Enemies of the State (The Executive Office #1)
Tal Bauer
A rogue Black Ops unit with the president in their crosshairs. A Secret Service agent who will break every rule. A president falling for the one person he shouldn’t—a man. Newly elected President Jack Spiers’s presidency is rocked from the very beginning, and he’s working furiously to keep the world from falling apart. Between terrorism attacks ripping apart Europe, Russia’s constant posturing and aggression, and the quagmire of the Middle East, Jack is struggling to keep his campaign promise—to work toward a better, safer world. For Special Agent Ethan Reichenbach, Jack is just another president, the third in twelve years. With Jack’s election, he’s been promoted, and now he’s running the presidential detail, which puts him side by side with Jack daily. He’s expecting another stuffed suit and an arrogant DC politician, but Jack shocks him with his humor and humanity. There are rules against a Secret Service agent and one of their protectees developing a friendship—big rules. Besides, Jack is a widower, and Ethan has always avoided falling for straight men. Ethan keeps his distance, but Jack draws him in, like gas to a naked flame, and it’s a lure he isn’t strong enough to turn away from. As the two men collide, rules are shattered and the world teeters on the verge of war, and a rogue Black Ops unit bent on destruction sets Jack in their deadly crosshairs. Ethan must put everything on the line in order to save the man he’s come to love, Jack’s presidency, and the world. *** Expanded second special edition, with 15,000+ additional words, expanded scenes, and character artwork.
No posts yet
Kick off the convo with a theory, question, musing, or update
Your rating:
4.5 stars
I loved reading this book, despite the amount of politics and worldwide government stuff. Ethan was so sweet, I loved how he fell for Jack so easily because he could see how Jack was a caring good guy. I loved how Ethan was pining and longing for Jack, and that pull was excellent.
Even when the times were angsty and weird (Jack deciding and realizing), it was still so good because Ethan was still desperately in love. The sneaking around and keeping the relationship secret was fun, I loved how so much of the time it was just them hanging out and basically dating, not simply rushing into the physical stuff-- though eventually the physical was hottt.
The politics and events were something that I was struggling with, because I don't know enough history to know the major relevance, and I feel like some events in this book were tied to the big bad guy and some weren't? I loved that Jack cared about Ethan's opinion, and I felt like Ethan's viewpoint was often helpful in making clear what was happening politically or the significance of events.
I was SO FULL of feelings when all of the hostage stuff went down, I was actually scared for Ethan and was moved to tears when Jack was mourning! The action scenes at the end were a little hard to keep track of, but I was on the edge of my seat.
I feel like Tal Bauer excels at getting me emotionally invested in his books. The emotions are high, and he is great at the big sweeping ones: joy, sorrow, longing.
One reviewer complained how nonsensical the book was, that Jack was too trusting and candid to become president, that Ethan was too vulnerable and his job too easy to be secret service, and that the bad guys were all bad and the friends were all good, that everything was wrapped up in a bow too neatly. They felt it was obvious who the bad guys were and questioned how the bad guys could get away with everything when all of the good guys were supposed to be so competent at their jobs? But this is a book, and I go into basically every single book with some suspension of disbelief.
I did want more build up of the relationship and feelings early on, a little bit more as to why Ethan loves Jack, but definitely more on why Jack falls for Ethan. Was Jack only 'gay for you' trope? It was unclear to me if he was demisexual or not, and I did feel that they jumped to the 'Undying Love' level very fast.
I feel like most of the negative points in the reviews are for the amount of politics content in the book and for the overall length. But I felt like the amount of politics was relevant considering one of our main characters was the president of the United States, but yeah I didn't love that part either. As for the length, I was happy because I always want to see more love and relationship on page, so that overall didn't bother me.
0