A Fighting Chance

Bridge to Abingdon Series, Book 2

De: Tatum West

Narrado por: Alexander Cendese, Tor Thom

Dillon: I don't do relationships. I've been abandoned all my life, and I don't trust a soul except my own damn self. But there's something different about Jack Chance. From his lithe, gymnast's body to his soulful hazel eyes, he's everything I never knew I wanted. When he's wrapped up in my arms, begging for more, everything seems right about the world.

I'm not boyfriend material - everyone in Abingdon knows that. I've got a moonshine-making hillbilly family, a heart hardened by war, and I walk into burning buildings for a living. Oh, and I'm still in love with my best friend.

Jack: I like a good project - maybe that's why I'm madly, ridiculously, over-the-moon in love with Dillon Manning. I want him to see what I see when I look at him - a hero, a whole, real man. I'm addicted to his touch, his body, the way he kisses me so deeply and so tenderly. There's more to Dillon than he lets on. I just want him to realize it.

But Dillon is just about on my last nerve, and I'm ready to be done. That's when the unthinkable happens.

Contains mature themes.

©2018 Tatum West (P)2019 Tantor

The books make you feel good about love

Nice , loving, romantic. A story of two real nice guys that fall in N love and give life to 3 beautiful kids. You will enjoy the story and fall in love with them all.

Didn’t expect this type of drama

There was heartbreaking frustrating drama involved with custody battles and danger to kids. It was sad. I didn’t expect that to be in it so I didn’t like that part of the story because I felt stressed out lol. Good to see a couple being together throughout the actual story though instead of only at the end.

Good story. Good narration.

I struggled a little with parts of this book because children were in danger, and custody issues occur. Ultimately it was worth continuing to listen even though a few of the moments were hard for me to absorb.

The story was packed with social commentary. The romance had some angst and a few steamy moments. All of the characters were interesting and well developed. I especially liked the development of the kids personalities.

The narration was good, but a few moments felt like the narrators were unprepared.

Dillon & Jack

I liked Dillon and Jack's story, it puts the spotlight on the fact that the people who love you will stick around when all hell breaks loose. Loved the narrators too.

Love this story!

I really love the storyline of this book. One of the main things I love is the conflict is mostly external, there's not a ton of drama between the two MC's. I read a ton of MM romance, and I find it very frustrating how many stories base the majority of the conflict on poor communication and misunderstandings. Lately it seems like so many of the books I've read have that in spades, so I love that this book has mostly external conflict and a really solid relationship between the MC's. That being said, the external conflict is heartbreaking at times and involves children and custody so if that's a problem for you you might want to pass on this one. As a mother it was really tough reading about the treatment of the three children on the beginning of the story. And this brings me to one of my main gripes about the story, is the children's ages. I love the way the kids are written in this, and the narrators do a good job with their voices, except sometimes the actions and wording of the kids really don't match their ages to me. Like the youngest boy for instance, he's 7, but the things he says and how he speaks come across more like a 4-5 year old most of the time. And the oldest boy is 11 but the way he's described sometimes seems more like an 8 or 9 year old. It's not a major issue, I just think the story could have benefitted from lowering each kids age by a couple years each.
Last but not least, the narrators. I love both narrators, but I do think they would have been better off if they switched characters. The deep voice of Tor Thom would have been great for Dillon. All in all, it's one of my favorite books. Highly recommend!

Another winner!

I just finished this second book of the series. It has a much different flow from the first book. Relationship issues are resolved very early in the story, so it becomes more of a story of rescuing and making a home for Dillon’s niece and nephews, despite the evil grandfather. The story is a good one, and I enjoyed the external conflict, especially when so many books are full of unnecessary angst between MCs. I do wish there had been more of the early days between Dillon and Jack, instead of hearing about it after the fact. Not a lot, but expanding the book a half hour would have still kept it on the shorter side. That aside, the MCs are so engaging and their relationship with the kids so positive and loving, I absolutely loved the story. I would have given the story a 4.5 if possible. Since it isn’t, I left it at a 5 rather than dropping it a full point to a 4. Narration again was great. This book is a keeper!

I’m not crying you’re crying

I didn’t love the first of this series, but two men falling in love over kids is one of my favorite tropes. And this didn’t disappoint. Both narrators are on my “tolerable, esp with a stronger narrator” list, but I don’t think they detracted from the story.
[Side note on narration for the series - I kept hearing about this seemingly made-up place “chil-o-wi” which I thought was weird (I’ve lived in the area for 20+ years and was born in VA; Abingdon and all locations are real places). I JUST realized they’re talking about Chilhowie. Pronounced “chill-how-ee.”]
Anyway, if you like flipping from spice to heartwarming to spice to gut wrenching, then this is the read for you. I love MM because it’s two men talking about their feelings, and this book is the peak.
Also, the kid narration is not off putting, which is more than I can say for a lot of the genre or fiction in general.

The children knew about the law and foster care system.

This is a good book from begining to the end I liked everything about the book.

Finding family and keeping it!

I can’t lie it took me a few chapters to get into this but was I was in I was in deep! Wanted it to keep going!

the love

this one ended better, than the last. the 2 main characters overcame their own fears and helped the kids along the way.