Bad Attitude by K.A. Mitchell ~ Audio Review

Title: Bad Attitude

Series: Bad in Baltimore 03

Author: K.A. Mitchell

Narrator: Chet Daniel

Genre: Contemporary

Length: 7 hours, 37 minutes

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (21st December 2018)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 4 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: Saving lives never used to be this complicated.

Gavin Montgomery does what’s expected of him by his wealthy and powerful family – look good in a tuxedo and don’t make waves. When a friend takes a leap off a bridge, Gavin tries to save him, only to fall in with him. At least at the bottom of the river he won’t feel like such a disap-pointment to his family. But he’s pulled from the water by a man with an iron grip, a sexy mouth, and a chip on his shoulder the size of the national deficit.

Jamie Donnigan likes his life the way it is – though he could have done without losing his father and giving up smoking. But at least he’s managed to avoid his own ball and chain as he’s watched all his friends pair off. When Montgomery fame turns a simple rescue into a media cir-cus, Jamie decides if he’s being punished for his good deed, he might as well treat himself to a hot and sweaty good time. It’s not like the elegant and charming Gavin is going to lure Jamie away from his bachelor lifestyle. Nobody’s that charming. Not even a Montgomery….

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

Review: Bad Attitude is the third book in KA Mitchell’s series Bad in Baltimore. This is only my third experience with both the author and the audio narrator, after recently listening to the audio of books one and two. Although there is reference to characters from the previous two books, this one will still work as a standalone book as there are not overarching plotlines.

I’ll start with the narration. And I really am repeating myself because the narration by Chet Daniel has been impressive and consistent throughout the series. He is a narrator that I will look forward to hearing more from in the future. I found myself easily getting lost in the narration and the characters and the voices given to the characters. Also, much like the first two books, the narration was easily the highlight of the book.

Alright, so comments on the story. Overall, I have to say that much like book two I enjoyed this third book quite a bit. Although both stories are very different and I cannot say which is better than the other. Once more, I found the MCs very likable in this story and of the three couples in this series, were the most relatable. Like the previous books, I will repeat myself in saying that the only thing that stopped me from enjoying this story to the maximum is the amount of sex scenes. I felt that there are a lot of drawn out sex scenes that tended to take away from the plot and slow things down quite a bit. But if you like the sex scenes, more power to you and you’ll probably find a lot of enjoyment in this book.

The story is about Jamie Donnigan and Gavin Montgomery. Jamie is an aquatic rescuer on the police force and the report of someone jumping off one of the city bridges has him meeting Gavin. Gavin is a rich boy and embodies all the stereotypes, although we quickly find out that he has hidden depths. Gavin has a horrible family who think he has jumped, and they don’t want the family name besmirched. The reality was that he jumped to save his friend who voluntarily went off the bridge on a madcap scheme. Gavin is actually a pretty good swimmer and is not just a rich party boy, he knows how to survive and that was why he was confident enough (sort of) to go after his friend instead of waiting for help. The case brings Jamie and Gavin together and the two men quickly give into the physical desire that sparks between them.

I recommend this book to people that like 1) lots of sex, and, 2) two guys who are complete opposites in social standings find out that they have a lot in common.

Tea and Consequences by K.C. Burn ~ Audio Review

Title: Tea or Consequences

Author: K.C. Burn

Narrator: Darcy Stark

Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense

Length: 7 hrs, 24 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (19th December 2017)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 4.5 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: Riley Parker: temp, twink, geek… sleuth?

Maybe Riley isn’t living up to his full potential, but being a temp executive assistant suits him. He’s never bored at work, he’s got friends who let him geek out, and he’s got a carefully crafted twink exterior… which might be getting constrictive now that he’s on the other side of 30. Life isn’t perfect, but it’s comfortable.

It all unravels when he takes a job working for a tea-obsessed cosmetics queen, the owner of Gautier Cosmetics. During the launch party for a new product, Riley finds his boss dead under suspicious circumstances, and the homicide detective is none other than Tadeo Martin, Riley’s high school obsession who never knew he was alive.

Tad drafts Riley to get the scoop on the inner workings of Gautier, and for Riley, it’s like a drug. His natural inquisitiveness is rewarded with more and more Tad. Unfortunately, his snooping puts him in the running for two other roles: suspect and victim. The killer doesn’t care which.

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

Review: Tea or Consequences is a mystery/suspense/romance by KC Burn. Burn is not a new author to me and although no on my list of automatic reads, I nonetheless am usually excited to give a new book by the author once I decide that I like the look of the blurb. I think it’s Burn’s way of writing feels so accessible to the read and flows easily, add on top of that generally relatable characters I’ve read in Burn’s books so far, it usually a pretty pleasing experience.

Darcy Stark is a relatively new narrator for me, the only other book I’ve heard him narrate is another KC Burn gem. I found his narration quite enjoyable. He makes the romance both cute and hot, but also has a great voice lending to the mystery and suspense aspect of the story. I especially loved the voice that he gave Riley.

In the book, Riley works as a temp PA for company executives, he enjoys the changes in work place as he takes on the job from PA’s that go on maternity leave, annual leave, etc. He knows that this isn’t the life for everyone, and he also knows that he is capable of doing a lot more, but for now he is happy in his current career choice and has worked hard to develop a reputation that many professionals would envy. Everything changes when he finds the boss of Gautier Cosmetics, his current assignment, dead in her office on the night of one of the most important party’s of the year. Think of The Devil Wear Prada but with a touch of a tea totalling, French Lady.

With the police and investigators investigating the suspicious death comes Tadeo Martin. He’s the homicide detective in charge the investigation and also the man that Riley had crushed over in high school. Back then it was the usual case of nerd crushing on jock and the jock not seeing the guy. And although Riley recognises the detective, he says nothing. Instead he is more than happy to jump on the band wagon and do a bit of poking around himself for Tadeo. The romance is sweet and happens quite naturally, however, the major part of this story is instead the investigation. I really liked how Burn seamlessly intertwined the romance into the ongoing mystery, without sacrificing the feel of danger as the guys close in on the murder.

This is good for someone who loves a murder mystery, it has an opulent setting and two ordinary guys caught in the middle. Awesome book in all and the narration just enhanced my enjoyment of the text.

Dog Days by T.A. Moore ~ Audio Review

Title: Dog Days

Series: Winter Wolf 01

Author: T.A. Moore

Narrator: Derrick McClain

Genre: Paranormal, Shape shifters, Post-Apocalypse Future

Length: 7 hrs, 34 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (9th February 2018)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 4 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: The world ends not with a bang, but with a downpour. Tornadoes spin through the heart of London, New York cooks in a heat wave that melts tarmac, and Russia freezes under an ever-thickening layer of permafrost. People rally at first—organizing aid drops and evacuating populations—but the weather is only getting worse.

In Durham, mild-mannered academic Danny Fennick has battened down to sit out the storm. He grew up in the Scottish Highlands, so he’s seen harsh winters before. Besides, he has an advantage. He’s a werewolf. Or, to be precise, a weredog. Less impressive, but still useful.

Except the other werewolves don’t believe this is any ordinary winter, and they’re coming down over the Wall to mark their new territory. Including Danny’s ex, Jack—the Crown Prince Pup of the Numitor’s pack—and the prince’s brother, who wants to kill him.
A wolf winter isn’t white. It’s red as blood.

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

Review: Dog Days is a paranormal, shape shifter book set in a dystopian post-apocalyptic future by TA Moore. Sounds like a mouthful, right?

So, I feel like I’ve had my own Mandela moment (bringing the conspiracy theories, I know probably not cool). I say this because I was absolutely convinced that I’ve read TA Moore before and even had another audio. but no, I haven’t. I see no trace of book, audio or even a review I’ve written for TA Moore. Therefore, I went into this one blind and with mixed feelings. This is because I find post-apocalyptic books hit and miss and my enjoyment very much depends on my mood, especially when it isn’t a rose-tinted end of humanity trope. The very nature of the genre also means that romance usually takes a back seat to the crazy shit happening as the world goes to hell. Fair warning, this is for people that like their dystopian futures and the characters dark, unsafe and gritty where survival instincts reign if you hope to survive the day. If you’re looking for something that is primarily romance, this probably isn’t your thing.

