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The Boys

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The Boys

By: B L Maxwell
Narrated by: Guy Veryzer
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About this listen

Syd Dufort is heartbroken when he discovers his fiancé has been cheating. Not wanting to wallow in front of his family for the holidays he decides to take the trip they’d planned as a honeymoon. Upon arriving in Iceland during the dark of winter, he immediately questions whether it was such a good idea.

Caleb Mies takes extra care to help the man he meets at the airport who is also staying at the remote hotel his family owns. Their family has a yearly tradition that’s not for the weak or heart, or those who choose evil deeds.

Caleb is drawn to Syd in ways he’s never experienced, while everything in Syd tells him to avoid the man who has shown him nothing but kindness.

Both men are hiding secrets that will be revealed during Yule. A dark holiday romance.

©2025 B L Maxwell (P)2025 B L Maxwell Contemporary Romance Romantic Suspense Heartfelt
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Listener received this title free

This was intriguing and quickly had me hooked.
Syd is trying to recover from the shambles of his life after his now ex fiancé is caught cheating.
He heads off to Iceland to heal with the now defunct honeymoon trip.
He's picked up by Caleb, someone who maneuvered things to bring Syd to Iceland.
Syd also has a secret and both men need to divulge the truth to one another if they want any hope of a relationship.
I really enjoyed the immersion into Iceland and Scandinavian lore.
Guy Veryzer did an amazing job narrating and bringing these characters to life.

Dark Christmas PNR

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Listener received this title free

I have read a number of stories from this author. Most were sweet, small-town, low-angst reads. This story is different, with a touch of the paranormal, a little eerie, and a bit of suspense, but at it's heart, it's still a sweet romance between two people who need each other but don't know it. Syd is heart-broken after he discovers his fiance is cheating on him, but he decides to take the 'honeymoon' trip to Iceland they had planned, because it's been paid for. He begins to regret his decision when confronted with the dark and cold, and not knowing how to get around, but then Caleb, a man he met on the way, takes him under his wing and escorts him to his hotel which Caleb's family happens to own. Coincidence, or is there something more sinister going on? This is an engaging read, and Caleb and Syd are both so sweet. I loved how the dark and cold outdoor weather helped set the environment for a story that the author crafted into a tale of secrets, finding love, opening one's heart, and ultimately complete acceptance. Monsters are people, too, and love is love.

The narration by Guy Veryzer was a little too slow for me, so I sped it up to 1.4x, but his voice and expression of emotion were good, and suited the characters.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Monsters are people, too

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Listener received this title free

The Boys is a dark, atmospheric holiday romance that blends heartbreak, mystery, and slow-building tension against the stark beauty of an Icelandic winter. B.L. Maxwell creates a setting that feels isolating and eerie, perfectly matching the emotional state of a man running from betrayal and grief.

Syd’s decision to take his planned honeymoon alone immediately sets a somber tone, and his unease upon arriving in the remote hotel feels completely justified. Caleb, on the other hand, is warm, attentive, and quietly compelling, which makes the pull between them both comforting and unsettling. Their connection develops through subtle moments, layered with unease and unspoken truths.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

short engaging listen

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Listener received this title free

Audiobook - good job by the narrator, I liked the accents.
Story - 3 stars. A reasonable short listen, with a light version of a darker monster romance. The Yule brothers and their mother felt more like a nice family than a bunch of awful beings eating humans every year. What made no sense to me was Syd being able to see everyone in dreams - but not his apparently evil ex. I would have enjoyed it more if the ex had been there as originally planned 😉.

ok

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Listener received this title free

Iceland has a pretty dark and scary folklore tradition. The Yule Lads or Jólasveinar, were 13 troll brothers. In the modern retelling of the tales, the Lads are pranksters, scaring rather than eating children. BL Maxwell bases this story on the earlier myths, the ones where the Lads actually do eat people, giving it a modern twist. The Jólasveinar family own a resort outside Reykjavik, open to all year round except for the thirteen days/nights of Yule.
Syd Dufort was supposed to honeymoon in Iceland, a destination chosen by his fiancé. Syd called off the wedding after finding his boyfriend in their bed, with another man. The trip to Iceland was fully paid for, so he decided to go alone. Caleb Mies, one of the thirteen, spends his year in the human realm hunting Yule sacrifices and directing them to the hotel. He immediately realizes that Syd has a pure soul, and he'll do anything to keep him safe.
Guy Veryzer has an unique voice, best suited, in my opinion, to narrating paranormal. His gravelly voice had me at the edge of my seat, He caught Syd's angsty indecision so well. And Caleb was equal parts creepy and sweet.
The audio is only an hour and a half long. However, it packs one heck of a story.
I received an advanced copy of the audiobook and this is my review.

Dark Iceland

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