Fire and Sand

Carlisle Troopers #1

by Andrew Grey

Can a single dad with a criminal past find love with the cop who pulled him over?

When single dad Quinton Jackson gets stopped for speeding, he thinks he’s lost both his freedom and his infant son, who’s in the car he’s been chasing down the highway. Amazingly, State Trooper Wyatt Nelson not only believes him, he radios for help and reunites Quinton with baby Callum.

Wyatt should ticket Quinton, but something makes him look past Quinton’s record. Watching him with his child proves he made the right decision. Quinton is a loving, devoted father—and he’s handsome. Wyatt can’t help but take a personal interest.
 
For Quinton, getting temporary custody is a dream come true… or it would be, if working full-time and caring for an infant left time to sleep. As if that weren’t enough, Callum’s mother will do anything to get him back, including ruining Quinton’s life. Fortunately, Quinton has Wyatt for help, support, and as much romance as a single parent can schedule.
 
But when Wyatt’s duties as a cop conflict with Quinton’s quest for permanent custody, their situation becomes precarious. Can they trust each other, and the courts, to deliver justice and a happy ever after?

Fire and Sand is the first book in RWA Centennial Award-winning author Andrew Grey’s Carlisle Troopers series. Fans of found families, second chances, and guys with hearts of gold will love this contemporary romance.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, LGBT, Crime, Fiction, Gay

196 pages, Paperback

First published July 5, 2022

Reviews

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fire and Sand is book one in the Carlisle Troopers series by Andrew Grey. This was such a sweet story, and at times, suspenseful and also heartbreaking.

Quinton Jackson is twenty six years old. He’s gay but his horrible mother made him convince himself that if he tried just once, he could be normal. It didn’t work but what did happen is that he got a beautiful son, Callum, from the experience. Now Callum is three months old. When Quinton goes to pick him up, he is terrified to see a carjacker taking off with the baby’s mother’s car with little Callum in the back seat. While chasing the car he gets pulled over by a trooper but thankfully, he believes Quinton and gets his baby back.

Quinton has had a rocky path, made a lot of bad decisions. But when his son was born, he turned over a new leaf, trying to be a good dad. Now with Callum’s mother in trouble, Quinton has temporary custody of the baby and he is even more determined to be a better man for his son. Callum’s mother is not what is best for his son. She proved that by leaving his son unattended in her car.

State Trooper Wyatt Nelson was just doing his job when he saw the two cars speed by. Never did he realize that pulling over the second car would change his life. He listened to his instincts and he was right in believing Quinton.

I loved the way that rather than let this baby go into the system, they rallied around Quinton and helped to provide him with resources to make his path easier. Quinton was so determined to do everything possible for his baby son. There was an immediate attraction between Quinton and Wyatt. But both were cautious and things happened slowly. Both agreed that little Callum was the most important.

Wyatt’s dream was to move up to Detective and his superiors gave him a chance on a big case. But the case’s details started to overlap with Quinton’s case. Now he had to be especially cautious. He didn’t want to pose a risk to the case or his big chance but he also didn’t want to let anything get in the way of his new feelings for Quinton and his son.

This book kept me turning the pages. My heart broke for Quinton and I couldn’t imagine the stress he was under with wondering if little Callum was only in his care temporarily. And as the details of Wyatt’s case unfolded, I needed to know what was going on.

I really enjoyed this and these wonderful characters and am already looking forward to reading the next book, Fire and Glass.

For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 2 out of 5]

No mean reviews coming up. Just got really bored.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was really excited to see that another of my favorite authors had a new book out and that it was the first book in a new series. I have never found a book by Andrew Grey that wasn't deserving of a 5-star rating. He seems to find the best in his characters and brings it to the forefront in spades. He must have a strong love of families since nearly all of his stories find families of all combinations of people, making homes, raising children and finding love. I loved Wyatt and Quinton's interaction especially with Quinto's infant son Callum. I didn't doubt for one minute that Quinton would get everything that he deserved because he was such a fantastic father and cared so much for his baby son. Wyatt was perfect for Quinton and Callum. So glad to see where their relationship brought them at the end. I've read all of Andrew Grey's other Carlisle police series and loved them as much as this one. I can't wait for the next one in this series, especially after reading the first chapter that was given to us as a gift in this one. Andrew Grey is an awesome storyteller.

