Shock & Awe by Abigail Roux (Sidewinder #1)
Released: November 11, 2013
Erotic Novella
Riptide
Reviewed by Mandi
I’m a huge fan of Abigail Roux’s Cut & Run series, whose main characters Ty and Zane are two of my most favorite romantic heroes ever. Ty is in the marines and has been with Kelly and Nick for most of his service. The entire Sidewinder group is extremely close. In the previous Ty and Zane book, Kelly gets shot, and this novella is him recuperating with Nick taking care of him. Nick is gay (or bi-sexual) and Kelly finds himself very curious as to what it would be like to be with Nick. Nick isn’t sure if it is the Percocet talking but he doesn’t know how to handle Kelly’s sudden attempt at seduction. It turns Nick on but it is also very scary to have one of your best friends want to try something that could turn out very bad.
This is a very short novella (90ish pages) about Nick and Kelly exploring a relationship, one that comes to a surprise to both of them. They’ve gone through so much together in the marines, maybe nothing shocks them too much anymore, but the passion they find between themselves is quite intense.
I have mixed feelings about this one. I’m such a fan girl of this series that anything to do with Ty and Zane I feel giddy about. But I’m not sure if I’m on board with Kelly and Nick together. Their sex scenes are hot – Abigail Roux writes such passionate, emotional, dirty love scenes. But I needed more from these two. I think for me, Kelly comes across too desperate. He kept constantly asking, begging, poking at Nick to kiss him or have sex with him. Nick came off as so uncomfortable with this. Partly because Kelly is injured and partly because they are such good friends. I needed to be in Nick’s head more so that I felt he truly wanted a relationship with Kelly, not just giving in so Kelly would stop incessantly asking.
I also think you need to be familiar with the Cut & Run series for this story to have an impact. It would not work great as a stand alone.
Ty and Zane do have a brief appearance, so all was not lost *wink*
Rating: C
Recent Reviews:
Fiction Vixen – A
Joyfully Jay – 5/5
The Book Vixen – 4.5/5
I think I liked it a little m.e than you. I’m a total Abi Roux Ho. But I agree with your complaint. I think Kels needed stop acting so desperate & needy. A needy guy is a turnoff. Plus, it seemed so one-sided. I would’ve loved to hear Nick beg! Also, the story was TOO DAMN SHORT! This is one of my favorite series ever, so I really did enjoy getting to know Nick & Kelly better. Ohmigod, the sex was super hot. That line about God that Nick kept saying, “Don’t say his name, say mine.” Oh. My. Hell. I re-read those lines like 5 times. Total panty dropper. Lol. I tend to not like novellas very much. I need a story. But they already have so much history, the “love” confession was believable. And the fact that I read it today, on Veterans Day, not gonna lie, I got a little weepy at the airport scene. I was so happy to hear from my Ty & Zane!! I really liked it.
I want more! Write faster Ms. Roux!!!!
I did LOVE the say my name line. The sex as always was verra well done.
The airport scene had my heart beating for some reason!
But yes – I needed more from Nick.
Is it time for more Ty and Zane yet????
I was SO looking forward to this. I am obsessed with Ty and Zane and I really enjoyed the lead-in to this when it was first released – but I fell like we didn’t really get much more than this. Too short, too rushed and just not enough. I know they were friends and they’re not as angsty as our old favorites but surely it shouldn’t have been that easy given that Kelly was completely straight and Nick was a commitment phobe who has only just got over years of unrequited love for Ty??! And I was (eagerly) waiting for Nick to go all Dom on me but it seemed like Kelly did all the pushing. Disappointed
Yeah – Nick needed to be fleshed out more. And we could have used some more pages for sure.
And I agree with your assessment of Nick just getting over Ty!
Ah well – it wasn’t all bad. The sex was hot! And I’m still desperate for Ball & Chain. Come on Ty and Zane :)
I enjoyed this one more then you. Kelly didn’t seem desperate to me as much as eager. But, If I had chance with Nick, I’d be all over that too. lolol
Snort. You make me LOL.
I don’t think I disliked this one as much as you either, but I have to admit that I had in the back of my mind the whole time a post I read on Abi’s tumblr after Touch and Geaux came out in which she spoke about another plan she had for Kelly which I don’t think included Nick at all. So, that may have affected my reading enjoyment a bit. I’m a total Abi ho too, though, and no matter what I’ll read anything she writes.
Oh, I’ll read a 5-page book if she writes it ;) But yeah. Excited for the next Ty and Zane though!