Reviewed by Annika
TITLE: Serenading Stanley 
SERIES: Belladonna Arms #1
AUTHOR: John Inman
NARRATOR: Tyler Stevens
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
RELEASE DATE: October 7, 2014
LENGTH: 8 hours, 2 minutes
BLURB:
Welcome to the Belladonna Arms, a rundown little apartment building perched atop a hill in downtown San Diego, home to the city’s lost and lovelorn. Shy archaeology student Stanley Sternbaum has just moved in and fills his time quietly observing his eccentric neighbors, avoiding his hellion mother, and trying his best to go unnoticed… which proves to be a problem when it comes to fellow tenant Roger Jane. Smitten, the hunky nurse with beautiful green eyes does everything in his power to woo Stanley, but Stanley has always lived a quiet life, too withdrawn from the world to take a chance on love. Especially with someone as beautiful as Roger Jane.
While Roger tries to batter down Stanley’s defenses, Stanley turns to his new neighbors to learn about love: Ramon, who’s not afraid to give his heart to the wrong man; Sylvia, the trans who just wants to be a woman, and the secret admirer who loves her just the way she is; Arthur, the aging drag queen who loves them all, expecting nothing in return – and Roger, who has been hurt once before but is still willing to risk his heart on Stanley, if Stanley will only look past his own insecurities and let him in.
REVIEW:
Welcome to Belladonna Arms, home to the city’s lost and lovelorn and possibly the craziest bunch of people you’ll meet in a long time.
Stanley’s had enough. He wants to be his own man and not being controlled by his overbearing mother any longer. He’s a graduate student at college for Christ’s sake. So said and done, he moves into Belladonna Arms, an apartment building in downtown San Diego. A building that houses a variety of colourful characters that you can’t help but fall for. But fair warning, do watch out for the brownies hanging on your door, they might just contain a magical extra ingredient that makes you want to fly.
Inman writes some awesome mysteries that will leave you breathless (yes, I’m still reeling from Sunset Lake from three months ago), but he also writes books that are the total opposite. Books you can’t take seriously, with ridiculous plots and OTT characters. But you know what? Sometimes that’s exactly what you need. And You know this going in to these books. Serenading Stanley is no exception to that. It’s not a masterpiece, and it’s not a book will lose any sleep over from going over the plot again and again. But this was a book that should be read / listened to for pure entertainment. To meet and fall for some awesome characters. Possibly you’ll thank your lucky stars for the “normal” neighbours you have – or it might you wish for other ones. Either way, it will keep you entertained.
Tyler Stevens was a good choice of narrator for this book. He fit all the different characters and their personalities; he made you see them in front of you. He made them real. I also believe his fits this kind of story perfectly. His voice is made for the younger characters, and the more humorous stories. He brought this book to life and it was easy to fall into the story and moving into Belladonna Arms right alongside Stanley.
Listening to Serenading Stanley was a really pleasant way to spend an afternoon. It was sweet, not too serious and I generally just had a great time these past few hours.
RATING: 
BUY LINKS: