****Full Review****

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

After wrapping up an especially horrific case Nick decides to retire as a police detective and find a job that doesn't leave him with nightmares at night. When his brother gifts him with a plane ticket to Las Vegas Nick jumps at the chance to get away. He can't completely turn off his heroism though and ends up saving Samantha from an overzealous drunk in their hotel. Samantha is in town for a pet convention trying to network and get ideas for her pet store. When sexy blue eyed Nick shows up as her prince charming she decides to take a risk and go against her usual answer to one night stands. When their wild weekend produces an unexpected result, Samantha finds herself traveling to Alaska. Suddenly, her and Nick are not only battling what their futures should look like but also the Russian Mob.

Against the Sky had a very clunky start that involved stilted dialogue and scenes, it was as if the writer wanted to get the meet and greet over with so the story could really start to begin. Samantha didn't come off as the most likable character, most of the time she is complaining about how she could never live in Alaska (it never crosses her mind that Nick might move or they could compromise somehow). I know she loves to cook though, as it was mentioned over and over and took up more than half of her storyline with the remaining being her whining about how her and Nick will never work out. Nick is your typical cardboard cut out alpha but I will cut him a little slack as he had a lot on his plate. When his neighbor boy comes over to involve him in what turns out to be Russian mob issues he (reluctantly) shines as he gets to moving and shaking on involving past characters and future heroes to save the day.

There was numerous pointless conversations (hey, there's a new Cabelas in town!) that slowed the pace down in what was suppose to be a murder suspense story; they need to be trimmed. Samantha and Nick's relationship didn't really work for me, it was a lot of "I really like Samantha but she is too girly for Alaska" from Nick and "Nick is so sexy but he needs Alaska to be manly in while I like to shop" from Samantha. The last twenty percent or so picked up immensely with the action involving the Russian mob. Our couple is investigating (I do have to question how Samantha is suddenly a hacker extraordinaire breaking into data bases because she knows how to "work" Google very well) while dodging bullets, and working to save lives. Frankly though, by the time it got to this point I would have rather been reading Connie's (the Russian mob boss who traffics women and children) story, he at least sounds less whiny.

This delicious cover had me having high hopes for it, unfortunately, instead of a sexy thrilling ride I got a bland relaying of facts story that didn't have much passion to it. This is the second in a series featuring brothers and it seems like there are characters from past Martin books, if you're already invested in the family then you'll probably want to see how the youngest brother gets his happily ever after but if you're just jumping in, I'd give this one a pass. ( )

Thanks to the publisher and Goodreads for a free copy of this book!

First of all, I'm pretty new to the romantic suspense genre, and I don't think it's really my thing. Which is to say that Against the Sky probably deserves a higher rating than what I'm giving it. It's good at what it does; I'm just not the right audience.

Honestly, most of my hangups about this book surrounded the romance aspect (which is probably not surprising, knowing me). I just don't get the appeal of the super-alpha male lead. And that combined with a few words that kept on distractingly popping up ("sheathed"?) meant that the love angle just didn't do it for me.

However, what I did like was the interplay between the romance and suspense angles. The two sides of the novel interacted with each other very nicely -- I liked how Samantha was helping with the investigation, for example. And there were also some great, atmospheric descriptions of Alaska.

So, overall, it does what it does well... It's just not my thing. ( )

“I can find men friends who like to fish, guys who like to ride snowmobiles and climb mountains. I don’t need a woman to do that with me. I need a woman to come home to, one who’ll give me children and make us a family. I love you, Samantha Hollis.” – Nick Brodie

All hail Nick Brodie! Firstcomer of Lydia's Book Boyfriends of '17 list and... Oh, wait, I rushed forward again, didn't I? OK, OK, back from the beginning it is...

Nick Brodie was forced to go on a vacation by his big brother, knowing he needed one and still dreading it. On his trip, he meets Samantha Hollis - and sparks fly all over the place! After a night none of them is able to forget, they meet again, this time on Nick's turf, Alaska, to spend some time together. But Samantha brings an unexpected surprise with her. With what happened between them leaving them in a sudden predicament, and Nick getting involved in a murder investigation despite having retired from the force, can this mountain boy and the city girl he's falling fast in love with find common ground to be together? And will they live long enough to do so, with Russian mobsters after their heads?

I. Am. In. Love with the Brodies! I mean, Dylan was a fine guy, but Nick... Oh, boy, sweet mama, he was simply perfect! Funny, and protective, and possessive, and hot! And all that hidden father material under his carefree attitude... Lord!!! And you ladies need to see for yourselves how much this manly man needed a sweet wife, someone to walk by his side, be strong-willed, but still give him what he had missed the most: a home!

Don't get me wrong, Nick wasn't an old-fashioned dude who believes that women belong in the kitchen, doing nothing but cooking hot meals and popping out children. He just needed someone who would love him and share life's duties with him.

And that girl seemed to be Samantha...

OK, yes, Samantha had everything that Nick wanted in a woman, and then some. But seriously, girl, you have this amazing hunk begging you to be with him, to marry him, have his babies. You have someone like Nick Brodie wanting to give you the world, make you a queen, be at your beck and call - and you throw it all away, multiple times might I add, why?! Because you can't picture yourself living in Alaska! Let me stop you right there. When you love someone as much as you claim to love him, you don't care where you'll live, as long as you're with him. This little "City Princess" act reminded me of Dylan's ex-wife, and was so not appreciated!

The story in itself was amazing and fast-paced, with many moments of action and suspsense. It worked perfectly to spice things up since Nick's relationship with Samantha was pretty well-oiled and they seemed to be awesome together - which again shows what an idiot Samantha was, because she was literally the only thing standing in the way of their happiness!

After Nick's story, I don't know if I'm ready to meet any other Brodie brothers, but heck, I'm willing! That's for certain!

P.S.: I need me some Cord and Mary sidestory, pretty please! They need their HEA, too!!!

“I love you so much, Nick. I’ve been dead without you.” – Samantha Hollis

***I was given an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.*** ( )