Review: Catch and Release by BA Tortuga

Title: Catch and Release (The Release Series: Book Three

Author: BA Tortuga

Length: 230 Pages

Category: Contemporary

At a Glance: I’ve read many books by BA Tortuga, and I have to say that Catch and Release is different in a good way.

Reviewed By: Maryann

Blurb: Dakota Landry just got out of prison after twelve years. If anyone can understand how that feels, it’s his new friend, Sage, who is determined to help him get used to life on the outside—and believes Dakota didn’t commit the crime he was in for.

Jayden Wilson is a former prosecutor who agrees to look into the case at the request of Sage’s lover, Adam. He sets out to prove Dakota is just another “innocent” ex-con, but once they meet, Jayden is more and more convinced Dakota just didn’t do what everyone thinks he did.

Trouble follows Dakota, and nothing is easy as he struggles to figure out how to live, now that he has choices. And Jayden isn’t sure how Dakota, or any lover for that matter, fits into his life. Their path from friendship to romance is a slow one, but Dakota begins to believe he deserves a chance at life, and Jayden falls a little more for Dakota every day. Now they just need to tell each other how they feel.

Review: After being released from prison Dakota Landry has a lot of issues to work out. He needs to build his self-confidence. After the abuse of prison, he doesn’t feel he’s fit for any type of physical connection. His family denied his existence, he has no friends or anyone to help him, and he even believes God hates him. The one thing he does have is an English degree he hopes to put to good use someday. It’s not easy for Dakota; all he wants is to keep a low profile and just make it from day to day, but he’s being stalked by Tim McCarthy, the father of the victim, and he’s getting beat up on the job.

Sage Redding has had his own experience with prison, and has dedicated himself to a reentry program for prisoners. He knows firsthand what Dakota is going through, and most of all, he believes that Dakota was falsely imprisoned. Sage is there to give support, by any means, to Dakota, and it causes a little rift between Sage and his boyfriend, Adam, an ex-cop who now has his own security agency and is always suspicious. Sage and Adam are having little disruptions in their relationship. Adam’s work takes him away from home, but they both have a great love for each other—though Sage has one issue, if the chance to marry Adam ever arises, he won’t take it. Being an ex-con, he doesn’t want to tarnish Adam’s reputation. Both Sage and Adam have good hearts, and it will be interesting to see where their future leads.

Jayden Wilson was once a prosecuting attorney but switched to real estate law. When Adam shares the details of Dakota’s trial, Jayden is more than interested. He has become somewhat bored with real estate law, and misses the action of criminal law. He starts his investigation into Dakota’s trial, and ends up finding a lot of unanswered questions. When he meets Dakota and they begin spending more time together, Adam begins to have doubts about Dakota’s guilt.

I’ve read many books by BA Tortuga, and I have to say that Catch and Release is different in a good way. The romance between Dakota and Jayden is slow and gradual. It’s a nice slow-burn as they really get to know each other and learn about the contrasts in their families and upbringings. Their story is about finding a place where you can fit in, and finding those special people who will stick by you.

Troy and Eric from The Articles of Release are also a part of the story, and I like how all these characters have a really special connection, no matter how different they are. I hope BA Tortuga continues the Release series—but maybe it should be called the Sage Redding series because he’s always in the midst of things, and playing matchmaker.

You can buy Catch and Release here:
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