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Borealis: Without a Compass #1
Indirection
Rabid readers. Backbiting authors. A romance convention from hell.
Shaw Aldrich and his best friend, boyfriend, and partner, North McKinney, are doing great, thanks. The aftermath of their search for the Slasher has finally settled down. Their private investigation agency is thriving. And after years of missed opportunities, they’re finally together. Sure, work might be taking up every spare minute, and their time together as a couple might have evaporated—but that’s normal, right?
When an author asks for their help investigating threats against a gay romance convention, Shaw sees an opportunity to shake up their routine and maybe have some fun. But the convention isn’t what he expects. Between the rabid fans and the backbiting authors, the death threats—which seem totally baseless—are the least of North and Shaw’s worries.
Until, that is, a bestselling author is poisoned in the middle of a panel. Then Shaw and North must race against the clock to find the killer before he (or she) escapes—and before the convention ends. But romance authors are more complicated than either North or Shaw expects, and a treacherous web knits the suspects together.
Shaw and North will have to unravel a skein of lies and half-truths to uncover the killer. It doesn’t help that, on top of everything else, Shaw just wants to find his next favorite book—and, if it isn’t asking too much, have sex with North at least one more time in his current incarnation.
Indirection is the first book in a follow-up series; read North and Shaw’s first adventures in The Borealis Investigations, beginning with Orientation
Shaw Aldrich and his best friend, boyfriend, and partner, North McKinney, are doing great, thanks. The aftermath of their search for the Slasher has finally settled down. Their private investigation agency is thriving. And after years of missed opportunities, they’re finally together. Sure, work might be taking up every spare minute, and their time together as a couple might have evaporated—but that’s normal, right?
When an author asks for their help investigating threats against a gay romance convention, Shaw sees an opportunity to shake up their routine and maybe have some fun. But the convention isn’t what he expects. Between the rabid fans and the backbiting authors, the death threats—which seem totally baseless—are the least of North and Shaw’s worries.
Until, that is, a bestselling author is poisoned in the middle of a panel. Then Shaw and North must race against the clock to find the killer before he (or she) escapes—and before the convention ends. But romance authors are more complicated than either North or Shaw expects, and a treacherous web knits the suspects together.
Shaw and North will have to unravel a skein of lies and half-truths to uncover the killer. It doesn’t help that, on top of everything else, Shaw just wants to find his next favorite book—and, if it isn’t asking too much, have sex with North at least one more time in his current incarnation.
Indirection is the first book in a follow-up series; read North and Shaw’s first adventures in The Borealis Investigations, beginning with Orientation
310 pages, Paperback
First published March 19, 2021
80 people are currently reading
348 people want to read
About the author
Gregory Ashe
135 books1,794 followersI'm a long-time Midwesterner. I've lived in Chicago, Bloomington (IN), and Saint Louis, my current home. Aside from reading and writing (which take up a lot of my time), I'm an educator.
While I enjoy reading across many genres, my two main loves are mystery and speculative fiction. I used to keep a list of favorite books, but it changes so frequently that I've given up. I'm always looking for recommendations, though, so please drop me a line if you have something in mind!
My big goal right now is one day to be responsible enough to get a dog.
While I enjoy reading across many genres, my two main loves are mystery and speculative fiction. I used to keep a list of favorite books, but it changes so frequently that I've given up. I'm always looking for recommendations, though, so please drop me a line if you have something in mind!
My big goal right now is one day to be responsible enough to get a dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
June 15, 2021
Audiobook – 4 stars
Story – 4.25 stars
GAAAHHH!!! The boys are back!
OMG this is the funniest Greg Ashe book I have ever read. Shaw and North gave me a free vacation. After all, laughter is a vacation.
I am happy that Greg is giving us another Shaw and North series like he did with Hazard and Somers.
The writing is stellar as always, I am now used to Greg’s style and I am officially a devoted stan.
The story flows so well and it is well complemented by the audiobook.
The mystery was hilarious, it reminded of the supernatural episode where Sam and Dean see their lives on TV. This one is set at a Gay Romance convention. The interactions there are hilarious. Shaw is a freaking mm romance stan. I saw myself in some fans category. Damn! You can’t blame me, some of these characters are my life. I stan them hard! And did Ashe poke fun at some of the mm romance writers? Hmmmm! There is some truth beneath all the quirky humor. Some of the questions at the con are what I have seen being debated online for a long time. E.g Can straight women write genuine gay characters? Does reading mm romance fetishize gay men? Etc….. I have a whole rant about this but I will not go into it. All I can say and North agrees with me is, let people be, as long as it doesn’t cross the line and become disrespectful.
The 1st mystery kept me guessing until the end, I was very entertained and sidetracked by all the shenanigans going on at the Gay con. The other mystery? Oh! I don’t like it at all. UGH! WTF is Ronnie doing here? I don’t want to find out. 😣😣 I hope we get to see Kyle in the future. He only appeared for minutes but I am already interested in his story. He made an impact. I know Shaw felt it too.
The relationship between Shaw and North is growing slowly, after last series events, I am happy to see that not everything is being pushed under the rug. These two have a long way to go when it comes to healing. Good thing is that they are best friends and besties know how to work things out. Oh well, most besties, probably not these two fools. I love to see how their relationship is developing, mixing business, best friendship and pleasure is not always good. These two are trying their best to balance it all. I liked how it was not all roses, their struggle for balance is evident.
Shaw! Omg! Shaw need filters, he always says what he is thinking out loud, sometimes I want to reach inside the book and slap him to make him shut up but I love him anyway. His character is hilarious most of the time. I can live with that.
North! Northy! Oh boy, North needs to see a therapist and he also needs a big hug. This buff is a big teddy bear with issues. I think I am starting to love North more. GAAAHH!! This is hard but there is something broken in him that I want to fix.
Pari! Hmmmm! Jury is still out but I like where this is going.
Overall, I had so much fun listening to this audiobook. I can’t wait to see how their relationship will develop.
Disclaimer: A copy of the audiobook was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Story – 4.25 stars
GAAAHHH!!! The boys are back!
OMG this is the funniest Greg Ashe book I have ever read. Shaw and North gave me a free vacation. After all, laughter is a vacation.
I am happy that Greg is giving us another Shaw and North series like he did with Hazard and Somers.
The writing is stellar as always, I am now used to Greg’s style and I am officially a devoted stan.
The story flows so well and it is well complemented by the audiobook.
The mystery was hilarious, it reminded of the supernatural episode where Sam and Dean see their lives on TV. This one is set at a Gay Romance convention. The interactions there are hilarious. Shaw is a freaking mm romance stan. I saw myself in some fans category. Damn! You can’t blame me, some of these characters are my life. I stan them hard! And did Ashe poke fun at some of the mm romance writers? Hmmmm! There is some truth beneath all the quirky humor. Some of the questions at the con are what I have seen being debated online for a long time. E.g Can straight women write genuine gay characters? Does reading mm romance fetishize gay men? Etc….. I have a whole rant about this but I will not go into it. All I can say and North agrees with me is, let people be, as long as it doesn’t cross the line and become disrespectful.
The 1st mystery kept me guessing until the end, I was very entertained and sidetracked by all the shenanigans going on at the Gay con. The other mystery? Oh! I don’t like it at all. UGH! WTF is Ronnie doing here? I don’t want to find out. 😣😣 I hope we get to see Kyle in the future. He only appeared for minutes but I am already interested in his story. He made an impact. I know Shaw felt it too.
The relationship between Shaw and North is growing slowly, after last series events, I am happy to see that not everything is being pushed under the rug. These two have a long way to go when it comes to healing. Good thing is that they are best friends and besties know how to work things out. Oh well, most besties, probably not these two fools. I love to see how their relationship is developing, mixing business, best friendship and pleasure is not always good. These two are trying their best to balance it all. I liked how it was not all roses, their struggle for balance is evident.
Shaw! Omg! Shaw need filters, he always says what he is thinking out loud, sometimes I want to reach inside the book and slap him to make him shut up but I love him anyway. His character is hilarious most of the time. I can live with that.
North! Northy! Oh boy, North needs to see a therapist and he also needs a big hug. This buff is a big teddy bear with issues. I think I am starting to love North more. GAAAHH!! This is hard but there is something broken in him that I want to fix.
Pari! Hmmmm! Jury is still out but I like where this is going.
Overall, I had so much fun listening to this audiobook. I can’t wait to see how their relationship will develop.
Disclaimer: A copy of the audiobook was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
May 17, 2021
Audio reread May 2021
4.5 stars! I had to up my rating a bit with the audiobook. I absolutely loved listening to this audio reread of two of my favorite PIs. 🥰 I had forgotten how outstanding Charlie David's narration for these two is but he characterizes North and Shaw perfectly here. I really felt all the emotions that these two go through, both the good and the bad, getting to listen to them "voice" them. The teasing, the genuine affection, the remorse and the hurt, as well as the love that's ever present through it all.
Getting to hear North's abject disgust with the "Lars" situation at the con was one of the funniest things on the whole audio, and hearing Pari talk Shaw through his relationship fear made me like her so much more, because mostly she's just bloody annoying. 🙄
I genuinely enjoyed this listen and cannot wait for the next one!
Disclaimer: A copy of the audiobook was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
****
First read April 2021
I haven't felt much like reviewing lately so but I have to say a little bout this one. *Yeah, I know me too but I swear, short & sweet* *Probably* 👀 This was a highly anticipated book for me, because I love North and Shaw something fierce. And I enjoyed reading this, I loved spending time with these wonderful men. ❤
In this book, we get to see North & Shaw live their day to day and I liked that. They're still settling into being a couple after each wanting it so desperately for so long. They have new business that is taking up a lot of time. And both guys still have some issues to work out, like any couple and they make some mistakes, like any couple. North is totally driven to grow the business but he does so, without realizing it, at the expense of what's really important. Shaw is worrying that he needs to do things to keep North interested, so he acts without thinking in a way that ends up hurting them both badly. And OMG, I cried too. 😭 *Yes, Ashe is still evil* 😒
But all that aside, there was so much good here. 🥰 Despite the new relationship status, the best friend banter and teasing is still stellar. I love that their friendship remains so central in their life. Then there are the moments when they're the men that are in love with each other. Some of those are sweet, little considerate things *or bribery for missteps*. I love how publicly, casually affectionate they are with each other. Unless Jadon is around, then it's not casual at all. Which Shaw deliberately antagonizes, LOL. If you're a reader of Ashe's stories, you know there's not going to be a whole lot of sex but when there is, the chemistry and heat between these two is all you could want. 🔥🔥🔥
This time in addition to all they have going on, the guys get roped into investigating death threats at a gay romance book convention. Much against North's will. *points at Shaw* Just as I've always heard, there are lots of shenanigans going on, sometimes hilariously so. Of course, just as they conclude that nothing serious is really going to happen, one of the authors is poisoned during a panel. In addition to trying to solve the murder, North and Shaw have to contend with Ronnie strong-arming them into looking into some shady business of his own. *If Ronnie doesn't end up suffering horribly in some way by the end of this series I'm going to be EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED, ASHE!!! 🤬🤬🤬*
The writing was excellent, as I have come to expect and the story flowed well. Though at less frantic a pace than usual, since it wasn't Shaw & North who were in danger for much of the book. And honestly, I was ok with that. I'm sure it's not going to stay that way, so I'll take it while I can.
I'm loving seeing these two grow as a couple as well as investigative partners and I can't wait for whatever comes next!
4.5 stars! I had to up my rating a bit with the audiobook. I absolutely loved listening to this audio reread of two of my favorite PIs. 🥰 I had forgotten how outstanding Charlie David's narration for these two is but he characterizes North and Shaw perfectly here. I really felt all the emotions that these two go through, both the good and the bad, getting to listen to them "voice" them. The teasing, the genuine affection, the remorse and the hurt, as well as the love that's ever present through it all.
Getting to hear North's abject disgust with the "Lars" situation at the con was one of the funniest things on the whole audio, and hearing Pari talk Shaw through his relationship fear made me like her so much more, because mostly she's just bloody annoying. 🙄
I genuinely enjoyed this listen and cannot wait for the next one!
Disclaimer: A copy of the audiobook was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
****
First read April 2021
I haven't felt much like reviewing lately so but I have to say a little bout this one. *Yeah, I know me too but I swear, short & sweet* *Probably* 👀 This was a highly anticipated book for me, because I love North and Shaw something fierce. And I enjoyed reading this, I loved spending time with these wonderful men. ❤
In this book, we get to see North & Shaw live their day to day and I liked that. They're still settling into being a couple after each wanting it so desperately for so long. They have new business that is taking up a lot of time. And both guys still have some issues to work out, like any couple and they make some mistakes, like any couple. North is totally driven to grow the business but he does so, without realizing it, at the expense of what's really important. Shaw is worrying that he needs to do things to keep North interested, so he acts without thinking in a way that ends up hurting them both badly. And OMG, I cried too. 😭 *Yes, Ashe is still evil* 😒
But all that aside, there was so much good here. 🥰 Despite the new relationship status, the best friend banter and teasing is still stellar. I love that their friendship remains so central in their life. Then there are the moments when they're the men that are in love with each other. Some of those are sweet, little considerate things *or bribery for missteps*. I love how publicly, casually affectionate they are with each other. Unless Jadon is around, then it's not casual at all. Which Shaw deliberately antagonizes, LOL. If you're a reader of Ashe's stories, you know there's not going to be a whole lot of sex but when there is, the chemistry and heat between these two is all you could want. 🔥🔥🔥
This time in addition to all they have going on, the guys get roped into investigating death threats at a gay romance book convention. Much against North's will. *points at Shaw* Just as I've always heard, there are lots of shenanigans going on, sometimes hilariously so. Of course, just as they conclude that nothing serious is really going to happen, one of the authors is poisoned during a panel. In addition to trying to solve the murder, North and Shaw have to contend with Ronnie strong-arming them into looking into some shady business of his own. *If Ronnie doesn't end up suffering horribly in some way by the end of this series I'm going to be EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED, ASHE!!! 🤬🤬🤬*
The writing was excellent, as I have come to expect and the story flowed well. Though at less frantic a pace than usual, since it wasn't Shaw & North who were in danger for much of the book. And honestly, I was ok with that. I'm sure it's not going to stay that way, so I'll take it while I can.
I'm loving seeing these two grow as a couple as well as investigative partners and I can't wait for whatever comes next!
March 30, 2021
4,25 stars
Probably the funniest book in any series by Gregory Ashe I’ve read.
North and Shaw are ribbing each other relentlessly, each knowing exactly where ‘to strike’ to get the other one flushed or hot and bothered. And that’s on top of a plethora of classy banter.
It was good to see them together and working on their relationship. It is early days after all, and there are plenty insecurities left, with the trauma of the past nipping at them ever so often.
Both men make mistakes, both men sometimes assume too much or too little, but it was brilliant to see how they are trying to figure things out. Most importantly, they are clearly in love BIG time. And their tender times, those moments of complete unity and love are golden!
However, while Shaw’s disturbed relationship with food is mainly quirky and funny (with his addiction to Coca Cola and very badly hidden love of junk food causing quite a few hilarious scenes), I would love to see him stop throwing away other people’s food. It’s not nice, Shaw!
The setting at an m/m romance convention adds another spark of fun. It’s something many readers can easily associate with and many descriptions made me grin. Gregory Ashe has really covered all the quirks, preconceptions and prejudices that come along with it. Great entertainment!
But don’t believe this is only fun and games.
There is quite a bit of underlying tension in North and Shaw’s relationship throughout, the case causes major hazzle, but most of all it’s Uncle Ronnie who puts our guys under very unpleasant pressure. I dread to think of Ronnie’s repercussion after North’s stand-off towards the end.
I really like how Gregory Ashe takes a couple we know so well and lets us experience how they develop further. It’s obvious that North and Shaw have to resolve a few things but you kind of feel that they will manage, together.
Looking forward to book 2.
Probably the funniest book in any series by Gregory Ashe I’ve read.
North and Shaw are ribbing each other relentlessly, each knowing exactly where ‘to strike’ to get the other one flushed or hot and bothered. And that’s on top of a plethora of classy banter.
It was good to see them together and working on their relationship. It is early days after all, and there are plenty insecurities left, with the trauma of the past nipping at them ever so often.
Both men make mistakes, both men sometimes assume too much or too little, but it was brilliant to see how they are trying to figure things out. Most importantly, they are clearly in love BIG time. And their tender times, those moments of complete unity and love are golden!
However, while Shaw’s disturbed relationship with food is mainly quirky and funny (with his addiction to Coca Cola and very badly hidden love of junk food causing quite a few hilarious scenes), I would love to see him stop throwing away other people’s food. It’s not nice, Shaw!
The setting at an m/m romance convention adds another spark of fun. It’s something many readers can easily associate with and many descriptions made me grin. Gregory Ashe has really covered all the quirks, preconceptions and prejudices that come along with it. Great entertainment!
But don’t believe this is only fun and games.
There is quite a bit of underlying tension in North and Shaw’s relationship throughout, the case causes major hazzle, but most of all it’s Uncle Ronnie who puts our guys under very unpleasant pressure. I dread to think of Ronnie’s repercussion after North’s stand-off towards the end.
I really like how Gregory Ashe takes a couple we know so well and lets us experience how they develop further. It’s obvious that North and Shaw have to resolve a few things but you kind of feel that they will manage, together.
Looking forward to book 2.
