AUDIO REVIEW: 'September' by Robert Winter
Title: September
Series: Pride and Joy #1
Author: Robert Winter
Narrator: Kale Williams
Published: October 31, 2017
Audio: February 7, 2018
Publisher: Self-Published/Robert Winters Books
Cover Artist: Dar Albert/Wicked Smart Designs
Genre: Contemporary Romance; Erotic Romance
Length: 304 Pages/10 Hours and 1 Minute3
Tags: Gay; M/M; May/December; Second Chance; Comfort/Hurt; Disability: Amputation; HEA; Audiobook
About September
A May-December contemporary gay romance for lovers of second chances.
David James is smart, successful, handsome… and alone. After the death of his lover, Kyle, from cancer, he buried himself in his law practice and the gym. At forty-eight, he is haunted by his memories and walled off from the world. When David injures himself working out, he’s assigned to Brandon Smith for physical therapy. The vibrant young therapist is attracted to David and realizes he needs a hand to get back into dating. What begins as a practice coffee date escalates to friendship, passion, and maybe something more, as they navigate a new relationship in Washington, DC, and the gay mecca of Provincetown.
But David remains trapped behind the barrier of fear and guilt. Will he remain loyal to Kyle’s memory if he moves on? Can he and Brandon manage a twenty-two-year age gap? Brandon thinks he understands David’s concerns, and for him, the answer to those questions is yes. He wants to be with David, and he believes he can overcome David’s barriers. But Brandon fails to account for the world’s reaction to a handsome young man attached to an older, wealthy lover.
David’s memories, Brandon’s pride, and an unexpected tragedy might cost them something very special…
REVIEW:
In his novel September Robert Winter blends passion, heartache, and hope to create a powerfully moving romance. Beautifully written, with deep and engaging characters, this first book in his Pride and Joy series touched me so much I had to read it twice at its original publication. There are scenes I still can’t get out of my mind.
When I saw September was being made into an audiobook I knew the narrator would have his work cut out for him. I was curious to see how they would capture the essence of these unique men and bring their story to life. Robert Winter’s eloquent writing style would also have to shine through, so the story teller would need an expressive, melodic voice. I knew it was a tall order but if it could all come together, the audio version of September would be a winner. I am not disappointed!
In his novel September Robert Winter blends passion, heartache, and hope to create a powerfully moving romance.
I’ve got to begin by describing what made this intense and moving story so special to me, and then I’ll share how Kale Williams won me over.
The story starts with David, two years after his longtime partner Kyle has passed away from cancer, thinking he might be ready to start dating again. When Brandon, his hot (and very young) physical therapist, starts flirting with him, David can’t deny the attraction and the two men agree to get together for coffee.
Told in alternating points-of-view we get to know how each man is feeling as they navigate their way through the challenges of their blossoming relationship. Despite the twenty-two year age gap, the disparity between their financial situations, and dealing with their friends’ reactions, they can’t deny their powerful chemistry. Putting it all into perspective David says, ‘“This time with you is a gift, Brandon. I have some money, sure, and so much stuff, but it really means nothing… You’ve reminded me I’m still alive.’” Both men can see the possibilities for their future and recognize they have to work through these issues to get there.
Kale Williams definitely showcases all his skills in his narration of September. He brings these characters to life and demonstrates that he truly understands these complex men and how they change over the course of the story.
There’s no way I could review September without raving about the powerfully erotic scenes between David and Brandon. The depth of the connection between these two men is evident from their first kiss. As they open up to each other both physically and emotionally, they achieve a level of intimacy that’s incredibly intense. Robert Winter captures the passion of these two men in some of the most sensual and romantic scenes I’ve ever read (trust me, there are bookmarks all over my Kindle).
I also have to say how much it moves me to have Kyle be a part of this story. The way David hears Kyle’s voice giving him encouragement and gentle admonition shows the depth of their connection, and how important that relationship will always be. It’s one of the most appealing aspects of David’s character, that he can cherish his love for Kyle and still fully embrace his love for Brandon.
Kale Williams definitely showcases all his skills in his narration of September. He brings these characters to life and demonstrates that he truly understands these complex men and how they change over the course of the story. His expressive voice enhances the emotion and elevates the story to a higher level.
The smooth cadence he uses to tell the story works well and leaves him room to play with David’s confident, relaxed tones and Brandon’s mild Texas twang. There are also a number of supporting characters and Williams keeps them all unique with a wide variety of accents and inflections.
This really is a special one, and Williams elevates these men’s journey in a way that reading alone just can’t do.
Where Kale Williams really goes above and beyond is in Kyle’s scenes. As a character in the periphery, who we know only through others’ eyes, Williams shows us a man who has experienced real love, brings him to life, and adds a dimension to Kyle I just didn’t get from reading it alone. These are some truly heart wrenching scenes, the emotional pinnacle of the story is amazing and completely tore me up when I read it. If Kyle’s letter doesn’t move you to tears, the epilogue will surely slay you, and Kale Williams brings it home with aplomb.
Robert Winter is an amazing writer and I think the most impressive thing about his talent is that every one of his books is completely unique. He embraces the essence of whichever genre he’s crafting, making his books more fascinating to read. If you haven’t yet discovered this wonderful author I encourage you to pick up any one of his stories and I promise you’ll find something to love.
Finally, if you are like me, a die hard fan of September and are on the fence about investing in this audiobook, I can’t stress enough how much Kale Williams adds to the story. This really is a special one, and Williams elevates these men’s journey in a way that reading alone just can’t do. It didn’t surprise me to find out he has a background in acting, he added an extra layer of intimacy with his narration and brought out nuances I hadn’t even realized were there.
An audiobook of September was provided to Kimmers’ Erotic Book Banter, by Robert Winter, at no cost and with no expectations in return. We offer our fair and honest opinion on behalf of our readers.
Amazon/KU/Audible
Meet the Author
Robert Winter lives and writes in Provincetown, Massachusetts. He is a recovering lawyer who prefers writing about hot men in love much more than drafting a legal brief. He left behind the (allegedly) glamorous world of an international law firm to sit in his home office and dream up ways to torment his characters until they realize they are perfect for each other. When he isn’t writing, Robert likes to cook Indian food and explore new restaurants. He splits his attention between Andy, his partner of sixteen years, and Ling the Adventure Cat, who likes to fly in airplanes and explore the backyard jungle as long as the temperature and humidity are just right.
For more from Robert be sure and visit his website.
