Sidewinder Series Guide: Everything You Need to Know
Sidewinder Series Guide & Everything You Need to Know
If you’ve read the Cut & Run series, you already know Nick O’Flaherty and Kelly Abbott aren’t exactly the “stay in the background” types and this is where they get to shine on their own. The Sidewinder series is a mix of high-stakes suspense, found family, and a romance that’s equal parts heat and heart. These books run alongside the Cut & Run timeline, so you’ll get a deeper look at what Nick and Kelly were up to while Ty and Zane were causing their own brand of chaos.
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What Is the Sidewinder Series About?
The Sidewinder series is a romantic suspense series following Nick O’Flaherty, Ty Grady’s best friend and fellow Marine, and Kelly Abbott, the team medic who could patch a bullet wound with one hand and steal your heart with the other.
After years of friendship, battlefield trust, and “we don’t talk about feelings,” one impulsive kiss sets off a chain reaction they can’t take back. Across three novels and two novellas, they juggle criminal investigations, personal demons, and the kind of love story that refuses to be rushed.
Sidewinder Series Tropes & Vibes
- Friends-to-lovers with years of history.
- Found family, military edition.
- Mutual pining that turns into mutual “oh no, this is serious.”
- Banter-as-foreplay.
- Cases that dig up personal ghosts.
- Emotional gut punches wrapped in humor.
Where Do the Sidewinder Books Fit in the Cut & Run Timeline?
If you’re reading for the first time, here’s how they slot in with the main series:
- Shock & Awe – After Touch & Geaux (Cut & Run #7)
- Cross & Crown – After Ball & Chain (Cut & Run #8)
- High & Tight – After Cross & Crown
- Part & Parcel – Should be read after Crash & Burn (Cut & Run #9) because it’s a continuation of that storyline
Sidewinder Series Books
Shock & Awe
After barely surviving a shootout in New Orleans, Sidewinder medic Kelly Abbott has to suffer through a month of recovery before he can return home to Colorado. Fellow Sidewinder Nick O’Flaherty stays by his side, first in New Orleans, then in Colorado, and one curious kiss unleashes a flood of emotions neither man was prepared to confront. Now, Kelly and Nick must figure out if they’re just brothers in arms or something much more before the past catches up to them.
This is where Nick and Kelly’s spark officially catches fire. Friends-to-lovers is always good, but when it’s wrapped in Abigail Roux’s signature mix of dirty talk, scorching heat, and emotional chaos? Forget it, you’re gone. Shock & Awe feels like falling headfirst into a new ship and instantly knowing you’re about to be obsessed.
Grab Shock & Awe on Amazon or read our Shock & Awe book review
Cross & Crown
When Nick finds himself in the middle of a double homicide in Boston, with an amnesiac witness, Julian Cross tailing the guy, and Kelly flying in to help, the case quickly tangles with centuries-old secrets. Between dodging bullets, navigating a strained dynamic with Julian, and keeping his relationship with Kelly steady, Nick has to figure out who to trust before history repeats itself in the worst way.
Nick and Kelly in Boston means more banter, more danger, and a murder mystery that drags in old friends and uneasy allies. I loved seeing Kelly balance Nick’s darker edges with humor while Nick made it clear, loud and hot, that there’s no “second option” for him. Also, treasure hunting + Julian Cross? Yes, please.
Grab Cross & Crown on Amazon or read our Cross & Crown book review
Part & Parcel
Nick and Kelly’s happy ending takes a near-fatal hit when a friend’s call for help ends in bloodshed. While they’re healing, Nick goes through the belongings of fallen teammate Elias Sanchez and finds a stack of letters that sends Sidewinder on one last mission, seeking answers, closure, and maybe a little absolution from beyond the grave.
This one hits deeper. It still has the signature Roux humor and action, but there’s a raw, heartfelt undercurrent that makes it stand out. Watching Nick and Kelly navigate the shift from brothers-in-arms to boyfriends while carrying grief and history gave me all the feels. The found-family element is strong, and the ending leaves you wanting more time with these guys.
Grab Part & Parcel on Amazon or read our Part & Parcel book review
Free Sidewinder Novellas
If you’re binging Nick & Kelly’s story, don’t miss these bonus scenes from Abigail Roux… short, punchy reads that fill in extra moments between the main books.
High & Tight (1.5) – A quick, steamy Yankees–Red Sox rivalry moment between Nick and Kelly while they’re still figuring each other out. Read High & Tight here.
Drunk & Disorderly (3.5) – Post–Part & Parcel chaos featuring the Sidewinder crew in full ridiculous mode. Read Drunk & Disorderly here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Sidewinder series finished?
Yes. Part & Parcel is the final book in Nick and Kelly’s story so the Sidewinder series is a finished book series.
Do I have to read Cut & Run first?
Highly recommended. The Sidewinder crew is introduced in Cut & Run, and you’ll miss a lot of backstory without it.
Are the Sidewinder books spicy?
Yes, same heat level as Cut & Run.
Will there be more Nick and Kelly books?
No new books are planned, and Abigail Roux has confirmed she’s not continuing their storyline.
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