Moore has created an intricate world. The start is kind of like The Day After Tomorrow. When storms take over the world and so many millions die, especially the humans because the conditions are hostile and no amount of technology can prepare the populations for this scale of disaster. Danny Fennick, who lives and teaches in Durham, England, is a weredog and decides to go back to the Scottish Highlands where he had grown up as he prepares to live out the storm. However, being a dog when werewolves want to take over is just as dangerous and deadly to him as the storm that killing so many.

Jack, who happens to be Danny’s ex, is the crown prince of his pack. The biggest problem is that his own brother wants him dead and he has been banished from his pack for being gay. Jack is tough and rough, he has to be to not only survive the oncoming wolf winter, but to also survive being banished in this weather. Jack needs to be prepared to do anything to survive because that is what world requires for him.

This is a complex story where the characters come to life in this dark world, they are extremely well fleshed out making it much easier for me to understand their motivations and harshness of the world that they live in. Danny is the most relatable character, he is like the connection to humanity and he is reader’s bridge to understand Jack’s raw instinctive nature.

Derrick McClain did an awesome job of narrating this story. I love his narration and Dog Days is no exception. In the other audio I have narrated by him my collection is four contemporary romances, one light hearted shape shifter romance and this one. I hadn’t known what to expect, especially from a story that is very much in an English setting, but it was amazing. I really loved how he was able to do distinct voices for characters, especially with accents. He also managed to convey the emotions so well.

Bad Boyfriend by KA Mitchell ~ Audio Review

Title: Bad Boyfriend

Series: Bad in Baltimore 02

Author: K.A. Mitchell

Narrator: Chet Daniel

Genre: Contemporary

Length: 6 hours, 34 minutes

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (3rd July 2018)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 4 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: Causing trouble has never been more fun.

Eli Wright doesn’t follow anyone’s rules. When he was 17, his parents threw him out of the house for being gay. He’s been making his own way for the past five years and he’s not about to change himself for anyone’s expectations. For now, romance can wait. There are plenty of hot guys to keep him entertained until he finds someone special.

Quinn Maloney kept the peace and his closeted boyfriend’s secrets for 10 years. One morning he got a hell of a wake-up along with his coffee. Not only did the boyfriend cheat on him, but he’s marrying the girl he knocked up. Inviting Quinn to the baby’s baptism is the last straw. Quinn’s had enough of gritting his teeth to play nice. His former boyfriend is in for a rude awak-ening, because Quinn’s not going to sit quietly on the sidelines. In fact, he has the perfect scheme, and he just needs to convince the much younger, eyeliner-wearing guy who winks at him in a bar to help him out.

Eli’s deception is a little too good, and soon he has everyone believing they’re madly in love. In fact, he’s almost got Quinn believing it himself….

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

Review: Bad Boyfriend is the second book in KA Mitchell’s series Bad in Baltimore. This is only my second experience with both the author and the audio narrator, after recently listening to the audio of book one. Although this is the second book in the series I do not think that it is vital to read the previous book and works well as a standalone novel.

So firstly, the narration. Much like book one I was left very impressed by the narration by Chet Daniel. He is certainly a narrator that I will look forward to hearing more from. I found myself easily getting lost in the narration and the characters and the voices given to the characters. Also, much like book one, the narration was easily the highlight of the book.

I must admit, that I enjoyed this second book better than the first book. I think that the MCs were much more likable in this story and their outlandish scheme was much easier to swallow. The main thing that I didn’t gel with in this book was the amount of sex scenes. I felt that there were a number of random sex scenes that didn’t really help to bring the plot forward, when really in some instances a few paragraphs of conversation would have sufficed. But if you like the sex scenes, more power to you and you’ll probably find a lot more enjoyment in this book.

The story starts with Eli, who is a photographer for Nate from book one. Eli Wright has never been one to follow rules and he isn’t shy to be himself. He knows that there is nothing worth him not ever being his true self. He eventually wants love but for now he isn’t on the look out for Mr Right.

Quinn Maloney is quite the opposite. He lived in the closet for ten years to absolutely everyone, despite being best friends with his ex’s family. His ex was too scared of being himself. Quinn’s world is shattered when he is not only dumped, but he finds out that his cheating ex has got a woman pregnant and “is doing the right thing and marrying her”. That sucks, but what is more fucked up is how his ex manipulates Quinn and keeps him captive despite not being together any more. So when he is invited to be godfather to the ex’s kid, he proposes his hook-up, Eli, to join him and pretend to be his boyfriend. Not only that, Quinn wants Eli to go all out with his act. Eli figures that will be fun but goes in blind without a lot of the facts. This is the start of a roller coaster that ignites the spark of attraction between the guys.

I am aware that I am using the word outlandish a lot to explain the scenario concocted by the MCs in this story, but it the best I got at the moment. Quinn has a really strange and twisted relationship with his ex, while he considers the ex’s family to be his closest friends and allies. I understand that bit, I’ve seen in real life a couple instances where despite the couple separating they are still friends with the full disclosure of everyone else/new spouses. Strangely enough it works. In this case it was the whole thing of Quinn being dragged into the wedding party and being the godfather to his ex’s kid. That was just weird, but I went with it mostly because I really liked both Eli and Quinn and thought that they were well matched.

I recommend this book to people that like 1) lots of sex, and, 2) two guys pretending to be in love because they’ve concocted an outlandish scenario.

Bad Company by K.A. Mitchell ~ Audio Review

Title: Bad Company

Series: Bad in Baltimore 01

Author: K.A. Mitchell

Narrator: Chet Daniel

Genre: Contemporary

Length: 5 hours, 50 minutes

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (9th April 2018)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 3.5 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: Some things are sweeter than revenge.

“I need a boyfriend.”

Hearing those words from his very straight, very ex-best friend doesn’t put Nate in a helpful mood. Not only did Kellan Brooks’s father destroy Nate’s family in his quest for power, but Kel-lan broke Nate’s heart back in high school. Nate thought he could trust his best friend with the revelation that he might be gay, only to find out he was horribly wrong and become the laugh-ingstock of the whole school. Kellan must be truly desperate if he’s turning to Nate now.

Kellan’s through letting his father run his life, and he wants to make the man pay for cutting him off. What better way to stick it to the bigot than to come out as gay himself—especially with the son of the very man his father crushed on his quest for money and power. Kellan can’t blame Nate for wanting nothing to do with him, though. Kellan will have to convince him to play along, but it’s even harder to convince himself that the heat between them is only an act….

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

Review: Bad Company is the first book in KA Mitchell’s series Bad in Baltimore. I’ve not read anything in the past by Mitchell but I was nonetheless intrigued reading the blurb and I was happy to become invested in a new series. For that matter, Chet Daniels as the narrator of the audiobook was also a new experience for me, so I really went into this one blind.

So firstly, the narration. I was quite impressed by the narration. I found myself easily getting lost in the narration and the characters and the voices given to the characters. For me the narration was easily the highlight of the book. Daniels’ voice was entertaining and quite honestly kept me going because I have a suspicion that if I were to read this story it would be a reluctant finish at best, or a did not finish at worst.

I’m going to explain those comments before I go into discussing the story. Basically, there are a lot of sex scenes in this book that go on for long chapters. If that’s you’re thing, this is probably going to be one hot read. However, for me, it’s not really my thing, so while I enjoyed the story for the most part the sex scenes popping up (especially at points where I wanted the plot to move forward) were annoying at times.

As for the story itself, we follow the romance between Kellan and Nate. Kellan and Nate were best friends once upon a time when they were kids, but Kellan’s uber rich father destroyed Nate’s father’s livelihood and stole his idea/patent, which was compounded by the fact that Kellan never stood up for Nate in high school when he was bullied for being gay.

Now that they are adults, Kellan is a rich boy and more than a tad arrogant and selfish. His father is an arsehole and the two butt heads, ending in Kellan with no money, no car and no place to live. He is homeless. All Kellan wants is revenge on his father, who also does not approve of Kellan being gay. So Kellan throws himself at the mercy of his ex-best friend, who is now a successful newspaper editor and the two concoct a plan that will allow Nate to do an expose on Kellan’s father, and Kellan can get his revenge on his father.

