Rise & Fall by Charlie Cochet Review

3.5- 4 stars out of 5
I don't know how to rate this. On one hand I love this series and the characters but on the other the plot sort of fell flat for me

Synopsis:
"After an attack by the Coalition leaves THIRDS Team Leader Sloane Brodie critically injured, agent Dexter J. Daley swears to make Beck Hogan pay for what he’s done. But Dex’s plans for retribution are short-lived. With Ash still on leave with his own injuries, Sloane in the hospital, and Destructive Delta in the Coalition’s crosshairs, Lieutenant Sparks isn’t taking any chances. Dex’s team is pulled from the case, with the investigation handed to Team Leader Sebastian Hobbs. Dex refuses to stand by while another team goes after Hogan, and decides to put his old HPF detective skills to work to find Hogan before Theta Destructive, no matter the cost. 

With a lengthy and painful recovery ahead of him, the last thing Sloane needs is his partner out scouring the city, especially when the lies—however well intentioned—begin to spiral out of control. Sloane is all too familiar with the desire to retaliate, but some things are more important, like the man who’s pledged to stand beside him. As Dex starts down a dark path, it’s up to Sloane to show him what’s at stake, and finally put a name to what’s in his heart." 

I truly love this series and all of its characters, but this installment just did nothing for me plot wise; I loved parts of it that felt like little extras but plot wise not so much. I think that the other books had so much more and this one felt very one note. But this book was still very funny, sexy, and entertaining but only in certain parts. I just felt like the revenge plot was so drawn out. I mean how many chapters can we read about Dex being a dumbass and ignoring his boyfriend? 

So let's jump in with what I didn't like:
-Dex and his revenge. This to me was probably what brought the book down. It went on for sooo long, and it was just more annoying than gripping. I mean his boyfriend needed him and he decided to ignore him, after Dex told Sloane to stay with him and let him take care of him. I mean I was just so over it by the middle of the book and skimmed his scheming portions of the book.

-Dex and Sloane ignoring the problem. Jesus Christ this annoyed the fuck out of me! It was so frustrating having two grown adults pretend that something isn't wrong when it clearly is. When Sloane finally confronted Dex I was so relieved. 

This was honestly it. This was the only thing that I didn't like, and I didn't like it so much that it really made me not love the book.

What I liked:
-Dex and Sloane's relationship(when Dex wasn't being stupid). I love how close and loving they are together it is really awesome to read. Oh my god when Sloane **SPOILER** marked Dex **END OF SPOILER** I was on cloud nine no joke, full on smile and hand to my chest swooning. I loved that by the end of the book they feel like they are finally on solid ground. 

-Everything that is Tony. I have mad love for Tony and any scene he is in or anytime he is mentioned i want more!! I don't know if I want to see him get a book because I am fucking creepy and I feel that Tony is mine. The way the book ended with him I was dying!! I cannot wait for the next book to pickup where this one left off :) It was a cliff hanger but a hilarious one.

-Cobbs. Seriously that scene was fucking hot and well worth the wait.

-Ash's relationship with Sloane...and everyone. Ash was just such an awesome character and I love the more we get to see of him interacting and not being a total dickhead.

-Finally knowing what happened to break up Hudson and Seb. It was tragic and sad, and I have know idea how Charlie is going to fix that; but I have faith in her.

-The little snippets we got to see of Bradley and Lou. I am beyond excited to see their story in total.

Final thoughts:
Honestly there were a lot of little things that I really enjoyed, and that's why I think my rating will lean more towards a 4 star.

Definitely recommend if you have read the series. But if you feel like this one isn't for you skip it, I don't think you will be missing too much that you wouldn't be ale to pick up in the next book.
I am so excited to be in the povs of Ash and Cael :) Can't wait!

Coming Soon...

