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My Review:Title: Dauntless
Author: Victoria Denault
Series: In Vino Veritas #6
Published by: Heart Eyes Press LGBTQ
Release Date: September 22, 2022
Format: Audio ALC
Narrator: Teddy Hamilton, John Lane
Length: 7 hours and 27 minutes
Genres: Contemporary, LGBT, Romance
Source: Heart Eyes Press
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2022 Audiobook Challenge, Lenoreo's 2022 COYER Summer, Lenoreo's 2022 Diversity Reading Challenge
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon ✩ iTunes
My rating:
Blurb:He’s everything I’ve ever wanted, at the worst possible moment.
One and done. That’s always been my motto when it comes to guys, because I’m not about to pull someone else into the closet my parents have locked me inside. I’ve been waiting years to claim my inheritance and live the life I want to live–out, free, and oh yeah, rich.
So why is the universe dropping the sexy farm boy with the lazy smile into my life right now? When Bowen Whitlock says he’ll join my band, and later my bed, I know one time won’t be enough.
But loving Bowen is dangerous for me. And he has his own struggles, like keeping his family afloat and trying not to get fired from his job at Vino and Veritas. But he lives his life with an authenticity that gives me a tantalizing taste of living my truth.
My secret relationship with Bowen is everything, until someone betrays us in the worst possible way…
I received a free copy through Heart Eyes Press in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.
4 stars — This was a super easy read, filled with likeable characters and fabulous chemistry. I genuinely think I would have enjoyed it even more if I hadn’t been sick while trying to get it finished in a timely manner, so I almost wonder if it would have been even a 4.5 star.
First, let’s talk narrators real quick. Teddy Hamilton was solid as always. His voice is really easy to listen to, he has great emotion and pacing, and his voices tend to be pretty distinct…though I feel like I got confused more than usual this time, but that may be the dichotomy with the other narrator. This was my first listen of John Lane, and in general he was a delight to listen to — also great emotions and pacing. His different voices weren’t always as distinct and I would get confused about who was talking. I also think he went deep on voices I wasn’t expecting him to, and not necessarily the same ones that Teddy Hamilton did…but I’m also tired and getting over being sick, so take that with a grain of salt.
As I said at the beginning, our characters were pretty easy to like, and Bowen most of all for me. He was earnest, hardworking, authentic, and I appreciated how deeply his family tragedy had impacted him. He had a bonehead move or two in the book, particularly near the end, but for some reason I forgave him for it. Maybe it just fit with who he was, and showed who he was growing to be. I LOVED the relationship he had with his siblings, and how close they all were. The teasing was awesome.
Chase was just as likeable, but he was a bit more frustrating for me. I got where his…I was going to say hangups, but maybe fears is a better word? Anyways I got where he was coming from, but it was hard to watch him stumble over and over and not always see how he was coming across. For someone so seemingly put together in so many aspects of his life, he was unbelievably naïve and young when it came to his sexuality. It did make it satisfying when he made those steps we all were waiting for though…and it balanced him with Bowen I think.
They had great steamy chemistry from the start, but I appreciated that I also got to see their more develop and grow as the story went on. I really believed them as a couple…or a would be couple anyways.
There were some great baby twists I didn’t see coming near the end, so that was a delight.
And shout out to the aquafit scene! It’s not just for seniors, and I know I would have enjoyed that scenery too!
All in all, definitely recommend…and I can see trying to read it again when I’m in a better frame of mind to enjoy it more.
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