I had trouble with the storyline, because it was hard to suspend my disbelief to believe that this hare-brained scheme would work in any world. Kellan was also a difficult character to warm up to, and in some respects so was Nate. They’re both contrary sort of blokes but they did have a chemistry that made their romance work. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the audio enough that I am willing to go on and give the rest of the series a go. It’s not uncommon that a narrator will allow me to enjoy a book that I normally wouldn’t be able to finish if I read it.

I recommend this book to people that like 1) lots of sex, and, 2) friends-to-enemies-to-lovers type scenario (which was honestly the draw for me).

A Home for the Holidays by Joe Cosentino ~ Audio Review

Title: A Home for the Holidays

Series: Bobby and Paolo’s Holiday Stories 01

Author: Joe Cosentino

Narrator: Joel Leslie

Genre: Contemporary

Length: 1 hr, 45 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (18th November 2016)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖 3 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: Bobby McGrath’s Christmas trip to the beautiful Italian island of Capri to meet his eccentric extended family offers stunning views – none more stunning than his third cousin, Paolo Mascobello, a real stocking stuffer. As the two young men embark on a relationship, Bobby, a driven law student, learns to relax and bask under the Italian moon, and Paolo realizes there’s more to life than a frolic on the beach. For the two to find everlasting amore, Paulo must overcome his fear of commitment and learn to follow his dreams, and Bobby must get his wish for happily ever after.

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

Review: A Home for the Holidays is a short story by Joe Cosentino. While I love Joel Leslie and despite what I think of the book itself, I can’t really fault his narration. Meanwhile, Joe Cosentino is a new author for me. The audio is under two hours, so if you got a commute and want a story that you don’t really need to pay attention, this will probably work for you. For me, I started thinking about it too much and got annoyed. It wouldn’t have been so bad if I hadn’t started thinking too hard on the story.

The story is about Bobby McGrath, who is sent over to Italy for his Christmas present to spend the holidays with his mother’s Italian family. That’s where he meets his third cousin and immediately falls into lust. Paolo Mascobello, the hot Italian third cousin, shows interest but he is purposely holding himself back (but not because they are related). Paolo lives with the expectations of his well-off family and so his dreams are stifled until Bobby convinces him that perhaps it’s okay to dream.

I think some people would be bothered by the whole third cousin thing, but since the guys never met before this holiday, it doesn’t bother me so much. For me I was mostly put off by the bad Italian stereotypes, being that I got my crazy Italian family on my mother’s side I found some of it cringeworthy. The only other thing that annoyed me was how much Paolo brooded without communicating – it got on my nerves. However, one thing that the story has going for it is that the story is fast paced and I liked how Bobby carried himself and developed through the story. Being so short there isn’t a lot of room to move, so I think all good stuff was given to Bobby and that made him a sweet and relatable character.

Love You So Madly by Tara Lain ~ Audio Review

Title: Love You So Madly

Series: Love You So 02

Author: Tara Lain

Narrator: Ry Forrest

Genre: Contemporary

Length: 4 hrs 36 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (14th September 2018)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖 3 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: Ben Shane has it all…and he’d like to give some of it back. While he loves his job heading a foundation that funds worthy causes around the world, his engagement to one of America’s wealthiest men leaves him feeling more like a trophy wife than a valued partner. The first warn-ing that his relationship might not be designed to last is his irresistible lust for Dusty Kincaid, the golden-haired, bright-eyed handyman for his company.

Though Dusty is odd for a 23-year-old – no liquor, no sugar, and he can’t even drive – the more Ben gets to know Dusty, the more he admires him. But is Ben going to give up a guy who drives a Ferrari for one who takes the bus?

He must be mad. Dusty knows he and Ben can never work. After all, Ben’s perfect…and Dusty isn’t. But Ben might surprise everyone with proof that he’s only mad in love.

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

Review: Love You So Madly is the second book in Tara Lain’s Love You So series. Tara Lain is an author that I now look forward to reading (or listening). Ry Forrest is a new narrator for me and I have to say that I quite enjoyed the performance. I don’t think that there was anything standout about the performance, I just simply enjoyed the tone and emotion present in Forrest’s voice and it certainly helped me enjoy the story.

As I just said this is the second book in the series, however, it does work as a standalone. I’ve not read (or don’t remember) the first book in the Love You So series, but I had no problem whatsoever with understanding the plot and I don’t even know if I bothered to figure out if we got to meet the couple from the first book.

The story starts with Ben Shane. He seems to have it all. The job of his dreams, heading the charitable foundation arm of big corporation, his job made him happy and he also had a man for himself, who also happens to be the big boss’s son. His new engagement is bringing him a lot of valuable business contacts, though his in laws and fiancé left a lot to be desired since they didn’t nurture the good and kind side of Ben. In short, we start the story knowing that Ben isn’t entirely happy, the man just must figure out what he needs to do to get his life back on track. And it just so happens that this book is just that journey.

Then there is Dusty. He is a sweet guy. He’s twenty-three and still lives with his overprotective mother because of his ongoing health issues associated with his epilepsy. Dusty has a completely different outlook on life and he seems so innocent. However, Dusty is very intelligent, he’s just shy and his health had meant that he had been left a little behind. Dusty is instantly attracted to Ben and Ben knows its wrong to be attracted to Dusty. The two of them seem to need different things in life but they get along well and they are well suited to each other.

The only thing that I struggled with throughout this is story is that I felt that Ben was stringing both douchey fiancé (and he was a selfish man, there is no denying) and kind, sweet Dusty along while he tried to get his shit together. Although, in the end, that is really the story I suppose.

All the Way to Shore by CJane Elliot ~ Audio Review

Title: All the Way to Shore

Series: Stories from the Shore 01

Author: CJane Elliot

Narrator: Tim McKiernan

Genre: Contemporary

Length: 5 hrs, 55 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (19th April 2018)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 3.5 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: Jonathan Vallen has never felt good enough. A gentle musician who loves to garden, he’s woe-fully unsuited to running Vallen Industries, the family business. When his father hires a hotshot executive, Marco Pellegrini, to save the company, Jonathan moves away and leaves his humilia-tion behind. A year later and 40 pounds lighter, Jonathan runs into Marco on an LGBT cruise. Marco doesn’t recognize him, the sparks fly, and Jonathan pretends to be someone else for the week – Jonah Rutledge – someone good enough to be loved.

Marco Pellegrini has always been driven. He rose from poverty to the pinnacle of business suc-cess, and he’ll do anything to protect his reputation – including hiding his bisexuality. Having saved Vallen Industries, he’s weary of the rat race and ready for a more meaningful life. When Marco meets his soul mate for that new life – Jonah Rutledge – on an LGBT cruise, he prepares to stop hiding and start living.

Back on land, the romance crashes when Marco discovers his perfect man is not only a lie but the son of his boss, Frederick Vallen. Jonathan resolves to win Marco back, but Frederick takes vengeful action. Jonathan and Marco must battle their own fears as well as Frederick’s chal-lenge to get to the future that awaits them on the horizon.

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

Review: All the Way to Shore is the first book in CJane Elliot’s series Stories from the Shore. CJane Elliot is a totally new author to me, so I had no idea what to expect. Likewise, Tim McKiernan is a totally new narrator for me. It felt as though I went into this audio book double blind.

Jonathan Vallen is a man drowning in career that has been forced upon him after the death of his beloved brother. Jonathan is a sweet musician who is too gentle for the corporate world. So when his father brings in a man to take over and get the company back into profit, Jonathan decides that he has be true to himself. He doesn’t have a whole lot of confidence but he knows what he likes and he knows what he’s good at. He leaves his life behind, moves to Florida and reinvents himself, with his cousin as his main point of contact with the world. He’s happy enough but a couple years down the track the same cousin convinces Jonathan to go on a gay cruise. This is where he sees Marco Pellegrini, the man who took over at his family’s company.

Marco Pellegrini isn’t totally happy with life as he wraps up his current job. Jonathan Vallen isn’t on his radar since the man had fled so soon after Marco had arrived. So when he and his very straight sister get away on a gay cruise he doesn’t realise the guy he meets is the transformed Jonathan Vallen. Especially after the man he meets is introduced to him by the man’s cousin as Jonah.

