Book safety, content warnings, and tropes down below.

Sawyer instinctively knew Royce Locke was the most wounded thing—man or beast—he’d encountered in his life.

I seem to be having the unfortunate experience of reading several books lately with main characters I really don’t care for. Royce Locke is described as a moody asshole and a pain to work with, and while he is a little grumpy, I found Sawyer to be pretty insufferable. For a former lawyer and a police detective he is awfully judgemental and continuously assumed the worst about people, including accusing Royce of being homophobic. It got old really fast. It didn’t help that, while physically attracted to Royce, he tried his best to be emotionally (and physically) attracted to another man, including going on a date with said man the same day he had sex with Royce. 1. I can’t understand asking someone on a date while actively lusting after your coworker, 2. going on a date with a sweet man who genuinly wants to date you when the bodily fluids from someone else has barely been washed off you isn’t the most endearing behavior.

I felt *slightly* better about Sawyer by the end, but Royce is the one I care about, and after finding out book 2 is from his POV I *might* read that as well. Hard maybe.

The narration wasn’t good so I had a hard time following/caring about the actual case solving and mystery. Not my favorite book obviously, but my issues with the narrator and icky (to me) characters are the main reasons.

⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️

⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️
Romantic suspense
Police procedural
Enemies to lovers
Detective partners
Past trauma
Widower
Slow burn
Bi awakening

⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Graphically detailed murder crime scene
Racist rhetoric (not from MCs)
Misogynistic rhetoric (not from MCs)
Homophobic rhetoric (not from MCs)
Homophobic slur
Suicide of MC’s past work partner and best friend (off page, past)
Feelings of guilt and grief
Brief mention of the death of MC’s husband (cancer, past, some details)
Homophobic rhetoric
Mentions of murder victim being victim of past domestic abuse
Mentions of past underage drinking
Kissing and fondling while only one MC is intoxicated
Binge drinking to deal with emotional challenges (few details)
Injured MC (gunshot wound)
Gun violence

⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: Yes. MC1 flirts with other men, checks out and fantasizes about someone else, and goes on a date with someone else after the first hookup with MC2. The date was planned before they hooked up. The date ends with a cheek kiss. Several references to MC2 hooking up with women. Unclear if this happens while the MCs know each other or not. MC2 gets a couple lap dances (off page) as a part of working on a case. By the end of the book (after MC1’s date with other man) they agree to be together.
Breakup: No
POV: 3rd person, single
Genre: Romantic suspense
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles in book 1
Main characters’ age: 33 and 34
Series: Series
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Pages: 317


“You make strings look damn good, Sawyer. Teach me to be the kind of guy who deserves you. Are you patient enough to stand beside me when my fight-or-flight instincts kick in? It’s all I know, and miracles won’t happen overnight. I never again want to see disappointment in your eyes and know that I put it there. I’ve been an insensitive dick to you many times since we met, but I’m not toying with you. I want this.”



You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well: https://www.instagram.com/booksafety?igsh=MWZ3azhkdDc2Y2ludg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr