Audiobook Review: His Consort by Mary Calmes

A new life in New Orleans is all Jason Thorpe had hoped: his quaint little store attracts a devoted staff and his warm, loving heart grants him a loyal circle of friends. He's perfectly content, having left behind the chill of a confusing and danger-filled night in Washington, until he discovers something unbelievable lurking in the steamy darkness of the shadowy streets of the Vieux Carré, something that turns out to be terrifying... and utterly mesmerizing.

The prince of the vampyrs, Varic Maedoc, is visiting New Orleans when he finds out the man who once helped his counselor is there in the Quarter. He thinks to simply meet and thank Jason—until he lays eyes on him. Varic’s devoted himself to protect the honor of his race, and he's never wanted a mate before... but he immediately knows he must have this man, and no one else will do.

Varic may want to bring Jason safely into his world, but someone who doesn’t like the human's soothing influence on vampyrs has deadly plans that would disrupt Varic's dreams. Now, unable to tell friend from foe, Jason finds himself wondering how to hold on to the prince’s heart when he’s fighting for his life.

Narrator: Scott R. Smith
Listening Length: 8 hours and 36 minutes

Reviewer: Shee Reviewer

First let me just say I love Mary Calmes. All her books bring me joy and I was slavering to get my hands on this one, but it sort of left me a little, I don’t know, blah?

The wiring is as lovely as I have come to expect, the characters are so warm and charming, but it wasn’t quite what I was hoping for. I did find Jason a bit annoying or even one-dimensional at first, and It almost felt like the start of the book had nothing to do with anything. Then Jason is in NOLA and things can start happening. I loved the shop idea, but it was all so very perfect. From his meeting his assistant, to the appearance of Vampyres in his shop.

There seemed a lot of not much going on until Varic arrives and all hell breaks loose. There was a lot of interesting characters along the way, but for some reason, a lot of it felt incomplete. The ending in particular felt like there was another movement missing from the play.

Maybe I’m just being grumpy, and don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy the book lots, but it wasn’t life-changing for me like many of Mary’s shifter books have been in the past (compared to say, Control or The Change of Heart series) I just felt like I needed more. Maybe there will be more in the series, and we’ll see the development of other characters and more of the arrival of Varic and Jason at court and so on. I really hope so!

As for the narration, it was wonderful! Very nicely done with brilliant characterisation and added dimensions to the written word. Scott was well cast and gave a super performance.

I’ll listen and read again to see if it settles better with me with another go-around. I expect it will.

I was given a free copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Audiobook Review: Coach's Challenge (Scoring Chances #5) by Avon Gale

It’s been decades since blackmail forced Troy Callahan to retire from playing professional hockey, and he’s built a successful career behind the bench. When he’s offered the opportunity to coach the Asheville Ravens—the most hated team in the ECHL—he’s convinced that his no-nonsense attitude is just what the team needs to put their focus back on hockey. But Troy is disheartened when he finds out the Ravens have signed Shane North, a player known for his aggression—especially when Shane’s rough good looks have Troy thinking inappropriate thoughts about a player, even if he’s set to retire at the end of the season.

Shane’s career in the majors never quite took off. Wanting to quit on his own terms, Shane agrees to a one-year contract with the Ravens and finds himself playing for a coach who thinks he’s an aging goon, and with a team that doesn’t trust him, Troy, or each other. Despite his determination not to get involved, Shane unwillingly becomes part of the team… and is just as unwillingly drawn to the gruff, out-and-proud coach. As the Ravens struggle to build a new identity, Shane and Troy succumb to the passion that might cost them everything.

Listening Length: 6 hrs 50 mins
Narrator: Scott R. Smith

I think this might actually be my favourite series about mature (mostly) men! If you haven’t had a chance to read or listen to this series yet, definitely do it!!! Smith’s narration was just as smooth as ever. My only criticism is that Shane’s voice and Max’s (from Power play) are virtually identical, but when you have five books and a mostly male american character list, variety in voices would be hard.

This novel follows on from Empty Net, it can be read as a standalone but I highly recommend at least reading/listening to that book first.

Troy is the new coach for the much hated Raven’s team and it's his job to help bring his team out of the previous coaches abusive tactics. Ex-NHL player Shane has been drafted for the Ravens this season as his last before retirement. He’s also not out due to the still homophobic feelings around gay athletes. That doesn’t stop him from pursuing his sexy as fuck coach though!

Both these men are mature aged, as in 45 and 36 and they act like it… well… except for all the risky semi public sex, but I was so not complaining about that! Like all the books in this series, they communicate and don’t run away from the problems that come up to bite them in the butts! So much delicious sex! All that ‘Coach’ dirty talk and fucking over a the office desk… mmm….

This book was a pleasure to listen to, quite literally. I’m dyyyyiiinnnng for Xavier’s story, I highly doubt it but I’m hoping for a MMM with River and his boyfriend!!!

Audiobook Review: Empty Net (Scoring Chances #4) by Avon Gale

Spartanburg Spitfires’ goalie and captain Isaac Drake ended last season with an unexpected trip to the playoffs. He’s found a home and family with his coach and mentor, Misha Samarin, and he’s looking forward to making a serious run for the Kelly Cup. But things take an interesting turn when Isaac’s archnemesis, Laurent St. Savoy, is traded to the Spitfires. After Laurent’s despicable behavior in the playoffs last year, Isaac wants nothing to do with him – no matter how gorgeous he is. But that changes when Isaac discovers the reason for Laurent’s attitude.

Laurent St. Savoy grew up the only son of a legendary NHL goalie in a household rife with abuse, constantly treated like a disappointment on and off the ice. When a desperate attempt to escape his father’s tyranny sends him to the Spitfires, the last thing Laurent wants is to make friends. But there’s something about Isaac Drake that he can’t resist, and Laurent has an opportunity to explore his sexuality for the first time, but he’s cracking under end-of-the season pressures. When facing the playoffs and a rivalry turned personal vendetta, Isaac’s not sure he’s enough to hold Laurent—or their relationship—together.


Please be advised: This book does contain some non-graphic references to past childhood physical/emotional abuse as well as issues relating to ED (bulimia and restricted eating, disordered thoughts about eating).

Listening Length: 6 hrs 38 mins
Narrator: Scott R. Smith

Fucking incredible!.... Maybe I should just leave the review like that :-).



Nah, I can’t step away without raving... just a little. If you go and read my review for the audiobook of Save of the Game in this series, you’ll see my serious heart eyes for Scott R. Smith’s narration. That doesn’t waver at all with this audiobook, everytime Laurent spoke it sounded like he was going to cry (which he probably was) and Isaac, I thought he was so well portrayed through this narration, very blunt but jovial.

I was absolutely dying to get my hands on Isaac and Laurent’s story. I didn't really read the blurb before diving in, so I was surprised that the hurt/comfort in this story was on Laurent’s side. I guess Isaac started healing when he moved in with Misha, so it was Isaac’s turn to help heal someone else. And my God, did Laurent need healing. That poor man was so messed up, but I really loved seeing his progression. I don’t think it felt too rushed, given this book is set over an entire hockey pre-season and season, but we did get to see all the highlights of his healing, which I liked.

Like the rest of this series, the sex is deliciously hot and with Laurent being demisexual, it was full of feels as well.

Also I can't leave this review without giving a special mention to Misha, man oh man how I love him!! I so wanted to see him go all Russian mafia on Laurent's dad, it didn't happen but I would pay good money to read that.

Anyway, just to make it quick, this is such a sweet healing/comfort story, it has super smoking sex, great side characters and a narration to die for. Give it a go!

Find on Dreamspinner Press or Goodreads!
See our ebook review here

Audiobook Review: Power Play (Scoring Chances #3) by Avon Gale

A freak accident during the Stanley Cup Playoffs put an end to Max Ashford’s hockey career. Despite everything, Max gets back into the game he loves—only this time, behind the bench as an assistant coach of the Spartanburg Spitfires, the worst team in the entire league. But nothing prepares him for the shock when he learns the new head coach is Misha Samarin, the man who caused Max’s accident.

After spending years guilt ridden for his part in Max’s accident, Russian native Misha Samarin has no idea what to do when he’s confronted with Max’s presence. Max’s optimism plays havoc with Misha’s equilibrium—as does the fierce attraction that springs up between them.

Not only must they navigate Misha’s remorse and a past he’s spent a lifetime trying to forget, but also a sleazy GM who is determined to use their history as a marketing hook. But when an unwelcome visitor targets a player, Misha revisits his darkest days, and that might cost him and Max the beginning they’ve worked so hard to build.

