To Hold a Hidden Pearl

Rossingley, Book 1

By: Fearne Hill

Narrated by: Richard Stranks

Length: 8 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

Dr. Jay Sorrentino is getting married in 10 days’ time to the girl of his dreams, so what the hell is he doing in a gay London club with a stupidly handsome stranger? As if calling off the wedding and alienating his friends and family isn’t enough, Jay also has to contend with starting a new job at a new hospital. So the last thing he needs is for the bloke from the club to be his prickly supervisor.

Dr. Lucien Avery is a difficult colleague. He’s also the unexpected and reluctant heir to the vast Rossingley estate. Reclusive and miserable, he hates most of his colleagues, people who eat packed lunches, and supervising junior doctors. That is, until the delectable Dr. Sorrentino turns up on his doorstep.

A light-hearted M/M contemporary romance, Rossingley takes place in Southern England and is centered around a fictional country house and estate by the same name. The first in the series, it can be enjoyed as a stand-alone.

©2020 Fearne Hill (P)2022 NineStar Press, LLC

A Great Book

This is the first book in The Rossingley Series. I found this story and its characters stunning. I don’t give very many 5 star reviews in fact I can’t even remember the last one that I gave that’s how few. But I am giving this one 5 stars not because it was perfect because it wasn’t. But this story enthralled me and kept me in involved with its characters. I have read and listened to so many books that I can easily get bored with a story. That didn’t happen with this one I wanted the next book “RIGHT NOW”.

The plot was entertaining and it was steady throughout the book. The characters were well developed and thought out. Jay and Lucien are the MC’s of this book. I will admit that this book probably isn’t for everyone but if you have an open mind and like substance to a story jump on this book. The narration I have mixed feeling about. I think that the narrator did a good job. It wasn’t monotone and there were places that the emotion was brought out to its fullest. My problem is that he wasn’t my favorite as far as his voice. There wasn’t anything wrong it was more a personal thing like preferring blue eyes instead of brown there’s nothing wrong with either but everyone has their own preference. I can highly recommend this as a good read/listen. I voluntarily read an advance copy of this book for an honest review.

Jay and Lucien

Really enjoyed this book and the narration was well done by a new to me narrator. The story of an Earl Dr Lucien Avery a recluse, who has lost his family in a horrific accident, is to supervise new Dr Jay Sorrentino, only to find out it was the guy he hooked up with at a Club. We watch the MC's manoeuvre their way through the relationship as 10 days after the hook up Jay was meant to marry his wife.

Beautiful story

This is my first Fearne Hill audiobook, and I will definitely be listening to more. What took me so long. The narration was perfection and the story was so wonderful. Beautiful MC’s who went through a lot, but came out the other side. Low to moderate angst.

Great Romance

Lucien and Jay both had a lot going on in their lives during this book between Lucien’s grief and survivors guilt over his families deaths and Jay trying to get his life together after realizing his feelings for men and in particular Lucien I enjoyed Lucien’s style and personality’s and liked what little we found out about Freddie in this story they went through a lot of emotional moments in this book but helped each other hold it together and I really enjoyed this story

Heartfelt Love Story; Superb Narration

Marvelously well-written and accompanied by the sublime voice performance of Richard Stranks, ‘To Hold a Hidden Pearl’ is one of the best books I’ve read this year. This book has given me my favorite kind of surprise–new-to-me artists that convince me from the start that I’ve found something special.

I love both main characters, Lucien and Jay, but I REALLY love Lucien. Hill has created a character who has both a heart-breaking vulnerability and masks it with emotional barriers that make him seem emotionally unavailable. Jay must work to get to the squishy adorable Lucien that lies beneath. Readers are treated to a superlative story full of opposites-attract, hurt/comfort, and gay-awakening tropes. I want to do a re-listen already.

Richard Stranks’ amazing performance of this book leaves me looking forward to more from him. He’s definitely someone to keep an eye (ear?) out for.

A free ARC was given to me at my request and this review is voluntary.

Highly recommended.

