Double Trouble: The Mercenaries Duology by Stylo Fantome

THE PLAN:

* Smuggle diamonds from Liberia to Morocco
* Make the trip in three days
* Don’t get caught
* Don’t kill each other
* Don’t have sex with each other
* Don’t fall for each other
* Stick to the plan

This is the story of what happens when an unlikely bond is formed between enemies, causing tensions to rise, and igniting a chemistry that threatens to burn them both. Together, they’ll learn that sometimes even the best laid plans can fail.

If this NOVEL were a MOVIE, it would have an R rating from the MPAA. Contains: Violence, Grisly Images, Strong Language, Nudity, and Graphic Sexual Content

Disclaimer: This book was bought pinching pennies and best money I ever spent. Honest!

Another Disclaimer: If you are put off by violence, then you might want to think twice before reading this duology.

So here’s the thing, I got a soft spot for mercenaries, or spies or basically bad guys who are bad guys by choice (only in books though!) –  so when I heard about this book through another blog, I knew I just HAD to read it! It sounded right up my alley.

And I am soo PROUD that my instincts are on the point. I mean really!! You really should be taking my recommendations more and more!!

“No sex. No sex. She’s a harpy from hell who tried to shoot you and kicked you in the nuts. Why would you want to have sex with that?”

My constant reaction while reading this book — BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA  and I am not even kidding, even through everything angsty and violent, that’s all the reaction I could muster because MARC AND LILY. 

Marc and Lily are both mercenaries, one by choice and one by a mission – their paths cross each other when they are on the same job – and when that job is done, play hot and heavy with each other *wink wink* but everything goes to sh*t heavens the next morning.

“I just needed a minute.”

“…or a couple of hours.”

“Shut up. Were you always this annoying!?”

“Probably. My good looks just blinded you to it.”

Marc is everything I could have ever wanted in a fictional hero – he is cocky and intelligent, brawny and absolutely a slave to his baser instincts, by which I do mean, he doesn’t really realize WHY he needs to protect Lily, but he does and he always responds to that instinct.

I LOVED the fact as to how Marc fought with Lily – their relationship is combative, but neither of them ever backed down. Marc has been alone for so long that he doesn’t understand or basically doesn’t know how to react to the effect that Lily had on him. And honestly, it was adorable to read about – which meant it was the easiest thing to actually imagine a *my* man acting like that in reality 😀

“Do you really think I have gorgeous eyes?”

“Sweetheart, you have beautiful eyes. Like emeralds.”

“Always jewels with you.”

“What can I say, princess. I always did like emeralds more than diamonds.”

Lily – oh where do I even start with her?

She is the exact kind of heroine I LOVE reading about – she is sassy, strong, and brilliant in an understated way that she would make any woman feel inferior. Oh and just so that you didn’t understand, she is ALSO a mercenary – and a kickass one at that as well.

She isn’t afraid to get violent, doesn’t take any crap lying even if it is from a man who has made her feel more in a week than anyone has in the last five years. She has a reason for choosing this line of work, and she isn’t ready to give up that reason, not even for Marc.

This book is perfect – because both Marc and Lily are imperfect – the way they handle their emotions is realistic, enough to make me believe that they could be me and my guy (except for the whole guns and mercenaries part!).

The writing is on point – the author has made sure in her own  quirky way that you won’t even feel the need to do anything else except read the book – which I have to say that very few authors come close to emulating!

This is a book that you definitely need to read, especially if you love a plot that if full of action, with twist you definitely don’t see coming – and characters that aren’t conventional in their heroism.

“I can’t believe you came back.”

“I had to. I had to save you. I’ve never wanted to protect anything in my life, but I always want to protect you. I was ready to burn this city down.”

 

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

THE NEW PLAN:

* Find Marc
* DON’T find Marc
* Take down a Russian Bratva boss
* Don’t have sex with Kingsley
* Find Marc
* Take down a Colombian drug lord
* Don’t fall for Marc again
* DON’T FIND MARC
* Kill every ..
*
*
*SCREW THE PLAN AND JUST WING IT

This is the story of what happens when best laid plans fail, and a vengeful woman is forced to find her own way once again. A bond broken, trust shattered, and too many lies to keep track of find Marc and Lily all out of plans and running out of time. Can they find their way back to each other before trouble finds them first, or is it really the end of their journey?

Disclaimer: This book was bought pinching pennies and best money I ever spent. Honest!

Another Disclaimer: If you are put off by violence, then you might want to think twice before reading this duology.

Marc is a jerk – that was my last thought when I completed Best Laid Plans and my first thought when I started reading Out of Plans and it was on the back of my mind till I was well into the story.

But that’s the thing with Dual POV’s – you just don’t get to have a judgmental attitude – because you get to understand the reasoning behind both their actions.

“You think I’m some delicate, fragile, little girl wandering around out here. I’m not. I wasn’t in Africe, and I’m even less of one now. You need to recognize that.”

Lily is as kick ass as any heroine can be! She is still sassy, still cynical and still in love with Marc and is scared that she always will be.

Marc on the other hand, went ahead to actually complete Lily’s mission – but like any dumb male, he makes the decision all on his own without any input from Lily (Yeah, like that would have gone well!).

“You are delicate to me, and I would die if I broke you.”

And oh jeez, how adorable are Lily and Marc together? Even in their angst filled fights – they are still a whole lot in love than I have ever seen any other couple to be!

Both Lily and Marc have to go through so much together and still learn so much about each other – they realise what exactly a relationship is all about (and no, it doesn’t always involve killing people!).

But boy do they learn and learn well. They kind of easy going comadre they have with each other, isn’t just tested by Lily’s anger but is also tested by Marc’s habit of screwing things up. But throughout everything, their love for each other is strong and gets stronger, no matter what.

“I was so stupid,” he mumbled, one of his hands moving to touch the huge ugly bruise that was covering her ribs where the bean bag shot had hit her.

“A little bit. But hey, it’s one of the things I like about you.”

“‘Cause it makes you look smarter.”

“Exactly.”

And then there’s Kingsley, whom we get to know in Best Laid Plans, but he becomes a far more integral character in this book – (and an unwittingly third wheel!). Though, there isn’t exactly a romantic connection between Lily and Kingsley, you can still see the effect that their partnership has on their friendship and not to mention how Marc reacts to it.

Kingsley is a character that I need a HEA for (yes, I am talking to you, Ms. Author!) – and while I can’t say much, because hey spoilers – you definitely come away with a need to actually know what happens to Kingsley (and my need to re-visit Lily and March has only a little to do with it!).

While some may think, that a duology isn’t needed, and you may be right, but it definitely doesn’t  detract from it – plus the writing as such sucks you in, and I have never had the chance of meeting such an intense set of characters before – and I highly doubt I ever will, unless of course it is another book by Ms. Fantome!

Also,in her own words, Ms. Fantome is a writer who would never ever leave us hanging 😀

“I’m trying to say… I want more. I want us to have a home together. I haven’t rented an apartment in a long time, and I’ve never owned property. Never wanted to put down roots. I was always moving. But for you, sweetheart, I’d stop everything.”

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