[Esmée D'Costa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️
RTC

[Terri · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF: too much telling and repeated telling.

The over-explaining of everything multiple times is off the charts in this book. Well, in the first 17%, which is as far as I got before I'd had enough and stopped.

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another good addition to Andrew Grey’s impressive stock of M/M romances. We’re in Carlisle, PA again and, since I know the city a little, I can follow the characters as they go through the town and know where they are—something I enjoy.

In this book, Quinton is stopped for speeding by cop Wyatt. When Quinton explains he was following a car-jacked van that had his infant son in the back, Wyatt believes him and the cops go into action to catch the van and get the baby back. Quinton is in a battle with his ex-wife and her parents for baby Callum. And Wyatt is there all the way to help him.

I wasn’t enamored of Quinton. He’s almost too down-trodden and leans so heavily on Wyatt. It’s Wyatt who comes to his rescue and continues to do so until the end. I would have liked to have seen Quinton get a little more backbone, but for this story, it worked.

Recommendation: If you love Andrew’s books (and who doesn’t?), pick this one up. It’s the first in a series and you’ll enjoy the satisfying ending to this romance.

Disclaimer: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

[Bo · Rating 5 out of 5]

And Baby Makes Three

He's done it again--Andrew Grey has come up with another series and a new romantic coupling that is interesting at first blush but that first blush, literally on the first page, includes what has become a staple in recent Grey tomes: A child. And this child is a baby whose father is pursuing his by-happenstance kidnapper in a wild car chase down the highway until he is caught by a state trooper--and then things get really complicated.

See, the state trooper, Wyatt, and the driver of the car, Quinton, are old friends who have not basically kept in touch over the years and it's Quinton's son Callum who is stuck in his baby seat in the back of his mother's fancy car . The car has been stolen by a friend of Callum's mother who was apparently set up to do so by her without knowing the boy was in the car in order to try to prove Quinton was an incompetent father.

Got it?

It's really not that complicated until we get to know more about all the relationships, seedy characters and most especially the relationship which develops between Wyatt, Quinton and Callum.

That's all I'm going to say because as I have said before, no one does a trope like this better than Andrew Grey, and a sneak preview of the next in the series promises us more of the same lovely stuff.

[Weronika (AirsickLowlander)]

DNF @40%
I really tried, but there’s so much focus on the child, I can’t take it anymore.

[Brandielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Andrew Grey writes the most ridiculous female characters.

[Nara · Rating 4 out of 5]

˚ · .˚ ༘🦋⋆｡˚ Esta historia me pareció tierna y muy linda, la verdad es que soy una amante de los libros que incluyen a bebés y que en esta historia el bebé fuera la razón de por qué se conocen me pareció fantástico.

Cuando Quinton es detenido por el oficial Wyatt, pensó que todo estaría acabado y que nadie le creería que iba muy rápido porque iba persiguiendo el auto que había secuestrado a su hijo, pero para suerte el oficial Wyatt no solo le cree, sino que también confía en él y lo ayudaY, es aquí donde inicia esta historia llena de drogas (por culpa de los amigos) problemas de custodia y amor, porque en definitiva Quinton, Wyatt y Callum son la familia perfecta.

Wyatt got up and went to the door. When he opened it slightly to peer out, he saw Quinton with Callum in his arms, trying to soothe his unhappy baby. “He’s not hungry or wet. I just changed him, but he doesn’t want to be comforted.” Quinton looked about at the end of his rope.

“Hey, little guy,” Wyatt said and took him from Quinton. Callum blinked at him and stopped crying. “Did you just want someone else? Is that what this was all about?” He smiled at Quinton. “How are you doing otherwise?”

“He was up most of the night and just got to sleep about two, then a few hours later I had to wake him to take him to day care, and that started the whole fussy baby routine.” He lifted the carrier and diaper bag, and they went inside as Wendy started class.

