Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Running with Scissors 
AUTHOR: L.A. Witt
NARRATOR: Michael Ferraiuolo
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 8 hours and 45 minutes
RELEASE DATE: January 30, 2023
BLURB:
This is a re-released audiobook. It has not been modified from the original version. If you have already purchased it, there is no need to do so again!
Eighteen months ago, drummer Jude Colburn made the biggest mistake of his life when he walked away from his band just as they were on the brink of success. Now, he’s got a second chance. The band’s bassist just quit, and Jude plays bass almost as well as he plays drums. The other band members aren’t thrilled, but they are desperate. Running with Scissors needs him, but there’s one condition: no hooking up with bandmates. That’s what ruined things 18 months ago, after all. Jude’s on board, but no one warned him about the drummer who replaced him.
A.J. Palmer is shy and unassuming…until he hits the stage. He gets Jude’s attention from the first beat, and suddenly that “no hookups” rule isn’t so easy to follow. Keeping secrets on a tour bus isn’t easy either, and it’s only a matter of time before the band catches on. When everything hits the fan, Jude has to choose: a second chance at the career he’s always regretted leaving, or a shot at the man of his dreams?
REVIEW:
Jude cheated on his best friend/band co-founder/boyfriend Connor when things were going south. He left the band. The band went on to get a record contract and he got a crappy day job – missing drumming with his childhood besties. Then the former boyfriend took up with the bassist and that went to hell. The band is on tour and desperate so the manager asks Jude to join and play bass despite his being the former drummer. The new drummer is nervous the old drummer is back and everyone is walking on eggshells because Connor is pissed. Only rule? No hooking up with the band members. Well you know that’s not going to last.
AJ is happy drumming for this band. Then he’s thinking his days are numbered because Jude is back. But then he and Jude talk and it turns out that they have a lot in common and also, chemistry 😉 You can see where this is going to go. And keeping secrets on a tour bus isn’t going to last.
Sigh. I wanted to like this more than I actually ended up liking it. Micheal Ferraiuolo’s performance of this audio kept me going to be honest and I added a star to my rating due to his narration. I honestly wanted to slap most of these characters repeatedly. Maybe it’s because I’m old but I don’t understand why people would put up with all this chaos and diva behavior. Yes, Jude did a bad bad thing and then ran from his mistake. Connor then went on to get involved with another bandmate. So here’s the thing. Have these people never heard “you don’t sh*t where you eat”? One bad decision after another. And nobody acting like an adult. The only character I really liked in this was A.J. And because of his dysfunctional family, he really didn’t do well with the drama with this band. I’m surprised he didn’t have anxiety/panic attacks on the regular. That manager would have done everybody a favor if she made them all go to a mediator/counselor for some group therapy. Also nothing about this story would make me EVER want to be in a band or go on a tour – which I shouldn’t have been surprised about. I traveled for years for work and believe me, it’s not fun or glamorous to sleep in hotels more than your own bed or spend half you life in airports/on planes. I did like Jude and A.J. together. They had things in common and it’s clear it was more than sex for them. I wanted to cheer when somebody pointed out that all the drama common denominator was Connor and nobody wanted to call him out on it I guess because he was the lead vocalist. Shouldn’t excuse bad behavior. But some people seem to thrive on drama. Overall, on OK story that was raised to a recommended with reservations because of the quality of the narration. I believe A.J. and Jude cared for each other and wanted to do the right thing based on the emotional and vivid performance of Michael Ferraiuolo. Also extra points for the band name 🙂
RATING: 
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