Nova Praetorian by N.R. Walker ~ Audio Review

Title: Nova Praetorian

Author: N.R. Walker

Narrator: Joel Leslie

Genre: Historical

Length: 12 hrs, 24 mins

Publisher: N.R. Walker (27th August 2019)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: Quintus Furius Varus is one of the best lanistas in Rome. Tall and strong in build, fearsome in manner, and sharp of wit, he trains the best gladiators bound for the arenas of Rome. When Senator Servius Augendus seeks personal guards, he attends the Ludus Varus for purchase of the very best. He puts to Quintus an offer he cannot refuse, and Quintus finds himself in Nea-polis, contracted as a trainer of guards instead of gladiators.

Kaeso Agorix was taken from his homelands of Iberia and delivered to Rome as a slave. Bought by a senator to be trained as a guard, his fate is handed to the man who would train him. Absent free will, Kaeso knows his life is no longer his own, though he soon realizes the gods have fa-vored him when he learns his new master has a kind heart.

Quintus and Kaeso forge a bond that far exceeds the collar at Kaeso’s neck, and together, they discover the senator’s move for promotion has an ulterior motive. Thrown into a world of politics and conspiracy, of keeping enemies close, they move against time to save Rome before traitors and the gods themselves see to their end.

And in doing so, see the dawn of the nova praetorian – the new guard – rise.

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

Review: Nova Praetorian is a standalone historical romance by NR Walker. I am somewhat familiar with NR Walker’s previous work, and while I recall enjoying the books, I’m fairly certain that this is the first historical book I’ve read (or rather, heard) by Walker.

I have a complicated view on historical MM romances. I’ll be up front. In the world of MF romances, historical romances are the only ones I really like to read. So, I’m already inclined to like MM romances. However, because of historical views of homosexuality I find some difficult to read and that just means I really need to be in the mood for an MM historical romance.

Now, this leads me to an equally complicated view on Roman historical romances. Because let’s face it, there are a lot of such romances that are set somewhere close to Pompei on Volcano Day. And part of me finds that a tad bit tedious. Yet, with Ancient Romans (as well as the Ancient Greek) were a much more accepting society when it came to homosexuality… and so my mixed feelings continue.

But as soon as I started Nova Praetorian I was completely blown away.

This is a story that has it all. Political intrigue, power plays, gladiatorial fights, a couple with an intense attraction and loads of sexual tension, that also demonstrates the diversity of the Roman Empire. There is a lot of development as we get to know the characters and their motivations, but there is also a great rhythm throughout the story which weaves together political games, action/fighting scenes, wonderful romance between the two MCs and some great sex scenes too.

The story opens with Quintus Furius Varus, he owns a gladiatorial school which had been passed down from his grandfather and father before him, and is well renowned for training some of the most fierce and strongest gladiators, both male and female. He has interesting back story, where he lost his parents but was raised by two house slaves who kept the gladiatorial school going through Quintus’s childhood. However, now as an adult, his reputation has garnered the attention of a powerful senator that wants Quintus himself to train the senator’s own guard as the man makes a play to gain more political power.

This is how Quintus meets Kaeso. Kaeso was taken from his homeland of Ibera (comprising parts of modern day Spain and Portugal for those playing at home) by the Romans when they had come to his villages and destroyed everything, as well as killing his beloved family. Kaeso arrives in what is near modern-day Naples defiant. However, with the fear and heartache that had brought him to Rome against his will, he discovers he is given to a man who is nothing but kindness, even to slaves. The two men become close, although Quintus is insists on being noble and not taking advantage of Kaeso.

The men have to battle their feelings for each other, the physical attraction, as well as watching every step they take as the senator brings danger and intrigue. They even find themselves in the orbit of the Roman Emperor himself. I really loved – and was really relieved – when I got to read a really nice HEA because it was one well deserved for both Quintus and Kaeso.

The narration of this story was performed by Joel Leslie. I suppose like television, even ancient people tend to have a British accent (or something similar to one) in audio books. But that is not a bad thing. Leslie’s narration is a wonderful performances that keeps the momentum of the story going strong. He managed to nail the pronunciation of so many Latin words and keep it even throughout the course of the book. I also love the voice he gave Quintus and Kaeso, in particular I loved his portrayal of Kaeso. A totally wonderful performance that brings so much more life to the book.

Amazing story. If you’re a person who is unsure about historical romances, I recommend this one as an a good example of a thoroughly well written and well performed story.

The Straight Boyfriend by Renae Kaye ~ Audio Review

Title: The Straight Boyfriend

Series: Loving You 03

Author: Renae Kaye

Narrator: Joel Leslie

Genre: Contemporary

Length: 7 hrs, 53 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press LLC (27th February 2017)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: Aaron Hall has never been able to remain faithful to a single woman, and for most of his life, he’s dated two women at once. Recently his girlfriend tracked him down and knocked on his door – and his live-in girlfriend answered. Now he has no girlfriend and a mortgage he can’t pay by himself.

