Tigerland by Sean Kennedy ~ Audio Review

Title: Tigerland

Series: Tigers and Devils 02

Author: Sean Kennedy

Narrator: Dave Gilles

Genre: Contemporary, Sports

Length: 8 hrs, 31 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (December 15th 2014)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: After an eventful and sometimes uncomfortably public courtship, Simon Murray and Declan Ty-ler settled into a comfortable life together. Now retired from the AFL, Declan works as a football commentator; Simon develops programs with queer content for a community television station.

Despite their public professional lives, Simon and Declan manage to keep their private life out of the spotlight. Their major concerns revolve around supporting their friends through infertility and relationship problems – until Greg Heyward, Declan’s ex-partner, outs himself in a transpar-ent bid for attention.

Though Simon and Declan are furious with Greg and his media antics, they can’t agree on what to do about it. Declan insists they should maintain a dignified silence, but both he and Simon keep getting drawn into Heyward’s games. Simon and Declan will once again have to ride out the media storm before they can return their attention to what really matters: each other.

Purchase Link: Audible US | Audible UK | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Review: Tigerland is the second book in Sean Kennedy’s Tigers and Devils series. Book 2 picks up a little down the track after the end of the first book, so it is important to read – or listen – to this series in order. I adore this series and have read it as it has been published. Being an Australian, I was attracted to a book that talks about something I am familiar with (although I don’t follow AFL it is impossible not to know something if you come from Australia – unless you’re New South Wales or Queensland, that is). It also sounds exactly like an Australian, it’s funny how much I realise Australian English is just sas ridiculous as US English. However, Kennedy writing, quirky and very well developed characters led to me falling in love with the first book of the series.

If you read my review for the audio book of the first book, it was clear that while I listened to and enjoyed the book, which I already knew I loved, to say I had a lot of problems with the narration is an understatement. However, with book 2 we have a new narrator, Dave Gilles. I’ve heard Gilles’ accent for a number of Renae Kaye’s books (set in Western Australia), so I knew what to expect and looked forward to his work. While he isn’t Australian he does an excellent accent and he has clearly done his research when it comes to pronunciation. Overall, it was a great performance and I honestly have nothing bad to say. Gilles did an awesome job giving voice to Simon and Declan, as well as their friends Roger, Fran, Abe and Lisa, as well as Nyssa, newcomer Cobie and Simon’s arch nemesis from book 1, Jasper Brunswick (real name Jon Brown). We are also introduced to a new character, the villain of the piece

Fans of the first book will not be disappointed with this sequel, Simon is as snarky as ever and Declan has come a long way from a closeted to openly gay football god to retired openly gay football god. Since injuries that have been plaguing Declan since book 1 forced his early retirement, the pain was too raw to go into coaching and so went to being a commentator and panellist for many of the numerous footy shows for a commercial television network (trust me, there’s A LOT of those IRL, and in my head it’s Channel 9 or 7 that he’s working at, haha). Simon has also had a career change, from being director of an indie film festival to a content producer for a LBGTQI community television station. However, after being together for three years Simon and Declan have to deal with their next big storm in the shape of Declan’s ex while he was still in the closet, a fellow AFL player. Simon and Declan go through their own ups and downs with Greg Heyward causing trouble with his media frenzy, maliciously dragging Simon into the mess and making him the bad guy. On top of that, we also see Simon’s pain and need to help his friends financially when he sees Fran and Roger go through hell when it comes to infertility preventing his best friends from starting a family.

It’s not difficult to feel for Simon as he tells the story. He gets a lot of shit thrown at him. And despite having the support of Declan, as well as Simon supporting Declan throughout the Heyward saga, Declan’s media silence over the various claims does hurt Simon. These guys still have and do a lot more growing as characters and as a couple throughout this book. The ups and downs make the guys really relatable and makes the relationship feel real.

Like the first book, this is great for fans of the sports romance genre. Although for fans of Simon and Murray and Declan Tyler, this a great continuation of their story.

Loving Jay by Renae Kaye ~ Audio Review

Title: Loving Jay

Series: Loving You 01

Author: Renae Kaye

Narrator: Dave Gillies

Genre: Contemporary

Length: 6 hrs, 21 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press LLC (31st December 2014)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: One thing Liam Turner knows for sure is that he’s not gay – after all, his father makes it very clear he’ll allow no son of his to be gay. And Liam believes it, until a chance meeting with James “Jay” Bell turns Liam’s world upside-down. Jay is vivacious and unabashedly gay – from the tips of his bleached hair to the ends of his polished nails. With a flair for fashion, overreaction, and an inability to cork his verbal diarrhea, drama queen Jay must have a screw loose.

An accident as a teenager left Liam with a limp and a fear of driving. He can’t play football any-more either, and that makes him feel like less of a man. But that’s no reason to question his sexuality… unless the accident broke something else inside him. When being with Jay causes Liam’s protective instincts to emerge, Liam starts to believe all he’s known in life has been a convenient lie. From intolerance to confrontations, Liam must learn to overcome his fears – and his father – before he can accept his sexuality and truly love Jay.

Purchase Link: Audible US | Audible UK | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Review: Loving Jay is the first book in Renae Kaye’s Loving You series.

