13 Followers
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elizabetta

elizabetta

Currently reading

All Wrapped Up
Morgan Harcourt;Laylah Hunter;Thea Hayworth;Gryvon
Turning Tricks - Anne Tenino In Turning Tricks we return to Matt and James’s story shortly after the end of the engaging 18% Gray. The guys are still sinfully lustful and working out their issues. The faithful third-wheel cohort, Miz Horse, has also safely returned as evidenced by the book cover. The momentum of the first book slows way down here. For the first half of ‘Tricks’ Matt, James, and Miz are stuck on base with Matt’s quirky family, sitting ducks for the bad guys. They are trying to work a solution to the chip implant or ‘trick’ in James’s brain which could go postal at any time. The tension is increased as they discover that James is in danger of being manipulated by the bad guys through the implant.

And there is a new bad guy -- an amorphous, mystery thingy called Djinn -- infusing an inventive element of eroticism and impending danger. Oddly introduced in the very first chapter, confusing and distracting, it takes a while to figure out just what Djinn really is and how it figures into the plot. (The idea of Djinn eventually infiltrating and manipulating a “tricked” human and getting its longed-for use of ‘hands and penis’ has the potential for some erotic storytelling to say the least!)

The action finally picks up at halfway through the book when Matt is called on a rescue mission pulling him away from James and increasing the tension. This is where the story gets back on track for me -- Tenino is an inventive storyteller and it’s her combination of sci-fi, romance, and adventure that engages me. While I found the story slow moving at the start and the writing a bit clunky at times, I was initially pulled along by wanting to find out James’s fate and finally by Matt’s return to the field. I’m looking forward to Laslo and Logan’s story coming next (hopefully) and a healthier dollop of adventure (hopefully). How Djinn plays into this will be interesting to see.