Hard Time

Responsible Adult #2

By: C F White

Narrated by: Piers Ryman

Length: 7 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

Love isn't always responsible.

After Micky O’Neill is remanded in custody for breaching his court order, his already tempestuous relationship with Dan Peters is tested to the limits.

Having to battle their way through a court case that could end with Micky in jail, social workers breaking up the family home, and the return of Micky’s deadbeat father, it seems everything is set to destroy their relationship before it even had the chance to start.

With such high stakes involved, not just for Micky but for once-burned, twice-shy Dan, they both have to learn that falling in love isn’t always responsible.

This is the second book in the re released Responsible Adult Series. It has been edited with new content added to make for a new reader experience.

©2021 C F White (P)2021 C F White

Great story. Great narration.

I wasn't expecting to be enamored with this story. I picked the first book up on a bit of a whim. The first book was good, but I kept listening because I can relate to Micky. Like Micky, I would do almost anything to protect a younger sibling.

Life in a small town can be frustrating when everyone thinks they know you based on who your family is or what you did as a kid. Every little idiosyncracy you have is analyzed and judged. C F White does a wonderful job of showing how a small town community can be both a hindrance and helpful.

Dan and Micky have some very rocky moments in this story, but the connection between them is growing strong. Both Micky and Dan are gaining personal strength from their evolving relationship.

The narrator was spectacular. Piers Ryman does a wonderful job of creating voices that match the personality of the characters.

I am struggling to express how much this book impacted me. I shed more than a few tears. I listened to this book first, but I will also be reading just to experience the story again.

fantastic!!

This story begins where Misdemeanor ends. Mickey is in jail, he has a criminal record and struggles with keeping his temper under control. He gives off the persona that he’s a bad boy but deep down he has a heart of gold and loves his brother Flynn unconditionally. He also has a deep love for Dan. Dan and his family are taking care of Mickey’s brother Flynn. The story follows Mickey’s character development and redeeming himself. I loved the story sooo much, I had a hard time stopping it! Piers Ryman did a fantastic narration, he really brought the characters to life! The story was raw and gritty, simply fantastic!

Another great book in this series!

I read Hard Time when it was re-released back in August. Like the first book in this trilogy, I knew then that the only thing that might make me love it more was if the author had Piers Ryman do the audiobook (he has performed several of her other books). This is another wonderful audio performance by Piers Ryman; he and CF White make a great team! There’s nothing more that I could say other than what I wrote after reading the eBook so I’m going to paste portions of that review below (with some necessary changes).

Hard Time is the second book in the Responsible Adult series and you really need to read book one, Misdemeanor before you read it. While Hard Time doesn’t end on as much of a cliffhanger as book one did, the story won’t be complete until Reformed comes out in September.

Just like with book one, once I started reading this, I couldn’t put it down. I don’t really know where to start with my review. I’m afraid of saying too much and giving things away. Micky is in a bit of a pickle and in danger of losing custody of Flynn. Help comes from an unexpected place and it’s hard for Micky to accept it.

Micky and Flynn’s father shows up and creates a lot of problems. Dan has a bit of a confrontation with the manager of the grocery store where he works. Flynn has a melt-down that even Micky has trouble bringing him out of.

Hard Time tore me up the same way that Misdemeanor did but it also left me with hope that things will keep getting better for Micky and Flynn. Flynn is just so precious and how much Micky loves him really comes through in CF White’s writing.

Reading about Flynn’s condition has helped me to look at misbehaving kids differently. I really can’t imagine what it would be like to be out in public and have a child do the things that Flynn does in this book. I know that before reading this, I probably wouldn’t have been very understanding. I am humbled by the things I’ve learned from reading MM romance and how what I’ve learned has helped me to become a better person.

The love and support that Dan gives to Micky, even when other people chastise him for it, is something that everyone should have but real life often isn’t like that. Reading stories with characters like Micky and Flynn help me realize that my life really is pretty good.

Hard Time took me for another emotional ride and I can’t wait to listen to the final book when it comes out at the end of this month.

No saggy middle

When I finished the first book in the series, I was left with a true cliffhanger. I was like, uh, gimme gimme gimme the next book. NOW! I got it and listened voraciously, basically in a day. I wanted to know how Flynn was. Sure, finding out Micky’s fate was good, but Flynn was the one I had to know about. Flynn is Micky’s younger disabled brother who Micky has been caring for since the suicide of their mother. Micky is barely into adulthood himself and is carrying a ton of responsibility. When he’s brought in for questioning by the police, obviously someone was going to have to step up and take care of Flynn. I admit it – I panicked.

I should’ve known better. In a nice twist, the situation was resolved to my satisfaction, and the panic receded.

As to the rest of the book…I enjoyed it. Micky and Dan are complete opposites. Dan holds down a job as a manager in a grocery store. His job is to keep the chaos to a minimum. Given some of the people he manages, this often proves to be a challenge.

