Review: Mister Bridesmaid

Mister Bridesmaid by Ivy Oliver and Stephen Dexter, Noah Michael Levine
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I haven’t seen him in six years… now we’re married.

When my best friend asked me to serve as her Man of Honor, of course I said yes. A trip to Vegas for the week before her wedding and then on to the Florida Keys for the nuptials was an added bonus. The icing on the cake was her brother, Colt.
 

I liked it but was not overwhelmed. It was a bit slow, sometimes and several spoken sentences sounded unreal. I mean, who is screaming mad and comes up with an insult of 6 adjectives? About adjectives, regularly giving a list of characteristics is not the prettiest way of storytelling. And repeating several times "Something is wrong but I don't know what" needs a few examples to give the reader a feeling of suspension.
The light and patient tone Stephen Dexter chose, often got a bit sleepy. He performed a lot slower than the other narrator, which made me constantly tweak the speed. Noah M Levine tended to gloss over a lot of emotions as directed by the text.

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Review: Icecapade

Icecapade by Josh Lanyon and ~
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

(Part of His For The Holidays Anthology)

On the eve of the new millennium, diamond thief Noel Snow seduced FBI special agent Robert Cuffe, then fled into the dawn. Now a successful novelist, Noel uses his capers as fodder for his books, and has modeled his hero's nemesis (and potential love interest) on Cuffe. Though he leaves Robert a drunken phone message every New Year's Eve, Noel hasn't seen or heard from him in a decade.

So he's thrilled when his former lover shows up at his upstate farm one Christmas Eve. Elation quickly turns to alarm when Robert accuses Noel of being responsible for a recent rash of diamond heists.

I had a hard time following the story in the beginning, when novel, past and present were mixed together. Icecapade was the best of the Anthology. Maybe even 4 stars, because I loved the hurt and longing. 

Narration was marvelous.

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Review: Foolish Puckboy

Foolish Puckboy by Eden Finley and Iggy Toma, Alexander Cendese
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

ALEKS
After my divorce, I’m ready to have fun, date around, and not get into anything serious. Then I meet Gabe Crosby, superhero firefighter and a disgrace to the Crosby name. He doesn’t even like hockey! Gabe turns me inside out and upside down in the best possible ways.

GABE
When I meet Aleksander Emerson during an emergency call-out, there are three things that catch my attention: his sexy tattoos, his kind eyes, and his drunken offer to have my babies. He’s new to Seattle and recently divorced, so I take him under my wing–and under my sheets. I’m showing him what the world of hookups is like, only those hookups turn into sleepovers and dates and public displays of jealousy.
 

I loved the humor in book #3 although the plot was not always believable. This next book had some funny moments and was more realistic but it did not grasp me. I was not captivated by the question of how they would solve their differences.
The narration was good.

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Review: Common Goal

Common Goal by Rachel Reid and Cooper North
My rating: 3 of 5 stars 

Veteran goaltender Eric Bennett has faced down some of the toughest shooters on the ice, but nothing prepared him for his latest challenge—life after hockey. It’s time to make some big changes, starting with finally dating men for the first time.

Graduate student Kyle Swift moved to New York nursing a broken heart. He’d sworn to find someone his own age to crush on (for once). Until he meets a gorgeous, distinguished silver fox hockey player. Despite their intense physical attraction, Kyle has no intention of getting emotionally involved.

So, I relistened this book to find out why it did not keep me focused, the first time. This is a so called 'slow burn' but there is no tension. For some reasons the protagonists decide not to make a move and that is it, for most of the book. I like to get offered a reason to finish a book. I mean, other than the question if the couple ends up together, which some authors make tantalizing, there is nothing here.

The narration was good but the sound quality eas not perfect. I regularly heard a low vibration buzzing underneath the low vowels. 

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Review: Racing for the Sun

Racing for the Sun by Amy Lane and Nick J. Russo
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Staff Sergeant Jasper "Ace" Atchison takes one look at Private Sonny Daye and knows that every word on paper about him is pure, unadulterated bullshit. But Sonny is desperate, and although Ace isn't going to take him up on his offer of "anything," that doesn't mean he isn't tempted.

Instead, Ace takes Sonny under his wing, protecting him when they're in the service and making plans with him when they get out. Together, they're going to own a garage and build race cars and make their fortune hurtling faster than light across the desert.

I liked the love and care in this book and how protective Ace was. I kept reading because I wanted to know more about Sonny, nothing else was interesting.
The narrator did a great job.

But I will not relisten to this audiobook. The ending did not satisfy me because I believe the San Diego police can easily solve that crime. They can investigate the last race and investigate the pet. Ace's believe SDPD will not be interested because the victim was a criminal, does not match with his statement they have a 97% crime-solving rate.

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Review: Behind the Curtain

Behind the Curtain by Amy Lane and Hugh Bradley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

 

Dawson Barnes recognizes his world is very small and very charmed. Running his community college theater like a petty god, he and his best friend, Benji know they'll succeed as stage techs after graduation. His father adores him, Benji would die for him, and Dawson never doubted the safety net of his family, even when life hit him below the belt. But nothing prepared him for falling on Jared Emory's head. Aloof dance superstar Jared is a sweet, vulnerable man and Dawson's life suits him like a fitted ballet slipper. They forge a long-distance romance from their love of the theater and the magic of Denny's. At first it's perfect: Dawson gets periodic visits and nookie from a gorgeous man who “gets” him—and Jared gets respite from the ultra-competitive world of dancing that almost consumed him.

There was nothing wrong with this audiobook. All characters were nice, even the immature Dawson,  and the only trouble in the relationship was Jared always leaving and risking injury. And that was not enough. You can't write hundreds of pages just letting the question hang out there, without tweaking the tension. The narration was so good it kept me listening.

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Review: The Husband Hoax

The Husband Hoax by Saxon James and Teddy Hamilton, James Joseph
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Christian
Being invited to my cousin’s wedding really shouldn’t be such a big deal except, oh yeah, I haven't seen my family for a decade.
My parents turned their backs on me and I’ve done everything since to become successful and show them what they lost. Only, it’s kinda hard to be a success when you’re a walking trainwreck.
So I’m going to fake it.

Émile
One letter from my dearly departed grandfather, and suddenly I’m on a husband hunt.
He’s reworked his entire will so I’m set to inherit far more than I'm entitled to, and all because he’s asked me to use that money for “good”.
In order to get that inheritance, though, there’s one stipulation: marriage.

 

DNF at 30%
The fake boyfriend trope is not easy. How do you convince the reader this is a probable situation? Some authors pull it off, others seduce their readers to allow some fantasy in an otherwise realistic story.

In this case I enjoyed the beginning but when they started discussing marriage there was so much unclear, glossed over, left open, ignored or waved away, I could not take it any longer.

Pity, because I really enjoyed the narration.

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Review: Chase in Shadow

Chase in Shadow by Amy Lane and Sean Crisden
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Chase Summers: Golden boy. Beautiful girlfriend, good friends, and a promising future. Nobody knows the real Chase. Chase Summers has a razor blade to his wrist and the smell of his lover’s goodbye clinging to his skin. He has a door in his heart so frightening he’d rather die than open it, and the lies he’s used to block it shut are thinning with every forbidden touch. 

He may have met Tommy Halloran in the world of gay-for-pay—where the number of lovers doesn’t matter as long as the come-shot’s good—but if he wants the healing that Tommy’s love has to offer, he’ll need the courage to leave the shadows for the sunlight.

 
I listened to the audio book after reading the e-book several times. It is a sad story about two young adults with mental health issues. The official girlfriend plays a big part in it and she was this really annoying perfect super feminine cutie. I disliked the ending, where the story tried to fulfill some family norms I could have done without.
The narrator is better, nowadays. In this production he sometimes swallowed the last word and he made the tone a bit too friendly. Long stretches were read in a nice matter-of-fact tone, while the text described drama and suffering.

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Review: Christmas Kitsch

Christmas Kitsch by Amy Lane and Nick J. Russo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rusty Baker is a blond, rich, entitled football player in a high school full of them—just the type of oblivious jock all the bullied kids hate. And he might have stayed that way, except he develops a friendship with out-and-proud Oliver Campbell from the wrong side of the tracks. Rusty thinks the friendship is just pity—Oliver is very bright, and Rusty is very not.
Oliver Campbell is the best thing that’s ever happened to him. Rusty’s parents disagree, and Rusty finds himself homeless for the holidays. Oliver may not have much money, but he’s got something Rusty has never known: true family.

 

Because of the title I always thought this was a holiday story, but I would disagree. It spans 6 months and ends with Christmas. The focus is on starting to live on yourself.

Rusty has to be perfect for his parents and because he is not bookish enough for college, he tends to call himself stupid all the time. He is the only point of view.
Oliver is in love with Rusty and is patiently waiting until Rusty is ready to come out and have sex and move in together. It is Oliver who makes me love this novel.

The narration was very good.

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Review: Breaking Point

Breaking Point by N.R. Walker and Sean Crisden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As guilt plagues him, Matthew Elliott’s world begins to spiral out of control. The harder he holds on, the more it slips through his fingers, and he’s helpless to stop it.

Entering into the underground cage-fighting scene, he starts out fighting for what’s right. The deeper he gets, the more guilt consumes him – the more pain he takes for his penance, and he’s soon fighting for more than justice.

This novel can't be read without listening to book #1, where Matt and Kira find love. In this novel, the mandatory trouble in paradise occurs. Sometimes, hurt is what I want to read about, and this is a favorite go-to. The fight scenes are harsh, so I skip parts.
Narration is good.
 

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Review: Point of No Return

Point of No Return by N.R. Walker and Sean Crisden
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

 

Matthew Elliot is one of LA's best detectives. He's been labelled the golden boy of the Fab Four; a team of four detectives who've closed down drug-rings all over the city.
Enter Kira Takeo Franco, the new boxing coach at the gym. Matthew can't deny his immediate attraction to the man his fellow cops know as Frankie. But in allowing himself to fall in love with a man known to his colleagues, Matthew risks outing them both.

This is a favorite re-listen, as is the very different book #2. I love this audiobook because it focuses on Kira and Matt being in love. Warm fuzzy feelings and well-developed protagonists and secondary characters for more than half of the story. After that, suddenly the crime plot explodes, which in my opinion could have been better balanced throughout the story.
The narration is marvelous. Sean Crisden has the right voice for this and he chose to perform this as a stream of consciousness.
 

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Review: Dissonance

Dissonance by Shira Anthony and Nick J. Russo
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

British noble Cameron Sherrington has hit rock bottom. The love of his life, opera sensation Aiden Lind, is marrying another man, and Cam knows it’s his fault for pushing Aiden away. As if that’s not enough, someone is trying to take away his family business, and the US authorities are pursuing him on charges of money laundering. Desperate and betrayed by the people he thought cared about him, Cam takes refuge in the subway station where Galen Rusk plays his trumpet for tips.

 

The first part, where Cam is accused of money laundering, was captivating. After that, the focus changed to Galen and his issues and I just bided my time. This was no immersive novel, maybe caused by the third-person narration. I was not convinced by everything this story offered. Like, Cam being able to run a company and how easily he stepped over his mental health issues.
I chose this book based on the narrator, who did a good job, again. The sound was too harsh.

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Review: Crossing Borders

Crossing Borders by Z.A. Maxfield and Tobias Silversmith
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Tristan's got issues; he knows he does. He figures it's about time he makes some changes. He formulates a foolproof plan to get himself someone who can show him what he's been missing -- until who should crash his little adventure but Officer Michael Truax, the man who gave him a really expensive ticket for boarding without a helmet back when he was in high school.

Michael has been trying to catch Tristan for years...to give him a second ticket. Suddenly he's faced with his 'Sparky', all grown up -- and looking to get laid.

 

Nothing special but no annoyances. The narrator did the voices and speech well. All the other sentences were very bland and lacked expression.

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Review: Mistletoe at Midnight

Mistletoe at Midnight by L.B. Gregg and ~
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

 

(Part of His For The Holidays Anthology)

Owen McKenzie has traveled to Vermont to spend an old-fashioned Christmas with his family when he finds himself staying at the same inn as his first love.
Caleb is ready for a second chance with Owen and gets it when fate and the matchmaking McKenzies conspire to strand the two men in a rustic cabin during a snowstorm on Christmas Eve.

Mistletoe at Midnight was a run-of-the-mill, straightforward gay romance with a big family presence. The mother, unrealistic to me but a stereotype in American dime novels, often made me want to skip the rest of the story. The narrator was good but tended to lick his lips during pauses in the text. I noticed it every single time.

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Review: The Foxhole Court

The Foxhole Court by Nora Sakavic and Alexander Cendese
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Neil Josten is the newest addition to the Palmetto State University Exy team. He's short, he's fast, he's got a ton of potential—and he's the runaway son of the murderous crime lord known as The Butcher.

Signing a contract with the PSU Foxes is the last thing a guy like Neil should do. The team is high profile and he doesn't need sports crews broadcasting pictures of his face around the nation. One of Neil's new teammates is a friend from his old life, and Neil can't walk away from him a second time. Neil has survived the last eight years by running. Maybe he's finally found someone and something worth fighting for.

 

Nothing wrong but not my cuppa. Too much drama.

DNF at 50%

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Review: The End Zone

The End Zone by Riley Hart and Iggy Toma

My rating: 1 of 5 stars

 

Jeremy
Seeing my best friend West happy with his fiancé opened my eyes to things I’ve been missing in my own marriage. My divorce, which was amicable, followed. Strangely, at West’s wedding, I find myself confiding in Darren, the straight, confirmed bachelor and star quarterback of the Atlanta Lightning.
Darren
I still can’t say how it happened, how a random decision to strike up a conversation with Jeremy turned into…whatever this is. All I know is, months later, my days aren’t complete until we tell each other good night.
I didn’t think I was made for relationships, thought something inside me was broken, but I want it all with him. Except, it feels like as soon as we make it past one obstacle, there’s an even bigger one waiting for us.

