Impact Zone

Lifeguards of Barking Beach #3

by Keira Andrews

One forbidden night with his best friend's father.

Lifeguard Lachlan Yang hasn't thought about his harmless little crush on his best mate's dad in forever. He hasn't even seen Tim Bullock in fifteen years.

Then they walk into the same bar in Bali—and Tim doesn’t recognize him.

Lachlan should confess who he is. Of course he should! But Tim moved away from Barking Beach years ago and is estranged from Lachie’s best friend, Ryan.

They're never going to see each other again. And Lachlan hasn't wanted anyone this much in a long, long time.

It'll be his secret.

Until he comes face-to-face with his new boss at the beach…

Impact Zone is a steamy M/M romance by Keira Andrews and the third book in the Lifeguards of Barking Beach series. It can be read as a standalone, though you’ll definitely want to read every book about this found family of lifeguards saving lives and risking their hearts. This forbidden romance features an age gap, best friend's dad, demisexual awakening, bisexual identity exploration, and of course a happy ending.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Second Chance, Bisexual, LGBT

Unknown Binding

First published March 5, 2026

About the author

Keira aims for the perfect mix of character, plot, and heat in her M/M romances. She writes everything from swashbuckling pirates to heartwarming holiday escapism. Her fave tropes are enemies to lovers, age gaps, forced proximity, and passionate virgins. Although she loves delicious angst along the way, Keira guarantees happy endings!

Reviews

[~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semicolons~✡~ · Rating 2 out of 5]

~2.5~

I want to weep with disappointment. Et tu, Keira Andrews?

Does every MM romance now need to include a glossary of LBGQT terminology and serve as a soapbox for the importance of labels? Readers in this genre are not the correct audience for the preach pulpit because we ALREADY KNOW and don't want/need to be lectured. Please stop.

I enjoyed the fictional Barking Beach setting, the camaraderie between the lifeguards, and the authentic if exaggerated (to my American ear, at least) Broad Australian accent.

I did find the hyper-Aussie-mode-activated thing vaguely amusing because Keira Andrews is Canadian. Nic Walker is Australian, and her characters mostly speak with a cultivated English - otherwise known as the "daddy owns a yacht" - accent.

I'm usually a fan of age gap stories and eat up the "I want to fuck my bestie's dad" trope with a spoon. But I didn't much like Tim, which soured me on the story.

I also hated Maria, Tim's ex wife, who had to incessantly discuss how she would simply parish if she weren't able to live the poly lifestyle (see paragraph 2 above).

By all means, you're a consenting adult and can do what you want, but maybe think about how your choices affect your children. Neither Tim nor Maria seemed to give two shits about Ryan, their son and Lachlan's BFF. The excess of family dramarama stole the spotlight from the couple.

The romance arc was uneven, with Tim being a total asshole who refuses to kiss one minute and is jumping in with both feet the next. I liked Lachlan more, but he was a little passive and let Tim walk all over him.

Even the epilogue was underwhelming and focused more on Ryan, his shotgun wedding, and his preggers wife than the MCs.

I'm no quitter, so I'll be here for Mark's story; it's gotta be better than this.

ETA: Yesterday, I ran into my daughter's classmate from elementary school. She and my daughter weren't close, so I barely knew her. I last saw this girl when she was 10; she's a 20-year-old woman now (has grown half a foot, changed her hair color, and was wearing heavy makeup), yet I pegged her immediately.

But I'm supposed to believe that Tim didn't recognize his only kid's best friend who hung around Tim's house daily throughout high school, whom Tim taught to surf and had interacted with on numerous occasions? Lachlan was 16, so not a child, when Tim last saw him, but after spending hours with Lachlan at the bar Tim still had no idea who Lachlan was??

Nope, no fucking way, highly improbable, and the entire book hinged on this scenario.

[Pauline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Welcome back to the chosen family of the Barking Beach lifeguards! And damn, I missed those guys 🥹

And while I was so happy to be back, I’m still conflicted 😭
On the one hand, there was so much to like here! Mostly the wonderful cast of the by now familiar and well loved lifeguard crew (they really make for such a wonderful chosen family 🥹), tons of lifeguard action, the gorgeous setting with all the sun, surf and ocean, and Australian charm galore.
All that worked so well for me!

HOWEVER. What didn’t quite work, was the romance.
There’s PLENTY of relationship angst: We have a big age gap (Tim is 50 and Lachlan‘s 30), we have ‘best friend’s father’ who also happens to be the new boss, we have a deeply strained relationship between said bestie and his dad which makes everything even more difficult. So this is forbidden on all fronts, which normally: LOVE 😍

But I struggled with Tim’s character. Their first meeting didn’t paint him in the best light so he had a bit of redeeming to do. And I’m not sure he managed? He stayed too cold and unemotional for too long and the shift to him being ‘in love’ felt very much like telling and not showing. I didn’t feel him feeling more than lust 🤷‍♀️

Lachlan on the other hand was a wonderful character and I liked him a lot. But here, too: I get him having a crush, but I didn’t get him falling in love. The chemistry was just all off I think? At least for me.
The whole romance arc took its time in general, because of the difficult family dynamics and said forbiddenness, but instead of that creating delicious tension, I felt… nothing 😅 WHICH IS SUCH A SHAME BECAUSE I LIVE FOR UST 😭😭😭

One other thing I have to mention: The reason Ryan was so pissed at his dad was a bit ott. Yeah, he divorced his mum (for good reason as it turned out) and made a mistake he had been trying to fix for years, but Ryan was not letting him. He read like he was 13 and not 30 and made me think repeatedly… Ryan, babe, idk man, like, get over it and grow up maybe? On the other hand, he was an awesome best friend to Lachlan, so I forgave… mostly 😅

BUT: Despite struggling with Tim and mourning the lost potential when it came to creating tension, I did gobble this one up. Keira Andrews writes in such an easy and engaging way and the Barking Beach crew has become so very dear to my heart 🥹

And now I really wanna know what’s going on with Mark??

3,5⭐️

Thanks to GRR for the chance to read this ARC. This is my honest opinion!

[Lily S (Cover Lover) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This was the best read from KA in awhile for me. The previous book in this series fell flat for me. In the beginning I didn’t know if I’d like this pairing because Lachlan is so sweet and Tim did not impress me. When they first meet in Bali he got what he wanted and just took off. He seemed one dimensional and I was thinking this can’t be the guy for Lachlan.

Once the book is back at Barkers Beach I enjoyed the story much more and Lachlan really is the reason why. He’s such a caring person who has been dealt a pretty rough hand in life. He tries to do the right thing but he isn’t sure if it’s been worth it. He was a lawyer and now he’s back to being a lifeguard and while he loves it he still feels a disconnect.

Tim is going through similar issues. He took a chance on owning a surf school with a friend and was screwed over. He made some very bad decisions that cost him his son and it seems he is still not settled in his life, even at 50. I can’t blame him for falling for Lachlan because he was just a beautiful person inside and out. Lachlan may have had some father issues he was dealing with but Tim was so different than his own father and after the initial attraction they did get to know each other on a deeper level.

Ryan, Lachlan’s best friend and Tim’s son, was a bit immature for being almost 30. I was hoping he wasn’t going to ruin the book and for me I saw a lot of growth in him. I wasn’t crazy about his mother Maria because she kept the real reason from him for why her and Tim divorced. That was a crappy thing to do. In the end Ryan was a great friend to Lachlan and I didn’t blame him for being upset that his dad was with his best friend. I also felt for him because his parents told him way too much about their sex life. I would not want to know those details!

My favorite part of this book though was the found family. The lifeguards and their support for each other was amazing. They have such a hard job and they have each others backs no matter what. I hope we get Mark’s book next! I loved him!

Shout out to Lachlan’s sister Belinda and his aunt Jo. They were so supportive and Jo was the coolest aunt ever!

I received an ARC for review
All thoughts and opinions are my own

[haletostilinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ 4.5 stars rounded up! ⭐️

These have all been amazing and this one was definitely my favorite so far.

Lachlan recently - like a month ago in the timeline of this series - came back to lifeguarding after being a lawyer for two years and having been fired for unknown reasons to other characters and the audience at first.

And during a trip to Bali, Lachlan skips out on a night of partying once again with his best friend Ryan and their other mates because he's getting tired of that scene. At 29, almost 30 years of age, that makes sense.

So at the hotel he's at alone, he runs into none other than Ryan's father, Tim Bullock aka Bull. Who doesn't recognize Lachlan at all while Lachlan knows exactly who he is, as he had a big crush on the man as a kid before Ryan moved away with with his parents at 14 to the Gold Coast, which is far away from Barking.

It was all innocent, and Tim barely even thought of Lachlan as more than his son's friend - as he should have - before he forgot him completely once they moved to the Gold Coast. Ryan himself moved back to Barking when he was 18 after some family drama, especially between him and Tim, and some years later Tim and his wife, Ryan's mother, ended things and divorced as well and she eventually came back to Barking as well.

Tim, however, stayed out there, so for a total of 15 years Lachlan and Tim did not see each other at all, they weren't even in each other's lives, and Lachlan mostly forgot about his childhood crush on the older man.

So aside from that crush, there was absolutely nothing there when Lachlan knew Tim, but 15 years out of each other's lives all the way means when they meet again, Lachlan is very much an adult, a man, and Tim is attracted.

They hook up that night, even though Lachlan doesn't tell Tim who he is, and that would have been that if it didn't turn out that just a few days later, Tim would be taking over as the boss with the Lifeguards while their usual boss had to leave for medical reasons for a few months.

Tim is understandably angry at Lachlan for knowing and not telling him, and there's the delicious tension between them at the fact that this is Lachlan's best friend's father - and they're still best friends to this day and have been for many years - and his boss. They can't want each other, but the sexual tension is oh so delicious.

Now it's up to you how you feel about Lachlan not telling Tim who he was when they hooked up the first time, but Tim himself of course gets past it soon enough. But I do have to say, even if Lachlan had told him who he was and they hadn't ended up hooking up, I think they eventually would have gotten together anyway. Maybe Tim wouldn't have looked at Lachlan at first, but they would have gotten to know each other anyway and been attracted anyway, in my opinion. Them hooking up or not before working together wouldn't have changed anything.

But anyway, they have such delicious tension and chemistry, and this builds up their feelings beautifully.

My only reason for giving this .5 stars off is that I wish it had done even more with this forbidden trope. They barely get things started before Ryan finds out - and he didn't have to, they could have continued hiding it - and then others start to follow real quick.

I mean I get it's all mature of them - I get that Tim is 50 years old and Lachlan 29, then 30 so they're mature, emotionally intelligent men overall - and they do the right thing and all that, I really do. But man the sneaking around and forbidden aspect of it was deliciously hot. Couldn't they have still been freaking out over telling Ryan at the very least - maybe tell others first? - and have them keep sneaking around for a bit more?

Like Ryan almost catches them during their second time together - since their first night hookup in Bali - and they both decide then and there to reveal that Tim is the man with Lachlan. Like they barely even got to be together and learn what their relationship was and what they are to each other before it was all outed.

I just wanted a bit more time with them sneaking around. Because it's fun and hot, yes, but also because that happened so fast that this fun forbidden trope turned not forbidden at all real damn quick. I didn't tag this as forbidden romance for that reason. It didn't last long, and while Ryan freaks out well enough and is angry for awhile and doesn't accept it all right off the bat, he isn't angry or super pissed for all that long either. And then they start telling people and they're all pretty much fine with it so it just never felt forbidden once they got together, and that was a bit of a bummer.

BUT other than that aspect, I absolutely loved this. Their chemistry was amazing, I absolutely loved these two together. It really took it's time to develop their characters and romance as well, and the first half was definitely juicy and filled with some moments here and there which were good for the "forbidden-ness" of it all.

If I overlook the lack of forbidden-ness later on, the second half is amazing too. I did appreciate that even though Ryan found out too early, he still needed time to accept it and wrap his head around it, and he wasn't just like "whatever, this is cool" like at least he had a reaction that made sense overall. And while most everyone had good enough reactions, Tim also faced a few consequences work wise as well, being Lachlan's boss and all.

So that was all good, and these two continued being amazing together. I also loved where they ended up, that they both got what they had wanted professionally as well as personally and got a well deserved HEA.

