Reviewed by Larissa

TITLE:  Solstice Surprise

AUTHOR:  Gabbi Grey

NARRATOR:  Michael Dean

PUBLISHER:  Self-published

LENGTH: 3 hours and 34 minutes

RELEASE DATE:  August 24, 2021

BLURB:

A blizzard, an urgent plea, a desperate journey, and the most important moment of their lives.

Action movie star Peter Erickson is spending the Christmas holidays ensconced with his in-laws and his new husband. In the wilds of Northern British Columbia, they are as far away from the bustle of the city as they can get. 

Thomas Walsh and his famous husband are deeply in love. Although he prefers the intimacy of their city house, he’s come home to face the reason he left 10 years ago, and to finally tell his parents the truth. A desperate phone call has the couple scrambling. Will they get back to Vancouver in the middle of a snowstorm in time for their solstice surprise?

REVIEW:

Solstice Surprise is a continuation/sequel to Catch a Tiger by the Tail, showing us life after the HEA for Thomas and Peter.  Surprisingly, Solstice Surprise is not listed as part of a series, giving the impression this story is a standalone.  I suppose you could read it that way, but I don’t think you can understand and, more importantly, feel Thomas and Peter’s love for each other and the journey (physical and emotional) they take as they rush to their “solstice surprise”.  A reader who has not read Catch a Tiger by the Tail may also find themselves looking for missing pieces, factual background that may not be crucial, but certainly relevant in the greater context of Thomas and Peter’s love story.

Catch a Tiger by the Tail felt a bit compressed to me, with things happening and developing too quickly for my liking.  That continued here in Solstice Surprise.  If you don’t like instalove, you will likely struggle with both books because both stories are rooted in it with the events transpiring rapidly.  I’m generally okay with instalove, but authenticity felt strained here.  Solstice Surprise would have been served better by treating it as an extended epilogue, jumping several years into the future.  As it was, six months seemed a challenge to the plausibility of the plot that wasn’t entirely overcome.

That being said, Thomas and Peter are two endearing characters with obvious chemistry and love between them.  It’s easy to like and root for them.  The story is beautiful and impactful, and I enjoyed the happiness brought to two lovely leading men.

Michael Dean’s narration on the audiobook is excellent.  He delivers one of his usual expert vocal performances.  His pacing and timing of the delivery are spot on. His choice of pitch and tone for Thomas and Peter and the intonations he uses in delivering the story all perfectly interpret the mood and import of the words relayed.

Solstice Surprise is a quick read/listen filled with holiday spirit and heartwarming, feel-good vibes.  Mr. Dean’s narration is a definite value-add, lending texture to a well-written story.  If you’ve read Catch a Tiger by the Tail, you will want to read this continuation of Thomas and Peter’s beautiful love story.

RATING:

BUY LINKS: 

Audible

Amazon