Audio Review ~ Shifting Gears ~ Riley Hart #AudioChallenge #ShelfLove

Shifting Gears by Riley Hart
Crossroads #2
Narrated by: Sean Crisden
Release Date: May 23, 2016
Genre: Adult, M/M Contemporary Romance
Source: I received a complimentary copy from Tantor Media
Rating: 4 Bookworms
Challenges: #AudioChallenge, #ShelfLove
Goodreads

Synopsis
Rod Nelson is used to being someone's good time, and that's fine with him. Spending his days at his adult toy store, Rods-N-Ends, he never knows who he'll meet. The second Landon Harrison walks in, he has Rod's full attention. It seems as if Landon wants him too, so why won't the man jump in the sack with him already?

Landon never thought he'd return home to the town where memories lurk around every corner. He has to admit, Rod makes the adjustment a lot easier. He keeps Landon laughing. Despite the fierce attraction between them, he's not willing to risk his newfound friendship to get laid.

Neither man wants something serious, but the more they're together, the harder it is to keep their hands to themselves, until eventually they stop trying.

But flings between friends are never simple, and as they attempt to shift gears, diving into their first relationship, they're slammed with setbacks. If they want to truly move forward, before they hit the open road together, they're going to have to let go of a past that could make them crash and burn.

Shifting Gears features Rod, whom I met in Crossroads. He's this kinda quirky guy who works in a sex toy shop when Brice and Nick meet him. Rod now owns his own ship and he's proud of what he does and his ability to put people at ease as well as offer them help with something they might feel uncomfortable with asking for.

Landon meets Rod when he comes into the shop for some product. They have an easy rapport and quickly become friends. They're both attracted to one another but Landon doesn't want to pursue anything and risk messing up their friendship - something he's never had.

These two guys have a lot of baggage. Their childhoods were far from perfect. Neither had an example of a healthy relationship to follow and both feared entering into a relationship, not wanting to hurt or be hurt. Watching as they both learn that they're worthy of love - giving it and receiving it - was a beautiful thing. They had a lot of walls to knock down on their way into each others' hearts but realized it was worth the work.

Brice and Nick were supporting cast members and I enjoyed spending time with them as well as seeing them have Rod and Landon's backs - offering advice and just being good friends. The introduction of a few new characters was well done and I figure one will be featured in a future installment of the series.

Sean Crisden did a fine job narrating, even keeping Brice's and Nick's voices consistent from the first book. I'll definitely continue this series in audio.

Audio Review ~ Crossroads ~ Riley Hart

Crossroads by Riley Hart
Crossroads #1
Narrated by: Sean Crisden
Release Date: November 17, 2015 (audio)
Genre: Adult, M/M Contemporary Romance
Source: Purchased on Audible
Rating: 4 Bookworms
Challenges: Goodreads Reading Challenge
Goodreads

Synopsis
After divorcing the woman he'd been with since he was seventeen, Nick Fuller is starting over. He owns the restaurant of his dreams and he's determined to meet new people, find new passions, and experience life to its fullest. Easier said than done--that is until he meets his new neighbor, Bryce Tanner...

Bryce is all about a good time. He plans to show Nick how it's done, help him meet a few women, and enjoy the gift of a the single life he's been given. But things don't go as planned, and soon they realize they'd rather be together than with anyone else.

Neither man has ever wanted another guy, but there's a connection between them from the start--a spark they can't deny. They find themselves navigating an unfamiliar new world and dealing with unforeseen obstacles. Physical desire isn't enough, and now Nick and Bryce are at a crossroads. They have to decide which way to go--the easy path they've always followed, or the one that's determined to trip them up at every turn.

This is my second book with Hart and I've determined I quite like her style. She delivers a provocative story with engaging characters that I can't help but root for. 

I first want to address something I've seen a few comments regarding and that's whether or not this story is a "gay for you" type story. While neither of these guys ever thought they were gay, I didn't feel this was necessarily a GFY and here's why:

• Nick had married his high school sweetheart and had never been with anyone else. While this might indicate he was straight, one might infer that his being from a traditional family would have kept him from exploring his sexuality earlier. One might also infer that since his wife cheated on him repeatedly, she wasn't happy with their sex life.
• Bryce had slept his way through many women but at 31 he'd not found a single one that made him want more than sex. Once might infer from this that he kept trying something - someone - new because no one was doing it for him. No one until Nick.

That's all my opinion, of course. Anyway, I adored Nick and Bryce. They were neighbors who became close friends, who became more. Nick, having been with his ex-wife since he was 17, had never had real friends of his own. Bryce's only real friend, Christy, had been around for awhile and they'd even dated briefly. The reason these two worked well because they balanced one another. Nick was staid, had always known what he wanted to do, and was loyal almost to a fault. Bryce was more of a dreamer, who tried a little of everything before picking a career, was always ready with a joke, leaped before looking but also was one who loved deeply.

Watching their friendship evolve, the realization they felt more and the fallout experienced in making their feelings public, all made for an emotional listen - one I was loathe to put down. Sean Crisden did a fine job with voicing a rather large cast of characters. He kept his voices distinct and was also able to convey the feelings in every scene. His female voices don't have quite as much range but it didn't take anything away from the story. This is my second listen with him and I plan to continue the series, so it won't be my last.

Review ~ Collide ~ Riley Hart

Collide by Riley Hart
Blackcreek #1
Release Date: November 17, 2013
Genre: Adult, M/M Romance
Source: Purchased on Kindle
Rating: 4 Bookworms

Synopsis
At ten years old, Noah Jameson and Cooper Bradshaw collided mid-air when they dove for the same football. For three years, they were inseparable...until one day when Noah and his parents disappeared in the middle of the night.