So next we get enemies to lovers with Mark and Julian? I'm definitely intrigued, and curious as to why Mark specifically hates Julian so much. It's sure to be juicy!

Until then! 🥰

My Ratings for the Lifeguards of Barking Beach Series:

✨ Flash Rip: 4 stars (my review)
✨ Free Wind: 4 stars (my review)
✨ Impact Zone: 4.5 stars

[Alix · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok. Liked the premise, liked the return to this beach and this crew….it was a good enough read, but I don’t see myself reading it.

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

My least favorite in the series so far :/

Which is a shame! Because the summary sounded right up my alley, and I was really looking forward to it, but it fell a little flat for me. My biggest gripe is that I just didn't really buy the development of actually real feelings between the two characters. The chemistry was there, but they spend basically zero real time together before feelings seem to happen, and all of the lead up is them both thinking it's wrong and can't happen, so the sudden shift to "no, we're going to be in a real relationship" read to me more like two people who got caught in a forbidden situation and decided that they felt more for each other than they did so they could justify their choices...

I liked the demisexual rep, and appreciated it being explicitly on screen, but I did feel like this book started to seem a little exhausting with the constant explicit representation -- we have gay/queer/nonbinary/demisexual/multiple types of polyamory, etc. Which, ofc those are all valid identities and many people in the queer spectrum do gravitate together, so it's not even surprising for them all to be in the same book, but the way it was approached was starting to feel a little forced for inclusion and less natural. Cody being the 'gay guru' also just wasn't for me.

IDK, I'm not particularly interested in the set up for the next pairing, but I'll probably read it because I usually do enjoy KA.

[Shawna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this series and how this world links to her other books; they've all been solidly four stars, which is almost always how Andrews' books hit me on the first read, but they often become comfort re-reads and eventually work their way up to 4.5/5 stars. The jury's still out about whether this series will do that, as well, but I definitely enjoyed my time.

I am generally a fan of age gap romances, but even I paused a bit about the best friend's dad aspect. Lachlan doesn't cover himself in glory in how he lets their one wild night unfold, either, though you can understand why he didn't say anything.

The uncomfy set up is handled well and both MCs are mature enough at least to know that they do have to work together, even if only temporarily. I also appreciate the author's demisexual rep, but it did feel a bit didactic in spots, as the whole gang dissects Lachlan's description of how he feels about sex and relationships.

There are sometime authors who write essentially the same book many times. I wouldn't say that about Andrews, because of the wide range of genres she's written in; however, she clearly has favorite tropes and scenarios and works hard to differentiate her books from each other while still incorporating those themes and scenes. I consider her to be a thoughtful writer, and I'm a reader who likes variety but ALSO likes to have some tried and true authors in my back pocket that I can count on to provide a certain vibe, so I appreciate Andrews particularly for being so reliable for me.

I might be in the minority on this point, but I also like romance authors who gently acknowledge reality in their contemporary books, and show us characters who have convictions and beliefs and are willing to fight for them (or at least not be swayed to the dark side.) Lachlan's struggles as a corporate lawyer were relatable and made me like him more. Yes, I want to escape the horrors, but I also can be buoyed by seeing good people trying to do good in my romance books, too.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed it. While I'm usually not into age gaps, it's certainly not very icky when the younger person is nearing 30, and has a career and means for themselves. I did know that going into it (after all, we met Ryan and Lachlan last book), so I wasn't nervous about the "father of my best friend" trope as I would have been had the younger one been in his teens.
Dynamic wise, it was pretty good. Both Tim and Lachlan have to face their issues and each other to be together: family, self esteem, acceptance, reconsidering their wants in life and relationships... It makes the end feel very well fought for and makes it all the more satisfying

[Fabigail Cohen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm a big Keira Andrews fan, and I enjoyed the other books in this series. Otherwise this would've been a DNF. Tim, the older MC, is just an asshole. He treats Lachlan, who's a sweetheart and seems much younger than 29, like crap and never has a comeuppance for it. I disliked him in the very first scene and that didn't change. Lachlan had some growth, figuring out who he wants to be and dealing with old family issues, but I wasn't impressed with Tim at all. This pairing didn't work for me. It's nice to be back at Barking with the other lifeguards, though.

[Kath · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m giving 3 stars because it’s Keira Andrews and I don’t usually rate lower than that. I did not like this book much. As an Australian, I can tell you that we don’t all speak like this 😆.

[Aldi · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Keira Andrews is still an auto-buy for me but sadly I haven’t really sparked with any of her more recent books, at least not since the Barbarian Duet (overall, I think I prefer her historicals & fantasy titles). I enjoy the setting of the Aussie lifeguard series a lot, but ironically my favourite of the stories has been Damo and Blake’s free short story (since replaced with the full novel, which wasn’t as good imo).

Anyway, this was my least favourite of the series so far, alas. There’s still plenty of good stuff here, love the Aussies, love the lifeguarding (which seems well-researched as ever), and I do enjoy the sense of community and friendship among characters from the individual books.

But I really struggled with the romance here, particularly with Tim as a love interest. Lachlan was lovely but I couldn’t help feeling he deserved better. Tim doesn’t come off great in the early parts, and although there are hints that there are reasons, it takes a while until we get pertinent backstory info, and none of it makes up for the fact that he’s kind of an arse to Lachlan for way too long. Which I could totally roll with if that was the intended dynamic but this wasn’t an enemies-to-lovers thing; it was Lachlan pining and hero-worshipping and settling for crumbs while Tim was withholding and just kind of… dickish? There was nothing hot about it to me, and I didn’t feel the chemistry. In fact, their first few sexual encounters felt kind of sad, especially once Lachlan had actually verbalised that he needed emotional connection and Tim still just treats him like a hook-up. (The man doesn’t kiss like it’s 1999 and he’s Stuart Alan Jones).

Speaking of verbalising – this book goes way overboard on the sexual identity panel board discussions. There is SO much oversharing and defining and sometimes outright lecturing about labels and terminology. Tim’s ex-wife Maria is poly and will not shut up about it – I’m pretty sure there wasn’t a single scene she was in where she didn’t hold forth at length about her NEEDS and the details of her polycule and what her therapist had to say about things. When she’s not doing that, she’s badgering Tim about his bisexuality and internalised homophobia. Cody is referred to as a “gay guru” no fewer than three times and spends most of his on-page time enforcing talks about sexual identity and dynamics, including in wildly inappropriate settings like in front of the guy who is his boss, his tenant, and a near-stranger. Lachlan is educated about the existence of demisexuality and it blows his mind because omg it’s him. Like, I’m happy for people to find their truth but most of this just felt so forced. At one point Cody literally rattles off a Google definition.