Listening Length: 6 hours and 22 minutes
Narrated by Scott R. Smith

I'm still very new to the audiobook thing. This is only my second one, so I'm still sussing out what I like and don't like. Scott R. Smith showed me that I like the narrator to get into it. Act all the parts out and entertain me. I found myself snortling and chuckling at not just the dialogue but how he threw himself into these characters.

His Belsey had me in stitches and I didn't even like that guy when I first read this, but Smith's impersonation of him was reminiscent of one of the T-Birds!

How can you hate that guy? Answer: I don't! I even found myself being a little charmed by his bluntness and audacity. I mean, he's still skeevy AF but no one can say he doesn't call 'em like he sees 'em and I respect the hell out of that.

I also wasn't the biggest fan of Max the first time around. I didn't hate him or anything but I was definitely on the meh side of Max Ashford. Guess what? Smith must be some kind of verbal magician because Max's earnestness came through in such a way that I actually found myself feeling badly that I'd misjudged him. I'd be happy to send a let's make up fruit basket if that'll soothe any butthurtedness, and by "fruit basket" I mean an assortment of flavored lubes and cookies, because who doesn't like cookies?

But Misha is what brought this girl to the table and Smith delivered on those goods. Damn, I heart the becheezus out of that Russian! Smith brought him to life from his dryness to his sexy toppy bedroom sweet nothings to his confusion over crazy American slang.

I loved it so much I wish there had been more dialogue because I could listen to Smith's Misha until... forever. These were good to great characters who engaged in funny and at times heartfelt conversations and that's Gale's craftwork. Smith just electrified them with his performance.

Ok, clearly I've seen Grease one too many times. Recommend to audiobook fans far and wide as this could be listened to as a standalone.

A review copy was provided.

Find out more on Goodreads & Dreamspinner Press.

Audiobook Review: Breakaway (Scoring Chances #1) by Avon Gale

Drafted to play for the Jacksonville Sea Storm, an NHL affiliate, twenty-year-old Lane Courtnall’s future looks bright, apart from the awkwardness he feels as a gay man playing on a minor league hockey team. He's put his foot in his mouth a few times and alienated his teammates. Then, during a rivalry game, Lane throws off his gloves against Jared Shore, enforcer for the Savannah Renegades. It’s a strange way to begin a relationship.

Jared’s been playing minor league hockey for most of his career. He’s bisexual and doesn’t care if anyone knows. But he’s determined to avoid another love affair after the last one left him devastated. Out of nowhere a one-nighter with rookie Lane Courtnall gives him second thoughts. Lane reminds Jared why he loves the game and why love might be worth the risk. In turn, Jared hopes to show Lane how to be comfortable with himself on and off the ice. But they’re at different points in their careers, and both men will have to decide what they value most.

Narrator: Scott R. Smith
Listening Length: 7 hrs 33 mins

Breakaway gave me so many things I love and wrapped them up in a delicious package. I’m a lifelong hockey FANatic but I generally steer clear of hockey romances as I turn into a picky pain in the ass and that’s honestly not fair to the stories. So, I typically keep my loves separate as there haven’t been too many times the streams crossed successfully for my aforementioned pain in the ass self.

Breakaway though, is a completely different story. There’s a good bit of hockey sport, rules and regs throughout and the author did a stellar job of being true to the sport while keeping it accessible to hockey and non-hockey folks alike. That’s not an easy feat as hockey fans have a tendency to be rabid and a little off when it comes to their love of the game, so I get why it doesn’t always work. This one works. The game itself, as well as the ins and outs of the league became an integral part to the story and the vehicle for the relationship between Lane and Jared.

Lane and Jared are at two very different points in their respective careers and I really enjoyed listening to Jared’s views as he made decisions for his future based on his achievements, his overall career and his relationship with Lane. Jared was such a strong character based on his history and maturity, I really liked him. I know Lane is so very popular with fans of this book, I mean, you can’t not be in love with the guy as you get to know him, but Jared’s strength is what did it for me.

