Wonderful eyeopener :0

I am still pretty new to AudioBooks, and the different genres are defo what is giving me the most satisfaction in reviewing.

I was intrigued by the plot line to this book. Bull Fighting and a relationship breakup. 12 hours was a long time to be entertained for, so I had some trepidation on how the author would do just that.

I will admit, there was a little more sex than I've been used to, maybe it is because this is only the second M/M audiobook I've had the pleasure of listening to, and I've only ever read it before. The difference in the acting and hearing it is a lot. And yet, it's still really hot sex. haha.

There were so many good things about this book, that I'll struggle to list them, all but here are some of my favourite moments and not in any particular order.

- I've never been to a bull fight, nor seen a lot of it on TV, so the whole backstory around this sport, was very interesting and enlightening into something I think I might enjoy now, thanks to the great writing and narration.

- Speaking of the narration, Derrick gave both Jonny and Cody a distinctive and wonderful persona, and to be fair I even enjoyed Val, Davis, and everyone else. Great, soothing voice, and wonderful injection of passion and tension when needed.

- I have never been in a breakup, so, I don't really know what I would go out and do, and I can't really judge Cody and Jonny over their actions, I guess at least that Jonny kept himself from actually having physical sex with strangers, and that said a lot about him as a character as much as he still went out and enjoyed himself and met a fair wide variety of people in the summer, he still kept that for Cody.

I think the best part of his encounters has to be with March, because of the hotness and also because March is the one who talks Jonny into giving Cody a second chance and this talking really does make Jonny realise why he's miserable now and what Cody really meant to him.

Of course, the biggest Character Arc does come from Cody in the fact that he actually really comes to terms with everything that happened, that life is not all give to you on a plate and that things worth having are worth fighting for, and I'm not just on about his Bull riding.
Cody actually starts to listen to Jonny and see him as a person, not just his person. This was a very moving part to the story and I felt for every moment he was in pain over Jonny. Miserable but in a very relatable way, these two Mc's are so very real that you could never mistake them for fictional.

As I said, I did wonder how I was going to be entertained for the full length of this book, but the action never really let up either. There was constant, worry and strife for both these MC's and towards the ending, where two of the moments I enjoyed the most. Where Dub, talks Cody down in the locker room. And where Cody give Jonny the pendant :)

The bull riding never lets up and neither does Cody's buck off streak into the finals and off his first ride. The fact was with this story I just never knew if Cody was actually going to win the Championship, and of course I was glad he did. It was amazing to listen to and be there for the both of them. Worrying over his knee injury and how he would dismount. Fab job on both story and narration as the tension just never lets up.

Towards the end, I was a little concerned that the story didn't end with the bull ride. But pleasantly surprised that it continued into the bittersweet resignation of Cody and revelation of the pendant, and his sheer love for Jonny in the fact that they would get married (if it were legal) so heartbreaking. I really did want both these characters to realise that there would still be love for them after their careers are over, and they kinda said this, more so Jonny when he ays he'd love to still have a ranch together. I just think it was swept under the carpet a little too much at the end, and it should have been more realise.

But, overalI really enjoyed this, and I will be looking out for more novels by Catt Ford and narration by Derrick.

Thanks to both of you, for a wonderful glimpse into Bull Riding and Bull Fighting and for whisking me into the world of these fab characters this week.

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1 person found this helpful

Sweat and Sawdust

Well narrated. Nothing cowes this tale of competition between man and bull, and BS and man. The MCs grow in experience and knowledge as they learn to cope through difficulties and adversity of birthright and biology. You can almost smell the arena, the stock and the sweat in this real rodeo action drama. The romance is well handled and last longer than 8 seconds.
ENJOYABLE

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Some dull moments, but marvelous characters

The first 20% were kind of dull, with too much rodeo explanation for me. Then the story took off and I enjoyed every moment because of the great secondary characters and Johnny. At 50% I had to bide my time when the Disney Cars trope unfolded. Fine for preschoolers, but too preachy for adults.
The narrator has a great voice. He could add more emotion in the story, but that does not lessen my enjoyment.

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