Love Happens Anyway

De: RJ Scott

Narrado por: Sean Crisden

Hiring a boyfriend for Christmas, what could possibly go wrong?

Derek is facing yet another Christmas where his life feels out of control. He has a new career that doesn’t feel like his, and parents who would just love to see him settled down. All he needs is a temporary buffer for the parties he has to attend, and for his parents to leave him alone. Enter, Luke.

Luke is 20,000 dollars short for the renovations on Halligans, his family’s bar in New York’s Financial District. A favor for a buddy has him agreeing to play the part of boyfriend to a guy with more money than sense.

But when the spirit of Christmas works its magic on the two men, and they begin to fall for each other, Derek runs scared, and Luke needs space.

It doesn’t matter what obstacles you throw in the way of love, or how much you run in the other direction, because, when you’re least expecting it, whether you want it or not, love happens anyway.

Word Count: 42,500

©2017, 2018 RJ Scott (P)2018 RJ Scott

A sweet, sexy Holiday Romp!!

Kudos to RJ Scott for this delightful, tender holiday story. A delicious story of an unconventional romance from nowhere! One party needed the cash, the other an excuse for failed relationships & missed opportunities. Both finding what they ultimately needed!

Sean Crisden's sexy, beautiful voice did justice to this tender story! I swear I'd pay generously to hear him read from the Oxford dictionary! Such a seductive, tantalizing voice that brought life to each character the author introduced!

A delicious holiday treat that won't disappoint any M/M romance aficionado! A tender, loving story-thread that draws you in from the beginning. Well done!!❤

Cute Story

Overall::: 4 out of 5 stars
Story::: 3 1/2 out of 5 stars
Narrator::: 4 1/2 out of 5 stars

I enjoy these quick stories with unexpected feelings...and make it a holiday story and it's even harder to beat!!! Derek and Luke were destined to fall in love, but they both denied it - almost to the point of too much denial! I was happy with this story and the way it was told.

The narrator did a fair job of distinguishing between characters, but what he did so well was putting the emotions and feelings into the story! I could feel the emotions so clearly as I listened to him tell the story. There isn’t much better in an audio book!

The story was quick, but cute. I think it would have been a little better with a little more of Luke’s story thrown in. I know we met both families, but I just wanted a little more of his background.

Awesome Holiday Listen & Read for Anytime of Year

Audiobook Re-Read Review September 2019:
I really don't think there is anything I can add to either my original ebook review or last year's audiobook review. I may have listened to this a few months before the holidays but with RJ Scott's words and Sean Crisden's voice, I kept expecting to look up and see snow and my holiday light display outside my window. Brilliant holiday tale from beginning to end.

Original Audiobook Review December 2018:
There's not a whole lot that I can add to my original review from last year in regards to the excellence of the story so I'll just say that Sean Crisden once again brings voice as only he can to RJ's words. That's not quite true, no, he brings life to the world RJ Scott has created in her holiday tale. RJ wrote Derek and Luke as if they were people you would meet at the store in your hometown but Sean's voice lets you feel like they are right there in the room with you. That you are witnessing firsthand their blossoming romance which is helpful because as I said last year there was more than one occasion that I wanted to whack Derek upside the head and Sean made me feel like if I just stretched out my arm I could do just that😉😉. RJ and Sean are a combo that I hope continues for years to come.

Original ebook review December 2017:
As Derek continues to settle into life at the top and head of the family business he also finds himself trying to fend off his mother's meddling in his personal life. In hopes of easing her off the "Derek settled down" train he's told her about Marcus, the boyfriend. Unfortunately there is no boyfriend. Luke is in need of some cash to help his family restaurant so when his friend offers him a chance to make a few bucks for the holiday season he really doesn't have the choice to turn it down. Will Luke make the perfect Marcus or will Derek find Luke to perfect just as he is? Can business turn to love?

If you follow myy blog and/or reviews then you are familiar with my love for the worlds created by RJ Scott. She is the reason I found the M/M romance genre but its more than that, her love for all things romance is clear when you read her work. As for her holiday romances, well there is just something extra special about them and Love Happens Anyway is no different.

Derek and Luke's story has a little bit of everything, okay maybe there's no sci-fi element and no murder mystery but it has everything else: lust, romance, humor, and plenty of holiday heart. Sure, I wanted to grab Derek by his expensive labels, give him a good shake, and scream things like "Tell your mom the truth", "Open your eyes", and "Luke Is Marcus" but alas, Derek never listened to me. So I just buckled up and went along for the ride. I'll just say this: despite wanting to whack Derek upside the head more than once, I loved every minute of Love Happens Anyway. As for Luke, well you can't help but love him for the way he's accepted what life has thrown in his path and kept going, not everyone would but he did.

I don't have a lot of time to do any re-reading during the holiday season, there's just so many wonderful new stories every year, so I think I'm going to have to do a Re-Read Holiday Style next summer and Love Happens Anyway will definitely be in the running for that list. I have read so many wonderful tales over the past few years that I have long ago learned to never judge a book by its cover but I would be failing in my review if I didn't mention how much I absolutely adore RJ's cover for Derek and Luke's journey. The color is eyecatching but its the snowman's cheeky smirk that really makes it perfect and once you read Love you will understand it's significance. Most of all, I think it speaks volumes to the author's understanding and appreciation for meshing romance, drama, holiday spirit and just the right amount of humor to bring to the reader that extra special fun factor.

Adorable, A Great Holiday Read

As soon as I saw that adorable snowman on the cover of RJ Scott’s Love Happens Anyway I knew I couldn’t resist this one. Doesn’t he look sweet and a little bit naughty? Well that pretty much sums up this book. There’s a lot of heart too, and the kind of feels which left me smiling. What more could anyone need in a holiday story?

This is an extra special audiobook for me as one of my all-time favorite narrators, Sean Crisden, lends his magical vocals. Crisden’s smooth, melodic voice is perfect for Luke, and he infuses just enough anxious uncertainty into Derek to make you feel it. Honestly, he can croon in my ear any time he likes and I won’t complain.

These two men are both dealing with some big changes in their lives. Derek has recently taken over his dad’s advertising company and is struggling to make it his own. Plus, his previous string of boyfriends all treated him so badly that hiring an escort to play his fictional boyfriend (for $30,000!) is the better option.

Luke is a retired firefighter, severely injured in the line of duty, who still feels the pain of 9/11 - when he lost his dad. His priorities are his family, his volunteer work, and getting on his feet again. He relents and agrees to work the escort gig because the money will be enough to reopen the family bar…. Plus, when Luke gets a look at the contradiction that is Derek Henderson, he’s intrigued!

I’m a sucker for the “pretend boyfriend” trope. Both these guys are floundering a bit on their own, and they really just need to find someone to love. Watching them sort out their problems, and then work them out together, left me grinning like that snowman. Granted, these two do fall in love pretty quickly, but that just adds to the magical holiday feel that RJ Scott creates in Love Happens Anyway.

My Thoughts on Love Happens Anyway

This was a highly enjoyable holiday romance. The premise of this story got my attention. However it was the author's solid writing and the narrator having an interesting sounding voice is what kept me listening.

Both main characters in this MM contemporary romance were likeable, although I must admit I was especially fond of Luke. He had great qualities like his family loyalty and he was heroic.

While this was a short story, I really like what was done with it. It was a sweet romance and contained all the important things I look for.

The narrator Sean Crisden was a new to me narrator, but he did a good job. Nice tone distinction with so many characters and his voice was easy to listen to.

Overall this is a story I would recommend and it has me interested in looking for more books by this author and narrator.