5 Unputdownable Stars!!!

Fair Chance is book 3 in the All’s Fair series and it can be read as a standalone, which is what I did. The author provides enough background information so that the reader doesn’t feel lost with the events that happened in the first two books. However, it was such an amazing read that I’ll read the first books ASAP, because I want more Elliot and Tucker.

Elliot and Tucker are going strong one year after they got together. The Sculptor has been caught and it’s likely he’s facing life in prison. However, new developments seem to point to the possibility of him having an accomplice and they haven’t found the place where he disposed of the rest of the bodies of the persons he killed. Corian is intent on engaging Elliot in a game that might prove tragic and even if it’s the last thing Elliot wants to do, he might not have the chance to say no. When Tucker goes missing and Corian is attacked in prison and left in a coma, Elliot will need to step up to the plate.

I loved this book to bits! The love story between Elliot and Tucker, who are amazing together and have a magnetic chemistry. The emotional upheaval when Tucker went missing and all Elliot went through when that happened. This fast-paced, action-packed crime thriller had enough twists and turns to keep me wondering and theorizing and plain hanging on to every single word. The balance between the romance and the suspense was great, and the vast array of secondary characters gave more depth to the story and kept me guessing at their involvement. The writing was stellar and I was swept away into the complex, intelligent and witty plotline from the first to the last word.

Definitely a must-read for fans of crime thrillers and Josh Lanyon!

*** Copy provided to the reviewer via NetGalley for my reading pleasure. ***

Elliot and Tucker are back in this third instalment of the All's Fair series. Josh Lanyon's usual skills in characterisation and plot are very apparent and this book is as well written as the others. The reason I haven't given this a higher score though is that I felt this book didn't have quite the impact of the first two.

The main reason was that to me the relationship between Eliot and Tucker didn't advance hardly at all. In fact they spent most of the book apart, whether it be for work reasons or when Tucker gets abducted. Landon does flawed heroes well, but I don't think this book enhanced the characters in any way.

Having said that though, I really enjoyed this book while I was reading it, it was only after the fact that I started thinking about the things that weren't perfect. But then, Lanyon has delivered perfection so many times perhaps we have begun to have some unrealistic expectations :)

This book is a good read and fans of the series will enjoy it, but I wouldn't pick it up if I hadn't read the previous two, as it is a direct follow on from the previous novel.

Overall: B-

Book 1: B, Book 2: C+, Book 3: B

I binge read the All's Fair series over the last few days. Couple of things I feel you should know before you read my review & decide whether you might want to read them too: 1) though I read quite a bit of queer fiction, Josh Lanyon is a new-to-me author & I'm not convinced this series is the best starting place to read her, and 2) I've been reading a LOT of great m/m romantic suspense lately so I have lots to compare it to. Also, this review refers to the series as a whole & not so much about each specific book, so if you want to avoid spoilers, you might not want to read it. **though the series is linked by the principal characters & I'm not going to spill any details about bad guys. promise!** I know what I like - and though the writing is very strong in these books, I thought they were a teeny weeny bit boring. Entertaining, interesting, but kinda snoozy.

Fair Game provides the backstory to the characters we're going to get to know over the three book series. All the books are told entirely in the PoV of Elliot Mills, a former FBI agent injured in the line of duty. These days (two years later), instead of taking an administrative FBI desk job, Elliot lives near Seattle and is a college professor at PSU. His father, Roland Mills, a former professor and a bit of a local celebrity due to his very vocal liberal anti-establishment views, lives nearby. Single, but not necessarily lonely, Elliot is content with life at present. If his thoughts sometimes stray to his former lover, Special Agent Tucker Lance, or the shooting that ended his career, he quickly shuts those thoughts down and moves on.

In Fair Game , Elliot finds himself back in investigator mode when his father asks him to help a family friend whose gay son, a student at PSU, has gone missing. When Elliot agrees to look into his disappearance, he discovers the case already has the attention of the FBI. Oh, and the agent in charge of the case is his former lover Tucker Lance. When another male student goes missing, and Elliot becomes a target of the kidnapper, the case - which the FBI (and Tucker) had decided was a suicide - picks up new momentum and attention.

It's obvious early that there's a lot of unresolved tension and attraction between Elliot and his former partner, but it's a torturous slow burn as Ms. Lanyon slowly spins out the central mystery, and Elliot and Tucker dance around their history together. By the end of book one, the men resolve their history with one another and resume their romantic relationship, the bad guy is behind bars (or is he?), and Elliot is back to work as a simple college professor.

Unfortunately, the family friend whose son was missing? Well, we discover a bit more about his parents (though now that I'm finished with the series, I'm not sure why Ms. Lanyon included their backstory?) and we learn what happened to the son - sorta.
(view spoiler)

Fifty years ago, Elliot's dad was a founding member of the Collective, a violent activist group formed to protest the Vietnam War. When Fair Play opens, Elliot and Tucker are awakened by an early morning call from Roland's neighbor. Roland's house (Elliot's childhood home) has burned down. Arriving on the scene, Elliot's reassured to see his father escaped without injury, but the house is a loss. His peace of mind is short-lived. The police chief believes the fire was intentionally set and Roland reluctantly confesses he received a threatening letter months before the fire. After pressing his father for more information, Elliot discovers the threat is linked to a book Roland plans to publish detailing his activist past and time with the Collective. A second attack (that nearly kills both of them) sends Roland into hiding, and Elliot into investigator mode - despite his fathers request that he stay out of it.

Where is his dad? What happened all those years ago that's putting him in danger? These are the central questions in Fair Play, but the answer when it comes is anticlimatic after all the build up. The arson/attempted murder take place against the backdrop of Elliot's evolving relationship with Tucker. Though the men live together and are committed to a shared future, they're still learning to trust each other. Tucker wants Elliot to stay out of Roland's business, and Elliot worries that Tucker is keeping secrets. Ms. Lanyon spends most of this book either in Elliot's PoV or filling in the backstory on the Collective and its members and their activities. There's little to no action or suspense (or steam) in this second book and though I kept hoping for more of both, neither materializes.

The final (I think?) chapter in the All's Fair series is Fair Chance. The not-so-bad-guy in Fair Play has been apprehended, Roland is back in Seattle, and Tucker is working hard to put the killer from Fair Game behind bars for life. Unfortunately, the alleged killer isn't quite done with Elliot, and his jailhouse confession that he wasn't working alone is causing problems for Tucker's team. The killer wants to talk to Elliot, Tucker doesn't want Elliot involved and all of it is putting strain on their relationship. I was so happy to move on from book 2 and return to the case that opened the series, but when it's all finally resolved and the last twist is revealed, I just felt sort of ho-hum about it. Though Elliot keeps finding himself in dangerous situations, things always seem to resolve themselves a bit too conveniently. We don't spend enough time with some of the more interesting characters in this book (Will, Pine, Foster), and even when Tucker goes missing...well, that story line resolves itself so quickly and neatly, it just felt like a wasted opportunity. The original villain in this story is a terrible guy & his crime(s) were gruesome, but none of it is very thrilling. I would have liked more on his backstory - with his foster family & biological mother.

So what did I think of the series as a whole?

First, if you're looking for a romantic and suspenseful thriller, this might not be the series for you. Nothing about any of them felt very suspenseful (especially book 2), though the relationship between Elliot and Tucker is tender and romantic (though there isn't enough of it). I like danger and suspense - and action - in my romantic thrillers. But aside from a few chase scenes and creepy late night noises, nothing about the stories is all that thrilling.

Second, this is romantic suspense, but there are too few scenes featuring both Elliot and Tucker together, and we mostly get the relationship secondhand via Elliot's PoV. Case in point: they took a trip to Montreal between books 2/3. I couldn't wait to hear about it, but Ms. Lanyon briefly references it when Elliot recalls 'it was the greatest trip he'd ever taken.' OH REALLY? Then why can't we hear more about it?! Please! I know you bought coffee - but what else? Come on Ms. Lanyon! I LOVED TUCKER and how tender and honest he was about his feelings for Elliot. His affection transcends the page but there's just wasn't enough of him throughout the series. He's the love of Elliot's life. Honestly, I don't need hot sex all the time but the books shine when these two are together on the page. I needed more of this sweet couple.

And finally. Ms. Lanyon is a gifted writer. Even when I was bored (book 2), I enjoyed how she developed the story and the characters, and linked the first and last books through the original case. But there were also a lot of loose ends (see next paragraph). Though I'm glad I read all three books, what I expected and hoped for - romance and suspense- are both in short supply.

Re: loose threads. I'm curious if there are future books to come because a few threads are left unresolved. Who killed Elliot's mom (we learn early on that she was killed in a hit-and-run)? Will Tucker have a relationship with his mom? WHY DID THE JANITOR HATE ELLIOT? I won't say anymore about this character except to say - WHAT THE WHAT?! The janitor, the sheriff, the detective... there are so many interesting characters who never really do anything interesting and they're all ripe for their own story lines. And the ring - is Elliot wearing it? What does that mean?! Is he solving cold cases?

