Reviewed by Annika
TITLE: Ride or Dye
SERIES: Curl Up and Dye #6
AUTHOR: Aimee Nicole Walker
NARRATOR: Joel Leslie
PUBLISHER: Tantor Audio
LENGTH: 5 hours, 41 minutes
RELEASE DATE: February 18, 2020
BLURB:
Gabe and Josh Roman-Wyatt have been living life in the fast lane. Demanding jobs, precocious twin toddlers, an ever-growing circle of friends, and a menagerie of pets means their home is filled with love and laughter but very few quiet moments for the happy couple. Gabe’s solution is to plan a surprise vacation at a perfect hideaway where the two of them can slow things down and reconnect.
Tarlington House, a historic home located on Edisto Island in South Carolina, hosts an annual murder-mystery event which will allow Josh to use the skills he learned from his all-time favorite television detective to solve the case. The serene setting is perfect for fun days in the sun, passionate lovemaking under the stars, and a healthy wager between husbands to see who can plan the best date. But when the other guests arrive, the guys find themselves surrounded by liars and cheaters who will say or do anything to win, reminding them there’s no place like Blissville.
When a guest is killed during a vicious storm that knocks out the power and phone lines, Josh and Gabe’s murder mystery role-playing becomes a real-life whodunnit.
REVIEW:
Ride or Dye is the final instalment in the Curl Up and Dye Mysteries and it showed. Throughout there was this feeling that this was a goodbye. It didn’t bring anything new, but was more of a catching up with old friends to see what they were up to. Josh and Gabe are living in married bliss with their twins and extended family and friends – and their many, many pets. They have a rich and full life in every way that counts, but sometimes it’s nice to take a break from the madness.
Which is why Gabe planned a surprise getaway for him and Josh where they could relax and unwind and reconnect. So he takes him to Tarlington House, a historical house in South Carolina. It’s not only rich with history, mystery and the occasional ghost, but this time a year they also hold an annual murder mystery role play for their guests to take part in. Something Josh is very excited for.
Spending time at Tarlington was interesting for sure. None of the guests were quite as they seemed. Then again, neither were our boys – but that was all part for the game. I loved watching Josh plotting and planning and trying to figure all the guests out, it was entertaining for sure.
The book is mostly drama and conflict free, well apart from the make-believe murder mystery that ended up a bit too real for everyone involved. Barring that Josh and Gabe had time to just be, to love and explore without any pressures from the outside world. It was a bit sugary sweet at times, what with them trying to out-manoeuvre the other with the most romantic date ever. I think that’s also one of the reasons this book did feel like an ending. It’s the two of them living their happily ever after, living the lives they always dreamed about. Together.
From the beginning Joel Leslie caught my attention with his narration. I mean I had no idea just how credible he could portray a woman in labour, it was surprisingly real and heartfelt. He added so much feeling in his narration and it really draws you in and makes you connect. Another thing that I appreciated was the ghost song. From experience many narrators choose to read lyrics instead of singing them, but personally I love it when they’re sung. It’s one of those things that really enhances the sense of place and feel of the story. As for Josh and Gabe Leslie captured them both perfectly. Their personalities shone through his performance, from Josh’s sassiness and Gabe’s overprotectiveness, but more – the love between them. Leslie made you believe.
In a way I’m sad to say goodbye, but I also feel like this series has come to an end. We’ve seen our guys through so much and now they have their happily ever after.
RATING: 
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