IRL: In Real Life

After Oscar, Book 1

By: Lucy Lennox, Molly Maddox

Narrated by: Michael Pauley

Length: 8 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

Conor: 

It starts with a drunken text pic. The kind I would normally never send. Only, instead of it going to the flirty hotel bartender, it goes to some random stranger who actually responds. 

I tell myself an unexpected night of hot as hell back-and-forth is the perfect way to blow off a little steam while I’m in New York closing an important business deal. Little do I know the man on the other end of the line is none other than Wells Grange: The most controlling, egotistical, emotionless SOB I’ve ever met. 

I spend my days squaring off against Wells in the boardroom, and my nights succumbing to the sexy stranger’s commanding texts in the bedroom. Within days, I’m falling for someone I shouldn’t, and I have to remind myself that none of this is real. 

Wells: 

The first thing I notice about Conor Newell when he sits down in my high-rise conference room is how delightfully nervous he is. Then I see his tie. The same geeky tie that’s held hostage on my phone. The one that belongs to my anonymous late-night texter. And it changes everything. 

I should confess. Tell the truth about who I am. Instead, I decide there’s no harm in flirting. After all, once our business is concluded, he’ll be out of my life for good. 

The more I get to know Conor, however, the more I start to fall for him. Which is a problem, because I made a vow long ago to never let emotions interfere with my life, either business or personal. Except I can’t stop thinking about him night and day. If it’s only in my head, though, it doesn’t count. 

After all, it’s not like we’re falling for each other in real life....

©2019 Lucy Lennox and Molly Maddox (P)2019 Ginger Cat LLC

Not what I was expecting...

But I wasn't disappointed. This had a good reading speed, the story didn't drop out or go to fast and it was also very well arranged so the mind followed and matched up details easily. I also really enjoyed the reveal at the end. I had actually stopped looking for that ’how did’ and the how it did was cute. But I bought this ”thinking” it was a m/f story not a m/m one. I just did a blurb scan saw it had good star rating and said why not. Lol. But like I said I wasn't disappointed. Despite this genre not being in my read-house I was interested by the strange start to this story. Even more so when the unknown texter became duplicitous. The reason I read romance is to escape my drab life and fall in love with love and the journey Wells takes is amazing. And Con is so geeking awkward adorable its no wonder Wells lost his heart. Every one should have someone work this hard to show their love for them. Everyone deserves for someone to learn their love language. It was simply a good love story and by the way M.Pauley delivered a really spectacular performance. He stunned me a few times by how descriptive he made his preformance. What I mean is he did more than just read the words he made sure I would feel them. He did the authors a great service by vocally display a serious range of emotion and distinct voices for each of the main characters including Deb. A Round of Applause For All.

Wow - what a hot sexy thrilling romantic escape!

I have heard a fair share of cheesy man on man romance, and this is definitely NOT one of them. I was enthralled from the first scene all the way through. Realistic and very plausible situations, thrilling secrets, taboo scenarios played out with willing actors. Romance, hot sex, love, friendships, career ambitions mixed with my own inner struggle as a reader made this a very enjoyable and often made me blush, get aroused, laugh and feel! Thanks!

Good story, great narration.

This was kind of an accidental sexting romance with a sort of workplace element. Connor is representing a product being sold to Wells' company. Good ole dirty talk with some dominance thrown in there. Not bdsm...just a dominant male personality. I enjoyed the book, but more as one to listen to after coming down from a book full of action and angst. Always love Michael Pauley's narration.

Sexting at its best... hot!

So perfectly written and narrated that you can feel the sexual tension growing as the sexting between the two strangers continues. Each time it becomes more sensual. Hot! Get ready for a ride.

Highly recommended. I think I'll listen to it again in a month. Enjoy!

This is a Must!

The story begins off really well. I could not stop listening one chapter after the next. I would be lying if I did not say I have listened to this book 3 times currently on my 4th (started again on my 10 hour flight to London) I must admit i fell in love with this story. It is a must read for sure.

Exciting and Interesting !!!

This story was full of anxiety, thrill and intense since if something remotely like this happens in IRL would be something so memorable.

Good Stories...

I believe the narrator did a great job. Really made you feel as though you were , live, in the moment. I really enjoyed this story and found myself having to force myself to put it down. I laughed aloud and at times had tears pooled in my eyes. Congrats to the author for such a heart felt story.

