Redemption by Fire

May 07, 2012 Serena Yates rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m

Starting with the cover, which is about as gorgeous as it is hot, this book pulled me in. Of course, as soon as I started reading, the cover and everything else were quickly forgotten, as my fascination with the characters took over. As common as closeted men may be, they are not easy to write, and Andrew Grey did a great job at capturing these guys’ essence in the story. What they go through is not easy, and it takes them a while to figure out what is really important. For me, that made the boo...more Starting with the cover, which is about as gorgeous as it is hot, this book pulled me in. Of course, as soon as I started reading, the cover and everything else were quickly forgotten, as my fascination with the characters took over. As common as closeted men may be, they are not easy to write, and Andrew Grey did a great job at capturing these guys’ essence in the story. What they go through is not easy, and it takes them a while to figure out what is really important. For me, that made the book and the story all the more real.

Dirk is described as an asshole, and in many ways he is. However, he is not an irredeemable one. He is not a man who would kick puppies or steal from you, he is, after all, a very committed fire fighter who saves lives every single day, a man who will risk his own life to rescue a baby from a fire when it seems impossible. No, his ‘assholeness’ is of a subtler kind, which makes it much more insidious and difficult to fight. He is emotionally insecure, totally repressed, has denied who he is for years, and is, basically, very unhappy. Rather than try to work things out, he uses his anger and fear to push others away. Extremely successful at this, his colleagues recognize his professional abilities, but his personality causes a lot of friction and makes them think of Dirk as an asshole. Honestly? I cannot blame them!

Lee is the complete opposite. He is friendly, outgoing, has good relationships with his colleagues, and has only one problem: he is attracted to Dirk. Dealing with someone who is in the closet as deeply as Dirk is tough, and Lee, being the loving man he is, suffers a lot. He also does not take sh*t from Dirk, and stands up for himself and his needs very well. I think that helps Dirk, in the end, admit who he really is. Who could withhold himself from a gorgeous, amazing man like Lee?

The scenes between Dirk and Lee are intense, extremely hot, and when they do finally make love the depth of their emotions flares up to new heights. My only regret? While the ending of this book was emotionally very satisfying, there is lots more that can, and I am sure will, happen. I cannot wait for the next volume to be published so I can find out what else happens in Dirk and Lee’s lives. One thing I am sure of is that it will be just as intense and wonderful as the initial stages we got to see in this book. If you like fire fighters, men who struggle with their identity (both sexual and otherwise), and if emotionally intense and, ultimately, rewarding relationships are your thing, you will probably love this book as much as I did.

NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.(less)

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May 09, 2012 Candice rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: firemen, hot

I liked the chemistry between Lee and Dirk and would have liked the story to have been a little longer to explore more as the ending seemed kinda abrupt. Unfortunately, I am only giving this 3 stars because other aspects of the book, the other firefighters and the father lowered the reading enjoyment of this book for me.

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Oct 24, 2012 Gwenith rated it 3 of 5 stars

My Favorite part of this book ~The Water/River Scene~

But, there is a lot of other good things about this book~

What captured my attention most...

♥The descriptive writing, I could almost hear and see the rushing water~
♥The plot was well written to say the least. I simply loved it~
♥The Firefighter world ~ I liked the way is was written~realistic...BUT, Man oh man, the team of fireman he worked with (glad this is purely fictional because ) those )were some Arrogant Cold MOFs!"

Why 3 Stars ...>The...more

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May 08, 2012 Gwendolyn rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: dnf

Can't even finish this. Even if the guy is a total douche bag, a firefighter was injured on the job. People are there waiting to make sure they wake up and help with recovery. There would have been flowers and other firefighters, wives, all sorts of support. Yes even to assholes because next time the person who barely or doesn't make it out could be you or your spouse. Then Lee comes in and he's a bigger prick then Dirk is supposed to be even though our only proof of this is no visitors, which i...more

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deleted user It's better to finish a book if you want to rate it because you never know, maybe it would get much better than a one star rating:)
Jul 27, 2012 05:52pm

ElaineY @Gattaca: I rate every book I start to read but I give reasons why I couldn't finish it and the stars serve two purposes: 1) no star means it doesn't...more
updated Jan 22, 2013 08:43pm

Java @Gattaca I agree with you about people not finishing novels and rating them to be a little unhelpful considering that the novel has the possibility to...more
Jan 23, 2013 07:46am

Mar 22, 2013 Jon added it

Shelves: favorite-gay-fiction

Career firefighter, tough guy and resident asshole, Dirk Krause, has a big chip on his shoulder, one of his own making, an attitude that has driven everyone around the firehouse crazy. When Dirk is injured on the job while saving a baby from a burning building, his disposition while recuperating in the hospital continues to further alienate his comrades and potential new friends, his only visitor being his father until the new recruit at the station draws the short straw and arrives at the hospi...more Career firefighter, tough guy and resident asshole, Dirk Krause, has a big chip on his shoulder, one of his own making, an attitude that has driven everyone around the firehouse crazy. When Dirk is injured on the job while saving a baby from a burning building, his disposition while recuperating in the hospital continues to further alienate his comrades and potential new friends, his only visitor being his father until the new recruit at the station draws the short straw and arrives at the hospital with sympathy bouquet in hand and encouraging well-wishes from the guys.

I must admit, I noticed Redemption by Fire first due to the incredible cover, well designed and eye-catching, representative of the story within. The blurb intrigued me so I purchased the ebook version and never looked back.

Dirk Krause is described as an asshole of the first degree. His life is hell of his making, and causing those around him - indeed those charged with protecting his back when fighting roaring fires - miserable. When I began Redemption by Fire, I was immediately pulled into the story. The writing is very good, the storyline intriguing, with a grip that didn’t let go until the end.
I wanted to know what drove Dirk to treat those around him, including his comrades and friends, as he did. I gave Krause the benefit of the doubt, confident author Andrew Grey knew well how to set up a love-story between two of the unlikeliest of characters.
Enter Lee Stockton, a big, muscular hulk of a man with a baby face to boot and personality that screams gorgeous, decidedly opposite Dirk in every way, right down to his respect of his job and of other people. First impression is Lee is nothing but a dumb muscle-head just following orders, but readers will quickly learn he is anything but. Lee sees right through Dirk’s angry façade and takes the man to task right there in his hospital bed, delivering a scorching kiss that sets Dirk on fire and awakens a libido needing attention.

Redemption by Fire draws the reader in as Grey drills deeper than the typical gay romance with conflict to explore the makeup of the main characters, what’s their makeup and why they respond as they do. The sex is spot on, sizzling hot and leaving no prisoners, remarkably representative of the typical hot horny guys having insane, mind-bending sex. It’s not until much later however – indeed after a few mishaps and misunderstandings threatening their relationship - the two begin a slow romance.

What drives the story however is far deeper and much more difficult to portray well in such a brief story -a mere 72-96 pages (depending on your reading device)- to avoid coming across as preachy or cliché; a story of denial and acceptance, of repressed longing and insecurities, and of a judgmental father still holding control over his grown son. But it is control that Dirk responds to in more ways than he first realizes. Lee is the perfect match for Dirk, a polar opposite in personality, confident in who he is and what he wants out of life, a match of wit and brawn up next to Dirk any day of the week.

Experiencing near death in a terrible fire proves life-altering for Dirk and he’s forced to reexamine who he is and what kind of man he has become. The realization and truth is surprisingly numbing for him, but Grey captures such grim discovery with genuine empathy, authenticity and zeal. Dirk is so far in the closet that it takes heavy coaxing to get him to step forward into the real world, to experience all that is possible and can be. With the understanding and strength of Lee by his side, the chance to experience true love for the first time in his life becomes real. It is that budding love for Lee and the thought of losing him – literally - that becomes the catalyst to drive Dirk out for good.