Relationship-wise, there’s kind of a mad 180 later on; an emergency leads to sudden changes of heart, which I always find a bit of a cop-out, and suddenly we’re telling people and jumping in with both feet. I got whiplash a bit it was so fast; again, it didn’t feel organic. I guess it didn’t help that I wasn’t into the sexual dynamic, which I feel I’ve seen a number of times from KA now, and along with the large age gap and Lachlan acting younger than he was, it was all a bit meh. (Tim’s son Ryan was worse, admittedly – thirty going on fifteen, honestly.)

All that said, I am still intrigued by the set-up for Julian and Mark’s book so I will absolutely read the next one. It’s always easier to think of criticisms than praise, and this probably sounds like I disliked the book more than I did. I do enjoy the queer beach community vibes, and it was a good summer read (in fact, I headed straight to the beach after finishing it!), just not quite my cuppa in terms of pairing.

[fishreads (back? from hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lachlan Yang is on a holiday with his friends in Bali, but feeling overwhelmed with the constant partying, he decides to do his own thing on his last night. At a hotel bar he comes across Tim Bullock, his best friend Ryan's estranged father. Tim doesn't recognize Lachlan. Lachlan, who has had a crush on Tim as a teenager, doesn't enlighten him on the fact. Instead he finds it freeing and exhilarating to talk to Tim on the same footing. When Tim shows obvious interest in Lachlan, Lachlan takes him up on it and they have a quick but memorable one night stand.

Once back home, Lachlan can't get his encounter with Tim out of his head, but he's intent on taking the secret to his grave. Except in an unexpected turn of events, Tim shows up as a temporary replacement for Teddy, the chief lifeguard and Lachlan and Ryan's boss. Tim, who has taken the job as a way to finally make amends with his son Ryan, who spend years refusing to forgive him for moving them away from Barking, divorcing his mother and some other things, is furious upon seeing Lachlan and realizing who he is. He gives him a talking to and decides to keep things between them strictly professional.

For a few weeks Tim even manages to stay away from Lachlan. Lachlan, who has been struggling after quitting his job as a lawyer in the big city and returning back home, only to feel like he no longer has nothing in common with his closest friends, can't help but reach out to Tim and Tim can only keep him at arm’s length for so long.

I admit, while I was cautiously hopeful about Lachlan and Tim's story, I wasn't sure if I would enjoy it. I really loved the first book in the series, Liam and Cody's story. At the time I firest read it, it seemed like it was a standalone. Sure, there was a short bonus story about Damo discovering his bisexuality, but I never expected a series to come out of it. Then Damo's short story turned into a second book in what is now a series. I started reading it and then I just stopped, leaving it to languish indefinitely on my Currently Reading shelf.

So I really didn't know how will it go with Lachlan and Tim's story, as it could have gone both ways. At first Tim seemed like an unlikable asshole, he refused to kiss men he hooked up with and he couldn't have gotten fast enough from Lachlan after they both got off barely saying goodbye. Lachlan seemed to be acting younger than his thirty years of age especially when he was around Tim, and he just seemed so lost and insecure. It really took some time for the two of them to find a way how to act around each other, but once they did, their growing feelings, the mutual understanding and protectiveness made for a really enjoyable romance.

It was really good to visit once again with the guys at the Barking beach. Liam and Cody will probably remain my favorite couple in the series, but at the moment I can say Lachlan and Tim come at a close second. I'm really curious and impatient (even if I have no idea when can we expect it) to read the next book in the series. I clued in pretty early it might be about Mark, but it took me by a complete surprise to find he will be paired up with Julian of all people.

Themes: dual POV, lifeguards, best friend's father, age difference, one night stand, boss/employee, character of color, Australia

[Glenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

He Finally Gets His Best Friend's Father

Lachlan Yang's closest friend is Ryan Bullock, whose father, Tim Bullock, he has admired for many years. He has idolized Tim's heroic deeds as a lifeguard at Barking Beach, where the two have been employed. In accordance with Lachlan's father's aspiration that Lachlan would pursue a career as an attorney at the esteemed firm where his father had been employed, he was dismissed from his position after failing to assist a corporate landowner in displacing small landholders under the pretense of constructing new homes for them.

During a trip to Bali, Lachlan encounters Tim Bullock, Ryan's father, who is drinking alone at a bar. Tim does not recognize Lachlan, as it has been approximately a decade since their last meeting at Barking Beach. When Tim flirts with Lachlan, they engage in intimate conduct, under the impression that they will not see each other again. However, Tim is returning to Barking Beach to serve as acting lifeguard supervisor while the current supervisor undergoes cancer treatment for several months.

At Barking Beach, Tim is recognized by Lachlan. Lachlan is resolved to foster a deeper connection with Tim. However, with Ryan's growing relationship with a woman whom he intends to marry and have children with, Lachlan faces the challenge of reconciling his feelings for Tim without offending Ryan.

Keira Andrews' adept storytelling would seemingly conclude with the two men united... yet, readers are also privy to the daily activities of the Barking Beach lifeguards, now under Tim's interim supervision. Ms. Andrews describes the routine tasks, the variations in daily duties, and the emotional toll of overseeing individuals who may not realize the dangers posed by the beach.

Additionally, the narrative explores Tim's interactions with his ex-wife, and Ryan's mother regarding his relationship with Lachlan. The story immerses us in the daily life at the Australian beach, set against the backdrop of Tim and Lachlan growing closer. It also touches on the complexity of Tim's intimate relationship with his subordinate and the conversations he has with his son about his increasing attraction to Ryan's best friend.

The brief overview is suitable for a novella-length work, but Ms. Andrews enriches the narrative with insights into Ryan's family background, the reasons behind his parents' separation, and his developing romance with his future wife. Lachlan becomes increasingly aware of his unique sexuality, which intensifies his interest in Tim, who is eager to expand their relationship.

