Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Hide and Seek
SERIES: Appleton Falls
AUTHOR: Felice Stevens
NARRATOR: Kale Williams
PUBLISHER: Good Man Press
LENGTH: 7 hours and 37 minutes
RELEASE DATE: July 17, 2026
BLURB:
I’m finally living the life I want as a deputy sheriff in the small town of Appleton Falls. I gave up my job as a cop in the NYPD to search for the truth about a father I barely know, except finding him brought me no peace.
But I’m happy. Really. I’d love to fall in love, but it just hasn’t happened. Yet.
Then he shows up to join our force.
My old high school nemesis, Dominic Starr.
The gorgeous loner and the bane of my existence.
As well as my secret fantasy.
Why did he leave the NYPD? Was he running from his powerful father? Or hiding from him?
It’s not like he wants to forgive and forget and be friends. At every turn he’s in my face, taunting and teasing me with that stupid nickname he loves and knows I hate.
Starr should be careful, because he’s got secrets only I know.
And one of them is mine as well.
But when the past we both want to leave behind crashes into our present—with deadly consequences—neither of us can hide what we’ve been running from all our lives: The future we both seek is in each other’s arms.
If we make it out alive.
REVIEW:
Note: This book contains spoilers for the previous book in the series.
Emerson Kane is doing well at his job in Appleton Falls. His partner Jet has now married to his retired football player husband and things are going great for them too. The only fly in the ointment is the annoyance of dealing with his high school nemesis Dominic Starr. Seriously? Moving to Appleton Falls from New York City put plenty of distance between them, but then he just shows up in the same small town? Unbelievable. They pick and poke and each other which amuses the other guys in the department.
Turns out their history is much different than anyone suspects. Their high school engagement was not just in sports. But they have never ever spoken about it. After Emerson is cheated on by a woman, Dom makes sure he doesn’t make a mistake getting a DUI or worse. Why? Both men have reputations as serial daters. No relationships. Dom takes Emerson home because he’s way too drunk to drive. And what about a repeat of those high school encounters 😉
Turns out there is a fine line between enemies and lovers. Say what? And it turns out that Emerson and Dom are connected by more than their mutual attraction. When the NYPD shows up in Appleton Falls, Dominic is caught between a rock and a hard place. He hates his father and is no contact – except that his father wants to find Dom’s mother who he terrorized for years until she finally left him. Emerson has his own issues with his own father. But what if there is an opportunity to try to make things right and shut down the baddest of the bad guys?
Dom doesn’t feel he has any choice. Emerson is terrified for Dom. It’s a dangerous game that is being played and neither they or their hearts will survive. They can’t tell anyone either about their relationship or the mission. With everyone turning on them, can they make it through to the other side?
This was a real roller coaster ride that I wasn’t expecting! So much for idyllic small towns 😉 The big bad city is back for a pound of flesh – literally. Emerson and Dom are connected by more than their mutual attraction and despite the terrible situation they find themselves in, they are each other’s safe space. I loved Emerson from the first book so much. He is clearly a good guy. His relationship with Jet is so great – a mentor/mentee but almost more like big/little brother. Dominic has had a very tough road. His father is a monster. His mother has basically abandoned him. He’s truly got nobody in his corner. His new partner is ok, but he could really use a friend. When he and Emerson act on their long simmering attraction, Dominic is surprised by just how good it is. He’s been hiding from this for a decade. Emerson is shocked at how good they are too. Once they got out of their own ways and got honest with each other, it was clear that this had been building for years. They belong together and nobody and nothing is going to stop them – even attempted murder! I really love this small town – Mr. Ackerman, Theo, the other deputies, the lieutenant, even the prosecutor are all interesting and believable characters. I can’t wait for more!
Kale Williams is an absolute rockstar narrator. This story was absolute FRAUGHT at times. The acting here was just soooo good. These men are literally in the fight of their lives and there isn’t anything they won’t do for each other. It’s always difficult to determine which is worse – the one who is being hurt or the one who is dealing with the aftermath. Poor Emerson waiting to see what would happen to Dom! There are so many bad characters for Mr. Williams to sink his teeth into here too! A real tour de force with the action! But we shouldn’t overlook the tender moments of these two tough guys falling for each other 😉 Bravo!!
RATING: 
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