I have to admit that when I read Black Balled I wasn’t too impressed with Lloyd Ledbetter. Then again, in that book my focus was centered on Larson and Troy so anyone getting in the way of them would have been a nuisance and on my “get lost pal” list. So when I heard about Guns Blazing, I was thinking that reading it could wait since I was annoyed by Lloyd already. But that’s the thing about reading other characters’ stories-you discover a whole other part of them that you didn’t know you wanted to find, and once you do you’re kicking yourself for not reading it sooner. So yeah–here’s me, kicking myself. Hard. I should have known better just based on the awesome writing in Black Balled that Guns Blazing would be just as awesome.
As annoying a character as I thought Lloyd was previously, here in Guns Blazing his organized, successful, but still submissive self was a real treat. Luke Gunner is quite the complement to him with his dominating attitude, and watching the two of them play off each other had me laughing quite a bit. Luke wants Lloyd right from the start-no matter that it’s not appropriate seeing how Lloyd is Luke’s attorney…his criminal attorney-and he manipulates things so what he wants, he gets-and Lloyd winds up steamrolled and going right along with it. One place Lloyd is not submissive? In his attorney role. He’s brilliant, powerful, and just a force to be reckoned with.
The drama is addicting-as are Lloyd and Luke’s sexual exploits (oh my hotness!), and I read this story straight through without stopping. The best part about Andrea Smith and Eva LeNoir’s storytelling? The fantastic witty banter between the characters. It’s some of the best I’ve ever read, and makes this series one I will be re-reading many times.
Now take everything I’ve said, and toss in Joel Leslie narrating the story. Pure. Gold. His narration is perfect, and really made Lloyd and Luke come to life for me. You can feel Lloyd’s transformation from his submissive self to commanding, in-charge attorney in Joel’s words, and his interpretation of Lloyd is probably one of my favorite character narrations.
5 stars to Guns Blazing, and 5 stars to Joel Leslie’s narration. While you could technically read this as a standalone, I would definitely suggest reading Black Balled first-it will make Guns Blazing much more enjoyable for you. Highly recommended for M/M romance fans 18+ (for adult language and explicit M/M sexual content)…and yes, I’m still over here kicking myself for waiting to read this. Now that I have, I’ll be reading–and listening–again and again.