Andrew Grey - The Good Fight

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.

Comment: This is a book I had scheduled to have been read last year. Somehow, I couldn't manage so for January I've decided to read some of those that were left behind despite my efforts to get them out of my TBR list. This is the first in a series but to be truthful, I don't think I'll read more.

 

In this book we meet Jerry Lincoln, a young man who's a computer expert and he works from home to several clients. Because he has so much to do, he decides to hire a co-worker and two men out of those who applied are perfect for the job. One of them, John Black Raven, a Native American makes him want for more than just computer help, but he can't say no to someone in need and who actually has the brain for it.

Hiring John is the beginning of a solid relationship and a fight to gain custody of John's nephew and niece in a battle against the system...

 

This book has some interesting elements and it's not badly written, clearly the author knows how to write, where to insert new elements, where to stress a feeling or downplaying a situation. The writing is fluid and easy and the romance has a cute side to bring a smile to a reader's face.

But.

In my opinion, the story just isn't that thrilling and there are some plot choices and timelines I really felt weren't up to the way the story started, which was simple but precise.

 

In the beginning, Jerry is alone, we get to understand his family, very conservative, expelled him after he said he was gay and now he's alone, the only person who still loved him was his grandfather, now deceased, and Jerry lives his old house. I liked Jerry, his controlled "voice" while describing things. I should mention Jerry is the narrator of the story. Then the romance starts and at first it was cute to see how Jerry would be ogling John a lot and apparently it was mutual but of course Jerry wouldn't say that. At this point, first pages, everything seemed to go a good way. But their relationship became intimate soon, I know we're supposed to think they were just lusting for one another for a while but somehow I didn't get that feeling, it felt too fast. And because of that, that little detail of how attracted, how much sexual tension existed between them, how much need they had to know each other better seemed to be lacking...

 

As the story moves along, the focus almost stops being Jerry and John - their sex scenes seemed to happen at times where, sincerely, they should have been worried about other things - to turn into the issue of John's want to have his nephew and niece with him and not on child services. There is a lot of talk about the situation of Native American children in the system, in some states in particular, and I liked to learn that information but my problem is how that didn't seem to blend well with the romance part. I understand the importance of the subject and how it matters if people talk about it or read about it, but I didn't feel I was reading a romance at this point. It doesn't mean we're reading a treaty on Native American problems or sad facts, but it was something highlighted and despite its importance, it didn't match well with the romance idea. I got the feeling the goal was to present that situation and a romance was the vehicle. Nothing wrong with that, but it changed the mood and the expectations I had in the fictional side of things.

 

There are some secondary characters playing an important part, but I'll be honest and say I don't feel eager to read more about this series. I assume the same style will continue and I know it won't be memorable.

John and Jerry have interesting qualities, little details about their personal lives and personalities I found I wanted to know more about, but somehow, apart from the expected shows of sympathy, helping others, being concerned, being in love, nothing really key to their characters seemed to come to surface. At least, the way I saw it.

 

All in all, a good enough effort, I was entertained for a while but despite the fluid writing, the execution just left a lot to be desired in my book. It's just my opinion, most readers on GR seemed to have liked it better than I did.

Grade: 5/10

Andrew Grey - A Shared Range

After a year in medical school, Dakota Holden returned home to take care of the family business full time and help his father cope with multiple sclerosis. Devoted to his family, Dakota allows himself just one week of vacation a year, which he spends in some exotic location having all the fun he can stand. On his last vacation, a cruise, Dakota struck up a friendship with Phillip Reardon, and it fills an important role in Dakota's life. So when Phillip decides to take Dakota up on his invitation to visit the ranch, Dakota is happy to see him and meet his veterinarian friend, Wally Schumacher. Despite Wally's inclination to help the wolves Dakota's men shoot to protect the cattle, he and Dakota find they have a lot in common, including a fierce attraction. But they'll have to decide if the Wyoming range is big enough for Dakota's cattle, Wally's wolves, and their love.

Comment: I got this book not very long after it was released. I got it because the blurb seemed very promising. Then I filed it and for a while I forgot about it, I admit it. Then, one day I was fixing my files and there it was, so immediately I put it on the line to be read during this year and voilá, here it is.

This is the story of Dakota, he's a rancher who gave up his dream of being a doctor after his father got worse with MS and needed care all day long. These days, Dakota only has one week of vacations each year, where he feels free and allow himself to be what he really is, gay. The story begins after Dakota returns home from a cruise. In there he met Phillip and now they are friends, which is the reason he invites Phillip to spend some time at his ranch.
Phillip accepts and brings Wally with him. Wally is a veterinarian and goes with Phillip not only because they're friends but also for a chance to study animals with the vet in that area of ranches. Of course, Wally and Dakota feel very attracted to each other and perhaps it's time to just live life...

I liked this story but I wasn't overwhelmed by it. I've previously read another book by this author and I enjoyed it too, but I found a thing here and there that I think could've done better.
The story is very clear and has an obvious message, but like it happens to most m/m books - and hetero ones at that - I think the romance was just too fast. I mean, can't people just enjoy the other's company for a while before giving in? I think it's so much more believable...oh well...
Then there is the story. I liked several parts of it, like the place where it happens, the settings and the way it developed. I just think other things, like the way the relationship between the two main characters evolved and how the focus wouldn't stay on more ranch dealings. I'd have liked to see more involvement about the ranch, about how it works, just to give the story a more serious feel, I don't know, but I think it would've been nice.

As for the main characters, in a way they suited, but I just couldn't help think they could have some polish, I didn't care for them all the time. I think the best part was when they disagreed about how to treat wild wolves - an interesting subject - and how that affects a ranch with livestock. But apart from that, their interactions seemed silly at times and to be honest I never warmed up to them.
I was more interested in all the secondary characters, to be honest.

In the end, I couldn't put aside the things I wish were different to enjoy the story more. I mean, it has an interesting plot and ideas and the message people should be respected for what they are, but in term of storyline, I wasn't as impressed as  wanted to be. So, it ended up being an average read for me.

A Taste for Love - Andrew Grey

The lunch rush at Darryl Hansen’s restaurant, Café Belgie, is getting to be too much for one man to handle, and Billy Weaver is a young man in search of a job—any job—to support his family. Billy gains Darryl’s respect with his earnest nature and willingness to work hard, but Billy’s admiring looks resurrect pain and shame from Darryl’s past.
Until Darryl stumbles across Billy’s secret, Billy is suffering in silence: his father died a few months earlier, leaving him struggling to raise his twin five-year-old brothers. Darryl takes Billy and the boys to the restaurant, where they’ll stand together to face the smorgasbord of troubles in their future… while Davey, Donnie, and Billy all worm their way into Darryl’s heart.

Comment: This was the first book I've read by this author and I enjoyed it a lot, especially when Darryl and Billy were still trying to avoid their attraction...I don't know, I find fascinating the struggle against one's feelings before they acknowledge what's happening.

Their first kiss was ok but from then on that side of their relationship got a bit too mushy but it didn't ruin it for me.The plot is interesting and quite dramatic, imagine if it were for real, I felt really sorry for Billy and I confess I've cried a tear or two...

After one book, usually one can "feel" the pace the author has and Mr Grey's seems to be good, I'll have to try another book in the future to see if he is, indeed, a writer I'll keep following.