Category: LGBTQ Audio Books

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: Submission (Deviations #1) by Chris Owen and Jodi Payne and Narrator: Maxx Power

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

Noah is a man in need of submission but hasn’t had any luck finding just the right Dom.  He’s had one contract with a Dom who never found anything to praise him about and was heavily into pain, and one contract with a nice guy who committed the cardinal sin of leaving the room while Noah was in bondage.  Though they are still friendly, Noah cannot submit to him.  He’s done scenes with Bradford, owner of the local BDSM club and Bradford recommended him to Tobias, a very experienced Dom who doesn’t currently have a sub.  Noah comes highly recommended to Tobias and vice versa.  This story is about their early months of navigating the waters between Noah’s needs and Tobias’s desires. 

While interesting, and with a conflict thrown in by Phan, Tobias’s former sub who seems to be present all the time at the club and is also still friends with Tobias, the audiobook seemed to drag for me during the scenes in which Tobias and Noah did role play.  I think that’s directly due to the fact that it was an audiobook rather than an e-book and the voices narrator Maxx Power gave the two men did not lend themselves to the particular historical scenarios the men chose to role play.  Also, there were a lot of sex scenes and I’m sorry to say that after awhile they became ho-hum so I was somewhat bored by about three quarters through and looking forward to the end.

I would have preferred a deeper, more masculine voice for Tobias—one which matched his body size, real life profession, and role in the BDSM community.  By the same token, Noah is a cop and his soft, almost feminine voice did not fit the description the authors built for him early in the story.  A few obvious mispronunciations also pulled me out of the story—most notably read—pronounced as reed when it should have been pronounced as red.  So I can’t give points for the narration.    

Overall, I would like more about the MCs so I may read the other books in the series, but I’m not sold on them yet, and I’m not sure I’d listen to more audio of this series. If you like BDSM with lots of steamy sex scenes, this is a good one to pick, but I can’t recommend the audio version. 

~~~

The black-and-white cover art depicts cuffs and a flogger in black tones on a white background.  Looking at future books, it appears this theme is continued with the cover showing a black-and-white picture of a symbol of the BDSM topic.  For example, the next in the series is Bondage and that cover shows a rope.   It’s an effective way to tie the series together.

Sales Link:  Amazon

Audiobook Details:

Audible Audio Edition
Listening Length: 8 hours and 56 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Tygerseye Publishing LLC
Audible.com Release Date: May 17, 2017
Whispersync for Voice: Ready
Language: English
ASIN: B071Z73FYW

A Lila Audiobook Review: Well-Tailored: A Thorne and Dash Companion Story by Silvia Violet and Greg Boudreaux (Narrator)

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

 

Marc longs for a grand romance, but he doubts he’ll ever be that lucky. Then he meets Darius, an arrogant tailor who pushes all his buttons. When Darius offers him a job, Marc hesitates—he needs a direction for the future, not another man who doesn’t believe in relationships.

 

Darius lives by a few unbreakable rules: never sleep with employees, fashion should be simple, and romance is for fools. Marc, with his shimmery sweater collection, makes him want to break every single one.

 

They quickly give in to desire, but Darius wants to protect himself and Marc refuses to repeat past mistakes. It’s only when they let go of assumptions, that love has a chance to take hold.

 

Well-Tailored is a nice addition to the Thorne and Dash trilogy. Marc and Darius played an important role in Thorne’s and Riley’s love story, and now, they return the favor. In this story, we get to see some of the scenes from the previous book from Darius’s and Marc’s perspectives. Both stories run parallel, and as the author mentioned, this book can stand alone, but for maximum enjoyment, it’s better to read them in order.

 

The MCs’s relationship takes time to develop but their connection it’s easy to see from the very beginning. The author gives us a more in depth view into the events unfolding since their first meeting to the HEA. Most of this we saw from Riley’s POV in Personal Alignment but we get to savor Darius’s and Marc’s faults and dreams this time around.

 

The combination of Darius’s dominant side and Marc’s eagerness add spice to this story. They worked together well, not only in bed but professionally. They both see the potential in each other and with small details, they take care of the other. They were not looking for a relationship but couldn’t get enough of each other. It’s lovely to see them getting comfortable in their skins and building a space in each other’s’ lives.

 

The story is well-written and we get to see all the previous characters, plus some new addition.

 

Greg Boudreaux continues to voice this series seamlessly. The characterizations stay constant, allowing the listener to get back into their world without delay. Their voices are as relevant and their personalities.

 

The cover by LC Chase goes perfectly with the story and the characters’ descriptions. Also, it matches the Thorne and Dash series covers, but it keeps its individuality.

 

Sales Links:  Amazon | iTunes | Audible

 

Audiobook Details:

 

Narrator: Greg Boudreaux
Length: 6 hours 50 minutes
Published: July 27, 2017 (Audio Edition) by Silvia Violet Books
ASIN: B0747ZWGH4
Edition Language: English

 

Series: Thorne & Dash
Book #1: Professional Distance
Book #2: Personal Entanglement
Book #3: Personal Alignment
Companion: Well-Tailored

 

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: Learning to Love by Felice Stevens and Derrick McClain (Narrator)

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

A very definite love story, this is the story of chef and caterer, Gideon Marks, owner of Garden of Eatin’.  Gideon lands the job he’s been looking forward to when he secures the catering of the function sponsored by the synagogue where he grew up.  He’s been away ten years and is back to prove he’s much more than anyone ever gave him credit for. 

Growing up poor and being called stupid by teachers and classmates did nothing to help his self-esteem, but now that he’s a business owner with his best friend, Rico, and has secured this job, he’ll prove he’s more than anyone ever thought.  The thing he doesn’t realize is that the  dyslexia that earned him the “stupid” label as a kid is something that can be treated now and his hurt and resentment, in large part, was more about what he thought people thought of him than what they actually did think.

Case in point, Rabbi Jonah Fine, former classmate and gorgeous man who now seems to be pursuing Gideon for more than just his food.  Apparently Jonah harbored a secret crush on Gideon and never acted on it since he wasn’t out in high school.  But he pursues him strongly now, and together with Jonah, Gideon learns how to love—not just Jonah, but himself, with a dawning self-esteem and a pursuit of therapy for his learning disorder and with communication with his father who had abandoned him in childhood and has come back now to beg forgiveness.  Gideon is the only one on the receiving end of help though.  Not even realizing it, he helps Jonah overcome his own personal hurdles as his father retires and he takes over the role of rabbi at their synagogue.   

A very well narrated audiobook, Derrick McClain brings these characters to life with fantastic vocalizations and a well-paced narrative.  The story is sweet and sexy and just what I needed to bring a smile to my face on a gloomy day.   

~~~~~

Cover art by Reese Dante. The attractive cover features a very handsome man, no doubt representing Gideon. 

Sales Links:

AMAZON US: http://amzn.to/2weRJAQ

AMAZON UK: http://amzn.to/2wevxad

Audiobook Details:

Audiobook
Published July 14th 2017 by Felice Stevens (first published April 30th 2016)
ASINB073VV9ZBK
Edition Language English

Audiobook Tour for Learning to Love by Felice Stevens and Derrick McClain (Narrator) ~ Excerpt and Giveaway

ltl

LEARNING TO LOVE

FELICE STEVENS

M/M ROMANCE

AUDIO RELEASE: 07.14.17

Learning To Love Cover 

COVER DESIGN: Reese Dante

NARRATOR: Derrick McClain

 

 

 

BLURB

After 10 years away from home, bad boy caterer Gideon Marks has a lot to prove. Getting the holiday catering job at his childhood synagogue is the first step in demonstrating to everyone he didn’t turn out to be the failure they predicted. What he doesn’t count on is Rabbi Jonah Fine, his high school nemesis and secret crush, stirring up old feelings Gideon thought long gone and secrets he’s buried deep for years.

An unexpectedly passionate encounter shocks Gideon, but he pushes Jonah away, convinced he isn’t good enough to be in a relationship and would never be accepted by Jonah’s father. But Jonah hangs tough – he won’t allow Gideon to hide or run away from life again. And when it comes to love, Gideon learns the most important lessons aren’t always taught in school.

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/bo…/show/29632344-learning-to-love

 

AMAZON US: http://amzn.to/2weRJAQ

AMAZON UK: http://amzn.to/2wevxad

 

 

Learning to Love Teas 1 final Learning to Love Teas 2

EXCERPT

“How did you know where to find me?”

“I didn’t. But when I went to your apartment and discovered you weren’t home, I thought to myself, ‘Where would a chef be early on Saturday morning?’”

Pleased he’d thought so carefully about me, I bit my lip to keep from smiling, then muttered with my head down, “Lucky guess on your part.”

“I’d like to think so,” said Jonah, his voice as soft as the breeze. My eyes met his, the hurt from our last conversation shimmering bright in their depths, causing a throb within me of a longing I’d never known existed. “Or maybe it was fate.”

He smiled then plucked the paper bag of rugelach out of my clutches, rummaged through it until he found an apricot one, and bit off half.

“Well, if you’re that hungry, I guess you can come home with me, and I’ll make you an omelet,” I grumbled but couldn’t stop the small grin tugging at my lips. “But I planned on browsing a bit more through the market first.”

“I’d like that.” Jonah walked beside me, and we meandered past the stands piled high with colorful peppers and squash. We strolled in silence, but every few steps I’d sneak a glance at him, expecting Jonah to speak. Instead he remained irritatingly, cheerfully silent.