More Ms. Lanyon. I want more.

Josh Lanyon makes a successful return to the world of the Sculptor murders and established partners, Elliot Mills and Tucker Lance in this third book in the All’s Fair series, Fair Chance. I love romantic suspense/mystery stories and in this novel, Josh Lanyon once again shows herself to be a master of this sub-genre.

To fully enjoy the mystery, interplay, tension and references in this novel, I would suggest reading the whole series in order; and what a treat you have in store. In the first book, Fair Game, the pair reconnects in order to capture a serial killer called the Sculptor, and we learn that they have a romantic history together which resulted in a bad break-up following the the disabling injury that forced Elliot’s retirement from the FBI.

In Fair Chance, Elliot is still a history Professor at PSU (his post FBI career), and love of his life, partner Tucker Lance, is still a special agent for the FBI. The Sculptor is imprisoned and awaiting trial, but for some unknown reason he has become obsessed with Elliot and will reveal certain facts to him only. When Elliot finally agrees to the meeting it consists of little but unhelpful verbal sparring until, as Elliot leaves, the killer suggests he may not have been acting alone . It seems his accomplice is keen to finish the Sculptor’s mission, meaning none of them is safe. Of course not everyone believes the accomplice theory and certain events occur before everyone is on board.

A task force is eventually formed in which all the characters are relevant and never just extraneous scene filling. They all provide a hint to the next piece of the puzzle or a lead, while the twists are believable, intriguing and not obvious. The task force actually works as a team, and although our heroes obviously have the lion’s share of page time and eureka moments, these are aided by actual police work and FBI procedure. Although the mere fact of having a civilian, Elliot, working the case is probably not particularly realistic, some suspension of disbelief is always necessary for entertainment’s sake.

We see things from Elliot’s point of view but in the third person, which works well in these novels as the reader always feels at the heart of the action. Additionally, Elliot and Tucker are both fully fleshed out, three-dimensional characters but as Elliot is the more talkative and intuitive of the two, seeing things from his perspective maintains the brisk narrative pace. There are some lovely shiver inducing moments from the meeting with the Sculptor –

"I don’t need to read a psychology book to understand you, Mills. There’s nothing complicated about your psyche."

"But enough about me,’ Elliot said. ‘Let’s talk about your favorite subject. You. Or more exactly, why you wanted to see me."…

"…I didn’t want to see you. I gave you permission to visit. That’s all."

I simply can’t quote the best bits or even relate a lot of the story as the three books are interlinked and surprise is the heart of crime mysteries. But I can discuss the romance between Elliot and Tucker, which begins in book one. Both alpha males, Tucker is laconic, a big, well-muscled, handsome, archetypal ‘GMan’. He is also vulnerable, especially where families and relationships are concerned, as he is a child of the foster system. Elliot is also an alpha male except in the bedroom, which provides a very sexy dynamic we see developing through the series.

Elliot is the son of a sixties, hippy revolutionary Roland Mills, who became a well-known Professor, teaching civil rights and anarchic history at the University where Elliot is now the Professor Mills. The relationship between Roland and Elliot is a sub-plot that provides comedy, pathos and an intriguing look at the changing dynamics between father and son. Roland’s strong beliefs regarding the establishment and passivism present an interesting counterpoint to the contemporary treatment of crime and punishment.

The very last passage in this book provides an inspired quiet ending – it’s almost an anti-climax, but it does feel right and complete. It also leaves the story at the perfect point should the author ever wish to re-visit this couple.

All in all, Fair Chance is a wonderful example of a romantic, crime novel and the All’s Fair trilogy makes an entertaining, seamless, epic story.

reviewed by AAR's BJ

I would recommend reading the previous books beforehand. This one made me happy. The author aloud his characters to grew up. Unlike the previous book the talked too each they never lack chemistry just communicate. The book gives you the sexy couple chemistry but the mystery was solid and well written with a red herring here and there but never to complicated

This was the first series by Josh Lanyon that I read, and started my love for his books. I loved Elliot and Tucker from the beginning, and have been looking forward to this book, for which I had high expectations. Luckily, it managed to live up to those expectations. Looking at other reviews of this book, I see many people commenting on how the blurb gives away some pretty major plot points. Luckily I hadn't actually read the blurb in months, so wasn't spoiled during my read - which made me enjoy this a whole lot more. I was unable to put this down, and found the plot pacing really well done. It was very satisfying to see the conclusion of the Sculptor case, and I was happy with how this ended.

Review ~ 5*

This third and final instalment of the All’s Fair series is a great read, both in terms of the mystery and the romance. These are skilfully interwoven as Elliot hunts down a possible accomplice of Andrew Corian aka The Sculptor from Book 1 and the heads of his victims. The mystery is quite complex, and although I guessed the identity of the accomplice, there are other characters and aspects that add depth and further interest to the plot. As always there are a few red herrings. Elliot is also in conflict with his father for part of the story and that causes a strain on their relationship.

What I enjoyed most about this story is the connection between Elliot and Tucker. They’ve come a long way over the past few months and are really in tune with each other. They are in love and now living together. They talk more, know each other’s foibles, and although Tucker is still protective of Elliot, he is working to accept his role in assisting the FBI. How Elliot reacts to Tucker’s disappearance, and even before that, as he gradually realizes something isn’t quite right shows the depth of his feelings for his partner. I’ve seen many reviewers commenting on the fact that the blurb gives this aspect of the story away, but I think the reader knows and is waiting for Elliot to work it all out. Watching Elliot’s emotions and thoughts has a greater impact than if we didn’t know beforehand.

The tension rises as the clock ticks and time appears to be running out. Elliot’s realization that he may never see Tucker again and what that would mean for his life is heartbreaking and tear-inducing. “He’d prefer to be kneecapped every day for the rest of his life to losing Tucker.” The loneliness is palpable. “Hard to imagine life ever being normal again…” And yet he carries on, trying to find missing victims and the allusive accomplice. Superbly done!

As always, Josh Lanyon’s writing and characters are engaging throughout. The story is a real page-turner, with plenty of suspense and exciting scenes, along with the gradual unravelling of the mystery as seen through Elliot’s eyes. In fact, I read the story twice and enjoyed it even more the second time around. I’ll definitely read it again and am now looking forward to the audio version.

Although this storyline appears to be rounded off, I hope there are more cases for Elliot and Tucker in the future. They are in my top favourite m/m couples.

📖 Lanyon's books are a bit of a guilty pleasure, sometimes they can be quite generic but there's usually an interesting mystery and appealing characters.

👮 I liked the main characters in this series - FBI Agent Tucker Lance and Ex-Agent turned Professor Elliott Mills - a lot, I think they're a memorable addition to Lanyon's casts of sleuthing couples. This installment - the third in the series - does a could job of developing characters from the previous books and ratcheting up the stakes and the tension. The story is a little different from the others because Elliot spends a lot more time on his own, and under extreme stress so we see more of his personality come through.

🎓 I would maybe of like Elliot's area of study as a teacher to have been worked in somehow and I did feel like the very last plot detail (with Corian's mother) was shoved in at the end a little hastily. The final threat to Elliot and Tucker could have probably made for another interesting story if properly fleshed out.

❤ Overall I really enjoyed this story. I'd love to read further books in this series if Lanyon decides to write them, but this one felt like a good wrap-up to their story.

This review will go up on my blog, Foxes and Fairy Tales, on 22 February 2017.

RATING: 4 out of 5

There has been 6+ years since the first book, Fair Game, and 2+ years since the second one Fair Play … and I must say that one may not want to read this as stand-alone, especially since the mystery is pretty much related to the case of book #1.

I admit I wasn’t quite impressed with book #2. I wasn’t convinced that it was a needed sequel. So I approached this one with a little trepidation.

Well, guess what, I loved this better than book #2.

One thing that made me happy was that the relationship drama between Elliott and Tucker was pretty minimal. Yes, Tucker will always be protective of Elliott. Yes, the fact that Elliott seems to get himself into trouble by inserting himself to FBI cases will always make Tucker not completely happy. Plus there’s the big question whether Elliott wants to go back to law enforcement field…

However, it is also clear that both men finally make a deal to work through it. They both promise to talk about it and not go into bed angry. In that sense, their relationship is better than the previous book. Thus, I was really happy on that front.

And the mystery was GOOD! I was glued in, especially after Tucker went missing (no it’s not a spoiler, it’s written on the blurb!). There’s always an added suspense to a crime/mystery when the one missing is the MC’s loved one, which what happens here. So, I was REALLY invested with everything!

I did miss Roland though. Elliott’s relationship with his father has always been a delight for me to read; and one of the highlights of the whole series. Roland doesn’t have a lot of scenes but he’s still quite an important figure here. I just wish he had more pages.

Now, there’s quite an important decision that Elliott makes in the professional capacity. Because of that, I can somehow see the potential of this series to have more books in the future. Which, as a fan of Lanyon’s mystery books, will be an awesome thing 🙂

PS: Elliott gets himself a dog!!

