Audiobook Review: His Leading Man by Ashlyn Kane

He wrote a comedy. Fate directed a romance.

Drew Beaumont is bored of the same old roles: action hero, supervillain, romantic lead. He’s not going to let a fresh gay buddy comedy languish just because they can’t find him the right costar. No, Drew bats his eyelashes and convinces everyone that the movie’s writer should play Drew’s not-so-straight man.

Aspiring writer Steve Sopol has never had a screenplay optioned. Now one of Hollywood’s hottest properties wants to be in a movie Steve hasn’t finished writing—and he wants Steve as his costar. Turns out the chemistry between them is undeniable—on and offscreen.

Drew swore off dating in the biz, but Steve is the whole package: sharp, funny, humble, and cute. For Steve, though, giving in to the movie magic means the end of the privacy he cherishes. Will the credits roll before their ride into the sunset?

Listening Length: 5 hrs and 22 mins
Narrator: Kenneth Obi

Because this did not make me wince or roll my eyes once!


Just like the blurb says, Hollywood heartthrob Drew, is up for a challenge and that’s a comedy. However, despite finding the perfect script, Drew hasn’t found the right costar. That is, until the writer himself naturally fits the role to the “T”.


Steve for sure is hesitant to star in his own creation. He’s a writer, not an actor, and he prefers to be behind the scenes not the center of attention. Despite that, it’s very hard to say no to the charismatic Drew and plus, this is huge opportunity that Steve can’t pass up.


This is Dreamspun Desires done right. Narrated by Kenneth Obi, he did a good job, and I have no complaints at all regarding the voice distinction and emotion that was brought to this story. This isn’t fancy nor silly. This has minimal angst, plausible progression, and real life doubts and challenges. Well…. as much as you can get in the privileged world of Hollywood’s rich and famous.


It’s apparent I liked this. Though Steve and Drew weren’t looking, they quickly connect and realize that they just might have something special with each other. Awww.


Simple easy sexy romance!


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

Audiobook Review: A Full Plate by Kim Fielding

Opposites come together for a spicy surprise.

Bradford “Tully” Tolliver has everything—money, a great car, a beautiful condo, and a promising career as one of Portland’s hottest young lawyers. Sure, he puts in long hours and has no social life to speak of, but who needs romance when corporations pay top dollar for his expertise? He hesitates when a colleague asks if her cousin can live with him, but the arrangement will last less than a year, and then the cousin—Sage Filling—will return to his tiny hometown.

But Sage is handsome and intriguing, and his cooking makes Tully swoon. Sage has obligations back home, though, and Tully has offers he might not refuse from a persistent—and very wealthy—ex. Since Tully and Sage each have a full plate, can they make room for a side of love?

As the Desires line goes, this was overall a win for me.

Just like the blurb says, Tully and Sage live together as a matter of convenience. Sage needs a rent free place to save money to help his family and Tully benefits by having delicious home cooked meals awaiting him on a daily basis. These two have vastly disparate lives with different goals and responsibilities, but despite the stark divide in their social status and upbringing, they slowly develop a friendship and eventually fall in love.

This has absolutely no flash and bang (and sadly no smex either). However, I was mostly ok with that. Perhaps to add in a little conflict there is an annoying ex which I suppose serves to drive the point home just how much Tully and Sage are meant to be despite what they perceive as insurmountable problems, that such roadblocks are simply inconsequential in the grand scheme of things.

Narrated by Kenneth Obi, he continues to deliver a solid performance and I have no complaints. This was obviously a sedate romance which I’m finding I prefer to the crazy silly ott ones at the moment. Each definitely has their place depending on one’s reading mood and preferences. Apparently, this fit my romance requirement at the right time!

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

Audiobook Review: Getting His Man (Getting His Man #1) by B.G. Thomas

A love story worthy of an old movie… with a new twist.

Artie needs a hero, a man like those he’s always revered in Golden Age films. His drug-dealing jerk of a roommate got him arrested, and since his savior isn’t likely to sweep in and save the day, Artie calls a bail bondsman.

August has always imagined himself a hero from a black-and-white movie, but he’s never found a man willing to let him play that role—at least not until he gets the call from Artie.

Both of their dreams might come true, but not before August must use his skills as a bounty hunter as well as a bondsman. Artie is on the run for his life, and August must protect him and help him clear his name. Only then can they both finally get their man.

Listening Length: 5 hours and 52 minutes
Narrator: Kenneth Obi

Criminey


This really was all sorts of charming and cute and fun.