Redemption by Fire is short, but succinct, a realistic and authentic portrayal of a man living in denial, laying bare enough embers in the novella to continue with future installments, which I certainly hope author Andrew Grey does. I feel confident his readers will be clamoring for more of Dirk and Lee.
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Aug 09, 2012 Stephanie M. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: andrew-grey, ongoing-series

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This was an overall well-written story, that sometimes felt a little rushed, about a closeted fireman (with an attitude problem) coming to terms with his fears of people finding out he's gay. His attitude mainly coming from the fact he's miserable from not being honest with himself and others. He gets injured at a house fire (opening scene) and ends up in the hospital all alone. The rookie FF, Lee, is picked to visit him, since none of his fellow FF can stand him. Lee tries his best to tempt Dir...more

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Apr 17, 2013 Elisa Ramblings added it

I was quite surprise to find out that, even if this is a novella length story, it was well developed and I quite enjoyed the evolution of both main characters. Dirk is a good fireman but he is also a troubled man, with a difficult relationship with his father and a clear example of closet case. Dirk is so full of complexity that his whole life is in the closet, not only his sexuality: he has no friends, no close relative, no one. When he is injured on the job, he finds that in the worst way, all...more

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Nov 02, 2012 Sophia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance

This was a real surprise for me and it was a good surprise. I had an idea of what the story would be like when I read the blurb and it did have those elements to it that I was anticipating, but then Lee, the second hero of the story came as a surprise.

The story is about Dirk, a gruff prickly firefighter who experiences a near-death injury on the job that leads him to time in the hospital and home recovery. His eyes are opened to what people think of him and how he has been acting both through th...more This was a real surprise for me and it was a good surprise. I had an idea of what the story would be like when I read the blurb and it did have those elements to it that I was anticipating, but then Lee, the second hero of the story came as a surprise.

The story is about Dirk, a gruff prickly firefighter who experiences a near-death injury on the job that leads him to time in the hospital and home recovery. His eyes are opened to what people think of him and how he has been acting both through the straight up words of the only co-worker who would come to see him and by the absence of the others along with his dad's painful visits.

Dirk's co-worker Lee sees right through his defensive exterior to what he has been trying to hide from everyone. Unfortunately, even though Dirk is slowly emerging from his selfish delusions it is not in time before he repeatedly hurts Lee in the process. Can he redeem himself with his co-workers and the man who has come to be special to him or is it too little too late?

The story is novella-length so the plot moves along quickly. I enjoyed the blend of the firefighter action stuff and the growing that Dirk does through the story. He was a very unlikeable guy in the beginning even though there are hints that he is redeemable and it was great to see him own his failures and his weaknesses eventually.
It is all from Dirk's point of view, but it isn't too hard to know what Lee is thinking and feeling because he is a very demonstrative person who says and shows what he thinks and feels. Lee was the surprise because he is a blend of 'tell him like it is' strong firefighter with a tender and vulnerable heart who is willing to take a chance on Dirk.

I am glad to see that this is part of a series because I look forward to more of Dirk and Lee's story particularly because the story thread of Dirk and his dad is still unfolding. Definitely worth picking up for those who enjoy seeing strong character growth in their main characters with a little action to keep things exciting.(less)

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Aug 09, 2012 Sandra rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: novella, m-m, sexy-firemen, contemporary-romance, nook-lendable

I did like this but there were a few things that annoyed me off the bat.

1) I don't know any firefighters personally but the impression I get is that they are very supportive, and I have a hard time believing no one visited him in the hospital after he nearly died by rescuing a baby from a burning building, no matter how much of an ass he is.

2) We didn't really get to see Dirk be a huge ass, we were just told so. And to be honest, if I'd been in the hospital a week and no one visited, I'd be in...more

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Jul 06, 2012 Top 2 Bottom Reviews Interviews and More rated it 5 of 5 stars

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(view spoiler)...more

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May 07, 2012 Aine Massie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance

For any that know me, they would tell you that I don’t usually care for novella and short stories BUT I love Andrew Grey’s stories and characters so much that I decided to give Redemption by Fire a try, a fact I am very pleased about. It is one of the best stories I’ve read in a while!

Dirk is a major asshat, so much that his own FF company don’t even bother to visit him in the hospital. For them to do that he must be beyond horrible to deal with as that is not normal behaviour for a FF.

