Fire and Agate (Carlisle Deputies book 3) by Andrew Grey | Cat's Release day Review, Excerpt & #giveaway @Dreamspinners @andrewgreybooks ~ '

A Carlisle Deputies Novel

When Chris Anducci is moved off jail duty and into the sheriff’s office, he doesn’t expect his first assignment to be protecting a witness against a human trafficking ring. Knowing the new sheriff doesn’t abide screwups, Chris reluctantly agrees to work the case.

Pavle Kasun has spent the last four years of his life at the mercy of others. When an opportunity presented itself, he took it, resulting in his rescue. Now the safe houses he’s placed in are being threatened and he needs protection if he is to have any sort of chance at a life.

Chris opens his home to Pavle, but he doesn’t expect Pavle and his story to get under his skin… and stay there. Soon they discover they have more in common than either of them thought. Slowly Pavle comes out of his shell and Chris finds someone who touches his heart. But as the men looking for Pavle close in, they will stop at nothing to get him out of the way. But even if Chris can keep him safe, he might not be able to protect his heart if Pavle moves back home.

Buy links: Dreamspinner | Amazon

Cat gives this one 5 Meows with 0 purrs (sex is off-page)

Warning: there are emotional triggers: Human trafficking, rape, abuse. Though it’s all off page and handled well. This is the third book in the series and reads fine as a stand-alone.

Chris has just been made deputy and taken out of working in the jail. He loves his job but the new sheriff is odd. He is called to protect a man that has escaped slavery and has information to bust a human trafficking ring.

Pavle has been captive for 4 years. He can’t remember the last time he felt he sun on his face or had good food to eat. Now he is moved from safe house to safe house to now live with another man. Is he trading one prison for another?

I love this series and each book features different characters plus glimpse of some of the others from previous books. I adored Pavle and the way he tried to speak our language. I think this really made his character stand out. I loved Nanna as well.

The story is strong a bit angst with what all Pavle went through but his growth with Chris was touching. The romance is slow but fits perfectly with the story and the sec is mostly off-page, also fits the story. Too much sex would’ve made Pavle less believable with all he endured.

If you like hurt/comfort, deputies, funny Nannas, a bit of suspense. And a sweet romance you will love this. I found it touching and sigh-worthy! I hope there is another book soon!

Excerpt...

“CHRIS,” BRIGGS said as he stalked into the locker room like a man on a mission. His gaze was hard and his posture as rigid as a two-by-four. Anger and discontent rolled off him in waves, worse than Chris had ever seen in the month since he had moved from jail duty.

Two years of whining, demanding prisoners who thought being in jail was the worst thing to ever happen to them and thought a jail cell should be like a suite at the Hilton. Those were the ones Chris was pretty sure were never going to see the inside of a cell again if they could help it. And then there were the repeat offenders who thought of the jail as home and a chance at three meals a day. God, he had hated every minute of the constant noise of men and women talking, fighting, yammering on about nothing just to make noise so the reality of the shit they were in didn’t close in around them.

“What can I do for you?” Chris smiled as best he could. Briggs had been instrumental in getting him off jail duty and into the sheriff’s office, so he owed the guy.

“It’s not me. His Majesty wants to see you.” Briggs turned, flashing a beam of damn near hatred out the door.

Not that Chris blamed the guy. When Sheriff Hunter had decided to retire, Briggs had stepped in as acting sheriff at Hunter’s request. The entire department had been pretty happy about it. Briggs was well respected and good at his job. But the county board had other ideas. They did some lame-assed search, and lo and behold, they’d found the current sheriff, a political appointee. That had been a month ago, but Briggs still hadn’t gotten over it.

“Thanks.” He checked that his uniform was perfect, because that was what Sheriff Mario Vitalli liked. He was all about how things looked and appeared. It didn’t seem to matter how things got done as long as he looked good—at least that was the general feeling in the locker room. “I’ll go right away.”

Briggs rolled his eyes. “He’s on a call, so give him five minutes.”

Vitalli liked everyone to wait for him, though he never wanted to wait for anyone or anything. Which would be fine if he were good at his job. He wasn’t particularly—at least Chris didn’t think so.

“Okay.” Chris wanted to say something to Briggs. He really thought a lot of him, but everything that came to mind sounded completely lame, so he kept quiet and showed Briggs the respect he thought he deserved.

“Do you want something?” Briggs asked, taking a step closer.

Andrew Grey is the author of nearly 100 works of Contemporary Gay Romantic fiction. After twenty-seven years in corporate America, he has now settled down in Central Pennsylvania with his husband, Dominic, and his laptop. An interesting ménage. 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 is a recipient of the RWA Centennial Award, has a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and now writes full-time. 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.