Ahreluth

I really enjoyed this! It's a moody MM noir romance built around secrets, corruption, and the messy history bubbling under the surface of Carino Bay.

The chemistry between the two leads was excellent, they feel like actual adults with baggage, history, and flaws. Felix is running from a life he doesn't want and Jay is trying to hold onto what's important to him, they crash into each other in Carino Bay and sparks fly.

Carino Bay itself was interesting as well, the wider cast really helped make the town feel like a queer community, which I liked seeing. There was good tension between the queer community and the wealthy people trying to reshape the town, it felt like Carino Bay was more than a backdrop and I would love to see more stories about the people we got to know during the book.

The way all the secrets unraveled had a couple of twists that genuinely made me gasp, especially because in hindsight the clues were there. I love when a reveal makes you look back and go, ohhh, I missed that, but it was right there. It wasn't all past trauma and big secrets though, there were some super cute scenes between the MCs, especially one involving mini-golf (and a fibreglass parrot!) that showed how well they clicked.

The romance here is more character driven and emotional than spicy (scenes fade to black), I really liked the intimacy between the characters. If anything, I would have liked more time with Felix, Jay, and Carino Bay, mostly because I enjoyed the world and wanted to see more of it.

I'd recommend this if you like secrets, suspense, and emotional baggage with your romance, and if you enjoy real adult characters who are messy, but with enough chemistry to make the mess worth it.

I received a free copy of this book as an advanced reader copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I enjoyed the book overall, but the use of British slang felt overdone. As an Australian who grew up with British TV, I'm familiar with the lingo, but this felt like the author wrote the book normally, then swapped in UK slang at every turn, which became distracting.

The romance was mostly fine, though there was one moment that felt off to me: A character develops a physical attraction to a school bully who almost got them killed, and there's little apology, explanation, or remorse—everything is brushed aside because the guy is just "hot." This felt forced and pulled me out of the story.

It's also worth noting that there's a current of homophobia throughout the book that might feel a bit too real for some gay/bi readers who grew up facing it. While it's necessary for the plot, those looking for an escape may find it triggering at times.

In general, the romance and character development could have been more balanced with the mystery plot, which might be why the characters felt a bit underdeveloped. That said, if you enjoy British humor and slang, or don't mind a romance that's more intertwined with a mystery, this book could still be entertaining.

I really enjoyed this! It's a thoughtful story about two men finding love later in life, with a slow-burn romance that feels genuine. Bauer does a great job portraying themes of family, grief, and second chances without it feeling overdone.

One thing that stood out to me was the main character's bi awakening. He doesn't quite realize he's basically dating the other guy for a while, even though he knows the other is gay. It was a tiny bit unrealistic, and I found myself rolling my eyes a few times, but it didn't pull me out of the story.

Both main characters are parents (of teens), and even though I'm not usually into stories involving kids, the resolution of the main character's relationship with his child got me a bit misty-eyed.

The book leans heavily into the emotional aspects of the characters' journeys, so try this if you like slow-burn, character-driven romances with a focus on personal growth.