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On the Market #1
Love Him Free
Socially awkward, thirty-six-year-old virgin, Simon Kadish, knows he wants more from life than a failing bakery and an empty apartment. He just doesn’t know how to get it.
From an early age, Simon’s life has been marked by loss. After the death of his father, Simon and his infant brother are ripped from their home in Tel Aviv and forced to settle in a small mountain town in the US where no one speaks his language. By the age of twelve, Simon is an orphan. By the age of twenty-one, Simon finds himself the unwilling owner of his bubbe’s bakery, and the hesitant guardian of his little brother. Terrified of losing what little he has left, Simon dedicates himself to his faith, sacrificing everything to keep the fragile scraps of his broken family.
But, when Simon’s favorite film star’s life suddenly falls apart on social media, Simon makes a choice. He goes against every one of his instincts and fires up his camera, sending a message in rusty ASL. He doesn’t expect anything from it, of course. After all, Simon’s life has been anything but charmed.
Deaf film star, Rocco Moretti, had anyone's fantasy life, and he wouldn’t change it for the world.
When he was in college, Rocco decided to corner the market as a Deaf man in adult films as a quick way to make cash. Fifteen years later, and he’s rich with a house in Malibu, a boyfriend of almost two-decades, and a body that’s constantly in demand. His life was charmed, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. But when Rocco wakes up to his boyfriend leaving, he has nowhere to turn. People are starving for the drama, but no one cares that Rocco’s life has just fallen apart. His job is on the line, and he’s lost his interpreter, and all people want is the story.
Rocco realizes in that moment, he wants something more. He’s not sure where to find it, but he thinks maybe the shy video in shaky ASL in his DMs is a good place to start. After all, Cherry Creek is in the middle of nowhere, and since seeing that video, Rocco hasn’t been able to stop thinking about that shy baker’s long fingers, shy smile, and the constellation of freckles on his pale cheeks.
Rocco isn’t sure leaving his life behind is the right choice, and Simon isn’t sure he belongs in Rocco’s world. But the one thing they do know, is that this love has a chance to set them both free.
Love Him Free is Book One of the series On The Market. It contains no cheating, light angst, and has a HEA.
The series, On The Market, has become Running in Circles, and this novel was retitled Make You Mine. It has been completely revamped and re-written with names, places, characters, and major plot points changed.
From an early age, Simon’s life has been marked by loss. After the death of his father, Simon and his infant brother are ripped from their home in Tel Aviv and forced to settle in a small mountain town in the US where no one speaks his language. By the age of twelve, Simon is an orphan. By the age of twenty-one, Simon finds himself the unwilling owner of his bubbe’s bakery, and the hesitant guardian of his little brother. Terrified of losing what little he has left, Simon dedicates himself to his faith, sacrificing everything to keep the fragile scraps of his broken family.
But, when Simon’s favorite film star’s life suddenly falls apart on social media, Simon makes a choice. He goes against every one of his instincts and fires up his camera, sending a message in rusty ASL. He doesn’t expect anything from it, of course. After all, Simon’s life has been anything but charmed.
Deaf film star, Rocco Moretti, had anyone's fantasy life, and he wouldn’t change it for the world.
When he was in college, Rocco decided to corner the market as a Deaf man in adult films as a quick way to make cash. Fifteen years later, and he’s rich with a house in Malibu, a boyfriend of almost two-decades, and a body that’s constantly in demand. His life was charmed, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. But when Rocco wakes up to his boyfriend leaving, he has nowhere to turn. People are starving for the drama, but no one cares that Rocco’s life has just fallen apart. His job is on the line, and he’s lost his interpreter, and all people want is the story.
Rocco realizes in that moment, he wants something more. He’s not sure where to find it, but he thinks maybe the shy video in shaky ASL in his DMs is a good place to start. After all, Cherry Creek is in the middle of nowhere, and since seeing that video, Rocco hasn’t been able to stop thinking about that shy baker’s long fingers, shy smile, and the constellation of freckles on his pale cheeks.
Rocco isn’t sure leaving his life behind is the right choice, and Simon isn’t sure he belongs in Rocco’s world. But the one thing they do know, is that this love has a chance to set them both free.
Love Him Free is Book One of the series On The Market. It contains no cheating, light angst, and has a HEA.
The series, On The Market, has become Running in Circles, and this novel was retitled Make You Mine. It has been completely revamped and re-written with names, places, characters, and major plot points changed.
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 30, 2020
490 people are currently reading
1035 people want to read
About the author
E.M. Lindsey
143 books1,393 followersE.M. Lindsey is the author of MM contemporary romance. She presently lives and works in the southeastern United States.
EM Lindsey also writes MM Paranormal Romance under the pseudonym Ariel Millar.
EM Lindsey also writes MM Paranormal Romance under the pseudonym Ariel Millar.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 228 reviews
October 10, 2020
Audio 5 Stars!
New to me narrator, Nick Hudson, impressed the heck out of me. 👏🏽👍🏽😍
Story 3.5 Stars
No doubt this story was heartfelt and the MCs were so sweet together...but there was too much telling when it came to the relationship development. I need on page development to get the full emotional effect. If not for the narrator's excellent performance, I might have dnf in frustration. 🤷🏽♀️
New to me narrator, Nick Hudson, impressed the heck out of me. 👏🏽👍🏽😍
Story 3.5 Stars
No doubt this story was heartfelt and the MCs were so sweet together...but there was too much telling when it came to the relationship development. I need on page development to get the full emotional effect. If not for the narrator's excellent performance, I might have dnf in frustration. 🤷🏽♀️
August 9, 2020
3.5 stars
This was a sweet romance. The two characters were fascinating, and strangely worked together. Simon is a conservative Jew, who observes Shabbat strictly. He is from a small town, has a lot of issues, is a baker, and is still a virgin at 36. Rocco is a Deaf porn star from LA, going through a public breakup. Simon is a huge fan of Rocco and reaches out to him on Twitter. They become friends, and Rocco decides to visit him on a whim.
It’s pretty much insta love, but it’s very sweet and I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop. The sex was hot (virgin and porn star!) I have to say my favourite part was learning about both their cultures, but the MCs were also just very interesting people. It was really cool seeing them fit together with all their differences. I also liked all the secondary characters. I guess they are well developed because a lot of them seem to be from other books or series? (James and Levi are from Kate Hawthorne’s Heartless, which I have no read after disliking the first book in that series...are they co-authors or the same person?)
