Living out Loud

By: Christina Lee, Nyrae Dawn

Narrated by: Wyatt Kelley, Max T. Mitchell

Ben Emerson has lived by his minister father's rules most of his life. Born into an ultraconservative church community, he's finally brave enough to break free and move to San Francisco. Distancing himself certainly helps create a new mind-set, but living as an openly gay man takes some getting used to. When he reaches out to Xavier, a childhood friend who lives in the city, Ben isn't sure how he'll respond given their thorny history. Ben hopes the familiar connection will help him right some wrongs as well as provide the solace he's been craving.

Xavier Ramos is who he is, and he doesn't give a damn what anyone thinks. Whether it's eyeliner, nail polish, tattoos, or his love of hooking up, he uses his body as a form of self-expression but doesn't let anyone get too close. When Ben reenters his life, Xavier helps him experience the city and feel comfortable in his own skin. Seeing the world through Ben's eyes, he begins to wonder if he's also not living as freely as he thought.

When Xavier challenges Ben's beliefs about sex, it becomes explosive - for both of them. Xavier breaks apart Ben's sheltered world and shows him what it's like to live out loud. The more time they spend together, the more Xavier begins to long for Ben in a different way - one that both surprises and scares him. But real life doesn't fade into the background, so when Ben's past comes knocking, old habits are hard to break. Testing the foundation of their deepening connection will take a trust that will either bind them...or tear them apart.

Riley Hart writing as Nyrae Dawn

©2017 Christina Lee and Nyrae Dawn (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

Outstanding !!! Best of the series

This was such a sweet story I truly enjoyed it. The others in the series are all good too this just may be my favorite. Have read other or Nyrae’s other books and loved them too. Really liked both narrators too. Highly highly recommend this audiobook !!!!!!

Second Chances

I loved this story. Xavier and Ben’s second chance at romance was sweet. They each had their own hang ups and obstacles that the needed to overcome, but together, they were able to support each other. Their love was precious, and the growth of their relationship was wonderful. The book was well written and flowed smoothly. I enjoyed it.

Everyone deserves to live out loud!

Living Out Loud is a wonderful story about friendship, finding yourself, and second chances. I adored Ben and Xavier. They both had pretty rough childhoods, with parents who left a lot to be desired. It really colored Ben's outlook on life. I wanted to reach in and wrap him up and tell him he was good and worthy and there was nothing wrong with him! And I wanted to tell Xavier he was so deserving of being loved.

It's no secret second-chance romances are one of my favorite tropes. And when you add in childhood friends, it makes my little heart so happy. When Ben and Xavier reconnected it wasn't with the expectation of anything more than just 2 friends getting a chance to clear the air and maybe start over again. But when Xavier shows Ben everything he's been missing in life the lines between them start to blur. Ben still has a lot of unresolved feelings and issues stemming from his upbringing and I loved that Xavier was there for him, to help him see it was more than okay to be his true self.

The narrators were terrific! They fit the characters so well, and both did a fantastic job bringing Ben and Xavier to life. I have to give a shout-out to the one who voiced Ben, though. (I wish Audible noted who narrated which character in m/m stories when it's dual narration.) He did an outstanding job showcasing Ben's vulnerabilty.
I'll definitely be looking for more books narrated by both Wyatt and Max.

So good

Couldn't put it down. I could feel Ben's pain as if it was my own. Truly beautiful writing.

oh my.heart!

What a beautiful love story ❤ with depth and honesty about the complexities of life and love. This novel has everything..... an intimate look into learning to love and accept ourselves, truth to lies ...hot intimate love scenes, characters that come to life...I literally cried but never lost hope for B and Z's happily ever after.