Vinnie Rosello needs to change his life – get a better job, stop drinking all his money away, find himself a serious boyfriend…and move out of his parents’ house. Aaron needs help with his ex-penses, so they become housemates.

Even though Aaron harbors some misconceptions about gay men and Vinnie misses his large Italian family, both men find comfort in their friendship. It’s a good arrangement until everything between them changes.

Vinnie falls in love with Aaron, and Aaron is shocked to realize he feels the same. There’s only one problem – he’s still straight. He’ll have to overcome his fear of labels in order to love the man who’s captured his heart.

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

Review: The Straight Boyfriend is the third book in Renae Kaye’s Loving You series.

I’m going to keep my comments on the author and the narrator quite short, because this is a feeling that echoes throughout the whole series for me. At this point I am warming up to her Renae Kaye’s writing. Since we’re not here for an Australian geography lesson, suffice to say that I connect with the very Aussie tone in her writing because I am Aussie myself. I feel the humour and love hearing the slang that is part of my everyday life in my favourite genre of book. 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, industrial workers) 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 book was by Joel Leslie, who only narrates books 2 and 3. After listening to his two performances for this series, I feel that he fit the books really well. While I enjoyed Gilles narration in the first book, it annoyed me when his Aussie accent slipped a bit (I know it’s a stupid of me) and I also just remembered that his pronunciation of the name Aaron was odd. However, I loved Leslie’s Aussie accent, it was really well done. I also am a fan of pretty much all of Joel Leslie’s performances because I always feel the emotions from the characters and hear their distinct voices, this book was no different.

The Straight Boyfriend. The title says it all. By the time I got to this book, I had a pretty good idea about Vinnie and Aaron because they were so prominent as secondary characters in the previous books. The set up for this story happened in book 2, so there isn’t much point listening or reading this one before at least going to the previous book.

Vinnie is a sweet guy from an unconventional, Italian family. He has a thing about epiphanies, and a subcategory of which being epipoofanies. He’s really a wonder and fun loving. He has a big heart, with a complicated family and is lonely. Wanting to get out of his parents’ home, he moves in with Aaron – a friend of a friend whose house he would often drink at after watching amateur football games.

Aaron is a manwhore and a serial cheater, he is unapologetic about the fact, although he now feels a sense of shame. He wants to better himself, he wants to be a good boyfriend/partner, but is unsure if he could even be faithful to a girl. After all, it was this that led him to a mortgage he could no longer afford without a roommate. Having Vinnie as a roommate would help him with that mortgage, but hanging with the gay man, although he is determined that he is straight, does have a positive effect. Aaron is adaman that he is straight. But he has *feelings* when it comes to Vinnie. Add to that, Vinnie, who has never been alone in a house in his life, often spends the night in Aaron’s bed, completely platonic.

It’s just awkward because Vinnie is in love with a straight man and he knows he has to get rid of those feelings because he was pining for something that would never happen. Yet, for Aaron life with Vinnie is slowly opening his life to much more than he thought. Aaron has a lot of angst, because it has to be a mind fuck to be straight, a manwhore and now suddenly falling for a gay man. Aaron has a long journey and Vinnie is strong. These guys have a serious connection and it is completely wonderful.

This book had a lot more angst and confusion compared to the previous book in the serious, but it worked well. However, the ending was sweet and poignant and totally worth all the drama. It was great to catch up with all the characters that we’ve met through the journey as well. This is a wonderful end to a wonderful series.

Don’t Twunk With My Heart by Renae Kaye ~ Audio Review

Title: Don’t Twunk With My Heart

Series: Loving You 02

Author: Renae Kaye

Narrator: Joel Leslie

Genre: Contemporary

Length: 5 hrs, 52 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press LLC (24th January 2017)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: Kee Smith isn’t sure who he is anymore. He knows who he used to be – the ignored gay son who chose a blue-collar job just because no one expected it, the submissive bottom who en-joyed large, masculine jocks who put him in his place, the sleek, fashionable twink who partied all night. But after his ex-boyfriend hit Kee and called him names,

Kee retired from the social scene.

Back after a year’s hiatus, Kee still doesn’t know where he fits. His friends say he’s a twunk – a twink who put on muscle and turned into a hunk – but Kee is searching for somewhere to be-long. Instead of going back to his usual type, Kee hooks up with twink Tate Stevens – a fashion-industry professional who works the image hard. It proves to be the best decision he’s ever made, and not just because he’s starting to regain his sexual confidence.

With Tate, Kee can open up about his fears and confusion without ridicule. Tate has his own fears about putting on weight and getting old. It will take work to make a relationship of oppo-sites succeed, but they begin to realize the compromises will be worth it if they can be together.