The roman...more

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Jul 20, 2012 Kerry sullivan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: gay-fiction, romance

This book was reviewed for Musings of a bookworm

I have had this book in my wish list since it was released and I wish I had read it earlier now!! The reason for this I will get to in a minute but first I want to rave about this story...
being told someone is an ass and seeing on the page is quite something else and YES Dirk is a Dick and one I didn't like to start with, but as we watch Lee getting to know him the more I started to see it was just a mask. This story had me screaming at my Kindle...more

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Jun 11, 2012 Sammy2006 rated it 4 of 5 stars

Every once in a while a story comes along and I wish I could contact the author and tell them how much I enjoyed it. Now, I know that I could--I could send a note or leave something on their blog. However, this kind of note--the kind that gushes ever so slightly--that sounds like I might be a 16 year old girl with her first crush--well those kinds of letters are ones I rarely write. Till today. And so, I beg your indulgence for a review written in a slightly different format--in the form of a le...more Every once in a while a story comes along and I wish I could contact the author and tell them how much I enjoyed it. Now, I know that I could--I could send a note or leave something on their blog. However, this kind of note--the kind that gushes ever so slightly--that sounds like I might be a 16 year old girl with her first crush--well those kinds of letters are ones I rarely write. Till today. And so, I beg your indulgence for a review written in a slightly different format--in the form of a letter to the author...

Dear Mr. Grey,

I wanted to write you to tell you how much I liked...no, loved this story. I felt at times like I was standing in the corner of Dirk's life, with a bird's eye view of everything that happened to him...of his pain, and his longing, and his redemption.

When the story opened with Dirk falling through the floor of a burning building while rescuing a child, I must admit I immediately worried that this story might be too cliched--too formulaic. You know those kinds of novels right Mr. Grey?? The kind where the macho guy is a gruff , insensitive bastard who has a similar type of bigoted father and lives in fear of anyone finding out that he isn't "normal". In fact--that could really describe who Dirk is at the beginning of this story; but it certainly does not come near defining who he becomes after he meets Lee, that young, musclebound new firefighter he works with at the station.

Lee...sigh...I liked him, Mr. Grey. He was a no-nonsense guy, who refused to let Dirk hide behind his fear of exposure. Lee understood what it was like to be ostracized by your family for being gay and yet, he lived life on his terms and no one elses. When the guys at the station send him to deliver the flowers to Dirk in the hospital, he decides that there is something more than the rough, overbearing ass that Dirk has been portrayed as--if only he can wake this guy up so he can see what a jerk he has been. Lee helps him do that.

This was such a beautiful love story. Such woundedness, such need. I enjoyed...well, loved, really, how I could feel the emotions of each of these men. You paint such beautiful pictures with your word choice. I felt as though these men were some how real--fleshed out--well matched. As their relationship blossomed into more than lust, I really liked how you didn't have Dirk just "cave in". Rather, you chose to make this transition from the closet to the out and proud, gradual and, at times, painful, But...but...you allowed for Lee to help, to forgive when there was misunderstanding, to concede when he could no longer keep his love inside.

Mr. Grey, you let us see how these men both took risks and came out wiser, changed, in love. And, I must admit--you gave us some pretty hot sex to boot! More than that, however, you gave us a story that kept us wanting just a bit more...that stopped just a bit too abruptly for my taste. So sorry Mr. Grey, but that is why I gave the story only 4.5 stars instead of the whole 5. We needed just a bit more story to round out the ending. Other than that, I can honestly tell you that I was hard pressed to find any flaws in this beautiful novella.

So, Mr, Grey...in closing, I want to say thank you! Thank you for a smart, clever, poignant, compelling story that left me a bit misty-eyed and very satisfied.

Now...about that sequel I think you should write...(less)

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Nov 08, 2012 Francesca the Fierce ~Eyelet Ecstasy~ rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-2012, firefighters, genre-erotica, man-loving

This review was posted at Under the Covers

This was totally an impulse buy. I saw a review for the last book in this series on a blog that I love and follow and being the stickler I am for reading in order, I rushed and bought book one. Loved that it was a short story because I was feeling some m/m withdrawals in between all my "required" review reading so this hit the spot.

