Title: Redeeming the Stepbrother
Author: Andrew Grey
Series: A Tale from St. Giles Book 2
Genre: M/M
Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Dreamspinner
Press
Release Date: April 10 2018
Edition/Formats Available In: eBook & Print
Blurb/Synopsis:
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.
This area was marshy during part of the year and I had to be
careful where I walked so I didn’t sink into the muck, but it was perfect for
birds of all kinds.
I wasn’t disappointed. I emerged from the tall reeds to spot
a great blue heron about twenty feet away. It was beautiful, and I didn’t want
to scare it, but I also wanted a picture. I had ideas for a series of works
featuring the impressive bird—tall, statuesque, shining in the sunlight.
I slowly moved back into the reeds, lifted my camera to
position it between the long grass stems, and began snapping pictures. It was
stunning, and I’d gotten enough to be able to represent the detail I wanted
when a splash startled the bird and it flew away, darting over the water.
“Scheisse,” a deep voice swore. I knew the word from my high
school class as a version of “shit,” but wondered why I was hearing German.
Another splash came, louder than the first, so I slowly worked my way forward
to see what the trouble was.
“You scared the bird,” I scolded and then saw a man, taller
than me. He had to be well over six feet and was dressed like someone out of a forties
period movie, with a wool hat, a coat complete with elbow patches, and puffy
pants. His boots and legs stuck in the mud almost to his knees. An old pair of
binoculars hung around his neck. I bit my lower lip to keep from laughing.
“Will you help me?” he asked, and I slowly made my way
closer.
“Got yourself in a mess, didn’t you?” I was careful not to
get caught in the same bog. “You have to feel before you step.” I managed to
get close enough to take his hand. “Pull up one foot and try not to lose your
boot.”
“I am.” He lifted his foot, the sucking sound loud in the
stillness. He got the foot loose and stepped toward me.
“Hold on.” I bent down a bunch of the reeds. “Step on
those.”
He did and got his other foot loose, though this time the
mud nearly got his boot. It hung on his foot as he swung around, and he tugged
it back on and stepped onto the grass.
“Come this way.” I led him through the reeds, back toward
dry ground and the cars.
“I think you come here often,” he said, swatting cakes of
mud off the knees of his pants.
I wondered if that was some German version of the old pickup
line for a second, but tossed the thought away.
“Yes. I’m familiar with the area. I watch the birds so I can
paint them.” I took a step onto solid ground, mud all the way up my boots but
sparing my pants. Good. There would be hell to pay if my pants were caked with
mud. “I’m Florian.” I held out my hand.
“Dieter,” he said as he shook my hand.
I stomped my feet to get some of the mud off my boots. They
would dry soon enough and the mud would flake off pretty easily. “On vacation I
take it? Judging by the accent and all.”
“In a way.” Dieter pulled off his hat, exposing light blond
hair down to his shoulders that would make a model green with envy. “I’m here
on business and decided to take some time to see the sights.” He held up his
binoculars. “I study birds back in Bavaria and wanted to get a look at some of
yours here. I didn’t realize there would be hazards.” He smiled a little, and I
relaxed. At least Dieter had a decent sense of humor to go along with an
amazing smile and eyes the color of the sky. My cheeks heated as thoughts of
what I’d like to do with his full pink lips went through my head.
Character
Profile for Florian
Full Name: Florian
Cinderson
Age: 22
General physical description: Thin maybe a little gawky, nerdy, artistic,
great eyes.
Hometown: St Giles MD
Type of home/ neighborhood:
Middle class
Relationship status:
Very single
Current family:
Mother, brother, step sister
Family background (parents, previous marriages, etc.): None
Friends: Some of the
people he works with
Other close relationships:
None. Spends a lot of time alone
Relationship with men:
Blushes… yeah right.
Relationship with women:
Blushes even harder, brushing me away with hand.
Job: Ceramics artist. Paints birds on porcelain
Dress style: casual
to a fault
Religion: None
Attitude to religion:
Ahhh.
Favorite pastimes:
Bird watching
Hobbies: Sitting by
the Chesapeake Bay watching birds
Favorite sports: None
Strongest positive personality trait: Loyal and caring. Willing to stand up for others.
Strongest negative personality trait: Sometimes he needs to be shaken to see what
is in front of him
Sense of humor: With
certain people
Temper: Yes. Though more likely to get even
Consideration for others:
Eventually he comes to realize that others are more important than
himself, especially when it comes to his step sister.
How other people see him/her: Often they don’t. But when they do , they see
Florian as sweet.
Opinion of him/herself:
Quiet, but determined to get away from h si family.
Ambitions: A self sustaining, famous artist.
Most important thing to know about this character: Florian has been waiting, sort of in a
holding pattern, needing someone to pull him out into the light.
Will readers like or dislike this character, and why? I think readers will love Florian. He shows a
surprising backbone when he needs it.
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment