TEST
The Same Place is book two in Gregory Ashe’s The Lamb and the Lion series about a Utah-based wildlife vet and a con man – an odd couple if ever there was one – who, in The Same Breath, teamed up to solve a murder. Like its predecessor, this book is a perfectly balanced combination of mystery and romance boasting an intriguing, tightly-written plot, two flawed but intensely loveable leads, lots of humour and a wonderfully detailed setting.
There are spoilers for The Same Breath in this review.
Several months have passed since the events that brought Tean Leon and Jem Berger together. During that time, they’ve settled into a routine of sorts; they see each other most days, Tean is teaching Jem to read and trying to help (as he sees it) Jem into a normal life, with a job, an apartment and all the things Tean things Jem needs. Jem, however, doesn’t think they’re all that important, but he loves Tean (despite their agreement at the end of the previous book to keep things between them platonic going forward) so he goes along with it. Or tries to. But he keeps getting fired (he’s had six jobs in the last three months!), and things go from bad to worse when he discovers he’s been the victim of identity theft. Someone has taken out (and defaulted) on several credit cards in his name – and the address on the accounts indicates the perpetrator is someone Jem knows only too well – his former, abusive foster mother, LouElla.
Tean has noticed that his friend and colleague Hannah hasn’t been herself lately, but hasn’t liked to ask – when one day, she bursts into tears and tells him she thinks she’s being followed. With Jem jobless yet again, Tean calls Hannah and asks her if she’d consider hiring Jem to look into her situation. After agreeing to the idea – against the wishes of her husband and her very proper Mormon parents, who don’t take her concerns seriously – Tean and Jem spend the weekend tailing Hannah and discover that she is, indeed being watched. By the Salt Lake City PD. Ammon Young – the married detective with whom Tean had a very toxic relationship for well over a decade – and his partner are following Hannah in hopes of finding the whereabouts of a missing woman named Joy Erickson, an eco-terrorist with whom Hannah had once had a close friendship. When they ask her about Joy, they know Hannah isn’t telling them the whole truth – and when she goes missing, Tean and Jem are frustrated by the police’s casual attitude towards her disappearance.
Jem and Tean set about looking for the missing woman – and when they turn up a body, it seems they might have found her. But the cause of death is a mystery. The location of the body and state of the remains indicate that someone wanted them completely destroyed – and the animal teeth marks on the bones seem to be pointing in a certain direction. But is it the right one? While Tean tries to identify the markings and he and Jem are try to find out who or what Hannah is protecting (and why), Tean’s day job keeps him busy tracking a possible outbreak of canine distemper amongst the local coyote population, while Jem is forced to confront the past he hoped he’d left behind in the form of the manipulative and deeply unpleasant LouElla.
As always, the mystery Gregory Ashe has lined up for us takes plenty of unexpected twists and turns, and a number of seemingly unrelated incidents slowly start to take on a new significance. The denouement comes from a direction I really didn’t expect but which, now I think about it, was cleverly and subtly signposted along the way.
But as in all of Mr. Ashe’s books, the richness of the characterisation and complexity of the relationship he creates between his principals, the insight into their thought processes and motivations, are where his writing really is head and shoulders above so many other authors in the genre. Tean and Jem couldn’t be more different – or more perfect for each other; they’re polar opposites and yet they get each other and see each other in ways nobody else ever has. They’re deeply flawed and have been completely fucked up by those who were supposed to care for them – Jem in foster care, Tean by his Mormon family and upbringing – and here we get to see a little more of how those relationships have affected them. Adult Jem projects confidence and good humour, but deep down inside he’s sometimes still that little kid nobody wanted or cared about, while Tean’s family make him feel like a leper because he’s gay. The scene where Tean – with Jem in tow – visits his parents’ home for Mother’s Day reveals so much about why he is the way he is and why he put up with Ammon’s crap for so long; it’s also a pivotal moment of understanding for Tean – and I loved seeing Jem go into full-on protector mode and giving Tean’s horrible relatives what for at the end of it.
The chemistry between Tean and Jem is off the charts, and both men are struggling with their decision to be friends and nothing more. This is a brilliantly written friendship between two people who obviously care for each other a great deal, but who are still working out how to be with and around one another. And – *sigh*- there’s such tenderness and affection underpinning their relationship that there’s no question they’ll always be there for one another. But although the intense attraction that sparked between them is still very much alive, so are the trust and communication issues that caused so many problems and effectively put an end to their burgeouning romance. When they fight, they know just how to twist the knife, but they can also take a step back and see the issues through the other’s eyes – which is, in the end, why they’ll always come back to each other. It’s a wonderful and genuinely loving friendship, and it’s something neither man has ever had before, so they’re understandably wary of screwing it up… plus, Tean has only recently put an end to the affair he’d been having with Ammon, and he’s still unlearning the behaviours and reactions he acquired over nearly two decades of emotional manipulation. But Ammon – who is so much worse than the abusive arsehole I thought he was – wants Tean back, insisting he’s the most important thing is his life and that he’ll do whatever Tean wants so they can be together… and Tean is more inclined to give Ammon the benefit of the doubt than Jem – and this reader – would like.
Once again, the Utah locations are vividly and lyrically described, putting the reader right there amid the lakes and canyons and mountains, and the parts of the story that revolve around living in a faith-based community, and how that affects the people within it as well as those who leave it, are simultaneously fascinating, sad and… just a little bit disconcerting. I know next to nothing about the Mormon way of life, but as with the first book, details are woven very subtly through the story to provide a realistic backdrop for the action and character exploration and development.
The Same Place ends with one of the most beautiful declarations I’ve ever read, and with Jem making a momentous decision. It’s not a cliffhanger as such – the investigation is wrapped up and the guys are safe – but there’s more to be said and I’m very much looking forward to finding out how everything works out in book three, The Same End, when it appears in 2021.
Buy it at: Amazon or Audible
Visit our Amazon Storefront
Grade: A
Book Type: Romantic Suspense
Sensuality: Kisses
Review Date: 23/11/20
Publication Date: 11/2020
Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.
Related Reviews
Wow, Mr Ashe is really making these two work for their relationship, isn’t he? I find it incredibly moving. They are often very funny together but some bits are just heart-rending.
Overall, I think that I found this book a bit darker than the first one. Some of that is due to how he’s chosen to develop Ammon’s character and also Hannah’s part in the plot.
Roll on January 29th when we can get the final(?) installment of Tean and Jem’s story. The taster looks really intriguing.
As an aside, I often have to look up cultural references in Gregory Ashe’s books – particularly food. I now know what Walla Walla onions and Eggos are, and also the names of some pension plans!
Yes, I think it’s a trilogy – The Same End sounds like it’s going to be the first candidate for my Best of 2021 list!
Why doesn’t/wouldn’t my library carry a single Gregory Ashe book? I’d like to try a starter based on all these great AAR reviews. Any rationale?
Same! I think I’m going to wait for book three and then read them in one fell swoop. A trilogy is less of a commitment than the umpteen books in the H&S series.
Yes, I said in my review of the previous book that this series is a good place to start if the Hazard and Somerset series is a bit daunting. It’s also wonderful; I’ve been reading GA’s books for the past… three? years, and he just gets better and better. And like I said to Trish above, they’re relatively inexpensive – I wince when I look at the prices of some of the books we review. I reviewed an historical mystery back in September that was over £15 in the UK – and wasn’t even very good.
I went ahead and bought the first book because I so want to read this series, and you’re right, at $4 in the US they are very reasonable.
I hope you like it – audio is coming as well, but not until next year some time. (It’ll be worth the wait though – the narrator who’s signed up is one of my faves!)
Caz, I wish I could sit down in person and talk about Gregory Ashe’s writing. I’m reading The Same Breath right now and having the same problems with it I did with Orientation. I’m finding myself lost. His characters don’t act in ways that I understand and I have to reread whole sections to try to make sense whats happening. Sometimes the things people say don’t make any sense to me, like there is no context for the thoughts at all. I feel like I’m being dropped into the middle of a story/conversation/event with no background information.
I didn’t feel this way with Pretty Pretty Boys. It felt more linear and the suspense plot there made sense. I stopped reading because of the white supremacy stuff, which I just couldn’t handle right now, not because I was confused.
With Orientation I had the same feeling I’m having now, like I was caught up in the middle of a story and there was inside information I don’t have that I needed in order to make sense of conversations and actions.
