He ran and prayed to whichever God would listen that his partner was alive.
Isobel Starling
Return to Zero
Format:
Audiobook
Note: Books 1-3 have been combined into a box set: audio & ebook
Publisher’s Synopsis:
Pulled into a world of secrets and lies for the man he loves, Declan Ramsay’s life has changed immeasurably in the eight months since meeting, and falling for his boss’s son, Sam Aiken. Declan journey of personal discovery is about to take a darker turn, and for Sam, the world becomes more treacherous than he could ever have imagined.
Two agents are missing — presumed dead, while on a reconnaissance mission at an outdoor adventure center in the Scottish Highlands. Sir James Aiken sends his son and Declan to follow the trail, and discover the fate of the agents.
As the mission offers his first chance to use the skills he learned on the MI6 training course in Morocco, Declan is keen to get started. However, Sir James sees to it that the seeds of doubt and discord have been sewn between the couple, as they begin their mission.
The journey to their Highland location, and the discoveries they make when they reach the G’wan Adventures center, prove that Sir James Aiken has been less than honest with his son. Events in the Highlands force Sam and Declan to face their greatest fears, and understand what they both really want from life — and from each other.
Point of view:
3rd person. Multiple perspectives, mostly Sam & Declan.
Rellim’s Thoughts:
It just gets better and better… at almost 7 hours this is the longest book so far and Starling packs it with an impossible to put down story. All these books build off events from previous books, so you’ll want to listen to them all and in order.
Declan gets more training but still struggles with feeling like he’s years behind Sam. They get a mission where Declan’s experience is invaluable and this seems to put the pair on equal footing. They’re working as a solid team until James and others make the couple hesitate to trust one another. Combine all this with uncovering a company that is quickly becoming not what it appears.
An old nemesis appears and the lovers are separated. The rescue is harrowing and heart wrenching. Gah! I loved it and while it’s a complete story – even more questions are uncovered and I’m looking forward to Counterblow.
Narration:
Gary Furlong continues a fabulous narration of the series. He’s consistent with all the accents and personalities and switches between characters effortlessly. While I enjoy Starling’s writing immensely, I cannot imagine experiencing this without Furlong’s performance.
About the author:
Isobel loves writing M/M thrillers, mysteries, and historical books.
You can connect with Isobel Starling here:
About the narrator:
Throughout his life he has worn many a hat: He has worked as a teacher in Niigata, Japan; a puppeteer in Prague; an improv artist in Memphis, Tennessee, but made the leap to voiceover in 2015. Gary has narrated over 120 books spanning various genres.
You can connect with Gary Furlong here:
My Favorite Quotes
I always thought that home was about a place, but it’s not, it’s the people you share with that make a home, the rest is just… decoration. – Return to Zero by @isobel_starling #Audiobook narrated by @GaryFurlongVo #ShatterproofBond #MM #Romance #Spy #Espionage
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The love they shared was the beginning and the end of everything, and together, they were unbreakable. – Return to Zero by @isobel_starling #Audiobook narrated by @GaryFurlongVo #ShatterproofBond #MM #Romance #Spy #Espionage
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He ran and prayed to whichever God would listen that his partner was alive. – Return to Zero by @isobel_starling #Audiobook narrated by @GaryFurlongVo #ShatterproofBond #MM #Romance #Spy #Espionage
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His lungs stopped working, and the pain was excruciating — like he was being stabbed inside by a million jagged shards of his broken heart. – Return to Zero by @isobel_starling #Audiobook narrated by @GaryFurlongVo #ShatterproofBond #MM #Romance #Spy #Espionage
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Rellim Reads 