3,5 stars rounded up.

To kick things off, let me start with saying that, Hush does not have the same feel to it as The Executive Office had. This book is something entirely different. It’s gentler in a way and not as fast paced or explosive. Stakes are still high and the world is watching, but overall, the main focus of the first part of the book remains on the budding relationship between Tom and Mike.

This book can be divided into two parts, the before and the after. The first half or so of the book reads like a contemporary romance. We get to know both Tom and Mike, who they are. We are there when a tentative friendship starts to form, when they realise they want something more. We get to know them, their wants and their fears, and play with Etta Mae.

Tom is a newly appointed judge, actually nicknamed the baby judge. After spending 25 years alone, he’s starting to realise he wants more, deserves more. He wants someone to come home to, to share his life with. But lessons learnt in the past tell him this is impossible.

? He was at a crossroads, stuck trying to figure out where to go. His professionalism demanded one choice, and his heart and soul another.

You can feel the struggle Tom is going through. He’s hidden his true self for most of his life, and changing that is never easy. He doesn’t want to be alone anymore, but on the other hand, will he lose everything he’s worked so hard to achieve, if he does open that closet? It’s not an easy situation.

Mike is the guy who want’s and dreams of his Prince Charming but is too afraid to look for him. And even more afraid to lose him once found, so he’s not really putting an effort into finding his happily ever after. But when he arrives, Mike does everything he can think of to keep from getting hurt again.

Then the unthinkable happens and the aftermath threatens Tom and Mike’s new and a bit tenuous relationship.

? How did he break apart the puzzle of his soul when he’d finally put all the pieces together?

The second part of the book deals with the aftermath and the ensuing trial. This had more of Executive Office feel to it than the first part of the book. It was political, intricate and filled with intrigue. While it was interesting it was not my favourite part of the book. It felt too detailed at times and I kept wishing the story to move along just a little bit quicker. I wanted to know all of the juicy stuff; the who, what, where and when. You just knew that something fishy was going on and wanted to get to the bottom of it.

Tal Bauer writes incredibly well developed books. The plots, the characters, the details and knowledge and insight are amazing. Everything about them, the details are all so credible, you believe the story he tells you. They are also very political. So my one major issue with this book is that I don’t buy that Tom was appointed as the judge for the trial against Kryukov. First of all, he was on location and witnessed Kryukov on the scene. Secondly I do not believe for one second that cases like these, with that kind of scrutiny and importance – internationally so, will be handed to a new judge – a judge nicknamed the baby judge.

– sorry, but I don’t buy it.

Tom is also supposed to advocate for justice, and following the law to the letter, so him not disclosing he was a witness and recusing himself doesn’t fit with his personality.

I was very curious to see how Joel Leslie would tackle this book. I’ve never listened to him narrating this kind of book, the more serious and mystery/thriller trope. I’m more used to him narrating light hearted and humours, contemporary romance stories – which he excels at I might add. I love listening to Joel Leslie, he is a wonderful narrator, but I’m not sure this is his genre. I didn’t really feel quite natural or effortless and to me his voices for the characters didn’t quite match the personalities or feel to the book. However, that might be just me, and you’ll like it just fine. So while I do love listening to Joel Leslie, I don’t think he was the best choice for this book.

The book ends with a solid HEA, but there are doors open for a series, and I guess only time will tell if this is all we see of these men and their friends and colleagues.

A copy of this book was generously provided by the narrator in exchange for an honest review for Love Bytes.