May 27, 2021
This was a lesson in trust. When I started this I was distinctly not “feeling” it and that was weird because, though Emery & John-Henry are my favorites, Gregory Ashe is pretty much my jam. Granted I’ve been a bit pissy lately and so when I started the book and Pari & Truck were performing their shtick I was thinking of stopping and coming back when I was in better mind set but ... I decided to trust an author who hasn’t steered me wrong and has given me some hard fought, hard won highs. Case in point the first part of this series. I’m glad I did.
If you’ve been to GRL or any similar book cons you’ll recognize the types. Though I hoped to not recognize myself among the attendees I also had more than one laugh. I don’t think the author exaggerated or was mean spirited in his depiction of this kind of event. The mystery was sufficiently convoluted in a good way and I was happy. The side story with Ronnie has my stomach in knots because, knowing Mr. Ashe’s style, nothing good can be brewing and I’m afraid the guys are headed for a trail of tears. What befell Shaw towards the end of this book seems like an appetizer of what to expect and I really want to be disappointed.
On the relationship front I’m glad to see that North & Shaw still have that bantery, mad-cap, comedic timing and that they use it to lull prey and as an informal communication device. It’s fun and North has some serious acting skills to not crack up at Shaw’s antics. I was also happy to see that GA hasn’t rushed them into a rainbows and glitter HEA. Even though they’ve known each other forever and been the closest of friends, they’ve just become a couple and each has some heavy luggage to carry and unpack. I feel like this arc will be more about North, his relationship with his father, and by default Ronnie, the fallout of his marriage to Tucker (another person I’d happily see drowned), and his sense of worth vis a vis Shaw. I’m interested to see how far the author will go in an exploration of class, though romance probably isn’t the right genre for that? We’ll see.
In the meantime everything about these few, intense days covered in the book felt real and relatable: the exhaustion, the constant wondering whether you are enough, worth enough, wanting to protect but not smother your partner, loving them despite or because of some serious personality quirks etc.
I’m both looking froward to and dreading Misdirection but I’ll wait until Charlie David’s audio drops. He really pulled me through the Pari/Truck nonsense (while laying it bare) and made my eyes well up too. These characters and Charlie are a match made in heaven.
If you’ve been to GRL or any similar book cons you’ll recognize the types. Though I hoped to not recognize myself among the attendees I also had more than one laugh. I don’t think the author exaggerated or was mean spirited in his depiction of this kind of event. The mystery was sufficiently convoluted in a good way and I was happy. The side story with Ronnie has my stomach in knots because, knowing Mr. Ashe’s style, nothing good can be brewing and I’m afraid the guys are headed for a trail of tears. What befell Shaw towards the end of this book seems like an appetizer of what to expect and I really want to be disappointed.
On the relationship front I’m glad to see that North & Shaw still have that bantery, mad-cap, comedic timing and that they use it to lull prey and as an informal communication device. It’s fun and North has some serious acting skills to not crack up at Shaw’s antics. I was also happy to see that GA hasn’t rushed them into a rainbows and glitter HEA. Even though they’ve known each other forever and been the closest of friends, they’ve just become a couple and each has some heavy luggage to carry and unpack. I feel like this arc will be more about North, his relationship with his father, and by default Ronnie, the fallout of his marriage to Tucker (another person I’d happily see drowned), and his sense of worth vis a vis Shaw. I’m interested to see how far the author will go in an exploration of class, though romance probably isn’t the right genre for that? We’ll see.
In the meantime everything about these few, intense days covered in the book felt real and relatable: the exhaustion, the constant wondering whether you are enough, worth enough, wanting to protect but not smother your partner, loving them despite or because of some serious personality quirks etc.
I’m both looking froward to and dreading Misdirection but I’ll wait until Charlie David’s audio drops. He really pulled me through the Pari/Truck nonsense (while laying it bare) and made my eyes well up too. These characters and Charlie are a match made in heaven.
March 8, 2021
North and Shaw are back, baby, and what a whirlwind of a mystery this was! Of course, at this point, I am forever a fan of Gregory Ashe and just absolutely fall in love with his ability to craft a story, book after book, after book, but Indirection was brilliant. Take the fantastic chemistry that North and Shaw share as business partners, best friends, and boyfriends, the off-the-wall dialogue this series is famous for, Ashe's gorgeous prose and setting descriptions, then add... I don't know... cocaine. Because things are about to get wild.
Our heroes have been dedicating every spare moment to the growth of Borealis, after Shaw's father hired them to run a plethora of background checks and investigations for his company. And that's great, because their business is finally turning a profit and they're doing exactly what they dreamed of. Although the romance and spark in their newly developing relationship is... suffering as a result, which North hasn't noticed and Shaw can't seem to knock sense into the guy. So when a client, a woman running a book convention for gay romances called Queer Expectations, shows up begging for help—Shaw is chomping at the bit for a break in their routine. But when he and North step foot into the hotel, they're swallowed whole by backstabbing authors, excitable readers, suspicious behavior, and oh, the bestselling author and star of the show is poisoned during a panel in front of a massive audience.
This book is nonstop action and hilarity, with a slew of suspects, each more suspicious than the one before. Ashe has always been particularly skilled at writing a large cast, all with unique personalities and motives, but I think this book is the best example of that talent yet. I didn't have a chance on guessing the guilty party. And at one point, I had been so certain that I'd finally figured Ashe out—but nope. I was dead wrong, and that made the ending all the more amazing. There's also an underlying mystery happening (believe it or not) that North and Shaw just can't escape, and the conclusion of the book (no spoilers) has me beyond nervous about how this will hurt them in the next title. Because we know it will.
A great return to my two favorite Ashe characters. Coy, tongue-in-cheek, heartfelt, exciting—this book has it all. I highly recommend for readers who enjoyed the Borealis Investigations!
Our heroes have been dedicating every spare moment to the growth of Borealis, after Shaw's father hired them to run a plethora of background checks and investigations for his company. And that's great, because their business is finally turning a profit and they're doing exactly what they dreamed of. Although the romance and spark in their newly developing relationship is... suffering as a result, which North hasn't noticed and Shaw can't seem to knock sense into the guy. So when a client, a woman running a book convention for gay romances called Queer Expectations, shows up begging for help—Shaw is chomping at the bit for a break in their routine. But when he and North step foot into the hotel, they're swallowed whole by backstabbing authors, excitable readers, suspicious behavior, and oh, the bestselling author and star of the show is poisoned during a panel in front of a massive audience.
This book is nonstop action and hilarity, with a slew of suspects, each more suspicious than the one before. Ashe has always been particularly skilled at writing a large cast, all with unique personalities and motives, but I think this book is the best example of that talent yet. I didn't have a chance on guessing the guilty party. And at one point, I had been so certain that I'd finally figured Ashe out—but nope. I was dead wrong, and that made the ending all the more amazing. There's also an underlying mystery happening (believe it or not) that North and Shaw just can't escape, and the conclusion of the book (no spoilers) has me beyond nervous about how this will hurt them in the next title. Because we know it will.
A great return to my two favorite Ashe characters. Coy, tongue-in-cheek, heartfelt, exciting—this book has it all. I highly recommend for readers who enjoyed the Borealis Investigations!
November 14, 2023
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ: 2023 N&S Rereadathon :･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧
this book is a hoot! resonates on another level after having first-hand experience of quirky panel names ("double pen-etration" for a cowriting panel LOL), SO MANY INNUENDOS (the girl blushing in the audience? yeah, that was me), random phallic objects, and insane signing crowds. there's something to be said about being surrounded by fellow readers! i don't know how much longer GRL is going to operate as it has, but it's the only event where you might come home with the story of Josh Lanyon putting your lemonade on her tab before disappearing into the night 😂
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probably the most fun i've had with the series so far, even if the commentary on the state/future of m/m romance was a little too caustically on the nose 😂 fully embodies the crackfic mentality filled with stereotypes galore and OTT personalities in a gay lit romance convention setting, what more could you ask for?
this book is a hoot! resonates on another level after having first-hand experience of quirky panel names ("double pen-etration" for a cowriting panel LOL), SO MANY INNUENDOS (the girl blushing in the audience? yeah, that was me), random phallic objects, and insane signing crowds. there's something to be said about being surrounded by fellow readers! i don't know how much longer GRL is going to operate as it has, but it's the only event where you might come home with the story of Josh Lanyon putting your lemonade on her tab before disappearing into the night 😂
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"I'm very traditionally masculine," Shaw said. "I chopped down a tree once."
"It was a sapling, and he ran over it with a lawn mower, and afterwards, he cried so hard that he threw up a little bit and I had to hose the whole fucking mess into the street."
probably the most fun i've had with the series so far, even if the commentary on the state/future of m/m romance was a little too caustically on the nose 😂 fully embodies the crackfic mentality filled with stereotypes galore and OTT personalities in a gay lit romance convention setting, what more could you ask for?
June 21, 2021
4.25 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I forgot to come back and write my review, and now I’m too lazy so I’ll just make a few comments.
