The Edge of the World

By: Garrett Leigh

Narrated by: Dan Calley

Shay Maloney is living his dream - on tour with his pirate/folk-rock band. But you can’t know where you’re going until you know where you’re from, and that’s where moody filmmaker and researcher Ollie Pietruska comes in.

The band’s management persuades Shay to let a television company film a documentary about his roots beyond his adoptive Irish family, and Ollie comes into his life knowing more about Shay than Shay’s ever known about himself.

But while Ollie holds the key to Shay’s past, he’s also hiding deep scars. Even as the hardships of the tour bring them closer, Ollie’s demons threaten the blossoming romance. They might both reach the breaking point before Ollie realizes he’s been standing on the edge of the world for too long, and it’s Shay who holds the key to his future.

A friends-to-lovers, rock star, road-tripping romance, with a guaranteed happily ever after.

©2018 Garrett Leigh (P)2020 Garrett Leigh

Great story. Great narration.

As usual Garrett Leigh's characters are beautifully constructed and the chemistry is impossible to ignore. I appreciate how the challenges each character faces in life accentuate their strength.

Dan Calley's narration was wonderful, and I find myself looking forward to any book he has narrated even if it isn't a story that usually catches my attention.

Here I go again to...'The Edge of the World'...

I knew when I read this book back in January of this year that if there was an audio release, I'd be revisiting Shay and Ollie as they tour around the United Kingdom. That I would be doing it at a time such as this...well, who knew certainly not I.

'The Edge of the World' is a story that truly highlights the connection between past, present and future as we follow Shay and Ollie. As Shay's band tours the country showcasing their talents. Ollie joins them to take Shay on a journey through time to show him a past he never knew he had, all the while Ollie tries to ignore a past that rules his present and won't let go of him.

For as much as I loved reading the book and believe me...I loved this book. The audio book grabbed on to me even more than I'd thought possible. Partially because this was a story that simply resonated with me and partially because Dan Calley took a wonderful story and made it even better. He created the vocal imagery that the characters were lacking when I first read this one. Sometimes I can give them voices in my mind when I'm reading a story but sometimes even my imagination needs some help.

Other than the fact that I enjoyed the audiobook immensely, nothings really changed from how I felt when I wrote my original review so I'm going to borrow some words from the past (code talk for 'from my original review) to explain how I feel about Shay and Ollie...
<blockquote>Amidst the chaos and pandemonium that is the life of a band whose star is on the rise as they begin a tour that’s intended to push them over the top, Shay and Ollie struggle to get to know each other as their feelings deepen and if they could both just be in the same place a the same time things might be a little easier…but, we don’t always get what we want sometimes we just have to work with what we’re given.

I was smitten with both of these men from the very beginning. In spite of his quickly rising star Shay’s character held such a laid back, down to earth almost humble feeling that not liking him really just wasn’t an option. While Ollie seemed to be a little more reserved and shall we say crusty around the edges it wasn’t enough to cover the genuine concern and kindness that he had for others.

I loved the interaction between them as they got to know each other the balance of kindness and caring was equally challenged with moments of conflict and angst that held my interest solidly from beginning to end and while the secondary characters and background filled out the story nicely it was always Shay and Ollie who held my interest.</blockquote>So here I am like millions of others in a self-imposed isolation and travelling not only all over this world but to other worlds, to the past, the present and sometimes even the future without ever leaving my home. Whether it's audio books, ebooks or paper books they tell wonderful stories and take us to amazing places and I plan on going to "The Edge of the World" again one day...it's a trip worth taking.

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An audio book of 'The Edge of the World' was graciously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Who are you really?

When you’re adopted, you have a different perspective on life. Some of us are lucky enough to not have any doubts. Being loved by our adoptive parents is enough, and there’s no burning need to know. To know where we came from. To know who are family were. To know why we were given up for adoption. To know our origin story.

