I couldn't grok the outbursts of rage in this tale. I'm not sure whether they were intended by the author or added in by the narrator as it was reallyI couldn't grok the outbursts of rage in this tale. I'm not sure whether they were intended by the author or added in by the narrator as it was really just a matter of emphasis but it seemed in the audio-book like both Wade's mom & grandpa and even Ben got too overwrought about what was happening at various points.
While this tale is appealing enough, it's a bit awkward in its delivery. And while the plot covers the basics there are no epiphany evoking moments. It wasn't a hardship to get through but not one I'm likely to revisit. ...more
A great tale of a hearing man falling for a semi-militant "deafie" I've met and know a few deaf people and it's actually a pretty accurate depiction oA great tale of a hearing man falling for a semi-militant "deafie" I've met and know a few deaf people and it's actually a pretty accurate depiction of these types of relationships. Quinn's family here is almost storybook accepting but some folks still found this book "too preachy"
It's probably odd to criticize the way that the narration of am audiobook is done when that book is about two guys who communicate primarily in ASL but... the solo narrator here, Gary Furlong could have differentiated the voices used for the two MC's POVs a bit more. It tended to be very confusing as to whose POV we were hearing.
GODA, not commonly used term, is deaf and hearing grandchildren of one or two Deaf grandparents. It may not be in common usage but it's certainly common in THIS book.
It's unclear whether Tadhg speaks or only signs. I know that speaking is often looked upon as "accommodating the auditory" among some deaf people (and there's a fear of sounding impaired)...more
This clearly an M/M book with a masculine perspective. These guys aren't the romanticized guys that seem to attract a largely female audience. InsteadThis clearly an M/M book with a masculine perspective. These guys aren't the romanticized guys that seem to attract a largely female audience. Instead their inner dialogues and concerns seem to smell of Clearasil & Cruex.
The guy's family concerns seem real and interesting in a way that so much M/M fiction doesn't. This is a coming out tale of sorts, and an m/m romance of sorts but it's also a great story of two guys just discovering how to be more themselves than they've allowed themselves to be up until this point.
If you're looking for a change of pace, by all means check this one out.
Rather than read this one I listened to it. It's written by James Acker and ably narrated by Lee Osorio and Max Meyers two narrators that were new to me. ...more
At just under 7 hours this was a great tale of a guy with dating dysfunction hooking up with a guy that has had a traumatic upbringing. The chemistry At just under 7 hours this was a great tale of a guy with dating dysfunction hooking up with a guy that has had a traumatic upbringing. The chemistry here is amazing and their need for each other is obvious from chapter 1. The supporting characters are great as well and this one just has me anxious to read another in this or the related series. ...more
farming the impossible on the knife edge of failure
The New Zealand Kea, the world's only alpine parrot is known as the 'Clown of the Alps' to South Isfarming the impossible on the knife edge of failure
The New Zealand Kea, the world's only alpine parrot is known as the 'Clown of the Alps' to South Islanders; and has recently been heralded as the world's smartest bird. Didn't know they could fatally injure sheep....more
Just stumbled across this one whilst packing my Kindle with audiobooks for a long train ride. The bumbling nerd and the quietly confident jock tropes Just stumbled across this one whilst packing my Kindle with audiobooks for a long train ride. The bumbling nerd and the quietly confident jock tropes are both favorite tropes of mine and this satisfies both those tastes - while also being a better-than-average Cyrano tale.
Andy's neurotic inner monologue is laugh-out-loud funny. His frequent verbal oversharing is just as amusing as it is endearing, Add to that the over-earnest athlete with a heart of gold and this is a charming romance.
Paradoxically, the writing here is almost too good for a great audiobook. Andy's mile-a-minute overthinking makes one wish that narrators ( Joel Leslie, and Kirt Graves could match that frenetic pace. The skill of the narrators here pulled it off though. The book is great on all levels.
One of the most frequently liked reviews for this book somewhat put me off listening to this for a while. Fact is... they were wrong. I'm guessing thaOne of the most frequently liked reviews for this book somewhat put me off listening to this for a while. Fact is... they were wrong. I'm guessing that they either misinterpreted something they read or were completely affected by biases in their own life that made them miss the point of this.
Personally, I thought "This was Ace-some." It really explored what an ACE relationship might feel like.
Boyhood friends who grew apart when one realized that his unrequited gay love wasn't returned by his chum. That the chum has felt trapped in a conventional relationship for a decade is clear and both guys were presented fairly and I had empathy for both.
This book is just another example of how much more interesting the world can be when we stop having to just "accept" others and can learn to celebrate them.
I enjoyed this and can see myself listening to it again someday, though I don't feel the pull to do so immediately like I do with the things I rate as 5 stars.
Boston High School Gym Teacher Payne Walker has discovered his husband Kyle has been cheating doing MyFans and more. On the wrong side of 40 he's now Boston High School Gym Teacher Payne Walker has discovered his husband Kyle has been cheating doing MyFans and more. On the wrong side of 40 he's now moved back to his hometown and is soon a bit of a charity case/roommate with his younger brother's best friend. The set up is great and this book is all about the feels and enjoying seeing these two come together.
It's also the first in a new series so we meet a whole cast of characters Marty Walker, Payne's bro, spacey Beau Rickshaw, Marty's best friend and a group of men who call themselves the divorced Men's Club. There's Orson (a widower), Art (Payne's boyhood chum) & first gay divorcee in Massachusetts who has taken over running his family brewery Killer Brews. There's Ford who runs a garage and Griffon (soon to be divorced from Poppy)
I actually tried this AFTER book 5 in the series and both are fun quick reads. The sex is pretty hot but is secondary to the story.
