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Without Borders #1
A Heart Without Borders
Pediatrician Wes Gordon will do just about anything to escape his grief. When opportunity knocks, he signs on to work at a hospital in a tent camp in Haiti. One night while returning to his quarters, he comes across a gang of kids attempting to set fire to an underage rentboy and intervenes, taking the injured René under his wing. At the hospital, diplomat Anthony Crowley tells Wes that the kids involved in the attack are from prominent families and trying to hold them responsible will cause a firestorm.
In spite of the official position Anthony must take, Wes’s compassion captures his attention. Anthony pursues him, and they grow closer during the stolen moments between Anthony’s assignments. Escaping earthquake destruction for glimpses of Caribbean paradise. When Wes realizes the only way to save René is to adopt him, Anthony is supportive, but time is running out: Wes must leave the country, and Anthony is called out on a dangerous secret mission. Now Wes must face adopting a boy from Haiti who has no papers without the support of the one person he’s come to rely on most and may never see again.
Cover artist: L.C. Chase
In spite of the official position Anthony must take, Wes’s compassion captures his attention. Anthony pursues him, and they grow closer during the stolen moments between Anthony’s assignments. Escaping earthquake destruction for glimpses of Caribbean paradise. When Wes realizes the only way to save René is to adopt him, Anthony is supportive, but time is running out: Wes must leave the country, and Anthony is called out on a dangerous secret mission. Now Wes must face adopting a boy from Haiti who has no papers without the support of the one person he’s come to rely on most and may never see again.
Cover artist: L.C. Chase
200 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 29, 2013
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306 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
January 22, 2014
A beautiful, yet sad story... That teaches you hope is the key to survival.
"But every time I look at what's ahead I see nothing but broken hearts, your and mine."
A brave and determined Doctor, works to help and save a mistreated teenage boy...and finds love along the way.
"We all have feelings. Some of us simply need to keep them deeply hidden."
"But every time I look at what's ahead I see nothing but broken hearts, your and mine."
A brave and determined Doctor, works to help and save a mistreated teenage boy...and finds love along the way.
"We all have feelings. Some of us simply need to keep them deeply hidden."
August 22, 2013
Please leave comments on Becky's 5 sweet pea review at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index....
Two good men who have both loved and lost. A third world country suffering from great devastation and deprivation. Good people doing good and unscrupulous people doing God knows what but who have to be stopped. And at the crux of the whole thing, children who have lost their childhood and may lose their lives. These are the ingredients that Andrew Grey tosses together and they meld together into a book about paradise lost.
Wes rescues young Rene from bullies… no, they are more than bullies, they are murders bent on taking Rene’s life because he is gay and has no one to protect him. Gradually, Wes realizes that what he feels for Rene is more than simple altruism. He has the feelings of a parent. Rene has lost his parents and at first you think he has never known anything except poverty, hunger, and no love, but this is not the case, and that revelation more than anything else caused me to feel a sadness for Rene that transcended fiction.
Anthony is unable to overtly help Wes but behind the scenes he has the contacts and means to take steps that may or may not bring about the result that Wes dares to hope for. You really won’t know until almost the end of the book whether Anthony and Wes will be successful, whether they will end up together, whether Rene will go back to the ugly life he had before he met Wes, or… well, it’s all a crap shoot, isn’t it? Sometimes the best plans go wrong and sometimes luck intervenes and life moves in unexpected directions. Great story. That’s all I can say. Great.
Two good men who have both loved and lost. A third world country suffering from great devastation and deprivation. Good people doing good and unscrupulous people doing God knows what but who have to be stopped. And at the crux of the whole thing, children who have lost their childhood and may lose their lives. These are the ingredients that Andrew Grey tosses together and they meld together into a book about paradise lost.
Wes rescues young Rene from bullies… no, they are more than bullies, they are murders bent on taking Rene’s life because he is gay and has no one to protect him. Gradually, Wes realizes that what he feels for Rene is more than simple altruism. He has the feelings of a parent. Rene has lost his parents and at first you think he has never known anything except poverty, hunger, and no love, but this is not the case, and that revelation more than anything else caused me to feel a sadness for Rene that transcended fiction.
Anthony is unable to overtly help Wes but behind the scenes he has the contacts and means to take steps that may or may not bring about the result that Wes dares to hope for. You really won’t know until almost the end of the book whether Anthony and Wes will be successful, whether they will end up together, whether Rene will go back to the ugly life he had before he met Wes, or… well, it’s all a crap shoot, isn’t it? Sometimes the best plans go wrong and sometimes luck intervenes and life moves in unexpected directions. Great story. That’s all I can say. Great.
August 30, 2013
Having heard the author, Mr. Andrew Grey, talking about this book I became even more curious to read it than I am normally, and he is a particular favorite of mine.
When you pick up a book by Andrew Grey you know that you are settling to read almost non-stop. You know in advance that you will get drawn in especially when you are going in for a full novel that has a meaning and a message.
Knowing that, I waited anxiously for the moment I would get this book for the pre-release.
It was well worth the wait. I still find it unbelievable that the author can keep up this level of quality while continuing this rate of releasing books, each one better than the last.
The blurb is very clear for this release. We find Wes who’s from Maryland, on the other side of his world in Haiti. He’s there to help the children in the local hospital and in the mean time trying to deal with the death of his lover. Finding a good friend in nurse Sandy who we will see during the complete story, giving a helping and loving hand and I really thinks he needs to be mentioned here.
When Wes runs out to help a boy who’s being attacked he doesn’t realize that his life is about to change, but it is. Having rescued Rene from the man who tried to kill him he bonds with the boy quietly and quickly.
When Anthony crosses his path, there is an instant attraction but mystery man Anthony isn’t a man of many words. He works a dangerous job and cannot share much about his line of duty. Still he and Wes find something in each other and they carefully and secretly try to make the most of the moments they have together.
Making Rene a part of his life brings out the protective and parental part out in Wes and he will try anything to be able to take Rene with him back to Maryland. It’s not going to be that easy and a struggle with law enforcement and bureaucratic issues begins. With help coming out unexpected corners, they still aren’t sure if they are going to be able to work it all out on time.
Anthony leaves for a mission that no one is sure of the outcome and Wes and Rene try to settle down in Maryland. They find a house to live in and Wes works in his Uncle Frank’s practice. His uncle is also gay and alongwith his partner Joel, they are good friends to Wes. Joel looks after Rene when Wes is working andit is a great arrangement for all of them.
Wes and Rene miss Anthony terribly but manage to make a good life for themselves while they wait to hear from him. We have to wait till the very end of this story to see how this epic romance will end though.
Andrew Grey manages once again to come up with something surprisingly different. His immaculate writing and his way of bringing characters to life alongwith the always high emotional level, and sexual tension make this book one of his best. Mr Grey again finds a way to impress both loyal readers and most likely some new fans with this new release.
I highly recommend this story to one and all.
5 Stars without borders or any doubt!
Review posted at :
http://sidlove.wordpress.com/2013/08/...
When you pick up a book by Andrew Grey you know that you are settling to read almost non-stop. You know in advance that you will get drawn in especially when you are going in for a full novel that has a meaning and a message.
Knowing that, I waited anxiously for the moment I would get this book for the pre-release.
It was well worth the wait. I still find it unbelievable that the author can keep up this level of quality while continuing this rate of releasing books, each one better than the last.
The blurb is very clear for this release. We find Wes who’s from Maryland, on the other side of his world in Haiti. He’s there to help the children in the local hospital and in the mean time trying to deal with the death of his lover. Finding a good friend in nurse Sandy who we will see during the complete story, giving a helping and loving hand and I really thinks he needs to be mentioned here.
When Wes runs out to help a boy who’s being attacked he doesn’t realize that his life is about to change, but it is. Having rescued Rene from the man who tried to kill him he bonds with the boy quietly and quickly.
When Anthony crosses his path, there is an instant attraction but mystery man Anthony isn’t a man of many words. He works a dangerous job and cannot share much about his line of duty. Still he and Wes find something in each other and they carefully and secretly try to make the most of the moments they have together.
Making Rene a part of his life brings out the protective and parental part out in Wes and he will try anything to be able to take Rene with him back to Maryland. It’s not going to be that easy and a struggle with law enforcement and bureaucratic issues begins. With help coming out unexpected corners, they still aren’t sure if they are going to be able to work it all out on time.
Anthony leaves for a mission that no one is sure of the outcome and Wes and Rene try to settle down in Maryland. They find a house to live in and Wes works in his Uncle Frank’s practice. His uncle is also gay and alongwith his partner Joel, they are good friends to Wes. Joel looks after Rene when Wes is working andit is a great arrangement for all of them.
Wes and Rene miss Anthony terribly but manage to make a good life for themselves while they wait to hear from him. We have to wait till the very end of this story to see how this epic romance will end though.
Andrew Grey manages once again to come up with something surprisingly different. His immaculate writing and his way of bringing characters to life alongwith the always high emotional level, and sexual tension make this book one of his best. Mr Grey again finds a way to impress both loyal readers and most likely some new fans with this new release.
I highly recommend this story to one and all.
5 Stars without borders or any doubt!
Review posted at :
http://sidlove.wordpress.com/2013/08/...
July 22, 2015
‘Heart Without Borders’ is the perfect title for this story about pediatrician Wes Gordon, whose heart is bigger than imaginable and enables him to ignore the artificial borders that are man-made. Life certainly raises many obstacles in his way, be it a lover who dies or the seemingly insurmountable bureaucratic barriers stopping him from saving the teenaged boy he finds in Haiti. But Wes is irrepressible, and Anthony, the man he falls for, is exactly the same way. This is an intense story about love, hope, and the rewards doing the right thing can bring. It is also about taking people into your heart, humanity despite more cruelty than should be legal, and never, ever giving up.
Wes has not had it easy. He has lost a lover, the man he thought he would build a life with, to cancer, and for a while all he can do is bury himself in work. Going to Haiti with Doctors without Borders is a way for him to run from his pain, but at the same time helping people who really need him is a way for Wes to reconnect with life. He is a compassionate man, so every patient he sees is important to him. But when he saves René from being set afire by a group of hateful homophobes, a special bond develops between him and the teenager. It takes Wes a while to recognize the parental feelings, but once he does, there is no stopping him.
Anthony is a diplomat and he tries to warn Wes to stay out of everything at first. But Wes won’t budge, and Anthony turns out to be anything but a diplomat. He is mysterious, can’t talk about what he really does, but it’s clear to Wes that he must be some sort of a secret agent or spy. Between the feelings that develop between them and trying to manage René’s potential adoption, Wes has his hands full. I was with him every step of the way, and the emotions came close to overwhelming me more than once.
If you like intense stories full of emotional suspense, if you enjoy reading about men who will do anything in their power to help others, and if you’re looking for a read that will sweep you into a different world, then you will probably like this novel as much as I did. It’s a remarkable story that touched me deeply, and Wes, Anthony, and René will stay with me for a very long time.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
August 23, 2013
It’s Andrew Grey, need I say more, that alone is reason enough to grab a copy of A Heart without Borders!
Wes Gordon is a doctor without borders in Haiti. One night after his shift he rescues a young local that a gang of boys was attempting to set on fire. He cleans the gasoline off the boy and tends his wounds. While Rene’ is healing in the hospital ward, Wes meets with Anthony Crowley, an American diplomat. He learns that Rene’ was attacked due to his homosexuality and this strikes a nerve with Wes. He’s kept his own sexual orientation a secret here in Haiti, and this recent attack only reinforces his decision.
Anthony is smitten with Wes from that first meeting and the two begin secretly dating, as much as one can in a third world country. All the while Wes and Anthony are going on picnics to some of the more beautiful landscapes of Haiti, Wes’s relationship with Rene’ grows as well. He’s very protective of the young man and soon decides he wants to adopt the orphan and take him home to America when he leaves. Adoption is hard enough for a straight, married couple in the states. Imagine being a single gay man trying to adopt an orphan that can’t prove he’s an orphan from a third world country.
