Andrew Grey

Fire and Granite by Andrew Grey: Exclusive Guest Post and Release Day Review

July 11, 2018 by Denise

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 twenty-four/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 people who are taking their places in his heart: Andrew and his young niece and nephew.

Title: Fire and Granite
Series: Carlisle Deputies: Book Two
Author: Andrew Grey
Release Date: July 10, 2018
Category: Contemporary
Pages: 193

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

I have said it before and I’ll say it again. I love this blog, especially the name because I’m just as obsessed with books and eye candy as you are. And for me, its hard to beat cop eye candy. I almost giggled to myself out loud. Maybe I should have. The last few days have been some of the hardest of my life with losing my mom. I have tried not to be maudlin, but the thoughts are everywhere, so I’ve been reading a lot. I know my mom would love that. She was a reader and the most book obsessed person I know. She and I rarely read the same books, though she did love what I wrote. So I thought we’d see how this book would do on the mom scale. (At least the my mom scale.)

Strong men with vulnerabilities, who can be relied on – check

Children, mom loved stories with kids. – check

Heat – Yeah, mom loved her some heat and tension – check

Passion – Oh yeah, mom loved that big time – check

Action and drama, something to keep the heart pumping – check

A happy, warm wash over you ending – check

Yes, I think mom would have loved Fire and Granite. I hope you will too.

Hey, hot cop!

I’ve really enjoyed this series so far… some maybe more than others, but anyone who follows any of my reviews, know that I’m such a sucker for hot dads, or….hot uncles even. In this one, we have Judge Andrew Phillips who’s being threatened by a criminal he had a few rocky run-ins with before finally making an example of him when sentencing him to prison… It seemed the felon didn’t take to kindly to the way the judge handled him or their run-ins, so when he planned an elaborate escape, he wanted revenge on the judge….

That’s where Officer Clay Brown comes in… now, this is where the water gets a little murky for me. See, Harper Grange – the felon that’s after Judge Phillips, is Clay’s cousin. Granted, they didn’t have much to do with one another’s sides of the family, even though their mothers are sisters… it still seemed like a huge conflict of interest or something… I understand that Clay is a cop and a good one too, but that’s his family… I would think that he’d be off any case pertaining to his family, and especially NOT the one and only one in charge of protecting the guy that his cousin is after. I can’t be the only one who thought that, can I?

But, if you can get over that fact… the hot cop wants to look out for Andrew, and watching them fall for one other is sweet and such a given… they’re so good for each other. Everything is so up in the air, waiting for more threats from the cousin and trying to hide out and be safe, and then Andrew gets some devastating news about his sister and her kids, making him need to jump in while everything is so crazy and take care of his niece and nephew.
They were adorable, and we all know how I feel about kids in stories… I know some don’t like it, but really… how can you not melt when somebody is so good with kids? Puppies and kids…. Throw the cold water over me, I’ll need it.

As these guys juggle a new relationship, learn how to be there for two kids who are suddenly without their mama, and a deranged lunatic just waiting to jump out and hurt you… it’s still such a sweet, somewhat angsty read. I’m looking forward to more!
And of course, we get our HFN, with snibbits from all the other hotties from this series.

4 pieces of eye candy from me on this one.

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The Best Worst Honeymoon Ever by Andrew Grey: Exclusive Guest Post, Excerpt and Release Day Review

June 20, 2018 by Denise

How can heartbreak turn into happily ever after?

Tommy Gordon is all set for happily ever after—until heartbreak strikes when his husband-to-be leaves him at the altar. In a bid for distraction, his best friend, Grayson Phillips, suggests he takes advantage of the luxury honeymoon anyway! But the last thing Tommy wants is to go alone, so he invites Grayson and his son, Petey, along.

Beautiful Bonaire lends itself to romance, and along with close quarters, relaxing on the water, and a matchmaking kid, Tommy and Grayson soon find themselves closer than ever… and considering more, much to Grayson’s delight. But before they can plan the best best honeymoon ever, dark clouds descend in the form of Tommy’s ex and a sting from paradise that could ruin everything.

