JaegerRating: 2.25 stars
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Length: Novel


Jaeger Tripp has lived a thousand lifetimes and grown steadily more bitter with every passing year. He made a deal for glory and renown and instead found himself damned to spend an eternity alone and as an assassin. The only way to break his curse is to forgive his true enemy. Now, working as a US Marshal, Jaeger has been tasked with protecting Wren O’Reilly, who is turning evidence against his criminal family. As far as Jaeger is concerned, Wren is no better than the criminals against whom he is testifying.

On the run and without much support, Jaeger and Wren are forced to rely on one another. Despite wanting to keep Wren at arm’s length, Jaeger can’t help drawing closer to the man. And suddenly, protecting Wren is far more important than simply doing his job. But with enemies surrounding them on all sides, Jaeger may lose Wren and find himself doomed to be alone.

I wanted to like Jaeger. On the surface, it’s every thing I enjoy — two men on the run, the threat of constant danger, a sinister enemy cabal, all leading to hot and sexy romance. But right from the start, Jaeger stumbled. This is a part of a larger series of books written by different authors, though Jaeger is very readable as a standalone. The paranormal aspect of this book: i.e., the curse Jaeger carries, is barely mentioned and has almost no purpose. Had it been removed from the text completely, I would barely notice and it adds nothing of value. Perhaps other books in this series use this aspect in more depth, but in this novel, it seems pointless.

The plot is fairly straight forward and the pacing here is quite strong. Unfortunately, the author’s voice feels stiff and awkward. There is no flow or rhythm to the work and more than once I found it absolutely jarring to read. Jaeger and Wren are both stock characters and never really develop into unique or interesting creations. It was hard to connect with either of them and their romance is nothing more than a series of lust driven sex scenes. There was no emotional bond between either of them and their relationship read as something we’re meant to believe, but are given no reason to do so. The “reveal,” for lack of a better word, of Jaeger’s true enemy is predictable and felt as heavy handed and forced as the rest of the book.

Jaeger is fairly fast paced and has a plot that is direct and to the point. But it lacks depth and the main characters never leap off the page. If you’re already a fan of the Order of the Black Knights series, then Jaeger will no doubt be another enjoyable read. For everyone else, I’d have to recommend giving this one a pass.

A review copy of this book was provided by Dreamspinner Press.

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