However, writing a short story I think has to be hard and as a reader it's difficult to connect on all levels with the story...more This review was posted at Under the Covers

This was totally an impulse buy. I saw a review for the last book in this series on a blog that I love and follow and being the stickler I am for reading in order, I rushed and bought book one. Loved that it was a short story because I was feeling some m/m withdrawals in between all my "required" review reading so this hit the spot.

However, writing a short story I think has to be hard and as a reader it's difficult to connect on all levels with the story. I think that's what lessened my enjoyment of this story. This is the first I read by this author and it was very well written and I did enjoy what was presented. However, I felt that something was missing.

In a nutshell, Dirk is a firefighter who almost dies in a fire while rescuing a baby. He's always been an asshole and really none of his co-workers like him. While he's recovering at the hospital, the new "kid" at the station is the only one that goes to visit him. And the first thing he does is he throws in his face that he thinks he's gay and because he has to live in the closet, that's why he's such an ass.

Of course, Dirk is and he feels an immediate attraction to Lee. And while Dirk is recovering things heat up between them. And then Dirk has to deal with the repercussions of going back to work and whether or not he will come out to his friends and family in order to keep Lee, who is happily out.

I think there was a lot of growth for the characters that happened "off the pages" and that's what I didn't like because I felt that people just changed who they were so quickly and with no real reason as to why. But time had passed so I'm sure things and feelings prompted those changes. That's just something you lose when reading a short story and I think this one was affected by that.

However, that being said, I did enjoy Dirk and Lee together, as well as Dirk's turnaround with this co-workers and friends. I'm not sure if the next story will still be about the same couple since the issue of coming out to his father wasn't really addressed at the end of this book. But I will definitely continue reading the series either way. Quick, hot and entertaining read!(less)

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Apr 25, 2012 Cole Riann marked it as not-yet-finished

Shelves: m-m, m-m-contemporary, m-m-firemen

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Stalled at 39%

I'm not sure if this is DNF for me or not, but I just can't into this book because I don't understand the characters at all. Especially Lee. He keeps spouting off all these platitudes about how real men are ones who are brave enough to come out, yet he really doesn't know anything about Dirk. On their first visit he layed into him for nothing, calling him an asshole. Yeah, if I were Dirk I'd be plenty pissed off that none of the firemen he worked with came to visit him. So what if...more

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Mar 25, 2013 Amarilli73 rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

da www.sognipensieriparole.com

Breve, troppo breve.
Questa è l’unica critica che mi sento di muovere a questo romantico (ma non zuccheroso) romanzo di Andrew Grey, un autore capace di esprimere l’amore attraverso i gesti e i dettagli, più ancora che attraverso le parole o trame mozzafiato.

Direi che Grey ricerca la passione e il legame non nell’insolito, ma nel quotidiano. Perché amore quasi sempre vuol dire casa. Anche alla caserma dei pompieri di Carlisle.
Dirk, il pompiere veterano, è antipatic...more

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Mar 01, 2013 Lee Anne - Give me a Good Romance rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2013, borrowed-2013, erotic, firefighter, romance, short-story

Hot firemen! Love me some hot firemen!

Dirk is a firefighter and an asshole. No one in the firehouse really likes Dirk. He's an asshole. Dirk gets hurt in a fire and lands in the hospital.

Lee is the newbie.He's young, he's hot and he's gay. He's sent to visit Dirk in the hospital. The attraction between Lee and Dirk is instant. Dirk denies it. He's so far in the closet, I doubt he knows where the door is.

Lee and Dirk form a tenuous relationship that gets thrown out the door as Dirk refuses to def...more

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May 15, 2012 Toni Dewberry rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Lovers of M/M Romance

Recommended to Toni by: Saw it on a blog

Really like this story. The main characters were interesting, and it was nice to see some of their pasts shared. It gave some really good insight as to the why's of some of their reactions.

Dirk, came across has a real piece of work. Someone with a complete chip on his shoulder and major attitude too boot. Lee, was the polar opposite of Dirk. He was caring and honest, and lived by the creedo of..."This is just me. Take it or leave it."

