Reviewed by Susan65
Title: Double Down
Author: Lissa Ford
Series: Doubleback #2
Heroes: Rowan/Jude
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 142 Pages
Publisher: Lissa Ford Books
Release Date: June 21, 2015
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads
Blurb: After surviving a deadly attack by a psychopathic killer, homicide detective Rowan Muir is ready to take his relationship with ex-deputy sheriff and former ex-boyfriend Jude Anderson to the next level. Trouble is, Jude is happy with going slow. As in glacial. And, fair enough, their previous attempt as a couple wasn’t exactly smooth sailing. It took murder and the volcanic attraction between them for both men to put old grievances aside and try once more.
But the past rears its ugly head again when Rowan’s drug-addicted brother goes missing. Rowan is summoned home and is immediately mired in family dysfunction better seen in a rear-view mirror. When Jude agrees to help Rowan investigate his stepbrother’s disappearance, Rowan fears his fragile relationship with Jude won’t survive the stress.
Being back in his hometown dredges up old fears, a lot of baggage, and murder. Soon Rowan has to decide if he is going to double down on his relationship with Jude, or if it’s wiser to pick up his chips and split for good.
Review: I love a sequel where you easily pick right back up where the guys left off in the first book, in this case, Doubleback. Some six odd months have passed and though Rowan and Jude have not yet spewed the “I love you’s,” you can tell they are in a much better place than they were in the last book. In this scenario, they are both trying hard to make it work. But, they are still walking a bit on eggshells around each other because neither wants to be the catalyst that breaks them up again.
The biggest concern in this book is their utter lack of communication. This causes a ton of grief but very understandable, too. They just spent a year apart and they are relearning how to be a couple again. But Rowan has secrets and his family dynamics are a sore subject that he wants to keep far away from Jude, until they come crashing down on him instead and nearly become the same catalyst he feared would destroy them in the first place.
I did not like Rowan’s step-mother. Truly, I understand her deepest love would be for her own biological son first, but she was a selfish woman who only used Rowan for what he could do for her and her precious drug addict son, Shane. I understand drug addiction is classified as a disease, I understand her fear, but she was truly a selfish bitch and I felt no sympathy for her. Yep, I am that harsh considering.
My favorite part of this book was all the secrets being revealed and Jude and Rowan finally dropping the love bomb. No one wants their dirty laundry aired, but in this case, it brought our guys closer together and gives hope for the possibility of forever. Now I have to see what mischief and mayhem follow Jude and Rowan in book three. Let’s hope it’s not too harsh and they finally get their happy ending.
Overall Impression: I really liked it!
*I purchased my own, personal copy of this book for review.*
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