Reviewed by Christie
TITLE: A Forced Silence
SERIES: Zero Hour #1
AUTHOR: Cate Ashwood
NARRATOR: Scott R. Smith
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 5hrs 47min
RELEASE DATE: June 3, 2016
BLURB:
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.
REVIEW:
I don’t know what it is about enemies to lovers stories that have me so fascinated, but I do love a good one for sure. That’s what made me interested in A Forced Silence actually. Well, aside from it being a Cate Ashwood book, of course. The blurb got me curious to see how Adam and Sam’s story would play out, especially with one of the persons being in the closet. I will say that it was a good book. Not great, but good.
Sam McKenna was bullied and picked on relentlessly in high school, mostly by a kid named Adam. It was pretty rough, and Sam hoped he would never again in his lifetime see Adam after graduation. Now, as an adult, Sam, a forensic pathologist, wonderful friends and is happy with his life. Well, until one day he sees someone from his past he would rather never lay eyes on again.
Queue Adam Carson, paramedic extraordinaire. Adam thrives off of the pressures of saving lives. One night at the bar, he sees a real blast from the past: Sam McKenna. He just can’t stay away, and goes over to talk to the attractive man, only to be rebuffed and treated coldly. It hurts a bit, but he tries to make up for past offenses. Especially since Adam is extremely attracted to the forensic pathologist. But, for the sake of his job, he has to keep his attraction quiet. So, instead of act on his attractions, the two form a tenuous friendship, and it is going fairly well. Then, they are both called to the scene of a terrible murder.
Afterward, things seem like they get put on fast forward. Adam comes out to Sam, and they instantly go from friends to lovers. They problem here is that Adam now needs to make a choice: come out and risk his reputation and career, or stay in the closet and risk losing Sam.
A Forced Silence was a good book, don’t get me wrong. It just took me a while to warm up to it, is all. Well, and the narration was just “meh” for me. There’s nothing wrong with the book, but I have read and listened to better. Maybe I have been spoiled as of late, with spectacular knock your socks off books and narrators, but there you have it. A good book, with an okay narrator. Still, you should get it and see for yourself if our opinions are alike. Like I said a couple times before in this review, the book was good. So, why not give it a shot?
RATING: 
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