The sparing of words back and forth made for some interesting...more

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Jul 15, 2012 Gabbi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: enemies-to-lovers, dreamspinner-press, gay-romance, andrew-grey

Dirk knew he wasn’t well-liked by his fellow firemen. He often comes across as a big jerk and he’s knows the people around him think he’s as friendly as a rattlesnake. But when Dirk is injured on the job, he’s surprised by how disliked he really is. None of his fellow firemen bother to check in on him and there isn’t a flower or a card sent to his hospital room. As he spends a day or three alone with no visitors, he comes to the realization of how unpopular he really is. Just when he believes no...more Dirk knew he wasn’t well-liked by his fellow firemen. He often comes across as a big jerk and he’s knows the people around him think he’s as friendly as a rattlesnake. But when Dirk is injured on the job, he’s surprised by how disliked he really is. None of his fellow firemen bother to check in on him and there isn’t a flower or a card sent to his hospital room. As he spends a day or three alone with no visitors, he comes to the realization of how unpopular he really is. Just when he believes no one really cares for him at all, a handsome young rookie, Lee, from his department comes to check on him. Hurt and feeling more than a little bitter, Dirk isn’t exactly feeling gracious to see Lee, so he does what Dirk does best. He tries to push Lee away with his cruel words and angry demeanor. But try as he might, Lee keeps showing up and looking out for him and helping Dirk with is recovery. As time goes by, Dirk finds it harder to push aside his attraction and the respect he has for Lee. But since Dirk has kept his homosexuality secret from everyone, he’s afraid of the consequences he would have if he comes out of the closet to others.

Lee knew he drew the short end of the stick when he was ‘volunteered’ to check on the injured firefighter, Dirk. Even though Dirk is definitely easy on the eyes, the man is definitely not an easy person to like. Between his razor sharp tongue and his standoffish demeanor, Lee recognizes that Dirk is pushing others aside to hide who he really is. Even though Dirk does everything he can to push Lee away, Lee can’t help but want to help out the lonely Dirk. As their relationship slowly develops between them, Lee becomes determined to break down the wall around Dirk’s heart. Soon Dirk knows he must face up to his sexuality and his attraction to Lee if he really ever wants to have a happy life. Will Dirk have the strength to embrace who he really is or will fear and mistrust keep him in the closet and from having a warm and loving relationship with Lee?

Dirk is definitely a hero that was hard to love. He’s bitter and angry and keeps people at arm’s length at all times. Although he’s a jerk, I did feel sorry for him. His father isn’t exactly father of the year, and it’s understandable why Dirk has isolated himself from others. When he first met Lee, he definitely isn’t on his best behavior. There were times I wanted Lee to shake some sense into Dirk. There were also times I thought Lee was too good for the bitter and surly Dirk. Lee certainly has a heart of gold and a beautiful soul, and I wanted Lee to have someone worthy of him. Although, Dirk does come around, in some ways I never really warmed up to him. I don’t know if it’s because the story might have been rushed a little or what, but I never really connected with this couple together as a whole.

Andrew Grey is a must-read author for me. I love his well-written characters and his interesting and romantic storylines keep this reader fascinated with their story from start to finish. Although, Redemption by Fire isn’t my favorite Andrew Grey book, I did like it…I just didn’t love it. I do wish the story had been longer and would have liked to see a more solid foundation develop between Dirk and Lee. Fans of Andrew Grey will definitely enjoy this book because it does have Mr. Grey’s easy style of writing and addictive storytelling skills. I’m looking forward to reading more books by Andrew Grey and will actively book looking out for more in the future.
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Jun 19, 2012 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Redemption by Fire

By Andrew Grey

Dirk Krause is a firefighter, he is a good firefighter, but he is man with a real self-hatred problem. His father is also always trying to get him to change jobs, to something that means something, seeing the firefighting as nothing more than a child’s dream and no way to make money.

Lee Stockton is also a firefighter the newest one in the station. He is the one that pulled Dirk out of the fire that almost took his life, and didn’t believe the rest of the firehouse...more Redemption by Fire

By Andrew Grey

Dirk Krause is a firefighter, he is a good firefighter, but he is man with a real self-hatred problem. His father is also always trying to get him to change jobs, to something that means something, seeing the firefighting as nothing more than a child’s dream and no way to make money.

