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Bottled Up #3
Bottled Up
A Bottled Up Story Sean Bielecki has built a new life, leaving an infamous identity and painful past behind. Now Sommelier Wines is Sean’s dream. And after taking in Bobby, a homeless teenager who was attacked in the alley behind his store, parental instincts wake in him that he didn’t know he had, giving him new courage and direction. Officer Sam Davis has been watching Sean for a while―not because of his past―but rising star because Sam wants to be a part of his life now. Sam finally asks Sean out, and they seem to click, but Sean is haunted by his memories. It all comes to a head when the man who attacked Bobby returns, awakening Sean’s buried fears, which are compounded by a hateful ex and a new lover who puts his life on the line for others. Can Sean come to terms with his past and present to move into the future? Or will his dream of love end before it starts?
215 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
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392 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
October 20, 2009
Andrew Grey’s books are becoming an automatic buy for me. I really enjoy getting to know his characters and he never disappoints me with his interesting stories and sweet romance.
Bottled Up is no exception.
Sean’s life took a change for the better in one day. He saved homeless teenaged Bobby from being attacked behind his store, not knowing that just being around the sixteen year old boy would bring out parenting instincts he had thought he’d never had. While filing the police report he became acquainted with Officer Sam Davis, who is not only the nicest law enforcement officer he’s ever met, but he’s also the sexiest one, too.
When Sean finds out that Bobby has been lost in the foster care system, Sean immediately takes young Bobby in. They form a trust and bond with one another and soon both Sean and Bobby not only become like family and Sean takes measures into fostering Bobby and even adopting him.
While Sean and Bobby start forming a father-son relationship, Sean and Sam become close as well. Sam seems determined not only to have Sean in his life, and Bobby as well. As Sean and Sam get to know one another, Sam finds out that Sean has a tragic and somewhat mysterious past, that when is revealed just makes Sam love and want to protect Sean even more.
But, someone is out to kidnap Bobby, and Sean and Sam must deal with keeping Bobby safe, as well as Sean’s past, before they can become a family that all three of them long to be.
I really loved all the characters in this book. The character growth and development both Sean and Bobby experience after truly being accepted and showered with love changes both of them. All three characters are heroes in there own right, for what they overcome to become a family.
I loved Bottled Up. If you are looking for great characters that is easy to care about and a sweet and loving romance, Bottled Up is for you.
Solid 5 Stars
Bottled Up is no exception.
Sean’s life took a change for the better in one day. He saved homeless teenaged Bobby from being attacked behind his store, not knowing that just being around the sixteen year old boy would bring out parenting instincts he had thought he’d never had. While filing the police report he became acquainted with Officer Sam Davis, who is not only the nicest law enforcement officer he’s ever met, but he’s also the sexiest one, too.
When Sean finds out that Bobby has been lost in the foster care system, Sean immediately takes young Bobby in. They form a trust and bond with one another and soon both Sean and Bobby not only become like family and Sean takes measures into fostering Bobby and even adopting him.
While Sean and Bobby start forming a father-son relationship, Sean and Sam become close as well. Sam seems determined not only to have Sean in his life, and Bobby as well. As Sean and Sam get to know one another, Sam finds out that Sean has a tragic and somewhat mysterious past, that when is revealed just makes Sam love and want to protect Sean even more.
But, someone is out to kidnap Bobby, and Sean and Sam must deal with keeping Bobby safe, as well as Sean’s past, before they can become a family that all three of them long to be.
I really loved all the characters in this book. The character growth and development both Sean and Bobby experience after truly being accepted and showered with love changes both of them. All three characters are heroes in there own right, for what they overcome to become a family.
I loved Bottled Up. If you are looking for great characters that is easy to care about and a sweet and loving romance, Bottled Up is for you.
Solid 5 Stars
December 2, 2009
4.5 Stars
When Sean Bielecki is alerted to a scuffle at the back of his wine shop – Sommelier Wines he literally had no fear and just knew he had to help the underdog. The underdog in question is Bobby and meeting Bobby will change Sean’s life in such a way that he had never image or even hoped for.
Sean knows hurt and the need for safety when he sees it so he had no problem with extending his hand and his home to Bobby. Bobby eager for any scrap of kindness he can get soaks it up and soon becomes a pivotal part of Sean's life.
As much as Bobby fills a need in Sean‘s life, Sean wanted more - he needed more for himself and this is just when he is asked on a date by Officer Sam Davis. Officer Davis has been a customer of Sean for a while now and to be honest Sean has never looked twice at the man as any sort of love interest – but now that he is looking, the man he sees is a superb specimen.
Sam and Sean gets on famously and while trying to make a relationship between them they have to contend with family, friends and Bobby. Bobby comes with his own set of baggage and most it not good. Sean however does try to give him a stability that he has never had and he blossoms and literally shines under Sean's care – however some things are just too good to be true as Bobby has a frightening experience that has him reverting to the scared little boy that I originally met and to compound all that Sean immediate past makes an appearance and Sam looks like the only sane one of the three who has to hold his little family together.
I wont even go any further with this review without letting you know that I love this book, really love this book. I had some minor concern regarding technical procedure, but overall a solid read for me and a most recommended book.
Now that that is out of the way here's the fine print. BOTTLED UP is a follow up to THE BEST REVENGE and they don't have to be read together as I actually read this book first and was intrigued enough by the introduction of Mark and Tyler to follow up their story to THE BEST REVENGE.
This book starts straight off with an emotional scene, to be honest there was a carousel of these in just the first twenty pages of this book. Sean is relatively happy, he is a grown man, with super cool parents, his own business, friends he love and who loved him right back and his own home – what more could any honest red blooded man want. Yup you got it in one – he needed a man and a man that does more that moan and get snippy at the minor things in life.
Not one to dwell on the negatives of life Sean compartmentalizes alot and is able to enjoy his life and carry on to enjoy the things that he does have. Running out into the cold to help with a bust up is not unlike the Sean I got to know and love and because of this he and I got to meet Bobby.
As soon as Sean helped Bobby in from the cold and saw the state he was in – both Sean and I fell in love with him and I think my parenting urges kicked in at just about the same time Sean’s did – five minutes after he shovelled a second sandwich into his mouth.
Anyhow back to Sean – As much as he is OK, he has some confidence issues when it comes to making the next move in his personal life or for that matter being able to see what or who was around him and in turn see that there was one man in particular that really wanted to get with him.
This man is Officer Sam Davis – a local cop in the business district where Sean’s wine shop is, so not only was he liable to be at the scene of a local crime but he was a customer of Sommelier Wines as well. When the opportunity put Sam in a position to ask Sean out, Sean accept with surprising eagerness and I was even surprise at the less than reluctant attitude to the first date, as Sean is not the one to notice a guy who has the hot for him.
