AUDIO REVIEW: 'Bonfires' by Amy Lane
Title: Bonfires
Author: Amy Lane
Narrator: Nick J. Russo/Dark Night Sound
Published: March 24, 2017
Audio: June 9, 2017
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Anne Cain/Deviant Art
Genre: Contemporary Romance; Erotic Romance
Length: 280 Pages/9 Hours 34 Minutes
Tags: Gay; M/M; Bisexual; Coming Out; OFY; Friends to Lovers; Mystery; Law Enforcement; Children; Audiobook; HEA; CW: References to Murder
About Bonfires Ten years ago Sheriff’s Deputy Aaron George lost his wife and moved to Colton, hoping growing up in a small town would be better for his children. He’s gotten to know his community, including Mr. Larkin, the bouncy, funny science teacher. But when Larx is dragged unwillingly into administration, he stops coaching the track team and starts running alone. Aaron—who thought life began and ended with his kids—is distracted by a glistening chest and a principal running on a dangerous road.
Larx has been living for his kids too—and for his students at Colton High. He’s not ready to be charmed by Aaron, but when they start running together, he comes to appreciate the deputy’s steadiness, humor, and complete understanding of Larx’s priorities. Children first, job second, his own interests a sad last.
It only takes one kiss for two men approaching fifty to start acting like teenagers in love, even amid all the responsibilities they shoulder. Then an act of violence puts their burgeoning relationship on hold. The adult responsibilities they’ve embraced are now instrumental in keeping their town from exploding. When things come to a head, they realize their newly forged family might be what keeps the world from spinning out of control.
REVIEW:
Not too familiar with the writing of Amy Lane, I jumped at the chance to review Bonfires because it was narrated by one of my favorites, Nick J. Russo. I am thoroughly impressed by both the beautiful story and Russo’s perfect narration. This tale has everything I could want: Hot guys, a creative mystery, some interesting family drama, and a very important message.
What a terrific book, and read to me by Nick J. Russo? It’s a win!
Aaron and Larx are such interesting characters. Both men are approaching 50, bisexual, and are single parents who have spent the last 10 years raising their kids. When Aaron gets his courage up to pursue Larx (admittedly he didn’t have to chase too hard) and the two finally get it together, they are on fire. This relationship is Aaron’s first experience with a man, and the scenes of Larx gently guiding Aaron into the wonderful world of hot gay sex, oh yeah it is so well done!
Lane does an excellent job painting the picture of a small, homophobic, rural town filled with interesting characters, and she includes enough action to make nine and a half hours fly by.
Most importantly, I love the messages Lane is sending out - of tolerance, acceptance, and blending folks together to create a family. The drama that unfolds brings these issues to a head, forcing Aaron and Larx to figure out a way to work it all out.
I can’t think of any narrator better suited to this story than Nick J. Russo. The variety in the voices he uses always impresses me, but he has really outdone himself with this one. He imbues such a personal note in both of the main men and they just completely come alive. All the secondary characters are creatively done, and Russo’s performance definitely enhances Amy Lane’s wonderful writing.
Bonfires is a beautifully written story with a powerful message, presented flawlessly by Nick J. Russo.
I enjoyed every minute of the audio version of this book and I’d recommend it to anyone who loves a sweet and smushy second time around romance, with lots of other fantastic stuff thrown in to boot.
An audiobook of Bonfires was provided to Kimmers’ Erotic Book Banter, by Dreamspinner Press, at no cost and with no expectations in return. We offer our fair and honest opinion on behalf of our readers.
Meet the Author
Angst and pain, Amy Lane has two kids in college, two gradeschoolers in soccer, two cats, and two Chi-who-whats at large. She lives in a crumbling crapmansion with most of the children and a bemused spouse. She also has too damned much yarn, a penchant for action adventure movies, and a need to know that somewhere in all the pain is a story of Wuv, Twu Wuv, which she continues to believe in to this day! She writes fantasy, urban fantasy, and m/m romance--and if you accidentally make eye contact, she'll bore you to tears with why those three genres go together. She'll also tell you that sacrifices, large and small, are worth the urge to write.
For more from Amy be sure and visit her website.
