Release Day Review ~ Vice Enforcer (Vice City: Book Two) by S.A. Stovall
Title: Vice Enforcer
Series: Vice City: Book Two
Author: S.A. Stovall
Release Date: April 3, 2018
Category:Mystery/Suspense
Pages: 250
Dreamspinner Amazon
Holding on to a life worth living can be hard when the nightmares of the past come knocking.
Eight months ago, Nicholas Pierce, ex-mob enforcer, faked his death and assumed a new identity to escape sadistic mob boss Jeremy Vice. With no contacts outside the underworld, Pierce finds work with a washed-up PI. It’s an easy enough gig—until investigating a human trafficking ring drags him back to his old stomping grounds.
Miles Devonport, Pierce’s partner, is currently top of his class at the police academy while single-handedly holding his family together. But when one lieutenant questions Pierce’s past and his involvement in the investigation, Miles must put his future on the line to keep Pierce’s secrets.
The situation becomes dire when it’s discovered the traffickers have connections to the Vice family. The lives of everyone Pierce cares about are in danger—not least of all his own, if Jeremy Vice learns he’s back from the dead. Pierce and Miles face a conspiracy that reaches the highest levels—one that will gladly destroy them to keep operating. As Pierce uses every dirty trick he learned from organized crime to protect the new life he’s building, he realizes that no matter how hard he tries, he might never escape his past.
4.5 Stars!
Vice Enforcer is book two in the Vice City series and it can't be read as a standalone, as it follows the same couple from book one and there's an ongoing storyline. However, if you're fond of Noir/suspense books, you don't want to miss this series.
Pierce is having a bit of trouble adapting to his new life, whereas Miles is doing great in the Police Academy, top of his class and teacher's pet all rolled into one. This, of course, creates friction in their relationship, especially when one of Miles's trainers shows a special interest in him and Pierce is feeling inadequate and jealous. Add to that, that the case that Pierce's boss at the PI office is working has to do with Jeremy Vice and Pierce is all out of sorts and unsure.
Pierce is still his grumpy self, but he's not certain where he stands with Miles, now that Miles is doing so well at the Academy and that bleeds into almost everything he does. And Miles, well, I'm not going to say he's oblivious to this, although perhaps he is a bit, but he also has a lot on his plate with his training, helping his mom with his siblings and Pierce.
Sometimes reading a follow-up story with a newly established couple can be tricky. Recapturing the chemistry and what made them work in the previous installment(s) is not easy. However, I think Ms. Stovall did a great job here in Vice Enforcer, showing us a more, dare I say, vulnerable side to Pierce, and at the same time, Miles' growth and maturity. It wasn't an easy road, but I felt that they were more secure in their relationship at the end of this book than they were at the start, which is always a good thing in my book.
The case Pierce was working on was really interesting and well done, and while there's some romance, well, that's not the focus of the story. The book is gritty and dark and deals with human trafficking, so yeah, not your usual run-of-the-mill hearts-and-flowers-romance, I still enjoyed it, though, so I have no trouble recommending it!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by DSP Publications for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
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