RELEASE DAY REVIEW: 'Cleansing Flame' by Andrew Grey
Title: Cleansing Flame
Series: Rekindled Flame Book 2
Author: Andrew Grey
Published: March 10, 2017
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: LC Chase
Genre: Erotic Romance; Contemporary Romance
Length: 200 Pages
Tags: Gay; M/M; Comfort/Hurt; Fireman; HFN
About Cleansing Flame
Life has been grinding Dayne Mills down almost for as long as he can remember. First he lost the love of his life in an accident that also left him with a permanent injury, and then his mother passed away a year later. When his house burns to the ground, it’s the last straw. He can’t take any more, and if it wasn’t for kind and handsome firefighter Lawson Martin offering him a hand up and a place to stay, he doesn’t know what he’d do. Dayne would love for his relationship with Lawson to evolve into something beyond charity, but he knows going after a man so far out of his league will only lead to yet more heartache. It’s best to just keep his mind on his research.
It’s that research that leads Dayne to an old student journal that not only provides clues to the Native American heritage Lawson has been searching for, but chronicles a century-old love story. The tale that unfolds might be just what Dayne and Lawson need to remind them that no matter how dark life becomes, love can find a way to shine through.
4 HEART READ
REVIEW:
In Cleansing Flame, the second book in his Rekindled Flame series, Andrew Grey proves less is more. And he does so neatly, introducing characters from the first book in the series, so this book reads as a standalone novel. As a writer who specializes in caring characters, Grey treats this pair with special consideration.
A car accident killed Dayne Mills ‘s lover and mangled Dayne’s legs. As he was starting to walk again, his mom died. And now that he’s finally getting recognition in college, his home burns to the ground.
No wonder he finds himself sobbing on the shoulder of a firemen he happened to meet a few hours earlier.
Lawson Martin is a handsome adrenaline junkie. “He was an action kind of guy, not a classroom or school man.” But running into burning buildings, jumping out of airplanes, and one-night stands are leaving him empty. “Loneliness ate at you from the inside and perpetuated itself.” He’s attracted to Dayne’s intellect, drive, independence, and frankly the fact that Dayne resists him, despite obvious attraction.
If Lawson can entice the elusive man, he’ll have a mate who wants him for more than his looks.
Dayne is worried he could never gratify such a dynamic hunk. Besides, a happy bond would tempt fate, even possibly harm them both. “The bad stuff is so much easier to believe…There’s always a price to pay.”
For the first time, Lawson can’t rely on adrenaline. He must accept Dayne’s pace. Will Lawson realize less is more, and find the prospect a fulfilling challenge?
To help their courtship along is Dayne’s research - a journal from the turn of the 20th Century, by a native American teenager, taken to the “white man’s school,” as so many tribal children were. While Grey teaches readers about the dehumanization these youngsters faced, Dayne realizes he’s lost a home, not his identity. In fact, the loss requires Dayne to define himself. “His legs were damaged in the accident, not his backbone, and maybe he needed to find it.”
Although this is a serious book, it certainly has lighthearted moments, “Oh crap. He was asking advice from Lawson’s cat. His cheese really was getting ready to fall off the cracker.”
And Grey’s philosophy of life is wise. “Life is the way it is, and we only get one. Some of it’s really good, and some of it’s crappy. You can’t let the crappy stuff ruin your life.”
At the end of Cleansing Flame, I was reminded of the light meal that keeps me full for a day. This deceptively simple book has an astonishing number of layers. In this case less is more and I was left thoroughly satisfied.
A advanced reader copy of Cleansing Flame was provided to Kimmers’ Erotic Book Banter, by Dreamspinner Press, at no cost and with no expectations in return. We offer our fair and honest opinion on behalf of our readers.
Interested in more from Andrew Grey?
About the Author
Andrew grew up in western Michigan with a father who loved to tell stories and a mother who loved to read them. Since then he has lived throughout the country and traveled throughout the world. He has a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and works in information systems for a large corporation.
Andrew’s hobbies include collecting antiques, gardening, and leaving his dirty dishes anywhere but in the sink (particularly when writing) He considers himself blessed with an accepting family, fantastic friends, and the world’s most supportive and loving partner. Andrew currently lives in beautiful, historic Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
For other works by Andrew be sure and visit his website!
