Steamroller

By: Mary Calmes

Narrated by: Joshua Macrae

Length: 3 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

About the last thing Vincent Wade expected was for Carson Cress to ask him out. Vince is a dedicated biology student and a bit of a loner. Superstar quarterback Carson is larger than life, and he lives under a public microscope. There's no way they should work. But Vince is learning that sometimes people just come steamrolling into your life, and all you can do is hang on for the ride or lose your heart in the process. If their relationship can survive the fallout when an injury derails Carson's future plans, maybe Vince can finally find something to believe in.

©2012 Mary Calmes (P)2015 Dreamspinner Press

Mary is my favorite author for m/m books.

My favorite series is L’Ange, my all time favorite book is Mine. I listen to it often because it warms my heart. I enjoyed Steamroller for the same reason but it was shorter. It is worth reading.

New adult insta-love story that is pure Calmes

Any additional comments?

This is a new adult insta-love story that is pure Calmes.

I don’t know what it is about Mary Calmes’ writing, but she just flat out works for me. Things that would normally make me nuts or cry “foul!” totally work under her magical ways. Take this novella for instance - it moves fast. Seriously. The relationship moves faster than Usain Bolt.

Vincent Wade is an assistant manager of a copy store putting himself through university with a plan to become a botanist/genetic engineer and create a species of plant, some hybrid of wheat and oat that would grow really fast and feed the world’s hungry. He’s sarcastic, snarky and a pain in the ass.

Carson Cress is the university’s quarterback football star and its resident BMOC. While Vince knows of Cress, unbeknownst to Vince, Cress has been watching Vince for a year waiting for an opportunity to approach him.

Their first meeting doesn’t go too well, but when they meet again Cress makes sure Vince knows he wants him. Vince isn’t convinced as Cress has always been straight, which is enough of a concern, but he’s also a well-known football player slated for the NFL, which does not bode well for a gay relationship or future.

They have one explosively sexy, mind-blowing night before Vince’s reservations seem to bear fruit. That is until a tragedy strikes and Cress needs Vince to prove that together they can weather the coming storm.

This is short, and like I said before, moves fast. It also ends with more of a glimmer of an HEA than an actual HEA. I wanted more. Then again, with Calmes I always want more. But I’d love to have seen more about them finding their way together.

I thought Joshua Macrae does a great job with the narration. He does a splendid job conveying both Vince’s snarkiness and vulnerability, and makes the sexy times hot. Macrae may be a new to me narrator, but I definitely enjoyed his performance and will look for other work by him.

Recommended!

A NICE STORY

This wasn't a wow story but a nice story of a gay sophomore named Vince whose out and proud and has a crush on Carson the handsome straight quarterback . Vince think Carson is so handsome especially his eyes, but he knows he doesn't have a chance with him so he just lust from afar. What he don't know is that Carson been watching him too. Carson need some posts/papers copy Vince can't do it but he tell him where to go and get it done and this open the door for them somewhat. GET IT and KICK BACK AND RELAX

Sweet story; excellent performance

This was a nice surprise in that it was not the story I expected. I thought it would be a story about the closeted college jock trying to deny he is gay. It was just the opposite. It was definitely a coming out/first time jock meets geek, but with a twist. The narrator does an amazing job with these guys and really brings this story to life. He doesn't differentiate the voices as much as I would like, but makes up for it in emotions. I hope Ms. Calmes continues this story as I would love to see where this couple goes from their HFN ending.

solid story

Any additional comments?

This quick audio showed us how lives can change if we let them.

Vince didn’t have the greatest teen hood, and because of that when the quarterback shows interest in him he doesn’t see it. Esp, since the QB is straight.

Carson, has been following his families plan for him since day one and is ready to stop. He’s been watching Vince for a year and is ready.

Ok, a couple of things that bothered me, Vince is 19-20 but leads us to believe he’s had numerous relationships, sexual in nature. So basically at this age he’s already a man whore. Yet he has an issue going a real date with someone that is interested in him. And won’t even let that person tell him why. Why him, why now.

I completely get Carson side, he’s been preparing for a year, feeling the water, getting the courage, because he knows once he makes the announcement that’s it everything is done, over. So watching and waiting, maybe a little stalker, but a lot to lose.

I’m just glad Vince figured it out in the end, I really liked these two together.

Narrator did a good job with the voices and the rate amount of drama and tone.

I was given a copy in exchange for an honest review by Crystals Many reviewers

Steamroller

This is the cutest gay young adult romance I have ever read. The story line is superb and the narration is out of this world, so nice and very appreciate and catching. I have listened to this book five times already but I still want to do more. It’s totally worth the money to have this book in your library.

Good, but.

Insta-love in a short story. I liked both the characters and their stories, but it was just too short with too much left out for a five star read.
Since this was an insta-love story, it would benefit greatly if it had a part two that showed the development of the relationship between Vince and Carson.
As usual Mary did put some scorching hot sexy times in the book.

No words for how good this book is

The narration of this book by Joshua Macrae is on another level of greatness. This is a MUST listen if you are looking for a nerd/ jock mm romance. The only thing I didn’t like was that it wasn’t longer, I didn’t want it to end. Mary can we have a follow up with Joshua narrating, please.

One of my favorites

If you could sum up Steamroller in three words, what would they be?

This is one of my favorite stories; I've listened to it several times. I listen to a lot of books, and this one has one of the best narrators I've heard. I'll be looking for other books narrated by Joshua Macrae.

New narrator to me - AWESOME JOB! Classic Mary!

Vincent is that snarky, obviously gay guy who kind of “reverse snobs” the “cool kids” before they can hurt him.

Carson is the golden boy. Never can do any wrong. Living the lie of being straight and playing football for his parents.

Carson wants Vincent, but Vincent isn’t going to make anything easy. He’s distrustful, and not eager to be anybody’s secret.

It takes an epic change in Carson’s life for Vincent to realize that Carson means it when he says that he and Vincent will be together forever… and like a steamroller, he always gets what he wants.

**

This is one of my first m/m books ever and it pleased me so much I’ve kept going and never looked back! It hits every single one of my buttons. Geek and jock. GFY. A very, very HEA. Humor. Passion. It’s so much fun to watch Carson court Vincent and for bitter and cynical Vincent to become putty in his hands.

Of course – it’s Mary – it’s gotta be amazing!

Audio

Joshua Mcrae is a new narrator to me, so I was worried – this is one of my favorite Mary books and I really wanted to love the narration – and, well…. It was GREAT!

A great narrator will have the ability to translate the story well by changing his inflection and “acting” out the parts where appropriate. I like it when there is a distinct difference between character voices – either with an accent or even in the way they pace their speech. A great narrator knows how to time certain passages for effect and has to have a voice that’s easy to listen to. Joshua passes ALL these tests! He has a very “sensual” voice that really fits this book and he sounds “young enough” to be a college age MC. I really liked the “smoky” quality of the voice he gives to Carson – Delicious! He does a great job with the humor and I think doing dialog is his best feature.

I highly recommend this book and it’s narration.