The two men have a whirlwind affair but everything changes as soon as they get home and the unwitting deception is revealed. Now the men have to sort out their feelings and deal with the fall out from Jonathan’s family. Jonathan fell in love and he isn’t about to give up without a fight – he is a changed man and its because of him that things can change.

This was a great audio experience with an enjoyable story. The only thing I really wasn’t into was the whole flashback (well, flash forwards, really) used to set up the start of each section of the book. It’s a personal preference thing I suppose, but it’s one of those things where I felt that the storm of emotions that happen throughout the story is lessened by telling the reader what has happened. I feel that knowing what happened meant that the impact as we went back to when the events unfolded took away from the journey that the characters went on through the chapters.

Despite this, I do look forward to the second book, especially since after being one of the heroes of this story, Jonathan’s cousin gets his own HEA.

Cowboy in the Crosshairs by B.A. Tortuga ~ Audio Review

Title: Cowboy in the Crosshairs

Series: Dreamspun Desires 53 / Turquoise, New Mexico 01

Author: B.A. Tortuga

Narrator: Dorian Bane

Genre: Contemporary, Cowboys

Length: 6 hrs, 23 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (16th August 2018)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 4 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: Once upon a time, a prince lived in a magical kingdom called Turquoise, New Mexico.

Well, really, TJ is a small-town police chief. Every Friday, he holds court in the diner with the local holy roller, the art colonists, and the horsey people. But the Benes, who own the rodeo company, keep to themselves. TJ knows because he was once hot and heavy with the oldest Bene son.

When Wacey Bene gets trampled by a remuda and comes home to heal, he’s none too happy to run into TJ or his two little boys and their momma. The story might end there – if it wasn’t for some pesky bastard trying to kill Wacey.

The law steps in, and the townsfolk are cross about somebody messing with one of their own.

But once the bad guy is put away, can TJ and Wacey make their place in this wild and eccentric town a permanent one?

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

Review: Cowboy in the Crosshairs is the first book a new series called Turquoise, New Mexico by BA Tortuga. I’m a fan of Tortuga’s writing, especially their books with cowboys because cowboys are hot and awesome. But I wouldn’t have thought that without enjoying Tortuga’s writing style, which feel simple and accessible, but at the same time the plotlines are interesting.

The story is about cowboy Wacey Bene. He’s been away from his family’s ranch on the rodeo circuit for ten years after having his heart broken when he was barely out of high school. The boy that broke his heart was TJ. He is now the police chief, but ten years before he was a confused young man who was scared of coming out of the closet and somewhere along the way in the past ten years also decided that he needed to marry a woman so he could have a family. TJ now has two cute little boys and an ex-wife he is good friends with, despite divorcing because he finally was able to come out of the closet to her. These guys need to get over past hurts, as well as TJ needing to help Wacey avoid being injured or killed by some mystery person.

The narration for this audio is by Dorian Bane. I have to admit, I absolutely adore Bane’s voice. He has one of those rich and husky voices that are often spoken of in romances as the type that would make a lady (or anyone) swoon. His voice is well suited to books with rough, tough and ready men – i.e. cowboys and cops and whatnot. Luckily for us, in this book we get both a cowboy and a cop. Interestingly, probably because of the tone and emotion that Bane was able to inject into the story I find that I by far preferred the audio to reading this book and I was less inclined to be bothered by the points that had annoyed me in the original reading. Mostly at the time I had been annoyed with how Wacey and TJ treated each other at the start and I didn’t feel that I got enough plot development as to how they were able to go to a loving relationship. I suppose that is still true, but as I said I was merely less annoyed by this hole in the plot.

Overall, an enjoyable story to pass some time, particularly for those that have a weakness for cowboys and cops.

Dawn and Dusk by Dirk Greyson ~ Audio Review

Title: Dawn and Dusk

Series: Day and Knight 03

Author: Dirk Greyson

Narrator: Andrew McFerrin

Genre: Contemporary, Suspense, Mystery

Length: 5 hrs, 50 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (24th October 2018)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 4 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: For Scorpion agents Day and Knight, their relationship is slow to develop, and trust is hard to build. Then Day’s brother, Stephen, goes missing, and Day finds out more about him than he ever dreamed. Day’s first reaction to Stephen’s disappearance is to try to get to him as fast as possible.
Knight initially holds him back so they can attempt to find out what they’re walking into. But when Knight sees Day’s desperation, he steps in to help and tries to calm the man he’s growing to care about, even though the trail is cold and clues are scarce.

When Day witnesses his brother being shot live on television, he loses the last of his control. Despite the lack of answers, Day is more determined than ever to find out what happened. Ste-phen was all the family he had left.

Bone-deep fear and adversity threaten to tear Day and Knight apart, but facing unimaginable hardship together might finally cement the bond between them.

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

Review: Dawn and Dusk is the third book in Dirk Greyson’s Day and Knight series. Dirk Greyson is the pen name for Andrew Grey when he’s writing suspense/mysteries or paranormal type books. I’ve read and heard audio from a couple of his other books (not the paranormal ones) besides the Day and Knight series and I am quite happy with reading the departure from the usual Andrew Grey formula that I know and love. In fact, I’m keen to check out what these paranormal stories are. But back to Day and Knight.

So yeah, Day and Knight series has been a great departure from what fans of Grey would usually expect. It follows secret agent guys Day and Knight (their nicknames, its corny but works awesome) as they try to work together and then discover that there is a lot more between them. The series has been a slow burn romance which needs to be read/listened to from the start to get to know the guys and to be able to track the story as each instalment starts off from where the previous book start. If you’re a person that prefers to have a HEA, perhaps now would be the best time to get into the story because we finally get an ending for these guys. However, in saying that both Day and Knight have a lot of demons to battle through, particularly for Knight, who has a tragic past that makes opening his heart to love difficult.

In my opinion Dawn and Dusk is the best book in the series and is a major pay off for anyone who has gone through the journey with the guys.

Day and Knight are back in the real world once more after their adventures in Mexico and Europe. They are excellent at their jobs and work well together, but once, more after arriving home Day is left confused by Knight. As soon as they are back Knight once again struggles with the relationship forming between the two men – which makes sense since the man has tons of baggage and an alcohol dependency that he has been working through. However, Knight is a man that struggles with his inner emotions and so how he treats Day in these periods is less than stellar. Their world is thrown into chaos once more when Day finds out that not only is his brother, a man he has idolised since Steven had raised Day after their parents’ death. Day needs to find his brother and Knight is torn in needing to protect Day and protect his feelings. But things just snowball when Day is shown television footage where he sees his brother shot and he suddenly faces the possibility that his brother is bad guy. This is where Knight steps as he is slowly beginning to come to terms with demons and realises that he will do anything for Day.

What I love about this series is that we’ve taken the time to get to know Day and Knight. They have developed and changed so much from the first book. They have had so much to work through before they could trust each other with their hearts. They needed to get to know each other beyond the physical side of their relationship and the professional side of things. Dawn and Dusk is a really pleasing story where I finally feel like I know these guys and finishing a few months after the first book started, I feel like they are strong together – as well as be awesome men of action. I liked the story with Day’s brother in this book because it gave even more depth to Day.

Andrew McFerrin has done an excellent job narrating this entire series. His voice and the tone he gives to Day and Knight individually suits them so well. It was so easy to get lost in the story just listening to the narration. McFerrin had me emotionally invested right to the end with the guys, something that I’m not completely sure would have happened if I had read the book first.

Bankers’ Hours by Wade Kelly ~ Audio Review

Title: Bankers’ Hours

Author: Wade Kelly

Narrator: Derrick McClain

Genre: Contemporary

Length: 12 hrs, 23 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (22nd November 2017)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 4 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: Even though bankers’ hours leave long weekends for romance, cosmic intervention is Grant’s only option when money doesn’t buy happiness and he’s got virginity in spades.
Grant Adams is a 26-year-old bank teller who’s unlucky at love, yet hopelessly hopeful. After years of horrific first dates, he’s convinced he’s saving himself for true love. Surely he has bad taste in men because it couldn’t possibly be his persnickety nature that’s sent them packing.