Noah and Cooper never knew what happened to each other. Now, seventeen years later, after finding his boyfriend in bed with another man, Noah returns to Blackcreek looking for a fresh start. And damned if he doesn't find his old friend grew up to be sexy as sin. Coop can't believe Noah--the only person he trusted with the guilt over his parents' death--is back. And gay... Or that Cooper himself suddenly wants another man in his bed for the first time.

There's no denying the attraction and emotion between them, but can they overcome the ghosts of their pasts to have a future together?

This title contains two strong, sexy men, and a passionate friendship that transforms into a sizzling hot romance.

Cooper Bradshaw and Noah Jameson met an an pivotal time in their lives. Through shared experiences and traumas, they forged a special friendship that really stood the test of time. After a seventeen year separation, they picked up right where they left off.

Cooper is kind of a horndog. He never does relationships but has had his fair share of women. He's a guy who feels thing on an extra-emotional level and works as a fireman as a way to redeem himself for something that he had no control over. He was raised by his aunt and uncle and they, his uncle especially, raised him with certain expectations about what a strong man is.

Noah wouldn't fit those expectations. After leaving Blackcreek unexpectedly when he was young, he's back in the only place he ever felt at home. He's back to mend his life and hopefully find Cooper.

I think my favorite thing, that Hart did so well, is conveying this tight bond between two men. The friendship and feelings shared between Noah and Cooper was a special thing. Only with one another did they find patience, understanding and acceptance...a feeling of belonging. This was important when they were young and even more so as adults as they find their feelings morphing into something decidedly more.

By the time Noah returns to Blackcreek, he knew he was gay. Cooper, on the other hand, is confused as he's never experienced feelings, attraction, or lust towards another man. Only Noah. And it was fascinating to watch as they each navigated this new territory. On top of that, Coop fears his family's reaction and that of those he works with. Seeing their relationship grow to the point where Cooper decides what they have together is more important than what people think was a powerful thing. A beautiful thing. These two guys are brave and beautiful in their love for one another.

I know the next book in the series deals with a different couple - whom I'm eager to watch - but I hope to see more of Noah and Cooper as they go against small-town ideas in a fight to love who they want to love and be accepted for it.

My TBR List ~ March ~ What Should I Read Next?

My To-Be Read List is a meme hosted by Michelle @Because Reading. I think it's a fabulous idea because it gets y'all in the game and it helps me knock off some of the many, many books on my TBR list. You're more than welcome to join in the fun! I've included the basic rules below but you can click on the graphic above to hop over to Michelle's site where you can find all the details. 

Here's how it works:
On the first Saturday of each month, I will make a post with three books from my TBR List (these books can be already on your ereader or bookshelf OR books you might want to purchase) and add your link on the linky that will be provided on Michelle's post. Y'ALL will help me choose which book I will read next. The following Saturday, I will announce which book won. Then the last Saturday of the month, I'll post my review.

Fun, right?!?

***

So I skipped February - just couldn't fit another book into my reading schedule. But I'm back at it this month! Y'all are going to help me decide which book to read for my LGBT Challenge. :)

Here are the choices:


Try
Temptation #1

Try - verb: to make an attempt or effort to do something or in this case...someone.

Sex. Logan Mitchell loves it, and ever since he realized his raw sexual appeal at a young age, he has had no problem using it to his advantage. Men and women alike fall into his bed--after all, Logan is not one to discriminate. He lives by one motto--if something interests you, why not just take a chance and try?

And he wants to try Tate Morrison.

Just coming out of a four-year marriage with an ex-wife from hell, a relationship is the last thing on Tate's mind. He's starting fresh and trying to get back on his feet with a new job at an upscale bar in downtown Chicago.

The only problem is, Tate has caught the unwavering and unwelcome attention of Mr. Logan Mitchell--a regular at the bar and a man who always gets what he wants.

Night after night Tate fends off the persistent advances of the undeniably charismatic man, but after an explosive moment in the bar, all bets are off as he finds his body stirring with a different desire than his mind.

As arrogance, stubbornness and sexual tension sizzles between the two, it threatens to change the very course of their lives.

Logan doesn't do relationships. Tate doesn't do men. But what would happen if they both just gave in and...tried?

*****

Collide
Blackcreek #1

At ten years old, Noah Jameson and Cooper Bradshaw collided mid-air when they dove for the same football. For three years, they were inseparable...until one day when Noah and his parents disappeared in the middle of the night.

Noah and Cooper never knew what happened to each other. Now, seventeen years later, after finding his boyfriend in bed with another man, Noah returns to Blackcreek looking for a fresh start. And damned if he doesn't find his old friend grew up to be sexy as sin. Coop can't believe Noah--the only person he trusted with the guilt over his parents' death--is back. And gay...Or that Cooper himself suddenly wants another man in his bed for the first time.

There's no denying the attraction and emotion between them, but can they overcome the ghosts of their pasts to have a future together?

This title contains two strong, sexy men, and a passionate friendship that transforms into a sizzling hot romance.

*****

Rush

For the love of the game.

Brandon Chase has always defined himself by one thing: football. Tough and athletic, he is a great college player who enjoys the hard hits and the sweaty grind of the gridiron. But when Brandon is injured, only one person can help him get back on track-a forbidden love he's desperately tried to put behind him.

Alec Andrews has never quite forgiven Brandon for walking away when their friendship turned into something more. But he can't deny help to one of his closest friends. As the two spend the long, hot summer working together, their old attraction comes flooding back.

Now as Alec thinks about coming out to his conservative family and Brandon considers revealing he's a gay football player, the two men must be strong to fight for a love that could be the greatest rush of their lives.





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