Review: Just perfect for the series!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 9, 2014
Having read the other books in this series I knew, KNEW, that I would need to wait until all of them were out for Gabriel's arc to get started- they are just that addicting.  If you're reading this now, you're all good!  They're all out, and all so totally worth it.  It’s no secret these books cover some pretty intense subject matter, and that can really break your heart, but the love of this family of guys is strong enough to far outweigh any bad.I was eagerly awaiting Gabriel and Cole's story- our stalwart couple from page one of the very first book.  It's clear that things are going to go icky, secrets are going to push them apart, and heartbreak will ensue.  Normally I get super annoyed with the whole 'i didn't tell you to protect you' or 'i left to protect you' trope that finds its way into so many books.  But here, man here, there really was no other choice.  Seriously!  Gabriel had to keep this to himself, had to let appearances break everything he wanted in life.  The villain is absolutely 100% serious, dark, and evil, and he doesn't just threaten, oh no, he follows through, AFTER sending you a 'message' that he means it.In a way, Gabriel's history kind of envelops everything that has happened to Abel, Caleb, and Angel.  He and Cole are like the protectors of their group, and to see that Gabriel understands them completely because he has experienced it, just makes him shine that much stronger.  Where I am usually on the edge of my seat in terrible pain feeling for these boys, Gabriel is like a protector to the reader as well.  He takes what is coming and he doesn’t flinch.  He shows no ounce of weakness or even inner turmoil as it concerns himself- his only fear, his only pain, his only shame, comes from that which he feels for the ones he loves.  That is intense, It’s pure, and it keeps everything from falling apart.  Let me put it to you this way- Cole reacts badly, BADLY, when he thinks Gabriel is unfaithful and never loved him, and it speaks to Cole’s character that the second after he does what he does, he feels guilty about it, even while still believing that Gabe betrayed him.  But how Gabe reacts to this when he finds out?  To the real betrayal that Cole enacted, versus his forced betrayal?  Beautiful.  He gets it.  He knows why Cole did it.  And it isn’t even a question of forgiveness, because in his eyes there is nothing to forgive.  Damn straight.  Our men know each other, love each other, perfect.Sooooo, of course it can’t all be hard to read right?  Right!?  Well it isn’t.  We get a lot of Angel and Dane- yay!- and also Ricky and Levi are fantastic!  Total comic relief.  And Horatio and Maxwell?  Ok, well they still have A LOT to work out (thus the next arc entitled Maxwell) but for me, this completely put me on team Horatio.  I am shocked!  I wasn’t so sure because I didn’t like how he was with Abel the first night they sleep together (minus the drunk night) and it really put a palour on him for me.  But now?  Yep, he’s got me.  I get it and now I NEED the next books!