Troubled Waters

Pine Cove, Book 2

By: H.J. Welch

Narrated by: Nick J. Russo

Length: 7 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

Scout Duffy doesn’t know what’s worse. The fact that his scorching one-night stand is his bratty new client, or the fact that he doesn’t even remember Scout. But beneath all the bravado, Scout can see Emery is terrified, and he’ll do anything to protect him from his attacker. If only he would lower his walls and let Scout into his heart as easily as he lets him dominate in the bedroom...

Being out and proud his whole life means Emery Klein has never been safe. But now, his charity work and social media fame have put a target on his back from bigots, and his friends force him to hire a private bodyguard. Emery doesn’t need to be judged by some straight former boxer, but his attraction to the gorgeous hunk is insatiable. When Emery finally recognizes Scout, they can’t keep their damn hands off one another, if only for as long as Scout’s in town.

There’s a reason Emery never looks too closely at the men he sleeps with, just like there’s a reason Scout lives out of a suitcase in motel rooms. Will two men hiding from hurt realize the love that could heal them both is right in front of them? Or will Emery’s attacker take everything before they have the chance?

Troubled Waters is a steamy, stand-alone gay romance novel with a guaranteed HEA and absolutely no cliff-hanger.

©2019 H.J. Welch (P)2019 H.J. Welch

Loved It!

I really enjoyed this fast paced, action packed romance. Emery and Scout are combustible together. Their chemistry jumps off the page. I liked how their relationship evolved. They grew to trust and love each other.
This book had drama, humor, steam and romance. The characters are interesting and likeable. The story was entertaining and definitely kept me glued to the book.
I loved listening to Nick J Russo bring these guys to life!

Bodyguard Romance

Troubled Waters is the second book in the Pine Cove series, a contemporary romance series set within a small town. This book can be read as a standalone, but I think it works best being read right after the first book. I loved the bodyguard/forbidden-love tropes mixed in with an action packed plot with a dangerous mystery. The romance was spicy with some really hot steamy moments. This was a fun addition to the Pine Cove series.

Emery and Scott are combustible together!!

Awesome Narrator!! I loved the story as it unfolded  and how well the emotion of the different scenes were brought to live by his narration in this story. 

Delightfully steamy m/m romance with a bit of suspense and awesome characters. I have been waiting for Emery's story since reading the first book in this series and i was not disappointed.  I really liked the MC's and found the story-line engaging.  The writing flowed and i enjoyed seeing glimpses of people we have met previously.

Emery and Scott are combustible together and i loved the creative ways they found to communicate with each other.  Lots of fun and yet these guys also learn to communicate.  There are several miscommunications and that seemed fitting with their experience with relationships.

This is the second book in the Pine Cove series and can be enjoyed as a stand-alone story.  I personally really enjoyed the first book and would recommend both to you for your pleasure.

Emery is more than meets the eye!

Emery might be a spoiled brat and diva but there is so much more to him than meets the eye. I'm so glad we got his story early in the series because he intrigued me right from the beginning. Scout is the perfect man for him, patient and loving. These two had quit a few hurdles to get past, some external to the relationship and some internal between the two of them but the angst level was not overwhelming at all. The story flowed well in my opinion and the narration was well done by Nick J Russo. I feel that his narration of this series improved in this installment. Definitely looking forward to the next book in this series.

Another Wonderful Pine Cove Story

After a one-night stand, where Emery doesn’t remember Scout, the two re-meet when Scout becomes Emery’s bodyguard/personal security while Emery is dealing with hate mail and death threats. But the two get closer the more time they spend together, and Scout reminds Emery of their first encounter. But can Scout continue to keep Emery safe while their feelings continue to grow?
This book was a little different than the first of the Pine Cove Series, a little darker, with Emery’s threats but I liked the way the author brought them full circle. I do wish that there was a little more of Emery’s friends or people from the town involved in the story, but liked seeing more of Swift and Ava. It was also nice to see the reasoning behind Emery’s behavior (not that anyone needs to defend it), but it allows us a view into Emery’s mind and behaviors that I wouldn’t have thought before.
Nick J Russo did a truly amazing job bringing Emery ad Scout to life. His character voices allow you to really get a picture of the characters and the story! I can’t wait for more from this little town!

