Blood & Thunder (2) (THIRDS) Paperback – August 4, 2014

This is the second book in a M/M romance series that features smexytimes, terrorists, sexy men, burgeoning relationships, bombs, ex-boyfriends, vengeance, shifters and karaoke music.As much as the first book in this series is about Dex winning over Sloane, I think BLOOD AND THUNDER is a lot about Sloane learning to love again. And recognizing that the feelings he has toward Dex are, in fact, love.Sloane Brodie is a First Gen jaguar Therian. Life has not been easy. His first shift, at age eleven, was so catastrophic he ended up institutionalized. His only friend from those years is Ash, the lion Therian and general blowhard on Destructive Delta squad. They are close, and Ash has no problems giving Sloane his unfiltered opinion, mainly because Ash only comes unfiltered. In this book we get to see many new burgeoning relationships, and understand the inner workings of this select group of law enforcement agents.Potential couples to be eyeing: naturally Calvin and his tiger Therian partner, Hobbs. (I KNOW! The jokes are merciless, seriously.) But, there's also some really, really touchy-feely things happening between Ash--who is straight--and Dex's step-brother Cael, the sweet and tender cheetah Therian. All of this will likely bear fruit down the pike, but I can't help wonder who'll do the chasing...As for the plot, the THIRDS teams are being led on a merry chase for the terrorist organization, Order of Andrasteia, who longs to see Therians exterminated, if possible. Hunting down the leader is, well, daunting. He is a former Human Police a force detective, and doesn't make a whole lotta planning errors. In fact, this dude's set on hurting Sloane most heinously--by ripping Dex away, and letting Sloane suffer the grief of losing another lover.In the meantime, relationships are getting complicated. Dex only wants Sloane, but can he continue with everything on the down-low? What about when Dex's ex-boyfriend stumbles onto the scene? And how can Sloane keep Dex to himself when his own Delta team--even the lesbians--would pick the suave and quirky Dex for a one-nighter? (Poor Ash, he really got nailed in that little game!)The tension is super high throughout. Sloane has lots of secrets about his recruitment to THIRDS that he wants to remain secret, but the Order seems fixed on revealing all it can to discredit THIRDS and the Therians, in general. There are some great tender moments, and some that are plain-out hot. While this is a continuing series, there is a complete resolution to the main plot arc. Still you kinda gotta read the series in order. Not that I'm complaining. I'm a Dex-Girl; I gotta see this one through.

I like these books. I like Sloane Brodie, and I like Dexter Daley. I also like the fact that Charlie Cochet allows you to enjoy each book on its own merits. Yes, it’s a series, and each book’s ending opens the door to the next story; but each story is complete. No cliff-hangers that force you to buy the next book. I bought book three in the series because I really enjoyed book two; and I’ll keep going as long as Cochet keeps winning me over, one story at a time.This fantasy world, with its sci-fi notion of a race of human-predator shifters created accidentally by military experiments gone wrong during the Viet Nam War, is solid and plausible enough. The human-Therian interactions are an allegory of race, or sexual orientation, in a world where race and sexuality are no longer front and center as sources of discrimination. There are plenty of gay members of THIRDS, and people of color are simply part of the landscape. In its way, this USA is the one we want it to be—except that now there are people who shift into either felid or canine large predators, and they have become the sticking point for equality in America.Now, a paramilitary group called the Order of Adrasteia has formed to purge the world of Therians, headed by a former colleague of Dexter’s, who is also the brother of Sloane’s late lover, Gabe. For all its eye-rolling melodrama, this keeps the larger plot focused on Sloane and Dexter and their developing relationship. In this book we finally learn Sloane’s past, which is the emotional core of narrative, around which all of the action and violence swirl like a storm cloud.There are very few people outside of THIRDS who make much difference in the story, and while I really like the THIRDS cast of characters and their web of interrelationships, it does seem that the outside world is a little absent. One would think that, with two vigilante groups fighting each other on the streets of New York, more outsiders—politicians, journalists, concerned citizens—would at least play peripheral roles in the drama. That aside, Cochet draws her two parallel lines neatly: Dex and Sloane, human and Therian, love and conflict.

Book1 was excellent, this one was even better! I really enjoyed the continuing story and the banter in the first half of the book had me smiling all the time. The second half was equally excellent - just different as the story unfolded. It was nice to learn a bit more about Brodie. Humour, story, sex, drama - all the key elements are there. I will definitely be reading more of this series and look forward to re-reading all of them again in the future.

I'm not gonna lie, this series is one of the best I've read in a long, long time. This is the second book and it does not disappoint! More great action and more of Dex's singing and great sense of humour. I LOVE IT! After just finishing the first book "Hell and high water" and then this one back to back I honestly don't know how I'm going to survive the wait for the third book to be released! Honestly such a good read that I'd strongly recommend!

I just can't get enough of Sloane and Dex. In this book we find out a bit about Sloanes past and why he's afraid of commitment, and Dex is his just his sweet self, full of fun and love. I really would also love to see Cael and Ash get together. Off to read the next

I did love it, honest, I just didn't think the plot was as good as Book 1. All the characters are here from Book 1 and we know them now. The world of the Thirds has been developed in Book 1, so all we have left is the new plot of Book 2, which was great, just not as great. (I'm woffling here).

I love Dex. I love Dex and Sloan together. I love the rest of the gang and their banter. I'd even gone and bought book 3 before i was half way through this because of the Kareoke and banter between them.