Smoldering Flame by Andrew Grey ~ Audiobook

Title: Smoldering Flame

Series: Rekindled Flame 03

Author: Andrew Grey

Narrator: Michael Pauley

Genre: Contemporary

Length: 6 hrs, 3 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (28th March 2018)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts

Blurb: Sometimes the strongest flames take the longest to ignite.

Firefighter Dean’s life revolves around his very ill son, Sammy. Caring for Sammy and working to make ends meet leave Dean time for little else, and romance isn’t something he can even consider – no matter how much he longs for someone special to join their family. Because money is tight, Dean couldn’t be more grateful to the photographer who does Sammy’s session free of charge.

growing up in the foster care system, Marco knows how to rely on himself, and his hard work is about to pay off – he’s poised on the cusp of fame and success he could only have imagined as a lonely child. When Dean brings Sammy into Marco’s studio, Marco can see they’re struggling, and both the boy and his father stir Marco’s heart. The slow burn between the two men isn’t something either expected, but neither wants to lose the possibility of a loving future. With Dean’s dangerous and possibly life-threatening career and Marco’s demanding one, can romance and forever find a place to fit?

Product Link: Audible US | Audible UK | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Prime

Review: Every time I read a book by Andrew Grey I gush about how awesome he is, so I’m not about to go into my usual spiel. Suffice to say, if you’ve never read an Andrew Grey book – you’re missing out. For fans of Grey’s work you will love the third installment of the Rekindled Flame series, Smoldering Flame. This can be read as a standalone book or in order with the other books of the series. Although we do see characters from previous two books, as well as characters Grey’s series The Bullriders it is not vital to have read any of these characters’ books.

The narration for the audio of this series is done by Michael Pauley who has a tone that is just fitting for all the characters. Listening to Pauley’s narration was a pleasure and utterly enjoyable.
In Smoldering Flame, professional photographer Marco meets firefighter Dean and Dean’s very sick son, Sammy (yes, Supernatural fans, I thought the same thing) when they walk into Marco’s studio.

Marco impulsively does a photoshoot of the boy with a toy dalmatian in the studio. Sammy has cancer and at the point where Dean walks into Marco’s studio with his son, Sammy is at one of the worst points of his illness. Marco connects with both Sammy and Dean. There is an instant spark of attraction between the two guys, and he connects with Sammy even more quickly because Marco’s childhood was similar to the sick child’s. However, after the photo shoot, Marco doesn’t see the two charming guys for six months which then follows into what is ultimately a sweet and charming story of Marco and Dean trying to knit their lives together and navigate their attraction. Dean is trying his best to make sure that Sammy doesn’t get hurt and for Marco he has to deal with the baggage of a childhood of loneliness.

Childhood cancer and a single parent is a common theme in Grey’s work. However, the man does these story lines so divine it does not get stale for me. Every kid has a different personality and it is just wonderful to see something so sweet come out of a desperate situation. The kid, like the parent who is a main character, has a well-developed two-dimensional character. Sometimes I even shed the odd tear or two!