Reviewed by Larissa
TITLE: On the Run
SERIES: Whispering Key Book 2
AUTHOR: May Archer
NARRATOR: Michael Dean
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 9 hours and 20 minutes
RELEASE DATE: January 15, 2021
BLURB:
I was supposed to be partying with a bunch of celebrities in paradise this week, okay?
But then, I made one teeny, tiny error in judgement before leaving New York, and suddenly, the paparazzi expected me to give a command performance as “the other man” in their straight celebrity “outing” of the week.
Um, no, precious. So much no.
Instead, I did what any self-respecting, secret-keeping man would do in that situation: I cancelled my trip and fled New York to hide out in the last place anyone would look for me – a weird, little Florida island where nothing exciting ever happened.
Or, at least, it didn’t…until I arrived.
Now, I find myself shacked up with my fake boyfriend Beale Goodman, Whispering Key’s most adorable, most enormous, most virginal cinnamon roll – a guy who rescues feral cats, believes in soulmates, and talks about happiness like it’s free for the taking.
A guy who nearly convinces me, with every smile and kiss, that it is.
Stranger still? I find myself falling for the people on the island. Fitting in, instead of sticking out. Making, you know, friends. And for the first time ever, I think I’ve found something I want to run to, rather than from…
As long as I can keep my secrets from catching up with me.
REVIEW:
May Archer is a well-known and beloved gay romance writer, churning out one exceptional story after another. On the Run, the second book in her Whispering Key series, features the unassuming, gentle giant Beale Goodman, cousin of Fenn from series Book 1, Off Plan, and sassy, snarky, melodramatic Toby, BFF of Mason from Book 1 and also The Secret, Ms. Archer’s Love in O’Leary favorite which serves as the jumping-off point for this spin-off series.
Toby fled New York under cloud of scandal to seek the cover of anonymity with Mason on tiny Whispering Key island. Toby hoped to hide away there under Mason’s protection until the media attention died down. His rash escape plan becomes increasingly complicated, though. He can’t get in touch with Mason. He loses his phone and wallet. And the pièce de résistance: upon arriving in Whispering Key, Toby discovers that irony of ironies, Mason and his boyfriend Fenn are (wait for it)… in New York for Mason’s brother Micah’s wedding. In short, Toby is stranded.
Through a crazy, hilarious confluence of events, Toby and Beale meet in a rather unorthodox, revealing way. Then, in a raucous scene of assumptions, confusion, and miscommunication, they find themselves in a fabricated relationship as long-lost soul mates reunited after twelve long years apart.
Toby and Beale are complete opposites, initially clashing and distrusting each other. Beale unwaveringly believes that the Universe will bring him his soul mate, and no way in hell is the snappish, suspicious, drama queen, Toby, that guy. But sweet, kind-hearted Beale agrees to go along with the charade, even though he doesn’t really understand why Toby needs it or what he’s trying to hide. And so begins a soul-changing personal journey for both men.
Toby meets the large cast of original, eccentric characters of Whispering Key, and they accept Toby into their fold unreservedly, unlike his own family and so-called friends who cast him out. These lovely, albeit crazy, people immediately embrace Toby for who he is, as he is, even more so than Toby does himself. In fact, Toby carries the burden of self-loathing. Yet while he’s harsh on himself, he commends Beale’s intelligence and independence, staunchly defending him in the face of people who put Beale down.
Beale is a sweet, virgin, cinnamon roll of a man who you simply cannot resist. And neither can Toby. While their relationship scales a number of hurdles and Toby’s borderline lying, their story arc to falling in love is redemptive and heartwarming.
Ms. Archer displays her well-honed writing skills in On the Run. She showcases her particular strengths in world-building, which is extensive and inspired, and dialogue, which is incredibly impressive in its content and tone.
Michael Dean, Ms. Archer’s go-to narrator, complements her writing style perfectly. He extracts the nuances from her prose and narratives and communicates all the elements of dialogue that are humorous in some places, poignant in others, and authentic all throughout. He expertly distinguishes the characters through subtleties you don’t even consciously recognize. Variations in pitch, tone, and vocal texture create readily identifiable voices we associate with the characters.
For example, Toby has Mr. Dean’s “twink” voice, reflecting his saucy, dramatic personality, and flair for living life to the fullest. That voice juxtaposed with Toby’s self-deprecation conveys more about Toby’s state of mind and emotions than the text can accomplish alone. Beale, in contrast, has a lower voice reflective of his composure, seriousness, and unassailable character. Mr. Dean’s thoughtful delivery provides the reader with an inherent sense of who these characters are, what they struggle with, and how badly they want to get things right.
On the Run is a gem of a book. Read it to catch up on the series in advance of reading Book 3, Off Key. Alternatively, revisit On the Run after reading Off Key. Either way, I highly recommend you listen to the audiobook when you do so. You’ll be surprised at how much Mr. Dean adds to the story through his narration. He never ceases to impress me with his talent and my enjoyment of a book feels complete once rendered by his euphonious tones.
RATING: 
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