Devil’s hour, noun: the hour when the demon or devil who leads hell is at its strongest. Born on the wrong side of the tracks, Royce Locke is no stranger to scrapping and fighting for the things he wants. What he desires most is Sawyer Key—his partner on the force and the man he’s falling in love with. After asking Sawyer to take a chance on him, Royce will need to back up his pretty words with … pretty words with fearless action instead of being his own worst enemy.
Someone is harassing the mayor of Savannah, and Locke and Key are tasked with finding out who. The investigation quickly takes a twisted turn, leading them to an enemy who thinks purification by fire is the only way to save the city. Scarier than The Purists’ elusiveness is their ability to turn public opinion in their favor, creating unrest and threatening anarchy by fanning flames and fear. When you play with fire, someone is bound to get burned.
When menace becomes murder, the two detectives will race the clock against the devil to save their beloved city from becoming a raging inferno. Royce will need to draw on his grit now more than ever if he hopes to realize the dreams that are finally within reach. The rag is lit, the Molotov cocktail is tossed, and the zero hour is upon them. Challenge received and accepted.
Devil’s Hour is the second book in the Zero Hour series, which follows Locke and Key’s investigations and evolving relationship. This is a series that must be read in order. Devil’s Hour has a happy-for-now ending with no cliffhanger. It contains mature language and sexual content intended for adults 18 and older.
Trigger warning: Part of the storyline involves coming to terms with a friend’s suicide, which may be difficult for some people to read.
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Absolute perfection!! The second book in Zero Hour series is even better than the first. Finally we get Royce’s POV and I just couldn’t put this book down. Also the mystery part in this book is so well done, I couldn’t even guess it. Lots of surprises!
Royce and Sawyer have this sort of chemistry that is hard to describe. I’m so in love with them, it’s ridiculous! Their romance is progressing so sweetly and I honestly can’t wait to read the next book.
Sliding his right hand down to Sawyer’s neck, Royce felt Sawyer’s pulse pounding wildly beneath his thumb.
Home wasn’t a place; it was a heartbeat.
Royce had found the one he wanted forever.
SWOOOOON!!
Also this is not a standalone. You NEED to read Ground Zero before starting this one. I love the secondary characters, be Holly or Candi and the kids or Bones. The women are just badass. I really want to know more about Marcus but I guess I have to wait till next book for that. It’s going to be dual POV, so Yay!!
This series is highly recommended!!
*ARC provided by the author via Vibrant Promotions in exchange for an honest and unbiased review
Another Hit for Aimee Nicole Walker. Devil’s hour is as good as Ground Zero (book 1).
Royce and Sawyer are in their honeymoon stage in their new relationship. They need to be careful at work and Royce needs time to come out to the people he cares. But when a terrorist group, named the Purist, threat, to burn their city from the ground by fire, Royce and Sawyer know the countdown has start.
Devil’s hour is book in the Zero Hour series and can’t be read as a standalone.
I loved this book as much as I loved book 1. The book was written with Royce’s POV and I adored it. It was beautiful, funny and heartbreaking sometimes. I loved the story and the plot too. While investigating the new threat against the city, we follow also Royce and Sawyer in their day to day life and relationship.
The end was beautiful, but It frustrated me, I want to know about Marcus…I can’t tell you much, read the book and you’ll understand.
It was a super good read, and I can’t wait for the next one
I enjoyed this book as much as the first! Ground Zero introduced Sawyer Key and what made him the man he was, but this time we got an unfettered look into Royce Key and what made him tick. The men are vastly different but still have some commonalities: dedication and passion for their work, strong desire to help others and need to be loved especially since they see the worst of the world every day. I liked them together – there were funny and heartfelt moments as well as frustrated and sad ones, but they still managed to show how they felt.
This time the investigation gets them stepping on the toes of powers that be who do not want their dirty secrets coming out. I loved the fast pace and intrigue that went hand in hand with a bit of religious twist and technology. It kept me guessing and getting invested in the outcome. Sawyer and Royce were absolutely fantastic while wrangling with both professional and personal lives.
