Sunday, March 26, 2017

Audiobook and Book Review: David, Renewed by Diana Copland


Title: David, Renewed
Author: Diana Copland
Narrator: Michael Pauley
Release Date: January 16, 2017
Category: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Length: 9 hours, 2 minutes
Audiobook  ~  
E-book
When interior designer David Snyder buys a beautiful century-old house in eastern Washington, he is reeling with heartbreak and looking for somewhere to put down roots. Unfortunately his new home comes with a laundry list of problems: electrical, plumbing, heating… things David knows nothing about. When his mother offers him the business card of a local handyman, David pictures an overweight, balding man in his fifties. But Jackson Henry couldn’t be further from that stereotype.
Dark-haired, muscular, and handsome, Jackson left a large construction firm in Seattle to take care of his sick mother. However, his hometown still has an active “good old boy” network, and finding employment in construction is almost impossible for an openly gay man. Determined to persevere, Jackson takes odd jobs as a handyman. He’s exactly what David needs—in more ways than one.
David isn’t ready for his attraction to Jackson, not considering the way his last relationship ended. But as the two men get to know each other, it becomes clear that the heart often knows best, and it rewards those willing to listen.



*Audible code provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my listening pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.*

For me, David, Renewed is just the perfect book and audio. The story is sweet, sexy, low angst and gives a slow build to a relationship between David and Jackson. There's no immediate jumping into bed together, it's two men getting to know each other. You could see the gradual change in the men's interactions with each other through the story. David had just come out of a bad relationship, and purchased a house, not realizing what he was really buying. He was overwhelmed with all the repairs needed to his home. His mom had recommended a handyman, and David wasn't really happy with the option but decided he had nothing to lose. He met with Jackson and was put at ease and hired him to make the necessary repairs. That was the relationship between the men until you could see the shift to friendship and the shift to interest in each other. There's a lot of outside influences on David and Jackson, but I loved that they faced those together and didn't allow it to push them apart.

The narrator, Michael Pauley, was just terrific! I loved the voices he gave the characters and it wasn't hard to tell any of them apart. He has a great voice that's easy to listen to, and his cadence and pace were perfectly done! This was the first audio I've listened to by him, but I'd love to hear more from him.

David, Renewed is everything you could want whether reading or listening. It's a beautiful love story and flows so easily. I highly recommend both the audio and the book. For myself, I know this is one that I will listen and read over and over again.

Overall: 5++ stars
Performance: 5+++ STARS
Story: 5 ++ stars


4 Stars! 

A lovely, heartwarming tale from this author. Loved the great little community that David found. Hated the ex!

This tale is one of the sweetest that I've read in a long time. I loved the stunning decency of all the characters in this - the leads, their friends, David's mum and sister.

Normally when I focus on a MM tale, it's because of the romance between the leads, but this was about so much more. I loved how sweet, protective and non-judgmental Jackson was about David, despite the latter's sometimes questionable decisions and actions. I loved that he was there for David, supporting him without pressuring him. I loved how David found his confidence again with Jackson, that he began to believe in himself again, and that he allowed the parts of him he'd suppressed to come to the fore. I loved the new friends he made, and the potential that there is for at least one more connected tale - I hope DC goes on to write about David's sassy, sweet, loyal PA and the guy who's the total opposite of him and who's caught his eye...

I loved the family aspect of this tale, and the connection the mums ended up having, and I loved that both guys were totally on the same page about each other from pretty much the very start of the book, but that they took things slowly, so that when they did come together, it was not just sex, but making love, a bonding, a building of something long-lasting and very, very solid. And, that the ex got what he deserved, was a much needed and enjoyed thing, lol!

ARC courtesy of Bayou Book Junkie and Dreamspinner Press, for my reading pleasure.

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