Title: Where the Allegheny Meets the Monongahela
Author: Felicia Watson
Narrator: Jeff Gelder
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 9 hours and 13 minutes
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (06-13-2012)
Heat Level: Mild
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3Hearts
Blurb: Logan Crane’s life changed dramatically the day a blind fit of temper resulted in him accidentally injuring his wife. Although he’s now in an abuser counseling program, Logan cannot face the real source of his unhappiness: he’s always been attracted to men but has refused to accept it since witnessing an act of violence.
During his therapy, Logan meets Nick Zales, a counselor at a shelter for victims of domestic violence. Nick is understandably suspicious of Logan despite an immediate attraction to him. Logan feels the same attraction and faces a critical internal struggle as he finds himself falling in love with this enigmatic man.
Both men are haunted by unacknowledged ghosts and abuse in their pasts. How can they help each other heal if they continue to ignore their own wounds?
Product Link Dreamspinner: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3039
Product Link Audible: http://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/Where-the-Allegheny-Meets-the-Monongahela-Audiobook/B008AYQDC2?ref_=sr_1_1
Reviewer: Tams
Review: Logan Crane has hidden his sexuality since he realized he was gay, after witnessing his brother severely beat up a friend when he was in high school because the guy was gay. Now married with two daughters, he and his wife struggle to make ends meet which only adds stress to their already strained relationship. After an argument leaves his wife in the hospital, by Logan’s hand, the family is torn apart and Logan is in therapy.
Nick Zales is an abuse counselor at the shelter where Logan is assigned for therapy. Nick is out and proud, which shocks Logan from the start. Nick is an abuse survivor and fulltime caregiver for his aging mother who still suffers the long-term effects of the abuse she suffered. The two are instantaneously attracted to one another, but don’t act on it from the start. Nick mentally berates himself for being attracted to an abuser, and Logan berates himself for being attracted to a man.
Forced to spend time together for an outreach program for the shelter, they slowly break down the walls each of them hide behind and learn that neither of them are who they think they are. Both Nick and Logan have some serious issues to deal with, personal demons, before they have any chance at a relationship. But when faced with facing their equally damning pasts, can they overcome that pain in order to secure a future, together?
I loved the basis in reality of this storyline and the depth of the characters. Both were extremely flawed and emotionally scared. They find the strength to heal through their love for one another. There was a lot of angst though, and the majority of the story read almost like a mature YA novel. That coupled with the horrid narration of Jeff Gelder knocked off a couple stars in my rating. Had I read this book, or had it been narrated by someone with a pulse, the rating per chance would have been higher.
I think I will recommend this book if you are going to READ it. The writing, storyline, and characters were fantastic. I’d definitely read more from this author.
*I received a copy of this audio book in exchange for an honest review from Dreamspinner Press for MM Good Book Reviews*
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