Gently does it is the motto between the two and with Bobby now a firm fixture in Sean's life, Sam showed me the kind of man he was – not only did he hold Sean's hand and gave him some of the little pleasures of life that he had been missing out on but he accepted Bobby and Sean as a package deal and I loved him for this.
I could not write this review without giving Bobby equal page time. Bobby's story is not only heartbreaking but he has a personality and a capability to love and be loved in return that he took this book over. He grab the headline with his zest for life, the talent he never even knew he had, his naive approach to the things we take for granted and just his utmost pleasure at every little scrap of kindness.
Bobby, Sean and Sam are such strong personalities that they wrap you up in their lives and it’s hard to imagine how anything else much less anyone else could get a scene in edgewise – but Andrew Grey filled the excess pages with some wonderful characters, from the mouthy sales assistant whose only dream is for a man of her own, plus a hurricane of a customer that feels no qualms about taking Sean and eventually Bobby under her wings and he rounds that off with a few of the residents from the underbelly of society and believe me – it was the entire package.
The situations that Grey puts his characters in were realistic and well described. With the array of characters and side stories going through the book, he kept the pace sharp and the scenes were like little photo snaps –changing quite often but I was not tossed off track by any of it.
I thought the characters gelled well together – the angst and little secrets were edgy enough to give this book a backbone, that held strong all the way though the book. Greys plot his simply, his writing style is easy and he makes the little community a thrill to visit – it actually feels like my high street.
Bottom Line
Andrew Grey has done it again for me with BOTTLE UP. With a story line that not only called to me, but crafted in such a way that it would have taken a much stronger person than anyone around me to pry me away from this book – he captured my imagination, he opened up a world where my good wishes for all the best was running right alongside my urge to get my bat out and do some serious damage to a few toerags in this book.
He made me laugh, he made me sigh and he also made me cry and I hate him for that – I hate crying over books… it just damage the pages…
Fans of Grey’s work – why didn’t you pinch me and tell me about this book, newbie you have no excuse not to be reading BOTTLED UP.
When Sean Bielecki is alerted to a scuffle at the back of his wine shop – Sommelier Wines he literally had no fear and just knew he had to help the underdog. The underdog in question is Bobby and meeting Bobby will change Sean’s life in such a way that he had never image or even hoped for.
Sean knows hurt and the need for safety when he sees it so he had no problem with extending his hand and his home to Bobby. Bobby eager for any scrap of kindness he can get soaks it up and soon becomes a pivotal part of Sean's life.
As much as Bobby fills a need in Sean‘s life, Sean wanted more - he needed more for himself and this is just when he is asked on a date by Officer Sam Davis. Officer Davis has been a customer of Sean for a while now and to be honest Sean has never looked twice at the man as any sort of love interest – but now that he is looking, the man he sees is a superb specimen.
Sam and Sean gets on famously and while trying to make a relationship between them they have to contend with family, friends and Bobby. Bobby comes with his own set of baggage and most it not good. Sean however does try to give him a stability that he has never had and he blossoms and literally shines under Sean's care – however some things are just too good to be true as Bobby has a frightening experience that has him reverting to the scared little boy that I originally met and to compound all that Sean immediate past makes an appearance and Sam looks like the only sane one of the three who has to hold his little family together.
I wont even go any further with this review without letting you know that I love this book, really love this book. I had some minor concern regarding technical procedure, but overall a solid read for me and a most recommended book.
Now that that is out of the way here's the fine print. BOTTLED UP is a follow up to THE BEST REVENGE and they don't have to be read together as I actually read this book first and was intrigued enough by the introduction of Mark and Tyler to follow up their story to THE BEST REVENGE.
This book starts straight off with an emotional scene, to be honest there was a carousel of these in just the first twenty pages of this book. Sean is relatively happy, he is a grown man, with super cool parents, his own business, friends he love and who loved him right back and his own home – what more could any honest red blooded man want. Yup you got it in one – he needed a man and a man that does more that moan and get snippy at the minor things in life.
Not one to dwell on the negatives of life Sean compartmentalizes alot and is able to enjoy his life and carry on to enjoy the things that he does have. Running out into the cold to help with a bust up is not unlike the Sean I got to know and love and because of this he and I got to meet Bobby.
As soon as Sean helped Bobby in from the cold and saw the state he was in – both Sean and I fell in love with him and I think my parenting urges kicked in at just about the same time Sean’s did – five minutes after he shovelled a second sandwich into his mouth.
Anyhow back to Sean – As much as he is OK, he has some confidence issues when it comes to making the next move in his personal life or for that matter being able to see what or who was around him and in turn see that there was one man in particular that really wanted to get with him.
This man is Officer Sam Davis – a local cop in the business district where Sean’s wine shop is, so not only was he liable to be at the scene of a local crime but he was a customer of Sommelier Wines as well. When the opportunity put Sam in a position to ask Sean out, Sean accept with surprising eagerness and I was even surprise at the less than reluctant attitude to the first date, as Sean is not the one to notice a guy who has the hot for him.
Gently does it is the motto between the two and with Bobby now a firm fixture in Sean's life, Sam showed me the kind of man he was – not only did he hold Sean's hand and gave him some of the little pleasures of life that he had been missing out on but he accepted Bobby and Sean as a package deal and I loved him for this.
I could not write this review without giving Bobby equal page time. Bobby's story is not only heartbreaking but he has a personality and a capability to love and be loved in return that he took this book over. He grab the headline with his zest for life, the talent he never even knew he had, his naive approach to the things we take for granted and just his utmost pleasure at every little scrap of kindness.
Bobby, Sean and Sam are such strong personalities that they wrap you up in their lives and it’s hard to imagine how anything else much less anyone else could get a scene in edgewise – but Andrew Grey filled the excess pages with some wonderful characters, from the mouthy sales assistant whose only dream is for a man of her own, plus a hurricane of a customer that feels no qualms about taking Sean and eventually Bobby under her wings and he rounds that off with a few of the residents from the underbelly of society and believe me – it was the entire package.
The situations that Grey puts his characters in were realistic and well described. With the array of characters and side stories going through the book, he kept the pace sharp and the scenes were like little photo snaps –changing quite often but I was not tossed off track by any of it.
I thought the characters gelled well together – the angst and little secrets were edgy enough to give this book a backbone, that held strong all the way though the book. Greys plot his simply, his writing style is easy and he makes the little community a thrill to visit – it actually feels like my high street.
Bottom Line
Andrew Grey has done it again for me with BOTTLE UP. With a story line that not only called to me, but crafted in such a way that it would have taken a much stronger person than anyone around me to pry me away from this book – he captured my imagination, he opened up a world where my good wishes for all the best was running right alongside my urge to get my bat out and do some serious damage to a few toerags in this book.
He made me laugh, he made me sigh and he also made me cry and I hate him for that – I hate crying over books… it just damage the pages…
Fans of Grey’s work – why didn’t you pinch me and tell me about this book, newbie you have no excuse not to be reading BOTTLED UP.
