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kaje_harper's review
5.0
4.5 stars. I do adore Deputy (now Detective) Joe. This installment of the series finds Joe and Kabe traveling to San Francisco for a funeral. The dead man, Jack, was Kabe's protector in prison and one of a circle of men in the local gay and BDSM community who helped him grow up and survive his wild streak. Kabe owes Jack and the others a lot, and he wants to introduce Joe to them, and his grandmother and other old friends.
The best part of this book is watching Joe simply be Joe. San Francisco is eye-opening to Joe in good ways and bad. It's a long way from his rural, Mormon, Utah roots, with ocean instead of mountains, with acceptance of LGBT but also wild night-life, alcohol and drugs, and a fast shallow pace to life. Through it all, Joe manages to hang onto who he is, and keeps the bedrock of his faith, his love for Kabe (even if he still finds it hard to say the word), and his views of right and wrong. It's a tough road to be Kabe's Dom in an unfamiliar space, to know when to give him room to reconnect with his former life, and when he actually wants to be brought up short.
The mystery, a hunt for a missing man, is more procedural than complicated, and the answer is not unexpected, but highlights a dark side of American public policy. Joe is in some ways the person who should be the quintessential American hero, with his priorities straight and his integrity unshakable. And Kabe has grown and developed through the series, not without backsliding, but he is becoming Joe's real match. Spending time with them is always a pleasure. This is a series book, and should be read in order. The ending could end the series, but I'd be delighted to see these guys again, any time.
The best part of this book is watching Joe simply be Joe. San Francisco is eye-opening to Joe in good ways and bad. It's a long way from his rural, Mormon, Utah roots, with ocean instead of mountains, with acceptance of LGBT but also wild night-life, alcohol and drugs, and a fast shallow pace to life. Through it all, Joe manages to hang onto who he is, and keeps the bedrock of his faith, his love for Kabe (even if he still finds it hard to say the word), and his views of right and wrong. It's a tough road to be Kabe's Dom in an unfamiliar space, to know when to give him room to reconnect with his former life, and when he actually wants to be brought up short.
The mystery, a hunt for a missing man, is more procedural than complicated, and the answer is not unexpected, but highlights a dark side of American public policy. Joe is in some ways the person who should be the quintessential American hero, with his priorities straight and his integrity unshakable. And Kabe has grown and developed through the series, not without backsliding, but he is becoming Joe's real match. Spending time with them is always a pleasure. This is a series book, and should be read in order. The ending could end the series, but I'd be delighted to see these guys again, any time.
relly's review
4.0
Good
4 ⭐️
This one to me felt more relationship focused, yes Joe was roped into finding the missing Mike, but that also felt a little bit of a side issue.
We get to meet Kabe’s family in this one, and again there are the good and the bad like any family. I liked Bill and Kabe’s gran although they both took a little to get to know, but once there they were both great. Kabe’s younger friends not as much. Yes they are both bratty but there is a fun bratty and just plain mean and at times they were on the mean snide side.
Joe was really a fish out of water here as he didn’t fit in with the city lifestyle, and I was impressed that he held his ground and stayed just the same old Joe. He has his values and beliefs that he lives by but doesn’t try and force them onto others. He starts seeing the city Kabe and questions wether their relationship and country living is really enough for Kabe. I liked how he worked through this.
Kabe was also dealing with his own issues which made him snappy and at times I didn’t like him and how he treated Joe. I understood that he was frustrated and unsure of himself and their relationship but he also knows and loves Joe but at times tried to change him. Once he was sure of his place he went back to being the fun Kabe we know and love.
I think this was a good addition to this series and allowed both characters to grow and understand their relationship on another level.
4 ⭐️
This one to me felt more relationship focused, yes Joe was roped into finding the missing Mike, but that also felt a little bit of a side issue.
We get to meet Kabe’s family in this one, and again there are the good and the bad like any family. I liked Bill and Kabe’s gran although they both took a little to get to know, but once there they were both great. Kabe’s younger friends not as much. Yes they are both bratty but there is a fun bratty and just plain mean and at times they were on the mean snide side.
Joe was really a fish out of water here as he didn’t fit in with the city lifestyle, and I was impressed that he held his ground and stayed just the same old Joe. He has his values and beliefs that he lives by but doesn’t try and force them onto others. He starts seeing the city Kabe and questions wether their relationship and country living is really enough for Kabe. I liked how he worked through this.
Kabe was also dealing with his own issues which made him snappy and at times I didn’t like him and how he treated Joe. I understood that he was frustrated and unsure of himself and their relationship but he also knows and loves Joe but at times tried to change him. Once he was sure of his place he went back to being the fun Kabe we know and love.
I think this was a good addition to this series and allowed both characters to grow and understand their relationship on another level.
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