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The Lamb and the Lion #1
The Same Breath
Teancum Leon, who goes by Tean, is a wildlife veterinarian. His life has settled into a holding pattern: he loves his job, he hates first dates, and he only occasionally has to deal with his neighbor Mrs. Wish’s cat-related disasters.
All of that changes, though, when a man appears in his office, asking for help to find his brother. Jem is convinced that something bad has happened to Benny, and he thinks Tean might be able to help. Tean isn’t sure, but he’s willing to try. After all, Jem is charming and sweet and surprisingly vulnerable. Oh. And hot.
Then things get strange: phone calls with no one on the other end of the line; surveillance footage that shows what might be an abduction; a truck that tries to run Tean and Jem off the road. As Tean and Jem investigate, they realize that Benny might have stumbled onto a conspiracy and that someone is willing to kill to keep the truth from coming out.
But not everything is as it seems, and Tean suspects that Jem has been keeping secrets of his own.
All of that changes, though, when a man appears in his office, asking for help to find his brother. Jem is convinced that something bad has happened to Benny, and he thinks Tean might be able to help. Tean isn’t sure, but he’s willing to try. After all, Jem is charming and sweet and surprisingly vulnerable. Oh. And hot.
Then things get strange: phone calls with no one on the other end of the line; surveillance footage that shows what might be an abduction; a truck that tries to run Tean and Jem off the road. As Tean and Jem investigate, they realize that Benny might have stumbled onto a conspiracy and that someone is willing to kill to keep the truth from coming out.
But not everything is as it seems, and Tean suspects that Jem has been keeping secrets of his own.
391 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 25, 2020
144 people are currently reading
1248 people want to read
About the author
Gregory Ashe
135 books1,792 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 258 reviews
March 8, 2021
4.5 Tean and Jem stars
Audiobook - 4 stars
This was amazing and so much fun. JF Harding did an amazing job bringing the characters to life, especially while delivering Tean’s dry sarcastic humor that not many people get. I found myself loling so hard.
“People suck,” Tean said, letting Scipio off the leash. The dog park was busy on Friday afternoon, and Scipio ran off to join Bear, a hundred-and-thirty-pound St. Bernard who dwarfed Tean’s black Lab but had still become a regular playmate.
“Ok,” Hannah said with a sigh.
I agree with you Tean, People suck.
The Same Breath is another amazing series from Gregory Ashe, at this point I am just a stan and with this book my stan level has gone up. This one is set in Utah and I loved the scenery description.
MCs:
Tean – A wildlife geeky veterinarian, who loves his job and animals. I fell in love with Tean. His geeky, weird sense of humor and good heart drew me in. He is so naïve sometimes and very relatable. Damn! Tean got under my skin and is going to stay there permanently. He is just so lovable and adorable.
Jem – Jem! Jem! Where do I start? What a complex, heartbreaking, annoying, lovable character. One-minute I wanted to hug him, the next to strangle him. What a piece of work, but at the same time he is relatable too. Jem is your everyday guy, the one that your mom, sister, brother and everyone in your village warns you about, but you can’t hear them because he is broken and adorable.
The mystery was interesting, and kept me glued to the end. The characters we meet along the way were very interesting.
Tean and Jem are two opposites but they got some mad chemistry and work well together. I am really interested to see how their relationship will develop. Their conversations and trivias were fun and very enjoyable. I love that Jem got Tean’s sense of humor.
Ammom can just go to purgatory, that said, I did get why he was here and his character is not that bad once you understand where he is coming from.
This is a great start to what I hope will be an amazing series.
A copy of the Audiobook was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Audiobook - 4 stars
This was amazing and so much fun. JF Harding did an amazing job bringing the characters to life, especially while delivering Tean’s dry sarcastic humor that not many people get. I found myself loling so hard.
“People suck,” Tean said, letting Scipio off the leash. The dog park was busy on Friday afternoon, and Scipio ran off to join Bear, a hundred-and-thirty-pound St. Bernard who dwarfed Tean’s black Lab but had still become a regular playmate.
“Ok,” Hannah said with a sigh.
I agree with you Tean, People suck.
The Same Breath is another amazing series from Gregory Ashe, at this point I am just a stan and with this book my stan level has gone up. This one is set in Utah and I loved the scenery description.
MCs:
Tean – A wildlife geeky veterinarian, who loves his job and animals. I fell in love with Tean. His geeky, weird sense of humor and good heart drew me in. He is so naïve sometimes and very relatable. Damn! Tean got under my skin and is going to stay there permanently. He is just so lovable and adorable.
Jem – Jem! Jem! Where do I start? What a complex, heartbreaking, annoying, lovable character. One-minute I wanted to hug him, the next to strangle him. What a piece of work, but at the same time he is relatable too. Jem is your everyday guy, the one that your mom, sister, brother and everyone in your village warns you about, but you can’t hear them because he is broken and adorable.
The mystery was interesting, and kept me glued to the end. The characters we meet along the way were very interesting.
Tean and Jem are two opposites but they got some mad chemistry and work well together. I am really interested to see how their relationship will develop. Their conversations and trivias were fun and very enjoyable. I love that Jem got Tean’s sense of humor.
Ammom can just go to purgatory, that said, I did get why he was here and his character is not that bad once you understand where he is coming from.
This is a great start to what I hope will be an amazing series.
A copy of the Audiobook was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
September 25, 2020
5 Stars!
Another great book and start to a new series!
The thing I love most about GA's books are that they are character driven. He comes up with the most interesting characters that I can't help but want to know more about. Another thing he does is build their characters up with each book. He never gives you everything about them in the first book. It is like you are getting to know them as they are getting to know each other. It's a slow burn every time. I didn't know I would enjoy a story written that way until I read his books. He's yet to write a book that I haven't loved. His characters are becoming some of my favorite MM couples.
In this book we meet Teancum Leon, who is a wildlife veterinarian. He loves his job. Has a lab name, Scipio. He's not great with people and loves to spout off random facts that lean more on the fatalistic aspect in life. He's adorably awkward which automatically had me loving him.
We also meet Jem Berger who is a very charming conman. It helps that he's handsome as well. He's also a good guy underneath all the lies and deceit. A guy who went through some very disturbing things in his youth. All he has in the world is his cons and his foster brother Benny who he does his best to take care of.
Benny isn't well. He has been diagnosed with Schizophrenia and decided to stop taking his meds. He's become paranoid that someone is out to get him. That death is closing in on him. He loves nature and usually is one to go on long hikes and goes camping often. On these trips he feels like he has discovered some things that have put him in harm. He goes to Tean with his concerns even if they are a bit scattered. Soon after his claims Benny goes missing.
Benny is how Tean and Jem come to know each other. Jem is searching for his brother and believes Tean is the only one who might be able to help him.
Tean finds Jem extremely attractive and is charmed by the man. Jem isn't completely honest with Tean in the beginning and finds it harder to untangle his lies as they grow closer personally and intimately.
You can not deny that these two have great chemistry. I love how they bicker. I love the crazy facts Tean throws out only for Jem to set back and agree with him only to throw out his own crazy (probably incorrect) facts as well which only throws Tean off. I just loved them.
Ammon... I have never wanted to throat punch a character more in my life. I absolutely hate him.
The mystery was solid and one I thoroughly enjoyed. I have never read a murder mystery like it which is fitting that is came from Ashe. I was so sure I knew who it was just to be wrong, lol. There are many player's and a lot of different scenarios of what could possibly be going on and what might have happened to poor Benny. There was some really heart wrenching scenes and a couple I teared up on. All I can say is I can't wait to read the next book to see where these men go from where it ended.
Pick this one up!
Happy reading dolls! xx
I was given an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Another great book and start to a new series!
The thing I love most about GA's books are that they are character driven. He comes up with the most interesting characters that I can't help but want to know more about. Another thing he does is build their characters up with each book. He never gives you everything about them in the first book. It is like you are getting to know them as they are getting to know each other. It's a slow burn every time. I didn't know I would enjoy a story written that way until I read his books. He's yet to write a book that I haven't loved. His characters are becoming some of my favorite MM couples.
In this book we meet Teancum Leon, who is a wildlife veterinarian. He loves his job. Has a lab name, Scipio. He's not great with people and loves to spout off random facts that lean more on the fatalistic aspect in life. He's adorably awkward which automatically had me loving him.
We also meet Jem Berger who is a very charming conman. It helps that he's handsome as well. He's also a good guy underneath all the lies and deceit. A guy who went through some very disturbing things in his youth. All he has in the world is his cons and his foster brother Benny who he does his best to take care of.
Benny isn't well. He has been diagnosed with Schizophrenia and decided to stop taking his meds. He's become paranoid that someone is out to get him. That death is closing in on him. He loves nature and usually is one to go on long hikes and goes camping often. On these trips he feels like he has discovered some things that have put him in harm. He goes to Tean with his concerns even if they are a bit scattered. Soon after his claims Benny goes missing.
Benny is how Tean and Jem come to know each other. Jem is searching for his brother and believes Tean is the only one who might be able to help him.
Tean finds Jem extremely attractive and is charmed by the man. Jem isn't completely honest with Tean in the beginning and finds it harder to untangle his lies as they grow closer personally and intimately.
You can not deny that these two have great chemistry. I love how they bicker. I love the crazy facts Tean throws out only for Jem to set back and agree with him only to throw out his own crazy (probably incorrect) facts as well which only throws Tean off. I just loved them.
Ammon... I have never wanted to throat punch a character more in my life. I absolutely hate him.
The mystery was solid and one I thoroughly enjoyed. I have never read a murder mystery like it which is fitting that is came from Ashe. I was so sure I knew who it was just to be wrong, lol. There are many player's and a lot of different scenarios of what could possibly be going on and what might have happened to poor Benny. There was some really heart wrenching scenes and a couple I teared up on. All I can say is I can't wait to read the next book to see where these men go from where it ended.
Pick this one up!
Happy reading dolls! xx
I was given an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
May 16, 2021
Audio - 5 + Stars. For me, JF Harding can do no wrong. His voice is just....EVERTHING.
Story - 3 Stars
Story - 3 Stars
March 31, 2021
Audio reread/listen March 2021
Even though I just read it two months ago, I loved it just as much if not more this time around. And I am ecstatic that I'm getting the amazing J.F Harding's narration of who are absolutely going to end up being two of my very favorite men from Gregory Ashe. I genuinely loved listening, and J.F. Harding's voices for Tean and Jem *and Ammon 😡* are so on point. One thing I liked from the audio as opposed to the print version was getting to hear the calm, quiet strength and confidence in dangerous situations from an otherwise very awkward and unsure Tean come though so clearly, as well as Jem's obvious affection for Tean's lovable weirdness. Loved it, loved it, loved it! 🥰 So much. I'll definitely be listening to this again.
And now the inevitable question *as soon as I turned it off*, where's the next one?? *GIMME*
Disclaimer: A copy of the audiobook was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
First read - January 2021
4. 5 stars. Dammit. 🤦🏼♀️ Ashe is going to do it to me again, isn't he? He almost had me fooled, with all the humor and the sweet, emotional moments with Jem & Tean. And then the inevitable *for GA* hammer fell. *sigh*
Gregory Ashe is unparalleled at writing complex, difficult characters that work their way under your skin in spite of themselves. They're sometimes problematic, and make terrible, questionable decisions and do things that make you want to actually smack them silly. But yet he manages to show you the heart of them, and that's where he hooks you.
In addition, the mysteries he wraps his characters in are almost mesmerizing. Once I start one of his stories, I find it hard to look away and pay attention to anything else. His excellent writing and pacing pull you along until the very end.
I completely loved Tean & Jem, who are a bit unusual *or at least I think so* as MCs from Ashe. What isn't unusual is that they both have things in their lives that they suffer with, that they each cope with in much different ways. I loved how, as they peel each others layers back, they grow closer almost despite themselves. It still doesn't stop them from hurting each other, however unintentional *or not* it may be.
The ending isn't a cliffhanger at all but there is much left unresolved for both men, so of course, what can I do but go right to the next one? ❤️
Even though I just read it two months ago, I loved it just as much if not more this time around. And I am ecstatic that I'm getting the amazing J.F Harding's narration of who are absolutely going to end up being two of my very favorite men from Gregory Ashe. I genuinely loved listening, and J.F. Harding's voices for Tean and Jem *and Ammon 😡* are so on point. One thing I liked from the audio as opposed to the print version was getting to hear the calm, quiet strength and confidence in dangerous situations from an otherwise very awkward and unsure Tean come though so clearly, as well as Jem's obvious affection for Tean's lovable weirdness. Loved it, loved it, loved it! 🥰 So much. I'll definitely be listening to this again.
And now the inevitable question *as soon as I turned it off*, where's the next one?? *GIMME*
Disclaimer: A copy of the audiobook was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
First read - January 2021
4. 5 stars. Dammit. 🤦🏼♀️ Ashe is going to do it to me again, isn't he? He almost had me fooled, with all the humor and the sweet, emotional moments with Jem & Tean. And then the inevitable *for GA* hammer fell. *sigh*
Gregory Ashe is unparalleled at writing complex, difficult characters that work their way under your skin in spite of themselves. They're sometimes problematic, and make terrible, questionable decisions and do things that make you want to actually smack them silly. But yet he manages to show you the heart of them, and that's where he hooks you.
In addition, the mysteries he wraps his characters in are almost mesmerizing. Once I start one of his stories, I find it hard to look away and pay attention to anything else. His excellent writing and pacing pull you along until the very end.
