Fire and Granite by Andrew Grey ~ Audio Review

Title: Fire and Granite

Series: Carlisle Deputies 02

Author: Andrew Grey

Narrator: Greg Tremblay

Genre: Contemporary, Crime, Mystery, Suspense

Length: 6 hrs, 2 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (1st November 2018)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: The heat is growing from the inside, but danger is building on the outside.

Judge Andrew Phillips runs a tight ship in his courtroom. He’s tough, and when he hands down a sentence, he expects to be obeyed. So when a fugitive named Harper escapes and threatens his life, Andrew isn’t keen on 24/seven protection…especially not from Deputy Clay Brown. They have a past, one that could cause problems in their careers.

But with Clay assigned to Andrew and the two of them together every minute, there’s nowhere to hide from their attraction – or from the fact that there’s much more than chemistry blooming between them. As the threat intensifies, Clay knows he’ll do anything it takes to protect the peo-ple who are taking their places in his heart: Andrew and his young niece and nephew.

Purchase Link: Audible US | Audible UK | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Review: Fire and Granite is the second book in Andrew Grey’s Carlisle Deputies series, which is a spin off of his Carlisle Cops series and has the same naming convention in that each book from both series is called “Fire and…”. I really enjoyed Carlisle Cops series. I’ve only read all of Carlisle Cops books and have heard the audio narration for half of the series. I’ve also read the first book of this series but again, have not heard the audio. Fire and Granite does work as a standalone book, although I do remember back to other books when we meet up with the various people on the Carlisle police force. To be perfectly honest, I don’t really remember the first book of this series all that well, but I remembered the names when I came across the characters in this book.

Granite and Fire is the story of Deputy Clay Brown and Judge Andrew Phillips. The two do not get along well at all, although Clay has no idea why the judge is a bit of a dick to him. Especially since they encounter each other in the courtroom when Clay needs to give testimony it can make for slightly awkward times and it makes a certain deputy very grumpy, but it’s a sexy kind of grumpy so I’m all good with that. They are thrown together when a prisoner transport goes wrong and sees two deputies in hospital and Clay uninjured when his no-good cousin (no love lost between the two men) is broken free and the deranged man goes after the judge he swore revenge on the last time he was in a court room. Now Clay is keeping guard on Andrew and the two men have no choice but to sort out their differences. However, in a pleasant turn of events their differences aren’t really differences at all. But the stakes are ramped up when Andrew, in the middle of being threatened by a criminal, needs to go out of state and then make a home for his niece and nephew as his sister struggles with mental illness. Clay is by his side every step of the way and the two men are quickly coming to realise just what that means to them and their hearts and their futures.

Narration for this book was by Greg Tremblay. I’ve heard Tremblay’s narration a number of times in the past, including a few other Andrew Grey books. I find Tremblay’s tone and timbre well suited to the characters that Grey writes and all in all, I have no complaints. I was really happy with how well paced the narration was and the voices and emotions given to the characters, particularly the kids. Grey tends to write kids into a lot of his books and sometimes narrators miss the mark with the little ones, but Tremblay was on point in my opinion.

This is perfect for those that love to read or listen to cops falling in love as they try to solve the crime, get the man they want to put in gaol and get the man that they want in their life and their bed.

Don’t Let Go by Andrew Grey ~ Audio Review

Title: Don’t Let Go

Author: Andrew Grey

Narrator: Jeff Gelder

Genre: Contemporary, Cowboys

Length: 6 hrs, 18 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (13th December 2018)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 4.5 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: Avery Rivers is a country music sensation, selling records by the millions and playing to sold-out crowds. But behind that persona is Robert, a burned-out musician cracking under the pressure. He’s unable to write any new songs, and he wants out of the business – at least for a while. He changes his appearance and finds honest hard work in Jackson, Wyoming. Maybe getting to be a regular guy for a while will get him past his block.

Hy Whitely was a championship bull rider until he watched his best friend thrown in the arena and decided the rodeo circuit was no longer the place for him. He wants to be plain old Zeke for a while, and when he returns to his family ranch, he bumps right into Robert – a one-night stand from his last rodeo appearance – who is now working there as a ranch hand.

The heat between the men could sear the grass off the range, but each one is hiding a secret. Robert and Zeke, the men behind the public images, fall in love, but can they hold on when Avery and Hy are pulled back into the spotlight?

Purchase Link: Audible US | Audible UK | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Review: Don’t Let Go by Andrew Grey has three things that I absolutely love. Firstly, a book written by Andrew Grey is instantly on my to be read pile, second there is cowboys (on the rodeo circuit at that) and thirdly, I’m a sucker for a country singer out for a bit of romance.

This was a totally satisfying audio. The story was super sweet and the chemistry was on point, just as I expect from Andrew Grey. The last couple books I read of his had left me a little disappointed and so to me was a return to what I love about his writing. The audio narration was by Jeff Gelder, who I’ve heard narrate books in the past (and probably other Andrew Grey books too). I enjoyed the narration. He had provided a good voice for the two MCs and was good in conveying their emotions through words and tone. Overall, his style was rather laid back, which for the most part suited the backdrop of the story.

The story starts with Robert, aka Avery Rivers, is a massive star in the country music world. He is at the end of a long and exhausting tour but is already dealing with the pressure for more tour dates as well as write songs and record his new album. The biggest problem is that the words and the music are just not coming, and he is dangerously close to burning out. And so ready to drop the Avery Rivers persona and be just Robert, at least for a little while. He wants nothing more than for the music to come back but he is already fighting the fear that they will never come back if he doesn’t take this break. So, Robert shaves his hair off and makes himself only contactable by phone and he hits the road. A one-night stand while attending a rodeo sends Robert to Jackson where he manages to find work on a ranch helping an older gent on his property. For Robert it’s a dream because he had grown up on a ranch until his parents lost it and were forced to leave the land.

Hy Whitely is a star on the rodeo circuit. His actual name is Zeke and uses the stage name to maintain his privacy. He has an eventful tournament though, when his road buddy is seriously injured and sent to hospital, but not before he had a one-night stand that rocked his world. After speaking about home to Robert, who he had met a bar and after the events that culminated in Zeke winning the rodeo, he heads home to help his father on the ranch.

The biggest shock is seeing Robert again, who was just hired by his father. Zeke isn’t sure how he could live on the same property as Robert without taking him to bed again, especially without his father knowing. Things are complicated because the two men are keeping secrets from each other. Despite Robert being higher on the superstar food chain, both men are celebrities but don’t want to risk everything – just yet – and reveal their secrets, that is until they must. The biggest hurdle they face

In a lot of ways Robert and Zeke are two sides of the same coin and together they are everything that turns you to goo and believe in love. They are well matched together, I enjoyed the lack of angst and drama considering both men use stage names, not revealing their identities to each other on purpose for most of the story. is how to maintain a relationship when their jobs are not conducive to being together. Along the way I thought it was funny that Zeke’s father is the voice of reason here, although Zeke doesn’t get along with his father terribly well, the man is a rough and gruff country man and found him quite likable, particularly at the end.

