Snowcroft Safehouse by Christi Snow

*** 1/2

A year ago Declan Jasper was entertaining sold-out arena crowds as the lead singer of Black Rainbows. But that came to an explosive end when the band got caught up in a criminal cover-up, one that ended with the entire band dead. At least that’s what everyone is supposed to think. 

Now, Dex is hiding in plain sight, working as the school band director in a sleepy little mountain resort town while under the protection of a hard-nosed FBI agent. Instead of eyeliner and black leather, he now wears glasses and corduroy. Instead of having sexy coeds—both male and female—throw themselves into his bed, he’s dealing with teenage angst and grumpy parents. 

At the top of his troubles list is Kelsey Walker, a junior high bundle of rare musical talent in the form of one confused, messed-up adolescent. Dex figures the problem comes from her broken home and wants to help. But when he meets her father, sexy bar-owner, Jack Walker, he realizes that instead of helping he’s probably just bringing more trouble and danger to their door. 

Dex has to stay alive until the trial to bring his bandmates’ murderers to justice, but can he do that if it means sacrificing his own happily ever after?

Review:

Snowcroft Safehouse opens with Dex Jasper and his bandmates buoying up their bassist, Michael.  Michael’s ex-boyfriend has left him beaten and scared for himself and those around him.  The band is dealing with the issue but the show must go on.  Unfortunately, the show doesn’t go on.  An timely placed bomb puts an end to lives of everyone in the band except Dex.   

A year after the night that irreparably changed his life, Dex finds himself living in Snowcroft, NM.  The world thinks he’s dead and Dex is living under WitSec protection until the trial that will hopefully convict the man responsible for taking the life of his friends.  Dex arrives in town with a new name (Finn Alexander), a new handler (a hot straight-laced FBI agent that will hopefully have his own book one day) and a new job teaching band to a small group of middle school students.  All things he thinks he can handle temporarily.  What he doesn’t expect his the instant attraction he feels for the local bar owner…and of course, father of his brightest and most talented student.

Jack Walker is pretty happy with life.  Except that he has no idea how to handle his 12 year old daughter’s mood swings.  Nor does he know what to do about his sex life.  The thing is, Jack is gay.  He knows this.  But he isn’t out.  Being a single dad to a middle-school aged kid in a small town has made embracing that part of himself difficult.  But when Finn Alexander walks into his bar he has hard time hiding his interest.

In a small town it’s impossible to avoid each other and soon Jack and Dex find themselves exploring the possibilities of a relationship.  Jack will need to decide if their relationship is worth coming out and possibly putting his daughter’s small town social life at risk.  And Dex will need to decide if he cannot only tell Jack his true identity but also put him at risk while the trial is still underway.

This was an extremely satisfying m/m romance.   Both men were extremely likable.  I found Dex’s reactions to life after such trauma and loss completely believable.  And although I didn’t LIKE the reason for Jack’s resistance I completely understood it.   There is a perfect amount of mystery built into the story.  It was almost like watching a ramped up episode of In Plain Sight.  Which is one of my favorite shows so it’s no wonder I seriously enjoyed this book.

If you love small town romance with a touch of drama and mystery I can’t recommend this one enough.

Nat