A Jeri Release Day Review: Love and Payne (A THIRDS Universe Novel) by Charlie Cochet

Austen Payne, THIRDS Squadron Specialist Agent (SSA) for Destructive Delta and TIN operative, has seen the worst the world has to offer, faced lethal killers, and helped bring down dangerous organizations. But nothing terrifies him more than falling in love. After years of undercover work, Austen is a master at defending himself and protecting his heart… until he meets Osmond Zachary.

THIRDS Defense Agent Osmond Zachary has a huge, doting family, yet something is missing in his life. After meeting grumpy, foul-mouthed, jittery cheetah Therian Austen Payne, Zach knows exactly what that something—or someone—is. Unfortunately Austen seems determined to avoid Zach at all costs.

When Zach foils an assassination attempt, he ends up in the killer’s crosshairs, and Austen is Zach’s best chance at staying alive. Zach hopes the crisis will bring them closer, but Austen has every intention of walking away as soon as the danger is over.

Happily ever after isn’t for guys like Austen, but Zach is determined to show him it can be.

I am a tried and true THIRDS Nerd. Adore Dex and Sloane. I’m pretty sure Dex is my spirit animal. But it was time to move on. So this book is part of the “THIRDS Universe” but it isn’t centered around Destructive Delta.

If none of that made sense, go straight to amazon and read book 1. You’ll be hooked.

But I digress. We know Austen well. He started crushing on Sloan hard, but Sloan let him down easy. But Austen was always there- on the fringes like the spy he is.

And Zach we met almost immediately way back in book 1 when Dex had the audacity to take the last bag of cheesy doodles from the vending machine. ahh memories…..

Zach and Austen have always kind of tip toed around each other. Austen refusing to admit that he was crushing hard on Zach. And Zach wearing his heart on his sleeve but not wanting to spook Austen.

So when they are thrown together with basically no escape, Austen has no defense against the charms of Zach and his entire family.

And what an enormous family! My goodness. Another world that Ms Cochet has built for us. I look forward to getting to know them.

So yes, the THIRDS universe can and will happily survive without Dex and Sloan at the center. There is still tons of action, lots of sexy times and some really sweet, swoony romance.

I absolutely look forward to more of this offshoot. Although, I have a feeling that Dex and Sloan will be making an appearance in the near future.