Conscious Decisions of the Heart

More Heat Than the Sun, Book 2

By: John Wiltshire

Narrated by: Gary Furlong

Length: 9 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

Ben Rider and Nikolas Mikkelsen learn that danger comes in all shapes and sizes and often in places you least expect it. Nikolas' dark past calls to him, inexorably dragging him back into its seductive embrace.

While he goes on an errand of mercy to Russia, Ben travels to Denmark to learn Nikolas's language. Convinced Russia's vastness will swallow Nikolas, Ben doesn't see the enemy much closer to home. Thinking he has lost Nikolas, Ben then makes a terrible decision that threatens to destroy everything they have together.

Focused on this very personal horror, bound by a new level of commitment, they have no idea that a greater threat is coming. And when it arrives, it changes everything - even the definition of commitment.

©2021 Decent Fellows Press (P)2021 Decent Fellows Press

Engaging storyline

Absolutely enjoyed the 2nd book. The narration was fantastic and the story is brilliant. I am looking forward to book #3 in this series.

Amazing!

One of my favorite books in the series.
Great story telling and the narrator is absolutely perfect!

awesome

love Gary, love story, love John ! What's Not to love ? can't wait 3

enjoyed it

John Wiltshire is an unknown author for me. I picked up this series because I was looking for another long series (more than 5 books) revolving around the same characters and something a little "gritty" - it was a bonus that it was narrated by Gary Furlong. My overall comments are reflective of the whole 9 books, because I feel the 9 books are well worth the investment and it's been a very long time since I finished a series and went straight back to the beginning to listen again. 👍👍

Each book has a good pace and builds on events from the previous book as time progresses through the 14 years Ben & Nickolas are together, I was taken on a roller coaster ride of the best parts of an action/adventure movie, ran the full gamut of emotions and while the character development was subtle, it was well written and builds a relationship with a solid foundation that can withstand any force thrown its way.

Despite certain elements of some of the books not being to my liking, I was completely emersed in the stories, entertained from beginning to end and will definitely look for more from this author in the future.

*** My comments contain spoilers ***
📖 Story comment: Conscious Decisions of the Heart: I liked the idea of Ben learning Danish while Nik went to Russia but elements of the plot are a little unrealistic, given the "skills and mental fortitude" both men possess and I'm not sure anyone could experience being swept up in a Tsunami, handcuffed to someone else and not sustain significant injuries to the arm joints. There's also way too much s*x in this book for me, but hey - it's entertainment and I was entertained.

🎧 Narrator comment: I enjoyed Gary Furlong's narration, he suits the characters, has good cadence, inflections and intonations and it's easy to distinguish the characters from each other. Overall an enjoyable performance and he bought the characters of the book to life

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Note to self ... the lack of lube drove me nuts ... 9 books and only one instance of "gun oil" to ease the way?

📌 Where does it fall on my personal scale? 7
• 1 not my thing • 2 didn't like the narration • 3 didn't keep my attention • 4 was good, but once was enough [3⭐] • 5 enjoyed it [4⭐] • 6 will listen again if i'm in the mood for the narrator [4⭐] • 7 goes on the "re-listen" list [4⭐] • 8 kept me up past bed-time [4.5⭐] • 9 recommended to family/friends [4.75⭐] • 10 own it in all formats [5⭐] • 11 keep a copy with me at all times [5⭐]

I can't get enough

I've listened to this whole series 5 or 6 times now. I can't get enough of Nik and Ben. The way these two get into trouble. Find out more about each other. Its brilliant
One of many thing I love, this author will drop a work,phrase, sentence into the story and will come back up and finish the story in another book.
It fun to catch these see hos they fit into the story

The narrator is incredible. I love everything he does.

Fabulously narrated MM Romantic Suspense

Conscious Decisions of the Heart is the second book in Wiltshire’s More Heat Than the Sun series. These books follow the same couple and each book builds off some events from previous ones. While this is a complete story and could be enjoyed on it’s own, I’d definitely recommend starting with Love is a Stranger. It’s possible this review contains spoilers to the first book.

This story is still heavy on the personal relationship between Ben and Nikolas, but I appreciated that it had significantly more action in it. I also liked that we get Nikolas’ perspective as well. I felt like I understood him better and appreciated learning his motivations. There are several distinct sections to the book, each bringing a greater understanding and depth to the relationship but in sometimes devastating ways.

Again I struggle to share what I enjoyed so much about the book without spoiling it for other readers. Wiltshire has this way of keeping the reader on an emotional roller coaster of highs and lows, victories and losses, laughter and tears – because that’s what she puts her characters through and I felt deeply invested in them.

While the steamy scenes were definitely hot, I struggled a little with kinky that sometimes bordered on dysfunctional. However, in the end it felt like Nikolas and Ben were trying to work through becoming better individuals as well as a team. So that “missing the mark” wasn’t for the sake of dragging things out, but the path they traveled to get to where they needed to be.

And of course, the humor. There were so many laugh out loud moments. Not only from our main couple – but Squeezy and Kate as well. Who I hope will continue to be in future books because I just adore them as secondary characters. Squeezy’s names for ops & their participants is particularly hilarious.

I’m looking forward to starting The Bridge of Silver Wings later this week.

Note: I would encourage listeners to check out content/trigger warnings for the book. There are a few in here that are fairly descriptive.

Narration:
Gary Furlong. I feel like my comments on him are repetitive. The fact is he is an amazingly talented narrator who does such a good job of immersing the listener in the story and characters that it’s hard to push pause. His delivery, accents, emotions, and transitions are so smooth and flawless that it’s hard to remember that it’s a single person.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from Decent Fellows Press and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

MOREEEE

This book is just as great as the first book. I could not turn it off. It was twisty and turny and couldn't figure out what was going to happen next. I am in love with this series. Nikolas has really grown on me and I just love Ben. It gets pretty violent so beware it only gets more violent from here. Gary Furlong's voice is just dreamy. LOVE it.

Loving the series - cannot believe I missed it!

These have been on my TBR for a while. So glad I am listening. I’m entranced. Great story and fun interesting characters. This is the type of escape I need right now.

A literary roller coaster of adventures & emotions

I’ve listened to this story multiple times. Start with book one. The couple’s story is deeply complex and with each story in the series a better understanding of the characters is revealed. The stories get better & better.
The author is an incredible story teller!
I don’t think a better narrator could have been chosen. This is a definite 5/5 stars!

Great story. Great narration.

I liked this book even more than the first. This entry in the series had even more violence and deeply disturbing plot twists. The relationship between Ben and Nikolas is continuing to evolve in fascinating ways My dark soul is shining.

M/M romance/thrillers have a tendency to ignore character development for female characters. This seems a bit ridiculous because over fifty percent of the human population is female, and I feel confident that most men have at least one or two important women in their lives. This particular entry in the More Heat Than the Sun series highlights how important and advantageous it is to include character development for all genders. I am still smiling about the character development and plot twist. I just know that Ben and Nikolas haven't left the incidents from this book behind yet.

Great characters, interesting plot, beautifully constructed settings, some disturbingly realistic conflicts, and a very satisfying conclusion.

So... Yeah. I definitely recommend this book and this series.

As a side note, I read/listened to this book the same week a tsunami advisory was issued for the region I inhabit. Because of the terribly real depictions of the aftermath of a natural disaster, if you have an inclination towards anxiety, I don't recommend reading this book during a tsunami advisory, or while you are vacationing in Denmark...