This book was funny, and the banter/dialogue was A+. The mystery was fun and I surprisingly did not guess the culprit ahead of time. The growing pains and trials of North and Shaw’s relationship was also done well.
I enjoyed this and had fun reading, but the projections about MM romance writers and readers stopped being funny fairly early on. Every comment felt very *wink wink* to the reader, and it got old. Ashe’s subtext about the genre and others who write in it felt like his own personal low key vent session. Probably not intentional but he gave himself Scott vibes honestly. Anyway, on to book 2!
I forgot to come back and write my review, and now I’m too lazy so I’ll just make a few comments.
This book was funny, and the banter/dialogue was A+. The mystery was fun and I surprisingly did not guess the culprit ahead of time. The growing pains and trials of North and Shaw’s relationship was also done well.
I enjoyed this and had fun reading, but the projections about MM romance writers and readers stopped being funny fairly early on. Every comment felt very *wink wink* to the reader, and it got old. Ashe’s subtext about the genre and others who write in it felt like his own personal low key vent session. Probably not intentional but he gave himself Scott vibes honestly. Anyway, on to book 2!
April 25, 2021
I've given this an A- at AAR, so that's 4.5 stars rounded up.
Note: This review contains spoilers for the previous Borealis Investigations series.
North and Shaw are back in Indirection, the first book in Gregory Ashe’s new four part series Borealis: Without a Compass , which sees them moving into a new phase of their lives – as both romantic partners and partners in a growing, successful business. All the things I so loved about them in their first series – their crazy chemistry, their frequently hilarious (and frequently bonkers) banter, their great friendship and deeply-rooted affection – are still here, and it’s nice to see them (mostly) happy and in love while at the same time, they’re hitting the same speed-bumps we all hit when it comes to juggling the demands of work and home.
When we first met them in Orientation, their private investigation business – Borealis Investigations – was struggling. North had lost his PI license due to a complaint made against him, and work was thin on the ground. Things did start to pick up however, and they were doing better when, at the end of Declination, Shaw’s father hired them to conduct investigations for his company, and they’ve had as much work as they can handle ever since. This is exactly what they wanted – they’re turning a profit, they’re making a name for themselves … but the downside is that their personal relationship is suffering because North is working every hour God sends and Shaw is feeling a little bit left out as a result. (Poor Shaw is the victim of some very inventive cock-blocking here – which is all I’m going to say!)
He’s also not completely happy with the direction the business is headed. When he and North started Borealis, Shaw wanted to do something to help the LGBTQ+ community, to help people who often couldn’t get help elsewhere, and doing corporate work Isn’t really what he wants to do. So when the woman who runs Queer Expectations – a gay romance book convention – turns up with tales of threatening emails and begs for their help, Shaw is chomping at the bit to take the case and get out of their current rut of corporate drudgery. North isn’t wild about the idea – they’re slammed with other jobs and – but, well, he’s putty in Shaw’s hands, and of course they take the case.
As soon as they step into the hotel where the con is taking place, they’re plunged into a whole basket of crazy, from overenthusiastic and cosplaying fans to backstabbing authors. The whole thing is doing North’s head in, while Shaw loves it and wants to fanboy his favourite authors! – but they find it hard to get useful information out of anyone and aren’t convinced the whole thing isn’t going to turn out to be a massive waste of time. Until, that is, the convention’s headliner and bestselling author Scotty Carlson is poisoned during a panel, in front of a packed crowd.
Fingers are pointed and revelations come thick and fast as the number of suspects increases and several of the other authors suffer ‘accidents’; the pace is almost frenetic as North and Shaw start to dig up some unpleasant truths in what feels like an episode of Murder She Wrote on speed (but with sex and a lot more swearing!). I had no idea who the villain of the piece was – Mr. Ashe strews his red herrings around with gleeful abandon – but honestly, I was quite happy to sit back while North and Shaw did the heavy lifting and wait for them to figure it out because I was having so much damn fun reading it! They’re so well- attuned to each other that they work together like a well-oiled machine, and their roundabout conversations, where they go off at weird tangents, finish each other’s sentences and completely baffle everyone around them – are hilarious.
While the plot is huge fun, it’s also very meta. Setting the story at a romance convention gives the author a chance to poke some gentle (and not so gentle) fun at the archetypes and prejudices and entrenched views held about the romance genre, and a lot of the conversations about romance – and queer romance especially – are on topics that have been doing the rounds of the internet and social media for a while – which doesn’t in any way negate their relevance.
While North and Shaw are trying to find out who is behind the poisoning and other ‘accidents’, there’s another storyline bubbling along in the background, which was hinted at at the end of the pervious series when North’s slimy “uncle” Ronnie hinted he’d be asking North to do some stuff for him and strongly hinted it had something to do with Aldrich Acquisitions. Ronnie turns up again here and tells North he wants him to get some video or photographs of a man he knows is attacking young gay men. North wants nothing to do with Ronnie and wants to tell him to go to hell, but Shaw’s cooler head prevails, and he says they’ll do what Ronnie wants – while they figure out how to deal with him in the long term. We find out exactly what Ronnie is holding over North’s head here – and it’s not pretty. I’m guessing this will be the series’ overarching plotline – and that it’s going to get worse before it gets better.
For all of the craziness surrounding the investigation, there are some lovely quiet and tender moments between North and Shaw that continue to show just how much they care for each other, and I like that even though they’re a couple now, and even though they’ve known each other for years, they still have things to learn about each other and about relationships.
I was pleased to see Pari toned down a bit in this book. I didn’t like her in the previous series – she was forever complaining about something and never seemed to do any work – here, she’s less shouty and actually proves herself to be a good friend at an important point in the story. Who knows, if this improvement continues, I might find myself actually liking her (gasp!). Jadon is back, too, and I can’t help hoping that perhaps he’ll find a special someone as well – after all he’s been through, he deserves it!
My one complaint is that at times there was just a bit too much to take in. There are a lot of suspects and a lot of moving parts to the mystery and I had to stop a couple of times and try to take stock of who was who and how A related to B and so on. But that’s all I can really think of that didn’t work for me in this one.
Clever and exciting, sweet, sexy and often very funny, Indirection marks a triumphant return for the Borealis Boys, and gets this new series off to a very strong start. I’m eagerly looking forward to seeing what Mr. Ashe has in store for them next.
Note: This review contains spoilers for the previous Borealis Investigations series.
North and Shaw are back in Indirection, the first book in Gregory Ashe’s new four part series Borealis: Without a Compass , which sees them moving into a new phase of their lives – as both romantic partners and partners in a growing, successful business. All the things I so loved about them in their first series – their crazy chemistry, their frequently hilarious (and frequently bonkers) banter, their great friendship and deeply-rooted affection – are still here, and it’s nice to see them (mostly) happy and in love while at the same time, they’re hitting the same speed-bumps we all hit when it comes to juggling the demands of work and home.
When we first met them in Orientation, their private investigation business – Borealis Investigations – was struggling. North had lost his PI license due to a complaint made against him, and work was thin on the ground. Things did start to pick up however, and they were doing better when, at the end of Declination, Shaw’s father hired them to conduct investigations for his company, and they’ve had as much work as they can handle ever since. This is exactly what they wanted – they’re turning a profit, they’re making a name for themselves … but the downside is that their personal relationship is suffering because North is working every hour God sends and Shaw is feeling a little bit left out as a result. (Poor Shaw is the victim of some very inventive cock-blocking here – which is all I’m going to say!)
He’s also not completely happy with the direction the business is headed. When he and North started Borealis, Shaw wanted to do something to help the LGBTQ+ community, to help people who often couldn’t get help elsewhere, and doing corporate work Isn’t really what he wants to do. So when the woman who runs Queer Expectations – a gay romance book convention – turns up with tales of threatening emails and begs for their help, Shaw is chomping at the bit to take the case and get out of their current rut of corporate drudgery. North isn’t wild about the idea – they’re slammed with other jobs and – but, well, he’s putty in Shaw’s hands, and of course they take the case.
As soon as they step into the hotel where the con is taking place, they’re plunged into a whole basket of crazy, from overenthusiastic and cosplaying fans to backstabbing authors. The whole thing is doing North’s head in, while Shaw loves it and wants to fanboy his favourite authors! – but they find it hard to get useful information out of anyone and aren’t convinced the whole thing isn’t going to turn out to be a massive waste of time. Until, that is, the convention’s headliner and bestselling author Scotty Carlson is poisoned during a panel, in front of a packed crowd.
Fingers are pointed and revelations come thick and fast as the number of suspects increases and several of the other authors suffer ‘accidents’; the pace is almost frenetic as North and Shaw start to dig up some unpleasant truths in what feels like an episode of Murder She Wrote on speed (but with sex and a lot more swearing!). I had no idea who the villain of the piece was – Mr. Ashe strews his red herrings around with gleeful abandon – but honestly, I was quite happy to sit back while North and Shaw did the heavy lifting and wait for them to figure it out because I was having so much damn fun reading it! They’re so well- attuned to each other that they work together like a well-oiled machine, and their roundabout conversations, where they go off at weird tangents, finish each other’s sentences and completely baffle everyone around them – are hilarious.
