Hush byTal Bauer

Hush byTal Bauer

SUMMARY

A federal judge running from the truth.
A U.S. marshal running from his past.
A trial that can plunge the world into war. 

Federal Judge Tom Brewer is finally putting the pieces of his life back together. In the closet for twenty-five long years, he’s climbing out slowly, and, with the hope of finding a special relationship with the stunning Mike Lucciano, U.S. Marshal assigned to his DC courthouse. He wants to be out and proud, but he can’t erase his own past, and the lessons he learned long ago. 

But a devastating terrorist attack in the heart of DC, and the subsequent capture and arrest of the terrorist, leads to a trial that threatens to expose the dark underbelly of America’s national security. 

As Russia beats the drums of war, intent on seeking revenge, and the United States struggles to contain the storm before it races out of control, secrets and lies, past and present, collide in Judge Tom Brewer’s courtroom. With the world’s attention fixed on Tom and this case, he suddenly discovers he may be the only person who can put everything together in time to stop the spark of a new world war.

MY REVIEW

"Your Honor, the court is assembled and everyone is ready for you." 

So...where do I start with this review? I will start by stating one major fact:

This is not one story, but two stories. And they are so distinct as night and day. Story 2 starts when you hear the first gunshots, around in the middle of the book. 
Then, the focus will change, the pace will change and the story will become a court drama and a conspiracy theory adventure before you say 'rainbow'.

And yes the first part, the first story of the book is not like this. It deals with the beginning of the love story between judge Tom Brewer, the newest judge to the Washington DC Federal District Court and Mike Luciano, Deputy US Marshal and it is beautiful and heart breaking. Both Tom and Mike will be ready for a fresh start before they start dating each other.

Mike was not happy before Tom: "You want the gay fairy tale, Mike. You want Prince Charming and happy ever after. But, Prince Charming is not going to come wrapped up in the boys you've been fooling with."

Tom was not happy before Mike:He was going to die in this house one day, and no one would know. Someone, eventually, would complain about the smell...and that day would come sooner than later if he had to endure this aching loneliness for another twenty-five years.
So Tom discovered Mike and then he rediscovered himself. And Mike will become the happiest man.

And then the shootings will start.

The book is a combination of themes that I absolutely love in my books:
1. An impossible love story between two people that are not supposed to be together.
2. A fresh start and a second chance in life for someone that thought that his life was over and his true self was died and buried.
3. A conspiracy theory with lots of cover ups, twists and angst that could have happened in the 70s during the Cold War but it happens nowadays.

Loved it!!!!

The secondary characters such as ruthless/remorseless Dylan Ballard (the United States attorney) and understanding/flawless Kris Caldera (Mike's best friend) are worth mentioning. I can imagine great stories with them as main characters.