Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Nobody’s Prince Charming
SERIES: Road to Blissville
AUTHOR: Aimee Nicole Walker
NARRATOR: Joel Leslie
PUBLISHER: Tantor Audio
LENGTH: 6 hours and 57 minutes
RELEASE DATE: January 21, 2020
BLURB:
Fire and ice. Oil and water. Vodka and decisions. That’s what Darren McCoy and Wren Davison are: two opposites that shouldn’t mix well. Dare believes in fairy tales, true love, and happily ever after. Wren believes in fast cars, freedom, and no-strings sex. What can these two men possibly have in common? A magnetic pull strong enough to obliterate logic and reason.
For more than a year, Dare and Wren have worked together at the Curl Up and Dye Salon. Dare has pursued the mysterious, brooding man, and Wren has resisted his provocative charm. Then one day, something happens that allows the men to see each other in a new light. Wren learns that Dare hides a heavy heart behind his brilliant smile. Dare realizes that beneath Wren’s gruff exterior beats the heart of a prince.
Passions ignite once the men stop fighting their attraction, but will it be enough to overcome their differences? Is Wren the prince that Dare is looking for? Can Dare teach Wren that true love does exist?
REVIEW:
Note: While this is book 3 in the series, it can be read as a standalone with some minor spoilers for the first two books.
Dare McCoy is burning the candle at both ends. He works at Curl Up and Dye and he also works evenings as an interior designer for a local family owned shop as well. He lives with his grandfather and works these jobs so that he can take care of the expenses for full time care for his grandfather when he can’t be there. Yes, it’s cramping his style a bit, but he doesn’t care. He wants to do what’s right for his grandpa. His grandfather has always supported him and he wants to return the favor.
Wren is the new mysterious stylist at Curl Up and Dye. He’s kind of a loner. But Wren and Dare have this push/pull relationship with Dare flirting shamelessly and Wren ignoring him for the most part. But then Wren learns something about Dare that he hadn’t realized and figures out there are much deeper waters there. Yeah, he’s always been attracted to Dare, but he’s not sure he would be good for him, given his past.
When Wren helps Dare out by renting a vacant apartment that needs renovating badly, the men are able to spend a lot more time together. Their latent chemistry ignites and they can’t stay away from each other. Wren tries to hold Dare still at arms length, but the more he gets to know Dare and his family, the less he wants to try to stay away from him and keep things casual. When a big part of Wren’s mysterious past is revealed, there is a whole new level of honesty that has to take place between Dare and Wren. They soon learn that they balance each other and they are really good for one another and will support each other when the chips are down.
I really really liked this story! Dare is a such a character. His love for his grandpa was so amazing. He was willing to do anything to keep him happy and in his home. I felt for him – putting his life on hold in some ways to take responsibility for making sure that happened. Wren had a lot of growing up to do and this story showed huge growth for him as a man. He had so much from his past to let go of and he realized that the only one holding him back from true love and happiness was himself. His trust in Dare and in Dare’s acceptance of everything about him went a long way in helping him learn to trust that he could be the right man for Dare and in many ways himself and his family. I also LOVED Dare’s family – especially his grandpa <3 What a hoot he was. Dare is funny and charming and self-deprecating and strong and focused and everything anyone would want in a partner. While Wren might be the more quiet of the two, he’s a solid support for Dare and his family and their friends. As usual, Joel Leslie’s narration was a HUGE complement to an already good story. I loved his voices for all the characters and the humorous and tender moments shone in his capable hands – well voice 😉 Beautifully done and highly recommended.
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