A sweet historical gay romance

I have been waiting for this book to get an audio release for a long time and grab it the moment it went live. Keira wrote a beautiful romance between two wartime buddies during WWII. Their past was written in flashbacks chapters and you can really feel the bond between them built over bootcamp and fighting together. It’s a low angst and sweet story and John Solo did an amazing job narrating it. He brought the gung-ho and cocky exterior of Cal to the tee.

3 people found this helpful

Narration elevates an already amazing story

I grabbed the ebook when it was on sale a few weeks ago knowing the audio was coming. Depending on how much you're paying for credits, it still may be less expensive to purchase the book and utilize whispersync discount pricing.

Wow! I'm already a fan of Keira Andrews' work, but this is a whole new level of storytelling. This is ALL. THE. FEELS. What I love most is that Andrews uses historical events, laws, and attitudes of the time period in a realistic and relatable way. Jim and Cal are humans in their triumphs, faults, and love. I felt fully immersed in the war in a way seldom found in romance novels.

I'm not a fan of switching back and forth between time frames (alternates between active service in WWII and post-war life in Tivoli, New York), especially with the added alternating of character POV's. However, I think the juxtaposition of Jim and Cal's developing friendship with their later romantic relationship adds an interesting depth to the story that wouldn't have been achieved otherwise.

As with all Keira Andrews stories, we get an HEA.

John Solo does a spectacular job here. I'm not sure if it was intentional, but he has this almost "radio announcer" affect to his voice, without being an over the top caricature. It gives an added immersion into the time period I'm not sure any other narrator would have achieved. Cal & Jim each have their own definitive sound and you always know who is speaking. Even secondary characters have particular and consistent voices. Perfection.

Trigger Warnings (possible spoilers):
[While she isn't egregious, Andrews does detail war with necessary reality & historical accuracy including death, fear, mutilation, racism/ethnic slurs and what we now would label PTS. This book is set in a time when homosexual acts were a crime and people's language, attitudes, & behavior reflect that.

2 people found this helpful

all the words

I just finished the audio of this fantastic journey. I never talk about a book's plot, just how it made me feel. It had all the words and all the feels...not all good but necessary for the story. And it's an epic story of love in a time when there was so much evil in their world. Historical romance in a time of war, innocence, evil, denial, ignorance.....we've come a long way. Hot!! Trigger for those with war PTSD, a bit of graphic violence related to war. I'm dreading this book hangover with no regrets. Excellent narration.

2 people found this helpful

Amazing!

Keira Andrews is one of my favorite authors.
I read this story a while back and quickly fell in love with the characters!
I love military stories and this one was well done!
John Solo is fast becoming a favorite narrator of mine.
His portrayal of Jim was fantastic and so believable.
I love the hopeful glimpse we get into the future of Jim and Cal.
10 stars all around for me!!

1 person found this helpful

Highly recommended

The beginning was a little slow but this is one of the best I’ve listened to. Each Chapter makes you want more. There are hot scenes but this tugged at my emotions more which I enjoyed.

Wonderful, poignant, WW 11 era.

There is so much I loved about this story.
Filled with bits of post war, rural farmlife and 1940's nostalgia, this book lets the reader sink into the 1940's with ease.
I loved loved Cal Cunningham. What a sweetheart of a man. His humor, kindness, love and loyalty came through every moment of the story.
Apple orchard owner, Jim Bennett, who is Cals best friend , battle buddy and
eventual businesspartner. Jim is less easy to like. I do understamd his fear and reluctance to have a relationship with Cal, given that homosexuality is very much illegal at the time.
But it was much harder to empathize with him when he offers very little
comfort, understanding or kindness to Cal, his internal homophobia soo deep he can't even give small words of gratitude for Cal's unwavering loyalty and friendship.
When he finally admits his love to Cal, it comes at the very end of the story and it is lovely and hopeful, but still a little late.
I adore vintage settings in MM romance and Kiera Andrews really brings the era alive, the ww11 flashbacks were gritty amd grim, and realistic. Post war farmlife vivid.
John Solo's narration perfect, he brightly brings all the characters to life.

Riveting and heartwramingly, heartbreakingly real!

What a grand tale this is! I like war stories, but I was never especially interested in love stories from the WWII era...until now. This sweeping tale of friendship and love between fellow Marines who meet as raw recruits in 1942 on the train to boot camp drew me in from the beginning. The writer's use of a dual timeline -- the war years and the home years -- was a brilliant idea, well-executed and authentic in every regard. The story is entirely historical, since when it ends, with Sophia as a college student, it is still only 1957. Calhoun "Cal" Cunningham III and Jim Bennett become fast friends as they weather boot camp with the irrationally mean-spirited DI Sargeant Tyrell, whom I freely admit I hated with a passion and wished to see great harm come to. He had a particular bee in his bonnet where Cal was concerned, and I loved how Cal never let the jerk see him sweat. He earned my respect immediately because he knew who he was, what he was worth (and I don't mean financially), and that kindness paid the greatest dividends.

How he and Jim, now a widower, end up living together in Jim's home on Clover Grove Orchard, which Jim owns, with Jim's two children, is a further demonstration of the kind of man Cal is. Having no interest in his father's banking business (because he does not see his wealth as defining who he is) and needing to find a sense of purpose, not to mention having a long-standing but secret love for his fellow Marine, Cal goes to help Jim get the orchard ready for the season when the man who had been working for him leaves without notice. Cal's presence stirs up a hornet's nest of emotions, from fear to self-loathing, to love. Along the way, Jim discovers what he's been hiding from himself with Cal's help. I'm much more of a Cal fan a Jim fan, though I fully understand his trepidation and confusion, and the many times he pushes Cal away are totally reasonable. A well-wrought story artfully told and well performed. I listened to it although I have an ebook version, and I'm glad I did. This will be another re-read/re-listen for me.

Must listen!

This story is so full of feels! Just what I needed! Keira! hard to put into words how much I loved this book! John did an awesome job with the narration! Kathy S.

1940s love story, tense sometimes but terrific all around

I cared so much about the characters from toddlers to retirees. They are well drawn and sympathetic.

Like all her books,Keira Andrews this story was well researched and perfectly evokes the 1940s both with Marines in World War II pacific front and on upstate New York farms.

I had to put the book away for a while once I started the epilogue, because I feel so sad to be separated from these beloved characters.

The stoy is a common trope, the youngish perdibyrecognizing that they are queer , dealing with societal and internalized homophobia to.to Finally Rich self acceptance and a meaningful romantic relationship.

Despite its familiar literary trajectory, it depicts my own frightening epiphany and those of countless others.

Just beautiful, Wonderful Performance by JS

What an absolutely stunning novel! Keira Andrews shows the couple as they build their friendship on their way to war in the Pacific, with their growing love affair as they reunite after the war in upstate New York.

Fascinating scenes of war alternate between charming, homey scenes at the apple farm. Plus, we get the bonus of Andrews' spectacular romances scenes. Just wonderful.

John Solo narrates the audiobook and turns in a thoroughly stunning performance.