S.E.X. Review~ Redemption Audio~ Narrated by Dan Calley

Reformed gangster Luis falls hard for his boss. When friendship turns to love, it’s up to Paolo to convince him second chances are worth the pain.

Luis Pope is back on the street after a six-year stretch in prison, but life on the outside seems just out of reach, especially when the whole neighborhood knows his face for all the wrong reasons. 

Paolo’s temper makes it hard to keep staff, and he knows Luis’ rep all too well. But his nonno believes in redemption, and Luis isn’t the tough guy Paolo remembers. Prison has left its mark, inside and out, and all the kindness in the world can’t fix the three inch scar on Luis’s skull. 

And it can’t keep ghosts locked up. Luis is the best worker Paolo’s ever had, and Luis is happier than he’s ever been. But his old life doesn’t want to stay in the past. Trouble comes to call, and when it makes him an offer he can’t refuse, keeping Paolo safe hurts the most. 

Redemption is an angsty, stand-alone M/M romance novel, with second chances, found family, friends-to-lovers, and buckets of hurt/comfort themed loveliness.

Redemption by Garrett Leigh was a dark and emotional roller coaster. Not your typical romance- edgy infused with patches of love.

Luis Pope, recently released from prison, needed a new start apart from the thug life in his brother’s gang. Quiet, reserved, a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders, Luis simply desired peace.

Paolo ran the café once owned by his grandparents- kept tradition alive- but worked himself to sickness. Luis entered his establishment like a man on a mission, but with no mission to attain.

Ms. Leigh brought together two vastly different men on the surface, yet very similar at the same time. Each man brought forth his own set of insecurities, however for some reason they synched. Ms. Leigh’s writing ability delivered characters that on the surface should have stayed miles apart from each other, but her carefully placed words gave credence to opposites do attract and everyone deserves a second chance.

What I most enjoyed about the book, was the fact that since the book revolved around gangs and nefarious dealings, she never sugar-coated what the outcomes could be. Yes, Luis and Paolo found love and created a lifeline to each other, but it was done tastefully and realistically. There were no flowers and little hearts in your eyes. The curve balls of life, the expectations of family, and the hope to find something better surrounded the pages of Luis and Paolo’s story.

The sadness and sorrow permeated throughout and kept me interested in the hopes that all would work out. I hated characters, I loved characters, but never did I want to put the book down and walk away. Ms. Leigh has a way of capturing the reader, drawing them into the story, and keeping you on the edge of your seat.

A must read. Redemption was …..

Definite S.E.X.

A five handcuff review

Audio Review

I loved Mr. Calley's narration of Redemption. I had no idea what Luis and Paolo would sound like, but as soon as the story began, the men jumped through my e-reader and I was transported into their lives. The angst filled story created by Garrett Leigh came alive as each character spoke and the vocalization ensued. The descriptors were vivid and only enhanced by the storyteller.

Paolo's grandfather was even more enigmatic and energetic that originally told through the written word- kudos Mr. Calley for bringing him alive.

A sure-fire winner!

Definite S.E.X.

A five handcuff review

~~~~~

2020 ©Evelise Archer All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, or have been used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental. No portion of this work may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the author.

S.E.X. Audio Review~ The Edge of the World by Garrett Leigh~ Narrated by Dan Calley

Shay Maloney is living his dream - on tour with his pirate/folk-rock band. But you can’t know where you’re going until you know where you’re from, and that’s where moody filmmaker and researcher Ollie Pietruska comes in.

The band’s management persuades Shay to let a television company film a documentary about his roots beyond his adoptive Irish family, and Ollie comes into his life knowing more about Shay than Shay’s ever known about himself.

But while Ollie holds the key to Shay’s past, he’s also hiding deep scars. Even as the hardships of the tour bring them closer, Ollie’s demons threaten the blossoming romance. They might both reach the breaking point before Ollie realizes he’s been standing on the edge of the world for too long, and it’s Shay who holds the key to his future.

A friends-to-lovers, rock star, road-tripping romance, with a guaranteed happily ever after.

PREVIOUSLY REVIEWED~ CONTAINS AUDIO REVIEW

The Edge of the World by Garrett Leigh was a nice read, but I had mixed reservations about the book. A little angsty- where I wasn’t sure angst was needed- and a little repetitive at times, the storyline flowed and had good characters.

As main characters, Shay and Ollie were solid but with flaws, relevant to their perspective storylines. As part of a band, Shay walked the walk of his musical talents and Ollie, journalist on a mission and with his own secret, walked the walk of a tortured soul. No spoilers, but the hype was more than this reader thought was needed- yet I just didn’t see it.

Overall, though, Ms. Leigh always writes a wonderful narrative that regardless kept me captivated and anxiously wanting to know the outcome. One of my go-to authors, Garrett Leigh will not disappoint- just TEOTW was not my cup of tea.

Sexy & Sizzling

A four handcuff review

Audio Review~ Dan Calley

While TEOTW was not my complete cup of tea, Dan Calley did a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life and the story line worked with the voice  narration. I believe that for this book in particular, the narration worked better for me than the reading. Mr. Calley delivered the tortured souls reflected in Ms. Leigh's writing while not being over the top.

Great narration!

Definite S.E.X.

A five handcuff review

~~~~~

2020 ©Evelise Archer All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, or have been used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental. No portion of this work may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the author.

S.E.X. Audio Review~ Fated Hearts by Garrett Leigh~ Narrated by Dan Calley

"He’s not a wolf." 

