Marty and the Pilot by Harper Fox, narrated by Chris Clog – B- This book is part of the #AudibleRomance package. It’s my third Harper Fox book narrated by Chris Clog in a very short space of time (about 2 weeks and the last two were back to back). I’m definitely a fan of this narrator.  This book wasn’t quite the success of Priddy’s Tale and Driftwood – but it was nevertheless still worth my time. Marty and the Pilot isn’t quite a melancholy as the other two books I’ve listened to and as such it didn’t quite have the mood I enjoyed so much in the earlier two books. I also didn’t quite trust Devlin (Marty’s pilot) and the story was a bit too fast to entirely convince me he was in a place to really commit to a relationship. This is somewhat strange because Flynn (from Driftwood) was arguably more messed up but I believed him. Maybe it’s because Tom and Flynn were both messed up. Marty here is pretty much together. He likes himself and the life he’s built. He knows what’s important. In some ways, he’s a “Marty Stu” (and is perhaps very aptly named) but he doesn’t have the same journey that Devlin has.

Marty and Devlin met in high school (if not before) but they didn’t really run in the same circles, Marty being a couple of years younger and overweight. Devlin was very much the golden boy, athletic and talented. Marty had a massive crush on him. When he comes across Devlin having a seizure one day, in return for his silence, he makes Devlin promise to get medical help. Ten years later when they meet again, Devin is an ace fighter pilot and the lead flyer in the “javelins” an aerial display/stunt crew from the RAF. Marty is a third grade teacher.

If you’re wondering how someone can have a seizure disorder and still be a pilot, then you’ve probably nailed the major conflict in the book.

I had to suspend my disbelieve a little too much to understand exactly why Devlin was so attracted to Marty. I liked Marty fine – and I appreciated his relatively svelte current form didn’t change who he was fundamentally (and he says as much to Devlin) but I’d have liked a little more to really get why Devlin was apparently so taken with Marty. The story is only told from Marty’s point of view (not uncommon with this author) and Devlin remained somewhat opaque to me. I can’t say whether the fat representation is good or not. I think others better qualified than I could weigh in there.

The narration was superb however and it was enough to help me get over any misgivings to accept the HEA even though if I think about it objectively it wasn’t quite there for me.

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Reviews of these books will be up soon at AudioGals.