Brandon
Steamy & Suspenseful Silver Fox Series? Yes, Please!
Do I love a novel with swoony protectors willing to jump into intense situations to save the day, and often the girl? Yes, yes I do. Will I drop whatever I’m doing to read a novel when the swoony protectors are also silver foxes? You bet your arse! And you better believe I dove into Brandon, book 1 in Charissa Gracyk’s new series No Guts, No Glory, with high expectations. And as always, Charissa did not disappoint!
Brandon is the perfect series starter hero. A leader-of-the-pack, retired military silver fox, who’s also a self-proclaimed perpetual bachelor, he oozes swagger. He also hides his vulnerability pretty well—or so he thinks. Hey, getting old ain’t for the weak. And he’s having a time of it. But boy does he fall fast, heavy, and hard for Julia. And it is glorious to watch. Because she’s just as strong, determined, and yep, vulnerable as he is. But they are also beautifully incendiary together.
And while their love story ramps up, ignites, and comes together in a powerful and perfect HEA, readers get a glimpse into the lives of Brand’s friends and fellow soldiers, sailors, and pilots. I love the camaraderie between them all. And while the authentic connection between Brand and Julia is beautiful to watch, so are the connections between all the guys on the team. Because yes, although they all come from different backgrounds and various arms of the military, they are most definitely a team—there for each other personally, and professionally.
And while the character development draws you in, the element of suspense pulls the plot together, keeping readers guessing and on the edge of their seats. Through it all, Gracyk infuses the perfect blend of humor, some irreverent and even dark, but my favorite is the reflections of how they're getting older. How they see themselves. How they cope. And how they retain their youth while also bringing in that type of maturity and self-depreciation that only comes with years and experiencing life. The banter is epic.
Based on the set-up, I can already tell this is likely to be my favorite Charissa Gracyk series. Being book 1, Brandon is a standalone novel, with a fully actualized HEA and complete resolution to the plot conflict. But after having met Brand and the team, I already can’t wait for their next mission. And if Julia is any indication of the strong, confident, forces to be reckoned with Gracyk has waiting in the wings for the guys, I am here for the show!
