Good to Know by @dwmarchwell | Tam's Audiobook Review & #giveaway #mmromance @Dreamspinners @seancrisden

• Written by: D. W. Marchwell
• Narrated by: Sean Crisden
• Length: 5 hrs and 44 mins 
• Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:03-24-10
Publisher: Hudson Audio Publishing
• Whispersync for Voice-ready

Jerry McKenzie is a reclusive and antisocial artist, quite content to ride his horses and work in his studio, keeping to himself. It's not any kind of life for a child, and when Jerry finds out he’s been named his orphaned nephew’s guardian, he panics. He doesn't know what to do with a child and isn't sure he can give William the affection and the love the boy so desperately needs.

Then Jerry meets David Loewenberger, the new teacher William becomes immediately attached to, and he starts to see how they could make a family together: a family to replace the one William lost, a family David had given up on ever finding... a family Jerry never knew he wanted.

Buy links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon Audio | Audible | iTunes

Tams gives this one 4.5 Stars...

"Family comes in all shapes and sizes"

What did you love best about Good to Know?

Jerry's determination. First to stay single, then to ensnare David.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jerry, read above.

Which scene was your favorite?

The kitchen, after the terrible fight, the way they both melted into each other.

If you could take any character from Good to Know out to dinner, who would it be and why?

David, I'd love to know how his brain works.

Old, set in his ways and obviously single, Jerry McKenzie spends his time with his horses and his art. His entire world is knocked out of balance when his young nephew becomes his responsibility after the death of his parents. William is already reeling from loosing his parents and being pulled out of the boarding school he lived at in Switzerland, pulled away from the only family he's known. David Loewenberger has family money that could afford him anything he wants. But all David wants is to be a teacher. A common cultural background causes William to cling to his new teacher, much to both David and Jerry's dismay. Of course, that only lasts for about five minutes for Jerry. David continues to push him away though, his soul focus on William, not wanting to cause anymore unnecessary damage to the poor child's fragile psyche. But the heart wants what the heart wants. 

The story starts out with William at school, learning about his parent's death and his pending upheaval and throwing the poor kid into a tail spin. Then when he arrives at Jerry's place and his uncle is brash, standoffish and determined to pawn the kid off on whomever will take him... it's not looking good for this poor kid. Then Williams teacher comes for a visit and just like that, everything is set on a different course. I will admit it took me a little while to get into the story itself. If Crisden hadn't been narrating, I might not have gotten past the rough patch. But once the story gets going it's actually quite good.

Jerry is large and in charge, he's used to getting his way and not having to think about anyone but himself. Now he has a young child and a pending romance with said young child's smexy teacher. Jerry and David have more in common than they think. They are both loners, creatures of habit, both forging their own path and letting their guard down, allowing anyone in... that's just not going to happen. Yeah, good luck with that. I enjoyed the complete one eighty Jerry did damn near from the start. David took a bit more convincing, but the chase was so much fun.

Sean Crisden is a favorite for me, his tone is very unique and I enjoy listening to anything he reads. One teensy hiccup for me with this story, at times Crisden ran through the script and it was distracting. Not having read the book, this may well be the way David was written, but I really wanted Crisden to slow down a couple of times and catch a breath between words. Overall though, loved the square peg, round hole aspect to this story. Definitely worth a listen, if you are a fan of the genre, author or narrator.

When D. W. Marchwell is not teaching future generations the wonders of science, he can usually be found hiking, writing, riding horses, trying new recipes, or searching for and lovingly restoring discarded antique furniture. A goofy and incurable romantic, D.W. admits that his stories are inspired by actual events and has a soft spot for those where boy not only meets boy but also turns out to be boy's soul mate. After almost fifteen years of working his way across Canada, D.W has finally found the perfect place to live at the foot of the Canadian Rockies. He still can't believe how lucky he is, and, as his grandmother taught him, counts his blessings every day.

Website: http://www.marchwellbooks.ca

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