Book safety, content warnings, and tropes down below.

This book isn’t very long, but it took me a while to finish because it was so heavy. In true Tal Bauer fashion, it does not sugarcoat anything, and his work and life experience brings a level of realism you don’t get much of elsewhere. This book deals heavily with racism (in many forms), and it was handled really well.

He could love this man. He could love him until the end of time. Maybe he already did and was just uncovering a love that was already there and waiting for him. Did you fall in love with someone unknown, or did you find the person who completed you and paired your soul to theirs?

You of course get the usual edge-of-your-seat suspense and great action that you expect from Tal Bauer, and the descriptions of the Congo and its people were beautiful. In the middle of the heavy topics there’s a really sweet and genuine-feeling romance (of course).

31 years after the genocide in Rwanda and five years after this book was published, and there’s still war and conflict in DR Congo. There’s not a single theme or situation in this book that isn’t highly relevant today. Can’t recommend this book enough.

Evacuate. The region is about to be plunged into violent conflict. But this is when we need you most. What about us, who can’t evacuate? Where should we go when the fighting starts?

⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️

⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
Set in The Democratic Republic of the Congo
Navy SEAL Lieutenant
Black MCs
Congolese doctor
Romantic suspense
Hunting terrorists
First times
Sexual awakening

⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Vomiting
Graphic details of a child getting sick and dying (on page)
Themes and details of displacement
Themes of war and conflict
Details of illness and death from infectious diseases)
Gun violence
Graphic gore (bodily fluids, dismembered bodies, etc.)
Gun violence
Injured side character (gunshot wound)
On-page graphic murder
Details of MC being racially profiled (past)
Themes of racism
Mentions of past racial profiling and physical assault/police brutality against MC
Epidemic outbreak
Themes of occupation and war
Refugee camp attacked and bombed
Injured MCs
Use of homophobic slur
Explicit sexual content
MC abducted and forced to be a child soldier (past)
Brief mention of minor character suicide (off page)
Attempted terrorist attack/suicide bombing

⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: No
POV: 3rd person, multi
Genre: Romantic suspense
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles
Main characters’ age: 32 and not specified
Series: Standalone
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Pages: 254
Happy ending: Yes


There were rights and there were wrongs. He knew it. Everyone knew it, even if they turned their backs and pretended they weren’t involved. Ignorance only went so far before it became complicity.

It clawed at him, scraped him raw inside every time the mzungus wanted to photograph their tragedies. Take pictures of their lives and send them to the West, glorifying their agony and calling it art.

The light and Ikolo’s touch revealed the truth Elliot had grasped in the dark and laid bare the answer to his question. He kissed Ikolo and felt his soul catch fire.

He was one man, but he was his own man, and he would not be complicit in the world’s hate.