An enjoyable romance . Like Gio and Jason and Jason's kid, but their feelings were very buttoned down. I liked the setting a lot, but a bit more emotion behind the romance would've gone a long way.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
This is one of those books that really resonated with me. It’s a gritty, emotional story of a relationship between two men who don’t really let themselves do emotions or relationships. As the only law enforcement officers in an enormous and inhospitable rural area, the intimacy between Gio and Jason is initially forced and uncomfortable. Gio is running from his past in the city and Jason is still grieving his wife.

The relationship between Jason and Gio develops slowly. They slowly start to trust each other on the job. When Jason struggles to care for his son while working too many hours, he is slowly forced to trust Gio with his son. But while the relationship is slow, Gio’s new life in the outback is surprisingly entertaining and often exciting. His adventures wrangling poisonous snakes, naked pensioners, and abusive partners are told with both sensitivity and humour.

I don’t think this book fits neatly within the romance genre, but I personally like it better because it doesn’t. It’s a book about two lives that are forced together in difficult circumstances. It’s a book about reevaluating life choices and ambitions when our best laid plans fall apart. And it is a book about love and relationships – but not necessarily about romance in the way we’ve come to expect it. I loved this story and I’m looking forward to more in the series.


Veronica – ☆☆☆☆☆
This story is sublime. I love the authenticity of the characters, the location, the language. (Thank you, Ms. Henry, for writing Aussies that actually sound like Aussies.) I loved watching Gio adjust from life as a city cop to life in the outback while dealing with the trouble he left behind on the Gold Coast. Jason juggling work as a cop with life as a single parent pulled at my heart strings. And I loved Taylor, Jason’s son – 10 years old, inquisitive, and fun. And most of all, I loved the way the relationship between Jason and Gio grew and developed and didn’t go according to plan and that their feelings are portrayed so simply.

Two Man Station hit the spot for me. I know next time I’m driving through a small country town in the bush and I pass the cop shop that I’ll be thinking of Jason and Gio.

This is the third book I’ve read by this author and each of them is vastly different and each of them was a five-star read. I’m going to have to find the time to check out more of her work. She is an author not to be missed.

A complimentary copy was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a good book. Lisa Henry already had a fan in me and Two Man Station just confirmed that with a gold star. :) Henry was able to craft such a beautiful tale that I could not put this down!! Gio and Jason and Taylor!!!! I adored Taylor - such an adorable and loving kid - I just wanted to squeeze him and say "I'll stay home and watch you, sweetie." Jason (Taylor's father) is a cop in a remote town of Australia raising his ten year old son alone since his wife died 5 years ago. There are only two cops to the station (hence the title), and when there is an emergency Jason is often left in the tough situation of what to do with Taylor since he can't be left alone. My heart just broke for Taylor being shuffled from house to house, friend to friend, often being woken in the middle of the night to go to one bed to another. On the surface one would think they are doing okay, but it's obvious turmoil is just below the surface.

Jason had hoped that the person assigned to replace his last "partner" would be a family man for Taylor's benefit. Alas he gets bachelor Gio, who is bringing a troubled past along with him. Gio's history was so, so hard to hear and I knew his story would be bad, I just didn't realize how bad it had really gotten for him. I don't want to reveal any of his history because I think it's best that you learn that fresh on your own.

Gio's introduction to small town living wasn't easy, but he does start to get the hang of things and slowly he and Jason grow closer together. Gio has no idea Jason is bisexual so when Jason kisses Gio, he is beyond shocked!

description

I thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed seeing Gio and Jason together. They are two hurt men trying to find something soft in the quiet moments of life. Jason hasn't been with anyone since his wife died, and Gio has been alone for about a year. The situation is obviously fraught with danger: Jason is Gio's boss; relationship between co-workers (need I say more?); small town; the literal dangers of being on the job and possibly letting emotions overrule training; and the list goes on. Thankfully these are mature men (despite some hiccups in that area), who don't let personal issues get in the way of the job.

