Category: LGBTQ Audio Books

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: Like a Lover by Jay Northcote – audiobook narrated by Mark Steadman

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

 like-a-lover-audiobookJosh has a plan: get through uni with a good degree and no debts. Focused on his goals, he’s working as an escort to pay his way. He enjoys the no-strings sex and doesn’t have the time or inclination for a relationship. Falling in love definitely isn’t part of the deal—especially not with a client.

When Rupert meets Josh in a bar, he’s smitten on sight. He’s never paid for sex before, but when Josh propositions him, he can’t resist. He should have known one night would never be enough. Luckily for him, he has an inheritance to support his addiction to Josh, because his job in IT wouldn’t cover the cost.

With each appointment the lines get increasingly blurred. Something is developing between them that feels more like a relationship than a business transaction, but they come from different worlds and to go from client-and-escort to lovers seems impossible. If they want a future together, Josh and Rupert have a lot to overcome.

This book is a complete story and can be read as a standalone.

Josh happens to be a flatmate of Jez and Mac, the young men we met in Helping Hand. Josh always seemed to have his act together, out and proud, with plenty of dates, staying out late at night a few times a week, and no one suspected that his real job as a rentboy.  He decided to pursue a professional interest in what he’s good at so he’d not only have rent and food, he’d also have tuition fees so that he could finish uni on his own since his deadbeat father refused to help him.

When his favorite client stands him up, he settles for hooking up with a good-looking guy who caught his attention at the bar where he was waiting, and the two pursue an evening of sexy times in the hotel room the first client had prepaid.  From here, Rupert, the new client, continues to pursue Josh, paying him every time, even though he’s starting to fall for his rentboy.  The issue is that Josh is also falling for Rupert and is afraid that they can’t have a future based on their rocky foundation.

I enjoyed this audiobook immensely.  Not only was the story very good, the narration was outstanding. Mark Steadman brought the characters to life.  All characters, including Rupert’s high society mother, had different voices, and that’s a treat I enjoy but don’t always find.  Both MCs were well-developed and I found myself coaching each on how to win the other over.  Thankfully, I live alone because I found myself literally talking to them when they were too obtuse to move forward. 

I recommend this to all who enjoy a lighthearted MM UK-based romance.  Kudos to both the author and the narrator.  By all means, pick this one up in audio.

The cover features a black-and-white close-up photo of the side profile of a handsome, young, bare-chested man, who fits the description of Josh perfectly.

Buy links:
Audible.com
Audible.co.uk
Amazon.com
Apple

Audiobook Details:

Audiobook, Listening Length: 4 hours and 47 minutes
Published August 15th 2016 by Jaybird Press (first published August 14th 2015)
Original TitleLike a Lover
ASINB01KAF9USC
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesHousemates #2 settingPlymouth, England (United Kingdom)

An Alisa Audiobook Review: Ben (The Atherton Pack #2) by Toni Griffin and Narrator Nick Flint

Rating:  4 stars out of 5

 

Ben audiobookTommy Morgan’s life was turned upside down at the hands of his Alpha. Now, another one is claiming to be his mate. He’s not ready to jump into a relationship with anyone, still suffering from nightmares due to the abuse he experienced. Instead, Tommy moves in with his brother, Declan, hoping for the space he needs to heal.

Pennaeth Alpha, Benjamin Taylor, has his hands full dealing with all the packs across Australia. When he finds his young mate battered and bloody, he knows Tommy is going to need time to recover and come to terms with everything. Ben is more than willing to give his mate anything he needs. Even if that means them living apart for now.

When passion finally ignites with unexpected consequences, Ben knows he’ll do anything, fight anyone, to keep his mate safe.

 

I love this series, shifters, mates and male pregnancy, what could be better.  Tommy’s life is thrown another wrench when he learns that his mate is an alpha, after the abuse he suffered at the hands of his previous alpha this isn’t wonderful news.  Ben will do anything to keep his mate safe and happy, even if it means being apart, for now.

 

This story is told from both character’s points of view, so it is nice to get both of the characters feelings.  Ben is perhaps one of the sweetest alpha’s I have seen and he has to keep that side hidden so much due to his responsibilities it is a relief when he can let his guard down around his mate and Tommy is honored to see the side of his mate that others don’t.  What I love about most of Toni’s shifter stories is that they are not insta-love, both of the characters feel a connection to the other, but work to grow their relationship before claiming the other.

