AUDIO REVIEW: 'Moment of Truth' by Karen Stivali
Title: Moment of Truth
Series: Moments in Time: Book Two
Author: Karen Stivali
Narrator: Robert Nieman
Cover Artist: Anna Sikorska
Published: March 4th 2015
Release Date: July 11, 2016
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Genre: Contemporary Romance; New Adult
Length: 3 Hours and 47 Minutes/113 Pages
Tags: Gay; M/M; Light Angst; Coming Out; College; Friends to Lover; First Time; HFN; Novella; Audiobook
BLURB: Collin expected to spend another summer fixing cars and working at the college pizzeria. Instead, he's living in a beach house on Fire Island, waiting tables at a hip seaside restaurant and, for the first time since he and Tanner got together, they can publicly be known as boyfriends. Being "out" takes some getting used to, but with the help of new and old friends, Collin is happier than he ever imagined. And more in love. But newfound freedom brings unexpected challenges, and when friends get flirty, old insecurities arise. Moments of doubt and jealousy threaten their happiness, and Collin and Tanner must confront the truth or risk losing it all.
See Tracy's review of Moment of Impact HERE!
REVIEW:
Through Robert Nieman’s narration of Karin Stivali’s Moment of Truth, book two in her Moments in Time series, it felt as if I were right there with the characters as they learned to navigate a new relationship.
I feel as if through the marriage of author and narrator they portrayed just what it’s like to be a 19 year old, having a boyfriend and coming to grips with losing your family because you came out to them.
To fully immerse yourself in this latest installment it is very important that you read the first book in the series, Moment of Impact.
As spring semester ends Collin and Tanner find themselves spending their summer on Fire Island, both working for the same local restaurant where Tanner has been a waiter for the past few summers.
Collin is equal parts nervous and excited. Although Tanner has assured him that they can be out all summer, Collin is just coming to terms with being out. The idea of being his best friend Tanner’s boyfriend, let alone having a boyfriend, is a little overwhelming. But Tanner means the world to him and so he goes with trusting his heart.
Tanner and Collin rent a giant home on Fire Island with friends. Which proves fun with all the different personalities. Of course when you have that kind of mix there is bound to be some conflict and drama.
Example: One of their housemates, Maggie, flirts outrageously with Collin making him uncomfortable even as he brushes her off. Then there’s their mutual friend from school, Wendy. Although she can only come up on weekends she is seeing housemate, Dex, who is very wealthy and…..let’s just say he pretty much spends most of his time at the beach or lounging around the house. And there are the few others who are there but don’t really play such a big role in the story.
Having been happy to learn that Robert Nieman, who narrated book one, was also doing this book, I knew he would do a tremendous job at conveying all these different characters and their charms. I was not wrong, he really makes them shine!
Nieman was also able to make me feel Collin and Tanner’s pain as they dealt with some major drama during this story. It was genuinely heartfelt.
During Moment of Truth Collin and Tanner both grow more, sexually. They take their relationship to the next level. And the steam factor here is off the charts! Though they may have many sweet and tender moments, they also have sexual heat that totally comes through in Nieman’s narration.
The Moment of Truth is portrayed in a very real and honest way. Stivali has an art of writing that just rings true and with Robert Nieman narrating, the story absolutely comes to life.
Collin and Tanner are every young gay couple trying to be together while navigating unfamiliar feelings: Jealousy, self-doubt and hurting the one you care about the most.
Having had to deal with some real relationship issues throughout this tale I felt that by the end they had both pulled through the bumps stronger than ever. I’m eagerly looking forward to the next book in this series.
An audiobook copy of Moment of Truth was provided to Kimmers’ Erotic Book Banter, by Dreamspinner Press, in exchange for our fair and honest opinion.
Karen Stivali is a prolific writer, compulsive baker and chocoholic with a penchant for books, movies, and fictional British men. She's also the multiple award-winning author of contemporary and erotic romances. She writes novels about love...like real life, only hotter. Karen's lifelong fascination with people has led her to careers ranging from hand-drawn animator, to party planner, to marriage and family counselor, but writing has always been her passion. Karen enjoys nothing more than following her characters on their journey toward love. Whether the couples are m/f or m/m, it’s guaranteed that Karen's novels are filled with food, friendship, love, and smoking hot sex—all the best things in life. When Karen isn’t writing (and often when she is), she can be found on Twitter attempting witty banter and detailing the antics of her fruit-loving cat, BadKitteh. She loves to hear from readers (and other writers), so don't hesitate to contact/follow/like her at:
