Tag: New York (Page 2 of 7)

American Fairytale by Adriana Herrera, narrated by Sean Crisden

November 22, 2019 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: This is one from my TBL.

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) Fairy-tale endings don’t just happen; they have to be fought for.

New York City social worker Camilo Santiago Briggs grew up surrounded by survivors who taught him to never rely on anything you didn’t earn yourself. He’s always dreamed of his own happily-ever-after, but he lives in the real world. Men who seem too good to be true usually are. And Milo never ever mixes business with pleasure until the mysterious man he had an unforgettable hookup with turns out to be the wealthy donor behind his agency’s new, next-level funding.

Thomas Hughes built a billion-dollar business from nothing: he knows what he wants and isn’t shy about going after it. When the enthralling stranger who blew his mind at a black-tie gala reappears, Tom’s more than ready to be his Prince Charming. Showering Milo with the very best of everything is how Tom shows his affection.

Trouble is, Milo’s not interested in any of it. The only thing Milo wants is Tom.

Fairy-tale endings take work as well as love. For Milo, that means learning to let someone take care of him, for a change. And for Tom, it’s figuring out that real love is the one thing you can’t buy.

What worked for me (and what didn’t): I haven’t yet listened to American Dreamer, the first book in the series (though I have it on my TBL now), however, American Fairytale, the second book in the series, stands alone well. Each book, features one of a group of four close friends, most of whom are gay/queer and living in New York. None are white.

There is a vibrancy to the writing, which illustrates the diversity in New York. There is a marked difference to American Fairytale as compared to the all-white (or almost-all-white) New York-set contemporary romance which is commonly available and it was both authentic and so much more interesting to me. It felt more like the real world and less like a construct and the characters showcased different experiences and points of view than my own white experience. I loved it. Continue reading

Review at AudioGals

April 5, 2019 / Kaetrin

I’m over at AudioGals with a review of Once Ghosted, Twice Shy by Alyssa Cole, narrated by Karen Chilton. Sweet and sexy second chance f/f novella – it would make a fabulous movie too!

Review at AudioGals

March 27, 2019 / Kaetrin

I’m over at AudioGals with a review of Birthday Suit by Lauren Blakely, narrated by Sebastian York, Andi Arndt, Joe Arden, Savannah Peachwood, Julia Whelan, RC Bray, Erin Mallon, Dion Graham, January LaVoy, Shane East, Jason Clarke & Robin Miles. The narration is fabulous apart from a somewhat dubious (but not terrible) Australian accent.

Review at AudioGals

November 29, 2018 / Kaetrin

I’m over at AudioGals with a review of Roomies by Christina Lauren, narrated by KC Sheridan. A modern marriage of convenience story.

September Round Up

October 2, 2018 / Kaetrin

Monthly Mini Review

Suddenly Dating by Julia London, narrated by Cristina Panfilio – B+ I’ve been saving this audio for just the right time, when I needed a lift and wanted a new-to-me audiobook I was guaranteed to enjoy. It did not disappoint. I love Ms. Panfilio’s narrations. Something about her voice just works for me and is great at delivering humour and tone. Her narrations always add something to the text – the best thing about the medium IMO.

Lola Dunne is an aspiring author who takes an opportunity to spend a summer at a friend’s Lake Haven beach house on the downlow – the property is part of a bitter divorce feud and neither spouse is supposed to be using it. Lola’s friend Sara offers her the house, not knowing that her soon to be ex, Zach, has made the same offer to his friend, Harry Westbrook. Harry owns a fledgling construction business and he needs to sell his apartment to keep the business afloat.

Both Lola and Harry quickly realise that they’re better off making the most of their roommate situation and they slowly become friends and then more. I enjoyed their interactions. Even thought the book takes place across most of a summer, it felt like their relationship was a bit of a slow burn as they moved from suspicion and annoyance to genuine liking, attraction and love. Continue reading

Bellewether by Susanna Kearsley

September 20, 2018 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: I will read anything Susanna Kearsley writes.

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) “The house, when I first saw it, seemed intent on guarding what it knew; but we all learned, by the end of it, that secrets aren’t such easy things to keep.”

It’s late summer, war is raging, and families are torn apart by divided loyalties and deadly secrets. In this complex and dangerous time, a young French Canadian lieutenant is captured and billeted with a Long Island family, an unwilling and unwelcome guest. As he begins to pitch in with the never-ending household tasks and farm chores, Jean-Philippe de Sabran finds himself drawn to the daughter of the house. Slowly, Lydia Wilde comes to lean on Jean-Philippe, true soldier and gentleman, until their lives become inextricably intertwined. Legend has it that the forbidden love between Jean-Philippe and Lydia ended tragically, but centuries later, the clues they left behind slowly unveil the true story.

What worked for me (and what didn’t): I adore Susanna Kearsley and love her books. I usually get kind of torn about a new SK book; I want to save it and savor it and I want to read it immediately and both of those things don’t really sit comfortably together. In the case of Bellewether, I was having one of those weeks where I didn’t have a lot of time to read so that forced me to read more slowly than I usually would have otherwise, which meant I was able to savor the language and let the words and the story sink into my bones.
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