Release Day Review by Kristie: Two Man Station, by Lisa Henry

Two Man Station, by Lisa Henry
Series: Emergency Services, Book 1
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Release Date: January 22, 2018

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Gio Valeri is a big city police officer who’s been transferred to the small outback town of Richmond with his professional reputation in tatters. His transfer is a punishment, and Gio just wants to keep his head down and survive the next two years. No more mistakes. No more complications.

Except Gio isn’t counting on Jason Quinn.

Jason Quinn, officer in charge of Richmond Station, is a single dad struggling with balancing the demands of shift work with the challenges of raising his son. The last thing he needs is a new senior constable with a history of destroying other people’s careers. But like it or not, Jason has to work with Gio.

In a remote two man station hours away from the next town, Gio and Jason have to learn to trust and rely on each another. Close quarters and a growing attraction mean that the lines between professional and personal are blurring. And even in Richmond, being a copper can be dangerous enough without risking their hearts as well.

M/M Pairing
Gay Character
Bisexual Character
Contemporary
Romance
Suspense/Thriller
Enemies to Lovers
Angst
Bullying
Child Neglect
Coming Out
Grief
Hurt/Comfort
Isolation

Content Warning for: Discussions/situations regarding domestic violence, PTSD, harassment and stalking

Well, I have to say I was lost in this story.  So lost while reading because of the pacing, the slow burn between Gio and Jason, the feel of their surroundings, the style and language used for every scene, it makes for a book to get lost in. Lost in the best way possible.

Two Man Station starts off with Gio’s first days in a new job. One he’s not excited about, feels pressured into taking, and one that’s so far out in this outback town that they don’t even have a stop light. Well, maybe they have one, but it’s only nearby. The town is so isolated it’s surprising they even have much of a population, much less a bingo night. But they do. Richmond has a bingo night, they have at least one bar, grocery, a school, and even an ambulance. What they also have are flawed citizens and people who need protecting, watching over, and taken care of. But because it’s so remote, and the town still so small, it’s a station that only has the two law enforcement man team. Just that fact alone brings home how the isolation might be like.

Already living in this isolation is Jason. Jason and his son Taylor, who is a total bundle of joy in a little boy body. Being in charge of Richmond Station is hard on Jason, hard on his son, hard on their relationship… just plain hard. Without someone to back him up and who he can trust completely, he’s in a situation that is even worse than before. But can’t he trust Gio? This is a huge question throughout the book, along with the big why Gio even stationed out there.

When the story started, at first I did have a hard time finding my feet with the pacing and language. Part of this is because I’m not from Australia so I am not as familiar with some of the words used for things that would be common place. But also just because of the way Henry put me directly into the heads of these characters. There was no easing in period. No, it was dive head first and I’m really grateful for it. I was mesmerized by it, the feeling of being in the room with them, the feeling and understanding how their lives were impacted by each other, and by the situations that had led them to where they were.

Later, as the story progresses, it just gets better and better. The mystery behind Gio is revealed. How the work he’s doing on some calls impacts his life because of his past was thoughtfully realized. And for Jason, his predicament is also something that as it is reveled fully, is recognized as something that many single parents deal with on a daily basis. The raw nature of their situations and the way it’s portrayed made me so sad. I really felt for these guys.

Henry deals with issues in this book regarding domestic violence, PTSD from past domestic violence, and the pain one goes through when dealing with all that can entail. While theres not on page domestic violence, the ramifications and knowledge that it had happened at one time are strong and present. It’s also a main plot line to the story, and the fallout from those situations come to a head in the end. I felt like they were handled with care and I appreciated the way Henry’s pacing and language added to that care.

I feel like I can’t really talk about the story more because it would ruin the experience. And I feel like maybe my warnings are really strong, but don’t confuse that with not loving this book. I adored Gio, Jason, and Taylor. I loved the way they start out as just boss/employee and neighbors, but also sort of enemies. I loved how they move on and their friendship starts to build, but it takes work. A lot of work. And I really loved how that friendship turns into something more. How for the first time in a very long time, each man finds someone who will have their back. How they build trust and how that trust grows. This is a book that I know I’ll read again and probably love even more the second time around. Recommended.

Lisa likes to tell stories, mostly with hot guys and happily ever afters.

Lisa lives in tropical North Queensland, Australia. She doesn’t know why, because she hates the heat, but she suspects she’s too lazy to move. She spends half her time slaving away as a government minion, and the other half plotting her escape.

She attended university at sixteen, not because she was a child prodigy or anything, but because of a mix-up between international school systems early in life. She studied History and English, neither of them very thoroughly.

She shares her house with too many cats, a green tree frog that swims in the toilet, and as many possums as can break in every night. This is not how she imagined life as a grown-up.

To connect with Lisa:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

You can purchase Two Man Station from:

Publisher | Amazon | iTunes | Barnes & Noble

Or add it to Goodreads

I received an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.