Thirteen years after high schooler Cooper Brandt suffered a life-altering tragedy, Newark Police Sergeant Cooper Brandt suffers yet another earthshaking misfortune while on duty. As a result, he lets the mask he donned because of his first grief-filled setback slip. When overwhelming guilt consumes him for a second time, an unexpected, and oftentimes unwanted, helping hand tries to force him into making a choice: face his demons and rip the mask off, or continue living a lie while his facade stays put.
Upon his move to New Jersey, aqua therapist Dr. Westley James meets his toughest patient yet when a snarly police sergeant accuses him of duplicity at the start of their first session. When he discovers the reason for Cooper’s ornery attitude, an odd, empty feeling he’s lived with for as long as he can remember begins to fill in like missing pieces of a puzzle.
As a fragile relationship between Cooper and Westley grows, an unhinged sociopath threatens to ruin everything. Will fate force the emotionally bruised sergeant to fasten his mask on even more tightly, or will the couple’s blooming love and partnership be strong enough to help Cooper rip his mask off for good?
Upon his move to New Jersey, aqua therapist Dr. Westley James meets his toughest patient yet when a snarly police sergeant accuses him of duplicity at the start of their first session. When he discovers the reason for Cooper’s ornery attitude, an odd, empty feeling he’s lived with for as long as he can remember begins to fill in like missing pieces of a puzzle.
As a fragile relationship between Cooper and Westley grows, an unhinged sociopath threatens to ruin everything. Will fate force the emotionally bruised sergeant to fasten his mask on even more tightly, or will the couple’s blooming love and partnership be strong enough to help Cooper rip his mask off for good?
The author approached me and asked if I would review her book, and I have to say I am so glad that I agreed, as this was absolutely brilliant writing. There were twist and turns that I was not expecting, but on the other hand, you knew something about a character that one of the MC’s didn’t, and sometimes it made me want to shout at the book!!
I am trying hard to write my review, without any spoilers, (I hate reviews with spoilers with no warning). This book, in my opinion, will really keep you gripped, and you will not want to put down until you have finished. Of course you have the romance in the book, but it is the storyline running through the book that will keep you hooked.
I wasn’t sure what to make of Cooper when we first met him, and at times through the story, I wanted to smack him! He is basically hiding who he is, and it takes something happening to him in the line of duty to actually look deep inside himself, together with the helping hand he least expected, or at times wanted.
Now Wes has moved to New Jersey, a new chapter in his life – until he gets a new patient which is Cooper, and boy will you take a dislike in a way to Cooper, but then again you know why he is acting like he is. When Cooper finally tells Wes why he acted like he did, rather than being angry with him, it instead shows him that he was right that something was missing from his life.
The two begin a relationship, but unknown to them both, there is someone around that is not happy that they are now together, or is there something else driving this person to act like they are? Can their new relationship withstand all this, and will Cooper be able to be true to himself, and rip off his mask, or will he stay hidden?
I am trying hard to write my review, without any spoilers, (I hate reviews with spoilers with no warning). This book, in my opinion, will really keep you gripped, and you will not want to put down until you have finished. Of course you have the romance in the book, but it is the storyline running through the book that will keep you hooked.
I wasn’t sure what to make of Cooper when we first met him, and at times through the story, I wanted to smack him! He is basically hiding who he is, and it takes something happening to him in the line of duty to actually look deep inside himself, together with the helping hand he least expected, or at times wanted.
Now Wes has moved to New Jersey, a new chapter in his life – until he gets a new patient which is Cooper, and boy will you take a dislike in a way to Cooper, but then again you know why he is acting like he is. When Cooper finally tells Wes why he acted like he did, rather than being angry with him, it instead shows him that he was right that something was missing from his life.
The two begin a relationship, but unknown to them both, there is someone around that is not happy that they are now together, or is there something else driving this person to act like they are? Can their new relationship withstand all this, and will Cooper be able to be true to himself, and rip off his mask, or will he stay hidden?
Harper Jewel lives in northeast New Jersey with her husband and college-age daughter. She has two cats, enjoys reading, and taking trips to Walt Disney World. With her outgoing personality and vivid imagination, she can create characters and plots that are believable as well as memorable.
Although she began writing male/female romance/erotica, she has finally found her niche in Gay Romance. She thoroughly enjoys her male characters as they speak to her quite loudly while proving love is love. She is proud to have the honor of being the first M/M author accepted at the now-closed Lush Publishing.
In addition to her writing, she's expanded her skills to include formatting for Smashwords Premium Catalog, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, & Amazon.
In September 2015, she created Slippery Fingers Press & Publishing Services and plans to use the company name for self-publishing as well as her formatting jobs.
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Although she began writing male/female romance/erotica, she has finally found her niche in Gay Romance. She thoroughly enjoys her male characters as they speak to her quite loudly while proving love is love. She is proud to have the honor of being the first M/M author accepted at the now-closed Lush Publishing.
In addition to her writing, she's expanded her skills to include formatting for Smashwords Premium Catalog, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, & Amazon.
In September 2015, she created Slippery Fingers Press & Publishing Services and plans to use the company name for self-publishing as well as her formatting jobs.
Website
Harper's Happenings Blog
