Rating: 4.5🌈
Eden Finley delivers such a wonderfully entertaining story in Iris, a Mike Bravo Ops story! Just what I needed.
Iris, real name Isaac Griffin, but his irrepressible, often over the top personality in the Army got him the nickname “Iris-I require intense supervision” . It’s a name that’s stuck even at his new job at Mike Bravo Ops, a security firm made up of ex military who also happen to be LGBTGIA.
The company and people have appeared in another of Finley’s series but this is the first time I’ve read about them. It’s instant crush time.
The romance is between two men who already have history. So the attraction that arises as well as feelings is counted for by their past. I enjoyed that aspect of their relationship and romance. It’s often so hard to buy into a instant love story but a romance that’s got a firm foundation of a history between the main characters? Yes, please.
And this one aspect is one that has an air of believability about it because of the various issues that stood between them. DADT, family expectations, personal history, and each man’s stance on being queer. That’s a heavy load in that era. This is framed out concisely and as a story thread that will be used to grow their relationship.
Another is the type of work the Mike Bravo Ops Security teams do and how it brings Iris and Brock “Saint” Harlow back together.
Brock “Saint” Harlow is the opposite of Iris. The perfectionist, the CO’s ideal man. Therefore his nickname, “Saint”. He’s the Army’s Golden Boy in every way. Until one mission.
That’s the one which will reunite Iris and Saint, after years apart.
It will also allow Finley’s plot to deepen into those areas that add depth and dimension to a storyline. In this case , it’s a character dealing with the intense aftermath of a mission gone traumatically wrong, casualties, PTSD , and memory loss.
It’s something we have a window into from his perspective.
That he’s not “automatically “ healed is a welcome element here. That it’s a ongoing condition he’s actively dealing with is a fact that’s mentioned well into the next novel . And it’s a substantial factor in making these characters and relationships grounded in reality.
All these things could be easily overlooked in a story that’s full of snarky , fast paced dialogue, things that go boom, lots of crazy action, and sexy times!
They could but just when you think the “heart” has been suppressed by sarcasm and bullets, it comes rushing back to remind you . It’s still about love.
With a fabulously names GSD called Princess Smooshey Face added to make you thoroughly over the moon with them and everything at the end.
Yes, indeed. I really needed this . And I’m running immediately to review Rogue, which I’ve already read. Loved that too.
So I’m highly recommending this series to all fans of hot hunky men , and one woman, of action. Who also show depth and dimension amidst laughter and pain and things that go boom!
Check out the series below!
Mike Bravo Ops series:
✓ Iris #1
✓ Rogue #2
https://www.goodreads.com › showIris (Mike Bravo Ops, #1) by Eden Finley – Goodreads
Synopsis:
Mike Bravo. Knights in shining … camo.
Iris
I live for adrenaline. The thrill of the chase. And because I work for Mike Bravo, a private black-ops firm, it’s my job to go into dangerous situations.
But when we’re called in to extract a military team from a hostile situation, the thrill is so much better. Because one of those men happen to be the golden boy from my basic training days.
Brock “Saint” Harlow was a walking Captain America in the flesh. The perfect soldier.
Now my boss wants to recruit him, and I can’t wait to rub it in his face that he was rescued by me. The class clown.
I’m not called Iris “I require intense supervision” for nothing.
Saint
Military life is all I’ve known since I was born. I was raised to be a soldier.
But when a top-secret mission fails, I find myself suddenly discharged with nowhere to go.
Mike Bravo saved my life, and they want me to join them, but there’s one small problem.
Isaac “Iris” Griffin.
He’s as irresistibly snarky as he always was, only there’s a big difference this time. I’m no longer closeted or scared to live my truth. And the truth is, I’ve always wanted him.
It’s against Mike Bravo’s rules to fraternize with other team members, and I always follow orders.
But something tells me Iris might be worth the insubordination.
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Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 