“We dated for a hot second five years ago. Things have changed.“Five years ago, Zeph met River. The timing couldn’t have been worse. An orphan with something to prove and the ghosts of his past breathing down his neck, Zeph took the offer from a pro MMA gym to live and train in the Midwest. River let him go easily. If it was a convenient excuse to escape emotional intimacy, neither of them had to … intimacy, neither of them had to admit it. Until now.
Drag queen and makeup artist River isn’t easily fazed, but meeting Zeph on his home turf throws him for a loop. Something about Zeph still gets under his skin. And River’s next job, a drag show in L.A. and Vegas, will require a security guy to look after the performers. Who better than a tattooed mixed martial artist who still gives him smoldering looks?
It doesn’t take long for them to fall together. They’re opposite as can be, but dating for ten days wasn’t long enough the first time around. Another ten days could get it out of their systems… but are they fighting for or with each other? It’s easy to get hard. It’s hard to be easy. Vulnerability is off the table, until the table turns. How long do you have to have known a guy to put your life into his hands?
Freak is a standalone gay romance novel with a happily ever after ending.more
I was given a free audio copy from the author and the GRR arc team for review.
I loved the first book but was majorly disappointed by this one. The Premise of a drag queen with a body guard and the second chance romance trope is totally my thing but unfortunately I had no connection to either MC and found both hard to like. There are plenty of sexy scenes and those were good but the characters didn’t seem to have any believable chemistry out of the bedroom. For the majority of the book I was kinda bored. Even the threat of a stalker didn’t really add any interest to the plot. It just kinda dragged alot in between all the sex scenes and repeated the same push and pull over and over and that got sickening.
Joel Leslie did a great job as always. He has a pleasant voice and good pace and expresses all the emotions and does the different voices and makes each suit the character. 5 stars to Joel.
Audio review:
Overall – 5
Story – 5
Performance – 5
Opposites attract!
This was a great story. River and Zeph really clashed at times but they had hot as fire chemistry between them. I thought my phone might explode from the heat when it got near to the end of the book!
I always love Joel Leslie’s audiobook performances; he never disappoints. I hope more books in this series will come to audio.
A complimentary copy of this audiobook was provided to me but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author and/or narrator.
Zeph, Pro MMA fighter
River a Drag Queen and makeup artist with a stalker.
Having met 5 years earlier, River asks if Zeph would act as his bodyguard during a drag show in Vegas and La.
There are hot looks, secret stares, who will make the first move and will the big martial arts Zeph really fancy the feminine drag artist.
I love Eds books and this series is no exception. Great book, well narrated by Joel. All round good read.
Freak
By: E. Davies
Narrated by: Joel Leslie
Series: The F-Word, Book 2
Length: 6 hrs and 58 mins
Overall
Narration
Story
Read at 1.30 speed on Audible
Freak is the second book in The F-Word series, and it can easily be read as a standalone, although I think it is more fun to read the first book in the series before reading the second book.
Zeph and River have history. They were in a casual relationship that worked well for both of them because there was an end date for it. Years later, they run into each other and the sparks fly again, but the same hang ups about commitment that Zeph had when they were first dating still exist. River and Zeph will have to work through their issues while also dealing with a dangerous stalker. The plot was fast paced with well written prose and a lot of excitement.
The audiobook was narrated by Joel Leslie who did a great job voicing all the characters. There were a lot of tense and thrilling scenes throughout the book that Joel performed perfectly. I had no trouble following along in the book and was completely engaged with the story. The audiobook production was also well done and it made for an entertaining listen.
River and his sassy, vibrant nature quickly draws you in. Zeph and his pure MMA muscle, and his urge to protect others is truly gripping. Watching as River and Zeph and their friends, finally break down all of Zeph’s defenses was breathtaking. The understanding that it’s truly ok to not be ok as beautifully written. Loved it.
Second book in the F-Word series. River (enby, occasionally drag queen) and Zeph’s (hot MMA fighter) chemistry is off the charts and though both characters have a history of past hurts, the book never gets too heavy or angsty.
I love River’s fierceness, and Zeph (though he sometimes acts badly out of fear) is strong, unafraid of ho he loves and, in the end, willing to work on himself.