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.
Overall, this one was a disappointment. It started strong with a good opening scenario but the somewhat unbelievable expository dialogue showed that tOverall, this one was a disappointment. It started strong with a good opening scenario but the somewhat unbelievable expository dialogue showed that the author needs more experience in telling these kinds of tales.
I have a weakness for broken-winged birds and this book had that in spades in the title character. That said, the intra-chapter POV changes were less practiced than what I'm used to and while some weren't too jolting, others really broke up the mood of the story.
The pacing was problematic overall with some good parts zooming by without enough detail and others feeling all too obviously like like they were given short shrift.
Then there was my main problem with this book. This was a crime novel masquerading as an M/M romance. Actually, that's a bit unfair. It's actually more of an uneasy mix of two things that don't really work together. The human trafficking angle should probably have been foreshadowed in the book blurb. It makes this tale MUCH darker than I expected, and I felt that we spent way too much time with people that I REALLY didn't care for. The title character somewhat offers the worst condemnation in a direct quote "This all sounds like a bad soap opera."
This telling dwells too much on the hate crimes, human trafficking, and criminal aspects and this does NOT make for compelling a romance. While people looking for a romance will feel that this one dwells too much on the criminals, those looking for a crime novel will probably feel that the writer doesn't understand enough about stakeout routines, witness protection, and etc. well enough. Finally, in several spots, the author included inessential details that added nothing to the story and broke the narrative flow.
While it's NOT the worst I've ever read, and things never got as bleak as they threatened to, the ominous build-up left me unable to really enjoy most of the book. I'm not interested enough to pick up the next book in the series and I'll most likely never re-visit this one again.
I listened to the audiobook version of this one as narrated by Jeff Griffin who did a good job with the pacing overall and had good voices developed for the two main characters. Several of the more minor supporting characters tended to run together but I'm guessing that that was due in part to the way that the book was organized. More chaptering might have helped that. ...more
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
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
While this is the 4th book in this series it's the first one that I encountered and it can easily stand-alone. Though I do suspect that it might be evWhile this is the 4th book in this series it's the first one that I encountered and it can easily stand-alone. Though I do suspect that it might be even more fun is one knows the back-story on the many other characters outside the main relationship.
This was a fun read dealing with small towns, age-gaps, and a straight guy that's actually gay for one particular guy. The problem is it's the baby brother of his best friend.
But is an age difference of 12 years really that big a deal when the younger guy is 22?
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.
This is a sweet College jock meets math nerd fantasy novel. Pure dessert quality. No angst, lotta romantic adorble moments. No real drama and not muchThis is a sweet College jock meets math nerd fantasy novel. Pure dessert quality. No angst, lotta romantic adorble moments. No real drama and not much plot but a sweet story nonetheless. I do now feel that I need to get a BIT more fibre in my reading diet though... ...more
From beginning to end this is one of those "Friends to lovers" tales where you wonder how the two could be such good friends for years without having From beginning to end this is one of those "Friends to lovers" tales where you wonder how the two could be such good friends for years without having learned to communicate better. But then if they were both open and communicative the central tension in the storyline would be solved in chapter one. At least one of our protagonists claims to NOT be a fan of "edging" so how can I give 5 stars to a tale that's nothing but emotional edging. You just KNOW that there's gonna be a happy ending... it's really just a question of how many delays these two can put in their way before we get the ultimate release.
There are several steamy scenes, mostly toward the end of the novel, but this tale is more concentrated on the defining the relationship aspects of the tale and less on the horizontal gymnastics.
Both guys are likable, and hot and it's a pleasure to hear the tale. The narrator does a credible job but the two main characters are so similar in this "he said/he said" dual POV tale that it's a challenge to know at any point which POV we're in. This might have been better with dual narrators. This is an easy tale to listen to and I do love this author's work, so I'll probably listen to this one more than once but it's not quite got the appeal of my favorites....more
This is a zero-angst book about two guys that belong together.
Haze is from a wealthy but single-parent home. He has a degree in biochemistry and is sThis is a zero-angst book about two guys that belong together.