Tristan Carr has been in a holding pattern since his daughter was born 15 years ago, which suits his workaholic lifestyle just fine. This ex-naval officer turned auto mechanic never wanted any-one interfering with being a weekend dad. For Tristan to rearrange his carefully orchestrated life, a guy will need to be special. Or, in the case of the newest employee at his bank, the guy will need to be adorable, shy, and open to the prospect of forever when it shows up at his win-dow.

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

Review: Bankers’ Hours is a standalone novel by Wade Kelly and the audio book is narrated by Derrick McClain.

For me Wade Kelly is a completely new author for me, so I had no idea what I was in for in terms of the writing style and the story other than what I read on the blurb. However, Derrick McClain is not a new narrator for me, and I have particularly enjoyed his work narrating contemporary romances. I was not disappointed by the narration of Bankers’ Hours, in fact I think that it probably elevated the story.

This novel is the story of bank teller Grant Adams. The branch that he had been working for had closed and he was one of a handful of employees who have been redeployed to other branches. This means that Grant has made a big move – he’s moved out of the home he shared with his mother and to a completely new town where he has no one. He isn’t out in his new town but that’s only because he doesn’t have anyone to talk to about such things.

At the bank he meets Tristan Carr. He’s a local mechanic. Tall and handsome he is mouth watering and beautiful to Grant, but when Tristan mentions a daughter Grant is disappointed when he comes to conclusion that Tristan is gay. The two see each other around town and this culminates in an invitation of drinks. The thing is Grant doesn’t have the best social skills and he sucks at reading any body language cues from Tristan. The two have a rocky road ahead, fraught with Grant’s nature that seems to be something like anxiety which makes him pick at just about anything and then Tristan has to deal with his teenage daughter and his horrid ex-wife. However, for these guys it isn’t love that’s the problem, it’s getting their lives to align.

On the whole this is a good book with thoroughly enjoyable characters. I will admit to preferring Tristan over Grant. Yeah, Grant has a few odd quirks and is a bit on the clingy and whingy side of things, but I do understand him because I see a lot of myself in Grant. So even though he isn’t my favourite of the two MCs, he is by far the most relatable to me. There isn’t anything too specific that you need to like to get into this book. This is one of those contemporary books that I would recommend to just about anyone.

Add Love and Mix by Sean Michael ~ Audio Review

Title: Add Love and Mix

Author: Sean Michael

Narrator: Steve Balderson

Genre: Contemporary

Length: 6 hrs, 34 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (22nd March 2017)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: Firefighter Jason “Jase” Weller and EMT Scott Bronson are living the perfect life. They work together in jobs they love, they live together, and in their downtime, they still can’t get enough of each other. It’s been six amazing years. Then on Christmas Eve, Jase’s former lover Elsa shows up with a six-year-old girl in tow. The strung-out junkie claims Kerry is Jase’s daughter and it’s his turn to care for her, and then she walks out.

Shocked at both the fact that Elsa is now a junkie and that he has a daughter he never knew about, Jase nonetheless steps up to the plate as her father and Scott offers his full support. Having an instant family comes with plenty of challenges, and the two men work to deal with sweeping changes in their lives and to make things right for Kerry.

It’s not going to be easy, and their new circumstances test them and their relationship like noth-ing ever has. They’ll need all the love they have for each other–and the love they discover for their daughter–to keep from breaking apart.

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

Review: Add Love and Mix is a totally charming book by Sean Michael, an author that I feel I am only starting to appreciated within the past year. Michael seems to have a knack with creating relatable characters that are both ordinary (thus making them relatable) and yet extraordinary (which makes the story interesting). What I love most about this book is that this isn’t so much a romance of relationship that is starting, it’s the story of a well-established couple who go through an extremely turbulent time which changes their family.

The narration of this book was done by Steve Balderson, who is a totally new narrator for me. Overall, his voice lent great depth to an already awesome book. His voice suited both emergency service worker MCs. I’ll definitely look forward to more books narrated by Balderson because this was simply a fantastic narration.

The story itself about firefighter Jase Weller and EMT Scott Bronson. The two have been together for six years and they see each other at home and work. They never had a reason not be scheduled on the same roster rotation at the fire station they work out of and they have been living a blissful life. All that changes close to Christmas when Jase, who is bisexual, has an unexpected visit from his ex, Elsa, who had been seeing before he got together with Scott. A lot has changed with Elsa and the main part is that Elsa turns up with a little girl, saying that she is Jase’s and that she doesn’t want the kid anymore.

It is a totally heart-breaking scene, especially after hearing of the palpable love between Scott and Jase. This is going to rock their world and their family. But kind and caring Scott immediately makes a rapport with little Kerry. But there is a ways to go before their happily ever after. Both men have to deal with this massive change to their family. Jase must understand what it is to become a father and to begin getting Kerry settled. Of course, Scott is right there next to Jase, supporting Jase and taking on as much responsibility for their daughter as the little girl deals with feelings of being rejected from her junkie mother. Add on to this Scott’s own baggage of knowing what he wants to do – he feels for Kerry because he was adopted by his parents – but the stress can get to even the most sainted of men.

This is the out of the ordinary story of two ordinary men bringing their family together and I loved it. Totally sweet and worth the read!

Return of the Chauffeur’s Son by Tara Lain ~ Audio Review

Title: The Return of the Chauffeur’s Son

Title: Movie Magic Romances 01

Author: Tara Lain

Narrator: Greg Tremblay

Genre: Contemporary

Length: 6 hrs, 28 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (28th September 2017)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: Luca McGrath may be returning to Napa Valley, California, as a promising chef with dreams of starting his own restaurant and winery, but his heart still lives with the bad-boy son of a billion-aire James Armstrong. Luca spent his childhood playing games with the golden boy of California society, so blinded by James he barely noticed the dark, quiet lure of his conservative older brother, Dylan Armstrong.

But now Luca’s home, and his own powers of attraction are enough to make James question his dedicated heterosexuality and his promised marriage to a wealthy and powerful businesswoman. The obvious attraction between Luca and James spurs Dylan into action – but he’s fighting a huge secret. While Luca dreamed of James, Dylan dreamed of Luca. When Luca gets caught in the struggle between the brothers and gets accused of culinary espionage, he’s ready to chuck the fairy tale – unable to even imagine Dylan’s power to make his dreams come true.

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

Review: The Return of the Chauffeur’s Son is a standalone book by Tara Lain. Tara Lain is a great author and is so close to becoming a new automatic read for me. It’s sweet and charming and had me engrossed from start to finish. It’s one of those books that I think just about anyone could listen or read this book and enjoy their escape from reality.

The title of the book says it all really. Luca McGrath was raised in Napa Valley by his father after the death of his mother. Luca grew up on the Armstrong winery estate where his father was the family chauffeur and the Armstrong family were kind enough to all Luca to live with his father on the family estate instead of losing their trusted employee. As a result, Luca grew up alongside Armstrong boys, more so James who is Luca’s best friend and Luca’s first crush. He leaves the estate for some years as he makes his way in a culinary whiz, which leads him back to Napa Valley where he can work for some of the most prestigious chefs.

And while he has been pining away for James, he then realises that he quite missed something when it comes to James’ older brother, Dylan. Luca’s homecoming is joyous but things are complicated when it comes to the Armstrong brothers. Dylan is helping Luca with just about everything but doesn’t know how to communicate his feelings. He is the strong and stoic type. While James is a playboy, who is now engaged and seems keen to now suddenly explore his sexuality. Dylan is frustrated because he is attracted to Luca, but his parents are dismissing James’ behaviour as James continued hero worship of his out and proud, gay older brother.

There’s something of a love triangle going on and the story is predictable, however, it is still completely enjoyable. So much fun and so damn romantic!

Overall, this is a fun, sweet and sexy novel that shows us that sometimes a HEA is right in front of us and with the person least expected. I’m quite familiar with Greg Tremblay’s narration and it hit the mark in terms of tone of and giving voice to the two MCs.

Just Like Cats and Dogs by B.A. Tortuga ~ Audio Review

Title: Just Like Cats and Dogs

Series: Sanctuary 01

Author: B.A. Tortuga

Narrator: Joe Formichella

Genre: Paranormal, Shape shifters

Length: 6 hrs, 41 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (25th January 2017)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 3.5 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: Can cats and dogs ever get along, let alone fall in love?

