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Borealis Investigations
North and Shaw: Out of Office
North and Shaw: Out of Office is a collection of short stories. It includes the following:
“Bad Boys at the Radio Girls”
Radio Girls is a lesbian bar. A group of straight guys thinks it’s funny to crash. North and Shaw are hired to take care of this problem (and they try not to fulfill the white savior stereotype while doing so). This story takes place before Orientation.
“Gone Goat”
North thinks Shaw needs a vacation. Shaw isn’t so sure, until he hears about the possibility of goat yoga. When the goats disappear, though, Shaw decides he only wants one thing on his vacation: to find them. This story takes place before Triangulation.
“Puppy Patrol”
Shaw and North are going to spend a peaceful weekend at a lakeside cabin. Until, that is, a dog starts barking. This story takes place before Declination.
“Shaw Aldrich and the Case of the Missing Leash”
North leaves Shaw in charge of the puppy for one night. This story takes place after Declination.
“North and Shaw: Out of Office”
A series of six vignettes featuring North and Shaw in daily life. This story takes place after Declination.
Please note that the first three stories were distributed in a preliminary form to mailing list subscribers. “Shaw Aldrich and the Case of the Missing Leash” was also released in a preliminary form to attendees at GRL 2019.
“North and Shaw: Out of Office” is exclusively available in this collection.
“Bad Boys at the Radio Girls”
Radio Girls is a lesbian bar. A group of straight guys thinks it’s funny to crash. North and Shaw are hired to take care of this problem (and they try not to fulfill the white savior stereotype while doing so). This story takes place before Orientation.
“Gone Goat”
North thinks Shaw needs a vacation. Shaw isn’t so sure, until he hears about the possibility of goat yoga. When the goats disappear, though, Shaw decides he only wants one thing on his vacation: to find them. This story takes place before Triangulation.
“Puppy Patrol”
Shaw and North are going to spend a peaceful weekend at a lakeside cabin. Until, that is, a dog starts barking. This story takes place before Declination.
“Shaw Aldrich and the Case of the Missing Leash”
North leaves Shaw in charge of the puppy for one night. This story takes place after Declination.
“North and Shaw: Out of Office”
A series of six vignettes featuring North and Shaw in daily life. This story takes place after Declination.
Please note that the first three stories were distributed in a preliminary form to mailing list subscribers. “Shaw Aldrich and the Case of the Missing Leash” was also released in a preliminary form to attendees at GRL 2019.
“North and Shaw: Out of Office” is exclusively available in this collection.
135 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 26, 2020
49 people are currently reading
187 people want to read
About the author
Gregory Ashe
135 books1,799 followersI'm a long-time Midwesterner. I've lived in Chicago, Bloomington (IN), and Saint Louis, my current home. Aside from reading and writing (which take up a lot of my time), I'm an educator.
While I enjoy reading across many genres, my two main loves are mystery and speculative fiction. I used to keep a list of favorite books, but it changes so frequently that I've given up. I'm always looking for recommendations, though, so please drop me a line if you have something in mind!
My big goal right now is one day to be responsible enough to get a dog.
While I enjoy reading across many genres, my two main loves are mystery and speculative fiction. I used to keep a list of favorite books, but it changes so frequently that I've given up. I'm always looking for recommendations, though, so please drop me a line if you have something in mind!
My big goal right now is one day to be responsible enough to get a dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
July 1, 2020
4.5 cute, fluffy stars
June 28, 2020
4,5 stars
What a delight!
Gregory Ashe is treating us to 5 extra novellas with North and Shaw from the Borealis Investigations series.
I had read the first three stories as they came with Mr. Ashe's newletter subscription, and I loved all of them! The last two which take place after book 3 of the series are as special.
"Shaw Aldrich and the Case of the Missing Leash."
Shaw looking after the puppy for one night is priceless and North's nerdiness about a manga author is just too cute for words. I grinned virtually all the way through this, throwing some ooohs and awes in, too.
"North and Shaw: Out of Office"
These clippets of North and Shaw in private made me swoon yet again. It shows how their relationship comes along, how they tease each other and how the trust and heat between them just grows and grows.
Don't miss this if you like North and Shaw - it's so worth it!
What a delight!