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

Review: Don’t Twunk With My Heart is the second book in Renae Kaye’s Loving You series.

I’m going to keep my comments on the author because this is a feeling that echoes throughout the whole series for me. At this point I am warming up to Renae Kaye’s writing. For me, an Aussie author writing about her own city is major plus for me. Since we’re not here for a geography lesson, suffice to say that I connect with the very Aussie tone in her writing. I feel the humour and love hearing the slang that is part of my everyday life in my favourite genre of book. 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, industrial workers) 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 book was by Joel Leslie, who takes over from Dave Gilles in the narration of the series. In fact, I have to say that I think this was a good move. While I enjoyed Gilles narration and it was overall great, it annoyed me when his Aussie accent slipped a bit (I know it’s a really stupid thing to get annoyed at). However, I loved Leslie’s Aussie accent, it was really well. I also am a fan of pretty much all of Joel Leslie’s performances because I always feel the emotions from the characters and hear their distinct voices.

Don’t Twunk With My Heart is really sweet and a great return to the world of the Loving You series. Jay is as loud and out there as ever, Liam is as stoic and as sweet as ever. But this book moves onto Jay’s friend, Kee Smith. Kee was a twink but a horrific experience meant that he stayed away from the Perth gay scene for a year and focused on his work, very physical work that has meant that in the space of a year he lost his twink physique. In short, he is now a twunk.

Side note: Jay incessant babbling where he goes through twinks, twunks and twanks is hilarious and definitely one of my favourite moments of the book.

On Kee’s first night back in the scene he meets Tate. Tate is most definitely a twink and he finds himself somewhat confused by the all the twink, twank and twunk talk. However, it is impossible to deny that there is an attraction between the men. They are both out of the closet already too, although Kee’s family are not that nice, so their story is about how a person change. Change is not bad in this case, it’s more of a change into the person who they really are. Kee feels a little lost and finds a lifeline with Tate as finds himself in the world once more. Tate is pretty complicated as well, he is in his thirties and older than Kee. Since he works in fashion he fears putting on weight and getting old, something that Kee picks up and helps Tate just as Tate helps Kee.

This is a really sweet story. Kee and Tate have a wonderful connection with great chemistry. The characters are down to earth and relatable. Another enjoyable book by Renae Kaye, I’m ready for the next!

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.

Buried Passions by Andrew Grey ~ Audio Review

Title: Buried Passions

Author: Andrew Grey

Narrator: Joel Lesley

Genre: Contemporary

Length: 6 hrs, 52 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (14th May 2018)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 3.5 Hearts

Blurb: When Broadway actor Jonah receives word that his uncle has passed away and named him the heir to a property in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Jonah’s plan is to settle the estate as quickly as possible and return to his life in New York City. Much to Jonah’s surprise, the inheritance includes the Ashford Cemetery—and its hunky groundskeeper, recent Bosnian immigrant Luka Pavelka.

Jonah soon discovers Luka is more than easy on the eyes. He sees into Jonah’s heart like no man ever before, and his job at the cemetery is all he has. If Jonah sells, Luka is left with nothing. Luka is there for Jonah when Jonah needs someone most, and there’s no denying the chemistry and connection between them. But Jonah has a successful career back in New York. Now he must decide if it’s still the life he wants….

Product Link: Audible US | Audible UK | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Prime

Review: Buried Passions by Andrew Grey is something of a sweet diversion. One of the sugary sweet type stories, which I have to say is something different to what I’m used to from Grey. Still, this book has the same flow and use of language that I associate with Grey’s writing and something that I really connect to.

The story starts off with Jonah, a Broadway actor who has dreams of stardom. However, he is stuck when the show he is in ends and there doesn’t appear to be anything on the horizon for him. Yet, when the uncle he never knew dies, Jonah leaves the bright lights of New York for the small town where his uncle had loved and had been loved by the entire community. Jonah had a complicated relationship with his parents which plays into the uncle story line. As we get to know Jonah, we find out more about his family and the wonderful uncle that he missed out on knowing. However, Jonah doesn’t expect to discover that part of his inheritance is also the old town cemetery which is how he meets Luka.

Luka is a kind soul and he had no choice but to leave his homeland of Bosnia. Luka was in trouble when Jonah’s uncle befriended and helped him. Luka mourns the death of his friend, but he is on a road to self-discovery as he opens his heart to Jonah. With Jonah probably needing to go back to New York at any moment, as soon as his agent can get him an audition, neither men fight their growing attraction and the love that is starting to form.

The only real criticism that I have for this audio is the narration. While in general I enjoyed Joel Lesley’s narration, I had a little bit of trouble with the accent used for Luka throughout the book. It sometimes felt a little disjointed. I’m not too sure how to explain it but suffice to say that it didn’t really gel with me too much.

