Variable Onset

Had me on the edge of my seat! Variable Onset is the first romantic suspense story I've read by Layla Reyne. I know, I know – she's probably written more romantic suspense than any other type of MM romance but Dine With Me is the only other book I've read (I loved it). And now…I'm asking myself why? Variable Onset kept me glued to me ereader all day; I barely got anything else done at all. Thank goodness I'm retired and can't go out because we're currently under lockdown due to COVID-19. I love fake relationship and forced proximity tropes and this story adds in a former adult student / teacher trope to add to its deliciousness. I'm not going to rehash the blurb so give it a read. This was a suspense story where I didn't have any idea who the baddie was going to be until the author wanted me to. So many things about this story kept me truly engaged. I also gave my electronic dictionary and Google search a good workout while I was reading. There was quite a bit of technical stuff related to forensic genealogy that I was compelled to look up and delve deeper into. I think this is probably a story that required quite a bit of research and it showed in the details. I loved the bantering and flirting between the two MCs; it kept the story from feeling too heavy. Lincoln and Carter have a hard way to go to get their HEA but I knew they'd get there and the journey was worth it. I should probably add if you're looking for hot and sweaty sexy time this might not be the story for you. It's slow burn all the way with only one (I think) pretty tame bedroom scene and that was fine with me. It's the story that's most important and this was a great one. A review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley but this did not influence my opinion or rating of the book. ***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com*** (Posting on May 4, 2020.)

Between the complex, thrilling mystery and the seriously hot, slow-burn romance, Layla Reyne’s Variable Onset is one amazing ride! Cover to cover, Ms. Reyne held me spellbound with the steadily mounting tension and all the twists and turns this story takes. Variable Onset is brilliantly written, and I loved it! Catching the serial killer and solving the mystery take the front seat in this exciting story, but there’s enough unresolved sexual tension between the main characters that the romance is never far from the surface. Their mutual attraction is intense, and Ms. Reyne keeps it up throughout the entire novel. FBI Agent Lincoln Monroe is a happily divorced father of a teenager, and content teaching forensic genealogy in his Quantico classroom. It’s been years since he’s worked in the field, but when the daughter of his highly revered mentor is kidnapped, Lincoln steps up and agrees to go undercover and help solve the case. At the top of his list of issues (and he’s got a few): his partner-to-be is his most annoying (but incredibly gorgeous) former student, Special Agent Carter Warren. Still crushing on his former professor, Carter has carried a torch for Lincoln for the past eight years. Needing a cover for the mission, Carter seizes his chance and slips a wedding ring on Lincoln’s finger! It’s the fake relationship trope, and this one’s a real delight. Layla Reyne clearly had so much fun with it, and I love seeing these two men dance around each other. Their chemistry is amazing, and Variable Onset is a superb romance. The suspense builds steadily as Lincoln and Carter work their way through the clues to solve the mystery. After all, the clock is ticking! It’s a clever story, with the creepy serial killer and their copy-cat. Plus, there’s a bonus of wonderful descriptions of this charming college town, filled with intriguing characters and some very interesting goings-on within the community. I’ve just discovered Layla Reyne’s amazing stories, and I can’t wait to see what this talented author comes up with next. I know Variable Onset is billed as a standalone novel, but I'd sure love to see Lincoln and Carter tackle some more mysteries. I’m keeping my fingers crossed this is the start of a fantastic new series.

Variable Onset is a combination of serial killer suspense with plenty of science and a slow burn romance between undercover agents. The thing is Lincoln and Carter really weren't together for long enough to call it a slow burn, but it had that feel about it. The mystery wasn't all that mysterious but it was still entertaining and the pacing was good, so it wasn't hard to stick with it even after I figured out the whodunit. In the end, there were things I liked and disliked about both aspects of this one, but when it came down to it, this one isn't something I'd read again, but it was worth the once-through.