Gregory Ashe is treating us to 5 extra novellas with North and Shaw from the Borealis Investigations series.
I had read the first three stories as they came with Mr. Ashe's newletter subscription, and I loved all of them! The last two which take place after book 3 of the series are as special.
"Shaw Aldrich and the Case of the Missing Leash."
Shaw looking after the puppy for one night is priceless and North's nerdiness about a manga author is just too cute for words. I grinned virtually all the way through this, throwing some ooohs and awes in, too.
"North and Shaw: Out of Office"
These clippets of North and Shaw in private made me swoon yet again. It shows how their relationship comes along, how they tease each other and how the trust and heat between them just grows and grows.
Don't miss this if you like North and Shaw - it's so worth it!
August 22, 2025
🎧: Out on audio now! I’m ready to relive iconic North and Shaw shenanigans thanks to Charlie David and GA’s recent short story audiobook initiative 😌 https://www.audible.com/pd/North-and-...
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ: 2023 N&S Rereadathon :･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ (spoilers littered throughout)
does anyone else wonder why Shaw’s face is a magnet for low-blow digs and uncalled-for comments? from the way it’s described (granted, North is extremely biased), i imagine top model with clean angles and sharp, high cheekbones for days - are they threatened by his astral plane beauty? are Shaw's unconventional aesthetic and stark lines that unnerving?
food for thought.
i loved the extra insight that “The Case of the Missing Leash” gives into North: he's on good enough terms with one of his neighbors that they not only have each other’s number, but she also calls him out of concern for the puppy and what that may mean for his big softie of an owner. how lovely is that? 🥰
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ: 2023 N&S Rereadathon :･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ (spoilers littered throughout)
does anyone else wonder why Shaw’s face is a magnet for low-blow digs and uncalled-for comments? from the way it’s described (granted, North is extremely biased), i imagine top model with clean angles and sharp, high cheekbones for days - are they threatened by his astral plane beauty? are Shaw's unconventional aesthetic and stark lines that unnerving?
food for thought.
i loved the extra insight that “The Case of the Missing Leash” gives into North: he's on good enough terms with one of his neighbors that they not only have each other’s number, but she also calls him out of concern for the puppy and what that may mean for his big softie of an owner. how lovely is that? 🥰
February 11, 2025
It's impossible not to love these short story collections 💙 They give you the exact kind of dopamine hit you need between the bouts of trauma GA exacts in his novels 🤣
March 22, 2021
***happy sigh***
I'd already read most of these (except for the vignettes at the end) as Gregory Ashe usually gifts them as part of his mailing list. I still reread them. They're joyful snapshots in the lives of Shaw & North and aren't just filler, they serve as bridges between one book and another.
Bad Boys at the Radio Girls
Gone Goat
Puppy Patrol
Shaw Aldrich and the Case of the Missing Leash where North entrusts Shaw to dog-sit his puppy, things go predictably wrong, and it ends with North showing Shaw more of his tender, soft parts. His vulnerable self.
The rest are little moments of the guys hanging out together, growing into this new stage of their relationship where they openly love each other and don't hide it from the world or each other.
Sweet ❤️❤️
I'd already read most of these (except for the vignettes at the end) as Gregory Ashe usually gifts them as part of his mailing list. I still reread them. They're joyful snapshots in the lives of Shaw & North and aren't just filler, they serve as bridges between one book and another.
Bad Boys at the Radio Girls
Gone Goat
Puppy Patrol
Shaw Aldrich and the Case of the Missing Leash where North entrusts Shaw to dog-sit his puppy, things go predictably wrong, and it ends with North showing Shaw more of his tender, soft parts. His vulnerable self.
The rest are little moments of the guys hanging out together, growing into this new stage of their relationship where they openly love each other and don't hide it from the world or each other.
Sweet ❤️❤️
December 20, 2022
These guys are so freaking cute together, whether they're just friends or more. As usual, these short stories are a balm after the heavier content of the full length novels. But they really need to name that dog.
February 5, 2025
I definitely prefer North and Shaw in really small doses 😂
March 1, 2022
I need a bit more to keep my atention, and these two exasperates me to no end...