I wish I could pick your brain, or anyone else’s that obviously loves Ashe’s writing, and try to see it through your eyes. I am ready to believe this is my problem, but I hate “missing out” on a great talent because I can’t seem to follow his train of thought.
I – as is obvious from my reviews! – have never had the slightest problem in that regard; his stories always feel well-grounded and develop organically. But one man’s meat is another man’s poison as they say… And you’re welcome to email me any time to talk about books and audiobooks – I’m always happy to chat about the things I love!
He self-publishes – is that a problem for libraries? That said though, his books are ridiculously cheap for what you get – usually under a fiver, and a great investment!
“He self-publishes – is that a problem for libraries?”
I’ve discovered through marketing to libraries in my work outside of erotica that every library system has its own rules regarding purchasing self-published materials. Some, such as the New York Public Library, will not order any self-published materials. Period. Others are hesitant to do so because of quality concerns- both physical (will the books hold up for multiple checkouts?) and internal (is this just some crap someone typed up in the basement?).
Also, a number of systems have contractual obligations to only order books through the sales channels Ingram and/or Baker & Taylor, not Amazon. Some self-published authors, such as those who publish through KDP, have the option whether or not to make their work available through third party sales channels. Some choose not to because the payout through those channels is lower. Library e-book purchases of KDP simply aren’t possible because Amazon doesn’t want the competition with their KU platform.
In short, you can ask your librarian via patron request form if they would purchase a paperback copy of a Gregory Ashe book to see what happens. Many libraries are open to purchasing titles suggested by patrons and, in fact, set aside part of their budgets specifically for “patron driven acquisitions.” If you do get a librarian to purchase it, you are helping patrons of other library systems as well because it is likely to be cataloged in WorldCat or a statewide system for interlibrary loans. Just keep in mind a lot of librarians don’t want to be the first person to catalog a book because they have to create an entry from scratch. But once one copy of a particular title is in a system, subsequent systems can just push a button to confirm, “Yes, we have this title too.”
Hope this helps!
Thank you and to Caz for these explanations. I’m going to call the library (Atlanta) and ask. He’s simply too good a writer- with great reviews- to be ignored. And, Caz, it looks like I’ll splurge on an intro level title.
Here’s the link that might help you make your request with your library card number: Suggest a title for Purchase | Fulton County Library System (fulcolibrary.org)
Good luck!
Honestly, I can’t imagine you’ll regret it, whichever title you choose. This series is fantastic – book three will be out early next year I believe – and then you might feel like tackling the Hazard and Somerset series ;)
Hands down my favorite book of 2020.
No way am I going to be able to play favourites. My Best of 2020 list is basically going to say “Everything Gregory Ashe has published this year.”
The End.
Totally!
Yes this is out!!! I am so so so excited:):)
It’s SO good. Clever and funny and sweet and oh. so understatedly romantic… you’ll love it!
Just finished reading it, and have discovered yet another favourite book this year! Gregory Ashe knows how to make your heart ache with just a few lines of dialogue. I absolutely adore Tean and Jem!
Doesn’t he just? This isn’t as angsty as some of his other stuff (<b>Yet a Stranger</b> which is out next month has some real kick-you-in-the-gut moments!) which can really tie you up in knots, but it’s just gorgeous. Those exchanges at the end were swoonworthy.
I can’t wait to read Yet a Stranger as well, it sounds wonderful. How does he write so fast? He is a full-time educator as well. I am so envious!
I asked him once – he just said he’s very organised!! I think being in lockdown this year must have energised him or something – ten books (?) on one year AND all of such high quality? I can’t think of any other author whose managed that!
I’m so pleased that you think that this book lives up to its predecessor. I’m currently rereading The Same Breath so that I’m ready to launch into The Same Place when it’s released tomorrow!
Do you know if there are plans to release this series on audio? I’ve never really fancied H&S or Borealis on audio, but I think that I’d really enjoy listening to this series – I might even find out if I’m pronouncing Tean’s name right!
Yes, there are plans for audio but not until next year. (The narrator is someone I really like btw). And Tean is pronounced “Teen” :).
Charlie David does a pretty good job on the narration of the Borealis books – I reviewed them at AG, so I can recommend them. I’m not the biggest fan of Tristan James though, so I stick to print for H&S.