Some of us, on the other hand, want answers to all of those questions. We have little niggling doubts in our minds. What if my parents hadn’t given me up? Why did they give me up? Why did they not want me? We may understand in our rational adult lives that there’s a good chance our parents did it out of necessity. That they couldn’t give us the life they believed we deserved and so placed us in the care of someone better suited to raising a child.

That was also a crapshoot. Some of us wound up with amazing and loving parents while others of us were saddled with people ill-equipped to be a mother or father. Just because you want a child, doesn’t mean you’ll make a great parent.

Okay, so where does Shay Maloney fit in this spectrum? He had loving adoptive parents. His father is still alive and keeps tabs on him. Still loves him. Accepts him for who he is. Shay’s never felt a pressing need to know his origin story. In fact, until Ollie Pietruska shows up to shoot a documentary about Shay, he’d never spent a lot of time ruminating over who he might have come from. Shay is the lead singer in an indie pirate folk/rock band who are currently on a successful tour. He’s gone from playing gigs in front of a dozen people to serenading several thousand. He and his bandmates have kept their down-to-earth attitudes, for the most part. When management insists he partake in this video, he pretty much feels railroaded but isn’t willing to piss off the higher ups.

Ollie has his own history that he’d rather keep hidden. He had been on the rise when tragedy struck and he’s still finding his moorings. Going on a tour bus with a bunch of rock stars isn’t really his idea of fun, but he wants to do this profile of Shay. Wants to do the research and then unveil each discovery for the other man. Hell, in the end he just wants Shay. The project takes a backseat at times to the budding relationship.

I like slow burn friends-to-lovers books. There’s something magical about two men falling in love gradually over time. Of course each is slow to see the possibility of what could be. Both men have medical issues they’re dealing with. Those can cause self-esteem issues, especially if you believe you have to be healthy and hearty in order to be a true partner in a relationship. But, in the end, Ollie and Shay face their reality head-on and take a chance on love.

This book was narrated by Dan Calley and he’s quickly becoming one of my favorite narrators. He has a deep voice and this works with Garrett Leigh books. His accents work for me as well, although I admit being Canadian, I can’t tell a Derbyshire accent from an Irish or Londoner. I always knew who was speaking and that’s the real key for good narration. I look forward to more collaborations between these two.

Almost a DNF

This was a big disappointment. Normally Garrett Leigh is an automatic listen/read for me. I liked the two characters individually and that’s what drove me to finish the audio. Nonetheless, they were rather flat. Together as a couple, I just didn’t feel it at all. This did not have the same level of emotional tug of previous books. The story of Shay’s background was just not that intriguing. I don’t mind a Slow burn but you got to give me something to keep it moving.Dan Calley’s narration, though wonderful, could not save the weak story for me.

Great story

4.5 Stars

I really enjoyed reading this book, and the audiobook is fantastic! I'm quickly becoming a big Dan Calley fan and really enjoy what he brings to the characters and their story. I think he does a great job giving characters their unique voices and captures their personalities. I definitely think he nails that with Shay and Ollie, as well as adding to the overall story with his ability to deliver an emotional story!

One of the things I love most about Garrett Leigh's books is that man does she make her characters earn their HEA and it's gonna make me FEEL! And yes, The Edge of the World certainly fits that, oh what a ride. Ollie and Shay are great characters, I totally fell for them and all their quirks along with their very unique journey. These are two men not looking for love but that sure is what they find together.

I loved the premise of this story and was fascinated by how it was all delivered. Shay is this pirate/folk rock star and Ollie is a filmmaker wanting to tell Shay's story, one that Shay doesn't even know. I loved the dynamic between these two right from the start, there's definitely something there but it's also a semi-slow burn. As Ollie unfolds Shay's history they learn about each other and grow. There are certainly issues they face though, especially Ollie, but I loved seeing him grow and their relationship grow as well.

Definitely a wonderful read, truly a journey that I enjoyed from start to finish. I feel like I really got to know these characters and that I was a part of their story. There were some great little surprises as well! I would highly recommend this book!