Acrobat

By: Mary Calmes

Narrated by: Sean Crisden

Length: 6 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

Forty-five-year-old English professor Nathan Qells is very good at making people feel important. What he's not very good at is sticking around afterward. He's a nice guy; he just doesn't feel things the way other people do. So even after all the time he's spent taking care of Michael, the kid across the hall, he doesn't realize that Michael's mob muscle uncle and guardian, Andreo Fiore, has slowly been falling in love with him. Dreo has bigger problems than getting Nate to see him as a potential partner.

He's raising his nephew, trying to leave his unsavory job, and starting his own business, a process made infinitely more difficult when a series of hits takes out some key underworld players. Still, Dreo is determined to build a life he can be proud of - a life with Nate as a cornerstone. A life that is starting to look like exactly what Nate has been seeking. Unfortunately for Dreo - and for Nate - the last hits were just part of a major reorganization, and Dreo's obvious love for Nate has made him a target too.

©2012 Mary Calmes (P)2014 Dreamspinner Press

I love this book

Whenever I feel a need for comfort This is one of the books I turn to. It warms my soul. Mary Calmes is one of my favorite authors for this reason. I am always very satisfied at the end. Another favorite is Frog, which I do recommend.

Witty

I enjoyed this story and have listened to it several times. Nat's wit and intelligence is wonderful to listen to and his relationship with Michael is so special. The fact that reo, who comes off as cold and emotionless in the beginning, is actual romantic was perfect for Nat.

fantastic

was looking for a great mm lovestory. contemporary romance with depth, emotion and some steaminess. acrobat delivered.

Same formula, Different Book, Better Characters.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes. My feelings for this book are ALL over the place.
However, at the end of the day, I am still thinking about how spent I am from reading this, and that truly is the mark of an enjoyable book, right?
Also, Dreo was just... yum.
Mary knows how to do these books. She has the formula, and she gets it right.

Love Mary Calmes!

I would love to have a sequel to this story. But I would love to have a sequel with Duncan and Aaron, another Jory and Sam, and with Miro and Ian.

i truly like Mary Calmes' writing style. Down to earth with interesting characters, great love scenes that are not smutty but with affection, and secondary characters that wrap up the whole story. Love this author. The narrator does a good job. I like Paul Morey and Tristan James also, Finn Sterling is good as well. Would highly recommend this series but need to be read in order.

Another winner from Mary Calmes

Would you consider the audio edition of Acrobat to be better than the print version?

Yes. A great narrator can make a book come alive, and that's just what Sean Crisden did.

What other book might you compare Acrobat to and why?

No clue.

Which character – as performed by Sean Crisden – was your favorite?

Nate, of course. But I loved Dreo and his nephew Michael, too.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed a lot at Nate's clever interaction with nearly everyone he met.

Any additional comments?

I love Mary Calmes' books and characters. And I especially like experiencing them a second time on audio with narrator Sean Crisden. My only, and rather significant, issue with Acrobat was that Nate was just too perfect. I like some flaws in my heroes, and I couldn't find a single one. Still, it was a wonderful contemporary love story with an incredible cast of supporting characters. Recommended!

I want to be liked

I have read once and listened twice to this audiobook, so safe to say, I am a fan of Acrobat and Mary Calmes.
Initially I found Nathan to be arrogant (and no one is liked *that* much), but realized he is just playing a game of "I want to be liked, so I will do whatever it takes to be liked." Once he finds someone who really loves him and can give him what he wants/needs, he becomes a *regular* person.
I liked the many characters and their personality differences. It's nice to have extras that add to the story rather than just fill space.
I also liked the mystery of the guy on the balcony.
Definitely worth a listen...

Love Dreo and Nate

What made the experience of listening to Acrobat the most enjoyable?

I love it when you show the loving characters willing to sacrifice it all for love, being decent people and not giving up on the chance for happiness. The only thing that seemed a little unreal was that Nate didn't seem to notice Dreo at all for all this time - and I realize he was not the type to push a relationship with a much younger man - but you would think there would be some awareness, intrigue on the periphery - but I loved it overall. Could have been longer. LOVE the relationship between Mel and Nate and Sean and Dreo's understanding of it.

What did you like best about this story?

I loved that Dreo could have been such a player and instead wanted family and had the maturity. Despite the prejudices and his experiences, he knew enough to be patient. I liked them together, frankly would have loved more intimate scenes (don't get me wrong, alot of these stories have too many - but just intimate scenes where they are just getting close and enjoying getting close, don't have to be all out sex. But, overall, great story.

What about Sean Crisden’s performance did you like?

I love Sean Crisden and frankly will listen to about anything Sean Crisden, Sebastian York, and Jonathan Cole put out there - I have a few others, but these guys are the best. That said, I've noted lately that some of the audible recordings are seeming rushed and Sean seems rushed in this one. His emotion as well as his narrative with different voices are always well done, but it seems the pacing didn't allow as much time to savor the emotion of a couple of key scenes as would have liked and have experienced in some of Sean's others. I noted this in another recent listen of Sean's. I hope this is not a trend. SEAN! still love your stuff, just looking to continue to enjoy the great experiences I have had (look at all my 5 star audible ratings!!!!!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Dreo says to Nate "I just got you, I just got you and I almost lost you". I thought Nate was a bit low keyed in response to this, but it was moving.

Any additional comments?

Not really, just enjoying Mary Calmes and other authors providing the moving, realistic, less flamboyant, monogamous characters. I especially can relate to Mel (I'm a heterosexual who enjoys a great relationship with my ex-husband).

Loved this audio!

I’ve read this book a few times, but this was my first time listening, and my first experience with Sean Crisden as a narrator - and definitely not my last! He performed Nate and Dreo perfectly! It was an amazing listening experience.

Good not great

Would you consider the audio edition of Acrobat to be better than the print version?

I didn't read the print version

What was one of the most memorable moments of Acrobat?

I can't remember lol

Any additional comments?

I was disappointed in this book. To me the first half was boring and seemed way to long. The second half was better. It didn't evoke any feelings when I listened to it. I liked to be swept into what ever book I'm reading and I wasn't feeling this one.