The tone of the book was a little depressing, but the story is not. I also found it dragged a little in the last few chapters.
This was a sweet romance. The two characters were fascinating, and strangely worked together. Simon is a conservative Jew, who observes Shabbat strictly. He is from a small town, has a lot of issues, is a baker, and is still a virgin at 36. Rocco is a Deaf porn star from LA, going through a public breakup. Simon is a huge fan of Rocco and reaches out to him on Twitter. They become friends, and Rocco decides to visit him on a whim.
It’s pretty much insta love, but it’s very sweet and I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop. The sex was hot (virgin and porn star!) I have to say my favourite part was learning about both their cultures, but the MCs were also just very interesting people. It was really cool seeing them fit together with all their differences. I also liked all the secondary characters. I guess they are well developed because a lot of them seem to be from other books or series? (James and Levi are from Kate Hawthorne’s Heartless, which I have no read after disliking the first book in that series...are they co-authors or the same person?)
The tone of the book was a little depressing, but the story is not. I also found it dragged a little in the last few chapters.
October 10, 2020
5 stars audio
3 stars story. Something was missing. Can't put my finger on it though.
3 stars story. Something was missing. Can't put my finger on it though.
November 24, 2020
What a unique and fascinating story. I thoroughly enjoyed the audio version of E.M. Lindsey’s Love Him Free, and I’m straight-up giving equal credit to the amazing performance by narrator Nick Hudson. Hudson has a great range of voices and he matches them to these characters perfectly, and this is an extremely extensive cast.
The story is filled with fascinating characters, and E.M. Lindsey builds deep and interesting relationships. Simon and Rocco are as different as two men can be, and I enjoyed the way they come together to fix their problems and heal each other in the process. Plus Simon’s brother Levi, his boyfriend, and all the other supporting characters.
This is an unusual tale, and I’ll admit, my interest is piqued. In spite of owning a number of books by E.M. Lindsey, Love Him Free is the first novel I’ve had a chance to read, and I’m looking forward to more.
an audiobook copy of Love Him Free was provided to me for the purpose of my honest review
The story is filled with fascinating characters, and E.M. Lindsey builds deep and interesting relationships. Simon and Rocco are as different as two men can be, and I enjoyed the way they come together to fix their problems and heal each other in the process. Plus Simon’s brother Levi, his boyfriend, and all the other supporting characters.
This is an unusual tale, and I’ll admit, my interest is piqued. In spite of owning a number of books by E.M. Lindsey, Love Him Free is the first novel I’ve had a chance to read, and I’m looking forward to more.
an audiobook copy of Love Him Free was provided to me for the purpose of my honest review
October 17, 2024
It took me a while to warm up to Simon...it's hard for me to connect with super religious people. He's stuck and he can't find a way out. The only light he sees is a porn star he idolizes and on a whim he reaches out.
I loved Rocco instantly. He's so confidant, unapologetic and although he's deaf, he doesn't see himself a disabled. He only speaks a different language. During a vulnerable moment, he sees Simon and his whole world changes.
I loved Rocco instantly. He's so confidant, unapologetic and although he's deaf, he doesn't see himself a disabled. He only speaks a different language. During a vulnerable moment, he sees Simon and his whole world changes.
May 1, 2020
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
Love Him Free is the first book in E.M. Lindsey’s new On the Market series. The books are all set in Cherry Creek, which may be a familiar location for some readers. The series takes place in the same universe (and same town) as Kate Hawthorne’s Room for Love series and the Motel brothers make a variety of appearances here in this book. Most significantly, this story is a companion of sorts to Hawthorne’s recently released Heartless, which focuses on Simon’s brother, Levi Kadish. I’ll get into more detail about that later in the review. I’ll also note that the triad from Cloudy with a Chance of Love by Lindsey, Hawthorne, and E.M. Denning, also live in Cherry Creek and make an appearance in this story as well, but you definitely don’t need familiarity with that book to follow along here.
I have a soft spot for stories featuring older virgins having their first sexual experiences, so I really enjoyed the dynamic between Simon and Rocco.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
Love Him Free is the first book in E.M. Lindsey’s new On the Market series. The books are all set in Cherry Creek, which may be a familiar location for some readers. The series takes place in the same universe (and same town) as Kate Hawthorne’s Room for Love series and the Motel brothers make a variety of appearances here in this book. Most significantly, this story is a companion of sorts to Hawthorne’s recently released Heartless, which focuses on Simon’s brother, Levi Kadish. I’ll get into more detail about that later in the review. I’ll also note that the triad from Cloudy with a Chance of Love by Lindsey, Hawthorne, and E.M. Denning, also live in Cherry Creek and make an appearance in this story as well, but you definitely don’t need familiarity with that book to follow along here.
I have a soft spot for stories featuring older virgins having their first sexual experiences, so I really enjoyed the dynamic between Simon and Rocco.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
March 26, 2024
I've given this an A- for narration and a B- for content at AudioGals.
Both the author AND narrator of Love Him Free are new-to-me, although both have been on my radar for a while. Nick Hudson is also the narrator of Jordan Castillo Price’s The ABCs of Spellcraft Collection series (I’m a massive fan of her books, so Spellcraft is on my TBL) and one of my fellow AudioGals recently mentioned that she’d enjoyed Mr. Hudson’s performance in them, so I was pleased to have a chance to listen to him in Love Him Free.
It’s the first book in the On the Market series, and although I believe it has connections to another series, it mostly works as a standalone.
Simon Kaddish was only a child when, following his father’s death in a bomb attack, his mother and grandmother whisked him and his baby brother Levi from their home in Tel Aviv and moved them to a small, mountain town in the States. After his mother’s death in a car crash, and with his grandmother working all hours in her small bakery, the care of Levi fell mostly to Simon; and when at twenty-one, tragedy struck again and his grandmother died, Simon – terrified of further loss – made a vow to dedicate his life to his faith and to keeping Levi safe and happy:
“This will be my exile. I will give it all up. Just… let Levi have what he wants. Let me keep him.”
Fifteen years later, Simon, who has never found it easy to make friends or cope in social situations, is struggling to keep the Chametz Bakery going, still putting Levi first and has never had a relationship – he’s still a virgin at thirty-six.