However, despite my thoughts on the narration of Luka’s accent this was a sweet romance. I liked the chemistry of Jonah and Luka. They were sweet together but there was a lot of hidden depths to both guys that I really appreciated.

Lord Mouse by Mason Thomas ~ Audio Review

Title: Lord Mouse

Series: A Lords of Davenia 01

Author: Mason Thomas

Narrator: Joel Leslie

Genre: High Fantasy, Action Adventure

Length: 9 hours 25 minutes

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (10th March 2017)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 4 Hearts

Blurb: Scoundrel by nature and master thief by trade, Mouse is the best there is. Sure, his methods may not make him many friends, but he works best alone anyway. And he has never failed a job.
But that could change.

When a stranger with a hefty bag of gold seduces him to take on a task, Mouse knows he’ll regret it. The job? Free Lord Garron, the son of a powerful duke arrested on trumped up charges in a rival duchy. Mouse doesn’t do rescue missions. He’s no altruistic hero, and something about the job reeks. But he cannot turn his back on that much coin – enough to buy a king’s pardon for the murder charge hanging over his head.

Getting Garron out of his tower prison is the easy part. Now, they must escape an army of guardsmen, a walled keep and a city on lockdown, and a ruthless mage using her power to track them. Making matters worse, Mouse is distracted by Garron’s charm and unyielding integrity. Falling for a client can lead to mistakes. Falling for a nobleman can lead to disaster. But Mouse is unprepared for the dangers behind the plot to make Lord Garron disappear.

Product Link: Audible US | Audible UK | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Gigi

Review: If you like swashbuckling action, a good bit of grit, violence and witty main characters you’ll love Lord Mouse. I feel like this story is something of a hot action Robinhood with fast paced adventure, rebellion against evil nobles, and prison breaks. Mouse is a sharp and crafty leader even with his small stature. Don’t think dominant men can’t come in small packages either, his fierce fighting skills are equaled by his fierce sexual chemistry.

Lord Garron turns out to be a good foil for Mouse’s otherwise kill first ask questions later behavior. He’s honorable to a fault, and needs to see that sometimes breaking rules is necessary too.

Joel Leslie’s narration makes this story perfect for the audio format. The varied accents he brings to different characters keeps me intrigued and helps define characters especially when the action gets going. I read this book long before I listened to it and I recommend you definitely plug in your ears and download the audio version!

Great read.

With A Kick Audio Boxset by Clare London Blog Tour!

Hi guys! We have Clare London stopping by today with her first audio boxset for her With A Kick stories, so check out the post and enjoy! ❤ ~Pixie~

With A Kick Vol 01

Clare London

This collection includes Clare London’s first two charming London-based novellas of the With A Kick series – A Twist and Two Balls, and Slap and Tickle. Also included are two short stories featuring the characters in these books.

WITH A KICK

A new and enticing ice cream franchise, with a unique blend of full flavour, mischief and romance. Patrick and Lee are struggling to make a success of their alcoholic ice cream shop in the centre of tourist London. At the same time, their business partnership may take a turn towards the personal – if either of them can find the time and nerve to go for it! Meanwhile, they cater to the wild and wonderful range of customers in the area, many of whom have their own romantic agenda. Will ice cream be the final ingredient they’re all looking for?

Each story is a self-contained romance, but will follow the history of the shop throughout.

A TWIST AND TWO BALLS

Eduardo Mancini is going to be a star of the London stage. Unfortunately, his alter ego Eddy March hasn’t got further than a bit part in a TV series. One ghastly day, he’s late for an audition, can’t pay his taxi fare, and is chased across Soho by the irate driver, Nuri. But maybe being caught by Nuri is exactly what Eddy needs.

SLAP AND TICKLE

Bryan is an accountant who admires order and self-discipline. When he literally bumps into Phiz outside With A Kick, Phiz’s lifestyle and behaviour appear totally chaotic. But they each recognise something in the other that they need. Bryan needs a lover who welcomes his secret desire, and Phiz needs a firm hand–in every way. They both agree that Bryan may be just the man to provide it.

Audible US | Audible UK | Amazon US | Amazon UK

About Clare!

Clare London took her pen name from the city where she lives, loves, and writes. A lone, brave female in a frenetic, testosterone-fueled family home, she juggles her writing with her other day job as an accountant.

She’s written in many genres and across many settings, with award-winning novels and short stories published both online and in print. She says she likes variety in her writing while friends say she’s just fickle, but as long as both theories spawn good fiction, she’s happy. Most of her work features male/male romance and drama with a healthy serving of physical passion, as she enjoys both reading and writing about strong, sympathetic, and sexy characters.
Clare currently has several novels sulking at that tricky chapter-three stage and plenty of other projects in mind… she just has to find out where she left them in that frenetic, testosterone-fueled family home.

