Places in Time

By: Cardeno C.

Narrated by: John Solo

Length: 1 hr and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

A relationship-challenged actor unexpectedly finds love in the arms of his childhood best friend.

"Sexiest Man Alive" and Golden Globe-winning actor Ethan Baker lights up the screen but fizzles in his personal life. When his latest girlfriend breaks up with him, Ethan turns to his one "forever" person - Jude Harrison. But as Ethan makes the familiar drive to his best friend's house, an unexpected detour and a bewildering passenger take him through places in time he'd long forgotten. Suddenly, Ethan sees Jude's actions over the years from a different perspective, but it's his own reaction that's the biggest surprise.

©2011 Cardeno C. (P)2016 Cardeno C.

short and sweet

This is a short story that recently got re-released.

Ethan, a self-absorbed actor, has been best friends with Jude most of his life. Jude is his anchor in a storm, and the one place Ethan knows he can be himself.

Jude has been in love with Ethan since the moment they first met, but Ethan didn’t know.
One night, after yet another break-up with a woman, Ethan meets a stranger on the highway who takes him on a Dickensian journey through time to show him another view-point of events leading up to the current moment in time.

Luckily, he finally figures out what he’s meant to see and finds Jude to confront him on his feelings.
**

It’s a very short, sweet story that makes you smile and sigh and – just as all Cardeno’s stories do – feel good inside.

I loved that when Ethan finally figures things out, he and Jude just jump in, no questions asked. Though Ethan hadn’t ever been with a man, he didn’t let that slow him down one bit.

Audio:

John Solo did a great job with this. Nothing flashy, good when there were women’s voices. Very easy to listen to and a nice way to experience this story.

For both the audio and the story 4.5 of 5 stars

Loved it!!!

What did you love best about Places in Time?

The relationship between Ethan and Judy even before it turned sexual.

What did you like best about this story?

That the first person Ethan thinks of when he gets dumped by his latest gf is his best friend Jude, showed me that there was more emotional attachments there than Ethan realised.

Have you listened to any of John Solo’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No but thought this was excellent.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Ethan realizes how he really fells about Jude.

Any additional comments?

Just wish it was a longer story I enjoyed it so much but I so enjoy all this author's stories.

Lots of love to this awesome trip!

I loved everything about this book. It was short and to the point but jam packed with emotion and has secual tension between the 2 MCs in spades. It was also a lot of fun!

I adored John Solo's narration. He got the tone perfect.

I wouldn't change a thing...

Any additional comments?

Short, but sweet and really well done, this friends to lovers novella hit my sweet spot early on.

Wonderfully narrated by John Solo, I enjoyed going on the journey with Ethan, who learns just how much his best friend Jude has always been there for him. John Solo does such a great job narrating both the male and female character voices of the story.

I loved the byplay between Ethan and Ginger as Ethan goes through the pivotal moments of his past in order to open his eyes to his future. But mostly, I loved when Ethan and Jude get together the story doesn't fade to black immediately, but the reader/listener is given time to see the interaction between the characters and to get a better sense of their relationship and how well they work together.

Even though it is quite a short story I didn't feel like it was missing anything. Sure, I wanted more, but that's because Cardeno weaves such a wonderful world and characters that I don't ever want to leave.

I wouldn't change anything about the story, it was just what I was looking for right when I needed it: a perfectly charming, fluffy romance with a wonderful HEA.

Recommended!

Great performance. Great story.

Wonderful sweet story. Just what I needed today. The protagonists are quite likeable. I only wish their romance would've started sooner, instead of having a woman's heart break.

A Christmas Carol kinda story

Had the whole ghost of Christmas past thing happening but without the Christmas part. It's a short sweet friends to lovers with a GFY vibe to it. It was a fun listen and Solo does a great job with the narration.

Ethan and Jude

Ethan is more than a bit clueless when it comes to Jude. The man is so focused on himself that he borders on Narcissism, but Golden Globe award-winning actor that seems completely accurate. It takes several attempts for 'Ginger' to make Ethan catch a clue and see that Jude has always been the perfect best friend and a man who likes him more than a friend. I liked that neither guy hesitates once Ethan comes to his senses, both men know that they were finally where they belonged.

Audiobook: very enjoyable narrator

Good book.

This is a good book. Entertaining, and enjoyable. I narration was good and the book is worth a credit.

I just couldn't get into it

It was OK, I just couldn't get into it. I tried several times but the characters and story were not interesting enough to hold my attention.

Short story is short :P

This is half fairy-tale, half 'A Christmas Carol''s retelling. Cute and fluffy, but the break-necking velocity in which Ethan goes from straight to gay is a little too much for me.

But that's what happens with short stories, isn't it? All in all, a sweet romance.

John Solo, as always, does an awesome job with the narration

as good as the ebook

The story is always full stars, because if I wouldn't like the story as ebook, I wouldn't listen to the audiobook. I can't listen to an audiobook without knowing the book, that's not possible for me.

The performance from the narrator is also very important for me. I can't listen to a lot, because my English as a non-native-speaker isn't so perfect to follow a whole story over hours, when the narrator speaks too fast or too sloppy. Normally I have to SEE the person, who is talking to me in English. It took me a little bit, to come into the narrator, but at the end, it worked. I only have to take a few breaks between. I'm just not yet finish with the book, but I listen enough to give a review.

PLEASE READ MY RATING SYSTEM!!!

To my ratings:

5* - very very good
it's like an A+

4* - very good and will be often re-listening
it's like an A

3* - it's more then a one-time-listening.
it's like a B

Super 'recognising love' story with magical twist

What made the experience of listening to Places in Time the most enjoyable?

The writing is smart, sassy and fun. The narration is wonderful with artful characterisation that enhanced a lovely story.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Places in Time?

As Ethan (the famous movie star) realises how it has always been with his best friend of twenty years. That his supernatural guide is hilarious is such a bonus, making the real love story and discovery of self so real that I rooted for the guys from the outset.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

When 'Ginger' the guide is giving Ethan the rough treatment with a smile. "No dear, I didn't have to be so rough"

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The unassuming and gentle way we see Jude has been making self sacrifices for his best friend for their entire relationship, but until Ginger takes Ethan on his amazing journey, he just doesn't see it.

Any additional comments?

All of Cardeno C's writing is fabulous and life affirming. This is no exception, and with such outstanding narration, this is a gay romance not to be missed.

super short but well worth it, excellent narration

Any additional comments?

I purchased my ecopy of this book.

super short, super sweet and I loved it! (was my original review!)

Ethan has been best friends with Jude forever. A stormy night drive brings Ethan to a revelation he did not see coming.

This book is only short but packs a punch. I originally read it a while ago, but have re-read it to participate in the book club discussion, so figured I'd write a proper review. (Dated Jan 2015)

It is short, only took me about 40 minutes and much of the book is Ethan being shown his life in a sort of near death experience. But its not Ethan's life coming across, its Jude too. Or more specifically, what Jude looked like at their first meeting, at a major turning point in Ethan's acting career and when Jude finds Ethan drunk, in a gay bar. Ethan sees what he missed before, and finally, FINALLY realizes that Jude is not just his best friend.

Its delicious (thats my new word, have you noticed??) in its shortness, its punch and when Ethan and Jude finally get together?? super duper hot but equally emotional.

Written from Ethan's POV, we dont get any from Jude, aside in the flashbacks. BUT thats okay, it really is. for THIS book, its perfect.

I'm giving it 5 stars. I wouldn't usually rate such a short book 5 but after my re-read, it deserves it.

5 stars

AUDIO REVIEW, I was gifted the audio copy of this book

Jon Solo narrates. This is the first I've listened to by Mr Solo, and I loved it! I loved how he gave across Ethan's dawning realisation of his true feelings for Jude. His voices were great, I loved Ginger here! His reading voice is clear and deep and I had no issues hearing what he said. I will, absolutely, look to listen to more work by Solo, maybe a longer, more in depth one though. a great introduction to his work though. A very delicious way to spend an hour and 41 minutes :-)

5 star narration.

**similar worded review will appear on: Goodreads, Audible.co.uk, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, Kobo and BookLikes**