Title Breaking Logan’s Laws (Quinn Security #4)
Author: Cameron Dane
Cover Artist: Anne Cain
Buy Link: Amazon.com
Publisher: Loose Id
Genre: Contemporary M/M, Suspense
Length: Novel (word count not listed)
Rating: 2.75 out of 5 stars
A guest review by Buda
Summary Review: The stimulant 5-hour Energy is more subtle than this book, which, unlike Dane’s previous work, I struggled hard to like.
The Blurb:
Newly named head of Quinn Security Investigations, retired detective Logan Jeffries believes in law and order. Everything should have its place. A personal life should never interfere with work. Relationships should have their own rules too. Logan lives by his own laws — five precisely. As long as he follows them, all is right in his regimented world.
Nate Jordan wishes he could say no when assigned to work with Logan. Nate has never forgotten Logan’s kindness the night they met. In the three years since, his crush has only grown. This partnership will surely end in disaster, but Nate cannot walk away.
Quickly, Logan and Nate delve into the search for a missing socialite. Nothing else should occupy Logan’s thoughts. The only problem? Nate is determined and sweet, and working with him awakens Logan’s deepest desires. Logan won’t break his laws, though. Not even for the gentlest, sexiest man in the world.
Meanwhile, Nate is falling harder and faster for Logan every day they’re together. The craziest damn thing is he thinks he senses attraction under Logan’s controlled facade. Nate will have to break every one of Logan’s laws to capture the man of his dreams.
The Review:
Breaking Logan’s Laws is book four in the Quinn Security series. You can find reviews for books one and three (book two was het, so wasn’t reviewed on this site) here and here.
Three years ago, Nate Jordan received the beating of his life when he kissed his straight best friend, whom Nate mistakenly thought had developed like-minded romantic feelings for him. Recovering in his sister Kasey’s apartment, Nate meets Logan Jeffries for the first time. His attraction to the man is immediate, but still scared from the beatdown he only just received, Nate is determined to never again betray his interest in a straight man.
Between this action, which is the Prologue to Breaking Logan’s Laws, and Chapter 1, the entirety of Quinn Security 3: Saying I Do takes place.
In the present, Logan has just come aboard Quinn Security as head of a new investigations division. It seems he was shot in the hip and desk duty as a police detective doesn’t work for him anymore. Much to his surprise, Canin Quinn, the owner of the company and Nate’s brother-in-law, has assigned Nate to work with Logan on their first case because Nate is familiar with the client. Neither man has been able to get the other out of his head or his fantasies, and Logan is deeply closeted. The stage is set for interesting drama and passion to unfold.
The case they’ve been assigned, that of a missing heiress, who turns out to be more Paris-Hilton-with-a-conscience than they expect, is relatively dull and definitely backburnered by the ever-present lusty thoughts of both men. The case is useful, however, to draw distinctions between the two men, to show where Nate’s strengths play well with Logan’s weaknesses and vice versa. Many scenes also showcase how good-hearted Nate really is, especially in his dealings with homeless youth and the missing heiress’ shallow (or is he?) twin brother.
My experience with this book was not positive. Each time I picked it up, my shoulders tensed painfully and I felt on edge. Reading this book was akin to watching a hyper-vibrant Technicolor movie on a 100-foot screen from 10 feet away. I longed for the black-and-white world of Kansas on my 40-inch LCD. Cameron Dane’s writing style is one I usually describe as lush, with many instances of too-purple prose but with a romance that overcomes that fault. Reading this book, the one word that came to mind repeatedly was superlative, defined by dictionary.com as: of, pertaining to, or noting the highest degree of the comparison of adjectives and adverbs. For example:
The touch, so fucking sweet and discreet, twisted the most wonderful, terrible pull in Logan’s gut. His heart started beating wildly out of control, but he turned his hand anyway and brushed his fingertips to the inside of Nate’s palm. Through two layers of material, not even feeling skin–although Logan did sense the little jolt that went through Nate too–it somehow became the fucking most overly sexual move Logan had ever made in his life.
Or
The penis taking over Nate’s mouth burned “Logan” brands into his cheeks, tongue, and the roof of his mouth, but Nate didn’t care or even want to breathe….
Or
“Let me break it down for you, you little spoiled prick who doesn’t understand magic fairies don’t sneak into your room every night and fill your wallet with cash.”
Yes, superlative with an chaser of awkward. The word fucking appeared so often I had my Kindle count: 190 times! Additionally, it seemed every other sentence in the first half to two-thirds of the book was a variation on the theme “Oh, I want him! God, how I want him! But I won’t let myself have him! He can’t know I want him!” I was bored with that exceedingly quickly. As was the case in the previous books in the series, many of our heroes’ thoughts are italicized. I know Wave commented on that in her reviews of the previous books and it stood out to me in this one, too. The sex scenes are vintage Dane: epic-length, floridly-phrased. In my review of Aiden & Ethan, I mentioned that the mastubation-fantasy sequence was “slightly disturbing in both its length and vividness”, but the one in this book far surpassed that one on the level of disturbing.
Overall, this was not an pleasant reading experience for me, which was disappointing. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Nate and Logan when they weren’t having schizophrenic lust thoughts about the other. They were interesting guys, but this “novel plus” length tome did them no favors. I know I’m probably going to get my ass kicked in the comments here, because many readers will absolutely love this book. I didn’t. However, if you’re a fan of Cameron Dane and/or the Quinn Security series, then by all means, pick this one up. But if the issues I’ve mentioned would drive you to distraction, then you might want to leave Logan’s laws intact.
I bought this book last week because it was recommended to me. I started it but have not been able to finish it, which is strange because normally I love Cameron Dane and this series. Thanks for your review as it makes sense now.
Thanks for the comment, Lasha. I’m glad I was able to help make sense of what you didn’t like about this book. I’m just sorry you didn’t enjoy it. That’s what we all want when we buy a book, right? Especially from an author whose work we’ve previously appreciated.
You know how I feel about this author’s prose Buda, which is the reason why I didn’t want to review this book.
I think your description of her sex scenes are on the money:
If this book is worse than the others then I’m glad I gave it a pass. 190 times the word fucking was used in the book? WOW.
I’ve stopped reading books by this author because so much is over the top I no longer enjoy the stories.
Thank you for this in-depth review Buda.
Leave it to you to cut through my carefully phrased words, Wave! 😀 Right now, this will probably be my last Cameron Dane read. It seemed all the issues we’ve had previously were amplified, while the core, the great romance, was buried under the … other stuff.
Something I saved just for you was this little gem.
Now I think we’re all aware there is a vast difference between precum and “early cum.” One is good, the other, not so much!
:hysterics: :help:
LOL, Buda! But, I think that branding penis was what really got to me. :flirt:
Hi, LadyM! Didn’t that just sound painful and ridiculous all at once? Egads!
There’s penis branding in the book.?? I’m missing a lot of stuff I don’t want to read. Thanks Lady M and Buda.
Buda you get all the bestest books to review. Someone must really love you. 🙂
LOL It’s my second quoted section above, Wave. No actual branding, just some really horrific verbiage.
I just hate the pearly early cum! Yowch, you’re on a really bad run lately B. I guess you’ll need more than a hug this week to make up for it.
Early cum, pearly or not, is just bad mojo! Teej, you know what we need? A nice moonlit horseback ride out into the boonies. Then we can relive a little of what made Bareback such a great book! 😉
Whew! When I started reading that you’re dragging me out to the boonies, I was imagining one of your serial killer books. “Bareback” is much better, but I am NOT piercing my man bits!
I gotta go change my shorts now.
