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Debbiereadsbook (1084 KP) rated The Veranda (Lavander Shores #3) in Books

Aug 18, 2018 (Updated Aug 18, 2018)  
The Veranda (Lavander Shores #3)
The Veranda (Lavander Shores #3)
Rosalind Abel | 2017 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
5 star book, 5 star narration
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian I was gifted my copy of this book.

When Donovan met Spencer ten years ago, it was on Spencer's engagement to Donovan's sister. All that time, they had feelings for each but they were never acted upon . But when Spencer's marriage fell apart and he finds himself at masquerade sex party, and Donovan is there too, he can't pass up this chance to have him, even if its just once, and Donovan won't know who he is. But Donovan DID know. And he wants more.

This is book three in the Lavender Shores series, but you don't need to have read the first two to follow this. It might help to read book two first though, because Donovan plays a large part I that book. Not necessary, just might help.

I'm loving this series, I really am. They are easy books to read, and that's a good thing, especially for me currently.

They are told from both men's point of view, in the first person and it flips from chapter to chapter with each change clearly headed. Ya'll know its not my favourite way for a book to be written, but I knew that after book one they would be this way, and I think that helps massively.

You get each man's reaction to that encounter at the party, each man's attempt to stay away and you get it all in glorious detail when they finally, fully and totally give in to each other.

I love how these books have no major break up in them. They are full of story, and plots and people's reactions, but seriously? Lavender Shores is the best place in the damn world to live! I loved how, while obviously hurt by what Donovan and Spencer do, Erica can see they are happy together and she doesn't keep Spencer's kids from him.

While I am loving the easy reads that these books really are, I find myself waiting.....waiting.....waiting.....for that one in the series that has a bit more bite, is a bit more heart wrenching, gut churning, emotionally devastating. One book to tip it over the edge and give it those full five stars. It will be either one alike that, or one that is far too stinking cute and warm and fuzzies all at the same time, that tips it over! But I have no doubt, there will be a five star book in this series, I just gotta bide my time.

An extremely well written, well delivered, well needed...

4 stars

AUDIO Review.

Kirt Graves continues to narrate this series, and he really is growing on me!

His voices for Donovan and Spencer were similar, but just different enough for me, with my crappy hearing, to make out the difference if I had left it off, mid chapter.

He continues to portray much more than I got through reading, and that is only a reflection on his skill, rather than the book. I love the emotion that Graves gets across, that, while reading, you might not pick up. The WORDS are all there, but HEARING them makes it much more real.

His voices for the other guys who have appeared in the series remain consistent throughout, and I love reconnecting with them, each and every time they pop up.

I hope to get the opportunity to listen to the other books, too. Some cracking books in this series, and I CANNOT wait to see how Graves gets them across.

Upgrading the book form 4 to 5 stars, simply because of Graves narration.

5 star book,
5 star narration
5 stars overall

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
  
To Love and To Cherish (Vows #3)
To Love and To Cherish (Vows #3)
Addison Albright | 2016 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
7.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
4 solid stars for the book and narration
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted the AUDIO file of this book.

Nash needs a new job, and Emmett (apologies if I've spelt it wrong, I listened! ) needs a live nurse for his grandfather. But Emmett also heard Nash say he wants love, a partner in life. Nash agrees to Emmett suggestion, and then is involved in a accident that causes him to lose the last four months. Nash falls in love with Emmett, and then his memories return.

I listened to this, David Gilmore narrates. He is a new to me narrator. Overall, I found him a easy to listen to narrator, his reading voice is deep and clear, and I had no trouble following what was going on with multiple character conversations. I DID find his voice for Nash came across a little too young sounding, and Harley and Oliver too, they came across too young, for me anyway. This is the only reason I gave the NARRATION 4 stars.

I liked the book, it was an easy listen. I liked that, while not telling Nash the whole truth about how they came together, Emmett did not LIE to Nash, when he couldn't remember.

I gave the book 4 stars because of one reason only. Only Nash has a say. Yes, yes yes I know I say it often enough, but I think if Emmett had been given a say, this would have been a 5 star read! Because, let's face it: Emmett is asking Nash to marry him, then Nash has his accident and Nash can SEE the love in Emmett's eyes when he looks at him. So Emmett MUST have had such deep feelings for Nash waaaaaaaaaaaaaay before this. And I NEEDED to hear from him, I really did.

New to me author and narrator, will certainly look for more.

4 stars for the book
4 stars for the narration
4 stars overall

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
  
Retribution (The Protectors #3)
Retribution (The Protectors #3)
Sloane Kennedy, Joel Leslie (Narrator) | 2017 | LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
My fav of the three so far!
*verified Audible purchase June 2017*

This is book three in the Protectors series. You don’t NEED to have read/listened to books one and two, but I think you SHOULD. It will give you a better picture of this group of people and what they do, and how Hawke came to at the head. And you know, FIVE star listens, people!

For ten years, Hawke has been searching for the men who killed his wife and unborn son. Meeting Tate makes him feel again, something he didn’t think was possible. He certainly never thought it possible he would feel for a MAN.

I loved books one and two, and I loved this one too! I again cannot split the narration from the story, so not even gonna try. So I apologise if this review jumps around a bit!

Hawke loved his wife, bone deep, and when she was murdered, it broke. He’s spent the last ten years as head of an organisation that delivers justice to those let down by the law. The revenge for his wife’s death is a long time coming but he’s getting close and Tate is his link. His reaction to Tate is . . . unexpected. And when Hawke realises why Tate is running, his protectiveness goes into overdrive.

It’s no secret I’m not a fan of READING first person books, particularly if they are multi person but I find I’m really enjoying LISTENING to first person books, ESPECIALLY if they are multi point of view! Joel Leslie is a MASTER at his craft, at narrating multi point of view, in the first person! I simply CANNOT fault the narration. The way Leslie gets every single heart wrenching thought that Hawke has: thinking about his wife, ad what his growing feelings for Tate mean. Every fear that Tate has: that his father will find him, that Hawke might hurt him, that he might lose his little boy. This is not a short listen, over 8 hours and I listened to it in one single siting. I tried to stop, I really did but I needed to know what would happen, how this would play out. It takes a single question from Ronan (Salvation, book 2) to break Hawke. The same question broke me too! And I sobbed at that point, great heart wrenching sobs at the emotion that Leslie pours out of Hawke.

Of course, Leslie can only narrate the words given him, but Kennedy is fast becoming a favourite of mine. The way she intertwines multi level stories, from book to book, is amazing. Sometimes, series lose their . . .what’s the word . . .ethos, as it moves along but not so here. They hold true to their meaning, and I cannot wait to see where this series goes.

I LOVE that I have 9 more books to get through BUT I’ve discovered that Michael Pauley narrates book 4, Forsaken, and I’m not sure how I feel about that! I’ll buy it, without a doubt, but it will be interesting to see how Pauley portrays the voices that Leslie has done up to now.

So, because I can’t split the narration, because I listened in one day, and just bloody I can . . .

5 stars for the book

5 stars for the narration

5 stars overall