Love You so Madly

By: Tara Lain

Narrated by: Ry Forest, Stephen Kurpis (Vitruvian Sound) - producer

Length: 4 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

A Love You So story.

Ben Shane has it all...and he’d like to give some of it back. While he loves his job heading a foundation that funds worthy causes around the world, his engagement to one of America’s wealthiest men leaves him feeling more like a trophy wife than a valued partner. The first warning that his relationship might not be designed to last is his irresistible lust for Dusty Kincaid, the golden-haired, bright-eyed handyman for his company.

Though Dusty is odd for a 23-year-old - no liquor, no sugar, and he can’t even drive - the more Ben gets to know Dusty, the more he admires him. But is Ben going to give up a guy who drives a Ferrari for one who takes the bus?

He must be mad. Dusty knows he and Ben can never work. After all, Ben’s perfect...and Dusty isn’t. But Ben might surprise everyone with proof that he’s only mad in love.

©2018 Tara Laim (P)2018 Dreamspinner Press

Love You So Madly

Well, this book runs right along the lines of Tara Lain’s others, being an overly sweet romance with just the right amount of cheesy-fun characters. All of them are really light, fluffy books with likeable characters and this one was no different.

I do need to talk about the audio narration first. I am really not quite sure how to express my feelings for this one. The narrator, Ry Forest, gave a really great performance with this book, and his voice really was perfect for each of the characters. I do think sometimes it was just so over the top ridiculous and silly sounding, but at the same time it was completely perfect for the characters and for what the situation called for at the time. Although I didn’t quite love it, I am ultimately totally impressed by how much effort he obviously put into this one.

Dusty was a cute character, he’s kind of a jack of all trades when it comes to work and school and everything he’s got going on in life. I really disliked his mother throughout the entire book. I felt like she was way too up in his business and needed to back off a lot and let him live his own life, even with his medical issues.

Ben was an OK character. I didn’t really feel too much for him either way, but I’m glad he came to his senses regarding Alan - that guy was a total tool and completely full of himself! I didn’t like him at all.

This is a slow-paced relationship build-up tale that needed to happen that way, no instant love here. Cute book with cute characters and an interesting narration.

sweet, fast paced story

Story-Love You So Madly is the second book in the Love You So Stories but can easily be read as a standalone. This is a pretty short read/listen about a guy, Ben who works hard for a charitable foundation. He seems to have the perfect life. Rich, attentive fiancée Alan, who wants to give him the world. A job, that even though it requires long hours, he gets to help people, which he loves. But underneath the surface Ben isn’t as happy as he seems. He doesn’t want to be a trophy husband to his rich boyfriend, he wants to make a difference in the world. Ben has noticed the office handyman, the stunningly attractive Dusty for a while but has hardly ever talked to him. Eventually that all changed and Dusty starts to help Ben out with some renovation problems he’s been having. Ben starts to notice some weird quirks about Dusty as the two get to know each other. As the two men grow closer to each other Ben struggles with his attraction to Dusty and his failing relationship Alan. After Dusty has a health scare Ben finally realizes what he wants and goes about making the changes in his life.

I found this to be a very light, fast paced book. The two main characters were sweet and funny. I did at some points find Dusty’s mother to be a bit over bearing but after finding out about past issues I could kind of get why she was like that. The one thing I didn’t like was towards the end, when Dusty and Ben finally get together, they had sex after their “first” date. I don’t think it needed to be in the story. It felt rather rushed and out of place. I would have been just as happy not to have it there. Other than that I found this to be a delightful book and series so far.

Narration-Ry Forest seems to be a fairly new narrator. I have only listened to one other book he has narrated, and I have the same issue with both books. Ry has a very attractive voice that kept me enthralled. He puts a lot of enthusiasm in his narrations but at times this can be very over the top (like when he “voices” a moan or laugh). He keeps the story going and I didn’t have any other issues, except the moaning/laughing parts, but I will most like still pick up an audio narrated by him in the future.

When it's right, you just feel it.

I believe that, try as we might to avoid it, love will find us; and this story is a perfect example. Ben hasn't felt at home in his relationship in a long time. Instead of wanting his "perfect" fiance, he's drawn to the light and energy of a friendly hardworking handyman that works for his company. They're both chasing their dreams, one step at a time. When their dreams overlap, sparks fly, and challenge both men to step out of their comfort zone.

Sugary sweet and a little too slow for my tastes

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what went wrong for me in Love You So Madly, as I simply never gelled with it. This is the second standalone in the Love You So Stories and features the same narrator as the first book. Whenever I start a book by this author, I know I’m guaranteed relative low angst and a very sweet romance. Unfortunately in Love You So Madly, things got much too sweet and the characters were a bit too passive. Those elements combined with a lulling tempo meant I repeatedly lost interest in this couple and found my attention pulled elsewhere.

Typically, I like romances where characters readjust from a relationship that isn’t good from them to find their happily ever after. However, in Love You so Madly, I spent far too much of the book watching Ben spin his wheels in a loveless engagement and too little time seeing things significantly develop between Ben and Dusty. Once the two were together, things moved very fast and I really never saw their relationship build. Overall, Love You So Madly featured likable characters and a sweet story with a good narrator, but was more of a miss than a hit for me.

*Reviewed for Alpha Book Club*