Callum stayed quiet and dozed in Wyatt’s arms

Ahora, esta historia tuvo unas vueltas tremendas porque era obvio quién estaba con la droga y no entendía por qué Quinton no se daba cuenta y tampoco entendía por qué se aferraba a amigos que sinceramente no eran sus amigos

Les recomiendo mucho leer esta historia si quieren algo tierno y con mucho drama, pero con un final feliz ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

[Dominike]

DNF @ 14%

I agree with the person who commented this felt somewhat copaganda. Also with everyone who said it was boring, boring as fuck honestly.

[Mia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dnf 19%

Nothing wrong with the story so far, the writing just really isn't doing it for me.

[LWM · Rating 4 out of 5]

All things considered, this storyline made for a little tense, but lovely distraction

Good, interesting storyline, with a hint of mystery that wasn't too difficult to figure out once events began falling into play.

Wyatt is the young State Trooper who manages to stop a speeding Quinton, who he discovers is young, gay, and a recently new dad to three-month-old Callum, who was trapped in his carseat in the backseat of the Lexus Quinton was racing after. Wyatt makes a split second decision to follow his instincts with Quinton, who he should have ticketed instead of trusted the word of when he pleadec with Wyatt to please call for help to stop the Lexus, currently driven by a male who was not the owner, and who simply jumped into a vehicle left running, seemingly empty of passengers.I

So begins the drama that has Quinton facing fatherhood and custody in a full-time capacity instead of the occasional visitation he'd been having with the infant son he had, full-stop, fallen in love with, despite the drain on his finances, time, and attempts to get regulated sleep. Wyatt finds himself drawn to Quinton's strength in the face of adversity, and his quiet determination to be more of a parent than he had had himself. If course, both our heroes are very attractive, very single (Quinton's son was the result of him indulging his mother's attempt to make him not gay. Sigh - that alone told the tale of Quinton's tragic upbringing and the horrible revolving door of potential dads his mother paraded before her two young children. Nancy, Quinton's sister, lived with her wife in another state, and has run away to college and a life as far removed from her toxic mother. Unfortunately, she left her brother to bear and survive the neglect, hunger, and having to fend for himself, which led to his unfortunate criminal record. Long story short, he reached out to her for help when Callum became his new reality; she warmly lent him support, assistance with a job, then baby things Callum, and he desperately needed, because he couldn't afford them on his own.

We discover that Jennifer, Callum's mother, harbors an irrational resentment and bitterness toward Quinton, especially after she is first charged with reckless child endangerment, then a formal complaint is issued by the state services to determine her fitness as Callum's custodial parent. I love seeing justice prevail in this trope - I abhor situations that gravitate toward granting a child to its mother when the people making the decision have.no clue what kind of mother she might really be. The fact she complains constantly about how Callum is fussy, irritable, difficult, and demanding, while Quinton finds his son sweet, easy to deal with, and a creature of habit, shows he simply has great parenting instincts, and Jennifer is one of those types of people who expect the world's rotation and everyone in it to concede to, revolve around her. In a word (or two), she's selfish, unreasonable.

Truthfully, this book was a low-burn - focus was on the characters getting to know each other, learning and trusting history, personalities, their thinking, and hearts, as well as the plotlines of Quinton's biggest antagonist and, it turns out, an adversary who cares nothing for what's best for her child's life, future, health and welfare as she seeks to fabricate illegal, immoral and trumped up evidence against Quinton.

As stated above, the storyline is good, the characters well fleshed out and.solid career-wise. Quinton's got plans to become a journeyman plumber, which is a great career move that ensures he makes bank. Wyatt's for promotional potential as well - and they're so cute together! The drama was realistic - people actually exist who think and behave like Jennifer. One would hope prison would teach her something, but I don't have enough faith in her already lackluster mothering skills, a deplorable absence of decency, her inability to make good choices, and her track record in exercising poor reasoning or no common sense. Four happy stars!