I completely loved Tean & Jem, who are a bit unusual *or at least I think so* as MCs from Ashe. What isn't unusual is that they both have things in their lives that they suffer with, that they each cope with in much different ways. I loved how, as they peel each others layers back, they grow closer almost despite themselves. It still doesn't stop them from hurting each other, however unintentional *or not* it may be.
The ending isn't a cliffhanger at all but there is much left unresolved for both men, so of course, what can I do but go right to the next one? ❤️
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July 29, 2022
4.5 stars ☆
"I know, I know," Jem said. "I'm staying. Can you at least put the window down?"
"You're not a dog. I'll leave the truck running."
"You're a sweetheart."
Tean rolled his eyes.
"You're a prince," Jem said.
Tean threw open the door.
"You're the greatest, kindest human being in existence, and you deserve a mug that says that."
"Get it all out of your system while I'm gone, please."
~ their banters >>>
✧ the mcs, Jem and Tean, have my heart!! i loved how complex yet intriguing they were individually and, although they were complete opposites, they just... fit well together imo. their deep conversations are some of my favorite scenes (Tean's mindset was so relatable for me personally bc i tend to think deeply about the world and life the way he does). i loved it whenever Tean would ramble about random facts and Jem just gets him and would give it back with unofficial facts. it was so cute. <3
✧ as much as i loved them (and completely rooting for their hea), that's not to say i wasn't frustrated during certain moments. taking a step back and looking at the overall picture, i understand why some things happened how they did, but my petty ass can't leave it alone (*cough* 😩)
✧ some parts of the mystery had me invested, even though i had my own theory on the who and figured it out a bit early on.
✧ Jem and Tean's first intimate scene was beautiful. surprisingly, although this is only the first book, it didn't feel rushed to me. i think, bc of what these two went through, what they're still going through, the build up to that scene and how it happened was executed well. regardless, i'm excited to see more development happening between them in the later books.
✧ Hannah is my fav side character so far. i loved how supportive she was when it comes to Tean and ready to fight anyone who'll hurt him. 😌
✧ there was an intense scene when .
✧ the way Tean only thinks of negative, depressing thoughts about himself AND YET here comes Jem always reassuring Tean and trying to convince him to list just the positive things about himself was so comforting. 🥺
✧ me @ Ammon:
"I know, I know," Jem said. "I'm staying. Can you at least put the window down?"
"You're not a dog. I'll leave the truck running."
"You're a sweetheart."
Tean rolled his eyes.
"You're a prince," Jem said.
Tean threw open the door.
"You're the greatest, kindest human being in existence, and you deserve a mug that says that."
"Get it all out of your system while I'm gone, please."
~ their banters >>>
✧ the mcs, Jem and Tean, have my heart!! i loved how complex yet intriguing they were individually and, although they were complete opposites, they just... fit well together imo. their deep conversations are some of my favorite scenes (Tean's mindset was so relatable for me personally bc i tend to think deeply about the world and life the way he does). i loved it whenever Tean would ramble about random facts and Jem just gets him and would give it back with unofficial facts. it was so cute. <3
✧ as much as i loved them (and completely rooting for their hea), that's not to say i wasn't frustrated during certain moments. taking a step back and looking at the overall picture, i understand why some things happened how they did, but my petty ass can't leave it alone (*cough* 😩)
✧ some parts of the mystery had me invested, even though i had my own theory on the who and figured it out a bit early on.
✧ Jem and Tean's first intimate scene was beautiful. surprisingly, although this is only the first book, it didn't feel rushed to me. i think, bc of what these two went through, what they're still going through, the build up to that scene and how it happened was executed well. regardless, i'm excited to see more development happening between them in the later books.
✧ Hannah is my fav side character so far. i loved how supportive she was when it comes to Tean and ready to fight anyone who'll hurt him. 😌
✧ there was an intense scene when .
✧ the way Tean only thinks of negative, depressing thoughts about himself AND YET here comes Jem always reassuring Tean and trying to convince him to list just the positive things about himself was so comforting. 🥺
✧ me @ Ammon:
August 16, 2021
Okay ... alright ... deep breaths
Gregory Ashe has ensnared me again with a couple that's so screwed up and human that I couldn't help but love them and I'm happy to make space for them on my bookshelf of "people I'd like to know in RL". That the story was additionally delivered by J.F. Harding's fantastic narration was just tart cherries (my favorite) on bowl of excellent.
THE DETAILS :
Teancum "Tean" Leon is a wildlife veterinarian with Division of Wildlife Resources in Utah. He's in his 30's, tall, rangy, geeky, out of control hair & eyebrows, ugly glasses that are always slipping down his nose. His office decor of demotivational posters & propensity for grim statistics hides an empathetic heart. He's no pushover but his heart is open and caring. That heart leads him to entertain the concerns of one Benny Guthall, a schizophrenic with more than a passing interest in mining and its effects on the local wildlife. When Benny disappears his brother Jem becomes a part of Tean's world.
Jeremiah "Jem" Berger grew up in infelicitous circumstances which directly or indirectly led to his current life as chancer or con artist. His only true human connection is Benny, his foster brother, and when Benny disappears the wheels come off Jem's controlled facade and he needs help. Tean is that help.
This story/couple grabbed me in the same way the author's Hazard & Somerset series did. The characters are not similar in any way to those two but the emotion that's always simmering right below the surface is palpable. In classic GA style the action of the book happens in a compressed amount of time and it's but a sip or a scratching of the surface of two complex characters.
Tean has a relationship of sorts with a boyhood friend, Ammon, which the reader will be quick to judge and, rightly, brand Ammon as a grade A+ a**hole. I wouldn't disagree but ... I'd also say that the author's choice of Ecclesiastes 3:19 as an epigram wasn't random. People, grown ups, have lives that don't conform to textbook prescriptions of what should be, even when they know better. Our lives are made up of our material selves but more so of our immaterial selves which are composed of murky waters, difficult to sieve through, and averse to light. That was heavy.
Ignoring my previous blather you can and should enjoy this as a well written suspense/murder story full of interesting characters and with two leads that will keep you engaged and curious. Those here for the romance (me) will get a taste of what can be between these two, see how they fit together like pieces of a puzzle that's a jumble to the naked eye. This installment however ends in a HFN (describing it even like that is generous) but for the sake of authenticity, which is what the author has gone for, it couldn't have been anything more than that. Luckily the next two books are already published and I'm here for them.
I'm endlessly curious about Tean, I got the impression he might have some Latino heritage? and going by some interactions, how he reacts or feels about himself in certain situations maybe he's on the spectrum? As for Jem I know we've only had a glimpse at what he's keeping bottled up, what his life has been, and that promises to be an interesting journey.
Be ready for moments of heartbreaking tenderness and brutal honesty between two people who, though yet unbeknownst to themselves, love each other, and can deliver a (figurative) killing blow or a much needed safe harbor. Here's to more Jem & Tean ❤️❤️
Gregory Ashe has ensnared me again with a couple that's so screwed up and human that I couldn't help but love them and I'm happy to make space for them on my bookshelf of "people I'd like to know in RL". That the story was additionally delivered by J.F. Harding's fantastic narration was just tart cherries (my favorite) on bowl of excellent.
THE DETAILS :
Teancum "Tean" Leon is a wildlife veterinarian with Division of Wildlife Resources in Utah. He's in his 30's, tall, rangy, geeky, out of control hair & eyebrows, ugly glasses that are always slipping down his nose. His office decor of demotivational posters & propensity for grim statistics hides an empathetic heart. He's no pushover but his heart is open and caring. That heart leads him to entertain the concerns of one Benny Guthall, a schizophrenic with more than a passing interest in mining and its effects on the local wildlife. When Benny disappears his brother Jem becomes a part of Tean's world.
Jeremiah "Jem" Berger grew up in infelicitous circumstances which directly or indirectly led to his current life as chancer or con artist. His only true human connection is Benny, his foster brother, and when Benny disappears the wheels come off Jem's controlled facade and he needs help. Tean is that help.
This story/couple grabbed me in the same way the author's Hazard & Somerset series did. The characters are not similar in any way to those two but the emotion that's always simmering right below the surface is palpable. In classic GA style the action of the book happens in a compressed amount of time and it's but a sip or a scratching of the surface of two complex characters.
Tean has a relationship of sorts with a boyhood friend, Ammon, which the reader will be quick to judge and, rightly, brand Ammon as a grade A+ a**hole. I wouldn't disagree but ... I'd also say that the author's choice of Ecclesiastes 3:19 as an epigram wasn't random. People, grown ups, have lives that don't conform to textbook prescriptions of what should be, even when they know better. Our lives are made up of our material selves but more so of our immaterial selves which are composed of murky waters, difficult to sieve through, and averse to light. That was heavy.
Ignoring my previous blather you can and should enjoy this as a well written suspense/murder story full of interesting characters and with two leads that will keep you engaged and curious. Those here for the romance (me) will get a taste of what can be between these two, see how they fit together like pieces of a puzzle that's a jumble to the naked eye. This installment however ends in a HFN (describing it even like that is generous) but for the sake of authenticity, which is what the author has gone for, it couldn't have been anything more than that. Luckily the next two books are already published and I'm here for them.
I'm endlessly curious about Tean, I got the impression he might have some Latino heritage? and going by some interactions, how he reacts or feels about himself in certain situations maybe he's on the spectrum? As for Jem I know we've only had a glimpse at what he's keeping bottled up, what his life has been, and that promises to be an interesting journey.
Be ready for moments of heartbreaking tenderness and brutal honesty between two people who, though yet unbeknownst to themselves, love each other, and can deliver a (figurative) killing blow or a much needed safe harbor. Here's to more Jem & Tean ❤️❤️
October 3, 2025
On October 4, GA’s Kickstarter for Jem & Tean’s second arc “The Lamb and the Lion: Wolves Among Us” goes live! I’m buzzing to see my babies again 🥺
Get ready to back the campaign (newsletter subscribers, make sure to use the link in the email 😉): https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...
—————
😭😭😭
i was hovering around a groovy 4* after my first readthrough, but coming back for a second round, i have to bump it up to 5*. Gregory Ashe's style of writing has officially ruined me for other books, and i have no choice but to reflect that in my ratings (plus equipped with more knowledge of these characters, i'm noticing several details i missed or overlooked and it's goosebump-raising goodness 😩). i will agree it has its long-winded moments, especially at the start, but the right narrator can work wonders in that respect.
GA's setting descriptions also tend to lean on the verbose side, but at this point i'm too busy in awe at how he's able to insert more personality into the Utah setting than i have cultivated in my body after 20+ years 🤡 his sense of place is marveling and teleports you straight in with ease.
what immediately stood out to me were the unconventional mcs: a wildlife vet and a conman. you would never expect them to cross paths, but GA makes it happen, weaving a case that allows for the use of their individual skillsets to deliver a fun spin on some good ol' investigation.
- Tean: late 30s, wildlife vet, can't cook to save his life, grew up in a Mormon family but has since separated from his faith, has a penchant for catastrophizing and going on off-the-cuff spirals into morbid statistics, owner of a beautiful black lab Scipio, in a "relationship" with Ammon aka his closeted Mormon friend from his younger years and his first love
- Jem: late 20s, con artist with a history chock-full of trauma stemming from all kinds of abuse; bounced between foster homes and had a stint in juvie; searching for his missing foster brother, Benny
full disclosure, i have always identified as agnostic and have never read the Bible or other religious scriptures. i can guarantee the handful of references made in the book passed over my head, and i can no way understand the depth of Tean's floundering after losing his place in the world upon disconnecting from a religion instilled in him from birth. i can only imagine how unmoored he feels with no one to turn to. the author himself was raised Mormon (luckily with a much more positive experience according to his fb live), and i could feel the topic was approached from a more nuanced angle based on my limited experience with other similarly themed books, but the religious musings were never overwhelming. the existential crises i've fallen into though....now that's a whole different story 🤕
as you can guess, there is much angst to be had, but he employs his iconic top-tier banter with an added sprinkle of doom and gloom courtesy of Tean's vast collection of sad animal facts and more 😊👍🏼 quite relatable as i, too, take a kind of pleasure in devising ways how i could possibly meet my demise. take the other day for example: i accidentally swallowed a fish bone and proclaimed to everyone at the table that i was bound to be in the <1% of cases where it gets lodged in the intestines and causes an intra-abdominal abscess to develop that soon ruptures, and before i know it, i'm falling into septic shock with multi-organ failure 🥰
>> my brain 🤝 Tean's brain
the way Jem instantly embraced this side of Tean, chiming in with the occasional fake bleak fact of his own, was absolutely charming 🥺
Ammon. from the get-go i was ready to thanos snap him off the face of the earth, but i grudgingly admit he has his place in representing Tean's past and shaping his current mindset. GA has a track record for saving a long-running spot for abusive side characters, so i don't foresee him disappearing anytime soon 💀
married and with however many children, Ammon is outright abusive and manipulative, easily losing his temper but quick to apologize, keeping Tean on a leash with wishful promises, only to call upon his repertoire of excuses to create a convenient escape. but when sex requires being three sheets to the wind, i can only assume Tean is just going through the motions as a sex toy stand-in. sure gets treated as one 🤬 his rose-colored view of their amorous encounters has long fell away, but i think some part of him is still clinging onto the past before those he thought he could trust betrayed him, and Ammon knows which vulnerabilities to press to exploit that. i've said it in my Tough Guy review and i'll say it again: there's almost a twisted comfort in going through the motions and avoiding change, because it's familiar, and you can trick yourself into having an illusory purpose.
