Hell and Back

Gage was once military now has his own security business. he is called to protect the one man he thought he would never see and the one that broke his heart.
Forge is in the middle of a nasty divorce when he finds his husband dead and his husband's office ransacked. His Lawyer and friend call on Gage's agency to protect him. Forge is shocked to see Gage and wonders why he never answered his letters.
I loved both men. the characters are well developed and the storyline is good. The suspense keeps you on your toes and there are a few twists.
Dorian Bane is a great narrator and I love how he brings his characters to life and keeps the story moving. I listened to this in one afternoon!

Reviewed by Meredith for Diverse Reader

This author is known for his mystery and suspense and Hell and Back takes you on a ride of murder, mayhem, and puzzles.

Forge and Gage fell in love seventeen years ago and only the murder of Forge’s husband brings them back together again. So, in that aspect it’s a second chance story as well. Those are always exciting because you KNOW they know each other before they even see one another. That moment when they lay eyes on each other is everything.

This has a strong romantic element to it. I would say this was fifty percent romance and fifty percent drama and mystery so if you’re a fan of both then you will love this.

I knew this story was too easy when a “bad guy” was revealed and I love that I was thinking like my own life depended on it. It’s the greatest when a book can make you do that.

In some areas I found it did drag and that was mostly due to dialog. There was some mild redundancy in conversations that Gage and Forge would have. Like the same conversation a few times. That was the only little thing that bothered me.

I really love this author and the masterful way he tangles romance and mystery together. It’s always so well thought out and clever!

I recommend this book for the lover of a good whodunit and romance.

Ford is an interior designer, primarily for corporate offices and work places. His husband of 10 years, Granger, is a win-at-all-costs lawyer, who Ford recently caught cheating on him. Instead of kicking Granger to the curb Ford kicks him to the spare bedroom as they work through the divorce settlement. It’s a nasty separation and Ford is sick of the bickering. One evening Ford comes home to find Granger dead in their backyard, shot full of holes in the back.
Gage is hired to be Ford’s bodyguard since the killer or killers are unknown and still on the loose. It turns out Ford and Gage were once potential lovers, so this becomes a second-chance romance as they rediscover each other over time. Gage was badly wounded in combat and Ford helped him recover. Then they parted ways when Ford went home. Ford wrote many letters to Gage but they were returned to sender, with no explanation. This is only one of the mysteries in this story.
As Ford and Gage delve further into the puzzle of what happened to Grainger and why, the story gets wound around organized crime, trusted people turn out to be enemies, red herrings pop up, and there is plenty of fear and anxiety. Dirk Greyson holds no punches. His stories are sometimes violent, always thrilling, and dark fun to read. This is one of his best.

*Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.*

This book captured my attention from the beginning and never let go, so much so, that I read it in one day! Forge is going through an acrimonious divorce and is tired. Of course, those feelings are made worse because he and his soon to be ex-husband still live in the same house, and his ex is a lawyer who doesn't lose. Forge has reached the limit on his patience when he comes home and then he finds his ex murdered. When he refuses to leave his home, his lawyer contacts security to protect him. But, it's not just any security agency. It turns out to be Forge's first love from more than 15 years ago. Forge is reeling from the murder of his ex, and now being forced to spend time with Gage. Gage isn't any happier about the reuniting than Forge is. Gage is bitter about Forge disappearing from his life all those years ago, but made the best of the life he's living.

This was a fast-paced, mystery/suspense story and I absolutely loved it! I thought both Forge and Gage were great, likable characters. They had history and love and though they hadn't had contact for 17 years, once they were together again, it was like coming home for both of them. Once they worked through their issues, of course. I loved that both men were more mature, which I think made this story more believable. They'd had their connection and been through tough times together in the past which allowed them to be more open and honest with each other now. Gage is a great support and protector while Forge is dealing with the fallout of his ex's death, and unraveling the mystery of what really happened.

Honestly, for me, this story was just about perfect. It was a perfect melding of mystery/suspense and romance. I never felt that either parts of the story were overshadowed by the other. The love between Forge and Gage grabbed you from the pages and they were hot together! I think the author did a fantastic job of showing the depth of the love the men had felt and how when willing, that love came back stronger. I'd love to get more of Forge and Gage! This story is one you definitely need to read! I mean, it's mystery/suspense AND second chance romance!

Rating: 5++++ stars!