Book safety, content warnings, and tropes down below.

“That’s part of being gay, you know. It’s not just who you want in bed. It’s who your emotional relationships are with the other twenty- three hours of the day, whose arms you want around you when life hands you shit.”

I guess I read same-couple series now. This book had some fantastic suspense and mystery and I am definitely excited about the next book. Fingers crossed there’s some solid mortal peril in that one too.

I must admit I’m not super feeling the romance just yet. They’ve definitely talked and thought about their connection more than I’ve actually seen or felt it, but there’s still time for that to evolve and grow.

Apparently I’m in for a touch of heartbreak with the series soon, so I’ve got that to look forward to.

I did catch myself struggling to sympathize with Mac a couple times, but I also kinda get it. It’s just frustrating when you can see everything so clearly from an outside perspective. Tony is a sweetheart, if not a touch bland so far. He’s a teacher and had a shitty ex. I don’t know him much beyond that.

⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️

⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
Single dad
Teacher MC
Police detective MC
Closeted MC
Secret relationship
Same-couple series
Suspense & action
Murder mystery
Size difference
(assumed) age gap
Widower

⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Death of minor character (on page, graphic)
Death of wife (past, cancer)
Alcohol consumption
MC1’s child living with relative (work schedule complications)
MC2 often looking after child with alcoholic parent
Alcoholic side character
MC with racist and bigoted parents
Use of homophobic slur (SC)
Death of best friend (past, drunk driving)
Attempted murder of MC
Injured MC (hospitalized)
Death of friend (present time, hit and run)
Mentions of cheating ex (past, some details)
Explicit sexual content
Mentions of MC’s deceased wife being abused and sexually trafficked (past, off page)
Mild dubcon — unnegotiated somnophilia
Unsafe sex
Religious trauma
Use of prescription painkillers
Mild dubcon — sex while MC is intoxicated (painkillers)
Gun violence
Murder of side character (gunshot complications)
MC abducted and held hostage
SC intoxicated on page (drugs)
Mention of suspect suicide (past, details)
Drinking alcohol to deal with trauma (on-page intoxication)
Rough sex — no prep
Some details of child beaten and killed (off page)

⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: No
POV: 3rd person, dual
Genre: Romantic suspense
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles
Main characters’ age: 24 and 33
Kids’ age: 4 and 5
Series: Series
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Pages: 348
Happy ending: Mild HFN


Suddenly Hart smiled at him. “Thanks. That’s really human of you.” Mac blinked. That smile should be registered as a deadly weapon. Without it, Hart was a nice-looking young guy. With it, that crooked grin and single dimple just sucked a man in, like a warm fire on a cold night.

Stupid, Mac told himself as he headed down the stairs. Don’t get stupid about this. Hart was a suspect. The fact that he had a sweet smile and a sense of humor did nothing to change that. The fact that tousled dark hair and blue eyes pushed Mac’s buttons had nothing to do with it either. Or the fact that the kid was gay.



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