2015 release that I am so excited for:

**click on titles for links to its Goodreads page**

Fuel the Fire by Krista & Becca Ritchie (part of the Calloway Sisters series and the Addicted series)
Coming Winter 2015 (Jan/Feb/March)
No blurb yet








Ride Steady by Kristen Ashley (part of the Chaos series)
June 30th 2015
The ride of her life . . . Once upon a time, Carissa Teodoro believed in happy endings. Money, marriage, motherhood: everything came easy---until she woke up to the ugly truth about her Prince Charming. Now a struggling, single mom and stranded by a flat tire, Carissa's pondering her mistakes when a vaguely familiar knight rides to her rescue on a ton of horsepower.

Climb on and hold tight . . . 
In high school, Carson Steele was a bad boy loner who put Carissa on a pedestal where she stayed far beyond his reach. Today, he's the hard-bodied biker known only as Joker, and from the way Carissa's acting, it's clear she's falling fast. While catching her is irresistible, knowing what to do with her is a different story. A good girl like Carissa is the least likely fit with the Chaos Motorcycle Club. Too bad holding back is so damned hard. Now, as Joker's secrets are revealed and an outside threat endangers the club, Joker must decide whether to ride steady with Carissa---or ride away forever . . . 

Damaged Like Us by Krista & Becca Ritchie (Like Us series)
Late 2015
No blurb yet











  Cut & Run book 9 by Abigail Roux (part of the Cut & Run series)
  March 30th 2015
  Nothing will be shown or told(ex. synopsis, cover, title, etc) to the readers until the release     day.

 Against the Grain by Charlie Cochet (part of the THIRDS series)
July 2015
Primary romance: Ash & Cael. 

The timeline is continuous for the series with one book leading to the next with an overall story arc and a smaller plot being resolved. The main characters point of views will be from Ash & Cael.

More info coming soon.




Sloe Ride by Rhys Ford (part of the Sinners series)
No release date yet
The fourth installment in the Sinners series, this time following the story of Kane Morgan's younger brother Quinn.









The Four by Rhys Ford (part of the Ink and Shadows series)
July 2015
Kismet Andreas lives in fear of the shadows.

For the young tattoo artist, the shadows hold more than darkness. He is certain of his insanity because the dark holds creatures and crawling things only he can see—monsters who hunt out the weak to eat their minds and souls, leaving behind only empty husks and despair.

And if there’s one thing Kismet fears more than being hunted—it’s the madness left in its wake.

The shadowy Veil is Mal’s home. As Pestilence, he is the youngest—and most inexperienced—of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, immortal manifestations resurrected to serve—and cull—mankind. Invisible to all but the dead and insane, the Four exist between the Veil and the mortal world, bound to their nearly eternal fate. Feared by other immortals, the Horsemen live in near solitude but Mal longs to know more than Death, War and Famine.

Mal longs to be… more human. To interact with someone other than lunatics or the deceased.

When Kismet rescues Mal from a shadowy attack, Pestilence is suddenly thrust into a vicious war—where mankind is the prize, and the only one who has faith in Mal is the human the other Horsemen believe is destined to die.



Power of Attorney by N.M Silber (part of the Lawyers in Love series)
April 2015
Federal prosecutor, Jacob Sachs, doesn't enter a room, he storms it, usually with a trail of assistants following in his wake. His confidence and skills in the courtroom are legendary. He's accustomed to being envied and desired, but he's not accustomed to being challenged.

Abby Roth is an intelligent and skilled attorney, with a mind even sharper than her tongue. She's a force to be reckoned with, in court and just about everywhere else. She can hold her own with the best, and give even a courtroom Titan like Jacob a run for his money. 
When Jacob and Abby are forced to work together to stop an infamous group of hackers, it quickly becomes apparent that the chemistry between them is explosive. Together, can two lusty lawyers handle bossy bureaucrats, testy tree huggers, aspiring anarchists and a cranky bailiff named Harriet?


 Until July by Aurora Rose Reynolds (part of the Until Her series)
April 13th 2015
The story of Asher and Novembers eldest daughter.