Do not listen to this audiobook right after series #1. It is exactly the same, except the protagonists are absolutely shallow. Darren plays football, is a people pleaser with a close bond to his family and no father. He starts a secret relationship because he identified as straight and his close friends wonder about his changed behavior. He texts constantly with Jeremy and they use nicknames.
There was one difference with book #1: Darren was the one always making jokes about how good he was in bed.

It was really hard to trick myself into thinking these were other people. And now imagine those two characters often meeting up with their carbon copies from the first book. It made the confusion complete.

The narration was alright.

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Review: Prelude

Prelude by Shira Anthony and Peter B. Brooke
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

 

 World-renowned conductor David Somers never wanted the investment firm he inherited from his domineering grandfather. He only wanted to be a composer. But no matter how he struggles, David can’t translate the music in his head into notes on paper.

When a guest violinist at the Chicago Symphony falls ill, David meets Alex Bishop, a last-minute substitute. Alex’s fame and outrageous tattoos fail to move David. Then Alex puts bow to string, and David hears the brilliance of Alex’s soul.

David has sworn off relationships, believing he will eventually drive away those he loves, or that he'll lose them as he lost his wife and parents. But Alex is outgoing, relaxed, and congenial—everything David is not—and soon makes dents in the armor around David's heart.

Why I marked this audiobook as 'to listen' and ignored all the others is a mystery. I liked how this romance depicted two convincing males. Not overly focused on feelings. No deep, well-worded conversations. And, refreshingly, no sex obsession. For MM romance that's quite unique.
The performance was adequate, with different voices and expressing the author's description. But in parts it felt flat, to me. The stinted, perfectionist David sounded exactly how he was supposed to sound. But Alex could have had more depth and warmth.
The sound quality was all right but I missed the low tones. It sounded quite harsh and unpleasant.

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Review: Face the Music

Face the Music by K.M. Neuhold and Kenneth Obi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lincoln
I thought there was only one thing I needed to make me happy. I was so sure becoming a rock star would heal the dark corners inside me. But every time I walk onto the stage, with a roaring crowd screaming my name, all I can think about is the boy I left behind.
Jace
I thought I hated Lincoln when he ghosted me ten years ago and destroyed my heart. But I’ve never hated him as much as I do right now, standing in front of me like he has every right to be in my world again.

I love story's with a well-researched mental illness theme. No, love does not cure all. And yes, both life partners can be equals, even if one is ill. With two points of view, you witness both their inner monolog and their memories of a better time. As one of my favorite relistens, I recommend this audiobook to everyone who loves MM romance.
The narrator did a good job. 

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Review: The Locker Room

The Locker Room by Amy Lane and Sean Crisden
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Xander Karcek has only wanted two things in his life: Christian Edwards and basketball—the man he loves and the game that let him escape a childhood he’d rather forget. His two obsessions have served him well. He and Chris beat the odds and stayed together through high school, college, and right on to the NBA.

But life under fame’s microscope isn’t easy, especially when two men are pretending to be frat-buddies so the world doesn’t know they’re the next best thing to married. 

I listened to this gay romance over twenty times, and before that, it was one of my favorite e-books. The sound quality, though, is not good. It sounds like I hear it through a wall. The narration and story are marvelous together, but several stretches are monotonous. This audiobook would be better with a second pause between paragraphs. Or noise reduction in the musical intermezzos.

But the story wasn't less because of the audio. I wish Amy Lane always reaches this level. She wrote some of my favorites but is not an auto-buy writer to me.
What I love is the obvious attraction and care between the two well-developed main characters. This story spans fifteen years, which makes it varied and adds enough moments of drama.


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Review: The Front Runner

The Front Runner by Patricia Nell Warren and Christian Rummel
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

 

In 1975, coach Harlan Brown is hiding from his past at an obscure New York college, after he was fired from Penn State University on suspicion of being gay. A tough, lonely ex-Marine of 39, Harlan has never allowed himself to love another man.

Then Billy Sive, a brilliant young runner, shows up on his doorstep. He and his two comrades, Vince Matti and Jacques LaFont, were just thrown off a major team for admitting they are gay. Harlan knows that, with proper training, Billy could go to the '76 Olympics in Montreal. He agrees to coach the three boys under strict conditions that thwart Billy's growing attraction for his mature but compelling mentor.

This is one of the LGBT novels I chose because it is a classic. It is compelling and stays with you for the rest of your life. The focus on gay rights and injustice made this audiobook a slightly depressing lesson in history. Personally, I would have liked a happy ever after. 

The narration was all right.

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