My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Carter, a caring police officer with a painful past, responds to a domestic call and finds young Alex in need of help. Child Services sends Donald “Ice” Ickle — the last man Carter wants to see after their brief, icy fling. Ice keeps everyone at arm’s length, but with no foster options available, he reluctantly takes Alex, and Carter steps in to help. Both men carry secrets, yet it’s Alex’s unspoken truths that could either bring them together or tear everything apart.
This story was incredibly emotional, especially around Alex and everything he’d endured at such a young age that was the kind of trauma that makes you cry again and again as the truth comes out. His journey was the heart of the book, and it was impossible not to feel deeply for him. Where I struggled was with the relationship between Carter and Donald “Ice” Ickle. Carter’s attitude, particularly the insensitive questions he asked about Donald’s college job, felt jarring and out of character for someone meant to be caring. I also found it difficult to accept Carter’s tolerance of misogyny within his own family, which made their emotional connection harder to fully believe. But the ending was genuinely satisfying because it meant the bad men were jailed, Alex was finally safe with a permanent home secured for him. Despite my reservations about the romance, the emotional payoff for Alex made the story worth reading. This was an MM story with mature content.
** Please note the trigger warnings and be kind to yourself.
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