August 10, 2013
3.75*
When I read one of Andrew Grey's books I know what I'm going to get.
I'm going to get a sweet story, likely unrealistic, idealized and after some sad and difficult issues from the past are overcome life is cupcakes and rainbows and puppies bathed in glitter.
And you know what? That's OK!
I wanted a feel good read, where the MCs love each other, they don't deny it, they don't doubt it, even the teenager is special and nice and thankful ( a miracle is what that is! LOL) the surrounding characters are either the bad guys or the good guys and it's clear who's who.
So Sean saves the sweet and extraordinarily well behaved 16 year old teen Bobby. Sean takes Bobby in and a family is born.
Police officer Sam has the hots for Sean but never let on, but now he makes his move and with a few dramatic turn of events and the easiest maneuvering through bureaucracy in the history of mankind, lots of love declarations and a little help from friends all is well.
I feel happy and am again reminded why I like picking up one of Mr Grey's stories.
When I read one of Andrew Grey's books I know what I'm going to get.
I'm going to get a sweet story, likely unrealistic, idealized and after some sad and difficult issues from the past are overcome life is cupcakes and rainbows and puppies bathed in glitter.
And you know what? That's OK!
I wanted a feel good read, where the MCs love each other, they don't deny it, they don't doubt it, even the teenager is special and nice and thankful ( a miracle is what that is! LOL) the surrounding characters are either the bad guys or the good guys and it's clear who's who.
So Sean saves the sweet and extraordinarily well behaved 16 year old teen Bobby. Sean takes Bobby in and a family is born.
Police officer Sam has the hots for Sean but never let on, but now he makes his move and with a few dramatic turn of events and the easiest maneuvering through bureaucracy in the history of mankind, lots of love declarations and a little help from friends all is well.
I feel happy and am again reminded why I like picking up one of Mr Grey's stories.
October 20, 2009
The 3rd book in a group of friends who live in the same town. Andrew Gray tells us the story of how a family came together.
The story deals with some very delicate issues. Luckily for us Grey was able to present the characters in such a way that showed the respect, understanding, and unity that can only be felt by those who truly love you.I really enjoyed the fact that though there were some sad moments the story did not make me want to cry, but rather hope that something will happen later on to make it better.
In case you are wondering the other stories are:
Master of the Revels, The Best Revenge and though i have yet to read it a possible novella called To have, hold and let go.
The story deals with some very delicate issues. Luckily for us Grey was able to present the characters in such a way that showed the respect, understanding, and unity that can only be felt by those who truly love you.I really enjoyed the fact that though there were some sad moments the story did not make me want to cry, but rather hope that something will happen later on to make it better.
In case you are wondering the other stories are:
Master of the Revels, The Best Revenge and though i have yet to read it a possible novella called To have, hold and let go.
Read
August 3, 2009Bottled Up is a full romance, with all the cliche of the good old romance (the hunky cop, the perfect family, the nice neighborhood), and it's also the proof that a man can write romance. Truth be told, it's more than a proof, since Bottled Up is way more romantic than any romance I read lately.
Sean is a nice gay guy. He is the owner of a winery, no apparently money issues, a bunch of good friends, a supporting family and even a boyfriend. Well this last is maybe the only thing not so perfect, since no one of his friends seem to like Ted, his boyfriend. And being Sean so nice and perfect, it's only obvious that, when he saves an homeless teenager kid for a rape attempt in the alley near his business, Sean has no courage to put him again on the street. But Sean suddenly interest and attachment to Bobby would have been strange or worrying, if a bad experience in Sean's past didn't explain his reactions to the event.
From that moment on, the story flows down steadily and with little bumps towards an happily ever after, even the only nasty thing, the bad boyfriend, is soon replaced with the hunky cop of above, Sam, a patrol officer who are trying to catch Sean's interest for months without apparently success. But I have the feeling that Bobby's rescue, other than awakening in Sean fatherly instinct that he even didn't know to have, also unveils some inner trouble that Sean was hiding from friends, family, but even to himself. The Bottled Up of the title is an obvious reference to Sean's business, but also to his attitude towards the world, he has everything bottled up inside himself, and when he decides to let it go, the result can be only one: he will explode like a sparkling wine shook too much, but the explosion can have also a positive side, since now Sean is ready to love again, with all himself, body and mind, and not only with a cool external behavior that didn't reflect the pain he had inside.
Side by side with Sean during his journey from good friend and aloof boyfriend (with Ted, the ex) to perfect father and lover, there is Sam, the quintessence of the Cop Dream Lover; nice, gay, out and proud, Sam has nothing to hide since he has no mean bone. Sometime when you write a character like Sam, you risk to make him nasty since too much good could be too much; but this is not the case with Sam, it's true, he never once fails or does something bad in the book, he is always willing and ready to help Sean and to love Bobby, even if it's clear that he is doing so for Sean's love. Sam probably was not thinking to become a father, but like a perfect man, if the object of his love has a son, there is no doubt that he has to include that son in his affection. No complain for the time they lose since they are not alone, as he doesn't complain when he has to face Sean's past, a past that it's still conditioning Sean's response to sex and relationship. As I said, Sam is perfect.
As I said the story is basically a romance with an happily ever after; true, it deals with delicate matters, but the author manages to not push too much on the angst bottom. More than make you cry, the author chose to make you smile, a warm and quiet smile, since, to respect to the delicate matter, he never even pushed too much on the light bottom.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1615810196/?...
Sean is a nice gay guy. He is the owner of a winery, no apparently money issues, a bunch of good friends, a supporting family and even a boyfriend. Well this last is maybe the only thing not so perfect, since no one of his friends seem to like Ted, his boyfriend. And being Sean so nice and perfect, it's only obvious that, when he saves an homeless teenager kid for a rape attempt in the alley near his business, Sean has no courage to put him again on the street. But Sean suddenly interest and attachment to Bobby would have been strange or worrying, if a bad experience in Sean's past didn't explain his reactions to the event.
From that moment on, the story flows down steadily and with little bumps towards an happily ever after, even the only nasty thing, the bad boyfriend, is soon replaced with the hunky cop of above, Sam, a patrol officer who are trying to catch Sean's interest for months without apparently success. But I have the feeling that Bobby's rescue, other than awakening in Sean fatherly instinct that he even didn't know to have, also unveils some inner trouble that Sean was hiding from friends, family, but even to himself. The Bottled Up of the title is an obvious reference to Sean's business, but also to his attitude towards the world, he has everything bottled up inside himself, and when he decides to let it go, the result can be only one: he will explode like a sparkling wine shook too much, but the explosion can have also a positive side, since now Sean is ready to love again, with all himself, body and mind, and not only with a cool external behavior that didn't reflect the pain he had inside.
Side by side with Sean during his journey from good friend and aloof boyfriend (with Ted, the ex) to perfect father and lover, there is Sam, the quintessence of the Cop Dream Lover; nice, gay, out and proud, Sam has nothing to hide since he has no mean bone. Sometime when you write a character like Sam, you risk to make him nasty since too much good could be too much; but this is not the case with Sam, it's true, he never once fails or does something bad in the book, he is always willing and ready to help Sean and to love Bobby, even if it's clear that he is doing so for Sean's love. Sam probably was not thinking to become a father, but like a perfect man, if the object of his love has a son, there is no doubt that he has to include that son in his affection. No complain for the time they lose since they are not alone, as he doesn't complain when he has to face Sean's past, a past that it's still conditioning Sean's response to sex and relationship. As I said, Sam is perfect.
As I said the story is basically a romance with an happily ever after; true, it deals with delicate matters, but the author manages to not push too much on the angst bottom. More than make you cry, the author chose to make you smile, a warm and quiet smile, since, to respect to the delicate matter, he never even pushed too much on the light bottom.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1615810196/?...
June 16, 2018
Audiobook....review to follow
May 2, 2010
Sean owns a liquor store and one night he rescues a teenager who's being attacked in the alley behind his store. Bobby is sixteen and has been on the streets for months after running away from his foster home. Right away Sean knows he wants to save Bobby from the dangers of living on the street. With the help of hunky policeman Sam he's able to take Bobby in. Despite a traumatic incident that has affected his sex life Sean and Sam quickly fall in love. Together they find a way to deal with Sean's issues, help Bobby deal with his loser mom and a stalker as well as a jealous ex-boyfriend of Sean's.
There is a lot going on in this story which for the most part was interesting although at times it felt unrealistic. I know it's fiction but some of the things that occurred, especially regarding the ease with which Sean, unmarried, gay and with no previous fostering experience, was allowed to simply keep Bobby with him just didn't feel real. Also I felt that Bobby was too good to be true. Sixteen years old and living on the streets yet he is a perfectly well behaved young man. In fact, he's a model for what most parents would want their teenagers to be. Which for the storyline felt wrong. Maybe it's just me but I kept expecting him to act up.
Nevertheless this is a well written story that is sweet and also quite hot at times. Sean and Sam are a good match and their relationship was interesting and engaging.
There is a lot going on in this story which for the most part was interesting although at times it felt unrealistic. I know it's fiction but some of the things that occurred, especially regarding the ease with which Sean, unmarried, gay and with no previous fostering experience, was allowed to simply keep Bobby with him just didn't feel real. Also I felt that Bobby was too good to be true. Sixteen years old and living on the streets yet he is a perfectly well behaved young man. In fact, he's a model for what most parents would want their teenagers to be. Which for the storyline felt wrong. Maybe it's just me but I kept expecting him to act up.
Nevertheless this is a well written story that is sweet and also quite hot at times. Sean and Sam are a good match and their relationship was interesting and engaging.
August 23, 2009
I'm always a sucker for soft reads-books that don't have too much angst, too much gratuitous sex, etc. Bottled up was a great read and became one of my favorites, along with Wes & Toren, Sutcliffe Cove, or Caught Running. This story is about the bonds of family, the strength and the ties that keep them together through the good times and the bad.
It's about a man-Sean,relearning how to trust and gather confidence by loving someone else-a young boy (Bobby) that has suffered emotionally and is close to becoming a victim of an act that Sean himself went through and hasn't been able to surpass. The romance between Sean & Sam is sweet and grows stronger as their love for Bobby brings them closer, forming a family all their own.
It's about a man-Sean,relearning how to trust and gather confidence by loving someone else-a young boy (Bobby) that has suffered emotionally and is close to becoming a victim of an act that Sean himself went through and hasn't been able to surpass. The romance between Sean & Sam is sweet and grows stronger as their love for Bobby brings them closer, forming a family all their own.
June 21, 2018
This book had a lot of good bones. It needed to decide what it wanted to be about. Too many elements, none of which were truly explored with any depth. Lacked believability. The MC, within the first two chapters, I think, befriends a kid from the streets, takes him home, the kid is calling him dad within like a week. Let's just pretend that a police officer would actually let the kid, who is in the foster system, go home with a complete stranger and that the foster system would be just fine with it too. And that this trouble teen would go from troubled to tame and loving and problem-free literally overnight. Okay. But on top of it, the MC wanders into the love of his life two minutes after breaking up with his boyfriend to the point he's confessing deep, dark truths that he's never told anyone ever.
Take a deep breath and some time to explore these elements.
Take a deep breath and some time to explore these elements.
January 7, 2019
This is an old Andrew Grey, written in 2009, and it's evident in the writing. The story is nice, not realistic, but again, it's older. And the MCs were sweet and perfect for each other. The issue with Big Mike disappeared rather quickly and the ex boyfriend and his father also built up and fizzled out fast. The young boy was quite the most unrealistic to me, but the author has a sunny side up personality and I could see that shine throughout the story. Maybe this could realistically happen...somewhere.
In any event, it was nice entertainment for the weekend, and one more book off my TBR.
In any event, it was nice entertainment for the weekend, and one more book off my TBR.
April 3, 2011
One of the things I’m coming to realize and enjoy about this author’s books is the lack of angst and conflict between the main characters in their relationship. Once the relationship begins to form, it generally grows and gets stronger. The tests tend to come in the form of outside influences causing angst, but not resulting in lots of doubts or misunderstandings between the protagonists. I found this theme did apply in this wonderful story as well.
The character development was awesome in this book. Starting with Sean, I wanted to nominate him for man of the year or something! He was incredibly strong and balanced despite having survived an extremely traumatic event as a young adult. Perhaps partly due to his own experiences, he was the perfect person to come into Bobby’s life. The way that Sean jumped in to rescue Bobby, the way he loved him without question, the way he adapted to a father figure role, and the way he proved to be a steady anchor when Bobby had experienced nothing but turmoil – wow, nothing but respect for him!
Regarding Sam, I thought it was totally endearing how he visited Sean’s store and kind of hung in the background for quite a while until Sean was available before making a move. The way that Sam finally asked Sean out and the little secret associated with it made me love him in an instant! He had to be one of the most patient men I could ever imagine. He supported and encouraged Sean once he found out about his troubled past, and when it came to having to deal with an instant family in the form of Bobby, Sam never once complained and loved becoming a second father figure.
Bobby was also great. I felt the doubts, joy, anticipation, hope, fear and myriad of other emotions he projected in the story. He almost seemed too good to be true and I was a little surprised that his only “acting out” so to speak was in the form of doubts about being rejected or abandoned again vs. causing trouble.
I admire some of the challenging topics this author tackles in his stories and this one was no exception! He made everything feel and sound very realistic. I’m really looking forward to reading the rest of this series!!!
