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Wired & Dangerous #1
Zero Hour
The Fast and the Furious meets Mr. Robot in USA Today bestselling author Megan Erickson's thrilling new romantic suspense series.
Hacker extraordinaire Roarke Brennan lives each hour - each breath - to avenge his brother's murder. His first move: put together a team of the best coders he knows. They're all brilliant, specialized, and every one an epic pain in his ass. Only now Wren Lee wants in too, threatening to upset their delicate balance. The girl Roarke never allowed himself to want is all grown up with sexy confidence and a dark past ... and she's the wild card he can't control.
Roarke might still think she's a kid, but Wren's been to hell and back. Nothing and nobody can stop her - especially the tatted-up, cocky-as-all-hell hacker. But when years of longing and chemistry collide, Wren and Roarke discover that revenge may be a dish best served blazing hot.
Hacker extraordinaire Roarke Brennan lives each hour - each breath - to avenge his brother's murder. His first move: put together a team of the best coders he knows. They're all brilliant, specialized, and every one an epic pain in his ass. Only now Wren Lee wants in too, threatening to upset their delicate balance. The girl Roarke never allowed himself to want is all grown up with sexy confidence and a dark past ... and she's the wild card he can't control.
Roarke might still think she's a kid, but Wren's been to hell and back. Nothing and nobody can stop her - especially the tatted-up, cocky-as-all-hell hacker. But when years of longing and chemistry collide, Wren and Roarke discover that revenge may be a dish best served blazing hot.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 30, 2018
About the author
Megan Erickson
45 books1,853 followersMegan Erickson is a USA Today bestselling author of romance that sizzles. Her books have a touch of nerd, a dash of humor, and always have a happily ever after. A former journalist, she switched to fiction when she decided she likes writing her own endings better.
She lives in Pennsylvania with her very own nerdy husband and two kids. Although rather fun-sized, she's been told she has a full-sized personality. When Megan isn't writing, she's either lounging with her two cats named after John Hughes characters or... thinking about writing.
For more, visit meganerickson.org
She lives in Pennsylvania with her very own nerdy husband and two kids. Although rather fun-sized, she's been told she has a full-sized personality. When Megan isn't writing, she's either lounging with her two cats named after John Hughes characters or... thinking about writing.
For more, visit meganerickson.org
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
March 28, 2018
***3 Stars***
"Remember this moment, because it's real and human. No computers or wires or code. Just me and you."
Megan Erickson is an auto-buy author for me. She writes it. I read it. No questions asked. Any genre. Any pairing.
Unfortunately, Zero Hour didn't meet my expectations. While enjoyable, it missed the mark in certain areas.
When I first heard Megan Erickson announce this series, I was BEYOND excited! She mentioned it was inspired by the movie Hackers and well, I freaking LOVE that movie so I was all in.
As I cracked this book open, I was immediately sucked in. A revenge plot, plus a best friend's little sister trope wrapped around me instantly. I loved how grumpy Roarke was...closed off, bitter, a ball of fury. He was getting a team together to take down those involved in killing his brother. Nothing would stop him. Nothing would get in his way.
Except Wren.
And she sure made an entrance. Confidence pouring off her. Lavender hair, badass bike....experienced hacker. She wanted in. Not just to avenge Flynn...she had her own demons to battle.
And at first, I loved the UST constantly bubbling between Roarke and Wren. Roarke was in awe of the woman Wren turned in to. He hadn't seen her in a decade, but that didn't mean he wasn't keeping tabs on her behind a computer screen.
She was all grown up now, and while he could visually see that, he had a hard time letting go of his vision of her from when they were younger. The girl who dreamed of a husband, a white picket fence, 2.5 kids....the girl he'd never be good enough for. How was he going to get through this mission with her constantly on his mind?
Wren has seen and lived through all kinds of situations. Things that very few know about. So few that she could count them on one hand. She knows what she's capable of, and she's set herself up to being a vital part of this mission. Feelings for Roarke, the guy she's had feelings for since she was a teenager, will just have to be put to the side.
And so began way too much back and forth & push and pull for my liking. For about the middle 40% of the book it was too much whiplash.
An almost kiss, then someone runs away. Rounding of a couple of bases, a confession, then someone storms off. Finally sex! Then a truth bomb and you guess it....someone storms away.
And in each instance, after every encounter that ended with someone walking away angry....the next morning it was "I'm so mad, but my body is burning up" and quickly they're over the anger. I love a good push and pull conflict, but there was too much going around in circles here for my tastes. It got very frustrating.
However, I have to say that Megan Erickson created a hacking team that I am beyond intrigued with (though I wish we could have seen how this team came together).
If everyone is getting a book....I'm so IN and ready for it! Especially Jock....OMG give me a stoic and cold man with a hint of heart underneath any day of the week. I can't wait to meet the woman who breaks his hardened shell!
The suspense element, while intriguing, kind of bored me. I expected more "edge of my seat" action and instead ended up with a mystery that never fully grabbed me and then an anti-climactic ending.
So...overall, this was a book that didn't meet my expectations, but still left me excited for the rest of the series, and in my eyes that's a win.
***ARC courtesy of publisher, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review***
***************************************
Before reading:
January 20, 2018
First things first... Let me start out by saying, that this book is an MF book. As far as I know the first two books will be MF. After that there might be MM, but I am not completely sure.
I myself read both, and since Megan Erickson has become a favorite author of mine with her MM books, I figured I would give this MF one a shot too.... Also, it's about hackers and I think hackers are so freaking SEXY !!!!! For some reason code really turns me on :P
Roarke (hacker extraordinair) wants to avenge the death of his brother Flynn, and he gets a team of hackers together, to help him out on his mission. He knows who's responsible for his brothers death...and he wants to make sure this person goes down !!
What he wasn't prepared for, was his friend's sister also joining the team. Wren has her own reasons for wanting to help out the team.
These two have been crushing on each other for a long long time and its quite obvious that the attraction between them hasn't simmered down over the years.
It does take them some time, but then they finally reach the point, and do something about it :P
It isn't an easy ride and there are quite a few bumps on the road but these two do make it work. I also really enjoyed the fact that Wren wasn't a doormat, even though Roarke was pretty Alpha....
A nice "slow burn" romance with some mystery and suspense mixed in ;)
My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession
February 4, 2018
3.5 stars.
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
Zero Hour by Megan Erickson
Book One of the Wired & Dangerous series
Publisher: Forever
Publication Date: January 30, 2018
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley
Summary (from Goodreads):
Hacker extraordinaire Roarke Brennan lives each hour - each breath - to avenge his brother's murder. His first move: put together a team of the best coders he knows. They're all brilliant, specialized, and every one an epic pain in his ass. Only now Wren Lee wants in too, threatening to upset their delicate balance. The girl Roarke never allowed himself to want is all grown up with sexy confidence and a dark past ... and she's the wild card he can't control.
Roarke might still think she's a kid, but Wren's been to hell and back. Nothing and nobody can stop her - especially the tatted-up, cocky-as-all-hell hacker. But when years of longing and chemistry collide, Wren and Roarke discover that revenge may be a dish best served blazing hot.
What I Liked:
Megan Erickson has quickly become one of my favorite romance authors. I've been reading her books for years, and I can't say I've ever really been disappointed. She produces so many stories and at such great quality, and I am always looking for more. This new series of hers is a thrilling romantic suspense series, with a little more action and blood than her other books, but no less swoony and sexy in terms of the romance. I enjoyed Zero Hour and I am definitely looking forward to reading Darkest Night.
Roarke Brennan wants revenge for his little brother's murder, and he will stop at nothing to get it. So he rounds up a crew of fellow hackers, the best of the bunch: his best friend Erick, who he has known since childhood; Marisol, Jock, Dade Kelly... and Erick's little sister Wren, who pushes herself into the mission, against Roarke's wishes. He wants her safe, but he hasn't known her in ten years, and doesn't know what she is capable of. Wren has her own reasons for wanting to take down the man that had Flynn Brennan murdered, reasons that have nothing to do with Flynn or Roarke or the crew. She has been in love with Roarke for most of her life, but his protectiveness won't stop her from helping the crew. Roarke and Wren are bound to collide, as sparks fly and the stakes intensify.
No one writes a grumpy but lovable hero like Megan Erickson. I adored Roarke from page one and wanted to hug him throughout the book. He is stuck in pain and repressed grief, with a permanent scowl and bags under his eyes. He is a good guy with good intentions, but he is intent on getting revenge. He's a genius hacker and sometimes more robot than human, and sometimes he needs to be reminded of his feelings and emotions. I adore grumpy, protective heroes, and Roarke was not hard to love. He is respectful of boundaries and he doesn't try to control Wren, even though he doesn't want her on the mission.
Wren is a tough lady with a lot to lose and a lot to prove. She knows she is capable of helping the crew, which is why she doesn't back down even when Roarke tells her no. She has been through so much in the past, and she has her own reasons for wanting revenge. I love how open and direct Wren is - especially when it came to Roarke. She saw through his walls and armor and pushed him to communicate and help her understand what was going through his head. I thought it was great to see a heroine who wouldn't take the hero's BS, but also didn't run away or push him away indefinitely.
As a couple, Roarke and Wren really fit together. Roarke is a leader and a great hacker, stoic and aloof and cool. Wren is a risk-taker and she's direct and blunt. There are so many moments of bickering and tension between the pair, and I love some good back-and-forth banter! They had fierce chemistry too, both subtle and obvious. Things heated up between them quickly, though not from page one.
I liked the "best friend's little sister" trope in this book! Roarke had liked Wren since they were kids, and Wren had liked Roarke since then as well, but then Wren went off to college and ten years passed and only now are they seeing each other. There is a smidgen of the whole "forbidden" aspect of their relationship initially, because that's how they each thought of it, when they dreamed of being with the other in high school. BUT I liked that Erick wasn't the reason why they didn't get together in this present time. And when Roarke decided to talk to Erick about things, Erick didn't flip out. This trope actually worked for me!
This is a romantic suspense novel and I really enjoyed the action! Trying to take down the man - or men - that killed Roarke's younger brother comes with its obstacles, that's for sure. It's clear from the ending of the book that that plot isn't quite over, though certain things are resolved. This book is the first of a companion series, so catch Jock's book next!
Overall I am pleased with this book and will be reading Jock's book! I can't wait for his, because I loooove the strong silent types (and Jock is definitely both of those things).
What I Did Not Like:
Nothing really specific! I would have loved to meet Fiona (Wren's best friend) in this book, but that's okay. I also wouldn't have minded more steamy interactions from Roarke and Wren. *wink*
Would I Recommend It:
If you like romantic suspense, or any of Megan Erickson's previous novels, I highly recommend giving this book a chance! The "hacking" aspect of the book is really light (like, suuuuuper light in terms of terminology), but very important for the plot, but not overwhelming. There is no romance drama (thank you, Megan!), and the ending is fairly wrapped up though you'll be wanting to read book two to catch up with other characters. I know I want book two now!
Rating:
4 stars. Erickson hasn't disappointed me yet and I'm sure she won't! I hope book two will be just as good or even better. I trust her and I always know what I can expect from her books in terms of romance - very little unnecessary drama! My favorite.
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
Zero Hour by Megan Erickson
Book One of the Wired & Dangerous series
Publisher: Forever
Publication Date: January 30, 2018
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley
Summary (from Goodreads):
Hacker extraordinaire Roarke Brennan lives each hour - each breath - to avenge his brother's murder. His first move: put together a team of the best coders he knows. They're all brilliant, specialized, and every one an epic pain in his ass. Only now Wren Lee wants in too, threatening to upset their delicate balance. The girl Roarke never allowed himself to want is all grown up with sexy confidence and a dark past ... and she's the wild card he can't control.
Roarke might still think she's a kid, but Wren's been to hell and back. Nothing and nobody can stop her - especially the tatted-up, cocky-as-all-hell hacker. But when years of longing and chemistry collide, Wren and Roarke discover that revenge may be a dish best served blazing hot.
What I Liked:
Megan Erickson has quickly become one of my favorite romance authors. I've been reading her books for years, and I can't say I've ever really been disappointed. She produces so many stories and at such great quality, and I am always looking for more. This new series of hers is a thrilling romantic suspense series, with a little more action and blood than her other books, but no less swoony and sexy in terms of the romance. I enjoyed Zero Hour and I am definitely looking forward to reading Darkest Night.
Roarke Brennan wants revenge for his little brother's murder, and he will stop at nothing to get it. So he rounds up a crew of fellow hackers, the best of the bunch: his best friend Erick, who he has known since childhood; Marisol, Jock, Dade Kelly... and Erick's little sister Wren, who pushes herself into the mission, against Roarke's wishes. He wants her safe, but he hasn't known her in ten years, and doesn't know what she is capable of. Wren has her own reasons for wanting to take down the man that had Flynn Brennan murdered, reasons that have nothing to do with Flynn or Roarke or the crew. She has been in love with Roarke for most of her life, but his protectiveness won't stop her from helping the crew. Roarke and Wren are bound to collide, as sparks fly and the stakes intensify.
No one writes a grumpy but lovable hero like Megan Erickson. I adored Roarke from page one and wanted to hug him throughout the book. He is stuck in pain and repressed grief, with a permanent scowl and bags under his eyes. He is a good guy with good intentions, but he is intent on getting revenge. He's a genius hacker and sometimes more robot than human, and sometimes he needs to be reminded of his feelings and emotions. I adore grumpy, protective heroes, and Roarke was not hard to love. He is respectful of boundaries and he doesn't try to control Wren, even though he doesn't want her on the mission.
Wren is a tough lady with a lot to lose and a lot to prove. She knows she is capable of helping the crew, which is why she doesn't back down even when Roarke tells her no. She has been through so much in the past, and she has her own reasons for wanting revenge. I love how open and direct Wren is - especially when it came to Roarke. She saw through his walls and armor and pushed him to communicate and help her understand what was going through his head. I thought it was great to see a heroine who wouldn't take the hero's BS, but also didn't run away or push him away indefinitely.
As a couple, Roarke and Wren really fit together. Roarke is a leader and a great hacker, stoic and aloof and cool. Wren is a risk-taker and she's direct and blunt. There are so many moments of bickering and tension between the pair, and I love some good back-and-forth banter! They had fierce chemistry too, both subtle and obvious. Things heated up between them quickly, though not from page one.
I liked the "best friend's little sister" trope in this book! Roarke had liked Wren since they were kids, and Wren had liked Roarke since then as well, but then Wren went off to college and ten years passed and only now are they seeing each other. There is a smidgen of the whole "forbidden" aspect of their relationship initially, because that's how they each thought of it, when they dreamed of being with the other in high school. BUT I liked that Erick wasn't the reason why they didn't get together in this present time. And when Roarke decided to talk to Erick about things, Erick didn't flip out. This trope actually worked for me!
This is a romantic suspense novel and I really enjoyed the action! Trying to take down the man - or men - that killed Roarke's younger brother comes with its obstacles, that's for sure. It's clear from the ending of the book that that plot isn't quite over, though certain things are resolved. This book is the first of a companion series, so catch Jock's book next!
Overall I am pleased with this book and will be reading Jock's book! I can't wait for his, because I loooove the strong silent types (and Jock is definitely both of those things).
What I Did Not Like:
Nothing really specific! I would have loved to meet Fiona (Wren's best friend) in this book, but that's okay. I also wouldn't have minded more steamy interactions from Roarke and Wren. *wink*
Would I Recommend It:
If you like romantic suspense, or any of Megan Erickson's previous novels, I highly recommend giving this book a chance! The "hacking" aspect of the book is really light (like, suuuuuper light in terms of terminology), but very important for the plot, but not overwhelming. There is no romance drama (thank you, Megan!), and the ending is fairly wrapped up though you'll be wanting to read book two to catch up with other characters. I know I want book two now!
Rating:
4 stars. Erickson hasn't disappointed me yet and I'm sure she won't! I hope book two will be just as good or even better. I trust her and I always know what I can expect from her books in terms of romance - very little unnecessary drama! My favorite.
December 25, 2017
I’m a fan of Megan’s words, so I’m 100% here for anything she writes.
I really liked Wren and Roarke. They’re both quite smart and loyal and I loved their history of always wanting the other. The additional people in the crew were fantastic and I’m really hoping we get more of all of them. Marisol especially.
Plot wise it was interesting. I was a bit wary about the hacking aspect, but it wasn’t hard to follow. The story pretty much starts with a bang and doesn’t let go until the end. And while I liked the epilogue, I wanted more.
My main complaint is that it did sort of feel like I was dropped in the middle of a story. We’re given a very brief background on everyone and yeah, it does make sense because hackers are solitary people. Yet, it seemed slightly unfinished and with several loose ends. Perhaps it’s a set up for future books?
Overall, it was a unique to me story and had characters kept me reading. I’m definitely interested to see where this series goes.
Note: I’m not putting this on the rape shelf because there isn’t an actual scene. However, there is a lot of talk of sex trafficking and assault.
**Huge thanks to Forever for providing the arc free of charge**
I really liked Wren and Roarke. They’re both quite smart and loyal and I loved their history of always wanting the other. The additional people in the crew were fantastic and I’m really hoping we get more of all of them. Marisol especially.
Plot wise it was interesting. I was a bit wary about the hacking aspect, but it wasn’t hard to follow. The story pretty much starts with a bang and doesn’t let go until the end. And while I liked the epilogue, I wanted more.
My main complaint is that it did sort of feel like I was dropped in the middle of a story. We’re given a very brief background on everyone and yeah, it does make sense because hackers are solitary people. Yet, it seemed slightly unfinished and with several loose ends. Perhaps it’s a set up for future books?
Overall, it was a unique to me story and had characters kept me reading. I’m definitely interested to see where this series goes.
Note: I’m not putting this on the rape shelf because there isn’t an actual scene. However, there is a lot of talk of sex trafficking and assault.
**Huge thanks to Forever for providing the arc free of charge**
January 29, 2018
3,5-4 stars
This was a great story, I was intrigued and I wanted to know more about Roarke!Also I wanted to know about his history with Wren.I loved the premise in this one because it was so different from whatever I have read so far!I enjoyed most of the story.I have some issues in the beginning, I was confused with what is happening but soon the story keep up and everything was ok for me!Roarke is dark,broody and sexy.Wren is fun,sassy and sexy.Their romance is sexy and slow burn and I liked a lot!I loved the secondary characters so much, they were perfect!I'm excited for the next book and I'm sure it will be better!
This was a great story, I was intrigued and I wanted to know more about Roarke!Also I wanted to know about his history with Wren.I loved the premise in this one because it was so different from whatever I have read so far!I enjoyed most of the story.I have some issues in the beginning, I was confused with what is happening but soon the story keep up and everything was ok for me!Roarke is dark,broody and sexy.Wren is fun,sassy and sexy.Their romance is sexy and slow burn and I liked a lot!I loved the secondary characters so much, they were perfect!I'm excited for the next book and I'm sure it will be better!
January 30, 2018
Favorite Quote: “Those fingers can penetrate a fire wall and make me come.” She opened her eyes and grinned a filthy smile. “Got me a man who can do both.”
Start of a new series about hackers, and I’m excited. I really enjoyed this book. It has a very grumpy hero and he loves his best friend’s little sister, which pisses him off even more. Oh Roarke, I love you so much.
Roarke’s brother’s death was ruled a suicide, but he knows he was murdered. His brother wanted out of the hacker lifestyle and took a job with computer security software company called, Saltner Defense. Shortly after his brother discovered a malware-type virus in a big operating software, he was found dead. Roarke wants revenge on Arden Saltner, the head of the company who he knows hired someone to kill his brother. It’s his only goal in life. To do this, he needs dirt on Saltner and he assembles a team of hackers that are willing to risk their lives to help out their friend. Roarke’s best friend, Erick is a hacker, and has a little sister that Roarke has known most of his life. He has loved Wren forever, but wanted her to go live a good, wholesome life. Guess what? Wren has her own set of hacking skills, and also wants revenge on a Saltner – but not Arden, his son, Darren.
Darren is a very bad man who runs black market sex rings out of his clubs. Wren saw first hand what Darren can do to girls and is determined to take him down. So why not take down his father too? She demands to be part of Roarke’s team, and he basically has a coronary telling her no.
“Fuck it. This is why it kills me to see you involved in this, because all I wanna do is see you safe. I cared back then when you were young, and I still care now that you’re back, all woman and hot as fuck and still so goddamn untouchable.”
He doesn’t want Wren to get hurt. But Darren Saltner has a thing for Wren, and she knows she can get close to him – which means close to his father, and Roarke can’t let that opportunity go.
Roarke, Wren, her brother Erick and a few others on their team get their knuckles cracking on some hacker skills, while Wren puts herself up as bait for Darren. All the while, Roarke walks around in an extremely bad mood, secretly lusting after Wren.
Like I said, I had so much fun reading this book. Roarke and Wren are really engaging main characters with great sexual tension and romance. I’m so weak for well done grumpy heroes. I don’t know why, but they are my favorite!
Roarke snatched her latte and took a big gulp. He grimaced as he set it down. “What the fuck is that?”
“A chai latte that was hot about an hour ago.”
“Tastes like Christmas and grass. And I fucking hate Christmas.”
I also fell in love with the supporting characters too! Erick, their co-hackers Jock and Dade. Marisol. GIVE ME ALL THEIR HEAs. They might not be all best friends – hackers tend to be more on a loner type with big egos that don’t always play nice together, but they all intrigue me I need them all to live happily ever after. To start this book, Roarke and Erick have to literally jump on Dade and fight him to the ground to convince him to work with them. They all have secrets and don’t like to share with the group. But – they were all on board for the mission to take down the Saltners. They might be a bit secretive, but they came together and could trust one another when shit hit the fan. I loved that.
Wren is a woman who has persevered through life. After seeing the horrors of what Darren could do to vulnerable women, she has made herself strong and doesn’t take no for an answer. Roarke’s need to protect her and keep her safe is never-ending, but I love that she never stops telling and showing him that she is capable. At the same time, she relies on the team to help her and never goes out on her own and does anything stupid just to prove something. YAY. Growing up with parents that are first generation Korean Americans, she’s had a strict upbringing and had to hide her hacker life from her family. But this is something she is proud of and needs Roarke to take a step back and respect her for it.
The suspense and romance are well-balanced in this one too. Great sexual tension, as Roarke finally admits his true feelings for Wren. We also learn that he has basically been tracking her every movement most of her life, even hacking into certain systems so she would get a raise or win a contest. I could have lived without knowing that information about Roarke. But he is super intense, and that fits in with his personality. Still – a little icky.
Megan Erickson has created a really fun, gritty, sexy world, with just enough humor to balance it all out.
Roarke is even grumpy in the epilogue. I can’t get enough of him!
Grade: A-
Start of a new series about hackers, and I’m excited. I really enjoyed this book. It has a very grumpy hero and he loves his best friend’s little sister, which pisses him off even more. Oh Roarke, I love you so much.
Roarke’s brother’s death was ruled a suicide, but he knows he was murdered. His brother wanted out of the hacker lifestyle and took a job with computer security software company called, Saltner Defense. Shortly after his brother discovered a malware-type virus in a big operating software, he was found dead. Roarke wants revenge on Arden Saltner, the head of the company who he knows hired someone to kill his brother. It’s his only goal in life. To do this, he needs dirt on Saltner and he assembles a team of hackers that are willing to risk their lives to help out their friend. Roarke’s best friend, Erick is a hacker, and has a little sister that Roarke has known most of his life. He has loved Wren forever, but wanted her to go live a good, wholesome life. Guess what? Wren has her own set of hacking skills, and also wants revenge on a Saltner – but not Arden, his son, Darren.
Darren is a very bad man who runs black market sex rings out of his clubs. Wren saw first hand what Darren can do to girls and is determined to take him down. So why not take down his father too? She demands to be part of Roarke’s team, and he basically has a coronary telling her no.
“Fuck it. This is why it kills me to see you involved in this, because all I wanna do is see you safe. I cared back then when you were young, and I still care now that you’re back, all woman and hot as fuck and still so goddamn untouchable.”
He doesn’t want Wren to get hurt. But Darren Saltner has a thing for Wren, and she knows she can get close to him – which means close to his father, and Roarke can’t let that opportunity go.
Roarke, Wren, her brother Erick and a few others on their team get their knuckles cracking on some hacker skills, while Wren puts herself up as bait for Darren. All the while, Roarke walks around in an extremely bad mood, secretly lusting after Wren.
Like I said, I had so much fun reading this book. Roarke and Wren are really engaging main characters with great sexual tension and romance. I’m so weak for well done grumpy heroes. I don’t know why, but they are my favorite!
Roarke snatched her latte and took a big gulp. He grimaced as he set it down. “What the fuck is that?”
“A chai latte that was hot about an hour ago.”
“Tastes like Christmas and grass. And I fucking hate Christmas.”
I also fell in love with the supporting characters too! Erick, their co-hackers Jock and Dade. Marisol. GIVE ME ALL THEIR HEAs. They might not be all best friends – hackers tend to be more on a loner type with big egos that don’t always play nice together, but they all intrigue me I need them all to live happily ever after. To start this book, Roarke and Erick have to literally jump on Dade and fight him to the ground to convince him to work with them. They all have secrets and don’t like to share with the group. But – they were all on board for the mission to take down the Saltners. They might be a bit secretive, but they came together and could trust one another when shit hit the fan. I loved that.
Wren is a woman who has persevered through life. After seeing the horrors of what Darren could do to vulnerable women, she has made herself strong and doesn’t take no for an answer. Roarke’s need to protect her and keep her safe is never-ending, but I love that she never stops telling and showing him that she is capable. At the same time, she relies on the team to help her and never goes out on her own and does anything stupid just to prove something. YAY. Growing up with parents that are first generation Korean Americans, she’s had a strict upbringing and had to hide her hacker life from her family. But this is something she is proud of and needs Roarke to take a step back and respect her for it.
The suspense and romance are well-balanced in this one too. Great sexual tension, as Roarke finally admits his true feelings for Wren. We also learn that he has basically been tracking her every movement most of her life, even hacking into certain systems so she would get a raise or win a contest. I could have lived without knowing that information about Roarke. But he is super intense, and that fits in with his personality. Still – a little icky.
Megan Erickson has created a really fun, gritty, sexy world, with just enough humor to balance it all out.
Roarke is even grumpy in the epilogue. I can’t get enough of him!
Grade: A-
February 7, 2018
Who doesn't love a hacker!!
Not me, that's for sure.
Megan Erickson is one of my favorite. Her MF books are always a joy to read because her female leads are always badass, strong, smart! I just love it!
So, here we have, Roarke, hacker and sort of an anti-sociable. He formed a team to avenge the death of his brother, Finn.
His best friend sister's, Wren, wants in on it because she wants revenge for Finn too but she have one of her own as well.
Except, Roarke haven't seen Wren in 10 years and for him, she's still this fragile flower who needs protection... Men...
So, yeah... Wren shows him what's what and she is just PERFECT!
Roarke was super annoying. I mean, I get where he is coming from and that he's just not good with the talking but at time I just wanted to slap him!!
I really loved the secondary characters and I hope they will all have their story.
I want Dade and Erick!!
Not me, that's for sure.
Megan Erickson is one of my favorite. Her MF books are always a joy to read because her female leads are always badass, strong, smart! I just love it!
So, here we have, Roarke, hacker and sort of an anti-sociable. He formed a team to avenge the death of his brother, Finn.
His best friend sister's, Wren, wants in on it because she wants revenge for Finn too but she have one of her own as well.
Except, Roarke haven't seen Wren in 10 years and for him, she's still this fragile flower who needs protection... Men...
So, yeah... Wren shows him what's what and she is just PERFECT!
Roarke was super annoying. I mean, I get where he is coming from and that he's just not good with the talking but at time I just wanted to slap him!!
I really loved the secondary characters and I hope they will all have their story.
I want Dade and Erick!!
March 3, 2018
This is an extraordinary book.. Not only is there a really well thought out story but within that story there’s an arc set up for at least three books! I have lots more to say but it has to wait ..... full review coming soon.
OMG, how did release day get here so fast for Zero Hour?!?! Okay, so it’s time for me to explain why this book was extraordinary for me.
First, the story was edge of your seat anticipatory. Both the suspense tension and the romantic tension were spot on. I also found it twisty enough where I can definitively say that not everything you read is what is … hmmmmm …. So PAY ATTENTION. Seriously ….. pay attention lol
Second, here I was, reading this ridiculously well plotted story, thinking it’s just about one thing when … NO, it’s about multiple things. Here’s where my review gets tricky. I don’t actually want to spoil it for you so I have to be careful what I reveal. This story is SO much more than a simple romantic suspense with a revenge plot. It’s a story of forgiveness and friendship and family . It’s a story of love and hidden truths and smoking mirrors . And If I’m right about the ending of this book, it’s a story that sets up an ARC story-line that will follow thru at least three books in this series . Not all your questions in this book will be answered and even the ones you think were answered … maybe think again lol So PAY ATTENTION ;) The only think I know for sure is that Wren and Roarke get past their hurdle and take the romantic plunge … suspense wise, hmmmmmmmmmmm ….
Third, Megan Erickson wrote such compelling characters that I was not only invested in Wren and Roarke (our leads) but every single other person in the team. Seriously you guys, this is a team of misfits. Ridiculously talented misfits, but misfits just the same. And I loved every single moment of them. They are all so very unique yet fit together like a well-oiled machine. This is one team of hackers I won’t be forgetting any time soon.
I am so thrilled with not only this story but the stories it set up to come that my gut is telling me it will end up in my top reads for 2018! This is unlike anything I have read by Megan before and altho I don’t want to commit to stating its her best work yet, it’s pretty fucking close!
Copy provided by NetGalley for review
OMG, how did release day get here so fast for Zero Hour?!?! Okay, so it’s time for me to explain why this book was extraordinary for me.
First, the story was edge of your seat anticipatory. Both the suspense tension and the romantic tension were spot on. I also found it twisty enough where I can definitively say that not everything you read is what is … hmmmmm …. So PAY ATTENTION. Seriously ….. pay attention lol
Second, here I was, reading this ridiculously well plotted story, thinking it’s just about one thing when … NO, it’s about multiple things. Here’s where my review gets tricky. I don’t actually want to spoil it for you so I have to be careful what I reveal. This story is SO much more than a simple romantic suspense with a revenge plot. It’s a story of forgiveness and friendship and family . It’s a story of love and hidden truths and smoking mirrors . And If I’m right about the ending of this book, it’s a story that sets up an ARC story-line that will follow thru at least three books in this series . Not all your questions in this book will be answered and even the ones you think were answered … maybe think again lol So PAY ATTENTION ;) The only think I know for sure is that Wren and Roarke get past their hurdle and take the romantic plunge … suspense wise, hmmmmmmmmmmm ….
Third, Megan Erickson wrote such compelling characters that I was not only invested in Wren and Roarke (our leads) but every single other person in the team. Seriously you guys, this is a team of misfits. Ridiculously talented misfits, but misfits just the same. And I loved every single moment of them. They are all so very unique yet fit together like a well-oiled machine. This is one team of hackers I won’t be forgetting any time soon.
I am so thrilled with not only this story but the stories it set up to come that my gut is telling me it will end up in my top reads for 2018! This is unlike anything I have read by Megan before and altho I don’t want to commit to stating its her best work yet, it’s pretty fucking close!
Copy provided by NetGalley for review
January 30, 2018
I don't know about you, but some of my favourite authors are the ones who have a particular genre or style and tend to stick with it. Sure, there's always the risk of one day waking up bored with it all, but often it's easy and delightful to come back to what you love and get exactly what you want out of a story.
Then there are those authors who break out of their niche and try something new every so often. Sometimes it works; and sometimes you can only applaud the effort and the bravery in deviating from the tried and true, as opposed to applauding the material itself.
Zero Hour is the first book in Megan Erickson's newest series Wired & Dangerous which features a team of coders and hackers. Ms. Erickson's recent ventures into the supernatural haven't really wowed me, but there is potential in some of the characters she's created in this series, even though the context in which they exist and the events that contain them, are not as strong.
grade : C- (2.5)
Full review can be found at AAR.
Then there are those authors who break out of their niche and try something new every so often. Sometimes it works; and sometimes you can only applaud the effort and the bravery in deviating from the tried and true, as opposed to applauding the material itself.
Zero Hour is the first book in Megan Erickson's newest series Wired & Dangerous which features a team of coders and hackers. Ms. Erickson's recent ventures into the supernatural haven't really wowed me, but there is potential in some of the characters she's created in this series, even though the context in which they exist and the events that contain them, are not as strong.
grade : C- (2.5)
Full review can be found at AAR.
December 7, 2017
‘Zero Hour’ spoke directly to the geek in me. I blank out at many things technical, so hackers (whether they be black/white hats) written as heroes/heroines of romances are relatively new in this genre but so welcome.
I love the lingo, the geek side of things, the stuff that the deep, dark web is made of, most probably because I’ve never been able to get my mind around it. That Megan Erickson has jumped wholly on this subject has made me more than moist with excitement, with the underlying classic tropes of the forbidden best friend’s younger sister while a high-stakes hacker-style investigation into a murder brings it all together. There’s a lot of beguiling intrigue to be explored in this arena after all, and I’ve always wondered why not many authors have chosen to use this very contemporary setting along with the realistic and contemporary threats we face today to weave a pretty little tale.
Unsure as I was about how hackers would appear in this series, I was nonetheless surprised by the tattooed protagonists who sometimes acted more like members of an MC at times instead of thickly-spectacled people who were glued to their computers and surfaced bleary-eyed only for meals and sleep. Yet Erickson gets the anti-social, loner-types pat-down though, by introducing a varied, unpredictable put-together team of characters whose questionable histories are still veiled to us.
Roarke and Wren do have a hell of a backstory and a decade of separate lives that Erickson didn’t make too much of, except for the fact that pining (on both sides) went on while they moved on with others instead. Their sudden reunion—spurred on by the death of his brother and Wren’s own personal motive for revenge—however, felt almost like a coincidence, along with the hidden skills that they’d each picked up which didn’t seem to fit the hacker-skill set. Where had they had weapons training, for instance, at least enough that they would carry guns around? What sort of jobs had they done in the past 10 years that made them what they were today? Why did Wren only return now, at a time when Roarke sought revenge when the tragedy that she and her friend suffered happened years ago?
I think the questions that kept popping up dipped my enjoyment of the story somewhat and the brother’s-best-friend-to-lover trope was less convincing especially after knowing that Roarke and Wren had always wanted each other but never actively did anything about it. The ending, for all the gritty, edgy build-up, seemed a little anti-climatic with the rather convenient end of the mastermind, and the several loose threads hanging, while understandably left deliberately to set up the sequel, didn’t give the story a proper sense of closure.
In many ways, ‘Zero Hour’ reads like the establishing novel it is and while I did like how this narrative arc—the mesh of thriller and digital espionage really gets me going—seemed to be shaping up, I’m already eager to see how Erickson would explore the unstable dynamics of the ad-hoc group brought together by chance and the pairings that will come out of that.
*ARC by the publisher via Netgalley
I love the lingo, the geek side of things, the stuff that the deep, dark web is made of, most probably because I’ve never been able to get my mind around it. That Megan Erickson has jumped wholly on this subject has made me more than moist with excitement, with the underlying classic tropes of the forbidden best friend’s younger sister while a high-stakes hacker-style investigation into a murder brings it all together. There’s a lot of beguiling intrigue to be explored in this arena after all, and I’ve always wondered why not many authors have chosen to use this very contemporary setting along with the realistic and contemporary threats we face today to weave a pretty little tale.
Unsure as I was about how hackers would appear in this series, I was nonetheless surprised by the tattooed protagonists who sometimes acted more like members of an MC at times instead of thickly-spectacled people who were glued to their computers and surfaced bleary-eyed only for meals and sleep. Yet Erickson gets the anti-social, loner-types pat-down though, by introducing a varied, unpredictable put-together team of characters whose questionable histories are still veiled to us.
Roarke and Wren do have a hell of a backstory and a decade of separate lives that Erickson didn’t make too much of, except for the fact that pining (on both sides) went on while they moved on with others instead. Their sudden reunion—spurred on by the death of his brother and Wren’s own personal motive for revenge—however, felt almost like a coincidence, along with the hidden skills that they’d each picked up which didn’t seem to fit the hacker-skill set. Where had they had weapons training, for instance, at least enough that they would carry guns around? What sort of jobs had they done in the past 10 years that made them what they were today? Why did Wren only return now, at a time when Roarke sought revenge when the tragedy that she and her friend suffered happened years ago?
I think the questions that kept popping up dipped my enjoyment of the story somewhat and the brother’s-best-friend-to-lover trope was less convincing especially after knowing that Roarke and Wren had always wanted each other but never actively did anything about it. The ending, for all the gritty, edgy build-up, seemed a little anti-climatic with the rather convenient end of the mastermind, and the several loose threads hanging, while understandably left deliberately to set up the sequel, didn’t give the story a proper sense of closure.
In many ways, ‘Zero Hour’ reads like the establishing novel it is and while I did like how this narrative arc—the mesh of thriller and digital espionage really gets me going—seemed to be shaping up, I’m already eager to see how Erickson would explore the unstable dynamics of the ad-hoc group brought together by chance and the pairings that will come out of that.
*ARC by the publisher via Netgalley
January 4, 2018
Anyone who knows me knows that Hacker books are my jam. There is something about them that I love. The suspense, the action and the drama. This book had that in spades and oh yeah let's not forget the blistering chemistry between Wren and Roarke. I loved these two together and could not get enough!
When Roarke Brennan assembles a crew of brilliant hackers to avenge the murder of his younger brother, it reunites him with Wren Lee, his lifelong crush and bestfriend's younger sister. But with a decade apart, he realizes how much she has changed. But when lines get crossed and passion and chemistry rear their heads will Roarke and Wren be able to complete their mission or will they be distracted by their growing feelings?
I really enjoyed this story. I loved that we were thrown right into the drama. I was intrigued by the broody Roarke and his history with Wren. All in all, I thought this story was amazing and honestly hope we get everyone's story as I am so intrigued by the whole crew.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Forever Romance for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review. Bravo! 4 stars! ~Ratula
***
Holy band of merry misfits! Zero Hour felt like Ocean's Eleven except a tiny bit darker and...with hackers, obviously. And I loved every minute of it - from the cantankerous personalities, to the good-natured ribbing, to the genuine care that these guys all had for each other. It all resonated and I'm pumped that this is only the first book, and there will be so much more from this series to come!
What's going on in this story is bigger than a love story (seriously - so much action and suspense!), but Wren and Roarke, you guys. Oof. Talk about palpable chemistry and emotional explosions. I loved them together. I loved the push/pull between them and the way they inevitably gave in because we all know, when the attraction is that fierce, there's no denying it. And that is a completely joy to read.
But honestly to me? The greatest parts of this book centered around the secondary relationships. Erick's role in this book nearly broke me but GAH - the emotions hurt so good. I loved how reluctantly loyal this little gang became to each other, and how they're set up to move forward from here. I loved the action, and the grit, and the hacker insights. I am seriously so excited for more of this. This was such an excellent series starter and I am 1000% in for more! ~ Shelly, 4 Stars
When Roarke Brennan assembles a crew of brilliant hackers to avenge the murder of his younger brother, it reunites him with Wren Lee, his lifelong crush and bestfriend's younger sister. But with a decade apart, he realizes how much she has changed. But when lines get crossed and passion and chemistry rear their heads will Roarke and Wren be able to complete their mission or will they be distracted by their growing feelings?
I really enjoyed this story. I loved that we were thrown right into the drama. I was intrigued by the broody Roarke and his history with Wren. All in all, I thought this story was amazing and honestly hope we get everyone's story as I am so intrigued by the whole crew.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Forever Romance for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review. Bravo! 4 stars! ~Ratula
***
Holy band of merry misfits! Zero Hour felt like Ocean's Eleven except a tiny bit darker and...with hackers, obviously. And I loved every minute of it - from the cantankerous personalities, to the good-natured ribbing, to the genuine care that these guys all had for each other. It all resonated and I'm pumped that this is only the first book, and there will be so much more from this series to come!
What's going on in this story is bigger than a love story (seriously - so much action and suspense!), but Wren and Roarke, you guys. Oof. Talk about palpable chemistry and emotional explosions. I loved them together. I loved the push/pull between them and the way they inevitably gave in because we all know, when the attraction is that fierce, there's no denying it. And that is a completely joy to read.
But honestly to me? The greatest parts of this book centered around the secondary relationships. Erick's role in this book nearly broke me but GAH - the emotions hurt so good. I loved how reluctantly loyal this little gang became to each other, and how they're set up to move forward from here. I loved the action, and the grit, and the hacker insights. I am seriously so excited for more of this. This was such an excellent series starter and I am 1000% in for more! ~ Shelly, 4 Stars
February 1, 2018
Megan Erickson inaugure ici une série prometteuse qui allie deux mondes assez différents mais qui se révèlent fonctionner assez bien ensemble. Elle a l’habitude parler du monde des geeks, hackers et joueurs de jeux vidéos. Elle choisit ici de construire une série de romantic suspenses qui pour une fois ne fonctionne pas autour de policiers ou militaires, mais de geeks. je vous rassure, ils sont aussi sexy que nos autres héros !
C’est un peu le chef du petit groupe que nous allons suivre, Roarke. Il a perdu son frère quelque temps auparavant, assassiné par un homme d’affaires apparemment au-dessus de tout soupçon. Il possède en effet une compagnie qui vend des systèmes informatiques complexes. le travail du frère de Roarke était de repérer les failles graves des systèmes, ceux que les compagnies doivent réparer dans l’heure (d’où le titre) car les systèmes sont sur le point de devenir fonctionnels et il n’est pas question qu’il y ait le moindre bug dangereux ou pas. Roarke a décidé de venger son frère en détruisant l’homme en question et il a déterminé qu’il l’attaquerait en passant par son fils. Quand le livre commence, tout cela est déjà décidé et Roarke est en train de constituer son équipe, qui bien évidemment livrera de futurs héros et l’héroïne de ce premier opus. Wren est la sœur de l’un des membres de petit groupe. Son frère et elle connaissent Roarke depuis longtemps. Wren a des raisons bien personnelles de vouloir participer à l’opération. Elle a été amoureuse aussi de Roarke dans le passé ce qui rend leur collaboration délicate mais excitante pour elle.
http://romance-bluemoon.com/2018/02/z...
