just right for quiet commutes

Series of short sweet and spicy stories all centered around the holidays. Loved it!

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LOVED IT!

I really enjoyed it! Although these stories are short, they don't lack entertainment. The narration was excellent. The author did an excellent job with the characters. I have read many books by this author and love her writing style! I look forward to reading more of her books. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

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Great stories

Out of the four stories, my favorite one is Fred & Ginger. Loved everything about it; the story, the couple, the cute dog, the banter and especially the cupcakes.

I enjoyed the stories and listening to this narrator. I absolutely adore his voice so much that I finished it in one sitting; love the different accent he does.

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Sweet & Fun

I really enjoyed these fun, sweet holiday stories, especially Fred & Ginger and Back Where He Belongs. The narration by Gary Furlong (who is one of my favorite narrators) made them even better!

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Short, Sweet & Spicy!

Great short stories. Very hot scenes. Awesome narration by Gary Furlong. Highly recommended. It'll keep you warm in cold winter nights!

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For those who love short stories.

I am a big fan of this author’s writing and a really big fan of the narrator. Gary Furlong’s accents are amazing, His Scottish and English accents sound authentic and curl around in my brain deliciously. I have to admit to an audio crush. I could listen to him all day.

There are four stories in this boxset, with some of the stories being better than others. By better, I mean more developed; the stories a little longer in which you come to know the characters better.

***

In ‘Fred and Ginger’, Chris had baked “dirty” cupcakes for a famous actor and was taking them out for delivery when a dog named Fred tripped him up and caused him to spill the cupcakes on the streets in front of the Christmas shoppers. It is a comical moment with edible penises laying all over the ground. The dog’s owner, Robin, feels bad though and offers to help him bake more cupcakes. Chris recognizes Robin from a past encounter and the two find themselves wanting to reconnect while they race to finish the order. It is a quick story but the characters are interesting. I like that the end of the story shows promise of something more between them.

***

‘The Christmas Bonus’ is probably the quickest story or at least it felt like it. It is a story of two co-workers who have watched each other from across the office but haven’t had too much interaction. The company Christmas party offers them the chance to finally talk or possibly do more… It is a good premise but there isn’t really a romantic connection and it doesn’t give me any idea if there is any potential for this couple. It offered the least for me as a romance lover.

***

‘Daddy Christmas’ is another of the shorter stories. It is more or less a Grindr hookup for the two main characters. There is a D/s theme to the story with one character looking for a “Daddy.” The hookup seems to leave a more lasting impression than a one night stand. There seemed to be affection building between the Daddy and sub. Even though the ending is a little open ended, I felt at least a spark of hope that they might see each other again. And again.

***

I think ‘Back Where He Belongs’ is the longest of the stories. There are parts of this story I connected with and some I didn’t. It is a second chance romance which I love. Kier left Scotland to explore the world and keep his attractions in the closet. He also left his boyfriend Douglas. He returns home for Christmas years later, and his vehicle breaks down stranding him on the side of the road. And in a predictable turn of events, guess who passes by and rescues him? Predictable or not, I love chance meetings between exes who never really stopped caring for the other. With the weather only getting worse Douglas takes Kier to his home. The tension and attraction between them is obvious, and I couldn’t help but feel for Keir as he worries that Douglas has moved on. I also worried how the two could work out if Keir was returning to Australia after the holiday.

Here is the part that I didn’t really connect with. Before Kier left his relationship with Douglas involved dominance and submission, and puppy play. Kier was the Master in the past. But in wanting to make amends to Douglas, the two switch positions in the present. Now, I recognize that puppy play is a legitimate kink, and I worry when I say that I don’t connect that I’m coming off judgy. I’m not. It just isn’t my kink. So I feel like I only half listened to their play. This part of the story doesn’t actually take up a significant amount of time, though. After they reconnect and Kier acknowledges his mistakes, they both decide to set things right. Kier brings Douglas to his parents to celebrate the holiday where he admits why he left. This story definitely had the most promising ending and I really enjoyed it.

***

Even with the longer stories, this audiobook was a quick listen at around four hours. I definitely recommend this author and narrator. If you like shorter stories this audiobook is definitely for you.

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Four book Christmas Boxset

A fantastic collection from Isobel. As usual, it was a winner.

FRED AND GINGER 4.5 stars
A lovely holiday short story with great characters, second chances, sweet moments, a few laughs and an ending that left me smiling.

THE CHRISTMAS BONUS 3 stars
This was a super short that felt much more like the beginning of one of Isobel's books. I would love to see this fleshed out as I instantly became interested in Ethan and Jake.

DADDY CHRISTMAS 4.5 stars
After meeting Ryan in the book Detective Fox and the Christmas Caper, I was pleased to see he had his own book. The man rankles the nerves with is over the top behavior and it's still present when he shows up at Cameron's door. I liked that Cameron saw beyond Ryan's behavior to what the boy needed. He gives Ryan the focus and boundaries he needs while providing a space for him to learn to embrace quiet along with giving him space to be the exuberant, bubbly man he is.

BACK WHERE HE BELONGS 5 stars
I really enjoyed Kier and Douglas as they reconnected after five years. It's a bit of a struggle as they separated badly. Kier uses wanting to travel, explore and see the world as his excuse. He admits his fear was the real cause. Regret and shame are very tangible on the page. Douglas has moved on to a long term relationship that ended. It was evident that his heart has never moved on from Kier. It takes a bit of bravery for the two of them to open up about the past, reconnect and make plans for the future. I loved Kier's mum. What a wise woman.

Audiobook: Terrific narrator. Nice voices and easy pace. I loved his voice for Kier and Douglas best.

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Hot, Sweet, and Fun

This is an enjoyable set of four short stories. My favorite was Fred and Ginger, followed by Back Where He Belongs, then Daddy Christmas and the Christmas Bonus. Fred and Ginger was sweet, sexy, and fun, and who can resist naughty cupcakes. I really enjoyed the connection between Kier and Dougie in Back Were He Belongs, and I loved their second chance. I wasn't into the puppy play, but that is just me. It didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story. Daddy Kink was entertaining, and I liked seeing Ryan from Detective Fox again. The Christmas Bonus was my least favorite because it was just too short and open ended for me to really connect with the characters. Still, all enjoyable, steamy listens.

Gary Furlong is fantastic with the narration. The characters all have distinctive voices, and Mr. Furlong does a great job expressing their emotions.

I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook from the author and have voluntarily left this honest review.

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Fun and kinky

Four short stories, all different but all fun.

Fred & Ginger is, IMHO, the funniest, and OMG! I so much want to see those cupcakes :P

The Christmas Bonus: this one is the one I liked the less, I simply didn't engage with the characters :(

Daddy Christmas: this one was funny and cute. An older daddy and an irreverent twink who found their match during Christmas. Lovely.

Back Where He Belongs: The kinkiest of the four, and the angstier, too. I was really invested in this one, and it's the most... complete is not the word, maybe fulfilling? There is a lot going on here and is very, very emotional. Strangely, even as portraits a kink I'm not particularly fond of, this one is my favourite.

Gary Furlong does a good job with the narration.

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Don't wear panties when you listen this book

Seriously! Where have Isobel Starling and Gary Furlong been all my life? 😍 If you love audios with swoon-worthy romance, unique characters and happy endings narrated by one-of-a-kind smoky silk voice, look no further because we have a winning duo right here. 👍 I admit that I always kinda dread reading or listening short stories and anthologies because let's be honest, there's not many authors out there who can give you that kick of a satisfying punch with that little words. 😁 But Isobel Starling delivered that and more in this festive spirit filled MM Christmas box set. Not only I immensely enjoyed each and every story, I fell in love with them. 💜 They are sweet, romantic, extra kinky and sexy and very Christmassy. Just what I'm looking for in a holiday read/listen. I'll write brief individual reviews for every novella in this box set.




Fred and Ginger

I admit that I'll never look at the chocolate fondants the same way again in my life. 😂👏 Chris works for London’s only gay bakery and when his boss called him and asked him a favor for a very special Christmas order for movie star Jason Beck, Chris almost peed his pants. Jason has been his idol for so long and to have the honor to create custom cupcakes which are rather scandalous 😁 for his childhood idol, Chris worked the order right away. And then Fred, the chocolate Labrador, stormed into his life quite literally and Chris found himself not being able to deliver the cupcake in time for Jason. And then his savior came in the form of ginger bearded Robin whom Chris hooked up with all those months ago. Now these two must work together not only for their cupcake mission but also to have a happy rainbow ending in each other's arms. 😉


This Christmas Bonus

Although the shortest in the entire box set, I somehow found this one to be incredibly titillating, erotic and kinky. 🔥 Jake the newly divorced man in his 40s is trying to come to terms with his long-denied sexuality. And he’s been fantasizing about that naive, innocent, virginal intern for weeks now. But when he approached Jake at their office Christmas party, he doesn’t look that innocent, that naive or not that virginal at all. 😁 And now Jake must embrace everything about this young, intriguing and brazen man to discover the parts that he didn't even know existed within himself.


Daddy Christmas

Another confession, I totally have a suit fetish. 😂 I can’t even count how many times I ravaged the men in suits (in my imaginations guys, please don't be that impressed 🤣) whenever I have to wait for a long layover at an airport. (Don’t you notice you see a lot of business men and women in suits there? 😁) And in this little short story, Miss Isobel fulfilled my dirty little mind's favorite fantasy to the fullest. Ryan and his daddy bear was hot, hot and HOT. 😱🔥 Those two men needed each other and as a Christmas miracle, they found what they were looking for in each other’s arms. Please be assured that I'll nag Miss Isobel until she gives in to write the full stories of these two and Jake and his intern.


Back Where He Belongs

I'm usually not very keen on second-chance romances. But DAMN, Isobel Starling did it again with her unique and talented writing to make me fall in love with these two Scott lads. 😍 Kier ran away to Australia and left his childhood sweetheart behind after he finished college when he couldn't come to terms with his sexuality and came out to his family. Now five years later, (Kier has been lonely for exactly that mount of time 😭) he's back to Scotland to visit his family for holidays. When his car broke down in the middle of nowhere, Kier thought he'd freeze to death in this snow storm. And a man stopped to help him who coincidentally happened to be his one and only love, the one who Kier left behind. With the roads blocked and a blizzard coming, Kier realized that he’ll be stranded at his ex-boyfriend's house for at least a few days. And now, he not only wants to rekindle the romance between them but also to relive all those kinky fetishes they used to play when they were lovers. 😎 And this time, Kier is determined to be with the man he has always loved for the rest of his life. 😌



My, I loved the first story “Fred and Ginger”. Sweet, romantic, sexy and really funny. 😁 The second and third ones are nice little sexy shorties and the fourth, “Back where he belongs”, I still hear that extremely titillating “woof woof” of Gary Furlong in my dreams. 😂 You know what Isobel Starling's writing reminds me of? Just like the Scots and Scotland Isobel loves to write, her writing is smooth, silky, smoky and uniquely impeccable just like Scotch whiskey. 💜 And to pair that remarkable writing with the god of sultry and erotic voices, Gary Furlong, results in one very hot and bothered and happy listener. 😁😍 This box set is perfect for everyone who loves their Christmas stories a bit or a lot on the naughty side. 😉 Can’t recommend enough. Thoroughly and immensely enjoyed it. 👏



5 don't wear panties when you listen this book stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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