A Forced Silence by Cate Ashwood : Blog Tour, Excerpt, Review and Giveaway

For paramedic Adam Carson, his world is lights and sirens and saving lives. Pressures at work keep him firmly in the closet, and life is too busy to contend with the complications that come with dating and relationships. When a familiar face from his past turns up where he least expects it, Adam starts to question whether or not there is room in his life for those complications.

The last person forensic pathologist Sam McKenna expects to see at pub night is Adam, the guy who made his life hell in high school. The attraction is instant, but Adam isn’t gay and Sam has no interest in pursuing him. Still, the leftover animosity from their teenage years isn’t enough to extinguish the lust growing between them. After both are called to the scene of a horrific murder, Adam admits he’s not as straight as he led Sam to believe and they seek comfort and distraction in each other’s arms. One night becomes many as the murder investigation intensifies, but when Adam is faced with losing Sam, he is forced to make a choice: to break his silence, or to give up everything for the job he loves.

Author Name: Cate Ashwood

Book Name: A Forced Silence

Series: Zero Hour

Book: One

Release Date: December 11, 2015

Pages or Words: 200 pages

Categories: Contemporary, Crime Fiction, Fiction, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Romance

Goodreads Link

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Cover Artist: Melody Pond

This was my first book by Cate Ashwood, and I will say that immediately after finishing A Forced Silence, I went an grabbed Tasting Notes to read that as well. It seems I have some books to catch up on to get through her library.

The story of these two men began in high school, with Sam (aka Dex) and Adam being at odds, an enemies to lovers story. Dealing with not only the murder of a young man, both the paramedic who dealt with it at the scene and the forensic pathologist who gave voice to the young man who died, had to find a way to not only co-exist, but quickly gave into their passion.

One thing that was exceptional to me was Adam being in the closet. Now, this is nothing new, quite often we read about characters struggling to get out of the closet, wondering how it will affect their family, friends, co-workers, etc. However, in the case of Adam, I loved how Sam reacted. He let it be. He didn’t try to force Adam out of the closet. He didn’t tell him he was silly for being in the closet. He respected his decision, and let him know that if and when he was ready to come out he would be there, but he wasn’t going to be the one to push him out.

Their relationship was well connected, as these were two very fleshed out characters, with not only history between them, but passion, and both with a need to help people.

I did find the ending rather abrupt. It had a little bit of a cliffhanger (not with the relationship), but it just felt slightly unfinished. There were a few questions that should have been dealt with, and its entirely possible the next book may deal with them. However, I did feel that at least one or two needed to be dealt with in this book, as it was specific to these characters, and not the overall arc of the secondary storyline.

In the end, I still found it an enjoyable read.

4 pieces of eye candy.

“Ah, here they are,” Ford said, turning his head toward two men who were making their way to the table.

“Adam, John, this is Sam. Sam, these are two of the city’s ugliest heroes, John and Adam.” Ford made the introductions as John slid into a chair across from him, lifting his head in greeting.

Sam swallowed hard, barely registering anything other than the man still standing in front of him. Adam Carson. He watched as recognition dawned in Adam’s eyes and a slow smirk appeared on his face. It was the same familiar cocky expression he wore when Sam knew him a billion years earlier.

“You sure have grown up, Dexter,” Adam said, exercising the nickname he had used for him all through school.

Sam lifted one eyebrow. “It seems you haven’t.”

“You two know each other?” Ford asked, eyebrows lifted in question.

“Oh, me and Dex go way back,” Adam supplied, never taking his eyes off Sam.

“Dex?”

Sam rolled his eyes. Ford was his friend, but that didn’t mean he wanted to rehash the shit that happened back in high school. That name was one that haunted him right through the twelfth grade. When he moved, he tucked it safely away, but tonight, it seemed, it had followed him.

“Long story,” Adam said. “It’s good to see you. It’s been a long time.”

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

ARe

Cate Ashwood wrote her very first story in a hot pink binder when she was in the second grade and found her passion for writing. Her first successful foray into romance writing came five years later when she wrote her best friend, who was experiencing a case of unrequited love, her own happily ever after.

Cate’s life has taken a number of different and adventurous roads. She now lives a stone’s throw from the ocean, just outside of Vancouver, British Columbia with her husband, son, and two cats. Her life is filled with family and friends, travel, and, of course, books.

Where to find the author:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cate.ashwood

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/Cate-Ashwood-Author-288329491267435/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cateashwood

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/cateashwood/

Newsletter: http://www.cateashwood.com/contact.html (Sign-up on the right hand side of the blog)
Tour Dates & Stops:

Parker Williams, Bayou Book Junkie, V’s Reads, Book Reviews and More by Kathy, Cate Ashwood, KathyMac Reviews, Just Love Romance, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, The Hat Party, The Jena Wade, Carly’s Book Reviews, BFD Book Blog, Happily Ever Chapter, Iyana Jenna, Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings, Molly Lolly, Divine Magazine, MM Good Book Reviews, Foxylutely Book Reviews, Inked Rainbow Reads, Sassygirl Books, Alpha Book Club, Two Chicks Obsessed With Books and Eye Candy, Andrew Q. Gordon, Velvet Panic, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Cheekypee Reads and Reviews, My Fiction Nook, 3 Chicks After Dark, Kirsty Loves Books