Reviewed by Sadonna

TITLE:  Poetry in Motion

AUTHOR:  Samantha Wayland

NARRATOR:  Michael Ferraiuolo

PUBLISHER:  Self-published

LENGTH:  9 hours and 6 minutes

RELEASE DATE:  February 16, 2022

BLURB:

Travis Campbell has been at this hockey thing for a while. He knows his days on the ice are numbered, but he’s happy with the Moncton Ice Cats and he’s still got some time to figure out what comes next. He’s been taking college classes online and thought he knew what he was doing, but then he made the ultimate rookie mistake. It turns out the poetry class is not the easier way to get his required English credits.

Barnaby Birtwistle has exiled himself to the wilds of New Brunswick, leaving London, his so-called friends, and his cheating ex behind. His life is finally getting back on track, and he’s going to keep it that way, even if it means living like a monk.

Travis is expecting a bookish nerd to help him pass his staggeringly boring class; Barnaby is expecting a meathead hockey player who struggles to string two words together, let alone appreciate poetry. Turns out that they both have something to learn.

REVIEW:

Barnaby Birtwistle has come to Canada to get away from his family, a bad breakup and continue his education.  He’s living with his cousin Rupert and his husband Callum (and their children) to save money to pay off debts that are crippling him while also pursuing his doctorate.  Rupert and Callum manage and co-own a hockey team respectively.  Rupert’s job overnight at a hotel pays minimally but allows him to continue working as a TA at the university while also pursuing his studies.

Travis Campbell is old in hockey years.  The fact that he’s an enforcer means his playing days are numbered.  In preparation for life after hockey, he’s working on an undergraduate degree on-line.  He’s made the mistake of thinking that somehow poetry will be easier than a “standard” English class.  He’s struggling.  When it’s suggested that perhaps he might need a tutor, there is someone perfect to fit the bill 🙂  And it pays much better than overnight at a hotel front desk.

Travis is quite surprised by Barnaby.  He’s not at all what he expected and he’s intrigued.  Barnaby is also quite surprised by Travis 🙂  They work well together.  Travis shares his learning issues with Barnaby and Barnaby is quite happy too accommodate Travis’s slightly unusual learning style.  This results in the recording and recitation of some rather beautiful poetry and Travis can listen to while traveling with the team.

As time goes by, the men grow closer.  It becomes sort of a friends with benefits arrangement.  Travis has been with multiple hockey teams over his career and he’s never really been one fore relationships – mainly because of assumptions made about him and his preferences.  Barnaby has been through a bad breakup where he kind of lost everything and he’s happy not to be in that space.  They get into a rhythm and things are going well.  There are no strings as Travis could only be in Moncton for this season and Barnaby may well return to England.

Travis is playing well, but he’s trying to avoid injury.  He’s worried that he’s going to be traded.  When he’s hurt and it’s a concussion, Barnaby and the rest of their friends come to the rescue caring for him during his recovery.  But this isn’t Travis’s first concussion and he’s worried about long term effects as well as the rest of the season and a contract for the next season.  Barnaby is quite worried and it’s clear that this has moved on beyond a friends with benefit situation – for both of them.  But if Travis won’t take his health into consideration and keeps playing, Barnaby isn’t sure he can stand to be on the sidelines watching him.

I really really enjoyed these two.  Barnaby is Rupert’s cousin who is working on his graduate studies in Moncton.  Rupert is the manager of the local hockey team and is one of the MCs of the previous book Home and Away.  I think I may have liked this story even more!  Travis is the enforcer with a heart of gold.  Barnaby is still recovering from his last bad relationship.  Both men aren’t exactly looking for something that’s right in front of them, but it’s there anyway 😀  I loved the support from the other guys on the team as well as Rupert and Callum and the rest of the gang at the hockey club.  Barnaby and Travis are actually perfect for each other and I loved how the poetry was woven in as well.

Michael Ferraiuolo does a magnificent job with this one.  French Canadian, English and other accents are on full display here.  Barnaby’s pain at watching Travis suffer is so well performed.  Travis’s attempts to remain strong and stalwart despite his worry was also soooo good.  I really felt the conflict for each of these MCs.  I loved the kids and the other recurring characters here as well – completely on point and consistent.  I cannot wait for the next audio in this series.

Highly recommended for fans of hurt/comfort, hockey romances and hard won HEAs.

RATING: 

BUY LINKS:  

Amazon

Audible