No piercing required nor desired, babycakes. 😉 And I haven’t read a serial killer book in months. Must rectify that. So are we doing this early Bareback or later Bareback? (I mean, are we inviting friends or not?) 😉
*Sigh* Serial killers again? :wallbash: Why am I hearing the Deliverance song in my head? Maybe later Bareback would be safer – I’m bringing lots of witnesses, I mean friends along.
Teej, you know I hate it when you squeal like a pig. It turns the “early cum” into “no cum at all”! Just for you, I’ll put the serial killers away for a while longer, but if it ain’t a group grope, then you can’t bring anybody. It’ll just be you and me, all romantic and shit. 😉
“Early cum?” You’re a guy — what’s that? LOL
You like her writing a lot more than moi so if you say that this will be your last book by this author that’s saying something!
Oh, Wave…it’s just bad! It’s like she went through with a “find & replace” program but didn’t read the context. I just hadta go, “Well, chute!” :hysterics:
I interpret “early cum” as premature ejaculation, Wave — which is only a good thing when you’re gritting your teeth, waiting for the encounter to end. :escape:
(Sorry. I shouldn’t read reviews through the lens of my own experience. :grin:)
Hi KZ
Why didn’t she just say so then? LOL
I feel for you KZ. 😮 Chocolates are on the way and Buda will deliver them personally.
Wait, now I’m a messenger boy? Do I get those cute little shorts, too?
KZ, I interpret “early cum” as premature ejaculation, too, but in this context she meant precum. I just don’t understand why she finds it necessary to get so ridiculous with the verbiage in sex scenes. It doesn’t do anything but pull me out of the story to giggle at the silliness of it.
Um, I may very well have topped 190 with Mandarin Orange… but that was Riley. 😛
Haven’t read the others in this series, though the authors name sounds very familiar, and not in the bad way.
Might need to check out the M/M books in the series… and possibly even this one! *hee*
~Tis
Hi, Tis. Thanks for the comment. 🙂 I haven’t read about Riley yet, but he’s definitely on the list. Trust me when I say I’m not opposed to swearing. I do it a bit too much myself, on occasion. In this case, though, the cursing was amplified by the already exaggerated mind games the guys were already playing with themselves.
If you do read the series or this book, I hope you enjoy them. Good luck! 🙂
Well, Buda, I won’t kick your ass! I bought the book because of the novel-plus length and I liked book no. 1 and 3 in the series, but have to say, I couldn’t even finish this one.
Hi, Anke! Thanks for the comment and for saving my tush! 😀 I liked QS1, liked QS3 even better, but QS4 is the end of the line for me. I’m sorry you didn’t have a better experience, but, truthfully, I’m grateful to hear other people had issue with it, too.
Great review Buda.
I think the advice to read aloud what you have written would surely sort out this kind of stuff.
Really great piece of advice, Raine. Of course, if you happen to like the sound of chutes and, uhm, ladders, then even that advice doesn’t make it better, does it? 😉 Thanks for the comment!
I don´t feel like getting my shoulders tensed painfully so I will keep away for it 😮
Thank you for your review 😎
Hi, Helena! As always, your mileage may vary, but if you do read it, have some ibuprofen on hand, just in case. 😉 Thanks for the comment.
2.75, wow. I havent read this series. I have read and enjoyed other CD books. When a series has a “het”, I tend to skip that book…unless its m/f/m.
Thanks for your review.
So, Wave didnt want to review this one? Did she warn you to wear a helmet? :wallbash:
Hi, Hannah! Thanks for the comment. A het book within a series drives me absolutely bonkers and I always, without fail, skip that book. I always thought it was just my inner homocentricity coming out. Thanks to your comment, now I don’t feel so alone! 😉
Wave and I both thought I’d like this book since I liked the two previous books better than she did. Sadly, ’twas not the case. ReneCade is still far and away my favorite Cameron Dane book. Have you read that one?
Buda,
I have read that one and liked it.