Adult film star Rocco Moretti hasn’t let his deafness get in the way of his ambition. He’s well-known, wealthy and always in demand, he has a dream home in Malibu and a gorgeous, long-term boyfriend… until the day it all falls apart when his boyfriend dumps him. Via Twitter. Worse, the guy he’s left him for is Rocco’s agent, which is going to cause huge difficulties in Rocco’s professional life. It’s a tangled mess, but all anyone around him – journalists, acquaintances, people on social media – is interested in is the drama; nobody seems to care that Rocco’s career is on the line or that Rocco, the person, is feeling angry and hurt and betrayed
Or so he thinks – until he clicks on a DM from @Chametz, which contains a sweet and supportive video message in ASL, the first he’s received in his own “language” – and it means a lot to him. After exchanging a few more messages, Rocco impulsively decides to go to Cherry Creek and meet the shy baker with the long fingers and the sweetly freckled cheeks who has been so kind and appears genuinely interested in Rocco the man, not Sylent, the Deaf porn star.
Simon can’t believe it. For years, Sylent has been his ultimate fantasy, perfectly safe to lust after because there’s no way they could ever know each other. So opening the door to find Rocco Moretti on his doorsteps a strange mixture of wonderful and terrifying.
In many ways this is a really sweet romance. Simon’s social anxiety isn’t cured overnight, but he feels comfortable with Rocco and finds himself opening up about his past, about being bullied over his accent at school, about his mother’s neglect of him and Levi, the strained nature of their relationship, the weight of the responsibility he feels for keeping Levi safe and happy, and his guilt over the bakery going under.
Rocco likes that Simon treats him as a normal person and finds himself enjoying the change of pace and getting to know some of the people in Cherry Creek. He and Simon spend a fair bit of time in the early part of the story getting it on, so we’re in insta-lust territory – and I confess, I found it hard to believe that Rocco only had to look at Simon a certain way to have Simon coming in his pants. Maybe if he’d been sixteen rather than thirty-six, a hair-trigger might have been a bit more believable; I mean he might be a virgin, but he’s got a good relationship with his right hand (and porn), so it’s not as though he’s never had an orgasm.
But once that phase of the story is over, the author starts to build more of an emotional connection between the couple, Rocco realising that he wants to help and care for Simon, Simon realising that at last, here is someone with whom he can lay down some of his burdens for a while. With Rocco also encouraging Simon to venture out of his shell a little, they come up with an inventive (ahem!) way to make enough money to get Simon out of his financial difficulties.
The romance is relatively low-angst, with just a couple of minor hiccups along the way. The main conflict in the story comes from Simon’s relationship with Levi, which was fairly hard to understand for quite a while. I couldn’t work out why Levi seemed to hate Simon so much, considering Simon had done everything he possibly could to make Levi’s life easier. Although those questions were mostly answered by the end, as I was listening, I couldn’t help feeling as though I was missing something. Then I discovered that Levi is one of the lead characters in Heartless by Kate Hawthorne – which, according to the handful of reviews I read, contains the backstory I was missing. I don’t plan to go back and read it – as I say my questions were answered by the end of Love Him Free – but I can’t help feeling just a bit miffed that important information regarding the brothers’ relationship was in another book when this is billed as the start of a new series.
The storyline in Love Him Free has some genuinely good things going for it – the characters are interesting, and Simon’s backstory, in particular, is heartbreaking and made me really feel for him. I enjoyed learning about Simon’s Jewish heritage, watching him and Levi slowly repairing their relationship, and the author does a good job of showing how hard Rocco has to work every day, to communicate with those around him. On the downside, the pacing is uneven (things really sag in the middle and the audiobook felt about two hours too long) there’s more telling than showing and I didn’t feel a great deal of chemistry between the two leads. And then there’s this:
The best thing about this audiobook is unquestionably the fabulous performance by Nick Hudson. I went in with fairly high expectations given Kaetrin’s recommendation, and I am delighted to say that he met them and then some. His voice is a pleasant tenor/high baritone, his vocal characterisations and differentiation are excellent and his pacing is just right in both narrative and dialogue. He’s also an extremely good vocal actor; whenever a character is amused, there’s a smile in his voice; when they laugh, so does he, and when they’re sad or angry, that’s there in his voice and tone as well. I was impressed with the way he voices Simon, giving him a slight accent that indicates his non-US origins, and which is consistently maintained throughout. It’s a superb performance, although I did have one niggle, which is that it’s not always possible to tell when Rocco is speaking, when he’s signing or when he’s writing to communicate. Sometimes it’s indicated in the text, but not always; and I wondered if perhaps there should have been an audible difference between Rocco’s vocalised communication and the other methods.
Love Him Free gets a qualified recommendation for the story and an unqualified one for Nick Hudson’s superb performance. I liked enough about the story to want to listen to more from this series, and I’ll definitely be trawling through Audible to pick up some more of Nick Hudson’s narrations.
This review originally appeared at AudioGals .
Both the author AND narrator of Love Him Free are new-to-me, although both have been on my radar for a while. Nick Hudson is also the narrator of Jordan Castillo Price’s The ABCs of Spellcraft Collection series (I’m a massive fan of her books, so Spellcraft is on my TBL) and one of my fellow AudioGals recently mentioned that she’d enjoyed Mr. Hudson’s performance in them, so I was pleased to have a chance to listen to him in Love Him Free.
It’s the first book in the On the Market series, and although I believe it has connections to another series, it mostly works as a standalone.
Simon Kaddish was only a child when, following his father’s death in a bomb attack, his mother and grandmother whisked him and his baby brother Levi from their home in Tel Aviv and moved them to a small, mountain town in the States. After his mother’s death in a car crash, and with his grandmother working all hours in her small bakery, the care of Levi fell mostly to Simon; and when at twenty-one, tragedy struck again and his grandmother died, Simon – terrified of further loss – made a vow to dedicate his life to his faith and to keeping Levi safe and happy:
“This will be my exile. I will give it all up. Just… let Levi have what he wants. Let me keep him.”
Fifteen years later, Simon, who has never found it easy to make friends or cope in social situations, is struggling to keep the Chametz Bakery going, still putting Levi first and has never had a relationship – he’s still a virgin at thirty-six.
Adult film star Rocco Moretti hasn’t let his deafness get in the way of his ambition. He’s well-known, wealthy and always in demand, he has a dream home in Malibu and a gorgeous, long-term boyfriend… until the day it all falls apart when his boyfriend dumps him. Via Twitter. Worse, the guy he’s left him for is Rocco’s agent, which is going to cause huge difficulties in Rocco’s professional life. It’s a tangled mess, but all anyone around him – journalists, acquaintances, people on social media – is interested in is the drama; nobody seems to care that Rocco’s career is on the line or that Rocco, the person, is feeling angry and hurt and betrayed
Or so he thinks – until he clicks on a DM from @Chametz, which contains a sweet and supportive video message in ASL, the first he’s received in his own “language” – and it means a lot to him. After exchanging a few more messages, Rocco impulsively decides to go to Cherry Creek and meet the shy baker with the long fingers and the sweetly freckled cheeks who has been so kind and appears genuinely interested in Rocco the man, not Sylent, the Deaf porn star.