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Final Rating: 3 / 5
Notable Tropes or Content Warnings: Single Dad, Detective Sub-Plot, Family Drama
Favorite Moment and/or Quote
"People always say that a baby looks like his mom or dad, but they're babies. They look like babies. My cousin had a baby a couple years ago. Ugliest thing I ever saw."
"David," Quinton chided. "Babies are not ugly."
"This one was."

Review
This is my first Andrew Grey book and I have to say it was pretty enjoyable. Quinton and Wyatt feel real. This is not an insta-love story; yes, they're attracted to each other, but the love builds up at a good pace. That's not to say it's a slow burn they are actively falling for each other the whole time and are aware of it, but they don't go all in right away. Quinton very much prioritizes his son over dating and Wyatt prioritizes his job and his mental health (due to past trauma). So, they both have to gradually find their spots in each other's lives and it's so sweet to witness happen.

The plot can at times feel a bit melodramatic but it's entertaining and not so far-fetched as to take from the story. All of the drama/conflict also happens outside our couple's relationship and really just brings both of them closer together.

Additionally, I want to note that while this book is written in 3rd person, Grey does a good job at splitting the narrative (sometimes following Quinton and sometimes following Wyatt) and the shift is distinct enough that you're never lost or confused, and it done in a way that never too jarring. So, the reading experience is all around pretty good. Definitely check it out if you're interested!

On a side note, I was disappointed after reading the synopsis' for the other Carlisle Tropper books because it appears that this series isn't interconnected beyond the occupation aspect. I was hoping David would get his own book because he really interested me as a character in this one. But alas it was not meant to be.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, sweet read, I loved Wyatt and Quinton together! These two have an interesting meeting, Wyatt is a cop who ends up in a police chase, ultimately pulling Quinton over. It gets even more interesting when Quinton insists he was following a stolen car that had his infant son in it, and Wyatt believes him. From there these two develop a friendship that easily turns into more.
Wyatt and Quinton are two very different men and don’t seem at all like a match but they actually are great together. Quinton has made a lot of dumb mistakes in his life, but now that baby Callum is here, he would do anything for his son and is determined to give him a good childhood, one he didn’t have. He doesn’t care that it means giving up the party life or working hard, it’s all about Callum. He gets unlikely support from trooper Wyatt after the whole stolen car/kidnapping mess and the messy situation with Callum’s mother Jennifer. Wyatt wants to help people, especially kids and he sees how much Quinton really cares about his son and he’s determined to help him keep his son.
I really liked the connection between Quinton and Wyatt, it felt very genuine and natural. Both men have their issues and fears but they seem to be able to open up to each other and build a strong relationship. It was great to see Quinton embrace being a father and how much he loves his son. Wyatt also seems to fit right in with Callum as well and they become such a sweet little family. There’s also a bit of mystery thrown in here too, as Wyatt gets an opportunity at work to solve his first real case, and help Quinton at the same time. Overall, a fun read I didn’t want to put down and it had just the perfect ending for them. I’m really looking forward to more in this series and really hope to see this group again too.

[Denise H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Trooper and the speeding car.. Trooper Wyatt catches up to the speeding car, driven by Quinton, who was trying to catch up with a stolen car that has Quinton's child inside !
Quinton was so happy to hold his son,

Callum, 3 months old, and Wyatt set into motion the arrest of the thief.

We get some familiar faces in this spin off series. Here, the Troopers get to experience different crimes, chases and perform investigating to stop unlawful happenings. We get a drug connection and bad guys, and a gal, Quinton's ex.

Quinton loves his son, but the woman he had the baby with was an awful person. Quinton had no father figure, and his Mom slept around, but he's determined not to let that happen to his son. Wyatt's folks are nice people, but he did grow up in a few foster homes.

Each man likes the other and they become friends. Wyatt helps Quinton with everything, and especially in setting Quinton with the things the baby needs.

This tale is about our men's relationship and the frustrating investigation. Wyatt and co-worker, Mark, are like dogs with a bone, and keep going after every lead, as the puzzle takes shape.

Wyatt and Quinton find comfort together, and the feelings are strong. Their sexy times are hot.
We get some surprises, and justice, too.

