GOODBYE PARADISE is one of my top reads for 2017. This book is romantic, sexy, heart wrenching and pulls on every single damn heart string! I was hooked from the first paragraph, and every page is pure perfection. Not to mention GOODBYE PARADISE delivered all the feels, so you might want to keep some tissue nearby. Seriously. I was wiping away the happy tears when I finished. The true definition of a feel good read.

Josh and Caleb are born and raised on a polygamist ranch named Paradise. W...

GOODBYE PARADISE is one of my top reads for 2017. This book is romantic, sexy, heart wrenching and pulls on every single damn heart string! I was hooked from the first paragraph, and every page is pure perfection. Not to mention GOODBYE PARADISE delivered all the feels, so you might want to keep some tissue nearby. Seriously. I was wiping away the happy tears when I finished. The true definition of a feel good read.

Josh and Caleb are born and raised on a polygamist ranch named Paradise. Which is ironic, since it’s about the furthest thing from Paradise. Obeying the strictest of rules, working from dusk to dawn with never enough food, the only true comfort they have is each other; they have been best friends since they were toddlers.

Except Josh is hiding a big secret from Caleb, one he is sure would make Caleb hate him if he ever found out: Josh is in love with him. It’s forbidden in so many ways, so Josh keeps his feelings buried deep down.

Suddenly (I don’t want to go into all the details and spoil it all), Josh finds himself out in the world, free of Paradise. He is in a world he doesn’t understand, and one that doesn’t understand him. His saving grace is that Caleb is there, of course, right by his side helping him. Like always.

Caleb always protected Josh, and that wasn’t going to change now. He has a safe place in mind and is determined to get the two of them there. The only thing is, Caleb has a secret of his own… one that might even mirror Josh’s.

I think the idea that they were raised on a polygamist ranch is so interesting. Sarina Bowen did a fabulous job of creating such a realistic world with Paradise. It was fascinating getting a glimpse into their world- you can tell she really did her research. The feelings and thoughts that Caleb and Josh have, both on and off the ranch, made me forget at times that these weren’t real people.

And gah, I just LOVE Josh and Caleb. I love forbidden romance and best friends to lovers and this has both!!! Being raised the way they were, they both clearly have issues. The biggest one, particularly for Josh, is knowing his self worth. There were times where I wanted to hug the crap out of him, even though he isn’t a real person. Their friendship is adorable on its own, but when it starts to move to something more… well, let’s just say these two made me swoon so freaking hard. Their love, their chemistry, their vulnerability all hit you right in the heart. The journey these two go on, the connection they have, and the growth they go through…well… I dare you not to cry!

One of my favorite things about Sarina Bowen’s books are her side characters. They always bring so much life to her books, and GOODBYE PARADISE was no different. I feel in love with several side character’s: Daniel, Maggie, Miriam, and particularly Washington (you’ll see why!).

The writing is amazing, it’s filled with great dialogue and has characters that honestly take a piece of your heart. Do yourself a huge favor and read this book. You will not be sorry!!

*Whispersync deal*

This is a romance about two young men who have been raised in a religious cult striking out on their own after one is thrown out (Josh) and one runs away (Caleb).

I've owned this book since it was published as In Front of God and Everyone, when I bought it after actually reading It's Never Over first. But I put it off because....the whole cult thing made me skittish.

The story is actually far less angsty than I thought it would be. It's low angst, sweet, sexy as he...

*Whispersync deal*

This is a romance about two young men who have been raised in a religious cult striking out on their own after one is thrown out (Josh) and one runs away (Caleb).

I've owned this book since it was published as In Front of God and Everyone, when I bought it after actually reading It's Never Over first. But I put it off because....the whole cult thing made me skittish.

The story is actually far less angsty than I thought it would be. It's low angst, sweet, sexy as hell, and, with the exception of one boneheaded moment from Caleb towards the end, a pretty smooth sail to a lovely HEA. I recommend the story!

As for the narration...for half of it I wasn't a fan. Allow me to explain. I was hoping because there are two narrators that this would be a "duet" narration. Where each narrator takes certain characters and only voices those characters throughout.

Alas, no. Though this was less muddled than some of the dual narrations I've listened to where the narrators trade off by chapter POV, this was different because there are four Parts or "Gospels" according to Josh or Caleb and each narrator voices the entire Part, with all its chapters, of the book.

(So, I could be wrong but I think) Teddy Hamilton voices the parts of the book from Josh's perspective, and Dake Bliss voices the parts from Caleb's perspective.

I loved Teddy's narration. It was smooth, he does great character voices, has great pacing, and is a genuine pleasure to listen to.

I was not so much a fan of Dake's performance. He was stilted, his pacing was off, and his character voices sounded stiff, and sometimes even robotic.

I'm not going to lie, it was jarring for me to go through 38% of the story with Teddy's smooth tones in my ear, to suddenly be listening to a different actor playing the same parts, and not nearly as well.

Frankly, it lessened my enjoyment of the audiobook.

I just wish if an author, or publisher, cannot afford true "duet" narration that they would just stick to a single narrator.

If Teddy Hamilton had been the only narrator for this I would be giving it 4, possibly 4.5 stars...but having to consider in Dake's performance and this goes down to 2.5 to 3 stars.

Bottom line - It's low angst, sweet, sexy as hell with a lovely HEA - I just wish it had been a single (Teddy) narrator.