Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Unexpected
AUTHOR: Felice Stevens
NARRATOR: Matt Haynes
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 8 hours and 39 minutes
RELEASE DATE: July 13, 2022
BLURB:
Party planner Colin Brightman doesn’t drink or dance, preferring to go to bed early with his spreadsheets and lists. All he wants is to forget the singles weekend his friends sent him on, but he’s stuck with a suitcase filled with condoms and skimpy Speedos that don’t belong to him.
He doesn’t expect his luggage thief to be ex-baseball superstar Walker “Walk-Off” Scanlon. Or that Walker has hired his firm to put on a charity event at his bar. Colin can’t deny the mixed emotions the annoyingly flirty man stirs in him, but he refuses to fall for someone who racks up lovers as easily as he once hit home runs.
No matter how much he might want to.
Walker Scanlon likes his men easygoing with no complications. He’s had enough of those in his life. So why is he drawn to tense and straitlaced Colin and his frosty scowl? When even his corny one-liners and jokes don’t get him a smile? Because the sparks between them are undeniable. And that unexpected kiss? Amazin’.
Now if only Colin would stop running away.
When Colin and Walker come face to face with past hurts and betrayals, they’ll need to trust themselves and each other to learn that heartbreak and love don’t go hand in hand. It’s the bottom of the ninth, and if they swing for the stars, they just might hit the grand slam of a lifetime.
Unexpected is a low-angst, high-heat romance between a corny joke-telling ex-baseball player who doesn’t believe in striking out on or off the field and a divorced, tea-drinking homebody who isn’t willing to get played…again.
REVIEW:
Colin is an event planner whose best friends have sent him on a weekend trip to a gay singles resort. He is furious with them because he is NOT a casual guy. The last night of the trip, he’s sitting at the bar and he can’t help but notice the man who is doing the limbo in a speedo – that barely fits! He can’t believe anyone can behave that way but that doesn’t stop him from looking.
Walker Scanlon – better known as Walkoff Scanlon – is a retired baseball player. He is the owner of said skimpy speedo. He goes to the resort a couple of times a year to let off some steam. The rest of the time, he runs his businesses and manage his philanthropic efforts back in Brooklyn. He notices the uptight guy at the bar but when he gets ready to talk to him, he’s gone. So he doesn’t the next best thing – hooks up with a different guy. It’s a one and done for Walkoff.
When they return to New York, there is a bag mix up and they end up with each other’s bags. Walker is busy that week though, so he doesn’t find the emails informing him of this until Colin shows up at his bar and demands his bag. It’s obvious Colin Brightman is a VERY uptight guy. Walker agrees to the bag exchange. Then Colin discovers that his firm is doing a big benefit event for Scanlon. Great! Just what he didn’t need – more time with Walker Scanlon.
But a funny thing happens on the way to planning the event. Seems Walker and Colin have much more in common than they thought. They are both hiding their pasts and the things that have made them wary of any sort of relationship. They have deep-seated trust issues. Walker can’t seem to get Colin out of his mind though and he is determined to be his friend. Only he actually wants more. Colin has really low self-esteem issues as well as trust issues though and it’s not easy for Walker to crack that nut. They both make mistakes, but thankfully are stubborn enough to not give up – especially with friends determined to keep them on the right path. And that path is forward together. There are definitely a lot of hurdles to overcome and it takes persistence on both their parts, but in the end, it’s clear that they are much better off together 😀
Well I just enjoyed the heck out of this story because it’s the story of two men who have given up on having a real relationship where they can be themselves and be loved. Colin is such a curmudgeon – not without reason. He’s dealt with a lot over his life – much of it absolutely devastating and heartbreaking. The fact that he has gotten where he has is a testament to his tenacity and perseverance. What he hasn’t been is happy. And somehow he doesn’t think he deserves it after his less than ideal upbringing followed by a cheating husband that leads to his painful divorce. Walker has been hurt as well – by the very people who should have always had his back. He has trust no one since – well only two other people know the whole story. Colin is the third and he understands better than anyone how Walker feels. But he also is pretty sure that there is a path forward for them if they can only be brave and do the work. For both men there is huge risk to their hearts if they screw up and I loved how their found family and friends help them. From Walker’s rabbi and his wife, to Colin’s business partners, to Jimmy, Walker’s surrogate father and right hand at the bar to his best friends, they to a person support Walker and Colin’s relationship and help them both stop running away from the best thing that’s ever happened to them. I loved all the secondary characters in this story 🙂
Matt Haynes did another stellar job performing this story. I loved his highs and lows. His sly Walker voice was so perfect for the extrovert who is so good at hiding his pain. His stiff upper lip uptight Colin was also spot on. His NY accents were delightful – particularly for Jimmy and Artie 😉 There are LOT of characters in this one and he did a fantastic job. I felt Colin and Walker’s pain at their betrayals. I believe them when they apologized to each other when there were missteps. All around, this was just note perfect. Mr. Haynes has quickly become a favorite narrator and this story is another reason why. Highly recommended for all who love an emotional story of growth and overcoming painful pasts to find a well-deserved HEA.
RATING: 
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