Fish Stick Fridays

So Gripping It Stole My Saturday

I'm not really the "write a review" type of person. My husband says I like to let the world drive past me. However, this audiobook was fabulous. It usually takes me a week or maybe more to get through an audiobook, but after about chapter three I was hooked. It may have been the fact that it centered around a little girl, Zig, who is about two years younger than my own daughter, and I could feel for the main character, Deacon, who was trying to wrangle his young niece out of her tortured past after getting custody due to a sudden death.

This is about the third MM romance I've read, and this one is much more about sincere romance, but not in an overly sexual way, more in a thoughtful and complicated way. It felt more sophisticated somehow, more nuanced. I give the author credit for how well she laid the groundwork for who these people were and the narrator is absolutely perfect. I could listen to this guy read a phone book. He gave such life to moments that I felt as if he might have been improvising...I even tried to engage Whispersync, but it's not available on this title to see if he was doing the dialogue word-for-word as written. I give him much credit...because it sounded like much of the dialogue was off the top of his head. Truly impressive and engaging. And the voices -- they seemed like different people. I was entranced. And, remember, one of the voices was that of an eight year old girl. Just fabulous.

So, yes...the woman who doesn't quite care enough to tell others what she thinks thought she needed to...so she...or, rather, I...did. ;-)

And, while I'll give no spoilers here, the way the final few chapters unfolded was perfection. It's probably what made me think to write this review. The author, Ms. Ford deserves much praise for her way with a pen, as does Mr. Goss who has a way with his voice that is simply sublime.

20 of 20 people found this review helpful

A Real Sleeper

Would you listen to Fish Stick Fridays again? Why?

Absolutely! In addition to a great story line and compelling, flawed but strong characters, the real revelation is Spencer Goss and his narration. Listening to a good book performed by a good narrator adds both depth and richness to the story.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Fish Stick Fridays?

There's a pivotal scene about halfway through the story where Deacon Reid and his 8-year old niece have a phone conversation that, on the page, is emotional enough. Hearing it performed is intense.

What does Spencer Goss bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Ha! Spencer Goss brings these characters alive. His Zig is spot on, but it's really the voice of Deacon that seals the deal for me. Deacon is written as a strong, down to earth man, but Spencer breathes life into his words and Deacon comes across as 'sex on a stick.' He's a character everybody wants to know.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Rule #1: Don't be an A$$hole.

Any additional comments?

Rhys Ford is on a very short list of authors I will auto buy, whether print books, ebooks or audio books. This book was a bit out of her normal 'wheelhouse', so to speak, but she knocked it out of the park. It's really fantastic storytelling.

13 of 13 people found this review helpful

love it

this may be my favorite Rhys book ever! I'm even MORE in love with this book after hearing the narration!
spencer was AMAZING

8 of 8 people found this review helpful

Spencer Goss knocks this out of the park!

Any additional comments?

Oh. My. God. I loved, loved, loved Spencer Goss' narration!!! I mean, where did this guy come from?!

Spencer Goss knocks this out of the park! HOME RUN! Absolutely FANTASTIC narration! I cannot wait to hear more from him!

Seriously, I haven't been this excited to listen to a new narrator since Matthew Shaw and Ezekiel Robison...and I think everyone knows how much I fangirl those two!

It doesn't hurt that the story itself it thoroughly enjoyable.

This story starts off with a BANG! and barrels through to the ending with only a few pauses to let you catch your breath. It’s exhilarating, invigorating, crazy, delightful, and exciting.

Bottom line: I had a rollicking good time reading this and will be looking forward to more stories set in Half Moon Bay!

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Great new narrator!

Rhys said to let you know our opinion...so...Fabulous job, Spencer! Pretty good range of voices in your repertoire. Hard to believe this was your first. Looking forward to hearing more from you.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Another great Rhys Ford story

I loved this book, and Spencer Goss's narration is just about perfect! If you like a little romance mixed in with you mystery, this one is highly recommended

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Loved it !!!!<br />

I loved listen the audio as much as i loved reading the book! Rhys Ford found another great narrator for her books.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Wrong Side / Right Side of Tracks Romance

Any additional comments?

This is another great book by Rhys Ford and equally great narrator choice. This book has a more family feel about it in the form of a little girl named Bobo Ziegfried AKA Zig or Ziggy. She forms the nexus of various murder plots that form the books action. The child is brash, capricious, occasionally rude, vulnerable, and totally charming. The child is bigger than life and may be a thinly disguised version of the author’s ultra-ego free and unchecked by social convention.

The handsome hunk hero of the book is her custodial Uncle, Deacon Reid. He oozes masculinity all wrapped up in a bad boy motorcyclist mechanic image. The catch is that he is now trying to be a responsible family man and fill the gaping hole in Ziggy’s life the death (murder) of her drug addicted mother left while keeping her out of the clutches of Child Protective Services system.

Lang Harris is the love interest, Reid has his eye on in the town of Half Moon Bay where he moves to give him and Zig a chance at a normal fear free forever after life. Harris is the image of cultured, settled establishment stability. Just the sort of safe harbor a boy from the wrong side of the tracks needs to build a future with for himself and his niece. But Harris has his own baggage he is coping with courtesy of a psychopathic stalking abusive ex-boyfriend who has just been released from prison without notice to Lang.

All of these elements are adeptly juggled in an entertaining plot that will keep the reader/listener focused on the, what’s coming next, driving force of the story line.
On top of this solid confection of masterful writing the author has baked is the rich lyrical descriptive couplet’s of icing she has sweetly laces and drizzles her story with. These passages are a joy to read and a pleasure to listen to by the capable narrator Spencer Gross. Mr. Gross has an unfortunate last name in that his voice is anything but gross. He successfully delineates the main and secondary characters with subtle shifts in tone and tambour in his rich vibrant masculine voice. His voice adds wings to the lyrical descriptive passages mentioned above.

It is a good read well preformed. Well worth the investment of the readers or listeners time.

15 of 17 people found this review helpful

Great story and good performance by Narrator

The story is really interesting. Big scary biker and mild mannered book store owner meet and make beautiful music together. Zig may be scarier, but she is really a jewel in the rough. Rhys Ford does it again.

Spencer Goss did a wonderful job bringing the characters to life and I am adding this book to my re-listen to list. If your looking for a book by a great author which is well performed look no further, Fish Stick Fridays is that kind of book.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

6 of 5 stars!

Deacon’s led a tough life, but he steps up to bat when his sister dies, leaving her daughter in the hands of social services. He knows that road and doesn’t want it for his niece. So he pulls his shit together and gathers up Zig, his 8 year old niece and begins to set down roots in a new town – where nobody knows him.

He moves from Atlanta to a small town in California and sets up a mechanic shop. He thinks he’s free and clear – but trouble has found him – even in California.

He meets Lang, another local business owner, down the street from his shop and through Zig’s fascination with his bookshop, they become friends, then more.

**

I think it’s funny that Rhys thinks this is her being “fluffy” – because – well there’s fire and bullets around every corner in this book!

There’s also some pretty rough spousal abuse and some pretty close calls with a murderer, too.

The romance, however, is fairly angst free – so I guess that makes it “fluffy” – if you want to call it that.

Rhys is an exceptional writer and storyteller – not everyone can do both – but she always manages to wow me with that ability. Reading her books is to delve in with all five senses and immerse yourself in her imagination.

I also learn stuff when I read because she’s so dang smart! I had to look up all kinds of things to get the humor in this book. Fafhrd, Sir Didy, Ludo and more. But I love that! I also saw many “easter eggs” and other fun stuff.

Deacon is a quintessential hero – he’s pretty perfect in every way. Zig is perfectly imperfect and she gives us lots of comedic fodder and pulls at our every heartstring.

There’s a great mystery in this story and a possible future story being laid (Lang’s brother) and a wonderful HEA.

Any fan of Rhys will love this, it has mystery, love, humor, sex and danger. Perfection!

Audio
Spencer Goss is a new narrator and he NAILS it! He does a tremendous job with Zig and also helps us keep all the characters differentiated. Spencer has a great sense of timing and really does the emotions well.

Highly recommended – he absolutely adds to the enjoyment of this story.

6 of 5 stars

1 of 1 people found this review helpful