An Alisa Audiobook Review: Pent Up by Damon Suede and Christopher Kipiniak (Narrator)

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

PENT UP: Mix business with pleasure and take cover.

Ruben Oso moves to Manhattan to start his life over as a low-rent bodyguard and stumbles into a gig in a swanky Park Avenue penthouse. What begins as executive protection turns personal working for a debonair zillionaire who makes Ruben question everything about himself.

Watching over financial hotshot Andy Bauer puts Ruben in an impossible position. He knows zero about shady trading and his cocky boss lives barricaded in a glass tower with wall-to-wall secrets and hot-and-cold-running paranoia. Can the danger be real? Is Andy for real?

What’s a bullet catcher to do? Ruben knows his emotions are out of control even as he races to untangle a high-priced conspiracy and his crazy feelings before somebody gets dead. If his suspicions are right, Andy will pay a price neither can afford, and Ruben may discover there’s no way to guard a heart.

This was an interesting story. Ruben and Andy spent so much time circling each other and not saying what they were wanting (personally or for business) it made the story start off slow. Unfortunately it didn’t seem to really pick up until close to the end.

I felt so bad for Ruben; he is trying to pick up his life and his reactions and feelings for Andy are throwing all of his beliefs and previous experiences out the window. We could see Ruben’s confusion and how he didn’t understand his own reactions let alone those of Andy. It takes Andy actually getting hurt for either of them to actually express and acknowledge their feelings to each other. I was glad to see them stop dancing around each other and finally working together.

Christopher Kipiniak did a nice job narrating this story. I was able to keep track of the story and characters which is always nice. I enjoyed the different voices he used for the characters however he seemed to have a bit slower of a talking speed which made the slow start of the book seem even slower,

Cover art by Paul Richmond is nice and I love the visual it gives of Ruben.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Audible | Amazon | iTunes

Audiobook Details:

Audiobook, 12hrs 46min
Published June 19, 2017 (eb

A Lila Audiobook Review: Tall, Dark, and Deported by Bru Baker and Dorian Bane (Narrator)

Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5

Crossing the border into love.

Snap decisions and misguided ideas bring Portuguese national Mateus Fontes and businessman Crawford Hargrave together at the Canadian border crossing.

Mateus is caught in a catch-22. With his almost-expired tourist visa, entrance to Canada is denied, but the US won’t let him back in either. Crawford thinks he’s solved things when he tells the border agent they’re engaged, and it works—except now they have to actually get married before either of them can get back into the United States. But Crawford has been burned by marriage once, and he’s determined not to make that mistake again.

Neither of them expects real feelings to bloom out of their fake marriage, but they do. And the two of them have to learn how to be honest with each other to make things work, which is especially hard when their entire marriage is based on lies.

Tall, Dark, and Deported is the perfect example of green card “fake marriages” trope stories. In that aspect, the author met all the expectations, creating an entertaining love story with three-dimensional characters and beautiful settings.

I love the premise of this story and how their first meeting went. The way they take turns taking care of each other is lovely and their relationship with their family members add to their appeal. This is a slow burn, sweet, fluffy goodness story. Perfect if you want something light and engaging without much angst.

I really like Crawford and Mateus individually. They’re nice characters with great depth, and a lot of potential, but have a hard time connecting to each other. The plans they have for their relationship and what they want from each other work, but when they try to put it together there’s no chemistry. It’s like having two good friends trying to make a relationship work. It gets resolved in the end, but it takes time.

In some parts, it reads a CliffsNotes version of a longer book–rushing to achieve an HEA–when the reader wanted the same amount of detail than before. It felt a little superficial, but it has to do more with length restrictions than lack of development. Overall, this isn’t a detrimental to the actual love story.

Dorian Bane’s narration worked for the story. All the characterizations fit well except for Mateus’s. He sounded more Hispanic than Portuguese, but overall, it was enjoyable.

The cover by Bree Archer follows the Dreamspun series and shows Mateus in front of an orchard–fitting for the story.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner | iTunes | Audible

Audiobook Details:

Narrator: Dorian Bane
Length: 6 hours 30 minutes
Published: June 19, 2017 (Audio Edition) by Dreamspinner Press
ASIN: B071GV8BCT
Edition Language: English

An Ali Audiobook Review: A Day Makes by Mary Calmes and Greg Tremblay (Narrator)

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

Mob enforcer Ceaton Mercer has killed a lot of people in a lot of different ways – he stashed the last two bodies in a toolshed belonging to a sweetheart marine researcher in an idyllic island community – but he’s really not such a bad guy. Over time he’s found a home of sorts, and he even learns he’s found a place in the hearts of the people he works with…at least enough so that they won’t put a bullet in his head because he’s outlived his usefulness to the boss.

But he never thought he’d find one day could change his life, and he’s about to discover how wrong he is.

Because in a single day, he meets the man who looks to be the one, the love of his life. It’s an improbable idea – a man who deals in death finding love – but it’s like it’s meant to be. That single day gets weirder and troubles pile up, forcing Ceaton to take a hard look at his dreary life and accept that one day can change everything, especially himself. His future might be brighter than he expects – if he can stay alive long enough to find out.

Lot’s of my friends love this author. I always see her books with 5 star reviews all over Goodreads. So about every two years I feel like I’m missing something so I try one, thinking that this will be the one I connect with. It never works out for me. It’s time I admit defeat. This writer’s story telling style just does not work for me.

This story begins with Ceaton meeting a mob boss and going to work for him. This was where I first had to suspend belief. Ceaton’s character was discharged from the military for not following orders and he did that because he was so full of integrity that he couldn’t follow an order that would kill people, but now we’re supposed to believe he’s thrown all those morals away to work for the mob and kill people? The suspension of belief needed to follow this plot was just too much for me.

The story was slow and repetitive. Lot’s of killings and mob related things. Ceaton doesn’t meet the other MC until the later part of the book and then it is an insta-love thing. I found the ending to be even more far-fetched than the beginning.

The narration was done by Greg Tremblay and I thought he did a very good job. There are a number of different characters and a number of different accents that needed to be done for this story. Some of the accents were Serbian and Russian and I do not know if they were accurate but they did sound different and distinct and I enjoyed the narration a lot.

I rated this based on my enjoyment of the book which isn’t completely fair. I disliked the story itself a great deal but on the flip side I feel like the narration was probably a 5 star. If you typically enjoy this author then I definitely recommend this on audio. I think you will enjoy it.

This cover was done by Reese Dante and I think it’s a great cover. I really like it alot and it was part of the reason I chose to try this book.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | Audible | iTunes

Book Details:

Audible Audio
Published June 19th 2017 by Dreamspinner Press LLC (first published April 19th 2017)
ASINB0721R5PTF
Edition LanguageEnglish

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: Devotion (Forbes Mates #1) by Grace R. Duncan and Joel Leslie (Narrator)

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

When Finley Cooper met his true-mate while he was still underage, he thought nothing of what that might mean for their future together. Handsome, alpha-to-be, Tanner Pearce was everything a young gay werewolf might want in a man, but he gets a shock when Tanner refuses to claim him until he’s “of age.” So when Finley turns eighteen, and Tanner still refuses to claim him, he assumes the worst—the man of his dreams doesn’t love him.

In reality, Tanner is afraid that finalizing their bond when Finley is still young and inexperienced may lead to Finley changing his mind later. Tanner wants to be absolutely sure before he goes forward. After all, didn’t that happen to his childhood friend? He wouldn’t survive if Finley left him after they were bonded.

I really enjoyed this story, and to be honest, I believe that a major part of that enjoyment was the life Joel Leslie infused into the characters in this audiobook version. They became real to me and I got caught up in the adventure when Finley felt so lost that he headed out west to visit his grandparents, rather than face a future in his hometown without Tanner. I also appreciated the author’s infusion of new twists into the werewolf story, including their difficulty in being “trapped” in a plane or train while traveling.

And the drama and chase that ensued when Finley thought Tanner was hurt created the perfect amount of adventure to keep the story moving and keep the excitement up. The second half of the story was pretty darn hot, I must say. Personal fan warning: the amount and level of heat that occurs when these young wolves get together is pretty darn high, never mind the excitement generated by vocalizations from a quality voice artist like Joel Leslie.

This one should definitely go on your list of audio listens. I’m looking forward to the next in the series that will feature Jamie, the secondary character from this one—the guy who almost got to have sex with Finley in his bid for independence. Lovers of MM paranormal-shifter romance, fated mates, knotting (!), age gap, and audiobooks will all benefit from adding this to their TBR.

