Tied Together

By: Z.B. Heller

Narrated by: Derrick McClain

Length: 6 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's Summary

Ryan Keller has it all: a great supportive family, friends, and no limit to his self-confidence. Coming out of the closet was not as traumatic as he would have thought. Navigating through life isn't easy for any man, let alone a gay one. Rest assured that Ryan has it handled.

Brandon Ford comes from the wrong side of the tracks. With a dark past, he doesn't have much going for him, no money, no friends, definitely no charisma, and his family makes people on Jerry Springer look like total winners. Life can't be worse - until it becomes unbearable.

When Ryan helps Brandon out of a bad situation, chemistry sparks between them. Only Brandon has one problem: he's hiding in the closet with no way of finding his way out.

After years apart, Ryan runs into Brandon. This spells emotional turmoil for both Ryan and Brandon. Will years of resentment and bad feelings pull them apart or force them to work on their relationship so they can end up Tied Together?

©2015 Z.B. Heller (P)2017 Z.B. Heller

started off good...

I really enjoyed the first part of the story, there was even humor in it, and I found myself laughing at some parts.
From there, it kind of lost luster. like the story was forced.

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Great narration, not the story for me.

Man, I wish I’d read the reviews for this before I started listening to this audiobook!!!!
(Some spoilers included)

I really like Derrick McClain and his narrations, so when this came up for review I was psyched! It looked sweet and funny and who doesn’t like a friends to lovers story?

I was LOVING this for the first 55% of the book. We start off with a smart-mouthed and super confident Ryan who ends up saving the very nerdy Brandon in high school and the two become BFFs. Sure, Ryan secretly wishes Brandon was gay, and sure, Brandon is secretly gay, but these guys are young.

Off they go to college and in the way of all new adults everywhere, Brandon finally sees the light and admits he’s gay and he and Ryan begin a relationship that is physical as well as emotional.

Like I said – the first half of the story is just this – high school and college. The two finding each other as friends then more.

But wait! At the 55 % mark Ryan gives Brandon a RIDICULOUSLY HURTFUL ultimatum where he demands that the newly admitting to being gay Brandon OUT himself or the two can’t be together. So, in a fit of insecurity, Brandon does, but not before Ryan decides he’s been stood up and CHEATS on Brandon. ONE NIGHT! OMG. Poor Brandon gets beat up and then… 12 years pass! some seriously messed up stuff happens that makes me almost stop listening. I was SO MAD!

However, I wanted to see what happened. Well. I wish I’d just stopped.

Our MCs do make it to a HEA but it’s lack luster at best and totally disappointing given how badly Ryan treated Brandon and the vast amount of time.

I cannot recommend this – sorry to say. It made me crazy.

I still love Derrick McClain and think he did a solid job with his narration – as always.

If I have to give this a rating I’d give it 4.5 of 5 for the narration and 1 of 5 for the story.

Copy Generously Provided by Author for Honest Review

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Love eventually conquers all..

I enjoyed listening to most of the struggles this couple had to endure to finally get to to that sweet spot of HEA.
The beginning of the book was a hard pill to swallow because of Brandon's parents.
Brandon's father was such a unlikable character that I could go off on a tangent and rip him a new one but I won't because..
it was a nesasary part of the story to show why Brandon was completely different than Ryan about being his true self.

I did love the ending of the book but wish it wasn't so rushed.
Because this book had so much sarcastic humor.. I could see this couple going into a series about the funny struggles of demestic bliss.
This book also had its share of steamy sex scenes in it.
Not so much that it overshadowed the story line though.
The narration was good but, I didn't care for the winey tone he used at times.
I think this book is worth buying outright and saving the credit for something more expensive.
I was given gifted this book in exchange for my honest unbiased review.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

A sweet romance spanning 15 years

Would you listen to Tied Together again? Why?

Yes, I enjoyed the story and the characters. The story flowed nicely. Although a cliché of gay romances now being the couple that meets in high school, has a major break-up and is separated for 10 or more years, then meet again by accident. It's all in the delivery and the characters to make the story work and worth your time. And overall, Heller succeeded. It was well written, but had a lighthearted approach to the whole thing, considering one of the characters grows up being beaten and called "faggot" by his father, leading him to be afraid of coming out and then only getting help after the big break up.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Tied Together?

When Brandon and Ryan meet again in the delivery room where Brandon is the doctor and Ryan's foul-mouthed best friend is giving birth.

What three words best describe Derrick McClain’s voice?

Gasping for air. He did this for all characters. If the last word in the sentence ended in a hard consonant, he did a little gasp making the characters comment sound nervous and going up on the end of the sentences. Don't get me wrong, overall he was decent. He kept Brandon and Ryan's voices distinct, but some of the more minor characters blended together. And he doesn't do females that well.

If you could rename Tied Together, what would you call it?

Maybe "Meant to Be"? I wouldn't really call it "Tied Together". They meet in high school (senior year) and both go to college (different schools, but close together) in Chicago. They are best friends, but Brandon has kept his past and the fact that he is gay hidden from Ryan, even though he is in love with Ryan and Ryan is in love with him. They get together finally and immediately break up and don't see each other again for 12 years. They meet again by accident and quickly break up again. Both of them's stubbornness kept them from trying to salvage things after the first break up. They could have been together if they had just talked it out. So, it's more of a "Mean to Be" than "Tied Together".

Any additional comments?