Title: The Best Worst Honeymoon Ever
Author: Andrew Grey
Release Date: June 19, 2018
Category: Contemporary, Dreamspun Desires
Pages: 180

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

Barnes and Noble

I really love my winter vacations. Dominic and I spend some time each year in the Caribbean taking a break from the cold and snow. For us, its just enough to get us through the rest of winter. Writing this book was like being on one of those vacations. I got to take my characters on many of the things Dominic and I love to do. A snorkeling adventure, a day on the water, even a chance to explore the world underneath, all the while falling in love. Now I have been blessed to have been with my husband going on 25 years now. But whenever we visit Bonaire and some of the other islands, we get the chance to have a little fun and fall in love with each other all over again.

“Did you sleep?”

“Yes and no. I might have dozed off, but then Xavier was there to tell me how much he didn’t love me once again, and I kept playing things over and over in my head.” Tommy sat back. “You know….”

“What?” Grayson prompted, knowing he needed to let Tommy talk.

“This whole thing sucks.” Tommy closed his eyes, and Grayson sat back. He didn’t know what to say and figured keeping quiet was the best thing to do. “Will you and Petey come with me?”

Grayson thought about it and reached for his phone. He stared at it, then pulled up a number and made a call. “Jan, it’s Grayson. I’m sorry to bother you on a weekend, but….” He wasn’t sure how to bring this up.

“Aren’t you supposed to be at a wedding?” Jan was an amazing supervisor and one of the best people he’d ever met. They were friends of a sort and had worked together since Jan hired him out of college. Jan had promoted Grayson to a project manager a few years earlier, pleased with his work. “Yes, I was. But one of the grooms was a no-show, and I’m here with Tommy right now. I know it’s short notice, but he’s asked me to go with him on a trip, and I have plenty of vacation time….”

Jan chuckled. In the world of computers, Tommy was sort of a local legend. “You go. You’re between projects right now. Take the time off. You deserve it.” She seemed happy. “So what kind of trip is this?”

“Bonaire,” Grayson said, and Petey whooped from where he stood near them.

“That’s amazing. I’ve been there with the boys, and they had the time of their lives.” Jan loved to travel, and her sons were huge into scuba diving. There were pictures all over her office. “When do you leave?”

“Wednesday.”

“See me first thing on Monday so I’ll know your schedule.” She ended the call, and Grayson put his phone back in his pocket.

“I get to go too?” Petey asked in that tone that said he was making sure.

“Yes,” Tommy answered. “You definitely get to go too. Your dad will have to talk to your teacher, and before you ask, yes… you will have to do homework and probably a report on your trip because you’ll be out of school, but you get to go.”

Petey whooped again and raced back into the water, then sent up a splash that got both of them sprinkled with spray.

So cute!

Anyone who reads my reviews has to know by now that I’m such a sucker for hot dads! In this one, we meet Tommy, Grayson and Petey from the very beginning. Tommy is being left at the alter and his best friend for going on a decade Grayson and his son Petey are right there with him, making sure he gets through it okay. It was rough, because the ex- Xavier was a real tool, to put it nicely.

Deciding he needed to get away and lick his wounds, Tommy took his best friend- whom he’d always kind of had a crush on, and his son with him on his honeymoon. Sounds good, right? Tommy never dreamed that his gorgeous best friend and single dad would feel the same way about him… but of course he did, because honestly…Tommy was generous and selfless, he was loyal and trusting, almost to a fault. He had such a big heart, and wanted the people around him to be happy….what wasn’t to love? And he and Petey were as close as family, which.to a single parent, is the epitome of attractive. Trust me, I was one, once upon a time. Nothing hotter than seeing your kids happy with someone who treats them like their own.

So, while the guys spend Tommy’s honeymoon enjoying the sun and gorgeous island, they decide to see what could happen between them. The feelings have always been there, it just had never seemed like the right time. Now, the timing was perfect….well, almost…It would’ve been, until the ex made a surprise appearance. I had to say, for story sake I wasn’t surprised… but honestly, how can people just be okay with being such ugly spirited people? I could never use someone and hurt someone like that, even for all the money in the world. That guy was scum… and I loved how Petey stood up for Tommy and told the ex exactly what he thought of him. Supes cute!

Of course, the man didn’t have a leg to stand on, and the bad guy getting away with being the bad guy, is something I cannot stand…Luckily, it didn’t work out for him in this one, because as quickly as he came, he was gone, and the guys were left to their honeymoon getaway.

It was a cute story with low angst, which is exactly what I needed right now; and honestly… .it’s hard to find a story from Andrew Grey that I don’t really enjoy. If you like hot dads, sweet guys and an adorable kid… don’t pass this one up.

4 pieces of eye candy from me!

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

Amazon Author Page

Barnes and Noble Page

Dreamspinner Press

Facebook

Facebook Group All the Way with Andrew Grey

Goodreads

Twitter @andrewgreybooks

Website

For Other Works by Andrew Grey

(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”. *

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Trapped in Oz by Andrew Grey: TBT – Throwback Thursday Quick Review

June 7, 2018 by Denise

Tales from Kansas

Martin Long has plans and dreams, but they are derailed when his parents move and must sell their house. In need of a place to stay, fast, he answers an ad for a roommate, and even though the house needs work, the owner seems nice so Martin agrees to move in.

Gary Hunter is barely making ends meet, with mysteriously disappearing tips at work and tuition to pay. Disowned by his family and left with a house in need of repair, Gary desperately needs the extra set of hands along with the money.

When Gary confesses that his family disowned him for being gay, Martin makes his own confession that opens a world of possibilities. But Gary has paid a heavy price for being who he is, and Martin’s unwillingness to open up to his family puts strain on the fledgling relationship.

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

Very cute, YA read.

Martin’s dad has accepted a job that’s taking him and his mother out of state, though he’s an adult now with a good job, maybe college and all of his friends here, he decides to stay behind. Well, his parents insist that he stay behind, really, I don’t think he would’ve on his own lol Anyway, he needs to find someone looking for a roommate, fast.

Gary inherited his grandmother’s house when she passed, but never had much of a relationship with her because his parents wouldn’t allow it. Now, kicked out and disowned by the terrible people, he has a place to stay but not enough money for the taxes and upkeep; and thankfully, but unfortunately for his expenses, his douchey roommate flunked out of school and had to leave. Meaning, he needed a new roommate fast, someone that wouldn’t care about his sexual preference.

Easier said than done, but he gets lucky when he meets Martin, and after getting to know Martin a little bit, he tells him before he moves in. It’s a problem for Martin, but not because Gary’s gay, but because Martin is too, he’s just never gotten to experience what that means, just yet. He’s scared of how his parents will react, especially after hearing how Gary’s own coming out was.

I will say that I was kinda annoyed that Gary put so much pressure on Martin, though I understand not wanting to be in a relationship where he had to hide it, Martin was literally JUST coming to terms with it himself, so I can understand his hesitancy… some people go decades without ever telling anyone, or accepting it themselves… and it’s up to them when and where they feel comfortable coming out. I didn’t like that Gary seemed to guilt him, even if it wasn’t intentional…. And I didn’t like that Martin felt like he had to choose between one or the other.

I also felt a bit like these guys were so young, and the pickin’s were slim, that it was just convieniant because they lived together…. I mean, they liked each other, sure…. But it didn’t feel like much more than that for me. I dunno… maybe I’m reading too much into it, but to me… it felt forced because it was a right time right place kinda thing. It worked out for them in the end, though I was also surprised at how Martin’s family took it. They were accepting eventually….but I figured with the way his mom was, that she already knew.

Overall, it’s a cute, short read with a happy ending. That’s good right?

3 pieces of eye candy from me!

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Redeeming the Stepbrother by Andrew Grey: Exclusive Guest Post and Excerpt

April 11, 2018 by Denise

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 Artist Porcelain, 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.