Sam knows you can never go home again. As an orphaned feline shifter raised by wolves, being an outcast is nothing new to him. But the pack is still his family, and when one of them passes away, Sam returns to the New Mexico desert to say good-bye.

Gus is a loner who rarely returns to his pack, but as fate would have it, Sam is there when he chooses to visit. The history between Gus and Sam is tumultuous, to say the least, but when Gus gets an eyeful of the grown-up and gorgeous version of his childhood bully, he can’t con-trol his reaction. And he isn’t alone.

The attraction is powerful, but so are their differences. And with trouble brewing in the pack and danger surrounding them, Sam and Gus might not have the opportunity to seek common ground.

This action-packed shifter novel is the ultimate opposites attract and enemies-to-lovers ro-mance, and it includes a bonus novella, In the Dog House.

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

Review: Just Like Cats and Dogs is the first book in BA Tortuga’s Sanctury series, paranormal/shape shifter romance. Since finding myself a fan of Tortuga’s writing (I’ve discovered that I find it so easy to connect to the story and the characters) I was looking forward to reading the author’s take on the shape shifter genre, because before this I think I’ve only read or listened to contemporary novels in the past. This was a pleasant departure which, for the most part I enjoyed. I found that I had an interesting mix of feelings for the story as well as the narration. Anyone who is into shifter romances will definitely enjoy this story.

So, into the narration. Joe Formichella is a new narrator to me and I was left with mixed feelings. I thought that he lent a good voice and tone to the characters, however, I thought that there was some inflection lacking in the overall presentation of his voice. At times the narration seemed flat. I’m a person who listens to every book at 1.35x speed, so I imagine it would have been a lot more difficult to listen to at normal speed.

The story itself was quite interesting. The MCs are Sam and Gus.

Sam is a feline shifter who was orphaned and then adopted by a mated wolf couple who adopted a number of shifter children to create their eclectic family. The problem with being the only feline in a pack of wolves is that Sam has never been allowed to shifter and run with his brothers and sisters and parents because the alpha does not want the wolves to get out of control and attacked Sam. I understand the sentiment, but it does feel clear from the start that alpha was quite OTT with some of his protections. Gus is a wolf who was born into the pack but he is a loner. His little brother is Sam’s best friend and at most has always thought of Sam as a pest. Gus is the strong and silent type from the start but will do anything to help his family and his pack.

Tragedy brings Sam back to his home pack, knowing that he will only be able to stay for a short period of time because it has been clear to him since he was a child that besides his parents and siblings, he did not belong in the pack. His father has died suddenly and despite being shifters there had been not enough time to help him. When he arrives home, he runs into Gus. The two have always had an uneasy relationship but now that they are both older something has changed between them. Between the emotions and having trouble dealing with the pack he grew up in, he finds he also must deal with the mutual attraction between him and Gus. Their relationship is complicated, pack structure made sure of this and their personality differences merely cemented it.

These guys have a rocky journey and it takes time, which is rather a change of pace from many shifter based stories. They guys need time for their relationship, and their characters to develop, which is totally pleasing. At the end of this audio there is also the bonus novella which is about Sam and Gus in the life they made for themselves, it is also vital set up for the next book. The only thing I need to say, once again associated with the narration, is that it was a little confusing because there didn’t seem to be any pause between the end of the novel and the start of the novella, which had me confused for a few moments. Although this is probably because I didn’t read the blurb properly and see that there was a bonus story at the end.

All in all, this is an enjoyable audio and very enjoyable world we’ve been set in. I can’t wait for the next book.

Fire and Granite by Andrew Grey ~ Audio Review

Title: Fire and Granite

Series: Carlisle Deputies 02

Author: Andrew Grey

Narrator: Greg Tremblay

Genre: Contemporary, Crime, Mystery, Suspense

Length: 6 hrs, 2 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (1st November 2018)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: The heat is growing from the inside, but danger is building on the outside.

Judge Andrew Phillips runs a tight ship in his courtroom. He’s tough, and when he hands down a sentence, he expects to be obeyed. So when a fugitive named Harper escapes and threatens his life, Andrew isn’t keen on 24/seven protection…especially not from Deputy Clay Brown. They have a past, one that could cause problems in their careers.

But with Clay assigned to Andrew and the two of them together every minute, there’s nowhere to hide from their attraction – or from the fact that there’s much more than chemistry blooming between them. As the threat intensifies, Clay knows he’ll do anything it takes to protect the peo-ple who are taking their places in his heart: Andrew and his young niece and nephew.

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

Review: Fire and Granite is the second book in Andrew Grey’s Carlisle Deputies series, which is a spin off of his Carlisle Cops series and has the same naming convention in that each book from both series is called “Fire and…”. I really enjoyed Carlisle Cops series. I’ve only read all of Carlisle Cops books and have heard the audio narration for half of the series. I’ve also read the first book of this series but again, have not heard the audio. Fire and Granite does work as a standalone book, although I do remember back to other books when we meet up with the various people on the Carlisle police force. To be perfectly honest, I don’t really remember the first book of this series all that well, but I remembered the names when I came across the characters in this book.

Granite and Fire is the story of Deputy Clay Brown and Judge Andrew Phillips. The two do not get along well at all, although Clay has no idea why the judge is a bit of a dick to him. Especially since they encounter each other in the courtroom when Clay needs to give testimony it can make for slightly awkward times and it makes a certain deputy very grumpy, but it’s a sexy kind of grumpy so I’m all good with that. They are thrown together when a prisoner transport goes wrong and sees two deputies in hospital and Clay uninjured when his no-good cousin (no love lost between the two men) is broken free and the deranged man goes after the judge he swore revenge on the last time he was in a court room. Now Clay is keeping guard on Andrew and the two men have no choice but to sort out their differences. However, in a pleasant turn of events their differences aren’t really differences at all. But the stakes are ramped up when Andrew, in the middle of being threatened by a criminal, needs to go out of state and then make a home for his niece and nephew as his sister struggles with mental illness. Clay is by his side every step of the way and the two men are quickly coming to realise just what that means to them and their hearts and their futures.

Narration for this book was by Greg Tremblay. I’ve heard Tremblay’s narration a number of times in the past, including a few other Andrew Grey books. I find Tremblay’s tone and timbre well suited to the characters that Grey writes and all in all, I have no complaints. I was really happy with how well paced the narration was and the voices and emotions given to the characters, particularly the kids. Grey tends to write kids into a lot of his books and sometimes narrators miss the mark with the little ones, but Tremblay was on point in my opinion.

This is perfect for those that love to read or listen to cops falling in love as they try to solve the crime, get the man they want to put in gaol and get the man that they want in their life and their bed.

Don’t Let Go by Andrew Grey ~ Audio Review

Title: Don’t Let Go

Author: Andrew Grey

Narrator: Jeff Gelder

Genre: Contemporary, Cowboys

Length: 6 hrs, 18 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (13th December 2018)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 4.5 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: Avery Rivers is a country music sensation, selling records by the millions and playing to sold-out crowds. But behind that persona is Robert, a burned-out musician cracking under the pressure. He’s unable to write any new songs, and he wants out of the business – at least for a while. He changes his appearance and finds honest hard work in Jackson, Wyoming. Maybe getting to be a regular guy for a while will get him past his block.

Hy Whitely was a championship bull rider until he watched his best friend thrown in the arena and decided the rodeo circuit was no longer the place for him. He wants to be plain old Zeke for a while, and when he returns to his family ranch, he bumps right into Robert – a one-night stand from his last rodeo appearance – who is now working there as a ranch hand.

The heat between the men could sear the grass off the range, but each one is hiding a secret. Robert and Zeke, the men behind the public images, fall in love, but can they hold on when Avery and Hy are pulled back into the spotlight?

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

Review: Don’t Let Go by Andrew Grey has three things that I absolutely love. Firstly, a book written by Andrew Grey is instantly on my to be read pile, second there is cowboys (on the rodeo circuit at that) and thirdly, I’m a sucker for a country singer out for a bit of romance.

