Review - Trial by Fire by Sean Michael

Harry and Jason are having a hard time. They’re still very much in love, but police officer Harry has transferred to vice, where he’s working nights and the job is more dangerous than homicide. Jason spends his nights fretting over Harry’s safety, while Harry is exhausted and frustrated by his job. When the worst happens, it truly tests the couple’s dedication to each other. But it’s not just them. Their close friends Sammy and Peter are there to help, no matter the cost.

This next-to-last book in the Between Friends series forms the dramatic turning point of the complete series. Harry is severely traumatized both physically and mentally on the job. While the event itself is bad, it’s the aftermath that puts the biggest strain on the relationship, and is the focus of a good part of the story. It’s a very believable portrayal of trauma recovery, although a far cry from the spicy times you may be accustomed to from these stories.

We know Harry and Jason from the first book, where they met and set up house together. They’ve been a very devoted couple with few, if any, serious bumps in the road. Now they’re faced with challenges that would stress many relationships to the breaking point. We don’t learn anything new about either man. This story just reinforces how devoted Harry and Jason are to each other and how strong their relationship is.

While the events in this book center on Jason and Harry, Peter and Sammy still play significant roles. Sammy in particular runs himself ragged trying to take care of Jason and Harry, making sure they have food and get to appointments. Fortunately, Sammy has Peter now to keep him from over-extending himself. Peter frequently has to ensure Sammy gets the discipline he craves.

“Trial by Fire” is available from Smashwords or see BookBub for other online sources for your copy.