I sampled some hot mulled cider and licked my lips. Spending so much time with Jonah gave me new insight. I’d always thought him superior and judgmental; perhaps I had been wrong in my assessment. He captivated me with the humor in his speech, warmth in his smile, and that unmistakable flare of desire in his eyes. Goddamn it, I wanted him.

I extended the paper cup. “Do you want a sip?” Its heady cinnamon scent remained one of my most favorite things about the fall season. To my shock, instead of answering me, he bent down and kissed me on my lips, lapping at their sticky sweetness. He stepped back, but I put a restraining hand on his wrist.

“What’s going on? Why are you really here?”

The honesty in Jonah’s face took my breath away.

“Do you really have to ask, after the last time?”

My body refused to listen to the war inside my head, kindling a deep need I couldn’t understand. I took a step forward, but unlike me, Jonah didn’t retreat. He stood firm, and I stood close enough to almost touch. Close enough to smell him.

“I’m not who you want; can’t you see that?”

“You don’t have any idea what I see when I look at you, Gideon.”

I wanted to yell back at him, No, you have no idea who I am, but I couldn’t bring myself to ruin the moment. I had no clue who Jonah thought I was, but I wanted to be that man if only to be able to have him always look at me like this. Like I was special. Like I was his. The sun beat hot upon my shoulders, and I held his gaze while contentment poured over me like a warm summer rain.

Felice Logo

 

Felice Stevens has always been a romantic at heart. While life is tough, she believes there is a happy ending for everyone. She started reading traditional historical romances as a teenager, then life and law school got in the way. It wasn’t until she picked up a copy of Bertrice Small and became swept away to Queen Elizabeth’s court that her interest in romance novels was renewed.

But somewhere along the way, her reading shifted to stories of men falling in love. Once she picked up her first gay romance, she became so enamored of the character-driven stories and the overwhelming emotion there was no turning back.

Felice lives in New York City with her husband and two children. Her day begins with a lot of caffeine and ends with a glass or two of red wine. Although she practices law, she daydreams of a time when she can sit by a beach and write beautiful stories of men falling in love. Although there is bound to be some angst along the way, a Happily Ever After is always guaranteed.

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An Ali Audiobook Review: Draakenwood (Whyborne & Griffin #9) by Jordan L. Hawk and Julian G. Simmons (Narrator)

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Someone is killing members of the old families…and the evidence points to Whyborne.

Widdershins has been unusually quiet for months. But now a mysterious creature from the Outside is on the loose, assassinating members of the town’s old families by draining their blood. Whyborne and Griffin set out to solve the mystery—but as the evidence piles up, the police begin to suspect Whyborne himself is the murderer.

Now Whyborne must both clear his name and stop the horrors the monster threatens to unleash. His only hope: an alliance with his old enemies the Endicotts.

Because something terrible lurks in the Draakenwood, and it will stop at nothing to seize control of the maelstrom itself.

Draakenwood is the ninth book in the Whyborne & Griffin series, where magic, mystery, and m/m romance collide with Victorian era America.
Every time I read a book in this series I wonder how the author keeps coming up with such unique plots that keep me entertained from the first page until the end.  This book was no exception.  Whyborne and Griffin are drawn in to another mystery when members of the town’s old families begin to die in mysterious ways.  They are still trying to figure out the Fideles and Whyborne is worrying about his role in things.  He is a bit overwhelmed in some ways and he misses the easier times he and Griffin had in the past. 
The plot itself is fast paced and full of adventure.  It’s also pretty creepy in places.  In addition to a constant supply of new plots, the author manages to give us a constant supply of new kinds of monsters.  The ones in this book were some of the scariest we’ve seen. There are a lot of the side characters we’ve grown to love in the course of the series such as Christine (who I want to be when I grow up) and Persephone, as well as others we may not care for so much, such as Whyborne’s father.
This audio book was narrated by Julian G. Simmons and I thought he did a very good job. I felt like he did both Whyborne and Griffin in distinctive manners that made each other them stand out.  He also did a good job on the side characters and there were quite a few for this audio.  I have not listened to this narrator before but will definitely try him again.
Overall, I really enjoyed this.  I thought it was a very fun installation in this series.  I had read all of the previous books and this was my first audio version.  I enjoyed it a lot though and may do the next on audio also.  
Cover Art by Lou Harper:  Unfortunately I really dislike the cover.  I am not at all a fan of the cover re-dos for this series.  I wish the author had left them like they were.  I was so bummed the day I turned on my Kindle to discover my old covered books had automatically turned over to these new ones. 

Sales Links

Audible | Amazon | iTunes

Audiobook Details:
Audible Audio
Published July 24th 2017 by Widdershins Press LLC (first published June 2nd 2017)
ASINB0743M4SWD
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesWhyborne & Griffin #9 settingWiddershins, Massashusetts (United States)
Massachusetts (United States)