Everything Changes

By: Melanie Hansen

Narrated by: Robert Nieman

Length: 7 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's Summary

Former Marine and lower-leg amputee Carey Everett keeps a grueling schedule of counseling fellow war veterans and their families. The injury he received in Afghanistan forces him to rely on a reserve of strength he didn't even know he had. A much deserved vacation will let him reconnect with his best friend, who saved his life and has been there for him through devastating injury and painful recovery.

Part-time EMT and aspiring singer Jase DeSantis has been in love with Carey for years, but he's come to accept that his straight friend will never be able to offer more. Jase fills his days with band rehearsals, ambulance shifts, and willing groupies, all while trying to cope with debilitating PTSD.

A week of sun, fun, and music in San Diego changes Jase and Carey's lives forever when their relationship takes an unexpected turn. Jase has been longing for that change, but it leaves Carey reeling with confusion. As Jase fights to hold things together, Carey deals with doubts, fears, and his own preconceived notions about labels and the true nature of love.

©2015 Melanie Hansen (P)2017 Dreamspinner Press

Much more depth to the story than I expected....

For a romance novel, I was shocked to read such vivid details/memories of war. I would say the audiobook might’ve needed a trigger warning at the start....but, I guess reading about PTSD and war is suggestive of potential triggers alone. This was also [surprisingly] an accurate accounting of some people’s experiences with PTSD. Definitely a romance novel with a more adult attitude towards relationship dynamics and coming to terms with one’s sexuality (i.e. none of that annoying teenage-like angst). Sexy scenes were well-placed throughout the story, and the use of redundant language was kept to the bare minimum. I would give this audiobook more stars if I could!

Great Book!

This book was sweet and romantic. A nice progression from friends to lovers. And gotta love some hot between the sheets loving.

Great listen!

Love Robert Neiman's performances. Brings life to whatever he reads. I thoroughly enjoyed Carey and Jase's journey together.

Wonderful Story

I liked the characters and it's a well crafted story... lots of sex, but Melanie Hansen sure does write a good scene.

Great Book

Loved it. Great story. Robert Neiman provides great narration to any book I have listened to.

Good story, not sold on the narration

Would you consider the audio edition of Everything Changes to be better than the print version?

I didn't read this one, perhaps I should though, because the story itself was more appealing than the narration.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I can't pick just one, I really enjoyed both Carey and Jase. If I'm backed into a corner I'll Carey because of his resilience for what he's been through and his determination. I really felt for Jase though, after, you know.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Robert Nieman?

I would, yes. I've learned that with this narrator I either love his performance, or I don't, there's no in between. I think that maybe if he himself is more invested in the characters it seems to flow better. Perhaps he can relate more so to certain characters and stories.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The PTSD aspect of the story felt real, researched, accurate and heart breaking.

Any additional comments?

Loved the Gay for You aspect to the story, the early days of the relationship and the care taken when writing about Carey's PTSD. I didn't like it when Carey broke Jase's trust, the way he treated him at times and the flip from friends to lovers, then the betrayal, for some reason the story didn't feel as real to me anymore after that.

Enjoyable Read!

Would you listen to Everything Changes again? Why?

I usually don't re-read books.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I enjoyed both Jace and Kerry as characters. The felt real and true to me based on what they had both been through.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

In my opinion, Kerry's voice just didn't fit his personality. It sounded very soft and not at all like a straight wounded vet, but more like an out and proud gay man, especially during the sex scenes, sex scenes he was supposedly experiencing for the first time.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. I listened to it in one hour increments during my morning runs.

Any additional comments?

So first let me say I really enjoyed this audio book. I'm a succor for GFY or bisexual friendships/encounters that eventually turn to love. I hate labels and believe all people are born sexual and if ALL forms of sex were acceptably to society, there would be many many more same sex couples and more people who identify as bisexuals. But hey, that's just me dreaming right. Now on with the review. I have only a couple minor issues, the first being the narration. To me Kerry's voice just didn't fit his personality. It sounded very soft and not at all like a straight wounded vet, but more like an out and proud gay man, especially during the sex scenes, sex scenes he was supposedly experiencing for the first time. Which leads me to my second issue. Again in my opinion, Kerry went from straight best friend to gay lover and willing participant in gay sex with really no hesitation at all. It felt like Kerry's inner struggles went on for only a couple of paragraphs and then he was all in, so to speak. Maybe if a little backstory would have had Kerry coming to town to visit his best friend because he just couldn't get their one and only experience out of his head and wanted to see if Jace felt the same, it would have been more believable for me. But it seems like he came for a visit with none of that in mind until he got there and went from straight best friend to ogling Jace's good looks and his body out of the blue. Now in all fairness, that may be because I listened to the book in one hour increments every morning during my run, which may have had something to do with the disjointedness I felt. But those issues aside I really enjoyed the story.

4.5 stars- Raw emotion with a hopeful tone

I love military romances, but because I’m a military wife, I’m also picky. Everything Changes is a fantastic romance that deals thoroughly and respectfully with combat veterans. This book addresses both the psychological and physical wounds left by war- one hero is an amputee and the other suffers from PTSD. After reading this book, Melanie Hansen solidified her place as my go to author when I want a military romance that is as honest as it is beautiful.

There is a lot of military information and scenes throughout this book- some narrated as flashbacks. Told in vivid detail, the author never shies away from the hard truth, yet keeps the overall tone uplifting and hopeful. The specifics occasionally slow and disrupt the pace of the romance, though excluding them may have taken away from the story’s raw quality. I think this may be a case of a lot of elements within too few pages, between the history, their individual pasts, and the friends to lovers romance a lot transpired. That said, there are plenty of moments the narrator couldn’t read fast enough because I just had to know how a scene played out. While the pace may have fluctuated, I never lost interest in the Jase and Carey’s story.

