Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Soft Launch
SERIES: Hazardverse: Sidetracks
AUTHOR: Gregory Ashe
PUBLISHER: Hodgkin & Blount
LENGTH: 290 pages
RELEASE DATE: January 26, 2026
BLURB:
It’s soft until it’s hard.
Sam Yarmark is going to be a detective. He’s done everything right—the trainings, the homework, the performance evaluations. He’s even got a mentor. So, when the chief of police tells him his lack of community involvement might cost him the promotion, there’s only one thing to get involved. Fast.
Gray Dulac is putting his life back together. After a self-destructive spiral, he’s finally found solid ground in the nonprofit he founded to help victims of intimate-partner violence. The only problem? Funding. And when a consultant tells Gray that his bad boy reputation is keeping donors away, there’s only one thing to fix his image. Fast.
When Sam shows up at Gray’s nonprofit, looking for an opportunity to pad his resume, Gray sees a way they can help each Gray will make sure Sam gets the community endorsements he needs if Sam pretends to be Gray’s loving—and stable—boyfriend.
What could possibly go wrong?
REVIEW:
Sam Yarmark is a Wahredua police officer. He wants to be a detective though. His Chief gives him some advice. His mentor also gives him more advice. He decides he’ll volunteer with the new WISP nonprofit. WISP the acronym of the Wahredua Intimate Violence program that Detective Gray Dulac is running.
Gray has worked hard to clean up his act, but when he’s told that the funding for his nonprofit is at risk after his grant runs out, he needs to further cement his reputation rehabilitation. When Sam shows up offering to volunteer, Gray gets the crazy idea that if Sam plays his fake boyfriend, that the do-gooders in town will believe that he’s reformed and contribute.
Sam is young and enthusiastic. He’s also a bit out of his comfort zone but he is nothing if not determined. He and Gray make a bit of an odd couple, but Sam really is an asset to the nonprofit. And pretty soon this isn’t as pretend as they thought.
Oh man! I LOVED this story. Body Count was good, but I liked his one even more. I loved Sammy and Gray together so much. Sammy’s grandma is a hoot and such a good character. And of course John Henry and Emery are along for the ride too. I am so happy to see these other characters getting their own stories. If I’m honest, I’m loving these sidetracks even more than the original series 😉 I would love to see these stories continue 😀 Bravo Mr. Ashe!
RATING: 
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