While the plot is huge fun, it’s also very meta. Setting the story at a romance convention gives the author a chance to poke some gentle (and not so gentle) fun at the archetypes and prejudices and entrenched views held about the romance genre, and a lot of the conversations about romance – and queer romance especially – are on topics that have been doing the rounds of the internet and social media for a while – which doesn’t in any way negate their relevance.
While North and Shaw are trying to find out who is behind the poisoning and other ‘accidents’, there’s another storyline bubbling along in the background, which was hinted at at the end of the pervious series when North’s slimy “uncle” Ronnie hinted he’d be asking North to do some stuff for him and strongly hinted it had something to do with Aldrich Acquisitions. Ronnie turns up again here and tells North he wants him to get some video or photographs of a man he knows is attacking young gay men. North wants nothing to do with Ronnie and wants to tell him to go to hell, but Shaw’s cooler head prevails, and he says they’ll do what Ronnie wants – while they figure out how to deal with him in the long term. We find out exactly what Ronnie is holding over North’s head here – and it’s not pretty. I’m guessing this will be the series’ overarching plotline – and that it’s going to get worse before it gets better.
For all of the craziness surrounding the investigation, there are some lovely quiet and tender moments between North and Shaw that continue to show just how much they care for each other, and I like that even though they’re a couple now, and even though they’ve known each other for years, they still have things to learn about each other and about relationships.
I was pleased to see Pari toned down a bit in this book. I didn’t like her in the previous series – she was forever complaining about something and never seemed to do any work – here, she’s less shouty and actually proves herself to be a good friend at an important point in the story. Who knows, if this improvement continues, I might find myself actually liking her (gasp!). Jadon is back, too, and I can’t help hoping that perhaps he’ll find a special someone as well – after all he’s been through, he deserves it!
My one complaint is that at times there was just a bit too much to take in. There are a lot of suspects and a lot of moving parts to the mystery and I had to stop a couple of times and try to take stock of who was who and how A related to B and so on. But that’s all I can really think of that didn’t work for me in this one.
Clever and exciting, sweet, sexy and often very funny, Indirection marks a triumphant return for the Borealis Boys, and gets this new series off to a very strong start. I’m eagerly looking forward to seeing what Mr. Ashe has in store for them next.
May 10, 2025
I actually enjoyed North and Shaw so much more in this book than in their previous story arc.
The relationship teething pains were super realistic and I felt connected to both characters finally!
The crime was both funny and interesting and I had no real suspicions. It was really funny how some of the readers were described and the egos of the authors were really entertaining! I totally called that Scotty was not being honest about his interests though 😂
I do wish Ronnie would fuck off already though, he makes me overly anxious along with North's dad...
The relationship teething pains were super realistic and I felt connected to both characters finally!
The crime was both funny and interesting and I had no real suspicions. It was really funny how some of the readers were described and the egos of the authors were really entertaining! I totally called that Scotty was not being honest about his interests though 😂
I do wish Ronnie would fuck off already though, he makes me overly anxious along with North's dad...
March 9, 2022
BETTER & BETTER!!!
Each book tops the previous one.
*insert chuckle here*
The series is my definition of UST!
Oh, and there is the mystery and all, too!
AMAZING narration by Charlie David!!!
Each book tops the previous one.
*insert chuckle here*
The series is my definition of UST!
Oh, and there is the mystery and all, too!
AMAZING narration by Charlie David!!!
March 14, 2021
NORTH AND SHAW ARE BACK!
This was a very interesting mystery with lots of twists and turns that had me guessing the culprit until the very end. This book takes place during a romance convention and it just makes me miss going to book festivals and conventions!! Even if, in this case, it is very dramatic.
I really loved the slow burning angst that the author does SO WELL. Just because my faves are finally together doesn’t mean everything is suddenly all sunshine and rainbows, and I kind of like that? Especially since this starts off a new story arc. This book does end with what I would consider a HFN (since this is a continuing series).
Trigger warnings include homomisia, bimisia, ableist language, blackmail, “jokes” about rape, violence, assault, sexual assault, mentions of drug use, mentions/“jokes” about body dysphoria, mentions of domestic violence, unaddressed PTSD, and comments about suicidal ideation.
Borealis Investigations is finally seeing steady work and North and Shaw have more work on their hands than ever before. Shaw’s father’s company, Aldrich Acquisitions, has hired them to work a lot of cases and with their usual work on the side, they’re more than busy enough. But when a woman in charge of a romance convention held in their town this year walks into the Borealis offices asking for someone to look into the threatening messages she’s been receiving, and Shaw being an avid romance reader, immediately says yes. Much to North’s surprise and dismay.
So. I think this book started off a little slow? But it got quickly back into the groove I expected from the Borealis books and we get the witty quips from North and Shaw that heavily confuses everyone within hearing distance of them, and there’s a mystery to solve.
I do feel like the mystery piece was a bit confusing because there were so many elements to it and so many potential suspects. It took a while for me to get around to figuring out who was who but there’s a nice recap when Shaw was piecing it all together which helped? I will say the only continuity pieces that are irrelevant to the story that threw me off is that we never see North retrieving his phone at one point after using it for spying and we don’t see North ever changing out of his kitchen disguise.
This book probably has the most diverse cast of characters in it, for better or worse. Is it good rep? Well, not really. But I did like that with this book, Pari is toned down a lot and not so...out there like a caricature. And her and Truck are super sweet and adorable together. So I’m really happy for them!
North and Shaw also have many soft moments together!! I love their little moments where it shows they know each other so well, but this book also shows that there’s always more for them to learn about the another. We know they’ve loved each other since college, but maybe knowing someone so well means that things get missed too.
Gregory Ashe does this dynamic SO. WELL. He did this with Hazard and Somerset too and the angsty relationship dynamic doesn’t disappoint here with this series. We still get the angsty moments that make me cry (but I do cry really easily so this is no surprise) and this book STILL somehow had the feels of a slow burn even though North and Shaw are already dating??? How does the author do this so well? I don’t know. But I love it.
The romance convention piece of this book is very interesting. It does feel very meta in that a lot of the conversations surrounding romance are very real and topics that have floated around romancelandia and queer books for years and years. If you’re online a lot and hang out on social media, I don’t think a lot of the conversations brought up in this book are new but shows the author has a pulse on the topics around the community.
North’s Uncle Ronnie is back and he’s bad news. I don’t trust him at all and I want to know his endgame with all this. What’s his goal??? I am SUSPECT.
We see Jaden a LOT and I swear if Jaden doesn’t get his own HEA at some point, I’m going to be upset.. I think he deserves happiness too.
One thing I would’ve loved more of in these books going forward is North’s puppy. And yes, the puppy is North’s and I love who dog-sits for him.
There is one line about Emery Hazard that was a fun Easter egg for anyone on the lookout for Hazard and Somerset crossover moments!
Overall, I thought this was a strong book to start out the second story arc of the Borealis series and I very much enjoyed returning to North and Shaw again! I hope Charlie David is narrating these books again because I really loved what he did with the other books in this series and would love to hear him narrating North and Shaw again!
***Thanks to the author for giving me an ARC to read and review!***
This was a very interesting mystery with lots of twists and turns that had me guessing the culprit until the very end. This book takes place during a romance convention and it just makes me miss going to book festivals and conventions!! Even if, in this case, it is very dramatic.
I really loved the slow burning angst that the author does SO WELL. Just because my faves are finally together doesn’t mean everything is suddenly all sunshine and rainbows, and I kind of like that? Especially since this starts off a new story arc. This book does end with what I would consider a HFN (since this is a continuing series).
Trigger warnings include homomisia, bimisia, ableist language, blackmail, “jokes” about rape, violence, assault, sexual assault, mentions of drug use, mentions/“jokes” about body dysphoria, mentions of domestic violence, unaddressed PTSD, and comments about suicidal ideation.
Borealis Investigations is finally seeing steady work and North and Shaw have more work on their hands than ever before. Shaw’s father’s company, Aldrich Acquisitions, has hired them to work a lot of cases and with their usual work on the side, they’re more than busy enough. But when a woman in charge of a romance convention held in their town this year walks into the Borealis offices asking for someone to look into the threatening messages she’s been receiving, and Shaw being an avid romance reader, immediately says yes. Much to North’s surprise and dismay.
So. I think this book started off a little slow? But it got quickly back into the groove I expected from the Borealis books and we get the witty quips from North and Shaw that heavily confuses everyone within hearing distance of them, and there’s a mystery to solve.
