REVIEW by Christie
TITLE: Don’t Twunk With My Heart
SERIES: Loving You, Book 2
AUTHOR: Renae Kaye
NARRATOR: Joel Leslie
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 5h 52m
RELEASE DATE: January 24, 2017
BLURB:
Kee Smith isn’t sure who he is anymore. He knows who he used to be – the ignored gay son who chose a blue-collar job just because no one expected it, the submissive bottom who enjoyed large, masculine jocks who put him in his place, the sleek, fashionable twink who partied all night. But after his ex-boyfriend hit Kee and called him names, Kee retired from the social scene.
Back after a year’s hiatus, Kee still doesn’t know where he fits. His friends say he’s a twunk – a twink who put on muscle and turned into a hunk – but Kee is searching for somewhere to belong. Instead of going back to his usual type, Kee hooks up with twink Tate Stevens – a fashion-industry professional who works the image hard. It proves to be the best decision he’s ever made, and not just because he’s starting to regain his sexual confidence.
With Tate, Kee can open up about his fears and confusion without ridicule. Tate has his own fears about putting on weight and getting old. It will take work to make a relationship of opposites succeed, but they begin to realize the compromises will be worth it if they can be together.
REVIEW:
While looking for a fun audiobook to suit my mood, I ran across the blurb for Don’t Twunk With My Heart, and thought it sounded right up my alley. Especially after noticing that it was narrated by the wonderfully talented Joel Leslie. So that clinched it for me. And, all in all, it was a decent enough story.
*Trigger warning* There is mention of eating disorder in this book.
Kee is a former party boy twink, who is (mostly) ready to get back out to the club scene and see his friends after spending a year away due to an abusive ex boyfriend. The thing is, while he was away, Kee ended up developing a bit of muscle and doesn’t quite fit into not only his clothes, but his group of friends as well. Feeling exceptionally awkward because of his new body, and longtime absence from the clubs, his first night back out certainly does not go as planned. Especially when he wakes up the next morning in bed with the gorgeous twink he couldn’t take his eyes off of the night before.
Tate Stevens is gorgeous, lithe, sexy, and definitely gives Kee lots of “zings in his things” as the saying goes. In the fashion business, Tate is extremely body and age conscious. He is totally attracted to Kee from the very moment he laid eyes on his amazing body. As both men explore their attraction for each other, and discover more and more about one another, they begin to find that inner peace and confidence that each has been missing. It’s certainly not an easy road they are on together, especially with some of their differences, but if they can work things out between the two of them, life will be much better together.
Joel Leslie did a nice job narrating this sweet story. It is also said that this book can be read as a standalone even tho it is part of a series. Tho, I recommend reading the first book before Don’t Twunk With My Heart. From personal experience of not having read Loving Jay (Book 1), Don’t Twunk With My Heart left me feeling that I was missing quite a bit of backstory that would have helped me enjoy the book a bit more. Was it the best book I listened to this year? No. Would I listen to it again? I don’t know, maybe. Even with Joel Leslie’s narration, it was sweet, but meh in all. I may give it another chance if I ever read or listen to Loving Jay first. Maybe it will be better the second time around after having more backstory.
RATING: 
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