The character development was awesome in this book. Starting with Sean, I wanted to nominate him for man of the year or something! He was incredibly strong and balanced despite having survived an extremely traumatic event as a young adult. Perhaps partly due to his own experiences, he was the perfect person to come into Bobby’s life. The way that Sean jumped in to rescue Bobby, the way he loved him without question, the way he adapted to a father figure role, and the way he proved to be a steady anchor when Bobby had experienced nothing but turmoil – wow, nothing but respect for him!
Regarding Sam, I thought it was totally endearing how he visited Sean’s store and kind of hung in the background for quite a while until Sean was available before making a move. The way that Sam finally asked Sean out and the little secret associated with it made me love him in an instant! He had to be one of the most patient men I could ever imagine. He supported and encouraged Sean once he found out about his troubled past, and when it came to having to deal with an instant family in the form of Bobby, Sam never once complained and loved becoming a second father figure.
Bobby was also great. I felt the doubts, joy, anticipation, hope, fear and myriad of other emotions he projected in the story. He almost seemed too good to be true and I was a little surprised that his only “acting out” so to speak was in the form of doubts about being rejected or abandoned again vs. causing trouble.
I admire some of the challenging topics this author tackles in his stories and this one was no exception! He made everything feel and sound very realistic. I’m really looking forward to reading the rest of this series!!!
June 3, 2011
The writing is elementary, the plot thin, the characters one-dimensional, the dialogue unrealistic. A homeless kid nearly gets raped and is assaulted in the back alley of Sean's store but when the thug gets scared away, the police show up and stand there. They don't handle the situation realistically, they leave the kid with Sean, then simply disappear. People's reactions make no sense and the story pretty much flops on it's face.
April 24, 2010
I loved this book from the beginning to the end. I know, I love a book when I wish I knew the people in real life. I just loved Sean, Sam and Bobby and all of their family and friends. I'm so glad that Bobby has his own story. I can't wait to visit with everyone again. The start to another great series Andrew...You Rock!!
September 28, 2010
Not a fan of this book. I thought that the plot was thin and formulaic. The plot is disturbingly similar to a story line from the show "Queer As Folk". I thought that the character development was lacking and the story wholly unrealistic (even more so than the QAF version). Somewhat disappointed.
Read
June 26, 2023I just found this book so disappointing. Things happened at light speed, not even a few pages of Bobby and suddenly Sean is feeling parental, and Bobby calls him dad??? There was no development of any of the characters, it's like the outline for the book was sketched out and left with no actual filling. I have no idea why Sam loves Sean or vice versa, no idea what the difference in their characters is, nothing. The names, the people, and the story all began to blend. The tension from the "bad guys" was not developed enough to be interesting; the two MCs fell in love in 0.3 seconds; there was no reason for it or anything. Now I'm just rambling but I just expected more...
October 22, 2017
This is a review for the eAudio Book :- I really like Andrew Grey’s stories. The character development is great and the mix of angst, humour, contemporary storyline and HEA work really well. What ruined this eAudio Book for me was Jeremy Klavens narration - sorry Jeremy :( The pace was too fast and there were no noticeable breaks between character lines, nor much differentiation between ‘voices’. Still a lovely story though :)
November 29, 2017
I truly loved this story! It was wonderful that Sean could save a homeless teenager from the streets and an attacker and then finds his true love in Sam, a cop who has had an eye for Sean for a long time. Bobby, the homeless teen, shows talent in art and really seems to excel in everything academically except math. Sean gets him the help he needs and later has to save him again from the same attacker. Bobby later learns who the attacker is...... A Very Good Read!
July 13, 2022
2.5 estrellas 🌟
Es la primera vez que leo algo del autor, me gustó como escribe aunque para tener una opinión más acertada del autor debería leer algo más.
Con respecto a la historia, estuvo interesante. Me entretuvo mientras leía el libro pero la narración no me terminó de convencer, hubiera preferido más descripción para llega a entender a los protagonistas.
Como punto bueno: La historia tiene un ritmo rápido y como dije, te entretiene.
Es la primera vez que leo algo del autor, me gustó como escribe aunque para tener una opinión más acertada del autor debería leer algo más.
Con respecto a la historia, estuvo interesante. Me entretuvo mientras leía el libro pero la narración no me terminó de convencer, hubiera preferido más descripción para llega a entender a los protagonistas.
Como punto bueno: La historia tiene un ritmo rápido y como dije, te entretiene.
May 28, 2017
4.6⭐️. Great story ARC with very good character development. The sexual situation are not over done as some authors seem to do. An unusual story backdrop makes this better than than the usual M/M Romance novel. I highly recommend this book
November 8, 2021
I really like Andrew Grey's books. I know I can always find one, read it and enjoy! This was no exception. There's not a lot of fluff with these books, but a good story, likable characters and a great supporting case of people too! I lot of fun!
February 25, 2018
The moment Sam decided to help a fellow human being his life seems to start moving him in a different direction. Both men open their hearts to each other and Bobby as well.
November 13, 2021
I've already read this book. 2-nd time it's less appealing for me.DNF
March 20, 2011
II am conflicted with my feelings for this book. On one hand, the writing is really very good and I really liked the characters. The way that Sean’s biological clock kicks him in the stomach as soon as he meets Bobby is wonderful to see and experience. The relationship that grows between them is special, loving and I could feel the connection that they both needed.
On the other hand, had the writing been off or the beginning chapter not grabbed my attention, I probably would not have finished reading it. If the book could have focused on the relationships in a more realistic way, I think I would have been more satisfied. Instead, it veered off and lost focus.
There are several things going on in the book that alone would be easy to accept, but once you pile on all the factors, it just becomes too much. Without being too revealing, the terrible things keep being revealed or occurring and they are not normal bad things. Not car accidents or cheating boyfriends. Things like serial killers, rape, mob ties, stalkers, drug abuse, incest and police shootouts are all happening in this story. Not all of them to Sean, Bobby brings his own problems, but at one point about half way through the book my thoughts were “enough is enough!” I am sure the incidents are supposed to make us feel empathy but after a while it bordered on ridiculous. Most of it was unnecessary to still tell a good story and didn’t propel the tale forward.
Love scenes are sparse and riddled with angst at first but they are well written and interesting. Once Sean gets past his hang ups and is able to trust Sam with his body as well as his heart things pick up in that area.
Several of the characters are not portrayed all that well. It’s hard to believe that the self-centered ex-boyfriend would put up with Sean with all of his hang-ups about sex for one week let alone six months. Also, Bobby is a 16-year-old gay throwaway that is portrayed as much too innocent and wondering. He just didn’t react the way I would expect a troubled teen to act in many of the situations he is put in. He was very idealized as was Sean’s new policeman boyfriend Sam.
Which brings me back to my conflicted feelings trying to rate, review and recommend this book. I didn’t dislike the book. I think that the potential for readers to connect to the characters is there and many readers may really feel compelled by the situations Sean, Bobby and Sam find themselves in, but for the price, I think there are better choices out there.
On the other hand, had the writing been off or the beginning chapter not grabbed my attention, I probably would not have finished reading it. If the book could have focused on the relationships in a more realistic way, I think I would have been more satisfied. Instead, it veered off and lost focus.
There are several things going on in the book that alone would be easy to accept, but once you pile on all the factors, it just becomes too much. Without being too revealing, the terrible things keep being revealed or occurring and they are not normal bad things. Not car accidents or cheating boyfriends. Things like serial killers, rape, mob ties, stalkers, drug abuse, incest and police shootouts are all happening in this story. Not all of them to Sean, Bobby brings his own problems, but at one point about half way through the book my thoughts were “enough is enough!” I am sure the incidents are supposed to make us feel empathy but after a while it bordered on ridiculous. Most of it was unnecessary to still tell a good story and didn’t propel the tale forward.
Love scenes are sparse and riddled with angst at first but they are well written and interesting. Once Sean gets past his hang ups and is able to trust Sam with his body as well as his heart things pick up in that area.
Several of the characters are not portrayed all that well. It’s hard to believe that the self-centered ex-boyfriend would put up with Sean with all of his hang-ups about sex for one week let alone six months. Also, Bobby is a 16-year-old gay throwaway that is portrayed as much too innocent and wondering. He just didn’t react the way I would expect a troubled teen to act in many of the situations he is put in. He was very idealized as was Sean’s new policeman boyfriend Sam.
Which brings me back to my conflicted feelings trying to rate, review and recommend this book. I didn’t dislike the book. I think that the potential for readers to connect to the characters is there and many readers may really feel compelled by the situations Sean, Bobby and Sam find themselves in, but for the price, I think there are better choices out there.
October 18, 2012
Sweet characters, but the writing didn’t do it for me
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 5/10
PROS:
- Sean is a wonderful guy--selfless and patient, kind and passionate and sweet. He’s the sort of guy you want to be friends with, or you want your cousin to date, or you want to be your next door neighbor. And Sam is a more masculine version of him--the perfect macho man who’s also tender and physically demonstrative.
- The story is very sweet, with regard to both the romance and Sean’s relationship with Bobby. The romantic relationship is gentle with lots of kissing and slow lovemaking, and the tales of Bobby’s life before living with Sean are heartbreaking, which makes the love he gets from Sean that much sweeter in comparison.
- This is an easy read (which might be a con for some people): there is SOME conflict, but it’s cursory and not deeply disturbing. Overall, the story reads a bit like a fairytale: immediate connection when the characters meet, a few obligatory run-ins with the bad guy, quick handling of the negative situations, and then a happy ending.
CONS:
- Grey’s writing style just doesn’t do it for me. It has choppy sentences and passages that are rushed, and it’s full of telling as opposed to showing. For example, there’s a point when Bobby appears “all dressed, looking very handsome in his suit.” But there’s no actual description of what he looks like; we readers have to simply take the author’s word for it that he looks handsome.
- We never get a very deep look at the characters’ thoughts. One of them will reveal something pretty momentous, for instance, and instead of seeing the other guy’s internal processing of the information, we get a sentence or two that describes how he feels on the surface, and then the story moves on.
- It really bugs me when the two main characters in a story have names that look and/or sound similar. The guys here are Sam and Sean--both of which are short, contain a single syllable, and start with S. It’s practically impossible to read the story quickly because you can’t just glance at the first letter of the name in order to determine which character is being referred to, and even the author gets the guys confused sometimes: “Sam angled his face and felt Sam’s lips touch his.”
Overall comments: I’ve read several Andrew Grey stories, and I like his characters. His stories are romantic, the guys are sweet, and the stories generally have a feel-good atmosphere to them, with practically no angst. I just don’t like his writing style very much.
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 5/10
PROS:
- Sean is a wonderful guy--selfless and patient, kind and passionate and sweet. He’s the sort of guy you want to be friends with, or you want your cousin to date, or you want to be your next door neighbor. And Sam is a more masculine version of him--the perfect macho man who’s also tender and physically demonstrative.
- The story is very sweet, with regard to both the romance and Sean’s relationship with Bobby. The romantic relationship is gentle with lots of kissing and slow lovemaking, and the tales of Bobby’s life before living with Sean are heartbreaking, which makes the love he gets from Sean that much sweeter in comparison.
- This is an easy read (which might be a con for some people): there is SOME conflict, but it’s cursory and not deeply disturbing. Overall, the story reads a bit like a fairytale: immediate connection when the characters meet, a few obligatory run-ins with the bad guy, quick handling of the negative situations, and then a happy ending.
CONS:
- Grey’s writing style just doesn’t do it for me. It has choppy sentences and passages that are rushed, and it’s full of telling as opposed to showing. For example, there’s a point when Bobby appears “all dressed, looking very handsome in his suit.” But there’s no actual description of what he looks like; we readers have to simply take the author’s word for it that he looks handsome.
- We never get a very deep look at the characters’ thoughts. One of them will reveal something pretty momentous, for instance, and instead of seeing the other guy’s internal processing of the information, we get a sentence or two that describes how he feels on the surface, and then the story moves on.
- It really bugs me when the two main characters in a story have names that look and/or sound similar. The guys here are Sam and Sean--both of which are short, contain a single syllable, and start with S. It’s practically impossible to read the story quickly because you can’t just glance at the first letter of the name in order to determine which character is being referred to, and even the author gets the guys confused sometimes: “Sam angled his face and felt Sam’s lips touch his.”
Overall comments: I’ve read several Andrew Grey stories, and I like his characters. His stories are romantic, the guys are sweet, and the stories generally have a feel-good atmosphere to them, with practically no angst. I just don’t like his writing style very much.
April 9, 2011
It took me a few days to get to this review because I have mixed feelings about it.
I gave this book three stars for one thing; the relationship between Sean and Bobby,the street kid Sean takes in.
If the style of writing supports the character development, I have no problem with characters who can do no wrong. Andrew Grey definitely creates an atmosphere in his books that makes you believe in a morally flawless character.
Sean Bielecki was flirting with perfection. He runs into a dangerous situation to save someone. He takes in Bobby, a street kid, without hesitation. He helps his friend Katie find love. He's also beautiful but doesn't realize it. Just in case the reader doesn't get how amazing Sean is, his big-hearted sweetness is off-set by his slimy ex who's a nasty, self-centered, whiny and annoying man.
Bobby, the sixteen year old kid from the streets is sweet. Would it have been more realistic if he was a surly ball of anger? Yes, but it wouldn't have fit the tone of the story. Bobby's scared, insecure and has low self-esteem but he's also a sweet kid. He's got an air of innocence about him and it turns out he's amazingly talented.