When a tragedy claims the life of a lifeguard, it prompts Tim to prioritize his care for Lachlan and to disclose his relationship to Ryan. While Lachlan regrets not revealing his identity to Tim during their Bali encounter, Ms. Andrews' story explores the emotional complexities of these unconventional relationships and the genuine bonds that develop between the characters.

The story concludes with a resolution that addresses the age gap between Lachlan and Tim, Lachlan’s demisexuality, and the acceptance of their relationship by others.

[Nancy Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW
IMPACT ZONE (Lifeguards of Barking Beach 3) di Keira Andrews
VOTO: 4.5 ⭐2🌶
RECENSIONE: Impact Zone è il terzo libro della serie Lifeguards of Barking Beach che vede protagonisti vari personaggi che lavorano come bagnini. Avevo letto tempo fa i primi due libri e quando mi si è presentata l’occasione per leggere il terzo libro in anteprima, ho colto la palla al balzo! I protagonisti sono Lachlan e Tim. I due si incontrano la prima volta durante un matrimonio e tra i due scatta la scintilla, peccato che Lachlan sappia benissimo chi è Tim: ovvero il padre del suo migliore amico. I due passano una notte di passione ma per Tim non è niente di serio perché se ne va subito dopo, lasciando Lachlan ferito. Passa del tempo e Lachlan scopre che il suo nuovo capo a Barking Beach non è altro che Tim che quando lo riconosce prova imbarazzo e rabbia per non averlo saputo prima. La storia è un forbidden love e con tanta differenza di età (50/30), ma tra i due il più maturo è stato Lachlan che, nonostante un inizio imbarazzante, ha cercato di scusarsi con Tim il quale però, mentre leggevo il libro, l’ho trovato nei suoi confronti un po’ troppo freddo e distante. Ok, non aveva mai avuto una vera relazione con un uomo (solo sesso), capisco anche che fosse più importante per Tim riprendere i rapporti con il figlio (cosa diventata ancora più complicata quando lui scoprirà del padre e di Lachlan) ma… ecco, speravo fosse un po’ più dolce nei confronti del giovane ragazzo. Mentre leggevo volevo abbracciare Lachlan, è diventato uno dei miei personaggi preferiti del mondo di Keira Andrews. Ho amato molto come ha raccontato dell'ex moglie di Tim e di come lei vivesse in una relazione poliamorosa senza scandali o eccessivo angst. La storia mi è piaciuta molto e ho amato la descrizione della spiaggia e come gli amici siano presenti e sempre pronti a dare una mano ai due protagonisti. Raccomandato a chi ama le storie un po’ complicate ma sempre con il lieto fine. Grazie mille a Keira Andrews e a GRR per la mia copia ARC!

ENGLISH REVIEW:
Impact Zone is the third book in the Lifeguards of Barking Beach series, which features various characters who work as lifeguards. The main characters are Lachlan and Tim. The two meet for the first time at a wedding and sparks fly between them, but unfortunately Lachlan knows exactly who Tim is: his best friend's father. This story is forbidden love and age difference, but I found Lachlan more “adult” than Tim. Despite an awkward start, Lachlan tried to apologize to Tim when he tried to ignore him. As I read the book, I found Tim a little too cold and distant towards Lachlan who deserved only love and affection. Lachlan has soon become one of my favorite characters in Keira Andrews world. I really loved how she wrote about Tim's ex-wife and how she lives in a polyamorous relationship without scandal or excessive angst. Recommended for those who love stories that are a little complicated but always have a happy ending. Thank you so much Keira Andrews and GRR for my ARC copy!

[ivanareadsalot · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to thank GRR for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

I've been a fan of this series from the start, and though this installment wasn't my favourite of the 3, the story did pick up about halfway through after a bit of a slow start, and I enjoyed how everything eventually came together!

Lachlan and Tim had some hot spicy loving that made up for everything I did not vibe with. I loved the shared vulnerability between Lachlan and Tim, and I thought their relationship had enough tension and challenges to make their HEA worth it. They were sexy and sweet, and Tim was growly, and Lacklan was needy and craving in all the best ways. When they sorted themselves out after their crunchy beginning, I really enjoyed them together.

Outside
Of
Their relationship
There was just a lot of melodrama and histrionics in this installment. It was weird for me and made my face a bit twisty. But I persevered, because I was here for Lachlan and Tim's age-gap, "can't fight this feeling anymore" romance, and Andrews delivered.

The rest of it was just
A lot.
Ryan and his family were…something else. Not my flavour of messy, as I'm not into 30yo dude Bros who have meltdowns when they go through it. And also, his whole family drama was soap opera E X T R A to the point where I missed when the action was on the beach AND in the sheets, feeding off each other.

Straight up I am a rocket for the sexy aftermath of a dangerous time 😏 And Tim and Lachlan were very fire, so I wish there was more of THAT intensity, instead of the family circus.

Luckily, Ryan did redeem himself at the end there by basically recognizing he could be happy for other people without making everything about him, so props for self-awareness…

But also
30 years old.

This series has been a lot of fun, with hot and steamy romantic love, and both metaphorical and physical Impact Zone rips that change the lives of the babes at Barkers, for better or for worse, and I love the ride! Can't wait for more Keira Andrews, because I've been moved by every single one of her super melty MCs across time, and Tim and Lachlan were very scrumptious in this!

[Barb ~rede-2-read~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed Lachlan's story and all the emotional ups and downs he faced in this story, over and above falling in love with his best friend's estranged father. Lachie was a likable character and he's carried a torch for fifteen years for Tim, aka Bull, his buddy Ryan's dad who not only moved and divorced his mom but also took money earmarked for Ryan's future. Not likely to be forgiven easily.

The setup to rekindle Lachlan's attraction was great as well. A bar in Bali, a hot stranger, who really wasn't a stranger, who hits on him. Oh yes, that beginning was great. Bull had no idea the cute guy he picked up in the bar was his son's best friend, now 30 years old, a "kid" he hasn't seen in 15 years. But Lachlan knew Bull and decided to take a chance with the man he's always been attracted to, and then they spent some happy times in a private spa area. Bull pulled a quick runner as soon as it was over and never saw Lachlan again until he reported for his new job back at the Barking Beach lifeguard station. Imagine his surprise! Imagine Lachie's embarrassment when his new boss is none other than Tim Bullock.

