Rebound Remedy by @Christine_dAbo | Tams Audiobook and E-book Reviews & #giveaway @RiptideBooks

     Written by: Christine d'Abo 

• Narrated by: Nick J. Russo
• Length: 3 hrs and 43 mins
• Unabridged Audiobook
• Release Date:11-23-16
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Whispersync for Voice-ready
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The last thing Cole expects to get for the holidays is dumped. But there he is, in the airport on his way to Banff for a romantic getaway, helplessly watching as his boyfriend's ex declares undying love, proposes - and is accepted. With a few weeks to go until Christmas, Cole's mood dives from jolly to jaded. But instead of sitting at home alone and feeling sorry for himself, he goes to his favorite bar, McGregor's, for a pint and some company.

The moment Owen McGregor sets eyes on Cole, he knows there's something wrong. So he takes it upon himself to ensure that Cole has a happy holiday: 12 outings for the 12 days before Christmas. Even if he can't quite think up 12 activities that don't involve getting the forlorn hunk into his bed.

With each outing they take together, Cole realizes that the love he thought he'd shared with his ex was less than perfect. And that Owen might prove to be more than just his rebound remedy.

Buy links: Riptide | Amazon Audio | Audible | iTunes

"Sometimes bouncing back is just what you need."

Overall

Performance

Story

Would you listen to Rebound Remedy again? Why?

Oh yes, multiple times, such a great story and add to that great narration and it's a book I'll be ready to listen to again, soon.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Rebound Remedy?

The beer tasting and what took place just after.

What does Nick J. Russo bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He brought the characters to life with the perfect voices.

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

Can't I take them both????

Any additional comments?

I really love it when a book I've read and enjoyed comes out in audio and is even better. It helps when it's a well written story and a well versed narrator. Russo took these characters as written and made them three dimensional, gave them a life above and beyond the Cole and Owen that I fell in love with on paper. Perfect tones and inflections, subtle nuances that he could create with voice that were lost in the written version of the story.

Tams e-book review December 2015

When Cole is left standing at the airport, holding the bag, watching his boyfriend be whisked off into the sunset by another man... well he's about done with Christmas. Stumbling into a local bar, getting punched and catching the eye of the sex on wheels bartender was just a happy circumstance.

When Owen, said bartender, offers Cole an option to either of them spending their Holiday's alone, Cole refuses at first. There is something so open, honest and alluring about the bartender with his scruffy beard and bedroom eyes that has caught Cole's attention though, and he is intrigued. But when Christmas comes, the distraction goes, and Cole will lose another man, or will he?

If you are looking for a Holiday story without all the eggnog, parties and fluffy happy ever after, then this just might be the book for you. Cole and Owen are anything but traditional. While they are both family men, they are both perfectly flawed, and therefore utterly irresistible. It was refreshing to read a story where both male leads struggled with their circumstance. There was just a little bit of angst and indecision, but it fit perfectly with the storyline and the characters. The fun dates they went on, the slow progression to the bedroom sports, everything was paced perfectly and I was completely engrossed in the story from start to finish.

Excerpt...

Instead of the normal crowds that filled the place this time of night, the bar was barely half-full. The booths and tables were littered with small groups, folks who were celebrating the season. The only people sitting at the bar were a young couple: a man and woman who were so into one another the bar could have been burning around them and they wouldn’t have noticed.

“White Christmas” faded away and was promptly replaced with “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”

Goddamn it.

This wasn’t going to work. He should turn around and go back to his condo. Nothing good could come from him sitting in a bar and inevitably watching a happy couple make out. He’d half turned when Owen McGregor came out from the back and stepped behind the bar. The bartender looked over and saw him, lifting a hand in greeting. Owen had gotten a haircut since the last time Cole had been there. His black hair was cropped close against the sides of his head, but still long enough on top to tempt a man to run his fingers through.

Maybe someday Cole might get up the nerve to touch it, see if the hairs would tickle his palm as he scratched Owen’s scalp.

Oh, that was a helpful line of thought. Idiot.

Owen winked at him. “Hey, man. I’ll be right with you.”

Shit, there went his escape. He waved back and walked over to the opposite end of the bar from the couple. “Thanks.”

The only thing more cliché in Cole’s mind than wanting to bone a cop who’d pulled you over was the impulse to fuck your bartender against the bar. Owen had starred in several of Cole’s masturbation fantasies over the years. Which wasn’t surprising given how good the man looked. He didn’t have a clue if the bartender was gay or not, but it didn’t particularly matter on those nights. Owen was built, had a wicked smile and big hands.

Cole had to adjust himself as he slipped onto the stool. He wasn’t wearing the right outfit to hide a massive boner.

Owen had a smile that could make hearts pound, but a kindness about him that made everyone feel special. He was the reason Cole had started coming to McGregor’s on a regular basis. Not to flirt with Owen, but simply to be around and enjoy the warmth of his personality. If anyone could help get Cole into a better mood, it was him.

“Surprised to see you here.” Owen slid two bottles of beer to a waiting patron, then flipped his hand towel over his shoulder. “I thought you were going out of town for Christmas.”

“An unexpected change of plans.” The bar seat was hard beneath his ass, offering support as much as discomfort. “Draft, please. Whatever’s on tap is good.”

Owen grabbed a pint glass and started the pull. “That sucks, dude. Though it’s nice to have a friendly face in here tonight.”

“I was going to ask. It’s pretty damn quiet.”

“There’s a live band down the street. Some big holiday reunion tour thing. I couldn’t even tell you the name of the group, but they’re apparently popular. People started leaving here in droves about thirty minutes ago.” Owen shrugged. “I don’t mind. It’s nice to hear myself think for a change.”

When Owen placed the glass in front of him, the draft had just the right amount of head on it. “Thanks.”

To read this excerpt in its entirety or to learn more about the Author, visit Riptide Publishing.

A romance novelist and short story writer, Christine has over thirty publications to her name. She loves to exercise and stops writing just long enough to keep her body in motion too. When she’s not pretending to be a ninja in her basement, she’s most likely spending time with her family and two dogs.

My thoughts on any of my Goodreads reviews are only my opinion as a reader. I don't post anything here that I'd give less than three stars to.

Website: http://www.christinedabo.com

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