Hank Brodnax is an officer with the Shady Ridge Police Department. While he’s never hidden the fact that he’s gay, it’s not something that he goes around advertising. Shady Ridge is a small town and that’s just not the way things work. But life suddenly changes around Shady Ridge when Charlie Hise comes to town to fill a department opening. When Hank runs into Charlie at The Neon Sky, a gay bar, Hank finds it hard to ignore his attraction.

Hank is a man who lives a life of solitude, not denying his sexuality but suppressing it except for short weekend trips to The Neon Sky every six months. He has a few buddies that he gets together with there but nothing with deep emotional connections. Charlie is a gay man who has just ended a five year long relationship and knows what it means to have that connection. While the attraction is instantaneous, Charlie and Hank have to work around the business of having a homosexual relationship in a small town, working in the same business, and their fears about having a relationship. As always Chris Owen has delivered a story with a solid plot, sizzling sexual scenes, and flawed characters that burrow deep into your heart and refuse to get out. His portrayal of the hardships that homosexuals face in society and the sacrifices that they have to make are very realistic and serve to open the reader’s eyes to the unfairness they face because of their lifestyle. Chris Owen’s skilled touch with words and character building is what makes this a great read.

Reviewed by: Hayley