Put those two sweet characters together and it's like a bowl of ice cream topped with fudge, whipped cream, cherries and candy.You don't want it all the time but you can't help eating it when you see it.
Sean and Bobby become father and son and it warmed my heart.
Why the story lost stars:
The character of Sam felt like an add-on. I felt no connection to him and had very little interest in his relationship with Sean. He was also really sweet and good but his character had very little development, so he came off as flat. I was given two characters who would make the angels sing...and then there was Sam. He would have had to do something unbelievably fantastic to not get pushed into the background.
The mystery of Bobby's parentage really stuck in my craw. When it's revealed who the father is I had a WTF moment because it's not explained in any way. It's just *Bam* Dun Dun Duuuhhh "He's your father.". How did the mother meet the father? How did the father find Bobby? Did I miss something? It pulled me out of the story. I needed that twisted mess explained.
This is not my favorite Andrew Grey book. I adore the Love Means... series and the Gym series, so I had high hopes for this book. I hate to say that I was disappointed but I was.
I gave this book three stars for one thing; the relationship between Sean and Bobby,the street kid Sean takes in.
If the style of writing supports the character development, I have no problem with characters who can do no wrong. Andrew Grey definitely creates an atmosphere in his books that makes you believe in a morally flawless character.
Sean Bielecki was flirting with perfection. He runs into a dangerous situation to save someone. He takes in Bobby, a street kid, without hesitation. He helps his friend Katie find love. He's also beautiful but doesn't realize it. Just in case the reader doesn't get how amazing Sean is, his big-hearted sweetness is off-set by his slimy ex who's a nasty, self-centered, whiny and annoying man.
Bobby, the sixteen year old kid from the streets is sweet. Would it have been more realistic if he was a surly ball of anger? Yes, but it wouldn't have fit the tone of the story. Bobby's scared, insecure and has low self-esteem but he's also a sweet kid. He's got an air of innocence about him and it turns out he's amazingly talented.
Put those two sweet characters together and it's like a bowl of ice cream topped with fudge, whipped cream, cherries and candy.You don't want it all the time but you can't help eating it when you see it.
Sean and Bobby become father and son and it warmed my heart.
Why the story lost stars:
The character of Sam felt like an add-on. I felt no connection to him and had very little interest in his relationship with Sean. He was also really sweet and good but his character had very little development, so he came off as flat. I was given two characters who would make the angels sing...and then there was Sam. He would have had to do something unbelievably fantastic to not get pushed into the background.
The mystery of Bobby's parentage really stuck in my craw. When it's revealed who the father is I had a WTF moment because it's not explained in any way. It's just *Bam* Dun Dun Duuuhhh "He's your father.". How did the mother meet the father? How did the father find Bobby? Did I miss something? It pulled me out of the story. I needed that twisted mess explained.
This is not my favorite Andrew Grey book. I adore the Love Means... series and the Gym series, so I had high hopes for this book. I hate to say that I was disappointed but I was.
February 13, 2010
For some reason I love this cover. *shrug* Sean runs a wine store and he saves a young kid (16) who’s being attacked behind his store. He feels attached and takes the kid in. His boyfriend freaks but this opens the way or Sam the cop to make his move. It’s basically a story of Sean and Billy getting to know each other at the same time Sam is suddenly dating a single parent plus the guy who attacked Billy is still out there trying to get him but that’s not a huge theme until near the end. To be honest the story is probably totally unbelievable but the rescuing of the abandoned kid theme is one of my soft spots so I let a shitload of stuff go that will make other people crazy. For one, Billy hugs everyone, all the time. My daughter is 15 and she’d rather fling herself off the roof than hug me in public. LOL But then again she knows she can cuddle me on the couch at home and hold my hand so for a kid who has been without that they are more open. He’s a perfect kid, never lips off or goes out drinking. He also switches to calling Sean Dad within weeks and I think Sean gets adoption rights within a couple of months which I know from friends who’ve gone through it, that even when the parent signs away the rights it usually takes a hell of a lot longer. But as I said, I love this theme so I pretend it’s easier in Wisconsin. I also liked that Sam and Sean couldn’t just have mad sex and make out anytime anywhere because there was a teenager running around the house. Welcome to my world. Not that I have anyone to make out with, but your life is not your own. Sam was maybe a bit perfect but on the whole it worked for me, I can see issues others might have though. There is a follow-up book about Billy once he’s older and at art school I have waiting to go.
July 12, 2016
Sean Bielecki is a successful business man running his story, Sommelier Wines, with the assistance of his best friend Katie. One afternoon he rescues a young homeless teen from an altercation behind his store. Sean not only relates to the damage that has been done to young Bobby, but the two bond almost instantly. From that moment on they start to build their own quirky little family.
Sam Davis is local cop that came to help Sean and Bobby that day in the alley. He’s also extremely attracted to Sean, and Bobby picks up on that right away. Several dates and an oh so sexy sleepover later and the two are an item, making the quirky family unit a solid 3. But shadows from Sean’s past find their way into the present. Can Sean come to terms with what happened to him all those years ago and embrace the love that Sam is offering him? Or will he be a lonely single parent to the troubled young teen?
There was some fantastic character development throughout this story that was only enhanced with down to earth and relatable ML. Sean and Sam are both independent and successful in their own right, they don’t necessarily need each other. But they want to need each other and that is what makes them so real. There are some struggles along the way with Sean’s dealing with the past, opening up to Sam, and trying to adopt Bobby. I would have liked a little more exploration of the aspect of Bobby’s parentage, but overall this was just a fun fast read.
The narration left a little to be desired, but the narrator did change his tone and inflections when changing characters, which is a must for an enjoyable audio book. Trademark Andrew Grey though. Sex on a stick ML, smexy storyline and zero angst!
Sam Davis is local cop that came to help Sean and Bobby that day in the alley. He’s also extremely attracted to Sean, and Bobby picks up on that right away. Several dates and an oh so sexy sleepover later and the two are an item, making the quirky family unit a solid 3. But shadows from Sean’s past find their way into the present. Can Sean come to terms with what happened to him all those years ago and embrace the love that Sam is offering him? Or will he be a lonely single parent to the troubled young teen?
There was some fantastic character development throughout this story that was only enhanced with down to earth and relatable ML. Sean and Sam are both independent and successful in their own right, they don’t necessarily need each other. But they want to need each other and that is what makes them so real. There are some struggles along the way with Sean’s dealing with the past, opening up to Sam, and trying to adopt Bobby. I would have liked a little more exploration of the aspect of Bobby’s parentage, but overall this was just a fun fast read.
The narration left a little to be desired, but the narrator did change his tone and inflections when changing characters, which is a must for an enjoyable audio book. Trademark Andrew Grey though. Sex on a stick ML, smexy storyline and zero angst!
