A Courageous Ride By Andrew Grey

            

 

It is said that music inspires feelings. I think in this case Marshall’s feelings for the ranch and Indigo inspires the music.  Trying to find his own way in the world without his family’s money and their ideas for his career, Marshall runs himself exhausted going from interview to interview to find a place to call home being an orchestra conductor. He conducts other’s works not really hearing the music that is within him. That is until he gets the peace and quiet of the dude ranch he has taken is vacation on. With the exhaustion gone and the quiet of the outdoors in the country, with the added bonus of one hot cowboy, Marshall starts to hear his own music  that needs to be performed.

Indigo has troubles of his own. He feels like a broken, washed up ex bullrider. Like the books says though, “Once a Marine, always a Marine. Once a bullrider, always a bullrider. It’s what is in the heart. To make sure  he gets to keep his ranch for himself and others that depend on it as being home, he turns it into a Dude Ranch after his parents pass away and he can no longer compete in the Rodeo. Keeping to himself and doing what has to be done day to day is what he does. Until Marshall comes to the ranch for a vacation and turns the bullrider’s world upside down.

I absolutely loved these characters, not just the main characters but the supporting ones as well. As with most of Andrew Grey’s books, it’s always wonderful to see past characters littering the background. The secondary characters in this story do not really feel secondary. Everyone has time in the forefront. The only thing I would have liked to have seen that wasn’t there is more interaction between Indigo and his brother. Overall this is a fantastic book, a great read.

I give this 4.5 Blue Roses

Love Comes Home by Andrew Grey

I have enjoyed the Senses series as I do with all of Andrew Grey’s books. I have to say , this one is my favorite. That’s saying a lot because I really love Patrick.

It takes a special person to want to be with another even though they already have a child and not just any child. Tom knows that Greg and his son are a packaged deal and he still wants in the game.

Greg’s life in centered around his Davey.  He wants his son to be happy and healthy and he spends most of his free time that he isn’t working, making that happen.

Tom and Greg meet at a party thrown by mutual friends that the reader met in the past Senses books. They start talking about Greg’s son and his eyesight and how much he liked to play baseball. Tom is determined to be a part of Greg’s life and he wants to help his son. So he does research on how to bring the gift of playing ball back to Greg’s son, enter Beep Ball. That’s not an accurate way the story goes chronologically but it happens.

There may be two men being brought together in this book,  but the true love story in this book is the one  about the love a father has for his son and the love a man has for another man’s child as he brings back the joy of baseball to a child who has lost is vision.

I really loved these characters, they are believable. Even Greg’s ex-wife is well written. She has to be, because I wanted to kill her. J

I give this story 5 blue roses

ScrewUps by Jamie Fessenden

Title: Screwups

Author: Jamie Fessenden

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press LLC

Release Date: March 7, 2014

 

Blurb:

1996, Jake Stewart is starting his third year at the University of New Hampshire. Even as a successful business major, he is absolutely miserable. Not only is Jake pursuing a field he hates when he’d rather study art, he is utterly terrified of what will happen if his father finds out he’s gay. When he finally gets up the courage to move into the creative arts dorm on campus, his new roommate, Danny, is openly gay—and there’s no denying the attraction between them.

Danny Sullivan has been out since high school, and he appears comfortable with his sexuality. But something happened in Danny’s past—something that gives him nightmares he refuses to talk about. Unknown to Jake, the way he mistreated his friend, Tom Langois, when Tom came out to him in high school, is mild compared to the way someone very much like Jake treated Danny.

It may be too late to fix the mess Jake made with Tom, but if Jake wants to be with Danny, he’s going to have to fix the mess made by another closeted jock he’s never even met.

Review:

This story is not the light-hearted story that the cover and title make it out to be. Don’t get me wrong, there are hilarious parts that will have you laughing. As with any great story, this made me laugh, cry and get very angry.