BTW,Buda you’re doing great. The reviewers not only have to read the book but write an informed unbiased opinion. Not a skill to be taken lightly.
Thank you, Hannah. I very much appreciate the support. :hug:
Now you’ll want to get paid! I wish the readers would stop with the compliments even though I think sometimes they are well deserved. 😮
I read this book, it was a good book, not perfect but definitely better than the rating you gave it. Hmmm….I’m wondering now if I can trust your ratings.
Well, Sonia, first, thank you for the comment. Second, each review is a reviewer’s opinion of a book. Mine is not like yours. If we agree or disagree with each other’s opinions, it doesn’t mean either of us is wrong. That’s the beauty of books–each experience is subjective. That said, I’m thrilled you enjoyed the book.
Hi Buda, I have read this book, and while I actually loved the characters, the case they were working on drove me bonkers!! I couldn’t for the life of me keep it straight in my head.
Maybe I’m just simple, but I spent so much time flipping back to try and keep the case straight in my head, that I didn’t even notice the things that you spoke of.
Thanks for the comment, Hope. I liked Logan and Nate a lot, especially Nate. I think if the excesses had been toned down a bit I would have liked the book more, too. The investigation had a few missteps, so it doesn’t surprise me you got lost a couple of times. I’m glad you enjoyed the book. 🙂
Gosh Buda, I LOVE your quotes! I’m going to be chased by a branding penis in my dreams tonight. :escape: Howser!!
I wish we could have some kind of game or something with cheesy /spoofer quotes. But I wouldn’t want individual authors to think we are persecuting them–maybe do it anon ? Or would that be plagerism?
Thanks for the laugh!
:hysterics:
Hi, Reggie! I hope your dreams were more peaceful than being chased by branding penises! lol It would be a lot of fun to find a bunch of cheesy lines and see if you bloggers could match them to the author. Don’t know if that is feasible or not, but we’d definitely have to find a way to make it light-hearted and fun. I wouldn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings or be seen to be making fun of a very talented group of people.
Waiting for my chocolates…and an eyeful of those cute little shorts. :anonym:
Hi M! You’ll have to talk to TJ about those little shorts. He snagged them from me as soon as they arrived in the post. Haven’t seen either of them since! 😉 Thanks for the comment!
Totally agree with your review. I used to at least enjoy & finish Dane’s stories–I’d even go so far as to say she was on my autobuy list. But that all changed with devlin& Garrick, which was total dnf with extreme prejudice. I thought I’d try her again because everyone has an off day but this book bored me. The writing was a little too on-the-nose for me and it seemed like Logan’s laws were shorthand characterization. She’s officially off my list.
Hi, Zola. Thanks for the comment. Devlin & Garrick didn’t work as well for me as Aiden & Ethan did, so I understand your frustration there. I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy BLL any more than I did. Maybe on Saturday I can point you towards something you’ll enjoy more.
So only a bunch of people will end reading the whole series since we m/m readers seem to skip the het books and I´m sure it happens the same the other way around :thinker:
btw I have read Cowboy Secrets by Eden Cole that you mentioned in your previous review, and I liked it, even if I though about it more as a “late come to terms” that GFY 😕
I will save the ibuprofen for another time and instead I will be checking ReneCade that both you and hannah enjoyed 😀
Thank you again Buda, you know is always a pleasure to stop by your posts 🙂
Thanks for stopping by again, Helena. :wave: You’re right about Cowboy Secrets being a late discovery more than GFY per se. I thought Tyler’s struggle to accept himself was genuinely portrayed. If you read ReneCade, enjoy the ride. I really cared about those two guys! Thanks again. 🙂
Oh noes, you didn’t like it? I loved it! You were right about the superlative, but still I thought the book was good 🙂 But sometimes you have those books you either like or dislike!
Hi, Larissa. I really liked Nate and Logan, but I couldn’t get past the extremeness of the writing. I’m really glad you enjoyed the book, though. Thanks for the comment. 🙂