This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

Beautiful

Wonderful just wonderful-- sometimes in life we don't do justice to what we have -- sometimes life alters we grow up and then we do justice ... I was lost in this beautiful story plus the narrator Derrick McClain is superb.

Great narration

What did you love best about Tied Together?

I enjoy a good second chance romance and this one almost does everything right. I enjoy stories about relationships built from genuine friendships and this one fits. Ryan was out and proud; Brandon was shy and closeted, but they found a way to build a solid friendship.

If you’ve listened to books by Z.B. Heller before, how does this one compare?

This was my first ZB Heller book and although I liked most of the book, the internal monologue of MC Ryan was just silly. The cast of supporting characters fit well with the general theme and angst of the book. I love HEAs and HFNs, so this book was a good read for me. I already have the second book in the series and will read it soon.

What about Derrick McClain’s performance did you like?

Derrick McCLain does a fantastic job with his performance! This was my first time hearing him and I most definitely will be looking for more of his work. He was able to bring life to a sometimes clichéd storyline and brought the characters to life. He nailed all of the 'feels' and it make for good listening.

Any additional comments?

Although I did enjoy this book, I have personal issues with years long separations. I especially did not like the fact that the MC Ryan issued MC Brandon an ultimatum regarding their relationship (this is always a no-no). Ryan seemingly totally disregarded Brandon's struggle with coming out and for me it diluted what was a solid friendship. Ryan wronged Brandon in a big way, so I would have preferred a little more groveling before Brandon took him back so easily and after such a long separation. But they get their HEA so I'm good!

I was provided a free copy of this audio book at my request for an honest review.

Friends first!

Where does Tied Together rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Probably somewhere in the middle.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Tied Together?

When Ryan finds Brandon after being apart.

What about Derrick McClain’s performance did you like?

I like how he brought each character to life. Especially Moxie.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed at times, but i did not cry. It was a fairly light book that dealt with serious issues. The issues were handled well and I believe the author did a great job describing how different lives can be.

Any additional comments?

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

I HATED one of the characters.

I started this book in the Audible format, which I received through AudioBoom. The narration was fine, but I basically hated the story. I stepped away from it for a while and then finished it in ebook format. I can read faster than listen and I just wanted it done.

Mechanically, the writing is fine. But Ryan is a total douche bag and he never redeemed himself. I was further infuriated that he was so horrible, but it was Brandon put in place to apologize before they got their happily ever after. Sure, Ryan, had a minor apology too, but it was too little too late for me. He was horrible, start to finish and I hated him so much it ruined the book for me.

Then there is the pacing. OMG, the pacing. The book starts out pretty well. It's funny and Ryan had an interesting voice. But it quickly devolved into forced humor and actions that MADE NO SENSE. Then 12 years pass. 12 years people! Two characters who have known each-other and been best friends for years, who are in love with each-other have one fight (because of one does something that I couldn't believe he would actually do) and they walk away without ever speaking again. WTF? They still go to the same university, you'd think they might pass on campus. And who gives up love that easily? No one, that's who. (Not that Ryan deserved any better.)

But 12 years pass. From a literary point of view, that's a lot of important time to lose. Then when the two get back together, the reader isn't given the getting to reknow each-other scenes either. They go from 0-bed instantly, then 3 weeks pass. What? More important lost time? They have another ridiculous fight, make up and 3 years pass. MORE TIME GONE, time that I as a reader needed to see.

At 65% new characters were introduced, characters who became important but the reader is not invested in because they are new at 65%. Apparently they are characters from other books, but that doesn't help much in the grand scheme of things. There is slut shaming, the characters are vile towards women in general and the representation of the nice, accepting, middle class family versus the poor, homophobic trailer trash family was cliched and predictable.

This was an all around fail for me.

Funny and Sweet

Any additional comments?

Received an audible version of this book in exchange for an honest review. I had previously read the book and gave it 5 stars, loved the story, sweet, funny friends to lovers, second chance romance. The audio version was great, had me laughing out loud at many parts, with my children looking at me weird until they realized I was listening to a book. I love listening to the audio version of books that I enjoyed reading because it is like having the book brought to life. This narrator did a good job at bringing out the characters emotions and bringing life to the story. This would be one I would listen to again.

Overcoming adversity and finding love

I enjoyed this story that centers on two gay men from their meeting at age 18, when attraction first sparks between them, through the trials and tribulations of accepting who they are and the betrayal that eventually separates them, and into their reunion and a second chance together later in life. The journey is easy for Ryan, but not so much for his friend Brandon. Ryan has an understanding, supportive family, and is financially comfortable; Brandon has a homophobic, abusive father, an uncaring mother, and no money. Ryan and Brandon's friendship and blossoming love is strained by misunderstandings and fear, and then one night and one selfish act breaks them apart. They meet again by chance over a decade later and find a second chance at love, but poor communication, an old boyfriend, and a quick judgement once again threaten to destroy their love. I loved this story, and nearly cried in frustration every time circumstances or their own foolishness tore Ryan and Brandon apart. However, I also laughed out loud at Ryan's good and bad "consciences" embodied by the personas of Brad Pitt and Steve Buscemi. This is one I will definitely be listening to again!

The narration was excellent! Mr. McClain provided a different voice for each character, and flawlessly matched his tone to the mood at each point in the story. I always knew who was talking even without the vocal prompts.

I was voluntarily provided a free review copy of this audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.