The secondary characters are to be praised as well. They added some humor and snark and at times some extra love to the story of two men who finally were able to let themselves feel. All in all, this was wonderfully crafted story with a good mystery and two MCs that I wanted to succeed and be happy, many situations that were relatable and Bones the feisty lovable cat. I recommend it.
Locke and Key are back and I couldn’t be happier.
I have always loved a who dunnit, and Mrs Walker does not disappoint with Devil’s Hour.
With another case to solve, watching Locke and Key negotiate their work and private partnership had me on the edge of my seat. As always with Mrs Walker, the writing is on point, the characters lovable and the story realist.
Devil’s Hour picks up from where Zero Hour ended, so I would definitely suggest that you read book 1 first to get a better insight into Locke and Key’s relationship.
A fantastic addition to the series!! Can’t wait for book 3!!
Their world
I am so in love with Royce and Sawyer! They break all the rules and I want more. Their relationship, the snark, the love, the connection, the chemistry between them, only gets better and it continues to blow me away.
“You are my home for as long as you’ll have me.” They attack life like they do love, and Sawyer and Royce are without a doubt relentless and fearless. I can’t get enough of them. I adore the side characters and only wish I was there when they ordered pizza and breadsticks. Palpitating suspense intertwined with a love for the ages, leaves me craving bear claws and the conclusion to this amazing trilogy.
This book is just incredible. The story of Royce and Sawyer picks up right where Ground Zero left off. These two are imaginative and hilarious characters. Their dynamic is what I look for in a book. Fast paced and action packed. It’s a rollercoaster ride. Don’t Miss This!!! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AND THIS INCREDIBLE SERIES!!!!!!
That was an excellently eventful story. All the feelings!
I was delighted to know more from Royce’s side. He is complicated, hurt, also passionate and fierce. Sawyer has a warm and kind personality, he is transparent and talks clear language, which is also the best way to approach Royce. Another thing I was thrilled about was that beside all the excitement and sensations, this story had a heady dose of sexual attraction, sensuality, and activities.
When book one was about building up the heat, in book two all bets were off.
My goodness, they were hot af together. Handsy, naughty, and greedy. Both can make the other ramble incoherently and lose control.
Their relationship felt natural, with ups and downs. They have mature and thoughtful conversations, they are emotional with a healthy portion of humor.
The case starts when mayor Goodwin gets to the office and there’s a threatening letter. Someone wants to purify the city by fire. It escalates fast and becomes more than only fire.
Every aspect was intellectually thought out, nothing superficial here. Like the first book, it’s understandable, logical, and plausibly constructed.
This author has a delicious way of writing, the witty comments are placed at the right moments with the right weight and awesomely funny, really really good humor. The serious comments were well placed and at times heartbreaking and devastating.
There is one beautiful line spoken, several times, throughout this book that gave me goosebumps. I was stunned by the way the author expressed how deeply the men loved each other, it was breathtaking!
Home wasn’t a place; it was a heartbeat.
Beautifully written story, with lots of entertainment. Besides the cases and the lives of Sawyer and Royce, we get to know more about Marcus, because a lot is going on.
Definitely a must-read!!
I honestly don’t know how to write the words to convey just how much I loved this book, and this series. I’m a huge fan of romantic suspense and Aimee Nicole Walker has knocked it out of the park with this series.
The in depth detail that author Aimee Nicole Walker puts into this book is absolutely outstanding. Then there is the chemistry between Royce and Sawyer that is nothing but explosive.
In the first book, Ground Zero, we were give Sawyer’s point of view but in Devil’s Hour it’s Royce. I loved being inside his head, it was so damn amazing and heartbreaking at the same time. The struggles that Royce goes through within himself, the love he feels for Sawyer is so consuming it actually takes my breath away at times.
I can’t wait for book three where we get both men’s point of view.
My top books for 2019, I highly recommend this book and this series!!!
Note: these are not standalone, you do need to read the first book Ground Zero, trust me you won’t be disappointed.
