I first read The Perils of Intimacy back in 2017 when it was first released. Rick R. Reed is one of my go-to authors, and this story did not disappoint. The history the two MCs share is painful and heartbreaking. Their second chance brings those dark times back to the surface. These characters are put through the wringer. The themes of redemption and forgiveness are heavy and written with a rawness that sticks with you long after you’ve turned the last page.
David Allen Bargo is a new-to-me narrator and, while I found his voice and characters just fine, it’s the sound effects that make me give the narration 3 stars. The beeps and buzzing and distorted voices marking internal dialogue and phone calls took me out of the story. The first beep, when Mark is leaving a voicemail, was jarring and I’d hope that was the last of it. Also, the echo effect of the characters internal dialogue was distracting.
My issues with the audio are purely personal preference, and I don’t think anyone should avoid listening because of my opinion. I am very likely to listen to other books by this narrator.
Five stars for the story; 3 for narration.