Devastated by the death of his best friend, Zio is a soldier with one thing on his mind: revenge. Consumed by a conflict that’s raged as long as he’s been alive, he’s had little time or inclination to learn the legends of the shifter world he was raised in. And he certainly doesn’t have time to deal with a shifter of a different kind, even if it’s for the good of the war effort. For the good of his pack. The fact that he’s already crossed paths with the new face in his unit is almost irrelevant. 

Almost. 

Do no harm. Give life not death: it’s the oath Devan was reborn to live by, so when he’s sent abroad to embed with a wolf pack as their resident healer, he doesn’t hesitate. In the supernatural world, some bonds are instant - soldiers become brothers, pack become family. But others run deeper and before long, Devan’s at the mercy of instincts he can’t control. 

Zio’s inner wolf is desperate to be with Devan, while Devan struggles to keep the pack safe. But as the war escalates, and new love is tainted by anguish and pain, the battles within might prove the toughest of them all. 

"I won’t let him die."

PREVIOUSLY REVIEWED~ CONTAINS AUDIO REVIEW

Garrett Leigh wowed us again with the start of her new Shadow Bound series, Fated Hearts. Set in the world of paranormal and humans, warring factions, and a group of elusive shifters who attempted to keep balance and order, this book hit all the right notes.

Politics, war, death, destruction, but above all love of family, Fated Hearts introduced Devan and Zio, opposites in nature but fated to be together. I enjoyed the camaraderie of the close-knit wolf clans and the love exuded throughout for their brothers and sisters.

Devan, a member of shadow clan and a healer sought to make life easier by diminishing the physical and emotional pain of the pack he was sent to help. Zio was hot headed, young, and always quick to anger, but the healer in Devan called to him until resistance was futile and the war brought their relationship to the forefront.

The secondary characters added much depth and the world building left this reader wanting for more. I needed to sink my teeth-no pun intended- into the book, as when I reached the end a loud sigh erupted from me in earnest need of more.

Ms. Leigh has an uncanny knack of sucking us in to her world of shifters and paranormals, as her imagination knows no bounds. A must read!

Definite S.E.X.
A five handcuff review

Audio Review - Dan Calley

Dan Calley's narration was everything I hoped for in his reading of Fated Hearts. The emotional connection I received when reading the book only grew as the words came to life through his sexy accent and voice modulation.  Ms. Leigh is a masterful story teller and her pick of Dan Calley for narration was a sure-fire choice.

Definite S.E.X.

A five handcuff review

~~~~~

2020 ©Evelise Archer All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, or have been used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental. No portion of this work may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the author.

S.E.X. Audio Review~ Falling for My Roommate by Garrett Leigh~ Narrated by Dan Calley

Falling for his roommate gives ex-footballer Micah the second chance he deserves, and what could be better than loving your best friend?

Micah

I’m a broke ex-football player with a bum leg and PTSD. Last summer, I had two choices: the streets, or find a cheap room to rent in the city. I chose the second option, which landed me with a brand-new problem, because I hadn’t banked on my roommate becoming my best friend. Or that before long, I’d find myself head over heels in love with him.

Trouble is, even if Sam likes me back, I ain’t fit to be no one’s boyfriend. I don’t know how. All I do is wade through every precious moment and hope that he doesn’t regret the day he ever met me.

Sam

I’m a gay book nerd with no business falling in love with hunky athletes. Micah is the dictionary definition of beautiful, inside and out. He just doesn’t know it. And he definitely doesn’t know I’m ridiculously in love with him. The embarrassing kind of love.

He’s all I can think about.

But it’s not as simple as loving someone who doesn’t love me back. Micah is damaged goods - at least, that’s how he’d put it. The world has chewed him up and spat him out, and he thinks he deserved it. That he’s still the battered mess he was a year ago.

I want to shake him, and shout in his face that he’s not. To force the truth on him and make him believe in himself the way I do. But I can’t save Micah. One day, perhaps, he’ll realize that he already saved himself.

PREVIOUSLY REVIEWED~ CONTAINS AUDIO REVIEW

Falling for My Roommate by Garrett Leigh was an angst filled tale of two very different men who found each other at a low point and build a lasting relationship based on a friendship of love and understanding.

I adored both Sam and Micah. Ms. Leigh, one of my favorite authors, has a way of creating flawed and realistic characters that draw you in- suck the marrow from the bone- and deliver a transfusion of sensuality and awareness.

Depth of imperfection radiated throughout, with credible storyline and even more so, credible characters. Characters whose survival of the soul depended on each other and modern medicine- where mental distress could be overwhelming and not made light of. All problems are not fixed in a novel when the words The End are written, but continue to develop throughout with the knowledge that even when you finish the book, the characters evolution will continue, and transform them into something that only your imagination can conjure.

Ms. Leigh is a masterful artist and has honed her craft to the fullest. A story worthy of a read.

Definite S.E.X.
A five handcuff review

Audio Review - Dan Calley

Whenever I read a book, in my mind I create the voices of the characters as I envision them through the author's eyes. My musings did not do justice to the voice of narrator Dan Calley. His accent was amazing and I was catapulted across the sea to the U.K. and the lives of Sam and Micah. The distinction between the two men was palpable and the inflection resonated throughout as I listened. 

Already a wonderful story, Mr. Calley's narration only enhanced and elevated Falling for My Roommate.

Definite S.E.X.

A five handcuff review

~~~~~

2020 ©Evelise Archer All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, or have been used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental. No portion of this work may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the author.