Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: Hunks of the Month
AUTHOR: Andrew Grey
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 276 pages
RELEASE DATE: May 20, 2025
BLURB:
Former fashion photographer Sterling Vaughn reached the pinnacle of his profession only to have his life and heart come crashing down around him. Now he’s attempting to rebuild his life as a portrait photographer in the town where he grew up.
Connor Hillyard is proud of his Scottish ancestry and dresses accordingly. The civic-minded college history professor has spent more of his life collecting degrees than experience. His only family is his sometimes matchmaking great-aunt Lucille, who thinks nothing of pulling him into her community gardening projects.
When Lucille needs a photographer for a calendar project to save her failing garden club, she recruits Sterling, who ropes Connor in as a model. Their eye-opening hunky gay calendar pulls the two men closer together. But just as things get interesting between them, the calendar polarizes the town, threatening to pull Sterling back into the high-profile world of fashion and away from the man who brought his heart back to life.
REVIEW:
I love visiting Carlisle with Andrew Grey.
Sterling Vaughn is regrouping his life after his ex, high fashion model Alexander, imploded his career as a fashion photographer. Returning to his hometown of Carlisle, PA and setting up a photography studio in his boyhood home, now that his Dad has relocated to a senior living community, wasn’t his goal in life but he is trying to make the best of what has now been dealt to him. When he gets a phone call from the president of The Garden Club of Carlisle and Cumberland County, Lucille Hilliard whom had been a friend of his deceased mother, he goes and has tea with her. What he didn’t expect was that the Garden Club had some serious financial problems and needed his expertise to try and continue on. When her great nephew Connor comes in from helping with her yard, dressed only in a kilt and boots, Sterling has his inspiration for their calendar idea. But can he convince Connor to help make this a reality?
This story moved a bit slow and cautiously but that was to be expected knowing the past dating history of both Sterling and Connor had. Although Sterling’s plight was much more severe, his ex truly did a number on him that most men would have a hard time recovering from. And poor Connor’s college boyfriends were users that shook his confidence to the core at a tender and vulnerable age. I appreciated that the author made both men a bit cautious concerning their hearts and moved slowly.
I loved that Lucille, Connor’s Great Aunt, was his biggest fan and supporter. After his family discarded him because he came out, she not only chastised them but wrote them out of her will and took Connor under her wing. He owes her everything so telling her no is not possible. Add in Grant, Sterling’s Dad, and these two were double teamed, but only in the best way whether they thought so or not! I loved when they rallied around Connor against the Mayor. That man had outlived his usefulness to the community years ago!
This stand-alone novel was interesting and I loved some of the twists and turns that came with it. This wasn’t just a simple romance but an encouragement to continue on after adversity throws your life into chaos.
RATING: 
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