Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Hunter
SERIES: Gentlemen of Emerald City
AUTHOR: L.A. Witt
NARRATOR: Michael Ferraiuolo
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 10 hours and 28 minutes
RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2023
BLURB:
Scott: I’ve done a lot of soul-searching this season. I’ve been in denial about myself, and a jerk to everyone else. I don’t even know where to start to fix it all.
I don’t know what to feel about anything.
How am I supposed to handle falling in love?
Hunter: I’m good at faking it most of the time. No, not that. I mean faking like I’m okay. Like something doesn’t always hurt, especially when I’m trying to earn my pay.
He gets it. More than anyone I’ve ever met, he gets it. But he’s got pain no one can touch. Not doctors. Not me.
How do I convince him that shutting me out won’t take away that pain?
Hunter is the sixth and final book of Gentlemen of the Emerald City, a sexy series centered around the high class, high-dollar gentlemen of Seattle’s most exclusive escort service. Each book is full of snark, sass, and sweetness, and like any Emerald City client, you’re guaranteed a happy ending.
REVIEW:
Note: While this is the sixth book in the series, it can be read as a standalone. Be warned, however, that there are some pretty big spoilers for previous books and the story of this book is very much informed by the previous interactions of one of the MCs here with the MCs who feature in the previous books.
We’ve seen Scott Deacon throughout this series. And frankly he’s been a complete a$$hole to his gay teammates and a number of escorts from Gentlemen of the Emerald City as well. Matt, his one-time friend and first hookup has a lot to do with that when he finally confronts Scott about his terrible and damaging behavior from years before. Matt still has the emotional scars to show for it. But Scott is finding it harder and harder to look at himself in the mirror. When it’s time to turn over a new leaf, he ends up booking a new guy – Hunter. Hunter’s a bit wary given the reviews/comments from the other escorts that Scott has hired but he’s in no position to refuse a booking.
After a serious car accident, Hunter deals with chronic pain. He’s not able to get much relief and he can’t work a regular job. He’s been reduced to living with his ex-wife and her new husband and his young daughter since none of them can make it on their own. He and his ex became parents quite young and then the car accident derailed them just when they were getting their feet under them. So $1500 is $1500 or they won’t make rent. Despite his trepidation and worry about the pain, he takes the booking. And it goes pretty well, all things considered.
Scott is a professional athlete and he can tell when someone is trying to hide pain. Heck he’s done it himself. So when Hunter accepts a second booking and it’s clear that he’s in pain, Scott does what he can to offer help to Hunter and definitely doesn’t press for any sexual activity. Hunter is kind of amazed – especially after all the previous reviews. But they end up talking and Hunter shares his situation with Scott. Scott hasn’t always had it easy and remembers what it was like praying his car wouldn’t breakdown, etc. So he’s not immune to the difficulties of Hunter’s life. In fact, he’s moved to help him. Sometimes too much.
The Scott goes to visit his family and all is made clear. He’s been fighting this internal battle for so long. He’s worried about a young cousin and he’s tired of hearing his family berate his queer teammates. He nearly spins out of control again in his self-loathing. Thankfully Hunter is there for him. It’s becoming harder and harder for Scott to hide who he is in public all the time. Hunter wants to support him and he sees what this is doing to Scott – although he does understand the reasons. When things come to a head though, they decided to ride out the storm together. And it’s not pretty. But it’s very necessary if Scott is ever going to have any peace and live his life with any sort of authenticity.
Wow. This story packs an emotional wallop. Finally we get the story behind why Scott exhibits this terrible behavior and self-hatred. He realizes that he has hated himself and that part of him that he’s always been told is the worst – being gay – and he’s repeatedly taken it out on the men he’s been with over the years. He hates wanting men and therefore he transfers that attitude towards the escorts that he’s hired. Until a confrontation rocks him back. He’s really trying not to hate himself and his desires and his relationship with Hunter is the thing he’s trying to do differently this time. Hunter is a sweet guy with a lot going on in his own life. Scott is able to empathize with his personal situation – from the pain to the money issues. But he’s still fighting against the internalized homophobia and self-hatred. Scott finds that it gives him pleasure though to help remove some of the burdens and obstacles for Hunter. Hunter can’t believe his good fortune in finding a guy who is so generous to him and his family. But there are still mountains to climb. Despite a few bumps and bruises along the way, it’s clear that these guys have gone far beyond the normal escort/client relationship. They text, call, and are truly friends outside of their “activities” and when Hunter needs help, Scott overdoes it a few times. But when Scott needs support, Hunter is there for him too. Despite their initial relationship, feelings have developed on both sides and they are there for each other in all the ways that count. Hunter really helps Scott learn to forgive himself for his past behavior and helps him become the man he is meant to be. Scott’s struggles run deep and his self-hatred is a hard thing to overcome so that he can learn to love himself and also accept love from others. I was rooting for these two all the way. It’s a difficult story and there are losses that can’t be changed, but the real story if that of gaining a true perspective and living the life they both deserve.
Michael Ferraiuolo does a brilliant job performing this tough story. More than any of the previous books in this series, both MCs are really struggling. Hunter’s pain and difficulties in dealing with his family situation are brought to life in a way that makes us empathize but not pity him. He’s not whining – he’s simply dealing with some pretty tough facts. And it’s really hard to pull out of the financial hole when health is a problem. Scott’s persona from the previous stories is consistent and the arc of his realizations that he is the one holding himself back and only he can change things I thought was clear in the choices for this performance. He truly feels bad about his previous behavior but his self-loathing is on full display. His confrontations and his dealings with his family are simply heartbreaking. There are a lot of side characters in this book and they are all amazing as well – from younger kids to older adults, male and female, all were distinct and memorable. This has been a perfect marriage of author and narrator and I’m sad to see the series end. Truly though I think this happy ending was just a perfect bow on the gift that is this series. Well done all! Highly recommended.
RATING: 
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