Reviewed by Chris

TITLE:  Two Man Station

SERIES:  Emergency Services #1

AUTHOR:  Lisa Henry

PUBLISHER:  Riptide Publishing

LENGTH:  273 pages

RELEASE DATE:  January 22, 2018

BLURB:  

Gio Valeri is a big city police officer who’s been transferred to the small outback town of Richmond with his professional reputation in tatters. His transfer is a punishment, and Gio just wants to keep his head down and survive the next two years. No more mistakes. No more complications.

Except Gio isn’t counting on Jason Quinn.

Jason Quinn, officer in charge of Richmond Station, is a single dad struggling with balancing the demands of shift work with the challenges of raising his son. The last thing he needs is a new senior constable with a history of destroying other people’s careers. But like it or not, Jason has to work with Gio.

In a remote two man station hours away from the next town, Gio and Jason have to learn to trust and rely on each another. Close quarters and a growing attraction mean that the lines between professional and personal are blurring. And even in Richmond, being a copper can be dangerous enough without risking their hearts as well.

REVIEW:  

Slow, sweet, and baked with a red-dust Aussie feel, Two Man Station is an absolute must read for readers who like their romance stories to hold them tight and never let them go.

Gio Valeri, transferred from the fast-paced policing world of the big city to the slow, heat soaked, almost lazy pace of Richmond Station, is unsure what to expect from his new posting. Going from a crowded precinct to being literally one half of the police force is a massive change. Going from a city full of distractions and attractions, to a three-hour drive to any of but the most basic amenities, is daunting. It couldn’t be worse than working with people who hate him, who don’t back him up, or wouldn’t mind him “accidentally” meeting a painful end, though–could it?

Except his new Sargent, Jason Quinn, is bound to have heard all the rumors about why exactly Gio found himself hours away from the middle of nowhere. And with a two-year banishment from all he knows, Gio can’t help but think that quitting would have been the better answer–for everyone all ’round.

Curled up on my bed on Sunday night, trying vainly to pretend that Monday wasn’t coming–and with it a godawful wake up call–I was so completely lost in this book that any thoughts of work, colds, sleep, or even food were quickly forgotten. The ridiculously sweet slow-burn of the romance kept me desperately flipping the pages hoping that Jason and Gio could work their shit out–but honestly it was the small touches that made me linger over those same pages for as long as possible.

While I wish there had been a couple more chapters tacked onto the end (before the Epilogue) to further expand the “together” part of their relationship, I found this love story to be just the thing for me. I adore slow-burn romances, and ones that hold my attention without irritating me about lack of movement or stupid-ass decision making are the best. The way this story, these characters, came to life on page made it so that I didn’t care about–or wasn’t too focused on–the love, but was completely captivated by the setting and the plot. Not a lot happens, at least nothing huge till the end, but looking back now I can see all the little pieces expertly fitted into place to bring the climax and conclusion together. I wasn’t expecting it, but I can already tell that this is going to be a book I enjoy pulling out over and over to reread. It just has that quality to it.

I can’t recommend this enough. I had a blast reading it. And while the Aussie-isms–especially all the cop-lingo–can be a bit daunting at times, I was never so lost that I wanted to give up. Gio, Jason, and Jason’s son, were really great characters, and have made me both really want…and fear (snakes. Just why does it always have to be snakes??) taking a trip to Australia.

RATING:  

BUY LINKS:

Riptide

Amazon