S.E.X. Review~Home the Hard Way by Z.A. Maxfield

Dare Buckley has come home—or at least, he’s come back to Palladian, the small town he left as a teenager. After a major lapse in judgment forced him to resign from the Seattle PD, Palladian is the only place that’ll hire him. There’s one benefit to hitting rock bottom, though: the chance to investigate the mystery of his father’s suicide. 

Dare also gets to reacquaint himself with Finn Fowler, whose childhood hero worship ended in uncomfortable silence when Dare moved away. But Finn isn’t the same little kid Dare once protected. He’s grown into an attractive, enigmatic stranger who neither wants nor needs what Dare has to offer. 

In fact, Dare soon realizes that Finn’s keeping secrets—his own and the town’s. And he doesn’t seem to care that Dare needs answers. The atmosphere in Palladian, like its namesake river, appears placid, but dark currents churn underneath. When danger closes in, Dare must pit his ingenuity against his heart, and find his way home the hard way.

Home the Hard Way was creative genius from the mind of Z.A. Maxfield. Crime drama, suspense, small town phobia and a dose friendship/love made this book worth the read.

Dare Buckley left the small town of Palladian after the suicide of his father. Finn Fowler stayed. As children, the older Dare took Finn under his wing and protected the withdrawn little boy, who everyone picked on. Once Dare left Palladian, things only got worse for Finn.

Ms. Maxfield wove a web of secrecy and deceit, which ran rampant throughout the small town from the moment Ivy Fowler’s body was found in the river to the end of the story. The many twist and turns created a serpentine affect that enhanced the story and left me anxious to decipher the plot.

A typical love story this was not. In fact, love took a back seat to the bond that was forged in fire from the moment the character’s lives intersected. A spiraling began, that was not to be stopped until the truth was set free. And free it became!

Ms. Maxfield created a world nuances and clandestineness that kept me on the edge of my seat, wanting to know more- needing to know more and cheering for the righteous to be released from their prisons.

Each character created was enigmatic and forthright in their portrayal. No one was who they appeared to be, yet everyone was realistic and engaging.

Crime drama, yes. Clear cut good/bad guys, no. Home the Hard Way will leave you  wondering why anyone would want to live in small town America, while wondering why you’d want to leave. Home is home and whether you go back willingly or not, the hard way or easy, it’s always there.

Ms. Maxfield- brilliantly done!

A five handcuff review

  

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