February 10, 2021
North and Shaw are a gift to the gay mystery genre, and these little slice-of-life moments are the cherry on top of an already Michelin Star dessert. The first book in the Out of Office Collection features four short stories spanning the timeline of the Borealis Investigations, from before Orientation to after Declination, as well as six exclusive codas. In true North and Shaw fashion, these shorts are hilarious, bizarre, witty, eccentric, and at times, very poignant. But thankfully, as we all know Ashe to be an author that absolutely obliterates your heart and soul, these are a bit lighter and more loving—a sort of time-out for readers, if you will.
Of the shorts, my favorite was Bad Boys at the Radio Girls. First, it's a really awesome title and I was immediately drawn by that, but secondly, who doesn't love a lesbian bar and jerk dude-bros crashing the party, only to end up getting their just deserts? Plus, in this short, we're introduced to Pari, the hilarious and over-the-top receptionist at Borealis, and I really enjoyed extra details about her.
Of the exclusive codas, I'd have to say my favorite was #1, Shaw flipping relentlessly between QVC and 90 Day Fiancé, talking nonstop, (as Shaw does) while North tries very, very hard to both read his book and engage with his boyfriend. It's very cute, a little sexy, and such a perfect snapshot of these fantastic private detective characters in their off time, just being people.
If you read the first ARC of the Borealis Investigations, I highly recommend you enjoy these short stories before beginning Borealis: Without a Compass.
Of the shorts, my favorite was Bad Boys at the Radio Girls. First, it's a really awesome title and I was immediately drawn by that, but secondly, who doesn't love a lesbian bar and jerk dude-bros crashing the party, only to end up getting their just deserts? Plus, in this short, we're introduced to Pari, the hilarious and over-the-top receptionist at Borealis, and I really enjoyed extra details about her.
Of the exclusive codas, I'd have to say my favorite was #1, Shaw flipping relentlessly between QVC and 90 Day Fiancé, talking nonstop, (as Shaw does) while North tries very, very hard to both read his book and engage with his boyfriend. It's very cute, a little sexy, and such a perfect snapshot of these fantastic private detective characters in their off time, just being people.
If you read the first ARC of the Borealis Investigations, I highly recommend you enjoy these short stories before beginning Borealis: Without a Compass.
June 26, 2020
Gregory Ashe blessed us with a collection of North and Shaw stories! Some had been available already but there are some new ones in here. The timelines in these run throughout the original three books.
I read the, “Borealis Investigations,” books before reading his, “Hazard and Somerset,” ones so North and Shaw were my first experience with Ashe. And while I think Ree and John have inched their way slightly ahead of them as far as favorite couples go, I so love these two with all my heart. I keep hoping we will someday get more books with this amazing duo. They are cute, funny, sexy and snarky. Perfection!
If I can’t get anymore full length novels with them, I would be delighted if he kept releasing little vignettes like these every so often. Just so I know how they are doing. Like Hazard and Somerset, North and Shaw feel like real people to me. That’s how good he is. I would happily read about them for years to come.
I read the, “Borealis Investigations,” books before reading his, “Hazard and Somerset,” ones so North and Shaw were my first experience with Ashe. And while I think Ree and John have inched their way slightly ahead of them as far as favorite couples go, I so love these two with all my heart. I keep hoping we will someday get more books with this amazing duo. They are cute, funny, sexy and snarky. Perfection!
If I can’t get anymore full length novels with them, I would be delighted if he kept releasing little vignettes like these every so often. Just so I know how they are doing. Like Hazard and Somerset, North and Shaw feel like real people to me. That’s how good he is. I would happily read about them for years to come.
August 20, 2020
This was ok. I just can't get in to this series like I do Hazard and Somerset. I love North but Shaw gets on my last nerve and I loathe that girl that works in their office.
October 7, 2025
4.5 stars
Cute as hell!
Cute as hell!
June 8, 2020
5 stars. Great little collection of stories, some of which I already had for free as a subscriber to Greg's mailing list...'Bad Boys at the Radio Girls', 'Gone Goat' and 'Puppy Patrol'. The new stories had me in fits of laughter, and I would love to catch up with Gus from 'Shaw Aldrich and the Case of the Missing Leash' again...hot. Shaw is obviously playing catch-up on his new-found sex life, and has North as a very enthusiastic *coughs* partner. 😍😍😍
August 1, 2021
Ashe excels at shorts, especially vignette-type formats. Having this been my least favorite series/couple so far (I just think we need more time?!) didn't detract, and I kind of wish I'd read these between, in fact.
