“I'm not looking for a nice guy, Levi. I want a good guy. That's way more important.”

5 i'm-freaking-out stars

this book was SO GOOD!!! oh my god?????

we're back again with levi and dom, around three months have passed since [b:Kill Game|35138461|Kill Game (Seven of Spades, #1)|Cordelia Kingsbridge|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1496392824l/35138461._SY75_.jpg|56463659], with their relationship developing nicely as they come together slowly as lovers. there's another pretty cool whodunnit going around, while everyone (except levi and dom) carry on as if the seven of spades killer really is dead.

there were so many things in this book that got me so excited that it's a little hard to focus and write a coherent review, lol. imma try anyway and give 3 reasons for my utter satisfaction.

first off, the mistery itself. we have the clasic the killer could be anyone around you tense setting, which is set in such a cool atmospheric way, that i keep analysing every single side character each time they're on the page, trying to figure out myself who could be the killer, and bro, the fact that i can't figure it out (same as levi!) makes this book so much more exciting and fun to read, i'm over the moon.

and secondly! rebel, the best girl to ever be. it's rare to read a book featuring a dog-character that didn't feel a bit like a self-fulfillment indulgence for the author. rebel is a personal protection dog, which is so badass in itself, and she features in some of the coolest and sweetest scenes in Trick Roller, i love her to bits.

third, but not least, is the way dominic and levi are slowly trusting each other and building this sweet rapport, which just tugs at the heartstrings, and their intimate scenes! holy shit.

He knew that Dominic would release him in a second if asked, and that certainty was why he was able to enjoy this, why he could take pleasure in indulging Dominic’s display of raw physical power.

how the heck did Riptide Publishing kept managing to find authors with the stemiest smut i've ever read??? it's insane. not only is this series so good so far, but [b:Cut & Run|5199022|Cut & Run (Cut & Run, #1)|Madeleine Urban|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327894486l/5199022._SX50_.jpg|5266173], [b:The Wolf at the Door|36480253|The Wolf at the Door (Big Bad Wolf, #1)|Charlie Adhara|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1515447921l/36480253._SY75_.jpg|58190977] and [b:Risky Behavior|33411778|Risky Behavior (Bad Behavior, #1)|L.A. Witt|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1485237460l/33411778._SY75_.jpg|54168946] are all crime series with m/m couples with great chemistry and compelling misteries. which is insane. i never payed much attention to publishers before, and all of these books are a bit old by now, but i might just check out other authors Riptide has got in their roster.

i don't understand how both Kill Game and Trick Roller are less that 300 pages long, and i mean this in the best possible way. the pacing is so good and so many things happen but they never feel rushed or that things are progressing too fast. i have no idea how kingsbridge pulled that off, because it's rare for me to finish reading anything feeling this excited, i am in love.