I didn't find this one as dull as the previous book in the series. But for all that I like a bit of a context for the protagonists in a romance novel and this one did provide, this one was closer to the bored-me-to-tears end of the spectrum rather than a fun easy read. ( )

It's fun that Rod and Landon from Book 2 turn up frequently in this book. But this is darker, around the death of a father, and the way he has both loved and neglected his children. Traumatising for the characters.

In the middle of the father's last days, Justin finds Drew and Drew finds Justin. They are related by law - Drew is brother to Justin's half-sister's husband. Confusing for a while.

Justin reflects at one stage that he has become ensnared in Drew and his life - the problem is, his life is in another city and with its own set of obligations.

I love the collision of these two men - the magnetism between them crackles but it's stunning how it brings out the best in each of them. It's the zing of the novel.

They work at it, they read each other, providing laughter and lightness when they each need it. Talk about emotional intelligence!

Sean Crisden narrates to perfection. I haven't heard him much and that was a benefit. The slight but distinct difference to Justin and Drew's voices is incredibly skilful. Not to mention that his voice is velvet, so easy and relaxed, like a trained actor – zero muscle tension in his throat.

The story was rather heavy going, so I didn't whizz through this like most of the books I listen to. I came back to it a few times, and that meant I lost some of the propulsion of it, which was a shame and I could do with listening to it again. So I'm 70% of the way through my re listen - It is only 6 hours, but it seems much longer.

The main chunk I consumed was during a walk on the outskirts of a country town in Queensland, and the rawness of some of this writing will be lurking there when I walk those streets again, I feel sure.

So I see on IMDB that Sean Crisden is an actor but not in anything I've seen: Sean Crisden is known for Kingdom Rush (2011), La méduse rouge (2013) and Just the Vampire Hunter (2015). ( )

I've read all three of these crossroads books, and yet, #3 here is more amateurish writing. I give it three stars for the characters and the emotional progress. But wow, the prose needed a better editor to get rid of excess words, repetitive phrases, and excessive goo at the end. Also, more telling than showing by far. That saying "actions speak louder than words" is also true for characters. I'm glad to be done, to know the story, but I wish it had been a better trip. ( )

Liked it more than the 2nd one in the series, but with such a heavy topic this book was too short and too fast paced. ( )

Review Pending
5.0 out of 5.0 stars

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