Mist Gray: Falling Apart Falling Together

by Andy Slayde, Ali Wilde

As the anniversary of his lover (and Dom's) death approaches, Avery Miller decides to take a friend's advice and rejoin the land of the living and invites his seasonal neighbor over for dinner. Avery isn't looking to replace Riley but there's nothing wrong with acquiring another friend - right? What could possibly go wrong?Tennyson Pitt wants nothing more than the solitude his cabin in the Adirondacks provides for writing his romance novels. His best laid plans go awry when he notices his neighbor. After their friendly dinner, sparks fly between him and Avery. However, Tennyson also realizes he can't be what Avery needs. The D/s scene is not for him.At least until freak accident forces them together. With some help from unseen forces, and a little bit of 'getting to know each other', can Tennyson and Avery compromise enough to let those sparks ignite?

Genres: M M Romance, BDSM, Contemporary, Romance, Novella, Gay, Paranormal

143 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2010

Reviews

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Avery, who lost his Dom/lover almost a year ago and Tennyson "Ten" Pitt are neighbors although they barely know each other. But with a little bit of help from an unexpected source that's about to change. While Avery is getting some of the discipline he needs from Cameron, a friend and Dom that arrangement isn't ideal for them or Cameron's sub. When Cameron suggests that Avery at least gets to know his neighbor he's reluctant but finally agrees. Ten gets a bit freaked out with the BDSM and despite the fact that they have quite a steamy encounter he leaves after essentially saying he's not interested in anything further.

But it's not easy for either man to forget the other, especially when it seems that someone or something wants them together. When Avery has an accident and Ten ends up taking care of him they'll get the chance to work things out. But with Ten being adamant that he's not a Dom or into the scene and Avery needing it, will they be able to create something to satisfy them both?

Mist Gray is a very nice contemporary romance with just a hint of paranormal to it. Avery and Ten are likable guys as are Cameron and his lover Ajay and I enjoyed reading their story. Ten is a romance novelist fighting to keep his big macho protag straight which added some humor to the story. Avery is a photographer mourning the death of his lover. Neither man is looking for a relationship and at first it appears they are just too different but they're able to work through their misgivings. Avery and Ten start to fall for each other rather quickly once they open up to the possibilities of being together and the ending is a very nice HFN that has a clear promise of a HEA future for them.

Overall this is a really nice story. It's well written, the characters are engaging, the BDSM is lite enough to be enjoyed by most readers and the storyline was interesting. My one little niggle is the fact that the paranormal aspect of the story wasn't really addressed by the men. They each experienced something but they didn't acknowledge it. Other than that, it's quite an enjoyable story. Recommended.

[Jason Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had some issues with this story. Mostly, pushing a man who is still obviously working through his grief to find a new relationship, and also the way that getting into a relationship with a submissive was viewed by Ten as the same kind of commitment as adopting a mentally challenged child. I really liked Cameron and would love to know more about him.

[Elisa Rolle]

This was an interest concept, what if you find “apparently” the right person but you not so much attracted by him? Can love, and a long lasting relationship, be born more from mutual interest and common ground than mindless passion?

Tennyson Pitt is not searching for love, a romance novel writer who is only searching for quietness, he is spending the summer in a isolated cabin; he doesn’t really socialize even if he knows he has neighbours and that they are a gay couple, Avery and Riley. When he happens to know that Riley died one year before in a car accident, his first reaction is to ignore the news so that he has not to go and pay condolences to Avery.

Avery is coping quite well; I’m not saying that he is over Riley’s loss, but at least in his mind he realizes that he has to go on with his life, even if his heart has other ideas. Pushed by his friend Cameron and Aiay, he decides to invite over dinner Tennyson, even if the first approach is far from being “warm”: Tennyson is actually quite blunt but in the end he is not a bad guy and so he accepts to know a little more Avery.

Upon common interest, shared stories, and yes, good sex, Avery and Tennyson discover that being together is good even if, not Avery or Tennyson correspond to each other fantasies about Mr. Right. I liked how the authors manage the development of this love story, a slow but steady evolution that ended in a full-fledged love story without almost no acknowledge not of the reader or the men involved.

