Title: A Forced Silence
Series: Zero Hour 01
Author: Cate Ashwood
Narrator: Scott R Smith
Genre: Contemporary
Length: 5 hr, 47 mins
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (3rd June 2016)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts
Blurb: For paramedic Adam Carson, his world is lights and sirens and saving lives. Pressures at work keep him firmly in the closet, and life is too busy to contend with the complications that come with dating and relationships. When a familiar face from his past turns up where he least expects it, Adam starts to question whether or not there is room in his life for those complications.
The last person forensic pathologist Sam McKenna expects to see at pub night is Adam, the guy who made his life hell in high school. The attraction is instant, but Adam isn’t gay and Sam has no interest in pursuing him. Still, the leftover animosity from their teenage years isn’t enough to extinguish the lust growing between them. After both are called to the scene of a horrific murder, Adam admits he’s not as straight as he led Sam to believe and they seek comfort and distraction in each other’s arms. One night becomes many as the murder investigation intensifies, but when Adam is faced with losing Sam, he is forced to make a choice: to break his silence, or to give up everything for the job he loves.
Product Link: Audible AU | Audible UK | Audible US
Reviewer: Prime
Review: For me, A Forced Silence is a simple pleasure (in a totally good way) because it is basically everything that I am a sucker for in a romance. The narration by Scott R Smith was also great too and made me not want to stop listening. More than anything, I can’t wait to get more into this series (book 2 released by Dreamspinner 29 August 2016) – either reading or audio, I think I could easily enjoy this book either way.
The story follows Adam, a paramedic, and Sam, a forensic pathologist, who cross paths again after a number of years. They knew each other in high school, when Adam became friend with Sam’s then best friend, Mason. It is a complicated relationship which I wish that there was more explanation – or some type of resolution concerning the only ever mentioned and homophobic Mason. For this reason Sam is reticent when it comes to Adam. Not only did he make his life hell but Adam also insists on using the nickname “Dex” when Sam really and truly hates that Dexter is his real name.
The plot line is straight forward, and if you’ve read the blurb there is really no surprise. The mystery and murder investigation itself wasn’t overly suspenseful, it was more background noise and the romance between Sam and Adam was at the forefront of the entire story. Still, it mystery aspect did work well woven in with the romance. The only thing that we don’t really get a feel for in the blurb is fall out in the end. Of course, something needs to be a surprise, I suppose.
The ending is a HEA and just makes me smile, because If you like your paramedics, etc. and are a complete sucker for enemies to lovers this will be a book you will easily enjoy. It’s a real easy listen if you just need something in the background as you work or if you’re commuting.
I really would love to hear the story for Sam’s best friend, Ford, who is there constantly for Sam throughout the book.