framed, torture, abduction, real-horror, excop, lawyers, law-enforcement, m/m-mystery, m/m-romance, language-issues, violent-crimes, violence, murder-investigation, psychopath, corruption, pet-cat, friendship, friends, frustration, drugs-issues, threats, thriller, crime-fiction, criminal-acts, criminal-injustice-system, LGBT, PTSD, banter, punny, snark-fest, family-drama, family-by-choice, family-dynamics, action, unputdownable, gratuitous-erotica*****

I suspect that this could stand alone, but it is so intense and filled with comic relief that it is addictive. Again with the erotica and violence, but both are so entwined with reality. I have, indeed become addicted to this series.
And the narration by voice actor Greg Tremblay knocks it up more than a notch! ( )

READ THESE BOOKS.

Now that that's out of the way... I've never read a series with a couple this intense - in the worst and best ways imaginable. The one that comes closest is Mary Calmes's Marshals series (first one is All Kinds Of Tied Down). The difference is, both Ellery and Jackson are wickedly intense, their actions tied thoroughly to their personalities and pasts. The complications Jackson causes are ones he cannot help, so you read teeth bared, understanding but horrified, sharing Ellery's fear and anger... Yeah. The supporting cast is fantastic. The bad people are omg awful. The hearts of these two guys take hits and come out fighting. That's what hauled me into this series to begin with. You'll fall in love as you're cringing or crying or laughing.

Read this series. I've just started the (prequel) story of Sonny and Ace, (Racing for the Sun), but I paused to write this review at the end of Red Fish, Dead Fish and before the (four) Accompanying Stories, two of which are with Sonny and Ace. I'm savoring these; the next book in the Fish Out of Water series isn't out yet. Read that in a whining tone, please. ( )

Loved these two guys in the first book. Ellery wouldn't take no for an answer and Jackson couldn’t convince him that he wasn’t worthy of Ellery’s time or love. They were absolutely perfect together and I thank Amy Lane for not separating them and subjecting us readers to agonizing pages of waiting for them to get back together. Jackson is all edge. Ellery is a great counterbalance. Ellery deserves a medal in perseverance and sheer stubbornness for his ability to see beyond the surface. He is the type of man that once he loves he will give himself completely. I loved how he knew when to push Jackson and when to back away, when to use humor and deflect and when to be open and true. Their relationship is wrought with obstacles, life debris and ghosts of life past that keep turning up like a bad penny. But they move forward, struggle to get up when they fall and just keep being themselves. It’s not all romance. There is humor and there is also one very good case to solve. Excellent series thus far. I think this is one that it’s going to be hard to see end. ( )

This series is becoming one of my favorite!
Excited to read next one! ( )