As always, Andrew Grey gives us what we expect in these stories, and a terrific wrap up.

ENJOY !

======

[Theodore · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ 21%

The problem with third person POV is that it takes a lot of the urgency and the emotion out of a situation and the author has to explicitly add that back in through diction, syntax, sentence length, imagery... I don't think the author did a very good job at that in this story. Take the opening chase scene for example. It read like a very dry retelling of something that should've been exciting and high action (it probably should've been Quinton's POV to considering he was the one going through the stressful event)

Or the scene where Callum's mom kicked Quinton's door down, but he thought it was a gunshot. Again, it lacked suspense, fear, emotion. The way the scene was written made it seem like Quinton was calm and collected (picking Callum up and taking him deeper into the house while being able to perfectly vocalize the situation to Wyatt on the phone)

Wyatt's chapters were similarly boring but for a different reason. He didn't have the emotion and stress attached to raising a child/fighting for custody so he basically had no conflict going on in his chapters, just long winded expositions about how he wished he did more as a cop and some short info about his parents. Not necessarily bad, but with the lack of emotion from Quinton's parts, things kinda just combined into a bunch of nothing chapters.

Romance suffered similarly because the lack of emotion just resulted in making things seem entirely focused on physical attraction as opposed to anything deeper or emotional.

TL;DR Boring because the writing lacked emotion. Felt like a droll recap as opposed to an active love story with high stakes.

[Christy Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quinton meets Wyatt after he is stopped during a police chase. Quinton was chasing the car that had his son in it because someone stole it. Instead of being arrested and booked and everything Wyatt believes Quinton and helps get his baby boy Callum back safely.

Things don't end there for them because Quinton has to work on keeping his son after all that the baby's mom does. Some of the things definitely were over the limit and I was relieved that Quinton had Wyatt to lean on.

Wyatt was so wonderful and helped Quinton out who was no slacker when came to being a good dad. They were a great match that's for sure. Every time one of them was holding Callum my heart was melting into goo because was just adorable.

The was some drama especially around the mom, but she didn't win even after something horrible that went down that might turned out worse. The ending I was so relieved of the judges verdict and how wonderful a family they became.

Was happy to see Donald again (his book still my favorite in cops series). I'm also excited about the next book that will be out this year I'm hoping.

Sex was great as always as well, but this time Callum was my favorite part of this book. Kept thinking of how much my sis would loved it too.

[Wide Eyes, Big Ears! · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gay single dad, Quinton Jackson, hasn’t played much a role in his baby son Callum’s life until he gets a rude wake up call when the car Callum is sleeping in gets stolen. The State Police get very involved, especially State Trooper Wyatt Nelson who takes an instant shine to Quinton and Callum and does all he can to help Quinton get full custody, much to the outrage of Callum’s negligent mother. I’m not a fan of instalove but the romance was pleasant and sweet enough, the plot was straightforward with a nice mysteries about who was trying to sabotage Quinton’s chances of custody and one of Wyatt’s overlapping drugs case. I kept waiting for the significance of the title but couldn’t see any. I liked the characters and found the book easy to engage with, I didn’t have to concentrate hard. That was partly due to the repeated conversational topics, lots of things were overly hashed and rehashed. I guess that’s how people really do talk, especially when they fret over their predicament, but it could have been trimmed for the book. Audio narrator Miller Stevens was new to me and he did a competent job although I didn’t enjoy his female voicing.

[Emmie Rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt like this book was doing all of the right things, but the pieces weren't falling together for me. The relationship between Wyatt and Quinton, for example. Theoretically, it worked great, and they were going through all of the right motions, but I felt that the passion between the love interests was severely lacking.

Additionally, the plot went through all of the right motions and had a lot of the correct components to create urgency (ie the drug crime, the custody and child welfare issues) but I missed the sense of urgency the author was trying to create. The stakes were there, but I wasn't feeling them. I think I felt, for both the plot and the relationship, that I was being told but not being shown, if that makes sense.

The story had all the right pieces, it just missed heart.

[Pontiki · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a state trooper day to day there’s little excitement. So when Wyatt pursues two cars who are in a chase, it’s worrisome and exciting.

