Bowen does an amazing job of making this m/m romance moving and believable even though the couple's relationship had so much tragedy in the past and so many obstacles in the present. Michael, in particular, behaves badly for much of the book, but we're in his head so we know how much he's suffering. The evolving relationship between him and Rikker is beautifully written, and the variety of responses it evokes from family, friends, and teammates is all handled with a lot of sensitivity. I read the books in the wrong order and wish I had read this before Shameless Hour because it would have made their appearances in that book more meaningful.Highly recommended!