Simon can’t believe it. For years, Sylent has been his ultimate fantasy, perfectly safe to lust after because there’s no way they could ever know each other. So opening the door to find Rocco Moretti on his doorsteps a strange mixture of wonderful and terrifying.
In many ways this is a really sweet romance. Simon’s social anxiety isn’t cured overnight, but he feels comfortable with Rocco and finds himself opening up about his past, about being bullied over his accent at school, about his mother’s neglect of him and Levi, the strained nature of their relationship, the weight of the responsibility he feels for keeping Levi safe and happy, and his guilt over the bakery going under.
Rocco likes that Simon treats him as a normal person and finds himself enjoying the change of pace and getting to know some of the people in Cherry Creek. He and Simon spend a fair bit of time in the early part of the story getting it on, so we’re in insta-lust territory – and I confess, I found it hard to believe that Rocco only had to look at Simon a certain way to have Simon coming in his pants. Maybe if he’d been sixteen rather than thirty-six, a hair-trigger might have been a bit more believable; I mean he might be a virgin, but he’s got a good relationship with his right hand (and porn), so it’s not as though he’s never had an orgasm.
But once that phase of the story is over, the author starts to build more of an emotional connection between the couple, Rocco realising that he wants to help and care for Simon, Simon realising that at last, here is someone with whom he can lay down some of his burdens for a while. With Rocco also encouraging Simon to venture out of his shell a little, they come up with an inventive (ahem!) way to make enough money to get Simon out of his financial difficulties.
The romance is relatively low-angst, with just a couple of minor hiccups along the way. The main conflict in the story comes from Simon’s relationship with Levi, which was fairly hard to understand for quite a while. I couldn’t work out why Levi seemed to hate Simon so much, considering Simon had done everything he possibly could to make Levi’s life easier. Although those questions were mostly answered by the end, as I was listening, I couldn’t help feeling as though I was missing something. Then I discovered that Levi is one of the lead characters in Heartless by Kate Hawthorne – which, according to the handful of reviews I read, contains the backstory I was missing. I don’t plan to go back and read it – as I say my questions were answered by the end of Love Him Free – but I can’t help feeling just a bit miffed that important information regarding the brothers’ relationship was in another book when this is billed as the start of a new series.
The storyline in Love Him Free has some genuinely good things going for it – the characters are interesting, and Simon’s backstory, in particular, is heartbreaking and made me really feel for him. I enjoyed learning about Simon’s Jewish heritage, watching him and Levi slowly repairing their relationship, and the author does a good job of showing how hard Rocco has to work every day, to communicate with those around him. On the downside, the pacing is uneven (things really sag in the middle and the audiobook felt about two hours too long) there’s more telling than showing and I didn’t feel a great deal of chemistry between the two leads. And then there’s this:
Spoiler alert
The best thing about this audiobook is unquestionably the fabulous performance by Nick Hudson. I went in with fairly high expectations given Kaetrin’s recommendation, and I am delighted to say that he met them and then some. His voice is a pleasant tenor/high baritone, his vocal characterisations and differentiation are excellent and his pacing is just right in both narrative and dialogue. He’s also an extremely good vocal actor; whenever a character is amused, there’s a smile in his voice; when they laugh, so does he, and when they’re sad or angry, that’s there in his voice and tone as well. I was impressed with the way he voices Simon, giving him a slight accent that indicates his non-US origins, and which is consistently maintained throughout. It’s a superb performance, although I did have one niggle, which is that it’s not always possible to tell when Rocco is speaking, when he’s signing or when he’s writing to communicate. Sometimes it’s indicated in the text, but not always; and I wondered if perhaps there should have been an audible difference between Rocco’s vocalised communication and the other methods.
Love Him Free gets a qualified recommendation for the story and an unqualified one for Nick Hudson’s superb performance. I liked enough about the story to want to listen to more from this series, and I’ll definitely be trawling through Audible to pick up some more of Nick Hudson’s narrations.
This review originally appeared at AudioGals .
July 8, 2020
Cute enough with not too much angst. A little plot-lite, and insta love, but it’ll fill a fluff craving if that’s what you’re looking for. I always enjoy reading about MCs outside of the norm, and it’s great this author in particular gives them a voice. ASL has always fascinated me, and I love learning more about it so that was a bonus.
April 30, 2024
I don’t know about this one. There were too many things that rubbed me the wrong way.
The way Simon’s virginity (and his “chubbiness”) was depicted was ridiculous. In my opinion, it’s not proper representation if you have to make it the defining characteristic of the character and mention it constantly. That does not help normalize anything; it has the opposite effect, making anyone who might relate to it feel like a freak along with Simon. I also seriously doubt any 36-year-old would orgasm because someone touched their waist. Honestly.
I didn’t understand why Levi hated Simon so much, if he even did. All the family history and the names thrown around were confusing. I did find the insight into the Deaf community interesting though, as well as learning about Simon’s Jewish heritage. The Simon-Rocco relationship was also sweet. But there were too many other things I didn’t like.
The epilogue being just a picture felt like a mockery when I expected to get, you know, an actual epilogue. I wanted to know if Rocco would be continuing with his porn career. The whole porn actor thing isn’t usually something I read if I have a choice, but this book had all these glowing reviews, so I figured I’d give it a shot. But I still don’t understand how someone would want to be in a romantic relationship where one party is having sex with other people for a living. But maybe that’s just me—just like this book wasn’t for me.
The way Simon’s virginity (and his “chubbiness”) was depicted was ridiculous. In my opinion, it’s not proper representation if you have to make it the defining characteristic of the character and mention it constantly. That does not help normalize anything; it has the opposite effect, making anyone who might relate to it feel like a freak along with Simon. I also seriously doubt any 36-year-old would orgasm because someone touched their waist. Honestly.
I didn’t understand why Levi hated Simon so much, if he even did. All the family history and the names thrown around were confusing. I did find the insight into the Deaf community interesting though, as well as learning about Simon’s Jewish heritage. The Simon-Rocco relationship was also sweet. But there were too many other things I didn’t like.
The epilogue being just a picture felt like a mockery when I expected to get, you know, an actual epilogue. I wanted to know if Rocco would be continuing with his porn career. The whole porn actor thing isn’t usually something I read if I have a choice, but this book had all these glowing reviews, so I figured I’d give it a shot. But I still don’t understand how someone would want to be in a romantic relationship where one party is having sex with other people for a living. But maybe that’s just me—just like this book wasn’t for me.
July 4, 2021
The MCs were interesting and I felt it started off really well. This story had all the ingredients of a really good book but for me there was just far too much introspection and not enough conversation between the main characters. There’s only so many times I can read internal monologues about how much one character likes the other and how everything feels good and right with them, without a single word spoken between them for almost an entire chapter.
There is an insta love element to this story which I think could have been made more believable if the characters had have had more on-page conversations so I could watch them connecting.
And I felt like there were 100 peripheral characters that had long, detailed and mostly irrelevant conversations about all the deaf people they had ever known which always amounted to the same thing: peripheral character knows little to no sign language but will try their best.
I really wanted to love this but by 70% I was just willing it to end. It could have been great, but IMO needed some ruthless editing
There is an insta love element to this story which I think could have been made more believable if the characters had have had more on-page conversations so I could watch them connecting.
And I felt like there were 100 peripheral characters that had long, detailed and mostly irrelevant conversations about all the deaf people they had ever known which always amounted to the same thing: peripheral character knows little to no sign language but will try their best.
I really wanted to love this but by 70% I was just willing it to end. It could have been great, but IMO needed some ruthless editing
May 3, 2020
I have loved every book I have read by this author and this one is no different. It was excellent. There was an instant connection between characters without making it into insta love or even insta lust. But it wasn’t a painfully slow burn or long wait either. This was just two guys who connected and fell for each other pretty quickly but still pretty naturally. I can hardly wait for whatever book is next in this series!
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May 1, 2020
Beautifully written 😍
It was profoundly sad at times. Life had not been kind to Simon and for maybe 60% of the book, the underlying tone was one of deep sadness. But the relationship that built between Rocco and Simon slowly changed the tone bit by bit.
I don’t know if it counts as angsty but it definitely wasn’t light and fluffy. Definitely deep and sad-ish.
I think I need some quiet time to get over this book...
It was profoundly sad at times. Life had not been kind to Simon and for maybe 60% of the book, the underlying tone was one of deep sadness. But the relationship that built between Rocco and Simon slowly changed the tone bit by bit.
I don’t know if it counts as angsty but it definitely wasn’t light and fluffy. Definitely deep and sad-ish.
I think I need some quiet time to get over this book...
May 4, 2020
I guess I was in the minority based on all the 5 stars, but this was just ok for me.....
April 30, 2020
I'm usually a fast reader, but I found myself hovering over every word in this book, slowly savoring each sentence to make this story last as long as possible. That's how much I loved it.
When I first met Simon in his brother Levi's book (Heartless by Kate Hawthorne), I didn't understand him. He seemed detached from the rest of the town and emotionally unavailable to Levi when he needed his brother's love. This book answered all of my questions and gave me much needed clarity. Everything I didn't understand from Heartless--Simon and Levi's past, their complicated family dynamic, Simon's anxiousness and inability to compromise on his religious beliefs--all makes sense now. The burden Simon carries on his shoulders is more than Levi is aware of, and he only intends to protect Levi as best he can. In the process, Simon let his own happiness fall by the wayside. His only secret pleasure is watching videos of his favorite porn star, Rocco.
Everything changes for Simon and Rocco when Rocco's 15-year relationship crumbles online. It seems a bit unbelievable that out of all the fans messaging Rocco, it's Simon he notices, but as he says "you were the first person that made me feel like more than just a public figure." Rocco makes the impulsive decision to road trip to Cherry Creek, and everything unfolds from there.
I absolutely adored Simon, so it made my heart ache to see him think so poorly of himself in the beginning. He thinks he ruins everything, doesn't have a chance with Rocco, and is "a walking disaster virgin". I loved watching how Rocco slowly dismantled those beliefs and showed Simon how much of a gift he is. Their first kiss was explosive--the perfect combination of desperate heat and possessiveness. Every encounter after was just as intensely erotic. I usually prefer romances where the physical side comes later, but every shared touch seemed to bring Simon and Rocco closer together emotionally.
By the time Simon and Rocco profess their love to one another, so much has changed for them. Simon has taken steps to repair his relationship with Levi, is trying to be more social in town, and is seeking his own happiness instead of being weighed down by self-sacrifice. Rocco has found an incredible love, far beyond the relationships he's had in the past. While the end of this book is unquestionably a "happily ever after", I felt like Simon and Rocco were at the very beginning of a new life together. I hope we get to see snippets of it in later books--I'm not ready to say goodbye! (I'm also not ready to leave Pocket Dog James, the most perfectly named pup in the world haha)
**I received an ARC through Patreon in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
When I first met Simon in his brother Levi's book (Heartless by Kate Hawthorne), I didn't understand him. He seemed detached from the rest of the town and emotionally unavailable to Levi when he needed his brother's love. This book answered all of my questions and gave me much needed clarity. Everything I didn't understand from Heartless--Simon and Levi's past, their complicated family dynamic, Simon's anxiousness and inability to compromise on his religious beliefs--all makes sense now. The burden Simon carries on his shoulders is more than Levi is aware of, and he only intends to protect Levi as best he can. In the process, Simon let his own happiness fall by the wayside. His only secret pleasure is watching videos of his favorite porn star, Rocco.
Everything changes for Simon and Rocco when Rocco's 15-year relationship crumbles online. It seems a bit unbelievable that out of all the fans messaging Rocco, it's Simon he notices, but as he says "you were the first person that made me feel like more than just a public figure." Rocco makes the impulsive decision to road trip to Cherry Creek, and everything unfolds from there.
I absolutely adored Simon, so it made my heart ache to see him think so poorly of himself in the beginning. He thinks he ruins everything, doesn't have a chance with Rocco, and is "a walking disaster virgin". I loved watching how Rocco slowly dismantled those beliefs and showed Simon how much of a gift he is. Their first kiss was explosive--the perfect combination of desperate heat and possessiveness. Every encounter after was just as intensely erotic. I usually prefer romances where the physical side comes later, but every shared touch seemed to bring Simon and Rocco closer together emotionally.