Anthony helps as much as he can, but his job is very secretive and dangerous. When he leaves on another mission just days before Wes is set to return to the states, Wes is left not knowing if he will be heading home alone, having to leave behind the man he’s fallen in love with and the boy he wants to be a father to.
I loved how these three different people who never would have met under normal circumstances were thrust into each others lives, and forever changed each of them. Wes is probably one of the most loving, kind and selfless men I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. He jumps through hoops and then some trying to adopt young Rene’ and take him back to the states, just to keep him safe and offer him a chance at a life he wouldn’t otherwise have. And he loves Anthony seamlessly, even knowing there’s a strong chance that he will never see him again when he goes back to America.
Hopeless romantics rejoice, Grey has delivered another masterpiece with the story of Wes, Anthony and Rene’. You will seriously be on the edge of your seat throughout, and of course, he delivers some curl your toes sexiness throughout Anthony and Wes’s secret relationship. I am curious to see if we will get another installment to this book telling Rene’s story.
Wes Gordon is a doctor without borders in Haiti. One night after his shift he rescues a young local that a gang of boys was attempting to set on fire. He cleans the gasoline off the boy and tends his wounds. While Rene’ is healing in the hospital ward, Wes meets with Anthony Crowley, an American diplomat. He learns that Rene’ was attacked due to his homosexuality and this strikes a nerve with Wes. He’s kept his own sexual orientation a secret here in Haiti, and this recent attack only reinforces his decision.
Anthony is smitten with Wes from that first meeting and the two begin secretly dating, as much as one can in a third world country. All the while Wes and Anthony are going on picnics to some of the more beautiful landscapes of Haiti, Wes’s relationship with Rene’ grows as well. He’s very protective of the young man and soon decides he wants to adopt the orphan and take him home to America when he leaves. Adoption is hard enough for a straight, married couple in the states. Imagine being a single gay man trying to adopt an orphan that can’t prove he’s an orphan from a third world country.
Anthony helps as much as he can, but his job is very secretive and dangerous. When he leaves on another mission just days before Wes is set to return to the states, Wes is left not knowing if he will be heading home alone, having to leave behind the man he’s fallen in love with and the boy he wants to be a father to.
I loved how these three different people who never would have met under normal circumstances were thrust into each others lives, and forever changed each of them. Wes is probably one of the most loving, kind and selfless men I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. He jumps through hoops and then some trying to adopt young Rene’ and take him back to the states, just to keep him safe and offer him a chance at a life he wouldn’t otherwise have. And he loves Anthony seamlessly, even knowing there’s a strong chance that he will never see him again when he goes back to America.
Hopeless romantics rejoice, Grey has delivered another masterpiece with the story of Wes, Anthony and Rene’. You will seriously be on the edge of your seat throughout, and of course, he delivers some curl your toes sexiness throughout Anthony and Wes’s secret relationship. I am curious to see if we will get another installment to this book telling Rene’s story.
August 26, 2013
Full review can be found at On Top Down Under Book Reviews.
Wes is a pediatrician on short-term assignment in earthquake-ravaged Haiti. Immersing himself in his work to mend a heart broken by loss, he never expects to find not only love but a son. Anthony is mourning his own loss and is in Haiti for reasons very different from that of Wes. His job is classified and he is forced to leave the country often. When he meets Wes a relationship starts rather quickly but there are many obstacles both must overcome in order to have any type of life together. Throw in René, a sixteen-year old boy who Wes manages to rescue from certain death, and there is a lot that must be resolved before all parties are able to have any semblance of any kind of normal life.
The reader is witness to Haiti a few years after the earthquake. Haiti is not a good place for homosexuals and Wes and Anthony are forced to keep their relationship secret. René (also gay) is an orphan who is not accepted in his country and the thought of leaving him behind when Wes goes back home to the states is not an option. This is written by Andrew Grey so you know everything is resolved well and there is a definite happy ending. A very nice story.
This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Wes is a pediatrician on short-term assignment in earthquake-ravaged Haiti. Immersing himself in his work to mend a heart broken by loss, he never expects to find not only love but a son. Anthony is mourning his own loss and is in Haiti for reasons very different from that of Wes. His job is classified and he is forced to leave the country often. When he meets Wes a relationship starts rather quickly but there are many obstacles both must overcome in order to have any type of life together. Throw in René, a sixteen-year old boy who Wes manages to rescue from certain death, and there is a lot that must be resolved before all parties are able to have any semblance of any kind of normal life.
The reader is witness to Haiti a few years after the earthquake. Haiti is not a good place for homosexuals and Wes and Anthony are forced to keep their relationship secret. René (also gay) is an orphan who is not accepted in his country and the thought of leaving him behind when Wes goes back home to the states is not an option. This is written by Andrew Grey so you know everything is resolved well and there is a definite happy ending. A very nice story.
This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for a fair and honest review.
September 9, 2013
Rating 3.25
This was a sweet story with a lot of potential, that in my opinion went unexplored. Every sub-plot including the romance took a back seat to the adoption.
I loved the cover! Well done Ms. Chase.
We get Wes's POV in this novel, and out of the three MC's his was the least exciting life. I wanted more drama, everything felt underwhelming. Where was the passion? I also felt the love story didn't work for me, everything happened to quick followed by Anthony always leaving.
Plots left Unexplored:
From the synopsis I expected that we would have danger involving the prominent families. I felt disappointed that this never came up.
We were told about their feelings about their previous lovers, and yet we know next to nothing about them except their occupation.
The torture Anthony underwent, basically everything about Anthony is still a mystery.
Renè has been through a lot but that experience did not come out in his character. We also only get brief details about this.
a Feel good read, that could have been brilliant if we added different perspectives and a 100 pages or so to explore some of the plots more in detail.
This was a sweet story with a lot of potential, that in my opinion went unexplored. Every sub-plot including the romance took a back seat to the adoption.
