Love Is a Stranger

More Heat Than the Sun, Book 1

By: John Wiltshire

Narrated by: Gary Furlong

Length: 8 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's Summary

Ex-SAS soldier Ben Rider falls in love with his enigmatic married boss, Sir Nikolas Mikkelsen, but Nikolas is living a lie. A lie so profound that when the shadows are lifted, Ben realizes he's in love with a very dangerous stranger. Ben has to choose between Nikolas and safety, but sometimes danger comes in a very seductive package.

©2021 Decent Fellows Press (P)2021 Decent Fellows Press

Wow!!

This book was amazing!....and the narration couldn't have been more perfect. 😍I can't wait for the next book!!

Waited YEARS for this in audio- Perfection

Thank you, thank you, thank you to the audiobook gods who chose Gary Furlong to narrate this series.

This has been one of my best-loved M/M series' since this first book was released 7 years ago. I've been wishing for years that it would be available in audiobook format, but it never happened. Now, with a new publisher making my wish come true I was in audiobook heaven today.

The book is intense, as is the relationship between Sir Nikolas Mikkelsen and his agent Ben Rider. I'd suppose you could say the story is like an onion, and as each layer is revealed you'll get pulled in deeper and deeper.

The character of Nik is the most twisted and duplicitous I've read in M/M, and yet, his uncontrollable love for Ben - that even blindsides Nik, is just beautiful and even though I shouldn't like him, I'm still drawn to him. That is some writing talent that can make me think against my better judgment!

There is thriller, military, espionage, and mystery content all beautifully entwined into the deepening of a relationship between Nik and Ben.

Gary Furlong's range, is as expected, perfect for this series. He pitches Nik's Scandi accent just right - so that we know he's Scandinavian, but can understand what he's saying and not get lost in hard Danish vowels. Ben is also just right, with a good balance of pretty-boy charm and ex-military snark.

The level of emotion Gary gives us for the characters is wonderful. I particularly adored the scenes where Ben wants more from Nik but, bewildered by the intensity of his feelings for Ben, Nik is, for the first time in his life, not in control, tongue-tied and unsure of himself.

Anyone who has read this series before knows that the biggest star of this series is Nik and Ben's dog, Radulf. He is the best boy.

So, Fantastic. Worth the wait. Now for book 2.

Two men and a shaggy dog story

These military MCs never leave their comrades' behind literally!! This is a sex fest complicated and punctuated by various events, snapshots and killings which justify their connection and their continuation inside the story; there seems to be precious little actual story to bind them.

This face paced book is jarring at every step, as both MCs seem extremely polarized and immature when we are told they are highly skilled operatives. The MCs realize and reveal with 3hrs left to go, it's a relationship in reverse. They start with the most intimate and base connection, then fall in love. This is the hook; you have to read/listen on to find out how this horror-show ends. The story improves drastically the closer to the end you get, which leads inevitably into getting Book 2, which comes out on 4 March on Audible. Many authors would've dealt with the sequence of events and revelations using flash-back. The shaggy dog pops in and out of the story.

The narration is fabulous, liltingly hypnotic. This narrator is the reason I chose the book. Gary Furlong narrates The Shooting Season and The Gentleman's Thief too which are excellent outrageous, funny, quirky historical mm tales. STRANGELY ENJOYABLE

Gripping, angsty and HOT!

Friends have been raving about this series for ages, and it was on my TBR list, but that list is super long. I was delighted to see that the series is now coming out as audiobooks as I listen to audio while doing chores.
My goodness, what a treat! I was immediately drawn to the mysterious Sir Nikolas Mikkelsen, who is Ben Rider's boss. Their professional relationship and personal relationship has overlapped in a very unprofessional way, but beneath the masks they both wear is an ocean of passion, secrets and lies.
I was hooked, not only for the sinfully good writing, but because Gary Furlong fleshes out Nik and Ben so effortlessly.
I loved this book, I was on the edge of my seat and my friends who crowed about this series were right, if book 1 is anything to go by I'm in for quite a ride with More Heat Than The Sun.
I am eagerly awaiting book 2.