The narrator is Guy Locke whom I don't think I've heard before. He gave the leads, Noel and Shane, such an innocent, boyish tone that it didn't gel.

He pronounced Noel as Noelle - new to me. But by the end of the novel, Locke's voice did fit these two unique romantic leads - the idealistic and tender-hearted cop, Noel, and the broken yet fierce, gentle, innocent Shane.

Noel is a police officer who meets Shane, a party stripper by night and a deli worker by day. This book is definitely more confronting than the average romance novel. I kept expecting that something particularly horrible was going to happen, particularly to Shane, who acts in porn videos in order to pay medical and old legal bills. It's scary, and also because he's keeping all this secret from Noel, and you can't help feeling disaster is lurking ... throughout.

It's still very well written, as I've come to expect of A.M. Arthur. And ultimately, this is a tender beautiful love story.

Even though I've read plenty of what I would call contemporary romance, or what Rachel Reid calls "romantic smut", there was something about this novel that was a little too much - I don't know whether I mean crude or uncensored or unfiltered or heavy handed or tense .. or what. It lacked a certain levity or empowerment or delicacy, or whatever the mysterious arts are that Rachel Reid - for example - has imbued her delightful Game Changers series with.

I think that built into the definition of "romance novel", ie the HEA or HFN, is the implicit contract that there won't be so much tension that it creates dread. It's enough that the author constructs some kind of challenge to our equilibrium through whatever adversity is faced ... and met.

By the end I was appreciating Gary Locke's voice, particularly the pleasant southern drawl he gave Noel. ( )

Shane was abused by his step-father when he was 10. When his brother Jason found out about the abuse, there was an altercation, the result of which was that Thom, the stepfather was dead and Jason went to prison for three years for manslaughter and Shane was sent to a group home. Shane always blamed himself for what happened to Jason and, when he is bullied at school at age 15, for being gay, he tries to kill himself. After his release from prison, Jason fought for custody of Shane and between the legal bills and the rehabilitation and therapy costs for Shane, they are heavily in debt. Shane feels responsible in all the ways for the debt, even though Jason never complains. Jason finds that he can pay off the loan with the some really big checks...all he has to do is appear in 3 porn videos. Shane of course, tells no one how he is getting the money. Then Jason becomes ill, apparently from overwork, Shane decides to become “Colby” the porn star for a limited season of 6 more videos in order to quickly pay off the mounting medical bills. Then he meets Noel, a police officer and sparks fly and Noel and Shane start to explore their attraction to one another. All goes along well...the money is rapidly coming in for the bills and Noel seems like a gift to Shane...until...Shane feels that he will need to come clean to both Jason and Noel about what he had been doing for the money, but each time he starts he finds that he just can't so it. Jason will be disappointed in him, and Noel will never want to see him again. They soon find out that Jason wasn't just overworked...he has the same heart condition that killed their mother at age 32....the exact age that Jason is now. There is a lot going on in this book. It has a high angst factor...which I usually try to avoid in my books that are supposed to be HEA's. That being said, there were places I was half expecting the story to go and found myself pleasantly surprised when it didn’t. Then the bottom drops out.... for me and the characters. I try to never become emotionally over involved in a book of any genera but sometimes it sneaks up on you. Books that make me cry loose stars...this one lost only half a star because I loved Noel and Shane so much. Have a box of tissue handy. ( )

Way too much self-doubt and angst packed into this story for me to really enjoy it. You just cannot build a relationship with all the lies that Shane and Noel had stacked up. Their relationship was based on good sex but even sex alone won't float the boat. ( )

I find myself underwhelmed by this book. It was cute with some sad moments but not my favorite m-m story. Lots of drama and angst. I found the supporting characters like Dixie much more interesting. Also, too many loose ends that were not tied up. ( )

Story: 7
First MC: 8
Second MC: 7
Secondary characters: 5
Mystery: 1
Sexual tension: 6
Humor: 0
Hotness: 7
Product placement: 3
Ridiculousness: 3
Annoying: 5
To re-read: 2 ( )