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E.M. Lindsey
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Free Hand (Irons and Works Book 1) Kindle Edition

by E.M. Lindsey (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 3,550 ratings
It begins on a rainy night, trapped in an ATM vestibule.

Derek Osbourne’s life is ruled by a carefully cultivated routine, and there’s no room for change. A tattoo artist at Irons and Works, Derek spends his days hunched over a chair, and his nights pouring his trauma onto a canvas. And that’s all he has time for.

So, when a storm knocks out the power and he’s trapped with the ridiculously hot Deaf florist who just moved in across the street, he’s not sure what to do with himself. Derek owes Basil for keeping his panic at bay while they waited for the doors to open, but he’s not sure there’s room for more than friendship. With Basil’s hesitance to date a hearing man, and Derek still dealing with the trauma his abusive father left behind, happily ever after seems like it’s just a dream.

But Derek finds it difficult to stay away, and the more Basil sticks around, the more Derek starts to wonder if he might be worthy of love.
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  1. Book 1 of 11
    Irons and Works
  2. Print length
    222 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    March 31, 2019
  5. File size
    3.1 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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  1. This was why he was going to die alone, surrounded by cats who probably wouldn’t want to eat him even if they were starving.
    Highlighted by 208 Kindle readers
  2. ‘Your voice,’ he signed, then reached out and touched Basil’s hands.  ‘I like this voice.’
    Highlighted by 89 Kindle readers
  3. “It felt so nice to just forget for a little while that I’m this hot mess of a person with no hope of ever being put together in a way most people can deal with.”
    Highlighted by 65 Kindle readers
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07Q848BFB
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ E.M. Lindsey
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 31, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.1 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 222 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 11 ‏ : ‎ Irons and Works
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 3,550 ratings

About the author

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E.M. Lindsey

E.M. Lindsey

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E.M. Lindsey is a Romance author, an ancient historian, and avid lover of nerdy things.  EM lives on the East Coast of the United States. 

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
3,550 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a beautiful story with deeply moving love elements, particularly appreciating how it portrays love despite trauma and flaws. The characters are well-developed, with one review specifically noting the realistic portrayal of a hearing-impaired character, and customers praise the writing quality and believable pacing. They appreciate the story's thoughtful approach to weaving information into the narrative, with one review highlighting how it addresses hard topics with finesse.

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93 customers mention "Readability"93 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable, describing it as a beautiful story.

"...The beautiful story starts there as both navigate their regular less than stellar but ok lives, and see different views to their lives and try to..." Read more

"...lovely, heartwarming romance, with plenty of angsty moments and beautiful tattoos. I loved this book from start to finish...." Read more

"...This was a seriously amazing read. There was just something about it that gripped my heart. I absolutely loved Derek and Basil!..." Read more

"...I liked the book, it had sweetness and an edge, bringing me in to a community I haven't read about before...." Read more

63 customers mention "Romance"60 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the romance in the book, describing it as a deeply moving love story that explores love despite trauma and flaws, with unexpected heartwarming moments throughout.

"...This is a lovely, heartwarming romance, with plenty of angsty moments and beautiful tattoos. I loved this book from start to finish...." Read more

"...I really loved how raw this book felt. At times it left me nearly in tears and at others it made my heart soar with happiness...." Read more

"...Overall, it was well written, it had a lot of angst and feels, there was romantic build up and even sexy times...." Read more

"...the cover of this book pulled me in immediately, peaking my interest with the promise of angst...." Read more

51 customers mention "Character development"48 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, noting the compelling and well-written main characters who have disabilities, with one review highlighting the realistic portrayal of a hearing-impaired character.

"...These are amazing men who are not broken but are carrying baggage they don't want and vehemently go thru their daily lives trying to rise above..." Read more

"...thing that I freaking LOVED about this book was that it has so many disabled characters. And it celebrates them!..." Read more

"...The characters were lovely. They were crafted by their experiences and circumstances but somehow they came out with the best of it...." Read more

"...Basil and Derek were REAL people, with real challenges, lives and personalities. Both of them awkward, cute, relatable and engaging to read...." Read more

49 customers mention "Story quality"46 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the thoughtful story that weaves information into the narrative, with one customer noting how it handles hard topics with finesse.

"...author, who writes their stories with depth and humor and friends and found families, and simply draws you in so deep. A truly gifted author...." Read more

"...This is a wonderful story and I can appreciate that this lady has really done tons of research...." Read more

"...Also! The tattoo shop family! They are one of the coolest found families I’ve had the pleasure to read...." Read more

"...And I enjoyed getting a glimpse of that reality, it was enlightening and educational, so thumbs up! The characters were lovely...." Read more

40 customers mention "Writing quality"29 positive11 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, describing it as a beautifully written story, with one customer noting it is written in a realistic way.

"...I love this author, who writes their stories with depth and humor and friends and found families, and simply draws you in so deep...." Read more

"...and a somewhat choppy style, but this is obviously the unique style of this author...." Read more

"...Overall, it was well written, it had a lot of angst and feels, there was romantic build up and even sexy times...." Read more

"...I LIVE for representation done well. This book did representation the BEST. Period. This is the kind of books I aspire to write and publish...." Read more

17 customers mention "Pacing"17 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the pacing of the book, noting its strong PTSD representations and how it draws readers in deeply.

"...with depth and humor and friends and found families, and simply draws you in so deep. A truly gifted author...." Read more

"...This one did. A wildly accurate depiction of both PTSD and the Deaf community clearly written by someone intimately familiar with both..." Read more

"...It’s not heavy handed, just part and parcel of Derek and Basil finding and learning about each other...." Read more

"The book started out strong and had me hooked, but as it went along, it just didn't hold my interest all the way through...." Read more

13 customers mention "Pace"10 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the pacing of the book, with one noting its steady but never rushed development, while another mentions being effortlessly pulled into the story's world.

"...of the story presented a really promising love story and a full, complicated, detailed and rich plot...." Read more

"...If you like a love story with a shaky start and steady but never rushed development and strong characters throughout, you’ll likely love this book...." Read more

"...said that, the book was easy to read and even with ASL I was able to follow the book until then." Read more

"...Plenty of chemistry and heat too. Good pace to story, alternating POV, solid character development, interesting supporting characters...." Read more

12 customers mention "Sweetness"12 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the sweetness of the book, particularly Basil and Derek's relationship, with one customer noting their bumpy yet tender journey to love.

"...Derek is so amazing, I just fell in love with him right away...." Read more

"...I really loved how raw this book felt. At times it left me nearly in tears and at others it made my heart soar with happiness...." Read more

"...I liked the book, it had sweetness and an edge, bringing me in to a community I haven't read about before...." Read more

"...I loved Basil and Derek’s bumpy road to love. They both struggle to trust others...." Read more

A+ To the author and A+ To the writing skills!
5 out of 5 stars
A+ To the author and A+ To the writing skills!
You know how you know when a book has captured you? When you order the next book before you even reach the middle of the book your reading! I was so drawn in by the third chapter I had to have the next book. So I ordered it and when I realized there wasn’t a book 3 yet I order the first book in the Baum’s boxing series! I adored this book and the writing was the best part. Really made you feel what the characters were feeling. Love this and can’t wait for more!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Linda C
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great story
    Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I just finished this beautiful story, and I simply loved every page of it. These are two of my favorite characters, and I'm really happy they 'found each other'. These are amazing men who are not broken but are carrying baggage they don't want and vehemently go thru their daily lives trying to rise above everything they're carrying but not really aware of all if it at the same time.

    Derek is so amazing, I just fell in love with him right away. He is a twin, and has PTSB stemming from years of abuse from his father, till they both ran away at 15. Life was a different Hell then, of flea ridden flop houses, often dirty and not knowing when they'd next be able to eat. They struggled and made lives for themselves, and now both work as tattoo artists. Derek and twin brother Sage.

    Basil is a deaf man who works with his partially deaf sister, at a florist they both inherited from their aunt when his parents, aunt and uncle were killed in a boating accident. They're trying to learn all they can to make the business solid and stable. Basil is very prejudiced against dating anyone from the 'hearing world' after a really bad experience from a man he was involved with for a couple of years. Vows to stay within the deaf community but there are hardly any in the very small town they live in now. Has to go to Denver etc, but is hardly interested in the effort.

    These guys meet when both are trapped in an ATM vestibule during a thunderstorm that knocks the power out and instantly locks the doors. The beautiful story starts there as both navigate their regular less than stellar but ok lives, and see different views to their lives and try to rise above their own demons and biases. I love this author, who writes their stories with depth and humor and friends and found families, and simply draws you in so deep. A truly gifted author. I can't wait to read the whole series, and I don't normally particularly like to start into series. But this found family at Iron & Works tattoo parlor are all guys I want to read more about. Highly recommend.
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  • Jean
    4.0 out of 5 stars Such a good book!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I absolutely loved this!
    This was my first introduction to this author, and I am impressed.
    This is a wonderful story and I can appreciate that this lady has really done tons of research.
    Everything about this is meticulously accurate and very informative and educational. It was so fascinating to learn so much about the deaf community and it makes me want to jump in and learn ASL myself.
    (but there is so much more to this book).
    This is a lovely, heartwarming romance, with plenty of angsty moments and beautiful tattoos.
    I loved this book from start to finish.

    I must agree with the reviewer that mentioned hard to read sentences and a somewhat choppy style, but this is obviously the unique style of this author.
    There are times when you may have to reverse and reread to get the feel for the unusual sentence structure, but don't let that put you off this altogether beautiful book.
    (pity about the numerous typos and editing misses though).

    However, I highly recommend this read, and I will definitely be following this author!