A great setup and I enjoyed every moment. I must say, if I had one negative it would be the amount of time it took Bull to get his head out of his butt and acknowledge his attraction to Lachlan. He also needed a little more softness on page for Lachlan for me to embrace him fully. He was still struggling with his bisexuality and would not kiss or hold hands or in any way be demonstrative to the young man he cared for. Once he finally did, he was all in, thankfully, and as I said above I really enjoyed this.

Ryan, btw, was eventually accepting and he loved his best friend enough to eventually forgive him and work his way toward accepting his father back into his life. On a side note, Ryan's mom was poly and her relationships were quite something unexpected. She was a great character, a true happy spirit who was accepting of everyone's right to choose who they love.

This story was a definite winner, IMO. And, of course, a hard road to get there but a nice HEA.

[Daje1968 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I keep chasing the Keira Andrews high I got from Kidnapped by the Pirate (cringey title, excellent book), but unfortunately none of her books have hit that same way for me. I’m starting to think she’s simply stronger in historical romance.

Her writing is solid; technically clean, competent, easy to read. But I find her contemporaries so boring. The pacing drags with too many day-in-the-life scenes, and the characters often just… exist. This couple in particular really lacked chemistry. I love a good age gap, but twenty years felt like a stretch here. Lachlan is in his prime, fully stepping into adulthood, while Tim felt a bit washed up (sorry for the pun).

Speaking of washed up, lifeguarding just isn’t that interesting to me. The most compelling question the book raised for me was: how much money does a lifeguard actually make? Is this a much bigger, more culturally significant job in Australia? Seems strange that so many men in one town could make a living off of it.

Which brings me to something I’m not complaining about, just observing: Keira Andrews’ contemporaries have made me realize how very different Australia feels from the US or UK — linguistically and culturally — despite the shared English and British colonial roots. I had to look up quite a few words. (“Ambo” = ambulance, I’m guessing. Ending a sentence with “as” seems to be the equivalent of “as fuck.”) It’s not bad, just makes me realize how different a change in hemisphere can make things.

One more thing: the book felt a little heavy-handed with labeling sexuality. Tim coming to terms with being bisexual was mentioned repeatedly (like, a lot). His ex-wife was polyamorous. Lachlan was excited to be labeled demisexual. I’m absolutely here for exploring the spectrum, but I prefer when it’s woven organically into the story rather than repeatedly announced. Sometimes it’s more powerful when you just see it in action and draw your own conclusions.

Thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for the ARC!

[Harrison Hicks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, I enjoyed this book but I had enough problems with it to keep it from being a 4-star read.

I did like the characters of Tim and Lachlan. Both were believable, including their issues, and their backstories were intriguing and illustrative of where they were presently. Tim's backstory as to a failed business was particularly well handled, including its aftereffects with his family. And their chemistry together as a couple felt real, even if a bit forced at one point.

What I didn't like was the fact that the whole plot pretty much flowed from the lack of communication from the various characters, including Tim and Lachlan, but also other characters such as Maria, Tim's ex-wife and Ryan's mother. It just seemed that without that particular plot point that there wouldn't have been much of a story.

I also had issues with the characters of Ryan, son of Tim and best friend to Lachlan, and Maria. Ryan was supposedly approaching 30 and came off as little more than a spoiled man-child or almost high schooler maturity level, even though he grew up a bit towards the end. And Maria's lack of communication with her family, including Ryan, was pretty much unforgivable to me even if it did set part of the plot in motion. As mentioned before, I liked Tim and Ryan's chemistry, but it seemed that the point where they decided to see their relationship through was a bit forced. One minute they were holding back and then the next, not. True, there was a crisis that helped precipitate their decision but it still struck me as a bit rushed.

Still, overall i enjoyed the book. The Barking Beach found family of lifeguards is a fun group of characters and there's a good balance of interplay between the lifeguards with the high stakes of their chosen vocation. Probably a 3.5 star read for me.

[livia · Rating 3 out of 5]

There’s something to be said about the fact that I picked this up and couldn’t put it down any free time I had, but I think a lot of it is just that I really love this universe, and I’ve been anxiously waiting for this new book since I first heard the premise. Age-gap? Best friend’s father? Sign me up immediately.

Unfortunately, this was definitely a bit of a disappointment. Honestly, I get angst — and this is way angstier than anything else in this series — but I get easily annoyed at drama, and there’s just too much of that. I knew this wasn’t going to be for me when I was already annoyed at Ryan for a hatred of his father that felt so childish he could’ve passed as a teenager, and then at his mom for the lying and playing an active role in letting the relationship between her son and father collapse, and then at Tim for keeping a secret so random it made the whole thing almost a misunderstanding. It was just so, so much family drama, it actually completely took up the entire first 30% of this story.

And, unfortunately, the romance did suffer. I just couldn’t buy the intensity of Lachlan’s feelings, and I wished we had more time for them to build something that wasn’t just trauma dumping and mildly kinky sex. By the end of the book I was a lot more invested in having Ryan forgive Tim and grow up than I was in the success of the romantic relationship.

In all honesty, I did enjoy a fair bit of this story, especially once the drama was mostly done, but it’s nowhere near its predecessors. I’m also a bit apprehensive over the next book — Mark sounds fine, but the dynamic with Julian almost sounds like it’ll be another angst and drama fast. It just makes me miss the thing I mostly loved about Flash Rip, which was the beach and the lifeguards, with the family aspect of it all.

[Manon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Barking Beach series and while theoretically it can be read on its own. I think you get more out of it if you read the first two as well.

This is a best friend's dad, huge age gap (20 years), a coming out, a discovery of who you are and making amendments to the past. There's a lot to discover in this book and this is actually what makes it sometimes a bit difficult and the reading feels a bit disengaged.

I really love Lachlan, he is trying to rebuilt his life not knowing what he wants from it having this huge problem hanging over his heart that he is trying to do what his deceased father thought he should do instead of going for what he thinks he wants to. this is where it is a bit of a problem because Lachland is already 30. It feels a bit like kind of he has a mindset of behaviour of somebody who is I don't know mid 20s maybe?

Nevertheless he is a character you really come to love.