And how cool was it to see Australia this way?!?! I can't help but remember a post I saw on FB about how like 98% of the most deadliest of snakes are in Australia. :O I don't do snakes or bugs or killer kangaroos so I think this will be the closest I get to visiting. ;) Plus no jetlag and first class seating all the way. :D

The ending shocked me!!! I thought something else was going to happen so I was NOT expecting what did happen. The whole plot was so perfectly executed I didn't see this coming. [I thought that an abuse victim would be killed by her husband and Gio - because of his history - wouldn't handle the situation well and Jason and Gio would have a thing and then the end. Nope, not how it happened. (hide spoiler)] And I have to say I loved Lisa Henry's ending so much better than mine. ;) It was just brilliant.

I could go on but I'll leave you to enjoy and experience this story for yourself.

4.5 stars which could go up on a re-read in the future. :) Highly, highly recommend this one.

Well written.
I loved the very Aussie backdrop of Richmond, Queensland. The excellent portrayal of a copper's life in a rural or marginal town, in this case an outback town. Richmond does exist. There was a fantastic overall feeling of place - including the people, the red dust, the goddamn flies, and quite a few of the situations. Just the overall scenery. The wet and dry season.
Good Aussie-isms - little lunch and big lunch. Scotch Fingers. Saos and Vegemite. I enjoyed reading these things because they're part of my life. My husband loves his Saos and Vegemite and I love Scotch Finger biscuits. My kids had little and big lunch in primary school and they enjoyed being able to buy things at the tuckshop, like Taylor does - Jason's ten year old son. Speaking of Taylor, he's wonderful and he tugs at your heart.
I had periods where I wanted to give both MCs an 'uppercut' and others where I wholeheartedly sympathised. My feelings were definitely engaged throughout.
The relationship was interesting. There is absolutely no insta-love. There is an initial attraction, sure, but that takes time to evolve. There ends up being a hook-up for connection's sake between the two men, but you know through dual POV that the MCs are scared but interested in more than just being casual. However, there is an ongoing working out of where they fit throughout the entire book. Jason's wife died five years ago, he loved, still loves, Alana, and he has a son to think of. It's hard enough working all kinds of shifts in a two-man station, and being a widower, without adding fucking your (subordinate) colleague. There are issues around that. Gio has residual work-related and personal problems to deal with. Moving away is not necessarily the end of that situation. (view spoiler)
Jason and Gio are plenty sexy together but sex did not dominate the story. It was a good plot to sex ratio. There was some nice dirty talk as well.
All the characters popped, secondary included.

Slow-burn angsty HEA/HFN set in Australia (get ready to google some of the lingo). Solid, enjoyable read.

Gio Valeri is a big-city cop, with a reputation in tatters, who has been transferred to a small outback town. Jason Quinn, a single dad struggling to balance work and life, is in the officer in charge of the station in the outback town of Richmond. Gio wants to keep his head down and stay out of trouble but Jason is very hesitant to trust his new officer. This romance plays out amidst the drama of a small-town police department and while Jason is a warm and loveable character, Gio is moody, broody and a little hard to love. The first half of the book is a bit slow moving and full of angst from both main characters and it took a little while for me to invest in them and the story. The second half had more action and emotion with a darker sub-plot involving domestic abuse that may be a little much for readers just looking for a romantic story.
While I eventually enjoyed the novel, the rich use of Australian jargon was a little confusing and interfered with the narrative for me. I would try another novel by this author. 3.5 stars.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Well that was a thoroughly enjoyable story! Beautifully paced, event unfold gradually but it's never slow. The characters are interesting and worked well together, with a supporting cast of characters ranging from frightening to charming. It was a great plot and seeing how it's the first in the series I'm hoping this is the continuing story of Gio and Jason - though if Lisa Henry decides to explore other characters in the Australian wilderness I won't exactly complain ;)

Gio's story was a heart-breaker and his resilience is admirable, and honestly that applies to Jason's tale as well. Both these guys have really been through the ringer so thank goodness they found each other.

