A Lighter Shade of Blue

Color of Love, Book 2

By: F.E. Feeley Jr.

Narrated by: Vance Bastian

Length: 3 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

The winter storm has passed, and David and Aaron emerge from their weekend of passionate humanity to take stock and face the rest of their lives with hope. Their bond continues to grow, but they both carry heavy burdens from pasts that return to haunt them.

Each faces the specter of former lovers who bring devastation in their wake. Will Aaron and David’s fledgling love withstand the barrage, or will the force of separate maelstroms tear them apart?

©2019 Frederick E. Feeley, Jr. (P)2019 Frederick E Feeley, Jr.

Ohhhhh here’s the drama

The first book was pretty drama free, just small things. This one is where the drama really showed. The performance was well done, the chapter pauses were not quite as abrupt or maybe I was used to them. As that was my only issue with the last one, I give the narrator two thumbs up!
This story really flushed out the characters and added a lot of ‘real life’ to it. It showed how things really started to go for them, how they dealt with those around them, how they worked together and how they needed to grow as a couple. If you enjoyed the first one, pick this one up too!

An amazing addition to the series

David and Aaron are back, about a month after the snowstorm that brought them a weekend together.

This story is more about Aaron's ex-boyfriend and dealing with his PTSD. It also brings us back to the demise of David's marriage and the next steps he needs to take to move on.

It was a whirlwind of emotion, but like the first story, their communication skills led them in the right direction and gave them both the support they needed to weather their own personal storms.

I loved the writing, the story, and the witty dialogue between the characters.

Another book in the series that I'd definitely recommend.

A Touching & Arousing Adventure

This second chapter of David and Aaron's story is filled with touching romantic gestures, steamy passionate experiences, and heartfelt struggles as they navigate their way through a new chapter in both of their lives. It's enduring to remember what it's like when a new love takes hold, and this story will sweep you off your feet and into their complicated yet fulfilling lives. Their incredible romantic encounters will leave you begging for one more word, one more description, and one more time before the story comes to an end. The author continues to amazing me with his gift of descriptive story-telling and painting a picture I sometimes long to be a part of. I highly recommend this book and I wait with anticipation for the conclusion of David and Aaron's journey.

I am in love with you and you are it for me

Ooooo boy, I just can’t get enough the magic combo of F.E. Feeley Jr. and Vance Bastian. 🥰 And I loved this book just as much as I loved the first book. 💜 What a fabulous listen. 👏😉


The tone of this book is definitely different from the first book. In the first one, David and Aaron were in the honeymoon period. 😁 They were snowed in, they just got to know each other and they were in their own little happy bubble, contented and loved. They were not digging into each other pasts and hence no ugly, difficult issues from past to deal. Now, our boys are in a committed relationship and they have already used “b” word with each other. Boyfriends! 😍 But the ghosts of the past are definitely catching up. David has to deal with his ex-wife Laura who’s bitter about David finally finding love in a much younger person who happens to be a man. And Aaron has to go back to Boston and deal with his drug addict ex-boyfriend to finally and truly move on and be with David. They both knew that these are the obstacles they have to go through before they can get their happily ever after. But the question is will they make it or not until all these issues are solved.

This book is definitely a bit heavier and angstier than the first book. I thought Roger, Aaron’s ex, was kind of a douchebag but who knew he had such a terrible, painful past. 😪 The things people do to escape the ghosts of the past is heartbreaking and sad. 😭 And David was such a dream boyfriend, loving, supportive, understanding and just so caring. I think it’s really lovely too it because in the first book, Aaron was the one who helped David came out of his shell and be in terms with his bisexuals. But now, Davis is Aaron’s rock to deal with the difficult, painful past from Boston. It’s nice to see these men are the each other’s solace and sanctuary. 😍 And despite the fact this book being a bit heavier than the first one, David and Aaron are still undeniably and scorchingly sexy. 🔥 Ooooo boy, the sex in this book was on fire!!! Just so erotic and smoking! 🔥 I said it then but I’m going to say it again, I’ll never get tired of Vance Bastian saying “baby” in that husky voice. 😍😉 I can’t wait to get the next book in the series because these men deserve the best HEA ever with unicorns, rainbows and sugar clouds! 😁😘


4.5 I am in love with you and you are it for me stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫








Audio rating

Story- 4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Narration - 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Performance - 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Overall - 4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Good

David and Aaron’s story continues In a lighter shade of blue. As much as they have fallen for each other, not everyone is as happy about there relationship. Both men’s past play a huge role in the story. I really enjoyed the sequel. It’s as 🔥 as the first. This is a new author for me, I will definitely be checking out more books by him. I recommend this series

Good

I like these three book I was in the mood for something light and I found , these stories the are great . Thank you

Oh, my heart! Such an emotional listen!