The very attractive cover by Reese Dante features both two wolves and head shots of two young men kissing—all against a background of mountain scenery. It’s perfect for this story.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | Audible| iTunes

Audiobook Details:

Audible Audio
Published June 23rd 2017 by Dreamspinner Press (first published September 11th 2015)
ASINB072YHRPWH
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesForbes Mates #1

A Lila Audiobook Review: Forgotten Paradise by Shira Anthony and Narrator: Andrew McFerrin

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

It’s dangerous diving for secrets.

When a mega company threatens to take over his family-owned business, programming prodigy Adam Preston escapes the stress with a much-needed vacation in the Dominican Republic. There he meets attractive, intelligent, insightful Jonah James, a scuba dive instructor, and what starts as a holiday fling soon blossoms into much more.

But Jonah has a secret: ten years ago he woke up on an island beach with no idea how he got there… or even who he is. Their paradise may not be as perfect as it seems. When Jonah’s memories come crashing back like waves on the sand, will it be Adam clinging to the proverbial life raft, or will the two men find a safe harbor to ride out the storm?

Forgotten Paradise is a quick summer read with a delightful love story. Perfect for a relaxing afternoon in the company of great characters and an easy going, but interesting plot. The traditional troupes of this series let the reader’s imagination free and into a travel adventure.

Adam and Jonah are both “bigger than life characters.” They live in that imaginary bubble with all want to believe in. The spin on the amnesia plot brought the two parts of the story together–the vacation and their real lives. I enjoyed the time the author took making each part unique.

There are a lot of descriptions about the settings, the diving trips, and Adam’s vacation. It was a bit overwhelming at times, but it added to the color of the story. The romance itself is the central part, but the small twists and turns framed the story well.

One thing I appreciated about the story was the path Adam and Jonah followed. They both grew as individuals and businessmen. And their HEA work well with the rest of the story.

Andrew McFerrin did a remarkable job with the narration. My only complaint comes from the accents of the Dominican characters. They really didn’t sound the part, but overall, it was an enjoyable work.

The cover by Bree Archer matches the series and Jonah’s description. A bit generic, but it follows the format.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner | iTunes | Audible

Audiobook Details:

Narrator: Andrew McFerrin
Length: 5 hours 49 minutes
Published: June 1, 2017 (Audio Edition) by Dreamspinner Press
ASIN: B071LTJB8J
Edition Language: English

A Lila Audiobook Review: Bonfires by Amy Lane and Nick J. Russo (Narrator)

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Ten years ago Sheriff’s Deputy Aaron George lost his wife and moved to Colton, hoping growing up in a small town would be better for his children. He’s gotten to know his community, including Mr. Larkin, the bouncy, funny science teacher. But when Larx is dragged unwillingly into administration, he stops coaching the track team and starts running alone. Aaron—who thought life began and ended with his kids—is distracted by a glistening chest and a principal running on a dangerous road.

Larx has been living for his kids too—and for his students at Colton High. He’s not ready to be charmed by Aaron, but when they start running together, he comes to appreciate the deputy’s steadiness, humor, and complete understanding of Larx’s priorities. Children first, job second, his own interests a sad last.

It only takes one kiss for two men approaching fifty to start acting like teenagers in love, even amid all the responsibilities they shoulder. Then an act of violence puts their burgeoning relationship on hold. The adult responsibilities they’ve embraced are now instrumental in keeping their town from exploding. When things come to a head, they realize their newly forged family might be what keeps the world from spinning out of control.

Bonfires is a lovely story with mature characters and well-behaved teenagers. The best part is that everyone acted their age and the plot, even when a little fantastic, move forward following an interesting set of developments and real love and family relationships.

This is not only a romance but a bit of a mystery with the added drama of small towns. We have several story lines running parallel and in normal Amy Lane fashion everyone in town, including the animals play an important part in the plot and the MCs’ love story.

Everyday events, like breakfasts & homework, are well-mixed with Larx’s and Aaron’s developing relationship. They not only get to know each other but those around them before and after they met. Their pasts are as important as their present and how they want to shape their future.

