Still good, maybe a third book to do justice to all the good things

I liked these books so much that I’m bummed a third book wasn’t tackled to make the most out of the foundations and anticipations that were laid and built up in the first book.

I think compared to book 1, less time/attention is given to the unfolding of relationships, events & inner monologue type experiencing compared to book 1 and really feel the story could have been built out enough to warrant spreading it all out a bit.

I give such big props to the way the female character is written and love the dynamics between the female and the males.

The guy’s characters are well distinguished and the relationship dynamics between them and the female is great. There’s mirth, curiosity, admiration, trust and an attitude between the males of
‘she gonna do what she gonna do, and why the fuck not, let’s go’
‘she can handle herself’
‘She an equal and can hold her own’

They enjoy the females snark, strength and spunk, and respond to her with attitude and comments like
- ‘you do you coz we like it’
- ‘if this is what you wanna do, we’re in’
- ‘you’ll handle this, you got this’
And in the few bedroom scenes, there’s the kind of dominance that gives many a strong female the chance to let go in relief and actually enjoy herself because someone else can be trusted to take charge.

I was left disappointed that the anticipation built around lucifer’s 2nd’s (which was done deliciously well from book 1 to the beginning of book 2) wasn’t used as enticingly as it could have been to keep us drooling and hungering for the proverbial carrot on the stick.

I got a bit frustrated at her resistance but I think only because the reasons weren’t fleshed out or supported by much backstory (and my own personal biases), otherwise it was a great add to the anticipation-tension build up.

Overall I’ll take this female lead over soooooo many others. It’s such a relief from females having to fight oppressive protector types, hold themselves back, compromise, fight fear, anxiety, guilt, remorse or talk a big game then fail to deliver at the end.

Narrator was great. Nothing worse than a good book with a narrator’s voice that drives you nuts. If I see Mia Madison’s name I’ll be a happy listener.

If the author’s had more books I’d be curious to see if these books were amongst their first and if they had more.

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