Crossing Borders (Crossing Borders #1)

Title: Crossing Borders (Crossing Borders #1)
Author: Z.A. Maxfield and Tobias Silversmith (Narrator)
Publisher: Maxfield Books
Release Date: May 18th 2016
Genre(s): M/M Contemporary Romance
Length: 7 hrs and 47 mins
Reviewed by: Belen
Heat Level: 4 flames out of 5
Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5
Blurb:

Two dudes walk into a bookstore…

Tristan knows he’s got issues. His latest ex-girlfriend knows it too. He can’t blame her for dumping him—even though she gets her brother to do it for her. Since he can’t stop staring at said brother’s package, he figures it’s about time to put a label on those issues. He likes guys.

He heads to a local bookstore with what he’s sure is a foolproof plan to find someone to show him what he’s been missing. But who should crash his little adventure? Officer Michael Truax, who gave him a really expensive ticket back in high school for skateboarding without a helmet.

Michael has been trying to catch Tristan for years…to give him a second ticket. Suddenly faced with “Sparky”, all grown up and looking to get laid, Michael’s protective instinct kicks in—and presents him with an opportunity that’s hard to resist. After all, the kid must know what he’s getting into, so why not?

But when a man with a plan connects with a man with a hunger, the result is nothing short of explosive.

Product Warnings: Contains high-octane hair, a clawfoot bathtub, and a story that will make you believe in love at first sight. Okay, second sight, but who’s counting?

Okay, so here’s the skinny. This was actually one of the first M/M stories I ever read, so it will always have a special place in my heart. I loved the whirlwind romance between nineteen year old Tristan and twenty-seven year old Michael.

Spoiler

I loved the idea that Michael would give up a career after his stabbing to make sure the love of his life didn’t unnecessarily feel panic every time he strapped on a badge and gun.

That being said, sometimes it’s a good idea not to go back and revisit some stories.

The intensity of the insta-love was jarring to me with this read. The same points I loved when I first read this years ago now make me cringe a little.

Spoiler

(Two months between first sexual/dating encounter and declaring love, getting their names tattooed on each other, request to move in, and the constant use of “my boy” and “Sparky” when referring to Tristan.)

But I still love the sex scenes, and the terrific family dynamics, and how much Michael and Tristan love each other and work to be with one another.

The narration itself was good, except I really didn’t like the voice used for Tristan. Tristan is described as a sort of punk-skater-boi with long hair who has been banging chicks left and right before he comes to terms with his homosexuality and the voice Tobias Silversmith uses is…delicate. Almost feminine. It didn’t match up with my idea for how the character would sound and that took me a long while to stop trying to force my expectation of the voice and just enjoy the narration.

I really liked Silversmith’s range, tone, and emotion. Once I stopped trying to backseat-narrate I really enjoyed it.

If you like a super-sweet insta-love romance with an age difference between lovers and some really hot sexy times you should check it out.

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