C’est un peu le chef du petit groupe que nous allons suivre, Roarke. Il a perdu son frère quelque temps auparavant, assassiné par un homme d’affaires apparemment au-dessus de tout soupçon. Il possède en effet une compagnie qui vend des systèmes informatiques complexes. le travail du frère de Roarke était de repérer les failles graves des systèmes, ceux que les compagnies doivent réparer dans l’heure (d’où le titre) car les systèmes sont sur le point de devenir fonctionnels et il n’est pas question qu’il y ait le moindre bug dangereux ou pas. Roarke a décidé de venger son frère en détruisant l’homme en question et il a déterminé qu’il l’attaquerait en passant par son fils. Quand le livre commence, tout cela est déjà décidé et Roarke est en train de constituer son équipe, qui bien évidemment livrera de futurs héros et l’héroïne de ce premier opus. Wren est la sœur de l’un des membres de petit groupe. Son frère et elle connaissent Roarke depuis longtemps. Wren a des raisons bien personnelles de vouloir participer à l’opération. Elle a été amoureuse aussi de Roarke dans le passé ce qui rend leur collaboration délicate mais excitante pour elle.
http://romance-bluemoon.com/2018/02/z...
Shelved as 'dnf'
February 4, 2018DNF at 40%
I was fond of the concept, but the plot focused almost entirely on only one aspect of the revenge plot, and a kind of contrived aspect at that. (Wren fake-dating the mark's son.) I wanted to like Wren and Roarke, but I also wanted some mf-ing hacking and sneaking!
But I gave up when I did because Roarke started punching the wall right next to Wren's head *immediately* after she escaped from a rapist and then tried to pull the "but it's just because I care so much about you" line. I don't care if it is only one scene; there's other books out there with *zero* such scenes I can spend my time on.
I was fond of the concept, but the plot focused almost entirely on only one aspect of the revenge plot, and a kind of contrived aspect at that. (Wren fake-dating the mark's son.) I wanted to like Wren and Roarke, but I also wanted some mf-ing hacking and sneaking!
But I gave up when I did because Roarke started punching the wall right next to Wren's head *immediately* after she escaped from a rapist and then tried to pull the "but it's just because I care so much about you" line. I don't care if it is only one scene; there's other books out there with *zero* such scenes I can spend my time on.
February 1, 2018
Megan Erickson has put together a motley crew of hackers in the first story in her new Wired and Dangerous series. In Zero Hour, the crew are out to avenge the killing of one of their own.
Roarke's brother Flynn died because he discovered a programming error in some soon to be released software, an error put in on purpose to enable it to be sold on the black market. Roarke is ready to avenge his death, but he needs help. What he doesn't want is to involve Wren, his best friend Erick's sister. But Wren has caught the eye of a man whose family is responsible for the killing. Plus, Wren has her own plan to avenge her friend's kidnapping and abuse at the hands of a shady porn ring, with whom the family is also involved. Wren and Roarke were friends once as kids, but they are all grown up now, and the attraction between them is fierce. Using Wren as 'bait' goes against Roarke's every instincts but will it be worth it to extract the revenge they both seek?
As the first in the series, a fair amount of page time is used to introduce the characters (there are several) who make up the team that Roarke will use to take down the man who killed his brother. They are quite an interesting and diverse group with their own unique hacking (and other) skills and I really enjoyed getting to know the team. The romance between Roarke and Wren is one they fight from the start but leads to several intense and sexy scenes. There's a darker, gritty edge to the story than the romances I've read from the author before, definitely suited to the story which has it's share of drama, action and intensity. The tension stays strong throughout the story and though we get a happy ending for the couple, and a conclusion to the main story plot, there are some leftover threads to be picked up in the next book. I'm looking forward to reading more in the series.
A copy of this story was provided by the author for review.
Roarke's brother Flynn died because he discovered a programming error in some soon to be released software, an error put in on purpose to enable it to be sold on the black market. Roarke is ready to avenge his death, but he needs help. What he doesn't want is to involve Wren, his best friend Erick's sister. But Wren has caught the eye of a man whose family is responsible for the killing. Plus, Wren has her own plan to avenge her friend's kidnapping and abuse at the hands of a shady porn ring, with whom the family is also involved. Wren and Roarke were friends once as kids, but they are all grown up now, and the attraction between them is fierce. Using Wren as 'bait' goes against Roarke's every instincts but will it be worth it to extract the revenge they both seek?
As the first in the series, a fair amount of page time is used to introduce the characters (there are several) who make up the team that Roarke will use to take down the man who killed his brother. They are quite an interesting and diverse group with their own unique hacking (and other) skills and I really enjoyed getting to know the team. The romance between Roarke and Wren is one they fight from the start but leads to several intense and sexy scenes. There's a darker, gritty edge to the story than the romances I've read from the author before, definitely suited to the story which has it's share of drama, action and intensity. The tension stays strong throughout the story and though we get a happy ending for the couple, and a conclusion to the main story plot, there are some leftover threads to be picked up in the next book. I'm looking forward to reading more in the series.
A copy of this story was provided by the author for review.
January 26, 2018
This book was amazing! I can’t wait to read the next installment and see what happens next.
Check out the full review on my blog!
Check out the full review on my blog!
January 30, 2018
This was awesome! I loved the build to the romance and the suspense was captivating. I was exciting while and on the edge of my seat!
Wren and Roark were fantastic characters. I liked that push and pull they had on one another. A bit of animosity mixed with simmering chemistry. I liked learning their history and I really enjoyed watching their relationship develop in the midst of their mission and all the drama that was going on. Both Wren and Roark had their own motivations for what they were doing and I was fascinated by their personal stories. It was intense and emotional. I loved everything that I learned and that build those details created as all the pieces connected.
I thought the suspense element was excellent, it added a nice amount of intensity. I loved the hacker element as well, learning the ins and outs of it, and the lingo. It was something new to me and it made it more fun to read since it was fresh. I loved the exceptional cast of characters that was introduced. I am so curious about all the other members of Roark’s crew, they each had such distinct personalities and were so full of secrets. They intrigued the heck out of me and I need more of them!
Writing wise I thought there was a great flow to the story, I liked the depth and details, I was hooked and turning the page because I couldn't wait to learn what would happen next. The world the author created is elaborate and I really enjoyed it.
Excellent way to kick off a series! There's a bit of heat, a lot of passion, and the perfect mix of mystery and drama mixed in leading up to a very action packed ending that had me holding my breath. There was closure but a definite opening for the next book. Sign me up! This was a winner!
Complimentary copy received for honest review.
Wren and Roark were fantastic characters. I liked that push and pull they had on one another. A bit of animosity mixed with simmering chemistry. I liked learning their history and I really enjoyed watching their relationship develop in the midst of their mission and all the drama that was going on. Both Wren and Roark had their own motivations for what they were doing and I was fascinated by their personal stories. It was intense and emotional. I loved everything that I learned and that build those details created as all the pieces connected.
I thought the suspense element was excellent, it added a nice amount of intensity. I loved the hacker element as well, learning the ins and outs of it, and the lingo. It was something new to me and it made it more fun to read since it was fresh. I loved the exceptional cast of characters that was introduced. I am so curious about all the other members of Roark’s crew, they each had such distinct personalities and were so full of secrets. They intrigued the heck out of me and I need more of them!
Writing wise I thought there was a great flow to the story, I liked the depth and details, I was hooked and turning the page because I couldn't wait to learn what would happen next. The world the author created is elaborate and I really enjoyed it.
Excellent way to kick off a series! There's a bit of heat, a lot of passion, and the perfect mix of mystery and drama mixed in leading up to a very action packed ending that had me holding my breath. There was closure but a definite opening for the next book. Sign me up! This was a winner!
Complimentary copy received for honest review.
November 13, 2019
Rating: 3.5/5
Review to come!
Review to come!
January 2, 2022
I'm trash when it comes to familial and friendship bonds, and this book was overflowing with that. This book follows a badass group of hackers, specifically Roarke and Wren. Roarke is on a mission to avenge his brothers death and he puts together this band of misfits to get it done. He's thrown by surprise when his best friend's sister joins the team for her own reasons.
I adored both Wren and Roarke. Roarke was protective and a bit broody, and most importantly, he was never afraid to admit when he was in the wrong. Wren was a goddess in her own way. She never took Roarke's crap, and was never afraid to stand up for herself. Zero Hour was filled with wonderful side characters, who will be getting their own books eventually.
This was a phenomenal start to what I'm sure will be an action-packed series, and I can't wait to see all of these hackers get their story!
I adored both Wren and Roarke. Roarke was protective and a bit broody, and most importantly, he was never afraid to admit when he was in the wrong. Wren was a goddess in her own way. She never took Roarke's crap, and was never afraid to stand up for herself. Zero Hour was filled with wonderful side characters, who will be getting their own books eventually.
This was a phenomenal start to what I'm sure will be an action-packed series, and I can't wait to see all of these hackers get their story!
January 18, 2018
Is there a more perfect combination than hackers, romance, suspense and Megan Erickson? I don’t think so. I’ll admit, I was teensy bit nervous going into Zero Hour, and that’s mostly because even though I love romantic suspense, I haven’t had the best luck with the books that I have tried. I had nothing to worry about though because Megan Erickson is good at what she does, and I can trust her to write anything at this point.
I love books and series that have a solid team and in Zero Hour, we get a pretty badass team of hackers. The main characters here are Roarke and Wren. Roarke is on a mission of revenge for his brother’s death and he bands together a team that will help him take his enemy done. Then comes along our heroine, Wren, who also wants revenge on said enemy, but for her own reasons. But Roarke is protective of her and doesn’t want her anywhere near this mission. I liked both Roarke and Wren a lot. Roarke was dark, broody and very very private, so I was really glad we got to be inside his head too throughout Zero Hour. He is completely devastated after the loss of his brother and he channels his grief into making sure no one else suffers the way his brother did. I really loved his personality. He could be quite adamant about certain things, but he was also not afraid to admit when he was wrong. I loved Wren too. Megan writes terrific heroines and Wren was just one of her best, in my opinion. First off, I loved that she was Korean-American (bless authors who are starting to write about non-white characters in romance novels!). Wren is also an incredibly smart and knowledgeable woman. She’s willing to go to lengths for the sake of her friends, even if it directly puts her in the line of danger. I admired her and 100% rooted for her by the end.
Both Wren and Roarke have very intense pasts, so I was unsure about how they would finally come together. They’ve both had crushes on each other for the longest time, but no one acted on their feelings. Years later that attraction is still simmering at an all time high heat. I loved the chemistry between the two, and watching it amplify as the story progressed was just the most entertaining. They have quite a few obstacles in their way, and their romance is not smooth-sailing, but it’s all really worth it. I loved how much softer Roarke becomes as the romance progresses. But also, I 100% loved how Wren calls Roarke out for crap he pulled in the past – seriously, this girl is fire. The plot was pretty exciting too, and I think Megan Erickson did a really good job at setting up the whole story. The secondary characters, their diverse personalities and their dynamics with each other were also the highlights of Zero Hour for me. I loved everyone, but I may have a soft spot for Wren’s brother, Eric, who is a pure cinnamon roll – I’m so eager for his book!
