GRAYSON (Jasper Springs 4) by Eve Riley-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 12, 2024

A weekend of glamping. A little too much wine tasting. All inhibitions forgotten.

Grayson Sanderson can’t escape the pressure from his parents to find someone to settle down with, especially with his sister’s impending nuptials on the horizon. Despite his successful life running a bridal boutique, Grayson can’t seem to find his own Prince Charming.

When a series of unfortunate events force Grayson to room with his sister’s best friend’s brother on the bridal party’s weekend wine trip, Grayson finds himself in uncharted territory.

Henry Markell can’t seem to catch a break anywhere. When his sister invites him to come along to her friend’s bridal party weekend for some well needed luxury and relaxation, Henry thinks his luck is changing.

Until he discovers he’s sharing a dome with the sexy and mysterious Grayson, who is more than out of his league. But Henry can’t help wanting things he can’t have.

Will Grayson give in to his dreams? Or will Henry’s notorious bad luck get in the way once more?

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REVIEW: GRAYSON is the fourth instalment in Eve Riley’s contemporary, adult JASPER SPRINGS erotic, MM, LGBTQ+ romance series. This is thirty-one year old, bar waiter Henry Markell, and bridal store consultant Grayson Sanderson’s story line. GRAYSON can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty.

NOTE: GRAYSON is a story line with a same sex couple.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Grayson and Henry) GRAYSON follows the building relationship between our story line couple. Grayson Sanderson’s sister is getting married, and our hero is obligated to participate in the bridal party festivities but Grayson feels like the black sheep of the family, with no prospects for a future with a significant other or children. Meeting waiter Henry Markell stirs something within Grayson Sanderson, something he had been looking for a very long time but Henry is a little reluctant in the face of past betrayal and heart break, and as such time spent together on a weekend getaway for the bridal party meant the possibility of something more. What ensues is the building but ‘secret’ relationship between Henry and Grayson, and the potential fall-out as Henry pushes Grayson out of his life.

The world building focuses on the building relationship, a forced proximity in the face of a shortage of ‘room’ at the inn. Grayson is a bit of a snob, and in this, Henry believes he isn’t worthy but Grayson’s snobbery hides a heart that is looking for love, a heart that is easily scarred by someone he loves.

The relationship between Grayson and Henry begins as friends when Henry rescues Grayson following a night of heavy drinking. Grayson sees something in Henry that Henry doesn’t see himself, and in this, Grayson’s attempts at seduction threatens Henry’s insecurities and the heart break from the past. The $ex scenes are intimate and provocative.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, energetic and interesting secondary and supporting characters including Grayson’s sister Giselle and her fiancé Aaron, as well as Henry’s sister Mia, and a cameo or two from some of the previous story line characters.

GRAYSON is a story of attraction and need, acceptance and love. The premise is honest and real; the romance is seductive -a lust to love affair- but I struggles to feel the palpable sexual attraction; the characters are sensitive and spirited.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy