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. 

View all my reviews

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.


View all my reviews

Review: Crashing Box Set

Crashing Box Set by Samantha Wayland and Michael Ferraiuolo
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the boxed set of the first three books in Samantha Wayland’s Crashing Series. 

Crashing the Net

Dumping gallons of lube on the new kid is just another day at the office for Alexei. He knows exactly who he is: a goalie on the ice, a prankster in the locker room, and a man who knows better than to share his private life with anyone. 

Mike is broke, bruised, and covered from head to toe in cheap lube. All he wants is to keep to himself and play for the Ice Cats. What he needs, though, is another matter entirely.

Checking It Twice 

After four years with Alexei, there are things Mike knows with absolute certainty: he loves Alexei, Alexei loves him, and Alexei gives the very best Christmas gifts. 

Alexei knows his gift this year is going to blow Mike’s mind, but in the meantime, it’s pretty hilarious watching Mike try to figure out what it is. Granted, 

Changing the Rules

Alexei and Mike have been together for a long time. They’re getting married. They can go a few nights not sleeping next to each other, right? For the sake of the team, Alexei is going to try.

Mike can’t stand not sleeping next to Alexei, and it turns out sleep deprivation makes him overthink things.

First of all: the narration was great.
I liked the first novella. The second was a weird hybrid. It was partly a Christmas special of Home And Away, and partly a sex scene of Crashing the Net. By the time I reached novella #3, I got bored of all the sex and hoped to finish the audiobook soon.

View all my reviews

Review: Banded Together

Banded Together by K.C. Burn and Darcy Stark
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Devlin Waters thought he’d have music forever. But the tragic death of his best friend ended the twenty-year run of his punk band, Negative Impression. Unable to process the loss, Devlin distances himself from everyone and everything that reminds him of the band. But forty-one is too young to curl up and wait for the end. In a search for a second career, he finds himself at university.

Dr. Jack Johnson does not appreciate Devlin’s lack of respect, his inability to be serious, or his chronic lateness. Worse, he hates that he’s attracted to a student. When he realizes Devlin is the rock star he crushed on in his youth, he drops his guard—against his better judgment.

 
I really liked this audiobook and the performance was good. Although I fast-forwarded the chapters where Stephanie opened her mouth. Maybe it is directed by the text because otherwise I don't understand why she got such an unsufferable voice. Furthermore, there should have been noise reduction. I am on the look-out for more LGBTQ rock stars finding love.

View all my reviews

Review: The Endgame

The Endgame by Riley Hart and Iggy Toma
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Weston
When I left home, I swore I'd never hide anything about myself again. From college, to law school, to the United States Senate representing California, I've done it all as an out gay man. So, when I'm in DC and see a beautiful guy at the hotel bar, I don't hesitate to proposition him...right before he runs out on me, leaving his sunglasses behind like my very own Cinderfella.

Anson
I've always known I'm gay, but never acted on it. Pretending isn't easy, but it means I can keep playing football. No one has ever guessed my secret until the gorgeous man at a bar in DC. At least he doesn't know who I am--the best tight end in the NFL, playing for the Atlanta Lightning. Though my identity doesn't stay a secret from him for long.
Between texts and late-night phone calls, we get to know each other. The odds are stacked against us, but if there's one thing I know, it's how to win. He's the endgame in the biggest challenge of my life, the one I'm banking my future happiness on.

I love audiobooks focusing on the relationship. Don't expect any football. We skip through 4 years of meeting up and both men expressing love and longing. The narration was good but the last chapters sounded a lot like summarizing.

View all my reviews

Review: Egotistical Puckboy

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

EZRA

Partying, dudes, and hockey. What more could a gay NHL player want? If it weren't for Anton Hayes, my life would be perfect. Not that he affects my life in any way. At all. That would imply I care what the winger from Philly thinks of me. I hate him as much as he hates me.

ANTON

When it comes to hockey, I'm all about the game. I've worked for years to be one of the best in the league, and l've done it without splashing my orientation all over the tabloids. My hockey image is one I've carefully cultivated, and after one night with Ezra Palaszczuk, I risk it all.

 

This audiobook was nothing special. I have read it all before. Maybe by now I have read too much gay love stories? 

Both narrators did a good job.