Zero Hour was a great start to the Wired & Dangerous series. I’m looking forward to more of these hackers and them finding love!
February 1, 2018
Review originally published at Goldilox and the Three Weres and based on a copy provided by the publisher.
Zero Hour has all of the action and excitement I love in a romantic suspense series. But it's also a little bit different than most of the ones I've read since the hackers are kind of an ad hoc group, rather than a full time team. They all have some shared history, though much of it's just allusion at this point. I wondered at times if this is a spin off from a previous series that introduced some of the characters.
Is "reunited high school crushes" a real romance trope? Even if it's not, I loved Wren and Roarke together. I love that she's just as smart and capable as the guys in the group, even if it took Roarke a little while to realize it. And I loved the fact that the first time he touched her he said, "Is this OK?" (I've been having issues with consent in my PNRs lately. More on that in a future post.)
The one thing that bugged me about Wren, which I admit is minor, is her hair. I love lavender hair (I mean, have you seen Amanda Bonilla's Instagram pics?) but there was a lot of buzz last summer about what's wrong with the "hair streaks indicate a rebellious Asian girl" thing (Wren's Korean-American) and I couldn't help thinking about that even though it was her whole head, not actually streaks. Her full sleeve tattoos alone would have conveyed the same thing without a racially-specific cliche. And then there's the fact that she kept wearing red dresses which, while great for her skin tone, would clash with her hair.
So TL;DR I love Wren but hate her hair. There's also a big reveal that I saw coming pretty early on, even though the characters were surprised.
I loved the ensemble cast, though not much is revealed about most of them yet. I would have liked a little more explanation about how some of these computer nerds learned spy craft, but I hope that some of that will come later. Erickson is definitely setting up a series. She's introduced enough characters to carry three or four books so far, as well as an enemy that will carry over at least in to the next book. And I'm good with all that because I'm so interested in their world. I'll definitely be watching for book two!
Zero Hour has all of the action and excitement I love in a romantic suspense series. But it's also a little bit different than most of the ones I've read since the hackers are kind of an ad hoc group, rather than a full time team. They all have some shared history, though much of it's just allusion at this point. I wondered at times if this is a spin off from a previous series that introduced some of the characters.
Is "reunited high school crushes" a real romance trope? Even if it's not, I loved Wren and Roarke together. I love that she's just as smart and capable as the guys in the group, even if it took Roarke a little while to realize it. And I loved the fact that the first time he touched her he said, "Is this OK?" (I've been having issues with consent in my PNRs lately. More on that in a future post.)
The one thing that bugged me about Wren, which I admit is minor, is her hair. I love lavender hair (I mean, have you seen Amanda Bonilla's Instagram pics?) but there was a lot of buzz last summer about what's wrong with the "hair streaks indicate a rebellious Asian girl" thing (Wren's Korean-American) and I couldn't help thinking about that even though it was her whole head, not actually streaks. Her full sleeve tattoos alone would have conveyed the same thing without a racially-specific cliche. And then there's the fact that she kept wearing red dresses which, while great for her skin tone, would clash with her hair.
So TL;DR I love Wren but hate her hair. There's also a big reveal that I saw coming pretty early on, even though the characters were surprised.
I loved the ensemble cast, though not much is revealed about most of them yet. I would have liked a little more explanation about how some of these computer nerds learned spy craft, but I hope that some of that will come later. Erickson is definitely setting up a series. She's introduced enough characters to carry three or four books so far, as well as an enemy that will carry over at least in to the next book. And I'm good with all that because I'm so interested in their world. I'll definitely be watching for book two!
December 13, 2017
I really enjoyed this fun, sexy, exciting romantic suspense story! The author is a favorite of mine, but this is a new genre for her. I loved her take on this ensemble cast of hackers.
Roarke Brennan is a great hacker. It's how he makes most of his money, unbeknownst to the government, of course. He's been doing it since he was a teenager, and he taught his younger brother, Flynn, how to do it as well. But, Flynn decided to "go straight", and got a job with a defense contractor. He found something he wasn't supposed to see, and it got him killed. Now, Roarke has become obsessed with getting revenge for Flynn's death. He's put together a team of hackers to help him take down the owner/CEO of the company Flynn worked for, who Roarke is sure is responsible. Roarke and Flynn's best friend, Erick, is a major part of the team, since he's been close to both brothers since they were kids. But, what Roarke wasn't expecting was for Erick's baby sister, Wren, to be back in D.C., and to insist on helping too. Roarke has never been able to think straight where she's concerned, and that hasn't changed, though he hasn't laid eyes on her in 10 years.
Wren Lee used to be the perfect Korean daughter to make her parents happy. But, after high school, she started to go her own way. Then, in college, she had a traumatic experience, and it sent her down the road she's taken for the last 10 years. She's traveled all around the world, and learned all she could from one of the best hackers in the world, and now she wants to put those skills to work to help Roarke avenge his brother's death. Of course, she's also on her own private revenge mission which intersects with the team's plans, but she's keeping that to herself for now. Wren has grown up a lot, but through it all, Roarke has been the one she's always wanted. She hopes that now they can have a chance to see what they could be together.
Roarke and Wren had blazing hot chemistry, but it was left at a slow burn for much of the story, as the suspense plot took center stage. It made for a great period of them getting to know each other again and finding out truths about each other they never knew. I loved this aspect of their pairing, and I enjoyed watching them feeling out their connection. There were a lot of circumstances that had to fall into place for them to be able to be together, and I enjoyed watching everything happen.
The ensemble cast here was FANTASTIC, and I loved watching their group dynamic. They each had very strong and interesting personalities, and I can't wait to find out more about each of them in future books. Jock will be the hero of book 2, and I'm so excited to see deeper under his surface! The group banter was funny and realistic, and I loved how they all gave each other grief, like a family. They all worked well together too, and it was interesting seeing what they each brought to the table. The suspense plot was dynamic and exciting, and it kept you guessing how things were going to turn out.
I loved Roarke and Wren's dynamic, and their coming to terms with how they are now as adults, rather than how they each used to be as kids. They really had to get to know each other again, though the strong feelings for each other were already there. It made for a different relationship arc than many I've read, which was refreshing. I really loved this story, and I am truly eager to find out more about the other team members. I highly recommend this to any romantic suspense lovers out there!
ARC provided by Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Megan from Alpha Book Club
Roarke Brennan is a great hacker. It's how he makes most of his money, unbeknownst to the government, of course. He's been doing it since he was a teenager, and he taught his younger brother, Flynn, how to do it as well. But, Flynn decided to "go straight", and got a job with a defense contractor. He found something he wasn't supposed to see, and it got him killed. Now, Roarke has become obsessed with getting revenge for Flynn's death. He's put together a team of hackers to help him take down the owner/CEO of the company Flynn worked for, who Roarke is sure is responsible. Roarke and Flynn's best friend, Erick, is a major part of the team, since he's been close to both brothers since they were kids. But, what Roarke wasn't expecting was for Erick's baby sister, Wren, to be back in D.C., and to insist on helping too. Roarke has never been able to think straight where she's concerned, and that hasn't changed, though he hasn't laid eyes on her in 10 years.
Wren Lee used to be the perfect Korean daughter to make her parents happy. But, after high school, she started to go her own way. Then, in college, she had a traumatic experience, and it sent her down the road she's taken for the last 10 years. She's traveled all around the world, and learned all she could from one of the best hackers in the world, and now she wants to put those skills to work to help Roarke avenge his brother's death. Of course, she's also on her own private revenge mission which intersects with the team's plans, but she's keeping that to herself for now. Wren has grown up a lot, but through it all, Roarke has been the one she's always wanted. She hopes that now they can have a chance to see what they could be together.
Roarke and Wren had blazing hot chemistry, but it was left at a slow burn for much of the story, as the suspense plot took center stage. It made for a great period of them getting to know each other again and finding out truths about each other they never knew. I loved this aspect of their pairing, and I enjoyed watching them feeling out their connection. There were a lot of circumstances that had to fall into place for them to be able to be together, and I enjoyed watching everything happen.
The ensemble cast here was FANTASTIC, and I loved watching their group dynamic. They each had very strong and interesting personalities, and I can't wait to find out more about each of them in future books. Jock will be the hero of book 2, and I'm so excited to see deeper under his surface! The group banter was funny and realistic, and I loved how they all gave each other grief, like a family. They all worked well together too, and it was interesting seeing what they each brought to the table. The suspense plot was dynamic and exciting, and it kept you guessing how things were going to turn out.
I loved Roarke and Wren's dynamic, and their coming to terms with how they are now as adults, rather than how they each used to be as kids. They really had to get to know each other again, though the strong feelings for each other were already there. It made for a different relationship arc than many I've read, which was refreshing. I really loved this story, and I am truly eager to find out more about the other team members. I highly recommend this to any romantic suspense lovers out there!
ARC provided by Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Megan from Alpha Book Club
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March 7, 2018Rating and review removed.
February 26, 2018
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
3.5 hearts
I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.This new series, Wired & Dangerous , sounded technical, full of suspense and with a bit of romance, so I decided I had to try it. Being a computer nerd and favoring romantic suspense had me reading. Zero Hour contained these expected elements. This had the geeky aspects and I realize maybe I don't know very much about hackers. Certainly they would be smart and somewhat loners.
The characters could have been further developed for me. I felt like we got the same information repeated instead of gaining depth at times. For people in their late 20s, they seemed a bit immature. The loner thing could be an impact there. I liked them, and they did care about others. Some aspects seemed a bit cliche or over-the-top, particularly the villains were.
As for the smart, yes, they had some skills. A few things didn't seem to work on the details through. But this was a more personal, and more dangerous mission, with more players than their usual setup. So perhaps mistakes are to be expected. But forgetting to work the video feed to cover your retreat? And wouldn't they know to scan for trackers?
The glaring thing was, since they have money, why would they go back to their regular places after a narrow escape? They talked about disappearing for years afterward. Wouldn't the smart thing be to prepare and take off immediately? Or at least stay in a hotel the night after a mission? Some of those things, plus the danger of the on scene parts of the mission seemed off and way too risky.
There is a nice little romance in the mix, with the expected communication issues. Nerds are not known for their people skills overall. But I enjoyed how this team came together. There is a big bad still in play at the end. So our guys will likely run afoul of him again. I'll be interested to see how this factors in Darkest Night, projected for July 31, 2018.