Jake may be studying business but that is not where his heart lies. He suffers under the pressure of having to do what his father expects of him. Growing up with a father who thinks art is a waste of time and two older twin brothers who would rather pin him to the ground with a wrestling move than hug him, Jake is stuck. Until he decides to take an art class and takes measures to move into the artist dorm. This is not easy for the jock looking student. It’s a case of judging a book by its cover, but things are not always what they seem. With the exception of how he treated his old friend Tom, Jake’s not a bad guy. Right?  When he moves in, his life is never the same. Not after he meets Danny, that is.

Danny is scarred from his past, bullied by jocks and everyone else in high school after he comes out. A painful event happened to him that gives him nightmares to this day that he will not talk about. Danny has an inner strength in him considering his past or it may be because of it. Danny is out and proud and on the outside he looks like he could handle anything. On the inside he’s always waiting for something sinister to happen.  He likes Jake from the start even getting past his outward appearance of being just like the others in his past. There is just something different about him.

This book is well written and pings the geek spectrum. Well, there is Dungeons & Dragons with costumes. What more could you want? Round that out with a terrific group of friends who have your back and you have a well rounded book.

Trust me, you’ll want to read this.

I give this book 5 Blue Roses.

 

One Good Deed by Andrew Grey

 

First I have to say that this book threw me for a loop. Reading the blurb I expected some hateful subterfuge in diabolic proportion not just a conniving mother hell bent on getting her way. I have been reading Andrew Grey’s books for years. In my opinion he has found a new style of writing that started with the release of Stranded, still just as good and maybe even a little better.

Luca is running away from his country, Serbia, for a better life in the United States. His parents have disowned him because he dared to love another man. After he lost this man, Luca had nothing left for him there so he immigrated.

Upon reaching the United States, he’s fresh off the plane when he learns of his cousin/sponsor’s death. His first taste of America is his cousin’s funeral. He starts to panic not knowing what he’s going to do. At the funeral he feels the familiar atmosphere, and not such a fish out of water, most were speaking Serbian there. That is where he meets Peter.

Peter has his own troubles buried under the surface but guilt and a kind heart have him reaching out to Luca to help. He offers to teach Luca how to speak English. Thinking he shot his dad when he was six, he feels the need to help others when he can but it doesn’t ease the guilt. Luca hears Peter’s story and doesn’t think that is what happens and he encourages Peter to get help to find the truth.

I loved this story, there wasn’t that much miscommunication even though the two came from different cultures. Once Luca fell for Peter, he was in it for the long haul. There were no breakups like a lot of stories do. I was happy to see that, it was refreshing. It’s just about two guys who find acceptance, forgiveness and healing. But most importantly they learn to love and let go.This is a wonderful story and I highly recommend it.

I give this 4 ½ Blue Roses.

Dumped In Oz by Andrew Grey

Lions, tigers and Bears, oh my! Just kidding. Given the name of the book, I couldn’t resist. There isn’t a Scarecrow, Tin Man or a cowardly lion. There isn’t even a Toto. I suppose you could call the main character a friend of Dorothy. There is however, a wicked witch and her flying monkey, metaphorically speaking of course.

Wamego, Kansas is a quaint little town where everyone not only knows your name but they know your business as well, which could be good in some instances. Frozen in time, this town holds charm and beauty and a little thing called “we take care of our own.” Its  home to the Oz Museum and the Oz Winery and a beautiful park to pass the time away.

This is where Lyle meets Roger. Lyle is a loner of his own doing but used to the fast pace of the city of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. When he is asked to do a job in the “middle of nowhere” Kansas, he buckles. At first he didn’t want to take the job because he didn’t want to leave his life. With coaxing from friends, he realizes he doesn’t have a life and decides to make the move. Not knowing that he just might meet his future there.  When he arrives in Wamego, he feels like he’s gone to Heaven and it’s only for a year, so he thinks.

Roger is a recovering alcoholic, dealing with the wicked witch and her flying monkey. I mean his ex-wife and her brother. But he’s managed to stay clean for his twelve year old daughter. In order to have her visit him on her breaks from school , he has to stay sober and he feels he has to deny who he is so he doesn’t lose his daughter to the ex.

