Mexican Heat

Mexican Heat (Crimes and Coctails Book 1) by Laura Baumbach & Josh Lanyon
Samhain Publishing

Crime/Mystery

Novel

4 out of 5

Blurb: 
In this town, danger moves to a steamy Latin beat.
Crimes & Cocktails, Book 1
SFPD detective Gabriel Sandalini might as well have put a gun to his own head. One red-hot sexual encounter in a bar-s back room has put two years of deep undercover work in jeopardy-two years of danger and deception as he worked his way into crime boss Ricco Botelli-s inner circle. Gabriel can-t afford emotional entanglements. Hell, he can-t afford emotions. But that was before he had a name to pin on that anonymous one-off-Miguel Ortega.

Miguel Ortega doesn-t trust anyone, but tough, street-smart Gabriel brings out the conquistador in his Spanish blood. But distractions are nothing short of deadly right now, not with his boss-s impending marriage to Botelli-s sister, which will ensure peace-and massive drug profits-for both families.
 
On a trip to Mexico to set up drug supply lines, a violent confrontation proves they-ve got each other-s backs-to a degree.
 
Then one savage act changes everything, testing not only their fragile bond, but Gabriel-s will to live.
 
Review:
What a treat this book was, a first for me by both authors and I really liked their gritty writing style. The cover is ridiculously sexy and that alone was one of the reasons, why this book was calling me to do a little pants losing. It was like reading a classic crime/mob book, filled with drugs and sexy men who know how to carry a gun.

Gabriel Sandalini is an undercover cop, deep in the drug trade. All he needs is a little more Intel and he will blow the roof of the whole operation. A little meeting with an informant at a club, Gabriel is hoping for something good but the person he’s supposed to meet doesn’t show. Well, the night is not a complete bust when he spots a hot looking man, who looks like he knows how to take care of business. A quick hook-up turns out to be more intense than Gabriel expected, and a lot more meaningful. Though he knows this was only a one-night thing, and that’s how he likes it?

That’s until his one nightstand turns out to be a gangster himself, and second in command to one of the biggest drug lords. It seems Gabriel life is about to get interesting. Miguel Ortega carries himself with class and an air of superiority, and it irks Gabriel something fierce. It seems that Miguel is gonna be apart of the take down when Gabriels team moves in. If that doesn’t leave Gabriel feeling sour, seems all those emotions he never wanted is making an appearance, and for the wrong freaking man.

Well there are a few surprises at play here, and some seriously shocking ones I never saw coming. The book is divided into two parts, and part 2 is my fave. Emotional yet intense, sweet but also tragic. I fell in love more with each character in part 2. Not saying that part 1 wasn’t good and molten lava hot. There is something bittersweet about a scarred man and his return from the anger and pain.

I liked Gabriel’s character, just could have done without the sarcastic comments all the time. I just wanted a more serious and caring persona from him. Ortega aka Lorenzo is every woman’s panty wetter. He is delicious, Spanish and intoxicating like the Tequila, he loves to savour. Together they are a perfect balance of classy and street punk.

I could have read this book in winter and melted the snow all around me, a super hot read for the summer. Bring a small fan or portable A/C cus this book is guaranteed to burn you alive. A definite pants losing.

4 Pants Off

Go Ahead Take Those Pants Off