Reviewed by Susan65
Title: Two Man Station
Author: Lisa Henry
Series: Emergency Services #1
Heroes: Gio Valeri/Jason Quinn
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 273 Pages
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Release Date: January 22, 2018
Available at: Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads
Blurb: 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.
Review: 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.
Overall Impression: I loved it!
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for a fair and honest review.*
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