Wonderful

Troubled Waters, the second book in Pine Cove series, hooks you from the beginning and keeps your engaged throughout. Emery and Scout will make you laugh and frustrate you with the things they because of their insecurities but you just can’t help but root for them. The narration by Nick J Russo was excellent as always. I look forward to reading/listening to the next book in the series.

Mixed feelings

Okay, so I loved almost everything about this book. I loved the plot, I loved the narration, I love that the author is so talented that I’d never guess she lives in the UK if I didn’t already know it, and I very much loved the character Scout. I just didn’t like Emery very much, I wish he could have been a diva without being such a huge brat. I do love that Emery does a lot for his community, and that he isn’t afraid to be himself, but I just couldn’t fall in love with his character.

This didn’t stop me from liking the book, and I’m definitely going to continue on to the next one in the series.

Thankful to still have fingernails left! 👬🌈👬

Title: Troubled Waters
Series: Pine Cove Book #2
Author: HJ Welch
Narrator: Nick Russo
Publisher: HJ Welch
Format: Audiobook🎧
Release Date: 10/15/2019
Genre/ Trope(s): Gay Romance; Bodyguard/ internet star; One-night stand
Listening Length: 7hrs 58min
SteaMMy Swordplay: 3 out of 5⚔
Sharonica-Stars: 4.38✨
GoodReads AVG: 4.07🌟


MMy Thoughts and Review:

This one had me feeling so many different things I could have used a couple shots of tequila by the end, but since I haven't touched the stuff in years I settled for chocolate 🍫 and hazelnut coffee ☕! I'm old, so these days the effect is the same as alcohol 🍸! 😂😂😂

ANYWAY... I had a strange love/ hate relationship with Emery (his actions, not him as a person) and I think a lot of that had to do with the momma in me. I felt for him so many times and could feel both his strength and vulnerability. It hurt my heart knowing the hate he was experiencing online, the same way it does when I see it happen in the real world. His stubbornness however, and that sense of "I'm an adult, I will handle it on my own," doesn't always work. A lesson Emory learned the hard way.

Scout, hired to protect Emery is absolutely floored when he realizes he knows Emery...intimately. He is even more bowled over to discover Emery has no idea who Scout is. Even though upset by this, Scout was hired for a job so he will protect his client until the job is done and the threat is taken care of.

These two men are as different as night and day and butt heads profusely. However, the more time that passes and the more layers they each peel back something blossoms between them and it is indeed a power-filled thing to behold.

Welch did an excellent job pulling me into this story, and with Nick Russo narrating, the book came to life. By the time the climax was happening, I was afraid for the lives of my fingernails. It was real iffy there for a while. A true testament to excellent storytelling!

Loved it!

The Story: 4.5🌟
The Narration: 4.25🌟
Sharonica Stars: 4.38✨



I recieved a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest and unbiased review. 💋

I have mixed feelings about this

Emery Klein, activist and media influencer, is a spoiled, immature, entitled, rude young man for most of this story and finds himself in need of protection when online harassment becomes death threats. I found him supremely unlikable for half the book and I didn't understand why Scout Duffy, who is hired as his bodyguard, was so hung up on him. Scout wants to keep their increasingly complicated relationship professional, despite the chemistry between them that burns them up more than once. It means that the intimacy which began their relationship and which occurred before Scout knew Emery would be his next client, should not be repeated until the threat to Emery's life is eliminated. They aren't able to avoid it, however, but Emery's independent spirit, bolstered by fear for the safety of the people he loves, which eventually came to include Scout, send him into even more danger, from which Scout has to rescue him. I didn't find Emery redeemable until most of the way through the book, and I hated that Scout kept being hurt by his contrariness. I liked Scout well enough, and the Uber driver at the end should really be given his own story, as he added quite substantially to the happy resolution of this one, becoming Scout's friend in the end. Nick Russo did a great job in his performance of this story, though he did substitute "Scott" for "Scout" often enough for me to notice it each time he did it. I'm not sure if that was a typo in the document or Mr. Russo's mistake. He did differentiate quite convincingly between the characters, though thankfully most of the dialogues only required him to voice the two MCs.

So good!!

I’m loving this series. The first book was good, but this one was so much better. I loved Emery and Scout‘s story and of course the narration was great. Love Nick Russo’s voice. So excited to start the next book!