This is a dark, gritty but absolutely riveting and original enemies-to-lovers romance. The forced proximity angle is written in such a way that it is deliciously intense, even a little evil. Zane and Roach have both had their share of pain and tragedy and make for a very unlikely match, and even though the heat is scorching, there’s nothing easy about the road to a deep emotional connection.
Roach is the one that tugged on my heartstrings the most. He’s so needy and desperate for warmth and affection, I was amazed at how willing he is to love and make himself vulnerable to Zane. Especially, with how much he gets kicked down and treated awfully by nearly everyone in his life. He’s no angel, but he carries so much pain within him that you can’t help but root for him and want so much more for him than what life has given him.
Zane is more of an enigma and it takes a while to warm up to him, because of the secret hiding in his past. He seems cruel and prickly, but he’s so vulnerable too and such an intriguing character. Both the aggressor and the victim. He’s much more of a mystery than Roach and has walls around the walls around his heart. When they drop, you’ll fall. Hard. Same as Roach.
Narration: I’ve got nothing but accolades and admiration for Kirt Graves’s performance of this gripping story. He does an amazing accent for Zane, and absolutely nailed it when it came to Zane’s attitude and inner pain and anger. I could listen to him for hours, and did He also did an incredible job with Roach, brilliantly catching his vulnerability, desperation and the warm heart hiding under his gruff exterior. I love his interpretation of K.A. Merikan’s world and characters.