Regular price: £19.39
I left my family and tiny Texas hometown 15 years ago to escape small-town gossips and to give my mom and sister the chance at a better life. But when a phone call from an attorney back home informs me that my sister passed away, leaving me custody of her newborn baby, I'm shocked out of the steady life I've built for myself running a tattoo shop in San Francisco. The thing is: I don't do babies. And I don't do small towns. Or commitment. And I especially don't do family.
Hagen Wylie has it all figured out. He's going to live in his hometown, be everybody's friend, explore new relationships, and rebuild his life after the horrors of war. No muss, no fuss is the plan. He's well on his way - until he finds out his first love has come home too. Hagen says it's no big deal, but a chance encounter with Mitch Thayer's two cute sons puts him directly in the path of the only guy he's never gotten out of his head.
Once upon a time, in an alleyway in the slums of the City of Lockes, a young and somewhat lonely boy named Sam Haversford turns a group of teenage douchebags into stone completely by accident. Of course, this catches the attention of a higher power, and Sam's pulled from the only world he knows to become an apprentice to the king's wizard, Morgan of Shadows.
When jackal shifter Quade Danas was banished from his pack for being gay, he spent years in the military escaping his father's prejudice before returning to civilian life as a bodyguard for Roman Howell, the teenage son of a very rich man. After Roman is in an accident that leaves him physically scarred and emotionally distant, Quade is the only one who can get through to him. As Roman becomes a man, he realizes what he wants - his bodyguard by his side and in his bed.
When a cowboy meets the guy from the city, he can't know how much things will change. On the spur of the moment, with his life collapsing around him, Jay Sullivan answers an ad for a business manager with an expertise in marketing, on a dude ranch in Montana.
Self-proclaimed playboy, Aiden Vale, has it all - good looks, successful career, plenty of cash in the bank, and an endless supply of men who know the score...that one night is just that. So the last thing he wants, or needs, is to forge a connection that might mean revealing more of himself than he's ready to. But when fate intervenes, putting Aiden in the path of someone who threatens to knock down his carefully constructed walls, he's quick to realize the young man he's become infatuated with is hiding a painful secret.
I left my family and tiny Texas hometown 15 years ago to escape small-town gossips and to give my mom and sister the chance at a better life. But when a phone call from an attorney back home informs me that my sister passed away, leaving me custody of her newborn baby, I'm shocked out of the steady life I've built for myself running a tattoo shop in San Francisco. The thing is: I don't do babies. And I don't do small towns. Or commitment. And I especially don't do family.
Hagen Wylie has it all figured out. He's going to live in his hometown, be everybody's friend, explore new relationships, and rebuild his life after the horrors of war. No muss, no fuss is the plan. He's well on his way - until he finds out his first love has come home too. Hagen says it's no big deal, but a chance encounter with Mitch Thayer's two cute sons puts him directly in the path of the only guy he's never gotten out of his head.
Once upon a time, in an alleyway in the slums of the City of Lockes, a young and somewhat lonely boy named Sam Haversford turns a group of teenage douchebags into stone completely by accident. Of course, this catches the attention of a higher power, and Sam's pulled from the only world he knows to become an apprentice to the king's wizard, Morgan of Shadows.
When jackal shifter Quade Danas was banished from his pack for being gay, he spent years in the military escaping his father's prejudice before returning to civilian life as a bodyguard for Roman Howell, the teenage son of a very rich man. After Roman is in an accident that leaves him physically scarred and emotionally distant, Quade is the only one who can get through to him. As Roman becomes a man, he realizes what he wants - his bodyguard by his side and in his bed.
When a cowboy meets the guy from the city, he can't know how much things will change. On the spur of the moment, with his life collapsing around him, Jay Sullivan answers an ad for a business manager with an expertise in marketing, on a dude ranch in Montana.
Self-proclaimed playboy, Aiden Vale, has it all - good looks, successful career, plenty of cash in the bank, and an endless supply of men who know the score...that one night is just that. So the last thing he wants, or needs, is to forge a connection that might mean revealing more of himself than he's ready to. But when fate intervenes, putting Aiden in the path of someone who threatens to knock down his carefully constructed walls, he's quick to realize the young man he's become infatuated with is hiding a painful secret.
