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4.5 stars for Studious!

Revisado: 07-02-24 El oyente recibió este título gratis

Such a good story. I loved the characters, and I am a huge fan of opposites attract so I was naturally drawn to this from the moment I read the blurb. Danny is the typical player, a once-and-done guy who has no problem picking guys up for a bit of fun. You know the type, the guy who plays the field with no repeats, but once that one certain guy crosses his path that he gets to really know well he starts to think he may want more.

I identified strongly with Alden’s character with his shyness and awkwardness around others he doesn’t know, particularly when dating. It was incredibly satisfying to see the growth his character underwent, and how much he was able to finally open up around others. Danny went through his own growth as well the closer he and Alden became.

Alden and Danny’s relationship may have been borne of Alden’s desire to become more comfortable with other guys and to gain experience with them, but as we all can see coming, that relationship grows and develops into a heck of a lot more for them both.

I really enjoyed watching as these two develop their friendship into so much more, and I’ll say it again—it makes for a very satisfying story. It is written well, and has a solid cast of supporting characters. Even though it is the second book in the series, you do not need to have read the first book before starting this one. Studious was a 4.5-star read for me, and I highly recommend it to all M/M romance fans.

This was the first audiobook I’ve listened to from this narrator, and I thought Declan Winters did a great job. The pacing was even, and the character voices were injected with just the right levels of emotion. I do wish there was more differentiation in character voices to make them more distinct from each other, but overall this was a great listen.

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Great story, phenomenal narration!

Revisado: 04-02-24 El oyente recibió este título gratis

I’ve enjoyed many of this author’s previous books, so when I saw this one and that it was set primarily in England (one of my favorite places), I knew I wanted to add it to my reading list. Putting one very likable mess of a young man together with his suave, worldly, and wealthy British boss was a combination I couldn’t pass up.

Raine is one of those guys that everyone seems to like, someone who endears himself to even the most stern, no-nonsense people. Graham is quite the opposite, serious and focused, never letting business and pleasure mix. Put them together and they do complement each other—and of course the sparks between them physically are awesome.

While you might think Raine is one of those party-type guys who is just looking to coast from one thing to another, he actually takes responsibility for the bit of a mess he’s gotten himself into and owns up to it. Everyone loves him, it’s hard not to.

Graham is a tougher nut to crack, but Raine worms his way in anyway. You know that will happen, and it’s just a matter of whether Graham will let himself be happy in the end.

Falling for Raine was a solid 4 star story for me, and I’d recommend it to any M/M romance fan, especially if you like the boss/employee trope. The two of them are pretty hot together, so this book is meant for readers and listeners 18+ for adult language and sexual content.

The narration is absolutely excellent. Joel Leslie does another incredible job voicing Raine and Graham, and even kicks it up a notch when Graham’s character starts slipping into his hometown accent. The narration elevates the story, and gets 5 stars from me!

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The author's wit and narrator's talent = AMAZING!

Revisado: 03-06-24 El oyente recibió este título gratis

Pip’s character intrigued me when I first encountered him in The Sunny Side. He was funny, a bit snarky, and is one of those side characters that captures your attention, just crying out for their own story. Thankfully we didn’t have to wait long to see him again!

Pip has an air of self confidence around others, even if he may not actually feel that himself. He thinks quickly on his feet, with snappy comebacks and witty remarks. He’s an all-around fun character to read.

Olivier lives a no-strings-attached lifestyle, not content to tie himself down to one person. While an open relationship style is not at all my type of thing personally, so not a lifestyle I can identify with myself, it’s something that has always worked for him. Or at least, it always has in the past. Enter Pip.

These two dance around each other for quite a while, more so on Olivier’s side than Pip’s. They spend a lot of time together, enough to develop a truly wonderful friendship on its own. So while they do eventually get physical with the understanding that a little fun is all it is, they already have that foundation set, making it so much harder to keep it as just fun when it comes to their hearts.

A bit of drama is introduced with Olivier’s mother and his former lover, and I do have a nit-pick with what happened as I felt like the resolution was a slight stretch given his mother’s nastiness. There are some extenuating circumstances that bring the resolution about, but to me it still felt just a bit off…though that could be chalked up to my own life outlook and how I see things like this (sorry for being vague, I don’t want to spoil anything for readers).

Overall, French Fancy was really entertaining with some fun characters that kept a smile on my face, making it a 4.5-star read for me. Plus we get appearances from Dean and Jonas from The Sunny Side along with some other supporting characters from that story, which I loved. I think all M/M romance fans will enjoy this story, which is meant for readers 18+ for adult language and sexual content.

Joel Leslie does an incredible job with the narration. Parts of the story that elicited a little giggle-snort from me when reading the ebook had me laughing out loud when performed in the narration. Excellent differentiation in character voices, perfect pacing, and spot-on emotions in the narration made for a wonderful listening experience. 5 stars for the narration!

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Interesting story, solid narration

Revisado: 10-12-23 El oyente recibió este título gratis

This is a new-to-me author plus a new-to-me narrator, so this was taking a double chance for me. While the setup is one I’ve read many times—two guys meet in a bar and hook up, only to find themselves faced with each other in an awkward situation later—it was the characters who pulled me in and kept my interest throughout the story.

Jay is in an unfair situation thanks to his jerk of a father, but he keeps towing the line and going along with things with an eye towards eventually breaking free of his hold and finally getting to live his life the way he wants…without his father’s strings attached.

Jay and Eric fit easily together, and their connection is obvious and strong. Keeping up appearances for Jay’s sake with his father isn’t ideal, but it all comes down to the same thing—playing the long game to get what they really want in the end. I really liked the two of them as a couple, and the super hot physical scenes were that bonus cherry on top.

The murders that keep happening which seem to be connected somehow to Jay’s family’s resort add a strong element of suspense to the story. That there’s some kind of unidentified supernatural element involved notches the thriller aspect up as well. Add in some family drama—Jay’s dad is a real piece of work—and it makes for an interesting read/listen.

I thought the narration was really good. There was an definite differentiation of voices for the characters, and expression of emotion at the appropriate points. I was easily enveloped in the story as I listened, so I’ll be on the lookout for more from this narrator.

Overall, For the Long Run gets a solid 4 stars from me, with the narration getting 4.5 stars. If you’re a fan of erotic romance that includes a D/s relationship and a bit of suspense and drama, I’d recommend checking this one out. This book is meant for readers/listeners 18+ for adult language and sexual content.

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4.5 stars for Fairy Cakes in Winter

Revisado: 03-17-23 El oyente recibió este título gratis

The first things that come to mind about this story are cute, sweet, and that it is just a really satisfying story. And yes, I may have shed a tear or two at one point. I think though that I’d label this more “Reluctant/Sunshine” than “Grumpy/Sunshine” for the matchup between Scott and Theo. Extra points for being set in England, primarily in Bath which is one of my favorite cities to visit.

Theo is such a sweetheart, and is a perfect contrast to Scott. Even with Scott trying to keep things professional between them, and Theo trying to not get in too deep when he knows things can only be temporary, they still are amazing together. Theo fit right in with everyone there and was a whiz at coming up with marketing ideas for Scott’s business.

Even with that one point at which my eyes became a bit misty, this was still a feel-good story that left me wanting to just hug both Theo and Scott. Fairy Cakes in Winter gets 4.5 stars from me! I listened to the audio version, and overall Michael Dean’s narration was great. The character voices were consistent and pacing was good, the only thing that was a little off for me were the accents for the British characters…so four stars for the narration.

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Review: The Humbug Holiday

Revisado: 12-28-22 El oyente recibió este título gratis

Grumpy + grumpy for the holidays? Yes, please. Plus I’ve always enjoyed this author’s other books, so of course I wanted to check this one out, especially since I haven’t picked up many holiday stories this year.

