Reviewed by: Sue Eaton

TITLE: Grind

SERIES: Wrong Side of the Tracks #4

AUTHOR: KA Merikan

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 398 pages

RELEASE DATE: October 15, 2023

BLURB:

“I won’t let anyone hurt him. Even if he can never be mine.”

Ezra. Escort. Cynical. Hunted by a killer. Needs a man capable of anything.

Frank. Client. Protective. Loyal. Wants to forget his violent past.

On his 40th birthday, Frank decides his chance for love has passed.

But when an old friend treats him to a night with a beautiful escort, Frank is not about to say no. In fact, Ezra proves to be so intoxicating, he doesn’t want to let go.

So he’ll pay. An easy solution to loneliness. No strings, no expectations, a clean transaction and a bit of extravagance in his otherwise frugal life.

That is, until one night Ezra arrives on his doorstep, desperate for protection from none other than Frank’s old buddy. A man as dangerous as Frank used to be.

Ezra has a very clear goal in life—make a load of money while he’s young and beautiful, then marry rich. His rules are just as simple: stay safe and don’t fall for clients.

Frank might be Ezra’s type: big, rough around the edges, and generous in bed, but Ezra is level-headed enough to know that a guy who works at a junkyard and doesn’t exactly own a yacht isn’t marriage material.

But Ezra is in danger, and he needs a man with massive fists, not deep pockets, so he will do everything in his power to secure Frank’s affection.

Only Frank never planned to get involved with his little treat. Because if Ezra knew his dark secrets, he’d be terrified of what kind of monster he’d let into his bed.

REVIEW:

This book isn’t warm and fuzzy, but it does make you think, I enjoyed digging into the motivations of both men.  It’s too easy to write people off as only being one facet of their life that you know about, but people are complicated with conflicting emotions, dreams and being the product of how they are brought up or how society treats them.  This book captures conflicting emotions beautifully and how scary it is to let another person into your life unconditionally and let them see the good, the bad and the ugly of who you really are.

Ezra is determined to find a good, financially secure future for himself, as a high end escort he works hard at his looks, his diet, his exercise regime as he needs to be beautiful for his clients who pay top dollar for his services.  His end goal is to marry a rich guy and start his own skincare business.  He loves all the trappings of his success, the designer clothes, good food and the little presents his clients give him.  He has squashed down so deep his emotions and reminds himself nothing good happens by falling in love, which leaves you too vulnerable and can be used against you.

Frank is feeling his age, with his 40^th Birthday on the horizon, he has found himself buried in his junkyard, working every hour of the day and night, with his gory side business still thriving.  His habit of scrimping and saving every penny is a hard one to shake and he has little or no interest in anything apart from work and his training for Strongman competitions.  He has his loyal band of friends who are closer to family who live on the junkyard grounds but feels that he has missed any chance he might have had at love.

The unexpected meeting, a birthday surprise puts Frank and Ezra together and whilst the attraction is immediate, they are very much on a transactional footing.   Then when everything changes and Ezra flees to Frank for help and protection they are both left floundering with their changing circumstances and moving from client to a tenuous, sort of relationship but one clouded in secrecy and pasts they would both rather forget.  Can they move from client to boyfriend?  Is a relationship where you don’t let the other person see the real you warts and all, able to survive and thrive?

I really enjoyed the part where both Frank and Ezra try and figure out what they mean to each other, how they both need to move past their own insecurities and trust in each other.  There were some lighthearted moments which made me smile and it was great to see them interact not only with each other but with Frank’s kooky collection of friends.  Jag really is a favorite of mine along with gabbling Dex.

You start off thinking that Ezra is shallow, vain and self-centered only interested in what he can get out of someone, but even as an escort he always gave what ever the client wanted and prided himself on the service he provided.  As the relationship with Frank progresses you see another side of Ezra, the side he tried to hide, the insecure side, the vulnerable little boy hiding from the anger and hatred between his parents.  Little by little he adjusts to life in the junkyard and starts to see the beauty amidst the wreckage of all the junk lying around.  He is stronger than he thinks and when the chips are down, he might wobble, his world view might be shaken but he comes through and stands tall.

Frank is so sweet and lovely, he starts out as this gruff, buff guy, but underneath his heart is enormous, he goes above and beyond for his friends but for Ezra he will do anything to protect him even if that means Ezra leaves him in the end.

Despite being set in a violent world, this book is about hope and overcoming the odds, that two very different people can face their darkest fears and come out the other end.  That no matter what found family sticks by you and supports you through thick and thin.  That love can conquer all but only when you really know everything, when you know their soul, you can be secure in their heart.

RATING:

BUY LINKS: 

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