Just Okay

It’s hard to review this book because I just could not relate to the characters. The characters were not memorable to me and I didn’t “feel” the love. The story was not bad, it was just not entertaining. I read and listen to a lot of MM romance and yes this story is not the worst but it is very forgettable.

4 people found this helpful

fantastic and sensitive

This book depicts the growing love of two contemporary men who find each other in different stages of life - one, Collins, seasoned tattoo artist who has been around the block of relationships, another, Daniel, who is just discovering the freedom of living away from his family with their deeply seated Christian beliefs and homophobia.

Their budding relationship is challenged over and over with their inner struggles - Collins own eating disorders, and Daniel's conflict with wanting to live his own life yet fear his parents ever finding out.

The relationship developes in a beautiful, natural manner that allows you to slowly understand each character and root for their happiness and HEA.

Michael Ferraiulo skillful narration sucks you smoothly into the flow of thoughts, actions and descriptions.

The writer gives apt descriptions of the unique background of each character, whether Collin's past occupation, how he experiences his eating disorders, or the different ways each character experiences their relationship.

There are many small insights into situations like the Daniel's struggle of wishing to keep his ties to his family despite how hurtful they can become towards him with their homophobic behaviour - without their knowing so.

This book gives you a safe feeling that the characters despite their struggles are going to find a way through, and sometimes that is just what you need from a book.

However, the HEA isnt without a cost and the characters each earn it for themselves and together and the end is a very satisfying one.

2 people found this helpful

Spoilers

Needs an epilogue. What happened? Did they stay together? What happened at first deployment listening to the second book hope it has the same characters

1 person found this helpful

A good story

This wasn't my favorite by LA Witt. I liked Daniel and Collin together, but didn't get all the feels I like with a building new relationship that leads to love. I also would have liked an epilogue to see what happened with Daniel's family. The story flowed well though and I always love a first time troupe so I did enjoy Daniel's first experiences. They were sweet and Collin was very caring with him.
The narrator was fabulous though, as he always is!

1 person found this helpful

Back Piece

I was wanting books about tattoo artist and this was it (plus it was on audio) lol. It’s not my favorite trope, the adult person hiding in the closet, especially when that adult male is miserable and uncomfortable even being around his family. But, the author gave us two guys with issues who still manage to find love.

This was the first time I listened to this narrator and I thought he did a great job.

1 person found this helpful

good

I enjoyed this listen I was glad the characters came out to his parents and got his man

1 person found this helpful

Such a sweet story!

As per usual Michael Ferraiuolo was amazing and emotive!

The story itself was also very good and I loved the main characters. I do have a few problems however; the transitions from one setting to another were not smooth, and I would sometimes just sit there like, "Wait when did we get here?"
Additionally, sometimes I couldn't tell If a character was speaking out loud, or if they were just thinking to themselves. This problem, likely, has to do with the fact that it's an audiobook and would be easier to tell which is which if I were reading on paper.

This wasn't a deal breaker for me and honestly the story was amazing besides those 2 things.

100% recommend.

Great performance

It would have been 5 stars but the parents and Daniels passive attitude ruined it a bit for me.

I listened to book 3 first and it was better.

Had potential

This book had potential but sadly it dragged on and on and it was very repetitive 🙄 I really don’t like when most of the book is the characters thinking instead of saying it. If the chapter was say 13 minutes 10 of those were spent with the character thinking of saying something and never actually saying it and what ever he was thinking was repetitive. 🙄 the narrator omg no emotion if it said that the character was whispering he never did and the love scenes were so emotionless that it made it hard to believe. The only thing he did was clear his throat when it said too lol anyway like i said the story had potential but it was way to repetitive and the narrator didn’t make it any better 🤷🏻‍♀️

Good Story w/Great Narration

I’m a sucker for stories about human growth. Not all journeys are easy, but experiencing love and support, like these characters, helps. I liked the fact that their relationship wasn’t perfect, yet was just as wonderful to follow as if they were.