3,5*

(DEUTSCH WEITER UNTEN)


A wonderful in-between piece.
I have to say that Jack and Ethan’s first Christmas was very cheesy (our two lovebirds were cheesy) and I’m really not a fan of cheesiness ... BUT everything around it was super exciting. I loved seeing how Ethan was doing in exile (and his case there was also very thrilling) and I also found it interesting what the upcoming political plans did to Jack.
Also, it was fun (for me as a listener anyway) to see how the press reacted to Jack and Ethan’s relationship and how the whole country jumped on it. It was just hilarious xD

As I said ... the cheesiness is really a bit too much for me, but the rest and our characters themselves are incredibly neat as usual <3


(DEUTSCH)


Ein wundervolles Zwischenstück.
Ich muss sagen, dass das erste Weihnachten von Jack und Ethan doch schon sehr kitschig war (also unsere beiden Lovebirds waren kitschig) und ich bin echt nicht so der Fan von Kitsch ... ABER alles Drumherum war halt super spannend. Ich habe es geliebt zu sehen, wie Ethan sich im Exil schlägt (und sein Fall dort war auch sehr spannend) und fand es auch spannend, was die kommenden politischen Pläne mit Jack gemacht haben.
Auch war es lustig (für mich als Hörerin jedenfalls) mitzuerleben, wie die Presse auf die Beziehung von Jack und Ethan reagiert und wie das ganze Land darauf anspringt. Es war einfach zum Haareraufen xD

Wie gesagt ... der Kitsch ist mir echt ein wenig zu viel, aber der Rest und unsere Charaktere an sich sind wie immer ultra nice <3

Book safety, content warnings, and tropes down below.

They gazed into each other’s eyes as they kept dancing, their foreheads resting together, and traded soft kisses in between smiles and gentle giggles.

I started this one nearly immediately after Enemies of the State, and finished it really fast. It’s a smaller book, but gives a lovely insight into what it was like for Jack and Ethan to be in a long distance relationship for a while. It was a little heartbreaking to see how lonely Ethan was in particular, but equally lovely to see how supportive of each other they were. I love these MCs so much already, and I’m worried about the angst coming up in the second book. Oh well. I will survive.

“I want to be with you,” Jack whispered. “Really with you, Ethan. Like this isn’t a scandal. I want you by my side in those photos I just had to take. I don’t want you hanging out in the corners. I don’t want you to be my dirty little secret.”

This was also such a great setup for book two, and I can’t wait to get started. I don’t think Tal could every write something I wouldn’t love. The way he tells a story is like no one else I know about. I adore everything I read by this author.

Once, Ethan had seen a movie that spoke about four great kisses in the history of the world. Step aside, he thought. This is the kiss of the ages.

⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️

⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️
President
Secret service agent
Suspense
Political thriller
Ex military
Size difference
Long distance relationship
Media chaos
Loneliness
Book 1.5

⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Explicit sexual content
MC shunned at work
Sexuality assumed/policed
Mentions of parent death (cancer, off page, past)
Dead body/murder victim detailed
Vomiting
Mentions of terrorism
References to islamic extremism
Mentions of terrorist groups
Mentions of human/sexual trafficking
Mentions of murdered women
Homophobic language
Homophobia

⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
OM/OW drama: No
Breakup: No
POV: 1st person, dual POV
Genre: Romantic suspense, M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Versatile (no switching on page)
MCs age: 41 and 45
Pages: 201

5✨

Ethan is stuck in Iowa and Jack is back in DC. One might ask, how are they ever going to make it? Well, they do, by being the best couple in existence!

4⭐️

As an interlude, it’s fine and does what it should. But I was kind of wanting more of the storyline, even though I know it’s just a set up. It’s fun to see the development of the relationship though

Perfection.

Love Ethan and Jack.

I LOVE Sergey and his friendship and support.

The Secret Service Teddy bear

I can't believe I love this novella more than the first book.

I mean like, holy crap.

This is me grinning like an idiot through the whole book because of how giddy it makes me feel.

I mean, seriously.

SERIOUSLY.

I just love Jack and Ethan's relationship, it's so mature and wholesome and perfect. Like completely, absolutely, relationship goal right there.

This book takes place between books 1 & 2 in the series, and that's definitely the order I'd recommend reading it, despite it being listed as 4th in the series. You won't lose anything if you don't, but I think it just flows better.

Really lovely little interlude though, and I enjoyed seeing the bridge between Idaho and Ethan coming to stay at the White House. Great depictions of the pressures on their relationship and some good build for the coming books.