Color of You

De: C.S. Poe

Narrado por: Greg Boudreaux

Bowen Merlin - yes, that’s his real name - accepts a position in the quaint town of Lancaster, New Hampshire, as the high school band director. He leaves New York City for the snowy countryside of New England just in time for the holidays. With class, homework, after-school activities, and a surprise Christmas concert to plan and rehearse, Bowen is plenty busy. And since he’s never had much luck with romance, factoring in time to find Mr. Right isn’t a priority.

Until he meets the proprietor of Snowy Ridge Apple Orchard, Felix Hansen. Suddenly, true love seems like a possibility for the first time in Bowen’s life. The two are a perfect match and fill the skipped beats of each other’s hearts. But as wonderful as Felix seems, he’s harboring old scars that could bring an end to their budding relationship after someone in town goes to great lengths to sabotage their careers.

If Bowen is to survive, he’ll need to lean on old friends and new, convince Felix he’s worth any hardship, and prove they can come out of the catastrophe stronger if they do so together.

©2017 C S Poe (P)2018 Dreamspinner Press

Perfect sweet Christmas story

Bowen and Felix are sweet and supportive of each other, and complement each other well. Greg Boudreaux captures them exactly right (as usual) and Poe's humor had me laughing throughout. Recommend.

Color Me Happy!

This book is so charming and wonderful. The writing is good, the characters are real and believable, and utterly adorable. Alan is really fantastic and I definitely felt a little kindred spirit with the gamer teen. Bowen and Felix are just so warm, and fuzzy, and listening to their romance is like curling up in the fluffiest blanket. I was coming off quite a stint of books that I really ended up hating and this was the balm my soul needed.

And, of course, no one can deny the skill of the wonderful Greg Boudreaux. An absolute must read for a wonderful little slice of life novel.

Sweet holiday story

Color of You was a sweet Christmas story, it made me wish for winter and snow and the holiday spirit that tends to set in in the beginning of December. This book was packed with it; from the romance between Bowen and Felix to the Christmas concert and the town and students coming together.

Bowen is new in town and with his bright red hair and colourful bowties he doesn’t go unnoticed. Also he’s a bit of a klutz and on one of his first days in town he spills apple cider on, not one but two, unsuspecting customers in the coffee shop. One of whom happens to be one of the most gorgeous men he’s seen. After some initial hesitation the two starts to date. Their romance is mostly uncomplicated. It might have been a tad fast, but it never felt rushed, it felt right and sweet.

Something I appreciate, and I know many more will to, were the reversed roles (at least when talking stereotypes) for Felix and Bowen. Felix was the bigger of the two, with visible scars from a past trauma, the strong and silent type while Bo was colourful, slender and a bit geeky. Stereotypes will have Felix as the dominant one, personality-wise. Here it was the other way around. It really worked for them and for the story. It was sweet how they came together. Both so relieved that they truly did complement each other, needed what the other had to give.

I also loved the single dad aspect and how easy Felix and Alan made room for Bo. How well they gelled together. There was no friction or drama. They just were. I also love how fiercely protective Alan was of his dad, wanting him to be happy – even meddling a bit. Not too much, just enough.

Greg Boudreaux captured the essence of this book and characters. From the eager to learn students, exuberant best friend to sweet Alan. Boudreaux also made you feel the connection between Felix and Bo, how they danced around each other in the beginning to the horror of waking up late for school for missing to set the alarm. He captured the fun and sweet moments just as well as the hot and heavy ones. Like always Boudreaux has made a masterful job performing this book.

Color of You was beautifully written and narrated and is definitely recommended to if you are looking for some early holiday feelings.

A copy of this book was generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review for Love Bytes.

amazing

amazing story. amazing narration.

What else needs to be said.

Two men that have gotten stuck in stereotypes pretty much there whole adult life. Finally think they have found the man they can be free with until a small town or a couple of people in a small town have other plans.

Love and friendship can conquer all.

Cute holiday tale enlivened by great narration

3.5

This feel-good story, which evokes images of warm apple pie and apple-cheeked Christmas sweetness, is full of instas—insta-crushes, insta-love and an insta-solved Scooby gang homophobia plot device for that touch of C.S. Poe amateur sleuthing.

Bowen Merlin, beyond being a sound-to-color synesthetic, is an interesting character whose awkward first moves, clumsiness and thin, outward appearance belie a craving to be sexually dominant, an important part of himself that has been a major contributor in his failed relationships. While at a holiday fair, he spills his apple cider on the owner of the local apple orchard, Felix Hanson, and is instantly smitten. After some awkwardness and Bowen being surprised that Alan, the talented clarinet player he bonded with on his first day at work, is Felix’s son, the two settle into an adorably hot courtship. Having been burned by a fire and his ex-husband, Felix is shy and hesitant when it comes to exposing his emotional and physical scars. Yet, all Bowen can see is how thoughtful, beautiful and special Felix is and how perfectly they fit together.

Per usual, Greg Tremblay/Boudreaux does an excellent job bringing the story to life. As books with good teachers are a particular fave of mine, and as a former band geek, I loved hearing Bowen’s enjoyment of the music, teaching, and the kids, and could almost hear the colors of his interactions just like Bowen. Frankly, with everything happening on a three week time table—from bonding with all the students and his boyfriend’s son, to love—listening to Tremblay infuse the dialogue and thoughts with the weight of the characters’ emotions helped make the speed of events believable enough to immerse me in the story and enjoy the sugary goodness. Because I was so invested in Bowen’s and Felix’s sweet, yet intense courtship, I found the incredibly ugly and unexpected homophobic turn it took at around 65% a bit jarring. However, in keeping with the allegro tempo of all the emotional beats, it’s tidily wrapped up in Christmas bows not long after, and the honeyed happiness of holiday cheer and community is restored.

Color of You is full of characters that are charming in their own unique ways, a sweet and spicy romance, and is narrated in full color by Greg Tremblay. So, if you like that special gooeyness of holiday romances and are looking for a good, easy listen, this audiobook is for you.

The Novel Approach Reviews