Reviewed by Jen B.

TITLE: Beneath the Stain

SERIES: Beneath the Stain #1

AUTHOR: Amy Lane

NARRATOR: Nick J. Russo

PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press

RELEASE DATE: April 9, 2015

LENGTH: 16 hours, 36 minutes

BLURB:

In a town as small as Tyson, CA, everybody knew the four brothers with the four different fathers– and their penchant for making good music when they weren’t getting into trouble. For Mackey Sanders, playing in Outbreak Monkey with his brothers and their friends—especially Grant Adams–made Tyson bearable. But Grant has plans for getting Mackey and the Sanders boys out of Tyson, even if that means staying behind.

Between the heartbreak of leaving Grant and the terrifying, glamorous life of rock stardom, Mackey is adrift and sinking fast. When he’s hit rock bottom, Trav Ford shows up, courtesy of their record company and a producer who wants to see what Mackey can do if he doesn’t flame out first. But cleaning up his act means coming clean about Grant, and that’s not easy to do or say. Mackey might make it with Trav’s help–but Trav’s not sure he’s going to survive falling in love with Mackey.

Mackey James Sanders comes with a whole lot of messy, painful baggage, and law-and-order Trav doesn’t do messy or painful. And just when Trav thinks they may have mastered every demon in Mackey’s past, the biggest, baddest demon of all comes knocking.

Reviewed by Annika

TITLE: Balefire

SERIES: Whyborne & Griffin #10

AUTHOR: Jordan L. Hawk

NARRATOR: Julian G. Simmons

PUBLISHER: Widdershins Press

RELEASE DATE: June 28, 2018

LENGTH: 8 hours, 3 minutes

BLURB:

Whyborne’s Endicott relatives have returned to collect on the promise he made to help them take back their ancestral manor from an evil cult. In exchange, they’ll give him the key to deciphering the Wisborg Codex, which Whyborne needs to learn how to stop the masters.

To that end, Whyborne, his husband Griffin, and their friends Iskander and Christine travel to a small island off the coast of Cornwall. But when they arrive at Balefire Manor, Whyborne must not only face the evil within the ancient mansion, but the painful truth about his own destiny.

Reviewed by Annika

TITLE: Draakenwood

SERIES: Whyborne & Griffin #9

AUTHOR: Jordan L. Hawk

NARRATOR: Julian G. Simmons

PUBLISHER: Widdershins Press

RELEASE DATE: July 24, 2017

LENGTH: 6 hours, 56 minutes

BLURB:

Someone is killing members of the old families…and the evidence points to Whyborne.

Widdershins has been unusually quiet for months. But now a mysterious creature from the Outside is on the loose, assassinating members of the town’s old families by draining their blood. Whyborne and Griffin set out to solve the mystery—but as the evidence piles up, the police begin to suspect Whyborne himself is the murderer.

Now Whyborne must both clear his name and stop the horrors the monster threatens to unleash. His only hope: an alliance with his old enemies the Endicotts.

Because something terrible lurks in the Draakenwood, and it will stop at nothing to seize control of the maelstrom itself.

Draakenwood is the ninth book in the Whyborne & Griffin series, where magic, mystery, and m/m romance collide with Victorian era America.

Reviewed by Annika

TITLE: Fallow

SERIES: Whyborne & Griffin #8

AUTHOR: Jordan L. Hawk

NARRATOR: Julian G. Simmons

PUBLISHER: Widdershins Press

RELEASE DATE: August 26, 2016

LENGTH: 6 hours, 56 minutes

BLURB:

When Griffin’s past collides with his present, will it cost the lives of everyone he loves?

Between the threat of a world-ending invasion from the Outside and unwelcome revelations about his own nature, Percival Endicott Whyborne is under a great deal of strain. His husband, Griffin Flaherty, wants to help—but how can he, when Whyborne won’t tell him what’s wrong?

