Through the Flames Carlisle Fire Book # 1
Gay Romance, LGBTQ Fiction, Contemporary Romance
Dreamspinner Press
July 18, 2023
Kindle
228
Amazon
Kyle Wilson hasn’t had it easy. His insecurities and nasty home life made him lash out as a kid, and when he finally came out as gay, his family disowned him. Then, just when he’s pulled his life together and gotten his construction company running, he’s caught in a fire and forced to take costly time off.
When firefighter Hayden Walters rescues a man from a burning building, he’s just doing his job. He doesn’t expect it to turn his life upside-down, but the man is none other than Hayden’s high school bully.
He definitely doesn’t expect Kyle to come to the station to thank him in person.
With awkward apologies out of the way, Kyle and Hayden realize they have a lot in common. And when it turns out someone set the fire at Kyle’s construction site to target him, they find they can solve each other’s problems too: Hayden needs a place to stay while his apartment is renovated, and Kyle doesn’t want to be alone in case the firebug strikes again. Things between the two of them quickly heat up—but so does the arsonist’s agenda. Can they track down the would-be killer before it’s too late?
Review By Linda Tonis
Member of the Paranormal Romance Guild Review Team
Hayden Walters a firefighter for the Carlisle Fire Company had no idea how his life would change when he ran into a burning building to save a man. The man turned out to be Kyle Wilson his high school bully and the person he hated more than anyone. Kyle didn’t recognize his hero since Hayden was not the skinny, gay sissy he was when Kyle would shove him into lockers and did everything, he could to make Hayden’s high school years a nightmare.
Kyle has no idea that his savior was the boy he tormented in high school and even when he goes to the fire station to thank Hayden, he has no idea about their history. Hayden reminds Kyle and accepts his thank you reluctantly then takes his leave. When the two of them once again find themselves at a fund raiser Kyle tries to apologize for his behavior, behavior that stemmed from the fact that he was hiding he was gay and angry that Hayden came out without any fear or embarrassment. The more Kyle resented Hayden for having the life he always dreamed of the more he tormented him, but the Kyle from high school is not Kyle the adult.
Unlike Hayden when Kyle revealed he was gay to his family they threw him out and haven’t spoken to him for years. Kyle is now a contractor working for himself, but trouble seems to follow him. The house he was working on was the one that Hayden saved him from and what was assumed to be natural causes turned out to be arson. The fire caused Kyle lung problems and he was unable to work for a while but when his next job also went up in flames it was apparent that someone wanted him dead or to destroy his business.
As unlikely as it would be Kyle and Hayden find themselves living with each other. Hayden’s apartment is being renovated and it was suggested that he stay with Kyle for safety reasons. Kyle is scared to death and jumps at every sound having Hayden with him gives him a sense of comfort even though Kyle still blames himself for how he treated him in the past. Hayden is trying to leave the past in the past and accept that Kyle has changed just as he himself has changed but it is a work in progress.
Little by little the two men begin to enjoy being together and both are secretly finding themselves attracted to each other. On call for a fire Hayden once again is the hero only this time he saves two dogs one of which he instantly fell in love with and so now Hayden, Kyle and Mitzi are living the life everyone should have, happy except for the arsonist. Kyle waits every day for the other shoe to drop but so far so good.
What a beautiful story of hate turning to love and putting the past where it belongs in the past. Kyle and Hayden are wonderful characters and Mr. Grey does an exceptional job of bringing the reality of what a fire can cost people and money is not the greatest loss it is memories, pictures, precious items that can never be replaced.
The search for the arsonist continues throughout the book and I really thought I knew who the guilty party was but alas I was wrong. The constant suspense around the fires and whether Kyle and Hayden really could put the past behind them kept me at the edge of my seat. Sex, lies, suspense and forgiveness made this a must-read book.