Hudson's Luck

A Forever Wilde Novel

By: Lucy Lennox

Narrated by: Michael Dean

Length: 9 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

Hudson:

Don't ever accidentally propose to your girlfriend. In front of her family. Especially if her dad is your boss. Because when you make it clear you've made a mistake, he's likely to send you out of the country to get you as far away from his brokenhearted daughter as possible. 

It happened to me. Now I'm stuck in Ireland trying to redeem myself so I can get promoted and have the life I've planned for: successful career, loving wife and kids, a comfortable, financially secure home life in Texas. 

But all of that seems to evaporate the moment I walk into the historic pub and see the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. Only, he's not a woman.

Charlie Murray is most definitely a man - the kind of man who causes me to take a second look for the first time in my life. And a third look, and a fourth. I can't help but want to get to know him better...to get close to him, touch him, maybe even kiss him. But I'm straight. Or so I've always thought. Even if I'm not, how in the world could a feisty Irishman ever fit into the safe, predictable life for which I've always planned?

Charlie:

Don't ever accidentally fall for the straight guy. Especially when he's trying to pry your family's business right out from under you. I should know. Because when Hudson Wilde walks into my family's pub and begins babbling so adorably, I can't help but fall just a little bit in love. But I'm looking for Forever Man, and the sexy American is certainly not him. He's so confused about what he wants, even choosing something from the dinner menu throws him into a fuddle. But those eyes...how can I resist?

So maybe I’ll give in. One steamy night before he heads home and I go back to life at the pub. We'll never see each other again.

Until, of course, his business deal sends me to Hobie, Texas, right into the middle of Hudson's steady life, more gay Wildes than can fit on a dance floor, and an ex-girlfriend who may or may not be content remaining an ex. 

But the more time I spend with Hudson, the more I think he might be my Forever Man after all. And I may be his. Is it possible we could both be so lucky? 

©2018 Lucy Lennox (P)2018 Lucy Lennox

✫✫ 4 Stars ✫✫

Gay for you isn't normally a favorite trope of mine but I really enjoyed this book. Hudson & Charlie are cute and sweet and pretty hot too. I am really enjoying this series and love that all the other characters from past books are still in the new books. Like visiting old friends.

Michael Pauley is good even if his sex scenes sound more angry than excited to me.

Love this family

I've been looking forward to listening to this book ever since i listened to Hudson's accidental proposal in the previous book. I mean a book about someone that clueless had to be adorkable and funny. Maybe it was expectations, but it just didn't live up to what I imagined this book to be. I mean where was that clueless guy I fell for?

After a botched non proposal, Hudson has been working hard at getting his life back on track. Only his boss sends him to Ireland for a pet project of his - and he hates flying. Knowing that his future career hangs in the balance Hudson will do everything he can to procure the small Irish pub. If only he didn't fall for the owner of the pub..

Charlie loves his family pub, it's been in his family for generations, it's in his genes. So when some American comes in and tries to franchise the pub, he is anything but happy, but it might also be the only way to keep the pub in the family after a few bad investments put it in danger.

Hudson and Charlie have chemistry from the very beginning. It borders a bit on insta-love (it's definitely insta-lust) but at the same time the book spans over a long time where they're apart so it still works in a way. And the Wilde family is always so warm and wonderful to spend time with.

Some things work much better in print than in audiobook. One of the things audiobooks really highlights is the pacing of the book or scenes that just don't end. Most often that happens to be sex scenes, and let me tell you listening to the same sex scene for more than half an hour is tedious and boring. It makes, me at, least wanting to scream get on with it already. Sure I get and understand that that first time needs attention and detail, but please not 30+ some minutes of it. Things need to move forward with the story too.

Another thing that bugged me was Hudson's constant back and forth with Charlie. I get that being attracted to guys was new and unfamiliar, and caused a lot of questions and ransacking, but the hot and cold was too much at times.

I love listening to Michael Pauley. He has this soothing voice that I just can't get enough of and great pacing. I also really liked his Irish accent for Charlie, though I wish he'd use the Irish accent for all of Charlie's chapters - including the starting phrase of each chapter, but that's minor.

This might just be me, but Lennox's books have lost some of the magic they had in the beginning. They don't draw me in or captivate me as much as they used to. I need something more, that little extra to keep from being just any run of the mill contemporary romance. Don't get me wrong, Lennox sure knows how to write a good book, they just don't bring anything new or feel all that exciting anymore. At the same time, I'm also a bit addicted to this family and need to know all of their stories and what happens next in the small town of Hobie.

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

Michael Pauley Redeemed in Hudson’s Luck

As a general impression Michael Pauley is not my favorite narrator as his pleasant voice, in my opinion, lacks enough distinction so one can easily differentiate which of the two main characters are speaking in the dialog situation. In this book one main character is Hudson Wilde with a Texas accent the other character Charlie Murray is Irish and has a distinct Irish accent. Mr. Pauley produced a satisfactory soft Texas accent and a not over the top Irish accent. The result was a pleasurable listening experience.

Ms. Lennox work remains reliable to the point of being predictable. In her books there seems to be a need for several (often to many) communication errors resulting in misunderstanding between the main characters driving them apart before they realize the error and reunite on the path to happiness. This tried and true plot device is all well and good, however, if it is used to often the story becomes a soap opera and personally I become annoyed and tune out. Happily, this book has some of this device but not too much of it to spoil the book.

Amazing!!

I absolutely loved this steamy bi awakening romance!!

Hudson always thought he was straight until he met Charley.

I loved the dynamics between them.

The setting of the story was quaint and surreal

The characters were likeable and well fleshed out.

Michael Dean performed an amazing audio delivery and narration.

Definitely recommend

Do not ever let Michael Dean near an accent

The story was sweet and everything I’d hoped for in a Lucy Lennox book.

Michael Dean did fine with the American Southern accent. He should never be asked to do any other accent EVER. He is incapable of replicating them. In fact, his attempts are cringeworthy and ruin the story. Every time he tried the Irish accent in this book it was horrific. I have no idea who thinks he should continue to be given this kind of work but they should stop. This was not as bad as his attempt at a Spanish accent but it was close.

Do yourself a favor and READ the book. Skip the audiobook.

Guys just don't think this was

Long convoluted tale written by a woman, not believable. Guys just don't think or act this way... too much overblown emotion. The Irish isn't all that credible either.

DNF & Requesting a refund

1. The elderly grandma (or aunt?) from the Made Marian series was on the plane heading to the same place as our MC, and she's beyond obnoxious. I had to skip nearly that entire chapter, and I assume she'll show up again later. Ugh.
2. While I enjoy the GFY genre, I'm not a fan of effeminate MCs in MM romances.
3. Also not a huge fan of this particular narrator, although if the story is good enough I will tolerate just about any narration.
In summary, I'm so disappointed because I love the MM genre, and I love a story that includes a man with a brogue (which Michael Pauley did well), so I really thought I'd love it. If you like a femme MC & this narrator, this will probably be a win for you.

A Lovely Entry in the Wilde Series

Let me start by saying that for me, as an author Lucy Lennox can do no wrong and typically, as a narrator, neither can Micahel Pauley. With Hudson's Luck, Lennox delivers another strong story from the Wilde family and does a nice job of illustrating Hudson's idiosyncrasies and nuances; however, there were some areas where I was left looking for a little bit more depth in Hudson's character. Charlie was an interesting choice for Hudson's match and the interplay between the two is intriguing and the backbone of the story despite the overarching subplot that is actually driving the story. Lennox plays up Charlie's femininity throughout the story, but I felt this was lacking in the narration. Michael Pauley does a suitable Irish accent for Charlie throughout, but I felt that Charlie's more effeminate side was not captured in the narration. I will also admit that by the end, Pauley's Irish accent had become grating and, in my opinion, not wholly consistent. With all of that said, this was still a lovely entry in the Wilde series and worth a read and listen.

