FBI agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett have been sent on “vacation” to recuperate after a serial killer almost killed them both the year before. Neither man is healing well mentally, but Zane is having a particularly hard time. Zane reluctantly agrees to accompany Ty home to West Virginia for some R&R in the mountains. He quickly sees where Ty gets his craziness from after meeting Ty’s family. Between the family and a hike in the mountains turning into a deadly mission, if they can get off the mountain alive, Zane and Ty may need a vacation from their vacation.

I was slightly infatuated with Ty and Zane after reading Cut and Run, but I fell in love with them in Sticks and Stones. While Sticks and Stones has all of the action, humor, hot sex, and even more of Ty’s hilarious t-shirts as Cut and Run does, it also has a bit more emotion and gave me the affirmation I’ve been waiting for between Ty and Zane. I don’t think Ty is as crazy as he is hard-edged and stubborn. He’s cynical, realistic, and he doesn’t take bull from anyone. He shows glimpses of vulnerability rarely, so his heart to heart with his brother and then Zane is endearing. Zane is understandably going through a rough time. Add to that his insecurity regarding his relationship with Ty and he gets himself in a bit of an emotional mess. Ty and Zane don’t communicate well. They spend more time arguing than making love, and they can be down right rude to each other, but they’re perfect together. They make me smile every time they insult each other.  Their bond is very strong. You may have to look for it, but it’s there. Everything I read from Madeleine Urban and Abigail Roux rocks, so I knew Stick and Stones would as well. It is well written, full of angst, and exciting. It is character driven, intense and edgy, and it’s very erotic. It made me want to go camping, minus the snake, the cougar, and the bad guys, of course. I love Sticks and Stones so I was bummed when it ended. But then I read this: Check out this exclusive sneak peek at the sequel to Sticks & Stones Fish & Chips. Can you say ecstatic?