This started out really good. Almost exactly the same as Not His Kiss to Take, except for the doctor kink.

There is a lot of focus on Daren’s injuries and the way he heals for most of this story. That’s not a bad thing. I hate reading about miraculous recoveries, so this felt real. I did want a bit more out of the relationship.

Especially because the first half was focused on how Sebastian and Daren interact with each other and Sebastian nursing Daren back to health.

But that tentative development suddenly stopped and I found myself in a James Bond kind of story line. Which I did not like.

Lot of loose ends when it’s suddenly over. Sort of an HFN, but not enough for me. The relationship had just started, and they are now on the run, still being chased by the bad guys.

Promising storyline, but would have been better with more relationship development and a better ending.

4.5 healing stars!

I only didn't give five stars, because really?! I soooo need an epilogue, or a tiny little addition to that story! Yes, I'm greedy like that, and I really, really liked this one! It just isn't finished, yet. At least not for me.

But dang! If you want to see how to do a hurt/comfort theme right, please stay here and take a closer look. Of course I understand where some people come from, saying that the warnings for the story weren't enough for them. Even though the violence and assault are not described in detail, and only happen off page, the aftermath is a completely different can of worms. Because yes, the cleaning of ALL wounds is very graphic. But I really liked how it was done here. Very sensitive, in a quiet, respectful way that still broke my heart completely and glued it back together piece by piece afterwards. Therefore, this was clearly a slow, slow, slow burn. In addition to the extensive injuries, one character didn't even identify as gay at that point, so yes, no insta-lust or love.

For me, this was perfect. I rooted for these guys, I believed in their developing feelings and growing trust and intimacy. I also really enjoyed the amateur-spy/suspense element immensely! This story just had everything. Funny times, heart breaking scenes, hope and angst and love and everything inbetween. As I said, my only niggle really is that I absolutely need a follow-up, because that journey is so far from finished, the end hasn't even started yet. But even if I won't get my sequel, this was still absolutely worth it.

Doesn't that cover look like a thumb with a face on it?

I can’t believe this novel was free. It’s a really adorable story, very sweet. The romantic element actually starts quite a bit later than I expected, and Sebastian actually acknowledges that when he does fall in love it’s very fast. For this genre, it’s almost glacial. ;) Sebastian is a great guy, gentle and kind. I really liked him. (He hates his name, and says he was beaten up in school because of it. I think that’s weird. I think it’s a nice name.)

Daren is great, too, and I like how they develop his character. The health/injury stuff was really well done, very believable. I was almost sure the writer had been in the medical profession but at one point Sebastian decides to see if Daren has a “temperature.” Um, yeah, he does like always. The question is whether he has a fever. It last a long time, too, which is realistic. This isn’t a guy who’s been beaten to a pulp and then walking around in a couple of days.

The romance starts later than I think it would. I think Sebastian would be finding him attractive sooner, although it says a lot about how great he is that he can only see a battered young man he wants to help. I think Daren comes to terms with his sexuality more quickly than would be normal. It’s not surprising how quickly he falls for Sebastian—the guy’s gorgeous and nurturing and doting and sweet and strong, etc.—but that he becomes comfortable with it almost as soon as he accepts it.

I had a problem with the fact that Sebastian doesn’t work. He’s conveniently between jobs with a new one starting a long way down the road. I think it would have been more believable if he were just out of work, but I understand why she did it this way. He needed to have his own income so it is even more clear that he’s not a gold digger.

The suspense plot, is good and tense, although without enough follow through. I was definitely knuckle biting at points but it was almost all suspense without much as far as confrontation type things. At the end I was expecting a bigger showdown and someone getting hurt but that didn’t happen but there is definitely room for a sequel. I really hope she writes one. Their story is not yet over.

Doesn't that cover look like a thumb with a face on it?

I can’t believe this novel was free. It’s a really adorable story, very sweet. The romantic element actually starts quite a bit later than I expected, and Sebastian actually acknowledges that when he does fall in love it’s very fast. For this genre, it’s almost glacial. ;) Sebastian is a great guy, gentle and kind. I really liked him. (He hates his name, and says he was beaten up in school because of it. I think that’s weird. I think it’s a nice name.)

Daren is great, too, and I like how they develop his character. The health/injury stuff was really well done, very believable. I was almost sure the writer had been in the medical profession but at one point Sebastian decides to see if Daren has a “temperature.” Um, yeah, he does like always. The question is whether he has a fever. It last a long time, too, which is realistic. This isn’t a guy who’s been beaten to a pulp and then walking around in a couple of days.

The romance starts later than I think it would. I think Sebastian would be finding him attractive sooner, although it says a lot about how great he is that he can only see a battered young man he wants to help. I think Daren comes to terms with his sexuality more quickly than would be normal. It’s not surprising how quickly he falls for Sebastian—the guy’s gorgeous and nurturing and doting and sweet and strong, etc.—but that he becomes comfortable with it almost as soon as he accepts it.

I had a problem with the fact that Sebastian doesn’t work. He’s conveniently between jobs with a new one starting a long way down the road. I think it would have been more believable if he were just out of work, but I understand why she did it this way. He needed to have his own income so it is even more clear that he’s not a gold digger.

The suspense plot, is good and tense, although without enough follow through. I was definitely knuckle biting at points but it was almost all suspense without much as far as confrontation type things. At the end I was expecting a bigger showdown and someone getting hurt but that didn’t happen but there is definitely room for a sequel. I really hope she writes one. Their story is not yet over.

Damn. The prompt is so well thought-out...