Leaning into Love

Leaning into Stories, Book 1

De: Lane Hayes

Narrado por: Seth Clayton

Eric Schuster is a successful guy. He’s part owner of a highly successful tech firm, he has a supportive family and a great group of close friends. But something is missing. Or maybe he’s reacting to his business partner and ex’s wedding news. He knows his former lover is making a big mistake, but he also knows it’s time to move on. And hopefully avoid falling for another friend.

Zane Richards is an avid sailor and surfer with a laid-back approach to life. He firmly believes there’s a time and place for everything if you’re willing to take a chance. Like letting his best friend know he’s interested in being much more than friends. Eric has always been half in love with Zane, but going from friends to lovers isn’t an easy sell for someone protecting his heart. Eric will have to decide if he’s willing to risk it all by leaning into love.

©2017 Lane Hayes (P)2017 Lane Hayes

Short, sweet and hot Best-Friends-to-Lovers

This book is special for me, it was my first Lane Hayes' book and I absolutely loved reading it and falling in love with Zane and Eric, so, of course, I jumped at the chance of listening the audiobook, too, and man, you're all for a treat!

Eric is successful in every aspect of his life, except in the romantic sense, but now that his ex-lover is getting married, he realizes he's missing something in his life. He's crushed on his best friend Zane since he met him, but never thought it would amount to much, until one day they crossed the line and now he needs to decide if he's willing to risk their friendship for a chance at more.

Eric and Zane were amazing and I just adored them together. Everything from their banter, their easy camaraderie, how well they knew each other and of course, the dynamite chemistry between them was just perfect. And the hotter than hot sex scenes didn't hurt, either.

The progression from friends to lovers was very realistic, especially considering the length of the book and we were given enough background info to see that the attraction had always been there, even if neither of them had considered acting on it before.

I loved Seth Clayton's narration. He did a great job bringing Eric to life. He was too much fun to listen to. I think he did a good job with Zane, too, somehow managing to bring forth his more laid-back personality into the narration. My only problem with the audiobook was that sometimes Eric and Zane's voices were too similar and I had to rewind the narration a bit to catch who it was that was talking in certain parts (it wasn't a hardship, just inconvenient at times).

Overall, this audiobook was a great companion for my weekend, short, hot and sweet and truly, you can't go wrong with a Lane Hayes book and the audiobook was the perfect way to refresh the story in my mind in preparation for the next book in the series, which will feature Zane and Eric again!!!

Very recommendable!!!

Audiobook Review for Leaning Into Love

Eric & Zane have been best friends who are fighting an attraction to one another. Maybe taking a chance will be a good thing. Zane has wanted to take things to another level for a while, and now here is the chance.

As far as short stories go, this one is hawt. The narrator has a good grasp of how to make different tonal nuances for the different voices. I knew he was speaking in whose character right away. And the gravelly tone was really fitting for this book. I am very excited for the next book in the Leaning Into series. I give this audiobook a 4/5 Kitty's Paws UP!


***This copy was given in exchange for an honest review only.

Swoon worthy romance!

I loved this story even more the second time around! I read this story when it was a part of an anthology and decided to listen to the audio because book 2 will be releasing soon. So glad I did! Between Lane's magical writing, and Seth Clayton's fantastic narration it made me actually wish my commute was longer so I could keep listening. This was all kinds of awesome. 5 Stars!!!

Decent performance; great story

This vocal performance was just ok for me. The performer did use good inflection but his voice wasn't what I pictured for these guys. There is nothing wrong with it, I just didn't care for it (although I'm an EXTREMELY picky audiobook listener).

I love Layne Hayes’ stories…always. I love friends-to-lovers stories. I’m torn on novellas – quick resolution and quick escalation of heat but too fast on the getting to know the characters and over too soon. This is the start of a series which I’m super excited about. We briefly met several characters. Grant and Josh we don’t know much about yet but I’m guessing we’ll see more of them as the series unfolds. Nick is a big player in this book. I don’t like him at all but Zane and Eric seem to love him as a brother. I’m hoping we’ll know why they love him in a future book because right now I just think he’s an a$$hole.

One of my issues with novellas is I don’t feel connected to the characters since there isn’t much time to get to know them. We do get to know Zane and Eric a little bit but I would like a deeper dive with them. They are opposites but balance each other. Zane is larger than life and living life to its fullest. Eric is a shy, nerdy, take the safe road kind of guy. They work well together. Their banter is entertaining. Their chemistry is off the charts. I just want more of them!

We’re left with a couple of big pieces at the end of the story that are not wrapped up so I really, really hope we get a glimpse of those in the next book (or a full book with Zane and Eric).

This will definitely be another must read series from Ms. Hayes!

Short but sweet

I discovered Lane Hayes 2 books ago and after listening to "Leaning into Love" I know my affair with her books (especially this series) will continue. This book -although short and felt incomplete- still made me feel all the thrills and feels of friends becoming lovers thanks to Seth Clayton's performance. The problem with books being short and sweet is that when it's over I am left feeling like I did not get enough and I want more.

4 stars - worthy of a repeat listen