Both Joe and Cameron fit the grumpy type, Joe more so than Cameron. I did feel that their personalities didn’t quite mesh—at least for the first half of the story. Up to about that point, I just wasn’t feeling a connection forming. As the two finally seemed to be warming up to the holidays later in the book, that’s when I was finally able to feel something solid forming between them.

They do mesh well physically, it was just the emotional side of things that took longer than I expected which did make that first half feel a little slow. I became more absorbed with their story once their grumpy sides started thawing out.

Since it did take me a little while to really get into it, the story itself I’m giving 3.5 stars. As far as the narration, Michael Dean did a good job voicing the characters and bringing their emotions alive. He clearly differentiated between Joe and Cameron, and kept a good pace throughout the book, so it’s 4 stars for the narration.

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Wonderful story and excellent narration!

Revisado: 01-17-21

Combining a few different elements that I enjoy into one great story, Flash Rip was a great read with characters that were interesting and some quick bursts of action when they had to go into lifesaving mode. There’s a bit of an age gap, one very closeted former professional athlete, sizzling sex scenes, and hot lifeguards everywhere.

Cody is definitely comfortable in his own skin, and with being out. Liam though has been in the closet for a very long time, to the point where he’s ultra-disciplined at hiding what he really wants from everyone. Once Cody comes onto the scene though, cracks begin to appear in Liam’s previously solid armor. Thus begins his journey of acceptance. I loved how well the two of them fit together, and I have to say Cody’s patience when it came to how paranoid Liam was about anyone finding out about him was pretty strong.

There are quite a few supporting characters from Cody and Liam’s fellow lifeguards to their respective family members, and all of them help contribute to the story. I was especially fond of their boss (and Liam’s best friend) Teddy with how supportive he was not just of Liam but of Liam and Cody together. Liam’s family members’ reactions went how I thought they would, which made their story more realistic.

The scenes with them at work patrolling the beach and the rescues gave the story just the right amount of drama to help divert from Liam’s constant fear of being found out, while also bringing some extra excitement. I liked the setting, even though I’m not much of a beach person myself.

Flash Rip was a 4.5-star read for me, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this to any M/M romance reader. This story is meant for readers 18+ for adult language and sexual content.

The narration: As usual, Joel Leslie does a superb job on the narration of this book. Excellent differentiation between characters, intense emotions portrayed in the voices...5 stars for the narration!

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Incredibly moving story

Revisado: 11-24-20 El oyente recibió este título gratis

When you have a topic like school shootings the focus of a story, it can be tough for many people to read. The subject matter is disturbing on so many levels, and for some readers pushes buttons that they don’t ever want to be pushed. For me, living just under 15 miles from the school where the Parkland shooting took place, it’s common to see #MSDStrong bumper stickers and magnets on cars, or people wearing t-shirts in support of the school that’s right here in our community. While I may not have children of my own, I do have some in my family—and the thought that this could happen to one of them is terrifying.

In Boy Shattered, the author puts you right in the thick of things with a depiction that goes beyond eerie, and might have you thinking twice about not just the possibilities in other schools, but in ANY setting where you don’t have total control of your own surroundings. Going through that from both Landon and Brian’s points of view (especially Brian’s) made for a highly emotional read—not just regarding the shooting itself, but also how it affects them both afterward.

There’s a strong line of tension running through the book until close to the end since resolution is not immediate for the victims, something that is a powerful factor in Brian’s recovery. There’s even more drama added in the form of conflict with Brian’s father and his beliefs (the word that comes to my mind is “infuriating”. But alongside all that is the friendship and eventually romantic relationship that develops between Brian and Landon, and there’s an intensity between them that is supercharged thanks to the event that brought them together.

You cannot read this book and come away from it unaffected. The subject matter is relevant and unfortunately ongoing in our lives today, and for some readers it may hit too close to home to be comfortable. Be prepared for a brutal, uncensored eyewitness look at one of the horrors of our current society…but also know that the author shows hope and strength in the midst of it all.