⚠️ big spoilers from here on out ⚠️
.
.
.
.
third act shenanigans. since they're technically not together yet, it's not a breakup, per se, but yeah, they "broke up" at least when the truth came out. but the absurd "make up" scene where they’re screaming across the playground was everything and more and so preciously them 🥺🤲🏼 i honestly could understand Tean's initial reaction, as harsh as it was. Jem was the first person in so long to threaten the walls Tean spent years building around his life that the blow of believing none of what they shared was real must've been devastating in the heat of the moment.
Tean goes on about the meaninglessness of life but he also says, "...I think there's something bigger than me. Something transcendent. I want to find it," and he must've felt a spark of hope, a glimpse of that something in Jem before it all crumbled down when he scribbled the line "I needed to trust you" to prove that Jem couldn't read (which, by the way, the subtle hints until that explosive moment? you're a sly boy, Greg 😏). Jem is the Opportunity (Mars rover metaphor ftw) for Tean to discover more to life than our ever-approaching end.
rover buddies forever and ever and ever 😭💖
additional note: i am still distraught over the fact that Tean never knew how much prep Jem excitedly put into their date, then to have Jem be the one to show up at Tean's doorstep for date take 2 🙃 looking at it from Tean's shoes, i'm sure he fully convinced himself he didn't deserve another chance, and since he blew it once, that's that. but i wanna see him grovel as soon as he realizes his self-worth!
Get ready to back the campaign (newsletter subscribers, make sure to use the link in the email 😉): https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...
—————
"I'm the whale," Tean said, but he subsided again as Jem played with his hair. "He sings at fifty-two hertz. Every other whale in the whole world sings at somewhere between fifteen and twenty-five hertz."
"Uh huh."
"He's going to be alone forever because nobody can hear him sing," Tean said, starting to cry again. "And it's not his fault."
😭😭😭
i was hovering around a groovy 4* after my first readthrough, but coming back for a second round, i have to bump it up to 5*. Gregory Ashe's style of writing has officially ruined me for other books, and i have no choice but to reflect that in my ratings (plus equipped with more knowledge of these characters, i'm noticing several details i missed or overlooked and it's goosebump-raising goodness 😩). i will agree it has its long-winded moments, especially at the start, but the right narrator can work wonders in that respect.
GA's setting descriptions also tend to lean on the verbose side, but at this point i'm too busy in awe at how he's able to insert more personality into the Utah setting than i have cultivated in my body after 20+ years 🤡 his sense of place is marveling and teleports you straight in with ease.
what immediately stood out to me were the unconventional mcs: a wildlife vet and a conman. you would never expect them to cross paths, but GA makes it happen, weaving a case that allows for the use of their individual skillsets to deliver a fun spin on some good ol' investigation.
- Tean: late 30s, wildlife vet, can't cook to save his life, grew up in a Mormon family but has since separated from his faith, has a penchant for catastrophizing and going on off-the-cuff spirals into morbid statistics, owner of a beautiful black lab Scipio, in a "relationship" with Ammon aka his closeted Mormon friend from his younger years and his first love
- Jem: late 20s, con artist with a history chock-full of trauma stemming from all kinds of abuse; bounced between foster homes and had a stint in juvie; searching for his missing foster brother, Benny
full disclosure, i have always identified as agnostic and have never read the Bible or other religious scriptures. i can guarantee the handful of references made in the book passed over my head, and i can no way understand the depth of Tean's floundering after losing his place in the world upon disconnecting from a religion instilled in him from birth. i can only imagine how unmoored he feels with no one to turn to. the author himself was raised Mormon (luckily with a much more positive experience according to his fb live), and i could feel the topic was approached from a more nuanced angle based on my limited experience with other similarly themed books, but the religious musings were never overwhelming. the existential crises i've fallen into though....now that's a whole different story 🤕
as you can guess, there is much angst to be had, but he employs his iconic top-tier banter with an added sprinkle of doom and gloom courtesy of Tean's vast collection of sad animal facts and more 😊👍🏼 quite relatable as i, too, take a kind of pleasure in devising ways how i could possibly meet my demise. take the other day for example: i accidentally swallowed a fish bone and proclaimed to everyone at the table that i was bound to be in the <1% of cases where it gets lodged in the intestines and causes an intra-abdominal abscess to develop that soon ruptures, and before i know it, i'm falling into septic shock with multi-organ failure 🥰
>> my brain 🤝 Tean's brain
the way Jem instantly embraced this side of Tean, chiming in with the occasional fake bleak fact of his own, was absolutely charming 🥺
Ammon. from the get-go i was ready to thanos snap him off the face of the earth, but i grudgingly admit he has his place in representing Tean's past and shaping his current mindset. GA has a track record for saving a long-running spot for abusive side characters, so i don't foresee him disappearing anytime soon 💀
married and with however many children, Ammon is outright abusive and manipulative, easily losing his temper but quick to apologize, keeping Tean on a leash with wishful promises, only to call upon his repertoire of excuses to create a convenient escape. but when sex requires being three sheets to the wind, i can only assume Tean is just going through the motions as a sex toy stand-in. sure gets treated as one 🤬 his rose-colored view of their amorous encounters has long fell away, but i think some part of him is still clinging onto the past before those he thought he could trust betrayed him, and Ammon knows which vulnerabilities to press to exploit that. i've said it in my Tough Guy review and i'll say it again: there's almost a twisted comfort in going through the motions and avoiding change, because it's familiar, and you can trick yourself into having an illusory purpose.
⚠️ big spoilers from here on out ⚠️
.
.
.
.
third act shenanigans. since they're technically not together yet, it's not a breakup, per se, but yeah, they "broke up" at least when the truth came out. but the absurd "make up" scene where they’re screaming across the playground was everything and more and so preciously them 🥺🤲🏼 i honestly could understand Tean's initial reaction, as harsh as it was. Jem was the first person in so long to threaten the walls Tean spent years building around his life that the blow of believing none of what they shared was real must've been devastating in the heat of the moment.
Tean goes on about the meaninglessness of life but he also says, "...I think there's something bigger than me. Something transcendent. I want to find it," and he must've felt a spark of hope, a glimpse of that something in Jem before it all crumbled down when he scribbled the line "I needed to trust you" to prove that Jem couldn't read (which, by the way, the subtle hints until that explosive moment? you're a sly boy, Greg 😏). Jem is the Opportunity (Mars rover metaphor ftw) for Tean to discover more to life than our ever-approaching end.
"Beep-beep-boop?" Jem said, the inflection at the end a question.
With a wet laugh, Tean shook his head.
"That's me as a rover," Jem said. "And I'm all the way on this side of Mars, and you're all the way on the other side, and I'm just checking in, you know? Beep-beep-boop?"
Tean struggled free and wiped his face. "Boop," he finally said.
Jem put an arm around him, and that was better than the blanket. "It's going to get better."
rover buddies forever and ever and ever 😭💖
additional note: i am still distraught over the fact that Tean never knew how much prep Jem excitedly put into their date, then to have Jem be the one to show up at Tean's doorstep for date take 2 🙃 looking at it from Tean's shoes, i'm sure he fully convinced himself he didn't deserve another chance, and since he blew it once, that's that. but i wanna see him grovel as soon as he realizes his self-worth!
Read
November 17, 2021I have reached the conviction that Gregory Ashe is probably not for me.
*gets blocked by several GR friends*
I've been making myself read his series because I feel like I SHOULD like them...but I don't.
You know how sometimes you mesh with an author and you like all of their work when other readers don't like them at all... or the opposite?
I think this is what GA is for me. I just don't mesh with his style of story telling, as great as it is.
You see I can absolutely say that he's an amazing writer, with great plots and plot and character development. He has immense skill in weaving a story overall.
But..
But..... the lack of romance in his books is what's turning me of.
I know that they get together eventually, and I know that they reach the point where they love each other and all that jazz... but the road to get there is, for me, too long.
That and the fact that one MC in his books always seems to be loving/having sex with another person other than the second MC.
My monogamous and romantic heart kind of hates that.
So... I'm throwing in the towel for now.
No rating because these are my OWN hang-ups and absolutely DO NOT reflect the author's skills.
*gets blocked by several GR friends*
I've been making myself read his series because I feel like I SHOULD like them...but I don't.
You know how sometimes you mesh with an author and you like all of their work when other readers don't like them at all... or the opposite?
I think this is what GA is for me. I just don't mesh with his style of story telling, as great as it is.
You see I can absolutely say that he's an amazing writer, with great plots and plot and character development. He has immense skill in weaving a story overall.
But..
But..... the lack of romance in his books is what's turning me of.
I know that they get together eventually, and I know that they reach the point where they love each other and all that jazz... but the road to get there is, for me, too long.
That and the fact that one MC in his books always seems to be loving/having sex with another person other than the second MC.
My monogamous and romantic heart kind of hates that.
So... I'm throwing in the towel for now.
No rating because these are my OWN hang-ups and absolutely DO NOT reflect the author's skills.
September 13, 2020
Full disclosure, I've been waiting to read this book since Gregory Ashe was doing the preliminary research. When he told me the concept of the story, I knew this was going to be a brilliant piece of fiction, but after the long wait and finally getting to dig my anxious fingers into the pages—brilliant is an understatement. Every book Ashe writes is consistently better than the last, which I feel is a testament to his dedication of learning and bettering his craft, and truly the end goal of any author is to one-up themselves time and again, but this book sits alone from all the others of his I've devoured.
The story centers around two men, Tean Leon and Jem Berger. Tean is a wildlife veterinarian with the Division of Wildlife Resources in Utah. He loves his job, he's smart, he's awkwardly adorable, he's a wealth of knowledge when it comes to statistics only the more cynical in life care to know about, (bear attacks, likelihood of contracting hepatitis, etc.) but more to the point—he is a lonely man searching for some sort of meaning on this hunk of rock hurtling through space. And that meaning falls into his lap in the form of Jem, a local conman with quick wit, charm, a lie for every situation, and a problem. A serious problem. His brother has gone missing, and despite the lack of crossover in their lives—it turns out that Tean might be the only man on God's green earth who can help Jem.
What develops is truly an astonishing feat of storytelling. The mystery is so carefully interwoven with the introduction of these characters that the reader doesn't even realize they've stumbled into danger and are in over their heads until both Tean and Jem realize the same thing. And by then, it's too late. You've committed. There's no stopping this train. The subject matter is akin to the Hazard and Somerset Mysteries—murder, cover-ups, betrayal, abuse, and a desperation to be seen and loved merely as one is—but the delivery of this story is entirely something else. A unique gem within the gay mystery genre. Something so subtle, so quiet, and so gentle in its delivery, with profoundly gripping and emotional moments so raw you don't even realize you've been cut open until you're already bleeding. But unlike Hazard and Somerset, where I jokingly remind Ashe that I am no longer the same human I once was because of those books, Tean and Jem promise that despite the chaos and shame and hurt, there is something greater, something profound, something hopeful and loving just beyond the horizon, and there is an incredible sense of healing as we adventure alongside these two unlikely heroes.
From a mystery standpoint, the story is extremely tight and well written, and successfully utilizes two amateur sleuth archetypes in a wholly satisfying and believable way. The clues were fantastic, the red herrings perfect, and the conclusion somehow straddles both epic and understated. The romance was beautiful, chaotic, and the promise of something incredible to come. From just the standpoint of a writer though, Ashe has written some brilliant dialogue, chapter transitions to be envious of, and manages to carefully place a single paragraph at the midpoint that made my breath catch and realize I'd just stumbled across the soul of the entire book. This is something I will return to over and over, and I am grateful that Ashe shares his writing with us.
I recommend this book with all my heart.
The story centers around two men, Tean Leon and Jem Berger. Tean is a wildlife veterinarian with the Division of Wildlife Resources in Utah. He loves his job, he's smart, he's awkwardly adorable, he's a wealth of knowledge when it comes to statistics only the more cynical in life care to know about, (bear attacks, likelihood of contracting hepatitis, etc.) but more to the point—he is a lonely man searching for some sort of meaning on this hunk of rock hurtling through space. And that meaning falls into his lap in the form of Jem, a local conman with quick wit, charm, a lie for every situation, and a problem. A serious problem. His brother has gone missing, and despite the lack of crossover in their lives—it turns out that Tean might be the only man on God's green earth who can help Jem.
What develops is truly an astonishing feat of storytelling. The mystery is so carefully interwoven with the introduction of these characters that the reader doesn't even realize they've stumbled into danger and are in over their heads until both Tean and Jem realize the same thing. And by then, it's too late. You've committed. There's no stopping this train. The subject matter is akin to the Hazard and Somerset Mysteries—murder, cover-ups, betrayal, abuse, and a desperation to be seen and loved merely as one is—but the delivery of this story is entirely something else. A unique gem within the gay mystery genre. Something so subtle, so quiet, and so gentle in its delivery, with profoundly gripping and emotional moments so raw you don't even realize you've been cut open until you're already bleeding. But unlike Hazard and Somerset, where I jokingly remind Ashe that I am no longer the same human I once was because of those books, Tean and Jem promise that despite the chaos and shame and hurt, there is something greater, something profound, something hopeful and loving just beyond the horizon, and there is an incredible sense of healing as we adventure alongside these two unlikely heroes.
