TITLE: Smoldering Flame (audiobook)
AUTHOR: Andrew Grey
SERIES: Rekindled Flame, book 3
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
GENRE: Contemporary Romance
RELEASE DATE: Aug 28 2018
BLURB:
Length: 6 hrs and 3 mins
Sometimes the strongest flames take the longest to ignite.
Firefighter Dean’s life revolves around his very ill son, Sammy. Caring for Sammy and working to make ends meet leave Dean time for little else, and romance isn’t something he can even consider—no matter how much he longs for someone special to join their family. Because money is tight, Dean couldn’t be more grateful to the photographer who does Sammy’s session free of charge.
After growing up in the foster care system, Marco knows how to rely on himself, and his hard work is about to pay off—he’s poised on the cusp of fame and success he could only have imagined as a lonely child. When Dean brings Sammy into Marco’s studio, Marco can see they’re struggling, and both the boy and his father stir Marco’s heart. The slow burn between the two men isn’t something either expected, but neither wants to lose the possibility of a loving future. With Dean’s dangerous and possibly life-threatening career and Marco’s demanding one, can romance and forever find a place to fit?
Narration: Michael Pauley has an amazing voice. I can tell the difference in Michaels’ reading from the first two books. He’s really starting to come into his narrating skills. I still think he has a very sexy voice and brings the story to life. His cadence has improved so much over the year between the books in this series…and looking up his other narrations, there are plenty more to listen to by him! YES!
Story: When I read the blurb, I was curious to see how Grey was going to have Dean become a dad without a spouse. Dean trying to be straight to make everyone happy was a good way to do that. In this love story, we have a firefighter dealing with a sick child, Sammy. He doesn’t meet his love interest at a fire like in the other two books. Instead, he brings his son in to meet the huge stuffed dalmatian that Marco uses as a photo prop. Marco offers a free photoshoot that melted my heart! The love parts were a little faster in this one, but it wasn’t insta-love. The title was perfect.
Marco was a foster kid, turned photographer that’s about to hit it big. He’s worked hard for everything he has. Marco not only lost his mother at a young age to cancer, but he also fought it himself, which helps with his interactions with Sammy. Both characters are deep and realized so the story moves at a good pace.
Some side stories are going on in this book that are worth a mention because they could have changed the direction of the story. Marco’s foster parents play a significant role when they explain some truths to him. They change his point of view on things in a good way.
Dean’s mother is wonderful and helps put his father in his place. But before that happens, he tries to cause issues for the couple.
This is another must-read series by Andrew Grey!
***The ARC was provided by Dreamspinner Press. My review is an honest opinion of the book ***
Review edited by : Laura McNellis
Narration: This was my first narration by Brian Meslar, and as long as the story is based in the US, it won’t be my last. Let me explain. Brian has an amazing voice, his cadence is great, and he’s able to throw accents really well. But…that was the problem for me. The narration was in a US accent, the book is based in England, and the characters are English (and one Scottish guy). It was distracting for me. I’m an American, but I lived in Scotland for ten years, so I can say the accents were really, really good. But yeah, distracting for me. I’ll be on the look-out for more MM books narrated by him, but so far, it looks to be mostly MFM ménage.