Three years ago, Bear McKenna’s mother took off for parts unknown with her new boyfriend, leaving Bear to raise his six-year-old brother Tyson, aka the Kid. Somehow they’ve muddled through, but since he’s totally devoted to the Kid, Bear isn’t actually doing much living. With a few exceptions, he’s retreated from the world, and he’s mostly okay with that - until Otter comes home. Otter is Bear’s best friend’s older brother, and as they’ve done for their whole lives, Bear and Otter crash and collide in ways neither expect.
Mack Garrett loves the rolling hills surrounding his Northern California dude ranch. Leading vacationers on horse trails with his two best friends is enough - romance is definitely not in the cards. When a sexy tourist shows up at Clean Slate, he's as far from Mack's type as can be. So why is the handsome city slicker so far under his skin in less than a day?
Deputy US Marshal Miro Jones has a reputation for being calm and collected under fire. These traits serve him well with his hotshot partner, Ian Doyle, the kind of guy who can start a fight in an empty room. In the past three years of their life-and-death job, they've gone from strangers to professional coworkers to devoted teammates and best friends. Miro’s cultivated blind faith in the man who has his back… faith and something more.
Six years ago, Noah Wheeler went to meet his boyfriend, Dante Cerreto, at the airport, and his world ended. Dante was kissing someone else and claimed to be in love. So Noah took his heartbreak and closed the door on the big picture of what he thought his life would be, focusing instead on the piece of the dream he got to keep, being a father. Six years later, Dante wants to make up for lost time, but he's going to have to take a crash course in communication and seduction. Noah's not going to fall in love just to be broken again.
Do you believe in love at first sight? Paul Auster doesn't. Paul doesn't believe in much at all. He's thirty, slightly overweight, and his best features are his acerbic wit and the color commentary he provides as life passes him by. His closest friends are a two-legged dog named Wheels and a quasibipolar drag queen named Helena Handbasket. He works a dead-end job in a soul-sucking cubicle, and if his grandmother's homophobic parrot insults him one more time, Paul is going to wring its stupid neck.
Blue: When my ex walks into the resort bar with his new husband on his arm, I want nothing more than to prove to him that I've moved on. Thankfully, the sexy stranger sitting next to me is more than willing to share a few kisses in the name of revenge. It gets even better when those scorching kisses turn into a night of fiery passion. The only problem? Turns out the stranger's brother is marrying my sister later this week.
He's smart, successful, and sexy as hell - I can barely sleep knowing he's right down the hall. And when the chemistry between us explodes one night with fierce, fiery passion, it's hard to deny there's something real there. But he does....
Forty-five-year-old English professor Nathan Qells is very good at making people feel important. What he's not very good at is sticking around afterward. He's a nice guy; he just doesn't feel things the way other people do. So even after all the time he's spent taking care of Michael, the kid across the hall, he doesn't realize that Michael's mob muscle uncle and guardian, Andreo Fiore, has slowly been falling in love with him. Dreo has bigger problems than getting Nate to see him as a potential partner.
Tracy Brandt considers himself a lucky man. He has a wonderful family, good friends, and a dependable job. His love life, however, features a cheating ex who, though out of the house, is not yet out of the picture - with a past that just might get Tracy killed. Homicide inspector Cord Nolan wants nothing more than to show his best friend's little brother that he's a reliable man, but to do that he'll have to get Tracy to look past the player he used to be.
Vy Aleknos is the leader of a hawk shifter flock. Openly gay since he was a teen, Vy is proud and self-assured on the outside, while secretly worrying he'll be forced to spend his life alone because two males can't be mates. When bear shifter Robert Cimino appears in Vy's small town, Vy realizes his concerns were unfounded - he has a male mate, and a sexy, dominant one to boot. Robert is a bear shifter who refuses to shift.
Gustavo Tiberius is not normal. He knows this. Everyone in his small town of Abby, Oregon, knows this. He reads encyclopedias every night before bed. He has a pet ferret called Harry S. Truman. He owns a video rental store that no one goes to. His closest friends are a lady named Lottie with drag queen hair and a trio of elderly Vespa riders known as the We Three Queens.
Daniel Mulligan is tough, snarky, and tattooed, hiding his self-consciousness behind sarcasm. Daniel has never fit in - not at home in Philadelphia with his auto mechanic father and brothers, and not at school where his Ivy League classmates looked down on him. Now, Daniel's relieved to have a job at a small college in Holiday, Northern Michigan, but he's a city boy through and through, and it's clear that this small town is one more place he won't fit in.
Weber Yates's dreams of stardom are about to be reduced to a ranch hand’s job in Texas, and his one relationship is with a guy so far out of his league he might as well be on the moon. Or at least in San Francisco, where Weber stops to see him one last time before settling down to the humble, lonely life he figures a frog like him has coming.
Cyrus Benning is a successful neurosurgeon, so details are never lost on him. He spotted the prince in a broken-down bull rider's clothing from day one. But watching Weber walk out on him keeps getting harder, and he’s not sure how much more his heart can take. Now Cyrus has one last chance to prove to Weber that it's not Weber's job that makes him Cyrus's perfect man, it's Weber himself. With the help of his sister's newly broken family, he’s ready to show Weber that the home the man’s been searching for has always been right there, with him. Cyrus might have laid down an ultimatum once, but now it's turned into a vow - he's never going to let Weber out of his life again.
I loved this book so, so much. The story was beautiful and narration was absolutely perfect. Definitely one to listen to again and again.
The narrators accent and slow delivery was perfect for the kindly cowboy who finds that even a family in the middle of the city can both love and need him. Although there's plenty of humour and sex, the whole book is very gentle, making it a challenge for the reader to get pace and vocal variety into the final chapters. I've listened to it a couple of times, and really enjoyed it.
This is a lovely story, but I have to admit that the way everybody around Cyrus, and I mean everybody, falls for Web immediately and thinks he’s the best person in the world, began to grate a bit after a while. It’s all a bit too wonderful (and I do like fluff and sweetness). Still, it is a nice feel-good story. It is heavy on the family/kids stuff, which is probably great if you’re into that. It’s not so much my priority. The sex scene right at the beginning is a bit rough, but that's not what the rest of the book is about.
I like Web as a character very much, with his old-fashioned polite manners, and Cyrus is ok too. The other family members make a nice background to the story, which is in essence mostly about Weber and how he feels about himself, his self-worth and the way he thinks Cyrus looks at him. We hear the story from Weber’s POV (first person narrative).
The narrator totally makes it for me. He speaks very calmly, which I like. The accent and voice he uses for Web are sexy and, well, sweet. In general I prefer British voices, but I have come to appreciate American narrators more since subscribing to Audible. And K.C. Kelly’s deep ‘cowboy voice’ (is it a Texan accent? Southern at any rate) is great to listen to- in fact the fragment persuaded me to buy this audiobook. He doesn’t really do a lot of very distinctive voices in the story like some narrators do, but I don’t mind that.
I have purchased a few more books he narrates and am looking forward to them.
I loved this book when I read it and K.C. Kelly really brought it too life. This is the story of a ongoing romance between a wandering, bull riding cowboy with no family and no home, but a heart of gold, and a San Francisco neurosurgeon that loves him unconditionally. The story is told from Weber's (cowboy) POV and is basically about his journey of self discovery. Not him struggling with being gay, but failing to see his own self worth. It is really beautiful and the narrator does an excellent job. Definitely worth a credit.
9 of 9 people found this review helpful
It really deserves that extra ½♥. Really mello but still touching and hot m/m romance. Pride can be such a tricky bitch, keeping those lovers apart. It was an easy read over an afternoon, and really sweet.
The narrator has a lovely Southern drawl that was very appealing and easy on the ears. I thought he was a wonderful choice for Webber. Being from the South, I must say it worked well for me; I found it believable and more than comfortable to listen to. Like a tall glass of sweet iced tea on a hot day- only for my ears. OK, that's kind of a strange analogy, isn't it?
The only thing I wanted a little more of, and this may seem odd... but adversity. I suppose it's part of Webber's draw is that he can charm the pants of anyone... well, sort of, but there was a shit ton of acceptance going on. I hope that the world is filled with such loving, open-minded people out there, but deep down I found that hard to really believe that. But then again- this is fiction, suspension of disbelief and all that. It flirted with almost being 'too much' acceptance, but never quite crossed that line (it toed it, though).
This will most definitely be a re-read, it was just too easy to suck it down in a single afternoon.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Where does Frog rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
Up there with the audible books I keep returning too because it make me smile and laugh with the characters of the story.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Frog?
When Webber finally realize his love and worth to not only Cyrus but to Cyrus' family but most of all to his self and definitely the musical.
What about K.C. Kelly’s performance did you like?
I like K. C. Kelly's performance because you could tell each character in the story without all the fake voices some performers do.
Who was the most memorable character of Frog and why?
I can't say one because I love several characters in this story from the 2 main characters to the kids, to the sister etc
Any additional comments?
I have yet to listen to a story by Mary Calmes that I didn't like GOOD JOB
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Would you try another book from Mary Calmes and/or K.C. Kelly?
I have a Calmes addiction, but the narration was almost intolerable.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Frog?
I love the opening chapter, with the MCs making contact with each other after a long separation, and some background information interwoven into that conversation.
How could the performance have been better?
The narrator's accent and interpretation of Weber was way over the top. It made the character seem older and dumber than he actually is.
If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Frog?
Not a thing, it's one of my favorite books.
Any additional comments?
After waiting so long for this to come out on audio, I'm really disappointed. I managed to listen to it all the way through, but I expect I won't ever listen to it again.
8 of 10 people found this review helpful
I have this as a repeat listen. A story to return to like comfort food.
The voice actor was great!
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Would you listen to Frog again? Why?
Yes, I have read this story too many times to count! Now, the audio is available and as good as the story. Perfect narrator for the characters.
Who was your favorite character and why?
I love Weber!
What does K.C. Kelly bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
His voice is perfect for the retired Weber. He did a great job!
Who was the most memorable character of Frog and why?
Always Weber and the kids!
Any additional comments?
You will not be disappointed!
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I cried, geld my breath, smiled, laughed, got mad.... this book blew my mind. I live everything about it....everything! K.C. was ah-mazing. I want to listen to it again!!
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Incredibly heartwarming story. The story and the performance make beautiful poetry in this audio book. Frog is now one of my favorites and I cant wait to listen to it again. There are beautiful scenes that made me want to cry and laugh at the same time. The emotional parts are beautifully balanced with humor and wit. The story is carried in what is not written as well as what is written (the story between and beyond the lines). Incredibly well written matched by an incredible performance. Mr. Kelly's performance was perfect for this story.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
What did you love best about Frog?
Everything. The story was good and the performance was outstanding. I do agree that Weber seems "too good to be true," but this is fiction and does require some suspension of belief.
Who was your favorite character and why?
Weber was my favorite character, which is not surprising, as the story is told from his point of view.
What about K.C. Kelly’s performance did you like?
I loved KC Kelly's performance of Weber. Although his accent sounds more Southern than Texan to me, his slow, deep drawl vividly and instantly brings Weber Yates to life.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
My favorite part of the book was when Weber meets Cyrus's family. Mary Calmes writes about family get-togethers so well and this was no exception.
Any additional comments?
I liked the book, but I love the audiobook. Often, I find myself listening to it just to hear Weber's slow, deep, patient voice.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Where does Frog rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
it was very good. good enough that I immediately went searching for more audiobooks by Mary Calmes. I'm looking forward to hearing more of her sexy stories. I laughed and cried and loved these characters.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Frog?
after the performance when Cyrus was feeling insecure...that was my favorite part. I loved how Weber reprioritized him to meet his needs. So sweet.
What about K.C. Kelly’s performance did you like?
He did a good job. He was a little old for the role. I'd guess he's in his 60s and the characters are in their 40s...so that could have been cast better. But he did a good job. ;-)
If you could take any character from Frog out to dinner, who would it be and why?
Weber. Lots of interesting stories to tell...
1 of 1 people found this review helpful