It begins on a rainy night, trapped in an ATM vestibule. Derek Osbourne’s life is ruled by a carefully cultivated routine, and there’s no room for change. A tattoo artist at Irons and Works, Derek spends his days hunched over a chair, and his nights pouring his trauma onto a canvas. And that’s all he has time for. So, when a storm knocks out the power and he’s trapped with the ridiculously … ridiculously hot Deaf florist who just moved in across the street, he’s not sure what to do with himself.
Derek owes Basil for keeping his panic at bay while they waited for the doors to open, but he’s not sure there’s room for more than friendship.
With Basil’s hesitance to date a hearing man, and Derek still dealing with the trauma his abusive father left behind, happily ever after seems like it’s just a dream. But Derek finds it difficult to stay away, and the more Basil sticks around, the more Derek starts to wonder if he might be worthy of love.
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This was my first EM Lindsey read and I really enjoyed it, I rooted for the characters all the way to the finish.
This was a new to me author and I really enjoyed the style and am looking forward to reading the rest of the series
3 stars – I liked it
When Derek Osbourne is trapped in an ATM vestibule during a storm it triggers a major panic attack. Lucky for him, a ridiculously hot Deaf florist helps him calm down and keeps him distracted.
Derek and Basil have a slow paced relationship filled with a lot of trauma and fears. They both are struggling to overcome their past abuses, so their relationship was not a fast one. This book deals with a lot of traumas, especially for Derek, who is dealing with a lot of PTSD from his abusive father. Basil has fears from his previous relationship that hold him back. While I really liked these two and their relationship, I do feel that we only get the very beginning of their relationship because it takes so long for them to get together.
I really loved the theme of found family in this book. Everyone at Iron and Works was like one big family and they took care of each other. I especially love that they all would help babysit the kids and learn sign language for their bosses deaf daughter. Overall, this was a good slow romance and a good start to a series. I am interested in reading the next one and seeing how Sam’s custody battle goes.
Trigger Warnings: (There is a TW page at the beginning of the book that goes into more depth)
– PTSD and panic attacks
– End-of-life care for an abusive elderly parent
– Death of parents, referenced and on page
– References to child abuse and homelessness
– Oppression and stereotyping of Deaf and disabled people
– Ablest language
– Reference to possible suicide of a parent
This first book in the series was a perfect start.
A tattoo artist suffering from PTSD falling in love with a deaf florist who doesn’t trust hearing people.
Derek and Basil’s story was captivating and emotionally charged. I cried some while reading about their hurtful pasts and struggling in the present. The emotions and deep feelings were in focus most of the time. Lots of growth, lots of love, lots of pain. Perfect.
Also the setting, the tattoo shop of Irons and Works and the tight chosen family working there and the little flowershop ran by Basil and his sister after loosing their parents and aunt, was kind of perfect.
If you love a heavy but satisfying M/M romance with lots off damaged but sweet tattoo artists then pick up this series!
This book immediately drew me into the series–I love found families and realistic romances!
4.5 stars
Heat Level: 4
Narration: 4.5
A story of love and healing, from the past and for the future! Truly Wonderful!!
Wow! I found this book so powerful. The characters have so much depth and substance I felt like they couldn’t be fully explained and explored in just one book. I felt for Derek and his torturous past and how it shaped him into the man he became. I liked that he didn’t shy away from his ‘flaws’ and was able to try and move on and heal as the story progresses.
I loved Basil. He’s so sweet, caring and strong. He also has had a challenging past to face but with the help of a strong and sassy sister, he is pushed/persuaded to give Derek ago and thankfully they are able to find something special with each other.
I loved this whole journey and how the author didn’t shy away from real-life challenges for these characters and gave their past a true voice. I loved that this story has ties to the author’s own voice and I felt it made it that much more powerful.
I loved Derek and Basil and the whole Iron and Works Team. I felt they fit so well together and complemented each other realistically, and organically. I look forward to more stories from the Iron and Works crew and hope we can see more of Derek and Basil too!
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I so appreciate the slow burn of this romance. It’s super tricky to write and describe persons with disabilities and their families. E.M. does a great job of giving us a realistic love story without making it a pity party.
I soo love that this is an ensemble story. The tattoo artists are an extended family and there are possible story arcs galore. Both Basil and Derek have baggage and communication issues. But gosh darn it!Derek is amazing. He supports Sam and his brother and the other guys while battling PTSD. And when the worst/best thing happens, he has enough courage to ask for help. Overall, the angst is low and the smexy times are sweet.
And holy smokes the audiobook performance is outstanding. Scott Alford voices the characters with compassion and realness. His voice really fit the guys and I am totally looking forward to the next book on Sam!
“I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.”
This first book in a new series introduces us to the men and women of Iron and Works and the people they love. This story centered on Derek, a talented artist dealing with PTSD and other affects of a horrible childhood. Basil, a florist struggling to find connections in a new town where being deaf makes him stick out more than he’d like, is drawn to Derek but has been burned by the hearing community one too many times. This lovely story shares how these look fractured souls meet and patch each other back together again.
This book is about two men who, while struggling with the acceptance from outside world, slowly find love and built a powerful bond of trust. Men and women of Iron and Works don’t judge, they accept people for who they are. They care and protect those they consider family.
Derek is a man with painful past. His many issues don’t allow him to enjoy many things but he keeps trying to live his life the best he can. But unexpected storm puts him in the path of a man who will see more than just tattoos or rough appearance to the soft-spoken and gentle man underneath who needs love in his life. I loved Derek, his brother Sage and all the guys from the shop. They had each other’s back, they helped in time of need and were there when the pain was too much. Derek despite all that has happened to him is such a caring and understanding person. He makes Basil feel special.
Basil has been badly burned before. He does not trust people who can hear and all but has given up on relationships. He tries to get out there but the men he sees are just arrogant, and he feels like he can never just be with them. Derek and Basil’s friendship starts off slow but soon Basil sees that Derek might be the man he has been searching for. He is someone who accepts Basil as he is and never tries to change him. There were so many touching, romantic and shy moments where both men were so endearing. I loved the tattoo shop, how some of the most intense feelings were forged between two men while they bonded over a beautiful tattoo.
This book is very emotional, full of angst and deals with many issues. It shows how regular people treat those who are different – be they covered with tattoos, in a wheelchair or unable to hear. It shows clearly the divide between people over things that should not matter. I loved the family all the guys created, how close they were and how everybody accepted Basil and went out of they way to learn ASL to be able to communicate with him. It’s an amazing group of men that I was lucky to be a part for a bit.
Besides the romance between two men, this book was also about the importance of family, that family is not just blood but the people you choose, and that no matter what your road has been in life there is more to you that can be seen on the surface. It’s time for men of Iron and Works to be brave and accept love and finally be happy. This is mild steam romance but that didn’t matter because the characters were so wonderfully written, the story just flowed and I couldn’t stop reading it. I loved it and I highly recommend it!
The length that these guys go to, to show that love can overcome anything, and that disabilities of any kind are ok is breathtaking. Derek has demons, and routine is key to keeping them at bay. Basil is stoic, yet so passionate under it all. I loved the normalcy of the tattoo parlor, the fact that it’s ok to not be ok. It was like a breath of fresh air. Reading this book was just breathtaking.