Buried Passions

Buried Passions is the perfect warm feels, smile on my face story that Andrew Grey does so well. He gets into the hearts of his characters, and delivers a sweet romance with crazy hot chemistry. There’s always conflict and a bit of controversy in an Andrew Grey novel, and I found the way he addresses such here intensely meaningful. Buried Passions is a winner, and the only way I can imagine it being any better is having Joel Leslie read it to me!

Broadway performer Jonah Hughs is in between shows when he gets the news his deceased uncle has passed away, and he’s the sole inheritor. Cash, a house and car, basically everything you’d expect and… wow, a historical cemetery complete with its own hunky groundskeeper. Well Jonah’s no fool and figures he’ll make the best of it, a nice break from city life in small town Carlisle, Pennsylvania; plus, why should he resist such appealing eye-candy?!

My favorite part of Buried Passions is seeing how this somewhat jaded, New York City dweller describes life and the people around him. His observations of life in The Big Apple, and performers in general, is spot on and absolutely hilarious. Then when he gets to the rural landscape and the people there, well it’s just too good. Andrew Grey always finds little quirks in his characters and develops them into such realistic people. It’s seriously funny, and Grey doesn’t miss a thing.

I love the voice Joel Leslie uses for Jonah. He throws in these hilarious little flourishes that completely crack me up. Listening to Jonah describe eating buffalo wings, “‘I ate them with relish, using ranch dressing instead of blue cheese... they were messy and amazing, and by the time I was done, my mouth tingled and I was satiated… at least for food.’” Can’t you just hear Joel Leslie performing that? He definitely has Jonah figured out.

This is one of the things Andrew Grey does so well. He never runs out of descriptive phrases that spark my senses (he actually had me craving buffalo wings). Seriously though, he paints a picture with words in a way that make his books so much fun to read.

Where Buried Passions really gets going is when Jonah starts to connect with Luka Pavelka, the groundskeeper for the cemetary. Jonah’s used to floating from one hookup to the next, and when Luka explains how they’re making love, not just having sex, it comes straight from Luka’s heart and it is absolutely lovely. As Jonah gradually accepts the intimacy Luka provides it changes the way he thinks about his life.

The longer he stays in Carlisle, PA, the more conflicted Jonah becomes. He realizes what he’s missed by not getting to know his estranged uncle, and the wonderful places and people that make up this small town. Does he truly miss the crazy rat race of NYC and all the pressures that go with it? Is having success as a performer the most important thing? At least for Jonah, maybe it’s not as simple as the old saying “home is where the heart is”; maybe being part of a community, adding value, and being loved is what truly makes a home.

Well Andrew has done it again!
Although I truly don’t like reading stories written in first person, Andrew made Buried Passions so interesting, engrossing and enthralling it just didn’t matter!!
Just when the Broadway show Jonah’s in has been cancelled, he discovers an uncle he barely remembers and hasn’t seen in ten years, has left him his entire estate. When Jonah gets to Carlisle, Pennsylvania, he discovers that not only has his uncle left him a house, a car, money, he’s also inherited a cemetery! What the hell is he going to do with a cemetery?
Luka is a Bosnian immigrant Jonah’s uncle helped to immigrate to America last year and gave him a job as groundskeeper of the cemetery. The moment Jonah and Luka met Jonah felt an immediate attraction, but he wasn’t sure what Luka thought as Luka’s english is very basic to say the least. Jonah is used to superficial men, superficial relationships and superficial emotions but with Jonah he realises that there’s nothing remotely superficial about him. The more Jonah gets to know Luka the more he realises what a danger Luka represents to his heart. Jonah’s heart has never truly been engaged by anyone and now, although Jonah is terrified of the depth of his emotions he doesn’t back down from them. Jonah is horrified at the way one of the waitresses at the diner where Luka works as a busboy treats him. When Luka confesses that a lot of people treat him as though he’s invisible because he doesn’t speak English well Jonah becomes determined to help him learn so he isn’t treated badly.
Although things seem to be going smoothly for Jonah and Luka they both know that their time is limited because Jonah’s life is back in New York and as an immigrant with very limited English Luka would never survive in New York. Things come to a head when Jonah’s agent tells him about a chance in a lifetime opportunity to star in a show, travelling around America for nine months with the chance of extending it! This is everything Jonah has dreamt about, until he met and fell in love with Luka. I have to recommend that you get your copy of Buried Passions as soon as possible, grab a cup of coffee, settle into your favorite reading spot and ignore the world as you lose yourself in another heartwarming, sometimes heartbreaking love story between Jonah and Luka!

