Good Read... Erotic Fiction with an Emotional Side

This book is far outside what I would normally be listening to, but I gave it a chance.... I didn't think I would like an erotic fiction, but was happy to have been proven wrong.
Just in case it wasn't clear from the description, this is a very explicit book... But not all that unrealistic. I found the main character to be quite real and understandable. The story while right on the edge of believable (and sightly cliché), was still enjoyable and worth the time.

The main character, Steve, owns a street-side waffle stand. Everyday, he watches his secret crush walk by with his presumed boyfriend. He goes out of his way everyday to make sure he is able to be there when they walk by. One day, he tries to offer him a free sample. When his boyfriend yanks him back suddenly, and returns the next day with bruises, he is infuriated when he realizes the dangerous nature of their relationship... When he arrives at his business the next day to find that his crush is there waiting for him (lacking any other options), he does everything he can to hide him from his powerful, rich, and unstable ex-boyfriend.

As I said, there were a few times that I knew I was reading a make-believe story, but the writing and characters were strong enough that I was actually disappointed that it wasn't longer...

I definitely enjoyed this book. Hope you do too!

I received a free copy of this audiobook from the author, publisher, or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review. I was NOT required to write a positive review and this reflects my honest opinion of the work.

19 people found this helpful

Perfection...

There isn’t anything about this book that I don’t love. I had a hard time setting it aside to sleep. I loved the people, the story grabbed my attention and didn’t let go, the antagonist was so evil I wanted him to suffer. The ending had my heart racing while I had to remind myself to breathe.

Narration was excellent. This is one of my favorite books ever. I read it as part of the Audible romance package, but I’m buying it so it’s a permanent part of my library.

1 person found this helpful

Narrator, excellent. Story, All. The. Nope.

If I didn't love Michael Ferraiuolo's voice and narration so much I'm fairly certain I would have stopped listening to this in the first few chapters. Getting turned on when you're putting Neosporin on cuts someone got from a beating they got from their abuser is NOT sexy, it's creepy AF, and I don't understand how anyone could think otherwise. Getting turned on at the same time you're cataloguing someone's injuries? Again, NOT sexy. WTH is wrong with someone that they would react that way?

I've not read the rest of this series, nor anything else by this author, but I don't feel any desire to after this. The characters are messed up in a way that is not recognized, and that I can't imagine will be recognized. After that beginning I basically couldn't see anything but the things that were wrong. And then "sex juice" happened, long, too long, after I should have given up, and I just can't.
I hate to stop listening to Mr. Ferraiuolo, but I can't anymore with this book.

1 person found this helpful

Choosing Happy

I've read this book several times too and have now listened to it.. While I still hate Steve from what he did in the previous book. I really do like this book because Joey "ducky" makes up for it. He is so adorably cute & shy in this book and I am happy he makes Steve finally happy in his life. The ending part of the story is a little unbelievable but, its a book so I was totally into it, and Like that it brought in the two characters that are in the next book as well.
Audio - This has a different narrator than the first two books. I don't think changing the narrator took anything away from this one, Since Michael did a good Job with the character voices for this one. The Author did a good job picking a new narrator for this one.

1 person found this helpful

Narration bumps the story up!

Good short story (that continues in the next installment of this series. Story is akin to a soap opera, but the narration makes it better and makes for an overall entertaining listen.

The Ace and the Little Duck

A love story dealing with sex trafficking and a victim named Joey and his desire to escape from his captor. He is helped by the owner of a Waffle House owner named Steve who with the help of some friends helps Joey escape.

It is a story of trust and a blossoming love affair between two kind and sweet men, one a bit rough and the other mild mannered and how they find love and happiness in a broken world.

Steve & his Little Duck

Since I read/listened to these books out of order, I started this knowing more about Steve than we saw in book 2. That said, it was interesting for me to see Steve from the beginning, to learn about his Little Duck.

I loved the growth Steve went through, the self realizations & control he learned. Joey's story pulls at you, giving a glimpse into a life that is too often overlooked. Both men have scores of baggage to unload before they can learn to trust what is starting between them. Aria Grace continues to showcase well developed stories that have varied characters, excellent plot, enough action to keep your heart in your throat & your temperature on the verge of over hearing!

Michael Ferraiuolo does a brilliant job bringing Steve's strength & confidence (arrogance) to life. He shows Joeys fear, insecurities & devotion without portraying him as weak or inferior. In the heat of the action, each character is clearly defined, their personality shining through. I'll be looking for more from both Aria Grace and Michael Ferraiuolo!

So much Love

I've read every book in this series at least 20 times but Steve and Joey are by far my favorite couple.

Hearing the heart weary Steve find something worth believing in again is a treat that might be better than chocolate.

Joey's beautiful loving soul is made so much more so when you find out all he's endured to retain it.Together that are unstoppable, unbreakable and so beautiful it will make you weep.

The Narration Made Me Happy, But the Story Less So

***I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via AudiobookBlast dot com.***

Choosing Happy begins with Steven, the waffle stand guy (yes, the big, tattooed guy on the cover owns a stand shop, which I think is pretty cool), waiting to spot the guy he calls Little Duck (because of a shirt he wore of the Portland Ducks one day), who he sees every day walking at the same time with the same guy. This part of the story gets to me, but not in a good way. The way he talks about "his" Little Duck (whose name turns out to be Joey), a guy he's talked to once when he bought a waffle from him, but who he waits around to spot every day, even staying late to close up makes it feel more like creepy obsession than just interest. Unfortunately, even after he and Joey meet and talk, when Joey is in need of help and is going through physical pain, Steve is still being creepy, thinking about how much Joey turns him on and imagine what he'd do with him, though he does eventually acknowledge those thoughts are for a different time. It just feels too little, too late.

This is my first introduction to Aria Grace's stories, though I'm coming into this as book 3 of a series. Even though the major plot works as a stand-alone, it feels like some of the characterization comes from previous books, and we're missing out on things or just told about them. This would be the other major flaw for me, how much we're told things instead of shown. I didn't count how many times Steve lamented past decisions and how worried he was about hurting others now, but it's an oft-repeated concern. Maybe because this story is written in the first person, there's a lot more of this throughout the whole thing, but I would have enjoyed a lot more subtlety in getting points across and less telling.

The rest of the story couldn't overcome these early flaws for me, though it was fine, if not exactly anything that particularly drew me in. I can say that I didn't struggle to finish it, it just didn't have me wanting to read the rest of the series or rushing to read more from this author, sadly.

As far as narration goes, Michael Ferriauolo has a really nice delivery. His voice was clear, with a nice cadence, and I felt everyone's personality and emotions came through really well. I don't think Steve's voice stayed consistent throughout, and that was the only thing that detracted from the narration for me. Otherwise, I'm looking forward to the next time he narrates a book I'm interest in.

Lovely easy Book

What made the experience of listening to Choosing Happy: M/M Romance the most enjoyable?

Michael's smooth tone was great, easy to listen to and follow who was who

What did you like best about this story?

I loved how Steve kept calling Joey Little Duck, after seeing him in a Ducks shirt when he brought waffles from the cart

Which character – as performed by Michael Ferraiuolo – was your favorite?

I fell in love with Joey

If you could rename Choosing Happy: M/M Romance, what would you call it?

Little Duck falls in love