Review: Unputdownable!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 12, 2014
This is the second book in The Men of Halfway House series and although it can be read as standalone I strongly suggest you read the first book, A Better Man which sets up the series.After reading the first book I knew I was into something special and I am finding this series is even more amazing the further I get into the Halfway House world. This book was off the charts special for me, I absolutely ADORED everything about it. From the plotline, the suspense, the romance, the hotness – EVERYTHING!Cameron Pierce is a young man who was wrongly convicted for a murder that happened over ten years ago. Obviously, living through a nightmare such as this was has left Cameron with huge issues and he is now closed off from others and nobody is let in his secret self. His past and the years inside the rotting hell of prison has taken everything away from him that he has built a super enforced wall around himself. He is a man beyond hope but little does he know the magic of Halfway House was to bring to him upon his release and the fated meeting with Hunter Donovan.Hunter Donavan is the sexy Assistant DA, who at reaching the age of forty feels he is missing out on something with his lonely life that is all one sided with his busy career. His one treat each day is a cookie from the local diner. It was on one such visit he first sets his eyes on Cameron behind the counter and the intensity of that meeting was the beautiful start of a wondrous meeting of hearts and minds.The relationship build-up of Cam and Hunter was a fabulous experience to read with the sizzling hot looks, the yearning, the pent up frustrations suddenly exploding with a knee shaking hot and luscious kiss! I was nearly rubbing my hands with glee at that part – what a great start to a brilliant, erotic and sensual romance. It wasn’t without its pitfalls – after all this is a young man who has spent most of his adulthood in prison, but the way that Hunter fell into the protective and nurturing provider for Cam was so gorgeous. What I also loved about this romance was the May to December (ish) age gap. I am a sucker for this in my m/m reads.You feel the growth of Cam beginning to take shape with his gradual confidence building up to that where he felt comfortable with his teasing of Hunter about his age or calling him ‘Sir’ and for Hunter then to blush with the connotations that brought to his mind. The whole partnership of this pairing just ‘clicked’ and gave the reader a most wonderful experience to be part of in the book.The other thing I loved was the length (minds out of the gutter!) but yes the lengthy read, I didn’t want it to end. We also got some little snippets of Matt and Julian (who run the Halfway House) from book one (and yes Justin still makes my heart flutter, the big beautiful flirt!) The other secondary characters were a welcomed addition and played a major part to the storyline that gave the whole ‘togetherness’ of the book. I just wanted to hug Hunter’s dad who in parts made me cry with his beautiful support and acceptance of his son and Cam. I loved how sappy we could be together!The sub plot of the suspense and underhand dealings of dirty cops, justice system and the perpetrators who lead to the incarceration of Cam was deep and involved that added the darkness to the story. There was a great curve ball in that, that I did not see coming. At. All. WOW.I can’t wait to read more of this series and the new additions to the house, especially cheeky Cole. I can see good things in the next book and please, I need more of Aiden. The sexy kick-ass cop. Rawr!The author has certainly upped her game with this book and I loved the first one! A brilliant, brilliant book and series so far and for a book recommendation you can’t give any higher accolade than that. A five star plus read for me. Amazeballs.