Lisa Henry's amazing descriptions of this barren but beautiful red earth land were so poetic and haunting, it was easy to imagine what this place looked like.

Honestly, the descriptions of some of the people really did give me the shivers. I would hate to run into some of those bigoted, wife beating asshats and I wish it was all poetic license that she came up with these guys... unfortunately I know it's all too true.

4.5 stars - What a great way to start a new series based on emergency workers in Australia. In this case, we have two coppers who are literally the only two cops in their small town. Needless to say, as the blurb was quite clear, one was there by choice and the other was sent as punishment. Gio and Jason may not like those circumstances but they have no choice but to work together, and try and trust one another. At the least, protect each other’s backs.

Gio trusts no one. He did what was right, but turning in a cop, no matter the circumstance, puts a bullseye on his back. Jason wants to trust his new partner but he knows why Gio was sent to Richmond Station, and he must keep him at a distance to protect himself. Jason also is a widower with a ten year old son and he has no choices but to remain a little standoffish. He is never mean, but he does keep an eye on his back so that Gio can’t stab him in it, too.

Gio made me sad. His story slowly unfolds and you realize that he is the victim in all of this and it just isn’t fair. But, he also realizes that being a cop is all he’s ever wanted to do and so he has no choice but to keep his head down, his nose clean, and try to ignore the cop bullies intent on tormenting him. Even though he is hours away from the city, and stuck in a small two-man station country town, they still have a long reach. Reading this book was very refreshing, if not a little frustrating. Sandra, the police station office worker and sometime babysitter to Jason’s son was quite annoying. Her character just rang a bit over the top for me.

But the slow burn, slow to friendship, and even slower to lovers was written in such a way that it just rang true for me. I understood both Gio’s and Jason’s concerns and I knew that they needed to learn to trust before love would ever enter the picture. Even though I am not a major fan of kids in my book, this is a case where Jason’s son was pivotal to the entire storyline and never once detracted from the growing attraction between Gio and Jason.

I am really glad this is a new series and I am looking forward to seeing what’s up next. If a lot of Aussie lingo is not a deal breaker for you, I highly recommend this book.

Two Man Station is primarily about Gio. He's a big town cop sent to the country as a form of punishment even though they can't really call in that. Where Gio used to work, all his friends and co-workers turned against him when he decided to stand up to his lover/fellow cop/co-worker who was abusive.

Jason is the officer in charge of the station (two man station) that Gio has been transferred to. And, his new neighbor as well. Jason is a single parent, after having lost his wife several years before. He has help with his previous officer and his wife, but when they move, he finds himself struggling more as a single father.

And so, these two have, if anything, a pretty boring and basic friendship that slowly turns to more. The whole story was pretty uneventful, the outcome predictable. I didn't love it, I didn't hate it. It was just a pretty basic read for me.

This author is one of my favorites so I was really excited to see she had a new book coming out and this did not disappoint. I was drawn in right from the beginning. The pacing on this story is a bit slow but it works really well for the plot. Due to the dynamics of their relationship we need the slow burn that happens between the two MC's. Anything faster wouldn't have seemed realistic.

I loved the world building that was done here and the remote town that they live in was almost like it's own characters. I felt like I was there with the MC's and I could picture everything so clearly in my mind. I really loved how this setting and the side characters were done.

I enjoyed both Gio and Jason. They were very different but when they finally get together it's a beautiful thing. I also liked how Jason's daughter was done. She seemed age appropriate and was just a kid. I liked that she wasn't precocious and she wasn't there to provide humor. I'm frequently disappointed in how children are presented in books and it sometimes seems like authors have never meant an actual real child. That wasn't the case here.

If you're looking for a really good read I definitely recommend this. It's a well done slow burn with engaging characters and an entertaining plotline.

*ARC received through Netgalley in exchange for an honest

If you enjoy reading about a relationship that develops over time, earned trust, growing kinship and mutual attraction – not the complete nuance of sex – let Lisa Henry take you on a journey with 'Two Man Station'.

Meet Giovanni “Gio” Valeri. Senior Constable at 26. How he got this position at such a young age is a mystery that plays out right along with why he has been exiled a two day drive away from any family and friends, to Richmond. A dust bowl in the middle of Australia with only two coppers. His sole objective is to stay under the radar and serve out his two year chastisement.

Sergeant Jason Quinn has just welcomed his “new guy”. Scratch that, the Constable forced upon him by circumstance and the only other man there to help him patrol the approximate size of West Virginia in the States. Gio’s reputation precedes him. Or at least hearsay and gossip do. How do you partner with a man who appears to have “ethical standards on speed dial” and can’t be trusted?

Oh the brilliance of Lisa Henry! So subtly she uses the Australian Outback, with its beautiful, majestic yet dangerous tundra and throws two men together to gently, quietly and passively navigate each other’s paths amidst protecting their citizens as small town coppers. One man with a secret he’s desperate to hold onto and another who’s a widower just trying to manage the everyday chaos of raising his ten-year-old son as a single father.

Without the reader even being aware Henry shrewdly entraps you into Gio and Jason’s lives accelerating your anticipation for what is to come. With four main players moving this story along, two head strong cops, one sarcastic AO (which one can gather is like an Officer’s Assistant) and a precocious young boy, Henry deals with the delicate subject matter with great care and sensitivity.

In one sentence, with one simple word, Gio is explained and the flood gates are opened. In the rising waters Lisa Henry does what she does best, releasing another surprise in Jason.

Once they begin to trust each other with their lives their hearts aren’t far behind but neither one knows how to tell the other and as they seem to build a rhythm you know the storm is brewing. It turns out, as with any relationship, they’ve learned what buttons to push and how to turn the key on the shackle to hurt the most.

They both 'want', and as Jason ponders, “Jesus, it would be a bloody mess. But want wasn’t rational,” they find neither are the forces that surround them. It takes one defining moment to show them just that.

If you enjoy children in your stories you’re gonna love Taylor. This young man’s respectful manner, bubbly personality and untainted intellect at the ways of the world are so refreshing and further serve to connect you with who Jase really is. Plus his sneaky charm adds comic relief when you need it the most.

One thing I will advise is to have Google handy. Being set in Australia, and within the confines of police work, if you’re not familiar with either you will want to look some things up. I for one love when I pick up books like this because I learn new things. There’s cop speak such as MVC (motor vehicle collision), RBT (random breathalyzer test) and even slang for teachers (chalkies). And the food…What are sultanas, lamington and SAO’s? Truly, some of this sounds so yummy! Like chicken salt. Yeah, already found a recipe to give this one a go on my fries. Wait, chips. See, I’m learning!

'Two Man Station' is a reminder that when you are in a relationship it isn’t only just about you, it’s about opening up, compromising and keeping each other safe. Whether you’re a country copper or a lover. Sometimes what we think we want, or even need, may just be misguided notion. Because things happen for a reason and place us right where we’re supposed to be. With 'who' we’re supposed to be with.

If all this wonderfully good emotion swirling around the subject matter and building ARC of a complex story is what we have to look forward to in the next installment in her new Emergency Services series I say to Lisa Henry - Bring. It. On!

I have read books by Lisa Henry before, but they've all been co-authored books. This is the first time I have picked up a solo book by the author and I loved this book. This might be my favorite from this author? This is an incredible book and I found myself reading this book all in one sitting because I could not put this book down.

Trigger warnings in this book include bullying, harassment, emotional abuse, and domestic violence. I recommend checking out the publisher's website for a more complete list of warnings.

As an American, I guess the blurb and the beginning of this story did confuse me for a few chapters. This is not set in Richmond, VA. This is actually set in a little town called Richmond in AUSTRALIA. This story is unabashedly Australian and I love it. There were quite a few words or phases that were unclear to me, but a quick Google search will answer all questions.