January 5, 2024
Cute!
(still hate Pari, though)
(still hate Pari, though)
July 19, 2021
You definitely have to love the couple to love the bonuses/shorts so sadly this wasn't pure fluffy delight for me but it was okay.
July 27, 2020
If you enjoyed the series, you will enjoy this collection. There are four stories, all fun. At the end there are six cut scene vignettes. If you ever want to know how to write great sex scenes, those are ...well, honestly it was hard to pay attention to technique because I kept grinning like an idiot at these two, but I'm sure I can learn a few things if I read them again. :)
This is a love-collection for fans of the trilogy. <3 Thank you, Gregory Ashe!
This is a love-collection for fans of the trilogy. <3 Thank you, Gregory Ashe!
November 12, 2020
In general, I don't overly enjoy all these codas and short stories authors are doing these days, even from authors that I highly enjoy. This is probably my favourite collection.
June 9, 2020
So much fun!
These two are so adorable with all of their silly banter and sexy times. What a tasty little treat these short stories were.
These two are so adorable with all of their silly banter and sexy times. What a tasty little treat these short stories were.
September 1, 2020
I JUST LOVE SHAW AND NORTH.
Read
November 19, 2024North and Shaw: Out of Office is a set of short stories that takes place before, during, and after their Borealis Investigations books. As always these shorts are fun additions and nice breaks between all the drama during the series.
I loved seeing some behind the scenes little snippets like how they met and hired Peri, how the ended up with the puppy, and of course the slice of life moments at the end. While most of the previous Hazardverse shorts show the growth of character's relationships, this set shows more of North and Shaw's fun side and the solid friendship that's the core of their relationship. We get Shaw being his wonderful slightly chaotic self and North pretending to be irritated by it all when he secretly loves it, plus a glimpse into nerdy North.
Any North and Shaw I can read I'm going to want, and it just makes me more excited for what's next!
Read if you like:
• short stories
• friends to lovers
• private investigators
•••••••••••••••••••••
I loved seeing some behind the scenes little snippets like how they met and hired Peri, how the ended up with the puppy, and of course the slice of life moments at the end. While most of the previous Hazardverse shorts show the growth of character's relationships, this set shows more of North and Shaw's fun side and the solid friendship that's the core of their relationship. We get Shaw being his wonderful slightly chaotic self and North pretending to be irritated by it all when he secretly loves it, plus a glimpse into nerdy North.
Any North and Shaw I can read I'm going to want, and it just makes me more excited for what's next!
Read if you like:
• short stories
• friends to lovers
• private investigators
•••••••••••••••••••••
February 13, 2021
I enjoyed all five stories but I especially enjoyed the last two which take place after Declination. Shaw and the Case of the Missing Leash was cuteness overload. Shaw has to watch the puppy while North is at a convention to see his favorite anime author. Novella North and Shaw: Out of Office give us glimpses of them as a couple. The banter, the sexiness, the outrageousness is all them. Well done!
February 25, 2021
This is 100% North and Shaw being lovable dumbasses together, no angst, all fun, and fills in some of the gaps before, between, and after the novels of the series. It won't really make sense unless you've read the novels, but once you have this is a rewarding little side trip. 4/5 stars because there's basically no emotional growth going on here, but on the other hand that's not really the point, I don't think, of these stories.
May 4, 2024
A sweet collections of snap shots
March 18, 2024
Gregory Ashe pummels his characters in their novels. But the warm, slice-of-life shorts in this collection allow them to breathe and recover, and reading them made me smile.
While I understand why some readers find Shaw, or North and Shaw’s dynamic, irritating, I just love these characters and believe in their mutual adoration, even as they snipe at each other and trade ridiculous quips. How they know each other, love each other, and take care of each other feels so genuine and so sweet. It just works for me; they work for me.
