Better Place

Rainbow Place, Book 3

De: Jay Northcote

Narrado por: Hamish Long

Joe deserves better. Meeting Dylan helps him see that.

After a recent redundancy, Joe takes a few months off to try and make it as a writer. His partner, Harry, is less than supportive but Joe is used to that after 10 years together, just like he’s used to Harry’s controlling nature and his drinking habit.

Dylan, a server at Rainbow Place, is fascinated by Joe as he sits in the café and works on his laptop. His attempts to flirt are met with awkwardness at first, but gradually Joe opens up. Dylan is disappointed when he learns Joe isn’t single. As their friendship develops he begins to worry about the nature of Joe’s relationship, especially when he witnesses Harry’s behaviour in person. Abuse isn’t always physical, and Dylan knows that from experience. His concern helps Joe see his relationship for what it is, and gives him the courage to end things with Harry.

Free to act on their mutual attraction, Joe and Dylan dive headlong into something that becomes serious fast. Joe revels in the passion and intimacy he’s been missing out on for so long, but Dylan is worried that Joe is on the rebound. He puts on the brakes, knowing that they need to slow down to make this last. For this new relationship to work, Joe needs to show Dylan that he’s ready to move on from the past

©2019 Jay Northcote (P)2019 Audible, Ltd

Very real

A very real but still sweet and adorable story. With very genuine lovable characters.
Very enjoyable listen.

Audiobook review

I loved this book as much as the rest of the series. Joe and Dylan have a story that so many can relate to. This story is one to read.

Understanding

These two men met when but it isn’t the best of timing. Joe needs to figure things out. There isn’t just acceptance to what Dylan says it takes another person sharing to really get Joe thinking. I like the idea that Joe makes his decision based on himself and not just on Dylan. I also admired Dylan for standing strong on his own needs even at the risk of a new bond forming. Both men show a lot of courage in being themselves.

I listened to the audio version and it was very well done.

4.5 stars

Better Place is book 3 in the Rainbow Place series but it can be read as standalone since each book in the series is about a different couple. This book is a friends to lovers, age gap, MM romance.

Dylan is an employee of Rainbow Place Cafe. That is how he meets Joe, a customer who has started working remotely while at the cafe. Dylan is 26 and Joe is 42. When Dylan and Joe meet, Joe is still in a long term relationship that is severely broken. Joe's partner of 10 years is cold, manipulative, controlling, and emotionally abusive. He is also an alcoholic. As Joe finds the strength to end his relationship, he also finds that he wants much more than friendship with Dylan who feels the same way but is super cautious of it being a rebound type thing.

I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy this storyline but it actually ended up being my favorite from the series so far. One of my favorite things about this series is that even though each book is about a different couple, we still get to see the other couples and characters from the prior books since the series is centered around Rainbow Place. The more I see of Rainbow Place's owner, Seb, the more I love him. He is such a great guy and really ends up being a father/uncle/big brother figure for all of the other characters.

The narration is fine. It is the same narrator from the other books and he doesn't have a wide variety of voices, but he is pleasant to listen to and easy to understand.

I will definitely continue this series.

Another great book in this wonderful series!

Better Place reminds me again of why I love Jay Northcote’s stories so much. This is a wonderful romance with two incredibly authentic MC’s facing real-life problems. What I always take away from his stories is that love, romantic, soul-deep and overwhelming love, can happen for everyday regular people. That’s where he shines and brings out the magic. Which is exactly what he did here.

I really felt a connection with these characters, Joe and Dylan, though Joe especially, and I was so moved by their story. Perhaps part of the reason is its slow and gentle build-up, with the focus on the emotional bond between the MC’s first, before any physical shenanigans take place. The story builds very gradually, because at the start of the book Joe is still in a relationship, albeit one that has seen better days with a partner who is very controlling, dismissive of Joe’s wants and needs, and who pretty much takes Joe for granted.

Joe and Dylan start out as friends and stay that way until Joe’s newly single. No cheating here.
I think the author did a really good job at describing Joe’s and Harry’s relationship, taking his time to give us a look into their lives and for Joe to do his utmost for their relationship to succeed even after he gains a new perspective on it. It makes Joe very easy to relate to. I also love that Dylan wasn’t “that guy”, breaking up a supposedly happy home, so to speak.

Dylan’s past experiences make him very well suited to understand what Joe’s going through and seeing him watch out for Joe was very touching. Dylan also has insecurities to face and I love him for his insight and courage, figuring out the best way for their relationship to make it long term.

The writing style is wonderful, fluent and very evocative with beautiful imagery. I especially loved the scenes at the beach which were so descriptive I felt as if I was right there too.

Narration: another brilliant performance from talented Hamish Long who is a perfect fit for this series! He did an amazing job, yet again, and I love that he does all the books, so the voices of the MC's from the stories that came before are all the same, and familiar in the best way.