Lovely story, excellent narration!

This was such a lovely story, sometimes funny, poignant, but not angsty or depressing despite a family tragedy.
I enjoyed the MCs very much, I especially loved Lucien - he'd been through a lot - and Jay, who pushed through with his attraction to Lucien and was protective of him. It is a story of finding and being true to one's self, trying to overcome grief and allowing someone into one's heart and being fabulous and comfy with who you are and always will be.
Narration
Richard Stranks had the characters down pat! His 'highborn' voice for Lucien was authentic without being overdone and he flowed effortlessly into Jay's solid, slightly Brummie accent. He also conveyed their emotions so well I 'felt' them too. He paid the same detailed attention to the secondary character voices as well.

I thoroughly enjoyed his performance and really hope to hear him narrate others in the series and other books.

even better on audio

It was a great book.

It was angsty but o so good.

Great love story with alot of emotions

I have now listen to the book also and I love Lucian. He is one of my favourite characters in MM books. And the audio is really good!

Love the accent!!!

This story is very sweet and quirky! Both Lucien and Jay are lovely! Dr. Lucien Avery on the outside the looks like a cold and hard person but he have been through so much loss that be doesn’t know how to enjoy living again until Dr Jay Sorrentino comes to is life. Dr. Jay Sorrentino is trying to know if he is interested in guys so he hooked up with a guy in a London club just to discovers that his new supervisor Dr. Lucien Avery the guy he hooked up the week before. Lucien Avery is intrigued and charmed with Jay he open up with him and share with him his pain, I like that Jay is trying to solve his problem before starting something with Lucien, but he soon fall in love with him. Both are amazing together! I enjoy listening Richard Stranks voice, OMG that accent!!! Loved it!

Adored. Highly recommend

Jay just called his wedding to a woman off less than 2 weeks before the big day. Lucien is a tragically aloof Earl/doctor who is still grieving the loss of his entire family 18 months previously. They meet anonymously one night and several weeks later they meet again - at work! First time author, first time narrator and I have been blown away. They’re both excellent. This will not be my last Fearne Hill novel. I loved how Hill brought 2 beautifully flawed men together at a time in their lives when they both desperately needed someone to see the real them behind the facade (whether they knew they needed it or not). I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

Fearne’s romantic debut!

Narration: I think this is the first time I’ve listened to Richard and I really enjoyed his narration. He brought the characters to life and I especially liked his voice for Lucien. I’d definitely listen to more of his narrations.

Story: To Hold a Hidden Pearl is everything! I don't know that my review will do the story justice, but I'll try.

Dr. Lucien Avery is one of my favorite characters of all time. Initially he is a very guarded man, keeping others away with his rudeness. But the real Lucien is a very sweet, sensitive, and lonely man. He doesn't care what others think at all and freely expresses himself. He's not one for labels, but I don't think it'd be wrong to consider him as genderfluid with more feminine days than masculine. I really loved that even though Lucien is hurting deeply, he opens himself up to Jay and Lucien trusts that he can support himself even if their relationship breaks down or doesn't progress past friendship. Oh, and Lucien doesn't like to swear, so his favorite alternative is "gosh" and it's pretty adorable.

Jay has the weight of the world on his shoulders. Upon meeting Lucien, he is immediately drawn to the reclusive man. There is just something about Lucien that calls out to him. As they get to know each other, a lovely friendship builds between the two of them until it becomes more. I love that Jay never judges Lucien for freely expressing himself but rather encourages Lucien to express himself more. And even though Jay is questioning his sexuality throughout the book, he tries hard to not place that burden at Jay's feet.

This book is incredibly romantic and their love for each other is beautiful.They do fall for each other relatively quickly, but I wouldn't consider this story instalove. There's definitely a friendship that forms first. There is some angst in the story, but it's mainly around Jay dealing with his sexuality and avoiding his family. Without giving anything away, the way that the concept of "coming out" is handled in this book is really refreshing!

Fearne Hill is now a one-click author for me and I can't wait to read the second book in this series!