This starts out with Artie, who has the terrible misfortune of being caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. He’s quite the sheltered guy and a hopeless romantic, and truly just wants to find someone he can just be his goofy self with. Artie’s an adorable MC with a heart of gold, and one just wants him to get his HEA.

It’s just that shine that draws bondsman/bounty hunter August, to do things he knows he shouldn’t - and that’s to get messed up in the the troubles of someone he just bailed out. However, August can’t resist, nor let go of his protective instincts in helping Artie out, for he believes deep down that Artie is innocent and doesn’t deserve what may be coming.

What ensues is a bit of comedy of errors as Artie can’t seem to not stay out of trouble through really no fault of his own. He falls quickly for August, and when his situation seems dire, Artie only wants to save the tough handsome man of his dreams from the harm that inevitably seems to be ahead. August in turn, just wants to do what’s right and to make sure Artie gets out of this ridiculous and unfair predicament unscathed.

Rest assured, these two MC’s are very very likeable. When you throw in some sweet sexy, a bit of suspense, and Artie and August being absolutely perfect for the other, you have quite the nice read. Narrated by Kenneth Obi, he set the tone just right and brought Artie and August to life. This was definitely easy listening, and it had me laughing out loud, shaking my head at the various shenanigans, and going “awwww” a few times. If you want a no fuss romance with good dashes of humor, action, and tons of sugary goodness, then this is for you. Enjoy!


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

Audiobook Review: The Supers (The Supers #1) by Sean Michael

Hunting ghosts and finding more than they bargained for.

Blaine Franks is a member of the paranormal research group the Supernatural Explorers. When the group loses their techie to a cross-country move, newly graduated Flynn Huntington gets the job. Flynn fits in with the guys right off the bat, but when it comes to him and Blaine, it’s more than just getting along.

Things heat up between Blaine and Flynn as they explore their first haunted building, an abandoned hospital, together. Their relationship isn’t all that progresses, though, and soon it seems that an odd bite on Blaine’s neck has become much more.

Hitchhiking ghosts, a tragic love story forgotten by time, and the mystery of room 204 round out a romance where the things that go bump in the night are real.

Listening Length: 6 hours and 18 minutes
Narrator: Kenneth Obi

I’m quite conflicted about this story for a variety of reasons, and I’m really not sure how to express my experience.

This starts off with a group of gay friends who are basically out to make it big by proving that ghosts are real. Flynn actually has the ability to feel, see, and possibly interact with said ghosts so he’s a very valuable part of the team - a team that needs another to help with data collection and analysis. Enter Blaine. He’s always been a believer due to feeling his dead mother’s presence intermittently throughout his life. Because of this, Blaine is determined to prove that this paranormal phenomena exists, and what better way to do that than to join a group of ghost hunters?

When Blaine first meets Flynn there's literally a spark between them and of course, the instant attraction pushes them down the hill at warp speed. The two fall hard and fast, and there just might be a bit of spooky mojo making their connection all the more fantastical, and it’s “babe, baby, honey, love” in a matter of days. *grimaces* In and amongst this uh-mazing time, strange things are afoot, sinister happenings start to endanger Flynn, and sure enough, there’s a tragic mystery to be solved and justice to be had.

I’ve only listened to Kenneth Obi once before, and he was more than perfectly serviceable. Here??? Not so much. I could not follow the narration well at all. I don’t know if it’s because my ears couldn’t easily distinguish “Blaine” from “Flynn” as they’re both one syllable and end in N, or the fact that there was inconsistent character distinction which was not helped by the seemingly rapid POV changes that made it hard to discern who was who was who was speaking. Oy. To say the least, this took me an unusual inordinate amount of time to get through, and that didn’t sit well.

Soooooo despite the insta love, the banter between Blaine and Flynn was mostly sweet and entertaining, the smexy wasn’t too shabby. The scary bits were tense and disturbing, so if you want that in your ghost story then don’t worry. For me though, this book was just... odd, and it was not helped by the narration. I’m not deterred though, since this is my first from Sean Michael. I’ll forge ahead with the next book whether I listen to it or not!

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

Audio Blog Tour + Giveaway: From Ashes (Heathens Ink #3) by K.M. Neuhold

From Ashes (Heathens Ink #3) is in audio form! Celebrate the release of the Kenneth Obi narrated audiobook with author K.M. Neuhold! Enter in the giveaway to win your own copy of From Ashes!