Jonah is a Broadway actor living in New York with his best friend Chet. When he receives a letter from a lawyer announcing the death of his uncle Samuel, Jonah leaves NY and goes to Carlisle to settle the estate as his only heir. Jonah is more than shocked to learn among his uncle proprieties there’s a cemetery. At First, Jonah wants to sell it, but when he meets Luka, a Bosnian immigrant, the groundskeeper of the cemetery, Jonah hesitated. Despite their clear differences, Luka and Jonah have more in common than what they think. The real struggle is for them to find their place in each other lives.
I really liked this book.

Jonah was at a crossroad in his life. He didn’t realize it until he came at Carlisle. That’s only when he meets Luka and can’t fight the attraction between them, that he understood that maybe his life in NY wasn’t really what he needed.
Luka struggled to be accepted in his new life. He left everything, his country, and his family after they find out he was gay. He didn’t have a choice. He had to leave. But it isn’t easy to adapt to a new country when you barely speak the language. People underestimate and belittle him all the time, except for Jonah.
I really loved Luka and Jonah. They were good, beautiful and hooooooooot. They bound together over the cemetery and the historic part. They have to clean the grounds and hope to find old graves that are part of the US history during the cessation war.

The story is well built, and the plot well developed. The Characters too, their psyches weren’t superficial, and the author built it step by step just like their relationship. The story is from Jonah’s pov, and we follow him with his doubts, his fears, but also hopes, dreams and love of course.
It was a beautiful book, Jonah and Luka discover more than old historical graves, but a real true love.

4 OptimuMM’s for these two treasures hunters.

optimumm.blog

Review by Jay @ Kimmers' Erotic Book Banter: http://bit.ly/2EO6r1U

'Buried Passions' by Andrew Grey is a standalone story inspired by the sale of a cemetery local close to where the author currently resides. It is all about finding oneself, dealing with cultural differences and enduring societal bigotry. Sweet and tender, as always Andrew Grey provides a good paced, engaging story with well developed characters that flows flawlessly.

Broadway musical performer Jonah Hughes has just learned three things. One: his current musical is shutting down putting him out of work, two: a call to his boyfriend reveals that he is single once again, and three: his uncle Sam just passed away leaving his entire estate to Jonah.

With nothing holding Jonah back, he sets off to “handle” his uncle Sam’s estate. He hasn’t seen his uncle for several years due to a falling out between Sam and Jonah’s mother. Once there Jonah discovers that the estate includes Sam’s house, car, an Adirondack cabin, money... and the Ashford cemetery. What is one to do with a cemetery?

Along the way Jonah becomes obsessed with learning about his uncle and upon discovering what a kind and giving man he was, and how he lost the love of his life due to tragedy, Jonah undergoes a sense of deep loss for not having Sam in his life these past several years.

As Jonah decides what to do about his cemetery, really a cemetery?, he encounters Luka Pavelka, its hunky groundskeeper and recent Bosnian immigrant. Luka relocated to America with uncle Sam’s help after “shaming” his family for being gay. He speaks in broken English and is more often than not shunned and ignored by the locals.

The connection between Jonah and Luka is instant. As they work together to clean up the cemetery discovering hidden treasures along the way, Jonah re-evaluates his initial reaction to dump the cemetery as soon as possible. How can he undo all the good his uncle has done?

Overall 'Buried Passions' is a sweet, tender read with a bit of humor and slight angst and multiple awww’s throughout, warming the heart. There is a sense of community both positive and negative. Andrew Grey has even thrown in a loose connection to his Taste of Love series, let’s see if you can find it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story even though for me something was missing to push it to a full 5 hearts. But don’t let that deter you from grabbing a copy, curling up with a cup of your favorite hot beverage, and engrossing yourself in Jonah’s, Luka’s, and even Sam’s journey. You won’t be disappointed.

Reviewed by Truus for Diverse Reader

Told from Jonah's POV, he is a decent, kind guy, hardworking as an actor, dancer and singer. The musical he's working on just ended. At the same moment, he gets a very special mail with the news that his uncle past away and he is the only heir. Among the inherited was a cemetery. with one employee, the groundskeeper. Jonah wants to get rid of it all as soon as possible, so he can return to New York. Until he meets the groundskeeper….gorgeous Luka.

Luka is one built hunk and the attraction is instant. In no time they end up between the sheets. Not at all what Jonah expected on his way to his uncle's village in Carlisle.
Luka has quite a difficult background story which he handles really well actually.

The cemetery has a story of its own. Jonah and Luka work hard side by side to keep things proper at the graveyard. When Jonah finds a somewhat hidden haggard piece of ground he wants to know what is beneath all the wilderness and why his uncle left it like that.

Jonah can perfectly separate his feelings from his obligations. He will enjoy his time with Luka and go back to New York...simple...uh-huh.


This is a sweet light read with some touching aspects. Lovely main characters, serious types, even a bit neat and prim. What I missed was some humor. The only humor and flippancy came from Jonah's friend Chet. Overall a good and well-developed story, situated in an exceptional setting.