Title: Redeeming the Stepbrother
Series: Tales from St. Giles: Book 2
Author: Andrew Grey
Release Date: April 10, 2018
Category: Contemporary
Pages: 192

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

I love the story of Cinderella and Redeeming the Stepbrother is my take on the classic fairy tale. Well sort of. See I didn’t want to do a Cinder-fella story. They had been done, so I decided to twist the story and write a romance from one of the stepbrother’s perspectives. See, I’ve already twisted the story to meet my own needs. Of course you’ll recognize many of the classic players in the fairy tale, including the prince. LOL I had an amazing time with this story. It was fun, and interesting for me as a writer. To play with some classic archetypal characters and put my own spin on them. I think as a writer to be able to play with things like this, for me anyway, was as liberating and fun as it was a challenge. I wanted to bring something new while still retaining enough of the familiar to make the story fun. Of course you’ll see some old friends as well from Taming the Beast. I really hope you enjoy it.

“Look at that mess,” Mother scolded. “You need to stop all that stupid bird shit and do something productive with your time.” She sat at the kitchen table in a pair of jeans and a red blouse, reading a book. She lifted her gaze to Isabella, who was at the sink doing dishes, before returning to her book. “Put the jeans in the washtub once you’ve changed so they can be rinsed out. Don’t put them in the washer. I don’t want mud in there again.” She never looked up at me. It was her usual behavior.

I went up to my room, changed, and brought the jeans back down. Once they were taken care of, I took a sandwich to my room and locked the door so Jeremy, Mother’s favorite and my perfect older brother, didn’t come in to cause trouble. We each had a talent, and that was definitely his. The jerk.

I put the plate and glass of water on my desk, then pulled out my paint kit and a blank canvas from the closet. I set up my small easel and got to work, brush in hand, mixing colors, letting my inner eye take over.

There were many things about my job that I loved. Painting birds in great detail, flying, sitting still, standing in a pool of water—I enjoyed it. The work made me happy and I was good at it. I could actually make a living with my art. And I was proud of that. But it was what I did in this room, after work, alone—just me, the paint, and the canvas—that got my heart racing. At night, I painted men—nude, beautiful men, the ones who came to me in my head. And I had a vivid, wild, and sometimes naughty imagination. What always made me smile was that I sold my art on the internet. People paid me for the visual representations of my fantasies.

My mother and brother would have two fits and a hemorrhage, each, if they knew about my little side business, so I hid the canvases under my bed. After all these years, if I stacked them all up, my mattress would be six feet off the ground. Lots of pictures came to me. Not that it mattered, as I shipped most of them away, all over the world, and did it very quietly.

Anyway, I put the fresh canvas on the easel and got to work. The shoulder-length blond hair and strong jaw were easy enough to recreate, as were Dieter’s eyes and nose. Those I had seen, and because I posed him slightly to the side, I was easily able to imagine what his butt looked like. After the way his pants had tightened when he’d bent over, I just let my mind’s eye remove them. It was the rest of him that left me at a loss, but not for long. One thing I had learned was to let my mind fill in the blanks. It was so much easier and a lot more fun. I painted his broad shoulders, which were pretty easy to see through his clothes, and the rest, I just let my little old mind take over.

Author Links

Amazon Author Page

Barnes and Noble Page

Dreamspinner Press

Facebook

Facebook Group All the Way with Andrew Grey

Goodreads

Twitter @andrewgreybooks

Website

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The Good Fight by Andrew Grey: TBT Quick Review

February 8, 2018 by Denise

A new feature we are bringing to TCO, TBT, Throwback Thursday Reviews. A chance to review that book you’ve been “meaning to read” for a long time! So check out what some of the “older” books have to offer!

Jerry Lincoln has a problem: his Sioux Falls IT consulting business has more work than one man can handle. Luckily, that means he can hire some help. Jerry just hopes his new employee, John Black Raven, ends up being more helpful than distracting—but John’s deep eyes and long hair are very distracting.