From a mystery standpoint, the story is extremely tight and well written, and successfully utilizes two amateur sleuth archetypes in a wholly satisfying and believable way. The clues were fantastic, the red herrings perfect, and the conclusion somehow straddles both epic and understated. The romance was beautiful, chaotic, and the promise of something incredible to come. From just the standpoint of a writer though, Ashe has written some brilliant dialogue, chapter transitions to be envious of, and manages to carefully place a single paragraph at the midpoint that made my breath catch and realize I'd just stumbled across the soul of the entire book. This is something I will return to over and over, and I am grateful that Ashe shares his writing with us.
I recommend this book with all my heart.
October 7, 2020
This new series by Gregory Ashe kicks off to a very promising start.
1. LOVED the originality of the characters – a wildlife vet and a conman.
2. LOVED the interesting setting at Salt Lake City. I googled lots of the places mentioned!
3. LOVED the case! It is intricate, complicated and very well thought out.
4. LOVED the writing as always, for ex. when Gregory Ashe describes nature or gives us insights into Tean's work, and while the humour is spot on, the deep and tender moments are touching and honest.
Most of all I adored Tean and Jem, though. I might not love them as much as Hazard and Somers or North and Shaw at the moment, but this is early days! I’ve just met these guys, and what I’ve seen really makes me root for them.
Tean’s adorable habit of citing depressing statistics is one of the funniest things I’ve come across. Even better when Jem picks him up on it and makes up the weirdest statistics to counter Tean’s. There are lots of chuckle-worthy moments here! As is Tean’s full name ‘Teancum’. I’m told it’s a Mormon name, but gosh, 🤣 Mr.Ashe must have rubbed his hands in glee when he found it!
This being a first book and all (I have no idea how many books the series is going to have), the romance takes a little bit of a backseat. However, there’s great chemistry between these guys, and their attraction to each other leads to some sex, but it’s not at the centre of the story.
That doesn't mean there aren't any feelings involved here. Quite the contrary. Both men have soul-deep issues (particularly Tean!) that keep them from falling into a relationship neither is ready for. Attraction develops into like and friendship, with more serious feelings simmering deep down to hopefully blossom in book 2!
I have to throw in here, that I pretty much despaired at what’s going on between Tean and Ammon.
So, there is a lot of stuff for Tean and Jem to sort out, and I can’t wait to be part of that!
1. LOVED the originality of the characters – a wildlife vet and a conman.
2. LOVED the interesting setting at Salt Lake City. I googled lots of the places mentioned!
3. LOVED the case! It is intricate, complicated and very well thought out.
4. LOVED the writing as always, for ex. when Gregory Ashe describes nature or gives us insights into Tean's work, and while the humour is spot on, the deep and tender moments are touching and honest.
Most of all I adored Tean and Jem, though. I might not love them as much as Hazard and Somers or North and Shaw at the moment, but this is early days! I’ve just met these guys, and what I’ve seen really makes me root for them.
Tean’s adorable habit of citing depressing statistics is one of the funniest things I’ve come across. Even better when Jem picks him up on it and makes up the weirdest statistics to counter Tean’s. There are lots of chuckle-worthy moments here! As is Tean’s full name ‘Teancum’. I’m told it’s a Mormon name, but gosh, 🤣 Mr.Ashe must have rubbed his hands in glee when he found it!
This being a first book and all (I have no idea how many books the series is going to have), the romance takes a little bit of a backseat. However, there’s great chemistry between these guys, and their attraction to each other leads to some sex, but it’s not at the centre of the story.
That doesn't mean there aren't any feelings involved here. Quite the contrary. Both men have soul-deep issues (particularly Tean!) that keep them from falling into a relationship neither is ready for. Attraction develops into like and friendship, with more serious feelings simmering deep down to hopefully blossom in book 2!
I have to throw in here, that I pretty much despaired at what’s going on between Tean and Ammon.
So, there is a lot of stuff for Tean and Jem to sort out, and I can’t wait to be part of that!
December 14, 2024
Another Gregory Ashe book, another punch in the gut 😭 Uggggh this man knows how to write a book that leaves a bruise. I'm slowly making my way through the Hazardverse, and while nothing so far has cut quite as deeply as the first H&S series, I'm finding each addition to the universe hurts in a new and different way 💔
Seriously, how is Ashe able to come up with so many ways to make things hurt??? It's impressive really. There's honestly no way it should hurt so much to find out Gregory Ashe might as well have come to my house and bludgeoned me with a baseball bat for how badly it hurt when
I'm never the same after one of Ashe's books. His characters brand themselves on my heart, and although my memory of specific events fades as time passes, I'm never able to truly forget the characters or how they made me feel. Talk about the mark of a good author. For me, there are some authors that do this from time to time, but Ashe is able to do this ALL the time. He has such a way of writing characters that are deeply flawed in some aspects but so completely relatable in others that you can't help but latch onto them and love them with your whole heart. Tean and Jem are no different.
Tean and Jem are both broken in different ways, but together they help mend each other's broken bits. They truly are the perfect grumpy/sunshine duo 🥰 I know there's so much more pain ahead for these two, yet I can't wait to dive in further and destroy my heart. Now, if Ammon would f off sooner rather than later, I would be a happy girl because the rage I feel when he's on the page can't be healthy 🤣
Seriously, how is Ashe able to come up with so many ways to make things hurt??? It's impressive really. There's honestly no way it should hurt so much to find out Gregory Ashe might as well have come to my house and bludgeoned me with a baseball bat for how badly it hurt when
I'm never the same after one of Ashe's books. His characters brand themselves on my heart, and although my memory of specific events fades as time passes, I'm never able to truly forget the characters or how they made me feel. Talk about the mark of a good author. For me, there are some authors that do this from time to time, but Ashe is able to do this ALL the time. He has such a way of writing characters that are deeply flawed in some aspects but so completely relatable in others that you can't help but latch onto them and love them with your whole heart. Tean and Jem are no different.
Tean and Jem are both broken in different ways, but together they help mend each other's broken bits. They truly are the perfect grumpy/sunshine duo 🥰 I know there's so much more pain ahead for these two, yet I can't wait to dive in further and destroy my heart. Now, if Ammon would f off sooner rather than later, I would be a happy girl because the rage I feel when he's on the page can't be healthy 🤣
February 26, 2021
Wow!
Simply, wow!
I live for these guys!
These two characters are so very different from each other: one a wildlife vet, the other a grifter.
What they have in common is trying to find a missing man: a friend to one, a brother to the other.
The mystery of missing Benny leads them into dangerous territory. As much as this aspect of the story hooked me, what really drew me in was how the two men interacted with each other.
They were awkward, funny, real, and shielded. I kept waiting for secrets to drop, for tidbits of truth to come out & it had me on a wonderful edge.
Tean, the vet, made me laugh with his constant grim statistics. Jem, the con man, delighted me with his quick thinking. Both men held pain in their past, and they slowly, so very slowly let it out.
The two do solve the mystery. The two do get together. Tean does find out about Jem’s past. Do they get past it? In a way.
Are they still together at the end? As Jem said, like two rovers on the opposite sides of Mars.
Can I wait for the next audiobook? No!! I may have to read the next one straightaway!!
Things to watch out for:
1. Tean’s ex/not ex/but is married/and Mormon. He’s a piece of work.
2. Tean’s inability to say no.
3. Jem’s lies & cons.
4. Trivia.
Great performance by JF Harding, although a few times I had trouble telling Jem and Tean apart.
Simply, wow!
I live for these guys!
These two characters are so very different from each other: one a wildlife vet, the other a grifter.
What they have in common is trying to find a missing man: a friend to one, a brother to the other.
The mystery of missing Benny leads them into dangerous territory. As much as this aspect of the story hooked me, what really drew me in was how the two men interacted with each other.
They were awkward, funny, real, and shielded. I kept waiting for secrets to drop, for tidbits of truth to come out & it had me on a wonderful edge.
Tean, the vet, made me laugh with his constant grim statistics. Jem, the con man, delighted me with his quick thinking. Both men held pain in their past, and they slowly, so very slowly let it out.
The two do solve the mystery. The two do get together. Tean does find out about Jem’s past. Do they get past it? In a way.
Are they still together at the end? As Jem said, like two rovers on the opposite sides of Mars.
Can I wait for the next audiobook? No!! I may have to read the next one straightaway!!
Things to watch out for:
1. Tean’s ex/not ex/but is married/and Mormon. He’s a piece of work.
2. Tean’s inability to say no.
3. Jem’s lies & cons.
4. Trivia.
Great performance by JF Harding, although a few times I had trouble telling Jem and Tean apart.
October 6, 2020
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 Stars
Gregory Ashe is back with a new series and this time it's in Utah. Specifically, Salt Lake City. More specifically-Mormon Country. I had some concerns about this going in which I'll touch on at the end of the review so that you can skip it if you want. But the Mormon religion does play a somewhat large part in this book. Faith, the loss of faith, the way religion clings to you even after you've left it. The way living in such a faith based area, for lack of a better term, affects you. I found it both fascinating and sad.
With Tean and Jem, Ashe has crafted another memorable duo. I can't say they are at Hazard and Somerset or North and Shaw levels for me, at least not yet, but I grew fond of them quickly and they had captured my heart by the end. Wildlife vet Tean is nerdy and repressed, anxious and full of depressing statistics that annoy everyone in his life. Enter Jem, a grifter, who needs Tean's help. He's not being completely honest with Tean. But then, he doesn't expect to be knowing him that long. He doesn't do attachments. Naturally, this doesn't go as planned. For either of them really. The two are soon tangled together, solving an increasingly complex mystery, while dealing with feelings neither of them anticipated. Tean because he already has a romantic entanglement of his own and Jem because of the no attachments rule.
I loved so many things about this. The mystery was well done and the writing was solid. I think Gregory Ashe has come a long way from his early Hazard and Somerset books in regards to plot and editing. Mainly though, I loved Tean and Jem. I loved how nerdy Tean was and how Jem took his depressing statistics in stride. I loved how he told Tean his own statistics that were not at all true but definitely hilarious. The banter and interactions between them made me laugh and swoon. Steam wise, there was more than I expected for the first book in an Ashe series. Most of it was fade to black but the fact that there was any at all was unusual. I guess he wants to keep us on our toes! Still, I classify his books as more gay fiction not romance. So don't be expecting lots of hot and heavy moments. Do be expecting generous sprinklings of tender moments, electricity, pining and sexual tension. He should teach a master class on this. I swear he can do more with a few touches than some authors can do with pages of more explicit material.
There was no cliffhanger ending. But there was also nothing even close to a happily ever after. I won't say more about that but wanted to keep this mostly spoiler free. But I enjoyed this a lot and will be looking forward to book two. 😃
Mormon Thoughts:
I was nervous about this. Of course, like always with his books, I was excited. But I was nervous for the Mormon aspect. I am not Mormon, or even religious at all, but one of my very best friends is. I'm extremely close with her whole family. And I've read too many books that lump all Mormons into one type or group. I don't pretend to fully understand the religion. I also think there are some very troubling aspects of it and quite a few things I do not agree with. But so many books I've read portray it so black and white or fire and brimstone and I think there's a lot more to it than that. And my friend and her family are some of the most loving, kind and accepting people I have known in my lifetime. So I was wary. It turns out, like many of my worries, it was unnecessary. The book addressed many of the issues I have with the religion but with care and without making it a one size fits all kind of thing.
Gregory Ashe is back with a new series and this time it's in Utah. Specifically, Salt Lake City. More specifically-Mormon Country. I had some concerns about this going in which I'll touch on at the end of the review so that you can skip it if you want. But the Mormon religion does play a somewhat large part in this book. Faith, the loss of faith, the way religion clings to you even after you've left it. The way living in such a faith based area, for lack of a better term, affects you. I found it both fascinating and sad.
With Tean and Jem, Ashe has crafted another memorable duo. I can't say they are at Hazard and Somerset or North and Shaw levels for me, at least not yet, but I grew fond of them quickly and they had captured my heart by the end. Wildlife vet Tean is nerdy and repressed, anxious and full of depressing statistics that annoy everyone in his life. Enter Jem, a grifter, who needs Tean's help. He's not being completely honest with Tean. But then, he doesn't expect to be knowing him that long. He doesn't do attachments. Naturally, this doesn't go as planned. For either of them really. The two are soon tangled together, solving an increasingly complex mystery, while dealing with feelings neither of them anticipated. Tean because he already has a romantic entanglement of his own and Jem because of the no attachments rule.
I loved so many things about this. The mystery was well done and the writing was solid. I think Gregory Ashe has come a long way from his early Hazard and Somerset books in regards to plot and editing. Mainly though, I loved Tean and Jem. I loved how nerdy Tean was and how Jem took his depressing statistics in stride. I loved how he told Tean his own statistics that were not at all true but definitely hilarious. The banter and interactions between them made me laugh and swoon. Steam wise, there was more than I expected for the first book in an Ashe series. Most of it was fade to black but the fact that there was any at all was unusual. I guess he wants to keep us on our toes! Still, I classify his books as more gay fiction not romance. So don't be expecting lots of hot and heavy moments. Do be expecting generous sprinklings of tender moments, electricity, pining and sexual tension. He should teach a master class on this. I swear he can do more with a few touches than some authors can do with pages of more explicit material.