Lyle helps Roger see the possibilities and helps Roger grow a backbone by giving him support when he needs it. They both learn to trust another person, something neither one did easily. Lyle helps Roger live again and Roger helps Lyle love again.

 Don’t let this review and the name fool you though, it has nothing to do with the Wizard of Oz except for maybe the two tourist traps it has. I have to admit though what pulled me to this book was the mention of Oz, I’m a big Wizard of Oz fan and the fact I am a fan of Andrew’s work. What I liked most about it though was the caring people throughout the book. Alcoholism is not an easy thing to deal with, sometimes it really does take a village.It’s a strong subject to tackle and I think Andrew did an awesome job. I was impressed how Andrew decided to have the town rally around Roger instead of against him. Roger had more true friends than he thought at first even if he was gay, they’d accepted him for the way he’s always been. Roger, “owner of the diner in town”.  I also liked how two broken souls were made whole with the love from each other. The characters were well written. I knew who I liked and who I didn’t.

I  would highly recommend this book. I give it 5 Blue Roses.

Inside Out by Andrew Grey

Some say reviewers should not get personal in their reviews of other’s works. I disagree. Aren’t we already getting personal by giving our opinion and rating it?

That being said, I have read everything Andrew Grey has ever published. He was my introduction into the M/M world. I am a big fan of this Love Means books and I absolutely love the colorful character of Lonnie in another series by Andrew Grey. So knowing all of his characters, I can safely say that Bull is the best character he’s created! He’s huge, bald and abrasive. By looking at him a person would get the idea he’d rather kick your ass than shake your hand.  With the exception of his childhood friend and business partner, he never let anyone in and get close to him. Or so it seems. He reminds me of a big biker I met once, I was at a concert and he kept people from running me over. If I had met him in an alley I would have been scared, that is until I looked down at his wrist. He was wearing a Mickey Mouse watch, one big contradiction.

Zach is a man who wears his heart on his sleeves who is a lot younger than Bull and not to mention a lot smaller. Bull’s outward appearance doesn’t bother Zach. He can see the man behind the tough façade and he wants to get to know him better.

Its funny watching the whole relationship unfold. Is it possible for a tough guy to turn into a teddy bear?  If you want to know what I mean then read the book.

I give this book 5 blue roses

The Enlightenment of Daniel by Eli Easton

 

Sex in Seattle: Book Two

Business tycoon Daniel Derenzo lives for his work until his dying father reminds him life is short. When Daniel starts to reevaluate his world he experiences a startling revelation—he’s attracted to his business partner and best friend, Nick, even though Daniel always believed himself to be straight. In typical type-A fashion, Daniel dissects his newfound desires with the help of the experts at the Expanded Horizons sex clinic. He goes after Nick with the fierce determination that’s won him many a business deal.

Nick Ross was in love with Daniel years ago, when they were roommates in college. But Daniel was straight and Nick patched his broken heart by marrying Marcia. Two kids and fourteen years later, they go through the motions of their marriage like ships passing in the night. But Nick’s kids mean the world to him, and he’s afraid he’ll never get joint custody if they divorced. If he can trust his heart to an awakening Daniel, they all might find their way to a happily ever after.

I lost sleep over this book. I couldn’t put it down, I ended up reading this in one sitting. That’s not unusual with an Eli Easton book. Even though this book can be read alone, you would get a more understanding of sub characters if you read the first one before you dove into this story. I strongly recommend it. The first book is called “Trouble with Tony”.

The Enlightenment of Daniel will make you laugh and it will make you cry. It might even make you throw something. This story isn’t without it’s angst but what good story is? The characters are well written. Take Daniel for instance, after a push from his father, it didn’t take him long to know what he wanted out of life. When he figured that out, it was impressive to see him go after what he wanted and he wanted Nick.

Nick had been in love with Daniel since college but it was hard for him to come to terms that Daniel loved him back. He was married with two kids and he felt trapped in his marriage. I have no comment about his ahem, wife. His kids were terrific though, loved them. It’s a must read.

I give this book 5 blue roses