Alicia Z. Ramos

A good performance of a pretty good book

Reviewed: 11-26-24 Listener received this title free

This is a fairly enjoyable story, though I kind of ran out of patience with the older character. As I listened, I kept wondering whether the story would have been more effective if told in chronological order rather than going back and forth between "then" and "now." Still, it was pleasant to listen to, and the narrator did a good job with the content.

My thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for a complimentary copy of this audiobook.

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Not my fave of the series, but still enjoyable

Reviewed: 11-15-24 Listener received this title free

Having revisited this book in audio a couple of times now, it still doesn't entirely work for me, and that's largely due to Pippi's slapstick behavior. I run out of willing suspension of disbelief very quickly when someone marches into another person's home uninvited and doesn't immediately get tossed back out—and that was only the beginning. I also continue to feel that this shorter, episodic form doesn't fit Greg Ashe's skills as well as longer books do. I keep wanting more space for the mysteries to play out.

All that nitpicking aside, I'm enjoying the series. No doubt about that!

My thanks to the author for a complimentary copy of this audiobook.

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My fave of the series so far

Reviewed: 10-26-24 Listener received this title free

What I liked best about this book was seeing Dash (while still being Dash) growing and getting stronger; I like how we're seeing more depth in the other characters, too. I think the narration is solid, even though some of the choices occasionally don't work for me.

I'm giving this 4.5 stars and rounding up because it's a fun read/listen, pure and simple.

My thanks to the author for a complimentary copy of this audiobook.

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A mostly very good reading of a very good book

Reviewed: 08-25-24 Listener received this title free

I gave the ebook version of this story four stars, and I stand by that. I do think that the audiobook makes the story more enjoyable—and knowing how the story continues in books three and four helps as well. I'm definitely appreciating the opportunity to revisit the characters and situations more slowly (I'm a fast reader) via audio. I still wish these books were longer and meatier, but (as I noted in my initial review) I realize that's not possible given the writing/publication speed.

There were a couple of super-clunky mispronunciations that I wish had been caught and fixed (brooch and sachet stuck in my mind), but on the whole I thought the narration was excellent. Recommended!

My thanks to the author for a complimentary copy of this audiobook.

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It was a treat to revisit this lovely story

Reviewed: 07-24-24 Listener received this title free

This was my favorite book of this series, and I thoroughly enjoyed the audio version. I sort of had the impression that the director's accent was supposed to be more upper-class (because it's a surprise to Tag when he learns that the director didn't come from a lofty background), but I may have misunderstood. Apart from that, I thought the accents were marvelous—though I'm American, so my opinion isn't worth much. Bottom line: I'll be listening to this again.

My thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for a complimentary copy of this audiobook.

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A very enjoyable listen

Reviewed: 06-06-24 Listener received this title free

As I said in my review of the ebook version, I wish this were a bit longer/meatier. That said, I definitely enjoyed it and will eagerly await the next book in audio. I suspect I'm going to like this series more and more as it progresses and the characters become more fleshed out. Three cheers for a SFW version of Greg Ashe!

My thanks to the author for a complimentary copy of this audiobook.

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Narration didn't live up to the story's quality

Reviewed: 04-19-24 Listener received this title free

As I said in my review of the written version of this book, it's more than a four-star read. Yet a few things didn't quite jell for me.

First things first: It's an excellent conclusion to an excellent series. I loved seeing John-Henry put in this horrific situation and coming thisclose to breaking and NOT breaking. (Well, with the exception of that appalling "let's have a baby" nonsense, which, yes, is part of the reason this book didn't get five stars from me. Ew, no.)

The other thing that didn't entirely work for me was that I didn't get an idea of how this Big Bad was... that big? That is, how they came to wield as much power as they did.

Those quibbles aside, what a masterpiece the personal interactions in this book are. And that's where, unfortunately, the narration fell down on the job. The voices for the other guys just... did not work. John and Emery were great, of course, but everyone else was mediocre at best. Was North supposed to sound like... a weird New Yorker? And Tean, and—yeah, everyone else, really. I get that doing all those different voices is a challenge for the narrator. I certainly couldn't do it! And yet... that's their job. So that aspect was definitely a disappointment.

Despite it not hitting the mark on all points, this is a worthwhile version of the story, and I'll be listening to it again.

My thanks to the author for a complimentary copy of this audiobook.

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A good performance of a good book

Reviewed: 03-27-24 Listener received this title free

I enjoyed the book version of this and was very happy to get a complimentary copy of the audiobook via Gay Romance Reviews. On listening, I felt that the plot could have benefited from some more fleshing out in the getting-to-know-each-other section (which would have made the betrayal/breakup more meaningful), but it was still thoroughly enjoyable. As for the narration, it was (at least to this American's ear) solid. It was especially fun to revisit this story after having read book three.

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Disappointing performance of an excellent story

Reviewed: 02-15-24 Listener received this title free

North and Shaw always give me trouble. I just have a hard time with Shaw's OTT nonsense (even though I do know there are good reasons for it). And then in this book we have North being uber-Northy at everyone else, as well.

Nonetheless, I looked forward to "rereading" in audio. But... the marvelous narrators for Ashe's other books in this series have spoiled me. The voices in this were all wrong to my ears, and while it didn't sink to the level where I couldn't keep listening (I'm looking at you, Joel Leslie, RUINER OF SO MANY GOOD BOOKS), it detracted from my enjoyment, particularly of the group scenes—which are the best parts of this series.

So, overall... something of a disappointment. The writing holds up, of course, but this audio performance isn't going to go into my often-relisten file.

My thanks to the author for a complimentary copy of this audiobook.

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4.5 stars

Reviewed: 12-30-23 Listener received this title free

Mostly, this is what I said in my review of the ebook: no one who already reads Greg Ashe should miss this, and no one who hasn't read him before should start with it. You need to know what came before for this to work.

As I think I commented regarding book one (in that case regarding Jem and Tean), I struggled with the focus on kids. Why would Auggie want another kid? Ugh. Yes, I know other people will react differently.

The ensemble interactions in this book were pure gold. I often have trouble with North and (especially) Shaw, but I felt as if we saw more of their relatable side here. The juggling scene is utter joy. Seriously one of my favorite scenes ever, from any author. And JF Harding's narration of that and all the other moving scenes is excellent.

I will be eagerly awaiting the rest of the series—viva Greg Ashe!

My thanks to the author for a complimentary copy of this audiobook.

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