The story has also a little paranormal shade, nothing so big to classify this one as a paranormal romance, but enough to give it a romantic undertone, and also a little hope that our late dear ones are not completely lost.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0043XXC00/?...

[Morgan Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book - along with Vanilla: The Dominant Ingredient - focus on two gay D/s couples; Avery and Riley, and Cameron and Ajay. From the first time I met these characters, I fell in love with them.

Mist Gray never fails to tug at my heartstrings and make me completely tear up. Avery, still mourning Riley's loss, and Ten, who seems quite happy to become a complete recluse, eventually brought together by well-meaning friends and a few well-placed pushes from the beyond.

The synopsis and other reviews cover the plot pretty well. Andy Slayde and Ali Wilde create believable, engaging characters with some well-written kinks. As a lover of all things BDSM, their style suits me perfectly. My only complaint after reading any of their works is simply that they're never long enough for me - I always want MORE.

[Cori · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a lot of good elements, but they weren't represented enough. The ghost of the dead lover pushing them together was sweet, but they never acknowledged it or mentioned it enough to really be a relevant part of the story.

It also ended very abruptly - more of a HFN, but is it really? There were no questions answered among the many that were brought up in the story.

There were also some strange editing issues - one of which I think was on purpose, where the chapter ended right smack in the middle of the first sex scene. The others were not ending the quotation marks at the end of sentences (might have just been the ePub - I know that format sometimes makes its own issues).

Overall - decent light read that many people will like, but not a really solid story.

[Shanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had more depth than it first appeared. Both the main characters needed to move past some preconceived notions. Avery needed to learn that he could love again and Ten needed to let go of his preconceived notions about submissives. I loved the little touches that indicated that Avery's Dom was guiding the two towards each other. It was sweet to think that even in death he was still watching out for his sub. Over all I really enjoyed watching these two characters grow and learn some new things about themselves.

[Tam · Rating 4 out of 5]

The locals at his cabin tell Ten (Tennyson) that his neighbor’s BF died a year ago, but he has no time to be feeling sorry for someone and taking care of them. Avery his still mourning is dom’s death and their good friend and fellow dom gives him some discipline from time to time, but he’s in a long term relationship as well. Cameron encourages him to invite Ten for dinner. Ten is a bit freaked, he’s not very social and he really doesn’t want to get involved, however he’s drawn. That night they get funky, but when he realized Avery is into the whole BDSM thing he says, sorry, not my thing. However when Avery breaks his ankle and needs someone to stay with him Ten moves in and can’t seem to keep his hands off and starts to open up to maybe doing SOME stuff. I liked how Ten was reluctant because of BDSM and he didn’t understand it but he didn’t just arbitrarily say no either. It’s squeaks a bit close to the insta-love line, but due to the slightly paranormal aspect (was Avery’s lover still around), I let it go. On the whole I quite enjoyed it and there is limited BDSM content for those interested. More talk than action.>

[Sucajo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Avery has been grieving since he lost his partner, Riley, almost a year ago in a car accident. Riley was his lover and his Dom and Avery is struggling to readjust. Ten is a writer who is living in the neighbouring cabin and when Avery invites him round for dinner, at his friends' suggestion, sparks fly. Ten is not into the BDSM lifestyle and doesn't think he can be what Avery needs but after Avery injures himself they are forced into spending more time together. I enjoyed watching the two men get to know each other and put aside their preconceived notions while they tried to reach a compromise. It was also nice, for a change, to read a book with a Scottish character (Avery's friend Cameron) who wasn't a caricature. The idea that Riley's ghost was trying to help Avery move on and find someone new was a sweet touch.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good kinky paranormal m/m romance about a romance novelist staying at a lakeside cabin for the summer who becomes fascinated by his next-door neighbor. When he discovers that said next-door neighbor is a sub still grieving for the dom who died a year ago, the novelist is sure he can't be what his neighbor needs.

[Meggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story was unique, a bit mystic, too. I liked the way everything played out. Characters were strong and interesting. The text flown easily. The romance between Riley and Tennyson is a bit forced, but if some couples wouldn't get a show in right direction, they would never come together^^, so from this point of view its really enjoyable read.
Recommended!

[Magnolia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars