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Lucky Man
- A Heated Beat Story, Book 2
- Narrated by: Dan Calley
- Series: A Heated Beat Story, Book 2
- Length: 4 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Mystery
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Summary
For a diehard music fan, a dirty, smoky gig is Vice Squad Detective Danny Jones’ idea of heaven. While watching one of the most popular bands in Northern England, the sight of gorgeous rock star Finn McGovern changes his life forever.
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What listeners say about Lucky Man
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Mari Cardenas
- 28-11-20
Not what I expected...
3.75 Stars
Finn is the singer for one of Northern England's most popular bands and Danny is a vice detective who happens to love music. It's attraction at first sight for both of them when they meet during a festival, even if Danny is surprised that a gorgeous man like Finn would even notice him. They get along great, though, and Danny discovers Finn is kind and sweet and nothing like the idea of a rockstar that he has. However, Finn has a secret, and revealing it to Danny might put a damper to any kind of relationship between them.
While I loved My Mate Jack, unfortunately, I can't quite say the same about Lucky Man. I liked Finn and I felt bad for him because of all he had to go through with his mental illness. I would've liked to read more about it, and less about the case Danny was working in. I can't say I liked Danny much, I just didn't feel his connection to Finn, and I didn't think he was as invested in their relationship as Finn was.
All in all, while the book didn't quite hit the mark with me, it was definitely well-written and the case was intriguing, even if as I said before, I would've liked to know more of Finn's illness and how it impacted their relationship. Still, it's worth listening to it, if nothing else because Dan Calley is amazing and he consistently delivers quality performances that I can't get enough of.
1 person found this helpful
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- Drew
- 09-04-22
A bit Disappointing Really
I’m really not sure what to make of this, the second book in the A Heated Beat series. Having enjoyed My Mate Jack immensely, I was hoping for much more of Jack and Will’s story than we got. However, they’re only minor characters in this book and we get no narrative advancement about the couple other than a simple reason why they are not living together, which made little sense to me. By the end of the book, we’re none the wiser to their relationship other than they’re still boyfriends.
I think the lack of their story advancement was my main reason for my disappointment, but it didn’t end there. The two MCs in this book didn’t really do anything for me nor did their storylines. Finn is a rock star who has mental health issues and Danny is a detective working in the vice squad. However, we don’t get much insight to Finn’s schizophrenia, nor do we get much in the way of a murder mystery story.
In all honesty, I couldn’t say that I disliked the story, but there was very little substance for me to enjoy it either.
The narrator has a very good reading tone and his character voices are consistent and you never have to guess who is speaking as he reads. I think it was that he read the book so well was the only thing that kept me going with this story.
I have listened to or read a couple of other Garrett Leigh books and while I didn’t enjoy this one so much, I am not put off from trying out her other works in the near future.
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- Properkook
- 13-12-21
Moving
I loved this story, and was very pleased by the covering of a mental illness. Too much stigma is still applied to people with mental health issues. Bringing out into the light, especially like this is really good.
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- Erryn Barratt
- 23-11-20
Finn and Danny
Lucky Man is the second book in the Heated Beat duo. I have to say I enjoyed this book more than the first because it brought out one of Garrett Leigh’s true talents – writing honestly and accurately about mental illness. She brings a keen understanding to what it’s like to be mentally ill and I feel her representations are accurate. As someone with a mental illness, I appreciate when the characters are real. I also appreciate that love doesn’t fix the illness and that people living with these conditions also deserve happy endings.
I’ll quickly mention the uneven narration style. This is not the standard back and forth alternative point of view chapters between the two heroes. That being said, it’s much more balanced than other books and I got a glimpse into both Finn and Danny’s worlds. Danny’s a cop. He takes a night off to see a band perform and is caught in the web of Finn whose voice and beauty are enchanting. They hook up and both wind up finding something they’re looking for. But Finn has a secret and if Danny can’t handle it, their relationship is doomed to end before it even begins.
Jack and Will from the first book in the series make appearances in this book as well and it was nice to see them so happy. I was surprised they weren’t living together full time, but the stories needed to be linked and making Jack and Finn flatmates worked. Finn and his issues were one part of the plot while the other was Danny and his work. He’s investigating the murder of prostitutes. Some of the women he’s gotten to know with his beat. When one murder comes a little close to Finn, things get all the more challenging. Things worked out, though. Bad guy caught? Check. Happy ending? You bet. Lovely book? Absolutely.
Finally, I’ll mention Dan Calley’s narration. I feel like Ms. Leigh and Mr. Calley are a couple made in narration heaven. His deeply resonant voice works with the sometimes-dark places where these books go. He handles the characters with concern and care. The book just works.
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- Debbie Attenborough
- 12-11-20
stunnign second book!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted the audio file of this book.
This is book 2 in the Heated Beat series, and while it's not NECESSARY to read/listen to book one, My Mate Jack, I think you SHOULD, cos , you know, I said so! Jack and Will pop up a lot, since Jack lives with Finn, but it's not needed to have their story before this one. But you know, THAT book was a 5 star listen too!
