Rise and Shine

By: Helen Juliet

Narrated by: Kieran Flitton

Length: 1 hr and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

Luca feels like he’s been asleep for a hundred years, but really it was just one bad night. He wakes up in a room he’s never seen before, with a note from a mysterious stranger who seems to have come to his rescue.

Before he can sneak out, he finds himself face-to-face with his gorgeous knight in shining armor. It turns out that Ryan saved him from more than just a bad hangover.

In a day that feels like a dream, Luca and Ryan discover their attraction, but as a simple tailor and a club bouncer, they’re completely opposite.

Could this really be true love? 

Rise and Shine is a steamy, stand-alone MM romance novella featuring a match-making Labrador, too much pizza, just the right amount of sofa snuggles, and a guaranteed HEA with absolutely no cliff-hanger.

©2020 Helen Juliet (P)2020 Helen Juliet

I was given a free copy.Giving honest review.

I was given a free copy of this audiobook.
I am leaving an honest and unbiased review.

I really enjoyed this story.

I think it was a fun short story.

I enjoyed listening to the great narrator.

I look forward to listening to this audio book again.

enjoyed it

📖 Story comment: Good pace, likeable characters, entertaining story
I enjoy a fairy tale re-write, and i'm calling this "loosely based" on Sleeping Beauty. It's hard to do much with a book that runs less than 2 hours, but this is entertaining, the characters are likeable, its low angst and sweet.

🎧 Narrator comment: I enjoyed Kieran Flitton's narration, his accent suits the characters, he has good cadence, inflections and intonations and it's easy to distinguish the characters from each other. A thoroughly enjoyable performance and he bought the story to life.

-------
📌 Where does it fall on my personal scale? 7
• 1 not my thing • 2 didn't like the narration • 3 didn't keep my attention • 4 was good, but once was enough • 5 enjoyed it • 6 will listen again if i'm in the mood for the narrator [4⭐] • 7 goes on the "re-listen" list [4⭐] • 8 kept me up past bed-time [4.5⭐] • 9 recommended to family/friends [4.75⭐] • 10 own it in all formats [5⭐] • 11 keep a copy with me at all times [5⭐]

Cute interracial insta-love romance

Waking up in a strange flat with a friendly dog for company is not how Luca expected to begin the morning after his birthday celebration. And his inability to recall the events that had led him to the spot he now found himself in is not just frightening but also humiliating. His knight in shining armor is Ryan, a bouncer from the nightclub he had ended up in, which was not the one where he had started the night. Ryan tells him what he thinks happened and offers him the chance to recuperate by hanging out with him for the day. By the end of it, they've discovered a mutual attraction, fiery and sweet at the same time. The narrator's performance added some to the overall impact of the story. It was pleasant listening to him. The HEA epilogue is delightfully romantic.

Wonderful

This is a quick and cute story that is a twist on Sleeping Beauty. Ryan takes Luca home to save him from his terrible ex. Their attraction is instant but I like that they take their time. It was very sweet watching them get to know one another and build their relationship. The narrator was spectacular with the story and with the character voices. I am truly looking forward to more stories. I voluntarily reviewed a gifted copy of this audio book.

Loved it

This was a great and wonderful book. Short and sweet with such fantastic characters! The narrator was perfect! highly recommend!!

Sleeping Beauty

This short was so cute. It gave a great twist to the sleeping beauty tale. Luca is such an adorable guy. How he handles waking up in a strange place is great. He doesn't freak out too much but he apologizes way too many times once he hears how he ended up there. Ryan is a bouncer in shining armor so to speak. He gets our troubled guy out of tight spot. Listening to these two guys spend the day together was so heart warming. Kieran really conveyed their feeling for each other perfectly.

love it's

you will like this book because it's almost like a fairytale a knight in shining armor is the one thing that I cannot help but wish was still true in life but there are so many do and don'ts in life but this is an amazing story that I think that you and if you are a gay man that needs a little happiness in life please give this book a try because this author really knows a lot about fairy tales but also gives us the Fairy Tail in the end so please give this book a try because I am so loving this series or books I don't know but I think you will enjoy them either way and I hope this helps

A Short Getting-to-Know-You Love Story

I've read in others' reviews that 'Rise and Shine' is a loosely-based 'Sleeping Beauty' tale. I didn't realize this at first, but I recognize the parallels after learning of this fact. Luka wakes up in a stranger's apartment, not remembering the previous night. He and Ryan properly meet the next morning and spend the day together.

The story is a well-written, short tale. It's a cute, sweet, fluffy, get-to-know-you story with a wonderful HEA. If this is the sort of story you're hankering for, you won't get a better one.

Kieran Flitton's narration is great. His emotional interpretation really enhances the writing of Helen Juliet.

I requested a free review copy of this audiobook from a list of offerings. This post represents my opinion of it.

Recommended.

Short and Sweet

Rise and Shine is a short sweet story with a fairytale feel. Luca wakes up in a strange bed not knowing where he is or how he got there only to find out, Ryan, a bouncer at a club, not only rescued him from and ex who roofied his drink but also took care of Luca in his home. Ryan is so sweet and considerate of Luca. I love their connection and watching them fall in love. A very enjoyable story, one to enjoy again and again. Definitely recommend.
Kieran Flitton does a fabulous job. He's becoming a fast favorite. I love how he brings these characters to life.

Sweet!

This is a short but sweet listen. I love how a good deed turned into much more for these two. I know that live can happen this quick and it is nice to see it reflected here! Love Kieran's narration 😍

Excellent! 😁

Loved this short story from Helen Juliet/H J Welch.

Excellent storyline, MC’s are adorable with the Sleeping Beauty reference to the chocolate labrador (Briar - as in Briar Rose) and the aunt’s of Luca sharing the same first letter of the fairy godmothers!

Excellently narrated too 😊

Definitely worth 5🌟’s

well that was ADORABLE

this sweet, happy little story is simply magical. the characters are so perfectly drawn and the story is delightful. lovely lovely lovely.

so freaking cute!

Independent reviewer for Gay Romance Reviews, I was gifted the audio file of this book.

I have one thing to say about this book: So freaking cute!!

I mean, its only short, just shy of 2 hours listening time /78 pages, but it is so bloody sweet, my teeth dropped out and I mean that as a VERY good thing!

Both Luca and Ryan both have a say, and they both have a LOT to say, for such a short book. I did think, for a while that only Luca would have a say but Ryan just has to wait a bit for his say. They both feel it, the pull towards the other, which was why Ryan took Luca home in the first place, but Luca needs to remember that, himself.

Its sweet (again, needs saying, good thing!) and sexy, although the on screen action is limited, since its so short. HOWEVER, I think this is a good thing here, I really do. I started to say I wished this was longer, meatier, grittier, but to be honest, I don't think this would work as a major angsty book, I really don't. What works best for this book is the relative LACK of angst, I think.

Kieran Flitton narrates and I *believe* (but feel free to correct me!) that this is only Mr Flitton's second M/M romance narration. I listened to A Right Royal Affair by Helen Juliet and he nails that narration. As he does here! His *reading* voice is deep and clear, and I had no trouble keeping up. The voices for Luca and Ryan are different enough to be able to tell who was speaking without being told. He gets across all of Luca's fears about where he is, and why. he gets across all of Ryan's rapidly dawning realisation that he really does not want Luca to go. And he gets it across so beautifully! I could listen to Mr Flitton all day, especially if he is teamed up with Ms Juliet.

5 stars for the book
5 stars for the narration
5 stars overall

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**

Short, sweet and magical!

I love a short story done well and this one is so sweet, romantic and just the perfect amount of corny 😉
I felt the connection between these two from the start are liked the little intricacies that made up the nod to Sleeping Beauty.
great narration as well 😍

Fun cute short listen

What happens when you wake up virtually naked in a stranger’s bed with no memory of the night before?

Uh…? Panic? Run?

Cuddle with the cutest Labrador Retriever ever?

Luca is faced with this decision, and after cuddling with Briar, he heads to the laundry to retrieve the clothes he puked on.

And comes face-to-face with Ryan.

Gorgeous, handsome, hunky Ryan.

A man he has no memory of.

Turns out Ryan is the nicest man Luca has ever met. And as they spend time together, something becomes abundantly clear – the worst night of Luca’s life might just bring the best day ever.

If you can’t tell, I loved this story. With Kieran Flitton narrating, it’s just perfect. A palette refresher I like to call it. Something to snack on between all those heavy meals of much longer books. So pull on your favorite jammies and enjoy the story.

Short and oh so sweet!

Luca wakes up with a pounding headache and no recollection of what happened the night before, but soon discovers that he was saved from what could've turned into a disaster of major proportions by a gorgeous stranger who took him home with him. Not ready to say goodbye to Luca, Ryan invites him to spend the day with him and his adorable puppy. But could this turn into more?

Yes, yes, it certainly could! This was such a delightful audiobook, just the perfect way to de-stress after a busy day. Luca and Ryan were so likable and their connection, while fast, was palpable. I just adored them together and that epilogue certainly put a huge smile on my face. Sometimes you just need something like this, sweet and short and hot and just perfect.

Kieran Flitton's performance was amazing. He did a fantastic job bringing this story to life in such a charming way.

Pick this one up, you won't regret it!

Contemporary Sleeping Beauty

I love Helen Juliet's work in both contemporary and fairy tale settings and this novella is a perfect introduction for anyone not familiar with her work in the genre. If you do know her name, you won't need to be urged to listen to this. Kieran Flitton does the same amazing work here as he has been doing with the Rosavia series. Ryan saves Luca from a nasty/dangerous situation with an ex and their romance begins with this rescue. This has a bit of a hurt/comfort vibe for those who enjoy that trope as well. You know from the first that these two belong together, as do they and the story rolls nicely along to the HEA. All the character performances are clearly distinct and the warm emotions as well as the heat are right there in the performance. Grab some tea and a muffin and settle in with this one for an afternoon of love and romance.

Sweet quick listen

This is short but fun and super sweet. I love a good fairytale re telling and this one didn't let me down. I loved her take and adaptation of it and the narrator really fit the characters well!

Sweet and romantic novella.

After an unlikely meeting where Ryan rescues Luca love starts to blossom as the two mismatched men get to know each other. This is a sweet, romantic novella that makes for a very enjoyable quick listen.

This is the second of audiobook of Kieran Flitton’s narration and he definitely hits the nail on the head. His voice isn’t jarring and is enjoyable to listen to. He gives life to the characters.

Fun short insta-love story

Based on an unlikely premise (Ryan, a bouncer at a bar, brings Luca home with him, as Luca is in no condition to get himself home), this is nevertheless a cute, fun short listen.

Briar the dog adds lots of fun and amusement to the tale.

As a Canadian listener I continue to appreciate the British turns of phrase Juliet employs. I also enjoy the little glimpses into character’s personality she shares, such as Ryan’s “geeky memorabilia”.

Light, fun insta-love tale.