Ground zero, noun: the center or origin of rapid, intense, or violent activity or change.Heat, humidity, and homicide are things veteran detective Sawyer Key expects to encounter on his first day with the Savannah Police Department, but the hostile reception from his new partner catches him by surprise. Sawyer isn’t a stranger to heartache and recognizes that Royce Locke is a wounded man who’s … wounded man who’s reeling from a devastating loss. Relentless and patient in all things, Sawyer is determined to make the new partnership work.
Savannah, Georgia is known for her quirky people, oak trees draped in Spanish moss, and antebellum architecture. Beneath the Southern charm and hospitality, festering hatred and violence is soaring with the summer temperatures. Locke and Key find themselves at the epicenter when their first case involves the death of a former shock jock who appears to be the victim of vigilante justice.
Opposites in nearly every way, the two detectives set aside their differences to take back their city and restore law and order. From this reluctant truce, an intense attraction grows that will either tighten or shatter their tenuous bond. Falling for his partner spells inevitable disaster, but Sawyer’s always been a sucker for wounded things. Sawyer could be the key to the life Royce has always wanted, if he’s brave enough to trust him. The fuse is lit, the clock is running, and the zero hour is upon them. Tick tock.
Ground Zero is the first book in the Zero Hour series, which follows Locke and Key’s investigations and evolving relationship. Ground Zero has a happy-for-now ending with no cliffhanger. It contains mature language and sexual content intended for adults 18 and older.
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I loved the characters, the setting, and the love story that unfolds.
Some stories grab you and pull you in and you don’t want to leave. A series you could picture on Netflix. Believe me, this one has it.
Detective Sawyer Key is new to the Savannah Police Department. His partner Detective Royce Locke doesn’t want him there. He lost his partner Marcus not long ago and doesn’t hesitate to show Sawyer he can’t stand him and doesn’t want him.
When Sawyer looks into his eyes all he sees is a wounded man and everything in him screams to fix him. But good ghawd Locke is stubborn, abrasive and rude.
Still, they have to work together.
There are two cases here and they are clever developed, very plausible, thank goodness easy to perceive, understand, and interpret. I highly appreciate when a story has an understandable construction.
But besides these cases, there is more, much much more, during work bits of their private lives are revealed and omg that’s something. One of them expects something steady in a relationship and the other doesn’t do strings. Both men have a past with hurt and parts of it are explained, it’s a series so I guess there is much more to know about them.
There were a few moments where the emotions run up sky-high. My heart rhythm did some strange things.
The easy-going humor that slipped in here and there made me smile and more than once laugh out loud! Delightful!
The development was well done, the important parts are revealed with great timing and sensitivity. The way both men were portrayed was excellently done, beautifully layered characters, emotional, sensitive, vulnerable, sensual, let’s not forget the witty commentary. There are quite some interesting secondary characters and I expect to see them again in the next installment.
I have to dig deep to come up with a point for improvement, the only thing popping up is that for me there could be more … nah, it was just right as it was.
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!
Really enjoyed the audiobook and story!
My favorite book from this author!
I was a fan of her Curled Up and Dye series, as well as the spin off. There are some other books in there, stand alones and even a collaboration with another author. I’ve read most, and this is my favorite.
Down to the why. There seems to be sort of a maturity to this book that I haven’t gotten before. Maybe because she has a nice back list behind her. Maybe she specifically looked to write this one differently. I don’t know the answer.
We meet Sawyer in the office of his new chief of police on the Savannah PD. He meets his new partner shortly after at a brutal crime scene. Locke is resistant, to say the least. In fact, early on he gives Sawyer a bit of a speech about how they won’t be friends in any way. Locke is a grieving, broken man.
But they work well together and there is no denying that. And then a drunk Locke shows up at Sawyer’s door.
It’s assumed that Locke is straight. And even after that night with Sawyer, he never says one way or the other. And Sawyer only questions him once. But the part I liked the most is that he just went with the flow. No internal dialogue of “omg what if I am gay?” “I’m touching a penis that isn’t mine!”. I read a lot of first time gay or gay for you books and those lines get really tired. So it was refreshing.
AND there were crimes in the book. That they worked on and solved. It wasn’t just them getting together, but also story. And no, they weren’t hard to figure out mysteries. But enough of a story, well stories, that they were well told and didn’t rush.