John came to town for an education and a chance at a life he couldn’t have on the reservation, but what’s important to him now is getting a job and keeping it. Six months ago, his sister died, and now her children are in foster care. Despite having the law on his side, John can’t get custody—can’t even see his niece and nephew.

As Jerry and John grow closer, John discovers he doesn’t have to struggle alone. Jerry helps him win visitation rights and provides much-needed support. Yet their victories aren’t without setbacks. Child Services is tangled up with money, politics, and red tape, and Native American children are their bread and butter. But John and Jerry are determined to fight the good fight and to win—in more ways than one.

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

Loving this cover! I feel like I’ve had this one on my TBR list forever, because I love this author and hello….hot Native American’s? Yes please! So, here we have Jerry, a consulter for some tech stuff with coding and all that stuff I know nothing about so I can’t tell you the actual name for it…. But, with more work than he could handle on his own, with a suggestion and help from a good friend, he decided to hire someone that could help him out. He found two prospects, both were qualified, and things happen in which he could hire them both…. Only problem, one of them was John Black Raven, and he was extremely attracted to him. To the point of distraction.

Fortunately, it worked out and while working together and getting to know one another, Jerry learns of a family matter that John needs help with. His niece and nephew has been taken by child services when their mother died and because of their heritage, they aren’t likely to be given to John, because they earn the state money being in care. I’m not sure how true this is, or if things like that do indeed happen, but I was really hoping for more karmic justice with the terrible state worker who actually lied and deceived to keep John from his family. When his sister passed, shed wanted John to have the kids…. The social worker was awful though and she fought him every step of the way. That’s where Jerry came in.

Jerry wasn’t having it with the social worker and heled John as much as he could. How could you not fall for someone like that…. That’s exactly what John did, and Jerry, seeing how much he loved his niece and nephew and how badly he wanted them to be with him… it was impossible not to fall for him too!

Overall, it was just a really cute read with a really sweet ending… and I’m looking forward to reading the next one!

4 pieces of eye candy for me.

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Taming the Beast by Andrew Grey: New Release Review with Giveaway

October 13, 2017 by Denise

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.

Title: Taming the Beast
Author: Andrew Grey
Release Date: October 13, 2017
Category: Contemporary
Pages: 200

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

Kobo Books

Andrew Grey writes so prolifically that I think he must write a book a week. And where he gets his plot bunnies is only known to him. However, this book seems to have come from the Beauty and the Beast storyline, with a much more modern (and of course m/m) feel.

Dante’s past still haunted him even after meeting and falling for Beau. The guilt he carried for the death of his wife was so self inflicted that the town picked up on it, treating him as he felt he should be treated, as a killer. Moving past it would take more than the love of a single man, but forgiveness of himself.

I really liked that though Beau was the “Beauty” in this mix, he wasn’t a man to just sit there and do as his Beast told him. He was determined to make the situation work, as well as wanting to see beyond the distant exterior of Dante. He accepted that Dante could do things in the town he couldn’t but wanted to make sure that he didn’t take advantage of that.

They fell in love quickly but it did feel organic simply because Beau wouldn’t let Dante keep pushing him back. They worked together to figure out how to deal with the crises that came to them, yet didn’t try to solve the problem for the other (well okay Dante wanted to but he respected Beau’s wish to not have him solve it)

The epilogue worked well to complete their story, and gave the reader a glimpse into the full transition of Dante back into the world he had cut himself off from. I would have liked a little more informations on how his deceased wife’s parents handled everything but that wasn’t critical to the story. These two men with such distinct tragedies in their lives found a love and life together, bringing their HEA full circle. Definitely a book I enjoyed.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

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Andrew Grey

*A new feature we are bringing to TCO, TBT, Throwback Thursday Reviews. A chance to review that book you’ve been “meaning to read” for a long time! So check out what some of the “older” books have to offer!*

A new feature we are bringing to TCO, TBT, Throwback Thursday Reviews. A chance to review that book you’ve been “meaning to read” for a long time! So check out what some of the “older” books have to offer!