Book reviews and Art

The nightmare is over. Or so I keep telling myself. Bruised and battered, we’d narrowly escaped with our lives. I should be grateful. Grateful that my captors are in custody. Grateful that the chilling, roller-coaster of events, actually brought Nick and I closer. Grateful that we’ve finally taken a step toward something more than friendship. And I am, grateful.

But life isn’t simple.
Relationships need work.
And peace of mind is elusive in the face of unbearable guilt.

Because I’m the one who unravelled the puzzle. The one responsible for sending a young man back to a life he thought he’d escaped forever. Until I know he’s safe; until I’ve done everything I can to fix what happened, there will be no pretending I’ve done my bit. No leaving it up to the authorities. I can’t forget and move on. Not in my job. Not in my life. And certainly not in my fledgling romance with Nick Fisher who stormed into my heart with a truckload of his own issues.

The fate of a young man isn’t the only thing at stake. The quest for truth will push us to our limits. And the biggest question of all—do Nick and I have what it takes to survive the answers.

THE FACTS

📕 book two in the Fisher & Church series by Jay Hogan

📘 MM romance

📙 self proclaimed “Introvert King and the knave of grouch.”

📗 great almost-police-procedural like plot! good mystery

THE GOOD BITS

Jay Hogan has a knack for coming up with just the right recipe for a book. There are always great characters, there’s usually a mystery or some kind of intrigue, there is found-family and friends who make me miss my own, and there’s enough spice to keep things interesting.

The Fisher & Church series began with “The Meaning of You” in which we met Nick Fisher as he was mourning the loss of his husband. Madigan Church came tumbling into his life and the two men became entangled in ways they never could have seen coming. As the events of book one drew to a close, they were attempting to see a path forward… together.

The second book, “The Question of Us” opens sweetly, picking up not long after the events of book one. Things quickly take a turn though and Nick and Mads once more find themselves lost, heart-broken and confused. One of the things that I have been really enjoying about this series is that way that Jay Hogan writes such realistic relationships. The arguments in this book hit home because they feel really authentic. In particular, reading about Nick grieving the loss of his husband and his heart tries to move forward was incredibly touching.

The journey through grief and opening up the heart and mind to new relationships is a constant in this series. How could it not be? Nick loved his husband…and love doesn’t just disappear when someone dies. Nick is on a journey to discover if he can continue to move forward with a new relationship with a very different man. I suppose he is trying to understand how you can miss someone and yet, still find a way to move forward.

And boy oh boy is there some guilt in this series. Should you feel guilty if you fall in love when your partner has died? Should you feel guilty if you feel responsible for a crime being committed? Should you feel guilty if you want more from someone that they are ready to give and you have to make a hard decision? Yes, there’s a lot in this story and that will come as no surprise to you if you’ve read any of Jay Hogan’s work before.

Madigan doesn’t have the same experience with love and relationships that Nick does. He has been more casual about things and is struggling to become comfortable with the feelings that are beginning to develop. Trying to create a place in your life for someone is challenging, and sometimes it involves setting boundaries and then sticking to them. Sometimes, sticking to those boundaries is heart breaking.

“I was reminded that many things said in the warm flush of attraction don’t survive the cool thrust of reality.” – Madigan

I already said it, but it is worth repeating; the discussion, the arguments, even the banter is all realistic and I found myself quite moved by the more serious moments. Nick and Madigan are very different men, but they work on some level – at least – if they can overcome the roadblocks in their way.

One of the biggest roadblocks to these two men having a relationship is the ongoing mystery/crime investigation they can’t seem to walk away from. Each of the men involved – including lovely supporting character Gazza – has a different reason for wanting to bring certain men to justice. The reasons are varied and deep and emotional – Jay does a fantastic job of making it believable the these characters would care enough to continue to put their own lives at risk.

This book is exciting, engaging and fun. Even in the most difficult moments, there is often humour and I thoroughly enjoyed it all.

I’m hoping for more in this series!

THE LINKS

📘 Goodreads

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.