The Mating of Michael

I read the ebook several months ago, and while I loved it even back then, the audio version just made it even better. <br/><br/>Even the parts which I thought made the ebook drag in places (namely the excerpts from James' novel between chapters) didn't bother me in the audio version and actually made me interested in reading the full version of that story.

It's hard to say since I haven't read a lot of romance stories where one of the characters has a disability. But I guess, "The Rebuilding Year" by Kaje Harper, "Dance With Me" by Heidi Cullinan, "Never a Hero" by Marie Sexton and "Puzzle Me This" by Eli Easton have similar themes, but they weren't as sweet as The Mating of Michael and had different conflicts.

Michael Stellman just has the kind of voice I enjoy listening to. It's nice, deep, slightly husky and he reads at just the right pace.

Yes. I listened to it for several hours and would have kept going till the end if it weren't for the fact that my ears needed a rest from being squashed by my headphones. Pain was the only thing that kept me from listening to it in one sitting.

If you're looking for some hurt/comfort with lovely, likeable characters who also happen to be SciFi geeks with a dash of snark and great chemistry, with a good narrator, you'll love this. When I first read the blurb for the ebook, I wasn't sure if I would enjoy it since I'd never read a romance where one of the main characters has a major disability or where the other character is a sex surrogate (which was something I'd seen in a TLC documentary before, so I knew what the profession entailed). It was a new dynamic that made me pause for a bit, but since I'd already bought all of Eli Easton's other stories and enjoyed them, I decided to trust her and read it. There were times I felt Michael (the character, not the narrator :D) was too good to be true, but he does have some flaws that keep him from being completely perfect.<br/><br/>Definitely worth the credit.

Another great story by Eli Easton. She has consistently delivered with each book of hers that I've read so far. Even managed to get me to cry this time too. Loved, loved, loved it!!<br/><br/>The hurt/comfort in this story is immaculate. When I first met Michael in The Trouble With Tony I thought he was an irrepressible little flirt and I liked him very, very much. When I got to see a bit more of him in The Enlightenment of Daniel I fell just a little bit more than in like with him. But now? I am totally all about Team Michael. I love him so much! His loneliness and vulnerability just cut through me. I wanted him to get his HEA. (Spoiler: He does!)<br/><br/>For me, this book is all about Michael (and Lamb). James and his flashbacks are all right, but frankly, if he didn't make Michael so happy I wouldn't like him very much.<br/><br/>The narration is terrific!<br/><br/>Michael Stellman doesn't do a lot of voices; he doesn't strike me as a huge performance narrator. His narration is more emotional. The way he delivers the words to you draws you in and blankets you in the story. He's not about the flash, he's all about the feeling.<br/><br/>And boy did I have the feels.<br/><br/>Eli Easton brings you a story steeped in hurt and comfort, with so many emotions, and then hot sex, and maybe a little too much backstory, but it's all just freaking fantastic. Personally, it's (by far) my favorite story in the series so far.<br/><br/>Get this book! Get the audio! Just...GET IT!<br/><br/>HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Everyone should have a Michael in their lives. If we did, the world would be a better place.

I fell in love with Michael in the first of the “Sex in Seattle Series” and was so excited to see him finally get his own book. Eli Easton has taken a somewhat controversial subject, surrogacy, and shown us how beautiful and powerful a tool it can be for healing.

Through Michael’s story we are shown how sex is not only an important part of being in a realationship or being in love, but how it’s a natural part of being ourselves, being human. She has clearly done her research, as she explains in the prologue, and her effort shines through. I admit, when we met Michael at first, I wondered, along with him, how he could possibly have a long term relationship for himself, given his job. I felt how sad for him, and/or for his potential clients, because what he offers is such a gift, but it must be hard to share that with someone you love. This story addresses that issue. It is touching and sweet, sexy and informative. It made me laugh and cry and I couldn’t put it down.

I love Eli’s characters. They are not physically perfect gods, they don’t have picture perfect resumes, they have flaws, quirks and are real people. She has a fantastic grasp of pacing and story telling. I never felt like I needed to rush ahead but was always on the edge of my seat. The story just plucks at every darn heart string and leaves you with a huge smile on your face, after you’ve gotten done crying, of course.

James’ character is so heartbreaking, you feel for him, from the first page. His back story is amazing and so sad, but his ability to use his pain and turn it into something wonderful is a precious gift.

Marnie and Tommy are also inspired characters and brought both pain and love and humor to an already rich story.

I really loved the snippets of James’ book that we are shown throughout Michael’s story and would love to read the real thing! Eli may have to branch out into some serious Sci-Fi next, clearly she has a knack with the genre. Lamb’s story also made me cry… you bastard!

This is another one of those books that I will have to read and re-read because there was just so much going on that I am sure I missed some the first pass. But it will be a pleasure to find every nook and cranny because it is such a good book.

Thank you Eli for giving us Michael’s story and I really hope that there are people out there doing your work, it sounds amazing.

I highly recommend this book!



Audio

Michael Stellman does a great job with this narration. He doesn’t do much to the different voices, but he is really easy to listen to and handles the emotion so well. I really think this adds to the overall enjoyment and recommend the experience.

6 of 5 stars!

I love this story, is a wonderful read and a very good listen.

I love Michael , what a sweet soul. Adore the Sub story of Lamb.

Well they all sounded the same , there was no distinction on the characters most of the narration that was my only issue with this audible, but his voice was so soothing I did not mind it .

Michael and Lamb.

my review on the bookAwwwwwww..... Soooooo good! I adored this book, Loved Michael sooo much, what a sweet, giving human being.I'm glad he found his HEA.Loved them together. Also loved the secondary story on this book , Lamb's story was so perfect OMG ! I could not believe what a genius this writer is,The story was satisfying and plain perfection Eli Easton is phenomenal when it comes to writingShe is one of the best MM writer out there.Highly recommend this book and all of her books also.

This one was an absolute winner. Listened all in one sitting, and even brought some moisture to my eyes a few times. I loved this one best of the three, and it was even better with the narrator choice. Thank you so much.

Eli Easton is one of my favorite authors and The Mating of Michael is one of my favorite books, so when the book came out in audio I was very interested in trying it. This alone is a little unusual for me. I tend to not listen to the audio of books that I've read before because I never want the audiobook to change my opinion of a book that I've previously loved. However, I've listened to many narrations by Michael Stellman, and so I was wiling to give it a shot.

First of all, let me say that this story is impossibly beautiful. Interestingly enough, it didn't make me cry or feel as turned on as I felt when I was reading the paperback version. I'm not sure if it is because I already knew what was going to happen, but I think my feelings were a little more... muted this time around. The story still sang to me, however, and I fell in love with Michael and James all over again.

Michael is tender, sensual, giving, and loving, and James is acerbic, slow to trust, and dying for someone to love him for who he is. They moved slowly as a couple, developing their relationship over time. I love how this story just perfected the hurt-comfort theme, and made Michael and James's romance feel absolutely epic.

In terms of the narration, I think Michael Stellman did a very nice job. I always sort of feel the same way about this narrator: he has a sexy, young voice that works well for M/M, but he is also totally incapable of creating different voices for different characters, which usually is one of my biggest pet peeves. Michael Stellman gets a pass from me on the vocal range because he just has such a freaking sultry voice, but I wish he was able to stretch a bit more. Still a very wonderful job, and with great understanding of the characters.

If you are looking to try this book out in audio, don't hesitate. It was a great listening experience that will touch the most jaded of M/M readers.

**Copy provided in exchange for an honest review**

I loved this book. Compassion and communication are the keys to lasting love. Fantastic read.

I really like this book. As I too am a Sci Fi enthusiast and gay. I usually don't enjoy these stories because I can become invested in the stories because they don't ring true to me especially because I'm African American. There are seldom any stories like this for us on Audible even though I can find them easily on on Kindle. Because I have minor AD and somewhat dyslexic I prefer to pleasure read via Audible. But I found myself becoming invested in these characters anyway because of the writing. Great Job. I am checking through this authors books for another story to invest my time and heart into.

I loved this ebook and also loved the audio version. Although this is the third book in the series, it can be read as a stand alone. It is also told from both MCs POV. This is a very sweet, comfort read about Michael, who is a very sensitive nurse, who is also a sex therapist; in the best clinical way. He works for Dr. Jack who we met in the first book of this series. Both Michael and James are out and proud gay men, but have their own demons to overcome. Michael has a hard time finding love because of his sex therapist job and James has abandonment issue due to his mother abandoning him as a child when he contracted polio and loss the use of his legs.

This is my favorite book in the series as both Michael and James are great characters. There are not a lot of surprises and not a lot of drama with the main conflict being a failure to communicate. It is just a lovely story about finding love. The narrator does a great job in bringing the MCs to life.

The story is beautiful and felt authentic and titillating. Perfect balance of story and sexiness.