I loved the cover! Well done Ms. Chase.
We get Wes's POV in this novel, and out of the three MC's his was the least exciting life. I wanted more drama, everything felt underwhelming. Where was the passion? I also felt the love story didn't work for me, everything happened to quick followed by Anthony always leaving.
Plots left Unexplored:
From the synopsis I expected that we would have danger involving the prominent families. I felt disappointed that this never came up.
We were told about their feelings about their previous lovers, and yet we know next to nothing about them except their occupation.
The torture Anthony underwent, basically everything about Anthony is still a mystery.
Renè has been through a lot but that experience did not come out in his character. We also only get brief details about this.
a Feel good read, that could have been brilliant if we added different perspectives and a 100 pages or so to explore some of the plots more in detail.
December 2, 2013
A warm book that is about falling in love, second chances, and finding hope under tough conditions. The relationship in this book comes up fast and sweet, for two men who weren't looking for anything romantic. Wes is a doctor, burying the loss of his lover in a Doctors Without Borders assignment in Haiti. Anthony is a supposed-diplomat who clearly has other more hidden agendas. When they meet, they become the only two gay men they know in that place, out only to each other, amid stress and pain and a homophobic populace, so there is an immediate bond (and plenty of desire.) The Haitian survivor camp setting was well done and quite realistically portrayed, without being too superficial or too angsty.
Rene is a local sixteen-year-old orphan, who has been trading sex for survival, and who is rescued from a horrible fate by Wes. The way Wes fastens on saving Rene felt plausible to me, as a chance to redeem all the kids he cannot save, and bring a very deserving kid home safely. His relationship with Rene is presented much more solidly and completely than his relationship with Anthony, although many of the difficulties of parenting a traumatized teen are no doubt yet to come.
I'd have liked this to be a bit longer, and a bit deeper. There were traumas that would have potentially had much bigger pitfalls emotionally, and I'd like to have seen Anthony in far more detail. They had the beginnings of a relationship, but the work to really get to an HEA felt a bit short-circuited, built mainly on attraction and moments of comfort.
So this was well-written, easy and engaging to read, and left me wanting just a bit more. This was my first Andrew Grey, and clearly this is an author who can deliver a solid story with a warm feel as a comfortable read.
Rene is a local sixteen-year-old orphan, who has been trading sex for survival, and who is rescued from a horrible fate by Wes. The way Wes fastens on saving Rene felt plausible to me, as a chance to redeem all the kids he cannot save, and bring a very deserving kid home safely. His relationship with Rene is presented much more solidly and completely than his relationship with Anthony, although many of the difficulties of parenting a traumatized teen are no doubt yet to come.
I'd have liked this to be a bit longer, and a bit deeper. There were traumas that would have potentially had much bigger pitfalls emotionally, and I'd like to have seen Anthony in far more detail. They had the beginnings of a relationship, but the work to really get to an HEA felt a bit short-circuited, built mainly on attraction and moments of comfort.
So this was well-written, easy and engaging to read, and left me wanting just a bit more. This was my first Andrew Grey, and clearly this is an author who can deliver a solid story with a warm feel as a comfortable read.
August 31, 2013
A Heart Without Borders is the heartwarming story of Wes, Anthony, and Rene. Two good men that have been through hell, are currently living in a kind of hell, yet still manage to share their hearts with each other and with a young man who is nearly murdered in front of Wes.
Rene is rescued at night by an exhausted Wes and when he finds the young man has no family or way to protect himself from the bullies and killers set on murdering him for being gay, he takes him into his small hut at the clinic.
Anthony entered the scene, already smitten with Wes, but due to where they are, cannot openly court Wes, or truly provide any open assistance for the boy – the local laws protect the would-be-killers not the young victim. But, as the two men’s feelings grow for one another, danger looms for them all. Anthony is called away, Wes fights to keep Rene, and Rene fears being left behind to return to the horrors he’s only barely survived already.
I loved so many things about this story, everything from watching Rene come to terms with the kind of man Wes is to watching Wes and Anthony find their way together is touching, real, and often steamy. A Heart Without Borders earns my Award of Excellence for strength of heart and spirit of the three key characters. Thank you Andrew for sharing such a wonderful story of strength, hope, and love!
*eARC provided by author in exchange for honest review.
Rene is rescued at night by an exhausted Wes and when he finds the young man has no family or way to protect himself from the bullies and killers set on murdering him for being gay, he takes him into his small hut at the clinic.
Anthony entered the scene, already smitten with Wes, but due to where they are, cannot openly court Wes, or truly provide any open assistance for the boy – the local laws protect the would-be-killers not the young victim. But, as the two men’s feelings grow for one another, danger looms for them all. Anthony is called away, Wes fights to keep Rene, and Rene fears being left behind to return to the horrors he’s only barely survived already.
I loved so many things about this story, everything from watching Rene come to terms with the kind of man Wes is to watching Wes and Anthony find their way together is touching, real, and often steamy. A Heart Without Borders earns my Award of Excellence for strength of heart and spirit of the three key characters. Thank you Andrew for sharing such a wonderful story of strength, hope, and love!
*eARC provided by author in exchange for honest review.
September 5, 2013
In true Andrew Grey fashion, this book delivers not only a romance but a powerful lesson on the courage, hope and optimism of people in a country devastated by disaster and poverty. It also shows us the love of a man for a child and the round-the-clock caring and concern demonstrated by the medical profession, specifically those who work in the Doctors Without Borders program.
Pediatrician Wes Gordon is working in the program in Haiti when he encounters a group of men about to set a young boy on fire. He learns that the boy has been working as a prostitute to support himself, having been left homeless by the earthquake a few years earlier when he was only thirteen. He takes the boy, Rene, under his wing and ultimately decides to adopt Rene so that he can take him back to the US when he leaves. During his time in Haiti, he also meets Anthony, a diplomat, and a man who sparks something deep within Wes, something that Wes had thought he’d lost when his partner Peter died eighteen months ago.