🌟🌟🌟🌟 4.5 stars
🔥🔥🔥🔥 Heat Level: 3.75
🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧 Narration: 4.5

Oh, my heart! Such an emotional next step for David & Aaron!

I'm loving this series! It's heartfelt, steamy and so much more! After being snowed in, Aaron and David are now in a relationship and as that progresses parts of their pasts come back to challenge them. I found many parts of this book emotional, powerful and sad. I loved how Mr. Freeley approached so very serious issues with such heart and care while challenging these characters to fight for want they want. I feel like the love and passion fly off the page and I enjoyed this book even more than book one! A truly passionate, heartfelt read!!

Thanks for reading!

Let's Get Ready To Rumble ... Oh yes, Drama Is Making A Grand Entrance

That's correct, in A Lighter Shade of Blue , things get real!

David and Aaron little bubble of love can't stay isolated forever; everyday life, work, people ~ some of them the Ex ~ happens.

I enjoyed listening how these two characters relationship and love continues to grow . How they handled all the drama and the angst. And of course, their sexy times.

Vance Bastian narration is once again phenomenal and on point.

If you liked book 1 , you got to listen book 2 ; you are going to love it.

What comes next

The first book in the Color of Love series, Into the Gray, was a story of instalove. David and Aaron met and within the span of a snowstorm had their happy for now. I’m not always a fan of the meet and fall in love within a day – although I know people who’ve done it. Sometimes the stories feel rushed, especially when the novels are shorter. I didn’t feel that way about this couple. Yes, it was fast, but they were just so right together. The characters were well-constructed, so it worked.

This book is what happens after. David and Aaron are settling into a routine. Aaron has a new job helping vets and is getting back on his feet. David is sorting out his ex-wife and their complicated relationship. The men are happy and are preparing for their first Christmas together. Just when things look good, Aaron’s PTSD rears its ugly head. One of their women friends says to David, “Aaron was always a big-hearted kid. That place changed him somewhat. Oh, the fire is still there, but the color has changed. Instead of bright blue, there’s this lighter shade now.” His time in the Middle East is the basis of most of his trauma, but an incident with his ex has also left him with lingering suffering.

After one particularly bad incident, Aaron realizes he’s going to have to address some of the issues head-on, including dealing with his ex-boyfriend once and for all. And wow, wasn’t that scene a gut-punch. But Aaron has David there to help him pick up the pieces. They are proof that instant attraction can lead to something deeper. Something more substantial. Something permanent.

I wasn’t expecting to cry in this book and I did. A good cathartic cry. Things hit a little too close to home, but that was okay. As always, I really enjoyed the story. There is a third book in the series and I’m hoping it comes to audio soon as well.

Vance Bastian narrates these stories and I just adore him. He differentiates voices well and his female characters are always well done. He is a nice touch to this great story.

A series that keeps getting better

This author is a favorite of mine so I’ve had the e-book sitting on my kindle since it released. However, I also knew he’d eventually team up with a favorite narrator, so I decided to wait until I could read and listen to A Lighter Shade of Blue simultaneously, and I didn’t regret it one bit. A Lighter Shade of Blue is the continuation of David and Aaron’s story first introduced in Into the Gray and should definitely be read in order.

The Colors of Love series is much more relationship focused than Mr. Feeley’s other works and definitely a lot steamier. Even though I knew that going into the first book, it still surprised me and I missed some of the depth I’ve come to associate with this author’s writing. Therefore, I liked that the continuing series allows me to spend more time with these characters and get a deeper look into their relationship as it develops and expands. I also really liked that A Lighter Shade of Blue explores David and Aaron’s past. Though some moments definitely left me choked up, they added a depth to the characters and moved the series further beyond a romance. Significant stories with some messy emotions and beautiful moments are hallmarks of this author and I was happy to see them shine in the second novella in this series.

The narration was exactly what I’ve come to expect from Mr. Bastian. His cadence, inflections, and emotions highlight the narratives and keep him on the top of my preferred narrator’s list. If you are looking for a great audiobook with some majorly steamy scenes and a story that just gets better with each novella, I’d definitely recommend the Colors of Love series.