Lee Stockton is also a firefighter the newest one in the station. He is the one that pulled Dirk out of the fire that almost took his life, and didn’t believe the rest of the firehouse when they said what a bad attitude Dirk had, how could someone that risked everything for a child be as bad as they said? So he went to take flowers to Dirk in the hospital where he was recovering; and realized that the men weren’t exaggerating. He also realized something about Dirk that Dirk probably hadn’t realized about himself… Dirk was gay.

Dirk couldn’t be gay; his dad would never forgive him. His father worked for a very Christian brokerage firm and even though Dirk could never remember going to church growing up, or any other Christian values being in the house, his father adhered to so stringently now because of the company. But the one thing that had always remained the same, homosexuality was wrong in the basic way. The fact that Lee made Dirk think things he never should, and feel things that he never should be feeling, and makes his body react in ways it should not be reacting.

Finally he gave into Lee and the desires, but he was in no way ready to come out and in the process of trying to figure out how to handle this new development in this life he hurt Lee a couple times. Finally they decided to stay as far away from each other as they could considering they both worked in the same station. This worked, not happily, until one day a rescue put them both in danger. Can they save the little girl caught in the rising river water? Can Dirk save Lee from the same waters? Can Dirk’s career survive his coming out? Can he ever find peace with his father?

If you are a fan of Andrew Grey’s this new series set in Carlisle, PN is a great way to start your journey with him. He you are already a devoted fan, this new series will suck you in and having you panting for more. I love these two characters, and who doesn’t like firefighters? They were so real and their personal and professional battles caught at your heart and wouldn’t let go. Five stars for this one and I am eagerly awaiting his next one.(less)

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May 07, 2012 Anna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, mm-firefighters, short-less-than-100-pages, smokin-hot-guys, 4-stars

The cover is freaking hot.
The MCs were freaking hot.
This book was freaking hot.

I didn't know what to expect going into this because the reviews/ratings are pretty mixed, but I ended up really liking it! I liked both MCs a lot and they were great together! Some people say that they didn't like Dirk because he was an asshole, but while yes he was asshole-y at the beginning, in my opinion, I feel like he really redeemed himself by the end, partly because of Lee.

There was something missing at the e...more

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Jul 12, 2012 Tami rated it 2 of 5 stars

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Jun 13, 2012 Trish rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: erotic, m-m, bingo-challenge-read

this was ok. loved Lee. Dirk was an ass. he meets Lee and
*bam* he's seen the light and his whole attitude changes. it was a little too fast of a transformation.

i understand the author tried to make dirk seem like an ass b/c he was in the closet and the lesson was "if you can't be true to yourself then you will be miserable" however, it seemed like dirk was just miserable to everyone around him...

*mini spoiler* not sure if this is an ongoing series, its HFN. if this is the only story then leavi...more

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Aug 26, 2012 Plainbrownwrapper rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mm, read-more-than-once-already

The basic setup here is good enough -- sexy firefighters are never a bad thing, and the angst involved with coming out of the closet is often interesting. Unfortunately, the prose and dialog are both awkward, and there's waaaay too much telling without nearly enough showing. There's no depth here, no subtext, no subtlety. I'm being generous in giving this one 3 stars.

I *am* going to read the next volume, just to see whether it improves. I know that Andrew Grey is a popular mm romance writer, but...more

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May 26, 2012 Becky Mrs Condit Reads Books rated it 3 of 5 stars

3 1/2 stars!

Dirk shows a lot of growth in this story, spurred on by a life-altering accident and the attentions and affection of Lee. The characters are almost two-dimensional. The plot flows very well, as it always does in an Andrew Grey book, but this should have been a character-driven story because it’s a tale of the fears and truths of coming out. I enjoyed it but it isn’t one of my favorite Andrew Grey books.

Please see my complete review on May 30, 2012 at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/in ...more

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Feb 04, 2013 Melora rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, read-in-2012, read-in-2013

- Decent, if somewhat unremarkable.
(view spoiler)...more

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Feb 05, 2013 Julesmarie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, gfy-ofy

3.5 stars

For some reason, this got shuffled into my tbr shelf and forgotten about for much longer than it should have been.

