The Brothers Grime Series by Z.A. Maxfield

Grime and Punishment The Brothers Grime is Jack Masterson's way of helping people in crisis after disability ends his career as a firefighter. Jack's people get to a scene long after the physical trauma ends. They don't solve crime or rescue the victims. They help people move on. The new job is all Jack wants or needs, until he gets the call about old flame Nick Foasberg's suicide. Ryan Halloran's cousin Nick has been on a downhill slide for a long time... moreGrime and Punishment The Brothers Grime is Jack Masterson's way of helping people in crisis after disability ends his career as a firefighter. Jack's people get to a scene long after the physical trauma ends. They don't solve crime or rescue the victims. They help people move on. The new job is all Jack wants or needs, until he gets the call about old flame Nick Foasberg's suicide. Ryan Halloran's cousin Nick has been on a downhill slide for a long time. Despite that, Ryan does everything he knows to help. Ryan only understands part of what happened between Nick and Jack in high school, but after Nick's suicide, Ryan agrees both he and Jack need closure. They work together to clean the scene and despite the situation, heat flares between them. Jack is keeping a painful secret and fighting his attraction to Nick's lookalike cousin, Ryan. Ryan calls himself a magnet for lost causes and worries Jack might be the next in a long line of losers. Despite his misgivings, despite the past and the mistakes they've both made, Jack gives Ryan something to look forward to, and Ryan gives Jack a reason to stop looking back, in Grime And Punishment. less

The Brothers Grime is Jack Masterson's way of helping people in crisis after disability ends his career as a firefighter. Jack's people get to a scene long after the physical trauma ends. They don't solve crime or rescue the victims. They help people move on. The new job is all Jack wants or needs, until he gets the call about old flame Nick Foasberg's suicide. Ryan Halloran's cousin Nick has been on a downhill slide for a long time. Despite that, Ryan does everything he knows to help... moreThe Brothers Grime is Jack Masterson's way of helping people in crisis after disability ends his career as a firefighter. Jack's people get to a scene long after the physical trauma ends. They don't solve crime or rescue the victims. They help people move on. The new job is all Jack wants or needs, until he gets the call about old flame Nick Foasberg's suicide. Ryan Halloran's cousin Nick has been on a downhill slide for a long time. Despite that, Ryan does everything he knows to help. Ryan only understands part of what happened between Nick and Jack in high school, but after Nick's suicide, Ryan agrees both he and Jack need closure. They work together to clean the scene and despite the situation, heat flares between them. Jack is keeping a painful secret and fighting his attraction to Nick's lookalike cousin, Ryan. Ryan calls himself a magnet for lost causes and worries Jack might be the next in a long line of losers. Despite his misgivings, despite the past and the mistakes they've both made, Jack gives Ryan something to look forward to, and Ryan gives Jack a reason to stop looking back, in Grime And Punishment. less

Eddie Vasquez is hot for his niece Lucy’s third grade teacher, B. Andrew (call me Andrew) Daley. Eddie can’t wait to take Andrew dancing to show him his moves. The only problem is, Andrew keeps talking about books Eddie hasn’t read, that he can’t read — at least not in the usual way — because Eddie’s dyslexic. When the two men find Eddie’s favorite teacher, Mrs. Henderson, wandering the school grounds confused and smelling of human decomposition, they come together to help her... moreEddie Vasquez is hot for his niece Lucy’s third grade teacher, B. Andrew (call me Andrew) Daley. Eddie can’t wait to take Andrew dancing to show him his moves. The only problem is, Andrew keeps talking about books Eddie hasn’t read, that he can’t read — at least not in the usual way — because Eddie’s dyslexic. When the two men find Eddie’s favorite teacher, Mrs. Henderson, wandering the school grounds confused and smelling of human decomposition, they come together to help her. Eddie’s fiercely loyal, and this is the teacher who uncovered Eddie’s learning disability and helped him regain his self-esteem. He’ll do anything, even take on a massive cleaning job pro bono to pay Mrs. Henderson back for the support she’s given him. Andrew and Eddie come from different worlds, Eddie can’t read, Andrew can’t dance. Andrew’s father is a horrible snob and if all Eddie’s secrets are laid bare, he’ll have plenty to feel superior about. But Eddie and Andrew have taken on a massive project together, and their growing attraction can’t be denied. They learn the trick to forming a lasting partnership in dance and in life might be finding a partner whose weaknesses you can live with and whose strengths make you look good, in Grime Doesn’t Pay . less

Can Gabe hold on to love in the face of disaster?Gabe has loved elusive, closeted detective Dave Huntley since they were children. Unfortunately, he's had to watch from the sidelines as Dave makes his way through the available men in their lives. But on the very eve that Gabe senses things between him and Dave may be evolving exactly as he'd hoped, disaster occurs in the form of a violent liquor store robbery... moreCan Gabe hold on to love in the face of disaster?Gabe has loved elusive, closeted detective Dave Huntley since they were children. Unfortunately, he's had to watch from the sidelines as Dave makes his way through the available men in their lives. But on the very eve that Gabe senses things between him and Dave may be evolving exactly as he'd hoped, disaster occurs in the form of a violent liquor store robbery. Gabe is forced to put his desires on hold in order to help Dave heal from a head wound that damages Dave's memory and derails both their lives.Caught between gratitude for Dave's recovery and the pain of lost intimacy between them, Gabe has to choose whether to share the truth or wait for Dave to recognize what Gabe's known all along: He and Dave belong together.Can Gabe find the courage to place his faith in Dave, who must rediscover his past and make the tough journey from their shared trauma to a future free of fear?Partners in Grime is a friends-to-lovers story with a guaranteed HEA. less

Can a minister with a moneyed background see past a blue collar worker's muscled, tattooed bad boy persona to the gentle, caring soul that lies beneath?When Stieg Winthrop returns from a business trip to find a bloodbath in his home, he's only marginally appeased by the knowledge that animal blood was used to make a point, and no humans were harmed to create the mess. Since the scene seems to point to a jilted bride, he's doubly confused because he's never dated a woman, ever... moreCan a minister with a moneyed background see past a blue collar worker's muscled, tattooed bad boy persona to the gentle, caring soul that lies beneath?When Stieg Winthrop returns from a business trip to find a bloodbath in his home, he's only marginally appeased by the knowledge that animal blood was used to make a point, and no humans were harmed to create the mess. Since the scene seems to point to a jilted bride, he's doubly confused because he's never dated a woman, ever.It doesn't matter who created the disaster or why. That's a job for the police. Stieg must have his home cleaned and sanitized and that means hiring a biohazard cleaning company to do the work. Enter The Brothers Grime, who have opened a new location in the Inland Empire city Stieg calls home.Levi Bond is a cleaner at Brothers Grime, not a salesman, but he's the only one available to meet the client when the call comes in. The minute he sees Stieg Winthrop, his heart melts for the sweet man. But the more he learns about the wealthy East Coast academic and man of the cloth, the more outclassed and unworthy he feels.What could this intelligent, bougie homeowner who wears bespoke suits and carries expensive luggage ever see in an average guy like him? This novella-length gay romance in the Brothers Grime universe between a millionaire trying to escape the overbearing snobbery of his family and the sweetly devoted blue collar man he falls for is everything you need in a Valentine's tale. For a highly sensual, emotional read, buy The Vengeful Valentine Job today less