Ashe's books make me want to highlight so many pages. Here are a few quotes from this collection:
1) Shaw drew back the curtain more and pointed. “Hey, look. There’s a pond.” He glanced back at North, grinning a huge, doofus grin. “We can go skinny dipping. And then, when we pull ourselves out and we’re drying on the dock, I’ll ask you to put sunscreen on my back, only—only then I’ll get brave and I’ll say something like, ‘You don’t have to stop with just my back.’”
“Ok,” North said, tossing his duffel on the other bed. “I get it.”
“And it won’t stop there. Then maybe it’ll start raining. And we’ll get soaking wet. And we’ll be giggling as we run to the house—we’ll have to ditch our clothes because it’s coming down so hard.”
“I’ve never giggled in my entire life.”
“And then we’ll get inside—maybe one of the other people staying here, a real blue hair, will see us, and she’ll be shocked, but she’ll also be titillated, and somehow we’ll get past her, and we’ll get into the room.” Shaw let the curtain drop back into place; he stood in front of the bed and fell back, arms spread, bouncing once on the mattress. Staring up at the ceiling, he said, “I’ll be like this. Naked. Waiting for you when you come out of the bathroom. And you’ll try to say something, but your throat will dry up, and so I’ll say, ‘I lied to myself about this for so long, and I can’t lie about it anymore. Not tonight. Not when we’re two grown-ass men sharing a room with two beds like two grown-ass adults who can be responsible for themselves. Take me.’ And then you’ll—”
2) "If things get dangerous, if it even looks remotely possible that this is something serious, we're done. I'll be the one who decides. I'm the one who calls it. And if I say we're done, we're done."
Shaw batted his eyes. "Remotely possible. Oh, Jesus. I just want to swoon when I hear a college man talk."
"Then maybe you should have finished your classes instead of doing a two-semester independent study on the effects of Turkish hash."
"It was a very rigorous independent study."
3) “But it wasn’t love love. Not like now. I mean, that’s the thing, right? It just keeps growing. The longer you know someone, the more you know their quirks, the good stuff, some of the stuff that’s not so good.”
“Mmmhmm.”
“When did you know you loved me?”
“Huh?”
“North, come on. When did you know you loved me?”
“Freshman year.” Paper whispered again.
“But when? After thirty days? Sixty days? Ninety days? Was it when we were in my dorm room bingeing Buffy? Were we sitting on the quad? Was I drinking hot chocolate? Was I doing naked squats in the shower?”
“It definitely wasn’t the naked squats. I could live the rest of my life without seeing you do naked squats again.”
“Hey! I look good.”
“You’re very handsome. But nobody looks good doing naked squats.”
“I did. I know I did. I can’t believe you never told me this.”
“Sweetheart?” North's hand slid down Shaw's neck, curling across his collarbone to settle on his chest.
“Yes?”
“I'm trying to read.”
While I understand why some readers find Shaw, or North and Shaw’s dynamic, irritating, I just love these characters and believe in their mutual adoration, even as they snipe at each other and trade ridiculous quips. How they know each other, love each other, and take care of each other feels so genuine and so sweet. It just works for me; they work for me.
Ashe's books make me want to highlight so many pages. Here are a few quotes from this collection:
1) Shaw drew back the curtain more and pointed. “Hey, look. There’s a pond.” He glanced back at North, grinning a huge, doofus grin. “We can go skinny dipping. And then, when we pull ourselves out and we’re drying on the dock, I’ll ask you to put sunscreen on my back, only—only then I’ll get brave and I’ll say something like, ‘You don’t have to stop with just my back.’”
“Ok,” North said, tossing his duffel on the other bed. “I get it.”
“And it won’t stop there. Then maybe it’ll start raining. And we’ll get soaking wet. And we’ll be giggling as we run to the house—we’ll have to ditch our clothes because it’s coming down so hard.”
“I’ve never giggled in my entire life.”
“And then we’ll get inside—maybe one of the other people staying here, a real blue hair, will see us, and she’ll be shocked, but she’ll also be titillated, and somehow we’ll get past her, and we’ll get into the room.” Shaw let the curtain drop back into place; he stood in front of the bed and fell back, arms spread, bouncing once on the mattress. Staring up at the ceiling, he said, “I’ll be like this. Naked. Waiting for you when you come out of the bathroom. And you’ll try to say something, but your throat will dry up, and so I’ll say, ‘I lied to myself about this for so long, and I can’t lie about it anymore. Not tonight. Not when we’re two grown-ass men sharing a room with two beds like two grown-ass adults who can be responsible for themselves. Take me.’ And then you’ll—”
2) "If things get dangerous, if it even looks remotely possible that this is something serious, we're done. I'll be the one who decides. I'm the one who calls it. And if I say we're done, we're done."