I was delightfully surprised at how much I found myself liking the characters and the story. Even Dirk, whom the blurb billed as just this giant asshole. Perhaps I was prepared to hate him more because even several reviews still called him an asshole, but I found him believable and understandable. I thought that having the story start where it did gave us just enough of a g...more

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Jan 11, 2013 Tyra Berger rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

Yeah I have to say I don't know that I would have gone to visit Dirk in the hospital either, he is such a douche in the beginning of the book that I wasn't sure he was redeemable. Then you meet his father and things begin to make more sense.

Now Lee could not have been a better guy, I would have latched onto him with both hands and not let go! Lee has Dirk's number from the get go and and he doesn't put up with any of his shit. He pushes him so far out of his comfort zone you can't help but laugh...more

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Aug 22, 2012 Dawn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: andrew-grey, favorite-read-again-books, favorites, got-to-have-in-print, more-from-this-author, so-awesome-i-need-more, reading-romance-book-challenge, to-be-read-again

Andrew Grey delivers an introduction to his new series centered on some really sexy firefighters. In REDEMPTION BY FIRE, we meet Dirk and all his firefighter brothers and I have got to admit, I was hooked, line and sinker. Andrew Grey has a way with storytelling that is so delightful. He brings a really annoying jerk of a character and shows the readers his inner heart and soul and we find out why Dirk is this way. It made the story more layered and gave me a character that irked me in the begin...more Andrew Grey delivers an introduction to his new series centered on some really sexy firefighters. In REDEMPTION BY FIRE, we meet Dirk and all his firefighter brothers and I have got to admit, I was hooked, line and sinker. Andrew Grey has a way with storytelling that is so delightful. He brings a really annoying jerk of a character and shows the readers his inner heart and soul and we find out why Dirk is this way. It made the story more layered and gave me a character that irked me in the beginning to root for. I loved how the author makes Dirk work for Lee and shows how someone can change if they are shown the error of their ways. The writing was tight, story flowed smoothly and all the characters were quite enjoyable.

Meet Dirk. He is, plain and simple, an asshole. He doesn’t like anyone seeing the real man so he ends up irritating everyone around him. When injured on the job, Dirk finds out why no one will visit from his fire house and finds himself looking inside for the reasons why he is this way towards people. Meeting Lee brings out the pussy cat in Dirk for here is one man who isn’t afraid to tell him the truth, no matter how brutal it may be. I thought, at first, Dirk was going to be a real jackass through the whole story but he grew on me the moment he came onto the pages. The chemistry between Dirk and Lee is combustible. I was hoping these two firefighters would put the flames out of my e-reader if one of those sparks caught on fire. The author does a great job in portraying Dirk and Lee as men with issues, vulnerabilities and with heart. I loved how Dirk finally saw the error of his ways on his own and learned, by trial and error, to be the man Lee saw underneath the gruff annoying jerk of a façade. The secondary characters are delightful and kept the story moving along nicely.

REDEMPTION BY FIRE is a good story if you have limited time to read. Andrew Grey delivers another stellar story for readers to sink their teeth into and I, for one, cannot wait to see what is next in his firefighter series. I truly enjoyed seeing this author grow and develop a writing style that leaves me clamoring for more. Kudos to Andrew Grey for another wonderful book. Run-don’t walk-to grab this latest release. I guarantee you will be clamoring for more at the end of the book. I know I was. (less)

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May 04, 2012 Maya rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: hearts

Redemption by Fire by Andrew Grey
2.5 Stars
Reviewed for www.heartsonfirereviews.com

What to say about this? I love my firemen more than anything and while this story isn’t bad, it didn’t really grab me either. The writing is good but there is a weird combination of some very hot sex scenes and some very flowery words.
Dirk is a closeted gay fireman who pushes everyone away by being a complete asshole so that no one will get too close and guess his secret. As far as family, he only has his father,...more

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title link	preview: Redemption by Fire
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Redemption by Fire (By Fire #1)

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