If you’re into cowboys and rodeos and a splash of celebrity this will suit you. Like me, I know the whole western/cowboy/ranch sub-genre is pretty damn popular in MM and so if this is your thing, go for it I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.

Rebound by Andrew Grey

Title: Rebound

Author: Andrew Grey

Genre: Contemporary, Sports

Length: Novel (194 pages)

ISBN: 978-1-64405-141-2

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (12 Feb 2019)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 3.5 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: Professional basketball player Bri Early needs a physical therapist after an injury, and he’s heard that Obie is the best. Bri takes an immediate liking to the out-and-proud man with the magic touch, and even though Bri isn’t openly gay himself, he’d never let anything stand in the way of something he wants.

Obie can’t deny that the sexy athlete presses all his buttons, but he’s a professional and has no intention of getting involved with a client. While they’re working together, it’s hands off, no matter how great the temptation.

But being a pro athlete isn’t easy. Bri has enemies, and one of them is making his life hell. When his house is set ablaze, Bri can no longer pretend the threatening messages he’s receiving are jokes. He needs a safe place to stay, and Obie can’t turn his back. But the two of them in the same house is a recipe for combustion that could burn them both….

Purchase Link: Dreamspinner | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Review: I love a sports MM romance and I love an Andrew Grey book – so needless to say, I was basically sold on this book as soon as I saw the book cover and I figured out that this is what I was getting. There is also a splash of mystery in the guise of an enemy that could break our pro athlete’s career. Add to that the fact that I love how Grey writes his characters, they are all flawed but all in need of some good romance and a HEA.

The story is about NBA player Bri Early. I love basketball (although I follow Australian NBL I’m all for the NBA too). Bri has had a devastating injury and he needs to take time to heal. Although he isn’t ready to retire from playing he isn’t a young kid any more and it takes him longer to get back into playing condition. Bri first comes off as a bit of a dick but the frustration and stress and the mental difficulty he faces from the injury is what makes the situation. So in a desperate bid he is passed the name for a new therapist, Obie. Obie is a bit unconventional but the two connect. Obie is ready to help Bri make a full recovery, but he wasn’t quite ready for the sexual tensions and feelings that arise between he and Bri.

Unfortunately, this is not the best Andrew Grey book that I’ve read, even though I enjoyed the story and the two MCs well enough. I’m not sure really what about the characters didn’t connect with me but there was some missed connection that took away from my overall enjoyment. The only thing that I can think of was that I wasn’t fully on board with threat to Bri’s career. I get that the threatening phone calls that bring Bri and Obie together in the same house is the plot device to move the story forward and get them together quicker, but it just left me feeling that it was all a little meh in the end.

Yet, I need to make it clear that I liked the romance aspect of the story and the hurdles facing Bri and Obie as a couple. I think that the characters were constructed well and compliment each other, which made this aspect of the book satisfying to read.

Unfamiliar Waters by Andrew Grey

Title: Unfamiliar Waters

Author: Andrew Grey

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novel (164 pages)

ISBN: 978-1-64080-964-2

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (8 Jan 2019)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖 3 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: With the pressures of the job bearing down on him, police officer Garrett Wreckley needs a vacation—in fact, he isn’t given a choice in the matter. Since the water has always soothed Garrett’s soul, he heads to the Caribbean, hoping some time alone sailing on the open water will help him pull himself together.

But even though he’s taking a break from law enforcement, Garrett can’t get rid of his cop’s instinct so easily.

He meets Nigel, a young man as innocent as he is beautiful, who grew up sheltered from the world, exploring the beaches and tropical forests with only the company of his aunt, his brother, and the wildlife and sea creatures he befriended.

As sweet, passionate love blooms, their time in paradise feels too good to be true… and Garrett’s gut and training tell him that might be the case. As he investigates, he quickly realizes everything is not as it seems. Will his snooping destroy not only their romance, but everything Nigel believes about his life?

Purchase Link: Dreamspinner | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Review: Unfamiliar Waters is a book by Andrew Grey. Andrew Grey is one of my favourite authors and I always look forward to new book by the author. I love his characters, their complexity, how relatable they are, and the heart felt emotion he manages to put in his stories, particularly when there are kids involved in the story.

The story start with cop Garrett Wreckly. He’s been forced to take time from work after a particularly stressful case/event and decides to take advantage of the time and heads to the Caribbean for a tropical holiday. He hires a boat and is content to keep to himself and just relax on the open waters and take in the ocean. On one of the isolated islands he meets Nigel. He is sweet and innocent and comes across as more of a teenager than someone who is twenty-two, but that is the start of the mystery. As much as Garret is attracted to the sweet, sexy man, he knows that there is something not quite right about the guy. And so the cop that took the break to get away from work finds himself with a case and a guy that he is instantly attracted to. Luckily for Garrett, the attraction is completely mutual and spurs him on to become Nigel’s knight in shining armour.

I am loathed to say that Unfamiliar Waters is not a favourite book for me. Quite simply it didn’t grab me, and I felt that I had to suspend my disbelief for an inordinate amount of time. Perhaps it’s just me and I just wasn’t really in the mood for a mystery/thriller and if I were to read it again I might enjoy the story? Maybe I couldn’t connect with the Caribbean setting, which is completely on me but honestly, I do sometimes struggle with stories set in this part of the world. I know it sounds ridiculous but it’s true and I think that it’s because I struggle to build a mental picture that I am happy with when I read books in this setting.

I think that perhaps I wasn’t sold how quickly they fell in love – it is insta-love at its best (worst?), which for me can be a bit hit and miss. I get it, they are both young characters – twenty-two and thirty-ish, and it doesn’t usually bother me when one MC is more mature emotionally than the other. The problem is that Nigel has been sheltered, basically abused and is nowhere near emotionally mature, whereas Garrett (probably due to his career) is mature beyond his years. For this reason as well I wasn’t sold on the chemistry between the characters.

I struggle to write a recommendation for this book for obvious reasons. But for those that love cops, mystery and tropical settings I don’t see why you guys can’t give it a crack and enjoy the story.

A Courageous Ride by Andrew Grey ~ Audio Review

Title: A Courageous Ride

Series: The Bullriders 03

Author: Andrew Grey

Narrator: John Solo

Genre: Contemporary, Cowboys

Length: 8 hrs, 26 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (17th July 2018)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 4.5 Hearts

Blurb: Aspiring orchestra conductor Marshall is exhausted after months of auditions without a single job offer. Marshall’s friend Terry recommends a change of scenery and points Marshall in the direction of a dude ranch run by former bull rider Indigo Santana. Marshall is understandably skeptical, but his friend is convincing, and Marshall needs a break, so he agrees to go.

