Books & Spoons Review for ACE OF SPADES by Sandra Owens

2/2/2018

Two FBI agents struggle with desire in the shadow of a killer, in the third installment of Aces & Eights.
Nate Gentry has been a rock for his two younger brothers since the day their mom walked out and left them with their abusive father. Now that they’ve grown up, he’s watched Alex and Court fall in love and settle down. But Nate isn’t made for romance. He keeps his relationships casual. And getting casual with his partner is a fantasy he can’t shake…
Taylor Collins has feelings for Nate, too—and though they run hot, her best friend on the team is strictly off limits. Until a spark in his eyes says, Go for it. But reaching out could prove to be a bad move now that they’re working closer together than ever, and on the most dangerous case of their careers.
An investigation into a brutal series of murders is stirring up bad memories for Taylor, and neither she nor Nate can imagine how close to home it’s going to hit. When it does, Nate will risk everything—including his heart—to keep Taylor safe.

The Gentry brothers have certainly charmed me over the series, but I have to admit that Nate managed to take me by surprise with the sensitive, caring, tender, even romantic insides to this notable man of toughness, protectiveness, and dominance.
Nate had so many layers in his personality and each one of them intrigued me in an equal manner. There is the big brother who has always looked after his younger brothers, protected them, took beatings for them, loved them and guided them to be the men they are today. There is the FBI agent who has worked undercover for years, who is best of the best, sees the bigger picture, who pays attention to the smallest of details and leads the others by example. He is all about teamwork and everyone being equal, and he is not afraid to let the others shine. Actually, one of my favorite moments was when Taylor Collins shoots the snake before he has a chance, and instead of feeling like that was 'a man's job' to protect the lady, he only thought how capable and hot Taylor was in action. *swoon*
And Taylor is equal to all the men in the team, despite being the only female. Taylor is a lot like Nate, the tough law enforcement outer shell covering the caring, loving woman who has six foster children. Taylor and Nate were in all possible ways so well suited together, they took my breath away. Mentally, physically, professionally, sexually... they were in tune like you rarely see, even in romance novels. And Henry, and Henry Too - Nate had me swooning and sighing with his romantic gestures, with his relationship with 'the girls', and how he helped to take care of them.
The suspense in the story comes up close and personal to the FBI team, and in the creepy, scary, in your face way that gave me chills. I enjoyed watching the team work together to protect their own and find solutions, clues, and conclusion into this complex case.
Taylor and Nate had their moments of pure bliss, yet both of their childhoods being less than ideal they had many obstacles in their minds to overcome to be able to build a lasting relationship. The back and forth between them was frustrating and even aggravating at times since I was so emotionally invested in the story. Yet, each step they had to overcome was understandable from the point of view of their past.
With the romance and suspense so well intertwined together, I could not tell you which of them stood out more, I admit Ace of Spades stole my heart and got into my feelings and emotions like few stories do. I had to wait a couple of days to actually write this review, because all I could think about was 'I loved them, oh, I loved them so much' -- Sometimes I feel like my expectations from my favorite authors are higher than from the most, and I am not sure if that is fair, but Ms. Owens delivers each and every time, so I am not so worried about that right now. Y'all, Aces & Eights is a must read emotion filled intense romantic suspense series that I can only highly recommend
~ Five Spoons!

An award winning author, Sandra Owens lives in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Her family and friends often question her sanity, but have ceased being surprised by what she might get up to next. She’s jumped out of a plane, flown in an aerobatic plane while the pilot performed thrilling stunts, has flown Air Combat (two fighter planes dogfighting, pretending to shoot at each other with laser guns), and rode a Harley motorcycle for years. She regrets nothing.

Sandra is a 2013 Golden Heart® Finalist for her contemporary romance, CRAZY FOR HER. CRAZY FOR HER is the first book in her bestselling series about the men of K2 Special Services. Book two, SOMEONE LIKE HER, is available now, and book three, FALLING FOR HER, is due out this fall. In addition to contemporary romances, Sandra writes Regency romances.