Shaw batted his eyes. "Remotely possible. Oh, Jesus. I just want to swoon when I hear a college man talk."
"Then maybe you should have finished your classes instead of doing a two-semester independent study on the effects of Turkish hash."
"It was a very rigorous independent study."
3) “But it wasn’t love love. Not like now. I mean, that’s the thing, right? It just keeps growing. The longer you know someone, the more you know their quirks, the good stuff, some of the stuff that’s not so good.”
“Mmmhmm.”
“When did you know you loved me?”
“Huh?”
“North, come on. When did you know you loved me?”
“Freshman year.” Paper whispered again.
“But when? After thirty days? Sixty days? Ninety days? Was it when we were in my dorm room bingeing Buffy? Were we sitting on the quad? Was I drinking hot chocolate? Was I doing naked squats in the shower?”
“It definitely wasn’t the naked squats. I could live the rest of my life without seeing you do naked squats again.”
“Hey! I look good.”
“You’re very handsome. But nobody looks good doing naked squats.”
“I did. I know I did. I can’t believe you never told me this.”
“Sweetheart?” North's hand slid down Shaw's neck, curling across his collarbone to settle on his chest.
“Yes?”
“I'm trying to read.”
September 24, 2025
OMG, I didn’t realize how much I’ve missed these two! (an audio review)
North and Shaw.
Shaw and North.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen them in action, and I really loved these interludes into their lives to see what they’ve been up to. These vignettes take place between the larger books, so they’re not all after the men have solidified their relationship.
Bad Boys at the Radio Girls is our first glimpse of Pari outside of the office. Shaw and North are hired to deal with some college dudes who are disrupting a lesbian bar. Needless to say, chaos ensues.
Gone Goat is just a fun romp about some missing goats at a farm that does goat yoga. I could totally see Shaw getting down to play with the goats while doing yoga and North rolling his eyes.
Puppy Patrol was a story I really enjoyed. I can’t abide by some of what happened (not anything my guys did), but all ended well, which was what mattered. I didn’t remember having heard the story about how North and Shaw wound up with a puppy, so I listened eagerly about how their romantic getaway turned into a puppy rescue.
Shaw Aldridge and the Case of the Missing Leash was my favorite story in the collection. So typical Shaw – to get into a mess and not be able to fake his way out of it. Despite his best efforts. This story also encompasses the Shaw/North dynamic. North not trusting Shaw to do the correct thing and Shaw goofing up despite his best intentions. I really enjoyed this one.
I’ll end this review by saying I absolutely LOVE Charlie David and I can never get enough of his narration. I loved his performance and I definitely can’t wait to grab the next Out of Office compilation – I’m off to listen to it right now.
North and Shaw.
Shaw and North.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen them in action, and I really loved these interludes into their lives to see what they’ve been up to. These vignettes take place between the larger books, so they’re not all after the men have solidified their relationship.
Bad Boys at the Radio Girls is our first glimpse of Pari outside of the office. Shaw and North are hired to deal with some college dudes who are disrupting a lesbian bar. Needless to say, chaos ensues.
Gone Goat is just a fun romp about some missing goats at a farm that does goat yoga. I could totally see Shaw getting down to play with the goats while doing yoga and North rolling his eyes.
Puppy Patrol was a story I really enjoyed. I can’t abide by some of what happened (not anything my guys did), but all ended well, which was what mattered. I didn’t remember having heard the story about how North and Shaw wound up with a puppy, so I listened eagerly about how their romantic getaway turned into a puppy rescue.
Shaw Aldridge and the Case of the Missing Leash was my favorite story in the collection. So typical Shaw – to get into a mess and not be able to fake his way out of it. Despite his best efforts. This story also encompasses the Shaw/North dynamic. North not trusting Shaw to do the correct thing and Shaw goofing up despite his best intentions. I really enjoyed this one.
I’ll end this review by saying I absolutely LOVE Charlie David and I can never get enough of his narration. I loved his performance and I definitely can’t wait to grab the next Out of Office compilation – I’m off to listen to it right now.
June 13, 2020
A marvelous treat for fans!
My favorite books tend to be those that are part of a series. I love experiencing the MCs as they meet (or re-meet), fall in love, and find their HEA, with all of life's bumps and bruises along the way. I especially love when authors treat the fans to extra tidbits, excluded scenes, and short stories about the MCs such as Gregory Ashe as done with this volume.
In this volume, we see Shaw and North at various points in their relationship to
date. We meet Pari. We experience Shaw and North at their funniest, snarkiest, most shake-my-head, eye-rolling-est moments that made me laugh out loud so many times. There are also poignant moments (Gone Goat) that make me love these two characters even more.
I highly recommend this book to fans of Shaw and North most of all. This may also be a good introduction to the characters as the volume includes multiple short cases that they solve as well as snippets into their lives.
A quick word of warning for new readers. Hazard and Somers will always be my favorite couple from this author, but Shaw and North have become a close second. Expect Shaw and North to be different. Shaw annoyed me to no end at first, but I am so happy I stuck with the series.
Kudos to Gregory Ashe for writing exceptional dialogue because it is the dialogue that makes these characters come alive and makes this reader laugh out loud.
My favorite books tend to be those that are part of a series. I love experiencing the MCs as they meet (or re-meet), fall in love, and find their HEA, with all of life's bumps and bruises along the way. I especially love when authors treat the fans to extra tidbits, excluded scenes, and short stories about the MCs such as Gregory Ashe as done with this volume.
In this volume, we see Shaw and North at various points in their relationship to
date. We meet Pari. We experience Shaw and North at their funniest, snarkiest, most shake-my-head, eye-rolling-est moments that made me laugh out loud so many times. There are also poignant moments (Gone Goat) that make me love these two characters even more.
I highly recommend this book to fans of Shaw and North most of all. This may also be a good introduction to the characters as the volume includes multiple short cases that they solve as well as snippets into their lives.
A quick word of warning for new readers. Hazard and Somers will always be my favorite couple from this author, but Shaw and North have become a close second. Expect Shaw and North to be different. Shaw annoyed me to no end at first, but I am so happy I stuck with the series.
Kudos to Gregory Ashe for writing exceptional dialogue because it is the dialogue that makes these characters come alive and makes this reader laugh out loud.
June 11, 2020
Please more of these two
That was very nice having a little more of North and Shaw's glimpses in their lives. Short and sweet and funny. All stories made me smile reading and some made me laugh. I hope Gregory Ashe will find more story plots to continue with a Borealis Investigations series. It was nice to get them both featured in Hazard and Somerset latest installment "Transactional Dynamic" which continues to be my most favorite series so far.
That was very nice having a little more of North and Shaw's glimpses in their lives. Short and sweet and funny. All stories made me smile reading and some made me laugh. I hope Gregory Ashe will find more story plots to continue with a Borealis Investigations series. It was nice to get them both featured in Hazard and Somerset latest installment "Transactional Dynamic" which continues to be my most favorite series so far.
June 18, 2020
Fun read
It was nice reading about some "after Declination" parts since the main story felt a bit unresolved to me. Anyways, light read with some jokes and sexy parts but not much of a plot.
Some spoilers ish
A part with yoga completely unrealistic as nobody would let them talk that much during yoga class but it was amusing anyway.
Also, I really want Shaw's princess mononoke socks XD
It was nice reading about some "after Declination" parts since the main story felt a bit unresolved to me. Anyways, light read with some jokes and sexy parts but not much of a plot.
Some spoilers ish
A part with yoga completely unrealistic as nobody would let them talk that much during yoga class but it was amusing anyway.
Also, I really want Shaw's princess mononoke socks XD
August 28, 2025
I love North and Shaw; they are absolutely my favorites, so I might be a little biased. These are small vignettes of their lives together that are both cute and funny, and I loved them. The stories really highlight North and Shaw's personalities—Shaw, the chaos gremlin, and North, the long-suffering partner. I listened to this on audiobook, and it has made me want to reread the series—if only I had the time.
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