Sweet story

This book has two of my favourite tropes, fake boyfriend and gay for you. If you like these you'll love this.

Its a very sweet romance with low angst although there is a pain in the butt ex that tries to cause problems.
Dair is straight until he goes home with his roommate for a reunion posing as his boyfriend, as he experiences what being Robin's boyfriend is like he begins to question his sexuality. Robin was attracted to Dair when they first met and he was so cute trying to keep his feelings under wrap.

Robin's family were awesome and there was a real family feel throughout the book, there were many side characters who all added to the story and some definite set ups for future books in the series.

Nick Russo is one of my favourite narrators and he does another excellent job with this. Each character is clearly identified and he captures their personalities very well.

A very promising start to the Pine Cove series, I can't wait for the next one.

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Hot and Steamy narration

There are very few audios that will grab my attention from the start-this happens to be one of them. I found myself completely enraptured with the story as well as the narration by Russo. Welch has created a wonderful page turning story that sits with you long after the pages have been read. Russo keeps you anticipating for more.

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Super cute and sweet

Over all this was an adorable book. Both characters were super sweet and adorable together even before they were together and I enjoyed seeing their transformation from friends to lovers. I did find it a little slow and lost some of my attention in the middle but not for any specific reasons.

Nick did a great job with the narration and its a great easy listen

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Would have been perfect with less drama

I have a love hate relationship with this story as there’s so much unnecessary conflict and drama but I still loved it . Up until around 70% in I was quite enjoying myself. Is Robin very annoying and full of self doubt? Yes. Is Dair the most annoyingly sweet perfect man on the planet who you just want a version of? Most definitely. Is Nick J Russo absolutely perfect as the narrator? YES.

The book went from enjoyable fluff to telenovela levels of melodramatic in a quick second. Remember this story is meant to be about men in their later 20s but I had to keep reminding myself that as robin in particular came across as a boy in his teens. There was such a lack of communication that just lead to silly drama. Dair just had to be out of sight whenever Mac did something devious, Robin had to act like Mac was a changed man and keep ignoring red flags. Mac just had to be the biggest bogey man possible, I mean seriously his pathetic attempts at manipulation should not have worked but of course they did.

I really do love Dair as a character I just wish he hadn’t been so perfect. We’re expected to believe he’d only been with one woman ever, even whilst in the marines but he’s just so willing to accept that he might be bi and is completely okay with having sex with Robin. There didn’t feel like there was enough build up you know? Surely he’d have to think things through just a little more.

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2 people found this helpful

lots Of Changes.

MM, Fake Relationship, Friends to Lovers, Bi-awakening, Fantastic introduction to the series, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to their story and love how their relationship evolved. A stand-alone listen/read with a guaranteed HEA, a great story with lots of steam.

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Awesome

I really enjoyed listening to this book.
It is a great beginning to a new series.
Awesome writing, great characters and great narration.
I can’t wait to listen to what comes next.

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There is magic in this book!!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5 stars
🔥🔥🔥🔥 Heat Level: 4
🎧🎧🎧🎧 Narration: 4.5

There is magic in this book!!

There is just something about this book that weaved its way into my heart. The characters are wonderful, the story powerful, and while this is more of an everyday story, with everyday people, these characters are so real and special that they have made their way into my heart and I fell in love with them and their stories.

The story follows Robin as he heads back to his home town for his 10-year high school reunion and must face his (somewhat abusive and manipulative) ex. He and his housemates concocted a plan that Robin and seemingly straight roommate Dair will be fake boyfriends for the week to keep Robin’s ex away and help him feel confident to face his town again. As expected lines are crossed and feelings are confused but this is done so slowly and subtly, in ways that weave magic through the story and will endear you to these characters. Robin must face some harsh truths about his past and his ex that are hard for him but thankfully his friends, family and of course Dair is there for him. The love that blossoms between Robin and Dair is magical, believable and powerful. They come out stronger than before and the story compassionately explains bisexual, pansexual and gay for you wonderfully that you can’t help but get all the feels. I truly loved this story and look forward to more from Helen and more in this series!!!

Thanks for reading!

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excellent narration of a sneaky little book!

I was gifted my copy of this book direct from the author, that I write a review was NOT required.

This book landed right on my kindle when I was between bigger, heavier, darker books and it proper hit THAT spot, you know? The one that lets you fall into this book, and just read, and wile away a few hours while you recover from minor surgery. It landed, I read.