View all my reviews

Review: Irresponsible Puckboy

Irresponsible Puckboy by Eden Finley, Alexander Cendese and Iggy Toma
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Tripp

Years of pining have left me exhausted, and I need a break from Dex. I need space to get over my feelings. But when his relationship falls apart and he turns to me for comfort, I cave immediately.If there’s one thing I hate more than being hurt, it’s seeing Dex struggle. I can’t leave him in a time of need, even if my friends say it’s my biggest downfall. 

Dex

I’ve always been the dumb one. It’s what I’m known for, and usually I don’t let it get to me. I have hockey, and I have my best friend, Tripp. What more do I need? To settle down? No thank you. Marriage? Hard pass. According to ex-girlfriends, that makes me “irresponsible.”
But the solution I come up with to get over my fear of commitment might be my dumbest idea yet.

Nothing special. I was not sold on the straight man suddenly falling for a gay friend. The rest was the same as every other mediocre audiobook I have listened to before. 

Both narrators did a good job.

View all my reviews

Review: Barefoot in the City of Broken Dreams

Barefoot in the City of Broken Dreams by Brent Hartinger and Josh Hurley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Twenty-four year-old Russel Middebrook and his boyfriend have moved to Los Angeles so Russel can try to make it as a screenwriter.

Almost right away, in a forgotten old house off of Sunset Boulevard, Russel meets Isaac Brander, a once-famous film producer who is convinced he can turn Russel’s screenplay into a movie.

Book 2 of 3.

Knowing this was an audiobook about Russel finding his way, with sometimes a scene about his gay  relationship, changed my perspective. I liked the occurrences and rounded secondary characters.
The audio was mediocre. In the beginning, I could hear which sentences were later added corrections and the voices were not always right.

View all my reviews

Review: Love, Hate & Clickbait

Love, Hate & Clickbait by Liz Bowery and Michael Crouch
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A hate-to-love queer rom-com in which a viral photo forces two ruthless political staffers to fake a relationship to save their presidential candidate’s campaign.

 
I could not put this audiobook down, although it was not a fuzzy gay romance. It was different from other fake-boyfriend novels. Thom was an ice-cold manipulator and I am not sure if I hoped for him to become a better human.
Narration was good.

View all my reviews

Review: Here Comes My Man

Here Comes My Man by Lauren Blakely and Shane East, Teddy Hamilton, and more.
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Let me just say this - fake dating the cocky movie star was not my idea. Especially since he’s my former roomie and, gulp, my secret ex. But my agent tells me I have no choice since I’m ridiculously overdue with turning in the next big blockbuster love story to my publisher.

Falling for the smooth-talking English hottie once upon a time - fine, twice - were huge mistakes that I shouldn’t repeat, but pretending to like the guy who broke my heart is my only chance at saving my job.
That is, as long as no one finds out that every date we go on, every smile we flash each other for the cameras, and every hot, desperate kiss on the streets of Manhattan is absolutely fake.

Book 2 of 2.

 

I liked the first part of this audiobook, where the couple gets over their hurt feelings. But then they become friends again and more than half of a novel has to be written. It would have been better if the first part of this novel was included in book #1, and the rest deleted. There was just some outside drama I did not care about and the moment the protagonists decided not to care about it, took way too long.

View all my reviews

Review: Bullheaded

Bullheaded by Catt Ford and Derrick McClain 
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Aging bull rider Cody Grainger needs bullfighter Johnny Arrow for more than just protection in the ring. Their bond of trust goes beyond the professional and into love, but while their relationship holds up to the need for discretion imposed by their sport and repeatedly having to watch each other put themselves in the way of dangerous animals, other barriers still tear them apart.

For one thing, Cody is ten years older than Johnny. But instead of contemplating retirement, he focuses on winning the championship, desperate to stay on top. Johnny is only beginning to find the professional recognition he craves. When frustration leads Johnny to walk away, Cody’s season slumps. While they’re apart, they both slowly realize they are meant to be together. But machismo abounds in the sport of bull riding, and their pride might be an obstacle too big for love to overcome.

The first 20% of this audiobook were kind of dull, with too much rodeo explanation for me. Then the story took off and I enjoyed every moment because of the great secondary characters. At 50% I had to bide my time when the Disney Cars trope unfolded. Fine for preschoolers, but too preachy for adults.
The narrator has a great voice. He could add more emotion to the story, but that does not lessen my enjoyment. A good addition to the M/M romance genre, but I wonder why it's not more popular.

View all my reviews