There’s danger and intrigue, emotional ups and downs, joy and despair, chemistry and pure heartfelt love— all of the elements that make a story more than just a sum of its parts. And while we are reading this wonderful story, slowly but surely, we are learning more about this poverty-stricken nation and about the relief efforts of the U.S. government and the untiring efforts of the men and women who work within the Doctors Without Borders program.
I am a fan of Andrew Grey, more so with every book he writes. I like his style and I love the subtle way he wove in all of the factual information in this story. I probably learned more by reading this book than I ever did from reading news accounts of the conditions in Haiti, before and after the earthquake. The love demonstrated in this story is equally powerful. The love that develops between Wes, and his young ward is strong and nurturing. The love of his profession, the love Wes has for the children under his medical care, and the emotional attachments he forms with his co-workers, are all fully demonstrated by his words and actions throughout the story. And the love that he and Anthony share, is deep and strong, and savored moment by moment as the danger to each of them is ever present.
I highly recommend this story to all fans of Andrew Grey, to those who love a romance with a bit of intrigue and drama interwoven throughout the story, and to those who want to read a beautiful m/m romance that will enlighten your mind and reach into your heart.
Note: This book was provided to me by the publisher through Hearts on Fire Reviews in exchange for an impartial review.
Pediatrician Wes Gordon is working in the program in Haiti when he encounters a group of men about to set a young boy on fire. He learns that the boy has been working as a prostitute to support himself, having been left homeless by the earthquake a few years earlier when he was only thirteen. He takes the boy, Rene, under his wing and ultimately decides to adopt Rene so that he can take him back to the US when he leaves. During his time in Haiti, he also meets Anthony, a diplomat, and a man who sparks something deep within Wes, something that Wes had thought he’d lost when his partner Peter died eighteen months ago.
There’s danger and intrigue, emotional ups and downs, joy and despair, chemistry and pure heartfelt love— all of the elements that make a story more than just a sum of its parts. And while we are reading this wonderful story, slowly but surely, we are learning more about this poverty-stricken nation and about the relief efforts of the U.S. government and the untiring efforts of the men and women who work within the Doctors Without Borders program.
I am a fan of Andrew Grey, more so with every book he writes. I like his style and I love the subtle way he wove in all of the factual information in this story. I probably learned more by reading this book than I ever did from reading news accounts of the conditions in Haiti, before and after the earthquake. The love demonstrated in this story is equally powerful. The love that develops between Wes, and his young ward is strong and nurturing. The love of his profession, the love Wes has for the children under his medical care, and the emotional attachments he forms with his co-workers, are all fully demonstrated by his words and actions throughout the story. And the love that he and Anthony share, is deep and strong, and savored moment by moment as the danger to each of them is ever present.
I highly recommend this story to all fans of Andrew Grey, to those who love a romance with a bit of intrigue and drama interwoven throughout the story, and to those who want to read a beautiful m/m romance that will enlighten your mind and reach into your heart.
Note: This book was provided to me by the publisher through Hearts on Fire Reviews in exchange for an impartial review.
August 27, 2013
Classic Grey romance. Wonderfully plotted, snappy dialogue and steamy sex. Highly recommended.
September 3, 2013
This was amazing!! It's Andrew Grey though, enough said!
September 2, 2013
This was a sweet, mostly fluffy romance mixed in with some real life issues, a damn awesome teenage kid and a bit of mysterious hunk for good measure.
New-to-me author Andrew Grey has written a heartwarming, sweet and hopeful romance about a young doctor working Haiti after the earthquake. Wes Gordon, a pediatrician, is gay, something that is still very frowned upon in Haiti. He's deeply in the closet. Walking to his room from the clinic one night, he stumbles upon a scene where a group of teenagers has beaten a young boy and doused him with gasoline. It's a hate crime, and Wes steps in to save the boy's life.
That small act pulls the young boy, Rene, into Wes' life. And with Rene, there is also Anthony, aCIA agent US diplomat on a mission in Haiti.
The book drew me in from the start, fascinating me with the slowly developing romance and the realistic depiction of the situation in Haiti, where people still suffer the consequences of the earthquake. Both MCs are very likable, with Wes being more open about his life than Anthony, and with a much bigger heart (or so it seems).
The story unfolds with Wes realizing that Rene has no family and no place to go, in a country where being gay is dangerous. The only logical thing to Wes is to begin the adoption process.
I really liked the characters, even though I didn't connect with Anthony until almost the very end. There's a strong female included in this novel, and it was nice to see the author going against the stereotype here.
Overall, it's a nice, feel good romance with a human interest story and a bit of suspense mixed in. I'll be checking out more by this author.
I received a free ARC from the publisher. A positive review was not promised in return.
New-to-me author Andrew Grey has written a heartwarming, sweet and hopeful romance about a young doctor working Haiti after the earthquake. Wes Gordon, a pediatrician, is gay, something that is still very frowned upon in Haiti. He's deeply in the closet. Walking to his room from the clinic one night, he stumbles upon a scene where a group of teenagers has beaten a young boy and doused him with gasoline. It's a hate crime, and Wes steps in to save the boy's life.
That small act pulls the young boy, Rene, into Wes' life. And with Rene, there is also Anthony, a
The book drew me in from the start, fascinating me with the slowly developing romance and the realistic depiction of the situation in Haiti, where people still suffer the consequences of the earthquake. Both MCs are very likable, with Wes being more open about his life than Anthony, and with a much bigger heart (or so it seems).
The story unfolds with Wes realizing that Rene has no family and no place to go, in a country where being gay is dangerous. The only logical thing to Wes is to begin the adoption process.
I really liked the characters, even though I didn't connect with Anthony until almost the very end. There's a strong female included in this novel, and it was nice to see the author going against the stereotype here.
Overall, it's a nice, feel good romance with a human interest story and a bit of suspense mixed in. I'll be checking out more by this author.
I received a free ARC from the publisher. A positive review was not promised in return.
February 16, 2017
Loved it. Sweet meaningful read.
September 1, 2014
The blurb describes the story in this book quite well, so I will not go into details on that.
This book is set in a very real contemporary setting. Wes and Anthony meet at the hospital of a tent camp in Haiti. If I remember correctly, the story takes place three years after the earthquake; the city is in ruins and thousands of people are still without a home. Wes works long days saving the ones he can while still losing patients on a daily basis. The fact that Wes’s patients are all children does not make it any easier to deal with.
The whole atmosphere comes out very strongly throughout the book. The exteme weather, the desperation of people who have lost everything, sensed rather than actually seen, the fear that René could be killed by homophobes if he leaves the hospital area – it all takes a very prominent place in the book.
There is also a strong focus on René and Wes’s attempts at adopting him to the point that the romance between Wes and Anthony takes a back seat. I would personally have liked to see more of Wes and Anthony during their time in Haiti, but even so, I liked the story a lot. The ending just perfect. And it includes a dog which always gives bonus points in my book.
This book is set in a very real contemporary setting. Wes and Anthony meet at the hospital of a tent camp in Haiti. If I remember correctly, the story takes place three years after the earthquake; the city is in ruins and thousands of people are still without a home. Wes works long days saving the ones he can while still losing patients on a daily basis. The fact that Wes’s patients are all children does not make it any easier to deal with.
The whole atmosphere comes out very strongly throughout the book. The exteme weather, the desperation of people who have lost everything, sensed rather than actually seen, the fear that René could be killed by homophobes if he leaves the hospital area – it all takes a very prominent place in the book.
There is also a strong focus on René and Wes’s attempts at adopting him to the point that the romance between Wes and Anthony takes a back seat. I would personally have liked to see more of Wes and Anthony during their time in Haiti, but even so, I liked the story a lot. The ending just perfect. And it includes a dog which always gives bonus points in my book.
August 31, 2013
Hmm...about 3.5 stars from me - rounded up. It took me a while to get into this book, which is weird because I love Andrew Grey's writing. I found the beginning to be a little slow and I didn't really connect with the characters until the last 60 pages or so. When I finally did connect with them it made the book go by so much faster and even more entertaining. So if you have the same problem as I did, keep on going, it's a good story. On a side note; I love how René says "boom-boom."
December 1, 2013
Ya gotta LOVE an Andrew Grey love story - they always end up putting a smile on my face - though they always seem too short - I think because I have a hard time putting my iPad down when reading his books.
August 10, 2015
reviewette to follow
August 17, 2025
Wes is with doctors without borders after he lost someone almost 2 years before. He was burned out and needed a change so 6 months before he left the US and went to Hati to help.
He first meets Rene who is nearly killed by other teens just because he's gay. Wes sets out to help him recover and then as time passes he wants to adopt him since he's 16.
Anthony and Wes meet because when Wes saved Rene it caused a little stir since its illegal in Hati to be gay. They butted heads for a moment but Anthony wants to help if he can but he has some secrets of his own that he can't share because of what he does for a living.
I loved this so much. Check trigger warnings because there are losses mentioned with Wes being a pediatrician. He never gave up on his mission to get Rene home with him and Anthony did help when he could. The ending was perfect. Loved the side characters Sandy the nurse friend and Clive who helped Wes start in Hati.
He first meets Rene who is nearly killed by other teens just because he's gay. Wes sets out to help him recover and then as time passes he wants to adopt him since he's 16.
Anthony and Wes meet because when Wes saved Rene it caused a little stir since its illegal in Hati to be gay. They butted heads for a moment but Anthony wants to help if he can but he has some secrets of his own that he can't share because of what he does for a living.
I loved this so much. Check trigger warnings because there are losses mentioned with Wes being a pediatrician. He never gave up on his mission to get Rene home with him and Anthony did help when he could. The ending was perfect. Loved the side characters Sandy the nurse friend and Clive who helped Wes start in Hati.
September 7, 2013
Original Blog Spot: http://headouttheoven.blogspot.com/20...
The first chapter got my goofy smile on and it never left, even at the height of the despair both Wes and René were going through because of the difficulties finding the right documents to get them both out together; at the height of some of the cheesiest morantic lines Anthony gave (especially that love letter!), that goofy smile still refused to go away and by this time my facial muscles were getting strained. All right, even at the height of the sexy, sexy scenes, it never, ever left but by this time my face got hot on top of everything else - yups, I was blushing!
This has got to be the best and worst reaction I ever got to reading any Grey book! It made everyone around me suspicious. I was blushing and giggling like a loon.
This was an incredible story. Set in the midst of a post-earthquake Haitian camp city, Wes was a pediatrician who was escaping the realities of unexpectedly losing a partner. Anthony was a diplomat (or so he says) and he, too, is out there in the middle of all the misery to escape the unexpected death of a lover. Both were trying to live and move on. They meet, they fall in love and do some boom-boom.
Then there was René, a teen saved from the wrath of bullies, who steals the heart of Wes. Soon, it was Wes and René. Anthony either had to take both or none at all. He took all.
This was a beautiful romance between two men and, although it should have been a complication, it is also a story of parental love for a teen who desperately needed help and a live family. What I liked about this story is the lack of angst between Wes and Anthony. Their romance happened. Best of all, Wes stood up for himself, no flipflopping, no anxiety attacks, no wimpiness, none of the formulaic usual. The sense of drama were from the things going on around them. This was such a relief for there are times when stories like these tend to get humdrum in their over-drama formulaic-ness and it could bore.
Not this one.
Wes as a pediatrician already set my mind to at least one star to my rating; the author being Andrew Grey established the second star. The three remaining stars are for a romance that was cheesy and morantic to the nth degree, and a plot that actually worked to develop and become more than the blurb suggested.
It was easy reading this, it just took me longer because I was loony too much. Truth is, I write this after the second read, I just could not get over it. I was not willing to face the fact that I was already reading these words: "It's a dream come true" that marked the end of the story.
Hard to put down? Definitely.
Recommendation? What do you think?
