Reviewed by Larissa
TITLE: His Haven
SERIES: His MM Romance, Book 3
AUTHOR: Con Riley
NARRATOR: Cornell Collins
PUBLISHER: Tantor Audio
LENGTH: 9 hours and 50 minutes
RELEASE DATE: March 15, 2022
BLURB:
Opposites attract when Keir is once jilted, twice shy….
Keir Brodie is a lawyer with good reason for his trust issues. A year after his groom didn’t show up at their wedding, he’s still heartsore and hurting. Work has been his savior, but a new project sets alarm bells ringing – his favorite client wants to buy a house for someone Keir thinks is a liar.
Mitch’s nice-guy act doesn’t fool Keir, and he can’t let sparks flying when they’re together distract him. That’s just the flare of opposites attracting, not the lifelong connection he misses. Besides, no amount of passion is worth risking his heart, especially with someone only down for onetime hookups.
Their shared project chips away at Keir’s first impressions. As the truth, and Keir, unravel, Mitch pieces him back together in ways Keir couldn’t have predicted. Trusting Mitch with more than his client’s money will take a leap of faith, in himself, and in a man Keir hopes won’t leave him waiting.
Contains mature themes.
REVIEW:
His Haven, the third book in Con Riley’s His contemporary romance series, provides a beautiful opposites-attract romance and deserved HEA for Keir Brodie. If you’ve read the previous books in this series, particularly book two, His Compass, you’ll recall meeting Keir. He’s a tightly strung lawyer representing Tom Kershaw’s interests. Tom is the star of His Compass, and he and his now-partner Nick own the charter yacht The Aphrodite. Keir has taken up the mantle of looking out for young Nick’s financial interests, especially given Nick’s wealthy family and his oft tendency to make ill-advised financial decisions. Tom’s younger brother Justin sustained a TBI (traumatic brain injury), and he and his TBI rehabilitation specialist/caretaker Mitch live at the rehab facility The Haven.
Each of these series installments can be read as a standalone. However, as you likely have already discerned, His Haven leans into the character backstories and interconnections of these men which are told in greater detail in His Compass. Riley gives us enough in His Haven to do fine without the history, but if you are a reader like me and want the complete picture, read His Compass first.
Keir’s suspicious of Mitch from the outset, suspecting him of trying to take advantage of Nick’s wealth to get a new home ostensibly for Justin’s benefit. Mitch’s incessant flirting with Kier while sporting a silver wedding band doesn’t win him any points in Keir’s estimation either. Mitch is a bit of an acquired taste, but I think our experience of him mirrors that of Keir’s. The organic unfolding of the storyline with reveals that are perfectly timed and seamlessly integrated into the narrative show Keir coming around to seeing who Mitch truly is, just as we do.
I loved Keir from the first time I met him in His Compass. It’s pretty apparent that his uptight, judgmental nature stems from past hurts that have left emotional scars. He’s now skittish and suspicious, and we learn that much of Keir’s initial dislike of Mitch ties back to Keir’s not having dealt with his pain and grief over having been jilted at the altar a year ago. Instead, Keir’s buried himself in work and pushed his feelings down deep. But in true Riley style, there’s plenty more to know about Keir, and she unravels that mystery through her spot-on portrayal of Keir as a man barely holding it together. He’s a wounded animal lashing out to protect himself when all we want to do is soothe him and make it all better.
Mitch puts on airs as well. But he proves to be much more than an annoying flirt. He’s a truly observant, giving, kind soul who wants to care and support others, as he does for Justin, the people at The Haven, and as he tries to do for Keir.
Keir and Mitch eventually find themselves in a hookup-only relationship, but it becomes so much more to them and Riley makes us understand how this progression makes sense. Keir and Mitch fuel character transformation for each other, and Riley uses thoughtful, skillful plot development to coax these changes authentically and fluidly. Riley’s gorgeous, lyrical writing shines through.
The story is told from a single point of view, Keir’s, which is not my preferred format. Yet, Riley not only makes it work, but overwhelmingly succeeds at conveying the personalities, experiences, and emotions of both Keir and Mitch, as well as Justin, through only Keir’s vantage point.
His Haven is a complex, nuanced story requiring a deeply connected, emotional vocal performance. Riley taps Cornell Collins to continue the narration of this series, and he’s a perfect choice. This story sits squarely in his wheelhouse, and he spins out yet another expressive and emotionally connected vocal performance. His crisp, crystal clear enunciation, precise delivery, and thoughtful pacing and inflections reflect each character’s emotions and make them real, relatable people. He’s quickly becoming one of my favored narrators because of the immersive experiences he creates through his encompassing, mesmerizing performances. He’s acting this story, not just delivering lines; we hear it and feel it.
The His Haven audiobook checks all the boxes and I give it a resounding endorsement. I’m thrilled that Riley is giving us the story of Keir’s best friend and flatmate Charles – a character that immediately captivated me with his irrepressible ways and obvious baggage that I’m dying to unravel. Charles is the first book in Riley’s Learning to Love series, which is now on book four, Austin, so there’s plenty more Riley goodness in this fascinating fictional universe to explore.
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