Tag: Death/loss

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The Little Things Audiobook by Jay Northcote Narrated by Matthew Lloyd Davies

Dreamspinner Presents http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6415

LittleThings[The]AUDMEDBlurb

There are lots of things that brighten Joel’s life. His three-year-old daughter, Evie, is one. His close relationship with her mother, his best friend from university, is another. Joel’s boyfriend, Dan, adds spice to his child-free nights, and Joel is pretty happy with how things are.

Then one cold and rainy night, everything changes. Joel’s life is turned upside down when he becomes a full-time dad to Evie, and his previously carefree relationship with Dan cracks under the strain.

Meeting Liam, who acts as if getting hurt isn’t a foregone conclusion, shakes Joel to the core. Their attraction is mutual, and Liam makes no secret of how serious he is about Joel. But Joel is wary. He tells himself he’s keeping Liam at a distance for Evie’s sake, when really he’s protecting his own heart. Taking a chance on this new relationship with Liam may seem a small step—a little thing—but is it one Joel can take after losing so much already?

Review

Joel is a newly single parent after having lost the mother of his child. He’s young and struggling with grief and parenting alone.
In the first part of the book Joel is with his partner Dan and it’s Dan’s inability to be a full time parent and commit to a monogamous relationship that eventually leads to their break-up.

In the second half of the story Joel meets Liam. Liam is just who Joel needs, older, steady, loving, caring, interested in parenting.

Though there isn’t as much time as I’d like with the couple as a couple, what there is, is very sweet.

What I appreciated about this book was that it showed a different side to Jay’s writing. She is always a very fluid writer, giving us well-developed characters who are, more than anything, real.

This is the most “angsty” of her books that I’ve read, and it showed her talent for drama as well as light-hearted comedic romance.

Though I would have liked more time with the new couple and perhaps less with Dan, I can see how showing us more fully what happened in the past made Joel who he is now and why he makes the decisions he does.

I thought Evie was well portrayed too and enjoyed the relationship between her and Joel very much.

If you are looking for a more “realistic” take on romance, with some hard twists and turns to the story, this is a great book to check out.

Audiobook

Again I love that we are given a British narrator. He does a great job giving each character a unique voice and he does a great job with the emotion.

I loved his Liam and even thought Claire and Evie were nice (women and kids can be difficult to voice but he did a great job.)

I think his work continues to improve with each narration and I think this is my favorite of his narrations so far.

Overall, 4.25 of 5 hearts

4.5

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Even the Innocent by DW Marchwell

Dreamspinner Presents http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6208
EventheInnocentBlurb
Salvatore Terranova is a teacher at the local high school. He used to live in the big city of Charlottetown, but never did meet the man of his dreams. Jaded but not defeated, Sal returns to Montague, completely unaware that the mysterious new neighbor in the old Victorian across the street is much more than he seems.

Having uprooted himself, Behr Kincaid settles in a small town, thousands of kilometers from everything and everyone he’s ever known. And with good reason, because he wasn’t born with that name. Behr always knew his brother was a criminal, but when Maurizio killed Behr’s husband of ten years, Behr gave up the life he had in order to see justice served. Despite his new identity, Behr knows the inevitable showdown will come when Maurizio tracks him down.

As Sal gets to know Behr, he realizes the man is lying about more than his name. While Behr wonders if there’s room for the truth, Sal wants to know who he’s falling in love with and must decide if it can lead to anything but a broken heart.

Review

I really, really love DW Marchwell’s writing style. I love her choice of character development and how loving her men are.

Because I’m a fan, I don’t like writing a review of anything less than stellar, but this book just didn’t do it for me.

Behr (David) is in hiding from his brother who killed Behr’s husband and is now in jail, but has outside connections. Essentially Witness Protection.

Sal is his neighbor and the two have an almost instant attraction to one another. Their romance is slow to take hold though, because of the secrets. Sal is reluctant to be involved, again, with someone not entirely truthful.

In fairly short order, Sal learns the truth and the two become lovers.

Over the course of only 3 months, it becomes clear that Behr is in danger and may need to move again, or risk his and Sal’s life.

Fortunately things resolve in a way that allows the men their HEA.

**
What didn’t work for me:
I never felt that Behr got over his first love, even though, by the end marriage looks to be on the horizon. It felt just a little too convenient, rather than an epic love.
The second thing I didn’t care for was the resolution at the end. I really thought there would be some angst and danger and life threatening moments or separation – and we get a small moment there at the end, but it was rather anti-climactic.

So – if you are a fan of DW Marchwell, you may still want to read this. Her writing is still wonderful. But I was a bit disappointed by the story and not as moved as I have been in the past by her books.

3 of 5 hearts

3

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