Danny has drooled over Finn on stage for some time. Meeting him, going home with him, gave him the best night of his life. But Finn has a secret and Danny has a stressful job. Can they make it work?
This is a much darker, dirtier, deadly listen than book one, but I loved it just as much, maybe a tad more.
There is powerful and instant chemistry between Finn and Danny, and it carries right through the book. Its hot and steamy, but equally, deeply emotional, for both Finn and Danny. Finn's health issues, and what that meant in his previous relationships, are his primary concern. Danny is dealing with a murderer who has been on a spree across the country.
Danny reaction to Finn's health issues were not what Finn was expecting, but still, Danny struggled with Finn a couple of times, especially when he had an episode (is that the correct term? ) but Danny rode it out, and did his best to understand. Some serious research into Finn's condition has been done for this book, I'm not saying what that is, because spoilers, but the level of research into treatments and how people suffering this condition cope shows here.
I LOVED that this book is set in Nottingham. As a Nottingham gal, I got all the places that were mentioned, and loved that the shortened, locally used names for places like The Queens Medical Centre (big hospital!) are used. Loved the references to local towns, and how far they are away from Nottingham and the correct distances/times are used. Proper made my day!
I did get the murderer all wrong. I had a fairly close to Finn character pegged as the bad guy, but that all went belly up on me, so well played!
Both Finn and Danny have a say here, and I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO glad they do! I think this one, especially, would have suffered had we not got them both, so thank you Garrett Leigh, for making my day twice in this book!
Dan Calley narrates again, and again, he knocks it out the park!
His voices for Will and Jack are spot on from book to book, but Danny and Finn's voices are perfect too. He gets over all of Danny's concern about the relationship, given that he isn't out at work. He gets over all of his concern about Finn when he has an episode, and how he deals with the aftermath. Calley gets over all of Finn's insecurities, and what's going on in his brain. I felt for Finn, listening to him have internal conversations with himself about Danny and his feelings for Danny, and where their relationship was going.
Mr Calley NAILS it, he really does.
5 full and shiny stars for the book AND narration
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
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- J. A. D.
- 14-07-22
Another great love story by Garrett Leigh+
I loved this story so much and Dan Calley as always brings the characters to life. He is one of my favorite audio performers and anytime he and Garrett Leigh collaborate it's always a 5 star listen!
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- Christina Wade
- 28-12-20
Good story, excellent performance as always!
As stated in my review of the first book, I could listen to pretty much anything Mr. Calley reads. He always does a fantastic job with all characters and accents – male or female.
I liked this one much better than the first one…the story, the characters, everything really. While there is a lack of communication, they solve it pretty quickly and move on from it.
Finn and Danny forge a complex relationship. Danny’s career has forced him to work long hours and become somewhat emotionally closed off which has shaped his personality. He’s really sweet and loving but it’s hard for him to be outwardly demonstrative. When paired with Finn’s paranoia due to his mental illness and his need for constant affirmation of the relationship, you have a natural intricacy that will make any relationship a challenge. Once they figure out how to have a relationship, I love them together.
This is definitely a good listen!
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- OldLadyStauffer
- 28-11-20
4.5 Stars - Heartfelt story w/great characters
Garrett Leigh is brilliant at creating a story around flawed characters. There isn’t anything perfect about Finn and Danny. Yet, I found myself captivated by their story, despite not having one case of the goofy grins I normally like to have with books I am reading. People are fascinating creatures, and Finn and Danny are no exclusion.
Finn is a talented musician, who just happens to have a mental illness bad enough that it gives a lot of people pause. Many don’t stick around. After meeting Danny, one night at the end of a gig, they hook up, and proceed to spend more time with each other. When Finn tells Danny, he doesn’t immediately run away, but he has his concerns. On top of that, Danny is under pressure on the job. He’s a cop, and someone is killing prostitutes under his nose. He’s got a lot on his plate and it’s taking a toll. Watching these men struggle with finding a balance, and a proper understanding of each other, is heartbreaking at times. I felt bad for Finn, because his battles with paranoia, and fear, are never-ending.
This story was well written, thought-provoking, and reminds us there are some unpleasantries in life, but it doesn’t mean that love can’t be found in them.
Dan Calley continues to amaze me with his narrating skills. He really nails the emotions of the characters, so you feel what they are feeling. You’re IN the moment with the characters. It’s one of my favorite parts of audiobooks. The ability to multitask is another!
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- Trio
- 24-11-20
Thrilling Mystery, Dan Calley is Amazing!
Garrett Leigh’s Heated Beat series includes the novels My Mate Jack and Lucky Man. Tied together through mutual friends, the two couples in these books struggle to find their happy endings. While there is some overlap of the characters between the two novels, you can definitely enjoy these stories as standalones, but I think you’ll get more pleasure if you read them in order.
Both of these classic novels are now available in audio, beautifully performed by Dan Calley. With his warm, rugged voice, Mr. Calley captures the emotion and enhances the intimacy between the men. And when Garrett Leigh turns up the heat, my earbuds just about melted. Fans of Dan Calley know what I’m talking about!
My Mate Jack chronicles the friendship of Will and Jack. Beginning with the joyous flirtations of youth as they test their mutual attraction, to the perfect moment when these two men let down their walls and reveal what’s in their hearts. This is a beautifully written friends to lovers tale.
With a relationship spanning years, Garrett Leigh demonstrates the passing of time, as well as the physical distance between the men, through their texts, phone calls, emails, and even letters. Hampered by poor technology, Will and Jack suffer through mixed messages, which just adds to their uncertainty about how the other man truly feels. Conveying anything honestly through texts and emails, especially after partying all night, is a recipe for disaster.
The angst continues to grow as they build separate lives, reconnecting at key moments, and breaking apart again. Yes, open and honest communication right from the start would have changed everything, but both of these characters had miles of growing up to do. Plus, it sets the stage for the next novel in the series, Lucky Man.
Very different in flavor, Lucky Man is a drama with a chilling mystery and deeply complex characters. A closeted police detective and a gifted musician, suffering from mental illness, grow from a casual hook-up to deeply committed lovers with non-stop action along the way.
From the moment Danny and Finn meet, the two men have amazing chemistry, and good Lord, Garrett Leigh outdoes herself! This is some superbly hot erotica, and Dan Calley makes the most of every bit of passion in the dialogue between these two. Rough, raw, and emotional, Lucky Man is a stunning audiobook.
If you enjoyed these novels back when they were first published, or if you’re a fan of Dan Calley’s audiobook narration, I know you’re going to love listening to My Mate Jack and Lucky Man. Here’s hoping Garrett Leigh releases all of her classic novels in audio!
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- ButtonsMom2003
- 11-11-20
Another great story and great narration!
This book got to me in so many ways. Danny and Finn hit it off right away but Finn has a secret that he's afraid will drive Danny away. As they become closer, he knows that he has to tell Danny. The reaction he gets isn't quite what he expected.
Danny is under a lot of stress with his job; he has to find out who is killing the prostitutes. His job begins to impact his relationship with Finn and they have things they must work through to get to their HEA.
I really loved this story. Garrett Leigh always handles books with mental illness in them with the perfect blend of reality and respectfulness and Lucky Man was no exception. Dan Calley turned in another fine audio performance. I really enjoy listening to his voice acting.
A copy of this audiobook was provided to me but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author/narrator.
***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***
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- Karen Hardy
- 29-10-20
If you saw my review for 'My Mate Jack'...
You can't tell me you didn't see this one coming...
While I really enjoyed 'My Mate Jack'...I absolutely loved 'Lucky Man'.
'Lucky Man' brings us back to the world of 'My Mate Jack' only this time Will and Jack are secondary characters as we get to know Jack's roommate...Finn McGovern and the man who ultimately wins his heart...Detective Danny Jones.
Finn's the lead singer for one of northern England's most popular bands. Danny's a cop whose idea of relaxing is involves smokey, grungy venues, filled with people all there for one reasons...music. When Danny first spots Finn, he can't look away but what he doesn't realize is that Finn's having the same problem.
While I really liked Danny and enjoyed the part of the story that revolved around him as a cop working on what could be the biggest case of his career. It was Finn who well and truly captured my attention and my heart.
Finn's a talented musician and a man dealing with maintaining a balance in his life that allows him to maintain the precarious hold that he has on his mental health. Mental health issues are often times either trivialized or sometimes it even seems like they're glamorized but with Finn we're given a real person...someone who could be living next door. He's not made to seem heroic for his efforts to have the life he wants nor does he feel like he's a failure when he has a setback. Just as someone would deal with a physical disability or a chronic illness, Finn is presented as a person dealing with a health issue and his happens to be a mental health issue.
This is an issue that the story treats with dignity and respect and while the story is fiction the reality of Finn and his condition are fact for many, many people in the real world and whether the story is a real one or fiction such as the case is here, this is a condition that needs to brought into the light.
As well as how Finn and his condition were presented I was impressed with the realism of Danny's response to Finn, when he was told about things by Finn. Sure he took a tiny step back but he didn't walk away and I know we can all say 'well he shouldn't have done that, he should have been ok with it.' but reality is how many of us wouldn't have needed to take a tiny step back to process this information because and I know it can hurt but for me, if I was in Finn's shoes I'd rather have that person walk away at the start than to let me love them even more and come to depend on them as a constant in my life and then when I truly needed them to have them walk away...that would be more painful than I could possibly imagine.
From Danny's side of things Finn also had some processing and decision making to do because being a police officer and being out and proud wasn't necessarily something that Danny felt prepared or ready to do and Finn needed to decide if this was something he could accept.
These two men worked hard to find their happy and in the end it was a much deserved happy that they won for themselves.
As was the case in 'My Mate Jack' all of this was wonderfully given voice and substance by the very talented Dan Calley and if there was any doubt in my mind before that Garrett Leigh + Dan Calley = an audiobook that I must have, there's none there now.
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An audio book was graciously provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.