And I bloody LOVED it!

Robin has immediate attraction to Dair, right from the very first meeting but he doesn’t act on it, at all, cos Dair is straight. When Robin’s high school reunion comes up, he doesn’t really want to go, because it means he will come face to face with his abusive ex. When Robin’s best friend, Peyton, suggest he takes Dair as his plus one, Robin is not convinced it’s a good idea, but Dair does. It means Dair can get to know Robin better. THEN the suggestion is made for Dair to be Robin’s pretend boyfriend and things spiral out of control. Is Dair straight, or could he be bi? When Robin’s ex gets nasty, Dair knows what and WHO it is he wants, he just has to get there in time.

LOVED this, I really did!

It creeps up on you, and it’s sneaky the way it does.

The attraction that Robin has to Dair is powerful, right from the beginning, but Dair’s attraction to Robin sneaks up on him. It creeps and crawls when they go to Pine Cove, and to Robin’s family home. It sneaks up on him when he’s “pretending” and then it becomes a case of NOT pretending. He wants to touch Robin, hold his hand, kiss him. He WANTS more than those fleeting moments.
The thing with Robin’s ex, that sneaks up on you too! I did NOT see that coming out the way it was going, I really didn’t. I really thought he was trying to make amends! I did not think he was going to go as far as he did!
There is a sneaky thing going on with Peyton, Robin’s best friend, and his sister, Ava. Wonder how that will play out! There were lots of hints and clues and maybe I’m totally reading it all wrong but again, it’s a sneaky book!

It’s not overly explicit, but the physical relationship between Dair and Robin grows over time, so it doesn’t need to be. It’s got a bit of drama and angst with the ex, but not too much. Some danger to...well....just some danger in the book but not saying what.

It really was a thoroughly enjoyable, if sneaky, little book. But then again, its not even LITTLE! It’s just short of 300 pages, and I read it in one go.

Thank you, Ms Welch, for my copy. I hope I get to follow up with the people we met here.

Nick J Russo narrates.
I love Mr Russo’s work, and this is no exception!
His voices for Robin and Dair are PERFECT! They fit so well, they really do, to what I heard when I READ this book first. I do that a lot, know you, hear the voices and then when I find the book is being narrated, I hope my voices match the voices the narrator gives the characters and here I was no disappointed!
We get all of Robin’s instant and powerful attraction to Dair. We get Dair’s dawning realisation that he may not be as straight as he thought. We get all of Robin’s conflict with his ex and we get all of Dair’s terror when Robin is in danger.
Some of these come across when reading, but not all, and Russo nails the delivery!
His reading voice is deep and clear, and all the voices, for everyone, were different enough for me to have no trouble keeping up with multi person conversations.
I hope he gets to narrate the next books too. I need to listen to Troubled Waters, which is book two in this series.
5 stars for the narration
5 stars for the book
5 shiny, but sneaky stars overall

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**

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Wonderful New Series

My first experience with the writing of H.J. Welch, combined with a fantastic performance by Nick J. Russo, Safe Harbor is adorable. A fake boyfriend/gay for you romance with a hefty side of playful humor and even a touch of drama, it makes a wonderful audiobook.

Fans of this genre know how hard it is to create a plausible foundation, both the story and the characters have to be believable for it to work for me. Both men are in their late 20’s and are relatively inexperienced in the ways of romance. The nerd and the hunky military guy are a great pairing and both of these guys are sweet as heck.

Returning home for his ten year reunion, Robin needs a fake boyfriend to distract his aggressive ex. Drawn to each other from the get-go, it’s no surprise when his (straight) room-mate Dair volunteers for the post. As the two grow even closer, Dair’s realization that he’s pansexual is a natural progression for his character and works well in the story.

Ms. Welch introduces a host of creative and engaging characters who live in Pine Cove and I’m looking forward to finding out whose story is needs. I hope more episodes in this series are on the way!

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Coming home?

Nick J. Russo is an excellent choice for bringing the guys to life. I haven't had an audio narrated by him in quite some time, but this reminded me why he is one of my favourites.
I love this room mates/fake boyfriend trope combined with Robin's high school reunion. I love how he got to go home and be with his family. I enjoyed how Dair just stays close by even when they fight and he could just as easily leave.
I hated Robin's ex as the smarmy piece of work that he is and was glad to see him get a serving of just desserts in the end.
This is a highly recommended Contemporary MM Romance.

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