Mummy Dearest

The XOXO Files, Book 1

By: Josh Lanyon

Narrated by: Sean Crisden

The truth is out there. Way, way, way out there!

Drew Lawson is racing against the clock. He's got a twenty-four-hour window to authenticate the mummy of Princess Merneith. If he's not at his boyfriend's garden party when that window closes, it'll be the final nail in their relationship coffin.

The last thing he needs traipsing on the final shred of his patience is brash, handsome reality show host Fraser Fortune, who's scheduled to film a documentary about the mummy's Halloween curse.

The opportunity to film a bona-fide professor examining the mummy is exactly the aura of authenticity Fraser needs. Except the grumpy PhD is a pompous ass on leave from his ivory tower. Yet something about Drew has Fraser using a word he doesn't normally have to draw upon: please.

With no time to waste-and a spark of attraction he can't deny - Drew reluctantly agrees to let Fraser follow his every move as he unwraps the mummy's secrets. Soon they're both making moves behind the scenes that even the dead can't ignore…

Warning: Whoso shall ever open this tomb, er, book shall suffer the curse of the Pharaohs. Okay, maybe not. But set aside a chunk of time for marauding mummies, too many cosmopolitans, illicit sex in hotel rooms, and other non-academic shenanigans.

©2010 Josh Lanyon (P)2014 Josh Lanyon

It's XOXO files, not XLXL files! LOL!

It took awhile for me to warm to the story but that was the fault of the narrator. I usually love Crisden's work but here, not only does he say "XLXL Files", but he gives Frasier Fortune a voice that makes him sound at worst, like a perv, and at best, a weirdo. FF is neither of these despite Drew's disdain of him at first.

I know I would have liked this JL story in audio a lot more if Crisden had given FF a regular-sounding voice. And why didn't anyone catch the XLXL mistake before it was released?

Not hot

I liked the story plot but I could not connect these two sexually. No chemistry. Maybe it was the physical description that had me picturing someone with the body of Joe Peshi that turned the heat down for me. Also the voice of Frasier just always sounded so typical Rico Suave. Like he always had a quirked eyebrow and bedroom eyes. To me, it's that annoying flirty equivalent of a female give that fake giggle. Blah. Still adore narrator and author. This title just fell flat for me.

Book-y meets flash-y, and a mummy.

Any additional comments?

**** 4 mummy stars ****

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"Which part are you upset about? The BJ or the mummy watching me blow you?"
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Drew Lawson, a young college professor visits the town of Walsh, Wyoming, aka the middle of nowhere, to examine the mummy of Princess Merneith at the local museum. Unfortunately it seems the mummy is "double booked" since handsome, tv celebrity Fraser Fortune is there to do a show on the mummy as well. The rumor is that the mummy comes to life every Halloween, and guess which day it is?

Their first meet isn't very successful, book-y meets flash-y, but turns of events bring them together to try to unwrap (ha!) the mystery. The rumor can't be real, right?

Drew also got to deal with his boyfriend, who's not going to win a Boyfriend of the Year award anytime soon.

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My heart was pounding so hard I felt sick as I said, "You know, Noah, in the space of a two-minute conversation you’ve called me ridiculous three times. Also insecure, childish and jealous."
Noah said tartly, “That, beautiful boy, is because you’re behaving ridiculously. Now I’m going to have my dinner and I’ll talk to you tomorrow evening."
"Don’t hang up on me, Noah."
"Goodbye, Drew."
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This was a fun, lighthearted and angst free short audio listen just short of three hours. The writing was good and the narration great. The mystery wasn't much of a mystery, but the reveal wasn't the focus of the story as how they got there and found each other was the interesting part. I might argue the breakup with Drew's boyfriend was a bit sudden, even though the boyfriend had it coming, and Drew hooking up with Fraser was a bit quick, but I was happy for Drew and Fraser. Sometimes shit happens and you meet someone and it just clicks! By a little help of a mummy.

Recommended!

Really great - classic Lanyon

If you could sum up Mummy Dearest in three words, what would they be?

If you want a great comfort 'listen to' then this is your book

What was one of the most memorable moments of Mummy Dearest?

the first time they are alone in the hotel room - wow, great chemistry

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

Drew was great

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

Fraser... hello ;)

Any additional comments?

I love everything SC narrates - he is so talented and his characters are great. Love Josh Lanyon - such great characters and stories. Really great.

I loved this book!

I love Josh Laynon's stories. I love the ancient Egyption part of this story