Bad Taste in Men

Clover Park, Book 3

By: Kylie Gilmore

Narrated by: Charles Lawrence

Something's brewing between friends.

Rachel Miller knows opening a café with coffee and pastries will make her struggling bookstore the place to hang out. But when the bank turns her down and her best friend Shane steps in, she vows business will never ruin their friendship.

Gourmet ice cream maker Shane O'Hare knows food, not women. To sweep Rachel off her feet, he secretly sells his beloved '67 Shelby Mustang and becomes a partner in her café. And then she sets him up with a friend.

As they build the café together and Rachel learns what Shane has sacrificed for her, she finds herself falling for him. Now way too much is riding on the success of this business venture - her career, her best friend, and her heart.

©2014 Kylie Gilmore (P)2016 Kylie Gilmore

Rachel and Shane!

Rachel owns a bookstore however financially it is struggling and she believes that the answer to her problem is add a café next door. Armed with her business plan she visits the bank only to be told that they will not be able to help.

Shane owns a successful ice cream shop and he and Rachel are friends however he wants to be much more. When he finds out about her inability to get the bank loan he sells the classic car that he and his father rebuilt to come up with capital to become partners in the café.

Rachel does not want to take their relationship beyond friendship as every relationship she has had with a man has ended badly and she couldn’t bear to lose her friend. As a result she tries every way she can think of to push him away but he is not about to give up so easily. Will Rachel finally realize that they are meant to be before she destroys their friendship and business relationship?

I really enjoyed the narration of this story as his inflections brought the characters to life. I received a complimentary copy of the Audiobook from the author.

Delicious!

Would you listen to Bad Taste in Men again? Why?

Yes! As a bookaholic, I have kept hundreds of my very favorite reads so that I can revisit characters that touched my heart and made my toes curl. It's like buying your favorite flavor of ice cream time and again because your taste buds can't wait to taste that yummy experience again. I know I can recreate the magic of falling in love again, and audio books that are stored on my tablet take up a lot less room. I love the comedic side of life and I really enjoy Kylie's interpretation of the silly side of love.

What did you like best about this story?

I love the close sibling relationship between Ryan, Travis and Shane, who are always ready to lend a hand, give advice, and torment each other with memories from the past. I also like how protective the brothers are with their grandma Maggie, who took them in and did an awesome job of making them the men that they are today. We see the same relationships between Ryan and Travis's wives who happen to be sisters, and Shane's girlfriend Rachel and her sister. Family relationships and shared experiences are the heart of this series.

What does Charles Lawrence bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Listening to Charles Lawrence narrating a book is like the difference between black and white TV and color TV. The characters all have different quirks and personalities and Charles acts them out with a change of voice so effortlessly it's like magic. Listening to him describe Shane's love of cooking, baking, development of ice cream flavors, and the coffee making tutorials was deliciously descriptive. I swear I could smell the flavors of this book through Charles' voice alone. I especially enjoy the enthusiasm Charles conveys during sexy scenes that always make me giggle with delight!

Who was the most memorable character of Bad Taste in Men and why?

Shane, of course! He's sensitive, intuitive and oh-so patient with Rachel while she gets over the bozos she's dated in the past. He's a fabulously talented chef and baker, and he develops all his own recipes for the different flavors of ice cream he serves at his ice cream store. I admired his empathy toward both of his flawed parents, and the example he sets for his brothers when he reconciles with his father once his dad reaches 3 years of sobriety. He's a great guy and there were times when I wanted to strangle Rachel because it takes her a very long time to appreciate what a good man Shane is and how much he loves her.

Any additional comments?

I love this Clover Park series and the fabulous and comedic writing of Kylie Gilmore!

I loved listening to this book.

I loved listening to this book. I love all of Kylie Gilmore's books. Good to audible has been great. I was able to listen to this book in the car when the kids was watching a movie and we was going down the road on vacation. Charles Lawrence does a fantastic job narrating this book. I loved every second of it and his voice. Kylie Gilmore did a great job picking Mr. Lawrence to read this book.
Now this book is about Shane who happens to be in love with Rachel who has had a lot of bad relationship. So she want Shane to stay her friend. When she is try to start a new business to help her book star Shane thinks that is the best way to help. Until she want everything to be her way. Will she ever trust Shane as more than friends? You will have to read the book or listen to it to find out.
Go all in and get both the book and the audible book. works great together but if you are always on the go just listen to it. It is a fantastic book and part of a great series. Thank you Kylie Gilmore for the great book and Charles Lawrence for the awesome way you read it.

Bad Taste In Men: Clover Park, Book 3

Would you consider the audio edition of Bad Taste in Men to be better than the print version?

Absolutely! It makes it more interesting to hear the story rather than just read. Everything seems to come alive when hearing descriptions, and the play between the characters is more fun.

What did you like best about this story?

The dialog between the characters is very well written. There is a lot of humor which makes the story fun. The grandmother, Maggie, always stirs things up! The author makes the town come alive to the point that I wish I had a hometown like Clover Park!

Which scene was your favorite?

When Maggie finally saw who Shane was and what he meant to her was moving because she finally let go of all her anxiety and let herself feel and realize what she wanted had been in front of her all along!

If you could rename Bad Taste in Men, what would you call it?

Bad Taste in Men is the perfect title!

Any additional comments?

Loved this book and can't wait for the next one. Kyle did a great job on this story!

Friends to Lovers

What did you like best about this story?

I loved the friends to lovers story line! I am a sucker for those!

Which character – as performed by Charles Lawrence – was your favorite?

Shane! I adored Shane!

If you could take any character from Bad Taste in Men out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Rachel! She owns a book shop and who better to give me awesome book recommendations?

Any additional comments?

I loved Shane and Rachel's story! I loved that they grew gradually from friends to lovers. I loved that Shane didn't let Rachel pretend that they were only friends anymore. It was just a great story and I loved the pop ins from previous characters too!