First read: 3.5 stars ( )

Fearless by Sarah Black should appeal to readers who enjoy unusual locations, especially the frequently lawless borderlands between the United States (specifically Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas) and the increasingly anarchic world of Mexico. Our hero Colton is not your typical by-the-book lawman. What’s interesting about Colton is that he respects that law, but holds to a higher moral code of justice. In other words, he’s willing to bend the law to work in the “gray areas” to make sure that justice is served to the disenfranchised and overlooked, which are often the illegal immigrants from Mexico. Fearless is not much of a mystery because the wrongdoers and associated motives are obvious, but it works as a drama exploring the unique problems of a gay cop.

The story begins in Tucson, Arizona with our third-person viewpoint character Colton, who is a lieutenant with the police department. No one would believe that the big, rugged cop is a gay man, which is what he prefers. His uncle, the sheriff of Pima County, is a rabid homophobe, and Colton wants to keep his law enforcement job. However, his lover Diego falls victim to a brutal attack and flees into Mexico to avoid being framed for murder. Diego is an up-and-coming surgeon and the cherished son of an aristocratic Mexican family. To win him back and ensure that they have a future together will take everything Colton has.

Val for AReCafe ( )