Virtual vs Real World

There is a website that is the equivalent of Facebook for kinky people. For obvious reasons, many people choose not to put their faces as their avatars (there are people who don’t do this for Facebook either – I happen to like my dog wearing rainbow glasses). So on this kinky site, some people choose objects or cartoons while others select body parts. Guess what is most prevalent for men? Yep, you guessed it. Dick picks and c#ck shots abound. There have been some lively discussions in the community about the value of them. I understand the need for anonymity, but if you think a picture of your penis is going to entice me, we probably aren’t on the same page. With an object or cartoon, I get a sense of who you are, of what interests you. Other women (and men) feel that if someone is brave enough to take a picture of themselves and put it out there, then they’re worth getting to know.

Each to their own.

Now, I’ve read every Lucy Lennox book written and when she teamed up to do this series with her sister, I was thrilled. I was also thrilled at how quickly the book was released on audio so I snapped it up and was very glad I did. This book has it all – two gorgeous men, a cast of secondary characters (including three very strong women, something often missing in m/m romances), and a misunderstanding that might lead to disaster.

The misunderstanding was adorable and very fitting for this modern world we live in where relationships are often formed, maintained, and even severed in the virtual world. How many of us have done something on our machines that we’d never do in person? Making a comment, being honest, or, truthfully, sexting. Not me, but I can see the appeal of that kind of interaction, especially if you are very isolated in real life. Plus, what’s the harm?

Although I’m not quite as geeky as Conor, I felt an immediate affinity with him. He’s stuck in New York trying to get the best business deal he can, all the while feeling like a pretender. He’s doing this for his mom and his heart is in the right place, but he’s not really prepared to come up again glacial Grange – better known as Wells. The man is business all the way and there’s never a break in the façade of a tycoon and entrepreneur. Of course, all is not as it seems. Despite his nerves, Conor is capable in business and despite the veneer, Wells does have a heart. As his background is revealed, I did have some empathy for him and understood why he was the way he was. His treatment of his assistant Deb and his sister Wynne assured me he wasn’t a total asshole. The question was if he’d open enough to let Conor in.

In the end, I understood why Conor felt so hurt, Wells so guilty. I wanted them to have a happy ending but knew they’d have to work for it. Wells’ huge gesture was swoon-worthy but I was glad Conor understood the meaning behind it.

This is the first book in a planned five book series titled After Oscar. I’m intrigued to see where this is going and was thrilled to see several secondary characters already being pulled in. Here’s hoping there are more happy endings in store.

enjoyable

fun mistaken identity meet cute. great story and narration. had the perfect amount of steam.

Wow, horrible narrating!

Such a great book when I read it and I was really looking forward to the audiobook, but I was horribly let down. First, what's up with the price being almost double of the other books by the same author?
But what is truly the let down is the narrating! It is read WAY TOO FAST! I can understand if it's only at certain points to try to convey Connor's anxiety but it doesn't stop when it's being read from Well's perspective. It's like the narrator was on a time limit for each chapter. I couldn't even get through 2 chapters because it gave me anxiety to listen as long as I did.
Wish I could get my money back

Ok

This story is ok but too much instalove and not enough build up for me. Some people love this narrator, but he grates on me which didn’t help either. I like stories to make me feel emotions, and this one didn’t unfortunately. I need to wait for more books to be released from N.R. Walker or Alice Winters I think as this one isn’t hitting the spot.

Hot and sweet!

Loved this book! I have a soft spot for any kind of online or anonymous meeting so I knew it was going to be right up my street! Conor is incredibly sweet and I fell for Wells pretty hard. Can't wait for the rest of the series to come out!

IRL. In real life

Lovely romantic story loved it had a little of every thing and was hot. Narraration was perfection.

would give 0 stars if I could

I really wanted to like this one, but there was no storyline , it was a very badly version of 50 shades of grey just with m/m characters. I also found the narrator awful. So disappointed in this book that this was the first time ever I returned sth on audible

Holy heck my heart

I loved this one so much! It’s brilliant, so sweet, plenty of eeeee moments and oh my heart!

Great book, even better audio

I read this book a few months back and thoroughly enjoyed it.
But having just finished the audio version I'm back in love with this series again. Great narration, fantastic book.