Micky is trying to complete his high school. He wants to better himself so he can provide for his brother. But with caretaking and working at the grocery store, life’s a challenge. Add it mates who may or may not have his best interests at heart, and ex-so-called-girlfriends to boot, and life is a mess. Oh, and his father. The deadbeat Micky wishes would just stay gone.

Somehow, though, the men make it work. They start planning for a future. A future that will conclude in the third book and I’m off there now…

Quick note – I adore Piers Ryman. He and Ms. White fit together beautifully and I love that he always delivers such amazing performances.

Micky and Dan's relationship continues...

I definitely recommend listening to this in the series order for maximum enjoyment!

Here we get to see Micky and Dan relationship continues to evolve.

Both the MC's evolve and grow and Learn to keep up with their lives.

This was a wonderful sequel to the first in this series.

The narrator continues to deliver a stunning audio delivery and narration.

The Love Story Continues for Dan and Micky

Micky and Ben continue to build their relationship in this 2nd book of the ‘Responsible Adult’ series. This is not to say that there’s smooth sailing yet, but their happily-ever-after is within reach.

Book 2 begins very soon after the unnecessary cliffhanger of Book 1 (not letting that go). Micky is in danger of incarceration and, therefore, losing younger brother Flynn. He’s still in his I-must-handle-it-myself mode, but Dan, with the added support of Dan’s family, is slowly showing Micky there are people that can be relied on for assistance. Will Micky get everything he’s never believed he could have?

I love both Dan and Micky and their continuing struggles, but the secondary characters have their own appeal. CF White makes these characters matter to the story--almost as integrally as Micky and Dan themselves. I love Dan’s parents, who accept Micky without judging him on his past. Jason, Micky’s best friend, has a smart head on his shoulders. I even like the coworkers at the market in which both Dan and Micky work. They all hold a piece to getting and keeping Dan and Micky together.

The steamy scenes deserve a mention. I’m a hopeless romantic, so when steamy bits are combined with the characters’ emotions at that stage, I get swoony. White incorporates these scenes into the story so perfectly they don’t feel gratuitous in any way. An added plus for me is a scene that occurs late in the book in which White delivers a scenario that is an all-around favorite of mine in the M/M romance genre. I won’t spoil it, but I mention it because I find it particularly pivotal to the story. It’s full of emotion and beautifully written.

The ending to this book did not raise my cliffhanger hackles quite as much as Book 1’s did. There are definitely element left to explore in Book 3, but it doesn’t end anywhere near as abruptly as the previous ending. There’s a more settled feeling to where things have ended up with Micky and Dan. I would define it as a happy-for-now ending.

With each successive book (I’m up to 3) of Piers Ryman’s narration, I seem to love each performance more. This book brings out the deep emotions as written by White.

I was given a complementary copy of this audiobook, at my request, and am now leaving a voluntary review.

Highly recommended.

And the story continues

Book 2 picks up where book 1 left off.
C F White, Awesome writing.
We find Micky in jail and his brother Flynn being cared for by Dan and his parents.
Micky Loves Dan and Micky's story grows.
Piers Ryman brings this story to life and gives feeling to each character.
well worth the credit and your time to listen. bring on book 3....

Good

This is my first series by this author , I did enjoy the listens I will listen to other books.

4.5 Stars

Hard Time is aptly named. This book felt like the angst ramped up a bit from the previous book. As with book one, this book is not a stand-alone. It picks up where we left off in book one. I highly recommend reading this in order. I cannot stress that enough. Lucky you, all three are out, so that shouldn't be a hardship.

Things are not looking so good for Micky and his brother, Flynn. My heart just ached for Micky as he has to learn that Dan is someone he can rely on. That is not an easy task for Micky, and I can't blame him, given his past. I was glad that Dan stood by him through everything and was willing to fight for them when Micky needed it the most. The emotion in this story was incredible. That was only made better by the narration.

Piers Ryman continues to amaze me with his talents. He delivered another incredible performance narrating these characters, plus all the side characters. This author and narrator are a perfect combination, and I hope it continues for many more books to come.

Dan and Micky's story continues......

Hard Time is Book 2 in the Responsible Adult series. This wonderfully written emotional book continues the story of Micky and Dan. As Micky is arrested, Flynn, Micky's younger brother, finds himself in the care of Dan's parents who are foster parents. This book really tugged on my heart strings as Micky tries to better himself, Dan stands up for himself, and Flynn finds a way to live under someone else's care. There was so much growth in these characters. I can't wait to see what book 3 will bring as Dan, Micky, and Flynn start their new life together. I definitely recommend this book and series.
Narrator Piers Ryman does another amazing job in the series. He really has a way of bringing this story to life.