Let Love Live

Love, Book 5

De: Melissa Collins

Narrado por: Sean Crisden, Marc Bachmann

Who would you become if you lost the only person who ever mattered?

For 26-year-old Dylan Hopkins, the answer is easy. He's become no one. Memories of the happier times are all he has left, as he finds himself meandering numbly through his now dull life. Though he cares about his work and family dearly, he has yet to let himself find love again. Afraid of letting go of what he once had, Dylan chooses to keep his heart buried, where it belongs, having died a long time ago.

Conner Michelson is about to change everything Dylan knows. He's every bit the bad boy persona - tatted up, ex-MMA fighter - but after an injury leaves him unable to fight, he has to rethink his goals. Having just opened his own gym, Conner can cross his first major life accomplishment off his very short list. Next up: find a man he can settle down with and build a family. Seems simple enough - a dream most people have - but when he meets Dylan, his carefree, easy-going life is thrown into a tailspin.

Contains mature themes.

©2014 Melissa Collins (P)2015 Tantor

It had its moments

The story was pretty average. I have books 1-3 of this series. This book is consistent with the feel of book 1. I enjoyed the first half with Dylan and Sean, much more than Dylan and Connor.
The narrators don't add or detract from the enjoyment. The chemistry with young love was just more compelling than the adult relationship. I don't plan on continuing the series because there wasn't enough connection to the main characters for me.

Enjoyable M/M romance in a M/F series

I really enjoyed this story. I read it as a stand alone because I have no interest in the earlier stories of the series. After seeing reviews for the other books I wasn't expecting to like this one as much as I did. And conversely readers who are just buying this as part of the series should note that unlike the other books this story is a romance between two men. The dual narration is good enough not to be distracting. The story contains both the tragedies of the main characters' past as well as how they grow past the them in the present. Overall I was surprised but pleased that this was a credit well spent.

I've never cried this much over a romance!

it was really a moving story and it has a happy ending but had I known how much I'd sob, how my heart would break, I would have skipped it.

Just okay

I really like these characters, but the story is at times overly sentimental for my liking. It pulls no punches with the hard and dramatic life events. By itself that’s not a problem, but I was left feeling the story had been crafted this way specifically to manipulate my feelings, not that it had developed organically as the characters’ back stories and motivations were revealed. To me, this is the difference between okay writing and really great writing. I’m all about an angsty, difficult, emotional story, when it’s well-written.

This book needs to be labeled with all the trigger warnings. I’ll be honest. I didn’t read the blurb to find out if it has them.
Domestic violence. Suicide. Assault (off page). Death of parents. Spontaneous life threatening medical emergency. It’s a lot.

I stuck with it to get the HEA. That was written like a hallmark movie too.
It seems to be the last book of the series, so tying a bow around all the characters’ storylines is not unexpected. Even so, the last scenes, much like the dramatic moments earlier in the book, felt forced. The writing in between was much better.

I guess I’m spoiled. Even the narration (Sean Crisden is a favorite) was subpar for much of the book.

This is far from the worst thing I’ve listened to, but also worlds away from the best Audible has to offer. I’m sure there’s an audience for this kind of writing. I’m obviously not it. Glad I listened on Audible Plus and didn’t spend any money on this title.

I cried

I never cry, this book seriously broke my heart but made me feel good at the same time. Very great writer I'll be purchasing more.

Ugliest Cry I've had in a long time.Fabulous story

Where does Let Love Live rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Right at the top.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked everything about this story. I will say the narration really brought out the emotions in the story.

Which character – as performed by Sean Crisden and Marc Bachmann – was your favorite?

Dylan. My heart went out to Shane and Reid as well but the story was more about Dylan and moving out of his past.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

All of it. from the beginning and hearing Dylan and Shanes dramatic love story, I cried and cried. The struggle of Dylan's feelings. Yep, I cried more. Dylan in therapy retelling his story... yes I cried. Connor's story tough we didn't get as much of it I nearly cried and something that happens in Connors family jut as he and Dylan make up I cried. And the ending, you guessed it another tear though a happy one finally.

Any additional comments?

Where do I start? This is the first book I have read by Melissa Collins, and I want to grab all her books especially the first four in this series. Though it's a book five, don't worry it stands alone just fine.
Let Love Live is one of the saddest stories I have read in a while, yet it's also gripping and has a beautiful ending. The story is so well written it makes you not want to put the book down.
I listened to the audio version and wanted to say if you're going to read this get the audio instead. Sean Crisden and Marc Bachmann bring it to life, pull out all of the emotion from the sad to the sexy. Their narration back and forth is so seamless and perfect.

If you are looking for a beautiful, poignant romance that will make you cry and sigh this is the one for you. I highly highly recommend it. Be sure you have your tissue handy.

Made me cry in sadness and profound joy

This book was hard for me to listen to in so many ways, but I'm glad I did. The raw emotions presented here are real and they made me feel things I didn't want to and others that I hope to some day be blessed. Get this book, you won't regret it.

Let Love Live

Well... Anyone need a good cry?? lol.
This is book 5 in the series, But I Did Not Read and/or Listen to any of the previous books.
This book is basically two parts to a whole story.. The Past and the Present. Honestly I am glad the two halves weren't split into two separate books or I probably wouldn't have made it through to the second half.
The Past - Brothers Shane and Reed, and their friend Dylan and their life growing up through primary school playing baseball up into the beginning of college. Dylan and Shane fall in love, but with Shane and Reed having to deal with Mental and Physical abuse at their home, and then fighting with Dylan, it becomes too much for Shane. **Cue Ugly Crying**
The Present - Flash Forward and 8 years later Dylan is still trying to deal with the tragedy of his past, when he meets Conner. Conner is new to town (with his sister) and opening a Gym. Conner has had to deal with a lot in his past as well. Together Conner and Dylan learn to trust each other and end up falling in love. Conner and Dylan do have some Conflict to deal with in their lives but there isn't as much Angst in the second half compared to the past in this book.
- Audio - Sean Crisden & Marc Bachmann did a great job with the narration for both characters in the Present as well as the ones from the Past, I really liked the difference in both their voices. This book and narration was put together really well. I would for sure recommend this book to others.

Emotional story.

Great listen. Packed full of highs and lows with a few spicy moments. Be prepared to shed a couple years.

Not what I expected

This book was not at all what I expected. It was very odd and that the backstory was the primary focus and the real romance was almost an afterthought. The relationship between Dylan and Shane had so much time and build up to it, that it felt like the main story. The relationship between Dylan and Connor seems like an afterthought instead of the main focus of the story. I believed the relationship between Dylan and Shane much more than the relationship between Dylan and Connor. For me it just seemed like part two was rushed and there wasn’t enough build up to the relationship. I I will say this is one of the few books that have ever made me cry. I think this would have worked better if these had been two separate books as part of a duet. As always Sean Crisden is fantastic.