 

Nick Flint did a wonderful job narrating this story.  I could connect with the characters through the voices and emotions he portrayed.  Even though this is a book I have read it felt new to me listening to him tell it.

 

Cover art is nice and follows the pattern for the series.

 

Sales Links

 

 

Audiobook Details:

Audiobook, 2 hrs 6 min
Published: July 20, 2016 (ebook, 2nd edition, published August 23, 2014) by Mischief Corner Books
Edition Language: English

Series: The Atherton Pack #2

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Hexbreaker by Jordan L. Hawk ~ Audiobook narrated by Tristan James

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

HexbreakerWill a dark history doom their future together?

New York copper Tom Halloran is a man with a past. If anyone finds out he once ran with the notorious O’Connell tunnel gang, he’ll spend the rest of his life doing hard time behind bars. But Tom’s secret is threatened when a horrible murder on his beat seems to have been caused by the same ancient magic that killed his gang.

Cat shifter Cicero is determined to investigate the disappearance of one friend and the death of another, even though no one else believes the cases are connected. When the trail of his investigation crosses Tom’s, the very bohemian Cicero instinctively recognizes the uncultured Irish patrolman as his witch. Though they’re completely unsuited to one another, Cicero has no choice but to work alongside Tom…all the while fighting against the passion growing within.

Tom knows that taking Cicero as his familiar would only lead to discovery and disaster. Yet as the heat between them builds, Tom’s need for the other man threatens to overcome every rational argument against becoming involved.

But when their investigation uncovers a conspiracy that threatens all of New York, Tom must make the hardest decision of his life: to live a lie and gain his heart’s desire, or to confess the truth and sacrifice it all.

Get ready for eight-and-a-half hours of entertainment from the talented mind of the highly creative paranormal author, Jordan L. Hawk, and the smooth, delicious, and melodic voice of Tristan James.  There would’ve had to have been a very big goof-up in this audiobook for me not to enjoy it with that talented combo involved.  And there wasn’t, so I did. A lot! 

This is book one in a new series, Hexworld, though there is a prequel, The 13th Hex, that can be read prior. It’s not necessary, but IMHO, it adds to the story since the characters from the prequel are featured as principal secondary characters in this one.

Tom Halloran has been living a lie for eight years, hiding from his past identity as Liam O’Connell of the notorious O’Connell Gang, who started the Cherry Street fires. Tom saw his father and brother go on a killing rampage, wiping out his whole family, and when Tom used his hexbreaking skills to remove the hex from his brother, the man immediately died.  Tom now carries the guilt of killing his brother, and the grisly memory of his father tearing his mother’s face half off, along with the guilt of not being able to stop any of it. He hides his hexbreaking abilities and is working as a regular cop in New York City, having assumed the identity of a man he found dead in an alley who was fresh off the ship from Ireland and on his way to take a job as a patrolman.

Though he wants nothing to do with the Metropolitan Witch Police, the other law enforcement agency in the city, his mission to find out who killed one of the shopkeepers on his patrol takes him there, and that’s when the adventure begins.  Because he meets Cicero, a cat familiar, unbonded, untamed, and the most beautiful man Tom has ever seen—though with the temperament of an aloof cat who got away with the cream.

This story sets the stage for this new world, the world of hexbreakers, witches, and familiars who work for the MWP, trying their best to maintain law and order in the turn of the (19th to 20th) century. There’s angst, heartache, and regret; but there’s also hope, bravery, love, and redemption.  The adventure is complex and interesting, and the world-building was outstanding. 

As Tom and Cicero, aided by Dominic and Rook, attempt to solve the mystery surrounding the murders that appear to be caused by the same hex that killed Tom’s family, they are joined by a host of secondary characters, some of whom turn out to work for “the bad guys” and some of whom I hope will return in future installments of this series.  Tristan James’s talent for speaking with authentic-sounding British and Irish accents enhances this already amazing story. 

The book is totally different from the Whyborne and Griffin series, and yet equally as intriguing and satisfying.  Don’t miss a chance to get into this series now.  It’s going to be a wonderful adventure.

The cover art, by the author, depicts two men holding hands and embracing—one behind the other—in the top pane; and a background map of NYC with the shape of a black cat superimposed over the map in the lower pane. The cover is attractive and perfectly conveys both the characters and setting of the story.

Sales Links

Audiobook Details:

Audiobook
Published August 3rd 2016 by Widdershins Press LLC (first published May 6th 2016)
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesHexworld #1