REVIEWED BY CINDY

TITLE: Backward 

SERIES: Bronco’s Boys #3

AUTHOR: Andrew Grey

PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press

LENGTH: 200 Pages

Blurb:

Club owner Harry Klinger has had his eye on Tristan Martin for months, but never had the nerve to approach him. He’s watched as Tristan dated Eddie and then reluctantly sat on the sidelines during the emotional breakup when Tristan discovered Eddie was dealing drugs. Now that Tristan seems to be healing, Harry hopes to get his chance.

When Eddie sends his men into Harry’s club to harass Tristan, Harry steps in to help. Tristan is reluctant at first since he admittedly has terrible taste in men, but Harry seems genuine, and Tristan can’t help but think Harry’s sexy as well and begins to hope for happiness for both of them.

Unfortunately, Eddie isn’t behaving rationally, sampling too much of his own product. With his determination to take Tristan back, it’ll take more than Harry’s help to keep Tristan safe as Eddie ratchets up his attempts to get what he wants.

Review:

I was eager to grab this third book in the Bronco’s Boys series. They all follow a pattern that I’m a big sucker for. Big men who are physically strong who fall for men who are smaller on the outside, but so have so much strength of heart. Harry and Tristan are no exception.

Harry has had a thing for Tristan for a long time, but because he’s a gentleman, he’s been leaving him alone to try and figure out his life. Tristan has had some hard times and as much as Harry wants to help him through them, he’s not sure that Tristan would welcome his advances.

Meanwhile, Tristan is feeling pretty worthless. After finding out that his ex is a drug dealer, he helps the police put him behind bars. But it leaves Tristan questioning everything about himself and feeling unworthy of anyone’s attention.

My heart broke for Tristan over and over. He’s convinced that he’s not worth the trouble for any man, and when Eddie starts causing problems for him again, he’s humiliated and terrified all over. You can’t help but want to hug him and when Harry’s finally had enough and steps in, I just wanted to cheer out loud.

When the real drama starts, I found myself so angry on behalf of Tristan. He’s trying so hard to find his way past his troubles with the help of his friends but he keeps being haunted by things that really aren’t his fault.

Tristan and Harry are characters you just have to love. They are both so tentative and unsure that the other man can see anything worthwhile in them and it’s heartbreaking. As always in these books, both men find their strength to face the danger in the fact that they care so much for each other and are willing to do anything to protect them.

I love the inclusion of the other couples from Bronco’s. The love and admiration the friends all have for each other is something I found myself envying and its nice to have that glimpse into the continuing happiness of Spook and Jeremy and Bull and Zach. We should all be so lucky as to have friends like them.

There’s nothing really original in the story but I didn’t really mind that. It’s obvious where it’s going, and how it gets there is pretty predictable, but it’s worth the journey anyway. The writing is smart and slick, the characters likable and easy to connect to and it has just the right mix of sweetness and angst…drama and hot sex…to keep me reading until the very end, cheering them all along the whole way.

When I read an Andrew Grey novel I always know that I’m going to be left smiling at the end. His writing has its own special flavor that keeps me coming back for more. When I’m down and need a lift, reading one of his novels is like spending time with an old friend and like old friends, time with them isn’t always perfect, but its usually just what I need.

Rating:

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