FIRE AND IRON by Andrew Grey

Fiction, Gay Contemporary Romance, Level 4+ heat

4****

Blurb: Gregory Montrose and Fillian O’Connell grew up next door with a tall fence separating their families. Fillian, now a state trooper, grew up with plenty of love and little else, looking over the fence at the neighbor’s pool he never got to swim in.  His family barely made ends meet and he worked hard for everything he has.  Including making it to the police academy and graduating at the top of his class, and landing a posting in the Carlisle area. Electrician, Gregory had everything growing up, at least on the surface, but it was for appearances.  He looked over the fence at the family who did everything together, and listened to his parents fighting most nights.  His parents made sure he had all the advantages money could buy, but little else. A domestic disturbance call reunites them with Fillian talking down a deranged assailant.  Both men have changed, and yet they are so very different.  Fillian has the life he’s always wanted and Gregory is struggling to raise his niece and nephew.   Attraction is a  surprise for both of them and as heat builds between them, family disasters threaten to either blow them apart or forge them stronger, like steel.

Thoughts: This is the final book in this series – and I’ve enjoyed each one. First, they take place in a town I know well, so it’s nice to read about roads and places I’ve heard of. And if any of the readers are interested, all they have to do is look at a map of Carlisle and they’ll know too. It really puts you into the setting.

As for the characters, I didn’t really care for Gregory at first, but he grew on me, especially once I understood his background a little more. He and Fillian were neighbors growing up, but they came from two very different worlds—which they discover as their romance deepens. The romance works well, but the instant heat seemed a bit much. Still, like all of the author’s books, he makes them work. The touch of mystery in the story was nicely done—though I knew who the perp was from the outset. Still, it added a level of suspense to the story.

Recommended.

Disclaimer: Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book from Zeitgeist (Penguin Random House) 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”