The first chapter got my goofy smile on and it never left, even at the height of the despair both Wes and René were going through because of the difficulties finding the right documents to get them both out together; at the height of some of the cheesiest morantic lines Anthony gave (especially that love letter!), that goofy smile still refused to go away and by this time my facial muscles were getting strained. All right, even at the height of the sexy, sexy scenes, it never, ever left but by this time my face got hot on top of everything else - yups, I was blushing!
This has got to be the best and worst reaction I ever got to reading any Grey book! It made everyone around me suspicious. I was blushing and giggling like a loon.
This was an incredible story. Set in the midst of a post-earthquake Haitian camp city, Wes was a pediatrician who was escaping the realities of unexpectedly losing a partner. Anthony was a diplomat (or so he says) and he, too, is out there in the middle of all the misery to escape the unexpected death of a lover. Both were trying to live and move on. They meet, they fall in love and do some boom-boom.
Then there was René, a teen saved from the wrath of bullies, who steals the heart of Wes. Soon, it was Wes and René. Anthony either had to take both or none at all. He took all.
This was a beautiful romance between two men and, although it should have been a complication, it is also a story of parental love for a teen who desperately needed help and a live family. What I liked about this story is the lack of angst between Wes and Anthony. Their romance happened. Best of all, Wes stood up for himself, no flipflopping, no anxiety attacks, no wimpiness, none of the formulaic usual. The sense of drama were from the things going on around them. This was such a relief for there are times when stories like these tend to get humdrum in their over-drama formulaic-ness and it could bore.
Not this one.
Wes as a pediatrician already set my mind to at least one star to my rating; the author being Andrew Grey established the second star. The three remaining stars are for a romance that was cheesy and morantic to the nth degree, and a plot that actually worked to develop and become more than the blurb suggested.
It was easy reading this, it just took me longer because I was loony too much. Truth is, I write this after the second read, I just could not get over it. I was not willing to face the fact that I was already reading these words: "It's a dream come true" that marked the end of the story.
Hard to put down? Definitely.
Recommendation? What do you think?
May 2, 2022
*May contain spoilers*
I did not expect to find a gay romance set in the earthquake aftermath of my family’s native country of Haiti. While I’m first-generation American, I got the chance to visit the island myself in 2003, luckily two years before the devastating event that began a state of perpetual recovery for inhabitants. Despite all the misfortune and chaos, Andrew Grey accurately portrays the bright spirit, resourcefulness, and unflinching fortitude of the people. As his title suggests, the author explores many definitions of love and the ever-expanding heart of his main character, Dr. Wesley Gordon.
Escaping his life in the U.S., brought on by grief for the sudden death of his partner, Peter, Wes takes the advice of a medical mentor and joins him for a Doctors Without Borders program in Port-au-Prince, working as a pediatrician for a make-shift hospital near the central encampments. Complications come when he saves a teenage, orphaned boy, René, from a horrid assault in the street, getting the attention of several onlookers, including a government diplomat, Anthony, who supposedly works for the American embassy. Having kept his own sexuality a secret while in the country (for both reasons of safety and professional simplicity), Wes finds out René was targeted for being gay and also navigates a budding relationship with Anthony, who first approaches him at his work cafeteria. Treating René for his severe injuries and learning about his homelessness and family who died in the earthquake, the doctor forms a strong attachment there as well, ultimately leading him to consider adoption and giving the boy a chance for a more secure life with him when he returns to Maryland.
Grey eloquently tackles difficult subjects and consistently comes from a place of respect and grace, especially when blending cultural point of view and language into his narrative. While I appreciated the happy ending, my only criticisms also appeared in the last chapter and epilogue. Wes’s personality at times felt incongruent and insecure, particularly the odd way he reacts to Anthony’s return. The character, in my mind, would not be so brash and almost childish in his comments. A few other details and resolutions also seemed too perfect for their own good, realistically, but I can end smiling at a dream come true and everyone receiving the love they deserved.
(4.00 Stars)
January 26, 2017
Dr. Wes is volunteering in Haiti and finds a teen boy being attacked. He saves Rene and finds out that they were going to set him on fire because he's gay. As a humanitarian, doctor, and a gay man, he finds himself caring too much for this young man and takes him under his wing. Enter Anthony, douche ambassador/spy/sneak. He warns Wes about trying to care for Rene and acts like a jerk because he can't figure out why Wes would care for another human being. The rest of the book features Anthony popping in to try and get laid and criticizing Wes for caring about others. Eventually it's time for Wes to go home and either leave Rene and Anthony behind or find a way they can become a family.
I loved the view into Haiti and its circumstances. Andrew Grey seems to do really well on research and including details that make things interesting. All those unique bits made it very easy to picture the setting and environment surrounding the story. Those details and view into the world made me really want to like this book. Sadly, I just couldn't because Anthony just grated on my nerves the entire time. Wes and Rene were a little flat, but I could live with that. But not Anthony's obvious a**holeness. Yeah, he gets a bit better toward the end, but really, he wasn't a great guy at all and it was hard to root for him to end up with Wes who was obviously a far better person.
I loved the view into Haiti and its circumstances. Andrew Grey seems to do really well on research and including details that make things interesting. All those unique bits made it very easy to picture the setting and environment surrounding the story. Those details and view into the world made me really want to like this book. Sadly, I just couldn't because Anthony just grated on my nerves the entire time. Wes and Rene were a little flat, but I could live with that. But not Anthony's obvious a**holeness. Yeah, he gets a bit better toward the end, but really, he wasn't a great guy at all and it was hard to root for him to end up with Wes who was obviously a far better person.
