Review: New Friends to Lovers
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 3, 2013
Heat Under Fire by Andrew GreyJustin Briggs is a police officer in Carlisle, PA, his home town. He is the new officer on the force and therefore and so right now he is on the speed traffic patrol. He has known for a very long time he is gay, but he can't seem to talk to a guy he really likes. He gets tongue-tied and a very dry mouth whenever he tries, unless it is for work or he is agitated or angry.Rockland (Rock) Sparks is an EMT in town, a very large male; he is also gay and likes Justin a lot. But he can't seem to get Justin to talk to him at all and he is getting fed up with what he is seeing as someone who he thinks is prejudiced or just doesn't like him being so rude.One day while chasing a speeder, Justin witnesses a bus crashing into a bridge railing and hanging part on and off. He responds and calls for back up. While working, he and Rock talk just fine, then when the emergency is over and the last child handed off to their parents and Rock tries to ask Justin out, Justin can't say anything so he leaves and goes home; Rock is tired of this silent treatment and go after him. It ends in a kiss on the street.The next time they work together, Rock gets Justin mad and he is able to talk to him, until he is over come with smoke from the fire he is working when the spoke changes. He ends up in the hospital from poison in the fumes. Rock comes to visit him and is there when Justin's mother shows up. She is not pleased to see them together, especially when Rock kisses her son as he leaves.After Justin is released and home he finds out why he has always had that reaction to men he liked. It causes a rift between him and his family and an argument with Rock.Then when again chasing a speeder, Justin sees the speeder cause an accident and when he gets up on the accident he sees Rock's convertible. He visits Rock in the hospital, even though he is now on night shift.A wonderful 5 star read by Mr. Grey is, again, not afraid to tackle the hard questions of family manipulation and in denial, or a man shaking off the bonds that had held him captive for so long. These two men are very real and believable, they touch your heart and I want to know more about them. We also get to see old friends from the Carlisle fire department. I loved this story and can't wait for more from this wonderful little town.