Touch & Geaux by Abigail Roux (Cut & Run #7)
April 1, 2013
M/M Romantic Suspense
Riptide
Reviewed by Mandi
Favorite Quote: “You’re the best partner I could have asked for.”
I always like to make the disclaimer when I write these reviews that I’m a fangirl for this series. Meaning – I’m so incredibly invested in Ty and Zane (they are my favorite characters in all of romance) that my reviews of these books are not necessarily objective. Things that may annoy others or not work for others, I never notice. That being said, there is a reason I’m so in love with Ty and Zane. Abigail Roux writes such emotionally, intense scenes. And she is excellent with dialogue. She makes her characters so quick and witty which usually has me laughing out loud several times in each book. I hang on every word. No matter if the book is dramatic or more on the fun and light side, I’m usually wrecked after each book, because she tortures us! (And I think she likes it! *grins*)
Touch & Geaux slayed me. By far it is one of the most emotionally intense books I’ve read for a very long time. I’ll briefly set-up the book and do a non-spoiler review – however at the end, under a spoiler tag I will talk about specific details. Read that part and the comments at your own risk.
Ty and Zane are happy and in love. They both start looking towards the future and think about putting undercover work behind them. Even considering retirement one day. The book starts with them being forced into posing in a charity calendar, which is a very amusing scene (which actually turns quite poignant).
He studied the photos again, wondering what people would see in them. There was noting sexual or even romantic there. But there was something.
“That’s us,” Zane said quietly. “Really us.”
When Ty gets a call from his good friend, and former Marine buddy Nick, that Nick is in jail in New Orleans, Ty and Zane drop everything and rush down there to break him out. Ty used to work deep undercover in New Orleans, and left not on the best of terms with the police department. He really doesn’t want to show his face down there, yet he will do anything for Nick and his friends. What unfolds brings conflict from both Zane and Ty’s undercover work from the past to the present, and there is even cursed gris-gris bags that curse Ty in the old town of New Orleans.
I don’t even want to give you guys details as to why Nick calls to tell him he is in jail, but I will say, Nick is in New Orleans with Sidewinder members, the Marine team that Ty led years ago. I loved that these guys are featured prominently in this book, as it was fun to really get to know them, and very interesting to see how Zane started to fit in with all of them (and they all cracked me up!)
Fans of this series know that both Ty and Zane have a lot of secrets in their past that they hold close to themselves. In this book, the secrets explode out. A few times we actually have flashbacks into both Ty and Zane’s past where we learn some very interesting details. There is one secret though, that Ty finally tells Zane that will change their relationship forever. I’m not one to cry or show a lot of emotion when I read, but man. Abigail Roux put me to the test. It was painful. I’m still reeling from it. My advice – have a reading buddy read this at the same time you do, because you WILL need to call, text or email that friend as you read. I’ve never had so many email conversations in all capital letters before in my life. Abigail Roux goes there – she writes some of the most intense, emotional scenes I’ve read in this series, and she writes the hell out of them. Well done Abigail Roux, Well done.
As in every book, there is also a mystery and suspense plot. For those that follow Abigail Roux’s tumblr, she has been teasing us for months about a new character Liam Bell, who comes in and causes chaos in Ty and Zane’s lives. And he totally does. But not for the reason I was thinking. I was thinking he would try to woo Ty away. I was wrong. I actually ended up loving Liam Bell. I think you will too. (Abigail Roux is so tricky with him).
As always, Roux writes dirty, dirty sex. The shower scene in this one? Yeah. Ty and Zane are naughty boys indeed. Should I include a really dirty excerpt? So dirty I have to put it under a spoiler tag? Fine! If I must! Greedy readers! *wink*
… “You are too fucking hot for your own good,” Zane gritted out.
Ty made a frustrated sound into Zane’s mouth. “God, the things I want to do to you right now.”
Zane nodded, biting at Ty’s full lower lip. “Do them.”
[/spoiler]
I feel like I’ve rambled and rambled without really saying anything so I’ll wrap with this. Fans of this series are going to love this book. You are going to rant and cry and scream. But at the end this book of all the books in this series will impact you the most. I love what Abigail Roux does with it and as always, absolutely dying for the next one.
Spoiler Section:
Ty’s secret. Holy shit. Ty’s been monitoring Zane this whole time? Assassinating drug guys in Miami to keep Zane safe? Did you expect this? Do you think this was a big enough..betrayal (in Zane’s eyes) to make Zane react so violently? Did that entire scene kill you?
Zane had a drink. Ty made him a sobriety marker. I felt this fit in the story well.
The end. They spend a lot of time apart. I loved this – I think it was needed. They kiss in open. There is a mole. Now Ty is off with the Marines (sobs) Thoughts?
[/spoiler]
Is it 2014 yet?
Rating: A
Recent Reviews:
Fiction Vixen – A+
Red Hot Books – A
Allure of Books
Goodreads
Author Website l Series Listing
Amazon l Riptide (note: e-book only available from Riptide right now. I think e-book will come to Amazon next week)
Mandi, I blame you for turning me into the most obsessive Cut & Run fangirl. I am stalking Abigail Roux and her 5 Tumblr blogs trying to get info.
I like Liam and can’t wait to see him again. He’s such a naughty flirt.
I could not even begin to guess the secrets that Ty kept. Wow. I did guess about the other thing about Ty & Zane and New Orleans.
I squealed at one part of the ending. *sigh*
Here’s one of Roux’s blogs. You can ask characters questions. Warning, there will be massive spoilers.
http://theinterrogationroom.tumblr.com/
hehe!
I JUST saw that tumblr last night. zomg obsessed!
They blew a cat at me! *dead*
Aaaaaaaaah – this book was perfection. I like your disclaimer at the start because I just can’t be objective when it comes to this series either – I glommed it up and wanted more. I cannot freaking believe we have to wait until 2014 for the next book – it better be January 1st – SHE OWES US after that ending!!! :P
They blew a cat at me. LOVE.
Yeah – I’m not objective. LOL. I’m waaaay past that point.
Although I’m still an emotional mess I do think that everything that happened in this book needed to happen. I think they will come out the other end much stronger for it. I am still in shock over Ty’s real “assignment”. Zane’s pain and anger KILLED me. It was so hard getting through some of those scenes.
I love Liam Bell.
Abigail’s bribe for dabwaha? I must have that. Nick and Kelly? Yes, please.
Yes..I’m glad what happened occurred…but still..it was hard! :)
So -Kelly is gay too? Did I miss this? I’m confused.
Thanks for your thoughts. It’s helped me a lot.
Loved this book, so many emotions you go through. The secrets that come out and the ending!! Ty and Zane are my favourite characters.
Loved the Sidewinder members and Liam Bell.
Whenever I finish the new book, I always want to either start reading the it again straightaway or doing a reread of the whole series.
Can’t wait until next one comes out!
I’m itchin’ to reread
Oh,Mandi, I loved T&G. I was emotional wreck when I finished, but I guess it was necessary to happen. Ty was always this superhero and everything that happened in NOLA brought balance in their Ty & Zane’s characters. It was hard to read, but now they feel equal.
We are now shipping Kelly&Nick and Abi promised us a smutty scene if we pull her to the next round. =)
I missed that Kelly is gay…or did we not know?
HELP! I thought that, since Stars & Stripes advanced to the next round of the DABWAHA tourney, that T & G was out today?!?!? But I can’t find it on my Kindle??? WHERE IS IT? *cries*
Oh, they released it earlier (April 1st) as a surprise (and to prevent site meltdown like last time when everyone started downloading at midnight). Check again, there shouldn’t be any trouble.
Oh, sorry, I just saw you wrote Kindle. Mandi mentioned at the end that should be next week.
It’s at Riptide’s site!!
I think I finished T&G in like five hours. I pretty much raced through it. Zane’s pain and anguish KILLED me. Ty’s secret totally blindsided me. SOB. And I’m not sure I can handle a re-read right now when everything is still so fresh. Maybe tomorrow. ;-)
But you’re right, they’re more equal now that everything is out in the open. And Zane is more of a whole person, instead of someone just existing around Ty’s orbit. I LOVED how Zane spent that time away from Ty. I loved that he started painting again. That he made time to help out his team and get to know them better. I feel like he’s moving more and more away from the man he was with Becky (and the example of his awful mother) by rekindling his love for life.
I loved how Ty was the man that originally got the ball rolling for Zane’s interest in men. So dang cute. They really are meant to be together!
And I think that’s all the space I’ll take up on your blog today. And again, I totally agree… Ty and Zane are my FAVE couple in all of romance. For reals.
P.S. Someone made a comment on Tumblr that said they hoped Roux killed off both Ty and Zane while they’re happy and in love right now. Whoever it was said they couldn’t imagine the two growing old together. … I know, right? BLASPHEMY!! If Ty and Zane DON’T grow old together, I will… well, I don’t know what I’ll do. Stage a massive protest. Picket lines, fliers, that sort of thing. ;-)
P.P.S. And seriously? The reunion sex after they’d been away from each other so long? SUPER hot!!
WHAT. They WILL grow old together. They live in MD so once in their fictional lives it reaches 2013 they are allowed to get married. They might even adopt a kid damn it!!! They will be old and still have dirty sex. ;) This must happen. *clings* LOL
(I’m not crazy I swear)
And the reunion sex – can you imagine the sex after Ty gets home from the Marine thing??? I hope we get to “see” it!
I hope that Roux re-writes Nick’s book to have Kelly be his HEA.
@Caitlin, I cannot wait for that reunion sex scene.
Regarding Ty’s secret, I felt just as bad for Ty as I did for Zane (and I love Zane….okay, I love them both).
I felt bad for Ty too..he was coming from a good place. Zane realized that. But I understood Zane’s devastation too. Roux did a nice job with both sides.
Mandi. This book. We’ve chatted about it on Twitter, but OMG. Zane’s pain was just so palpable in this book, I’ve never wanted to reach in and hug a character more. I agree, she did a great job on both sides, and I loved how Ty didn’t entirely fall all over himself when apologizing. He went 90% of the way, but then asked Zane to come the final 10% and I thought that was perfect. And when Zane got drunk? That hurt, but again, it felt necessary given the talk they have at the end, and Zane really did need to realize he couldn’t base his sobriety on Ty alone.
I’m wondering if we’ll be starting the next book with a significant time jump. Will we come in while Ty’s still deployed? Months later? A year? Or will we come in when he’s coming back home? They certainly will have a lot to work out when he does given that show Ty put on at the end:)
Do we have any idea who Nick’s HEA is?
He went 90% of the way, but then asked Zane to come the final 10% and I thought that was perfect.
THIS.
If you go to this tumblr http://theinterrogationroom.tumblr.com/ – Ty is already deployed. Scroll down a few. I assume the next book will start with him home. Reunion sex. HELLO! ;)
No idea what she has planned for Nick.
I did not read spoilers… because…
I must admit you’ve peaked my curiosity with your reviews/talks/etc about this series, and I’ve downloaded book 1.
Ty and Zane are my all time favorite fictional couple! T&G blew my socks off. I laughed, I cried and I swooned. I’ve gone back to reread the scene where they both say “and I’m yours” like, 10 times! I’m fairly certain Abi Roux and I could be best friends :)
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I love your reviews! I think the mole is McCoy. In D&C he wanted Zane to read Ty’s file. If he would have, he would have found out about why Ty was is partner. He made them do those public speaking assignments. I dont know he just seems like he keeps trying to get them in the public eye. Almost like be wants someone to notice them. What do you think? I like all the other FBI agents in their office! I rather McCoy be the bad guy. I can’t wait to see how Zane does planning a Bachelor Party. I hope we get to read about Zane being Parimores best man. I also wish we knew more about Zane pretending to be Clancy’s rich boyfriend. lol I swear I love the stupid little things in these books as well as the big plots.
It could be McCoy! Yes. I just love these books. All the little things all the big things. SIGH. I want more! :)