READ: Jan 2023
FORMAT: Audio 

BRIEF SUMMARY: 

In this contemporary romance, we follow Zach and Drew, respectively: the owner of and an employee at Zach’s Bar and Grill. For the past seven years, Drew has been relentlessly expressing his interest in Zach, while Zach is too caught up to give in by Drew’s age difference and status as Zach’s best friend’s little brother. When Drew finds out he has a stalker, overprotective Zach is prepared to do all he can to keep Drew safe, even if it means re-evaluating his position on their relationship. 

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: 3 / 5⭐ 

Boy, this story goes hard, doesn’t it? I shouldn’t be surprised considering the turn book one of this series took, but the shift into something of a suspense/thriller genre wasn’t on my radar. It’s still more of a romance than anything else, but I’m not sure I know what it wanted to be. 

I want to start by saying I don’t condone Drew’s behaviour towards Zach in the beginning of this book at all. He is overtly something of a sex pest, and he justifies it because he’s so sure that Zach wants him just as bad. It all works out, because yes, Zach does in fact want Drew, but it’s such an awful message to send that if you want someone badly enough, you should spend seven years hurling every invite and innuendo that you perceivably can in their direction. One day, you’ll be rewarded. 

That said, do Zach and Drew work together? They’ve certainly got some chemistry, and already have years of developing their affection for one another behind them. In this book, Drew’s struggle is in admitting he could use some help and protection in a situation where he’s in over his head; Zach’s struggle is in convincing Drew that he no longer thinks of him as a helpless kid in need of a protector. With how often Drew winds up needing help and protection, I'm not sure the goal is achieved.

TECHNICAL / PRODUCTION: 3 / 5⭐ 

In the last book, I noted how I'd found many characters would have over-the-top reactions to the situations they were in. I didn’t see that quite as often this time around, but what I did see was a whole lot of flip-flopping in motivation. 

Drew’s character, for example, is often complaining about how Grant and Zach treat him like a child incapable of taking care of himself, then in the next breath he’s wishing that he would just come clean about what’s happening, and get their support and protection. In bed with Zach, in one moment he’s demanding control, and in the next he’s giving himself over entirely. He’s just all over the place, in my opinion. 

I’m not sure that I’m willing to call this book bad writing, but I’m not dismissing Quinn as an author yet either. If I pursue any more books in this series, I’m likely to skip book three (because Ryder has been well-established as an even worse sex pest than Drew is). Kirt Graves did a good job with the narration of this book. I have no complaints on his performance. 

FINAL THOUGHTS - OVERALL: 3 / 5⭐ 

This book doesn’t offend me for existing and I didn’t dislike it. If you want to read a romance with a side dish of danger, this has that. 

This book has representation for bi, gay, and lesbian sexualities. A couple people are described with darker skin tones.

The following elaborates on my content warnings. These may be interpreted as spoilers, but I do not go into deep detail.