I wished that the blurb did not give away a huge chunk of the plot. If that would have been dropped on us unexpectedly that would have blown me away. Other then that issue, this was another great addition to this series. I was completely wrong on who the person was that was helping the Sculptor. Even after it was clear that the person I thought was the helper wasn't, I still didn't figure it out. Tucker & Elliott's relationship is in a good place, even though Elliott still is a bit insecure at times. The balance between mystery and romance is very well done. The issue with Elliott & his dad from the last book is worked out. Even though they do not agree on things, they do love each other. I look forward to more books in this series.

4 stars!

*

Fair Chance is exactly what we expect a Josh Lanyon book to be: amazing. It is the perfect mix of mystery and romance, and the story is fast-paced and engaging. It follows the events of the previous books, especially what happens in Fair Game (book #1), and it is a worthy third installment in the All’s Fair series.

The murder-mystery is engaging, and once again Lanyon shows us how well he can write and build up suspense. The novel is told from Elliot’s POV, and we find him and Tucker in love and still living together. The main arc is introduced right away in a pretty interesting and, you guessed it, mysterious way. The plot does get a little convoluted towards the end, and a little bit unbelievable, but overall this is an enjoyable read that will leave you on the edge of your seat.

One thing I love about this series is the relationship between Elliot and Tucker. They’ve gone through difficult times together, and have learned from past mistakes. The development of them as characters and of their relationship is one of the best aspects of the series, and this book only serves to add to that.

There are a lot of threads to follow regarding the mystery, and at one point it does get a bit confusing following along. There are a lot of characters and names to remember, as well as a few people who are connected in some curious ways to characters who appeared in the previous installments. Things do get cleared up by the end, which is composed of a series of extremely convenient facts that lead to the conclusion being a little… unbelievable. But this is fiction, so I know most readers will be able to overlook it.

Even so, Fair Chance is a very good continuation of this incredible series. The writing is great as always, the balance between mystery and romance is done very well, and Elliot and Tucker make my heart flutter. I don’t know what the author’s plans are, but I feel like there is still a lot more to explore about Elliot, Tucker, and the troubles they get into. I recommend this to all Lanyon fans and to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.

I was provided a complimentary copy by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am a super fan of Josh Lanyon and Fair Chance is just the latest installment in why Josh Lanyon deserves statues and parades created in her honor. I am the type of person that when a character really grabs me, I don't want to let go and cross my fingers that there will be a sequel. And Fair Chance is the reason sequels (now trilogy) exist. Elliot and Tucker are now an ESTABLISHED COUPLE. They are IN LOVE and are planning to stay together forever. I do love me an established couple; they are happy and are the best match for the other.

I've read a few reviews about this book and some have said the blurb gave away too much. I'm not sure what they are talking about: Tucker going missing or The Sculptor being comatose in prison. Personally, I was happy to know that information as it adds to the tension and drama - what's going to happen?? - and I was kept wondering is this the moment that happens. I was on pins and needles the whole time, really.

The byplay between Tucker and Elliot is very quick and clever, and even though they still have uncertainties between them, they work hard not to let that interfere with their life. It's especially tough when Elliot becomes involved once again in the Sculptor case. Even though the killer was caught (book 1 Fair Game), that's not the end of the story. It's gory but fact; the heads from the Sculptors victims are missing and the FBI are still not sure if all the victims have been identified. When the Sculptor (view spoiler) demands to talk to Elliot, and only Elliot, what choice do they really have?

I was drawn in to this story, partly because I've been waiting so long for another installment into these tough yet gentle men, and mostly because Lanyon is one hell of a story teller. In addition to the Sculptor case, Elliot is dealing with the fallout with his dad from book 2 (Fair Play); it broke my heart to see Elliot struggle so much. You know Lanyon is not going to leave us hanging and everything works out in the end, but boy, the pages from start to finish really made me sweat.

I have to talk about the book cover. Fair Chance (All's Fair, #3) by Josh Lanyon Who are those men supposed to be representing? First, Tucker is a ginger, second, Elliot and Tucker are not in their twenties and the cover models seem to look in their late 20's, maybe very early 30's. It's a beautiful cover, don't get me wrong, but they don't match the characters.

I think Josh Lanyon is an amazing writer and should get more credit for her work than I think she really does. This latest installment in the All's Fair series is wonderful.

5 super big stars!!!

Post goes live 1 Mar

I loved this book, it was refreshing, different and I really enjoyed it!