Reviewed by Tammy
TITLE: Redeeming the Stepbrother
SERIES: Tales from St. Giles, #2
AUTHOR: Andrew Grey
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 200 pages
RELEASE DATE: April 10, 2018
BLURB:
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 Artist Porcelain, 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.
REVIEW:
Redeeming the Stepbrother is book two of the Tales of St. Giles series. Artist Florian is the chief designer for Bartholomew Artist Porcelain, Florian specializes in painting birds. Florian’s brother Jeremy also works at Bartholomew Porcelain unlike Florian, Jeremy doesn’t have any talent, drive or ambition. What Jeremy does have is a lot of jealousy, dislike and a very nasty attitude towards Florian because Florian is successful and he’s not! They live with their mother, who is depressed following the death of their stepfather, their stepsister Ella who as a teenager is bearing the brunt of their mother’s depressive, selfish, self-absorbed behavior. It’s because of this set-up that makes you think of Cinderella!
Count Dieter von Hollenbach is in town to visit friends and give out an award, Dante and Beau Bartholomew when he meets Florian whilst out birdwatching. He’s immediately attracted to the shy Florian and makes sure to run into him as often as he can. Dieter says nothing about his being a Count because he wants to be wanted for himself not his title. From the moment Florian sees Dieter in his father’s old birdwatching clothes he’s hooked!
This is not an easy relationship by any means. First Florian is like the poor cousin to Dieter’s rich ones, then there’s the fact that Florian’s family (mother and brother) seem to be going out of their way to make sure Florian doesn’t get too comfortable with Dieter. After being honoured with the award for artist of the year Jeremy, in a fit of jealousy destroys the studio where Florian works. The only person who believes in and encourages their relationship is Ella.
Although the relationship may have started off as a temporary “distraction” for them both Dieter quickly becomes determined to do all he can to ensure that Florian is going to be his and they’re going to get their happy ever after!! So, join me in enjoying Andrew’s version of a gay, male Cinderella.
RATING: 
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