This story is about Gio and Jason. Gio has been demoted from his position in the city. Essentially. He's been taken off his police force in the big city and sent hours away to a small town where it's only him and one other police officer, Jason, on shift. Hence, the title - Two Man Station. The closest hospital is two hours away, and while it's a small enough town where nothing too bad ever happens, things can escalate that requires two officers to handle the job.

Gio is not happy. He's been bullied his way out of his position and thrown into the middle of nowhere. It's a whole new world for Gio in Richmond and Jason is not a guy who's easily messed with. Jason likes his job in the small town. Jason doesn't really know why Gio was reassigned to his station, but he's not really one to complain since he can't really do all the work himself.

This book is heartbreaking and the relationship is a slow burn. This story isn't fast-paced, but it does take you into the day-to-day life of what it means for two officers to work in a small rural town. I love small town books, so this was perfect for me. I loved the secondary characters, especially Jason's son Taylor.

It looks like there might be more books set in the Emergency Services universe and I can't wait to read them if they're anything like Two Man Station!

I have read books by Lisa Henry before, but they've all been co-authored books. This is the first time I have picked up a solo book by the author and I loved this book. This might be my favorite from this author? This is an incredible book and I found myself reading this book all in one sitting because I could not put this book down.

Trigger warnings in this book include bullying, harassment, emotional abuse, and domestic violence. I recommend checking out the publisher's website for a more complete list of warnings.

As an American, I guess the blurb and the beginning of this story did confuse me for a few chapters. This is not set in Richmond, VA. This is actually set in a little town called Richmond in AUSTRALIA. This story is unabashedly Australian and I love it. There were quite a few words or phases that were unclear to me, but a quick Google search will answer all questions.

This story is about Gio and Jason. Gio has been demoted from his position in the city. Essentially. He's been taken off his police force in the big city and sent hours away to a small town where it's only him and one other police officer, Jason, on shift. Hence, the title - Two Man Station. The closest hospital is two hours away, and while it's a small enough town where nothing too bad ever happens, things can escalate that requires two officers to handle the job.

Gio is not happy. He's been bullied his way out of his position and thrown into the middle of nowhere. It's a whole new world for Gio in Richmond and Jason is not a guy who's easily messed with. Jason likes his job in the small town. Jason doesn't really know why Gio was reassigned to his station, but he's not really one to complain since he can't really do all the work himself.

This book is heartbreaking and the relationship is a slow burn. This story isn't fast-paced, but it does take you into the day-to-day life of what it means for two officers to work in a small rural town. I love small town books, so this was perfect for me. I loved the secondary characters, especially Jason's son Taylor.

It looks like there might be more books set in the Emergency Services universe and I can't wait to read them if they're anything like Two Man Station!

***Thanks to Riptide Publishing for providing me an ARC on NetGalley***

Two Man Station is a terrific slow burn romance.

Heavy emphasis on slow burn here. If you are the kind of reader who likes romances where the characters are immediately attracted and fall into bed pretty quickly, this probably won’t be your cup of tea.

That kind of relationship isn’t appropriate to the circumstances of the story, though, because it’s a romance between two people with lots of baggage to negotiate. There’s Gio, who was involved with a fellow police officer and got him thrown off the force after reporting him to Ethical Standards investigators. That perceived betrayal infuriated the officers in his unit, which is why he finds himself transferred to a tiny two-man police station in a small rural town in Queensland, Australia. After suffering harassment from other cops, people who were supposed to have his back, Gio is understandably wary about how he will be treated by his new boss. And then there’s Jason, a widower already struggling with juggling caring for his 10-year-old son and his job managing the station, who now has to find a way to work with a man he’s not sure he can trust.

So, yeah, there are issues that both men need to work through before they can even think about the possibility of being attracted to each other. I appreciated the way those were handled, which felt very realistic to me. The way their relationship deepened from wariness to friendship to physical attraction to love also really worked for me.

I enjoyed the Australian setting of the story, too. I’m not sure why, but it doesn’t seem like we get lots of books set in Australia here in the States, which is a shame. This book gives the reader a window into what it’s like to live in an isolated town in the Australian Outback. It seems incredible that two police officers might be responsible for patrolling an area of tens of thousands of square kilometers, but the book shows how policing works in that kind of environment. (Fun fact: the town in the book, Richmond, is a real place—you can check it out online). Lots of other little details about life in Australia added interest to the story for me as well. (I have to admit, though, when I read the words “Vegemite sandwich,” a certain song started running through my head . . .)

If you enjoy m/m romances and appreciate a good slow burn, you should definitely give this book a read!

A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.

3,5* Brush up on your Aussie lingo and prepare to slow down - it's a slow burn tale for the most. HEA or HFN? You decide.

This is a book with a very decent premise, but from the off, I found myself confused by the (understandably) Australian English. There wasn't just a few words that I had to try to figure out, but a whole load of them, and both in speech and in narrative - could have done with a glossary, lol!

It's a very slow burn romance, but I suspect it paints a pretty accurate tale of Outback life. The guys go through some ups and downs together, and there's a rather convenient ending to the tale that brings them together that bit more, but I was frankly stumped by something that one of them said and my lasting thought of the tale, though it skips at least a year or maybe a little more, was, 'Did I just read a HFN or a HEA?' I'm still not sure, tbh.

ARC courtesy of Riptide Publishing and NetGalley, for my reading pleasure.

If I was to pick one word to describe this book, it would quite frankly have to be fabulous. I picked this book up at the last minute on a rec from the publisher and I am so ridiculously thrilled that I did. Lisa Henry has good words! I was hooked from the very beginning. I was invested in Gio and Jason. I couldn't read fast enough to see where their journey would take them and at the same time I wanted to slow my reading roll because I wanted more words!

I don't know how many of you out there have read stories that literally light you up from the inside out, but this is one of them. I was happy thru the entire story. The tension and anticipation was very well woven into the journey. The romantic development was a perfect slow burn. I am even invested in the secondary characters! I just cannot wait for more from this author!

Copy provided for blog tour review

3.5 Stars. This book just wasn't quite what I was expecting. The pacing was slower than I expected and the romance was a VERY slow burn. It was well written but it was also easy to put down and then come back to later.

I liked the idea of the book and my heart broke for Gio. I love police stories and I like a good hurt/comfort book so I expected to love this one. The romance was very slow and the first half of the book was mostly the two cops going on routine calls and teaching Gio the ropes of being a cop in the small community. I really didn't feel the chemistry between the two characters and although there are a couple of sex scenes it wasn't super hot. I think they spend more time not in a relationship then in it and at the end of the book they are really just beginning a relationship. Maybe book two will expand on the same characters/relationship because this felt like a book that was setting up the relationship.

Still if you don't mind a slower pace and a relationship that is slow burn and just getting started then give this one a try.

If you are a fan of books set in Australia, I think you'll definitely enjoy Two Man Station. The pace of the story is a bit slow, but you really get the opportunity to sense the vastness of the country, its challenges and its mindset, which is an important aspect of the story told by Lisa Henry.

Gio is "promoted" from a cushy high-pressure / high-reward job on Australia's Gold Coast to a small two-man station in the Outback. Basically, Gio and Jason are the only two law enforcement officers for a vast span of land, with any back-up (advanced medical, more law enforcement officers, fire services) hours away in the next largest town. They each have a small house, with a dirt yard, within view of the station. Everyone knows everyone else and while Richmond is a close community, there are the typical problem individuals, unspoken-of spousal abuse, petty criminals, ladies who tend to drink just a bit too much on Bingo Night, etc. Being the law in Richmond is a fine line between following the letter of the law and trying to live and work peaceably in the community.

Gio left his other post under questionable circumstances and his past continues to hound him in Richmond. It takes a while for Gio to get used to Richmond, and it takes just as long for Jason to learn to trust Gio and know 100% for certain that they each have the other's back. And it takes even longer for the two men to figure out their sexual relationship, which starts out as friends-with-benefits and gradually moves into something much more. The ending is left very much HFN but I can easily see Gio and Jason in a long loving relationship. And Jason's pretty wonderful, realistically portrayed kid Taylor is a real joy and I like thinking of how their family relationship will grow.

4 strong stars for Two Man Station. I recommend this book and look forward to the next book in the series.

ARC reviewed for Netgalley

Two Man Station (Emergency Services #1) by Lisa Henry

Lisa Henry has a gift when it comes to crafting stories. She never rushes. She gives the plot and the characters room to breathe and grow and develop into something beautiful.

Two Man Station is a love story about two men whose lives have been devastated by separate events, who, slowly and cautiously, kindle a friendship that becomes much more. Henry takes her time introducing readers to Gio, a former city cop who did the right thing only to be labeled a pariah by his colleagues and superiors and sent to the Richmond Police Station as a way to sweep him under the rug and off the radar. And Jason, who is a single dad struggling to raise his son while being a full-time cop and wondering if he will ever know intimacy again or if loneliness will be his only bedmate.

As a reader, I felt that I “knew” Gio and Jason before their relationship become more serious, which gave weight and understanding to the decisions they made and the actions they were driven to take. Gio has almost been destroyed by the betrayal he has suffered, and every decision Jason makes is weighted by what he thinks he knows of Gio and his responsibility as a father. It’s a careful dance between wanting what one shouldn’t want and needing what every person deserves to have. Lisa Henry pulls it off beautifully.

This story has everything I love in a well written book:
√ Complete absence of insta-love
√ Strong, unique characters
√ Well developed plot
√ Scenery/location that enhances the overall story

Readers will not be disappointed in this book. I am looking forward to others in the series and wondering if future stories will include Gio and Jason. I find myself wondering if people from Gio’s past will resurface and, if so, in what way and how will they impact his new life. Whether we see Gio and Jason again, or if Henry introduces us to completely new characters, I am eager to read Emergency Services #2.

Giovanni “Gio” Valeri has been transferred to the red dirt town of Richmond. He’s a copper who made a claim against a former copper/lover, so now Gio has the reputation of being a rat and dog, and he’s still being harassed by his former fellow officers. The transfer and adjustment for Gio is difficult, but he made the choice to protect his family.

Jason Quinn is the Sergeant in the two-man station, who is still grieving and dealing with a tragedy. The light of his life now is Troy, his inquisitive and loving ten-year-old son. He believes he can handle raising Troy, but working in a two-man environment puts a strain on the decisions he has to face before something serious happens. He got comfortable with his former neighbors, who could always lend a hand caring for Troy, but things have changed, also putting a lot of stress on others.

When Gio comes on board, Jason only knows one side of his story. They have a rough start trusting each other, and Gio has a hard time dealing with the small-town issues. But when cases of domestic violence begin to rise, Jason observes some interesting things about Gio. As trust and a fragile and cautious relationship gradually forms, Jason learns more about Gio’s situation. He feels it’s his responsibility to report a particular incident, but Gio is livid and feels betrayed by Jason.

The most important message this story brings about is through domestic violence. It comes in different forms, can affect anyone, and the repercussions of bringing it to the forefront are not always positive. The plot also has a sense of mystery as Gio’s past is gradually revealed. There is no insta-love between Gio and Jason, as both men have their own issues to work on. I liked the subtle sort of way that Gio watches out for Troy, and how a friendship starts to grow. There isn’t exactly an HEA, Jason and Gio still have issues to figure out, but they have a nice companionship, and that’s a plus for Troy.

Lisa Henry absolutely mesmerized me with the Aussie setting of Richmond, Queensland, and Australia as a whole. The descriptions of the Aussie people, environment, and the language brought this story to life. From the start, this story just gripped me, and I couldn’t put it down. It’s very well written, emotional and has solid character portrayals.