This was a totally satisfying audio. The story was super sweet and the chemistry was on point, just as I expect from Andrew Grey. The last couple books I read of his had left me a little disappointed and so to me was a return to what I love about his writing. The audio narration was by Jeff Gelder, who I’ve heard narrate books in the past (and probably other Andrew Grey books too). I enjoyed the narration. He had provided a good voice for the two MCs and was good in conveying their emotions through words and tone. Overall, his style was rather laid back, which for the most part suited the backdrop of the story.

The story starts with Robert, aka Avery Rivers, is a massive star in the country music world. He is at the end of a long and exhausting tour but is already dealing with the pressure for more tour dates as well as write songs and record his new album. The biggest problem is that the words and the music are just not coming, and he is dangerously close to burning out. And so ready to drop the Avery Rivers persona and be just Robert, at least for a little while. He wants nothing more than for the music to come back but he is already fighting the fear that they will never come back if he doesn’t take this break. So, Robert shaves his hair off and makes himself only contactable by phone and he hits the road. A one-night stand while attending a rodeo sends Robert to Jackson where he manages to find work on a ranch helping an older gent on his property. For Robert it’s a dream because he had grown up on a ranch until his parents lost it and were forced to leave the land.

Hy Whitely is a star on the rodeo circuit. His actual name is Zeke and uses the stage name to maintain his privacy. He has an eventful tournament though, when his road buddy is seriously injured and sent to hospital, but not before he had a one-night stand that rocked his world. After speaking about home to Robert, who he had met a bar and after the events that culminated in Zeke winning the rodeo, he heads home to help his father on the ranch.

The biggest shock is seeing Robert again, who was just hired by his father. Zeke isn’t sure how he could live on the same property as Robert without taking him to bed again, especially without his father knowing. Things are complicated because the two men are keeping secrets from each other. Despite Robert being higher on the superstar food chain, both men are celebrities but don’t want to risk everything – just yet – and reveal their secrets, that is until they must. The biggest hurdle they face

In a lot of ways Robert and Zeke are two sides of the same coin and together they are everything that turns you to goo and believe in love. They are well matched together, I enjoyed the lack of angst and drama considering both men use stage names, not revealing their identities to each other on purpose for most of the story. is how to maintain a relationship when their jobs are not conducive to being together. Along the way I thought it was funny that Zeke’s father is the voice of reason here, although Zeke doesn’t get along with his father terribly well, the man is a rough and gruff country man and found him quite likable, particularly at the end.

If you’re into cowboys and rodeos and a splash of celebrity this will suit you. Like me, I know the whole western/cowboy/ranch sub-genre is pretty damn popular in MM and so if this is your thing, go for it I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.

A Wish Upon the Stars by T.J. Klune ~ Audio Review

Title: A Wish Upon the Stars

Series: Tales of Verania 04

Author: T.J. Klune

Narrator: Michael Lesley

Genre: High Fantasy

Length: 18 hrs, 17 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (28th November 2018)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: Nearly a year ago, blinded by grief and betrayal, Sam of Wilds made a desperate decision to fol-low the Great White into the Dark Woods. Now, he emerges to a world changed.

The City of Lockes is a prison. The King has been locked away in the dungeons. The Kingdom of Verania has fallen, and the Dark wizard Myrin sits on the throne.

But soon after his return, Sam learns of a resistance fighting in his name, led by a courageous knight, a defiant prince, a pissed-off unicorn, and a half-giant who wants to smash everything in sight. If he has any hope of defeating the villains who have taken their home, Sam must face the consequences of his choices – and the friends he left behind.

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

Review: I absolutely adore TJ Klune. I adore just about every book he writes. I love how he can make a reader laugh and cry within the same book within pages of each other. But mostly I love how he can keep an audience entertained where I am, more often than not, laughing throughout a book, and in the case of audio books I’m often on public transport trying not to be obvious. However, that also applies for when I’m on public transport and trying not to cry.

A Wish Upon the Stars is the fourth and final book in TJ Klune’s Tales of Verania. The whole concept of wishing upon the stars is a theme that has been present throughout the series, as have the titles of the other books. However, I feel that this is the most aptly named of the series. It is essential to read this series in order because this is complex world that has been built, with some equally complex characters that are very well developed and at this point I am completely invested in.

The world is completely different in the aftermath of the previous book, The Consumption of Magic. Sam, strong willed as he is, decided that he had to fulfil the prophecy of the Great White Dragon (or as Sam calls him, GW). And so after being away almost a year, he has returned to chaos. On top of that his friends are furious with him, especially his very own knight and wizard’s cornerstone, Ryan Foxheart. They have become hardened warriors as the dark wizards take over and it is pure heartbreak. On top of that, the king is now held prisoner, but this has given the chance for Prince Justin to step up and become an absolutely amazing character. The only person he has on side at first is Kevin, who is also in the proverbial doghouse with Gary, since the dragon had followed Sam with no words to his sassy unicorn lover.

There is more heartbreak to comes as the ends of the stories are eventually woven and we find out the fate of Verania. This book brings in a lot more humour as the gang is reunited and are finally working together once again to defeat Myrin and the dark wizards he commands. There are so many funny moments, including when we get to meet Gary’s twin brother or the interpretive dance that was performed as Gary tells the story of how he lost his horn and therefore a great deal of his magic. I was so glad that that storyline was resolved and we got to see Gary return to all his glory as the pieces came together and the final battle takes place.

As with the previous instalments in this series Michael Lesley’s is an absolute joy. His delivery is heartfelt and pretty much flawless. He has carried on to the end with the same distinct voices that he gave to all the characters, which I feel has enhanced the entire experience. He wonderfully articulates the emotion in the characters as they go through their highs and lows. I don’t want to keep gushing as I know that I am repeating myself about my adoration of Lesley’s narration and Klune’s writing. Cannot recommend enough.

I am sad to see the end of this series. I was surprised that I did in fact love The Lightning Struck, which is why I continued on to the next three books, after not enjoying reading it a few years ago when it first came out. I absolutely loved the ending as the ends all tied together. I feel battered and bruised but just as Klune expertly does, he’s pulls you apart with the emotions he injects into his words and slowly builds you back up, even when the odds were completely against our heroes. Rumour has it TJ plans to do a story for Prince Justin (Sam’s best friend 5eva) and that is something I look forward to, although the man seems so busy I’m sure it’s going to be at least a few years.

The Consumption of Magic by T.J. Klune ~ Audio Review

Title: The Consumption of Magic

Series: Tales of Verania 03

Author: TJ Klune

Narrator: Michael Lesley

Genre: High Fantasy

Length: 18 hrs, 18 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (30th April 2018)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: Sam of Wilds faced the Dark wizard Myrin and lived to tell the tale. Granted, the battle left him scarred, but things could be a hell of a lot worse.

It’s not until he reunites with Morgan of Shadows and Randall that he realizes just how much worse things could be.
Because the scars have meaning and hint at Myrin’s true plans for Sam and the Kingdom of Verania.

With time running out, Sam and his band of merry misfits – the unicorn Gary, the half-giant Tig-gy, Knight Commander Ryan Foxheart, and the dragon known as Kevin – must travel to the snowy mountains in the North and the heart of the Dark Woods to convince the remaining drag-ons to stand against Myrin. Along the way, Sam learns secrets of the past that will forever change the course of the future.

A reckoning is coming for Sam of Wilds, and there is nothing he can do to stop it.

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

The Consumption of Magic is the third book in TJ Klune’s Tales of Verania. It is essential to read this series in order because this is complex world that has been built, with some equally complex characters that are very well developed and at this point I am completely invested in.

We pick up once again after the events of A Destiny of Dragons. The situation in Verania is going to shit quite quickly. Correction, it has gone to shit and it will only get worse before it can get better. The dark wizards are taking over, led by Myrin (I’m sorry, as a Harry Potter fan I had to think of Voldemort) and it is Sam who must prepare with help of Ryan, his mentor, parents and his friends Tiggy, Kevin and Gary to bring the prophecy full circle. This is an even rockier journey than book 2, with a cliff hanger that will leave you absolutely gutted (lucky for us the series is now completed so no need to wait for the next book to be published!). Sam has so many tough decisions to make, all he wants is to protect his dearest friends, family and his beloved Ryan. He will do anything for them and that unfortunately is his weakness. There are still moments of hilarity but the stakes are getting higher and so there is a lot more serious moments and a lot more moment where you sense the impending doom as we make our way to the end of the series.

