Hungry for Love

By: Rick R. Reed

Narrated by: John Solo

Length: 6 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

Nate Tippie and Brandon Wilde are gay, single, and both hoping to meet that special man, even though fate has not yet delivered him to their doorstep. Nate's sister, Hannah, and her kooky best friend, Marilyn, are about to help fate with that task by creating a profile on the gay dating site, OpenHeartOpenMind. The two women are only exploring, but when they need a face and body for the persona they create, they use Nate as the model.

When Brandon comes across the false profile, he falls for the guy he sees online. Keeping up the charade, Hannah begins corresponding with him, posing as Nate. Real complications begin when Brandon wants to meet Nate, but Nate doesn't even know he's being used in the online dating ruse. Hannah and Marilyn concoct another story and send Nate out to let the guy down gently. But when Nate and Brandon meet, the two men feel an instant and powerful pull toward each other. Cupid seems to have shot his bow, but how do Nate and Brandon climb out from under a mountain of deceit without letting go of their chance at love?

©2013 Rick Reed (P)2014 Dreamspinner Press

Contemporary Love Story

Would you consider the audio edition of Hungry for Love to be better than the print version?

I have not read the print version.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Nate showed the most character growth during the course of the story.

Which character – as performed by John Solo – was your favorite?

All of the characters had distinct voices. However, the narrator's voice was older than the main characters depicted.

Who was the most memorable character of Hungry for Love and why?

Several characters were memorable for different reasons. Both Nate and Brandon offered humor and showed growth for different reasons. Hannah was memorable for her duplicitous nature.

Any additional comments?

The author offers a timely and contemporary story. There is more than one story line and the women were less interesting characters to listen to. Brandon and Nate are not in a scene together until almost halfway into the book. There are some similarities between the characters in this book and another of Reed's novels. Overall, an easy story to listen to about finding love.

Just not for me

Brandon is an “almost-virgin” who is looking for a permanent guy. He decides to try his luck with online dating and posts an ad on what he hopes is a “sincere” site. His ad is answered by, what appears to be, a great guy named Nate. Little does he know that “Nate” is really Hannah, Nate’s sister, disguising herself as her brother.

There are a few twists and turns, but eventually Brandon wants to meet “Nate” and so Hannah convinces the real Nate to meet Brandon and “let him down gently” since she feels so bad for interfering in sweet Brandon’s life.

What happens next, however, is not on Hannah’s script at all! Nate and Brandon really hit it off and it seems like the two might just be made for each other after all.
Until… Brandon discovers more than one secret Nate’s been hiding and he must decide if Nate is the person he thinks he is after all.

**

I have found that though I really like Rick Reed’s style of writing, I don’t ever quite bond with his characters very well. This is his third book that I’ve read and though I am always impressed with his writing and creativity, I don’t ever feel attached enough to the MCs to feel “involved” with the story.

In this case I just had such a hard time with both Nate and Hannah that it colored my enjoyment of the story. Hannah was beyond “quirky” and landed straight in “psychotic” land. There is no way any sane person would either act like she did or put up with her meddling. Her friend Marilyn, also seemed borderline crazy to me as well. Nate came across as bi-polar or severely wishy-washy. He was the man-whore with no deep feelings for most of the book with occasional “outbreaks” of romantic idealist.

I thought Brandon was awesome and I felt bad for him the entire time. He had a crappy self-esteem but seemed so sweet I was really hoping he’d get someone truly amazing to make him see how wonderful he is. Nate never seemed like that guy.

I thought the end was rushed and awkward and very unsatisfying. I didn’t feel at all comfortable that they’d make it as a couple, though the impression is one of a HEA.

Audio:

John Solo does most (all?) of Rick Reed’s books and is always a steady performer. He tries hard to differentiate the characters with differing voices and I enjoy his narration.


2.5 of 5 stars