3.5 hearts
I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.This new series, Wired & Dangerous , sounded technical, full of suspense and with a bit of romance, so I decided I had to try it. Being a computer nerd and favoring romantic suspense had me reading. Zero Hour contained these expected elements. This had the geeky aspects and I realize maybe I don't know very much about hackers. Certainly they would be smart and somewhat loners.
The characters could have been further developed for me. I felt like we got the same information repeated instead of gaining depth at times. For people in their late 20s, they seemed a bit immature. The loner thing could be an impact there. I liked them, and they did care about others. Some aspects seemed a bit cliche or over-the-top, particularly the villains were.
As for the smart, yes, they had some skills. A few things didn't seem to work on the details through. But this was a more personal, and more dangerous mission, with more players than their usual setup. So perhaps mistakes are to be expected. But forgetting to work the video feed to cover your retreat? And wouldn't they know to scan for trackers?
The glaring thing was, since they have money, why would they go back to their regular places after a narrow escape? They talked about disappearing for years afterward. Wouldn't the smart thing be to prepare and take off immediately? Or at least stay in a hotel the night after a mission? Some of those things, plus the danger of the on scene parts of the mission seemed off and way too risky.
There is a nice little romance in the mix, with the expected communication issues. Nerds are not known for their people skills overall. But I enjoyed how this team came together. There is a big bad still in play at the end. So our guys will likely run afoul of him again. I'll be interested to see how this factors in Darkest Night, projected for July 31, 2018.
January 27, 2018
“You like seeing me cave, don’t you? You like breaking me in half, ripping me open, and getting me to show you what I’d never show anyone else.”
It’s safe to say that this new series from Megan Erickson has me wired and is very dangerous to my Kindle.
I’m sorry about the puns. But I’m NOT sorry about recommending you get to know Roarke, Wren and the rag-tag crew of white-ish-hat hackers that feature in Zero Hour. For starters, these people skirt the line of good and, err, not-so-good (Dade, guys. I need to know). Plus, they’re not your typical romance heroes and heroines. They’re unique. Smart. Stoic. Feisty. They cross the spectrum and they’re interesting. I’m already on the hook for Jock, and Erick, and Marisol and . . . well, whatever Ms. Erickson plans to give me, honestly.
Zero Hour is excellent as a first-in-series. Though a little slow to start—establishing characters and plots and hacking skills—once it hits its stride, it’s edge-of-your-seat action mixed with a little forbidden-but-fated love. It’s oh, so sexy, and, as it inches closer to the end, damn near unputdownable.
Which is why I approached midnight—and those final chapters—with eyes that raced through every word, a wired mind desperate to process what had happened and was happening, and a Kindle at risk of being thrown with each new development.
Dangerous, indeed. And just the beginning, if that ending is to be believed . . .
“You think love is protecting her from beyond a keyboard. Meanwhile, all she ever wanted was a scrap of your attention. A tiny bit of emotion. She wanted words out of your mouth, not a change in her coding.”
~ FOUR Little Bird STARS ~
It’s safe to say that this new series from Megan Erickson has me wired and is very dangerous to my Kindle.
I’m sorry about the puns. But I’m NOT sorry about recommending you get to know Roarke, Wren and the rag-tag crew of white-ish-hat hackers that feature in Zero Hour. For starters, these people skirt the line of good and, err, not-so-good (Dade, guys. I need to know). Plus, they’re not your typical romance heroes and heroines. They’re unique. Smart. Stoic. Feisty. They cross the spectrum and they’re interesting. I’m already on the hook for Jock, and Erick, and Marisol and . . . well, whatever Ms. Erickson plans to give me, honestly.
Zero Hour is excellent as a first-in-series. Though a little slow to start—establishing characters and plots and hacking skills—once it hits its stride, it’s edge-of-your-seat action mixed with a little forbidden-but-fated love. It’s oh, so sexy, and, as it inches closer to the end, damn near unputdownable.
Which is why I approached midnight—and those final chapters—with eyes that raced through every word, a wired mind desperate to process what had happened and was happening, and a Kindle at risk of being thrown with each new development.
Dangerous, indeed. And just the beginning, if that ending is to be believed . . .
“You think love is protecting her from beyond a keyboard. Meanwhile, all she ever wanted was a scrap of your attention. A tiny bit of emotion. She wanted words out of your mouth, not a change in her coding.”
~ FOUR Little Bird STARS ~
May 12, 2018
This is going to sound like such a backhanded compliment BUT I read Zero Hour while going through a particularly difficult struggle with my anxiety to say it ratcheted up the palpitations would be an understatement. Seriously, I had to keep putting the book down in order to regroup - Sooo if you want a read that is going to send your heart rate into overdrive and has you practically vibrating with nervous energy then Zero Hour is for you.
There are some very difficult situations to read about within Zero Hour, as I always say it is the negative things we experience that shape our identities the most and this is most certainly true of all of the characters within the Wired and Dangerous series. All of the characters are deliciously flawed in different ways, snippets of their backstories and personalities are uncovered as the plot progresses, although Zero Hour concentrates on Roarke and Wren. It was amazing to see the way in which their lives intertwined, throughout the years in unexpected and not always pleasant ways, without them even realizing.
Megan Erickson ingeniously controls the revelations about the other characters, just enough to ignite your curiosity but not enough to confirm or deny the seed she has planted within your imagination. The path has been paved for the other books in the series - I only hope my heart rate doesn't go up as much as it did with Zero Hour - seriously it was like doing circuits or body combat without the benefit of toning muscle
There are some very difficult situations to read about within Zero Hour, as I always say it is the negative things we experience that shape our identities the most and this is most certainly true of all of the characters within the Wired and Dangerous series. All of the characters are deliciously flawed in different ways, snippets of their backstories and personalities are uncovered as the plot progresses, although Zero Hour concentrates on Roarke and Wren. It was amazing to see the way in which their lives intertwined, throughout the years in unexpected and not always pleasant ways, without them even realizing.
Megan Erickson ingeniously controls the revelations about the other characters, just enough to ignite your curiosity but not enough to confirm or deny the seed she has planted within your imagination. The path has been paved for the other books in the series - I only hope my heart rate doesn't go up as much as it did with Zero Hour - seriously it was like doing circuits or body combat without the benefit of toning muscle
February 13, 2018
I ALREADY WANT TO REREAD!!!
February 1, 2018
Full of suspense and heat... Loved this new series from Megan Erickson releasing Jan 20. A crew of hackers set on finding revenge for their brother/friend who was murdered when he blew the whistle on a Zero Hour virus he found.
Roarke is ready to avenge his brother's death. Even though it's been ruled a suicide, he knows that he was killed by his boss. So he's gathered a group of hackers to help him find the true killer. What he never expected was for Wren Lee, to show up and want to be a part of the crew. Wren was the girl who got away, and now she's back and she has an agenda of her own, but she also is there to help her brother the one man she always wanted but could never have.
Fast paced and addictive! I can't wait for the remaining books in the series.
Roarke is ready to avenge his brother's death. Even though it's been ruled a suicide, he knows that he was killed by his boss. So he's gathered a group of hackers to help him find the true killer. What he never expected was for Wren Lee, to show up and want to be a part of the crew. Wren was the girl who got away, and now she's back and she has an agenda of her own, but she also is there to help her brother the one man she always wanted but could never have.
Fast paced and addictive! I can't wait for the remaining books in the series.
January 30, 2018
Reviewed on Slitsread Reviews
When I got this, I knew I’d like it because it’s Megan Erickson. She’s just a great storyteller, you know? What I didn’t expect was just how much I’d love it. And I’m not surprised so much as really fucking pleased.
Zero Hour has this exciting thriller/mystery/revenge plot that kept me on the edge of my seat. It was difficult to put down as each chapter lead into the next, leaving me wondering what the heck was going to happen to my heroes, how they were going to get out of the mess they were in, and when we might get Jock’s book. Well, as it happens, I know that Jock’s book is next in this series, and I could not be more excited. As for the rest? Lets just say that yea, they get into it. Really into it. The problem is, it’s never just hacking that needs to happen. Sometimes, to do a a job, you need to actually talk to the bad guys in person, go undercover, plant a virus, and do other various highly illegal or suspicious things. So this team of hackers not only need to know their way around a computer, they need to be willing to go all out.
All out is what this team does best. Sort of… I mean, they’re not perfect. They really are hackers first, so all of those things that also need to happen don’t come easily and problems pop up. So one of the things I absolutely loved about this book is the fact that they make mistakes, they get out of situations by the skin of their teeth, and not everything runs smoothly.
Another thing I loved, loved, loved, is the balance between action/hacking/romance. Because in all honesty, at its heart, Zero Hour is a romance novel too. Erickson does a great job of keeping the romance in balance with everything else, giving readers a chance to take a breath, just not too long of one, before the next batch of action takes place. And these characters, Wren and Roarke, they are really well developed. Past history is clearly and succinctly explained, lending to the way the romance plays out. So when these two are having all the feels, and trying to deny them, it feels right. Having the history so well laid out made for a more believable connection. They’re also seriously hot together. Steaming. Add in the rest of the team, all of whom have interesting backgrounds I’m wanting to explore, and I’m a happy camper. Wren and Roarke also butt heads… a lot. But my dude seriously has a boundaries problem and when he oversteps them, he really oversteps them. Having Wren put him in his place was a thing of beauty.
Speaking of the team… Not only does Jock, new love of my life, get the next book, but also coming will be Erick, Wren’s brother. His story is one I’m also very excited for based on all the information we learn in Zero Hour. To say I have a bunch of theories about how his book will play out is an understatement. I’m also crossing my fingers that other team members Marisol and Dade get their own book(s). They’re both mysterious and compelling, so help me convince all who need to be convinced to make this happen, would you?
To close, I loved this book, in case you couldn’t tell. This was a lot of fun to read and I’m adding this to my reread rotation.
Cheers Megan! You knocked this one out of the park.
ARC received via publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
When I got this, I knew I’d like it because it’s Megan Erickson. She’s just a great storyteller, you know? What I didn’t expect was just how much I’d love it. And I’m not surprised so much as really fucking pleased.
Zero Hour has this exciting thriller/mystery/revenge plot that kept me on the edge of my seat. It was difficult to put down as each chapter lead into the next, leaving me wondering what the heck was going to happen to my heroes, how they were going to get out of the mess they were in, and when we might get Jock’s book. Well, as it happens, I know that Jock’s book is next in this series, and I could not be more excited. As for the rest? Lets just say that yea, they get into it. Really into it. The problem is, it’s never just hacking that needs to happen. Sometimes, to do a a job, you need to actually talk to the bad guys in person, go undercover, plant a virus, and do other various highly illegal or suspicious things. So this team of hackers not only need to know their way around a computer, they need to be willing to go all out.