This is the second or third book that I’ve listened to or read by Kaye, and I feel that I am warming up to her as an author slowly but surely. For me, an Aussie author writing about her own city (which isn’t on the eastern coast) is major plus for me as a South Australian, despite her books being set in Perth, Western Australia (I always appreciate the digs at the SA football teams too). Since we’re not here for a geography lesson, suffice to say that I connect with the very Aussie tone in her writing. So far there’s been a bit of a pattern in her writing where we have at least one main character who doesn’t want to come out of the closet because of his very blokey workplace (lots of miners) or his very manly-man type father. Not that it’s a bad thing, if you like a book with that sort of storyline.

The narration for this series is performed by Dave Gillies. I do like Gillies accent, despite the fact that he is Scottish, it’s a pretty decent Aussie accent. The only thing that I will make a comment on is that sometimes when the accent slipped I found it a bit annoying, but this was only a momentary thing for me. Overall, he does a brilliant job getting the tone and distinct voices of the various characters, because there is a large cast of guys aside from the main couple.

Loving Jay obviously has a guy called Jay (aka Jamie), who shares a mutual attraction to Liam Turner. Liam and Jay see each other every day at the train station on the way to work.

Liam is inexplicably drawn to the very obviously out and proud gay man, and Liam is fighting it. He doesn’t think that he can be gay. An accident when he was younger gave him a limp and leaves him unable to drive anymore, add to this hearing his dad wanting Liam to be a “proper man” (a real proper bloke), following the football (AFL) and all those other things that seem manly, and Liam is too afraid to face his true self. He’s had a couple failed relationships with women too, which doesn’t help his self-esteem.

But then there is Jay, and Jay is energy and light and love and laughter. At first they get to know each other over coffees at the train station. Then they have lunches. Liam is confused by his feelings for Jay, and Jay is strong throughout it all because his heart has already chosen the confused man.

Between Liam’s family, Jay’s really great family and their group of friends, there is a real feel good vibe about this whole book. These are very down to earth characters living a pretty normal life, making them totally relatable. Can’t wait to get to the next book!

You Are the Reason by Renae Kaye ~ Audio Review

Title: You Are the Reason

Series: The Tav 01

Author: Renae Kaye

Narrator: Dave Gillies

Genre: Contemporary

Length: 8 hrs, 19 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (1st March 2017)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 4.5 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: Davo’s a pretty average guy. He has a decent job, owns his own home, and spends his week-ends at the pub. He fully accepts that he’s gay, but doesn’t want to be one of those gays who are girly. He likes football and other masculine pursuits, and firmly avoids anything that could be seen as femme – including relationships that last beyond 15 minutes.

Then Davo’s friend and gay idol not only gets a boyfriend, but also adopts a baby girl. Davo is seriously spooked and scuttles down to the pub. That’s where he meets Lee, cute from her cherry-red hair to her pretty little dress and pointy red shoes. Davo is charmed – but how is that possible? He’s gay. Isn’t he? Then Lee tells him he’s actually a guy – he just likes to wear women’s dresses occasionally. Thoroughly confused about an attraction that’s out of character for him, Davo begins the long journey to where he can accept himself without caring what everyone else thinks.

Purchase Link: Audible US | Audible UK | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Review: Renae Kaye is a new author for me, which is surprising because I love to check out Australian MM authors, so no idea why it took me so long to get onto the band wagon. You Are the Reason is the first book in Kaye’s series, The Tav, a series that I’m interested in reading more of. This is a really awesome book where the MCs grow a lot as they become closer. The evolution of the characters was really the highlight of this book, although an Australian romance that isn’t based in Sydney (NSW), Melbourne (Vic) or on a farm (this one is based in Perth, Western Australia) is another highlight and refreshing.

The only issue I had was the narration. Dave Gillies, a new narrator for me, did a pretty damn good job and really providing the right tones for the characters throughout the book. My issue was the accent. I realise that narrators can’t always do a perfect accent and I know Australian accents are notoriously tricky (see how many times Hollywood manages to completely butcher the accent). However, there were times where the accent was just… not right. I think if you’re not Australian, the performance is all well and good, but for an Australian, I found it a little annoying at times.

Davo is your typical Aussie larrikan, right down to his name. He’s out and proud, has a good job, own’s his own home (a sure sign that this isn’t based in the eastern states! Haha!) and has some great family and friends. To add to the Aussie bloke persona, there are some lengthy discussions of Aussie Rules football. I think the explanations are easy enough to understand some of the rules, but I’ve gone read plenty of American football romances and ice hockey romances and I got no idea any of the rules of those games. Not that this is an important thing beyond the fact that Davo is a footy fan (I’m an Aussie that does not like AFL or NRL so it kinda makes me roll my eyes because not everyone is obsessed with football). Meeting Lee at a bar changes his entire world. Especially when he initially fears that he is a gay man attracted to a woman, when in fact Lee is a gay man who likes to occasionally dress in women’s clothing.

This is a really fascinating book. There is a brief discussion of trans people, especially when it’s clear that Davo really doesn’t understand the difference between transgender and transvestite (? I’m not sure if that’s the right wording and please do not be offended if I have got this wrong, I do not mean anything negative to anyone). It really digs a bit into the issues faced by the trans community from within the LGBTQI community. Another really important theme that makes up a majority of the book is the whole “Aussie bloke” and “don’t be fairy gay” and similar phrases that come up, particularly in Australia. I really enjoyed Davo’s storyline, finding out what made him think “it’s ok to be gay, as long as I don’t act like a girl” despite his supportive family and learning to overcome these thoughts as he grows closer to Lee. Lee is a refreshing character and totally wonderful, he has all the patience and love in the world and he is exactly what Davo needs!

Tag: Dave Gillies ~ Narrator

Tigerland by Sean Kennedy ~ Audio Review

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