ARC Review – No Boundaries (Phoenix, Inc. #1) by S.E. Jakes

SE Jakes’ Men of Honor is one of my favorite m/m series. In this brand new spinoff series, Phoenix, Inc,, she continues to bring us emotional, action-packed stories filled with complex, tortured heroes looking for the same thing we all want–love and acceptance. Fans of this genre will love both of these series! ~ Java Girl, Guilty Pleasures

Description:
When your past closes in, running isn’t always an option

The jobs Marcus Lowry works for at Phoenix, Inc. Investigations are quick and easy, and they don’t give him the nightmares his days as a CIA operative did. That is, until he gets involved in a case that grabs him by the throat and won’t let go.

Cole Jacobs left behind his old life on the streets to make a name for himself rebuilding high-end and vintage cars and bikes. But when a stalker threatens to kill him—and to hurt anyone who stands in his way—his past closes in on him, and he’s not sure where to turn.

The last thing Marcus wants to do is take on a charity case, and to say that he and Cole don’t see eye to eye at first is putting things mildly. But when the first attempt on Cole’s life nearly kills them both, Marcus realizes that Cole is in real danger, and Cole is forced to reveal everything. Almost everything. Because Cole’s deepest secrets could destroy them both.

Review copy provided for an honest review

Fans of SE Jakes’ Men Of Honor series have good reason to be excited. No Boundaries is the first book of Phoenix, Inc., a spinoff series, featuring Law, Styx, and Paulo. Phoenix, Inc is the PI/Security firm that the three partners have started. Before reading this one, however, I would highly recommend the Men of Honor series. Not only will this book make more sense, but it’s a great series, filled with lots of hot alpha men—Navy SEALS, Special Forces, CIA/covert agents and police officers. SE Jakes writes some very hot, often emotional m/m (and m/m/m) erotic romantic suspense, with strong, unforgettable characters.

Law is my favorite character from MOH, and I was so happy to see more of him and his men, Styx and Paulo. Cole and Marcus, the main characters for NB, are both extremely appealing. My heart went out to Cole, an abused and neglected young man who worked as a rent boy to, well, pay the rent and buy groceries. He is trying to put his past behind him and now earns a living as a mechanic, where he met Law, Styx, and Paulo. Cole can’t quite escape the feelings of guilt he still has over his previous job or move on to a point where he can have or even want an intimate relationship. He’s attracted to Marcus, the man assigned to protect him while the team tries to find his stalker. When Marcus becomes a target as well, the two are forced into hiding out together and act on their mutual attraction. For me, Cole is the more interesting of the two men, although I did like Marcus quite a lot. Marcus took his job protecting Cole very seriously, and his feelings for Cole were genuine. Neither man feels that he is deserving of finding love, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching their relationship grow from one of mutual distrust to acceptance to falling in love.

Even though Marcus and Cole’s relationship is the main focus of the book, I loved Cole’s growing relationship with Law. Law is always looking for Lost Boys to guide, and to reassure that they have value and are deserving of love and happiness. Their friendship and the opportunities it presents for both Law and Cole to heal from the abuses of their pasts, is very powerful.

There were a couple of times in the course of the book where I felt like I had missed something. I wasn’t sure how the characters arrived at a certain point in the scene. Either something was edited out, or the transitions were just clunky and a bit confusing. It briefly took me out of the story. That is really my only quibble with this book. I’d definitely recommend to all fans of m/m and m/m/m.

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