It’s the differences between the two characters that gave them so much appeal though. So I can’t have my Jared without Lane and vice versa, which it completely fine by this reader. Lane was just on the border of being too much, but the author knew how to redeem him when he was being clueless and how to rein him in before he went too far. The narrator nailed the voices for these two perfectly. They were distinctive and he was able to capture the subtle nuances of their dialog well so I never got lost in conversations no matter who was speaking.

The playoffs became another character in Breakaway and it was a lot of fun to listen to. Listening to the guys with their game faces when they were on the ice and then how they came together after was perfectly hockey and made me respect them both even more.

I have to give a shout out to Lane’s mom too. She wasn’t portrayed well through the bulk of the story, not awful, but not what I wanted for Lane either. Then when she makes her appearance in the story I loved her. The two of them did some actual communicating and she’s basically a female version of Lane. It’s no wonder they were both kind of lost. Lane makes all kinds of sense after you meet his mom and she and Jared clicked in the best possible way for their future.

There’s setup for the next in the series and I’m pretty hooked on the audio versions as the narrator is a great fit for the characters and when I read the blurbs for the rest of the series, I hear his take on the characters I’ve already met and I want to hear more from them.

For more information on Scoring Chances, check it out on Goodreads and over at Dreamspinner Press.

**a copy of this audiobook was provided for an honest review**

See our eBook review here!

Audiobook Review: Save of the Game (Scoring Chances #2) by Avon Gale

After last season’s heartbreaking loss to his hockey team’s archrival, Jacksonville Sea Storm goalie Riley Hunter is ready to let go of the past and focus on a winning season. His new roommate, Ethan Kennedy, is a loud New Yorker with a passion for social justice that matches his role as the team’s enforcer. The quieter Riley is attracted to Ethan and has no idea what to do about it.

Ethan has no hesitations. As fearless as his position demands, he rushes into things without much thought for the consequences.Though they eventually warm to their passionate new bond, it doesn’t come without complications. While trying to financially help Ethan, Riley must hide his family’s wealth so as not to hurt Ethan’s immense pride. For their relationship to work, Ethan will need to learn when to keep the gloves on and let someone help him—and Riley will have to learn it’s okay to let someone past his defenses.

Listening Length: 6 hrs 22 mins
Narrator: Scott R. Smith

What a wonderful surprise that story ended up being!


That was gorgeously sweet and angst free. I absolutely fell in love with Riley and Ethan but it was Scott Smith’s voice as Ethan that left me surprisingly flawed and made me realise this is what listening to audiobooks is all about.


Riley and Ethan start off as roommate's and together discover the joys of bisexuality.

A highlight of the story was these boy’s sex scenes, they were actually the very cute, realistic fumblings of two men who are just learning how to touch another man. Then when they get their confidence up they start playing with some ropes and cock-choking and My God it is hot. The kink is very light and so very welcome.


These two are such a wonderful couple, they're a bit ‘opposites attract’ and they compliment each other beautifully. There was also not an abundance of hockey talk which I very much appreciated.


Okay, onto the narration.

When I started this audiobook I didn’t really like it, well more specifically I didn’t like Ethan's voice (or maybe it was Ethan?). He has an old style New York gangster accent, which while super cool, takes some getting used. Also every one of his lines was virtually yelled due to his enthusiasm for life and overzealous nature. I think I was about half way through the book when Ethan’s more vulnerable moments occurred and I found myself feeling so deeply for him, it had crept up on me like a stealthy ninja. I had to stop and think, ‘when did I start caring about Ethan’ and that's when I realised how perfectly Smith had embodied Ethan’s character.


Ethan is hyperactive and enthusiastic in a way I would have never have understood if I had simply read his lines. I’m a fairly quiet person and to comprehend that much energy is hard for me, Ethan would have come across as a loud and obnoxious man. I would have never understood or loved Ethan as much as I did if I hadn’t heard his passion and vulnerabilities first hand. And that right there is what makes a narrator incredible, when they can give you an experience you would not be able to have if you only had your own interpretation of the character.


My only complaint, which is so minor in comparison to how much I loved this, is Riley is a softly spoken character and I struggled to hear his dialogue at times.


Adored the story! It can be read as a standalone and I highly recommend it to anyone. The audiobook added an extra element to the story I wasn’t expecting and I think everyone should listen to it, but if you don't enjoy audiobooks, definitely still read this anyway.

Find on Dreamspinner Press or Goodreads!

See our eBook review here!