Page Against the Machine cover art

Page Against the Machine

A Mission City Gay Romance Novella

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Page Against the Machine

By: Gabbi Grey
Narrated by: Michael Dean
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About this listen

Dickens

My tranquility is shattered when a motorcycle repair shop moves in next to my bookstore. All I want is peace and quiet. What I get is gunning engines and '80s rock music. One of us has got to go, and since I was here first, it’s the hot mechanic.

SpikeI chose Mission City to set up shop because of the weekend-enthusiast riders. I’ve dreamed of owning my own shop for years, and no one is going to run me out of town. Least of all the adorable geek Bookstore Dude.

This 25k gay romance novella is a true instalove, enemies to lovers, opposites attract story with a cuddly cat named Aristotle.

©2022 Gabbi Grey (P)2022 Gabbi Grey Romance Feel-Good Heartfelt Geeky

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Listener received this title free

Gabbi Grey writes the best novellas! She always manages to paint an engaging picture, and Mission City, British Columbia sounds like such a charming place.

There's nice chemistry between Dickens and Spike, and it's fun to see how they overcome their differences to make a pair.

The audio version is performed by Michael Dean.

an audiobook copy of Page Against the Machine was provided to me for the purpose of my honest review, all opinions are my own

Wonderful Opposites Attract Romance!

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Listener received this title free

Michael Dean brings heart, tension and heat to this short story in Gabbi Grey's Mission City series. The voices he provides makes me fall more for the characters and their story than when I read the book myself.
I love the books from this series and the men who fall in love. The books are short and sweet but still with a good story, chemistry and a well written HEA.
Page Against The Machine is a great title that fits the two men of the book, bookstore owner, Dickens, and motorcycle repair shop owner, Spike. They do not get off to the best of starts which is funny, though not for Dickens, and has an air of enemies to lovers, especially considering how their next meeting goes. They are definitely an opposites attract pair, both physically and in needs, which actually works out perfectly for them both. Spike is surprisingly emotional and I love the way in which Dickens goes about caring for him.
I know this is a shorter story and so only happens over two or three days but the emotional development was a bit too quick for me, not feeling the love as quickly as they do but still a great read, entertaining from the start and I hope we hear more from Mission City soon.

Wonderful narration for this short story

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Listener received this title free

I loved this story when I read it with my eyes back in August. I loved it all over again listening to Michael Dean perform the story. There are many reasons that he is one of my favorite audiobook performers. Below is a copy of my original review since I can’t add anything to it other than how much I loved Michael Dean’s performance.

Original review:
I know not everyone likes them, but I enjoy instalove stories, having known several real-life couples where it worked out well. Dickens owns a bookstore and his peace and quiet is shattered when a motorcycle repair shop moves in next door. Spike has finally opened his dream: a motorcycle shop all his own. He’s a bit surprised at Dickens’ reaction to his new venture.

I love how this story flipped the usual stereotype of the smaller guy always being the bottom. Spike is a manly man but he loves giving up control and he’s happy to be a dedicated bottom.

This story starts out with a great hate-sex scene but soon turns in another direction. When Spike needs help Dickens is right there to offer assistance and that starts off a sweet and tender relationship. I really loved this story!

A complimentary copy of this audiobook was provided to me at my request and my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author and/or narrator.

Sweet with just the right amount of heat.

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Listener received this title free

Dickens and Spike's love story was a fun, lighthearted listen, but the storyline felt too rushed for me to fully buy into their connection. I was excited about the premise of some rival neighbors butting heads, but it didn't take more than a single argument before these men were turning their frustrations into sizzling physical chemistry. That didn't bother me, because I'm always down for some steamy hookups, but then shortly afterwards the two of them claimed to be feeling way more than I thought was warranted from their limited encounter. Yes, it was sweet that Dickens helped Spike through his heat exhaustion, but for me, calling it love after that felt premature. It didn't stop me from rooting for the two of them and wanting them to get their happy ending, but I wish they hadn't skipped over the "falling in love" part of the journey.

**I voluntarily listened to a free copy of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.

Small-town guys in love

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Listener received this title free

Michael Dean has an incredible range of voices.
Fast burn sudden attraction, partly enemies to lovers/opposites attract story.
There are arguments, then sudden attraction, then a full on romantic relationship ensues.
Interesting characters.
Quick Listen.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.

Opposites Attract

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Listener received this title free

This book is a romantic and sweet short story. I rarely say anything about a title usually, but this one fits just great. For one thing, there's Dickens, the bookstore owner, who is very stuck in his ways after all. On the other, there's Spike, a hotshot mechanic who runs a motorcycle repair shop. The two aren't too fond of each other at first, but that quickly changes and a relationship develops with a happy ending. I know it's only a short story, but for me, the two of them moved a little too fast, or rather, I think the feelings came up a little short for my liking.
What was awesome was Sunshine, a great side character.
Still, this was a cute book that I enjoyed.

This was also due to Michael Dean, who did a fabulous job as always. He gave each of the characters an appropriate voice, bringing the audiobook to life.

A sweet story

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Listener received this title free

I loved this sweet insta-hate/insta-love story. Is that a thing? It is here for Dickens (at least at first,) He hates the mechanic and his loud music and his loud motorcycles. But then lust takes over in a very sudden, very hot way, and he can't help himself. I love it when you have characters that you totally expect to be one way (meek, bookstore owner and hot, he-man mechanic) and they turn out to be not quite what you thought. I totally understood Dickens initial reaction to the noise and disruption of his new neighbor, but I loved how things changed when they got to know each other. I loved how caring and 'mothering' Dickens became when he decided Spike needed looking after. Great characters and a fun environment. Sweet, hot, and fast.

The narration was spot-on. I love the way Michael Dean infuses the characters with life and personality. A+++

I received a free copy of this audiobook through Gay Romance Reviews and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

Loved Dickens and Spike

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Listener received this title free

Independent reviewer for GRR, I was gifted the audio version of this book.

This sits, I think, after book 2 in the Mission City series. I have not read or listened to them. I did not think I missed anything by not doing, however, I would like to go back and read but preferably listen to them. Not because I need to, but because I want to.

Dixon's peace and quieting shattered when a motorcycle shop opens next door. Spike is owner of said shop.

What follows is a wonderful tale of not judging a book by its cover and of falling in love at that first meeting. Even if neither will admit to it!

It's sweet and smexy. It carries a huge amount of emotion for a short book, some one hundred pages, 2 hours 43 minutes listening time. Surprised me, that did.

There is something going on with a side character though, and my interest is piqued. And that's all I'm saying about that.

Michael Dean narrates. I'm mid way through a series narrates by Dean, a much darker, deadlier series. He nails that series. Here, I wanted to see how he dealt with a much shorter and fun book.

Nailed it!! It's a different delivery, I think. It's sweet and light and Dean's voices are appropriate for Dickens and Spike and I loved the emotion Dean gets across.

Can't fault the narration, at all.

4 stars for the book
5 stars for the narration.
4.5 stars overall, rounded down.

*same worded review will appear elsewhere

short, sweet and smexy!

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Listener received this title free

M/M
short story
instalove
Opposites attract

Story 4.5 stars
Narration 5 stars

As a Canadian reader I find it charming when I read books set in Canada. Though this depiction isn't entirely accurate IMO but I get mixing real life with creative development. Tim Hortons should pay advertising for this book lol. That aside I really enjoyed the plot from start to finish and enjoyed the world building. I loved the semi-psychic friend. This book can be read as a standalone but there is a bit of a spoiler at the end regarding the characters from The Lightkeepers Love Affair. So keep that in mind if you plan to read it.

I enjoyed both of the MCs. Dickens did come off as kind of a jerk for all of 5 mins at the very beginning that gave the book a enemies to lovers feel and I wasn't sure I would like him but they quickly changed their tune when they got a look at each other. This book was super sweet and the characters had great chemistry. There was medium steam and no angst. I loved that despite their outward appearances that they each had personalities in and out of the bedroom that were the opposite of each other and what I was expecting. Looks are deceiving.

I'm leaving off half a star because even though I dont mind fluffy, instalust/instalove books occasionally, this one felt to me abruptly rushed. It definitely could have been better developed. I do enjoy this authors other books but this one felt a little more choppy to me. It didn't flow as smooth.

The title was perfect for this combination of a nerdy bookshop owner and a motorcycle mechanic that liked to blast heavy metal and annoy each other.

I love Michael Dean. I could listen to his voice all day. He did a phenomenal job narrating this story expressing all the emotions and doing different character voices that suited each of the characters. This was such a pleasure to listen to.

Wonderful narration of this sweet short story

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Listener received this title free

Dickens and Spike (Fritz) are a fairly insta seemingly opposites attract couple. I like how Gabbi introduces and describes these men in such a way that they are truely likeable. And lets not Sunshine and the shop cat.
Michael Dean is always a great choice for narration. He gave a bit extra to all the characters.

Sexy and Sweet

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