Tim on the other hand was a bit more difficult to connect to there's a lot of unpack his failed marriage, the failed business, the reason for his estrangement to his son, that he really has an problem accepting that he is bisexual because he refuses to engage in any romantic relationship with men.

It takes basically until the end of the book where I can finally see a connection between these two and while the scenes are quite spicy I felt there is connection and chemistry missing. The epiloguge is a good way to end the story.

The book also has a huge amount of Australian slang if you read the first two books you already realised that and maybe remembered some of the words but the author added a dictionary at the end of the book and this is really helpful even as a UK reader, several expressions were the unknown to me.

[Laura Chambers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so happy to be back at Barking Beach with Keira Andrews' Impact Zone. I have loved every book of this series and Impact Zone is just as lovely.

Lachlan is back at Barking Beach as a lifeguard after losing his job at a law firm. He was in Bali with some friends when he sees Tim. Tim is the father of Lachlan's best friend, but hasn't seen him in years. Lachlan recognizes Tim, but Tim doesn't recognize Lachlan.

What was supposed to be a one-time fling in Bali becomes more when Tim also returns to Barking Beach for a short, temporary stint. To complicate matters, Tim and his son (Lachlan's best friend) have been estranged for several years.

Lachlan and Tim try their hardest to maintain a professional only relationship, but they end up falling in love with each other. While their relationship grows, Tim begins to repair his relationship with his son. While not all challenges were resolved with Tim and his son, they are the path.

Lachlan is hurting so much. I can feel his feeling of being lost and frustrated. He’s in this weird place with his career and his friends. He seems so lonely.

Cody is an absolute delight. When he was talking with Lachlan at the club and then back at his place, you really could tell he has a heart of gold and that gave Lachlan strength.

I love how Keira used darkness and nighttime to provide cover to both Lachlan and Tim to share and be honest with themselves and each other. I did not expect to cry reading this book, but I did at several points.

If you enjoyed either of the previous Barking Beach books, you will certainly enjoy Impact Zone.

Steam: 3.5/5
Fun: 4/5
Overall: 4/5

Thanks to GRR for providing an eARC and this is my honest review.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The lifeguards of Barking Beach continue to keep me enthralled with their stories!

Lachie and Tim definitely have a lot of things working against them--Tim is Lachie's best friend's (Ryan's) dad, Tim is now technically his boss at the beach, and Ryan is 100% not going to be okay with them seeing each other. However, after a chance one night stand and the realization they will be working together, they find staying away from each other to be a lot harder than they thought.

I really liked the chemistry between these two. While I would have liked some more scenes of them interacting to show the feelings developing, their physical chemistry was great from the beginning. I also liked the overall story with Lachie figuring out what was next and Tim coming to terms with who he is (and fixing his relationship with Ryan).

My only real negative about this book is that there was a lot going on in the margins that kind of distracted from the overall relationship. Tim's ex was a great character, but all of the drama around why they actually got divorced was kind of a lot, and didn't add too much to the overall story. Tim's internalized homophobia (and constant internal whining that his ex wife kept calling him out on it) was also a little irritating after awhile, especially since it ultimately didn't add much to the conflict in their relationship, as he really didn't do any work to move past it that we saw on page.

Overall, if you liked the other books in this series, you'll like this one also! It's a story with sweetness, heat, and some serious feels.

CW: sexual content, homophobia (internal and external), death of parents (off page prior to story), drowning (not a known character)

[HarriReadsRoMMance · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars rounded up

Lachlan used to be a lifeguard and then returned to Barking Beach after several years away following his late father’s path as a lawyer before realising he didn’t actually want that life. Bull is Lachlan’s childhood best friend’s dad and his childhood crush. They meet by chance in Bali, 15 years after the last time they saw each other and Bull has no idea who Lachlan is while Lachlan couldn’t believe that the man he always had a crush on is flirting with him. They have a scorching encounter never thinking they’ll see each other again but of course that is not the case. Bull is knowingly bisexual but he hasn’t really told those in his life and while he is comfortable in the physical side with men he still has some internalised homophobia to work through which adds a layer to their romance unfolding.

While I enjoyed the story overall, I felt like things jumped very quickly from Bull being quite rude to standoffish to Lachlan once they start working together to being together to saying I love you. Because of the super sudden shift of behaviour, I’m not really sure that Bull fully redeemed himself in my eyes. It really felt like I was missing chapters or something. Not to mention the fact that Lachlan’s best friend has an acrimonious relationship with his dad so I felt his discovery of the relationship was glossed over pretty fast and I was expecting more with the reveal. I adored Lachlan and thought he was a well written character struggling with finding himself at the age of 30. I love Barking Beach and I love the side characters - I love seeing Mia still kicking butt on the beach! I hope we get Mark’s book soon.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Babara-Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A SWEET, INTENSE DEMI-SEXUAL , BI-SEXUAL AGE GAP LOVE STORY!💕🌊

In the third book of the series we get returning lifeguard “Shark” Lachlan Yang 30 who meets his childhood crush and best friends estranged father- “Bull” Tim Bullock 50 in a bar in Bali fifteen years later… what follows is a hookup that both will never forget…

WHAT HAPPENS IN BALI- STAYS IN BALI…

Or so they thought until the new acting Manager to take over from Teddy is introduced…

IMPACT ZONE: 🌊

Surfing: The dangerous, turbulent spot where the falling lip of a wave hits the water.

Metaphorical: A place or situation requiring intense, life-changing action.

This Age gap love story is filled with lots of emotional tension, guilt and sadness regarding two people who reach a point in their lives where emotions take control, consequences be damned and love overcomes all!

I loved the found family of lifeguards who supported their own and accepted without hesitation!

Lachlan was struggling with the guilt of being fired from the prestigious law firm he worked at and being emotionally attracted to his boss and best friend Ryan’s father…

He was sweet, caring and very supportive of both Tim and Ryan.

Tim struggled with his inner homophobia regarding being attracted to men and with the help of his ex wife Maria and the support and understanding of Lachlan he overcame most of his struggles…

Ryan was a bit childish in his resentment towards his father but when it comes to Lachie he is a best friend, brother and co-worker who will stand by him no matter what!

There is some tension between Paramedic Mark and a blast from Lachlan’s past… very intriguing 🤔

I voluntarily received an ARC from GRR for an honest non biased review.

