The Bartender and the Babies: A Friends to Lovers Romance

The Frat Boys Baby, Book 5

By: Aiden Bates, Austin Bates

Narrated by: Guy Veryzer

Length: 7 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

Kurt
I faked being happy for years as a high-powered stock broker. Faking a relationship for a week can’t be that much harder. Course, pretending money and success was all I needed led directly to my breakdown, and lying on my mom’s couch is all I’ve been good at ever since. Maybe "faking it til I make it" isn’t a skill I should be putting on my resume. Assuming I ever get back to sending those out.

But one existential crisis at a time. First I need to survive my sister’s wedding with my sanity intact. And since that I fended off my mom’s matchmaking with claims of a nonexistent boyfriend...I need one of those.

It should probably surprise me how easily my mind turns to Evan, the gorgeous omega owner of the bar I like to drown my sorrows in. Or how easy he is to sell on the idea. Mostly, it just seems right. There’s a loneliness that clings to him like a shadow only I can see. Makes me think we’re kindred spirits. Maybe we can be lonely together. Maybe we can even be something more.

I should’ve expected he has problems of his own. That a screw-up is the last person who should be trying to save someone else. But I didn’t, and now I just hope we can save each other. Or else my fake relationship will end with very real consequences for us both.

Evan
I don’t know what drives me to keep my brother’s bar open after he dies. It was never my dream. And I’ve got no one left to prove anything to. But its the last piece I have of him, and I’m not ready to let go. Move on. Maybe that’s why I fight it when Kurt shakes up the limbo I’ve spent so long living in.

It's not like this relationship was supposed to be real. Yet I can tell he wants more. Trying to help with the bar. Wanting to be my rock. A new foundation. But I can’t let him. Because I can’t deal with losing my foundation again. If that means I have to be alone, so be it. My mind isn’t changed just because I end up pregnant. So why do I still hope Kurt finds a way to change it?

This 50,000-word novel about lives lost and loves found features mpreg, mental health issues, and a whole lot of sexual healing. Be 18 years of age and up when listening!

©2018 Shehan Peiris (P)2018 Shehan Peiris

Great story

Loved the story of Kurt and Evan. It is as enjoyable as all the others stories in this series.

Narrator made the characters sound like they were all in their 50’s.

One workaholic alpha one omega who knows what he likes.

Its a great take on a classic story line. It’s nice to see an underestimated omega who know what he wants and is not afraid to go after it.

Good story.

I liked the storyline, but this wasn't my favorite book in this series. To me the narrator was maybe not the best choice for the type of book. It made it harder for me to listen to, but I have a hard time leaving a book unfinished. I would have liked it more if I had read this book instead of listened to it. I have enjoyed the series.

A good read

Normally I only gush about how much I love a book. And while its true I did very much enjoy this book I can't help my confusion. The book blurb for this book is in my opinion very different than the book that I read. Kurt didn't end up on his mothers couch, he didn't have a "breakdown" or anything else. He did get depressed at one point but who hasn't ever been depressed or disappointed? And no brother died, so you can see why I say that I'm confused. The story that I read and listened to was great. The 2 main characters were both strong good-looking men and the rest of the characters were well written and quite enjoyable. I really hope the author goes back and writes another book blurb for this story. Either way the story was great. I have read many books by these 2 authors and I have always enjoyed them. The narrator did an amazing job with all the voices. I would highly recommend this book to others. I did receive this book for free in exchange for an honest review and I also review books for Audiobooks Unleashed.

Friends to lovers

I enjoyed this story. The importance of family and friends. And the good ones take care of each other by not giving up on one other. After only pretending to be boyfriends, for the sake of Kurt's mother, Kurt and Evan fall in love.
Narrator Guy Veryzer does a good job.

No Sympathy for Big Brother

I laugh at his pain. Kurt, eldest child and big brother to 5 younger sisters, gives in to all of their whims and pouts. One of Kurt's mantras is, "I love my family..."

The Bartender and the Babies is a fun romp, with an overwhelmed big brother, fushia bridesmaids gowns, and Mama pushing Kurt to bring a date to the wedding.

When the wedding planning for his sister becomes too much, Kurt leaves his home in search of more masculine company at a local pub. The bartender catches his attention.

Delightful characters and entertaining situations.

Narrator Guy Veryzer did a beautiful job of portraying so many characters, several of whom were females ranging in age from Mama to early twenties. Add in a big, gruff Russian, as well as our MCs and we've got a pretty big cast. So well done, and kept me laughing throughout the story.

The Bartender and the Babies: A Friends to Lovers

Kurt is the last of the frat brothers who is single and has no omega in sights. He is very busy with his big family of sisters and a mother on valium. They are in the middle of planning another wedding and it's a little crazy. He leaves to go to a bar he enjoys. There he sees Evan as he takes care of an idiot drunk. He steps in to help. He has an offer of a job at the bar which he accepts. He and Evan share a moment well a night. There is another go around about the wedding and his mother trying to shove females at him, In the moment he mentions his boyfriend wouldn't like it and panics and leaves very quickly. He hides out at the bar doing his job in the office. There is chemistry between Kurt and Evan but a lot of baggage dealing with relationships on Evan's part. Then the unthinkable happens...a pregnancy. Life just got a heck of alot more complicated.
Guy Veryzer is a great narrator whose voice pulls you into the story and keeps you enthralled as you listen to the characters go through their lives.
Fantastic audio and story!!!

Heart warning

What a great audio. Not only a romantic but heart warming story of family and friends. Couldn't put it down Love this series so much. Will recommend this book to o my friends.

I Love My Family!

I have read a few of Aiden's books but not when co-authored with Austin, I really enjoyed this sweet story.
Kurt needs a fake boyfriend after spilling the news to his family that he's gay. That's where Evan comes in. I tell ya, what a family Kurt has ... I'd be pulling out my hair lol.
I found a lot of humor, and Evan is an Omega and I love the fact he's strong willed. After Kurt gets over his shock of an Omega owning and running a bar he starts falling for him.
As the story goes on you can see that even though this is fiction there is a message. I'm not going to spoil it for you lol.
I'm still new to Audible so I haven't heard Guy Veryzer narrator before. I didn't mind him, he did good with the women's voices but between Evan and Kurt I just couldn't tell the difference. It could have been my hearing issue so take that into account.

entertaining

Would I listen to it again: probably
Did the story keep me engaged: reasonably
Was I invested in the characters: mostly
What did I like about the story? fun story with likeable characters

I'm on the fence with the narrator. The characters have each been given their own voices and the inflections and intonations are OK and work to bring life to the characters, but at times the narration sounded wobbly and the characters came across older than I thought they should.

<I received this book from Audiobooks Unleashed in exchange for my unbiased review>