When a man from Griffin’s past murders a sorcerer, the situation grows even more dire. Once a simple farmer from Griffin’s hometown of Fallow, the assassin now bears a terrifying magical corruption, one whose nature even Whyborne can’t explain.

To keep Griffin’s estranged mother safe, they must travel to a dying town in Kansas. But as drought withers the crops of Fallow, a sinister cult sinks its roots deep into the arid soil. And if the cult’s foul harvest isn’t stopped in time, Fallow will be only the first city to fall.

Fallow is the eighth book in the Whyborne & Griffin series, where magic, mystery, and m/m romance collide with Victorian era America.

Reviewed by Annika

TITLE: In Safe Hands

AUTHOR: Victoria Sue

NARRATOR: Michael Pauley

PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press

RELEASE DATE: June 27, 2019

LENGTH: 7 hours, 31 minutes

BLURB:

Former helicopter pilot Maverick Delgardo’s injuries ended his Air Force career, leaving him bitter and one drink away from becoming an alcoholic. When his sister asks for his help on a private protection case to babysit a disgraced pop star, Mav reluctantly agrees.

Deacon Daniels, onetime lead singer and idol to his teenage fans, saw his career and reputation ruined when a reporter’s exposé led to a devastating scandal. Without money or a job, a heartbroken Deacon has lost custody of his baby niece. And just when he thinks his life can’t get any worse, a stalker’s threatening messages escalate to murder.

Mav only agreed to one meeting, but his protective instincts kick in, along with an attraction to Deacon. When the body count increases, however, Mav is unsure he is up to the task of protecting Deacon from a killer. But it is too late for Mav to step away, now that he’s lost his heart, and he must find the strength to reassure Deacon and his niece that they are in safe hands no matter the cost.

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Reviewed by Annika

TITLE: Dedicated

SERIES: Rhythm of Love #1

AUTHOR: Neve Wilder

NARRATOR: Greg Boudreaux

PUBLISHER: Self-Published

RELEASE DATE: July 3, 2019

LENGTH: 8 hours, 59 minutes

BLURB:

“Our greatest hit is a love song I wrote for my bandmate. And he has no idea.”

Messy-haired, soulful-eyed, off-kilter lyricist Les Graves holds tight to the hedonist’s credo of consumption in every avenue of life. He has trouble staying still, trouble staying sober, trouble turning down a good time – but put a pen in his hand, and he’ll set a page on fire.

Music was Evan Porter’s ticket out of the backwater mud puddle he was born in, the passion keeping him warm as he busked on street corners. Every chord, every song, every ounce of sweat has been devoted to making Porter & Graves a success. He’s the level-head, the quiet maestro, the seatbelt that keeps Les from flying too far out of control. And he’s getting pretty tired of playing savior.

Their onstage chemistry is electric, offstage it’s… complicated.

After Porter & Graves’s third album bombs, the pressure is on for the duo to redeem themselves with their fourth. While sequestered in an East Tennessee cabin to compose, things take a turn for the worse when an event from their past comes back to haunt them in an embarrassingly public fashion and forces them into an unusual position that tests a partnership already hanging by its bloody roots.

Can Evan and Les find harmony or will they – and their music career – go down in flames?

Reviewed by Annika

TITLE: Torch

SERIES: Unbreakable Bonds #3

AUTHOR: Jocelynn Drake & Rinda Elliott

NARRATOR: Kenneth Obi

PUBLISHER: Self-Published

RELEASE DATE: June 21, 2019

LENGTH: 10 hours, 26 minutes

BLURB:

Nine months ago, Rowan Ward thought he had it all. Now he’s fighting to pull his shredded life together, buried in work and battling the kind of grief that destroys a man’s soul. When fires spring up around Cincinnati threatening Rowe’s friends and clients, he’s thrilled to find his old Army buddy, Noah Keegan in town. They were a hell of a team when they served together, so in-sync, it was rumored they could read each other’s minds.

