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galleytrot's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
READ: Jan 2023
FORMAT: Audio
FORMAT: Audio
BRIEF SUMMARY:
In this contemporary action/romance set in Atlanta, Duke and Quick are operating their bounty hunting business together. Duke is feeling past his prime and undesirable, right up until Quick’s son Vaughn marches back into Duke’s life with every intention of making Duke his man. When Duke gets injured on the job, what’s meant to be a romantic courtship becomes a life-or-death decision, ending in a deeper connection than either man ever expected to share.
ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: 3.5 / 5⭐
I love a good ‘younger man knows exactly what he wants while mature man questions what he even deserves’ story, but I’m not entirely sold on Duke and Vaughn.
Vaughn has been pining for Duke basically since his sexual awakening, but always understood that he’d be treated like a child and not taken seriously. He’s spent years abroad, growing and experiencing all he can to become the man he wants to be for Duke. Duke hasn’t experienced a legitimate relationship in a very long time, despite his dreams of settling down with someone and experiencing a deeper connection. He’s also never viewed Vaughn through the lens of a potential romantic interest in any of the time they’ve known each other, until the very moment they reconnect in this book.
Now, the attraction is on like a light switch – absolutely blinding and shocking after a long period of dark. We really do just jump right into it; no preamble, just instant sexual tension and wildly rushed admissions of love.
TECHNICAL / PRODUCTION: 3.25 / 5⭐
I really am scratching my head over how quickly Duke accepts (and states) that he’s in love with Vaughn. It’s seriously shocking. The sudden attraction is one thing – if someone strolls into your life out of the blue with a strong focus on you, you’re either into it or you’re not. Instant attraction does happen, but it’s made stranger in this case by Duke’s long history without any attraction to Vaughn. The love confession, on the other hand, comes within a matter of days – to someone he hasn’t seen in 3 years, and hasn’t thought of as a romantic interest before now.
FINAL THOUGHTS - OVERALL: 3.25 / 5⭐
This book shines its brightest in the spicy scenes. The action is decent, the trauma is unexpected, and the romance is rushed, but the spice? Quite tasty. If you’re familiar with Via’s works, and if her usual men are up your alley, this one will not disappoint. It takes place after the events of “Don’t Judge” in Via’s “Nothing Special” series, but can easily be read on its own.
This book has representation for gay and potentially bi sexualities. There Is little-to-no diversity, otherwise.
The following elaborates on my content warnings. These may be interpreted as spoilers, but I do not go into deep detail.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Terminal illness, Cursing, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Blood, Homophobia, Medical content, and Death
roxanned's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Medical content
Minor: Alcohol and Addiction
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