Reviewed by Larissa
TITLE: Second Chance at First Love
SERIES: The Storm Boys, Prequel
AUTHOR: N.R. Walker
NARRATOR: Glen Lloyd
PUBLISHER: BlueHeart Press
LENGTH: 2 hours and 28 minutes
RELEASE DATE: June 26, 2023
BLURB:
A prequel to the Storm Boys series.
Paul Morgan has been running his luxury camping tour business in Kakadu National Park for the last five years, taking small groups glamping, hiking, climbing, and swimming. It’s been a busy five years—a hard five years—as he tried to forget the man he left behind.
Derek Grimes pushes people away—a self-preservation reflex. Because they can’t break his heart if he breaks theirs first, right? Five years on, lost and lonely, he tracks down the one and only love of his life. Maybe seeing how Paul had moved on will help Derek move on too….
Paul can’t believe it when a familiar name pops up on his client list, and Derek can’t believe how good Paul looks, or just how happy living his dream job has made him. The spark between them never waned, but five years on, they’ve learned a few things about themselves and what they want.
They could have everything they ever dreamed of—if they’re prepared to trust each other. Because a second chance at first love comes but once in a lifetime.
REVIEW:
N.R. Walker kicks off her new Storm Boys series with Second Chance at First Love – a prequel novella brought to life by Glen Lloyd through his narration of the audiobook. Second Chance delivers exactly what the title describes. Paul and Derek have been longing for each other ever since their separation five years ago. Through a not-so-accidental appearance of Derek on one of Paul’s glamping and wilderness exploration adventure experiences, they get a second chance for their squandered first love. Paul’s tours, set in the gorgeous, remote Kakadu National Park in the Top End of Australia, provide the perfect venue for them to reconnect, seek and grant forgiveness, and rekindle the love that still remains strong in their hearts.
The story is sweet, although not particularly exciting (YMMV), and Walker does a nice job, as always, in crafting endearing characters. The highlight, and perhaps the main purpose of the prequel, is the breathtakingly detailed worldbuilding. Through Paul’s adventure tours, Paul, Derek, and the three other tour guests embrace nature in all its awesome beauty and power. Walker’s vivid imagery brings the Top End of Australia to life, and the crowning glory is the nighttime sky and stargazing, immersively described by Walker.
Lloyd is one of Walker’s go-to narrators, so hearing his voice paired with one of Walker’s stories brings familiarity and comfort to the listener. He knows her work and understands her intent. You hear that connection here as Lloyd embraces the narrative and brings the characters to life. In this story, nature is a character unto itself, and Lloyd makes sure we understand its importance to the events that transpire here, setting the stage for the weather-based action adventures to follow.
Tully the storm chaser appears at the end of the story, and we see he’s brought along a companion – which leads directly into the plot of book one Outrun the Rain. Second Chance at First Love is a short audio – pleasant, low angst, and engaging. If you plan to read the series, the prequel is definitely worth your time.
RATING: 
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