June 22, 2015
Another brilliant work done by Andrew Grey. This novel has a very strong story line and the characters are realistic and amazing that you can't help but fall in love with them. A little out of the norm for Andrew but none the less just as great. The main character, Wes, is a doctor, who volunteers to go to Haiti to help the earthquake victims. He lost his husband 18 months before with a heart defect and can't seem to move on with his life. He thought this would help him do that. During his work there he rescues a 16 year old gay boy from being set on fire and takes him in. One day he meets Anthony who is in a dangerous ops mission. The two are attracted to each other immediately. Anthony has suffered from a breakup and he has put himself into everything into his job instead of moving forward. There is mystery dealing with the job that Anthony does and definitely dangerous, but the two fall in love regardless of their circumstances. Dealing with his relationship with Anthony, Wes is also in the process of trying to adopt Rene. This is a very moving, intriguing, loving, and suspenseful novel that will grab your heart. Highly recommend this one. Can't wait till the sequel comes out..
August 15, 2014
Although I adore Andrew Grey's writing, this one didn't really resonate with me. Anthony was too cagey and Wes latched on too quickly even though he knew next to nothing about Anthony. He was acting like the jilted lover by the second date.
The story itself, had some good potential and I really liked the idea of it. The execution could have been better. It seemed to me like the adoption subplot overshadowed everything else. While important, I do think that the romance should have gotten more story time. I didn't feel the connection between Wes and Anthony.
Anthony kept asking Wes to trust him, but more than basic trust is earned and since Anthony can't talk about his life at all, that's a difficult prospect at best. He kept disappearing, leaving Wes feeling insecure about whatever their relationship was supposed to be. And yet Wes stuck it out with nothing to go on.
So, not a horrible book, but not great either.
The story itself, had some good potential and I really liked the idea of it. The execution could have been better. It seemed to me like the adoption subplot overshadowed everything else. While important, I do think that the romance should have gotten more story time. I didn't feel the connection between Wes and Anthony.
Anthony kept asking Wes to trust him, but more than basic trust is earned and since Anthony can't talk about his life at all, that's a difficult prospect at best. He kept disappearing, leaving Wes feeling insecure about whatever their relationship was supposed to be. And yet Wes stuck it out with nothing to go on.
So, not a horrible book, but not great either.
September 17, 2013
I hate, hate, hate to say it but this is probably my last Andrew Grey book.
There were so many disconnects here, the romance, the adoption and the spy business. None of them were gaining enough ground to keep me interested. The romance came literally out of nowhere. The adoption part was alright but short sighted. After listing all the reasons the adoption couldn't possibly happen, it felt like a serious miracle (Deus ex machina) was going to have to happen. I am not sure what the spy stuff was all about but then again I didn't care enough to keep reading.
There were so many disconnects here, the romance, the adoption and the spy business. None of them were gaining enough ground to keep me interested. The romance came literally out of nowhere. The adoption part was alright but short sighted. After listing all the reasons the adoption couldn't possibly happen, it felt like a serious miracle (Deus ex machina) was going to have to happen. I am not sure what the spy stuff was all about but then again I didn't care enough to keep reading.
January 30, 2014
Another great book ... Wes is an American doctor helping with Doctors without Borders in Haiti. Anthony is an American Diplomat in a mission. One night after hearing quite a stir Wes finds a kid being abused and drowsed in gasoline. René is a sixteen years old and has been selling himself to survive, being gay is illegal in the country ... Wes rescued him and saved his life. Anthony comes to meet Wes and warned him to be careful. They start developing feelings for each other but have to be really careful. Also Wes wants to help René and he does all he can to see that happen. Things get complicated when Anthony gets hurt and Wes learns some things about Anthony. Wes needs all the help he can because he doesn't want to leave René behind knowing he wouldn't survive. Finally things change but Wes still have a broken heart not knowing about the future. Great story and beautiful ending.
September 2, 2013
This was a typical Andrew Grey story. This author always writes uplifting, encouraging stories, full of hope and promise, yet with a good story line as well.
Wes Gordon is a doctor, volunteering in Haiti. He's working under hellish conditions and trying to escape a painful past. Anthony is a diplomat, an enigma of sorts and Wes isn't completely sure where he stands. But even in these circumstances a relationship grows. Even the addition of a rescued teenager doesn't change things, but adds to the whole.
It's a lovely, feel good kind of story, with more than enough strength in it to make it a solid 4 star read for me. Just more proof that this is an author I will turn to when I want something uplifting, not too heavy but nothing fluffy either.
Wes Gordon is a doctor, volunteering in Haiti. He's working under hellish conditions and trying to escape a painful past. Anthony is a diplomat, an enigma of sorts and Wes isn't completely sure where he stands. But even in these circumstances a relationship grows. Even the addition of a rescued teenager doesn't change things, but adds to the whole.
It's a lovely, feel good kind of story, with more than enough strength in it to make it a solid 4 star read for me. Just more proof that this is an author I will turn to when I want something uplifting, not too heavy but nothing fluffy either.
September 5, 2013
What do you get when you mix a grief stricken doctor, a mysterious man add an injured teenage boy and set them in Haiti years after the earthquake? You get Hearts Without Borders. This story captures you from the first sentence and holds you until the last word.A Heart Without Borders introduces you to the doctor Wes and his taking an injured Rene under his watchful care. Anthony, the man of mystery appears and has secrets he cannot share with Wes, but he does offer something else instead. The story tells of heartbreak, grief, hope and dreams coming true and love that has no boundaries. Five stars Mr. Grey, thank you for a beautiful and touching story.
September 17, 2013
This book was good, I liked it but I felt like it could have been so much more. I don't think I've ever given an Andrew Grey book less than 4 stars but I guess there's a first time for everything. I think that this book is definitely worth reading but just be aware that it's not on the same level as Andrew Grey's other books. I felt a little disappointed to be honest. However, I have to say that Andrew Grey is one of my favorite authors so if you read this Mr. Grey, know that I am not criticizing this book, it just wasn't a favorite of mine.
September 5, 2013
In this new book Andrew Grey flexes his writing muscles and describes the “tent city” that Wes Gordon is living in. I felt like I was right there with the characters, feeling the heat, the desperation and the total devastation right along with them. There is no doubt in my mind that this book will stay with me for a long time. Don’t miss this book. You will surely regret it if you do.
You can read the rest of Jackie's review at The Novel Approach
You can read the rest of Jackie's review at The Novel Approach
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