by
Nine months ago, Rowan Ward thought he had it all. Now he’s fighting to pull his shredded life together, buried in work and battling the kind of grief that destroys a man’s soul. When fires spring up around Cincinnati threatening Rowe’s friends and clients, he’s thrilled to find his old Army buddy, Noah Keegan in town. They were a hell of a team when they served together, so in-sync, it was rumored they could read each other’s minds.
Noah thought devoting his life to the Army would be enough. Then he realized he had no family and only one friend he cared about. When his enlistment was up, he found himself standing on Rowe’s doorstep, looking only for friendship but secretly hoping for more. He needs to know if their one unbelievable night together years ago wasn’t a mistake.
Caught in a dangerous game of fire and bullets, neither expects the inferno of emotion that ignites between them. One Rowe isn’t prepared to accept. One that could break Noah.
- 2 To Be Read lists
- 8 Read lists
Publisher: Independently Published
Editors:
Cover Artists:
Genres:
Pairings: M-M
Heat Level: 5
Romantic Content: 4
Ending: Click here to reveal
Character Identities: Demisexual, Gay
Protagonist 1 Age: 36-45
Protagonist 2 Age: 26-35
Tropes: Alpha Character, Badass Hero, Bodyguard/Guardian Angel, Criminals & Outlaws, First Time, Friends to Lovers, Hurt / Comfort, Reunited and it Feels So Good, Second Chances
Word Count: 95000
Setting: USA, Ohio, Cincinnati
Languages Available: English
Series Type: Same Universe / Various Characters
Susan65 on https://thebloggergirls.com wrote:Rowe and Noah, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways 😉 To say I was excited about Rowe's book is an understatement but seriously you guys...SERIOUSLY, I didn't expect to love it this much. It's hands down my favorite book of the series. Rowe is a little tortured and broken and trying to figure out how to move on. But he's still that loyal, kickass man there for his friends. I think the authors did a fantastic job of balancing Rowe's loss and pain, with him eventually moving on and falling in love again.
And Noah. Dear, sweet, sexy, Noah. I sort of wanted to keep you. Or borrow you. Please, Rowe, can I? Noah is funny, sexy, and loves big. He's my favorite kind of character.
Oh, I how I loved Rowe in the first two books and oh, how my heart broke for him when his wife, Melissa, was killed in the last book. I was sitting on pins and needles waiting on his story, and curious as all get out to see how Ms. Drake would take a straight man and create a new reality that would resonate as realistic and plausible. I shouldn’t have worried…this story is solid.
I should have guessed that Rowe had a past as it was alluded to with the way Melissa talked about their sex life. It was a secret that wasn’t very secretive unless you weren’t looking for it. I loved Noah from the get-go and I believe that Melissa would too. I didn’t read the blurb before I started reading so I wasn’t sure at first who Rowan’s new love interest would be…I was thrilled when it turned out to be Noah.
Noah and Rowe have a huge uphill battle to get to their hard fought and won happy ending. Rowe is still deeply mourning his wife and struggling with his renewed feelings for Noah. Honestly, if these two did not have a past it would have been much harder for me to believe that Rowe could love again so soon, but these two have all the makings for a strong and committed future.
Now they just need to stop the psycho that is dead-set on trying to kill and ruin him and his friends. This story is a continuation of that ongoing battle and will continue with the next book. Of which, I cannot wait for Ian and his cop to finally get their story. I loved the way that began in this book and I foresee some excitement coming soon.
Overall Impression: I loved it.
Jocelynn Drake
Rinda Elliott
