Title: Backward

Author: Andrew Grey

Series: Bronco Boy’s #3

Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Release Date: Feb 2015

Edition/Formats Available In: eBook & Print

Blurb/Synopsis:

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.

Bull must have sent a group text, because Spook texted right back, I’m on it. That man could disappear into a crowd faster than anyone Harry had ever met. He hadn’t seen him all night and had, in fact, forgotten he was there. As he wove through the crowd and got closer to the door, he saw Carlos inside the club with two of his men, and Bull right behind him. By the look on his face, it seemed they meant business, and Harry wondered just how they’d gotten inside and what in hell they had planned.

The bouncers all seemed to have received the message, and Harry saw them converging on the group. They knew how to handle things, so Harry decided to stay out of the way. He scanned the club for other trouble and saw Tristan making his way toward the door, heading right for Carlos and his goons.

He knew the second Carlos saw Tristan. Carlos began moving toward him with the bouncers and Bull following behind. Harry hurried to intercept him and managed to use a momentary break that opened in the crush of dancers to pull Tristan toward him and get him off to the side.

The music in the club continued, but the dancers stopped and parted as Chris launched himself at one of the goons and Bull went for Carlos. Harry didn’t see the other man until he was right in front of him. Shit. He pushed Tristan behind him. The goon’s jacket opened, and Harry saw the glint of metal. That was all he needed. He lashed out with his knee, connecting with tender parts. The bigger they were, the faster they grabbed their balls and collapsed onto the floor.

Harry turned to Tristan, pulled him close, and moved away from the man rolling on the floor. As soon as they had some distance between them, Harry sent a text to the security staff, and within a minute they arrived and lifted the writhing man to his feet and off the club floor. They muscled him through the door at the back of the club, where Harry assumed they’d put him in the small room that was usually used for storage, but occasionally served as a holding area.

About a minute after that, Harry got a text from Bull.

Called the police. They’ll be here soon enough, Bull sent. Secured Carlos and other men in holding room. Spook took off.

Harry sent a message that he understood before returning to Tristan. “Are you all right?”

“Y… yeah,” Tristan said. “You laid him out like he was nothing.”

Harry chuckled as he guided Tristan around the edge of the dance floor. The excitement was over, and the men had already returned to their dancing. The buzz of conversation that had run through the crowd like bees in a hive was forgotten as they went back to their fun. “All I did was knee him in the nuts. That doesn’t take any special skill.” They reached the door to the office and back-room area.

“But you knew what to do,” Tristan said. “I wouldn’t have.”

Harry opened the door, and they went inside. As soon as it closed, most of the noise from the club was snuffed off. “I’ll let you in on a secret—that’s about the limit of my bouncer-like skills. Bull told me years ago that when push comes to shove, fight dirty and go for the balls. It works every time and is nearly guaranteed to give you time to get away.” They walked past the office to a small room that they used as a holding room when necessary.

Bull stood outside, his arms folded over his chest. “I told the police to come around to the back and that we had the troublemakers in custody for them.” Bull turned to Tristan. “It seems they came back for you.”

“What? Me?” Tristan squeaked. “What do they want with me?”

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Where did you come up with the idea for your book? This story is part of the Bronco’s Boys series along with Inside Out and Upside Down. In the first two books Harry sat on the sidelines and I knew it was time for him to get his story. In the first two books Harry watched Tristan for a long time, but stayed away because he had a boyfriend. Well now things have changed….

How did you come up with your characters? The characters were all created as part of the original story Inside Out. I love when characters love from story to story and reveal more and more about themselves. Tristan is loosely based on a friend I had in college and Harry… well Harry is just Harry. J

Who did you show your first draft to and why? Dominic is always among the first to see any new work and I have an amazing beta reader (now two) who reads my work as well. Once they’ve had a look, I revise and then the cleanup process begins.

Do you have plans to a follow up? Yes There will be one more story in the series. The group started out with Zach and his three friends and each one will get a story. The next title is Round and Round. (I have to write that one yet.

Open your book to a random page and tell us the first paragraph…

Spook glared as serious as a heart attack. “Cut the guilt. It’s useless and serves no purpose. You had nothing to do with this. If Eddie is behind it, then it’s his fault, not yours. You are only responsible for your own actions, not those of others. That’s how the world works. Everything else is manipulative bullshit that none of us has the time for, including you. The way out of this mess is to find the person behind it and put an end to it. Not the coulda, shoulda, wouldas. Do you understand me?”

What do you like to read? Do you only read the genre you write in? I read a wide range. I like adventure stories and read a wide range of MM. I love to read paranormal and fantasy stories. I also enjoy steampunk type stories, but I don’t write them.

Where do you go to escape? I like to garden. It really relaxes me. Also once a year Dominic and I go on a cruise and I use that week to relax and enjoy life. It’s also a week that Dominic and I have for each other alone.

Do you have a favorite chapter in Polished? I’m sorry, I don’t understand this question.

What advice do you have for aspiring writers? Write what you love to read and stories that move your heart. Don’t write for a market or for anyone else. If you love what you’re writing that will come through.

Would you recommend self-publishing or main stream publishing for first time novelists? I am not a self-publish kind of guy. It isn’t something I have interest in or really care to do. My feeling is that you have to make your own decisions. However I think that for a first time novelist, a publisher will help with the education we all need in the publishing process.

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 has a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and works in information systems for a large corporation.

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