – heck even just m/m romance or suspense – you can’t go wrong with LA Bryce’s ‘In His Sights.’ The climax surprised me. I hope a series featuring current members of THE Company is built from this book with characters as memorable as these two.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Don’t you just love the names Noah and Mason??
These two made me so happy. I absolutely loved this book. It had just enough of an intrigue that kept me glued to my Kindle and don’t even get me started on the chemistry!? Smoking hot!! But despite the chemistry It was painful to read how much Noah struggled with his feeling for Mason in the first half of the book. For a second I thought they wouldn’t find the reason to stay together and thank God they did otherwise my Kindle would be flying across the room.
First book by L.A.Bryce and I’m already a fan.
***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***