FROM ASHES

HEATHENS INK SERIES, BOOK 3

K.M. NEUHOLD

M/M ROMANCE

AUDIO RELEASE: 01.18.18

NARRATOR: Kenneth Obi

COVER DESIGN: K.M. Neuhold

COVER PHOTO: StockPhoto

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2w5yA3U

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2uURbfi

BLURB

“When the broken man with scarred skin walked into Heathens, asked for a job, and showed me a sketch of a phoenix, it felt like fate.”~ Adam

It started with an anonymous post by someone who didn't want to live anymore. I read it over and over again, unable to get it out of my mind. What if my brother Johnny had posted something like this before he'd taken his own life? Would someone have been able to save him?

I've been living a lie for 16 long years and I'm not sure how much longer I'll be able to keep it up. And when a beautiful, broken man walks into my tattoo shop asking for a second chance at life, I know I'll never be able to turn him away.


“When I was so far down I couldn’t even see the light, a stranger reached in to save me”~ Nox

I didn't have anything to live for, until a kind stranger pulled me back from the brink. With physical and emotional scars I have nowhere to turn now but to that same stranger who saved my life without realizing it. But as my feelings for Adam grow, will I ever be anything other than a surrogate for the brother he couldn’t save? Am I even worthy of his love?

**From Ashes is the third book in the Heathens Ink series, each book in the series CAN be read as a standalone.

CAUTION: this book contains graphic descriptions of domestic violence and drug use that may be disturbing to some readers.

EXCERPT

The afternoon flies by as quickly as the morning had with a combination of appointments and walk-ins filling up my schedule all the way until closing time.



While Nox and I clean up my workspace Gage pops his head in.



“Hey, I’m going to be heading over to Rainbow House tonight, won’t be home ‘til late.”



“Okay, tell everyone I say hi and that I’ll do my best to stop by soon.”



“Is Rainbow House a bar or something?” Nox asks once Gage is gone.



“No, it’s a halfway house for LGBTQ teens who don’t have anywhere to go.”



Nox’s lips part on a quiet gasp and his eyes glaze over slightly.



“That’s so amazing. You volunteer to help homeless LGBTQ teens?”



“It’s no big deal,” I shrug off the awe in his voice. I love working with the kids down at R.H., but it’s not enough. Nothing will ever be enough.



“It is a big deal. You are like a real-life superhero,” Nox insists.



I feel myself blush and wave off his praise.



“I’m no superhero,” I argue. “I’m just doing what I can so no one has to feel as helpless and alone as Johnny did.”



“I’m going to have to think of a superhero name for you,” Nox carries on as though he didn’t hear my protest. “Hmm, let’s see...what about lumberjack man?”



“What? That’s terrible, what would my superpower even be?”



“The ability to chop wood super-fast.”



“I feel like there’s a sexual innuendo in there somewhere.”



Nox barks out a laugh.



“I’d love to go help out at Rainbow House sometime,”Nox says casually, but his expression is anything but. I can tell it would mean a lot to him to help some kids who are in a position he’s familiar with.



“Do you mind my asking how you ended up on the streets? Were your parent’s dicks about the gay thing or what?”



“It’s kind of embarrassing.”



“You don’t have to tell me if you’re uncomfortable. I was being nosey, forget I even asked,” I backpedal, realizing what a dick question that was.

I'm an author of m/m and new adult romance. I have a strong passion for writing characters with a lot of heart and soul, and a bit of humor as well.

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Audiobook Review: Game Point by M.J. O'Shea

Game, set… match made in heaven.

Spoiled socialite Quinn Valenzuela has no interest in sports or his family’s huge sporting goods empire, Sparta Athletics. So when Quinn learns his grandfather has died and he’s in control of the corporation, no one is more surprised than Quinn himself.

Dedicated COO Porter Davis has little time and less patience for brats like Quinn who have never done a day’s work, but circumstances leave him with little choice. Quinn claims he’s ready to leave partying behind and grow up, but it’ll take more than words to earn Porter’s respect. As it turns out, they can work—and play—together after all. A friends with benefits arrangement makes sense for the two busy men, but are they too different for it to ever develop into more? Not if Quinn can convince Porter he has his head in the game.

Listening Length: 4 hrs 31 min
Narrator: Kenneth Obi

Definitely one of the more enjoyable Dreamspun Desires stories, this went down the hatch with nary a hiccough!


Porter, who is content and happy being the head of operations of one of the top sporting goods conglomerates is understandably devastated when the founder of said company dies suddenly. It’s bad enough that he’s lost his mentor, but when the entire company is left to the prodigal grandson Quinn, no one is more shocked than Porter. Quinn, who has been absent for years, is set to inherit the majority of shares but only if he chooses to stay and step into his grandfather’s position. The thought of the pampered young man being Porter’s boss is enough to make his blood boil!! He simply thinks of Quinn as a spoiled brat with not one responsible bone in his body, and thus wholly ill equipped to do the job. Suffice it to say, pissed off and indignant doesn’t even come close to how Porter feels.


Now granted, Quinn has not been the poster child for initiative and work ethic. Admittedly, he has been living the high life of parties and debauchery but lately, he’s been feeling a bit restless and not so satisfied. Quinn doesn't know why he’s avoided his family for so long, but his grandfather’s death is really just the push he needs for some serious life evaluation, and he’s determined to give this new opportunity a good go. Now, if Quinn can just navigate the sexy COO’s hostile attitude towards him, things might just go his way.


These two not surprisingly, don’t hit it off at all. Somehow though, circumstances force them to lay out the harsh truths and they grudgingly agree to give each other a chance, and lo and behold, both are amazed at just how well their strengths and assets work together. It doesn’t take long for them to establish a great working relationship, one that is busy and stressful and fulfilling, and perhaps could benefit from blowing off some much needed steam. With. Each. Other. Yep!


Narrated by Kenneth Obi, this was my first listening experience with him, and it went just as smoothly as the story did. Overall, Game Point was pretty much angst free, with the obligatory denial of feelings where perhaps that denial carries on just a tad too long. However, it really was a sweet story of enemies to friends to lovers (with a touch of age gap, a dollop of opposites attract, and a dash of sexy). O’Shea typically excels at such fluff, so fans of hers shouldn't have much complaint if at all, with this easy breezy read.


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

Audiobook Review: Finder's Keeper (Heart's Gate #1) by Shira Anthony

The truth might ruin his dreams—or make them come true.

When Zane moves into an old gothic brownstone, he discovers the house comes equipped with a caretaker—Kit, who lives in the basement. Zane is immediately drawn to the charming and attractive Kit. But Kit is much more than he seems. He is a two-hundred-year-old half-human, half–red-fox spirit who guards a Gate between the mortal and spirit worlds—a fact Zane should recognize, but doesn’t.

Orphaned at a young age, Zane never learned he comes from a long line of mystical Keepers. Kit needs Zane’s help to protect the Gate, but how can he tell Zane of his legacy when that will crush Zane’s dreams of traveling the world? If he takes up the mantle, Zane will be bound to the Gate, unable to leave it. But when Zane realizes Kit’s true nature, and his own, he’ll have to make a choice—fight to protect Kit and the Gate, or deny his destiny and any chance of a future with Kit.

Narrated by: Kenneth Obi 
Listening Length: 5 hours and 39 minutes

Bleeeeerrrrggggghhhhhhh....

I don't know what happened! I was so looking forward to this one but I never connected to these characters which is a shame since it's got a lot going for it-unusual shifters, intriguing plot and cracky fluff. Slam dunk, right?

Kit is a ginger fox shifter and guardian of a gate to the spirit world who lost his keeper five years ago. He's been white knuckling it since then until Zane finally gets a job in Ohio and moves into the house he's inherited. Zane is the next keeper in the family line but since he and his sister were orphaned he doesn't know it. Kit is loathe to tell him for fear of binding him to a life he doesn't want yet the longer Kit goes without a keeper the weaker he becomes.

Me and the martyr thing don't get along and Kit lets it go on for far too long, especially considering Zane keeps telling him how much he wants all the things, so it came across as unnecessary drama. That coupled with the fact that I never felt their soul deep, forever-n-ever connection left me...

I know. For shame. I did like the spirit world and how vast and rich texturally it sounded filled with unusual creatures. Zane's attraction to Kit was nice and I liked that Kit was awkward and inexperienced due to never having formed a romantic connection to anyone before much less his keeper. But I didn't get the warm squishy feels I've come to expect when reading the cracky fluff.

This is my second rodeo with this author in audio format and as much as it makes me feel like a pill to say this, I don't think her writing style is conducive to audiobooks. It comes across choppy and muddled. There are excessive details regarding everyone and their sister's actions that make the narrative difficult to follow. I found myself so distracted with trying to keep up with who's sighing, who's finding the cure for cancer, who's making a batch of scones and who's about to die at the hands of some nefarious being that I think I subconsciously checked out after awhile. I kept listening but I was mailing it in. The action nor the romance plots moved me and both took too long to coalesce. However, I have resolved to try her in written form and hopefully that goes better. 🙏

As far as the narration goes, Obi differentiated all the characters well. I liked his voice for Kit but his voice for Zane was a little too breathy for me and I think sometimes he "punched" the wrong moments.

This will be my last Anthony audiobook and I wouldn't recommend it but my opinions are my own and YMMV.

A review copy was provided.