I received a free copy of this audiobook to listen to and review for Wicked Reads.
Having loved the audiobook for Collection #1, I was thrilled when I heard that Collection #2 was being released. While the stories can be enjoyed as standalone reads (or listens), the appearance of common characters enriches the experience for series fans by creating the sense of community that really comes into play with both of the books in this collection.
While I’m unsure of their actual ages, Curtis and Riley’s youthful energy and outlooks on life gives Pluck and Play a new adult feel to their story. Curtis is such an earnest and hard-working young man that I had zero chance of not falling in love with the entrepreneur. Of course, Riley’s southern charm and laidback nature won me over immediately – and his well-aimed right hook didn’t hurt either. Not surprisingly, both men are more complex than they appear at first glance and they complemented one another so much, even when they were trying to prove their independence and self-sufficiency. I’ll admit that I was surprised with the almost sinister turn that Pluck and Play took when Curtis’ ex showed up. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a dark story or romantic thriller, but it had more of an edge when compared to the sweetness of the stories in Collection #1. But it was the situation with Curtis’ ex that ultimately showed Curtis just how important he is to the people in his life and how people he assumed considered him a helpful business contact actually saw him as a friend and member of their community. And that showdown in the alley was AWESOME! I may have listened to that scene a couple of times, it was so good. I loved Curtis and Riley’s characters so very much that I was sad when their story came to an end, but at least I knew I’d likely see them in the next book.
Double Scoop is the cherry on top of the With a Kick sundae. It’s the story I’ve been waiting for since meeting Patrick and Lee in book one, A Twist and Two Balls, and London made sure that it was worth the wait. While Double Scoop is a May-December romance, Patrick’s self-doubt adds an extra dose of angst that would make any new adult story proud. I felt so bad for Lee each time that Patrick’s careless comments and actions chipped away at his hopes for a THEM. The affection Lee has for Patrick is one of the worst-kept secrets among the With a Kick community because Lee wears his heart on his sleeve, yet Patrick is blinded by his self-doubt and woe-is-me attitude. Fortunately for Lee and readers (or listeners), the guys have a great group of friends who not only pitch in to get the shop back up and running, but have no qualms about playing matchmakers and doing what is necessary to pull Patrick’s head out of his own behind – thank you, Brian! Even knowing that London would serve the perfect happy ending for the guys, I had my doubts once or twice, so I was beyond surprised with Patrick’s grand gestures at the end. It was, indeed, the cherry on top of the Double Scoop sundae.
I cannot express how happy I was to listen to Joel Leslie return to narrate Collection #2. Knowing that it was releasing, I decided to listen to the first collection again so that I could reacquaint myself with the rather huge cast of characters and in doing so, I was reminded as to just how talented Leslie is. As an American, I cannot attest to the authenticity of Leslie’s British and Turkish accents, but as a Southern girl, I loved the smooth, Southern drawl he created for Riley. The With a Kick audiobooks are a great example of why Joel Leslie is one of my favorite narrators: he creates unique voices for both small and large casts of characters, he’s consistent with characters’ voices across multiple books in a series, and he can convey such a wide range of emotion that at times I feel as though I’m eavesdropping on someone else’s life. I do so hope that London releases the final book in the series on audio as well and that Leslie is back at the mic for it because I’m not quite ready to say goodbye to the With a Kick community.