Reviewed by JustJen
Title: Victoria Sue
Author: Beneath This Mask
Series: Enhanced #3
Heroes: Gael/Jake
Genre: MM Paranormal
Length: 206 Pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: January 16, 2017
Available at: Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads
Blurb: Gael Peterson has spent years hiding behind the enhanced abilities he wears like a mask, even though he is an important, confident member of the FBI’s exclusive H.E.R.O. team. The hurt and betrayal of his mom’s abandonment and his father’s fists are secrets buried deep beneath the ugly scars on his face, and he doesn’t trust Jake, his new regular human partner, with any of them. In a world where those with special abilities like Gael’s are regarded as freaks and monsters, it won’t be easy for him to rely on Jake to have his back, especially when the abilities of a vulnerable, enhanced, nonspeaking child make that child a murder suspect.
Tempers rise and loyalties are challenged, and when the serial killer targeting the enhanced finally sets his sights on Gael, not only will Gael have to trust Jake with his secrets, he might have to trust him to save his life.
Review: This is a really interesting series where enhanced team members are paired with non-enhanced partners to make up the H.E.R.O. Team. They are fighting criminals but also those who believe enhanced don’t belong in any type of power position. There are those who want the teams dismantled and to basically criminalize the enhanced. Then there are the young enhanced, who are vulnerable for obvious reasons.
In this segment, we have Gael, whom we have come to know pretty well from the first two books. He gets his partner in this installment, but he is not happy about it. He’s not fully on board with the whole partner thing and the fact that he doesn’t much like Jake isn’t helping any. Jake comes from the rival ENu department (the ones called in to handle out of control Enhanced), so Gael doesn’t trust Jake to have his back and is very reluctant to let him in. Jake has to work extra hard to win that trust, as well as fully win over the rest of the team. When the case of an enhanced child in danger heats up, and other enhanced are being murdered by using their abilities against them, matters are taken out of their hands and Gael and Jake end up working together for the greater cause, even after Jake is switched to another partner.
I like that there is more going on in this series than just the pairings. The future of the team, the issues they each deal with in regards to their enhancements, as well as the actual events of each story, make for an exciting and interesting tale that keep the pages turning. There are quite a few underlying lessons learned as well. Beauty is only skin deep, there is a lot more to people than meets the eye, etc. Luckily, these guys see through things pretty quickly where each other is concerned, even if it takes a while for them to fully get on board with it together. They end up being perfect for each other, and it was really enjoyable to watch that all play out.
If you are looking for a solid paranormal that is a bit different from the every day, you won’t be disappointed in this one, and each story equally delivers. I can’t wait to see what’s next for this unique group of characters!
Overall Impression: I really liked it!
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for a fair and honest review.*
The Blogger Girls 