North PoleCity Tales series by Charlie Cochet

**I am reviewing books one and two in the series and I thought it would be much easier to do both in one post since both are not only short stories but also short reviews, and because it would save me some time :)

Mending Noel (book 1)
2.5 stars out of 5
This was a sweet story and I liked the mystery portion a lot. 

Synopsis:
"All is not sparkly snowflakes and sweet candy canes in North Pole City. Office workers Tim and Noel do nothing all day but antagonize each other—petty fighting that might be based on hatred… or a heated mutual attraction. It’s up to Jack Frost and his elf-friend Rudy to broach the hostilities and introduce some Christmas kisses, but is the Frost Prince up to the challenge of launching a new romance when someone’s trying to break his holiday spirit?"

Which was surprising to me because with such a short story the mystery portion of the plot felt really fleshed out, and I am one of those readers who feels that if there is a suspense or mystery element it has to be fully done or else I am not going to like it. I also really loved Jack and Rudy♥ 
I can't wait to see where their story leads to. I'm really hoping for some flashbacks to the early days of their relationship or finding out how they got together.

I just can not get over how nasty and just mean Noel was. It wasn't a sweet grumpy or anything it was really mean and hurtful, and there was really no super heartfelt apology that would make me feel mildly better.



The Heart of Frost (book 2)
3.5 stars out of 5

I did like this one a lot more than the first book of the series, but it was not what I expected. 

Synopsis: 
"At the North Pole, no one is more powerful and feared than the Prince of Frost. As general of the toy soldier army, Jack Frost has been working extra hard to put away the villainous Mouse King once and for all. If that isn’t taxing enough, Jack has to deal with the scandal and gossip brought on by news of his relationship with Rudy Rein Dear, captain of the Rein Dear Squadron, which hit headlines last holiday season. Lucky for Jack, his reputation has managed to deter any foolish attempts to stir up trouble. At least until now.

When someone sabotages Rudy’s plane during a test run a few weeks before Christmas, Jack is determined to find the culprit by any means necessary. The closer he gets to finding answers, the more difficulty he has not falling back to his icy ways. Has the Mouse King stepped up his game in order to throw Jack off his, or is someone a little closer to home behind the attempt on Rudy’s life? Either way, Jack has every intention of delivering a Christmas they won’t soon forget, even if it means losing the newfound warmth in his heart."

I loved that we were able to see the love that they have for each other but I'm disappointed that we only witnessed this in memories and the first part of the book. They were separated a little too long for my tastes, it sort of felt like the whole middle part they weren't together and that annoyed me.

I also wasn't a huge fan of lying to a partner in order to "save" them heartache. To me that is bullshit and it isn't your right to decide what your partner can handle and what they can't. Jack should have been told what a conniving little fuck *SPOILER* his cousin Hollis*END OF SPOILER* was, because he should have the right to know and choose who he wants to surround himself with. I felt like Rudy crossed crossed the line by keeping that secret and making others keep it as well, especially since it was literally right after he and Jack promised no more secrets like that.

But other than those small annoyances I really enjoyed this book, and I love the affection and love that they share with each other it is incredibly sweet and heartwarming( I swear I did not realize the pun until after reading what I wrote!! Oh god I'm laughing so hard).


**I don't think I'm going to read the next book in the series. I really am interested in Vale and would love to read his story, but Vixen just does not interest me in the slightest.

Rack & Ruin by Charlie Cochet Review

4.5 stars out of 5

I was so in love with this series already, but this book cemented my eternal love.

Synopsis:
"New York City’s streets are more dangerous than ever with the leaderless Order of Adrasteia and the Ikelos Coalition, a newly immerged Therian group, at war. Innocent civilians are caught in the crossfire and although the THIRDS round up more and more members of the Order in the hopes of keeping the volatile group from reorganizing, the members of the Coalition continue to escape and wreak havoc in the name of vigilante justice. 