Haze is from a wealthy but single-parent home. He has a degree in biochemistry and is studying acting but is worried about never having found his passion. An ex accused him of being a chameleon and weaponized the label against him. He loves soap making as a hobby/way to relax.
Noah is a veterinarian working at Vet Shop Boys but is still recovering from his third dumping. He tends to define love as being willing to sacrifice his concerns for those of his partner and he's yet to find a partner that finds him enough.
Though Noah picks up Haze as a one-night stand the two hit it off and end up becoming much more.
If you're in the mood for a low fibre, low-stress, guilty pleasure read this may well be the ticket. One aspect of this low-stress book is that the main characters HAVE insecurities but they TALK about them to each other. If only people in both real life and fiction did this, the world might be a happier place.
Narrated by John Solo this 7 hour audiobook is pure escapism with more than a dash erotic scenarios. Solo does a great job bringing distinctive and fitting voices to the character dialogue and does a credible job with the purely narrative bits.
This was actually an interesting take on an ex-lover situation. While the father seemed a bit unbelievable in his cluelessness, some people do act thaThis was actually an interesting take on an ex-lover situation. While the father seemed a bit unbelievable in his cluelessness, some people do act that way.
Both of the protagonists are a bit damaged and what makes them perfect for each other isn't really as well fleshed out as in other tales ...unless it's that very brokenness that both men have. This book is the 9th installment in the V&V series where each book contains primary characters that are new but with some character spill-over from other books. That aspect tends to work quite well here. ...more
First book I've encountered with a voice actor as a character. The idea of being embarrassed by hearinFamily of 10 with 4 gay parents and 5 gay kids?
First book I've encountered with a voice actor as a character. The idea of being embarrassed by hearing one's baby brother reading erotic passages was funny.
Definitely gonna have to check out baby brother's book when I finish this one.
The two main characters sound a bit too much alike and it made for some confusing spots.
I really enjoyed Eli's "John Barrowman as za za" moments but I didn't find the sub-dom play as compelling as others night.
All the "Hallmark Moments" one expects in an M/M romance read. Veterinarians who love animals, some kooky animal oddities, two above average looking yAll the "Hallmark Moments" one expects in an M/M romance read. Veterinarians who love animals, some kooky animal oddities, two above average looking young men who are recovering from "the slings and arrows that life is heir to."
Both guys are folks you'd feel lucky knowing (in the biblical sense or otherwise) and both have hang-ups that reflect their past hurts. Seeing the two come together and heal those past hurts is sweet and makes for a satisfying listen even if there are no moments of epiphany present.
I enjoyed this one, but it is an audible bon-bon....more
Part of the appeal of these books is their comforting setting. They are all set in and around Burlington Vermont and the gay bar/book store that is ViPart of the appeal of these books is their comforting setting. They are all set in and around Burlington Vermont and the gay bar/book store that is Vino & Veritas. This one falls a bit short. I'm giving it 3 stars because it was a pleasant enough listen, but it's probably closer to a 2.5.
This installment centers on Titus, “Tag” Tyler former musician (turned beekeeper and mead brewer), and Caleb Holt an accountant who’d really prefer being a poet. Tag is smitten with slight somewhat nerdy Caleb when Caleb exhibits stage fright at an open mike night and Tag helps him through the worst of the nerves. Though the two hit it off immediately, Tag is reluctant to give up his recently acquired anonymity after his past run-ins with tabloids and fame groupies. Caleb has his own issues with his virginity and his sheltered status as the youngest of a brood of four brothers.
I started to lose interest part way through this tale and after reflecting on it, have decided that the main conflict in the story just felt too “manufactured.” Tag abandoned his fame in order to adopt a new identity in Burlington. His angst over not revealing his former identity just didn’t feel as important to me as the author made it for both main characters.
Moreover the two main characters were never fleshed out with the kinds of details that really bring fictional characters to life. The supporting characters, even less so. The retired ex-musician is a bit of a hermit and the nerdy accountant poet wannabe has meddling elder brothers but we learn almost nothing about these supporting characters beyond their "wireframes."
In contrast. I'm relistening to The Half Wolf by Jay Northcote a favorite of mine, at the same time. Not only are the two main characters fleshed out but, their parentals, their closest friends, even a few random supporting characters are given more depth than anyone outside the main characters in this tale.
Also the best of the V&V Burlington centered books involve tying in characters from other books in the series. This book had almost none of that. This doesn’t make this a bad story. It does make it feel a bit cut and paste or run of the mill. There wasn’t anything to make it truly memorable. The two main characters are both likable enough. One even has a charming Labrador pup, but that’s not enough to carry the whole book. This is by no means a bad book. If you’ve enjoyed the other tales in in the Vino & Veritas series, you will probably enjoy this one as well. However I doubt you’ll remember it years from now as anywhere near the best of the series.
This Audio-book is narrated by Greg Boudreau who does his usual stellar, if not always perfect, job of bringing the story to life. This story unfolds as narrated by the two main characters in alternating chapters. With books of this type, the perfect audio-book adaptation requires six “voices.” Each character has a “narrator” voice, an “inner monologue” voice and their spoken word voice. Greg uses two very distinctive voices to separate the characters, but there is often little to separate what is spoken, what is inner monologue, and what is just narration. Whilst this generally works, there are spots where it gets confusing as to what we’re hearing. Greg also suffers from a bit of a handicap with me in that my first exposure to him was the four book series Guardians of Camelot. No matter who he’s voiced since, I tend to hear Lancelot and Merlin in all of his other characters.
Danvers was a successful lawyer who got a bit of a wake-up call when his thrill-seeking ex-best buddy and law partner died in a parachuting accident. Danvers was a successful lawyer who got a bit of a wake-up call when his thrill-seeking ex-best buddy and law partner died in a parachuting accident. They were ex-best friends in the sense that they’d been friends since childhood. But Danvers coming out as gay, and his law partner’s homophobic reaction ended their friendship and, to a large part, any professional partnership they had. As executor of his estate, Danvers discovers that his partner had a neurodivergent child whom he’d abandoned but for whom he’d left a trust. However, after meeting him, Danvers realizes that he may have found his perfect companion in Ethan.
This audiobook is rather brief, clocking in at just under four and a half hours, and is not intended to be a lengthy depiction of a relationship. In truth, it barely covers approximately a week’s worth of time. However, it does an amazing job of portraying what it could be like to start a daddy-boy relationship with someone who is neurodivergent. Some have unfairly criticized this story for its insta-love aspects. Both characters ARE decisive and both are used to taking action. Both are comfortably well off and at points in their lives where quick action doesn’t carry tremendous risk. To me the guys attractions to each other and the reasons behind them felt perfectly natural and credible.
In many respects, the two are made for each other, and the story swiftly becomes a fantasy come true. The story is portrayed from Danvers’ and Ethan’s perspectives. Both of the main characters having their own different speaking styles. In the audio-book version of this Michael Dean’s yoeman-like narration and voice acting make it a fun adventure.
Some readers have criticized how Ethan portrays neurodivergence. I gotta disagree. I’m a big admirer of the TV show Atypical, which stars Keir Gilchrest as a neurodivergent character. The similarities are obvious here. So are the distinctions that one might expect. After all, there is a reason that this is referred to as a spectrum.
It’s also kind of a light treatment of the whole daddy-boy scene focusing on the two’s vertical relations more than their playtime which is fine by me as that’s one kink that sometimes feels a bit silly to me.
There’s also been some criticism in reviews of how the neurodivergent character is portrayed. I believe both the author and the narrator did an excellent job. One tiny aspect that I did consider a bit off-putting was the way that chapter 2 starts with dialogue from Jordan, one of Ethan’s employees with a significant stutter. Jordan plays no real role in most of the story but, particularly as voiced by Michael Dean, does “get in the way” of us learning more about Ethan early on. Once introduced, I kept wondering if we’d ever get more details about this guy, and fearing it a bit as stutters CAN so easily be overdone in audio-books. Somewhat to my relief he never re-appears but I would be curious about his story and how he came to work with Ethan.
I tend to be drawn to any story where the main character sees the world differently than I do. Perhaps it’s because I see my own upbringing as happy but a bit boring in the way that only a late boomer white midwestern male might do. While that fostered a sense of entitlement in many of my contemporaries, in me it fostered a curiosity and a love of diversity. I’m always curious about new experiences, whether they be new foods, new cultures or new viewpoints and perspectives.
Michael Dean not only does a great job with the basic narration and the voice acting for the primary characters but gives voice to Ethan’s mother, one of Ethan’s friends, and one of Danvers’ friends and they’re all distinctive and “in character” whilst remaining innocuous enough to not detract from the story. Overall this is satisfying audio encounter.
I’d recommend this and will probably re-visit it from time to time. It’s a short work and doesn’t dig as deeply as I sometimes wish it had, so it’s probably not bound for my most frequent re-listen list. But it’s still a pleasurable trip.
*** Note: I am voluntarily reviewing this after receiving a complimentary copy ***
Fit horny athletes? Check. Sympathetic coaches? Check. Foiled lovers finally getting together? Check. This tale is a bit of fantasy fulfillment and prFit horny athletes? Check. Sympathetic coaches? Check. Foiled lovers finally getting together? Check. This tale is a bit of fantasy fulfillment and probably won’t be for everyone.
Cam is a closeted prince of the vault while Lucas, the first openly gay Team USA gymnast was given an ultimatum at the end of book 1. Drop Cam or lose all parental support.
Lucas chose wrong, broke Cam’s heart and it’s now 4 years later and they’re seeing each other again, this time in London.
The forced separation at the end of book one felt a bit unrealistic. I had trouble buying that an out Olympic athlete who medaled could be as much under his parent’s thumb as Lucas was at the end of book one. But that book really wasn’t about that as much as the team spirit and camaraderie of the team and the guys budding romance, so I was perhaps more forgiving than I should have been.
That said, it’s now four years later and while both guys have grown more skillful in their sport, they’ve not really progressed emotionally. Lucas has a strict female coach with explicit instructions to keep him away from Cam as much as possible. The fact that neither character has matured much and skipping ahead four years in time didn’t do this tale a lot of favors.
Once we get past the “sturm und drang” of that manufactured conflict and they guys re-unite, the tale once again gets to be an Olympic frolic; and this time the setting is London, one of my favorite cities.
Again this is told in a “he said/he said” manner with alternating chapters from the two main characters’ perspectives but with so many other male characters actively participating, the dialogue sections more than once get a bit confusing. More than once I found myself re-reading a section and still unable to determine who said what. This was also a problem in the first book but it seemed a bit worse here.
For some reason a “younger brother” character, Austen, caught my attention in book one and it was fun to see how he had “filled out” here in book 2. I’m guessing that book three will be set in San Francisco and be yet another four years in the future. While the boys are certainly worth reading about, I hope that the author gives them more scope to evolve in the next four year gap. While the sexcapades are fun, I’d like to see the characters grow beyond what some might say are still pretty two-dimensional characters.
*** Note: I am voluntarily reviewing this after receiving a complimentary copy ***
Another fun installment in the Never Just Friends series. Unlike many series of this type, the characters in previous books play an integral role in tAnother fun installment in the Never Just Friends series. Unlike many series of this type, the characters in previous books play an integral role in this one. I'm pretty sure that you could read any of these independently but reading them in the order they were created does add an additional level of enjoyment to the series.
The one downside to listening to these rather than reading them though is that the same two narrators did the entire series. They are both great, and two of my favorite narrators, but hearing them in the roles of Leon and Auggie right after hearing them in the roles of Rowan and Circus is a bit weird.
This book felt a bit more concentrated on the sexual aspects than the last book. I'm not sure that that was bad in any way and the story did still shine through as important and not just the glue holding sex scenes together (Which I HAVE encountered with other writers)
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