I did want to see more alone time between the main characters. They spent a lot of time just solving other people’s problems and dealing with their families. I wanted a bit of downtime for them to really have a chance to discover each other without interruptions or expectations.

Overall, this is another hit by this author. It’s the proverbial big book of everything, but as always, it works.

Nick J. Russo did an excellent job giving all the characters a unique voice. It was easy to get immersed in the story.

The cover by Anne Cain shows one of the story’s main scene to perfection. It’s a bit different than traditional MM romances, but so it’s the book.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner | iTunes | Audible

Audiobook Details:

Narrator: Nick J. Russo
Length: 9 hours 34 minutes
Published: June 9, 2017 (Audio Edition) by Dreamspinner Press
ASIN: B071WQJ72H
Edition Language: English

An Ali Audiobook Review: A Second Harvest (Men of Lancaster County #1) by Eli Easton and narrator Will Tulin

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

David Fisher has lived by the rules all his life. Born to a Mennonite family, he obeyed his father and took over the family farm, married, and had two children. Now with both his kids in college and his wife deceased, he runs his farm alone and without joy, counting off the days of a life half-lived.

Christie Landon, graphic designer, Manhattanite, and fierce gay party boy, needs a change. Now thirty, he figures it’s time to grow up and think about his future. When his best friend overdoses, Christie resolves to take a break from the city. He heads to a small house in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, to rest, recoup, and reflect.

But life in the country is boring despite glimpses of the hunky silver fox next door. When Christie’s creativity latches on to cooking, he decides to approach his widower neighbor with a plan to share meals and grocery expenses. David agrees, and soon the odd couple finds they really enjoy spending time together.

Christie challenges the boundaries of David’s closed world and brings out feelings he buried long ago. If he can break free of the past, he might find a second chance at happiness.

This was a really lovely stories about second chances and the fact that you’re never too old to reinvent yourself. These two men, who on the surface had nothing in common, actually found they had a lot of the same hopes and dreams. What starts as a friendship turns in to a really sweet romance. I really liked both of their characters and I found their romance to be realistic and believable. I loved watching the two of them fall in love.

While I liked Christie a lot, David is who stole the story for me. I could totally relate to him as I grew up in a similar environment and I know first hand how stifling and oppressing it can be. The scenes of him with his National Geographic magazines, always dreaming of other things, made my heart hurt for him. I was so happy for him when he made up his mind to break free and make huge changes in his life.

The writing was engaging and drew me in from the very first chapter. As I’ve said, really enjoyed both of the MC’s and I found their romance to be super sweet and touching. I didn’t have any complaints about the book and I went through the entire audio in one day as I cleaned and did yard work.

The book was narrated by Will Tulin and I liked him a lot. He is a new to me narrator but one I will definitely listen to again. He get a great job on both of the MC’s as well as all of the side characters. I think his narration really added to the overall story and I would recommend this.

Cover by Bree Archer: The cover was done by Bree Archer and I like it a lot. I think it is eye catching and really beautiful. It is also a great representation of the story.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | Audible | iTunes

Audiobook Details:

Listening Time: 7 hrs 40 min

Audiobook
Published June 7th 2017 by Dreamspinner Press LLC (first published July 1st 2016)
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesMen of Lancaster County #1

An Alisa Audiobook Review: Two Cowboys and a Baby (Dreamspun Desires #30) by B.A. Tortuga and Dorian Bane (Narrator)

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

A little bundle of joy means big changes.

Hoss McMasters has a working ranch, a bull riding career, a nosy momma, and a best friend he’s been in love with since he can remember. He’s a busy, happy cowboy, living the good life.

Then one morning he discovers a baby on his doorstep.

Well, Hoss does what any reasonable man would do—he calls his momma and his buddy, Sheriff Pooter, and they head to the clinic to see if Doc knows of any suddenly not-so-pregnant girls.

In the meantime, Hoss and his best friend, Bradley, have their hands full trying to care for an infant, run a ranch, and deal with the sudden confession that Bradley doesn’t hate Hoss for coming out to him in high school. In fact, Bradley’s been trying to catch Hoss’s attention for damn near a decade.

This was essentially a sweet story the biggest problem is that these two don’t know how to communicate, at all. They have been completely oblivious to each other for years with Hoss actually thinking his best friend really hates him to being gay but still letting him live on his property and spending time together. Huh? That just confused me even more.

