I can’t even begin to express how many inappropriate, totally ill-timed, horribly sinful thoughts explode in my brain in this one instant.
Daryl Banner
Born Again Sinner
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Format:
Audiobook. The ebook is in Kindle Unlimited at the time of this review
Publisher’s Synopsis:
Jimmy Strong is one devastating son of a gun. He’s a dancer, gorgeous, stubborn, fiercely protective of his loved ones – and as hetero as they make them. After breaking things off with his latest lady-squeeze, he comes home with his best friend and college roommate Bobby Parker, determined to kick back with his pal and enjoy the summer in Spruce, Texas.
But Bobby is having a challenging dilemma of his own: he has feelings for Jimmy – intense ones – and they’re reaching a point of no return. The two young men have been pals since high school and endured everything together. But can their friendship endure the truth, if he dares to let it out?
That question is answered after a fateful night on the town with Jimmy when Bobby makes one reckless, unthinkable move – and everything changes.
Point of view:
1st person. Alternating between Bobby & Jimmy’s perspectives.
Rellim’s Thoughts:
This is book 3 in Daryl Banner’s Spruce Texas series. While this stands well on its own, there are definitely people & events from previous books that make this best read after Football Sunday and Born Again Sinner.
Banner tackles a topic that most people are probably familiar with – unrequited love. Mixed in with falling for your best friend (a fav trope of mine!) this one was considerably angstier. But still sprinkled with a heavy dose of Banner’s humor and the ridiculousness that is small town life in the South.
I admit at times I may have been even more frustrated with Jimmy than Bobby was – but I imagine that’s the reality that sometimes it takes time for someone to come to terms with a complete shift in who they thought they were. Jimmy’s unwavering support and (initially platonic) love for Bobby is at times a balm for Bobby and others it’s a shot through the heart.
While it took them a while to get there, I loved Jimmy & Bobby’s HEA.
Narration:
While I’ve been borrowing these via Kindle Unlimited, I haven’t had much time to sit down and read so I was excited to find my library had the audiobook version. I already love Kirt Graves, but Chris Chambers was new to me. I loved both of their swoony southern accents. Chambers was so much fun as the often dense Jimmy. Kirt was the perfect choice for the somewhat emotionally tortured Bobby. Wonderful listen.
About the author:
You can connect with Daryl Banner here:
About the narrators:
Kirt Graves spent 15 years teaching young people how to interpret drama, poetry, and literature. He has voiced over 80 audiobooks spanning contemporary romance, sci-fi, urban fantasy, young adult, and non-fiction. His passion is for telling queer stories, the types of stories he wishes he had while growing up. A tenor by training, Kirt easily moves between characters of any age, genre, and gender. In addition to his work as an audiobook narrator, Kirt is a graphic artist, a podcast host, and an award-winning speech coach.
You can connect with Kirt Graves here:
My Favorite Quotes
(I want to cry – Kindle lost all my highlights! There were so many… but I couldn’t find them all.)
“Each kiss is a restless and hungry attempt at perfection.”
“No one puts Bobby in the corner.”
Rellim Reads 