5 stars, full stop. This book is meant for readers 18+ for adult language, sexual content, and scenes of a graphic and disturbing nature depicting a school shooting. This is a heavy read, just know that going in (and you’ll probably want to have something light and fluffy queued up to read next after it).

The narration: I really enjoyed listening to Tristan Josiah’s narration of this book. The emotions were spot-on, and there was good differentiation in the character voices. I felt just as much emotion from the events as they occurred in the story when listening to the audio version as I did when reading the ebook. 5 stars for the narration!

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Another great story in the Single Dads series!

Revisado: 07-01-20

From the moment Jason was introduced in Today, I already knew I wanted to know his story, and pairing him with Leo made this even more of a must-read. After all, it’s cop plus ex-con, so there’s that built-in interest to see how that would work. Well, with Jason and Leo it worked really well—complete with the requisite sweet moments thanks to Jason’s daughter Daisy.

That’s not to say there wasn’t any drama. Jason’s situation is far from stable, and there are tense moments that keep a level of angst present through most of the story. The close proximity, obvious attraction, and intense circumstances all contribute to a bit of an edge as you read. Even when Daisy is involved, that doesn’t necessarily mean sweet and cute—there are still serious things going on to which even she is not immune.

Even given the attraction constantly simmering between the two men, things between them progress at a normal pace within the story. If you’re expecting a lot of steamy page time, well that’s not what their tale is about. This is more centered on the bond they form, and how Jason realizes it as it happens.

I will admit though that after the dramatic climax of the story, the quick jump to the epilogue was just a bit off for me. While I did enjoy the wrap-up the epilogue provided with it’s look down the road time-wise for Leo and Jason, I would have rather had the events after that climax addressed as part of the main story. Putting them as a look-back in the epilogue felt like too much like the author wanted to rush to the finish.

Even so, Promise was still a strong 4-star read for me, and really fits well into this series. Now that our core three guys have their happy endings, I’m looking forward to moving on to other characters in this world since the series so far has been very satisfying. Though there was not as much steam in this story, Promise is still meant for readers 18+ for adult language, some sexual content, and adult topics.

The narration: Sean Crisden once again delivers a solid performance with his narration of Promise. You can easily tell the difference between the main characters, and his inflections and timing help accentuate the emotion of each scene. 5 stars for the narration!

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Funny and adorable, worth all the stars!

Revisado: 02-05-20 El oyente recibió este título gratis

No matter how you slice it, and I’m sure much to Owin’s consternation, Owin really is adorable. Yes, he’s snooty and acts as though everyone should just give him whatever he asks for because he’s a prince. But the way he acts and talks and just everything about him screams adorable, even when he’s acting like an entitled brat.

Grim on the other hand is as normal as they come, laid-back, and understands the way the world works. He finds Owin’s antics just as amusing as I did and even calls him adorable right to his face—which of course Owin soundly disputes. Owin, after all, is a fierce feline and deserves respect, right? Bless his little kitty heart.

This novella not only had me smiling as I listened to it, but at times had me literally laughing out loud (I may have even giggle-snorted a time or two). For all of Owin’s arrogance, he’s still a great character—especially once Grim’s personality starts to really rub off on him. Grim plays a key role in the growth of Owin’s character, and the two of them do fit together like a lock and key.

The quest on which Owin is sent serves as the backdrop to his development into a more understanding, even-keeled, unselfish person, and while the setup and journey may seem a tad formulaic and symbolic, Owin’s realization at the end still was satisfying to me as a reader.

4.5 stars for The Prince and His Bedeviled Bodyguard, and the nice bit of steam does make this a story for readers/listeners 18+. As for the narration, Greg Boudreaux nails it, and I think for me it was his presentation of Owin that made me like his character as much as I did. 5 stars for the narration!

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