Family Unit

By: Z. A. Maxfield

Narrated by: JP Handler

Length: 8 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

A retired marine, Logan is methodical and conservative. Richard is a liberal pacifist who is pathologically afraid of guns. Yet the minute Logan sets eyes on Richard, his heart turns over like an old car engine, and it isn't long before his motor is revved and Richard is in the driver's seat - even if it seems like each man is driving a different car. Richard Hunter is parenting his grandson, and the kid - Nick - has had it rough. Richard vows nothing will stop him from creating a loving and stable home. Not even a tempting, red-hot relationship with a very attractive man.

However, when Richard looks into Logan's blue eyes, it's tough to stay focused. It's never easy to become a family, what with a temperamental eight-year-old, disapproving outsiders, and outright extortion attempts. But when push comes to shove, both Logan and Richard are committed family men who want to make a loving home for a little boy who needs them. Together, they're planning to form a Family Unit, and they won't let anything stand in their way.

©2012 Z.A. Maxfield (P)2014 Lauralyn Thomspon

The Creation of a Family Unit

This was a really touching book set back in 2009 before Don’t Ask Don’t Tell was repealed in 2012. Reading books like this, which are only 11 years old, really drive home how far contemporary society has come with equal rights.

Richard is a young grandfather (he’s only in his forties) raising his grandson and doing his best. Logan is a retired Marine who’s figuring out his life now that he’s no longer in the military. There’s a lot of obstacles and emotions throughout the book, as well as some steamy bedroom moments. I really enjoyed the plot and developing relationship between Richard and Logan.

The audiobook narration was not great due to poor sound quality. I think the narrator would have done great, if not for the tinny sound quality. It took me about an hour to get used to the sound quality before I was able to get used to it and enjoy the book.

I DNF

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I tried. I hate to give up on an audio book and perhaps I am at a disadvantage because I did not read the book first. I just didn't like it. I thought there was a lot of sex and I am no prude, but unfortunately it took away from the story for me rather than enhanced. I just kept saying "I get it, they are crazy hot for each other." Then it began to drag for me. It's like we are introduced to these characters that you know are going to create conflict and then I am just waiting for the conflict, like where is it? It's been chapters now and still the couple is doing a lot of feeling each other out and feeling each other up, but not much in terms of moving the plot forward. Doesn't Rick have to work, like ever? He spends the first half of the book getting injured and having sex with injuries - ouch.

If you’ve listened to books by Z.A. Maxfield before, how does this one compare?

No so I cannot draw a comparison.

What didn’t you like about JP Handler’s performance?

Very stilted at times and there was no cadence or rhythm to his speech. Like a child reading a primer book in places where each word is said properly but without inflection or pauses or nuances in speech. I also didn't hear much distinction between Rick and Logan's voices, if there was any. I like the tone of his voice, but I felt that he struggled with the material a little and was likely running the some internal monologue as me like "when are these guys going to quit jumping each other's bones?"

Was Family Unit worth the listening time?

Not for me.

Try again

Maybe its just me, but the audio sounds like its coming through a tin can. I checked with other audio books and videos using the same speakers and didn't have issues. But who knows. Maybe its just me. The narrator, from what I could tell, was doing a pretty good job. There were different voices for the different characters. I had to stop listening though. The sound quality alone was enough to make me question if I wanted to keep going. But the story was also not great. I'm relatively new to this author. I've crushed 3 audiobooks in the last 4 days. I absolutely loved them (The Brothers Grime series and Drawn Together if anyone is curious). 30 minutes in, and I can't do it. I'm cringing at the dialog. I don't typically review books unless I have strong feelings about them. I'm sorry. I'm still going to try some other books by this author, but this one was a miss for me.

Great story, horrible narrator.

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

Not at all. The narrator is terrible. I mean absolutely terrible. But I love this story so I got it anyway. Thankfully it was only a couple of dollars since I had already purchased the Kindle edition.

What other book might you compare Family Unit to and why?

Can't really answer this. It is its own story and that is that.

How could the performance have been better?

The narrator sounded like a robot, and the way he did the different voices were way off. They were either too high pitched or too low. Also his inflections were off so that you couldn't tell not only whose turn it was to speak but also if they were asking a question or not.

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

I loved the whole courtship between Logan and Richard.

Any additional comments?

Yes the narrator is terrible, but I am telling you, the story is great. If you can get it for a couple bucks like I did then go for it. Even though I didn't like the story telling I still am happy that I purchased this audio.

Wonderful story, narration could be better

What did you love best about Family Unit?

I love this book, having read it at least a dozen times. The story is wonderful, long enough to develop characters well and have multiple situations, but so engaging it leaves you wanting more. It's an old comfortable pair of slippers I put on whenever I need a comfort story.

Who was your favorite character and why?

It's hard to choose between Richard for his unconditional love for his grandson and Logan's strength, wisdom, and devotion to family and duty.

What didn’t you like about JP Handler’s performance?

The narration was quite stilted in areas, as if he was overly ennunciating. Not enough to totally turn me off, but difficult to listen to at times. It was also difficult at times to tell the two men apart. In all fairness, other parts were well done, so it's a mix of good and bad.

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

It would have to be all 3 of them.

Maxfield does it again!

I loved this book, just as I have loved pretty much all the books I've listened to by Z.A. Maxfield. The narration was a little annoying. It almost sounded like a bad recording, but I think it was just the reader's style of speech. It was worth sticking it out, though. I didn't want the story to end.

There was more action than expected

It was a feel good story. Alpha male & not so Alpha, but still both strong personality. The narrator was wonderful. I have listened to a lot of books by this author & I haven't been disappointed.😃

hot dad bods

I love that this story had a slightly different spin on it that it was middle-aged guys that were still hot for each other

Pleasant surprise!

I wasn’t sure what to think when starting the book, audio was really terrible but you get used to it and the story is so cute it just takes you away.

pure cuteness

Any additional comments?

Well, the story was pretty darn cute. A little too heavy on the smut and could have used more non-sexual interactions between the main characters, but most people will probably be okay with that. At first I thought the narrator was a bit too cheesy- he made Richard's voice all high and squeaky, like a teenage boy. After a while it sort of grew on me and I found the narrating endearing. It didn't sound like a professional though, so that may bother some people. Overall it was a solid 4 stars, because despite some flaws it was a very enjoyable way to pass a few hours.