He catches Quintin, who explains his baby, Callum, is in the car he was chasing. The other car is caught, and it’s found that Jennifer, the Mom, left Callum unattended in her car.

Once Quentin has his son, he takes the bull by the horns to give him all he needs. He gets a lot of help, from his sister by mail, from Child Services, and especially from Wyatt.

Once they start to have feelings for each other, they work together to battle all the problems Jennifer causes.

An interesting story with an unusual plot and characters. It was great to see how things should work in the systems involved, but of course, this is fiction.

Enjoyable.

KU

[Barbara Dutcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard To Put Down

I really like Andrew Greys' books. There's always good story and nobody is jumping into bed on page three. Usually, if I'm not hooked by the end of the first chapter, I'm done. With his books, I'm hooked immediately and I know my day is shot because I'm going to be reading. (I'm retired so can do that)
Quinton and Wyatt are meant to appear as polar opposites but they're so much alike, too. They're loving, caring and nurturing. They both had rough starts in life. I don't like to rehash the story in a review; I'll just say that if you're a fan of Andrews' books, you won't be disappointed. If this is your first Andrew Grey book, I bet it won't be your last.

[Leslie Zak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute m/m romance

Quentin meets trooper Wyatt when he is stopped speeding after a car holding his infant son. Fortunately Wyatt believes him and radios for the other car to be stopped and the baby is rescued. The car was stolen when the mother left the baby sleeping unattended just as Quentin drove up for his visitation. Quentin gets temporary custody while dealing with Child Services, starting the fight for permanent custody and begins a loving relationship with Wyatt. None of it is easy but we do gets the author's trademark HEA which is most satisfying.

[Tabitha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read the other books set in this world, I was happy to meet Quinton and Wyatt. These two men are different and have their own issues to work through. Quinton being a new dad and having a past that makes his relationship to Wyatt a bit rocky. There are old characters who come into the story and that was a lot of fun to see. The plot was quick with a few twists. The book was quick and enjoyable with sweet romance as these two men find how to work together.

[Nick Hood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its very interesting the reviews by women readers on this book. Some love Andrew Greys writing yet one woman commented that he has no idea how to portray woman. I laughed at that. He is gay you know. How could he? I feel the same way about female writers writing gay romance. As a gay man I feel like I am being led down a sad false reality with female writers writing. We need more male mm romance writers!!

[Ray · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unsophisticated writing style with a splash of copaganda wrapped around a one dimensional love story about a man who doesn’t wake up to being a good father until his baby is kidnapped. Then he shuns his party lifestyle and jumps into an instant relationship with the cop who helps rescue his baby. The cop does everything he can to make sure the evil mother never gets the baby back. And they live happily ever after.

[Stealth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally a story that actually takes a look at WHO is the best parent.

I know from experience as a parent watching a son go through this because the mother didn't want the baby after the first month. I helped as much as I could, but didn't want to cross the line. It worked out the same as Quinton, but without support from friend/partner other than me. Thank goodness Quinton had Wyatt. THANK YOU, Andrew! ENJOY!

[Ethel Nesson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Action, an Infant at Risk and Love!

In his old Camry Quinton speeds after the carjacker who stole his infant son Callum along with the Lexus owned by Jennifer, his son’s mother. Will being pulled over by Trooper Wyatt help Quinton get Callum back? Enjoy how Wyatt and Quinton work to get custody of Callum for Quinton, to identify drug dealers, and to find time for steamy moments!!!

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the Typical Romance

The storyline has its ups and downs, with a plot which is more intricate than it first appears with several unexpected twists along the way. The attraction between Wyatt and Quinton is immediate but the relationship grows slowly. Good character development and supporting cast, plus a positive ending.

[Iain · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a warm, nicely written sweet single gay dad romance with a hint of drama and intrigue. I think if you like your MM romance more sweet and cozy than hot and spicy, you’ll enjoy this book a lot. As I prefer my MM romance on the more racy side, this was more just okay for me. Still enjoyable and one of the better writers in the genre.