Tigerland (Tigers and Devils #2) by Sean Kennedy

After an eventful and sometimes uncomfortably public courtship, Simon Murray and Declan Tyler settled into a comfortable life together. Now retired from the AFL, Declan works as a football commentator; Simon develops programs with queer content for a community television station.

Despite their public professional lives, Simon and Declan manage to keep their private life out of the spotlight. Their major concerns revolve around supporting their friends through infertility and relationship problems—until Greg Heyward, Declan’s ex-partner, outs himself in a transparent bid for attention.

Though Simon and Declan are furious with Greg and his media antics, they can’t agree on what to do about it. Declan insists they should maintain a dignified silence, but both he and Simon keep getting drawn into Heyward’s games. Simon and Declan will once again have to ride out the media storm before they can return their attention to what really matters: each other.

This is the sequel to Tigers and Devils, and although I read (not listened too) that one first, you don’t necessary have too, but it would be a good idea. All the same charterers are in both books and all play an equally important role.

This one starts off with Simon and Declan in a loving committed relationship several years past where we left them last time.   Declan has retired and Simon is now working for a television station.  Over the last several years they have managed to keep out of the spotlight until another big name football player has decided to retire and come out. This announcement has sent Simon and Declan world into a tail spin.  On top of that Abe and Lisa are on the outs and Fran and Roger are having a crisis of their own.  Can they get this all sorted out before Simon hits someone again?

I just love this series, I little long winded in parts but over all very good. The chemistry not just between Simon and Declan but all six of them is brilliant. You really feel that you are a part of this friendship, going through all these issues with them. We did leave it open ended so maybe another one is in the works? I haven’t checked.

Narration – I just love the voice of Dave Gillies. I’ve heard him once or twice before and never disappoints.

Book 5 rainbows

Narrator 5 rainbows

Over all 5 rainbows

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Hungry for Love by Rick R. Reed

 Nate Tippie and Brandon Wilde are gay, single, and both hoping to meet that special man, even though fate has not yet delivered him to their doorstep. Nate's sister, Hannah, and her kooky best friend, Marilyn, are about to help fate with that task by creating a profile on the gay dating site, OpenHeartOpenMind. The two women are only exploring, but when they need a face and body for the persona they create, they use Nate as the model.

When Brandon comes across the false profile, he falls for the guy he sees online. Keeping up the charade, Hannah begins corresponding with him, posing as Nate. Real complications begin when Brandon wants to meet Nate, but Nate doesn’t even know he’s being used in the online dating ruse. Hannah and Marilyn concoct another story and send Nate out to let the guy down gently. But when Nate and Brandon meet, the two men feel an instant and powerful pull toward each other. Cupid seems to have shot his bow, but how do Nate and Brandon climb out from under a mountain of deceit without letting go of their chance at love?

This audio book has lots of players in it, but four major ones. Nate, Brandon, Hannah and Marilyn, Brandon is looking for real love not just a quickie in a bathroom of a club. So he decides to post an ad on a real Gay dating site. Hannah and Marilyn are drunk one night and decide to explore all things gay. Including the same site Brandon just posted his ad. Unfortunately, to get into the site you need your own ad, so they decide to make one up for Hannah’s brother, a gay male. Nate is a very sexually active person and on the outside has not interest in settling down.   But lately he’s been thinking more and more about it. Will Brandon find out what the two girls did, will Nate settle down long enough?

Argh! The women in this story give us women a bad name, and I have to be honest about half way through (or less) I started skipping their parts. The lies, deceit and the whole demeanor were too much. Both women are at the forty marks and acting like fourteen year old jealous children. And then Brandon’s mother wasn’t much better, but Brandon seemed to be the cause of that. However, I loved Nate and Brandon! I loved that Brandon stuck to his principles even though he knew Nate was ‘the one’. And Nate, knowing he was messing up and being man enough to yes, I screwed up but. I enjoyed the twists and turns of both of these lives I just wished we had it without the women. Which, it could have been done.

I heard John Solo several times before and have always enjoyed his voice and once again did a fabulous job.

Book 3 rainbows Brandon and Nate really did save this.

Narrator 5 rainbows saved this whole thing

Overall 4 rainbows

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Fall Down the Mountain (Mountain #3) by P.D. Singer

 Every night ski patrol Mark McAvoy relives the avalanche that took a life on his watch. Emotionally fragile and single by choice, he’s aghast at his friends’ taking charge of his social life. Hosting a potluck will at least provide him with a good meal.

Invited to the potluck on a whim, Allan Tengerdie catches Mark’s eye—and taste buds. This cuddly chef could be perfect for a lonely, too-thin skier; too bad Allan falls better than he skis. When Allan’s injured and frightened he’ll lose his catering company, he’s afraid to ask too much of a man he barely knows.

Mark wants to help but has his own problems. Was the avalanche a tragic accident or cold-blooded murder? His role in the inquiry leaves Mark in trouble at work, at the mercy of the law, and with too much time on his hands. If he clings tightly to Allan, will they be swept away together?

First edition published by Torquere Press (2010).

Bonus Story: Storm on the Mountain
A blizzard shuts down the ski resort, giving Mark a chance to show Allan he’s learned from his mistakes. Does he know Allan well enough now to say what’s in his heart?

This is a story about Mark McAvoy , a late twenties ski patroller that was involved in a controlled avalanche that ended up taking someone’s life. And since then he’s barley living, reliving the accident and death at night and alienating him from everyone during the day. And Allan, a struggling chef who has opened his own catering business, and is trying to teach himself how to ski while his amazing dishes simmer during the afternoon.  After Allan takes a tumble and Mark helps him, Mark becomes infatuated with him, but is it too much too soon? Allan is a loner by nature, can he make Mark understand? Does he want Mark to understand?  Or will all the surrounding drama drive them both away?

This was a couple of firsts for me, my first P.D. Singer book, either audio or written. And my first time listening to Finn Sterling, I enjoyed both very much. Even though this book is set during ski season and is about skiing and patrolling, things I know nothing about. The author did a fabulous job giving us enough detail to keep it realistic without bogging it down with technical term and information that people like me wouldn’t understand or wouldn’t care about.  I also enjoyed the multi layered story that we have going on. So it’s not just about Allan and Mark finding each other, it’s about Mark and this Grand Jury and them dealing with that. I loved the connection you felt between Mark and Allan, as well as the other ski patrollers. I think Finn Sterling did a wonderful job with the different characters, men and women alike, just right amount of emotion where it was needed.

I give the book 4 rainbows

Narrator 4 rainbows

Overall 4 rainbows.

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The Fight Within (The Good Fight #2) by Andrew Grey

 Bryce Morton needs a change of scenery. Since his partner's death a year ago, he's become withdrawn and quiet, so his friends, Jerry Lincoln and Akecheta (John) Black Raven, convince him to go camping with them on a Sioux reservation. Though he's not immediately sure he's done the right thing, Bryce becomes more interested when he meets Paytah, the man who owns the reservation's trading post.

Paytah Stillwater's life is filled with hurt, and sometimes the only thing he has left is pride. After being abused as a child and disbelieved when he spoke up, he has withdrawn into himself - but he can never truly put his past behind him, because the source of his pain still lives on the reservation. Paytah is proud of his heritage and careful with his heart, but when Bryce commits a selfless act of kindness for one of the reservation's children, the walls around Paytah's heart begin to melt.

Bryce and Paytah each fight the pain within them. When Paytah's abuser sets his sights on one of the reservation youngsters, Bryce and Payton must set their individual fights aside. Finding a way to stop the abuser unites them to fight their way forward - together.

Before I start this I must give a disclaimer – This book contains talk about child rape, sexual games and even though the adult MC that is reliving his horror’s the pedophile is still active and hurting young boys in the story. I do have to add WE DO NOT get to actually re-live the events, but some people have a hard time just knowing it’s in a book. And since the blurb does not tell us this, I was surprised and not in a good way.

This audio book comes in at just over seven hours and over all it was enjoyable if at times hard to listen to.  Bryce has had a roller –coaster year. Two days before his marriage his fiancé is killed in a freak accident. And he has been existing, but not living for the last year. Jerry and John he’s co workers and best friends have had enough and decide that he needs to spend some time with them on John’s reservation. Once on the reservation Bryce meets Paytah, a man that appears a few years older than him but with a huge chip on his shoulder.  Bryce by nature is a happy person and has decided that John and Jerry are right; it’s time to live again. Paytah sees this young man, that may be able to finally be able to put he’s past behind him.  If only both could believe they should or could.

So this book starts you off, in tears, with the death of the fiancé. Then you settle into the courtship of Paytah and Bryce, then we get Paytah story.  More tears. And we find out the predator is still around the reservation.  And the story becomes the healing of Paytah and the fight against him.

Even though I found Bryce kinda annoying at times, (AG sure can write a whiny character) and the HUGE surprise of the content of the book, I still give the book side 4 rainbows

The narrator, Andrew McFerrin, this is probably the only second time I’ve heard his voice and it still amazes me what a great job he does! Not only did he have to do, women and children also several different men of different races, 5 rainbows.

Over all this audio will be a 4 rainbow.

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Turnaround: A Red Hot Valentine story by Cassandra Carr

Becca and James don't date. Both are in their thirties and neither has found anyone they feel is potential spouse material. Becca attends a "We Hate Valentine's Day" party at a local bar where James is bartending. He knows from the first day they meet that Becca is someone special, but Becca's more cautious. James sets out to prove to Becca there really are happy-ever-afters.

I truly don’t have much good to say about this audiobook. The narrator mispronounced things and I honestly have no idea whether it was her tone or the story itself, but it bored me. The characters came across as needy. A couple times I half expected Becca to become a crazy obsessed girlfriend, hanging on to James at every turn. But then again, James came across as though he would put up with anything as long as Becca still went out with him.

I ‘hope’ that if I were to read the ebook that maybe I would feel differently about it. When you are listening to an audiobook, the narrator’s voice and tone really affect the words. And her snorts, barks of laughter, and constant change of volume took away from the book.

Anyway, it garners 2 stars. I just cannot give it higher than that.

Audible