Genre/Tags: Gay Romance

Author: Ashley James

Story Rating: 5 Stars

Narrator: Nick J Russo, Greg Salinas

Narrator Rating: 5 Stars

Length: 9 hours & 42 minutes

Audiobook Buy Links: Audible

Rule number one: Don’t fall for my brother-in-law. It should be easy, right?

Wrong.

When I moved in with my sister over summer break, I had no intention of returning to college in the fall. A work trip for her meant a lot of time alone for me with her husband. Boone Stanton. World famous bull rider and way, way off limits.

A few late-night deep conversations between the two of us, only the midnight sky our witness, and suddenly, I can’t look away. Can’t keep my mind off of him.

It’s in the way he works around the yard, sweaty and shirtless. The way his eyes soften and he leans into his playful side around his daughter. And it’s in the way he makes me feel seen. The way he’s slowly chipping away at my exterior without even realizing it.

Then one night, I see something I shouldn’t. Something that makes my mouth water and my heart race. Except when he catches me, instead of stopping and reprimanding me, he… keeps going.

Now, I have the opportunity of a lifetime, but it means going on the road with him. It means living in even closer quarters than before. It also means doubling down on keeping my hands to myself and my gaze away from his dark, observing eyes.

But I’m only human, and it’s only a matter of time before I crack. Before I give in and do something I can’t take back.

Something that could cost me everything.

**CONSIDER THIS REVIEW SPOILERY

Review:

I found this audiobook when I was on the hunt for books narrated by Nick J Russo. I’d never heard of the author before but it appears she’s quite prolific. The blurb was good. I love a layered or complicated romance. This is not taboo but the topic is a complex one. A brother hooking up with his sister’s estranged – soon to be – ex husband who still lives with his (ex) wife for co-parenting reasons.

The book is hot, and ticks a few of my reading boxes. I like a walk on the, ‘should we? Maybe not because this could go soooo badly wrong… but, baby, you are soooo fucking hot,’ side. The characters are easy to like. Really easy. They’re also smokin’. The romance and the sex is a slow, slow burn. I’m not fond of children in my romance reading but Suzy is cute enough and not constantly on page, and snaps for the co-parenting done well. This was always going to be interesting to see where it went given the relationship dynamic. When Boone and Grady were having to be, uh, discreet, you knew that what they were doing sat in the back, often forefront, of their minds as they fall in lust and in love. They also both care about Jade. Grady is so close to her as his parents disapprove of him and they are each other’s family. And Boone cares as an ex and a loving co-parent. 

I’ve already mentioned it was Nick J Russo that brought me here but Greg Salinas helped me stay. As did James’ writing style. It’s easygoing and knowledgeable enough about the topic of bull riding without overkill. Mind you, what I know about bull riding fits on a pinhead, but what’s written sets an interesting backdrop. Anyhow, Salinas and Russo were perfection. They embodied Boone and Grady. 

I actually ended up getting the e-book to read along sometimes as I listened to this audiobook, it’s a thing I occasionally do when I know I want too use quotes. The audiobook had that extra je ne sais quoi that makes a read (listen) 5 stars. Salinas and Russo elevated the story and the storytelling to the next level.

Oh, and you can absolutely read or listen to this without having read or listened to the other 2 books prior.

My general thoughts using quotes:

So there’s this-

Every look into my eyes, every moan that slips past his lips, I feel myself cracking. And as his body tenses up and he spills his release inside of me, I just know… I fucked up because I didn’t just let Boone inside my body today. I let him inside my heart too, and the aftermath is going to crush me.

So much emotion drips into the thoughts and actions between the characters, adding layers of sexiness and also the worry afterwards of the fallout.

And there is also this guilt and complexity that positions itself between the MCs-

Having to sit at the table with Jade, Suzy, and Boone earlier after we got home as we ate dinner was the most uncomfortable experience I’ve ever had. Knowing what we had done just hours before was torture. I couldn’t even look at him. Or Jade. Don’t even get me started on the fucking guilt I feel. I betrayed my sister again. God, she’d hate me if she knew.

Also-

“Boone…” His name leaves my lips breathlessly. It’s a plea for more. It’s desperation. It’s dripping with arousal.
With a quick graze of his teeth, he lets go, standing tall as his dark, lust-drunk eyes take me in. “I want you,” he declares, his voice raspy and deep, statement unabashed and sure. It sends another shiver through my body that I can’t hide.
“Me too,” I admit through a whisper, like maybe if I speak it quietly enough, it won’t count.

Oh, honey. It counts. One plus one = hot lovin’.  No one else matters at this moment in time.

And I thought Jade was pretty amazing.

“I know things have been weird with us for a while now, but you know that just because we’re divorced, it doesn’t mean I can’t be there for you. We have to raise Suzy together; there’s no reason we can’t be friends.”

Her gut told her things were off but she didn’t know exactly what was happening. I mean, why should she? With discovery was she pissed off? Naturally, yes. But she processed. I’ll leave it at that. I felt it was pretty realistic. James didn’t go the easy way out but it felt organic to the character’s natures. The guys being on the road helped. At the end of the day she knew that her marriage had ended a while ago. That there was no cheating. That the heart can want what the heart damn well wants even if you fight it.  

I bought Burning the Midnight Oil with three other audiobooks thinking it could be good but, you know, new to me author, so… if it wasn’t great it could just be something I listened to of a night without reviewing. Here I am though, reviewing. That says it all. I also want to find more authors I enjoy reading who put out audiobooks as well. As I’m aging, I’m listening to them a hell of a lot more now so I need more of them. I’ve since bought more by Ashley James because I loved Burning the Midnight Oil. I can’t do Shooter’s book though, he bugged me for a lot of this book.

And it’s important for readers who have cheating as a hard limit that they know Jade and Boone were separated then their divorce finalised-

“Did you have feelings for him when we were still married?”
“No!” I rush to say, shaking my head. “Jade, I didn’t cheat on you. I wouldn’t do that. I never saw Grady this way at any point during our relationship, I promise you.”

I definitely recommend this as an audiobook. It was such a bonus hearing characters sound exactly like you imagine them. The writing achieved what it set out to do with this story and successfully drew me in. Ashley James has quite a good catalogue of books too. I’m going to explore quite a few of them now. 5 Stars!