I do feel like the mystery piece was a bit confusing because there were so many elements to it and so many potential suspects. It took a while for me to get around to figuring out who was who but there’s a nice recap when Shaw was piecing it all together which helped? I will say the only continuity pieces that are irrelevant to the story that threw me off is that we never see North retrieving his phone at one point after using it for spying and we don’t see North ever changing out of his kitchen disguise.
This book probably has the most diverse cast of characters in it, for better or worse. Is it good rep? Well, not really. But I did like that with this book, Pari is toned down a lot and not so...out there like a caricature. And her and Truck are super sweet and adorable together. So I’m really happy for them!
North and Shaw also have many soft moments together!! I love their little moments where it shows they know each other so well, but this book also shows that there’s always more for them to learn about the another. We know they’ve loved each other since college, but maybe knowing someone so well means that things get missed too.
Gregory Ashe does this dynamic SO. WELL. He did this with Hazard and Somerset too and the angsty relationship dynamic doesn’t disappoint here with this series. We still get the angsty moments that make me cry (but I do cry really easily so this is no surprise) and this book STILL somehow had the feels of a slow burn even though North and Shaw are already dating??? How does the author do this so well? I don’t know. But I love it.
The romance convention piece of this book is very interesting. It does feel very meta in that a lot of the conversations surrounding romance are very real and topics that have floated around romancelandia and queer books for years and years. If you’re online a lot and hang out on social media, I don’t think a lot of the conversations brought up in this book are new but shows the author has a pulse on the topics around the community.
North’s Uncle Ronnie is back and he’s bad news. I don’t trust him at all and I want to know his endgame with all this. What’s his goal??? I am SUSPECT.
We see Jaden a LOT and I swear if Jaden doesn’t get his own HEA at some point, I’m going to be upset.. I think he deserves happiness too.
One thing I would’ve loved more of in these books going forward is North’s puppy. And yes, the puppy is North’s and I love who dog-sits for him.
There is one line about Emery Hazard that was a fun Easter egg for anyone on the lookout for Hazard and Somerset crossover moments!
Overall, I thought this was a strong book to start out the second story arc of the Borealis series and I very much enjoyed returning to North and Shaw again! I hope Charlie David is narrating these books again because I really loved what he did with the other books in this series and would love to hear him narrating North and Shaw again!
***Thanks to the author for giving me an ARC to read and review!***
December 29, 2022
This was by far my favorite North and Shaw installment yet. Between the banter, the setting and the host of interesting side characters (aka suspects), I had so much fun reading this book at a time when I was in desperate need of some escapist fun.
Shaw is finally acting like the Shaw I met in the H&S series. It seems as though he has gone full throttle into the realm of new age self-care and has finally tapped into those psychic abilities that helped him find the juicer that Emery swore he didn't own in Transactional Dynamics. With all of the Slasher business behind him, he seems like a happier version of Shaw and the guy I had previously pegged as my Hazardverse bestie. Things aren't romance novel perfect for him, but they're better.
North, on the other hand, is still going through it. He's in the middle of an ugly divorce and has been diving headfirst into building Borealis in a way that has left him depleted and exhausted. I loved him so much in this book. He's still very much the same North from the first series, but the tender moments between him and Shaw and the way he wants to be a perfect boyfriend and self corrects when he realizes he's messing up melted my heart. With three more books in this series and Tucker looming in the background, I know there are going to be some bumps ahead, but I'm glad these two got somewhat of a break in this part of their story.
This book had a lot to say about the gay romance genre, the people who write in it and the discourse within and surrounding it. It was done in a reality show/Jerry Springer episode wig-snatching-claws-out-you-stole-my-man kind of way, which made the whole gay romance convention situation hilarious but also incredibly thought provoking. In other words, brilliant as usual. And I laughed out loud at the way the book ended because I would have expected nothing less from this author.
On to the next one!
Shaw is finally acting like the Shaw I met in the H&S series. It seems as though he has gone full throttle into the realm of new age self-care and has finally tapped into those psychic abilities that helped him find the juicer that Emery swore he didn't own in Transactional Dynamics. With all of the Slasher business behind him, he seems like a happier version of Shaw and the guy I had previously pegged as my Hazardverse bestie. Things aren't romance novel perfect for him, but they're better.
North, on the other hand, is still going through it. He's in the middle of an ugly divorce and has been diving headfirst into building Borealis in a way that has left him depleted and exhausted. I loved him so much in this book. He's still very much the same North from the first series, but the tender moments between him and Shaw and the way he wants to be a perfect boyfriend and self corrects when he realizes he's messing up melted my heart. With three more books in this series and Tucker looming in the background, I know there are going to be some bumps ahead, but I'm glad these two got somewhat of a break in this part of their story.
This book had a lot to say about the gay romance genre, the people who write in it and the discourse within and surrounding it. It was done in a reality show/Jerry Springer episode wig-snatching-claws-out-you-stole-my-man kind of way, which made the whole gay romance convention situation hilarious but also incredibly thought provoking. In other words, brilliant as usual. And I laughed out loud at the way the book ended because I would have expected nothing less from this author.
On to the next one!
April 1, 2021
I had a few issues with this new North and Shaw book. However the things I loved were greater. Review to come soon. 🥰
March 31, 2021
It pains me to poorly rate a book by this author but I really wasn't feeling this one. This is my least favorite series that this author has. I don't care much for Shaw and I really dislike their office assistant and want to punch her in the face every time she is on page. I find a lot of humor in the banter between MC's in the other series (ie Hazard/Summers and Tean/Jem) but these two are OTT and they wear me out with their nonsense.
Even with those things aside I was not digging this plot. It's basically a lot of pages slamming women who read m/m romance and attend GRL. I'm not a conference attendee kind of a reader but I still felt like this book was slamming those that do like that stuff. I know the genre has been ripe with issues and bad behavior and maybe the author was just trying to make light of it all, but this felt insulting. There's a part where one of the authors in the book states another author insults his readers and they don't even realize he's talking about them. This felt like that was what this entire book was. A big "jokes on you".
Even with those things aside I was not digging this plot. It's basically a lot of pages slamming women who read m/m romance and attend GRL. I'm not a conference attendee kind of a reader but I still felt like this book was slamming those that do like that stuff. I know the genre has been ripe with issues and bad behavior and maybe the author was just trying to make light of it all, but this felt insulting. There's a part where one of the authors in the book states another author insults his readers and they don't even realize he's talking about them. This felt like that was what this entire book was. A big "jokes on you".
December 31, 2023
This was a great book to read right before I went to GRL. North and Shaw are back and this was quite the messy mystery. Not so much for the murder but for the people they had to deal with.
I'm looking forward to the rest as their relationship continues to deepen. I loved the oh-so-brief cameo by a certain beloved couple from another author's series, and I'm glad that Pari was less overall, but she is still annoying and I have no idea why she is there.
I'm looking forward to the rest as their relationship continues to deepen. I loved the oh-so-brief cameo by a certain beloved couple from another author's series, and I'm glad that Pari was less overall, but she is still annoying and I have no idea why she is there.
Read
July 24, 2022It was a little more disorienting to drop myself back in this world for some reason. This isn't unusual for me in a series--more speaks to the way in which Hazard & Somers stick in your brain.
I did recall their dynamic. Which I enjoy. No rating, it's not a comment on the book but I just struggle to rate mid-series unless it is particularly something.
I did recall their dynamic. Which I enjoy. No rating, it's not a comment on the book but I just struggle to rate mid-series unless it is particularly something.
May 21, 2021
I reviewed the print version HERE.
I was really pleased to see Charlie David returning for this second Borealis Investigations series and he delivers another strong performance that's well-paced and differentiated with a good range of characterisations for the secondary cast. His portrayals of North and Shaw are spot on and he absolutely nails all the different facets of their relationship; his comic timing is excellent and he makes the most of the humour, the teasing and the affection between the couple while also being able to convey the intensity of the quieter, more emotional moments. I'm looking forward to the next instalment in audio.
I was really pleased to see Charlie David returning for this second Borealis Investigations series and he delivers another strong performance that's well-paced and differentiated with a good range of characterisations for the secondary cast. His portrayals of North and Shaw are spot on and he absolutely nails all the different facets of their relationship; his comic timing is excellent and he makes the most of the humour, the teasing and the affection between the couple while also being able to convey the intensity of the quieter, more emotional moments. I'm looking forward to the next instalment in audio.
March 11, 2022
This is my least favourite so far and sadly Pari is still part of this. It took me ages to finish it and
September 23, 2021
This book follows North and Shaw’s story after the Borealis Investigations series . They are together as a couple, in love and still living separately, doing what they are best at: bickering back and forth while solving crimes!
The “Queer Expectation” Convention is being held in St. Luise and they’re hired as private detectives (GAY private detectives as the people there like to call them!) to investigate the source of death threats against one of the organizers. Things take the worse turn on the first day of the convention and now there’s a murder mystery for the boys to solve.
The mystery is interesting with a good pace that is not too rushed and doesn’t bore the readers.
It’s fun to read about everything that is going on in the Queer Expectation event. Ambitious writers, hard core fans, dressed up as their favourite characters and of course North's unintentional success in imitating the beloved character of a very successful series, a construction worker named Lars with Swedish ancestry, was hilarious! And then there are interviews with various people in the con, showcasing different angles of gay romance literature.
North and Shaw get to meet writers, readers, reviewers and fans of gay romance genre at this event and if you’ve been a fan long enough you’ll appreciate the author's take on behind the scenes of this world!
North and Shaw, polar opposite of each other, fit perfectly together. The combination of the witty Shaw and the practical North makes this book so much fun to read. It is full of amusing little moments of Shaw oversharing and North almost losing it trying to clarify his assumptions!
Shaw : “…I’m used to you yelling at me; you’ve been yelling at me for eight years, starting with when I did your laundry for the first time freshman year. It’s kind of endearing, actually, like when the puppy barks.”
North: “Ok, well, first of all, it’s not endearing, and second of all, you didn’t do my laundry. You gave a bag of my clothes to someone you assumed was from a laundry pickup service, and I spent the next six months buying an entirely new wardrobe.”
I liked the stability of their relationship in this book. There’s not too much steam but it doesn’t affect how hot they are when they get together. North is working too hard. He is busy and always tired and most of their attempts at having an intimate time fail disastrously! but their love for each other stays strong and no amount of doubt and misunderstanding can shake it.
It was a while since I finished the Borealis Investigation series and I loved going back to Shaw and North’s world. To be honest, it didn’t matter that I couldn’t remember every detail about them. Of course, knowing their history would make reading this book much more enjoyable but Gregory Ashe has made sure not much is missed for those new to these guys. You can pick up from “Indirection” and tag along with these two fantastic characters and follow their journey.
Overall it was a fun read and a fantastic start to get in the mood for a series that has already proven to be amazing!
The “Queer Expectation” Convention is being held in St. Luise and they’re hired as private detectives (GAY private detectives as the people there like to call them!) to investigate the source of death threats against one of the organizers. Things take the worse turn on the first day of the convention and now there’s a murder mystery for the boys to solve.
The mystery is interesting with a good pace that is not too rushed and doesn’t bore the readers.
It’s fun to read about everything that is going on in the Queer Expectation event. Ambitious writers, hard core fans, dressed up as their favourite characters and of course North's unintentional success in imitating the beloved character of a very successful series, a construction worker named Lars with Swedish ancestry, was hilarious! And then there are interviews with various people in the con, showcasing different angles of gay romance literature.
North and Shaw get to meet writers, readers, reviewers and fans of gay romance genre at this event and if you’ve been a fan long enough you’ll appreciate the author's take on behind the scenes of this world!
North and Shaw, polar opposite of each other, fit perfectly together. The combination of the witty Shaw and the practical North makes this book so much fun to read. It is full of amusing little moments of Shaw oversharing and North almost losing it trying to clarify his assumptions!
Shaw : “…I’m used to you yelling at me; you’ve been yelling at me for eight years, starting with when I did your laundry for the first time freshman year. It’s kind of endearing, actually, like when the puppy barks.”
North: “Ok, well, first of all, it’s not endearing, and second of all, you didn’t do my laundry. You gave a bag of my clothes to someone you assumed was from a laundry pickup service, and I spent the next six months buying an entirely new wardrobe.”
I liked the stability of their relationship in this book. There’s not too much steam but it doesn’t affect how hot they are when they get together. North is working too hard. He is busy and always tired and most of their attempts at having an intimate time fail disastrously! but their love for each other stays strong and no amount of doubt and misunderstanding can shake it.
It was a while since I finished the Borealis Investigation series and I loved going back to Shaw and North’s world. To be honest, it didn’t matter that I couldn’t remember every detail about them. Of course, knowing their history would make reading this book much more enjoyable but Gregory Ashe has made sure not much is missed for those new to these guys. You can pick up from “Indirection” and tag along with these two fantastic characters and follow their journey.
Overall it was a fun read and a fantastic start to get in the mood for a series that has already proven to be amazing!
March 11, 2021
A new stage has begun in North and Shaw's lives. Borealis is working at full and things are looking up. At least, when it comes to business...
Because. yes, North can get a bitobsessive focussed when it comes to their business, and Shaw is feeling (very justifiably, if I may say it) a little left aside. And let's be honest, this book is a complete catalogue to cock-blocking. *dies laughing* So, yes, cue to a very unsatisfied Shaw.
And yet, when a new case appears, it's Shaw who wants to take it. The fact that it's centred around a gay romance writers convention has nothing to do with his enthusiasm. At all!
So, you'll think this is all: a case and a personal conflict; that should do it. But, oh, no! We also have 'uncle Ronnie' blackmailing them into a case (a case that involves a man beating young gays) for his own nebulous reasons, possibly related to Shaw's father.
From then on, there will be amazing suspense, moments of pure, absurd, delightful hilarity, thrilling chases and almost unbearable tension and interesting, complex characters. Your usual Gregory Ashe :P
And I have to say this: I adore Pari here, and she is absolutely right. She deserves her two hundred dollars and her extra fee for outright stupidity. Best therapy session EVER!
And having the central case in that convention, with all those archetypes and all those prejudices and rigid views about the genre was genius. Yes, it provides a populous crowd of suspects with bruised egos and lots of grievances against the victim. But it also makes us face our demands and expectations as readers of a genre which has been considered cheesy and has been trashed since the beginning of time. I truly liked that.
In short, and just in case I have been really subtle and this hasn't come out with sterling clarity: I really, REALLY loved this book.
Because. yes, North can get a bit
And yet, when a new case appears, it's Shaw who wants to take it. The fact that it's centred around a gay romance writers convention has nothing to do with his enthusiasm. At all!
So, you'll think this is all: a case and a personal conflict; that should do it. But, oh, no! We also have 'uncle Ronnie' blackmailing them into a case (a case that involves a man beating young gays) for his own nebulous reasons, possibly related to Shaw's father.
From then on, there will be amazing suspense, moments of pure, absurd, delightful hilarity, thrilling chases and almost unbearable tension and interesting, complex characters. Your usual Gregory Ashe :P
And I have to say this: I adore Pari here, and she is absolutely right. She deserves her two hundred dollars and her extra fee for outright stupidity. Best therapy session EVER!
And having the central case in that convention, with all those archetypes and all those prejudices and rigid views about the genre was genius. Yes, it provides a populous crowd of suspects with bruised egos and lots of grievances against the victim. But it also makes us face our demands and expectations as readers of a genre which has been considered cheesy and has been trashed since the beginning of time. I truly liked that.
In short, and just in case I have been really subtle and this hasn't come out with sterling clarity: I really, REALLY loved this book.
July 28, 2021
Well, things took a sharp dive almost right out the gate for the original Borealis Investigations series -- this couple is just not my favourite -- and we're right back at it again. I was mildly tickled by the setting of this mystery (romance reader convention) and all the characters and caricatures these kinds of events bring out, both the readers and writers, and the discussion around romance as a genre (particularly when it comes to queer romance), but it didn't distract me enough into liking the pairing and their ensuing hijinks.
I just.. it's hard to believe that these two actually like each other. As people. I am fully sold on them wanting to bone each other but they are such an oddball pairing with their likes, their quirks, their behaviours, and sometimes it just doesn't vibe. I just don't feel anything between them. Sometimes their tangental comedy routines are funny, other times tedious, and overall it's just pretty meh.
Also, the shift in theme I thought was to come for this series? Isn't at all going the way I thought. So that's kind of a bummer. But maybe that, at least, will get better.
I just.. it's hard to believe that these two actually like each other. As people. I am fully sold on them wanting to bone each other but they are such an oddball pairing with their likes, their quirks, their behaviours, and sometimes it just doesn't vibe. I just don't feel anything between them. Sometimes their tangental comedy routines are funny, other times tedious, and overall it's just pretty meh.
Also, the shift in theme I thought was to come for this series? Isn't at all going the way I thought. So that's kind of a bummer. But maybe that, at least, will get better.
February 3, 2024
Silly but it kinda worked, relationship-wise? I think the OTT premise -- Gregory Ashe was having fun writing that con -- helped.
One of my issues with North and Shaw thus far has been the tonal dissonance between the severity of the crimes, the angstiness of their relationship, the trauma they're both carrying around, and the self-consciously ridiculous banter and bickering they constantly engage in; add in Shaw's manic pixie dreamboy characterization and a dash of hugely annoying Pari, and it's a weird combo that hasn't entirely gelled for me. Here we have the nefarious Ronnie lurking the background, but otherwise a different, lighter tone (dead body aside) that eased some of the dissonance with North and Shaw. I also liked the increased focus on North, and how he's using overwork and avoidance to (not) deal with the wreckage inflicted by terrible ex and terrible dad. Definitely laying the groundwork for this series' arc.
All in all: North and Shaw will never be my faves (Tean-n-Jem[n-Scipio!] 4eva!!), but a good start to arc 2.
One of my issues with North and Shaw thus far has been the tonal dissonance between the severity of the crimes, the angstiness of their relationship, the trauma they're both carrying around, and the self-consciously ridiculous banter and bickering they constantly engage in; add in Shaw's manic pixie dreamboy characterization and a dash of hugely annoying Pari, and it's a weird combo that hasn't entirely gelled for me. Here we have the nefarious Ronnie lurking the background, but otherwise a different, lighter tone (dead body aside) that eased some of the dissonance with North and Shaw. I also liked the increased focus on North, and how he's using overwork and avoidance to (not) deal with the wreckage inflicted by terrible ex and terrible dad. Definitely laying the groundwork for this series' arc.
All in all: North and Shaw will never be my faves (Tean-n-Jem[n-Scipio!] 4eva!!), but a good start to arc 2.
November 14, 2022
4.5 ALL AROUND ⭐️ STARS
IMO this book really shows how’s subtly brilliant Gregory Ashe is. My favorite stories of his will always be H&S when reading them I felt there would I could never even like Shaw. Well I was so wrong I am so invested in both North and Shaw, what you see is not all there is and they both have a lot to deal with. I like how they are still figuring it out.
The banter is funny, but what I really enjoy is the subtle things GA just hints here and there through the books and series. A little here and there is perfect for my reading style.
Now what I really loved … the convention. HA!!! This was great I felt it was a bit of a wake up to all the horrible nonsense and un-necessary shit that goes on. Not a social media person but I know there is a bunch of bad upsetting hurtful BS. Kinda “get over yourselves “
On to the next 🤞
IMO this book really shows how’s subtly brilliant Gregory Ashe is. My favorite stories of his will always be H&S when reading them I felt there would I could never even like Shaw. Well I was so wrong I am so invested in both North and Shaw, what you see is not all there is and they both have a lot to deal with. I like how they are still figuring it out.
The banter is funny, but what I really enjoy is the subtle things GA just hints here and there through the books and series. A little here and there is perfect for my reading style.
Now what I really loved … the convention. HA!!! This was great I felt it was a bit of a wake up to all the horrible nonsense and un-necessary shit that goes on. Not a social media person but I know there is a bunch of bad upsetting hurtful BS. Kinda “get over yourselves “
On to the next 🤞
February 2, 2024
My favourite of the Borealis series so far which hasn't worked that well (relative to other GA books). But now I'm interested in completing the arc and liking the characters more than I have to date.
March 25, 2021
I'm ashamed to say that I've been creepin' on Gregory Ashe for this follow-up series.
I mean, the second I saw this, my heart almost flew out of my chest and I started sweating & shaking incessantly.
Dang. I haven't been this excited for a book in such a long time!
Has anyone ever felt like this before or am I overly attached to North and Shaw?
Eh who cares, cause my boys are back!!
*proceeds to shimmy with reckless abandon*
I mean, the second I saw this, my heart almost flew out of my chest and I started sweating & shaking incessantly.
Dang. I haven't been this excited for a book in such a long time!
Has anyone ever felt like this before or am I overly attached to North and Shaw?
Eh who cares, cause my boys are back!!
*proceeds to shimmy with reckless abandon*
September 8, 2021
Ugh, I forgot to review this after I was done. I just know that I finally got to my place in the Gregory Ashe series where I start to really like the characters and the storylines. I know that as with all of the couples' relationships in his books, they have real life issues like insecurities, emotional baggage or just no background with a healthy relationship so that they struggle just like a lot of people as couples.
North and Shaw only want to be together but North is very focused on making the business successful for so many reasons like proving that he is better than his background and also thinking that he needs to be a better person for Shaw. Shaw has deep insecurities and is feeling very neglected but doesn't want to burden North anymore. Of course they are not communicating effectively and it's tough to do because they have so much going on in their lives.
The mystery plot is funny as hell since it has to do with romance authors and a romance writers' convention. I liked it a lot because since I started reading romance and in particular MM romance, there's been quite a few dramas that have happened in varying degrees of severity. I think that because so many more authors who are self publishing need to self advertise and are much more accessible to the readers in the form of social media. The readers often become aggressive and feel entitled to make demands on the authors because they are so active socially. I think the community is overall welcoming and really good but the human element tends to get in the way at times. People seem to forget that these authors are just people, not automatons.
Anyway, the plot was a parody of the community, I guess, poking fun at it.
I don't remember the specifics of the conclusion but I know Uncle Ronnie is involved which is never a good thing. Pari is still annoying, but I believe North is starting to have a better relationship with his dad, but correct if I am wrong about that.
I am excited because Somers and Hazard show in the next books at some point and they are still my favorites.
North and Shaw only want to be together but North is very focused on making the business successful for so many reasons like proving that he is better than his background and also thinking that he needs to be a better person for Shaw. Shaw has deep insecurities and is feeling very neglected but doesn't want to burden North anymore. Of course they are not communicating effectively and it's tough to do because they have so much going on in their lives.
The mystery plot is funny as hell since it has to do with romance authors and a romance writers' convention. I liked it a lot because since I started reading romance and in particular MM romance, there's been quite a few dramas that have happened in varying degrees of severity. I think that because so many more authors who are self publishing need to self advertise and are much more accessible to the readers in the form of social media. The readers often become aggressive and feel entitled to make demands on the authors because they are so active socially. I think the community is overall welcoming and really good but the human element tends to get in the way at times. People seem to forget that these authors are just people, not automatons.
Anyway, the plot was a parody of the community, I guess, poking fun at it.
I don't remember the specifics of the conclusion but I know Uncle Ronnie is involved which is never a good thing. Pari is still annoying, but I believe North is starting to have a better relationship with his dad, but correct if I am wrong about that.
I am excited because Somers and Hazard show in the next books at some point and they are still my favorites.
September 29, 2021
Hmm, after the behaviour at the GRL - sorry, Queer Expectations - portion of this book, tell me why I read in this genre? Remind me. Like, seriously? This book is a bit sad, really, the con portions, also cringe-y funny as well. But it didn't escape my attention that it does skate awfully close to disrespect of the readership.
Blog review-
Blog review-
June 14, 2022
Book convention felt very meta
Shaw and North are back at it. This installment was very meta. I’ve been to a few GRLs and it’s hilarious how this book convention Queer Expectations compares in the book. I laughed more than ever. Lars and Twerpy Twink 😆😆😆too funny.
The killer reveal isn’t even the most shocking part of the mystery. This was a fun one.
I love the trouble that Shaw and North get into. It was nice to see Jadon up and about too.
Off to read the next one. I’m hooked!
Shaw and North are back at it. This installment was very meta. I’ve been to a few GRLs and it’s hilarious how this book convention Queer Expectations compares in the book. I laughed more than ever. Lars and Twerpy Twink 😆😆😆too funny.
The killer reveal isn’t even the most shocking part of the mystery. This was a fun one.
I love the trouble that Shaw and North get into. It was nice to see Jadon up and about too.
Off to read the next one. I’m hooked!
March 13, 2025
2025 reread on audio: I like this MUCH more in audio, & now that I am used to North & Shaw’s particular brands of bullshit. Their dumb bits are much better when listening to them, & the convention stuff came off a lot less harsh.
Maybe more like 2.5, 2.75. I have generally been enjoying North and Shaw, but I... did not enjoy this one. It felt way too zany, and the treatment of the people at the convention just felt kind of mean at many points. I don't need a total angst-fest, but perhaps a little more of a serious case. Honestly, this is the Gregory Ashe book I have enjoyed the least. Meh.
Maybe more like 2.5, 2.75. I have generally been enjoying North and Shaw, but I... did not enjoy this one. It felt way too zany, and the treatment of the people at the convention just felt kind of mean at many points. I don't need a total angst-fest, but perhaps a little more of a serious case. Honestly, this is the Gregory Ashe book I have enjoyed the least. Meh.
April 23, 2021
Buried on my kindle, and then I couldn't seem to get into it 😲😲.
I have to wonder whether Greg thought this one up whilst he was at GRL a couple of years ago? Some of the lines were laugh out loud funny, some of the characters were completely OTT, Shaw and North seem to be going through a slightly rocky patch thanks to the amount of work they've taken on, and yes, surprisingly North is still jealous of Jadon Reck.
When can we finally get rid of 'Uncle Ronnie'? He gives me the willies 🥴🥴
I have to wonder whether Greg thought this one up whilst he was at GRL a couple of years ago? Some of the lines were laugh out loud funny, some of the characters were completely OTT, Shaw and North seem to be going through a slightly rocky patch thanks to the amount of work they've taken on, and yes, surprisingly North is still jealous of Jadon Reck.
When can we finally get rid of 'Uncle Ronnie'? He gives me the willies 🥴🥴
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