Reviewing A Forced Silence by Cate Ashwood.

A Forced Silence (Zero Hour #1) by Cate Ashwood 4*
BLURB: For paramedic Adam Carson, his world is lights and sirens and saving lives. Pressures at work keep him firmly in the closet, and life is too busy to contend with the complications that come with dating and relationships. When a familiar face from his past turns up where he least expects it, Adam starts to question whether or not there is room in his life for those complications.
The last person forensic pathologist Sam McKenna expects to see at pub night is Adam, the guy who made his life hell in high school. The attraction is instant, but Adam isn't gay and Sam has no interest in pursuing him. Still, the leftover animosity from their teenage years isn't enough to extinguish the lust growing between them. After both are called to the scene of a horrific murder, Adam admits he’s not as straight as he led Sam to believe and they seek comfort and distraction in each other's arms. One night becomes many as the murder investigation intensifies, but when Adam is faced with losing Sam, he is forced to make a choice: to break his silence, or to give up everything for the job he loves.

My Review: This is one very intense romance that has side dish of angst and fear. Without giving anything away it will be hard for me to tell you why I enjoyed this book (until the last couple of pages) but I will try. The fact that Sam is a Forensic Pathologist is emphasised by his involvement in the murder investigation whilst Adam is so firmly in the closet he's almost in Narnia. Sam is so understanding of Adam's fears and why he has them that I felt the same sympathy towards him, even though I usually want to yell at closeted characters to get a backbone, especially if they re in a relationship. I liked the depth Cate gives to the emotions both MCs felt as well as her portrayal of the jobs they have without it detracting from the main story. My only complaint is those last couple of pages where Cate sets it up for another book by leaving us with a teensy, tiny cliffhanger (my biggest bugbear as you all know). I certainly recommend this to anyone who likes hospital/police romances or just likes an enemies to lovers type story. If you want an entertaining read with a dash of heat you can't go wrong with this book.