Book safety, content warnings, and tropes down below.

He needed to do this. He needed to take this step, at the very least. Be among his people. Be in solidarity with himself. Walk in the sunlight as a gay man—if only to himself—for once in his adult life.

I can’t really put my finger on exactly why, but these characters, this story, won’t leave my head. I have lost count of the amount of times I’ve read or listened to it by now. I have loved every single book I’ve read by Tal Bauer, and some of are probably objectively better than this one, but I just love it. so. much.

He was living half a life, with space carved out for a dream he’d killed in 1991.

It sort of feels like the first half is focused on Tom, Mike, and their eventual relationship. In the second half, the suspense and political aspect kicks in for real. However, there is still romance all the way through.

“I really like him. I like him too much.” He ruffled her ears, pulled her skin forward, making her face squishy with wrinkles. She tolerated it, licking his face in retaliation. “I’m afraid this is going to hurt, Etta Mae.”

Tom is one of my all time favorite characters. He is deeply sad, lonely and closeted. He grew up watching his friends and community die, he worked for years as a state prosecutor in a horribly flawed justice system, and now he’s the youngest federal judge. Even after all that, he's such a hopeful and sweet man, who still believes in the law, and doing what’s right. It kinda sounds like I’m trying to sell him to you, lol, and I guess i sort of am. For the first half of the book, he makes me tear up *a lot*, even after reading the damn book close to ten times.

Mike is also a wonderfully developed character, and I adore his growth through this book. He isn’t perfect, but then the author’s characters rarely are. Kris is also one of the strongest and most interesting side characters I know of. I plan on reading his book (Whisper) eventually, but I have to work myself up to it, lol.

“Oh, honey, you know I don’t do manual labor. You called the wrong friend.”

I can’t recommend this book enough.

⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️

⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️
Age gap
Closeted MC
Terrorism
Federal judge/U.S. marshal
Political drama
Suspense
Jury trial

⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Cheating on-page (not between MCs)
Terrorism
Public shooting
Assassination attempt
Homophobia
Internalized homophobia
Explicit sexual content
Induced coma
Hospitalization
Gunshot wound
On-page killing
Snakes
Severely injured MC

⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: Yes, one MC is cheated on by a side character.
OM/OW drama: No
Breakup: Sort of, yes.
POV: 3rd person, multiple POV
Genre: Romantic suspense/political thriller, M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles
MCs age: 37 and 46
Pages: 454

He’d never planned to share his home with anyone, but he’d built everything for two. Two barstools. A kitchen nook for two, cozy and loving. A leather chair large enough to cuddle in, beside a quaint fireplace. Everything in twos, two by two by two, like he was mocking himself every day with the thought, the hope, the dream he could never have.

“Okay.” Mike smiled weakly. “Okay? Just like that?” “Yes. I trust you. Personally and professionally. I can’t say that and then undermine your advice.”

Mike had his face pressed right into Tom’s cheek, into his neck, and his arms were wrapped around Tom, their legs tangled together. Mike was a human koala bear, and Tom was happy to be his tree.