Test Drive

By: Riley Hart

Narrated by: Sean Crisden

Length: 5 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's Summary

A double shot of devastating news turns Justin Evanson's life upside down. When he learns his father has cancer, and he has siblings he never knew existed, he leaves everything behind and moves to Virginia to support his dad as he tries to make amends with his family - a family Justin's not sure he has a place in. Things go from bad to worse when he discovers his recent hookup is his newfound sister's brother-in-law.

Drew Sinclair never expected to see Justin after their night at the club or to discover their family connection. If anyone found out, it would give Drew's brother another reason to hate him. But there's something about Justin that draws him in, and it's not only because they burn up the sheets together.

One meeting leads to another, and before Justin realizes it, Drew has become the only thing in his world he feels is his. And for the first time in his life, Drew knows what it means to be needed. Being there for Justin and supporting him when things spiral out of control feels right. But with so much happening so quickly, it's hard to trust their feelings. Is this thing between them real? Or just a test drive before life forces them down two separate roads?

©2016 Riley Hart (P)2016 Tantor

excellent story excellent narrator

I love the Love Story between Drew and Justin. this story shows out of tragedy love come deeper. family bonds become stronger.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Enjoyed this book

I enjoyed this book- highly recommend. It’s a sweet, hot and heartbreaking love story. Drew and Justin find love unexpectedly- but sometimes that just the way love works.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Not What I Expected!

4.5 Stars
I was pleasantly surprised by the emotions that this story brought to my heart. Justin leaves his life in North Carolina to help take care of his father in Virginia. One night he goes out to blow off some steam in a bar where he meets Drew. They have an interesting and sexy encounter only to find out that they have a different connection. There is a lot of sexy male/male romance but it is not so sexy that you lose the emotion and family dynamics. Overall, this story will probably surprise you as much as it surprised me, so take a chance on it.

This specific video review will be included in the October 2018 wrap-up.

For other video book reviews check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Rom Book Talk.

A fine, sweet romance

Drew and Justin find love in an unexpected place. Their romance is sweet. They each have family issues that they think might keep them apart but in the end they make it work.
So many reviewers have praised the narrator but I absolutely refuse to listen to any more of his work. He sounds so bored at times and he’s affects an odd casual tone when he should be more earnest or passionate (sex scenes and other deeply emotional scenes). It brought me out of the story way too many times. A narrator should bring the story alive but I found that I kept listening just to see how the story ended.

Too many tears... but still really enjoyed it

I LOVE Sean Crisden's narration! The story might have just hit a little too close to home for me. It was very touching and the love story was great but I shed a lot of tears.

Just for You

Justin and Drew meet in an odd way but it is hard with everything else going on around them. Justin spends a lot of time in his head. Drew is good for him and helps him to refocus. The best part is how Drew makes him feel like he has something that is just for himself. Lots of hard emotional stuff that isn't directly about them as a couple but that needs to be dealt with.

So emotional!

I've loved the books in this series. The stories have all been so heartfelt and moving, and the characters are so wonderful. Nick & Bryce and Landon & Rod are great couples, but I think this book is my favorite of the 3- there was just something truly special about Drew and Justin.

Test Drive was so much more emotional than I thought it would be. Lots of tears were shed over the course of my listen. I had to turn it off towards the end, when I was driving to work because I was afraid I was going to arrive looking like a complete wreck and scare my coworkers! But it was also sweet and hot and so endearing.

Ms. Hart did a lovely job developing Justin and Drew and their story. You could definitely feel how conflicted Justin was, with everything that had been thrown at him- dealing with his father's failing health, finding out about his half-siblings, and the myriad of emotions that those things caused. Drew seemed to arrive on the scene at the perfect time. Not that he didn't have his own set of issues, with his own family, but he turned out to be a real support for Justin and I loved that about him. They had such a great rapport and understanding of each other. I fell hard for these two.

Once again Sean Crisden did a terrific job with the narration. With the 2 other couples from the previous books making appearances in this one, not to mention the new characters, he had a lot of male voices to cover. And he nailed them all!

First Good One Of These I've Listened To!

Most of these gay romance audiobooks I listen to aren't very good, but this one was actually really well written! So glad u gave this one a shot!

lots of talking

OK these men seemed to talk a lot during sex! I did not enjoy this as much as the others (Rod and Landon were my fav) but it was a good story with a lot of heart.
Sean did an OK job, some times it was hard to tell who was talking b/c some of the voices seemed similar.

Very happy with the third installment

Any additional comments?

This story was really touching to me. I loved reconnecting with the characters from the earlier books, and I even liked Rod and Landon better now they were not the main focus.
The I want you to love me but understand you have a lot on your mind conflict was handled interestingly to me.
I appreciated the author leaving different threads so I was not 100% how the logistics of the happy ending would work out.

Another hit!

What did you like best about this story?

This being the third book in the Crossroads series it was wonderful to see the characters from the previous books and the friendships that have grown throughout them. The tenderness between Justin and Drew was gorgeous, you really felt their relationship.

Have you listened to any of Sean Crisden’s other performances? How does this one compare?

Yes, I've listen to lots of Sean Crisden's performances and him narrating a book goes a long way to me buying it.

Any additional comments?

Now waiting for the novella in audio... :)