The Dark Tide begins like every other Adrien English novel. Adrien finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation. This time a body was found above his bookstore. And then, of course, Adrien gets a little too curious and calls in the help of his ex-boyfriend ex-cop, Jake. Yadda yadda yadda... let’s get to the good stuff.Adrien and Jake. It took five books but they finally got there. It’s been a long road full of angst, but so worth it. At the end of Death of a Pirate King, Jake comes out to his family and friends. He decides that he is ready and wants to be with Adrien. But Adrien is having trouble forgiving and forgetting. Gee, ya think? Jake was a homophobic homosexual throughout their entire relationship. Why should Adrien believe that Jake is suddenly 100% on board to be in an out relationship with him? I loved that Jake didn’t push or pressure Adrien. He was still there for him but didn’t try for more. He waited (and waited and waited and waited) for Adrien to be ready. Once they were able to be together it wasn’t because Adrien had an epiphany and decided Jake was totally trustworthy and reliable. No, Adrien realized it was worth the risk. They can’t promise never to break each other’s hearts, but it’s worth trying to be with the one that makes you happy.
The snark and humor in these books is great. I love Adrien. He is one of my favorite characters. He’s so likable with his curiosity, humor and wit. My only complaint is the ending. I felt like it ended in the middle of a sentence. The romantic in me would have liked to have a glimpse into their new life as an out couple. But, all in all, I loved this series. I would recommend it to any romantic suspense fan. If you’re new to the M/M genre, these books are a great place to start.