There was no cliffhanger ending. But there was also nothing even close to a happily ever after. I won't say more about that but wanted to keep this mostly spoiler free. But I enjoyed this a lot and will be looking forward to book two. 😃
Mormon Thoughts:
I was nervous about this. Of course, like always with his books, I was excited. But I was nervous for the Mormon aspect. I am not Mormon, or even religious at all, but one of my very best friends is. I'm extremely close with her whole family. And I've read too many books that lump all Mormons into one type or group. I don't pretend to fully understand the religion. I also think there are some very troubling aspects of it and quite a few things I do not agree with. But so many books I've read portray it so black and white or fire and brimstone and I think there's a lot more to it than that. And my friend and her family are some of the most loving, kind and accepting people I have known in my lifetime. So I was wary. It turns out, like many of my worries, it was unnecessary. The book addressed many of the issues I have with the religion but with care and without making it a one size fits all kind of thing.
July 13, 2023
3.5 🌠
I want to hate the main characters because they are not perfect (by far), they make bad decisions throughout the book that made me angry, cry and smile. And that's why I liked them. 🖤
Tean, a wildlife vet, and Jem, a thief, are total opposites, they have nothing in common except Benny, Jem's brother. And when he disappears, they both get involved in this search to find him, but everything ends up being more complicated.
*I really like Jem and Tean. I could understand them, although i don't justify their choices, i've been there, making decisions and being misunderstood and judged many times, repeating a cycle that hurts. I was able to relate and see me and many friends in them. And i think GA making you see that? it's great.
*I enjoyed the conversations between Tean and Jem, how they could talk about statistics and things like that was EVERYTHING 😭😭🖤 and FINALLY someone could give Tean the answers he deserves.
"and knowing that nothing means anything, that we’re just trapped on this rock hurtling through a cosmic abyss, and all we do is make more suffering for each other—it’s hard. It’s so hard sometimes I can’t breathe.”
Jem bumped Tean with his hip, sliding against him. When Tean offered a corner of the blanket, Jem re-settled it over both of them and put one arm around Tean’s waist. After a moment, the doc laid his head on Jem’s shoulder; he smelled like sagebrush and pine resin and the night breeze.
“I know a little bit about that,” Jem said. “About feeling like you can’t breathe.”
*The whole mystery thing, it was okay... I really wasn't that interested in that part, and i loveee mysteries and stuff like that. 🤦♀️. I think this was a case where i was more interested in the characters and everything else went in the background.
They have a discussion when they said hard words. I mean. Very hard words. And they hurt. And then the "resolution" of that fight...
Tean: come on babe, you could have put in a little more work to accept that apology.
And then Jem: babe, come here, i want to give you a hug (chapter 41). 😭😭🖤
*As for the other characters, Ammon: I would like to erase your existence from the book. 😎 But i understand why you exist. 🙄
And Hannah is the character who pushes her friend to date other people... And i don't like that. 🙃 But i'm glad you're in Tead's life because he is unique and deserves all the good love.
I finally read GA (after being asked nicely by Rebbeca and Alyssa many times👀) and i liked it and i can't wait to read the next one.
I want to hate the main characters because they are not perfect (by far), they make bad decisions throughout the book that made me angry, cry and smile. And that's why I liked them. 🖤
Tean, a wildlife vet, and Jem, a thief, are total opposites, they have nothing in common except Benny, Jem's brother. And when he disappears, they both get involved in this search to find him, but everything ends up being more complicated.
*I really like Jem and Tean. I could understand them, although i don't justify their choices, i've been there, making decisions and being misunderstood and judged many times, repeating a cycle that hurts. I was able to relate and see me and many friends in them. And i think GA making you see that? it's great.
*I enjoyed the conversations between Tean and Jem, how they could talk about statistics and things like that was EVERYTHING 😭😭🖤 and FINALLY someone could give Tean the answers he deserves.
"and knowing that nothing means anything, that we’re just trapped on this rock hurtling through a cosmic abyss, and all we do is make more suffering for each other—it’s hard. It’s so hard sometimes I can’t breathe.”
Jem bumped Tean with his hip, sliding against him. When Tean offered a corner of the blanket, Jem re-settled it over both of them and put one arm around Tean’s waist. After a moment, the doc laid his head on Jem’s shoulder; he smelled like sagebrush and pine resin and the night breeze.
“I know a little bit about that,” Jem said. “About feeling like you can’t breathe.”
*The whole mystery thing, it was okay... I really wasn't that interested in that part, and i loveee mysteries and stuff like that. 🤦♀️. I think this was a case where i was more interested in the characters and everything else went in the background.
They have a discussion when they said hard words. I mean. Very hard words. And they hurt. And then the "resolution" of that fight...
Tean: come on babe, you could have put in a little more work to accept that apology.
And then Jem: babe, come here, i want to give you a hug (chapter 41). 😭😭🖤
*As for the other characters, Ammon: I would like to erase your existence from the book. 😎 But i understand why you exist. 🙄
And Hannah is the character who pushes her friend to date other people... And i don't like that. 🙃 But i'm glad you're in Tead's life because he is unique and deserves all the good love.
I finally read GA (after being asked nicely by Rebbeca and Alyssa many times👀) and i liked it and i can't wait to read the next one.
May 6, 2025
I have a favourite in this pairing already - it's definitely Jem! Also I'm a little confused on the pronunciation of Tean - in my head I'm saying it Tee-Ann, but I don't know if it's supposed to be Teen?! Mormon names aren't common to me!
Ok, so, honestly I wanted to shake Tean until something in his brain clicked and he saw what was actually happening in his life! I don't really understand what being a Mormon means, I'm an atheist and I'm English and I can't say that being a Mormon is a big thing here? Maybe it is, but my only encounter with Mormon's was when I was a heavily pregnant, unmarried, tattoed and pierced 21 year old and these two American boys had knocked on the door to spread the word or whatever it is that they do and they were scandalised! From reading this, I guess they're quite similar to Amish mentality but not so isolated from communities? Anyway, I think I understood that Tean is who he is because of how his upbringing had shaped him. I didn't like it, but I could understand that his behaviour was coming from that place. What I didn't understand was why Tean seems to think he's not worth more than being a shameful secret. He lives in a way that takes up the absolute least space in the world, and that made me so incredibly sad for him. Is that a Mormon thing, or is that from living as someone's secret? Not sure, but I hope he develops some self-esteem and self-worth as we progress with the series because he deserves it.
Jem I found much more relatable, because although we didn't have the same upbringing, mine was so much closer to his than to Tean's! I just adored the way he took care of Tean from almost as soon as they meet. The way he handles Tean's 'cooking' was so funny, and I loved how he was trying to overhaul Tean's wardrobe and appearance so that he might not just buy twenty khaki shirts because they're on sale in future.
Ammon is just a giant bag of infected dicks that needs burning... How Tean can't see that, or won't admit that to himself, was so incredibly frustrating! Jem might not be perfect, but he's finally totally honest with Tean and it only took him weeks! Ammon has been in Tean's life forever and still can't give him the bare bones truth. I hope his wife finds out and his life blows up in his face - I don't even feel guilty about wanting that!
I really enjoyed the mystery solving too. It was really detailed and layered and I had only slight suspicions which always makes the reading experience more fun.
Keen to see what happens next, but I know there's not going to be smooth sailing for these two because that wouldn't be a Gregory Ashe story!
Ok, so, honestly I wanted to shake Tean until something in his brain clicked and he saw what was actually happening in his life! I don't really understand what being a Mormon means, I'm an atheist and I'm English and I can't say that being a Mormon is a big thing here? Maybe it is, but my only encounter with Mormon's was when I was a heavily pregnant, unmarried, tattoed and pierced 21 year old and these two American boys had knocked on the door to spread the word or whatever it is that they do and they were scandalised! From reading this, I guess they're quite similar to Amish mentality but not so isolated from communities? Anyway, I think I understood that Tean is who he is because of how his upbringing had shaped him. I didn't like it, but I could understand that his behaviour was coming from that place. What I didn't understand was why Tean seems to think he's not worth more than being a shameful secret. He lives in a way that takes up the absolute least space in the world, and that made me so incredibly sad for him. Is that a Mormon thing, or is that from living as someone's secret? Not sure, but I hope he develops some self-esteem and self-worth as we progress with the series because he deserves it.
Jem I found much more relatable, because although we didn't have the same upbringing, mine was so much closer to his than to Tean's! I just adored the way he took care of Tean from almost as soon as they meet. The way he handles Tean's 'cooking' was so funny, and I loved how he was trying to overhaul Tean's wardrobe and appearance so that he might not just buy twenty khaki shirts because they're on sale in future.
Ammon is just a giant bag of infected dicks that needs burning... How Tean can't see that, or won't admit that to himself, was so incredibly frustrating! Jem might not be perfect, but he's finally totally honest with Tean and it only took him weeks! Ammon has been in Tean's life forever and still can't give him the bare bones truth. I hope his wife finds out and his life blows up in his face - I don't even feel guilty about wanting that!
I really enjoyed the mystery solving too. It was really detailed and layered and I had only slight suspicions which always makes the reading experience more fun.
Keen to see what happens next, but I know there's not going to be smooth sailing for these two because that wouldn't be a Gregory Ashe story!
May 21, 2024
Okay. This review is going to have some spoilers in it (not about the mystery) but about the romancey element of the story, so rest assured if the mystery part is what you want not to be spoiled then you are safe.
There’s nothing much to say about the writing craft of this book. Ashe is a good mystery writer, I feel like that for all my suspicions along the way I didn’t guess the end until it all came together. Ashe also writes some very complicated characters that feel very well realised.
I actually really like Jem as a character, fun and flirty with boat loads of trauma is one of my favourite character archetypes.
My biggest frustrations in this whole bloody book come with Tean. My god, it’s rare that I have wanted to throttle a character as much as I did Tean. I was doing fine with him until the third act break up/argument with Jem, when Tean had the audacity to call Jem stupid and throw his illiteracy in his face (considering what he already knew of how traumatic and unstable Jems upbringing was). I just found this incredibly cruel, and I understand it was coming from a place of hurt and betrayal himself, but fuck me. And while there was an apology scene, it was the most underwhelming apology, and mostly focused on Teans feelings of betrayal, I was just left feeling so unsatisfied. As far as I’m concerned there should have been so much groveling! But I’m also realising this is the second time I’ve had this complaint about an Ashe book, so maybe he just doesn’t write good groveling.
All that then coupled with the most frustrating love triangle I have read in a long time. The love triangle was so stupid that I didn’t even realise it was really, seriously on the cards until the end when he was going to go back to his toxic ex. Like I tried to give him a little bit of understanding cause I appreciate that being involved in a toxic relationship for that long has its own challenges, but fuck me, that was some dumb fucking decision making. Ammon will go into the history books as literally the worst. Fuck that guy.
I fucking hate, HATE, love triangles and never met a situation that convinced me that they are worth the paper they’re printed on- unless it becomes one big ol mutual happy three way situation. This book continues to be no exception. I’m not convinced it added anything to this story that wasn’t able to be achieved by him being a toxic ex that was still on the scene.
I am very conflicted about continuing the series, so many GR friends who I trust have rated the following stories highly and I probably will eventually cause I hate leaving things unfinished….. and primarily cause I also read ahead spoilers to see if I would be able to handle it or if I would need to launch myself and my kindle into the sun if I read them.
A few content warnings- Jem cons a man trying to buy CP, mentions of historical SA, mentions of historical abuse and arguably on page SA.
There’s nothing much to say about the writing craft of this book. Ashe is a good mystery writer, I feel like that for all my suspicions along the way I didn’t guess the end until it all came together. Ashe also writes some very complicated characters that feel very well realised.
I actually really like Jem as a character, fun and flirty with boat loads of trauma is one of my favourite character archetypes.
My biggest frustrations in this whole bloody book come with Tean. My god, it’s rare that I have wanted to throttle a character as much as I did Tean. I was doing fine with him until the third act break up/argument with Jem, when Tean had the audacity to call Jem stupid and throw his illiteracy in his face (considering what he already knew of how traumatic and unstable Jems upbringing was). I just found this incredibly cruel, and I understand it was coming from a place of hurt and betrayal himself, but fuck me. And while there was an apology scene, it was the most underwhelming apology, and mostly focused on Teans feelings of betrayal, I was just left feeling so unsatisfied. As far as I’m concerned there should have been so much groveling! But I’m also realising this is the second time I’ve had this complaint about an Ashe book, so maybe he just doesn’t write good groveling.
All that then coupled with the most frustrating love triangle I have read in a long time. The love triangle was so stupid that I didn’t even realise it was really, seriously on the cards until the end when he was going to go back to his toxic ex. Like I tried to give him a little bit of understanding cause I appreciate that being involved in a toxic relationship for that long has its own challenges, but fuck me, that was some dumb fucking decision making. Ammon will go into the history books as literally the worst. Fuck that guy.
I fucking hate, HATE, love triangles and never met a situation that convinced me that they are worth the paper they’re printed on- unless it becomes one big ol mutual happy three way situation. This book continues to be no exception. I’m not convinced it added anything to this story that wasn’t able to be achieved by him being a toxic ex that was still on the scene.
I am very conflicted about continuing the series, so many GR friends who I trust have rated the following stories highly and I probably will eventually cause I hate leaving things unfinished….. and primarily cause I also read ahead spoilers to see if I would be able to handle it or if I would need to launch myself and my kindle into the sun if I read them.
A few content warnings- Jem cons a man trying to buy CP, mentions of historical SA, mentions of historical abuse and arguably on page SA.
January 31, 2022
Average rating (2.5 or 3) because this book was a rollercoaster. I LOVED some parts and hated others so here we go.
The writing style is great! The dialogues were the highlight. I really enjoyed the mystery that was well developed and made a lot of sense. I liked both MCs and their interactions (aside for a few exceptions that I'll get to later). I really adore Jem. He is the epitome of the gray character and it works here because the conman is endearing. This book is long but I didn't mind it.
Now onto the hate let's start with my boy Ammon, a character who should either die (no hyperbole here) or should not exist. He does not bring much to the story and I refuse to characterize the romance as a love triangle because
I also did not like Hannah: she is not a good friend to Tean, it's unclear whether she knows about Ammon but if she does she is doing nothing to protect Tean and that's a no in my book. Moreover, she is noisy and inappropriate, she embarrasses Tean in front of Jem and that made me uncomfortable.
The relationship between Jem and Tean (the MCs) I really loved when they talked to each other BUT
Unpopular opinion:
To conclude I think I'll continue with the series after a short break because it's heavy on the trauma so I need a bit of fluff 😉
The writing style is great! The dialogues were the highlight. I really enjoyed the mystery that was well developed and made a lot of sense. I liked both MCs and their interactions (aside for a few exceptions that I'll get to later). I really adore Jem. He is the epitome of the gray character and it works here because the conman is endearing. This book is long but I didn't mind it.
Now onto the hate let's start with my boy Ammon, a character who should either die (no hyperbole here) or should not exist. He does not bring much to the story and I refuse to characterize the romance as a love triangle because
I also did not like Hannah: she is not a good friend to Tean, it's unclear whether she knows about Ammon but if she does she is doing nothing to protect Tean and that's a no in my book. Moreover, she is noisy and inappropriate, she embarrasses Tean in front of Jem and that made me uncomfortable.
The relationship between Jem and Tean (the MCs) I really loved when they talked to each other BUT
Unpopular opinion:
To conclude I think I'll continue with the series after a short break because it's heavy on the trauma so I need a bit of fluff 😉
March 25, 2024
I've given this an A for both content and narration at AudioGals
Gregory Ashe’s latest series – The Lamb and the Lion – introduces listeners to another of his wonderfully imperfect but perfect odd-couple pairings in the form of an uptight, existentialist wildlife veterinarian and a damaged freewheeling con-man who, in the Same Breath (book one of the series) team up in order to solve a murder. All the hallmarks of Mr. Ashe’s work are here: complex, flawed principals you can’t help falling in love with (even when you want to bang their heads together!), clever, twisty plots with a heavy dose of gritty realism, sparkling, often laugh-out-loud dialogue, and an intensely powerful connection between the leads that permeates the story. I read the book back in September when it came out, (I chose it as one of my Best of 2020) and have been waiting on tenterhooks for it to come to audio. Having J.F. Harding narrating this series is the icing on the cake; he did an outstanding job with They Told Me I Was Everything, and I can tell you right now, that he absolutely nails this one, too.
A vet with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Teancum – Tean – Leon lives a quiet life of work, walks with his dog Scipio and the occasional distress call from his elderly neighbour about her ever growing clowder (yes, really!) of cats. He’s in his mid-thirties, he’s smart and dedicated to his job – but he’s also deeply insecure and struggling to break free from – or learn to live with – the conditioning instilled by his Mormon upbringing, and he’s got a deeply fatalistic outlook that manifests in his tendency to spout random facts and figures (if you want to know the likelihood of bear attacks or the frequency of whale song, he’s your guy!) or ponder the finer points of nihilistic philosophy. He’s a glass-half-empty kinda guy most of the time, but he’s endearing with a dry sense of humour… and he’s dreadfully lonely.
A week before the book opens, one of Tean’s colleagues died in suspicious circumstances, but the police have so far turned up nothing. Not that they’re trying very hard; whenever Tean asks Detective Ammon Young – a childhood friend and the man with whom Tean is having an affair (it’s an extremely fucked-up and toxic relationship) – for news, Ammon gets annoyed and shuts Tean down. But Tean has received some odd phone calls lately – just silence on the other end – and noticed, on one occasion, that he was being tailed back to the office by a black SUV. It makes him uneasy, but without anyone to take his concerns seriously, he’s at a dead end.
Jem Berger is a grifter, a good-looking, charming con-man who makes a living working whatever scams he can come up with and get away with, while also looking out for his foster brother, Benny. Jem was bounced around the system for years before being sent to juvie for defending himself and Benny against their violent foster mother, and since getting out has done whatever he needed to do to survive, from blackmailing scumbags wanting to buy child porn to picking up guys in swanky hotel bars to get a decent meal and a bed for the night.
Jem and Tean cross paths when Benny disappears. Benny is passionate about environmental issues, which has brought him into contact with the DWR and Tean quite frequently when he’s turned up to rant about things like poaching, sick Elk herds, and fish being poisoned by sewage. He’s been dismissed by many as a crackpot, but over the years, Tean has found much of his information to be quite accurate. Benny’s latest claim – that birds were being poisoned – has turned out to be correct, and in fact, Tean was on the way back from investigating it when he noticed the black SUV tailing him. And then finding a stranger – a very attractive stranger – in his office pleading for his help finding his missing brother..? News of Benny’s disappearance is yet another event Tean is sure has to be more than coincidence.
That’s the set-up for the mystery and the starting point for the development of another of Mr. Ashe’s wonderfully awkward, angsty slow-burn romances. The mystery is – as always – clever, well-constructed and tightly written, with the different storylines used brilliantly to do dual duty as an introduction to the characters as well as to set up the plot, gaining momentum until they converge when Jem and Tean meet. That forward momentum continues as the pair realise that Benny’s conspiracy theories were likely not theories at all and that his discoveries may somehow be linked to the death of Tean’s colleague. Watching this unlikely, mis-matched couple work together, their different personalities and skill-sets clicking into place like perfectly fitting puzzle pieces is a delight. Jem’s optimism is the perfect counter to Tean’s pessimism, yet it goes deeper than that; there’s the real sense that the connection these two share is something special, that they see each other in a way nobody else does or ever has, and are comfortable being themselves around each other, which is true even with the caveat that listeners know Jem’s ‘profession’ is going to be an issue somewhere along the line. But Jem doesn’t lie to Tean about what’s important (unlike Ammon, who is a manipulative shit) and their relationship is complicated and messy and sometimes full of such raw emotion it hurts, but it’s full of heartfelt affection, companionship and understanding, too. There’s no question Jem and Tean come to care for each other truly and deeply – but of course, this wouldn’t be a Gregory Ashe book if their road to togetherness was an easy one!
Fresh from a fantastic performance in They Told Me I Was Everything, J.F. Harding turns his considerable talent to The Same Breath and knocks it outta the park. All the secondary roles (and there are quite a lot of them) are distinctly portrayed and clearly differentiated using a variety of timbre and accent, and the narrative is well-paced and easily distinguished from the dialogue (by which I mean that Mr. Harding never uses his “narrator” voice for any of the characters). Best of all by far however, are his superb portrayals of Jem and Tean who are captured flawlessly; Tean’s low, husky rumble is perfect for his slightly “Eeyore-ish” doom-laden pronouncements, while Jem’s higher-pitched, marginally faster speech impeccably describes his more up-beat nature. Mr. Harding displays an instinctual understanding of these characters and the way they relate to each other; the strength of their mutual attraction is there, as is the humour in their teasing banter, Tean’s exasperated affection, Jem’s determination, and the depth of the caring that lurks beneath their easy familiarity. It’s a captivating performance and Ashe/Harding is an author/narrator team that’s hard to beat.
Intelligently written and superbly narrated, The Same Breath gets The Lamb and the Lion series off to a great start. I’m given to understand that we may not get the rest of the series in audio format until the summer at the earliest, but if the other audios are as good as this – and I’m sure they will be – then the wait will be more than worth it.
This review originally appeared at AudioGals.
October 18, 2020
I've given this an A at AAR.
In honour of one of the principal characters in this book, I’m going to start this review with some statistics. Gregory Ashe’s The Same Breath is the fifth of his books reviewed in 2020 to get a DIK/A Grade review (he’s received nine at All About Romance since February 2019). It’s also the eighth book he’s published this year so far, and the series it opens – The Lamb and the Lion – is the third series he’s written in this year. (Again, so far – he has another new series beginning in October). At the rate he’s going, I can easily imagine him having averaged one book per month by the end of 2020. I’m not complaining (unless it’s to protest that he’s putting out books so rapidly I feel like I’m running to keep up!) – and that’s because not only is he incredibly prolific, he’s also incredibly GOOD. Seriously, if you’re a fan of romantic suspense and gritty mysteries, snappy banter and sexual tension so intense it hits you like a slap in the face, and you’re NOT reading Gregory Ashe – you’re missing out BIG TIME.
Readers who may find the prospect of working their way through the eleven books in the author’s ‘signature’ Hazard and Somerset series a little daunting can easily jump in here to find out what all the fuss is about. All the elements of Mr. Ashe’s trademark style – complex, clever mysteries, flawed, but utterly compelling characters, deadpan humour and snark, and brilliantly constructed, deeply felt relationships – are to be found here, yet this story still manages to feel new and fresh and different from anything else of his I’ve read.
The Same Breath is book one (of three, I think) of a series set in Utah. Our two protagonists are Teancum (Tean) Leon – a wildlife veterinarian with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, and Jem Berger, a grifter who lives by his wits while also doing his best to look out for his brother Benny – who has a habit of finding trouble. Tean is smart and dedicated, with a penchant for trotting out the most unusual random facts and figures – the frequency of whale song, the likelihood of bear attacks, statistics about murder and McDonalds are just a few examples – that point to his being something of a ‘glass half empty’ kinda guy. He’s endearingly adorkable, but he’s also lonely and severely repressed. Involved in a toxic relationship with a deeply closeted guy (a cop with a wife and kids) he’s known since childhood and loved for almost as long, Tean has next to no self-esteem and often feels as though he’s out of step with the world around him.
Jem was bounced around the foster system and ended up in juvie after defending himself and Benny against their violent foster mother. Since he got out, he’s done what he’s had to do to survive; he’s charming, quick-witted, and utterly ruthless when he has to be – and makes good use of all those qualities as he runs a variety of different cons, from blackmailing a sleazebag wanting to buy child pornography to picking up guys in swanky hotel bars so he can get himself a decent meal and bed for the night.
Jem and Tean cross paths when Benny suddenly disappears. Benny is something of an environmental activist and has been showing up at Tean’s office on and off for years, ranting about things like poaching, sick Elk herds, fish being poisoned by sewage… and even though Benny’s initial presentation caused Tean’s colleagues to mark him down as a crazy conspiracy theorist, Tean has found his information to be remarkably accurate. He checks out Benny’s most recent claims that birds are being poisoned and does indeed find a number of dead gulls and shovelers exactly where Benny had claimed they’d be. On his way back to the DWR, Tean becomes uneasy when he notices a black SUV that seems to be following him – and remembers the weird phone calls he’s received lately and the death, a week earlier, of a colleague in suspicious circumstances. The death, the calls and now the tail? Tean finds it hard to believe it’s all coincidence.
The mystery is tight and incredibly well-constructed. The storylines that are so subtly laid out as part of our introduction to the characters gradually gain momentum until they converge when Tean and Jem meet, and are propelled inexorably forward until the pair realise that Benny’s conspiracy theories may not all have been theories, and that the death of Tean’s colleague may somehow be connected to whatever it was Benny had stumbled upon. It’s perfectly paced, the red herrings are masterfully employed, and even though the identity of the villain(s) might have been easy to work out, the reveal isn’t as important as the getting there; watching Tean and Jem work together to find the proof they need and to work out the killer’s motivations is the highlight of the book, their very different personalities and skill-sets meshing together like two snug-fitting puzzle pieces.
Once again, Gregory Ashe achieves a perfect balance between plot and relationship development, bringing together two individuals who are so fundamentally different that they shouldn’t work as friends or lovers – and yet they do. Tean and Jem are complicated, damaged men who find something in each other they’ve never found with anyone else, a sense that they really see one another for who they truly are. And even more importantly, they feel able to be who they truly are around one another. Their relationship is as complex as they are; there’s betrayal and anger, and emotion so raw that it hurts to read, but there’s genuine companionship and understanding, too, and it’s all right there on the page – there’s no telling-instead-of-showing here – in their actions and their lively banter and deeper, more intimate conversations.
I loved watching Jem slowly getting under Tean’s skin, and seeing the depth of caring that so obviously lurks beneath his easy familiarity; and I loved equally Tean’s exasperated affection and gradual realisation that here is someone who can clearly see his insecurities and inhibitions – and likes him anyway.
The Same Breath is a superbly written mystery featuring likeable but flawed characters, fantastic dialogue and a sensual, slow-burn romance that promises to be something special. Gregory Ashe just gets better and better, and readers – fans and newbies alike – have a real treat awaiting them.
In honour of one of the principal characters in this book, I’m going to start this review with some statistics. Gregory Ashe’s The Same Breath is the fifth of his books reviewed in 2020 to get a DIK/A Grade review (he’s received nine at All About Romance since February 2019). It’s also the eighth book he’s published this year so far, and the series it opens – The Lamb and the Lion – is the third series he’s written in this year. (Again, so far – he has another new series beginning in October). At the rate he’s going, I can easily imagine him having averaged one book per month by the end of 2020. I’m not complaining (unless it’s to protest that he’s putting out books so rapidly I feel like I’m running to keep up!) – and that’s because not only is he incredibly prolific, he’s also incredibly GOOD. Seriously, if you’re a fan of romantic suspense and gritty mysteries, snappy banter and sexual tension so intense it hits you like a slap in the face, and you’re NOT reading Gregory Ashe – you’re missing out BIG TIME.
Readers who may find the prospect of working their way through the eleven books in the author’s ‘signature’ Hazard and Somerset series a little daunting can easily jump in here to find out what all the fuss is about. All the elements of Mr. Ashe’s trademark style – complex, clever mysteries, flawed, but utterly compelling characters, deadpan humour and snark, and brilliantly constructed, deeply felt relationships – are to be found here, yet this story still manages to feel new and fresh and different from anything else of his I’ve read.
The Same Breath is book one (of three, I think) of a series set in Utah. Our two protagonists are Teancum (Tean) Leon – a wildlife veterinarian with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, and Jem Berger, a grifter who lives by his wits while also doing his best to look out for his brother Benny – who has a habit of finding trouble. Tean is smart and dedicated, with a penchant for trotting out the most unusual random facts and figures – the frequency of whale song, the likelihood of bear attacks, statistics about murder and McDonalds are just a few examples – that point to his being something of a ‘glass half empty’ kinda guy. He’s endearingly adorkable, but he’s also lonely and severely repressed. Involved in a toxic relationship with a deeply closeted guy (a cop with a wife and kids) he’s known since childhood and loved for almost as long, Tean has next to no self-esteem and often feels as though he’s out of step with the world around him.
Jem was bounced around the foster system and ended up in juvie after defending himself and Benny against their violent foster mother. Since he got out, he’s done what he’s had to do to survive; he’s charming, quick-witted, and utterly ruthless when he has to be – and makes good use of all those qualities as he runs a variety of different cons, from blackmailing a sleazebag wanting to buy child pornography to picking up guys in swanky hotel bars so he can get himself a decent meal and bed for the night.
Jem and Tean cross paths when Benny suddenly disappears. Benny is something of an environmental activist and has been showing up at Tean’s office on and off for years, ranting about things like poaching, sick Elk herds, fish being poisoned by sewage… and even though Benny’s initial presentation caused Tean’s colleagues to mark him down as a crazy conspiracy theorist, Tean has found his information to be remarkably accurate. He checks out Benny’s most recent claims that birds are being poisoned and does indeed find a number of dead gulls and shovelers exactly where Benny had claimed they’d be. On his way back to the DWR, Tean becomes uneasy when he notices a black SUV that seems to be following him – and remembers the weird phone calls he’s received lately and the death, a week earlier, of a colleague in suspicious circumstances. The death, the calls and now the tail? Tean finds it hard to believe it’s all coincidence.
The mystery is tight and incredibly well-constructed. The storylines that are so subtly laid out as part of our introduction to the characters gradually gain momentum until they converge when Tean and Jem meet, and are propelled inexorably forward until the pair realise that Benny’s conspiracy theories may not all have been theories, and that the death of Tean’s colleague may somehow be connected to whatever it was Benny had stumbled upon. It’s perfectly paced, the red herrings are masterfully employed, and even though the identity of the villain(s) might have been easy to work out, the reveal isn’t as important as the getting there; watching Tean and Jem work together to find the proof they need and to work out the killer’s motivations is the highlight of the book, their very different personalities and skill-sets meshing together like two snug-fitting puzzle pieces.
Once again, Gregory Ashe achieves a perfect balance between plot and relationship development, bringing together two individuals who are so fundamentally different that they shouldn’t work as friends or lovers – and yet they do. Tean and Jem are complicated, damaged men who find something in each other they’ve never found with anyone else, a sense that they really see one another for who they truly are. And even more importantly, they feel able to be who they truly are around one another. Their relationship is as complex as they are; there’s betrayal and anger, and emotion so raw that it hurts to read, but there’s genuine companionship and understanding, too, and it’s all right there on the page – there’s no telling-instead-of-showing here – in their actions and their lively banter and deeper, more intimate conversations.
“And I’ll probably die from grief. Not because I can’t live without you, so don’t get that big grin on your face, but because science has proven that grief can cause inflammation that can actually, literally kill you. And that would be my kind of luck.”
“I just want to give you credit,” Jem said, “for finding the bleakest and most depressing way I’ve ever heard of telling me that you like me.”
I loved watching Jem slowly getting under Tean’s skin, and seeing the depth of caring that so obviously lurks beneath his easy familiarity; and I loved equally Tean’s exasperated affection and gradual realisation that here is someone who can clearly see his insecurities and inhibitions – and likes him anyway.
The Same Breath is a superbly written mystery featuring likeable but flawed characters, fantastic dialogue and a sensual, slow-burn romance that promises to be something special. Gregory Ashe just gets better and better, and readers – fans and newbies alike – have a real treat awaiting them.
November 30, 2022
I feel the need to start this review with a quote from Tean as he describes why he likes the Rancherito's breakfast burrito:
This is how I feel about Gregory Ashe's books. They're really, really good. His descriptions of the setting make you feel as though you're there, in this case smelling the flora of Utah and watching the colors of the sky change beyond the mountains. His dialogue is witty and funny at the best of times and soul crushing at the worst of times (hello gut punch, nice to see you again). His characters wear scars on the outside but hide the worst of them on the inside and have so much depth that it's impossible not to react to their decisions in a really personal way. And his stories are like crack. I am addicted to them. Even though they hurt me and make me furious at times, I keep coming back, waving my money around for the promise of another masochistic hit. And he got me good with this book. In the only way I seem to be able to review books by this author, here are my blubbering thoughts:
Tean - A wildlife vet with a memory bank filled with enough doom and gloom factoids to rival Debbie Downer from SNL. He was lonely, but resisted potential efforts toward connection. He was raised Mormon, which is a religion that's notoriously unaccepting of anything outside of what's considered the "traditional" family dynamic, and he's gay. He was also a soft, sweet puppy who had been kicked so many times by someone who claimed to care about him (and probably truly does, but I'll get to that) that his perception of himself was devastatingly skewed. He also made me incredibly mad several times, which then made me feel guilty because my anger felt akin to victim blaming and I never want to do that, but damn I had a hard time accepting some of the things he said and did and expected.
Jem - Here's the beauty of a Gregory Ashe character. Jem was a con artist and I liked him better than sweet, docile Tean. Jem lied, stole and manipulated for a living and made the game his entire life. His closest relationships were held together by shared trauma and an intrinsic need to protect. Society in general would look at someone like Jem as disposable. They'd consider him a person of no real value, just like they did his brother, Benny. They'd judge him based on what he'd done instead of who he was, which was an intuitive and smart person who cared deeply for the people in his small circle and was using his strengths in less than legal ways to take care of them and himself. I loved the way he treated Tean. Jem knew a caged and broken bird when he saw one and wanted better for Tean. The subtle ways he tried to give Tean his autonomy made me really emotional. Nothing gets to me like kindness and Jem had a lot of it on offer.
Ammon - Oh god, there's always one of these guys to contend with, but Ammon has to be the worst so far. I'm sure the author will try to work some voodoo later to make me at least sympathize with this character, but for now I'd like to stew in my own hate sauce. Not only was he abusive, manipulative, hypocritical and a total liar, he masqueraded as this good guy detective and hoarded all of the power in his relationship with Tean. I believed that he cared about Tean. I believed that Tean represented a part of his life that he both treasured and resented, which was why he acted the way he did. But at this point he would have to have a complete personality transplant for me to forgive him for how he treated Tean and behaved in general. I know he will be a presence in all of the books in this series, but I hope he gets severely demoted in priority in Tean's life. I want to root for Tean, but it's hard when Ammon keeps pushing to the front of the line.
Scipio - He is the bestest boy, yes he is! He also has very discerning taste in people, which I appreciated. All the boops and pats for him.
The mystery - I didn't even try to solve it myself. There were so many moving pieces from the very beginning that I decided to relax and watch the whole thing unravel on its own. As usual, it was done in an interesting and harrowing way that made me fearful for Tean and Jem's lives multiple times. I'm really glad most of GA's characters keep first aid kits on hand.
I will now continue on this journey with book #2. I hope it doesn't hurt as much as this one did, but I should know better by now.
"It's just really, really good. The eggs are fluffy. It's got the right amount of cheese - real cheese, that has flavor. The bacon is crisp, the sausage is just the right degree of fatty. And they put something in the potatoes that makes the whole thing taste like crack."
This is how I feel about Gregory Ashe's books. They're really, really good. His descriptions of the setting make you feel as though you're there, in this case smelling the flora of Utah and watching the colors of the sky change beyond the mountains. His dialogue is witty and funny at the best of times and soul crushing at the worst of times (hello gut punch, nice to see you again). His characters wear scars on the outside but hide the worst of them on the inside and have so much depth that it's impossible not to react to their decisions in a really personal way. And his stories are like crack. I am addicted to them. Even though they hurt me and make me furious at times, I keep coming back, waving my money around for the promise of another masochistic hit. And he got me good with this book. In the only way I seem to be able to review books by this author, here are my blubbering thoughts:
Tean - A wildlife vet with a memory bank filled with enough doom and gloom factoids to rival Debbie Downer from SNL. He was lonely, but resisted potential efforts toward connection. He was raised Mormon, which is a religion that's notoriously unaccepting of anything outside of what's considered the "traditional" family dynamic, and he's gay. He was also a soft, sweet puppy who had been kicked so many times by someone who claimed to care about him (and probably truly does, but I'll get to that) that his perception of himself was devastatingly skewed. He also made me incredibly mad several times, which then made me feel guilty because my anger felt akin to victim blaming and I never want to do that, but damn I had a hard time accepting some of the things he said and did and expected.
Jem - Here's the beauty of a Gregory Ashe character. Jem was a con artist and I liked him better than sweet, docile Tean. Jem lied, stole and manipulated for a living and made the game his entire life. His closest relationships were held together by shared trauma and an intrinsic need to protect. Society in general would look at someone like Jem as disposable. They'd consider him a person of no real value, just like they did his brother, Benny. They'd judge him based on what he'd done instead of who he was, which was an intuitive and smart person who cared deeply for the people in his small circle and was using his strengths in less than legal ways to take care of them and himself. I loved the way he treated Tean. Jem knew a caged and broken bird when he saw one and wanted better for Tean. The subtle ways he tried to give Tean his autonomy made me really emotional. Nothing gets to me like kindness and Jem had a lot of it on offer.
Ammon - Oh god, there's always one of these guys to contend with, but Ammon has to be the worst so far. I'm sure the author will try to work some voodoo later to make me at least sympathize with this character, but for now I'd like to stew in my own hate sauce. Not only was he abusive, manipulative, hypocritical and a total liar, he masqueraded as this good guy detective and hoarded all of the power in his relationship with Tean. I believed that he cared about Tean. I believed that Tean represented a part of his life that he both treasured and resented, which was why he acted the way he did. But at this point he would have to have a complete personality transplant for me to forgive him for how he treated Tean and behaved in general. I know he will be a presence in all of the books in this series, but I hope he gets severely demoted in priority in Tean's life. I want to root for Tean, but it's hard when Ammon keeps pushing to the front of the line.
Scipio - He is the bestest boy, yes he is! He also has very discerning taste in people, which I appreciated. All the boops and pats for him.
The mystery - I didn't even try to solve it myself. There were so many moving pieces from the very beginning that I decided to relax and watch the whole thing unravel on its own. As usual, it was done in an interesting and harrowing way that made me fearful for Tean and Jem's lives multiple times. I'm really glad most of GA's characters keep first aid kits on hand.
I will now continue on this journey with book #2. I hope it doesn't hurt as much as this one did, but I should know better by now.
March 9, 2021
Oh, yes, now I remember what it feels like to read a brilliant book. Half-way through the sequel already.
These are real people; not a speck of 2-D cardboard in sight. And the landscape - what Ashe does with colours and smells! This passage stopped me in my tracks:
Ashe is also completely brilliant at naturalistic, funny, character-building dialogue. Here are Jem & colour-challenged conservative dresser Tean:
Such a strong sense of Tean's stuck-in-a-rut position, his growing trust in Jem and Jem's patience and care for him.
I've been–like most of us–a mite stressed over the past year, and reading too many insignificant books that have flowed unremembered through my brain. But The Same Breath felt like a re-set, a banquet, a full-body massage, a two-week immersion in Utah, a new friendship, balm, comfort and infinite satisfaction.
These are real people; not a speck of 2-D cardboard in sight. And the landscape - what Ashe does with colours and smells! This passage stopped me in my tracks:
Jem [who's just had really bad news] smiled when he saw the doe. It wasn’t the gameshow smile, either. It was soft and sad and wondering.
Tean knew that feeling, knew that it could come even during heartbreak. He knew what it was like when the sun was right, when the air smelled like juniper, when your mouth tasted like trail dust, and then something happened. It could be like this: a doe lapping from a creek, the waters shining like someone had knitted them out of silver. Or it could be a patch of cool shade, where you stood staring up at the canyon walls, orange and pale gray. It could be a moose forcing its way clear from an elderberry brake. It was never the same thing twice, whatever it was. It touched you, and your skin tightened, and your breath sharpened, and something inside, something that might be the soul, caught fire and flared for an instant. And then it went out, and the world was back at arm’s length.
Ashe is also completely brilliant at naturalistic, funny, character-building dialogue. Here are Jem & colour-challenged conservative dresser Tean:
“You said more green, less khaki.” Tean plucked at the lime-green t-shirt and then gestured at the olive camo pants.
“I did,” Jem said, nodding, and he shepherded Tean back into the bedroom. Opening the drawer with all of Tean’s tops, Jem sorted through them. “You have a lot of khaki polos.”