By the time Simon and Rocco profess their love to one another, so much has changed for them. Simon has taken steps to repair his relationship with Levi, is trying to be more social in town, and is seeking his own happiness instead of being weighed down by self-sacrifice. Rocco has found an incredible love, far beyond the relationships he's had in the past. While the end of this book is unquestionably a "happily ever after", I felt like Simon and Rocco were at the very beginning of a new life together. I hope we get to see snippets of it in later books--I'm not ready to say goodbye! (I'm also not ready to leave Pocket Dog James, the most perfectly named pup in the world haha)
**I received an ARC through Patreon in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
February 21, 2022
I found this book very frustrating to read for a myriad of reasons. First, everyone is horrible to Simon, one of the protagonists, yet he is meant to be the difficult one for some reason which is never clearly articulated. Second, it is very clear that at least 75% of the characters in this book appeared in previous books - which makes me wonder how this can be considered the "first in the series." Third, literally every single adult who appears in the book is gay - in a small town. That does not happen. Ever. Fourth, the adult entertainment plotline(s) is incredibly unrealistic on every level. Finally, the relationship is inexplicable instalove between two incredibly dissimilar people who share nothing in common and, honestly, don't even find a common ground in the course of the novel.
I find it hard to identify what I actually like about this book. Good Deaf/Jewish representation, I guess? Besides that, this book is an unrealistic, frustrating bore. I may try more books by this author (I want more Jewish representation!), but I won't go out of my way for it. Recommended if you like good representation; Jewish baked goods; instalove; sex workers; one-dimensional characters with no redeeming qualities.
I find it hard to identify what I actually like about this book. Good Deaf/Jewish representation, I guess? Besides that, this book is an unrealistic, frustrating bore. I may try more books by this author (I want more Jewish representation!), but I won't go out of my way for it. Recommended if you like good representation; Jewish baked goods; instalove; sex workers; one-dimensional characters with no redeeming qualities.
August 17, 2021
Moja pierwsza prawdziwa insta-love. 😉
Przyjemnie mi się czytało, było ciepło i pozytywnie, nawet jeśli momentami nie rozumiałam bohaterów. Może to dlatego, że najpierw powinnam była przeczytać Heartless? Mimo wszystko było milutko. Głucha gwiazda porno Rocco (yep 🤣) i uroczy żydowski piekarz Simon stworzyli parę, która świetnie ze sobą pracowała.
Wiem, że niektórym nie podoba się długie wprowadzenie w życie bohaterów zanim jeszcze w ogóle się spotkają, ale mnie to nie przeszkadzało, wręcz przeciwnie, mogłabym poczytać jeszcze więcej, szczególnie o Rocco, co do którego czułam pewien niedosyt. Autorka miała na niego ciekawy pomysł - z własnego opisu Rocco dowiadujemy się, że to ogromny, napakowany facet, zepsuty przez sukces, płytki, rozpieszczony, w markowych butach i z kieszonkowym psem na ramieniu. Dla mnie brzmi świetnie, dajcie mi więcej, zwłaszcza tej rozpieszczonej divy. Niestety scen, które dokumentowałyby zepsucie Rocco, stanowczo zabrakło. Szkoda, bo wyraźne pokazanie różnicy między Rocco przed i Rocco po spotkaniu Simona byłoby jeszcze ciekawsze.
Jedno, co niemożliwie mnie śmieszyło w tej historii, to świat złożony prawie wyłącznie z gejów. Czy to jest realistyczne? Nie bardzo. Z drugiej strony literatura przez stulecia ignorowała istnienie innych orientacji niż hetero, więc czemu teraz nie zignorować hetero? Niech to będzie zemsta. 😉
Podobało mi się, zostawiam tu 3.75 gwiazdki.
Przyjemnie mi się czytało, było ciepło i pozytywnie, nawet jeśli momentami nie rozumiałam bohaterów. Może to dlatego, że najpierw powinnam była przeczytać Heartless? Mimo wszystko było milutko. Głucha gwiazda porno Rocco (yep 🤣) i uroczy żydowski piekarz Simon stworzyli parę, która świetnie ze sobą pracowała.
Wiem, że niektórym nie podoba się długie wprowadzenie w życie bohaterów zanim jeszcze w ogóle się spotkają, ale mnie to nie przeszkadzało, wręcz przeciwnie, mogłabym poczytać jeszcze więcej, szczególnie o Rocco, co do którego czułam pewien niedosyt. Autorka miała na niego ciekawy pomysł - z własnego opisu Rocco dowiadujemy się, że to ogromny, napakowany facet, zepsuty przez sukces, płytki, rozpieszczony, w markowych butach i z kieszonkowym psem na ramieniu. Dla mnie brzmi świetnie, dajcie mi więcej, zwłaszcza tej rozpieszczonej divy. Niestety scen, które dokumentowałyby zepsucie Rocco, stanowczo zabrakło. Szkoda, bo wyraźne pokazanie różnicy między Rocco przed i Rocco po spotkaniu Simona byłoby jeszcze ciekawsze.
Jedno, co niemożliwie mnie śmieszyło w tej historii, to świat złożony prawie wyłącznie z gejów. Czy to jest realistyczne? Nie bardzo. Z drugiej strony literatura przez stulecia ignorowała istnienie innych orientacji niż hetero, więc czemu teraz nie zignorować hetero? Niech to będzie zemsta. 😉
Podobało mi się, zostawiam tu 3.75 gwiazdki.
November 25, 2020
Provided ARC by GRR in exchange for an honest review.
This book has went to the top of my favorites for 2020. I loved everything about this book. My only niggle would be that I want more!! More of Rocco being so so sweet to Simon and more of Simon coming to be the person he wants to be. And I want more brother moments with Simon and Levi. Gah, literally this book gives you all the feels. I am sooo sooo happy I have this book in my life. E.M. Lindsey, where have you been all my life. Also, Nick Hudson on the audio did a amazing and I will be looking for more of his work. Phenomenal book.
This book has went to the top of my favorites for 2020. I loved everything about this book. My only niggle would be that I want more!! More of Rocco being so so sweet to Simon and more of Simon coming to be the person he wants to be. And I want more brother moments with Simon and Levi. Gah, literally this book gives you all the feels. I am sooo sooo happy I have this book in my life. E.M. Lindsey, where have you been all my life. Also, Nick Hudson on the audio did a amazing and I will be looking for more of his work. Phenomenal book.