And except for silly, being a jerk kind of things, there were NO PET NAMES! Sorry. I despise cutesy pet names. There’s enough levity so it isn’t too serious, it is serious without being angsty and it is hot without relying on sex scenes in every chapter.
This is a great start to a new series and I cannot wait for more!
I loved this book. Aimee Nicole Walker show her talent again and that she’s capable to write anything brilliantly.
Sawyer and Royce are cops. They have to work together, after Royce’s partner and best friend Marcus death. He didn’t want Sawyer in his life, as his partner but he has no choice.
Sawyer is a widower, after loosing his husband, he fight with the sheriff department after being discriminated.
At first, Sawyer and Royce don’t seem to have anything in common, but little by little, they start to discover each other and realize there’s more between them.
I adore them, Sawyer is funny and smart. He refused to let Royce push him away, he’s in contrary clearly determinate to save him like his cat.
Royce is broken. Broken by the lost of his best friend and partners, but also broken by his past and childhood.
Royce is funny, smart with a big heart behind his jerk attitude.
I really adore them, they made me laughed, and cried. They made me swoon and scream.
The plot alternated between Royce and Sawyer’s first step together and the investigations they conduct.
It was well written, dynamics and well build. I was hooked in the story from page 1 and couldn’t stop it until the end. I passed by a lot of feelings and that’s what make me say this book was super good. Aimee Nicole Walker is a dealer of emotion who made me high with her book and her characters
I can’t wait for the next one
This is first book in Aimee Nicole Walker’s Zero Hour series and an what an amazing start. This is book is filled with action, suspense and romance. I’m a sucker for detective partners with a bit of animosity in the beginning. (One of the reasons I loved Cut and Run by Abigail Roux so much)
This book is fully feom Sawyer’s POV and there were a lot of times I really wanted Royce’s POV. Alas, it’s not to be. Sawyer and Royce have this amazing chemistry that I can’t put into words. Also I just want to hug and protect Royce so bad. I think the next book is his POV and I can’t wait.
I love Bones! Love all shout outs to Hailey Turner, be it her cat, a character name or A Ferry of Bones and Gold audiobook. Nothing makes me more happy than Patrick and Jono in a different series. I cannot wait for the next book.
P.S:- I want a bear claw, dammit!
*ARC provided by the author via Vibrant Promotions in exchange for an honest and unbiased review
When I saw the names of the characters were Locke and Key, I knew I had to check the book out. And while the names fit perfectly together, the men carrying them took a while to warm up to each other. This is a beginning for two men who carry a lot of baggage, who struggle with life’s challenges and inner turmoil, who uphold the law and see the worst of humanity everyday. Told in single POV, the book is suspenseful, fast-paced, steamy and at times hilarious! Yes, I enjoyed humorous repartee this time around! LOL
As a new detective Sawyer Key has to hit the streets running – new case, new partner and a new start. Well, both detectives are in for a big surprise. Sawyer Key has a weakness for wounded souls, and Royce Locke’s pain is bleeding out of him if one looks close enough. Royce Locke thinks he will run the new partner off but he might have bitten more than he can chew – Sawyer Key is relentless, resilient, patient and can give as good as he gets. Thus starts a sarcastic, tumultuous and at times confusing partnership that holds many painful secrets, but in the end both men can’t escape the building sexual tension and attraction that leads them into bed and into each other’s confidences. It might not be love at first sight or love at all yet, but it can lead to something more if both men let it.
I enjoyed their investigative work. The cases were not complicated but still interesting to learn who and the what of them. It will be fun to see their relationship develop. I can’t wait to read the next one! I recommend it.
Action – packed, inventive and a total page turner! I am always anxious when a new series is introduced, but this first glimpse only leaves me wanting more! Loved the characters and the plot, loved the style and descriptions. Bring on part 2!
Ground Zero is a fantastic start to a new series by the great Aimee Nicole Walker.
This book ticked a lot of my boxes.
Mystery – tick!
Enemy to Lovers – tick, tick!
GFY – tick, tick, tick!!
Locke and Key are 2 detectives forced to work together, both neither wanting a partner on in the Department. Both MCs come with their own baggage that make for a tension-fuelled book. I loved the banter between the pair. Ground Zero was the perfect blend of snark, mystery, romance and suspense.
What I liked about this book is that we got not one, but two mysteries solved, so I was always hanging on the edge of my seat, trying to solve the mystery before Locke and Key.
This is an easy to read book, and I can’t wait for the next one in the series.
Well done Mrs Walker!!!