Test of Valor

Valor Series, Book 2

By: Keira Andrews

Narrated by: Iggy Toma

Length: 8 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

They're free of the White House, but can their forbidden romance survive in the real world?

With his father no longer president, 22-year-old Rafa Castillo can finally be with ex-Secret Service agent Shane Kendrick. Shane's given up his career for Rafa, a move his fellow agents question the sanity and morality of. Eager to get away from the questions and judgment, Rafa and Shane are building a new life together in Australia. Though Shane struggles with nightmares and his overprotective instincts while Rafa fights his own insecurity, they love each other more than ever.

Now they just have to get through a visit from the former president and first lady.

Rafa's parents certainly don't approve of his romance with 40-year-old Shane, and they're determined to make him see reason. They don't see how their son could possibly be happy settling down with an older man, and they question Shane's motives. Shane and Rafa just want a normal life together - but when they must suddenly battle for survival, they fight to prove their fierce love can withstand any threat.

Contains mature themes.

©2018 Keira Andrews (P)2019 Tantor

Another good one!!

I just love Kiera Andrews and this was another good one!! The narrator struggled with the Australian accent and it was kind of hilarious but distracted from the story a bit. Other than that it was great!

Despite the drama, I loved it.

I really dislike stories that add drama for dramas sake. Like, “I should have just told him, but I didn’t. I don’t know why...” Despite that being the case here, the characters were so real and I could totally picture them together and their strong, yet new, relationship. Getting to know each other takes time and they have so many outside pressures, yet at the core, they truly are great together. They love each other and are determined to prove that they want to be together. The mutual respect and adoration are obviously present.
Also, the sexy scenes were perfect! Andrews described the willingness to submit in an equal partnership really well! And the dirty talk... 😏
I will definitely be bookmarking some of these sexy scenes for the future!

a great duet

It's review time 🎧

Narrator score🎧 ; it was an incredible preference I loved it very much. the characters were

Level of steam🔥: it's a hot story especially in the second book. they have a nice relationship.

Level of anxiety and sadness0😱😢: not sad at all.

The book itself📖: this Duet is a cute story with an incredible of a fairy tail the son of the president and the bodyguard. but it's a bit deeper than that, this author just brings things to the next level the story could have been just another fairy tale and it wasn't. this author just made everything better. the Mc's felt so realistic that you felt what they did. it was amazing.

Relationship

Good book about a couple figuring out how to make a new, everyday relationship work amid unoridinary circumstances. Still love the couple.

excellent narration

Ms Andrew's books are always well written and well edited. This one is no exception. It's an entertaining story in which both of the MCs are likeable, both are strong, yet vulnerable. There is nearly a year 20 year age difference between them, but it works.

The younger character, Raf, has a maturity which is believable. His decision not come out whilst his father was president was something he'd thought long and hard about and added to his mature persona. At the beginning of the book he was totally lacking in self confidence and also very self depreciating. He had also been let down by his family. I loved how his character grew throughout the book, and much of this was down to his feelings for Shane.

Shane is a strongly written character. He comes across as good at what he does and is honourable, he desperately tries to resist his feelings for Raf. When he realises that he wants a relationship with Raf, he takes steps to prove how much he loves him, and to make sure that he is what Raf wants.

Although the story line is extremely unlikely, the way in which it is written makes it believable. It is action packed and flows well. Shane and Raf's relationship starts slowly and develops throughout the book. The sex comes late in the book, but the tension between the two men is palpable. The relationship, when it comes, is heart warming and the book has a lovely ending. The story totally pulled me in.

Sand, Surfing and Souffles

Meet the Fokkers'esque follow on drama from an enjoyable Book 1. I was so intrigued after Book1 to learn just how an ex Secret Service Agent and the ex president's son get on down under in their new life of sand, surfing and souffles.

Gone is their "White House" life, swapped for a one bed bungalow near the beach. Life goes literally from kitchen sink, to hosting Rafa's parents in their home! Of course it was a nightmare. Of course the parents try through fair means and foul to cleve their son from the clutches of the older man. Poor Shane bears the brunt of it from every quarter, including Rafa, stoically, where a weaker man might've packed his bags and left.

The narrator manages to continue the perfect narration getting an individual voice for each character. The "Aussies" sound more South Africans lol, but good effort.

There is no restraint inside this developing relationship; the repressed ex virgin wants to do it all, and Shane is happy to oblige, often. All the characters in Book 1 get followed up here, some with tragic outcomes.

The drama and passion, humour and pathos, together with the fluent well written style of the author, allows the listener to become fully engrossed in this above average tale.

Thank you Audible, another enjoyable listen.

get rid of that mother

I was totally ready for a story about Shane and Rafa living together, working on their relationship. It's not. It's all about what Rafa's mother thinks if them.

A story of Love

Great story of love where age doesn't matter and some really exciting moments, great to listen to.

Not as good as the first book, but still enjoyable

This book got better as it went on. The lack of communication drama was annoying, and the narrator was comically awful at doing an Australian accent (like a bad British cockney accent similar to the old version of Mary Poppins film). Shame because Iggy Toma is great at the other voices. The story did pick up which is why I still gave it 4 stars.