There may be spoilers below.I really enjoyed Rescued by Felice Stevens and when I saw, what looks like the start to a series I was delighted and couldn’t wait to start reading. Now that I have finished the book, I don’t really know what to say about it. There were a lot of things I really liked about the book, once again the Author was able to create wonderful, fully realised characters who had flaws but were deeply human but I was still able to empathise and like them.Asher is a complex character who comes from a deprived and abusive childhood and through force of will and determination has managed to become a professional success, even though emotionally he is still that abused child. Even though he was a successful lawyer, he was still self-harming and desperately looking for his two foster brothers to see if they survived the nightmare of his childhood without him. He is a very interesting and troubled character and I liked him, mostly, from the very beginning.I had a bit more trouble liking Drew. Drew’s parents were killed after visiting him at university and he lives with a lot of guilt, feeling that if he hadn’t been so homesick they wouldn’t have been killed. To be honest he had great support from his grandmother and sister, as well as his friends and I was surprised that he hadn’t sought professional help earlier in his life. He also was a follower, willing to let his sister and friends dictate who he should see and how he should feel about things, though this changed by the end of the book, it caused a lot of unnecessary angst between the two MCs. When he got his act together he was very supportive and loving towards Asher and hung in there until Asher was able to reciprocate, his actions redeemed him in my eyes.Asher and Drew’s “relationship” went from hmmm I fancy you to I hate you to I love you very, very quickly and without them dealing with any of their communication or relationship issues. Don’t get me wrong I loved parts of this book and then spent other parts wishing that I could hit them on the head. They are old enough and bold enough to get their acts together more quickly than that – if they were in their early 20’s it would have been more excusable.What Drew did at the end of the book and the outcome was in my opinion pretty hard to take, presumably we will see the fall-out in the next book of the series, which I will be buying hoping to see Drew and Asher working together as a team. I am not ready to give up on this Author, her writing is fantastic and I loved her first book. I am hoping that the bumpy ride in this book can be smoothed out a bit in later books in the series. Having discovered my love for M/M romances lately, I jumped at the opportunity to read and review A WALK THROUGH FIRE by Felice Stevens – especially with the broken azzholish hero that is Asher Davis on top. I’m glad I did it – it was an enjoyable and quick read – only the ending left me breathless and kind of depressed. I don’t know if there will be a second book but … seriously? It took such a bad course – and, also, what about Ash’s foster brothers? Did he ever find them? I really hope there will be another book!Asher Davis is a successful divorce lawyer and a first class azzhole who doesn’t believe in love and only cares for himself. There is not one person who knows the real him, and he’d like for it to stay that way. He is fine with the way it is – it’s not like he would lack willing, nameless men for a quick f**k anyway.…well, until he meets Dr. Drew Klein, the melancholic and soon-to-be ex-husband of his money-grubbing client.Drew is a doctor and has been married for only 6 months. His wife was happy to be married to a plastic surgeon, she is not interested in a doctor who starts a clinic for abused children. Even while married, Drew never experienced true happiness, he has always felt lonely and not truly master of his own life, with always everyone else dictating him what to do. He is straight – but why then does this magic pull towards this cocky and sexy divorce lawyer even exist?Drew’s center needs lawyers – devoted ones at that, as it is a pro bono job – and with his dark and gruesome past Asher feels obligated to help these kids out. Forced to spend more and more time together at the clinic, their attraction toward one another cannot be denied for long. But with all those demons haunting not only Ash but Drew as well and Drew’s confusion about his feelings – will they be able to realize that what they have is precious and should be treasured?Asher… Yes, he is cocky – and yes, he is downright a ba$tard to the outside world, still I loved him from the beginning. And once Drew peeled back his layers, I loved the damaged man underneath even more. My heart broke for him. Nobody should have to undergo such a horrid childhood … ever!Drew is another story. I adored his passion for helping the abused kids and loved the slow and believable development of his sexuality. What I didn’t understand though was how he could forgive himself so quickly for his terrible try to prove his ability of making his own decisions – seeing as the outcome was more than devastating.Apart from the two men, I loved Drew’s grandma. The way she protects and loves all her children – even if not children by blood – really is incredible. She sees the best in everyone and tries to make them realize that as well.The romance between Drew and Ash built up slowly – both characters had to change to some degree to make their story believable. But when these two finally get together the heat becomes palpable. And it’s not only the passion in the bedroom – these two connect on a deeper level: They bring out the best in each other and find something neither of them thought he would ever find.This story deals with some serious issues: child abuse, grief, self-mutilation and homophobia. While she doesn’t dance around those sensitive subjects, Felice Stevens approached them with the care they deserve.If you are into M/M romances, you shouldn’t miss out on this one – especially seeing as one of the men at least thought he was gay, which in my opinion makes a story like this so much spicier :)
What do You think about A Walk Through Fire (2014)?
Another great story and couple from Felice!
—ereyonna