As with the previous instalments in this series Michael Lesley’s is an absolute joy. His delivery is heartfelt and pretty much flawless. As in book 2, he also carried on the distinct voices that he gave to all the characters. He wonderfully articulates the emotion in the characters as they go through their highs and lows. I don’t want to keep gushing as I know that I am repeating myself about my adoration of Lesley’s narration and Klune’s writing. Cannot recommend enough.

A Destiny of Dragons by T.J. Klune ~ Audio Review

Title: A Destiny of Dragons

Series: Tales of Verania 02

Author: TJ Klune

Narrator: Michael Lesley

Genre: High Fantasy

Length: 16 hrs, 41 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (17th November 2017)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 4 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: Once upon a time, the wizard’s apprentice, Sam of Wilds, got his happily ever after in the arms of his cornerstone, Knight Commander Ryan Foxheart. A year has passed, and while Sam’s been captured five or six more times since then, things are pretty great. His parents are happy, Gary and Tiggy still eat sass for breakfast, Randall is somehow alive despite being older than the gods, the King rules with a gentle hand, Kevin the dragon is as gross as ever, Morgan sighs a lot, Ryan continues to be dashing and immaculate, and Sam is close to convincing Prince Jus-tin they will be best friends forever. Life is good.

Until it’s not.

Because Vadoma, the leader of the gypsy clan and Sam’s grandmother, has come to the City of Lockes with a dire prophecy written in the stars: a man of shadows is rising and will consume the world unless Sam faces his destiny and gathers the five dragons of Verania at his side.

And she brings along her second-in-command, a man named Ruv. Ruv, who Vadoma says is Sam’s true cornerstone.

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

That being said, there are a few of his books which I’ve not really connected with when I first read them and never went back. The Lightning Struck Heart, the first book in the Tales of Verania series, was one of them. However, I’ve seen the light, I gave it another go and absolutely fell in love (for this reason my review of book 1 is quite long, but I promise to tame reviews for the rest of the series). So here I am, at the end of book 2, A Density of Dragons, in the Tales of Verania series and ready to continue.

This series is an epic saga so it is vital to read this series from the start and not do it out of order either.

A Destiny of Dragons picks up where we left off at the end of book one. Sam and Ryan (aka Knight Delicious Face, which I say in my head in the voice lent to Tiggy by Michael Lesley) are finally together, but Sam still has the tendency to get into trouble. His friends are as whacky as ever and part of Sam’s antics is to become Prince Justin’s “best friend 5eva” and help him find love. This is sort of changed when Sam’s estranged gypsy grandmother, Vadoma, makes an appearance and reveals that Sam’s fate and his importance to Verania is something prophesised and essential to the survival of the people. I mean, this just shows that Sam is always getting into trouble for a reason. This book is the start of what I can already see is going to be a long, winding and very hard road for our hero, which is uplifted by continual moments of hilarity. Once again, Gary, Kevin and Tiggy are wonderful highlights of the book as they help Sam, and by extension Ryan too, start to unravel the extent of what is about to shake the foundations of their world.

As with the first book, and I suspect with the next two books of the series, Michael Lesley’s is an absolute joy. For me, I call a book which is laying in a lot of groundwork for the complex storylines to follow a “filler book”. As a very general rule, I find the even numbered books in these complex type series good not as good as the odd numbered books. Mostly because these books feel like they have a less meaty plot but are absolutely necessary. I’m saying this because Lesley’s narration kept me hooked and I never once got tempted to skip through scenes or chapters.

Lesley’s delivery of the story itself was just as brilliant as the first book. He carried on the distinct voices that he gave to all the characters in that instalment. He wonderfully articulates the emotion in the characters as they go through their highs and lows. Seriously, this is audio bliss.

The Lightning Struck Heart by T.J. Klune ~ Audio Review

Title: The Lightning Struck Heart

Series: Tales of Verania 01

Author: TJ Klune

Narrator: Michael Lesley

Genre: Fantasy

Length: 19 hrs, 49 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (10th December 2015)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: Once upon a time, in an alleyway in the slums of the City of Lockes, a young and somewhat lonely boy named Sam Haversford turns a group of teenage douchebags into stone completely by accident.

Of course, this catches the attention of a higher power, and Sam’s pulled from the only world he knows to become an apprentice to the king’s wizard, Morgan of Shadows.

When Sam’s 14, he enters the Dark Woods and returns with Gary, the hornless gay unicorn, and a half-giant named Tiggy, earning the moniker Sam of Wilds.

At 15, Sam learns what love truly is when a new knight arrives at the castle – Knight Ryan Fox-heart, the dreamiest dream to have ever been dreamed.

Naturally, it all goes to hell when Ryan dates the reprehensible Prince Justin, Sam can’t control his magic, a sexually aggressive dragon kidnaps the prince, and the king sends them on an epic quest to save Ryan’s boyfriend, all while Sam falls more in love with someone he can never have.

Or, so he thinks.

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

Review: So this is going to be an interesting review for me. I absolutely adore TJ Klune. I adore just about every book he writes. I love how he can make a reader laugh and cry within the same book within pages of each other. But mostly I love how he can keep an audience entertained where I am, more often than not, laughing throughout a book, and in the case of audio books I’m often on public transport trying not to be obvious. However, that also applies for when I’m on public transport and trying not to cry.

That being said, there are a few of his books which I’ve not really connected with when I first read them and never went back. The Lightning Struck Heart was one of them. I remember struggling when it first came out, although it had all the hallmarks of something that I would love. I love the book series Temeraire and Eragon, which has some similar themes and feels – mostly dragons, but I also love The Princess Bride which this audio had me thinking as I listened. I’ve also read a review of someone referring to Monty Python too, and to be honest I suppose the line “Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony”. So think that can be a valid comparison too, although I had initially scoffed because I love Monty Python and at that point I was still sceptical of trying this book again.

But being that I am a Klunatic I would see many “Gary and Kevin” references and “Sam and Ryan” references on the group Facebook page – cartoons, lots of unicorns and dragons. Out of respect to TJ, who is in the group, and to all those that love the book, I simply let it be and never said anything because this was just my opinion. However, I eventually decided that I need to give this another try. I just hoped that perhaps when I read it, I simply was not in the right frame of mind – the amount of stress that I was under at that time in terms of health and education I figured that was reason enough to finally give it another go.

I am so happy that I did because quite suddenly I adore this book too and everything about it.

The Lightning Struck Heart is the first book in the saga that is The Tales of Verania, where we meet Sam of the Wilds. Sam has the potential to be an extremely powerful wizard and for some years now he has been the apprentice wizard to the king’s wizard in the City of Lockes. He is a bit of disaster but has the aspiration to become the youngest wizard to have ever passed his trails to graduate from apprentice wizard to full wizard. He never made a good impression on his mentor’s own mentor, and that is a hilarious story that I can’t spoil. For years Sam has been in love with dreamiest of knights in the kingdom, Ryan Foxheart, who is about to be promoted to the leader of the king’s knights. The problem being that Ryan is engaged to Prince Justin. Justin and Sam do not get along but one day Justin will be king and Sam will be his wizard. Sam is also never far from his best friends, a half giant called Tiggy (love Tiggy!) and a sassy talking unicorn who lost his horn, Gary. Honestly, Gary is a total star.

This book is just laying the foundations for the rest of the series, so we are introduced to Sam and all these other characters. Although Sam and Ryan are the main characters, they aren’t the only prominent ones. Tiggy, Gary and Justin take over as well, and towards the end of the book we also meet the charmingly sexually perverse dragon, Kevin, who is also a bit of a wild ride to get to know (pun intended).

Michael Lesley’s is an absolute joy to listen. I really don’t know what I loved more, the story itself or how it was delivered. He gives distinct voices to all the characters, including Sam’s parents, the king and the rest of the gang that I’ve mentioned. He wonderfully articulates the emotion in the characters as they go through their highs and lows. And in the midst of ridiculous hilarity as Sam gets kidnapped and despairs of villains who monologue has sounding absolutely serious down to an art. This is the start of an epic journey and I can’t wait to hear Lesley’s narration as the series goes on.

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