Tempest

Playing the Fool, Book 3

By: Lisa Henry, J.A. Rock

Narrated by: Nick J. Russo

Length: 5 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

Something wicked this way comes.

FBI Agent Ryan "Mac" McGuinness and con man Henry Page are on the run again. This time they're headed back to where it all began: Altona, Indiana. Population: some goats. Henry's not happy about lying low at the McGuinness family farm, but they've got nowhere else to go.

While Mac fights to clear his name and Henry struggles with whose side he's really on, a ghost from the past threatens to destroy everything. And those aren't the only storms on the radar. Cut off from both sides of the law, Mac and Henry must rely on their tenuous partnership to survive.

If Henry can convince himself to let Mac see the man behind the disguises, they'll stand a chance of beating the forces that conspire against them. The course of true love never did run smooth, but for the two of them, it might be their only hope.

©2015 Lisa Henry and J.A. Rock (P)2016 Riptide Publishing

A fun ending

The third and final instalment in this series finds Mac of all people on the run. Obviously he’s not on the run alone; both Henry and Viola are with him. And they are running to his family home – Henry is meeting the parents….

Anyway, he’s on the run because someone has been setting him up for murder and if he has any hope to clear his name, he and Henry have to work together –and outside the law. Their partnership is tenuous at best, but seeing that it’s only been three weeks since they met and there has been more than a little mistrust, a lot of lies and many runs it definitely fits for them. Anything else wouldn’t have been believable.

The previous books have building towards this finish, and the mastermind behind it all is revealed. Maybe I should have expected their identity, but I didn’t. It’s a dangerous chase of cat and mouse and they don’t know who to trust, knowing that both sides of the law are hunting them. It’s also the book that’s the most serious of the bunch. There’s still banter and shenanigans, but not to the extent we’ve come to expect from the previous books. It was also more emotional.

I loved Viola and Cory’s friendship, the two of them were great together, and sweet –and hilarious. It was nice to see Viola have some happiness again, she deserved it. Not to mention they made a great team! As for Mac and Cheese, well Mac and Henry, their relationship developed nicely. There were a few missteps, but nothing major or out of character and I liked seeing them working through it.

Again Nick J. Russo captured the essence of this book and characters. He made you feel and experience everything with Henry and Mac – even the (bad) theme song to “Mac and Cheese”. I’m not sure that listening to the themes song versus reading was to its advantage, but it sure did add to the feel of the book – to Henry’s personality.

Listening to this series has been a lot of fun and if you haven’t read or listened to this series yet, you might want to change that.

A copy of this book was generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review for Love Bytes.

Pronunciation problems take this down

Prescience is NOT pronounced pre-science. If the narrator didn't know that the editor should have. This is just one example and this is a problem I've heard in everything Nick J. Russo has narrated. Otherwise I loved the book and really enjoyed his voices. It's worth the listen even if I can't get past the disappointment.

Mac and Cheese what a treat!!

The last book didn’t disappoint! Great end to the story. Entertaining and funny! Listen you won’t be disappointed! Nick was awesome, he was the reason I started this series and so glad I did!!

MIssing chapter and all...

Whew! What a ride! This is the last installment of Lisa Henry and JA Rock’s Playing the Fool series. You have to read the first two to truly enjoy this book and if you have been keeping up with Mac and Cheese you know this book’s going to be a great one!
Mac and Henry are in hiding at Mac’s family’s farm because now Henry is wanted by the FBI and Mac is both protecting him from both the good and the bad guys.
There is tons more comedic dialog between our two lovers. More “additions” to their alternate movie/TV show “Mac and Cheese”. More ridiculous arguments. More smexy times. More drama and a satisfying conclusion to the “crime”. And most importantly more (or should I say FINALLY?) loving declarations and good feels.
I have really enjoyed this series. The writing is sharp, witty, fast-paced and fun. The characterizations are three-dimensional, gritty, compassionate, real and easy to root for. I hang my head in shame when I say this, but I’m sure there are wonderful Shakespearean allusions to be seen within all the tales, but I can’t talk about them knowledgeably – but I bet the authors can! The smexy times were hot and the romantic elements left me feeling really satisfied.
Overall I really recommend this book and this series.


Audio

Nick J Russo is just AWESOME! He does such a lovely job with growly Mac and flirty Henry as well as the female characters. His timing is superb and I always love anything he narrates.
(There’s a missing chapter – 12- they tell me it’ll be fixed…)

I highly recommend this audiobook, the series and both authors and the narrator.

A Storm Is Brewing for the Finale

Would you listen to Tempest again? Why?

Most definitely! Even if I know the outcome, I enjoy spending time with the characters.

What other book might you compare Tempest to and why?

The early Cut & Run series books by Abigail Roux and Madeleine Urban because both feature a suspense story, a team of male main characters who annoy each other, witty and fun dialogue, gritty situations, and so much more.

What does Nick J. Russo bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The narrator tells a great story. Russo brought it all to life- had me smiling, laughing, sad, and tense. I thought he nailed Mac and Henry's 'voices' and this story. Worth another listen for sure!

If you could take any character from Tempest out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Val, Mac's boss. She's so practical, but has a bit of deviltry in her. Definitely not Mac and Henry- I like peace with my meals and one never knows what would happen at a dinner table with this pair.

Any additional comments?

This is the 3rd book in a trilogy that must be read in order.

I received the book from Riptide Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

Great series

I loved this series when I read it and loved it even more as an audio book. Nick Russo does a magnificent job bring Mac and Henry to life. This is an enemies to lover story in 3 parts. Their romance and adventures progress over the series cumulated in finally getting our HEA. Henry is a wonderful and complex character. Neglected and abused as a child, he grew up to be a rent boy/ con artist and overall criminal; all to take care of his brain damaged sister. Mac is a by the book FBI agent that fights his feelings for Henry, but it is clear he was lost from the beginning. Their journey, drama and adventures over the series is definitely worth taking. There is great humor and very poignant moments as these to men struggle with their demons to ultimately become "Mac & Cheese." I cannot say enough about Nick Russo's performance; it was spot on. His timing and characterizations were fantastic.

A very fun and intriguing story

What made the experience of listening to Tempest the most enjoyable?

the ability of the narrator to transmit the feelings of the characters

What did you like best about this story?

how unexpected the events where. I was expecting only a fun book and I find a great mystery annd emotions I didn't tought I would feel in a story like this one

Which character – as performed by Nick J. Russo – was your favorite?

Henry, I felt like the narrator made an amazing job performing Henry, it was so easy to transmit the emotions he had, he was a great character.

If you could rename Tempest, what would you call it?

Wouldn't rename it, the name is just perfect

Any additional comments?

I had so much fun with this book, it was great. Just as entertaining as the other, I think this has been my favorite in the series.

I love the main characters, Henry is just so fun, but there was something about this book that take a little from him, I felt like he was a bit more serious than he was in the others, but still some very funny moments. It was interesting to see Mac in the situation he was in, and the interaction with the new characters was just so amazing, I loved them all.

It was very intriguing, it’s the plot I liked the most in the series, I just couldn’t have guess the twist that were coming, it was very good. I’m very mad with some of the events that happened, but I still appreciate the way the authors had the ability to create such strong emotions. I won’t say more for possible spoilers.

The relationship between Mac and Henry (I keep thinking about them as Mac and Cheese, I can’t help it) has growth so much, there are still some issues but is great to see where they are standing now. Hard to believe the relationship has developed in such short time, but is still very believable how they care for each other.

I listen to the audio book, I’m not used to it that much, but since I listen to the previous books, I just felt like I should keep doing it for this one too. I think the narrator made an amazing job, it was so easy to perceive the emotions from the way he was telling the story, especially from Henry, who seemed to show a greater range of emotions. I loved everything about the narration and the book.

MAC AND CHEESE, SO DELICIOUS

This series is definitely on my list of favorites! Henry and Mac are just so good together.

Funny

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

A fun read

What was one of the most memorable moments of Tempest?

All the moments with Mac and Sebby are memoriable

Which character – as performed by Nick J. Russo – was your favorite?

Can't chose because he did such a great job

Any additional comments?

This is an fun story that has been given added dimension by Mr. Russo's performance

Great End to the Series

The narration by Nick J Russo Ferraiuolo is a fantastic job. He captured the characters’ personalities and emotions just right. He brought the well written story to life, with their insecurities, hopes and dreams, and let's not forget the passion with his voice.