Clare loves to hear from readers, and you can contact her on all her social media.

Romancing The Ugly Duckling by Clare London ~ Audiobook

Title: Romancing the Ugly Duckling

Series: Dreamspun Desires 36 / Romancing The… Book 2

Author: Clare London

Narrator: Joel Leslie

Genre: Contemporary

Length: 7 hrs, 15 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (19^th June 2017)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts

Blurb: Is this the makeover of a lifetime?

Ambitious fashionista Perry Goodwood lands the project of his dreams – track down a celebrity family’s missing brother in the Scottish Highlands and bring him back to London for a TV reality show. But first he must transform the rugged loner into a glamorous sophisticate.

Greg Ventura has no use for high fashion. He lives on the isolated island of North Uist to escape the reminder that he’s nowhere near as handsome as his gorgeous brothers and to avoid the painful childhood memories of being bullied.

Greg wants nothing to do with city life, and Perry’s never been outside London. When Perry is stranded on North Uist, this conflict seems insurmountable. But Greg is captivated by the vivacious Perry, and Perry by both the island and his host. However, Perry’s one heartfelt wish remains: that ugly duckling Greg fulfill his potential as a swan.

Product Link: Audible US | Audible UK

Reviewer: Prime

Review: There is a lot for me to love with this book. Firstly, I love the author – I love the sweet English romances by Clare London. I suppose to sum up her writing in a word would be “enchanting”. I loved the first book in this series and that is absolutely true of the second book. Secondly, I love reading about someone meeting their true love and finally seeing themselves in the beautiful light that their love interest sees them. I find that truly uplifting, to see self esteem grow over the course of a book, because hey, I can be sappy. And thirdly, the audio book to me was the sheer enjoyment of listening to Joel Leslie, I’m pretty sure for the first time, and loving every moment of the hustle and bustle of England and the calm solitude of the Scottish Highlands (and yes, I am an Outlander fan and have been for a decade, I blame that!).

Greg Ventura is the guy who left the hustle and bustle of the city to live in an island in the Scottish Highlands. He comes from a family and famous, ridiculously good looking and ridiculously talented brothers. He’s the Ugly Duckling. He doesn’t think that he is as good looking as his brothers – mostly because his brothers instilled this thought into his mind. But now his brothers are calling on him again. They need him to be part of a reality TV show and look like a happy family.

That’s how Greg meets Perry (Peregrine) Goodwood. Perry is an ambitious about his career as a designer/fashionista. It’s hard to explain his career except that he is the guy that does the fashion makeovers. He’s been hired by Greg’s brothers to find Greg, make him over and get him to London to his family. The problem is that Perry gets more than he bargained for when he discovers the gentle, carefree soul that is Grey Ventura – very much unlike his brothers. On top of all that, he needs to be in London because he needs his job desperately, as mistakes from his past threaten to keep him in debt for longer than he can handle.

I love the story and the whirlwind Scottish romance. It is as simple as that. It appeals to that side of me that loves everything about British dramas and the Scottish Highlands (even with all his rain and cold).

Devotion by Grace R. Duncan ~ Audiobook

Title: Devotion

Series: Forbes Mates 01

Author: Grace R Duncan

Narrator: Joel Leslie

Genre: Paranormal

Length: 9 hrs, 12 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (23^rd June 2017)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 3.5 Hearts

Blurb: Finley Cooper is tired of waiting for his destined mate to be ready to claim him. In deference to human laws, he’s already agreed to wait until he’s 18. But now his birthday has come and gone-and his mate has a new set of excuses. Finley doesn’t understand it any more than his wolf does, and he’s beginning to wonder if fate made a mistake.

Tanner Pearce wants nothing more than to claim his mate, but he worries that Finley is too young. Tanner will never forget what happened when his best friend mated at Finley’s age, only to have that mate end up feeling trapped and breaking their bond. While rare, it can happen, and the fallout Tanner witnessed as his best friend tried to deal with the break has haunted him for years.

When Finley finally has enough, he threatens to find someone who will claim him if Tanner doesn’t, and Tanner realizes he needs to come to terms with his fears or risk losing his mate forever.

Product Link: Audible US | Audible UK

Reviewer: Prime

Review: After reading the blurb I was really looking forward to Devotion by Grace R Duncan. I’ve read a couple books by the author in the past but I don’t really have a strong opinion one way or the other beyond liking the author’s writing style. This is the second book I’ve heard narrated by Joel Leslie and for me, it was his narration that totally made the audio for me – particularly when I was ready to skip chapters.

The story is about Finley Cooper and tanner Pearce. Finley thinks that his mate doesn’t want him sometimes. He agreed to wait until he was 18 to be claimed, but when his birthday comes around his mate doesn’t want to claim him yet. Seriously, it’s not difficult to feel for Finley in every way at this point. I was ready to not totally like Tanner but I knew that there was going to be sob story of some sort that would make me fall in love with him as well. And for Tanner that is the emotional scars of seeing a similar mating fail – but of course he had completely misunderstood that. I’m not going to say much more because this is essentially the bones of the story.

As I already said, Joel Leslie’s audio helped me a lot. There was plenty of romance, steamy sex and a good chunk of angst, so I suppose like many other reviewers for this story, the word “cheesy” seems apt. I’m not a fan of a lot of angst, but it went well with the rest of the story.

The one thing that I really had trouble with was that the entire story was predicated on, essentially, a series of misunderstandings and miscommunication. It is one of my pet hates when it comes to romance, so I have to admit that I was a tad bit disappointed about that. Overall this is your typical shifter love story and despite my rating I did enjoy listening because for better or worse, these guys were made for each other and they shared real chemistry on the page.

Dyeing to be Loved Aimee Nicole Walker Audio Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway!

Aimee Nicole Walker - Dyeing to be Loved Audio Banner

Hi peeps, we have Aimee Nicole Walker stopping by today with her new audio release Dyeing to be Loved, we have a great excerpt and a fantastic $5 Amazon gift card giveaway, so check out the post and enter the giveaway! <3 ~Pixie~

Dyeing to be Loved

(Curl Up and Dye Mysteries 01)

Aimee Nicole Walker

Gabriel Wyatt is a big city Detective living in a small Ohio town. He expects a peaceful existence once he moves from Miami, Florida, but that’s the last thing he finds. Instead, Gabe discovers murder, mayhem, and one smart-mouthed stylist he can’t get out of his head.

Josh “Jazz” Roman is a small-town business owner with big dreams and an attitude to match. He finds himself in the middle of a case that brings the dreamy detective to the front door of his Curl Up and Dye Salon. Josh learns that the biggest threat to him isn’t a killer; it’s a man who wants something from him that he vowed to never give again – his heart.

Both men deny that there’s something between them, even though they’re drawn together like magnets. Can Gabe convince Josh to let down his guard or will Josh let past hurts destroy his chance at a happy future?

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Audible US | Audible UK

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Charlie's Hero by Nic Starr ~ Audiobook

Title: Charlie’s Hero

Series: Heroes Book 1

Author: Nic Starr

Narrator: Joel Leslie

Genre: Coming Out, Contemporary

Length: 5 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Heat Level: Moderate – Explicit

Narration: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts

Blurb: Schoolteacher Charlie Matthews returns to his hometown, looking to regain a sense of community, reconnect with friends, and settle down. It looks like his dreams have come true when paramedic Josh Campbell attends an accident at the school. It’s love at first sight, and a romance begins.

But Josh’s reluctance to come out to the brother who raised him puts pressure on their fledgling relationship. While Charlie understands Josh’s concerns, he can’t help growing impatient. After all, Charlie came out years ago.

It’s not until Charlie confronts his own parents and realizes he hasn’t come to terms with their rejection that he fully understands what Josh has to lose. But Josh is Charlie’s hero, and Josh will do anything to prove to Charlie that to be part of a family, he doesn’t need his parents.

Product Link: Audible US | Audible UK

Reviewer: Gigi

Review: Schoolteacher is hot for the EMT! It’s a cute matchup, but takes a while to get there. The romance has a slow simmer, which can be very refreshing, but sometimes I wanted the story to pick up the pace a bit.

The narrator, Joel Leslie did a very fine job with the character variation, the passionate scenes may have been a bit flat, but still tastefully done.

My favorite thing about Charlie’s Hero is the building of a community, friends, family and co-workers coming together to enjoy each other’s company and build a strong community of support. I love to see this and in reality it isn’t done enough.

Most of the drama here occurs with Josh, and his fear over what his brother will do when he finds out Josh is gay. I can also feel Charlie’s frustrations with Josh, and I’m just crushed over his idiotic family’s reactions during the story. Plenty of sadness, frustration, anger and lusty moments abound in this contemporary love story. The drama builds and builds in a fun way with a definite twist at the end.

A warm fuzzy, sexy read.

Endings and Beginnings by K.C. Wells & Parker Williams ~ Audiobook

Title: Endings & Beginnings

Series: Collars & Cuffs Book 8

Author: K.C. Wells & Parker Williams

Genre: Contemporary, BDSM

Narrator: Joel Leslie

Length: 12 hrs 34 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (20^th October 2016)

Heat Level: Moderate – Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts

Narration: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts

Blurb: In all his relationships, Darren Fielding never found the level of intimacy he witnessed between Thomas Williams and his sub, Peter, the day of Peter’s “rebirth”. Not only that, he never realized such intimacy was possible. For two years, Thomas’s business card has been burning a hole in his wallet. When Darren’s lover moves on, maybe it’s finally time to see where that card takes him.

