Letting Go

A Rainier Family Novel

By: Ashton Cade

Narrated by: Michael Pauley

Length: 6 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

Grant

Returning home to sleepy Umberland was supposed to be temporary - just to see my family before securing a job in the city. But when my brother's old best friend and my teen crush, Ian Barrett, is here, too, I find myself making excuses to stick around a little longer. He's still everything I've ever wanted, but this former baseball star is also a big-time player....if you know what I mean. I don't know what Ian would ever see in steady, reliable Grant Rainier.

But I also know I can't stay away.

When we start working away together on his dream, I know I'm in trouble. One glance and my heart melts, along with my resolve. Being with him means staying in Umberland and giving up my big-city ambitions, but being without him means losing the best thing that's ever happened to me. How am I supposed to let go of either one?

Ian

I've had my share of men, but I've also attracted more than my share of controversy. And since I was a teenager, the Rainier family has always been my rock - I feel like part of the clan. When I see Grant Rainier again, I can't help but remember him as a teenager just off to college....and now the boy is all man.

For the first time in my life, the chemistry is there, and so is the caring.

But should I subject him to the whirlwind of my life? And can I risk the peace and solitude I've given up everything for?

©2018 Ashton Cade (P)2019 Ashton Cade

Good overall book

I loved this book and can't wait to listen to the rest of the series. Great series so far.

Good Story, love the Narrator

I decided to give this series a chance because I love Michael Pauley's performances as a narrator. His characters are always distinct from each other. So, when I saw this book, I thought, hey. Why not. I admit that the story is good, not knock your socks off good, but it makes you fall for all the characters and want to be involved with the large Rainier family. As I am writing this review, I am waiting for book 2 of the series to download. I am looking forward to getting to know more of the stories of the people in the Rainier family and excited to hear more from Michael Pauley. Even from those first books he narrated where his performance wasn't the absolute bomb, his voice commands your attention and makes you want to hear more. Now that he is more seasoned, I find that he is only getting better with every performance.

Letting Go

Update to review 3/20/19 after listening to the Audiobook.

I totally read these books out of order and got through book two first… That one was great so I went back and picked this one up right afterwards and was not disappointed.

Grant is home for the summer after college to spend some time with his family before he goes off to find a new job. He is surprised and pleased to see when his older brother’s best friend Ian is back in town too. Grant has always had a crush on Ian. Ian is just now noticing how grown up and Hot Grant has become. Grant’s Brother Trevor is a total Tool and doesn’t want them to get together. Which, when we learn a little more about Ian’s past is a bit understandable, but I think Trevor’s reaction is a bit much and maybe he just needs to get laid himself. Lol. I did feel really bad for Ian and what he went through in his Retirement from playing Baseball that was a horrible thing to experience. And the drama in this book matches the drama in book two, but on a different level of crazy, and different in what happens. I really did like this book as well, but the heat in book two was a lot stronger than this one, I didn’t really feel like Grant and Ian’s connection was as strong. I would like to add in though for this book. I was really thrown off about Ian’ being a little on the callous side when it came to his and Grants first time together. When you read that part you will know exactly what I am talking about. I just wasn’t really impressed by Ian at that point in time and how things went down. Overall though I liked this book and I will definitely check out any other books in this series that come out cause I really did like book two as well, so were two-for-two in this series.

Audio - Michael Pauley is a pretty steady narrator at this point and I never really have complaints with his work. This one was good like all the others I’ve heard from him so far. But I will say it wasn’t my favorite of his, idk if it was the story or what but the narration for this one just really didn’t grip me like I was hoping for. But i will say that I’ll still be getting book two if that’s produced so, there’s that... I liked the audio I just didn’t love it.

great start to a series

I really enjoyed this book. Michael Pauley narrated it wonderfully. I would really rate it a 4.5, but couldn't give it a full 5 stars..so I rounded down with my rating. Ian definitely had some issues when it came to coming out...not in the part of him being in denial about it himself, but in the way he was treated. It really left him with some emotional scars. & really, that was the main obstacle that had to be faced. Once Ian and Grant decided to try things out, there wasn't a whole lot of keeping things under wraps. Any problems really just came from Ian dealing with his stuff. I like that they came together to work things out and were able to find a way for them each to be happy without sacrificing their own dreams...although I don't know how I felt about Ian's career choices near the end. I felt like he gave up something he cared about too easily. I was hoping for more of an ending as there wasn't much of one. I am hoping that in this series we will get to see more of what Ian and Grant's future looks like.

I really liked this one

This is the first book in this series and I will most definately be getting the others as my budget allows. I enjoyed the ebook version and I loved hearing it brought to life by a great narrator!

Loved it!

Excellent story and narrator! I was reading the Other reviews. One said should a straight white woman write mm...heck yes they should. Shame on you for saying other wise. This book and others like them are amazing in their own way. ❤️❤️

perfect

I originally read this book and when the opportunity to grab it in audio I had to. This amazing story with the narration of Michael makes it perfect.

First time reader

This was my first book by Ashton Cade and I’m hooked. Her writing style is very close to some of my favorite authors and if she continues to use Michael Dean to bring her words to voice, then I’m a fan for life!

Enjoyable Listen

I love Michael Pauley’s narration, and the story was amazing, too. Can’t beat a best friend’s little brother story line with lots of extra angst thrown in.

So hot!!

I really love this book and series. It's one of my favorite tropes with a guy in love with his brother's best friend. It was so hot with Ian and Grant. Small towns, and stolen looks and hot chemistry leads to some damn hot sexy times. Ashton and Michael are amazing!