REVIEW: 'Redeeming the Stepbrother' by Andrew Grey
Title: Redeeming the Stepbrother
Series: Tales from St. Giles #2
Author: Andrew Grey
Published: April 10, 2018
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Adrian Nicholas
Genre: Contemporary Romance; Erotic Romance
Length: 200 Pages
Tags: Gay; M/M; Family Drama; Angst: Medium; HEA; Standalone
About Redeeming the Stepbrother
Family can be a blessing and a curse, but for artist Florian, it’s a nightmare he longs to escape.
As chief designer for Bartholomew Porcelain Studio, Florian specializes in painting birds. He also watches them in the wild to distract himself from his short-tempered mother, at least temporarily. Florian’s heart is too soft to leave his stepsister, Ella, to suffer alone. Still, he can’t help dreaming about one day finding happiness and love.
When Count Dieter von Hollenbach arrives in town to visit a friend and present an award, he isn’t looking for romance. Then again, he doesn’t expect someone as perfect as Florian to come into his life. To make sure Florian is all he seems and that their connection is genuine, Dieter keeps his title to himself.
But he isn’t the only one with a secret.
At a masquerade ball to celebrate the award, some of the masks fall away, but those that remain in place could destroy the love beginning to grow between them.
5 HEART READ
REVIEW:
Redeeming the Stepbrother by Andrew Grey is the second book in his modern day fairy tale series, Tales from St. Giles. This one is loosely based on the all-time favorite Cinderella. Set in the fictitious town of St. Giles, Maryland, these stories take place in a community that centers around the wealthy Dante Bartholomew and his endeavors, which provide his constituents with their livelihood.
Meet Florian, an artist working at the Bartholomew Porcelain Studio specializing in artistic renditions of birds. Florian is a loner longing for the love and companionship of that one man for him. Florian spends his time with his camera spurring inspiration for his future works. Living with his mother, brother and stepsister is a day to day challenge. If you thought Cinderella's family was dysfunctional, just wait until you meet Florian’s.
Meet Count Dieter von Hollenbach, who has come to St. Giles to present the Bartholomew Porcelain Studio with the Gold Medal Par Excellence, in part due to Florian’s work. While there, Dieter takes the opportunity to observe what makes the Bartholomew Porcelain Studio operation successful. His interest in the majestic bird creations they turn out takes him to the bogs for some bird watching.
If you thought Cinderella's family was dysfunctional, just wait until you meet Florian’s.
Florian and Dieter first meet out in the bogs whilst bird watching. Kinda, that is. From this encounter, each man is enthralled with the other, and things progress from there. Complications surround these men - from Florian’s family issues to Dieter’s royal status. And what starts out as fling morphs into so much more.
Dante and Beau (the main characters of Taming the Beast, Tales from St. Giles Book 1) throw a masquerade ball for the award presentation. It is a majestic affair with all the makings of a fairy tale setting. However, secrets and omissions are revealed, the angst and tension ratchet up, hearts are broken, and misunderstandings abound.
The components of a great fairy tale exist with Florian the good, kind and innocent; Dieter the white knight; while adding in the sweet and sassy stepsister, the evil stepmother, and an envious and unhinged brother.
Redeeming the Stepbrother is far from a literal translation of the classic tale. That isn’t a bad thing in the least. It flows effortlessly with bits of reality and fairy tale combined. The characters have their ups and downs with romance, sexy times, and angst all combining to create an enthralling escape into a world of pauper vs royalty.
The character interaction is eloquently portrayed, even during the not so pleasant moments. Revisiting with Dante and Beau is a welcome added benefit. The components of a great fairy tale exist with Florian the good, kind and innocent; Dieter the white knight; while adding in the sweet and sassy stepsister, the evil stepmother, and an envious and unhinged brother.
As with any Andrew Grey book, in the end, good prevails over evil. Florian gets his white knight, including a castle in Germany and his HEA. Yes, I recommend this series especially as an escape from reality. And yes, Redeeming the Stepbrother could be read as a standalone, but with its ties back to Taming the Beast, it is recommended that you read these stories in order to get full enjoyment of the Tales from St. Giles.
A copy of Redeeming the Stepbrother was provided to Kimmers’ Erotic Book Banter, by RBTL Book Promotions, at no cost and with no expectations in return. We offer our fair and honest opinion on behalf of our readers.
Meet 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 more from Andrew be sure and visit his website.
**** Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book from RBTL Book Promotions and the Author/Publisher 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". *****
