Borrowed Heart by Andrew Grey
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Adrian Nicholas
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Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to host Andrew Grey here today talking about his new release Borrowed Heart. Welcome, Andrew.
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When I started Borrowed Heart, I knew it was going to take place on a tour in Europe and since I had travelled in Germany many times, it was the natural choice. However one thing I didn’t count on, it just crept in, was the fact that much of the story mirrored Dominic and my honeymoon some 23 years ago. That was a pleasant surprise. I got to relive some of the things we did through the book and what surprised me even more was the fact that writing the book recalled things I hadn’t thought about on years. It was a great trip down memory lane.
The first stop on our trip was Freiburg in the black forest. It’s a beautiful city with a vibrant central business district. After a few days, before sunset, Dominic and I took a walk out of the town and up into the forest itself. We past small garden houses and then were engulfed in trees and an umbrella of green. We got off the beaten path to discover ruins that we climbed over and sat on for pictures. I remember it as something out of Lord of the Rings, though without the carved faces and stuff. Dominic and I never passed anyone else, it was just the two of us in the forest. Irs funny what you remember and how important these little memories become.
Blurb/Synopsis:
Robin, the recipient of a brand-new heart, knows he can’t give it to just anyone….
Robin’s been through his share of upsets recently, from heart transplant surgery to a brutal breakup. But his experiences have taught him life is short, and he’s ready to seize the day and start anew. A job at Euro Pride Tours is just the kind of adventure he’s looking for. He gets to see the world and live a little, but love isn’t on his radar screen. He isn’t sure his heart can endure that again.
Johan might’ve disappointed his family by striking out on his own, but when he meets Robin, he has no intention of letting him down. Each man is just what the other needs to feel whole again, and while Johan might not be the man Robin originally thought he was, he’s exactly what the doctor ordered to make Robin’s borrowed heart beat faster. As the tour through Germany progresses, they grow closer, but when Robin’s ex joins the tour, he could bring their blossoming love to a dramatic halt.
Excerpt:
“Guten Morgen. I’m Robin, and I’m going to be your tour guide for the next eleven days. I’m sure you’re all familiar with the itinerary, and as far as I know, there aren’t any changes that we are expecting. Our driver, Johan—” He paused, and Johan waved quickly before merging into traffic. “—and I will be here to make sure you get where you need to. At any time during the trip, I will be happy to answer questions. Now, for most of our day trips, Johan will lock the bus, so you can feel free to leave your things in the overhead compartment, or we can put them in the locked compartments.”
“Even my laptop?” Grant asked, his hand shooting in the air.
“Yes. Your laptops, sweaters, jackets… all of it. We don’t recommend that you leave things on the bus overnight, because Johan will need to park it and he’ll be at the hotel with us.” Robin gazed out at the faces all looking back at him expectantly. “The drive to Würzburg is going to take about two hours with traffic, so I thought I’d give you a little overview of the country we’re going to be seeing. The country we know as Germany didn’t always look the way it does today. Up until a hundred and fifty or so years ago, it was many different sovereign states—Prussia, Franconia, and Bavaria, to name a few of them. They each had their own rulers and royal lines. You may have heard of some of them.”
“What about East Germany? Was that one of them?” Billy asked, and Kyle nudged him sharply.
“No. That’s because of the war,” Kyle interjected.
“What we know or knew as East and West Germany resulted from World War II. East Germany was the part controlled by the Russians. Germany was reunified in 1990.” Robin took a deep breath and continued. “We are going to see palaces, castles, and Roman ruins, taste wine….”
“And get drunk…,” a couple said together, and everyone laughed.
Robin tried to laugh along with them, but failed, waiting them out instead. Kyle and Billy started talking about beer, and the conversation took off on its own. Popping and hissing sounds followed, and both Kyle and Billy sipped from cans, offering them to others as well. Soon almost everyone was drinking, and Robin wondered how they’d gotten that much beer on the bus right under his nose. He was going to have to keep an eye on those two. Giving up on imparting any more information, he sat down and let the group talk while they rode.
“It is okay,” Johan said from just in front of him. “They need to get to know one another, and this is a good time for them to do it.”
“I suppose. I usually have get-to-know-each-other games,” Robin explained, and Johan snorted. “What?”
“I remember those games. The beer is better.” He returned to his driving, chuckling under his breath. Robin wanted to smack him, but as he turned to look at the rest of the group, he had to agree that the beer was better. They were having a good time, talking and laughing. Robin faced forward, watching the road and scenery out the front window as they entered the Autobahn. He opened the file and reviewed it once again, needing something to do.
About the Author
Andrew grew up in western Michigan with a father who loved to tell stories and a mother who loved to read them. Since then he has lived throughout the country and traveled throughout the world. He has a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and works in information systems for a large corporation.
Andrew’s hobbies include collecting antiques, gardening, and leaving his dirty dishes anywhere but in the sink (particularly when writing) He considers himself blessed with an accepting family, fantastic friends, and the world’s most supportive and loving partner. Andrew currently lives in beautiful, historic Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
Author Links
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Facebook Group All the Way with Andrew Grey
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For Other Works by Andrew Grey
(Please Be Sure To Stop by His Website to See All of His Works)
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