WOW… I Loved this book, so good! Royce stole my heart, who knew that handsome man had all those wonderful feels inside him, swoon… I love Sawyer too of course. The book has you wanting to turn pages faster to see what happened next, action packed & steamy. I even cried once at a certain part, eek… So can’t wait for book 3!!
Wow! After part 1 of the series I really thought it set the whole tone, but this book really outdid it! I loved it! Be aware it’s not a standalone book. And be ready to get totally sucked not the story, because it’s just that good!
Hello Lovlies!!!. OMG!! A MAJOR IMPROVEMNET IN DEVIL’S HOUR! I could not stop reading this book when I started!! Such a strong and fluent delivery of action, drama, love, and angst that congeleld into this wonderful book by Walker! I will say for sure that my critics for this one will be to a minimum if not barley there!!
“Born on the wrong side of the tracks with a dirty spoon in his mouth, Royce had never associated the word lucky with himself until Chief Rigby had forced him into a partnership with Sawyer Key. Sawyer had woken something profound from slumber deep inside him, a piece of himself he’d never allowed to surface.” walker,7.
In comparison to Zero Hour where the perspective was in Sawyer’s point-of-view, here we get to listen and see Royce’s feelings now! After having solved both murder cases within the previous book, now the lovely couple must fight against an extremist group bent on “purifying” the world of evils that are corrupting society. (think of a devout church goer times 1000). When the hour strikes 3, the Devil’s Hour, the flames of so called “justice” is ignited and bodies start to burn. The race against the clock to stop this elusive organization and to save future victims is such a passionate, thrill-seeking adventure that was executed so well within the book. The focus of the main plot and how the characters actually added sustenance to the story was just marvelously done as well.
“He wanted to assure Sawyer he wasn’t a possessive beast, but he thought it might be a lie. Royce was in an entirely new universe where he wanted things he never dreamed possible, and each of them centered around Sawyer.”Walker,122.
Like I said before within the review, I. LOVED. THIS. ONE. SO. MUCH! The major selling point for me within Devil’s Hour was the HUGE improvement to Sawyer’s and Royce’s relationship. I actually felt the Love , Sexiness, and genuine connection between them!. Loved how Walker wrote the story in Royce’s eyes this time. It really helped me to understand him better and actually empathize with his plight compared to his dickhead persona in the first book. (still is but in a teasing, loving way ). The dichotomy of danger of the mission and sweetness of their love was such a perfect blend. Even when I knew my brain checked out on me due to the time, I knew I just had to see this book all the way through!
““I love marking my territory,” Sawyer growled, then proceeded to rub his release into Royce’s cheeks. “I love the idea of you smelling like me.” The words and actions were so animalistic and primal;” Walker,320-231.
““Stay. I just want you,” Royce said sleepily. “I like smelling like you.” Sawyer spooned up against him, nestling his softening cock between Royce’s cheeks. “One day, I’m going to fall asleep with my cock buried inside your ass.” “Mmmm,” Royce hummed happily. That sounded sexier than anything he’d ever heard,” Walker,231.
Critics? Only wish it was longer! Ugh I was so caught up into the story I just wanted the next case to start right away!. With so many mysteries and plot twists to unravel in the final book, I KNOW I cannot wait to start reading it!
““It’s three o’clock in the morning, which is called the witching hour or devil’s hour.” Walker,253
Again, I really enjoyed reading this book! A great series to get yourself lost into! The first is mediocre to say the least, but reading this one? Definitely worth it!. Ecstatic to read Zero Divergence next!
Sawyer looked at Royce with soulful, chocolate brown eyes that were brimming with love. “I need you to love me forever.” “Challenge received and accepted.”.” Walker,277
Zero Hour Series Book 1-3
This crime fighting detectives series is awesome. I loved the whole mysterioussness of these stories and trying to figure out for myself who the criminals were. I also loved reading about the developing friendship/relationship of Sawyer and Royce. Their story is interesting, hot, loving and so much more. What added to their story was Royce trying to uncover the truth about his dead partner and best friend. I absolutely loved their last names too: Locke and Key. I know it’s cliche but i still love it!! This author is new to me I believe. I will be adding her to my list of favorite MM romance authors!