The dialogue and writing is solid and the sexy scenes certainly aren’t lacking in heat. The characters have depth and their emotions are as vivid and palpable as the combat scenes. The connection between Jase and Carey is well established throughout the book, and you can feel the unbreakable bond the men shared. The chemistry builds off that and is strong both in and out of the bedroom. Despite having a deep friendship that morphs into more, lust fuels the bulk of the romance, particularly for Carey. This aspect works well within the gay-for-you frame. However, I found myself wishing there was a bit more exploration of Carey’s hang-up in admitting his attraction to Jase and reluctance to form a relationship. The subject is broached a few times, but I think a bit more detail would have propelled this romance to a greater depth.

I listened to this as an audiobook and I have to comment on the narration. I had not heard anything narrated by Robert Nieman before, but going forward I’ll seek out audiobooks he does. He uses excellent intonation, even including breath support to match the scene and emotions. Everything Changes is told in the third person omniscient voice, but the way Mr. Nieman narrates, the characters and their thoughts always come through unmistakably. While he doesn’t use voices per say, he uses distinct inflections which make it easy to follow along with Jase and Carey’s viewpoints. It truly was a performance and one of the better audiobooks I’ve listened to.

Once again I am taken by this author’s raw storylines and intriguing characters. Everything Changes proves this is the type of book I can continually expect from Miss Hansen and guarantees I’ll read all her past and future works. If you enjoy the GFY trope, military romances, or even friends to lovers romances, I highly recommend this one.

*Reviewed for Alpha Book Club*

Friends to Lovers Romance

A military romance, a friends to lovers story... Jase and Carey’s friendship began in the military and survived tragedy, loss, PTSD and the adjustment to civilian life again. While Jase has always identified as bi-sexual, Carey is confused by his more-than-friendly feelings for his best friend. This is everything Jase ever wanted but it's everything Carey is fearful of. Neiman did a good job bringing across all the emotions the men grappled with. Watching this struggle, thier growth as a couple and the yummy sexual exploration is hot. I enjoyed indulging to this love story on audio.

I review for the Guilty Indulgence Review Site.

I liked but didn't love this...

After returning home from the military, Jase and Carey’s friendship shifts when PTSD and re-adjusting to civilian life forces them to lean on one another in ways they hadn’t before. Suddenly, they’re able to see each other as more than friends.

Jase has always identified as bi-sexual, so he is not surprised by his attraction to Carey. Carey, is a staunch “straight” guy, who is confused by the change in his feelings and his attraction to his best friend.

**
This is the first book I’d read by Melanie Hansen and I thought it was excellent. Her writing is clear and captivating. I was definitely hooked by the story line and though she did a great job with her character development and realism as regards her subject matter.

What worked: the hurt/comfort part of the story felt realistic as did the PTSD. It felt well-researched and felt authentic. The first part of the GFY relationship really felt like it was plausible and both guys seemed to be acting in a way that seemed consistent with their characters.

What didn’t work: The path of their relationship which waffled from friends to more to friends and then off in a direction I really didn’t care for. I really felt Carey treated Jase poorly and didn’t do much to earn back his trust. On listening to the audio it made me mad all over again!

The end was just too quick and didn’t feel solid enough for my tastes. I appreciated that no relationship runs smoothly, but after all the build-up, the quick apology and epilogue just felt rushed.

I liked this enough to read another by this author and truly liked, but didn’t love this story.

3.5 of 5 stars

Audio

I like Robert Nieman as a narrator. Some of his stories have been exceptional and all are always rock solid. He doesn’t do a lot of unique voices or do much to differentiate the speakers but he is always clear and does a nice job with the emotions and pacing in a story. I could always tell who was speaking and I like the quality of his voice, as well.

This is a good way to enjoy this story.

4.5 of 5 stars

Overall 4 of 5 stars

Could not grasp me.

I am unsure whether the story was lacking or the performance. It just went on and on while my mind kept wandering.

Loved the story but not impressed with narration

AUDIO REVIEW

Ok, I'm giving this book 5 stars because it's awesome but there's a few things I want to discuss. I didn't have any major issues with Robert Nieman the narrator as such but I just found his narration style a little .... un animated I guess?! All the characters sounded the same to me and there wasn't a lot of passion in his voice. But he spoke clearly and I guess that's all you actually need from a narrator but I think having listened to a lot of other fantastic narrators maybe I've been a little spoiled. I don't know. This being an audio review I then feel confused whether to rate it 5 stars or lower but then I remember how freaking awesome the story is and it's definitely staying a firm 5 from me.

The basic storyline for this book is not overly original and has certainly been covered before in MM let alone romance overall but the beautiful writing style, flashback memories and fabulously well developed MCs truly make this book superb. This is the story of Carey and Jase. Carey is a former Marine and Jase was in the same unit as a medic. An insurgent attack leaves Carey missing the lower part of his leg and Jase with PTSD.

Jase has always been in love with Carey and is openly bisexual. Carey has always been close to Jase but never realised his feelings were anything other than platonic until Carey comes to stay with Jase for a couple of weeks. The flashback scenes are spectacular and written so well, war is nothing other than brutal and this book really portrays the realities of that.

The chemistry between these two is believable and strong. I just loved them. The gay for you aspect is written really well and it all just seemed very realistic and honest. Excellent HEA and overall lots of feels. Absolutely loved this book and can't wait to listen to the next!