All out is what this team does best. Sort of… I mean, they’re not perfect. They really are hackers first, so all of those things that also need to happen don’t come easily and problems pop up. So one of the things I absolutely loved about this book is the fact that they make mistakes, they get out of situations by the skin of their teeth, and not everything runs smoothly.
Another thing I loved, loved, loved, is the balance between action/hacking/romance. Because in all honesty, at its heart, Zero Hour is a romance novel too. Erickson does a great job of keeping the romance in balance with everything else, giving readers a chance to take a breath, just not too long of one, before the next batch of action takes place. And these characters, Wren and Roarke, they are really well developed. Past history is clearly and succinctly explained, lending to the way the romance plays out. So when these two are having all the feels, and trying to deny them, it feels right. Having the history so well laid out made for a more believable connection. They’re also seriously hot together. Steaming. Add in the rest of the team, all of whom have interesting backgrounds I’m wanting to explore, and I’m a happy camper. Wren and Roarke also butt heads… a lot. But my dude seriously has a boundaries problem and when he oversteps them, he really oversteps them. Having Wren put him in his place was a thing of beauty.
Speaking of the team… Not only does Jock, new love of my life, get the next book, but also coming will be Erick, Wren’s brother. His story is one I’m also very excited for based on all the information we learn in Zero Hour. To say I have a bunch of theories about how his book will play out is an understatement. I’m also crossing my fingers that other team members Marisol and Dade get their own book(s). They’re both mysterious and compelling, so help me convince all who need to be convinced to make this happen, would you?
To close, I loved this book, in case you couldn’t tell. This was a lot of fun to read and I’m adding this to my reread rotation.
Cheers Megan! You knocked this one out of the park.
ARC received via publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
February 12, 2018
3.5 stars for this suspenseful book filled with awesome characters.
My Zero Hour inspired nail art!
I, oftentimes, find the first book in a suspense series arc to be a bit slow as the author builds up the drama for the remainder of the series. This book felt a bit long even though it really wasn't. There was a lot going on with backstories, character introductions, plot twists, suppositions, back and forth between the MCs and then things wrapped up kind of quickly in the end. Overall, I felt it was a good start to a series with a lot going on, but I am looking forward to the rest of the books in the series.
This book has a kick-butt hacker heroine who is intelligent, independent and strong despite her fears and a hero who is stoic and alpha, but can be sweet and honest and not afraid to confront his emotions. And tattoos. Lots of tattoos.
It was a fast-paced story with just enough suspense to keep me reading. I was on the edge of my seat multiple times wondering how our MCs were going to get out of situations and whether everyone was going to make it through the mission.
Both Roarke and Wren are flawed, some of their lack of communication and assumptions of their youth bled into their adult interactions. This was probably the most frustrating part of the story for me. They do figure things out, but I thought their leap from "we can't" to "we are doing this" lacked a certain something. I do love a book where both adult MCs figure out an effective way to communicate, which they do. And the fine art of forgiveness - Wren does it better than I would have!
The hacker aspect was everything I was hoping for. Nothing too over my layman's head, but not so much information dumped that I lost interest.
I really loved Wren, her character as a whole worked for me. I wasn't quite on board with her lack of trust in her brother with her own agenda. Even if she wasn't as forthcoming with the team as a whole (considering their newness), I felt like her relationship with Eric, and his obvious confidence in her, would have warranted a bit more openness on Wren's part.
Then we have Roarke. Something about a guy who looks within himself and knows that his capacity to take another hit to his heart, to be able to acknowledge that he even *has* emotions, is a joy to read.
As far as secondary characters go, this group is special. This group of intelligent misfits has broken the nerdy mold, but they are definitely computer geeks. They all have an extra dose of attitude, but each of a different brand. Wren's brother and Roarke's best friend, Eric, respects Wren's abilities and her decisions. Longtime friends, he was all in for Roarke's revenge plot. I can't wait to learn more about Eric in his book (which I believe will be book 3). Jock is all sorts of amazing, quiet and strong with a hefty dose of compassion. I think he might be a superhero. Marisol has her own brand of strength, snarkiness, and femininity that translates well to an easy friendship with Wren. And Dade. I can't...I want so much more of him.
My Zero Hour inspired nail art!
I, oftentimes, find the first book in a suspense series arc to be a bit slow as the author builds up the drama for the remainder of the series. This book felt a bit long even though it really wasn't. There was a lot going on with backstories, character introductions, plot twists, suppositions, back and forth between the MCs and then things wrapped up kind of quickly in the end. Overall, I felt it was a good start to a series with a lot going on, but I am looking forward to the rest of the books in the series.
This book has a kick-butt hacker heroine who is intelligent, independent and strong despite her fears and a hero who is stoic and alpha, but can be sweet and honest and not afraid to confront his emotions. And tattoos. Lots of tattoos.
It was a fast-paced story with just enough suspense to keep me reading. I was on the edge of my seat multiple times wondering how our MCs were going to get out of situations and whether everyone was going to make it through the mission.
Both Roarke and Wren are flawed, some of their lack of communication and assumptions of their youth bled into their adult interactions. This was probably the most frustrating part of the story for me. They do figure things out, but I thought their leap from "we can't" to "we are doing this" lacked a certain something. I do love a book where both adult MCs figure out an effective way to communicate, which they do. And the fine art of forgiveness - Wren does it better than I would have!
The hacker aspect was everything I was hoping for. Nothing too over my layman's head, but not so much information dumped that I lost interest.
I really loved Wren, her character as a whole worked for me. I wasn't quite on board with her lack of trust in her brother with her own agenda. Even if she wasn't as forthcoming with the team as a whole (considering their newness), I felt like her relationship with Eric, and his obvious confidence in her, would have warranted a bit more openness on Wren's part.
Then we have Roarke. Something about a guy who looks within himself and knows that his capacity to take another hit to his heart, to be able to acknowledge that he even *has* emotions, is a joy to read.
As far as secondary characters go, this group is special. This group of intelligent misfits has broken the nerdy mold, but they are definitely computer geeks. They all have an extra dose of attitude, but each of a different brand. Wren's brother and Roarke's best friend, Eric, respects Wren's abilities and her decisions. Longtime friends, he was all in for Roarke's revenge plot. I can't wait to learn more about Eric in his book (which I believe will be book 3). Jock is all sorts of amazing, quiet and strong with a hefty dose of compassion. I think he might be a superhero. Marisol has her own brand of strength, snarkiness, and femininity that translates well to an easy friendship with Wren. And Dade. I can't...I want so much more of him.
January 31, 2018
*~~*ARC kindly provided by the author to me in exchange for an honest review *~~*
It’s no secret I love Megan Erickson’s M/F romantic series as much as I love her heroes in her gay romance books, may it in her single-written book or those with her evenly amazing and talented co-author Santino Hassell.
With Zero Hour Megan Erickson is mixing two amazing topics: hacking and action. As someone who has a pretty good insight in the computer sciene through friends and family reading this book filled my heart with glee.
The crew of amazing hackers is fueled by the mission to take revenge of the death of a dear member in their group, the brother of main character Roarke, Flynn, who found information about things he shouldn’t ever know.
The plot is thick of events, full of twists which are well displayed and handled. I loved how Megan Erickson created a solid plot, something you could totally get into, a plot who engrossed you, with a lot of personal aspects, hence the emotional part of the book was amazing next to the cool hacker action and the fierceness of the main characters.
Next to the unstoppable thirst to take vengeance on his brother’s killers Roarke is also fueled by his unyielding and ever-present yearning for his best friend’s little sister Wren, who he knows since they are teenager. He is tangled between his desire for her and his wish to keep her protected, to keep her save, not being in the crosshairs of their enemies, being a living, breathing target.
The mix of overboiling feelings, mixed with the hurt and grief after his brother is taking its toll on Roarke but the rest of the team is also effected by the death of the charming young man they mourn. Within the book more secrets are revealed, more devastating facts are coming to the surface and the reader is left with a HFN but there is the promise of an eventful second and third book.
The chemistry between Roarke and Wren is constantly there from the first to the last page. The fact they share a past and have seen the other’s highs and lows is a great basis, on the other hand they have their own secrets living their own lives and the true feelings for each other aren’t revealed until later.
The hot scenes, their intercourses are steamy and hot, combine the deep emotions with carnal lust & need, but also shows the deep bond between the two.
I loved how Megan Erickson balanced these parts with the rest of the book. Never are the sex scenes dull or ill-placed. And together the other parts where Roarke and Wren share their secrets, their fears and vulnerable sides it truly shows that the author is a pro in creating believable characters you cheer with.
Other than 5 stars wouldn’t do the book its justice. Wholeheartedly recommended and really, pick this book up.
Review originally posted on my blog with added content Mikku-chan / A world full of words
It’s no secret I love Megan Erickson’s M/F romantic series as much as I love her heroes in her gay romance books, may it in her single-written book or those with her evenly amazing and talented co-author Santino Hassell.
With Zero Hour Megan Erickson is mixing two amazing topics: hacking and action. As someone who has a pretty good insight in the computer sciene through friends and family reading this book filled my heart with glee.
The crew of amazing hackers is fueled by the mission to take revenge of the death of a dear member in their group, the brother of main character Roarke, Flynn, who found information about things he shouldn’t ever know.
The plot is thick of events, full of twists which are well displayed and handled. I loved how Megan Erickson created a solid plot, something you could totally get into, a plot who engrossed you, with a lot of personal aspects, hence the emotional part of the book was amazing next to the cool hacker action and the fierceness of the main characters.
Next to the unstoppable thirst to take vengeance on his brother’s killers Roarke is also fueled by his unyielding and ever-present yearning for his best friend’s little sister Wren, who he knows since they are teenager. He is tangled between his desire for her and his wish to keep her protected, to keep her save, not being in the crosshairs of their enemies, being a living, breathing target.
The mix of overboiling feelings, mixed with the hurt and grief after his brother is taking its toll on Roarke but the rest of the team is also effected by the death of the charming young man they mourn. Within the book more secrets are revealed, more devastating facts are coming to the surface and the reader is left with a HFN but there is the promise of an eventful second and third book.
The chemistry between Roarke and Wren is constantly there from the first to the last page. The fact they share a past and have seen the other’s highs and lows is a great basis, on the other hand they have their own secrets living their own lives and the true feelings for each other aren’t revealed until later.
The hot scenes, their intercourses are steamy and hot, combine the deep emotions with carnal lust & need, but also shows the deep bond between the two.
I loved how Megan Erickson balanced these parts with the rest of the book. Never are the sex scenes dull or ill-placed. And together the other parts where Roarke and Wren share their secrets, their fears and vulnerable sides it truly shows that the author is a pro in creating believable characters you cheer with.
Other than 5 stars wouldn’t do the book its justice. Wholeheartedly recommended and really, pick this book up.
Review originally posted on my blog with added content Mikku-chan / A world full of words
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