Andrew Grey is stopping by today (Yeah!) to talk about his newest book in the Carlisle Deputies series, Fire and Onyx. He’s brought a character profile on Wes, the MC who is raising his nephew. Check out the profile as well as the 4 star review on it. Enjoy!
A Carlisle Deputies Novel
Undercover sheriff’s deputy Evan Whittaker is close to infiltrating a vicious local gang. He just needs to find an opening. Instead, he finds Wes Douglas, a web designer who is raising his irresponsible brother’s son. Wes agrees to help with a stakeout, but he pays the price when his home is destroyed in a shootout.
Evan’s always been a loner, but when he invites Wes into his home, living together feels right, and the two men only grow closer as they adapt to each other’s lives and rhythms. A future as a family looks brighter by the day, but all of that could collapse when Wes’s brother—and his connection to the drug dealers—crashes into the life they’re carefully building.
Title: Fire and Onyx
Author: Andrew Grey
Series: Carlisle Deputies #5
Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance/Law Enforcement
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: Jan 14, 2020
Edition/Formats Available In: eBook & Print
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Dreamspinner Press
Character Profile
Full Name: Wesley Douglas
Nickname (if applicable): Wes
Age: 22
General physical description: slim, lanky, and bright eyed.
Hometown: Carlisle PA
Type of home/ neighborhood: lower middle class
Relationship status: Single
Current family: Mom, dad, brother, and nephew.
Family background (parents, previous marriages, etc.): Wes lives at home and takes care of his irresponsible brother’s child.
Friends: A few from school
Relationship with men: He’s had a few, but mostly his effort is taken with raising his nephew
Relationship with women: None
Job: Web designer
Dress style: Casual
Religion: Not if he can help it
Attitude to religion: Neutral
Favorite pastimes: Playing with his nephew
Hobbies: None really.
Favorite foods: Whatever he can grab when he isn’t looking after the baby.
Strongest positive personality trait: Loyal, hard working
Strongest negative personality trait: Fear of getting hurt
Sense of humor: Definitely. Desperate to laugh
Temper: Sometimes
Consideration for others: He’s willing to put himself behind his nephew and raise him.
How other people see him/her: Most people don’t see him as anything other than a nerd. But Evan sees so much more.
Other traits, especially those to be brought out in story: Nurturer and caring. He puts other ahead of himself.
Ambitions: To build his own family.
Philosophy of life: What you put out comes back to you.
Most important thing to know about this character: He is an amazing parent and blossoms with love and support.
Will readers like or dislike this character, and why? I thin k they will love him.
“Yeah, but you need a diaper because you forgot to bring extras, right?” Evan winked. “I have a few in my trunk.” He slid out of the booth. “I’ll be right back.” He jogged out of the restaurant, and Wes was beginning to wonder what the heck this ruse was about. Evan was a decent guy, and Wes had seen his badge so he knew he was a real cop and not some guy trying to run a scam on him or something.
Greyson gnawed on his cookie and fussed, squirming in the high chair until Evan got back. Then he grinned and played keep-away with his cookie again, smiling each time Evan reached for it so he could pull it away.
Wes nearly swallowed his teeth when Evan handed him a diaper. “Okay, you have these in your trunk. Why? In case you arrest a baby for poop-and-run?”
Evan actually smiled at his joke. “No. I have a box of general things in the back, and a few diapers are in there. One of my friends works for children’s services, and he has a list of things that he wants us to carry so we can be prepared whenever we encounter children. There’s a stuffed bear in there and a small blanket.” He shrugged. “You never know.”
“Did you get the info you needed?” Wes asked as Evan began to eat, seemingly much more at ease than he had been.
“Yup.”
Wes ate his salad. He loved the ranch dressing they had here, and when he was done, Nadine cleared the dishes and brought his sandwich and some more dressing for the fries. He handed one of them to Greyson, who gummed it happily, grinning and sometimes waving his fry around.
“Does he always do that?”
Wes shrugged. “He isn’t really hungry, but he needs something to do, so a fry or two will keep him happy. And hopefully he won’t start fussing until it’s nearly time for us to go.” There were always limits to the amount of time he was capable of sitting relatively quietly. “I’d ask you about your work, but I don’t know if you want to talk about it.” It seemed strange with how cagey Evan was being.
Wes is living with his mom and dad, raising his brother’s almost one-year-old son. He has guardianship of baby Grayson, but if it were up to him, he’d have his brother sign his rights over and adopt him himself. Unfortunately, his brother uses the baby as a “just in case”, he’s needed to help him gain something. It’s disgusting, but Wes doesn’t try to push, for fear that he’d take the baby and leave out of spite. Their parents sometimes seemed like decent people, but other times, just not… I never warmed up to them.
When Wes starts suspecting that his brother is getting in with the wrong crowd, it’s right at the same time Evan is trailing a crew that he suspects is running drugs in Carlile. When they run into each other not once but twice, Evan thinks that he Wes can be of some help to see if he can get an IN with his brother, and Wes hopes that Evan can help his brother get OUT. If only it were that easy.
When a shootout happens in front of Wes’s house and a fire leaves him temporarily homeless with baby Grayson, but thankfully, Evan is there and ready to offer the cute guy and his baby a place to be safe. Unfortunately, they both underestimate Wes’ brother and his importance and involvement of what’s been going on.
I don’t want to give too much of the story away, because there are some twists that I didn’t see coming and it shocked me. But like all the guys in this series, if you enjoy a hot dad (or uncle that turns into Dad), babies, hot cops, lots of action, both in the streets and in the bedroom, and a sweet ending that’ll leave you wanting more… don’t pass this one up! It doesn’t disappoint!
4 pieces of eye candy
Andrew grew up in western Michigan with a father who loved to tell stories and a mother who loved to read them. Since then he has lived throughout the country and traveled throughout the world. He has a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and works in information systems for a large corporation.
Andrew’s hobbies include collecting antiques, gardening, and leaving his dirty dishes anywhere but in the sink (particularly when writing) He considers himself blessed with an accepting family, fantastic friends, and the world’s most supportive and loving partner. Andrew currently lives in beautiful, historic Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
Author Links
Facebook Group All the Way with Andrew Grey
Twitter @andrewgreybooks
Please Be Sure To Stop by His Website to See All of His Works
**** Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book from RBTL Book Promotions and the Author/Publisher with the hope that I will leave my Unbiased Opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”. *****