Saving Faithless Creek Paperback – June 15, 2015

Andrew Grey is having a very busy--and high quality--year, and this book does nothing to change that fact. A stand-alone at this time, Saving Faithless Creek is the author's semi-revenge on bullies, since he was bullied when he was young. I say semi-revenge because as it turns out, the apparent bully in this case is not what he seems, and the real bully has been standing in front of our main protagonist's eyes for a very, very long time.In this case, the main protagonist is Blair Montague, somewhat of a gay yuppie who works for his nasty father's Las Vegas casino company under a contract that gives him three years servitude in exchange for his college education. One morning during his last year of the contract his father dispatches Blair to Montana to negotiate two land purchase deals so that he can raise his own cattle to serve in his casino restaurants rather than pay outrageous market prices.The problem is that Newtown, the town where Blair is sent, is where he and his mother spent a year after she divorced his father--and where Blair was mercilessly targeted by bullies in his high school for being "different." It was so bad that he and his mother had to leave town, but she always loved the town and actually moved back to marry a man who had a small ranch and gave her love.Though he'd visited his mother many times since graduating college and working for his father, Blair would fly in and go stay with his mom and stepfather, and never set foot in the town he hated. This time, he takes a room in the town motel and drives out to the first of two ranches he needs to buy to introduce himself and talk business. This farm belongs to an aged widowed cowboy who is receptive to the deal.Blair moves onto the adjacent farm to meet with whom his father told him was the owner he'd approached a year before. Problem #1 is that Royal Masters, the big hot young cowboy who meets him at the ranch is not only shocked by why Blair is there but incredulous that no one told Blair the senior Masters had died eight months before without discussing any potential deal to sell property.Problem #2 is that Royal Masters is recognized almost instantly by Blair as the chief bully from his Newtown high school days, and totally out of the blue becomes aggressively antagonistic toward him in a way that not only stuns Royal but signals to the reader that "attention must be paid" to this guy Blair. (In a delightful twist, as it turns out, some idiots in Newtown will learn that first hand).As it turns out, this is an exceptional tale of redemption, courage, lust, love and family that the author is well-known for developing and bringing to a super conclusion. This one is somewhat different in that--aside from some seriously defective bigots--the characters who count in Newtown are all woven into a seamless interconnection which eventually brings them together as a loose family.There is a great deal of philosophical introspection here on Blair's part--and that internal discussion is deep and very sensitive. But you know Blair is either hiding a truth, or just plain blind at what is blocking him from a commitment that could change his life. He can be a bit of a jerk.Things appear to be much more cut-and-dried for Royal who was tamed of his wild oats in the Marines but who, in an extraordinary scene played out in a motel room, reveals just how much he has hidden from everyone, especially Blair, for a decade.After a viciously played betrayal which blows a hole in everyone's heart, Blair's "blockage" is cleared by a seemingly offhanded remark by the crusty old rancher who lives next door. Blair, and the reader, know what has to be done, and who has to suffer the consequences of being a bullyThere is room here for another couple of characters to emerge into a sequel if Grey so chooses, but I wouldn't bet on it, nor would it be necessarily welcome. This book is a statement as well as a beautifully written and heartfelt tale, and both are delivered with powerful punches that hammer the themes home and leave the floor boards firmly in place. Another triumph for a great writer.

I very much enjoyed this new story from Andrew Grey. I buy most of his books, and this one had the charm and characteristics apparent in most of his stories. The plot was a bit predictable in that you know the villain will show his true colors towards the end, but the characters were still developed well. The pacing was good, and Andrew Grey always puts a lot of care into the crafting of the story. Some authors pound out stories that feel like rough drafts, and I've read many with typos and horrible editing errors, but Grey's stories are always professional and well-written. This one is no different.Blair works for his dad and is not at all appreciated by him. He gets sent from Las Vegas to his old hometown to buy some property so his dad can raise his own beef for his restaurants. Unfortunately, it turns out that the person he has to buy from is an old high school classmate who used to bully and terrorize him... Royal Masters. Of course though, Royal isn't the same person he used to be. After a wake-up call from his dad and watching his closest friends get killed while he served as a Marine, he's not only no longer a bully, but is truly an upstanding and respectable man. An upstanding and respectable man who also is coming to terms with being gay.Royal always had a crush on Blair and pursues him. Blair finds Royal compelling and hotter than sin, but doesn't trust him fully because of the bullying. And that's where the obstacle lies (and all good romances need an obstacle before the happily ever after). The only minor complaint I had is that it got a bit tiring having Blair bring up yet again to Royal how he's trying to work past the old bullying issue, even after Royal has apologized, made amends, and proven over and over again he's not the same obnoxious high school kid. Let it go Blair!I found the story interesting because I had the good fortune to run into an old bully from when I was in school who was older than me, bigger than me, and made my life miserable. My friend drug me to a bar telling me that I had to meet Barry (last name withheld) that we used to go to school with. The old memories and emotions came bubbling right up to the surface, and I was VERY afraid to meet him. My friend assured me it wasn't going to be like it was in school, but like Blair in the story, those feelings were still there and I was still afraid. What I found was eye-opening. I walked into the bar with my friend and there sat Barry. He was no longer the bully who was bigger than me, I had outgrown him. He was also very quiet and rather shy and embarrassed. Just like I wasn't the same kid I was in school, he wasn't either. It was a surreal, enlightening, and even pleasant experience. Maybe that's why I had such a problem with Blair holding onto those old fears. I learned quickly enough that people change, I was expecting Blair to learn that more quickly than he did.The story still had good pacing and both characters were well thought out and brought to life. The villain was a tad predictable, but served the plot well, and other secondary characters and events were given enough detail and thought to make this story another winner from Andrew Grey. Maybe it didn't have quite the emotional impact of some of his other works, but it was still very enjoyable with a very satisfying ending.

Another brilliantly written novel by Andrew Grey about a gorgeous Cowboy, Royal, who was a bully in High School and Blair, who had been bullied by Royal in High School, was a business graduate that worked for his father who was a ruthless, lying, snake of a man who continually puts his own son down, no matter what Blair did to please his father. Blair is sent out by his father to buy up some land to supposedly raise his own cattle for his many casinos he owns. Blair goes to Montana and happens upon Royal, Royal was the owner of one of the ranches he was out to buy, Reluctantly, Blair pursues this. As the two begin to start to get to know one another again, Royal, who was an ex-marine, has totally changed, grown up. The two form a strong attraction for one another. This is an amazing story of how people can change and come out of hiding of who they really are. Blair has always been gay and proud, but Royal was still in the closet until he comes face to face with Blair. A beautiful, gripping story of two men who fall in love and fight for this through honesty and trust over the deals Blair's father, "the Devil Incarnate". dishonestly tries to make. Highly recommend this... Another great work by Andrew!!

I think we can all relate to Blair's experience at school. Most of us will have suffered at the hands of a bully at some point in our life, I know I certainly did.I think Royal's reaction was spot on. I bet most bullies didn't give their 'victim' a second thought or have any idea how badly they were affected.As humans we should all be deeply ashamed of that.As a parent I am doing everything I can to NOT raise bullies.Blair's father is a complete tosspot. It made me angry that Blair put up with the way he treated him and didn't stand up for himself sooner.I loved this story and I loved Royal and Blair. The writing is fantastic, it flows and is so easy to read.I too have faith that some bullies can grow up to be like Royal.A really great read. Highly recommended.

great story

love it