Book of the Week: Hanging the Stars by Rhys Ford #Review

Author: Rhys Ford
Book: Hanging the Stars
Series: Half Moon Bay #2
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publication date: December 5, 2016
Length: 220 pages

Synopsis
Angel Daniels grew up hard, one step ahead of the law and always looking over his shoulder. A grifter’s son, he’d learned every con and trick in the book but ached for a normal life. Once out on his own, Angel returns to Half Moon Bay where he once found…and then lost…love.

Now, Angel’s life is a frantic mess of schedules and chaos. Between running his bakery and raising his troubled eleven-year-old half-brother, Roman, Angel has a hectic but happy life. Then West Harris returns to Half Moon Bay and threatens to break Angel all over again by taking away the only home he and Rome ever had.

When they were young, Angel taught West how to love and laugh but when Angel moved on, West locked his heart up and threw away the key. Older and hardened, West returns to Half Moon and finds himself face-to-face with the man he’d lost. Now, West is torn between killing Angel or holding him tight.

But rekindling their passionate relationship is jeopardized as someone wants one or both of them dead, and as the terrifying danger mounts, neither man knows if the menace will bring them together or forever tear them apart.

Buy Links

Dreamspinner Press

Amazon

 

Review

To say I was excited to go back to Half Moon Bay is like I saying I only kind of like cheesecake. Way, way big understatement. Rhys Ford takes us on another adrenaline filled ride with her newest Half Moon Bay book, Hanging the Stars. For fans of the series, and if you're not, omg, what is wrong with you, I'm sure you'll agree West Harris isn't number one on anyone's favorite person list. He's definitely not as likable as his twin brother, Lang, from the first book, Fish Stick Fridays, but he sure made an impression. I was so interested in finding out more about him and luckily for us, Rhys has given us a spectacular book filled with everything we've all come to love and expect from her.

As with all of Ford's book, Hanging the Stars is a mystery, so I'll tread carefully as to not spoil anything. And since it's Rhys Ford, you know you're going to be in for a hell of a journey, and Hanging the Stars is all that and more. Filled with emotion and angst and so many feels, this one is sure to hit you right in the heart. What I loved most about West and Angel Daniels is the history between the two. Unlike with Deacon and Lang, these two go way, way back and because of that, the book is rich with a back story and a connection that you feel right from the very beginning. West isn't everything he's portrayed to be and it was so much fun watching all of his layers being carefully and skillfully ripped away. Like with most characters in a Rhys Ford book, he's complex and flawed and this makes him all the more irresistible. The relationship between him and Angel will surely hit you right in the heart. And speaking of ... can I just say his soft spot for the prickly but endearing Zig is meltingly gooey.

The plethora of side characters made Hanging the Stars all the more fun. I loved Angel's brother, Roman, not to mention Angel's best friend, Justin was all kinds of awesome. Add in Marzo, Frank, and some very brief appearances by Deacon and Lang and this book was a roller coaster from beginning to end. There's a mystery and explosions and gun shots of course, but there's also love and family and such a sense of hope and joy that made going back to Half Moon Bay everything I wanted and more. I hope there's more to this series, like maybe Justin getting his own book? A girl can hope. Be sure to check this one out guys, it's Rhys Ford so you KNOW it's going to be fantastic!