Reviewed by Larissa
TITLE: Heppel Ever After
SERIES: Learning to Love, Book 5
AUTHOR: Con Riley
NARRATOR: Cornell Collins
PUBLISHER: Tantor Audio
LENGTH: 7 hours and 58 minutes
RELEASE DATE: December 26, 2023
BLURB:
Because every epic romance deserves an epic happy ending . . .
All Charles Heppel wants is a wedding. It’s not much to ask now that he’s set his playboy days aside for his almost-ordained fiance. He can’t wait for a lovely, lazy beach honeymoon with His Holy Hotness to continue Hugo’s education in the bedroom.
Surely this third wedding date will be the charm and won’t get cancelled, will it? After all, Hugo’s followed his calling almost to the end of his path to ordination. Nothing should keep him from gaining his own parish with Charles as his husband.
Hugo’s calling thinks differently, demanding he leaves for the remote island of Kara-Enys without Charles.
That news should be shattering, but if Charles Heppel has one thing going for him, it’s that he’s relentlessly optimistic. And romantic. Most islands have beaches, don’t they? He’ll join Hugo to have the honeymoon first on their own version of Love Island. They can get married later!
All he needs to do is find him . . .
Contains mature themes.
REVIEW:
*happy sigh*
I have loved this entire series, but Heppel Ever After (fantastic title!) provides a fitting, gorgeous, fulfilling conclusion to it. It ties everything back to the very first book, Charles, where we first met Charles and the colorful Glynn Harber, and leaves all the stories about it and the people there in a satisfyingly settled state. It also spends substantial time on a new(er) character, Rex Heligan, who is the star of the fabulous spin-off novel, Finding Mr. Fabulous. There’s background here that helps set up that story well, although you can certainly read it without having read Heppel Ever After (although why on earth would you want to do such a silly thing?)
Heppel Ever After is not a piece of fluff, even though it is sweet and lovely. In fact, for a wedding story, it actually has some weight to it, especially as we follow Hugo on his religious “listening” journey to find his place. What I love the most about Hugo is how he loves Charles exactly as he is and staunchly refuses to allow Charles to compromise his own happiness, even in the attempt to help Hugo. It’s just so swoony …
Con Riley, as usual, provides a meaningful story with some challenges for Charles, who I just wanted to hug. He’s generally a happy man, so to see him struggle really hurt my heart. There’s a lot of meaning and emotions in this story as it drives to a very fulfilling resolution where open wounds are healed, and Charles gains confidence and belief in his worth and place by Hugo’s side.
Charles may be one of my favorite characters ever, especially in the way the inimitable Cornell Collins brings him to life through his narration of these stories. His portrayal of all the characters is always spot on, but Charles, in particular, is perfection. The way he captures Charles’ saucy, sassy attitude while also conveying his insecurities and huge heart is nothing short of astonishing. For sure, one of the best vocal portrayals I’ve heard.
I loved everything about this story. Charles, Hugo, and all of the characters of Glynn Harber are just too special to let go. Luckily, Riley is far from done with the universe, as we’ve gotten some additional stories already and more in the works (hooray!!). The entire Learning to Love series is a must-listen. The audios are sublime and wholly absorbing, and Cornell Collins is an absolute marvel behind the mic. I cannot recommend these books enough, especially the decadent finale Heppel Ever After.
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