Justin

Adorably sweet

Reviewed: 01-06-25

The audio was excellent. I’ll definitely give more books by this narrator an opportunity.
I love adventure stories and what could be better than love found out on the PCT!

I thoroughly enjoyed the two MCs. They were very well filled out with their own quirks, bumps and bruises. Their own reasons for coming to the trail. The authors in depth scenes when the MCs connected helped build chemistry and get me invested in their relationship. It was excellent writing that isn’t found in every story. I appreciated how that in different ways, it was evident that simply hiking the PCT and throwing themselves into something epic and even finding love was not enough by itself to overcome some of their own struggles.
This book focused on the real details of when two people meet while out on trail and the ups and downs they face when faced with reality once again. The light spice also allowed more room for creativity but it was still used to great effect.
This book gets a solid 4.5

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A well-rounded, loving story

Reviewed: 12-11-23

I had some issues with certain parts of the story, some of the setups and some of the flourishes AE Via used, but overall I believe there was enough heart, love, and authenticity in the characters to overcome those issues.
I thoroughly enjoyed Bishop and Edison and their slow burn relationship. I appreciate how Bishop stuck to his new-found principles after he was released from prison and the tension was all external. I thought the story went deep into his thoughts and didn’t shy away from how prison and his upbringing informed his decisions.
I especially enjoyed his inner circle. Mike and Trent were his biggest protectors and cheerleaders. It brought out all the softness from that hard exterior.
The narrator was new to me and it took me some time to get used to him but he did a very good job

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Beautifully Written Tearjerker- better read

Reviewed: 10-17-23

The story is well-told and well woven with the journal entries of Tom and Charlie from the barn. It’s also a VERY tenderly written story meant to wring every fulfilling feeling and teardrop out of you. The only issue I had was that the men are written as a bit older throughout the book, probably mid to late 40’s even though they are supposed to be “late 20’s to early 30’s”
Unfortunately I felt the narrators were very accommodating to the late 40’s age vibe. But They are still off. Tanner is ok but sounds mostly like a suburban dad. Cole’s voice is all wrong. He sounds old as dirt and out of breath half the time.

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Light/nice, could have been more

Reviewed: 09-12-23

The story was just good enough to make me want more. More depth to the story, more depth for the characters, especially Blake who had like 5 lines throughout the whole book.
Though it could have been so much more, Overall it’s a cute light and breezy instalove summer beach read.

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Hot s3x and Great chemistry

Reviewed: 04-26-23

Overall this story wasn’t my typical jam. I had issues with Pen’s character and voice. the GFU and possessiveness was not my style and the overall lack of plot and loose ends left was annoying. But that said, CE Ricci did a great job with the friendship, chemistry and eventual romance between Keen and Pen. Finding their HEA made this book worth it!

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Swept me off my feet!!

Reviewed: 02-17-23

I plucked this book out of a random recommendation online. I’ve read some magic and fantasy before but it’s not typically in my wheelhouse. But wow! This book is one of the best I’ve read in a long time.
The story is dense with magic and world-building terminology right off the bat. I almost gave up after 30 minutes but luckily I was in the car with nothing else to do. And the action sequence at the beginning was actually really good. Once the first scene was over I started getting into the story, characters and world. And the scope and definition of it was fantastic. The characters are full and likable with good banter and unique personalities. The MC Rune is fully capable at what he does even as he learns to be better. His bestie/companion Brand is also awesome and a bit of a super human. He’s always there with a great quip. I would have enjoyed a little more detail about Addam but I think we’re getting a moot more of him in book 2 and I was not unhappy with his character. There are several characters I hope get a lot more time with in the next books.
It helps that I went in with zero expectations, but this gem was worth every minute!
There is a ton of action to keep your attention and in between you are beautifully familiarized with the world around them.
The narrator is top notch excellent and deserves an award. I’ve listened to others from him but they were more simple stories. This book was as complex as it gets I think for a narrator and
Josh Hurley know led it out of the park.

