Rating:: 4 stars out of 5

A Border Crossing Novel

After a night at the movies in Albuquerque, NM, Brantley’s best friend, Matt, is shot right in front him during a robbery. Stunned and devastated, Brant tries to help Matt’s husband, Travis, deal with the funeral details even as he struggles with his own grief and Travis’s blame. When Travis’s best friend arrives, Brant is both annoyed and grateful, because he is so darn tired and can use the help.

Lex Espana is ashamed to admit he hasn’t seen his childhood best friend since Travis’s wedding. He’s even more amazed that he barely remembers Brant from that wedding, because he’s sure interested now. While it’s weird to fall for someone at a funeral, his feelings for Brant are real and make him long for a life he didn’t realize he was missing.

Neither Lex nor Brant knows how to be part of an us, though, and they both have a lot to work through before they can settle in. To become a real couple, Brant and Lex will have to dig deep to get past the roadblocks in their relationship.

Lex Espana, a police officer, played a major part in the first novel in the Border Crossing series. However, he was without a romantic partner and alone, even with friends after the traumatic events of Bombs and Guacamole.  Now in Ammo and Enchiladas, Lex is called back to his hometown when his childhood friend’s husband is killed in a gas station robbery done bad.  Travis is falling apart and needs Lex to handle things.  Also on the scene is Brant, the husband’s best friend. Brant was also with Matt at the time of the robbery and is dealing with not only his own grief at losing his best friend but guilt at surviving when Matt is dead.

What follows is a story of loss, stress, and the men who even under the worst conditions happen to find out they are perfect for each other.

Many things pop up about this story.   BA Tortuga is no stranger to writing about men with issues. Here it’s PTSD, grief, survivor’s guilt, recovery, and stress.  Brant is a vet wounded in service and dealing with the fact that he survived in a situation he was trained to deal with and his best friend didn’t.  Lex is dealing with PTSD from the bombing and the attacks in the hospital.  And now a random robbery and crazy gunman killed a man that shifted their world.    And the author is able to show us that in their actions, conversations and thoughts.

I was also unaware of the high crime reputation of Albuquerque …mostly because the state is on the lower income bracket.  We get a real flavor of what it feels to live their , all the wonderful reasons and not so great, about the ‘Burque.  It gives the story a very authentic flavor and that lends itself towards the characters too.

The romance between Brant and Lex is hesitant, complex, and wonderful.  I enjoyed it and the input from their families as well.  Poor Travis, however deep in mourning and grief doesn’t come off so well.  I would wish better for him.  By the time the story is over, the relationship is solid, they are moving forward  with a joined future, and we are looking at the next story in the series.

All that with a smile on our faces!  Now to see what is next!  I definitely recommend this story and the series if you enjoy contemporary romance, especially with a regional touch and some great food to boot!

Cover Artist: Alexandria Corza.I like these simple covers.  They work to brand the series yet contain elements about the story.

Sales Links:  Dreamspinner Press | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 213 pages
Published June 11th 2019 by Dreamspinner Press
Original Title Ammo and Enchiladas
ISBN139781644051375
Edition Language English

Series Border Crossing #2

Border Crossing Series

Bombs and Guacamole

Ammo and Enchiladas