Indigo captures Marshall’s attention but leaves him confused. Indigo’s confidence is shot after an injury ended his rodeo career, and he walks with a slight limp. He hasn’t been anywhere near a bull since he was hurt, and he’s not the most accommodating host. After all, the only reason he keeps guests is because his family ranch is all but bankrupt.

Marshall’s attraction doesn’t go unanswered, which leaves him with a huge dilemma. He’s torn between the possibility of love, something he’s searched for all his life, and the career he’s worked toward for as long as he can remember, which is miles away. From his side of the fence, Indigo doesn’t see how the ranch could ever be enough.

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

Reviewer: Prime

Review: A Courageous Ride is the third book in Andrew Grey’s cowboy/western series, The Bullriders. Any fans of cowboy romances will love this book. I recommend reading books 1 and 2 if you haven’t already because there are a few well developed characters that pop up from the previous books. I love this series for the simplicity of the story, leaving plenty of room for the characters to develop and fall in love in a way that seems to be more organic than quickly falling into bed and bam, they’re in love. Although, in saying that, the men in these stories also have enough baggage that there isn’t a dull moment.

I think, though, that this book is my favorite in the series, I think because there seems to be a lot more at stake in this one than the previous books. Although the over arching theme of the series continues to be moving on and learning how to let love in. it’s really a beautiful thing.

This story takes place on a different ranch than books 1 and 2, a dude ranch that also happens to be a working ranch that is run by Indigo Santana. The Princess Bride and Santana went through my head, especially at the point where Indigo himself talks about the character Inigo Montoya in The Princess Bride.

Indigo is an ex rodeo rider who has was forced to retire after he was severely injured. Now he works his guts out trying to keep his family ranch above water, which is why he has set up the dude ranch part of his business. He is your typical gruff cowboy with a heart of gold, but unlike the previous books, he is a cowboy who isn’t exactly in the closet, but he certainly doesn’t advertise himself either. However, he hides his goodness because his confidence took a real blow when he got the career ending injury, so he likes to act like a grumpy bear and he hasn’t even been near a bull since the accident. In fact, if he wants his guests to meet a bull riding champion, he invites his friend and neighbor, Dante Rivers, over (yep, that’s the guy from book one).

Marshall is a mentally and physically exhausted when we first meet him at the start of the book. He has been going to countless auditions to become an orchestral conductor. However, he is not having much luck. So of course he isn’t at his best, and it is his friend Terry that convinces Marshall to go to a new dude ranch he knows about instead of going back to his difficult parents in New York. Marshall goes to the ranch and quickly finds himself feeling better and within a short time he is starts to be able to access his career options carefully. Even though his controlling mother finds a way to disrupt him. In between all that, he finds a deep connection with Indigo, which brings in a whole lot more complications.

These guys have a long and winding road ahead of them but I particularly found it very easy to relate to Marshall. Although Indigo is a pretty damn awesome character who I only just wanted to give a warm hug!

As usual John Solo has done a fantastic narration, giving each character their own individual voice, which conveys the emotions and assaulting the ear with all the feels you could possibly want. I love to hear Solo’s narration on any book I get on audio and I am rarely disappointed.

A Daring Ride by Andrew Grey ~ Audio Review

Title: A Daring Ride

Series: The Bullriders 02

Author: Andrew Grey

Narrator: John Solo

Genre: Contemporary, Cowboys

Length: 7 hrs

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (23rd March 2018)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 4 Hearts

Blurb: Simon “Frizz” Frizzell sneaks away to the rodeo on weekends, and it’s not until after he wins a buckle that he tells his parents about his bull-riding. He knows they won’t approve of his choice of sport, but his parents own a Christian bookstore, and he couldn’t possibly tell them the whole truth: He’s gay. And so are some of his rodeo friends, like Dante and Ryan, and Jacky – a young man he wishes could have been more than a one-night stand. When Simon sets his sights on his dreams, he finds work with Dante and Ryan, and bumps into Jacky on the job.

Jacky Douglas is a rodeo fanatic, plain and simple. He loves the ride, and he loves the cowboys. He fell hard for Frizz when they met, and theirs was a one-night stand made in heaven. When they meet again, Jacky thinks it’s a stroke of luck. Frizz takes some convincing, but once he’s on board, they begin a relationship. The fledgling romance faces a challenge when news of it travels all the way to the one place Frizz doesn’t want it to go: his parents’ bookstore.

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

Reviewer: Prime

Review: A Daring Ride is the second book in Andrew Grey’s cowboy/western series, The Bullriders. Any fans of cowboy romances will love this book. I recommend reading book 1 first if you haven’t already because the couple from the first book, Dante and Ryan, do feature quite heavily in this instalment. I love this series for the simplicity of the story, leaving plenty of room for the characters to develop and fall in love in a way that seems to be more organic than quickly falling into bed and bam, they’re in love. Although, in saying that, the men in these stories also have enough baggage that there isn’t a dull moment.

This second book is the story of Jacky Douglas and Simon Frizell, aka Frizz. Jacky is a rodeo fanatic and best friend to Ryan from book 1, which is mostly the reason why Ryan and Dante pop up so often. He loves the everything about the rodeo, including the hot men. Jacky is out and proud and when he meets bull rider, Frizz, he definitely likes what he sees. Jacky isn’t exactly what I would call a free spirit, but he knows what he wants and he isn’t afraid of what people think.

Frizz on the other hand, constantly worries about what people thinks. He has two major secrets in his life. One, that he is a bull rider and competes in rodeos on the weekends. Two, that he’s gay. He is terrified he will lose his family and friends if they ever find out. Yet when he meets Jacky properly, he finds himself on a journey of self-discovery. He feels he can’t have Jacky, then he feels he can on do a one-night stand, then this loops around to Jacky deserving a lot better than that. The main plot of this book is Frizz coming to terms with himself, allowing himself to fall in love and basically taking life by the horns and holding on (pun fully intended).

A Wild Ride by Andrew Grey ~ Audio Review

Title: A Wild Ride

Series: The Bullriders 01

Author: Andrew Grey

Narrator: John Solo

Genre: Contemporary, Cowboys

Length: 6 hrs, 55 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (27th February 2018)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts

Blurb: Dante Rivers just lost the rodeo by two 100ths of a point; he’s frustrated as hell, needs to get laid, and he knows just where to go. That night, he meets Ryan Abbott and catches his eye – Ryan watched the rodeo and is still riding high on the rush. The chemistry between them ignites, but Dante, unable to deal with complications, leaves while Ryan’s asleep.

Ryan figures he’ll never see Dante again, but they’re fatefully reunited when Dante’s grandfather, Hy, hires Ryan to help straighten out some old investments. The attraction between Ryan and Dante still sizzles. Sex slowly turns to more, but obstacles abound: Hy’s failing health, Dante’s homophobic sponsor, an attack on Ryan, and Dante’s own struggle with his identity. Any one thing would be enough to separate them permanently…unless they both decide to hang on for the wild ride.

