Tag Archives: Cut & Run Series

Book Review: Crash & Burn (Cut & Run Series Book 9) – Abigail Roux

Crash and BurnCut & Run is one of my favorite series’ of all time and for it to come to an end was a bit bittersweet because I loved Ty and Zane and with their own story coming to an end feels like the ending of a new era – or maybe I’m just being overly dramatic.

So off to the final installment of the series called Crash & Burn. The most awaited wedding of Tyler Grady and Zane Garrett is finally happening here plus a ton of complications to go with and the author trying to tie up every loose ends.

I just have four main criticism about this last installment of the ever-so-thrilling and wonderful Cut & Run series.

The first one would be about Zane’s lack of POV. He doesn’t feel that present in the story. I loved how they finally tie the knot but after that – I just lost him along the way.

Speaking of being present, this ninth series was a bit like the previous installment where there’s just too much of fucking Nick O’Flaherty. He just became my most disliked character in this series to be honest.

The other thing that bothers me and also involves the self-absorbed Nick was Kelly’s dwindling characterization. Was he really a part of the Sidewinder or was it just my imagination all throughout the series? God, he became such a weakling since he hooked up with Nick.

The last thing that kinda ticks me off was how the author tried to connect everything. I mean does she really find the need to fill every loop-hole? It just felt forced and over the top at times.

I know what I’m saying may sound too critical but hey, at the end of the day I’m still a fan of Ty and Zane and I loved these boys. Although I’m sad that this would be the end of their own series, I’m still happy that they finally got their own happy-ever-after. I’m surely going to miss them and they’re probably be the only reason I’ll read more from the Sidewinder series.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Published March 28th 2015 by Riptide Publishing (first published March 1st 2015)

About The Author
Abigail Roux was born and raised in North Carolina. A past volleyball star who specializes in sarcasm and painful historical accuracy, she currently spends her time coaching high school volleyball and investigating the mysteries of single motherhood. Any spare time is spent living and dying with every Atlanta Braves and Carolina Panthers game of the year. Abigail has a daughter, Little Roux, who is the light of her life, a boxer, four rescued cats who play an ongoing live-action variation of ‘Call of Duty’ throughout the house, a certifiable extended family down the road, and a cast of thousands in her head.

Book Review: Caught Running – Abigail Roux & Madeleine Urban

Caught RunningThis is definitely one of the most beautiful books I’ve read this year and one of the best from Abigail Roux. I’ve read other stand-alone novels from Abigail Roux and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed them and don’t even get me started with the magnificent Cut & Run series which she started with co-author Madeleine Urban. This book is some kind of special. There’s something about this book that took me back in time and realized a lot of things especially remembering the old “idealistic” me. It’s like a bittersweet reminder that once, I dreamt of something different for myself.

Caught Running tells the story of Jake Campbell, the former school Jock and the former nerd Brandon Bartlett who are now teaching at their old high school ten years after graduation. They were both from totally different spectrum of social circles but when Science teacher Brandon was thrown into coaching with Baseball head coach Jake Campbell, they found that there’s more to learn about each other that neither of them ever expected.

First, I’ve to say how I loved the interchanging POV in almost every paragraph. It’s kind of refreshing in the sense that we get an instant feel from both ends in each situation. In some books, I find this style messy to read but here – it was written in such a way that is very apt with the story and with the characters.

I loved the melancholic vibe of the central characters here. How they both end up teaching instead of doing what they initially dreamt of. That’s how life works right? Things don’t go our way all the time.

I also liked the slow-burn between these two very opposite characters. At first, I thought that my patience was running low but when something finally happened between them – when they both recognized their attraction – I was like, so that’s why it took the author/s too damn long to do it. I realized that I loved the timing then, because it feels just oh so-surreal but good. It’s like the two people you’re rooting for to be together finally had their happy ending – although this was just the start of their relationship as lovers.

It’s mesmerizing to read a book where you don’t get scared of the repercussion of them being lovers despite their status. It was mind-opening and realistic in many levels. There’s imagination offered to the readers to conclude what they want about the couple. I think that’s what I loved most about it. There are a lot of beautiful possibilities about this wonderful couple. This is one book I’ll think about for the longest time. Bravo Abigail and Madeleine!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars