Audiobook Review: Setting The Hook by Andrew Grey

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Blurb:

William Westmoreland escapes his unfulfilling Rhode Island existence by traveling to Florida twice a year and chartering Mike Jansen's fishing boat to take him out on the Gulf. The crystal-blue water and tropical scenery isn't the only view William enjoys, but he's never made his move. A vacation romance just isn't on his horizon.

Mike started his Apalachicola charter fishing service as a way to care for his daughter and mother, putting their safety and security ahead of the needs of his own heart. Denying his attraction becomes harder with each of William's visits.

William and Mike's latest fishing excursion starts with a beautiful day, but a hurricane's erratic course changes everything, stranding William. As the wind and rain rage outside, the passion the two men have been trying to resist for years crashes over them. In the storm's wake, it leaves both men yearning to prolong what they have found. But real life pulls William back to his obligations. Can they find a way to reduce the distance between them and discover a place where their souls can meet? The journey will require rough sailing, but the bright future at the end might be worth the choppy seas.

Mike lives in a very conservative town in Florida with his daughter and mother and runs his own charter boat. Mike is a hard worker whose goal is to make a better life for his daughter. Once he came home from the military, he accepted that he would have to remain in the closet to protect his daughter and business. That doesn't stop Mike from crushing on his client William, who charters his boat twice a year. Mike always enjoys the day spent with William, but this time Mother Nature has cut their fishing trip short and William needs Mike's help. Mike offers to let William stay at his home during the hurricane, and the time together has allowed the men's attraction to come out of hiding. But they lead two different lives, in two different parts of the world and they have to accept that the few days they had together was all they could have.

William is Mike's opposite. He comes from a wealthy family, and works for his family's business that he'll one day run. He lives in the family home and lives the life his parents have created for him. William allows himself two fishing trips a year to see Mike and to escape his dull office life. William dreams of being able to escape the offices of his family business and to work outside in the sun. After his time with Mike during the hurricane, William is struggling with the chains that bind him and has reached his tipping point for his life.

I really enjoyed both of these characters! Even though Mike was firmly in the closet at home, it was completely understandable. Living in conservative America can make it frightening and difficult to be yourself if it's outside what's considered "normal". Mike was a nice guy trying to make a living and willing to help others. Though William came from a wealthy family, he was kind and considerate and willing to help others out. Both MC's were just nice guys, doing what was best for their families.

The narrator is Greg Tremblay and he does a fantastic job bring the characters and story to life! He has a voice that's easy to listen to, gave each of the characters their own voice, had a good pace and no weird or awkward pauses. The narrator's voice allows the focus to be on the story and the characters, not his voice. The narrator did an excellent job of conveying the emotions of this story.

Every time I read an Andrew Grey book, I feel like my heart gives a little sigh when I come to the end of his stories. He creates men and families that you know have found their happily ever afters. I love that many of his books have children involved. You get to see completely different sides of the men when they have to interact with children. Please do yourself, and your heart, a favor and check out this beautiful story.

Overall: 5 stars

Performance: 5 stars

Story: 5 stars