November 25, 2020
I found this book to be really enjoyable with the very, very different character backgrounds, yet they just gelled so well together. I did think that it went on a bit long in some aspects. There was more development between the MC and his brother, it seemed, than there was between the two MC's in the relationship. I did love how well the deafness of the character was such an integral part of the story as far as getting the town involved and endearing the MC's to the small town.
July 30, 2022
It seems lately that my luck with finding new authors has run out. I am really conflicted with this book. On the one had, the writing isn't bad, but on the other....
I guess I expected something more and something other. My HARD LINE is cheating and sharing ones body while in a relationship, so at first reading about an adult film actor seemed not a good idea. But the book reads "Rocco isn’t sure leaving his life behind is the right choice, and Simon isn’t sure he belongs in Rocco’s world. But the one thing they do know, is that this love has a chance to set them both free." and "His job is on the line..." So in my mind it was a story about changing professions and turning over a new leave. That Rocco would stop "acting" or at least would only "act" with his partner.
I think the author knew that people would bulk at the idea of openly admitting that Rocco would go back to his life, that's why she never let the characters talk about this topic, even though the literally talked about everything else! But there are hints that made me cringe and tempted me to give this book only one or two stars. Those are the following:
1. Rocco mentioned in an inner monologue that Simon wouldn't change anything about him or keep him from doing what he loved
2. AFTER the were officially a couple and declared their love for each other Rocco has an inner monologue about the possibility of "commuting when shooting" which means HE IS STILL GOING TO F*** OTHER PEOPLE ON CAMERA WHILE IN A RELATIONSHIP.
3. He is even acknowledging the fact that he is a hypocrite when he is possessive and angry at the thought of anyone but him touching Simon or doing anything else
So I know there are all kinds of relationships out there, people who swing, people who have an open relationship, people who separate sex and feelings. That is TOTALLY ok if both parties are aware and consenting! But it's just not for me. Sharing ones body is such an intimate act, you are trusting that other person. You can't tell me that being an "adult actor" is something totally different. Even with a filmcrew around there is touching, kissing, caressing and an exchange of bodyfluids. That's extremely intimate in my book. As I said before, if you are into something like that, all the power to you, but Rocco is not quitting, and let's be honest, it was hinted in the exerpt that he was! You have to WARN people that their relationship is going to be one where one partner is practicing something "people might consider cheating" AFTER starting a monogamous relationship.
So be forewarned! Maybe I picked the wrong book to start out with with this author. I read in another review that they liked other books of hers MUCH better. Maybe you can recommend one of those to me? I'm currently not sure if I can brave another one in this series and if this is her take on relationships.
I guess I expected something more and something other. My HARD LINE is cheating and sharing ones body while in a relationship, so at first reading about an adult film actor seemed not a good idea. But the book reads "Rocco isn’t sure leaving his life behind is the right choice, and Simon isn’t sure he belongs in Rocco’s world. But the one thing they do know, is that this love has a chance to set them both free." and "His job is on the line..." So in my mind it was a story about changing professions and turning over a new leave. That Rocco would stop "acting" or at least would only "act" with his partner.
I think the author knew that people would bulk at the idea of openly admitting that Rocco would go back to his life, that's why she never let the characters talk about this topic, even though the literally talked about everything else! But there are hints that made me cringe and tempted me to give this book only one or two stars. Those are the following:
1. Rocco mentioned in an inner monologue that Simon wouldn't change anything about him or keep him from doing what he loved
2. AFTER the were officially a couple and declared their love for each other Rocco has an inner monologue about the possibility of "commuting when shooting" which means HE IS STILL GOING TO F*** OTHER PEOPLE ON CAMERA WHILE IN A RELATIONSHIP.
3. He is even acknowledging the fact that he is a hypocrite when he is possessive and angry at the thought of anyone but him touching Simon or doing anything else
So I know there are all kinds of relationships out there, people who swing, people who have an open relationship, people who separate sex and feelings. That is TOTALLY ok if both parties are aware and consenting! But it's just not for me. Sharing ones body is such an intimate act, you are trusting that other person. You can't tell me that being an "adult actor" is something totally different. Even with a filmcrew around there is touching, kissing, caressing and an exchange of bodyfluids. That's extremely intimate in my book. As I said before, if you are into something like that, all the power to you, but Rocco is not quitting, and let's be honest, it was hinted in the exerpt that he was! You have to WARN people that their relationship is going to be one where one partner is practicing something "people might consider cheating" AFTER starting a monogamous relationship.
So be forewarned! Maybe I picked the wrong book to start out with with this author. I read in another review that they liked other books of hers MUCH better. Maybe you can recommend one of those to me? I'm currently not sure if I can brave another one in this series and if this is her take on relationships.
September 16, 2023
Wow, this didn't work for me at all, which is a shame because I really enjoyed the author's Iron & Works series (Free Hand et al). But I guess I should have known because it uses some of my least favorite tropes: porn star MC, insta-love and an almost Old Skool fascination with the other MC's virginity. I didn't buy the relationship between the MCs and I was bored with all of the sex scenes, so I ended up skimming through the last 30% or so.
I did appreciate the complex relationship between Simon and his brother Levi, who apparently already had his own book written by a different author. They start out barely speaking and end up in a much better albeit realistic place; you can't undo decades of bad feelings in a few days and I'm glad the author didn't try to tie everything up neatly with a bow.
Gets points for strong Jewish and Deaf representation, but that wasn't enough to overcome my dislike for the plot. Sorry Mx. Lindsey, this is a rare miss for me.
I did appreciate the complex relationship between Simon and his brother Levi, who apparently already had his own book written by a different author. They start out barely speaking and end up in a much better albeit realistic place; you can't undo decades of bad feelings in a few days and I'm glad the author didn't try to tie everything up neatly with a bow.
Gets points for strong Jewish and Deaf representation, but that wasn't enough to overcome my dislike for the plot. Sorry Mx. Lindsey, this is a rare miss for me.
November 6, 2020
3.5-4 stars...
The first 20% or so was hard for me to get through. I almost marked it as a DNF. I felt like, although this is book 1 in the series, I was jumping into a series already well-established & several secondary characters made me feel like I was on the outside looking in (and missing a LOT of back stories).
Also, the story contained a lot of terms associated with Hebrew and Judaism. Since I am unfamiliar with these terms, I feel I would have benefited with a glossary as many other authors would provide.
The overall concept was good. I was drawn in by the Deaf character aspect.
A recently & publicly dumped Deaf gay porn star & Jewish virgin baker with severe social anxiety. Drama on both sides, some angst.
Several mental notes of repetitive sentances in the first half. Small town romance.
The first 20% or so was hard for me to get through. I almost marked it as a DNF. I felt like, although this is book 1 in the series, I was jumping into a series already well-established & several secondary characters made me feel like I was on the outside looking in (and missing a LOT of back stories).
Also, the story contained a lot of terms associated with Hebrew and Judaism. Since I am unfamiliar with these terms, I feel I would have benefited with a glossary as many other authors would provide.
The overall concept was good. I was drawn in by the Deaf character aspect.
A recently & publicly dumped Deaf gay porn star & Jewish virgin baker with severe social anxiety. Drama on both sides, some angst.
Several mental notes of repetitive sentances in the first half. Small town romance.
April 30, 2020
Oh Simon!! Sweet sweet Simon!! To see him finally find and start accepting himself was beautiful! I was skeptical about Simon after reading his brother's story in Heartless by Kate Hawthorne but this book....oh how I love Simon now!! Simon is frustratingly good and kind and loves his brother in the only way he knows how. His struggles pull on all your heartstrings and you just want to give him a big hug!! His kind heart is what brings him to Rocco during a time when Rocco's world feels like its falling apart. The two men have insane chemistry and Rocco is just a big sexy marshmallow. So many emotions while reading this story and I truly loved these two men.
July 23, 2020
It's missing something. The book is long and full of details but the details describe innocuous things like food or daily routines. Mostly the story is basic and repeats itself a lot. We hear one of the MCs hates it when someone does something...then we read that he hates it when someone does something...then someone does something, and he hates it when they do that--it's quite annoying. Repetitive details to build the world left the relationship feeling insta. Also, too many secondary characters with their own histories that we don't know yet bc the author is setting them up for their own story. yeah, this writing style is just not for me.
November 27, 2020
Simon is such a interesting character, too bad his angst it's not really showed. I dove in thinking this would be a emotional and full of angst listen, but it's not. It's a long listen, 9h with a thin plot. The insta-love scenario didn't worked here, I would much prefer a slow burn when the book is that long. Nothing much happened, the character development is basically off page. I'm disappointed but I think my expectations were too high for this one, my fault.
The narration is amazing, Nick Hudson delivered a passion and emotional narration. I like his style and his voice. Looking forward to listen more of him.
The narration is amazing, Nick Hudson delivered a passion and emotional narration. I like his style and his voice. Looking forward to listen more of him.
September 26, 2020
Overall, an enjoyable read. There were some things I liked about it and a few things I didn't. I thought the Rocco character was sweet and I felt he was so undeserving of getting screwed over by Eric and Xander. They were assholes. I found Simon to be annoyingly neurotic and too much of the story was spent on religious themes. The whole thing of being devout and virginal just did not fit with the whole porn aspect - it just wasn't realistic. Sad in some ways, fluffy in others. Interesting enough that I will try the next book in the series.
May 29, 2020
I have loved every book this author has written, so not liking this one really threw me. I wanted to, but I just didn't connect with either of the two main characters - I basically didn't like either of them. Also there were quite a few places that were a word was used twice on either side of another word (ex: he was sure was he going) or the grammar was just a bit off. It jolted me out of the story over and over again as I tried to parse what the sentence was supposed to say.
June 29, 2020
I really wanted to like this one and each of the main characters had qualities I enjoyed but overall I don't know if it was the writing or story but I was just waiting for it to be over so I could read something better 🤷
September 14, 2022
I enjoyed this. Although I can't get over my opinion that a novel where 90% of the characters are gay men, is a kind of misogyny.
I tried relistenings twice, but when I am not eager to know how it ends, the narrator makes the listening experience too dull to finish.
I tried relistenings twice, but when I am not eager to know how it ends, the narrator makes the listening experience too dull to finish.
November 23, 2020
Love Him Free is the first book in E.M. Lindsey’s On The Market series. This is my first experience with their writing and I loved it. I couldn’t help but fall in love with these characters, their lives, and their blossoming relationship. But grab yourself a box of tissues because this is an emotional ride.
Rocco and Simon are both dealing with quite a bit in their personal lives – Rocco’s personal life is imploding publicly and Simon continues to turn in on himself in an effort to avoid the pain that has been constant since moving to the U.S. While things heat up quickly between Rocco & Simon, their histories and healing unfold slowly. There are a lot of painful revelations and self-discovery.
I liked the way Linsey approached Rocco’s deafness and Simon’s anxiety. It felt authentic without fetishizing. Lindsey does add a bit of humor, especially with the pets. “Pocket James” is just adorable. Ultimately, this is a really emotional yet sweet story and I’m looking forward to the rest of the series.
Note: While this does stand on its own, Simon’s brother Levi & his partner James are from Kate Hawthorne’s book, Heartless. I haven’t read it (though I plan to now!) and don’t feel not having that backstory impacted my enjoyment of the story.
Narration:
Nick Hudson! Oh my goodness. This narration is perfection. Hudson gives everyone in this book (and there are a lot of accents, inflections, voices) a unique sound. Additionally, he uses a slightly different voice on the chapters that are from Rocco’s POV in contrast to the ones from Simon’s POV. Not only does this give an added depth to the performance, it’s especially helpful when the writing is in 3rd person.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from Gay Romance Reviews and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Rocco and Simon are both dealing with quite a bit in their personal lives – Rocco’s personal life is imploding publicly and Simon continues to turn in on himself in an effort to avoid the pain that has been constant since moving to the U.S. While things heat up quickly between Rocco & Simon, their histories and healing unfold slowly. There are a lot of painful revelations and self-discovery.
I liked the way Linsey approached Rocco’s deafness and Simon’s anxiety. It felt authentic without fetishizing. Lindsey does add a bit of humor, especially with the pets. “Pocket James” is just adorable. Ultimately, this is a really emotional yet sweet story and I’m looking forward to the rest of the series.
Note: While this does stand on its own, Simon’s brother Levi & his partner James are from Kate Hawthorne’s book, Heartless. I haven’t read it (though I plan to now!) and don’t feel not having that backstory impacted my enjoyment of the story.
Narration:
Nick Hudson! Oh my goodness. This narration is perfection. Hudson gives everyone in this book (and there are a lot of accents, inflections, voices) a unique sound. Additionally, he uses a slightly different voice on the chapters that are from Rocco’s POV in contrast to the ones from Simon’s POV. Not only does this give an added depth to the performance, it’s especially helpful when the writing is in 3rd person.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from Gay Romance Reviews and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
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