I could see Hoss’s confusion when it came to the baby showing up on his porch, I mean really who would expect a man with no experience with children to suddenly be willing and able to be the care giver to a baby that showed up on his porch? He and Bradley work well together taking care are the baby and starting to show each other how they feel when they are thrown another curve ball. And Bradley does what he did in high school, basically runs away to protect himself. I was glad that they were able to work things out but up until the very end both of them were so unsure of their relationship I had trouble really connecting with them.

Dorian Bane did a nice job narrating this story. I was able to keep track of the story and characters which is always nice. I enjoyed the different voice he used and he portrayed their emotions and personalities well.

Cover art by Bree Archer is nice and follows the pattern for the series.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Audible | Amazon | iTunes

Audiobook Details:

Audiobook, 5hrs 51min
Published April 25, 2017 (ebook first published March 15, 2017) by Dreamspinner Press
Edition Language: English

Series: Dreamspun Desires

An Alisa Audiobook Review: Until You (At First Sight #3) by T.J. Klune and Michael Lesley (Narrator)

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Together with their families and friends

Paul Auster

and

Vincent Taylor

request the honor of your company at the celebration of their marriage.

This is another wonderful story in the At First Sight series. Paul and Vince are just as wonderful together as they have been in the other stories. They both love and know each other so well that they can make the other feel better and make their worries go away.

Paul is just as hilarious has he has been before and I love hearing how his mind work because it is AMAZING! His mind can make the craziest jumps but it works for him. Seeing his whole family, Sandy and Darren just brings everyone together so much more. I love their unconditional love for each other and how much they support one another. These stories make me laugh so much, I always feel better at the end and it lifts up my day.

Michael Lesley did a wonderful job narrating this story. I was able to connect with the characters well and feel their emotions in his reading as he used different voices for the characters. His voice changes so much you really get to see the differences with the characters.

Cover art by Reese Dante is sweet and understated but I love the simpleness of it for this story.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Audible | Amazon | iTunes

Audiobook Details:

Audiobook, 5 hrs 4 min
Published: May 2, 2017 (ebook first published February 27, 2017)
Edition Language: English

Series: At First Sight #3

An Ali Audiobook Review: Power Bottom? by Rowan McAllister and Nick J. Russo (Narrator)

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Can a pickup line from a stranger completely change the way an ordinary man sees himself?

Adrian wouldn’t have thought so, but after an ugly breakup where his self-esteem took a serious beating, he’s willing to try just about anything to repair the damage… even return to a secluded bar in rural Maryland and the intriguing stranger whose words have been on his mind since they met.

Biker, bouncer, bartender, and tattoo artist, Wyatt is a rolling stone. After fifteen years, he is tired of a life on the run, but he isn’t sure he knows how to do anything else or if he has anything besides a physical relationship to offer.

What’s supposed to be a one-off turns into another and another, and the relationship looks promising until the mob and the FBI come knocking on Adrian’s door.

I enjoyed this. It was sweet and sexy all rolled into one. This was an easy read w/no major drama. Just what I was in the mood for.

Adrien and Wyatt meet through a fluke incident and after his life gets upended, Adrien decides to seek Wyatt out again. The two men couldn’t be more different but they are intensely attracted to each other. What starts off as sexual, quickly turns into friendship and then romance.

As the blurb states they both have things going on in their lives and when they end up in the middle of a giant mess complete with mob guys and the FBI they have only each other to turn to. This part was a bit over the top in my opinion but it was still entertaining. I was rooting for these two the entire time and was happy to see them get their happily ever after.

This was narrated by Nick J Russo and I thought he did a very good job. I especially enjoyed the voice he did for Wyatt. There were a variety of side characters, including women, and they all sounded distinct and well done also.

Overall, I found this a completely enjoyable audiobook and it is one I would recommend.

This cover is done by Angsty G. I like this cover a lot and feel like it a great representation of the plot and the characters.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press| Amazon| Audible | iTunes

Audiobook Details:

Audible Audio
Published April 17th 2017 by Dreamspinner Press (first published September 19th 2016)
Original TitlePower Bottom?
ASINB06ZY2QLGQ
Edition LanguageEnglish
setting Maryland (United States)

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