“There was a deal.”
Jem just nodded. “And do you have any t-shirts that you didn’t get from a charitable 5K or a service opportunity?”
“I think there’s one from a car wash.”
Jem nodded again.
“Yours is from BYU,” Tean said. “Did you go to BYU?”
“I did not.”
“Why is it different for you to wear a BYU t-shirt and for me to wear this t-shirt?”
“Glasses,” Jem said, holding out his hand.
“I need them to see.”
“I’m not holding you hostage. I’ll give them back in a minute.” When Tean had given him his glasses, Jem passed over a t-shirt—the car wash one, which was navy and had a cute—and small—design of a smiling convertible. Then he passed over a pair of khakis.
“You said less khaki.”
“Just change, please.”
“I did exactly what you said,” Tean grumbled as he switched out the clothes. “More green. That’s what you said. Less khaki.”
“You did very well. Bathroom.”
“Can I have my glasses?”
“In a minute. Bathroom first.”
Such a strong sense of Tean's stuck-in-a-rut position, his growing trust in Jem and Jem's patience and care for him.
I've been–like most of us–a mite stressed over the past year, and reading too many insignificant books that have flowed unremembered through my brain. But The Same Breath felt like a re-set, a banquet, a full-body massage, a two-week immersion in Utah, a new friendship, balm, comfort and infinite satisfaction.
January 14, 2025
I mostly liked the six Hazard and Somerset books I read, but on the basis of this opener, this is a much more humane, generous series with two complicated, likable, forgiving MCs who are much less co-dependent and dysfunctional than H&S. The crime story was good, but the main draw was Tean and Jem's connection and friendship. And one of the most painful third-act crises I can recall (honestly, I thought more grovelling was in order, both there and at the end; but ymmv).
Note that book 1 leaves us with Tean and Jem on friends footing, though it is fairly clear that Jem, at least, wants more.
Fun to read a book set in SLC and the surrounding area, a place I have a personal connection to.
Gregory Ashe seems to do a fair amount of research for his books, so I think at this point he's just downplaying the seriousness of head trauma to f*ck with me. Only possible explanation.
If H&S were too toxic for you (a camp I put myself in by the end of book 6; I may read the follow-on series one day, but I doubt I will revisit the first one), this could be a better fit.
Note that book 1 leaves us with Tean and Jem on friends footing, though it is fairly clear that Jem, at least, wants more.
Fun to read a book set in SLC and the surrounding area, a place I have a personal connection to.
Gregory Ashe seems to do a fair amount of research for his books, so I think at this point he's just downplaying the seriousness of head trauma to f*ck with me. Only possible explanation.
If H&S were too toxic for you (a camp I put myself in by the end of book 6; I may read the follow-on series one day, but I doubt I will revisit the first one), this could be a better fit.
June 4, 2021
This book was brutal to my feelings in the best possible way. I have 38 highlights, and this doesn't even count the multiple pages I have tabbed because the exchange was too long for highlights.
"Animals are better than people," Tean shouted after Hannah.
"You're a wildlife vet,"Hannah shouted back. "You know that's not true!">
And yet, I am speechless. Just WOW. This was good.
“You are a real treat.”
“If it’s any consolation, I’m statistically likely to die choking on popcorn in my apartment, and it’ll probably take days before anyone finds the body.”
“You know what?” Esme said. “It is.” Tean is extremely on my wavelength.
There's this 'everyday' scene that made me want to weep. There's this exchange that had me laughing and crying and wondering "is this the best ever?" But I can't review it.
One of the things I'm really liking Ashe for is his sense of place. I haven't read any of his books yet where I just feel plopped into anywhere, anytime, USA. The seasons are vivid. The place is pulsing. And how often do I feel like an author nails a place? Almost never, but Salt Lake City & Utah are done really well based on my visit.
The world was in motion: the clumps of rabbit brush and saltbrush, winterfat and sage, flickered in the headlights like the pieces of stop motion film; the shadows of rolled bales ballooned and then shrank in mowed fields of blue grama and buffalo grass; a few stalks of rye in a trampled field
trembled as they passed; a jackrabbit broke from a clump of dead weeds; the stars wheeled overhead. And Tean, too, caught up in that movement, pieces of him flowing on a current he was tired of fighting.
This book is just incredibly effective, rewarding, and the writing is wonderful. Caz mentioned that this series felt his strongest to date, and I have to say I would support that statement wholeheartedly, but I've only read the one series thusfar. Still, this is really ridiculously good.
"Animals are better than people," Tean shouted after Hannah.
"You're a wildlife vet,"Hannah shouted back. "You know that's not true!">
And yet, I am speechless. Just WOW. This was good.
“You are a real treat.”
“If it’s any consolation, I’m statistically likely to die choking on popcorn in my apartment, and it’ll probably take days before anyone finds the body.”
“You know what?” Esme said. “It is.” Tean is extremely on my wavelength.
There's this 'everyday' scene that made me want to weep. There's this exchange that had me laughing and crying and wondering "is this the best ever?" But I can't review it.
One of the things I'm really liking Ashe for is his sense of place. I haven't read any of his books yet where I just feel plopped into anywhere, anytime, USA. The seasons are vivid. The place is pulsing. And how often do I feel like an author nails a place? Almost never, but Salt Lake City & Utah are done really well based on my visit.
The world was in motion: the clumps of rabbit brush and saltbrush, winterfat and sage, flickered in the headlights like the pieces of stop motion film; the shadows of rolled bales ballooned and then shrank in mowed fields of blue grama and buffalo grass; a few stalks of rye in a trampled field
trembled as they passed; a jackrabbit broke from a clump of dead weeds; the stars wheeled overhead. And Tean, too, caught up in that movement, pieces of him flowing on a current he was tired of fighting.
This book is just incredibly effective, rewarding, and the writing is wonderful. Caz mentioned that this series felt his strongest to date, and I have to say I would support that statement wholeheartedly, but I've only read the one series thusfar. Still, this is really ridiculously good.
October 23, 2020
My first Gregory Ashe book... ever. I know, I know, I have missed out but there's so many books and I'm getting confused.
I liked The Same Breath. It was very well written. The intrigue and mystery was interesting and the MC's were, while not exactly likable at least worth caring for.
But.
It was so long. And slow. And it's a series so we doesn't really get a lot of relationship development in this book. I mean I get it, it's the first one. But still. So very long and so very slow. Maybe I have to make myself less confused and read something else by this author, or maybe it's just not for me. I don't know, and I didn't get less confused by having this as my first Ashe book.
And here's dog nerd Gustaf going on a little rant. Teacup Yorkies ain't something you want to promote as an author if you have any knowledge about dogs. It makes you look bad. They are basically a tiny dog bread to be even tinier. It's unhealthy and unethical and just... no. Don't do it.
I liked The Same Breath. It was very well written. The intrigue and mystery was interesting and the MC's were, while not exactly likable at least worth caring for.
But.
It was so long. And slow. And it's a series so we doesn't really get a lot of relationship development in this book. I mean I get it, it's the first one. But still. So very long and so very slow. Maybe I have to make myself less confused and read something else by this author, or maybe it's just not for me. I don't know, and I didn't get less confused by having this as my first Ashe book.
And here's dog nerd Gustaf going on a little rant. Teacup Yorkies ain't something you want to promote as an author if you have any knowledge about dogs. It makes you look bad. They are basically a tiny dog bread to be even tinier. It's unhealthy and unethical and just... no. Don't do it.
September 25, 2020
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
The Same Breath is the first book in Gregory Ashe’s new The Lamb and the Lion series and I totally adored it. It has Ashe’s trademark of fascinating, well-developed, and often troubled characters, combined with a really great mystery. I found the mystery side of the plot really engaging and Ashe makes wonderful use of the Salt Lake City setting, taking us through the city itself, as well as into the surrounding mountains. There is a great sense of place here that really brings a lot to the whole story, but particularly the investigation. The case is twisty and interesting, with a large cast of potential bad guys, which kept me guessing as to who was behind it all and why. I think things could have been a tiny bit tighter toward the end to pull it all together, but overall, I found the mystery really entertaining and I enjoyed seeing how all the pieces came together at the end of the story.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
The Same Breath is the first book in Gregory Ashe’s new The Lamb and the Lion series and I totally adored it. It has Ashe’s trademark of fascinating, well-developed, and often troubled characters, combined with a really great mystery. I found the mystery side of the plot really engaging and Ashe makes wonderful use of the Salt Lake City setting, taking us through the city itself, as well as into the surrounding mountains. There is a great sense of place here that really brings a lot to the whole story, but particularly the investigation. The case is twisty and interesting, with a large cast of potential bad guys, which kept me guessing as to who was behind it all and why. I think things could have been a tiny bit tighter toward the end to pull it all together, but overall, I found the mystery really entertaining and I enjoyed seeing how all the pieces came together at the end of the story.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
May 20, 2023
*oh I love it and I hate it at the same time…*
This book gets 5* for how it evoked feelings. Tean is the most precious human and I want to protect him at all costs. I loved the character growth we saw in him during the book, and also how he and Jem just *fit* together despite being such completely different people.
My headcanon is that Tean and Dag from DuPage are online friends who compare notes on whale song in online discussion forums that look like they haven’t been updated since the 90’s.
I loved the richness of the setting - Utah felt so real, and sharp. The repetitive naming of the wildlife and shrubs and even weeds created such atmosphere, I felt like I was there.
I think the only reason I rated 4* instead of 5 is how painful and hard it can be to read Ashe’s books. The characters are so real and sharp, and there isn’t a clear cut HFN or HEA at the end of the book. This is more of a me issue - it was brilliantly done, it’s just hard for me to read sometimes.
I expect I will continue the series after a brief emotional replenishment. I haven’t gotten enough of these guys yet.
This book gets 5* for how it evoked feelings. Tean is the most precious human and I want to protect him at all costs. I loved the character growth we saw in him during the book, and also how he and Jem just *fit* together despite being such completely different people.
My headcanon is that Tean and Dag from DuPage are online friends who compare notes on whale song in online discussion forums that look like they haven’t been updated since the 90’s.
I loved the richness of the setting - Utah felt so real, and sharp. The repetitive naming of the wildlife and shrubs and even weeds created such atmosphere, I felt like I was there.
I think the only reason I rated 4* instead of 5 is how painful and hard it can be to read Ashe’s books. The characters are so real and sharp, and there isn’t a clear cut HFN or HEA at the end of the book. This is more of a me issue - it was brilliantly done, it’s just hard for me to read sometimes.
I expect I will continue the series after a brief emotional replenishment. I haven’t gotten enough of these guys yet.
July 17, 2025
Read in 2023, and still no review. 🙄
December 19, 2023
Watching these two break--
Can't stop hurting and searching.
So, what mystery?
Can't stop hurting and searching.
So, what mystery?
March 18, 2025
4⭐️ It just wouldn’t be an GA series without an immense amount of drama and pain. This book punched me in a gut quite a few times. But it also made me laugh. Tean’s sullen attitude and his dark humor took a much-needed edge off from all the angst.
Both Tean and Jem have sad and difficult lives and they hurt the hell out of each other just as much as they care for one another.
And damnit, GA got me good with another story with a toxic ex-boyfriend that I want to punt into the sea. So much OM drama!!
I liked the mystery in this one too, but it was very sad.
I’m ready for some happy moments in book two, hopefully. But I know GA only likes to throw us scraps of good times. 😅🤪
Both Tean and Jem have sad and difficult lives and they hurt the hell out of each other just as much as they care for one another.
And damnit, GA got me good with another story with a toxic ex-boyfriend that I want to punt into the sea. So much OM drama!!
I liked the mystery in this one too, but it was very sad.
I’m ready for some happy moments in book two, hopefully. But I know GA only likes to throw us scraps of good times. 😅🤪
March 9, 2021
Teancum Leon's bleak pragmatism is a national treasure, and his and Jem's dynamic is just as awesome as everyone said it would be. They are so enjoyable together that I almost didn't care what stage they were at in their relationship, which is a rarity for me with this kind of series. I think I actually could have read them one-by-one as they came out without getting frustrated.
They were still highly enjoyable back-to-back, though I didn't feel the need to inhale them. It probably did make it a little more obvious that they're all a smidge longer than needed, and the extra words almost all come in the form of repeated, and a little repetitive, landscape and driving route descriptions.
I was relieved that my reaction to GA's very popular Hazard and Somerset series still seems to be the outlier for me with his writing. I couldn't get past 20% in Book 1, and I am so glad it wasn't my first book of his. I don't think I would have given him another try, but all of his series feel very different to me. I think it comes down to how you feel about each set of MCs, and these two are officially my favorites so far.
I also enjoyed his (and Jem's) wry sense of humor with the Mormon details. There was such a strong sense of place I was surprised the author doesn't actually live there.
They were still highly enjoyable back-to-back, though I didn't feel the need to inhale them. It probably did make it a little more obvious that they're all a smidge longer than needed, and the extra words almost all come in the form of repeated, and a little repetitive, landscape and driving route descriptions.
I was relieved that my reaction to GA's very popular Hazard and Somerset series still seems to be the outlier for me with his writing. I couldn't get past 20% in Book 1, and I am so glad it wasn't my first book of his. I don't think I would have given him another try, but all of his series feel very different to me. I think it comes down to how you feel about each set of MCs, and these two are officially my favorites so far.
I also enjoyed his (and Jem's) wry sense of humor with the Mormon details. There was such a strong sense of place I was surprised the author doesn't actually live there.
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