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

Reviewer: Prime

Review: I love a good cowboy book and throw in the fact that it’s written by Andrew Grey and I’m sold. I love the rugged sexiness of a strong cowboy with a heart of gold as much as the next person. For those into that type of thing then you’ll probably enjoy this book.

The book begins with the high adrenaline scene of cowboy Dante Rivers doing his final ride on the back of a bucking bull in the rodeo finals. He heartbreakingly loses first place by the narrowest of margins (to someone who is a bit of dick, if you ask me, and I guess you have in a way). So to vent his pent up frustration he meets a guy in a bar for a hot and heavy one night stand.

Dante never thought that he would meet Ryan Abbott again. In fact, Ryan, who thought about Dante long after their one-night stand, never expects to get a phone call that would bring him back into Ryan’s orbit again. Ryan is an investment guru who is hired by Dante’s grandfather, Hy to help fix up some old investments. The attraction is sizzling hot but being a cowboy story, the guys have to deal with coming out of the closet and homophobia – because, you know, no cowboy can be gay, right? Dante’s grandfather is also ill, which is another stress in his life. Hy is an old rascal and such a lovable character, his character is wonderfully reflected in Dante, showing the strong link between the two after Hy had raised his grandson from a young age.

The plot line is fairly simple, but it is all heart and emotion. I don’t want to go too much into it because I feel there would be too much spoiler.

For me the narration by John Solo was the icing on the cake. I’ve always enjoyed Solo’s work. He has a fantastic grittiness to his voice that especially suits the voice of a rough and ready cowboy. I especially enjoyed the voice that he gave Dante, although Ryan’s voice was also pretty damn good.

Running to You by Andrew Grey ~ Audio Review

Title: Running to You

Author: Andrew Grey

Narrator: Jack Richmond

Genre: Contemporary

Length: 7 hrs, 8 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (17th July 2018)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 4 Hearts

Blurb: Home, love, and possibilities he never imagined are waiting for Billy Joe to claim them. But first he needs to escape the horrors of his past.

A twisted act of cruelty and prejudice drives Billy Joe from his Mississippi home, and he makes it as far as Pennsylvania – where his car breaks down just as the year’s first snowstorm blows in. Fortunately, Carlos is there to lend a hand.

With his support, they start to adjust, and before long, both men want more than encouragement from each other. They want the chance for a future together, but their families have other ideas…and Billy’s will stop at nothing to get what they want.

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

Reviewer: Prime

Review: Running to You is a standalone novel by Andrew Grey. Fans of Andrew Grey will be familiar with his trademark formula and may also love his ability to create and development character with deep emotional connections, who are also totally relatable. Suffice to say, if you’re a fan of Grey, you will enjoy this book.

The story is about Billy Joe and Carlos. The story starts with Billy Joe having to sneak off, running away from his white supremacist family, with his much beloved 2-year-old son, Tyler. Tyler is absolutely adorable, by the way. The situation Billy Joe is running away from is pure tragedy. It is no surprise that he feels he must go to the lengths that he does to steal away with his son before his parents could do much more of their monstrous acts with their fellow white supremacist buddies. Billy Joe drives as far as he can before his car breaks down, leaving him stranded in Pennsylvania. He just hopes its far enough away from the horror he left behind in Mississippi.

Billy Joe and Tyler are saved by a good Samaritan, Carlos. Carlos knows what its like to have to run away from an unaccepting family. However, his family situation is nowhere near as frightening Billy Joe’s it’s still a tragedy in itself. Carlos helps Billy Joe and Tyler settle, although it is quickly apparent that the guys have an intense chemistry.

This is a real sweet, slow burn type of story. The guys don’t rush into their relationship as this learn how Tyler also fits into their lives, as well as dealing with their baggage. The families of both guys also make an appearance to cause some drama, but through it all, it becomes increasingly clear that these guys belong together.

The narration for this audio was wonderful. Jack Richmond is a totally new narrator for me and I was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed the smooth, southern tones he gave to Billy Joe, he also nailed Billy’s emotion, which for me was the most important part of this story. He also does a remarkable job with Carlos and conveying his emotions, but Billy Joe’s voice is by far the highlight of the audio narration.

Buried Passions by Andrew Grey ~ Audio Review

Title: Buried Passions

Author: Andrew Grey

Narrator: Joel Lesley

Genre: Contemporary

Length: 6 hrs, 52 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (14th May 2018)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 3.5 Hearts

Blurb: When Broadway actor Jonah receives word that his uncle has passed away and named him the heir to a property in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Jonah’s plan is to settle the estate as quickly as possible and return to his life in New York City. Much to Jonah’s surprise, the inheritance includes the Ashford Cemetery—and its hunky groundskeeper, recent Bosnian immigrant Luka Pavelka.

Jonah soon discovers Luka is more than easy on the eyes. He sees into Jonah’s heart like no man ever before, and his job at the cemetery is all he has. If Jonah sells, Luka is left with nothing. Luka is there for Jonah when Jonah needs someone most, and there’s no denying the chemistry and connection between them. But Jonah has a successful career back in New York. Now he must decide if it’s still the life he wants….

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

Reviewer: Prime

Review: Buried Passions by Andrew Grey is something of a sweet diversion. One of the sugary sweet type stories, which I have to say is something different to what I’m used to from Grey. Still, this book has the same flow and use of language that I associate with Grey’s writing and something that I really connect to.

The story starts off with Jonah, a Broadway actor who has dreams of stardom. However, he is stuck when the show he is in ends and there doesn’t appear to be anything on the horizon for him. Yet, when the uncle he never knew dies, Jonah leaves the bright lights of New York for the small town where his uncle had loved and had been loved by the entire community. Jonah had a complicated relationship with his parents which plays into the uncle story line. As we get to know Jonah, we find out more about his family and the wonderful uncle that he missed out on knowing. However, Jonah doesn’t expect to discover that part of his inheritance is also the old town cemetery which is how he meets Luka.

Luka is a kind soul and he had no choice but to leave his homeland of Bosnia. Luka was in trouble when Jonah’s uncle befriended and helped him. Luka mourns the death of his friend, but he is on a road to self-discovery as he opens his heart to Jonah. With Jonah probably needing to go back to New York at any moment, as soon as his agent can get him an audition, neither men fight their growing attraction and the love that is starting to form.

The only real criticism that I have for this audio is the narration. While in general I enjoyed Joel Lesley’s narration, I had a little bit of trouble with the accent used for Luka throughout the book. It sometimes felt a little disjointed. I’m not too sure how to explain it but suffice to say that it didn’t really gel with me too much.

However, despite my thoughts on the narration of Luka’s accent this was a sweet romance. I liked the chemistry of Jonah and Luka. They were sweet together but there was a lot of hidden depths to both guys that I really appreciated.

Redeeming the Stepbrother by Andrew Grey

Title: Redeeming the Step Brother

Series: Tales from St. Giles 02

Author: Andrew Grey

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novel (200 pages)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (10th April 2018)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 4 Hearts

Blurb: Family can be a blessing and a curse, but for artist Florian, it’s a nightmare he longs to escape.

As chief designer for Bartholomew Porcelain Studio, Florian specializes in painting birds. He also watches them in the wild to distract himself from his short-tempered mother, at least temporarily. Florian’s heart is too soft to leave his stepsister, Ella, to suffer alone. Still, he can’t help dreaming about one day finding happiness and love.

When Count Dieter von Hollenbach arrives in town to visit a friend and present an award, he isn’t looking for romance. Then again, he doesn’t expect someone as perfect as Florian to come into his life. To make sure Florian is all he seems and that their connection is genuine, Dieter keeps his title to himself.

But he isn’t the only one with a secret.

At a masquerade ball to celebrate the award, some of the masks fall away, but those that remain in place could destroy the love beginning to grow between them.

ISBN: 978-1-64080-594-1

Product Link: Dreamspinner | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Prime

Review: I love reading anything by Andrew Grey and will do so without taking too much notice of the blurb. I love his writing style, I always connect with it and always feel the emotions of the characters that he weaves throughout the prose. One thing is that this series tends to step away from having children so closely related to the MCs that they become almost a main character themselves.

Redeeming the Stepbrother is the second book in Grey’s Tales from St Giles series, and for the most part is based partially of the classic tale of Cinderella. Except that Cinderella character in this title seems to be shared by one of the MCs (the titular stepbrother) and his younger stepsister (who stays firmly as a background character). I love books that are either inspired by or are simply a modern MM retelling of the classic fairytales. Here, Grey only takes elements of the old tale and crafts the lives of people in an idyllic, sleepy town which is dependent on the Bartholomew family porcelain business to hire a great deal of the locals.

Basically, if you like the elements I just described, I know you’ll get a lot of enjoyment out of this book.

The story is the romance between Florian Cinderson and Count Dieter von Hollenbach. Dieter keeps his title a secret for much of the story, and with the last name Cinderson and a stepsister called Ella, it’s clear that Florian is the character to have elements of Cinderella injected into his story.

As I said before, he tends to share the Cinderella story with Ella. Ella is the one that is treated as a slave by her stepmother. Florian misses his deceased stepfather a lot, the man was an important role model for him, but the only reason he sticks around is because his mother and brother can be fairly horrible people. He loves his sister to bits and will do anything to protect her. It’s a complicated story to unpack, but that is why you need to read the book and I won’t make any potentially spoilery comments.

Dieter on the other hand Mr tall, dark, handsome and mysterious. He feels an instant attraction to Florian, the main reason why he was in town anyway. It was because of Florian’s artwork that the Bartholomew porcelain works were honored with a very important prize. Dieter has a complicated family as well, although his are not intrusive like Florian’s. Quite simply, in finding love Dieter begins to find peace with his past as he realizes the depths of what he feels and the importance of Florian in his life. The main hurdle these guys have to deal with in the end is the fact that they live and work in two different countries on two different continents.

I really adore both books in this series so far, I love the fairy tale element. I sincerely hope that there are more Tales from St Giles to come in the future.

Heart Unheard by Andrew Grey ~ Audio Review

Title: Heart Unheard

Series: Hearts Entwined 02

Author: Andrew Grey

Narrator: Greg Tremblay

Genre: Contemporary

Length: 6 hrs, 2 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (8th March 2018)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts

Blurb: The attraction between Brent Berkheimer and Scott Spearman peels the wallpaper, but Brent is Scott’s boss, and they’re both too professional to go beyond flirting. Their priorities realign after Scott is badly injured in an accident that costs him his hearing, and Brent realizes what is truly important…. He wants Scott.

Scott pushes Brent away at first, fearing a new romance will just add to his problems, but perhaps he will find unexpected strength and solace in Brent’s support as he struggles to communicate with the world in a new way.

Just as they decide the chance of a happy future together is worth the risk, Scott and Brent discover darker challenges in their way – including evidence that the “accident” Scott suffered may not have been so accidental.

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

Reviewer: Prime

Review: As I always say at the start of every Andrew Grey book review I write – I love Andrew Grey’s books. I find it so easy to connect emotionally with the words on the page (or in my ear in the case of audiobooks), as well as with the wonderfully flawed characters Grey introduces us to.

Heart Unheard is the second in the Hearts Entwined series. Heart Unheard is everything that I have come to expect from Grey’s books. This is a slow burn, sweet romance that is totally relatable. One thing that I really love about this series is that one half of the featured couple has some sort of physical disability, once again lending towards my thought that all the heroes are perfectly flawed.

Heart Unheard is about Brent and Scott, Brent is the manager of the garage where he and Scott work. They’ve been attracted to each other for years, however, Brent has worried over the fact that he’s Scott’s boss and that he is older. All that changes when fate steps in. Scott is injured in a car accident. He is lucky to be alive, getting away with only a brain injury that has caused Scott to become deaf. This brings Brent to his senses and what follows is a wonderful little romance of two ordinary guys dealing with a less than ideal situation. Scott is a survivor and he needs to learn that even though he doesn’t see himself as whole anymore, Brent doesn’t want to lose his chance for a happily ever after.

I’ve become familiar with Greg Tremblay’s narration through his work on a few other of Andrew Grey’s books. The timbre of his voice really does suit Grey’s writing and I like how he manages to get the tone of the characters, especially when they are going through trauma.

As I said, this is a sweet romance, there is plenty of emotion and love without the need for melodrama or unnecessary angst. I’m not a fan of books that make a song and dance out of age gaps (to me 10 years or less is not a big deal) and that is just another thing for me to like about this book. My only criticism I have of this book is that sometimes I thought the pace dropped off a little and I found my attention wandering. However, I feel that the narration made up for this and enhanced the slower sections.

Taming the Beast by Andrew Grey ~ Audio Review

Title: Taming the Beast

Series: Tales from St Giles 01

Author: Andrew Grey

Narrator: Jack Wesley

Genre: Contemporary

Length: 5 hrs, 52 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (14th March 2018)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts

Blurb: The suspicious death of Dante Bartholomew’s wife changed him, especially in the eyes of the residents of St. Giles. They no longer see a successful businessman, only a monster they believe was involved. Dante’s horrific reputation eclipses the truth to the point that he sees no choice but to isolate himself and his heart.

The plan backfires when he meets counselor Beau Clarity and the children he works with. Beau and the kids see beyond the beastly reputation to the beautiful soul inside Dante, and Dante’s cold heart begins to thaw as they slip past his defenses. The warmth and hope Beau brings to Dante’s life help him see his entire existence—his trials and sorrows—in a brighter light.

But Dante’s secrets could rip happiness from their grasp… especially since someone isn’t above hurting those Dante has grown to love in order to bring him down.

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

Reviewer: Prime

Taming the Beast, the first book in Grey’s Tales from St Giles series, and for the most part is based partially of the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast. I love books that are either inspired by or are simply a modern MM retelling of the classic fairytales. Here, Grey only takes elements of the old tale and crafts the lives of people in an idyllic, sleepy town which is dependent on the Bartholomew family porcelain business to hire a great deal of the locals.

Dante Bartholomew takes on the “Beast” role in this story. His wife died under somewhat mysterious circumstances, which Dante refuses to talk about. Instead he chooses to live the life a recluse, though respected and liked by the people in his family’s mansion who are the only people he interacts with day to day. He doesn’t want to face the past and he tries to not let the town’s nickname, the Beast of St Giles, get to him. Dante is forced to go to an annual business dinner and from the moment he meets counsellor for the local rec centre, Beau Clarity (get it? Similar to Belle?) his life changes forever.

Beau is relatively new to town. He’s moved when he took the job as counselor to the family, especially the kids, affected by drug abuse, among other things. Beau brings a light to Dante’s life that he had thought had been long lost. Beau in some ways brings out the best in Dante and vice versa, but most importantly Beau helps the people around him see that Dante is a lot less sinister than gossip says.

This is a gentle type of romance. Dante and Beau need to go on a journey before they can properly embrace love and life together. They have a great chemistry that is enhanced by the fact that their story doesn’t have the guys tumbling in bed and declaring “I love you” when the story barely starts. The character development shows the depths of emotions these guys are capable of.

I really enjoyed the narration by Jack Wesley. I’m not overly familiar with him, but his voice and the voices he gave the characters were really well done. He conveyed the tone and emotion of the plot wonderfully. Dante especially had a significant storyline where we eventually find out what his demons are, and he slowly has to let go of his baggage. Nailing this part of the story was the most essential part for the narrator to get right in my opinion, and Wesley played it just right.

This is the type of book that would appeal to a wide audience. There is no instalove, which I know is a deal breaker to a lot of people. Equally, I know that there are a lot of people also drawn by the whole fairytale type element as well. Fans of Andrew Grey will no doubt enjoy this too, although it is somewhat different to what we normally get from Grey.

I’m actually about to start to read book 2 in this series and I’m super excited. I think I’d also love to hear the audio of book 2 as well. Really cool start to a series.

Shared Revelations by Andrew Grey ~ Audio Review

Title: Shared Revelations

Author: Andrew Grey

Narrator: JJ Boyer

Genre: Historical

Length: 1 hr, 26 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (15th March 2018)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖4 Hearts

Blurb: It’s the 60s, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to be different. Eddie Baronski spent his high school years looking out for his partially deaf friend, Jack Emmons. Now that they’ve graduated, they spend their free time at Green Bay’s newly renamed Lambeau Field, taking in the practices.
When Eddie’s crush, Johnny Grant, a new Packers team member, offers him a ride home, Eddie thinks it’s the start of a grand romance. But Johnny and Eddie may not be on the same page, and love – true love – sometimes comes from an unexpected quarter.

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

Reviewer: Prime

Review: Shared Revelations is a novella by Andrew Grey, who praise in each and every review I write for his books. I’m not sure if it’s meant to take place in the same world as his Hearts Entwined series, but the epilogue made me think of Hearts Unheard.

The narrator for this quick audio (seriously, not much more than an hour!) is JJ Boyer, who was an unknown narrator to me. I really liked his tone. I think the tone really matched as someone who was reminiscing about the past, it was simply delightful.

The story is simple. This is the coming age story of Eddie, who in the 60s finds himself feeling things that he had learnt to be wrong. He has great love and affection for his best friend, Jack, who is partially deaf, but has a massive crush on baseball player, Johnny. Eddie has to carefully discover himself and sort out his feelings for Johnny, while keeping that taboo part of himself secret from everyone he loves, including Jack.

This is a sweet, no fuss story. I suspect if this had been a full-blown novel there would have been a load of angst and homophobia and terror.Since there was no room for that we are left with the bare bones – a boy growing up, discovering his desires and navigating first love. I really like the ending too, wonderful until the end!

New Tricks by Andrew Grey Guest Post & Excerpt!

Hi guys! We have Andrew Grey popping in today with his newest release New Tricks, we have a short guest post from Andrew, and a great excerpt so check out the post and enjoy! ❤ ~Pixie~

New Tricks

Andrew Grey

In matters of the heart, there’s no such thing as business as usual.

Thomas Stepford spent years building a very successful business and now at thirty-nine, he wants a quieter life. With his parents needing help, he decides to return home. He can’t get away from business completely and needs an assistant—but the man who is hired isn’t quite what he had in mind.

Brandon Wilson, the ink on his degree barely dry, needs a job, and his mother helps him get one as Mr. Stepford’s assistant. Thomas doesn’t seem to remember, but Brandon worked mowing the stunningly attractive older man’s lawn years ago. Thomas was Brandon’s teenage fantasy, and now he’s Brandon’s boss.

Thomas and Brandon are both determined to keep their relationship strictly business, but the old attraction is still there. They learn to work together even as the tension between them reaches the boiling point. But just as they start to surrender, Thomas’s old life in New York calls him. Even if he resists that pull, can their newfound relationship survive when Brandon receives the call of his dreams… from Hollywood?

Release date: 11th December 2018
Pre-order:
.•.•.**❣️ Dreamspinner | Amazon US | Amazon UK | B&N ❣️**.•.•.

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Running to You by Andrew Grey

Title: Running to You

Author: Andrew Grey

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novel (200 pages)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (13th March 2018)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts

Blurb: Home, love, and possibilities he never imagined are waiting for Billy Joe to claim them. But first he needs to escape the horrors of his past.

A twisted act of cruelty and prejudice drives Billy Joe from his Mississippi home, and he makes it as far as Pennsylvania—where his car breaks down just as the year’s first snowstorm blows in. Fortunately, Carlos is there to lend a hand.

Carlos is no stranger to hardship. His family rejected him for being gay, but with determination, he put himself through school and became a librarian. Carlos sees the same willpower in Billy, and he wants to help Billy and his son succeed in a new life that is very different from the one they left behind. With his support, they start to adjust, and before long, both men want more than encouragement from each other. They want the chance for a future together, but their families have other ideas… and Billy’s will stop at nothing to get what they want.

ISBN: 978-1-64080-413-5

Product Link: Dreamspinner | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Prime

Review: Running to You is a standalone novel by Andrew Grey.

I must start with something that I found intriguing myself. I’ve already heard the audio of this book (I rated it a 4) and often I find that I enjoy the audio narration more (or sometimes the same) than just reading the book myself. Oddly enough, this is a book where I found much more enjoyment and connection to the characters with reading it myself. I’m not sure why, maybe it is because although I enjoyed the narration of the audio I think I projected slightly different emotions when I read the book.

Fans of Andrew Grey will be familiar with his trademark formula (single dad, cute kid meeting a drop dead gorgeous Mr Right). Fans may also love his ability to create and develop characters with deep emotional connections, who are also totally relatable. Suffice to say, if you’re a fan of Grey, you will enjoy this book. Then again, if you love a romance which involves a cute kid and even a dash of suspense, you’ll probably also like to give this one a go.

Fire and Agate by Andrew Grey Guest Post & Excerpt!

Hi guys! We have Andrew Grey popping in today with his newest release Fire and Agate, we have a short guest post from Andrew, and a great excerpt so check out the post and enjoy! ❤ ~Pixie~

Fire and Agate

(Carlisle Deputies 03)

Andrew Grey

When Chris Anducci is moved off jail duty and into the sheriff’s office, he doesn’t expect his first assignment to be protecting a witness against a human trafficking ring. Knowing the new sheriff doesn’t abide screw-ups, Chris reluctantly agrees to work the case.

Pavle Kasun has spent the last four years of his life at the mercy of others. When an opportunity presented itself, he took it, resulting in his rescue. Now the safe houses he’s placed in are being threatened and he needs protection if he is to have any sort of chance at a life.

Chris opens his home to Pavle, but he doesn’t expect Pavle and his story to get under his skin… and stay there. Soon they discover they have more in common than either of them thought. Slowly Pavle comes out of his shell and Chris finds someone who touches his heart. But as the men looking for Pavle close in, they will stop at nothing to get him out of the way. But even if Chris can keep him safe, he might not be able to protect his heart if Pavle moves back home.

.•.•.**❣️ Dreamspinner Press | Amazon US | Amazon UK | B&N ❣️**.•.•.

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Never Let You Go by Andrew Grey ~ Audio Review

Title: Never Let You Go

Series: Forever Yours 02

Author: Andrew Grey

Narrator: Jeff Gelder

Genre: Contemporary

Length: 6 hrs, 8 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (6th February 2018)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts

Blurb: Friends since they met in school, Ashton and Brighton soon become much more. Ash and his aunt are Brighton’s haven away from his mess of a family, and when Ash enlists in the army, Brighton learns to endure his long absences and eagerly awaits his return from missions.

Until one day, Ash doesn’t come back, and Brighton thinks his greatest fear has come true.

Months pass, and Brighton grieves for Ash, not knowing that a terrible misunderstanding sent Ash running, unable to cope when he thought Brighton had betrayed him. Even after an emotional reunion, their relationship isn’t the same – Brighton is now responsible for his young niece, and he’s having a hard time rediscovering the trust he once had in Ash. Ash must still tend to his mental health, but before he can, he’ll have to deal with a past secret that puts all their lives at risk. With so many forces determined to tear them apart, can Brighton and Ash hold on to each other and never let go?

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

Reviewer: Prime

Review: Never Let You Go by Andrew Grey is a totally heartwarming, sweet and even heartbreaking story about love and healing. It is the sequel to Can’t Live Without You. However, the books can be read as standalone with only a brief appearance from the MCs of book 1. In my opinion everything Andrew Grey does is good, if not complete gold and this is no exception.

Brighton and Ashton have been friends since they were kids, when the orphaned Ashton moved to town to live with his aunt. Ashton joined the military and somehow the guys made a life together until the time that Ash went missing on a mission and everyone was told he was dead. But Ashton did make it back and a misunderstanding that Ash didn’t bother to find out more about kept him away from Brighton until fate stepped in.

While Ash was piecing his life back together and coping on his own with PTSD after his ordeal, Brighton was dealing not only with the loss of the man he loves, but also with the loss of his sister and becoming a dad to his niece. He is understandably hurt when he sees Ash in town again. But these guys have learnt from Ashton’s mistake and while they grew up together, they have even more growing to do before they can bring their lives together once more.

I can’t remember how much I’ve heard of Jeff Gelder’s narration, but I’m sure I have in the past. Regardless, he gave a good voice to both the MCs, as well as Brighton’s niece and even Brighton’s aunt. His voice gave off a well-rounded audio that I absolutely adored. Fans of Andrew Grey will love this one, as usual as well as those that are fans of friends to lovers and broken but perfectly flawed MCs.

All for You by Andrew Grey

Title: All for You

Author: Andrew Grey

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novel (200 pages)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (11th September 2018)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 4 Hearts

Blurb: The only path to happiness is freedom: the freedom to live—and love—as the heart wants. Claiming that freedom will take all the courage one young man has… but he won’t have to face it alone.

In small, conservative Sierra Pines, California, Reverend Gabriel is the law. His son, Willy, follows his dictates… until he meets a man in Sacramento, and then reunites with him in his hometown—right under his father’s nose.

Reggie is Sierra Pines’s newly appointed sheriff. His dedication to the job means not flaunting his sexuality, but when he sees Willy again, he can’t escape the feeling that they’re meant to be together. He’ll keep Willy’s secret until Willy is ready to let the world see who he really is. But if going up against the church and the townspeople isn’t enough, the perils of the work Reggie loves so much might mean the end of their romance before it even gets off the ground….

ISBN: 978-1-64080-429-6

Product Link: Dreamspinner | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Prime

Review: I read everything by Andrew Grey without much of a second thought these days, there have been very few of his books that I truly struggled to read. Grey has something of a formula where there is usually a single father struggling with a sick (or recovering) child when he finds love.

However, All for You, is something totally different by Grey and I really liked how the plot was handled. It could have been a predictable melodrama, way too close to comfort to stories you hear in real life, but what I like about this story is that there is always hope. In the darkness, when things in a small town seem impossible for closet gay men, there is hope of changing beliefs. That is what I loved most about this book.

The story is about Willy – aka Will or William, whatever. I personally think the name Willy sounds too childish, but I also think it strangely fits for a character who is controlled by his preacher father who wants Willy to be sheltered and to live the perfect hetero life and succeed him in becoming the next preacher. The problem is that this image is not Willy – he wants to do something more with his life and most importantly he knows that he is gay. He loves his small-town home of Sierra Pines but doesn’t like that he cannot be himself. When he goes to the city to a club for the first time he meets a man that can only be described as a gentleman. Willy is too innocent for words, but Reggie is something of a knight in shining armor.

Reggie had escaped to the city for the weekend to meet up with his best friends and go to a gay club and enjoy himself. His new life and new job as Sierra Pines’ new sheriff means that he can’t have a personal life in the town. Already Gabriel, doesn’t like the fact that Reggie respectfully declines to attend church. But then he finds out that Willy, whom he’d met the previous weekend in the city, is the son of the reverend. There is an attraction between the two of them and the chemistry is undeniable. They start to form a sweet friendship and soon their lives become undeniably entwined.

There is a small subplot line about “the rest stop” where shady things from drugs to toilet sex to something more sinister seems to be happening. I found this plot a little predictable (I figured out the culprit immediately) but I liked how this was used to move the story along and let us see more shades of characters that we thought were just bullies. No matter what some of the people have done, a couple of minor characters who start out unredeemable all have hope of healing and redemption, much like Willy and Reggie.

This is a happy book – there are some dark themes approached but Grey keeps to the light side of it in this one. As I said earlier, I like the hope and the hope for redemption, happiness and healing that this book offers.

Ebb and Flow by Andrew Grey ~ Audio Review

Title: Ebb and Flow

Series: Love’s Charter 02

Author: Andrew Grey

Narrator: Greg Tremblay

Genre: Contemporary

Length: 5 hrs, 48 hrs

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (18th October 2017)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 4.5 Hearts

Blurb: To achieve happiness, they’ll have to find the courage to be their own men.

As first mate on a charter fishing boat, Billy Ray meets a lot of people, but not one of them has made him as uncomfortable as Skippy—because he’s drawn to Skippy as surely as the moon pulls the tides, and he’s almost as powerless to resist. Billy Ray has spent his life denying who he is to avoid the wrath of his religious father, and he can’t allow anyone to see through his carefully built façade.

Skippy is only in town on business and will have to return to Boston once he’s through. After all, his father has certain expectations, and him staying in Florida is not one of them. But he doesn’t count on Billy Ray capturing his attention and touching his heart.

Billy Ray doesn’t realize just how much he and Skippy have in common, though. They’re both living to please their fathers instead of following their own dreams—a fact that becomes painfully obvious when they get to know each other and realize how much joy they’ve denied themselves. While they can’t change the past, they can begin a future together and make up for lost time—as long as they’re willing to face the consequences of charting their own course.

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

Reviewer: Prime

Review: Ebb and Flow is the sequel to Andrew Grey’s Setting the Hook, the first two book in Love’s Charter series. Although this story is about a different couple’s courtship I recommend going back to listen to the first book, Setting the Hook, first to get a feel for the world, characters and overarching themes. One of the more fun aspects is that we get to catch up with the lives of William and Mike who we met in Setting the Hook. Those two guys have wonderful chemistry.

That said, Billy Ray (I know, sounds so hillbilly) and Skippy, the MCs of Ebb and Flow, also have wonderful chemistry. There is a lot of uncertainty on both sides and a boat load of emotion, but these guys work together so well, they have hot chemistry and they are just so damn sweet together.
Billy Ray is first mate to Bubba on a fishing charter boat (FYI and totally not a spoiler, Bubba got a promotion at the end of Setting the Hook). Billy Ray is stuck in a bad situation that he cannot help – his father is a small town preacher who is all about fire and brimstone. His father is over bearing, not only to his son but also to the locals (though no idea what the locals feel about that), and Billy Ray is resigned to the fact that no matter how hard he tries he will never meet his father’s lofty expectations.

On a charter, Billy Ray is drawn to Skippy (aka Harcourt Anson III, so snobby!). Skippy is in town from Boston for business, but he wants to make it fun. As a partner of his father’s law firm, his father works him all hours to the point of exhaustion and having zero time an actual life. And so we start, with instant sparks of attraction, the story of two guys unfortunately has to deal with the pressure of trying to please their impossible (and homophobic) fathers.

There is some slow burn and maybe some low key angst as Billy Ray and Skippy wallow in unrequited love. The guys are both worried about what would happen if they even thought of making a life together. Both of them expect retribution from their fathers, they do occur in different circumstances but overall, the story line for Billy Ray and Skippy is the same. Nonetheless, it was a joy to listen to them as they overcame their individual obstacles. I think that shared element both enhanced the story for me.

Greg Tremblay has done a tremendous job narrating both books in this series. His tone had me ensnared from the start. He conveyed the turbulent emotion of these troubled men so damn well.

For lovers of Andrew Grey, this story is another fantastic reason to love the man’s writing. If you started with Setting the Hook, you’re going to love Ebb and Flow. For me listening to the audio has enhanced the whole experience and enjoyment of this series for me.

Heart Unseen by Andrew Grey ~ Audiobook

Title: Heart Unseen

Series: Entwined Hearts 01

Author: Andrew Grey

Narrator: Greg Tremblay

Genre: Contemporary

Length: 7 hrs, 10 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (10th August 2017)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts

Blurb: As a stunningly attractive man and the owner of a successful chain of auto repair garages, Trevor is used to attention, adoration, and getting what he wants. What he wants tends to be passionate, no-strings-attached flings with men he meets in clubs. He doesn’t expect anything different when he sets his sights on James. Imagine his surprise when the charm that normally brings men to their knees fails to impress. Trevor will need to drop the routine and connect with James on a meaningful level. He starts by offering to take James home instead of James riding home with his intoxicated friend.

For James, losing his sight at a young age meant limited opportunities for social interaction. Spending most of his time working at a school for the blind has left him unfamiliar with Trevor’s world, but James has fought hard for his independence, and he knows what he wants. Right now, that means stepping outside his comfort zone and into Trevor’s heart.

Trevor is also open to exploring real love and commitment for a change, but before he can be the man James needs him to be, he’ll have to deal with the pain of his past.

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

Reviewer: Prime

Review: I first read and reviewed this book when it was first released. I absolutely fell in love with the characters and their stories. Firstly, Andrew Grey is one of those authors I will read and/or listen to anything he writes. I love his relatable and perfectly flawed characters. I also enjoy that he often adds a kid into the story. His romances are sweet and well paced, no insta-love to be seen. To put it simply, he embraces the everyday differences, not everyone is perfect and that is the attraction. Part of these everyday differences is also that we have an MC in this book who is blind. I love reading these types of stories because the disabled characters are quite often the most strong and resilient and inspiring characters. Or they may be wallowing in self pity about some tragedy that happened to them, but as a reader we get to see them grow as love takes hold.

The story is about James and Trevor. James is the blind the MC. He’s fine with who is but being blind for most of his life meant, for him at least, that his social interactions with “sighted” people has been rather limited. The story highlights wonderfully just how dependent on touch James’s world is. James’s world is always ordered because that is the only way James can get by independently – nothing can be moved, he needs to accept help when he enters a new place, etc. Trevor, I suppose in my mind he is something of a gentle giant. He has his own sad story which makes his wary of love – his parents divorced when he was young, his mother died when he was still a teen. However, he has an awesome stepdad, Larry. I totally love Larry and his plotline!

Both guys are reticent in their own way, but it’s Trevor that needs to step up and make the first step. This is where I have to applaud Greg Tremblay’s narration. His voice is so natural and nails both James and Trevor’s story. This isn’t an angsty story or some quick insta-love story, this story has deeply developed characters and plot. I felt every moment and didn’t want the book to end! Trevor and James are wonderfully realistic and relatable – and they chemistry is off the charts. Any Andrew Grey fan will love this story. It’s full of heart, with a good dose of suspense and drama to go along with it.

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New Tricks

Andrew Grey

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Fire and Agate

Andrew Grey

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