Audiobook Review: ’Til Death Do Us Part & From This Day Forward (Vows #1-2) by Addison Albright

Henry and Sam Miller-Greene are living the dream. They love their careers -- which afford each of them opportunities to travel to exotic locations -- they love their home, Sam’s caring family, and each other. They disagree on the subject of adoption, but are fully committed to each other in marriage ... ’Til Death Do Us Part.

The dream is shattered when Henry’s plane crashes and he’s presumed dead. But four people -- Henry, two other men, and a child -- survive undetected on a remote, small, and insignificant island. Will Sam and Henry’s love be able to survive, as well?

Henry fights to endure in harsh conditions, never knowing when disaster will strike. Sam struggles with his loss, but with help moves on with his life. Will Sam be able to put aside his new love when he reunites with Henry?

Listening Length: 8 hours and 3 minutes
Narrator: David Gilmore

I don’t know what it is about being stranded on a deserted island but the setup of desperate survival fascinates me, and if you throw in some romance, even better.

This is about Sam and Henry - a happily married couple, so very deeply in love as they match perfectly where it counts. When Henry’s plane crashes over the ocean and he survives by making his way to a small uninhabited island with 3 others, obviously, he and Sam’s lives are irrevocably changed as years go by without rescue. Can their love endure such a traumatic, forced separation??

This book jumps timelines often, giving you glimpses of the past before the island, portraying life’s trials on the island, and watching present time unfold when Henry is finally discovered to be alive and well.

Full of tense situations as well as sad and emotional challenges, there were also some great instances of levity when it came to Henry being a surrogate father to an endearing 10 month old boy (seriously, too cute for words). I feared this would continuously be wrought with a lot of angst, but though it was heart wrenching at times, it was a totally tolerable turmoil for some reason - I guess because it was grounded in realism and mostly external forces and not due to some frustratingly stupid plot device. There are many things both Sam and Henry struggle with and triumph over. What remains so strong is their love in the face of crazy adversity, devastating loss, and grateful second chances.

Overall, I liked this and was quite entertained, but again, survival on coconuts, breadfruit, and seaweed apparently interest me a lot. Knowledge is power, right? The narration by David Gilmore was more than totally serviceable. Nothing grossly out of place but nothing extraordinary either. It was a pleasant listen, and I think most will have no problem with the audio version. I think it’s a testament to his rendition since I’m off to listen to the sequel!

Thank you to the author/publisher for the audio in exchange for an honest review.

Follow-up story to ’Til Death Do Us Part

Henry and Sam Miller-Greene are enjoying life in the summer after Henry’s rescue from a small South Pacific island, where Henry and three others were marooned for five years.

Henry and Sam thought adopting Aiden -- the child with whom Henry had been stranded -- would be smooth sailing. Matters are complicated by the public nature of their rescue that has turned the survivors into overnight celebrities. Anti-gay-fueled animus rears its ugly head in the blogosphere, causing concerns over the impact libelous rumors might have on Aiden.

With their nightmare separation behind them, Henry and Sam are anxious to renew both the intensity of their former intimacies -- now hampered by having a curious and still apprehensive child sharing their home -- and their commitment to one another. Will they be able to move their love forward now that they are together again?

Listening Length:1 hour and 19 minutes

Basically, this short sequel is an epilogue to Til Death Do Us Part, and my love of epilogues had me enjoying this immensely, as it shows how Sam and Henry are faring a few weeks later after being separated for 5 long years..

Despite some major adjustments that need to be made in many facets of their new life together, least of all acclimating to being official full time parents (Aiden continues to be beyond adorable), it was very nice to see their love grow even stronger.

David Gilmore so far narrates the entire series, and this second entry was reassuringly consistent. A very satisfying conclusion to Sam and Henry’s happy ending!

Thank you to the author/publisher for the audio in exchange for an honest review

Trivia Question: Name the primary author of the Collars & Cuffs series. 5 pts