Unearthing Cole by A.M. Arthur ~ Audiobook

UnearthingColeAUDLgTitle: Unearthing Cole
Author: A.M. Arthur
Narrator: JP Handler
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 4 hours and 7 minutes
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (04-09-14)
Heat Level: Mild
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 hearts
Reviewer: Tams
Blurb: Cole Alston swore he’d never return to his childhood home in rural North Carolina, but when his mother dies, he inherits her hoarded property. He hopes to sell everything and use the money to start over in Canada, far away from his abusive ex-boyfriend. It’s a daunting task, and Cole has no idea where to start. Luckily for him, the local antique storeowner, Jeremy Collins volunteers his services in sorting the hoard. Their professional relationship soon evolves into a personal one, but Cole must overcome his past and his anxiety before he can accept a new man in his life or the possibility of a happy future
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Review: Cole Alston has come home to settle his mother’s affairs after her death. He left home right out of college and rarely came back, he was embarrassed by his parents hoarding affliction. His mother was so far gone that she died in the very house that Cole was dreading stepping back into. Always feeling like his parents loved their material possessions more than their own son, Cole craved the unconditional love he’d always missed. Because of this need, he landed in the arms of a controlling, domineering and abusive man. For 7 years, Cole withstood the abuse.

Jeremy Collins has experienced love and loss himself. Both his wife and his sister have died and Jeremy is pretty much a loner, aside from his sister-in-law, who he has remained close to. No one in their little North Carolina town even knows Jeremy is bi-sexual, aside from her.
There is a small spark between the two men from the start, but Cole’s past assures that he will keep Jeremy at arm’s length. Not to mention that Cole is certain Jeremy is straight. As the days pass and Jeremy helps Cole clear out his parent’s house and sell’s items through his antique business, the two grow closer and eventually the relationship becomes sexual. At the start, it’s a friend’s with benefits type thing, but soon Cole is out of his element when his feelings continually grow into more. When his past catches up with him, will Cole stand tall? Or will he flee again?

This was a short and engaging audio book. The narration left a little something to be desired, but I have heard worse. I did enjoy the journey with Cole as I was given pieces of his back story here and there while he goes about cleaning out his child hood home, with every intention of speeding out-of-town as soon as he’s done. But gradually he begins to fall in love with Jeremy. The best part of this book though, for me, was something that happened at the end. I have never seen Karma come around and give it back before like this, it was fantastic, and I loved it. So that got higher markings. The mediocre narration lost a mark though, with a better narrator, this would easily have been a 5 star read.

I’d recommend this book, but perhaps the print version.