Worse yet, someone inside the THIRDS has been feeding the Coalition information. It’s up to Destructive Delta to draw out the mole and put an end to the war before anyone else gets hurt. But to get the job done, the team will have to work through the aftereffects of the Therian Youth Center bombing. A skirmish with Coalition members leads Agent Dexter J. Daley to a shocking discovery and suddenly it becomes clear that the random violence isn’t so random. There’s more going on than Dex and Sloane originally believed, and their fiery partnership is put to the test. As the case takes an explosive turn, Dex and Sloane are in danger of losing more than their relationship"



This book had pretty much everything that I adore: cute boyfriends, amazing friendships, bonding moments, surprising twists in relationships, some angst, an ending that will leave you anxiously waiting for the next book, and of course Dex♥

I am so in awe of this world that Charlie created, it is so complex that it feels real. The characters in every book, but especially in this one, have such real reactions and emotions that your heart totally goes out to them. There is some trouble in paradise for a couple of our beloved couples: Cobbs and Cash. There are a couple new relationships starting to form and I cannot wait to see where it goes with Lou/Bradley and Zach/Austen.

What I really loved:
-Sloane and Dex as a couple. I feel like this is the first book where we see them able to be boyfriends, without any real questioning or guilt (Sloane I'm looking at you). It was really refreshing for them, because I feel like we never get the chance to see them just relax & be comfortable in their relationship, now that they are "officially" boyfriends you can sense that ease. I have to say that Sloane usually frustrates me (in the best way, love you boo) but in this book I felt no frustration (well except for one teensy part). He and Dex were just so easy together that it made me so happy and comfortable for them.

-Dex and Ash. I thought that they were really great in this one together, their dynamic changed towards the end and I felt so thrilled about that. I can't wait to read the next one and see how that effects Dex and Cael's relationship.

- SSA Austen. He was such an adorable and flirty little thing. I loved how he was in the opener of the book and just stole the scene, making Hobbs blush and referring to Sloane as Agent Broody that was hilarious! I am so excited to see more of him in future books and how his relationship with Zach progresses. It will be fun to watch a big bear and flirty but skittish cheetah end up together.

-Dex making Sloane purr while human was the most adorable thing ever, and it needs to happen again!

-Tony chopping off someone's luscious locks.

-Believe it or not I liked the ending. Even though it has me anxiously counting down the days until the next one, I felt like it was necessary. It further cemented this new closer bond between Dex and Ash and it really gives us a reason to hate the antagonist of the next book, it shows that this man does not give a shit and will do anything to take down those who cross him. And I don't know about you guys but I enjoy a crazy villain that tries to kill people most would try and stay far away from.

Now what I wasn't too excited about:
-Cael and Sloane at one point (readers you will know which point I'm talking about). I understand that it was a disagreement and they both felt bad after it happened but poor Dex is always there for everyone and I think that they all need to be reminded not to take him for granted. I just wanted Dex to snap and show people that he is not an emotional punching bag or the comic relief.

-There wasn't a lot of Tony and I get that he isn't a part of the core focus but I kind of missed scenes with him and wanted some more.

-The scenes with Dr. I-can't-remember-his-name. It made me very uncomfortable, I do not like him as a character because I feel that he is constantly chalking up Sloane's pain from childhood as "necessary" and "not as bad as it could have been". He never took any accountability for any of the pain and suffering that the first gen therians went through and sounded very unapologetic. These poor kids were basically in a prison that tortured and tested on them, it just all feels really skeevy and I definitely feel that Sloane (and Ash) are justified in their pain and anger.  I don't know how to explain it but I just am not a fan and hope he isn't a big part of future books.

Final thoughts

If I had to say one thing about this series it's that it sucks you in from the very first page, and you don't want to leave it. If you have not read the series before I definitely recommend that you do, you will not regret it!

Book website: http://thirdshq.com/
The author has a Pinterest that has everything about the series: http://www.pinterest.com/charliecochet/