May 25, 2012
I wanted to like this book, I really did. I tried to like it...its not worst story I've read but I couldn't believe half of what was happening in the book, the characters were one dimension and story was boring.
MC Sean is owner of wine shop who saves a teenage boy Bobby from being raped and after police gives green light (yeah just like that) Bobby stays with Sean. Bobby is 16, who looks about 12 and has been living on the street for past six months. I have no idea how he survived on the street as he is too trusting even comparing with 5 year old from good family.
Bobby, after less than two months starts to call Sean "dad". Seriously. I don't live in USA but I'm pretty sure that it wouldn't be so easy for homosexual man foster teenage boy. And is Sean old enough to adopt 16 year old?
Then we have police officer Sam, Sean's new boyfriend who is unbelievably good and suffers from main-character's-perfect-lover syndrome. Nuff said. Just I have to add, Sean suffers from traumatic experience and he warns Sam that he needs things to go slow. Sam is completely ready to wait and why not? Apparently taking slow is wait for two months and then sexy time!
I almost cried when I read this:
Sean's mother, who knows her son is gay for 10 years and is OK with it: “I know this isn’t PC of me, but I have to ask. Will staying with you make him gay?”
Our MC “No, Mom. Even if Bobby weren’t already gay, he wouldn’t turn gay. We’re born gay; we don’t choose it or learn it, regardless of what the priests say.”This was a long standing discussion with her.
MC Sean is owner of wine shop who saves a teenage boy Bobby from being raped and after police gives green light (yeah just like that) Bobby stays with Sean. Bobby is 16, who looks about 12 and has been living on the street for past six months. I have no idea how he survived on the street as he is too trusting even comparing with 5 year old from good family.
Bobby, after less than two months starts to call Sean "dad". Seriously. I don't live in USA but I'm pretty sure that it wouldn't be so easy for homosexual man foster teenage boy. And is Sean old enough to adopt 16 year old?
Then we have police officer Sam, Sean's new boyfriend who is unbelievably good and suffers from main-character's-perfect-lover syndrome. Nuff said. Just I have to add, Sean suffers from traumatic experience and he warns Sam that he needs things to go slow. Sam is completely ready to wait and why not? Apparently taking slow is wait for two months and then sexy time!
I almost cried when I read this:
Sean's mother, who knows her son is gay for 10 years and is OK with it: “I know this isn’t PC of me, but I have to ask. Will staying with you make him gay?”
Our MC “No, Mom. Even if Bobby weren’t already gay, he wouldn’t turn gay. We’re born gay; we don’t choose it or learn it, regardless of what the priests say.”This was a long standing discussion with her.
June 23, 2012
This was a really good, emotional story of Sean, a 28 y/o gay man (owner of a wine store) who saves Bobby, a 16 y/o homeless runaway boy from being attacked/raped in the alley behind his store. He takes the kid in and gives him food and shelter and eventually applies for legal guardianship. This part of the story was excellent and moving. I teared up many times. Sean breaks up with his asshole boyfriend and starts dating Sam, a cop who has had his eye on Sean for a while. The three of them eventually become a family. Like I said, this part was extremely moving and heart warming and made the story worth reading.
What kept me from giving this story 5 stars is the story line of the identity and location of Bobby's attacker, Big Mike. I liked the twist of who he was, which is revealed towards the end. But the execution of the story line wasn't as good as Bobby/Sam and Sean becoming a family. Even though Bobby lived with Big Mike for a month, Sean nor the cops thought to ask him where he lives so they could go arrest him. It was little things like that and a few others that I thought needed fixing in order to make the plot-line tighter and more plausible.
But other than those little things, the story was great. I loved how Sean took Bobby in, gave him love, shelter and encouraged him to pursue his art talent. All of Sean's friends helped Bobby blossom and it was so nice to see him finally happy and content. When he started calling Sean "Dad" I couldn't help but to tear up. He never had a dad. He really never had anyone who cared for him until Sean opened his heart to him.
What kept me from giving this story 5 stars is the story line of the identity and location of Bobby's attacker, Big Mike. I liked the twist of who he was, which is revealed towards the end. But the execution of the story line wasn't as good as Bobby/Sam and Sean becoming a family. Even though Bobby lived with Big Mike for a month, Sean nor the cops thought to ask him where he lives so they could go arrest him. It was little things like that and a few others that I thought needed fixing in order to make the plot-line tighter and more plausible.
But other than those little things, the story was great. I loved how Sean took Bobby in, gave him love, shelter and encouraged him to pursue his art talent. All of Sean's friends helped Bobby blossom and it was so nice to see him finally happy and content. When he started calling Sean "Dad" I couldn't help but to tear up. He never had a dad. He really never had anyone who cared for him until Sean opened his heart to him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 15, 2013
Needing to spend some time with some good people, I took the plunge into another Andrew Grey story. As expected I found a 'hearts and flowers' type romance.
This time the story involves Sean who owns the local wine shop and Sam, the town cop. Sean ends a relationship with a douche bag and on advice from Sean's assistant, Sam 'strikes while the iron is hot', asking Sean on a date.
The romance between Sean and Sam is lovely, with gentle kisses and loving touches, "Thank you for everything. The dinner, the kisses, being held.." which suits Sean fine due to unwanted memories intruding when he moves beyond foreplay.
The story also includes a teenager, with Sean rescuing a sixteen year old boy who was being attacked in the back alley. This plot includes Sean's fight for custody and fear of the attacker returning. Sean also struggles to let go of his fear of Sam being hurt on the job.
Bobby made a great inclusion to the story although perhaps wasn't totally realistic as an abandoned and abused teen - he seemed a bit too nice and well-behaved! He also started calling Sean 'Dad' really soon after their meeting which seemed unrealistic.
All in all, a nice story, with nice characters and a happy ending - exactly what I expected! 3.5 stars
This time the story involves Sean who owns the local wine shop and Sam, the town cop. Sean ends a relationship with a douche bag and on advice from Sean's assistant, Sam 'strikes while the iron is hot', asking Sean on a date.
The romance between Sean and Sam is lovely, with gentle kisses and loving touches, "Thank you for everything. The dinner, the kisses, being held.." which suits Sean fine due to unwanted memories intruding when he moves beyond foreplay.
The story also includes a teenager, with Sean rescuing a sixteen year old boy who was being attacked in the back alley. This plot includes Sean's fight for custody and fear of the attacker returning. Sean also struggles to let go of his fear of Sam being hurt on the job.
Bobby made a great inclusion to the story although perhaps wasn't totally realistic as an abandoned and abused teen - he seemed a bit too nice and well-behaved! He also started calling Sean 'Dad' really soon after their meeting which seemed unrealistic.
All in all, a nice story, with nice characters and a happy ending - exactly what I expected! 3.5 stars
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