Title: Beignets
Series: Coffee Cake
Author: Michaela Grey
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Aaron Anderson
Length: 200 Pages
Release Date: October 9, 2015
Blurb: Malachi Warren barely survived a series of assaults on his life. But survive he did, though not without baggage. Now, Malachi must pick up the pieces of his shattered life—the most important piece being his boyfriend, Bran Kendrick, who is dealing with problems of his own.
Stagnating at his job at a small-town café, Bran’s pride keeps him from asking Malachi—or anyone—for help. Desperate to do something, Malachi secretly pays a celebrity chef with a bakery in New Orleans to take on Bran as his apprentice.
As Malachi and Bran begin to make a new life in New Orleans, the specter of Malachi’s PTSD and the growing stress over the secret he hides from Bran threaten their relationship. Before it’s too late, Malachi must confront his past and face his fears about the future, all without losing himself—and Bran—in the process.
He’d covered Bran’s back with a pale gray first, from shoulders to hips. It was the exact color of the Vermont sky outside his window: the pearlescent hint of winter, cold and serene.
The trees were next, bare limbs black against the gray sky. The green stretched out under the trees, a wide expanse of withered brown that defied its commonly used name. On the other side of the green, the library rose above the branches, glass and stone and modern architecture. Two figures sat on a bench in front of the library. The smaller one had his head in the other’s lap, knees bent to brace his sketchpad. The taller figure was absorbed in his book, brown hair falling in a haphazard manner over his forehead.
And in the distance under the farthest tree, a tiny, malevolent, brown spotted llama lurked, biding its time.
First thing I should say is that you need to read book 1 (Coffee Cake) in this series before reading this one, to fully understand about Malachi and Bran. I hadn’t, and I will admit that in the beginning I was a little lost.
​You really feel for Malachi, as although he survived the assaults, but he was left with mental scars in the form of PTSD. Bran is his rock, and seems to be the only person who can pull Malachi from his dark place, should something happen to trigger is PTSD. Both Bran and Malachi are now no longer happy where they are, and the chance to change things comes about while chatting to another friend – which Malachi does in secret.
Bran and Malachi begin to make a new life in New Orleans, and Bran seems to bloom while working in the bakery – but what Bran does not know is that Malachi has paid the owner to take Bran on as an apprentice. Malachi also finds a therapist that he can talk to, and on the outside it seems like things may be improving for them both. Malachi also manages to find a friend while sketching in the park one day, but Bran comes across as really jealous of her, although she is no threat to their relationship.
Although Malachi wants to tell Bran the truth, he doesn’t want to spoil things, as they are closer than ever, but really enjoying their new life in New Orleans. However, they go out with friends one night, and the alcohol flows quite freely, and while drunk one of the other people who works at the bakery blurts out that Bran is only there as Malachi has paid for his apprenticeship…..
The book now becomes very emotional, and I can only applaud the author with how she wrote this part of the story. You can honestly feel Malachi’s total distress and despair as you read, and I really wanted to reach in and hug him tight. The author wrote about Malachi’s PTSD in a sensitive manner and it showed (to me anyway), that even little things which seem insignificant to the rest of us, can cause a total panic attack if you have PTSD.
I recommend people to read this book, but please also read Coffee Time (book 1) prior to reading this, so you have a better understanding of the dynamics of their relationship.
​You really feel for Malachi, as although he survived the assaults, but he was left with mental scars in the form of PTSD. Bran is his rock, and seems to be the only person who can pull Malachi from his dark place, should something happen to trigger is PTSD. Both Bran and Malachi are now no longer happy where they are, and the chance to change things comes about while chatting to another friend – which Malachi does in secret.
Bran and Malachi begin to make a new life in New Orleans, and Bran seems to bloom while working in the bakery – but what Bran does not know is that Malachi has paid the owner to take Bran on as an apprentice. Malachi also finds a therapist that he can talk to, and on the outside it seems like things may be improving for them both. Malachi also manages to find a friend while sketching in the park one day, but Bran comes across as really jealous of her, although she is no threat to their relationship.
Although Malachi wants to tell Bran the truth, he doesn’t want to spoil things, as they are closer than ever, but really enjoying their new life in New Orleans. However, they go out with friends one night, and the alcohol flows quite freely, and while drunk one of the other people who works at the bakery blurts out that Bran is only there as Malachi has paid for his apprenticeship…..
The book now becomes very emotional, and I can only applaud the author with how she wrote this part of the story. You can honestly feel Malachi’s total distress and despair as you read, and I really wanted to reach in and hug him tight. The author wrote about Malachi’s PTSD in a sensitive manner and it showed (to me anyway), that even little things which seem insignificant to the rest of us, can cause a total panic attack if you have PTSD.
I recommend people to read this book, but please also read Coffee Time (book 1) prior to reading this, so you have a better understanding of the dynamics of their relationship.
He managed to stand and grabbed for the door as panic flooded him and the dark began to close in. He fumbled at the door handle, nearly falling through into the waiting room when the door finally opened and ignoring the therapist’s startled exclamation from behind him.
Bran’s eyes widened and he stood up, catching Malachi in his arms as Malachi stumbled forward. “Mal?†He took a step backward, supporting Malachi’s weight as he sank onto the couch and pulled him into his lap. “Breathe, baby,†he whispered, rubbing his back. “Remember your breathing. It’s okay, you’re okay, you’re safe, I’m here.â€
Bran’s eyes widened and he stood up, catching Malachi in his arms as Malachi stumbled forward. “Mal?†He took a step backward, supporting Malachi’s weight as he sank onto the couch and pulled him into his lap. “Breathe, baby,†he whispered, rubbing his back. “Remember your breathing. It’s okay, you’re okay, you’re safe, I’m here.â€
​Michaela Grey told stories to put herself to sleep since she was old enough to hold a conversation in her head. When she learned to write, she began putting those stories down on paper. She and her family reside in the Texas hill country with their cats, and she is perpetually on the hunt for peaceful writing time, which her four children make difficult to find.
Michaela started her career with Dreamspinner Press. Her first book is called Coffee Cake, published in May of 2015, and its sequel is Beignets, coming in October of 2015. She is represented by Saritza Hernandez, of Corvisiero Literary Agency.
Queer romance is her happy place, and she delights in pushing her limits, testing her abilities and forcing herself to write scenarios she’s not familiar with. Angst is her lifeblood, and she wants you to know that your tears are delicious. (But don’t worry, she’ll always give you a happy ending.)
When she’s not writing, she’s knitting while watching TV or avoiding responsibilities on Tumblr, where she shamelessly ogles pretty people and tries to keep her cat off the keyboard.
Michaela started her career with Dreamspinner Press. Her first book is called Coffee Cake, published in May of 2015, and its sequel is Beignets, coming in October of 2015. She is represented by Saritza Hernandez, of Corvisiero Literary Agency.
Queer romance is her happy place, and she delights in pushing her limits, testing her abilities and forcing herself to write scenarios she’s not familiar with. Angst is her lifeblood, and she wants you to know that your tears are delicious. (But don’t worry, she’ll always give you a happy ending.)
When she’s not writing, she’s knitting while watching TV or avoiding responsibilities on Tumblr, where she shamelessly ogles pretty people and tries to keep her cat off the keyboard.
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