Title: Hanging the Stars by Rhys Ford
Half Moon Bay Series Book Two
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Genre: Contemporary, M/M, Romance, Mystery/Suspense
Length: 206 pages?Word Count: 74,726
Book Rating: B
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by the Author
Summary:
Half Moon Bay: Book Two
Angel Daniels grew up hard, one step ahead of the law and always looking over his shoulder. A grifter’s son, he’d learned every con and trick in the book but ached for a normal life. Once out on his own, Angel returns to Half Moon Bay where he once found… and then lost… love.
Now, Angel’s life is a frantic mess of schedules and chaos. Between running his bakery and raising his troubled eleven-year-old half brother, Roman, Angel has a hectic but happy life. Then West Harris returns to Half Moon Bay and threatens to break Angel all over again by taking away the only home he and Rome ever had.
When they were young, Angel taught West how to love and laugh, but when Angel moved on, West locked his heart up and threw away the key. Older and hardened, West returns to Half Moon Bay and finds himself face-to-face with the man he’d lost. Now West is torn between killing Angel or holding him tight.
But rekindling their passionate relationship is jeopardized as someone wants one or both of them dead, and as the terrifying danger mounts, neither man knows if the menace will bring them together or forever tear them apart.
Review:
Hanging the Stars is the second suspense-laden installment in Rhys Ford’s Half Moon Bay series. While this newest release can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend the first book the series as well.
After moving around from place to place with his con-man father, Angel Daniels returned Half Moon Bay to set down roots. Now raising his eleven year brother, Roman, he owns a bakery and manages a rundown motel that is home to several down on their luck residents. Angel is extremely patient and loving as he tries to ensure Roman has a stable home life and reassure him he will always be there for him.
West Harris runs a highly successful business but he is not close to his twin brother Lang nor does he have very many close friendships. He is socially awkward, standoffish and finds it hard to trust anyone. West kind comes across as a little callous and unfeeling but he is making progress in overcoming the effects of his dysfunctional childhood.
West and Angel have history together but they have not seen or spoken to each other in several years. Given how their relationship ended, Angel is pretty unhappy that West is trying to buy his bakery and force him out of the only home he and Roman have ever had. Even worse, instead of approaching Angel directly, West is letting his best friend handle the transaction. All of that changes when separate attempts are made on both men’s lives and West returns to Half Moon Bay. The sparks fly between the two men right away and despite the painful ending to their relationship years earlier, both of them still have feelings for one another. Their reconciliation occurs without them hashing out their unresolved issues from their break up but there is no shortage of angst as West and Angel continue to targeted by their unknown assailant(s).
West and Angel have absolutely no idea who is behind the attempts on their lives and they can only assume the events are somehow connected. A shocking murder reveals a stunning betrayal and West’s reaction threatens to derail the men’s still fragile romance. While things continue to be a little shaky with Angel, West and Roman instantly bond and their relationship is rock solid despite the danger surrounding them.
Hanging the Stars is an action-packed mystery with a cast of likable characters. The first few chapters are a little confusing since the novel starts right in the middle of the action but it does not take long to get up to speed on what is happening. The romance between West and Angel is surprisingly conflict free considering their history but they do have to overcome a few bumps on the road to happily ever after. The mystery element is full of twists and turns and Rhys Ford brings this part of the storyline to an adrenaline fueled conclusion. All in all, an excellent addition to the Half Moon Bay series that old and new fans will enjoy.
I’ll have to check this series out. Thanks for sharing your thoughts Kathy