Noah thought devoting his life to the Army would be enough. Then he realized he had no family and only one friend he cared about. When his enlistment was up, he found himself standing on Rowe’s doorstep, looking only for friendship but secretly hoping for more. He needs to know if their one unbelievable night together years ago wasn’t a mistake.

Caught in a dangerous game of fire and bullets, neither expects the inferno of emotion that ignites between them. One Rowe isn’t prepared to accept. One that could break Noah

Reviewed by Roberta

TITLE: Nothing Special

SERIES: Nothing Special Series, Book 1

AUTHOR: A.E. Via

NARRATOR: Aiden Snow

PUBLISHER: A.E. Via

LENGTH: 9 hrs and 47 mins

RELEASE DATE: 5/14/19

BLURB:

Detective Cashel “Cash” Godfrey is big, tattooed, and angry so people typically keep their distance. He’s fresh out of the police academy, however, no one is looking to partner with the six-foot-four beast with a huge chip on his shoulder and an inability to trust. When Cash scans the orientation room he wasn’t expecting to find sexy hazel eyes locked onto him. Eyes of the handsome Detective Leonidis “Leo” Day.

Leo is charming, witty, hilariously sarcastic and the only one that can make Cash smile. He’s proud, out, and one bad-ass detective.

Together, Cash and Leo become the most revered and successful narcotics detectives Atlanta’s ever seen. Able to communicate and understand each other, without even having to voice it, they quickly climb up the promotional ranks.

When Cash saves Leo’s life in a raid that turns deadly, Leo begins to see something in the big man that no one else does…something special. But Leo fears he’ll never break through the impenetrable wall that protects Cash’s heart.

Contains mature themes.

Reviewed by Annika

TITLE: Rise of the Alpha Squirrel

SERIES: Nutty Romances #2

AUTHOR: Kate Lowell

NARRATOR: John Solo

PUBLISHER: Self-Published

RELEASE DATE: May 29, 2019

LENGTH: 3 hours, 3 minutes

BLURB:

Nathan’s met Vince’s family, but Vince hasn’t met Nathan’s, and Nathan would like to keep it that way. Holy smoked almonds, what else do you do when you know how completely nuts your relatives are?

Why, you ease your man into it, by introducing him to normal shifters. Assuming you can find any.

But with a gossipy werehummingbird spreading the news and a pair of young red pandas wreaking havoc with their fainting goat friends, Nathan’s about ready to climb into a pine cone and pull it in after him.

Then the local playboy weremoose hears about Vince, and Nathan has to find his inner alpha or the consequences will be worse than moldy hazelnuts.

Reviewed by Annika

TITLE: Nuts About You

SERIES: Nutty Romances #1

AUTHOR: Kate Lowell

NARRATOR: John Solo

PUBLISHER: Self-Published

RELEASE DATE: September 4, 2018

LENGTH: 1 hour, 33 minutes

BLURB:

Nathan’s been crushing on one of his regular Bulk Mart customers for a while now. In squirrel form, he sits on Vince’s bird feeders, munching on seeds and enjoying the eye candy. Until the day Vince notices him raiding the feeder….

Reviewed by Annika

TITLE: Finding Alexander

AUTHOR: Pandora Pine

NARRATOR: Michael Pauley

PUBLISHER: Self-Published

RELEASE DATE: June 20, 2019

LENGTH: 7 hours, 12 minutes

BLURB:

Indiana Jones meets Clark Kent in this modern-day treasure hunt.

Archaeologist Cairo Vanderbilt was born to be a treasure hunter, whether he liked it or not. When his famous father dies in search of the tomb of Alexander the Great, Cairo picks up the trail to find the world’s most famous lost treasure. Having failed once before, he’s determined to find Alexander’s remains and fulfill his family’s legacy.

History blogger Dillinger DeCosta has only written about the past from the safety of his South Boston office. After hearing Cairo speak about the coming expedition on the evening news, he
wants to join the hunt for Alexander and finally be on the front lines of history-in-the-making. By offering to come along, Dillinger is taking a huge risk, but he’s banking on an even bigger reward.

Hot on Alexander’s trail, Cairo and Dillinger discover sparks between them that ignite unexpectedly. One of the men has a secret that may threaten not only the success of theexpedition, but their new relationship as well. If they can’t find a way past the challenge that lies between them, they might just lose the greatest treasure of all.

Each other.

Reviewed by Annika

TITLE: From These Ashes

SERIES: Haven Hart Universe #4

AUTHOR: Davidson King

NARRATOR: Philip Alces & Joel Leslie

PUBLISHER: Tantor Audio

RELEASE DATE: May 21, 2019

LENGTH: 5 hours, 53 minutes

BLURB:

A product of his past, Black spends half his time saving lives and the other half taking them. Every day, a hard choice must be made and he’s the man to make it. Long ago, he vowed to never love again; one-night stands with a willing body was all he ever needed. But along came Quill, and Black’s life is irrevocably changed. He never expects something as simple as Quill’s persistence to alter the way he not only sees the world, but how he lives it.

Quill has bad taste in men and equally horrible luck. Growing up wasn’t easy, surviving is even harder. When his past and present collide, he’s convinced he’ll finally witness his own destruction. But when an unlikely antihero steps in to protect him, his life is turned on its head. He’s spent months flirting with the man of his dreams and hoping he’d take notice. But it turns out, being on Black’s radar isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and his idea of protection varies greatly from Quill’s.

Unknowingly sharing the same goal – burying their own pasts deeper than the fires of hell can reach – they’re both unaware that jumping into that fire will do more than ignite their feelings, it could lead to their own demise.

Reviewed by Annika

TITLE: Lucky Town

SERIES: Badlands #1.5

AUTHOR: Morgan Brice

NARRATOR: Kale Williams

PUBLISHER: Tantor Audio

RELEASE DATE: March 29, 2019

LENGTH: 3 hours, 9 minutes

BLURB:

Psychic medium Simon Kincaide and his boyfriend, Myrtle Beach homicide detective Vic D’Amato, find that the only thing more frightening than murder might be navigating their first holiday season as a couple.

A trip back to Pittsburgh to spend Thanksgiving with Vic’s large, exuberant family means dodging old frenemies and a bitter ex-boyfriend. A cold case comes back to haunt Vic when a murdered woman’s ghost begs Simon for justice. Then a new murder back in Myrtle Beach looks suspiciously familiar, and the dead man’s ghost isn’t playing nice. When Simon gets a vision of the next victim before the crime occurs, he realizes that all the murders are supernaturally linked. Catching the murderer will take his psychic sleuthing skills along with Vic’s street smarts to avert a tragedy. Can they do right by ghosts past, present, and yet-to-come without ending up in the crosshairs of a killer for Christmas?

Reviewed by Annika

TITLE: How to Be a Movie Star

SERIES: How to Be #2

AUTHOR: TJ Klune

NARRATOR: Michael Lesley

PUBLISHER: Tantor Audio

RELEASE DATE: May 28, 2019

LENGTH: 12 hours, 12 minutes

BLURB:

Josiah Erickson wants to be a movie star. The problem with that is so does half of Los Angeles. But he’s on his way, what with memorable roles as a TV show background cadaver and a guy in a commercial for herpes medication. All he needs is his big break. And that break may come in the form of a novelist who goes by the enigmatic name of Q-Bert.

Q-Bert, who is ready to make his directorial debut in a film Josy would be perfect for. Q-Bert, who Josy may or may not have a friend-crush on, and potentially something more. Being demisexual can be confusing.

From the City of Angels to the small mountain town of Abby, Oregon, Josy will give his all to make sure his dreams come true—even the ones he never thought possible.