Perfect Storm

Toronto Thunder, Book 1

De: Beth Bolden

Narrado por: Darcy Stark

When the sexy little brother of Aidan’s best friend suggests a hookup pact, it's the perfect storm for a bi-awakening . . .

Toronto Thunder quarterback Aidan Flynn always believed he was straight, until his close friend and favorite wide receiver signs with a team across the country. Distance opens his eyes and unlocks a desire he can’t deny. Even if his feelings aren’t returned, Aidan still wants to learn more about this part of himself.

Frustrated and a little heartbroken, the last thing he expects is for his crappy mood to get called out by his best friend’s little brother. Or for Levi to offer, on one drunken night, a pact: if Aidan never gets together with his guy, Levi will show him everything he’s been missing—and wanting—in bed.

It’s a stupid promise, fueled by booze and heartbreak, and Aidan expects that Levi will never call him on it.

Except Levi does. He shows up at Aidan’s house in Toronto less than two months later, not only willing to fulfill his side of the pact, but now signed to the Thunder as Aidan’s new right tackle. Aidan assumes it’ll be easy to get rid of him, but Levi is charming and persistent, and he not only ends up living in Aidan’s house, but sleeping in Aidan’s bed.

It’s easy and fun and the best hookup Aidan’s ever had in his whole life. It’s so good, in fact, Aidan starts to experience feelings he believed were long gone, traded away with his friend. Maybe with Levi in his life, love isn’t such a lost cause, after all.

They’re great on the field and between the sheets. But when Aidan’s past returns, he must decide whether Levi also has a place in his heart.

©2025 Earl Gray Publishing LLC (P)2025 Earl Gray Publishing LLC

BFF's little brother (but her's bigger, haha)

Love the turnabout here from the situation/characters from The Star! This is a BFF's little brother romance, except in this case, Levi isn't all that little! This was a good forced proximity + teammates to lovers book.. I enjoyed this start to the series! It was fun to get some cameos and especially a glimpse of RAMSEY and maybe his future! And who wouldn't love the combo of a crush + pining + a s*x pact??? Thoroughly enjoyed. Can't wait to read more in this series!

Audiobook update: Darcy Stark came back to narrate this book and did his usual good job with handling all the different characters and giving them distinct voices and bringing out their personalities.

How Many Football Player On a Team?

Thanks to Beth for this ARC!
The story line was entertaining.
The characters were confused, and driven, at the same time.
The narrator did a good job but Levi’s accent was a little ‘over the top.’

Pacts

A little bit heartbroken and a bit jaded, Aidan is left wanting as he feels he has lost an opportunity to explore facets of himself.
When drunken confessions lead to secret pacts with his best friends brother, he didn’t expect Levi to honour the pact they had made.
When Levi lands on his door, Aidan gains a roommate, teammate and a bedmate who opens his eyes and life to new experiences.

An age gap, best friends brother romance, forced proximity, low angst story with football and family in the plot.
Darcy Stark does a good job with the narration. It takes a while to warm up to the timber of voice but overall it’s an enjoyable listen.

Flynn & Banks Round Two

Aidan & Levi

It's so funny to be cheering for the Toronto Thunder when I'm so familiar with the Charleston Condors that it's hard to really want Aidan and Levi and their team to beat out Riley and Landry and their team.

Unsurprisingly, this book was a fantastic and engaging read. I've loved everything I've had the chance to read from Beth, and I especially love how all of her series connect in some way or another. Each story and each romance draw me in immediately and I get overly invested in all of the characters and their happy endings, even the side characters (i.e. Ramsey).

Aidan & Levi were incredible to follow and experience their love story. It always starts out salaciously, but slides right into the sweetness you know is underneath for each MC. I love that this book still had plenty of its steamy moments, but it was wonderful to watch the evolution of their feelings and love.

I really loved the family element that the Flynn's and Banks' bring to their stories. They're not the only families to have connections within Beth's universe, but they are very memorable. It's been a long time since I last read Riley & Landry's book, The Star, but I remembered so many pivotal moments, especially the difficulties of the relationship between Riley & his brother, Aidan. I loved that their relationship in this book is solid and unbreakable, and they both know how to treat one another as equals as they continue to live their lives. Aidan bringing Levi into his life and love doesn't change that, and I loved seeing everyone so happy for Aidan & Levi.

Perfect Storm was a fantastic opening to a new series for the Toronto Thunder and I'm incredibly excited to see how the series and its characters evolve.

I received an authorized copy of this book and am volunteering my honest review. (Oct 2025)

Audiobook Update (Dec 2025):
Narrated by Darcy Stark

Of other audiobooks I've listened to from Darcy Stark, I feel like this one didn't come out as well as some of the others. I still enjoyed experiencing the story all over again, because Aidan & Levi were a ton of fun, but I didn't feel as engaged with the audio as I have in the past with other stories in this universe. I'm sure I will still give it another listen when more of the series comes out in audio, and I'm sure the performance will grow on me in time.

I received an authorized copy of this audiobook and am volunteering my honest review.

Fantastic audiobook

I thoroughly enjoyed this listen. The storyline is stellar and the narrator is fantastic. I really liked the fact that these two have known each other for a very long time and it never occurred to them to consider the other a partner!