Book safety, content warnings, and tropes down below.

They were supposed to grow old together in their little house with their little cat.

This book is the first book about an established couple I’ve been excited about reading in a long, long time. I really enjoyed The Kite, and Asher and Harry were such awesome characters that I was stoked about another adventure with these boys.

It was really nice to read a solid suspense novel again. It didn’t hold back on the brutality and grittiness at all, and at one point I even cringed a little, quickly followed by a big smile (yes, I have issues, rest assured, I’m not working on it).

“It’s all I want. A quiet life with you. I don’t even care where, as long as I have you. You’re my home, Harry.”

We got a different look at Asher this time around. His walls are down after living as a safe civilian for two years, and he is not prepared to come face to face with trauma from his past. It’s neat to see a character in a different way—less snark and humor—but still have that character feel ‘true’. Harry is his stoic, protective, badass self still, and whenever he goes full beast-mode, it makes me happy.



I freaking *loved* meeting August and Jake again. Tallowwood is one of my favorite N.R. books, and it felt like visiting old friends. I could read endless books about them.

A really good follow-up to The Kite and can definitely recommend it. I’m deducting half a star for what was maybe the most intense tease of switching it up in the bedroom I’ve ever read, lol. Asher saying he’s gonna bone his much bigger man when he’s usually the greediest bottom ever, and then not doing it on page? Straight to jail!

“I don’t know what I ever did to deserve you.” “You didn’t shoot me that day in Madrid, remember? And after that, you annoyed me until I fell in love with you, remember?”

⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️

⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
Action and suspense
Established couple
Sequel
Size difference
Fighting as foreplay
Rescue mission
Political themes
Breath play

⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Mentions of past child abuse (MC and others, not detailed)
Graphic violence
On-page murder
Gun violence
Fighting as foreplay
Penetration without lube or stretching
Choking/breath play
Brief mentions of MC being disowned (past)
SC kidnapped off page
On-page torture of bad guy (detailed, graphic)
Explicit sexual content
Anxiety-induced epileptic seizures (SC, on page)
MC stabbed and beaten (injured)
Some details of medical treatment
MC hospitalized
Mentions of intravenous drugs
Severely injured side character

⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: No
POV: 3rd person, multi
Genre: Contemporary romance
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Hinting at versatile (no switching on page)
Main characters’ age: 36 and 38
Series: Duology, book 2
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Pages: 316
Happy ending: Yes


“Your eyes were never dead,” Harry whispered. “They were,” Asher replied. “Before you.”

Leaving his unit always felt wrong. Like leaving Asher felt wrong. Asher was his unit now. His partner. His entire fucking world.



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