Redemption

Second Chance Gay Romance

By: Garrett Leigh

Narrated by: Dan Calley

Length: 6 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

Reformed gangster Luis falls hard for his boss. When friendship turns to love, it’s up to Paolo to convince him second chances are worth the pain.

Luis Pope is back on the street after a six-year stretch in prison, but life on the outside seems just out of reach, especially when the whole neighborhood knows his face for all the wrong reasons.

Paolo’s temper makes it hard to keep staff, and he knows Luis’ rep all too well. But his nonno believes in redemption, and Luis isn’t the tough guy Paolo remembers. Prison has left its mark, inside and out, and all the kindness in the world can’t fix the three inch scar on Luis’s skull.

And it can’t keep ghosts locked up. Luis is the best worker Paolo’s ever had, and Luis is happier than he’s ever been. But his old life doesn’t want to stay in the past. Trouble comes to call, and when it makes him an offer he can’t refuse, keeping Paolo safe hurts the most.

Redemption is an angsty, stand-alone M/M romance novel, with second chances, found family, friends-to-lovers, and buckets of hurt/comfort themed loveliness.

©2020 Garrett Leigh (P)2020 Garrett Leigh

Loved this

This was a sweet and angsty second chance, friends to lovers romance!!

The storyline was engaging and compelling and the characters were likeable and well fleshed out.

The plot was well executed and the writing style was engaging.


I especially loved the narration. It was on point.

Loved this book!

Dan Calley is a fantastic narrator and this is my favorite Garrett Leigh story!

Superb writing

Lord, I loved this book. Paolo and Luis had sizzling chemistry right from the get go. The sex was hot, I loved the progression from oral onward, but they also sizzled just working. Leigh wrote a compelling plot with realistic characters. The conflict was a tough one and I wasn’t sure how it could possibly be resolved. But it was and done so realistically. I love Dan Calleys voice.

Loved Luis and Paolo

Thanks GL! EXCELLENT Characters, EXCELLENT Narrator!!!! You Rock!. Well done. I cannot wait for your next great book. Sticking with these great narrators only adds to your amazing books. Thank you. (a reader/listener who appreciates the multiple POV, IRL views, feelings and dialogue). It means alot to me, There are alot of silly (I mean silly, not funny - i enjoy some humor definitely) romance books - with alot of air heads. Yours are not.

Another good, gritty story w/a great performance

I think the thing I most like about Ms. Leigh’s books is her characters are always so real; they’re never fanciful, untouchable people you’d likely never meet. And I almost always prefer listening to her books rather than reading them.

Luis is just trying to get past the mistakes he’s made and get out of the family he was born into. He wants to live an honest life and finally, maybe be happy. He doesn’t feel worthy most of the time, but he truly is a good guy. He fits seamlessly into Paolo’s life and is a super smart, super sweet guy.

Paolo is feisty, doesn’t take crap from anyone but has a major soft spot for Luis. He doesn’t want any trouble in his family’s café, but he begrudgingly trusts Luis. He sees something in Luis and realizes there’s more to him than the crime he committed and the crimes of his family.

I was happy with the way Luis’ drama with his brother was settled. I thought it was going one way but ended up going another which surprised me and let to a HEA I could live with.

I see this is book one in a series. There is only one possible character I can think of who could get a story next and that has me very intrigued. I would definitely be in for that but I would absolutely wait for the audio!

Dan Calley’s performance was fantastic as always. He put the perfect gruff and emotion in both characters. He always brings the books he performs to life.

Love, love, love!

I read the ebook as an arc and fell in love with the characters and the world Garrett Leigh created. Listening to Dan Calley read it transported me back there. His raspy voice reminds me a bit of Heath Ledger. I rarely listen to a whole audio book in one day, but I did with this one! So, so good!

Great story and narration!

Luis and Paolo seem like an unlikely pair but wow...they balanced each other perfectly and they were hot together! Luis had the bad boy past, prison record and no family to back.him... Paolo had a successful restaurant and loving grandparents yet Luis was the even tempered gentle man who only wanted to move on from his past and Paolo was the tough and grumpy man who pushed everyone away. Once Paolo let down his guard and hired Luis to work for him, he grew to know and love the real man underneath his reputation and rough exterior. I love Dan Calley's interpretations of each character and his voice is so sexy and perfect for Garrett Leigh's books. I love their collaborations! This pair never disappoints and I highly recommend this book.

Edge of your seat

This was an excellent story and audiobook. I love a redemption story, especially when it involves someone who’s been to prison finding someone to love them and give them a second chance.

Garrett knows how to make you feel every emotion that runs through Luis and Paolo, especially the loneliness and pain Luis feels. That man breaks my heart. He never really wanted to be a part of the life that sent him to prison, and now that he’s on the outside he has to figure out how to adjust, find a job, and avoid getting dragged back into his brother's world. And when he finds someone who he cares about…his old life comes calling. Gah, that poor, kind man.

He deserves happiness, and to be wrapped up in Paolo’s arms, living a happy life working alongside his man. They are perfect for each other. Luis’ calm to Paolo’s fiery temper. They soothe each other.

This is a tension-filled, edge-of-your-seat story that is gritty, and real, but ultimately hopeful and tender.

Dan Calley did an amazing job as the Narrator of this. It took a beat to adjust to the thick accent, but it was perfect for the story and characters. I can’t imagine it any other way now.

Who Doesn’t Love A Good Redemption Story?

There isn’t a dang thing that Garrett Leigh can’t write with the conviction and knowledge that makes it seem like she’s right there living that life with her boys. This story is definitely one of the best ones she’s written so far and that’s saying something coming from someone who has her at the top of all of my recommendations and her books are some of my absolute favorites... did I spend most of this book in tears like I have with some of her books? No, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t phenomenal. Luis was a broken man, just got out of jail after 6 years and a mistake that he knows was bad but he isn’t that person anymore and when he meets Paolo it’s fate. Their chemistry is off the charts from the very beginning and there’s something about Paolo that lets Luis feel safe and seen in a way no one has ever seen him. He knows his former life, led by his drug dealing manipulative brother is going to come back to haunt him but he never dreams it would affect him the way it does. Paolo didn’t want to fall for Luis but he really sees the good man Luis is and knows one of them has to believe he’s worthy of being taken care of and loved. I felt all the emotions throughout this book, sadness and sorrow, happiness, the explosive chemistry, the love these boys have for each other, the hatred for Dante and the despair Luis feels as he does what he thinks he has to. There’s so many layers to this one and I am so glad Paolo never gave up on Luis even when Luis let him down. They both deserved their happy ending!

When you add in the audio narration by Dan Calley, who is absolutely one of my favorite voices ever, this book soars to new heights. Dan nailed this narration down to the tiny nuances in the voices when the characters are feeling some type of way. You can tell Dan loves what he does and he is an absolute auto-buy for me!

5 huge stars from me but I’d give this one more if I could!

Loved it!

I loved this story - the guys are both flawed in their own ways, rough around the edges, and perfect for each other. The narrator did a fantastic job.

This book wasn't what I was expecting at all. I read the blurb ages ago and thought it was a gang- or mafia-type book. However, all of that is in Luis' past and this book is focused on his life after serving six years in prison. And who should roll into his life but the stubborn, moody, scowling, and ridiculously attractive Paolo. Luis and Paolo have a soul deep connection and I loved how pushy Paolo was, yet he was also patient with Luis, knowing he had to patiently earn Luis' trust to learn more about the quiet man. Nobody writes messy, broken, blue collar men like Garrett, and I can't get enough of how Garrett is able to bring these men into each other's orbit and make them fall hopelessly in love. They all get their HEAs, but they aren't magically fixed over the course of the story; rather, they are better versions of themselves by the end, but still working to heal their wounds and still learning how to maintain a healthy relationship with each other. And, they're still their moody grumpy selves, just with someone they can be their full selves with. I've been craving Garrett's writing recently and loved every moment of this love story. I'm jumping right into the next book!