Book Review: Rise & Fall by Charlie Cochet

Reviewed by Susan65

Title: Rise & Fall
Author: Charlie Cochet
Series: THIRDS #4
Heroes: Dex/Sloane
Genre: MM Paranormal
Length: 236 Pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: February 2, 2015
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: 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.

Review: There is so much to love about this fourth installment of the THIRDS series, but nothing more so than seeing Sloane and Dex finally getting it right. Or should I say, Sloane finally opening up and Dex not screwing up…too badly. We also get lots of face time with the rest of Destructive Delta, and their side stories only enhance the love affair of their team leader and his goofy cheese-loving partner. Rise & Fall is not the end of Dex and Sloane, but more that their relationship is now on opened and eased footing. I finished the book feeling like it was all going to be okay. But, with the way that it ended, we know that there will be more tricks and treats for that dynamic duo just, hopefully, not of the drama-laden relationship variety.

There will be lots of happy readers with the Cael and Ash storyline. Was it settled? No, thankfully, because I am totally not ready to let go and move on, but I was left with a feeling of relief, as opposed to how I felt when I’d finished Rack & Ruin. More a subtle hope that after all that the team has endured, they are all still in one piece, mostly, and that there is some peace for all of them on the near horizon. Cael and Ash have a long road ahead of them, but they got a healthy start in this installment, and I can’t wait to see where it leads.

Calvin and Hobbs…Oh My God!! I will never be able to listen to ZZ Top again without thinking about “that” scene. Yea, that scene alone was worth the price of an ebook. Wow, I’m still laughing.

There were so many gut-busting belly-laugh moments that a part of me wished I had highlighted them to share here, but at the same time, it is so much better to experience Dex on your own. His dialogue is pure genius. We do see a side of Dex that was alluded to at the beginning of this series, and it is not all 80’s music lyrics and goofy puns. Underneath his happy and silly façade is a driven man. A man who will do anything, and I mean anything, to protect the ones he loves, and those he was unable to save, as well. His story is sad, and fortunately Sloane gets it, but it was a part of Dex that we, as readers, needed to see to completely understand him and his silliness.

If you’re reading this review, more than likely you’ve already read the first three stories and a summary is definitely not needed, but I will tell you that Charlie Cochet has continued to impress me with this amazing paranormal romance infused with incredible side characters, dialogue and edge-of-your-seat action. If you have not read this series yet, then I highly recommend you stop whatever you’re doing and pick up that first book. This is definitely a series where I eagerly await the next book, but simultaneously dread it ever ending. That speaks volumes and is one of the many reasons this series will remain an absolute favorite.

Overall Impression: It was amazing

*I received a copy of this book from the author in return for a fair and honest review.*