I listened to both as narrated by Nick J. Russo and he's generally good, though he does slip out of character from time to time making for some briefly confusing moments, but its not enough to ruin the experience. ...more
Dating your son's best friend? It can be tricky despite how perfect they are for each other these two are almost too sweet to be believed. This is theDating your son's best friend? It can be tricky despite how perfect they are for each other these two are almost too sweet to be believed. This is the best kind of fantasy fulfillment for those looking for an MM age-gap romance.
The characters are genuinely enjoyable to spend time with and I can easily see myself listening to this one again.
This book builds the anticipation but the "slips" are about as graphic as it can get. Only an idiot thinks that these two won't end up together, and seeing them fight the inevitable is part of the fun. Nick Russo does the narration here and it's generally great. When it's important, the voices of the two main characters are distinct enough to easily tell apart and the voices of the minor characters are distinct enough to add a few embellishments as well.
Oddly, there is some slippage here where the narrator seems to forget just who's speaking in a particular chapter and it added a few minor moments of confusion but it was generally not an issue....more
Emotionally satisfying tale of a two guys coming together after yearning for each other for years. Erik is a strong gentle giant Viking type who has eEmotionally satisfying tale of a two guys coming together after yearning for each other for years. Erik is a strong gentle giant Viking type who has elected to move away from a troubled homelife situation. The other, Jules, is the younger brother of Erik's out, proud, and fabulous, best friend. Problem is that the younger brother is off-limits and suffers from crippling social anxiety.
Decades after they first recognize their attraction, Erik returns home trusting that his siblings have finally worked through most of their sh*t. Half afraid that Jules has moved on, both guys are pleasantly surprised to find that absence has simply made their hearts grow fonder.
They still have issues to work through but basically the angst in this story is pretty much all consumed by Jules. This is one part hurt/comfort tale and one part two people with problems finding the one that will help them solve those problems.
Amos was gay boy who had a two-year-long thing in high school for a closeted ⚽️soccer jock⚽️ who got cold feet about coming out at prom and broke AmosAmos was gay boy who had a two-year-long thing in high school for a closeted ⚽️soccer jock⚽️ who got cold feet about coming out at prom and broke Amos's heart ...more
I've a soft spot for the bumbling guys who never seem to catch a break. This is a natural for me and in audiobook form is a sweet bon-bon that entertaI've a soft spot for the bumbling guys who never seem to catch a break. This is a natural for me and in audiobook form is a sweet bon-bon that entertains without bringing any heavy angst or educational value.
It's probably not the best to make a steady diet of this type of story but it's a great break when one needs a retreat from real world problems....more
While a charming supporting character Kyle's a bit much as an MC. Still... the story works as entertainment. I DID have to suspend my disbelief a bit While a charming supporting character Kyle's a bit much as an MC. Still... the story works as entertainment. I DID have to suspend my disbelief a bit more than usual, both as to Cancer and as to How prepared someone with a Vet degree is to deal with losses. ...more
Yet another instalment in a series that is low-angst and a bit graphic. This time featuring the freshly divorced guy who's figured out in his thirtiesYet another instalment in a series that is low-angst and a bit graphic. This time featuring the freshly divorced guy who's figured out in his thirties that he's actually gay. (Not even Bi though he's been married for years?) He meets and falls for a gay father of two 18 month old daughters after the other daddy left, deciding that the dream HE SAID he wanted wasn't right for him after all.
These two guys work as a couple and are charming enough but after binge reading 4 of these, I'm NOT sure that I'm quite ready to jump into book 5 Though I will admit that I'm curious why Tyler, the Vet MC of book 5, is the only one we still have no last name for. ...more
Perhaps the weakest book in the series. The Billionaire bit has been done once already in this series and here it felt less organic and just more likePerhaps the weakest book in the series. The Billionaire bit has been done once already in this series and here it felt less organic and just more like conspicuous consumption. It WAS interesting to see that the love interest here being actually impeded/intimidated by the other's wealth. The homeless ex-jock with the career-ending injury. That they'd both been friends in their high school days and the romantic shoe had been on the other foot was interesting. ...more
This is the third book in the Bridge to Abingdon series.
All of these books seem to deal with small-town gays who've escaped their rural roots for at This is the third book in the Bridge to Abingdon series.
All of these books seem to deal with small-town gays who've escaped their rural roots for at least moderate success in bigger cities returning to their rural Virginia roots. As a small-town gay who lived and thrived in Manhattan for 20+ years, this series appeals to me and yet the small-town appeal is clearly fictional. Their small town of Abingdon has become a gay-tolerant and vibrant community that's generally accepting of diversity with a minority of small-minded, slow-to-change townies. My town has changed little and the populace is no more open-minded than they were when I left.
In this installment, a tech billionaire returns and is soon saddled with a daughter who seems to have the same emotional/developmental problems he had as a child. He meets and partners up with a successful, slightly younger rural refugee now a NYC painter who had attended the same schools and who he'd harshly shut down after a secret kiss that neither then-closeted kid knew quite how to deal with. The romance is sweet, the family feelings make for a pleasant read and seeing these two men solve some of the little girl's problems make this an enjoyable, mostly angst-free read.
I'm now more than halfway through this series and am a bit puzzled as to why this series was done as Dual-Narration. Alexander Cendese is a great narrator and the chapters he reads are bright & engaging whilst the chapters read by Tor Thom feels somnambulant by comparison. The dialog is written so that both narrators must voice the dialogue of multiple characters in all of the chapters despite the POV switching back and forth. Both narrators have an OK style but the two are NOT complementary when heard one after the other. This is the third book in the series done this way, and I'm now convinced that I'd rather Cendese had just narrated the entire thing. This is NOT one of those situations where both bring their talents and together create a superior whole.
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