Troubled Waters cover art

Troubled Waters

Pine Cove, Book 2

Preview

Audible Standard 30-day free trial

Try Standard free
Select 1 audiobook a month from our entire collection.
Listen to your selected audiobooks as long as you're a member.
Get unlimited access to bingeable podcasts.
Standard auto renews for £5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Troubled Waters

By: H.J. Welch
Narrated by: Nick J. Russo
Try Standard free

£5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for £14.99

Buy Now for £14.99

About this listen

Scout Duffy doesn’t know what’s worse. The fact that his scorching one-night stand is his bratty new client, or the fact that he doesn’t even remember Scout. But beneath all the bravado, Scout can see Emery is terrified, and he’ll do anything to protect him from his attacker. If only he would lower his walls and let Scout into his heart as easily as he lets him dominate in the bedroom...

Being out and proud his whole life means Emery Klein has never been safe. But now, his charity work and social media fame have put a target on his back from bigots, and his friends force him to hire a private bodyguard. Emery doesn’t need to be judged by some straight former boxer, but his attraction to the gorgeous hunk is insatiable. When Emery finally recognizes Scout, they can’t keep their damn hands off one another, if only for as long as Scout’s in town.

There’s a reason Emery never looks too closely at the men he sleeps with, just like there’s a reason Scout lives out of a suitcase in motel rooms. Will two men hiding from hurt realize the love that could heal them both is right in front of them? Or will Emery’s attacker take everything before they have the chance?

Troubled Waters is a steamy, stand-alone gay romance novel with a guaranteed HEA and absolutely no cliff-hanger.

©2019 H.J. Welch (P)2019 H.J. Welch
Contemporary Contemporary Romance Literature & Fiction Romance Heartfelt
All stars
Most relevant
I was a bit wary about this book at first, but H.J. Welch did a fantastic job balancing the chemistry between Scout and Emery and the suspense of finding out who was stalking Emery, and let me tell you, it was quite a twist that I didn't see coming at all, and maybe because of that, I enjoyed it all the more.

Loved Scout and Emery and though things weren't all that great at the start, seeing that Emery didn't remember Scout had been his one-night stand just before the first attack, and Scout feeling a bit hurt that he hadn't been all that memorable for Emery, they managed to move past that. I also liked that Scout wavered between giving in to his feelings and his job as Emery's bodyguard, it made it more realistic to me.

Nick Russo was awesome as always, he brings a lot of emotion into his narration and his voices are just so distinct and I was thoroughly impressed at how the suspense of some scenes came through in his performance. This has got to be one of my favorites of his in my ever-growing list from his narrations. Very recommendable!

Really enjoyed this one!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Scout and emery's journey was such a beautiful intense moving powerful meaningful and had me captivated from start to finish

Nick I russo did such a incredible and beautiful job of bringing scout and emery's story to life i felt everything in this story i loved every moment

One minute i was laughing the next i was crying i loved every moment

Beautiful incredible moving

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

sad, sassy and a little scary, but all together amazing... kept me on my toes like all the other amazing stories...thank you for writing and the narrator is one of my favourites 😍

fabulous

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

This is book 2 in the Pine Cove series, but you don’t NEED to have read book one, Safe Harbor, before this one. But you NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED (emphasis on the long E and there IS a difference!) to read it. Cos, you know, that is a darn sneaky book and because I bloody well said so!
This is maybe not so sneaky, cos everything is laid out for you, but still a fabulous read!
Scout is surprised when his awesome hook up turns out to be his new client. But Emery doesn’t remember him, so Scout keeps quiet. He wants to keep Emery safe while they figure out who is sending the threatening emails. Something deep in him NEEDS to keep Emery safe, and he needs to keep his hands off. But when Emery remembers, he goes all out to get Scout back in his bed, in his life and his heart. He just needs to stay alive long enough.
We met Emery in book one, he is Robin’s best friend from school. He is out and proud and very fem. He is who he is, and stuff everyone else. He is an Instagram star, but he is so much more too. But people don’t see that side to Emery, he doesn’t let many people in. Scout is very much a man’s man: big and bulky, ex-boxer, but he loves fem guys. That’s why Emery caught his eye in the club, that first time. Why Emery continues to push Scout’s buttons while they try to figure out what’s going on. Why Emery continues to PUSH Scout, in every which way. Why Scout pushes Emery to open up, to talk to him. Why Scout’s heart breaks when Emery pushes him away. Why Scout’s heart damn well stops when he realises the danger Emery has walked into.
I loved this; I really did! I’ve been in such a book slump for a while, and this book, this deliciously sexy, heart stopping book, was just the book I needed to get me out of it!
Emery is such a character! I loved him in Safe Harbor, and I fell in love some more with him here. He is so much more than the image he presents to the world; he really is. You don’t see that in book one, but here you get the full Emery experience and I loved it! Scout is quite a character too, just not quite so in-yer-face as Emery is.
Emery is very clear about what and who he wants, and so this book is somewhat more explicit than book one, but I ain’t complaining, no ma’am, I ain’t! A tad more violent though, what with car bombs, and nutters, and things but I think they are needed here, they really are.
Both guys have a say, and both voices are very different. I need to listen to this now! I heard Emery’s voice in my head, but it wasn’t *quite* right, and since we don’t get Emery is all his glory in Safe Harbor, I need to listen to hear him fall apart when Scout touches him, when it all goes down, and when things are settled after.
Ava, Robin’s sister, plays a part here, and Robin, Dair and Swift, (eldest brother to Robin) pop up. So pleased about that!
There is the blurb at the back of this one for the next book, and THAT threw up a surprise! So, can’t wait to get my hands on that little baby!
I read this in one sitting, I was totally engrossed!

Nick J Russo narrates and he NAILS it, he totally does!

5 full and sparkly stars
5 stars for the narration
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**

excellent book 2, excellent narration!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Absolutely loved this story, such a great follow up to book one. There's the same small town with great characters but even more added to the mix. From the first chapter there is a hot chemistry between Emery and Scout, then once we dive into the story there is drama, tension, mystery and a lot of attitude from Pine Cove's favourite brat.
Emery has gained himself an unwanted follower and Scout has been hired to protect him, also unwanted by Emery. That is until things escalate and there's no denying the danger he's in.
Between the two of them is sizzling sexual tension, right from the beginning but there's a little more to their history than Emery remembers and Scout doesn't have it in him to reveal all. Emery clearly loves and cares for those close to him but has walls up against anyone new which has occurred because of bullying and how he fits into society. He is bratty and snarky which was occasionally a little much but a perfect match for Scout. Scouts main aim is to keep the man safe, whether they get close or not. The plot thickens as they struggle to discover who is after Emery but with Emery not being the most willing person in need of protection makes Scout's job much harder. He clearly has the brains and the brawn to protect him whilst also needing to protect his own heart.
I love Pine Cove in the way it's full of love and acceptance which you can feel from so many characters, those important to this story as well as regular town folk.
HJ Welch has built up a really great storyline that has several elements working well together and it was a constant guess who as to the suspect. It all crashed together with drama and action with a healthy dose of attraction and friendship from those who love Emery and want what's best for him, whether he likes it or not.
I definitely recommend listening to Troubled Waters. It can definitely be heard as a stand alone but I loved book one too so am recommending the whole series as you gradually get to know all of the characters in Pine Cove.
Again, Nick has done a fantastic job with narrating the characters and the story. Emory is given the perfect voice with attitude sass and vulnerability whilst Scout has his protectiveness, determination but softer side. There's a lot of emotion with highs and lows that Nick gives a great amount of detail to and really draws you into the story right from the start. Very easy to listen to!

Beautiful story with amazing narration

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

See more reviews