Reviewed by Tori (Vicki)
TITLE: Leaning Into the Look 
SERIES: Leaning Into #6
AUTHOR: Lane Hayes
NARRATOR: Nick J. Russo
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 8 hours, 20 minutes
RELEASE DATE: June 18th, 2018
BLURB:
Grant Kostas made a career based on his looks before joining his family’s real estate firm. He may not love his job, but he’s better at sales than he thought. And when he’s poised to bring in the biggest account of the company’s history, even his father is impressed. Unfortunately, the extra attention highlights Grant’s personal life. His parents accept he’s gay; they just wish he’d meet a nice Greek man.
Miles Harrison is a fabulous redhead going through a rough patch. Between getting dumped by his long-term boyfriend and finding a new place to live in the city, he’s nearing his wits end. He’s not sure why he thought rooming with his boss’s friend was a good idea. Miles has had a crush on Grant for years. However, he knows attractive people aren’t always pretty on the inside.
As the two men grapple with external problems, they form an unexpected bond of friendship and trust that feels like the real thing. The only way to know for certain is to let go of fear and lean into the look.
STORY REVIEW:
Ok. Back to San Francisco we go again to catch up with our group of college friends! This time it’s Grant who gets his chance at a man. And what a man he picks! I admit to not reading the blurb when this came out, I was going to read it anyway, and I knew it was Grant’s book, but I hadn’t paid any attention to who his man was! I somehow managed to not read the ebook, and the next thing I know the audio book was coming out… imagine my surprise to see Miles is the other half of our couple!
Grant has always seemed like the shy friend of the group, a little on the outside. Turns out he was a chubby kid, bullied in school, and at home by his father. He’s the only child to strong Greek parents, who had a seriously high expectation of him, and he was never going to be able to meet that expectation. He was not athletic, not fit, not outgoing, and to make it worse, he was gay. Then he got sick, became bulimic, ran away with a boy, and became an underwear model. Still not making his parents happy…. until he went to college, got a degree, then went to work for the family business. So now he’s rich, successful, still lonely, still bullied by his dad, no longer bulimic, now healthy, and wishing he could have a lover.
Grant has known Miles, who is Eric’s Personal Assistant, for years, but didn’t really pay much attention to him, until the two are thrown together at an event for Eric’s business. Grant and Miles have a moment, which turns in to flirting, dancing, and…. a little something extra. But nothing will come of it, or will it? Next we know, they are hanging out, NOT dating, and then Grant ends up trying to help Miles find a place to rent in the city, which leads to Miles moving in with Grant? But as a roommate. Then there is drama, of the big Greek family kind. And there is a fake boyfriend, but not really? So much happens…
This book is all from Grant’s perspective, so we never get in to Miles’ brain, and I felt like that did him a disservice. I don’t feel like I got a good understanding of how Miles ticks. He clearly has some commitment issues, and everyone thinks he’s a bit of a loose cannon, but I don’t know why. He certainly seems like a handful, but I didn’t really see the “crazy” that people warn Grant about. I thought he was pretty sweet! He calls Grant a series of silly nicknames, one of which is ding dong, and Miles brings him a package of ding dongs! That’s sweet and silly, not crazy in my book. He does like his clothing, including ladies panties, and a pink feather boa, and seems to have a flair for dramatics, but that all just made him fun. But I never did understand why he is so squirrelly, and thinks Grant is too good for him. Grant certainly doesn’t think that!
Grant goes through a journey in this book, from lonely, to in a friends-with-benefits relationship with Miles, then something more. From under his father’s thumb to standing up for himself, and proving his worth to the family business, to being a confident man. I will say I wish he had shown more of a backbone with Tom, the asshole who tries to get him to do this fake boyfriend thing. I wanted a confrontation of some sort for some closure at the end. Otherwise Grant turns out to be a pretty strong character, and I loved him! I liked Miles too, but I didn’t really bond with him as much, due to the single person perspective. What I saw I liked, and I did like the drama that he brought to the story, just wish I had understood why he was the way he was. But he was sweet and brought some lightness to Grant’s seriousness.
I went back and forth on my rating on this book, I was at five hearts when I sat down to write this, then worked myself down to four hearts as I realized I was unsatisfied with the lack of background for Miles, and my wish for closure with Tom. Then up to four and a half hearts when I take in to account the narration. I did love this one overall, I was really looking forward to Grant’s story, and I loved Miles as a mate for him. I loved the way they balanced each other out, Grant calm, Miles chaotic. Grant mono-chromatic, Miles bright as a flame. I loved the process Grant goes through, and the stronger man he turns into by the end of the book. Miles as well, he grows too, but it was harder to see. I liked the characters, I liked the plot, I liked the emotional connection, I loved the sex scenes, and I loved the ending!
Another strong book from a favorite author!
NARRATION REVIEW:
I think Nick J. Russo did a great job on this narration! Clear voices among the large cast of male characters, good Greek accents, good female voices, and I loved his voices for Grant and Miles. I could hear the passion in his voice during the sexy times….
Very nicely done!
RATING: 
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