Review: Catch a Ghost (Hell or High Water, Book #1) by SE Jakes

Everyone knows that Prophet—former Navy SEAL, former CIA spook, full-time pain in the ass—works alone and thinks only about the trouble he can cause. But his boss, Phil Butler of Extreme Escapes, LTD., has just assigned Proph not only a new partner but also a case haunted by ghosts from Proph’s past. Suddenly, he’s got to confront them both head on.

Tom Boudreaux—failed FBI agent, failed sheriff, full time believer in bad luck—is wondering why the head of a private contracting firm has hunted him down to offer him a job. Still he's determined to succeed this time, despite being partnered with Prophet, EE, LTD’s most successful, lethal, and annoying operative, and even though the case is also resurrecting his own painful past.

Together, Prophet and Tom must find a way to take down killers in the dangerous world of underground cage matches, while fighting their own dangerous attraction. And when they find themselves caught in the crossfire, these two loners are forced to trust each other and work together to escape their ghosts . . . or pay the price.



(Please note: This review was posted on GR. For those new to the series, or wanting to know my thoughts on book #1- Enjoy!)


Confession: On the paranormal totem pole, psychic...well psychic anything are pretty much at the bottom for me. When others go wild over psychic law enforcement reads, I stare blankly and try to tiptoe very softly away. And you know what else I'm not a fan of? Ghosts in my romance. In fact, the psychic P.I./detective hybrids are right there with ghosts. I've read them but they're not really my go-to type of read. I can count on one hand how many of those reads that I really loved.

And...I'm also not a fan of series that follow the same couple for the entire series. I like variety. I'll read them but it's just not what I gravitate to. Those kinds of reads typically collect dust on my TBR.

So imagine my surprise as I'm reading S.E. Jakes' "Catch a Ghost", book #1 of the new Hell or High Water series that:

1) the entire series will be following same two alpha male characters (this I knew)
2) one of them gets premonitions! (*raises eyebrow*)
3) the other one sees a ghost (*other eyebrow raises as well*)

With all of these elements (I hesitate to call this read paranormal and if I had to, it's in the loosest sense), how did I find "Catch a Ghost"?

IT WAS GREAT!!!

There was action, damaged men, an interesting case, Prophet, Prophet's snarkiness, Tom Boudreaux (He's a 6'5", deep voiced Cajun! nom nom nom), intrigue, some mystery, a sexy spook (or could be more), hot sex, nipple piercings, a Jacob's Ladder! (excuse me as I salivate) and strong start to what seems to be excellent mercenary series.

We meet Prophet in S.E. Jakes' earlier work, "Free Falling" (we get a couple of Mick and Blue mentions but alas they did not show up in this book). There was something about Prophet then but now? Now, he's full force smart ass, damaged operative with a major chip on his shoulder with a past he does not like to delve in. And unfortunately, someone does not like to let Prophet's past stay in the past. With a family friend's murder, his skeletons are being pulled out his closet, whether Prophet wants it or not.

On top of the Prophet mess pile, the mercenary is being forced to take a partner. This is just not something Prophet does. He tries so hard to be a loner. Enter Tom. There's something about Mr. Tom Boudreaux. He seems like he was the buttoned up, play by the book kind of character at he and Prophet's first meeting. But there's so many layers to Tom - a deep, dark, mysterious, wounded, kinky side. And I enjoy the slow progress of learning both men's secrets.

This book is slightly sharper than this author's previous works. I"m liking this side of S.E. Jakes. It's not filled with a plethora of sex scenes, we read both men slowly unravel. The sex scenes? They are achingly signature S.E. Jakes. Big manly men rutting, controlling dirty talk, sweat, heart pumping orgasms. Yum.

Don't worry everything is not revealed in book #1. There are so many questions that need answers. Prophet and Tom are not done yet.

And I am anxious for the next book.

I need.

The ending? Oh boy, it ends with a cliffhanger but luckily the next book in the Hell or High Water series will be out later this year, "Long Time Gone". I will be awaiting the release.

Why? More Prophet! More snark! More Tom! More multifaceted, heady characters and action! And smut! And mild paranormal-ishness(?) And this story actually made me want to know more. Even with the areas that are not my fave, I'm still invested in this series.

Plus, great cliffhangers make me anxious.

A copy was provided for an honest review.