Dangerous Ground

3.5This is an interesting start to what may turn out to be a good series, however as a stand alone I would want more. Maybe spoilerishThe book starts sort of mid story, which I don't mind, with Taylor and Will who have been work partners for three years on a hiking trip meant to repair a relationship which has been strained due to Will's unwillingness to engage in a sexual/romantic relationship with Taylor and also as back to physical activity for Taylor who's recuperating from having been shot in the line duty. While on the trip they encounter the vestiges of bank heist and escape gone wrong and action and suspense ensue and also sexy times, some pretty improbable I'm talking about you sex "scene while injured and hiding in a rundown cabin" but I'm game to roll with it. My enjoyment of this was diminished really because I didn't get why if Will did in fact care for Taylor as more than a partner and a friend, what was the hang up in getting together and trying. I get that they worked together and he didn't want to jeopardize that but it seemed that if they were in fact as close as advertised they could've talked this out way before things got so out hand. I must also confess that action/suspense are not my absolute favorite and that I at least partially listened to the audio by [a:Adrian Bisson 7417777 Adrian Bisson https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] which I didn't like, particularly the voice he does for Will. Also I think Josh ruined me with Adrien English Series Nonetheless I'll probably go on to the next one and see where this goes.

I was sure I must have started reading the wrong book in this series, because the beginning is liberally peppered with references to prior events and discussions that I was not privy to. I was like Donny from the Big Lebowski:

Donny: What?Walter Sobchak: Were you listening to The Dude's story?Donny: I was bowling.Walter Sobchak: So you have no frame of reference here, Donny. You're like a child who wanders into the middle of a movie and wants to know...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vGK008c_rA

I mean, it's not even confirmed that Will is openly gay until 30% into the book, even though it's a previously known fact to Taylor. What's the reason for making the reader unsure? I had a difficult time connecting with these characters because I felt lost for so long. I kept wondering why I should care what happened to them.

Even after some details of the past were revealed, the book didn't hold my interest. There were countless times that I found myself reading the same sentences over and over again and still having no idea what I'd just read because I was thinking about something else. The story's not awful, but it's certainly nothing special.

The good thing about this book is that it's fairly short, even though it didn't seem like it at times. I've heard the rest of the series is better, so let's hope this one is just a fluke. I have faith, because I've liked all the other Josh Lanyon books I've read.