Written by: Abigail Roux

Narrated by: J. F. Harding

Length: 10 hrs and 44 mins

Series: Cut and Run, Book 9

Unabridged Audiobook

Release Date:12-15-15

It’s been five years since Special Agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett first worked together to solve the Tri-State murders, and time has been both harsh and kind. Engaged now, they face the challenge of planning a deeply uncertain future together. Zane is at the pinnacle of his career with one last mystery to solve, while Ty is at sea in a world where he’s no longer the tip of a spear.

There’s just one more hurdle in the way of their happy ever after: a traitor from their inner circle who threatens to burn their world to the ground.

Squeezed between the Vega cartel, an unknown mole, and too many alphabet agencies to count, Ty and Zane must gather all their strength and resources to beat the longest odds they’ve ever faced. To make it out alive, they’ll need help from every friend they’ve got. Even the friends who might betray their trust.

Buy links: Riptide | Amazon US | Audible

Ty and Zane have survived so much, fought so hard for the right to love each other. Their life will never be boring, but a little bit of sunshine is always appreciated, even for half psycho FBI agents that like to shoot things. Ball & Chain ended with Zane finally accepting Ty's proposal, and this book starts with their wedding. I was sitting on my head in the few minutes leading up to the ceremony, fearing Roux would pull out some sort of ninja on a wave runner with an AK47 to destroy the nuptials. I was so very pleased, and even in tears, as Ty and Zane had probably their first ever day of peace to have a quick civil ceremony on the water with Livvy and Deuce by their side. The wedding night was full of passion and love we've come to expect from these two. When the bell tolls one, all bets are off and the madness begins by way of a battered, bruised and bloody Nick landing on their doorstep with a gunshot wound.

From this moment on the action was non-stop, the suspense insane and the body count climbing as Ty, Zane, Sidewinder, the Cia and Nia set out to take down the Vega cartel that won't stop until Ty and Zane are dead, buried and burned to the ground. It just so happens that the afore mentioned list of crazy people and agencies with nothing but alphabets in their name feel the same way about the cartel. Now the race is on to see who can take down whom first.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I love the characters and their story, but I'm sad that this is the last HooRah for Ty and Zane. Five years after that first tryst in a hotel room while investing the death of one of Sidewinders team members, Elias Sanchez, Ty and Zane are moderately healthy, mostly happy and ready for the next chapter. Too bad their pasts didn't get that memo, because everything is about to come to a gnarly head and not everyone makes it out with their life.

What I have thoroughly enjoyed about this series is that nine books in, and I'm still intrigued, sad in fact that it's the last one. Every installment has brought something new to the table, more madness and chaos for Ty and Zane and everyone they care about. These two men have literally been to hell and back, and back again, a side trip to New Orleans where the devil himself was knocking on their door, and now they find themselves facing down those demons, praying they will make it out alive. These books are action packed, emotional, dramatic, passionate and intense.

Narrated by JF Harding and it's amazing how he pulled off so many different voices and never, not once, mixed them up. Everyone has their own distinct voice that wavers occasionally depending on the characters mood or the circumstance at that time in the story. As I said, this is probably the most intense, emotional book of the series and Harding captured every ounce of the pain, fear, love, elation and desperation with tones and nuances as he voiced the characters. I hadn't listened to anything from him prior to this series, but I will probably seek him out for his voice chops alone in the future.

If you are a fan of this series you are going to love this final climax for this multitude of characters you've come to know and love. Everyone that is anyone in the Cut & Run universe, that is still breathing that is, is back for their 5 minutes of page time. As I said, it's very bittersweet. Sad to say goodbye, but the boys definitely went out with a bang and a smile.

Excerpt...

“Grady,” Ty said after just two rings. Even though he’d resigned from the Bureau a year ago, he still answered his phone as if he expected someone to be calling him to go kill something.

“Hey, doll,” Zane drawled. “How’s your day going?”

“Pretty good, actually. What’s up?”

“I had a thought.”

“God help us,” Ty said under his breath.

“Do you think Burns was the endgame?”

On his first day in the new office, Zane had swept it for bugs. He’d only found one, which rather surprised him. He’d already known it was there, hidden beneath the desk; Richard Burns himself had shown it to Zane and Ty before he’d died. Zane had destroyed it: an opening gambit in a game of chess where pawns were people and kings lived or died on how soon they realized they were playing.

Ty was silent for a few heartbeats. “What?”

“I sweep this office every fucking day, waiting for another bug. Nada.” Zane rocked in his chair and rolled his head from side to side. “Nothing on our phones, either. Do you think it’s possible we were being watched because of our connection to Burns? That he was the target, and I’m just spinning my wheels here when I could be in bed with you all day?”

“Well. Are we still going with your chess metaphor?”

“I like my chess metaphor.”

Ty laughed, and the sound warmed Zane to an unhealthy degree. “Okay. Isn’t chess all about patience and strategy?”

Zane groaned and rubbed at his temple.

“You’re going insane, aren’t you?” Ty asked fondly.

“I feel like this must be what your brain does all the time. Squirrels juggling knives in there.”

Ty snorted. “I think, on the larger scale, it’s our move. You know? We’ve been quiet since Scotland. You’re stuck behind a desk, I’m playing Mister Fix-It. What’s there to spy on?”

“But how would they know that if they’re not spying on us?”

Ty made a clucking sound. “Maybe they are.”

When Zane hung up a few minutes later, having secured a dinner date with his fiancé, he was still frowning. Maybe they are.

To read this entire excerpt head over to Riptide Publishing.
To listen to the audiobook sample head over to Audible.

Abigail Roux was born and raised in North Carolina. A past volleyball star who specializes in sarcasm and painful historical accuracy, she currently spends her time coaching high school volleyball and investigating the mysteries of single motherhood. Any spare time is spent living and dying with every Atlanta Braves and Carolina Panthers game of the year.

Abigail has a daughter, Little Roux, who is the light of her life, a boxer, four rescued cats who play an ongoing live-action variation of Call of Duty throughout the house, a certifiable extended family down the road, and a cast of thousands in her head.

Connect with Abi:

This has been one of the best MM series I've ever listened to, top 5 for sure. If you haven't had the pleasure, start at the beginning, I promise you won't be disappointed!
{click the image below to be re-directed to the Amazon series page}