Review: A Forced Silence

A Forced Silence by Cate Ashwood
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Finished!! 4.5 Stars!! Holy Hell I loved this book!

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.

Let me start by saying that Cate Ashwood has outdone herself with this book! I love it when we have a strong MC who is gay and he doesn't care if everyone knows it and then add in a gay man who is having to hide his sexuality. That is exactly what we have in this book.

Dexter "Sam"McKenna is something of a geek. He has always been a smart guy and he always will, you either love him or leave him, oh and he is gay. If you can't accept him then move on is his motto. Adam Carson is in the closet. Yes he is so far in the closet that he visits Narnia on a daily basis - but he doesn't want to be. See Adam stays in his self imposed closet because he fears that he will lose the support and respect of his partner at the fire-station if he comes out. Adam is a paramedic and he depends on his partner, he can't afford to not know if his partner will support him from day to day. So he stays in his closet and he stays unhappy.

This goes on for about 13 years.. until Adam runs into Sam at a bar one random night and then its all over - Adam wants Sam and he is going to let him know it. Sam can't believe who he runs into and he isn't really happy about it either as Adam continues to randomly show up in places all over after that first time they see each other. See these two had a bit of love hate relationship over 13 years earlier when they knew each other in high school!

The story just keeps getting better and through much persuasion and constantly being everywhere that Sam is, Adam is able to get Sam to agree to date. All it takes is one date and these two are on each other.. and oh boy is there some instant lust and desires.



"“I’m going to spread you open and lick you until you’re breathless and incoherent, and then I’m going to fuck you through the mattress. If you still know your name when I’m done with you, then I’ll start all over.”

Yeah, its gets really, really hot!! Love it!

All is not fair in love though and these guys don't get to go from past enemies to lovers to happily ever after in the turn of a page. However, everything they go through together is amazing and makes for a great story. The author leaves nothing out as you get tension, angst, desire, anger, realistic problems, a murder mystery and a love story all in one.. perfection!

I cannot wait for book 2 in this series and hope to see more of Sam and Adam in the next book.

*ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by JLoves2Read from Alpha Book Club
and Gay Book Reviews


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