[Elizabeth D · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 I really enjoyed this. There are all sorts of reasons who Tim and Lachlan’s relationship isn’t the best idea, but I really liked how clear it was that it wasn’t just physical (or at least not for long). They had an extremely strong attraction to one another but also felt a whole bunch of feelings (even if they didn’t want to admit it—which admittedly goes on with Tim for quite a while).

I really liked the demi-rep and the way that understanding the identity opened so much up for Lachlan. Labels are just labels, of course, but they can be a really useful way to connect and learn about yourself, especially if you feel like you’re outside the “norm”. It was really nice to see Lachlan realise there was nothing wrong with him.

Especially given the age gap, I appreciated how Lachlan and Tim both had things to sort out in their lives. Lachlan is nearly thirty, and both he and Tim are actually at sort of new “start over” points in their lives. Neither was perfect, both had ways to grow, and they supported one another. It was also nice to see real consequences and appropriate action taken for the possible power imbalance in the relationship. I’m always happier when this is actually addressed and not just glossed over.

I loved all the side characters, and I liked how Ryan got to do some growing too. It was nice that there was space for everyone’s feelings and time for people to sort out how other people’s behaviour and decisions impacted them. It made the resolution feel more real and not too easy.

Can’t wait for more from Barking Beach!

I received an ARC from GRR. This is my honest review.

[CatOnABlueBackground · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was looking forward to the next book in this series and was very happy to get an ARC. I love this series about the lifeguards who work at Barking Beach.

This book is about Lachie (Ryan's best friend) who hooks up with Tim (Ryan's dad) while on vacation. It's been 15 years since they've seen each other - Tim doesn't recognize him. Surprise - when Lachie gets back home and goes back to work, he finds that Tim is temporarily coming in to take the job of head lifeguard for a few months. It's at this point that Tim realizes he had a one night stand with Ryan's childhood friend. A good half of the book is them trying to deny their attraction - not only because of the huge age gape, but also the fact that Tim knew Lachie as a child, and the fact that Tim is currently Lachie's boss. A death of a swimmer at the beach tears down the walls and they can no longer deny their attraction.

It's a good book with a lot of great characters. There's plenty of spice once they finally give in, and tons of found family. The only thing that I didn't care for (& the reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5) is the HUGE age gap. 20 years is just too much - especially when I didn't really feel that I knew Tim very well. Lachie's motives were clear, but Tim's seemed kind of vague. Anyhow, they do get their HEA, although they both end up changing jobs (for the better).

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was looking forward to this story, and it was fun. I have absolutely no issues with the age gap; if they’re two consenting adults, then it’s nobody’s business but theirs.

I think the author toned down the amount of drama this time, and the only real issue was that Lachie was Tim’s son’s best friend. Which, fair do. I’d probably be a lot weirded out by that too.

I think it’s great to celebrate all sorts of sexualities, but I don’t think it’s necessary to focus on them as heavily as what this book did. It almost feels like you’re going full circle back to justifying why it’s okay. I hope that makes sense for anyone who has read it too.

Once Tim realised he wasn’t going to be able to let Lachie go, they were a sweet, adorable couple. Lachie made me emotional at times; he was very much a people pleaser, and it was sad when that didn’t always work out for him.

I’ve enjoyed reading the Australian slang and although a lot of things are very similar to the UK there’s also a lot that’s not, and it’s been fun to read it.

It’s been a good series so far. I do hope we get to learn what’s wrong with Mark, especially now Lachie is helping him with his legal case. But yeah, overall another enjoyable story at the beach.

………………………………………………………….

I got an ARC from GRR, and this is my honest review.

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4 stars

Impact Zone is the third book in Keira Andrews Lifeguards of Barking Beach series. While there is a large cast of side characters here, including MCs from the other books, this one can stand alone (though of course I think it is more fun to read them all). This one is full of some fun tropes — best friend’s dad, age gap, and boss/employee. There is also a dose of coming out, as Tim hasn’t really told anyone but his ex-wife that he is bisexual and is still coming to terms with some internalized homophobia. So there is a lot to explore here and Andrews does a nice job with it all.

The book opens up with the guys meeting in Bali and having a hot encounter that neither man can stop thinking about days later. Then, of course, things all blow up when they get to work and realize both that Tim is Lachlan’s temporary boss, and that Lachlan is Tim’s son’s best friend.

There was a large gap between the first and second book in this series, but I am really happy Andrews came back to Barking and the other books are coming out in closer succession. I really enjoy this series and am looking forward to what’s next.

Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.

[ButtonsMom2003 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t believe that it’s been nearly 7 years since I’ve read a book by Keira Andrews but I’m so glad that I ended that streak. 😊 Impact Zone is a great age-gap story (I love it when the age difference isn’t beat to death) and it’s also a best friend’s father/secret relationship story.

Lachlan never dreamed that his teenage crush on his best friend’s dad could turn into something in real life. When they meet again after 15 years – and Tim doesn’t recognize him – there’s a spark and he figures he might as well go for it since they’ll never see each other again. Of course, we readers know that everything will not go as smoothly as that. The great part about this story is seeing how they navigate this forbidden relationship.

I loved that this book was about more than the relationship between Lachlan and Tim. It also gave us a glimpse into the things that lifeguards face everyday in their jobs. This is a story that held my attention from start to finish. This book is the third in a series but it can be read as a standalone and now I want to go back and read the other books in this series.

An advanced copy of this book was provided to me at my request; my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series. Not only for the characters - all top notch- but because of how well Keira Andrews shares what life is like on the Australian Coast (something very far away from my land-locked US city). This book was another winner in the series - although it did take me a second to get into it, but once I did, I was *sucked* in.

Lachlan, 30, is on vacation in Bali when he runs into his childhood best friend's father, Tim. Tim doesn't remember him as he moved his family away when Lachlan was much younger, and when the older man hits on him, Lachie jumps at the opportunity to connect with his old crush, never imagining they'd run into each other again. Fate has other plans though, and a whole host of complications before the two men realize they are perfect for each other.

This was a great book about discovering yourself, coming to terms with your sexuality, and realizing that some things in life are too precious to give up. It didn't shy away from the realities of open-water lifeguarding and grief, while still focusing on family and friends. Can't wait to read the next book in the series!