3 stars.

The story was good. Even if it felt a bit cliche.

Narration.... Double point of view book, where one character is Irish, narrated by an American. I found then faked Irish accent a struggle to listen too.

An enjoyable, fun listen

The fourth book in Lucy Lennox’s Forever Wilde series, Hudson's Luck, is different because the Wilde brother at the heart of the story, Hudson, isn't gay or bisexual. He's always considered himself straight...until he meets Charlie Murray.

Hudson is adorably clueless, and his stammering and tripping over his own tongue can be very charming. Charlie is strong, fierce, loving, funny, and just so wonderful I wanted to package him up and keep him forever. I'm a sucker for men who embrace their femme side, and Charlie was a treat to get to know and see him knocking over all of Hudson's expectations and plans one by one.

My pet peeve in stories, miscommunication, does come into play here, but Charlie and Hudson are so great together and Michael Pauley does such a wonderful job bringing the characters, locations, and drama to life that I found myself enjoying the listen rather than getting annoyed enough to throw a book. In that respect, I would say the audio definitely enhances the story. Michael does provide character voices, including doing an Irish brogue for Charlie and fam, and his pacing and performance of the emotional nuances continues to make him an entertaining performer.

If you listen, or read, you'll get to enjoy the large and rambunctious Wilde family, see the trials and tribulations Hudson and Charlie go through to get their happy ending, and even get to enjoy a cameo from a trio much adored in Lennox's other Marian series.

Sexy, fun, funny, and sweet with a bit of miscommunication, some light angst, and a very happy ending Hudson's Luck was an enjoyable, fun listen.

I'm looking forward to continuing on with the Wilde family, especially up next with Saint's story!

3.5 Stars

No that is not an Irish accent

I personally could not stand the narration in this book and usually I like Michael Pauley. I struggled to listen to this because to this because of Charlies voice which is meant to be Irish. I am Irish and it made my ears hurt. However, if you are not from Ireland it is unlikely you will have the same issues as me.

I really do enjoy this series and am looking forward to listening to the next installment. This story was not my favourite but still good. I would like to make a small correction about some a character said in the story and that is that Ireland is not part of the UK 😠😂 again I am Irish and it is a cardinal sin for us Irish-born to get classified as part of the UK, and I'm sure Charlie would agree with that!

Only once

I finished this audiobook once because I was invested in the ending. I tried again, despite me avoiding Michael Dean at all cost, because I originally gave the story 4 stars.
But I have to stop now. The narration is insufferable. I deleted two stars.

disappointing for the gender non-conforming crowd

I've liked a lot of this series and the Made Marian series, and whilst there were the occasional cringe moments, this one was a series of them. mostly down to the the way it seemed to allude to Hudson only being attracted to Charlie because he feminine. I don't think it was intentional on the part of the author but that aspect, which colours most of the plot, was a big yikes from me.

Not Irish

Good story, but not so good narration on the Irish part. In fact it can't be said to even be Irish. It was a bit annoying, but I got used to it over time. I pretended it was a kind of a special English

The Irish Accent!!!

I love Lucy Lennox and this series is great. For me, however, this story is a little weak, mainly because I found it hard to take to Hudson.
The main problem with this audiobook is Charlie’s accent. That is probably the worst Irish accent I have ever heard and sounds so ridiculous it’s actually hard to listen to without laughing. I got to the end but it was a struggle. Despite the accent issue the narration is well paced and enjoyable. The story is sweet with little angst and a nice HEA and the side characters add to the story as with all Lucy Lennox’s books.
Overall, definitely worth a listen, particularly if the listener is not too familiar with an Irish accent.

fantastic listen

such a good listen and frequently saucy at times ;) getting to know more of the Wilde family makes you feel a part of their family makeup. very well written and characters come to life

No book

Gets 20 min in not even end of chapter 2 and then stops tried downloading still not working