    Heat level about 3 (not many scenes)
    Standalone story.
    Enough Profanity to make this an adult read.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Meagan
    5.0 out of 5 stars This was so, so good!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I want to preface this review by stating that I do not have PTSD nor am I Deaf. So I don’t know how accurate the representation for those disabilities is in this book. Also, if you want to read this book please check all the trigger warnings* before diving in. With that being said here’s the review:

    This book was so freaking good. Like, I expected to like this book, but not nearly as much as I did. I didn’t want to put it down for a single second. I really loved how raw this book felt. At times it left me nearly in tears and at others it made my heart soar with happiness. This was a seriously amazing read. There was just something about it that gripped my heart.

    I absolutely loved Derek and Basil! They were just so sweet with each other. Basil is a little bit of a grump and Derek is possibly the sweetest human ever. I loved how they just fit together. One of the other things I loved about them was that they accepted each other as they were. They didn’t feel the need to change everything about who they were, to be together. And! Derek learning ASL for Basil (and Jazzy) was one of the many sweet things about this book.

    The other thing that I freaking LOVED about this book was that it has so many disabled characters. And it celebrates them! Almost all the main characters for this series has some form of disability, whether it was visible or not. Again, I don’t have a disability, so I can’t say for certain how well represented everything is. But, I really loved that I got to read something were disabilities weren’t only celebrated, but they were normalized. Also! The tattoo shop family! They are one of the coolest found families I’ve had the pleasure to read.

    I really loved this book if that isn’t obvious. I’m pretty sure this one has made its way to my top ten list for the year. This is getting a solid five out of five stars. It was just so lovely and I can’t wait to read the rest of the books.

    Some of the trigger warnings for this book: ableist language, disability stereotyping, homophobic language, an abusive parent, end of life care for an abusive parent, death of a parent, childhood trauma, panic attacks, mental health issues, and slight body shaming because of tattoos. Please be careful when diving into this book!
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Client Kindle
    5.0 out of 5 stars Parfait
    Reviewed in France on June 30, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Premier opus parfait : magnifique histoire d'amour où deux personnes se rencontrent pour ne faire finalement qu'une seule âme !!
    J'ai totalement adoré et je ne peux que le recommander !
    Syndromes post-traumatique pour Derek et surdité pour Basil mais un unique amour qui se crée petit à petit juste magnifique !
    Je me suis totalement régalée !
    Report
  • Lady Macbeth
    5.0 out of 5 stars Derek and Basil's emotional love story
    Reviewed in Italy on September 29, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    4.5 stars
    First book of Irons and Works series that introduces us to this amazing found family.
    Derek (and his twin brother, Sage) works at the tattoo shop along with other people, all amazing, all dealing with their disabilities and traumas.
    Derek, thanks to his abusive father, suffers from PTSD and it's not easy for him to trust people to be there for him with all his problems. But during a storm, he find himself trapped in an ATM cubicule with a panic attack and a gentle stranger helps him through it.
    Basil is a florist and he's Deaf: he had a traumatic experience with a former boyfriend that makes it very difficult for him to trust hearing people.

    Their journey through love is difficult, tentative and full of miscommunications but it's worth it: they find a way to be who the other needs, they support and love each other. The sex scenes are very intimate and emotional and they reflect perfectly their love.

    What prevented me from giving 5 full stars:
    I would have loved to have the love declaration a little sooner.
    Report
  • Anonymous
    5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely story, highly recommend!
    Reviewed in the Netherlands on November 30, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I'm becoming quite a fan of this author and this book did not disappoint. Lots of angst, lots of love, lots of characters showing how it's done 💛
    Report
  • KR Phoenix @ Books, Tattoos and Tea
    5.0 out of 5 stars A story of love and healing, from the past and for the future! Truly Wonderful!!
    Reviewed in Australia on September 6, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 4.5 stars
    🔥🔥🔥🔥 Heat Level: 4

    A story of love and healing, from the past and for the future! Truly Wonderful!!

    Wow! I found this book so powerful. The characters have so much depth and substance I felt like they couldn't be fully explained and explored in just one book. I felt for Derek and his torturous past and how it shaped him into the man he became. I liked that he didn't shy away from his 'flaws' and was able to try and move on and heal as the story progresses. 

    I loved Basil. He's so sweet, caring and strong. He also has had a challenging past to face but with the help of a strong and sassy sister, he is pushed/persuaded to give Derek ago and thankfully they are able to find something special with each other. 

    I loved this whole journey and how the author didn't shy away from real-life challenges for these characters and gave their past a true voice. I loved that this story has ties to the author's own voice and I felt it made it that much more powerful.

    I loved Derek and Basil and the whole Iron and Works Team. I felt they fit so well together and complemented each other realistically, and organically. I look forward to more stories from the Iron and Works crew and hope we can see more of Derek and Basil too!

    Thanks for reading!
    Report
  • Anky
    5.0 out of 5 stars Such an emotional read
    Reviewed in India on June 27, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Basil and Derek were such beautiful characters. I absolutely adored these boys and their story.

    I also loved the whole Irons and Works crew and can't wait to read everyone else's story.
    Report

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