Fire and Obsidian

Once again Andrew Grey delivers with his Carlilse boys, I sure wish every city had cops and deputies such as the boys in blue in Grey's Carlisle. Some might call Fire and Obsidian an opposites attract trope and they wouldn't be wrong I guess but I don't know as I would label it so. Sure cop and ex-thief is about as opposite as you can get occupation-wise but throw out their profession(or former profession in Mattias' case) and the two of them really aren't all that different. I found them to be quite perfectly suited for each other but for lack of a better label, opposites attract will do.

As for James and Mattias themselves, they each have their faults and fortes and watching the two navigate their way around is really quite fun. Okay, there is plenty of times I just wanted to whack their heads together but there were just as many times I wanted to wrap them in huge mama-bear hugs. For me the fun part came from the journey Andrew Grey took us on while meshing the stubbornness and openness(more stubborn than open probably😉) with the mystery element to get the boys from point A to point Z.

Lets talk the mystery, okay you know I won't touch on that but I loved the idea of an ex-thief running a consultation service to aid the police. Not only is Mattias a thief(former) with a heart whose conscience got the better of him one night but he's now using the knowledge and experience he gathered in his former profession for good. It certainly understandable why James finds it hard to trust him, especially as we learn more about James' past, but Mattias doesn't give up or let James' distrust get him down. I loved how the author didn't let that distrust overshadow the case, James is determined to catch the criminal even if that means working with Mattias.

So once again Andrew Grey has created another great blend of romance and mystery with characters you love to love and love to hate(I won't go into the who in the hating department because that's part of the mystery). James and Mattias may not be my favorite pairing in Carlisle Deputies but I think they make a close second behind Jordan and Pierre in Fire and Flint(book 1), there's just something about their opposites-on-the-surface-but-not-underneath-attract push and pull that makes them stand out and made me cheer for them from page one.

One last thing: if you are wondering about the reading order, each entry really is a standalone but there's a few cameos/mentions that flowed better for me having read the first three but you won't be lost by any means if you start here. Whatever order you read it and whatever trope you label it, I highly recommend reading Fire and Obsidian, the whole Carlisle Deputies series really, as well as Carlisle Cops from which Deputies is kind of a spin-off from. Plain and simple, the blending of mystery, romance, friendship, and heat will warm your heart and put a smile on your face.

Fire and Obsidian is the fourth book in the Carlisle Deputies series by Andrew Grey. I loved reading it. It had everything that I’ve come to expect from Andrew Grey and this series. Sexy deputies, usually an opposites attract trope, an interesting case that they are trying to solve, catching the bad guy, some sexy times and hot chemistry. This book didn’t let me down. The characters were complex, the story was fast-paced, and I had a lot of fun trying to guess who the thief they were trying to catch was.

I loved Mattias Dumont. He grew up in the foster care system and learned how to steal to survive, and he was great at it. But he learned that there’s no such thing as a victimless crime, and when he saw how his theft hurt people, he resolved to change. I loved that he now works as a consultant, and while helping to investigate a rash of burglaries, he crosses paths with James. And during a demonstration of how good he is at stealing, he ends up lifting James’ gun, which doesn’t do anything to endear Mattias to James. Especially when they end up getting paired up together to solve the cases.

I also liked Police Officer James Levinson. He doesn’t trust thieves, and that includes Mattias. He has personal experience with thieves since James’ father stole to support himself, and James knows firsthand how that can destroy lives. It was what inspired him to go into law enforcement. And from what he can tell, Mattias is no different, at first.

Unforeseen circumstances will end up having Mattias living with James for a while as they’re working on the case. And James is forced to see that Mattias has put his past behind him and is trying to do the right thing. As they work together, Mattias and James realize there’s something deeper between them than just the physical attraction neither can deny. Given time, they might even grow to trust each other, unless the case they’re working on dredges up pasts both would rather forget.

Mattias will end up having to use contacts that he would rather not use, and James will finally have to choose between family and the job. Can their relationship survive?

I so enjoyed reading this book, and I know that you will too. Fans of Andrew Grey will not be disappointed.

Fire and Obsidian by Andrew Grey brings us more from the deputies in Carlisle. James and Mattias are an unlikely pair, opposites if you will, who spark and connect on a deeper level than each is willing to succumb to, at first.

Carlisle Officer James Levinson is no stranger to the deception of a thief, growing up with a father whose livelihood took from others. Choosing to live his life on the right side of the law, James has put distance between himself and his family. He still loves them but looks the other way when it comes to his father’s proclivities. When push comes to shove, he sides with his integrity.

Mattias Dumont’s past is a tumultuous one. Taking from others was a survival mechanism for him and he was extremely good at. After a unique turn of events, realization hit that there is never a victimless crime. Spurred by his epiphany, Mattias now uses his skills to assist law enforcement professionals with bringing down the bad guy. But, will his past always foreshadow the good he now does?

Temporarily appointed Sheriff Briggs is facing a slew of home invasions that need to be stopped, or come November he quite possibly will be out of a job. His plan? Team up the brilliant James and his partner with Mattias to solve the crimes. Skepticism abounds as several officers on the case are offended that a former burglar will be working the investigation, especially after Mattias demonstrates his skills. Talk about starting off on the wrong foot, albeit an effective one.

Due to unforeseen circumstances James invites Mattias into his home. Here things get interesting. The tension and attraction ratchet up as they work the case while sharing the same living space. Past fears and conundrums resurface as their two worlds collide. Maybe James and Mattias have more in common than each reveal to the world?

Mystery and suspense move Fire and Obsidian on a fast pace. As tension builds on multiple fronts, you submerge yourself in the unique brand of drama that is signature Andrew Grey. Both James and Mattias are rebounding from a crappy upbringing. Each have faced, and are still facing, tough life choices. Their struggles are real and give us pause: I hesitate slightly here because James is a cop but chooses to ignore his father’s profession.

Fire and Obsidian is an excellent addition to the Carlisle Deputies series. Suspense, family drama, and romance, bundled into an entertaining and engaging mystery. It can be read as a standalone but why not enjoy the entire series. I can’t help but wonder what’s next for our boys in Carlisle.

Talking about opposites attract…an ex-thief and a cop? Mattias has been clean for a long time and now works with police as a consultant to teach them how to detect thieves and solve crimes. James knows all about Thieves and doesn’t trust Mattias at all. After all, his dad is a thief and he wants nothing to do with that kind of life. It is why he became a police officer in the first place. But when he and Mattias are forced to work together to break up a ring of thieves and help his best friend keep his job as Sherriff, and Mattias hotel gets closed for a power outage fate seems to be intervening.
I really like Mattias a lot. I loved the fact he was trying to redeem himself of his former life and loved his wit and charm. I didn’t connect with James quite as well. For one… being a cop and knowing what his father is out doing to me is a big grey area. BUT… the story is very interesting and the plot good and the budding romance between the two men good too. (I am a sucker for love) Having said all that…I was left with a few questions on the crimes and how things tied up at the end. And neither Mattias or James were actually Carlisle deputies just consultants but having said that… I did enjoy the story and read it in one night. I love Andrew Grey stories and you just cannot go wrong choosing one!
If you like reformed thieves, Police detectives, fast-building romance, opposites attract and a mild, mostly off page, but very sexy story this is for you.