Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Rear Ended 
SERIES: Big Bull Mechanics
AUTHOR: K.M. Neuhold
NARRATORS: Tim Paige and Liam DiCosimo
PUBLISHER: K.M. Neuhold Publishing LLC
LENGTH: 5 hours and 43 minutes
RELEASE DATE: August 16, 2023
BLURB:
Love is a highway, and Henry just got Rear Ended
I’ve spent my entire adult life working eighty hours a week, chasing money, security…success. When my recent start-up went under, leaving me with nothing to show for years of grinding myself down to the bone, I’m not sure who I am anymore. I never thought I’d be 48 with no money, living with my brother, trying to figure everything out from scratch. But, here we are….
All that chasing didn’t leave a lot of time for romance or relationships either. Unless you count the occasional hook-up to let off a little steam. Now I have all the free time in the world…but who would want a middle-aged failure anyway?
When one of my most recent hook-ups turns out to be my new coworker, I’m starting to think the universe is having a good laugh at my expense. As if Auggie wasn’t tempting enough with all of the tattoos and his surprisingly sweet smile, now I’m spending all day watching him work. He’s covered in grease, with his overalls half zipped…is it getting hot in here, or is it just me?
He’s impossible to resist, but that doesn’t make the timing any better. Body work is one thing, but I’m determined to keep my heart out of it. If only Auggie would stop baking me cookies and touching me in ways that keep my engine running all night long. I think we’re going to need some coolant in here, because things are definitely heating up….
Rear Ended is book 4 in the Big Bull Mechanics series but can be listened to as a stand alone. It’s full of mechanic puns, hilarious and swoony banter, tons of heat, and two men falling in love in spite of their best efforts to keep things casual.
REVIEW:
Note: This is the fourth book in this series and as such includes some spoilers for previous books. It can be read as a standalone without any real issue though.
Henry is starting over after losing his business and nearly everything else except for his car. He’s living with his brother in small town WI – not at all what he pictured himself doing after spending years working 80 hours a week. Poor Henry was so focused on making a living, he forgot to make a life. And when he lost his company, he truly believes he doesn’t have anything to offer anyone. He’s been used to guys who are more interested in his bank account than his heart. Feeling old and unworthy, he’s surprised by his hookup with a hot age-appropriate guy in a bar full of twinks. His ego is bruised and he’s not sure what he’s going to do starting over in middle age.
Auggie is a very sweet guy who tends to go all in really quickly. He thinks maybe he is just a little too much and has never met the right guy. He’s got his found family at the shop, a job he really enjoys as a mechanic and his adorable pet pig Hamlet. He has hookups, but watching his friends find their one true love is getting to him. When will it be his turn? When his most recent hookup who bolted after a sizzling hot encounter shows up as the newest employee at the shop, well Auggie is a bit thrown. But their first opportunity alone together after hours? The chemistry is definitely still there. But there is something up with Henry that Auggie just isn’t quite sure about. Henry seems really into him, but then he runs cold and avoids him again.
Eventually Henry and Auggie have to get real. It takes a bit for Henry to confess about his past. Auggie is irritated that Henry thinks that just because he doesn’t have his business or a lot of money that he isn’t worthy of love and a real relationship. It’s clear to Auggie at least that Henry needs to upgrade the people in his life. Henry’s brother also has some feelings on this subject 🙂 While it does take some convincing and a couple of more spontaneous get togethers, Henry begins to believe that maybe his bank account is not the only thing on offer. Auggie and the rest of the guys at Big Bull Mechanics appreciate everything that Henry does and Henry starts to believe in himself again. And maybe, just maybe, he does deserve a good guy and love and support too.
This is really a very sweet story. Auggie is such a good guy and his pig? Well let’s just say that Hamlet more than stole the show here. Henry starts out as a bit of a sad sack. He’s been beaten down by life and the loss of his business and he’s had trouble defining himself by anything OTHER than his job or his bank balance. It’s too bad that he had a certain definition of success in his head and when things didn’t work out, well he’s devastated. He really likes Auggie, but he doesn’t feel like he hast anything to offer at this point in his life. His brother tries to enlighten him, but he’s still struggling to accept that this new Henry could be anyone that Auggie would want to make a bet on. Auggie keeps glimpsing the good guy under the mask that Henry shows the world and that’s the guy he wants to get to know. He really wants things to work out with them but he doesn’t want to scare Henry away either by being clingy or asking for too much too soon. They work on their communication pretty diligently though and that helps them address the uncomfortable things. Their dates were fun and Hamlet is the best pet ever. So so so cute!
Tim Paige and Liam DiCosimo lend their voice talents to this really fun listen and add much life to this story. This is a very drama free story of two guys who luckily stumble upon each other. The hookup to forever is a delightful ride for all. The usual Big Bull characters are also here and performed with such consistency. The mentions and cameos of other characters were a welcome touch to this story in this shared world. I really love these narrators for K.M. Neuhold’s series. They just are so spot-on every time. Auggie is a total sweetheart and Henry’s sorry start blossoms into warmth, happiness and acceptance as the story moves forward. This is another low angst story with a swoonworthy HEA. I’m a sucker for mature characters finding their one true love and this story delivers. And Hamlet gets an extra half star for his scene-stealing antics 🙂 Definitely recommended.
RATING: 
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