Can he put grief and anger aside to pick up the pieces of a shattered heart? Ex-surfer-turned-businessman Liam Mallaney moved back to Holkham, Norfolk, to mourn the loss of his husband. Grief and loneliness keep him a solitary figure, and he likes it that way. There’s no room in his broken heart for anything else. Rentboy Zac Payne left London and most of his demons behind, but he still only … behind, but he still only knows one way to make a living. When he spots Liam in a club one night, it seems he’s found his mark. But Liam proves nicer-and their connection far deeper-than he’d bargained for.
Their arrangement quickly becomes too complicated for Zac, who has other things on his mind: namely his BFF and wayward flatmate, Jamie. Zac owes Jamie the world, and even as Jamie’s drug addiction destroys all they have, Zac won’t leave him behind.
Besides, Liam knows nothing of Zac’s home life, too caught up in his own head to think much beyond the crazy heat he and Zac share. But when trouble comes to Zac’s door, putting his life in danger, Liam must set his grief and anger aside to pick up the pieces of Zac’s shattered heart and his own.
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Making me whole again (an audio review)
Being a rentboy and a former drug addict isn’t easy. Zac uses his body to survive, never turning down an opportunity to sell himself to make rent or buy food. He’s eking by, has a small pot of savings, and does his best to live with himself. He’s suffered and has pulled himself together. Now only if his flatmate Jamie could do the same thing. While Zac has overcome the drug addiction, Jamie is in the grips of it and that destructive spiral winds up pulling Zac into a world of hurt.
When Zac spots Liam, he sees a mark. An attractive guy who might be up for a good time. He didn’t foresee that Liam would be a great guy who wants to help Zac. Shades of Pretty Woman anyone? But it’s a classic tale for a reason – hooker with a heart of gold. My god, did I empathize with Zac. He’s doing what he has to in order to survive and here some guy shows up and offers to help him. Zac could use Liam’s money, sure, but that comes with a different price – he just might lose his heart.
I admit to sniffing a few times in this book. It hit me square in the heart. And as much as I felt I understood Zac, Liam was the character I think I was most drawn to. His loneliness. His big heart. His ailing father. Although I’ve never lost a partner in the way he did, I’ve endured that kind of loneliness. He has his dogs and his work and his family, but there’s still a gaping hole. A hole Zac can fill.
Having listened to a number of Garrett Leigh books, I’d known I would be challenged and I was. It was easy to have sympathy for Jamie who was in the throes of addiction or for Zac who faced some tough choices or Liam who wasn’t sure he could love again. I got my happy ending and have discovered there’s a second book centring on Jamie so I can’t wait to listen to that one.
Since this was an audio, I have to mention Dan Calley. He’s narrated a pile of Ms. Leigh’s books and he’s a great fit. He has a voice made for these characters and he enhanced the story, making it even better. So well done and I can’t wait to listen to the next one.
So so so good!
I couldn’t stop reading this fantastic book , always GL is my go to author ..
All the Englishness was awesome …. thanks for that …
This is a .” I don’t want this book to ever end ,” read.
Zac a rent boy hooks up with Liam who was a surfer then became a graphic artist , business man.
They crave each other, but life can come between them , but it omg its such a beautiful read absolutely perfect…
No spoilers as you need to start with a blank mind .
I so recommend this awesome book ..
Bought the audio book narrated by Dan Calley who is British so the accent is perfect…
Wonderful story! I’ve volunteered to review this book for United Indie Book Blog. This is my first time reading or listening to a book from Garrett Leigh. I had the audio version of this story. This is Liam and Dad’s story. Rented Hearts is the first book in this series. Liam and Zac meet while they are both going thru some rough times. This book deals with some serious complex issues but does it with gentleness and sincerity. I couldn’t put it down until the end. There’s always hope that both Liam and Zac can find love again. This book is worth staying up late to read. You will not be disappointed in this one. Can’t wait to read or listen to more from this author. Keep up the good job.
Audiobook review:
Story – 5
Performance – 5
A Heartbreaking Beautiful Story
I’m a relative newcomer to Garrett Leigh’s books and I hadn’t read Rented Heart when it was originally released back in 2016. I was lucky enough to be given a copy of this audiobook and I’m so happy I listened to it.
I’ve read a fair number of MM books with a rent-boy theme and I really enjoy this romance trope. Zac Payne is a rent-boy who has left addiction and demons behind – for the most part. Selling himself is the only thing he knows and he has to earn money to survive. He’s managed to compartmentalize that aspect of his life so that he doesn’t feel anything – until he meets Liam Mallaney.
Liam is still grieving the loss of his husband but when he sees Zac outside a club something draws him to him. He still wants Zac even after he finds out that he sells his body. They begin spending time together and Liam is in danger of falling for Zac.
Oh boy, this book is full of all kinds of feels and Dan Calley’s voices for the characters were nice and smooth and easy to listen to. It’s been a while since an audiobook has moved me to tears but this one did.
Zac and Liam’s relationship is moving along at a nice pace (with lots of hot sexy time) but then Zac’s friend Jamie causes things to get really messed up. I wanted to shake Liam and tell him to let Zac explain. Things really come to a head when Zac is seriously hurt, and this is the point in the book that made my tears fall.
Because this is a romance, I knew there would be an HEA for Zac and Liam but there was some really rough terrain to cover before that happened. I wouldn’t say that this is the most angst filled book I’ve ever read or listened to but it certainly has its fair share and I loved it! Now I really want to listen to Jamie’s story – Soul to Keep.
A copy of this audiobook was provided to me but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the narrator.
***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***
Garrett Leigh’s Rented Heart is one of the few books I’ve read where the heart, the concerns, the hopes and the harsh daily realities of a street-corner sex worker is portrayed honestly. Also a rare jewel, the ultra-wealthy love interest–one who’s pain and need feels real–neither contrived nor whiny. Their sexual encounters, rather than sidelining the romance, weave its strands together. The external obstacles and ultimate crisis fit the story, as do the heroic moments. All together a good read, Solid story well-written. And even though the romance between the two felt a bit like a fairy tale, it’s magic is the magic of love in the face of the human condition, and I want to believe in it.
*I received a copy in exchange for an honest review*
This is my second Garrett Leigh book and I enjoyed just as much as the first one (What Remains). I liked that it was not as angsty as What Remains, although there are heavy themes in this book as well.
Zac is a rentboy with dark-ish past, which also included drug addiction. Liam, on the other hand, had a perfect life until his husband died. Each of them is dealing with their life in a different way. Zac, together with his ‘roommate’, Jamie who is also a rentboy. and still has a drug problem, is trying to get through the week, trying to find clients or ‘johns’ to pay for the bills. One night he picks up Liam and…
Liam has distanced from everyone after his husband’s death. He is the boss in the company he created with his late husband, but he does not have the energy or the wish to lead it. Yet his husband has given a lot to the company so he can’t leave it in the hands of someone else.
I enjoyed their progress from a client and a hooker to two people who genuinely care for each other. Liam is kind and considerate and so much different from what Zac is used to. They enjoy each other’s company and they also have hot sex. But the reality catches them first when certain events lead Liam break up with Zac, as well as the incident that happens toward the end of the book. Of course the book has a HEA (I think), and it all ends happily but it could have ended so much worse.
All in all, I loved the book and I really enjoyed how it was written (I like the author’s style), as well as the fact that she takes themes that could be SO VERY DARK and presents them in a special way, not that she makes them pretty, but very realistic and somehow not too dark.
This one has been on my TBR list for a little while now. I’d been saving it for one of those days when you don’t know what you want to read. Now, it’s like I wish I’d have read it sooner, because it’s so good! Liam is still mourning the loss of his husband when he encounters rentboy, Zac Payne, outside of a bar. One night leads to another and then another yet again when things start to change for both Liam and Zac. The one thing I love the most about Garett’s Leigh’s characters is how imperfect they are, complicated, and I just can’t help but to fall in love with them. Liam and Zac are amazing together. I devoured this book way too fast, but that’s part of what I like about reading one of Garrett’s Leighs books. If you like your characters a little bit complicated, then I highly suggest checking this one out. I loved it!