Collars & Cuffs’ new barman, JJ Taylor, is really conflicted right now. He went to the club with a very specific purpose, already convinced of what he’d find there. Except it’s not what he expected at all. He certainly didn’t anticipate finding himself drawn to the new wannabe dom. Nor could he have guessed the direction that attraction would lead him.

Old love, new love, vows, pain, rage, moving in, moving on….The members of Collars & Cuffs face an event that touches some of them deeply, but it will only reinforce what they already know: together they are stronger, and some bonds cannot be broken.

Product Link: Audible US | Audible UK

Reviewer: Gigi

Review: Once I had developed a taste for the Collars & Cuffs series I couldn’t wait for the next, and Endings and Beginnings delivers. What I truly enjoyed besides all the hot kink, was revisiting all of our favorite couples. Of course we get to see a new relationship develop first, that of JJ and Daren, both new to the scene, both carrying a lot of baggage that seems at first insurmountable. But with all the help of the Collars and Cuffs family, even during a crisis that haunts them all from the past, a happy relationship will spout.

My favorite thing about Endings & Beginnings, is that we get just that… to revisit each relationship, remember the couple’s struggles, strengths and passions, and join them in their heart-warming growth and promise for the future. A lot of HEA’s here! I especially love Pietro’s adventure…what a funny, heart melting surprise!!

Joel Leslie’s strengths at offering each character a defines voice comes to light here, because there are so many sets of characters to follow, he does it very well, though I still get crunchy about his voice for Jarod, he’s only in his 50’s not geriatric damn it! But take that with a grain of salt, the rest of this is fun, kinky, love fest material. I recommend this entire series to anyone who loves kink with their romance!

Dom of Ages by K.C. Wells & Parker Williams ~ Audiobook

Title: Dom of Ages

Series: Collars & Cuffs 07

Author: K.C. Wells and Parker Williams

Genre: BDSM, Contemporary

Narrator: Joel Leslie

Length: 10 hrs. 9 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (16^th January 2017)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts

Narration: ♥♥♥♥ 3.5 Hearts

Blurb: Eli may only be 30, but he has had enough of pretend submissives. When he spies Jarod in a BDSM club, everything about the man screams submission. So what if Jarod is probably 20 years older than Eli. What does age matter, anyway? All he can see is what he’s always wanted – a sub who wants to serve.

Jarod spent 24 years with his Master before fate took him. Four years on, Jarod is still lost, so when a young Dom takes charge, Jarod rolls with it and finds himself serving again. But he keeps waiting for the other shoe to drop. Because there’s going to come a point when Eli realizes he’s a laughingstock in the club. Who would want to be seen with a 50-year-old sub?

After several missteps, Eli realizes that in order to find happiness, they will need friends who will understand. At a friend’s insistence, he visits Collars & Cuffs, where they are met with open arms. As they settle in to their new life, Eli begins to see things differently and he dares to think he can have it all. Until a phone call threatens to take it all away.

Product Link: Audible US | Audible UK

Reviewer: Gigi

Review: This was an excellently written BDSM story with an interesting twist. Instead of all the trite hot young twink subs, we’re provided a fine mature man of 50 filling the submissive role. The introduction is a tear jerker for sure. But as we read on and get to know both partners, a true romance, not just a kinkfest, develops. Not to say there isn’t plenty of kink. We get a bit of restraint, a little pain, precision tools, and some deprivation, but it’s all well written, and flows with mutual chemistry. The support characters are a joy to read and had me smiling the whole time I listened, and that’s saying something because I was raking leaves. I’m sure my family had to wonder what the hell was going on.

Only one little thing stuck in my craw, the narrators voice for Jarod made him sound like he’s an 80 year old geezer more often than not. My hubby is 54, and I can tell you he’s no geezer, and his voice is not strained. That is the only reason I rated the narration like that. Joel does well with the narration everywhere else. Once I got beyond that I could appreciate how each character had their own distinctive voice. My favorite character in this story was actually Maggy, Jarod’s mother. Not only did the narrator make her sound just like the Dowager Countess of Downton Abbey, she’s just as wild and kinky as her son! Made me laugh out loud.

If you like some bondage with your boyfriends and you’re in agreement with me that with age comes refinement and richness, then you’ll love this story. I did not read the previous books, and though they are all tied together, this read fine as a standalone. Dom of Ages was a pleasure to listen to, Wells and Williams make a great team, and I know I look forward to giving the rest of the series a try!

The Necromancer's Dance by S.J. Himes Audio Release Blast & Excerpt!

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Hiya peeps, we have S.J. Himes and her new audio release The Necromancer’s Dance, we have a great excerpt, an exclusive excerpt and an audio sample so check out the post and enjoy! <3 ~Pixie~

The Necromancer’s Dance

(The Beacon Hill Sorcerer 01)

S.J. Himes

In a world where magic is real and evil walks amongst humanity, a young sorcerer is beset upon by enemies, both old and new. Angelus Salvatore is the only necromancer in all of Boston, and his name is whispered warily by the undead and fellow sorcerers alike. He and his brother Isaac are the lone survivors of an attack by an army of the undead, in which Angel used a spell so powerful it forever marked his place in history. Now, years later, Angel struggles to balance his career as a teacher of the higher magical arts, his role as big brother, and a tenuous relationship with an Elder vampire from the local clan. When his brother’s boyfriend is used as a pawn in a mysterious plot to draw Angel out, Angel is once again drawn back into the old hostilities that fueled the Blood Wars and led to his family’s death.

Leaning on others for help is something Angel cannot do, and while he searches for clues into who may be targeting him and his brother, Angel finds his heart steadily growing occupied with Simeon, Elder and vampire. Dealing with death magic and vampires on a daily basis may leave Angel jaded when it comes to life and staying that way, but the more time he spends fending off the ancient vampire’s attention and affections, the more he realizes he wants to give in.

Can Angel find out who wants him dead, and keep his heart safe in the process? How can he fall for a vampire, when his whole family was torn apart by an army of the undead?

Death stalks the streets of Boston’s historic Beacon Hill….and there is no one more suited to battle against death than a necromancer.

Audible US | Audible UK | Amazon US | Amazon UK

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Despite The Odds by Chris T. Kat Audiobook

Title: Despite the Odds

Series: Odds Are book 1

Author: Chris T Kat

Narrator: Joel Leslie

Genre: Contemporary MM Romance

Length: 3 hours and 20 minutes

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (12^th January 2016)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts

Blurb: Never judge a book by its cover.

Michael Campbell can’t hold a job for more than a few days. He’s lucky his foreman is giving him another chance with the solar panel project at an elementary school in Atlantic City. When he spies a man walking strangely in front of the school, Michael laughs, assuming he’s drunk or high. Little does he realize that Joshua Stone, a teaching assistant, has cerebral palsy, and he’s having a bad muscle control day. Taking a tumble right in front of the handsome construction worker is just his luck.

When Michael learns the truth, he feels bad for his cruel behavior. He offers to give Joshua—and his tricycle, the Racing Rhonda—a lift. Joshua accepts the help, and suddenly there’s a gorgeous man breezing into his life, turning his world upside down. But Michael has more issues than his inability to hold down a job, and neither man is sure if they’ll be able to overcome their fears in order to be together.

Product Link: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/despite-the-odds-by-chris-t-kat-2662-b | http://amzn.to/28XVWKW

Reviewer: Tams

Review: Michael Campbell’s mission in life is pretty simple… stay with a job for more than a couple of weeks, get drunk and get laid. Everything changes when he meets Joshua, the shy teacher’s aide with Cerebral Palsy. At first Michael ridicules him, thinking Joshua is drunk in the middle of the day since he can’t walk straight. Learning about Joshua’s disability makes Michael feel like the south end of a north bound mule and he sets out to make it right.

Joshua has been sneered at, leered at, picked on and put down his entire life because of his disability. The gorgeous electrician laughing at him and calling him a drunk isn’t anything he’s not used to. The apology, the ride home and the resulting friendship that blooms, that’s very different. Neither of them is a stranger to being on their own, to not being wanted because they are different. The question is, can they look past years of self-loathing and see what they see in each other?

This story captured my attention from the start and continued to carry its weight from there. This wasn’t a story about a guy down on his luck, lived a hard life, finding his prince charming. No, this was a story about two men down on their luck, for different reasons, getting a chance to have the life they’ve always wanted, but never thought they’d have. It was a little sad to listen to the inner thoughts and self-loathing each of them had. Joshua doesn’t see himself as attractive or desirable, mostly because of the effect his disability has had on his body, but a worthless step dad and a mother too wrapped up in said step dad to listen when her son told her how the man ridiculed and picked on him. Michael has never learned to read and doesn’t see himself as any prize either. Together, they both become more with the confidence that they lend to each other. What I enjoyed most about this story was Michael’s devotion and patience with Joshua, it was beautiful and brilliant.

Narrated by Joel Leslie and he is quickly becoming one of my favorite narrators. I love how every book I listen to that he voices is distinctly different. By that I mean the tones and nuances he uses in each book is different, rarely are there any two voices the same, that’s amazing in my opinion.

Definitely a must read for anyone that enjoys the stories with a hard fought happy ever after.

Tag: Joel Leslie – Narrator

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