Hiding in Plain Sight by Cassandra Carr

20686187Title: Hiding in Plain Sight

Series: Safe Harbour, #2

Author: Cassandra Carr

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: Novel (150 Pages)

Publisher: Loose Id (February 11th 2014)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts

Reviewer: Tams

Blurb: Vladimir Gusev exists in a living hell. A year ago in the Olympics, he was forced to use a homophobic slur during a game, and guilt is eating him from the inside out. Not only is Vladimir not a homophobe, but in the aftermath of the Olympics, he was finally able to admit his true nature to himself. Yet he’s been taught homosexuality is a sin, so he tries to push away his feelings, but to no avail.

Joe Bufford is an out gay man and an ex-Delta Force member who was medically discharged after an injury to his hand leaves him no longer able to perform his duties. His job as a mechanic at the airport is hardly a long-term career choice, but Joe has no idea where he can utilize the skills he learned in the Army.

Vladimir and Joe meet, and Joe instantly recognizes Vladimir as a terrified closet case. Before he knows it, Joe is offering to help Vladimir figure out what he is and what he wants. As time goes on, Joe begins to hope more and more that the answers to those questions lie with him.

Purchase Link: http://www.loose-id.com/safe-harbor-2-hiding-in-plain-sight.html

Review: Vladimir Gusev is a closeted, gay, Russian hockey player that is forced to present himself as homophobic. But his fellow hockey players always had their doubts about the comment he made, it never quite fit his persona to make that kind of statement and call out another player as a fag. His life has pretty much been a living hell, until he meets Joey.

Joe Bufford is ex military, Delta Force and Iraq war veteran to be exact. No longer living a lie under the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ restrictions of the military, he is openly gay and refuses to hide who is for anyone. Until he meets Vlad. He is immediately drawn to the Russian and can see the man is attracted to him as well. But Vlad is scared of the ramifications of coming out and wants to remain in hiding.

Joe understands Vlad’s inexperience and reluctance at coming out, and agrees to help Vlad gain some experience at being who he is. Their unconventional relationship quickly grows from experimenting to exclusive to love. But it is not without problems. Joe will not hide who he is, but he loves Vlad and wants to support him. Vlad wants to be true to himself and be able to love Joey openly, but worries about the adverse effects it will have on not only his career, but also what will happen to his family back in Russia?

Carr is quickly finding her footing as an accomplished M/M writer. I love how she tackled the issue of all the homophobia and hatred going on in Russia currently and wove it into her story, even if it was more of an underlying issue. She really has grown immensely in just a short while between See the Light, book 1, and this instalment. I loved how she showed the balance between Vlad’s inexperience and insecurity coupled with Joe being comfortable in his own skin and willing to be patient while Vlad figures everything out. It was so worth it in the end. And these two have an innocent sort of sexy passion that conveys well to the reader.

This book could probably be read as a standalone, but having read See the Light first, I’d recommend starting with that one. Then you can more fully understand the issue at the start with Vlad and the homophobic comments he’d made, which were actually made in book 1. If you like sweaty naked men that like to boss each other around in the bedroom, and hockey, you’ll love this series.

** I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through MM Good Book Reviews **

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