Farm (Grey)

Len Parker is laid off during the recession in the early eighties and decides to go back to college at home in rural Michigan, where he reconnects with his best friend from high school, Ruby. He's overjoyed when she marries Cliff Laughton and overcome with sorrow when she dies an untimely death, leaving behind her husband and two-year-old son.

Geoff is in the city, living the gay life to the hilt, when his father's death convinces him to return to the family farm. Discovering a young Amish man asleep in his barn, Geoff learns that Eli is spending a year away from the community before accepting baptism into the church. Despite their mutual attraction, Geoff is determined not to become involved with him, but Eli has discovered that Geoff shares his feelings and begins to court him, neatly capturing first Geoff's attention and then his heart. Their budding relationship is threatened by closed-minded, gossipy relatives and the society at large, a whole new world to Eli, and he must decide whether to return to the community, his family, and the world and future he knows or to stay with Geoff and have faith in the power of love.

Eli never regrets leaving the Amish community to live with his lover, except maybe at Christmastime, when the pull of family is strongest. But even if Eli's family could accept his love for Geoff, he doesn't want them shunned by the community for his choices. So he's reconciled himself to a Christmas without them, until Geoff gives him a gift that changes the way Eli defines family.

A Love Means... StoryJoey Sutherland has found a home with Geoff Laughton and his partner, Eli, living and working at the farm that has become a refuge after a motorcycle accident left him with a scarred face and a lot of insecurities. When Geoff's aunt Mari convinces them to take in a musician from the National Youth Symphony, Joey is reluctantly roped into picking him up, already anticipating the disgust he'll see on the man's face. But Robert Edward Jameson surprises him: he's outgoing and friendly, he's willing to try just about anything around the farm, and he's blind, which goes a long way toward easing Joey's nerves. Joey and Robbie become inseparable and discover the beginnings of love. But summer is coming to an end, and Robbie will return to his home in Mississippi, where his family and servants see to everything he could want or need. Joey can only hope Robbie will take a chance on love and escape the boundaries that have shaped his sightless life.

Spurned by his father and driven from his home, Stone Hillyard is struggling to find shelter in the Michigan winter when he lucks upon the horse farm run by Geoff Laughton and his partner Eli. They take him in, warm him up, and give him a job working with their No Boundaries therapy riding program. A drunk driver left Preston Harding unable to walk, and after months of hard work, his therapist recommends Geoff and Eli's program. But Preston's anger and arrogance nearly get him kicked out until Stone intercedes on his behalf, despite Preston's insults. It's a small act of kindness that helps open Preston's eyes. Stone and Preston will support each other as they face their families' disapproval and fight old secrets. They'll learn - sometimes the hard way - just how love can mean freedom for them both.

Raine Baumer is living the party life in Chicago, indulging in short relationships with little emotional commitment. But after he's severely injured in a gay bashing, close friend Geoff arrives to take him to the country to recuperate. There Geoff and his partner Eli treat him like part of the family, and Raine meets Jonah, Eli's brother, who is exploring life in the world outside his Amish community. Jonah and Raine's mutual attraction draws them together, but they may not have a chance to explore it. Jonah's father is making ultimatums, and the police believe that the attack on Raine may not have been as random as it initially appeared. Raine and Jonah will have to face what they fear most in order to have any chance at a life together.

Seven months ago, Len Parker lost his partner of more than twenty years, and he isn't sure how to feel about his blossoming attraction to Chris, one of his farmhands. Hesitant and still hurt, Len remains aloof and distant until he's goaded into teaching Chris to ride.

Four months ago Robert Edward "Arie" Hawkins lost his sister and the rest of her family in a plane crash. Now his parents have decided it's time for him to marry and carry on the family name. Arie knows it's most likely the grief talking-especially from his mother, who's taken to putting more than ice in her iced tea-so to escape Mississippi, Arie calls his best friend, Robbie, and arranges for a visit. Life is always changing at the Michigan farm where Robbie lives. Owner Geoff Laughton and his partner, Eli, have started a therapeutic riding program and adopted a little boy, creating a family. It's while feeding Jakey that Arie meets Officer Hunky. Officer Hunky's real name is Deputy Duane Keenan, and he has troubles of his own, but not enough to stop him from pursuing Arie. But Duane's and Arie's families are pulling them in opposite directions. Trying to build a connection to support their mutual attraction may prove to be more than difficult… it may be impossible.

Eli Henninger is stretched a little thin. He teaches riding classes, conducts therapy sessions, takes care of his son, and helps manage the family farm. He's tired and overworked, especially because lately, no one else seems to do anything right. He and his partner, Geoff, haven't have time together in so long, he's beginning to forget what his longtime love feels like. Geoff is just as busy with the farm, the business, and working through a complicated land purchase. He and Eli labor from sunup to sundown and then some. He knows taking care of their responsibilities is preventing them from taking care of each other, but he doesn't see anything he can do about it. To make matters worse, they're accused of behaving improperly toward some of the children in their riding programs. Then Eli becomes ill and the investigators suspect foul play, forcing Geoff to reevaluate his priorities and hope fate will give them another chance.

Bart van Andren, aka Spider, has been running away from life with a lot of chemical help. When he wakes up in a hospital, he discovers he's picked up a champion. Duane must see something in Bart no one else ever has, because he finds Bart a job at Laughton Farms, where the people show Bart kindness and patience. He might even kick his drug habit with a little help from his new friends Geoff, Eli, and especially Tyrone. Tyrone Jackson works at the farm despite the disapproval of his traditional black family, who find it suspicious that he works with gay men. Tyrone knows he's gay, and until now, he's kept his home and work lives separate. Though Tyrone resists his feelings for Bart as long as he can-he's seen enough of the drug culture to last a lifetime-he can't deny their attraction forever. But before he and Bart reach for more than friendship, Tyrone has to face his family and Bart has to close the door on his past-a past that could put Tyrone, the farm, and everyone he's come to care for at risk.

Cody suffers from PTSD and is struggling to rejoin the real world. Brick takes him in, and the two discover they have a lot in common.

Succumbing is not an option for partners of over ten years, Geoff and Eli, when Eli is diagnosed with cancer.

Don't miss this exclusive bundle of stories in the best-selling Love Means... series by Andrew Grey.