Truth and lies.Captain Jamie Callahan knows the Metahuman Defense Force frowns on fraternization. For once in his life, he’s breaking all the rules. Having Staff Sergeant Kyle Brannigan on his team and in his bed is worth the risk of being found out. When a mission comes down requiring Alpha Team to go undercover in order to infiltrate a criminal alliance, Jamie knows it won’t be easy. Putting … be easy. Putting his family’s name on the line is nothing compared to the role the MDF wants him to play—that of a billionaire’s son, discharged from the military, with a lover on his arm, looking to make his own shady business deals.
Dirty little secret.
Kyle knows the only way to be with Jamie is to hide their relationship from their superiors. Waking up to Jamie at home is more important than being together in public, or so Kyle thought, until he comes face to face with what he’s been missing. Pretending to be a couple on paper for the sake of the mission thrusts Kyle into a world of incredible wealth and a social status he’s not sure he belongs in, but he’ll do anything to stay by Jamie’s side.
Play the game to win.
Surrounded by the enemy, Jamie and Kyle need to trust each other now more than ever. Their covers—and the life they’re trying to build together—depend on it.
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We’re on to Book 2 of Hailey Turner’s Metahuman Files series featuring the Metahuman Defense Force whose special mission is to fight crime perpetrated by villains who are using their supernormal skills or those lawbreakers willing to use Splice as a weapon of mass casualties. Captain Jamie Callahan is the leader of the Alpha team which now has a full complement of team members after Staff Sergeants Kyle Brannigan (sniper) and Alexie Dvorkin (spotter) are conscripted. The members of the Alpha team decide to keep the romantic relationship between Jamie and Kyle quiet, feeling a measure of happiness for both men in spite of the Force’s regulations against fraternization.
When the MDF is made aware of a deal to supply terrorists, the Alpha team is called on to go undercover to intercept the parties involved. Using his background as a billionaire’s son, Jamie plays the part of a playboy with his team members serving other crucial roles while doubling as a backup. Kyle plays the part of Jamie’s boyfriend, giving both men a taste of a love life that is out in the open. The part also makes Kyle uncomfortably aware of the differences in his and Jamie’s social status. In spite of it all, he is determined to support, protect, and love him as well as the other members of the team.
In the Ruins, Metahuman Files Book 2 fulfills the promise set forth by book 1 being replete with excitement and action. The writer gives us glimpses of the billionaire’s son Jamie in the narrative, making the contrast to the quality of person he is as the Alpha team’s leader. Readers are treated to the quantity and quality of character growth that has shaped him into the current Jamie Callahan–making us love him all the more and making it understandable why his team members and especially Kyle respect and admire him. The world-building is incredible as is the case with book 1. Writer Hailey Turner writes an incredible paramilitary adventure that is in NO way dependent upon the truly hot sex Jaime and Kyle get up to. This series is sophisticated and truly clever!
In the Ruins is the second book of Hailey Turner’s Metahuman Files series. Events in this book build on those from the first and while a complete story, there are ongoing story arcs so you’ll definitely want to listen to them all & in order. As such, there may be spoilers to book 1 in my review.
Again, Turner has a fantastic mix of action, suspense, political, thriller, and romance. She does a wonderful job of balancing all the characters’ back stories while still moving forward with an engaging and exciting story. Jamie & Kyle are on solid ground, both in their careers and in their, albeit somewhat secret, relationship. An undercover assignment gives them a chance to be out in the open – but with pretending to be other people it’s not a freeing as it seems.
We get to know individual team members even better and we’re introduced to some new characters as well. There’s more writing from other’s perspectives and it’s great insight. Jamie’s family plays a bigger role in this story and I enjoyed how Turner explored that dynamic.
While I liked that the first two books have centered Jamie & Kyle’s relationship – I’m definitely looking forward to the fact that book 3, In the Shadows, will feature Alexi & Sean.
Narration:
Greg Boudreaux continues to be a great narrator for this series. Characters are consistent from book to book – and he has the added difficulty of accents and mannerisms for when the group is undercover.
4.5
I can officially say that I’m obsessed. This was SO much better than the first book. I was literally hooked from the start; the story is so compelling and twisty: an undercover mission where Alpha Team has to infiltrate London’s criminal underworld? It was as fun as is sounds.
I remember that one of the main issues when reading the first novel was the fact tha Jamie and Kyle seemed to suffer from insta-love, a trope I literally cannot stand. However, this time around, their relationship is fully fleshed out and much more believable: it’s not just sex for them anymore, it’s also trust and care and emotion neither of them are sure what to do about. I loved seeing them together, but what I reallly really adored was the interactions and bond between every single one of Alpha Team’s members. I’d die for Katie and Madison and Annabelle, and Alexei is probably one of the most intriguing character so far. And I really cannot express how excited I am to finally read about his life story, and also his love story.
Speaking of which, I already love Sean so much more than I ought to after so little. I love Kyle and Jamie (especially Kyle; I found Jamie a bit difficult to like at times, but I guess that’s up to the reader’s taste and preference), I really do. But those short moments with Sean and Alexei? I AM READY to be completely destroyed by them. It was sparks from the start, and the main reason is wholly down to how awesome and intriguing they both are.
I’m officially on the “Metahuman Files” obsession wagon and that makes me so happy. So very excited and curious to discover what happens next.
The second book in the Metahuman Files series, In the Ruins should be read after In the Wreckage. This series has an overarching plot and reading the series in order is important to fully understand and enjoy this book. You don’t have to read the free, short story “A Distant Devotion” before this book, but it’s a fun (FREE!) treat, so I recommend it.
In the Ruins continues where the first book left off. Jamie and Kyle are together, but keeping their relationship hidden. This secret causes all sorts of obstacles for them as they focus on carrying out their mission against the illegal Spice labs. Like the first book, the military details and team dynamics are fantastic and really add such depth and intricacy to already complex and fascinating world. The plot, like always, keeps the readers attention and I thought Hailey Turner did a great job with the pacing and transitions. The romantic relationship between Jamie and Kyle is addicting – they are just so good together, both in and out of bed. I love their tenderness just as much as I love their hot and kinky sex.
The audiobook was narrated by Greg Boudreaux. Greg narrated the first book and does just as great of job with the second book as he did with the first. I really liked how consistent the character voices are and his performance really brought that element of drama and thrill that I crave in my audiobooks. I highly recommend this audiobook and the entire series.
What a ride! Loved every second of it! It just keeps getting better. The mission was spectacular and it is so well written, I felt like I watching a movie.
Jamie and Kyle have amazing chemistry and I love watching their relationship grow. And they are ridiculously hot together. Should I even say anything about the sex?
Love the whole team dynamics. Their friendship and banter are one of my favourite parts in the book. We meet a couple of new faces that I really want to know more about.
Alexei is still my favourite and I can’t wait to read his book! Protective Alexei is everything!!!
“I don’t regret a single decision I’ve made when it comes to you. Maybe it’s not the right decision from a command point of view, but I’m not willing to give you up”