Like Water Catching Fire

One of the author's few stand-alone books, and maybe stronger for that, as there is no attempt to shoehorn in multiple characters from previous or future books. The focus is on two nice but hurt guys and their rapidly developing relationship. Danny is wealthy but lost, coming back to his hometown to be close to his sister and infant niece while he figures out what comes next. Jamie is a fellow volunteer at the fire station, a Deaf man who is mostly estranged from his hearing family. The relationship develops with little to no drama, although there is personal angst from Danny's brother-in-law, who is wounded in action, and Jamie's family, most of whom have not bothered to learn ASL.

Another change of pace for Lindsey is that the story is told only from Danny's point of view, so we don't get to know Jamie quite as well. But for a short novel that decision feels appropriate because it avoids any head hopping between scenes or chapters.

Lindsey's books have become comfort reads for me in 2020. Their MCs are always good guys facing tough situations and there are few Big Misunderstandings or lack of communication. They help me remember the basic decency of humanity, which I frequently despair of in these troubled times.