Reviewed by Annika

TITLE: The Station

AUTHOR: Keira Andrews

NARRATOR: Joel Leslie

PUBLISHER: Tantor Audio

RELEASE DATE: December 10, 2019

LENGTH: 7 hours, 9 minutes

BLURB:

Two men exiled to an untamed land must capture love.

Ever since Cambridge-bound Colin Lancaster spied on stable master Patrick Callahan mastering another man, he’s longed for Patrick to do the same to him. When Patrick is caught with his pants down and threatened with death for his crime, Colin speaks up in his defense and confesses his own sinful nature. They’re soon banished to the faraway prison colony of Australia.

Patrick never asked for Colin’s help, and now he’s stuck with the pampered fool. While it’s true that being transported to Australia is a far cry from the luxury Colin is accustomed to, he’s determined to make the best of it and prove himself. Patrick learned long ago that love is a fairy tale, but he’s inexorably drawn to sweet, optimistic Colin despite himself.

From the miserable depths of a prison ship to the vast, untamed Australian outback, Colin and Patrick must rely on each other. Danger lurks everywhere, and when they unexpectedly get the chance to escape to a new life as cowboys, they’ll need each other more than ever.

REVIEW:

Ready for an adventure? If so, then you should definitely give The Station a go. It opens up to 1840’s England where Collin Lancaster is crushing hard on the stable master Patrick Callahan. Only trouble is, in 1800’s England, homosexuality is illegal and punishable by death. On one fateful night Patrick is found out – and in order to save him Collin outs himself causing them both to be sent on a prisoner’s ship bound for the camps in Australia.

The journey over was far from easy, I would say quite the opposite, with the starvation, criminals and disease taking the lives of many. The conditions were poor indeed and at least once I wondered if they’d make it to Australia alive, let alone unscathed – relatively speaking. After a few near misses they finally reach land, where they are immediately whisked off to assist an English widow and her cattle herd across the outback to her new station.

Keira Andrews and Joel Leslie took the listener back in time. They made you feel the misery of the ship and its horrors as well as the burning sun on that drive. Which was actually kind of nice as it’s currently below freezing here and I’ve been longing for some sun for months now. Seems it has migrated to Australia 😉

Patrick and Collin dance around each other for most of the book. It was heartbreaking watching Collin being so harshly dismissed by his family and then being treated as convenient by Patrick. I know that Patrick had some past issues, but it was still hard to watch. I loved Collin and Emily’s friendship, I kind of wanted more of it.

This book really highlighted Joel Leslie’s talents as a voice actor. I mean, not only did he have to capture the feel of times past, he also had to juggle not one, not two but three different accents; British, Irish and Australian. And he does so brilliantly on all counts. Leslie also really captured the longing Collin had for Patrick, for someone to love. But also his need for acceptance and to start over in a place where he could be himself.

When this book ended I was left with a feeling of wanting more. The story wasn’t incomplete or unfinished; we had a solid happily ever after. I just wanted to know more about their lives at the station. Living and loving, the friendships. I had a great time beginning to end.

RATING:

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