Some housekeeping items: this is a magic/fantasy action adventure first that happens to also be M/M. I saw a few complaints that there were not enough women playing more important roles in the story. It’s true that they are mostly male characters. From a M/M standpoint, that didn’t bother me. I agree it would be great to have a well-rounded cast but there are supposed to be 8 more books in this series so I’m sure there will be many new characters introduced and plenty of opportunities for that.
Second, for those sensitive to it, this is your official TW for sexual assault (not live, partially replayed in a dream-state). It seems random when you first hear it but it comes up again as a plot device at the end of the book.
Overall, I am extremely happy I listened to this book and am very much looking forward to book 2!!

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1 person found this helpful

Great set up left me wanting more

Reviewed: 12-15-22

This book is pretty much insta-love which is not my favorite. The characters are well developed and the writing overall is very good. There are a couple reasons I gave it 3 stars. 1. While I love the background story of a murderer on the loose in the Des Moines area, I also love slow burn romances, and there just wasn’t room for both in the amount of pages. I feel like I wanted more scenes of Noah, Cole and Katy together, holding their family. And I wanted more and/or a better resolution to the murder plot. It was good, their writing made it good, but a victim of their own success, Tao Bauer left me wanting more.
The other issue I had, and this may just be me as I don’t have a teenage daughter, but I found the constant use of Noah’s affectation / nickname for Katey overused and maybe just a little weird. She is written as being 16. And while there was no digging into why she was even there, I felt she was played as a 12 year old. It really took me out of the story a few times.
The narrator was good. He played several voices well and kept me engaged.

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Funny, sweet and PG-13.

Reviewed: 07-28-22

I was completely swept up by Luke and Oliver. Their stark differences made for great banter and how they worked despite their oil and water personalities. One thing though that tends to grate on me is a situation where the MC will opine internally forever about how they might mess up a situation with their own irrational behavior, but then, once back to reality, nothing happens! That said, This is an overall great journey for Luke and I was so happy with the primary, secondary, and even tertiary character building. It is a sweet story and the jokes never stop coming. It all leads up to a very sweet, if maybe a little too innocent of a relationship. As deep and honest as they appear to get with their own baggage, their resolutions seem a little light. This was a smartly written, and perfectly narrated book. It just could have taken that last step into realness and it would have hooked me for good.

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An incredible listen.

Reviewed: 07-19-22

This is one of the better “knights in shining armor” books I have listened to and perhaps one of the best M/M books ever. Hats off to Alex Di Campi for writing an amazing medieval historical fiction filled with intrigue, political high drama, and everything else that goes with it. Then within this excellent story, not being afraid to explore the love and passion of the two main characters. Alex wrote them so beautifully and no part of their relationship and how it came to be felt rushed or unbelievable. And boy did they come together…the sex scenes are written very passionately but not unrealistic.
This story, and the relationship of our heroes takes a very winding road so fasten your seatbelt because you are in for a range of emotions.
Thank you to Richard Pearce whose narration was spot on for every character. And there were many throughout this epic journey of a novel with long stays in Devon, London, France and Scotland. The voices were awesome, the passion was there for each person and the accents perceptible. Terrific job.

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1 person found this helpful

Fun but…

Reviewed: 03-08-22

First, Michael Urie is fantastic as narrator. I’m not sure if he’s narrated anything else but I will definitely take a look after this review! His accents and ease are everything one could ask for in an international story.
About the book. The book was good. A solid story with plenty of fun, neurotic humor which is totally me. The book is a little light on subject matter. All the broad brush strokes are there. Edgar is uptight and has trust issues, and Carter has confidence and self-sabotage issues. And these things move the plot along very well. But each scene left me wanting just a little bit more. For the whirlwind to slow down here or there and have one more scene to work on the guys’ chemistry and cement their passion for each other.
It also has the unfortunate distinction of being released on the heels of Red, White & Royal Blue, which is an excellent book in my opinion. It is also about 5 hrs longer than Playing the Palace. So there is more room for that story to breathe and for character depth and for more intimacy (and not just sex, but that too) between our two main characters.
Playing the Palace is cute fun, well written, funny, touching and adorable. You should definitely consider it. In my opinion, It’s just a victim of being not as good as a very similar story arc that came out a little before it.

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