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A past he couldn't forget Adam Barton is living his dream of working as a firefighter in his small Texas town, but a tragedy from his youth continues to haunt him. He decides New York City is the perfect place to start a new life and joins the FDNY, living and loving his own way-no strings and nothing personal. Until he catches sight of Rico Estevez, the sexy chef with the mysterious smile who rocks his world. After one explosive night together, Adam craves another.... And then another. The more he and Rico are together, the more Adam wants him. A future he never imagined Rico Estevez is living a lie. For years he's hidden his sexuality, afraid to hurt the career of his politically ambitious father. He's the perfect American-the best schools, top of his class and most importantly, to his father, a successful businessman. Who needs a boyfriend when sex is so easy to find? Starting a torrid love affair with Adam Barton isn't a problem; neither one is looking toward forever. But Rico's father is about to get the chance of a lifetime and Rico feels forced to play by his rules. Rules are made to be broken Adam proves more unforgettable than Rico ever imagines, but he gives in to family pressures above personal desire. When a fire reunites them, both men discover their passion for each other hasn't died; rather it's stronger than ever. Want turns to need and something more dangerous to their hearts-love. Adam and Rico know if they want to have it all, they can let no one and nothing stand in their way of a life together.… (more)
User reviews
Rico has an MBA from Wharton and has started his own catering business with a childhood friend. He has never come out to his widowed dad who is a dedicated public official with
Adam is from a farm in Texas. His natural courage and need to help others finds the best outlet as a firefighter. A tragedy involving a childhood friend haunts him.
Their ferocious attraction towards each other is both thrilling and terrifying and soon the later sends Rico running and Adam nursing his heart. There's a fire at the catering business, a trip to Texas, both sets of parents feature, and fellow fire fighters. But the theme is never far away: the difficulty of coming out, and facing those who are still bigoted.
Eventually these coming out novels will seem quaintly localised to a period of time when society was transitioning into equality around sexuality - just as there have been novels around the liberation of women, or slaves, or children.
I'm on an unintended binge of Nick Russo narration at present, and he does an amazing job here. I particularly love the Texan drawl he gives Adam, but ultimately it would have been better if the author had written two separate points of view and an audiobook produce using two narrators - this is my favourite approach - as I often didn't know who was who unless there was direct speech from Adam in his drawl..
Felice Stevens is new to me but I see she has written dozens of novels and I'm sure I'll enjoy more if I can get a hold of the audiobooks. Stevens hails from New York and it is the setting for her novels, All or Nothing, a case in point.