Best Laid Plans

By: Roan Parrish

Narrated by: Greg Boudreaux

A man who's been moving his whole life finally finds a reason to stay put.

Charlie Matheson has spent his life taking care of things. When his parents died two days before his eighteenth birthday, he took care of his younger brother, even though that meant putting his own dreams on hold. He took care of his father's hardware store, building it into something known several towns over. He took care of the cat he found in the woods…so now he has a cat.

When a stranger with epic tattoos and a glare to match starts coming into Matheson's Hardware, buying things seemingly at random and lugging them off in a car so beat-up Charlie feels bad for it, his instinct is to help. When the man comes in for the fifth time in a week, Charlie can't resist intervening.

Rye Janssen has spent his life breaking things. Promises. His parents' hearts. Leases. He isn't used to people wanting to put things back together—not the crumbling house he just inherited, not his future and certainly not him. But the longer he stays in Garnet Run, the more he can see himself belonging there. And the more time he spends with Charlie, the more he can see himself falling asleep in Charlie's arms…and waking up in them.

Is this what it feels like to have a home—and someone to share it with?

Garnet Run

Book 1: Better Than People

Book 2: Our Level Best

©2021 Roan Parrish (P)2021 Harlequin Enterprises, Limited

This was a surprise!

I went into this book thinking Rye was going to be the character who stole my heart and made me feel all the things for him, but surprise of surprises, it was Charlie who I found myself drawn to the most. Not to say Rye didn't bring the feels as well, because he definitely did, but getting Charlie's story from his pov, after meeting him in Better Than People and forming certain ideas about him, well, let's just say those opinions were thrown out the window.

In his brother Jacks' story, Better Than People, it was easy to get the impression that Charlie had his life together- he was the big brother who had to grow up too soon and take care of his Jack and himself, after their parents died- running the family hardware store, feeding and running the household as an 18yo. But Charlie wasn't as together as you'd imagine and boy did he tug at the ol' heartstrings! After meeting Rye he was finally able to let down his guard and just be, which was something he hadn't been able to do for so long.
This wasn't as melancholy of a story as BTP was, although it has a slightly similar feel thanks to both of their backgrounds. I liked that there wasn't a whole lot of drama between Charlie and Rye, and while there was a bit of conflict it didn't blow up into something major. I thought it was really sweet how they worked together to create Rye's dream come true.

I really enjoyed this opposites attract love story. Charlie and Rye both deserved all the happiness and I'm so glad they found it in each other.

Greg Boudreaux did a nice job with his performances of both Charlie and Rye's characters. I like his voice, it was age appropriate and I was able to distinguish between the characters with no issues.

Love this book & author

One of my favorite books is from Roan Parrish and this is my second favorite of his. Great book, great narration and great story. Love Charlie and Rhy!!!

Getting Better

This is the 2nd in the series and definitely better than the first novel. I do know I didn't like Jack (Charlie's younger brother) in the last book and I didn't like him in this one.
I loved Rhys ability to keep trying even in the face of adversity. I did enjoy the cats but all the side characters seemed lack luster.

This might be me being picky but this author seems to write (alot) about heavy topics around characthers with mental health issues who seem to get magical better after they fall in love and thats simply not true.

The audio perfectly captures the book.

#MM #SmallTown #OppositesAttract

This is book two of the Garnet Run series but can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA. It is written in third person from an alternating dual POV.

This was my first book by this author and I listened to it in the audiobook format. Narrator Greg Boudreaux was fantastic in differentiating between the characters as he brought them to life. He perfectly captured the vulnerability of both Charlie and Rye, as well as Rye's sometimes hard edges.

Charlie was everything to me. I adored him. Rye was perfect for him. I love the comfort they settle into. I really appreciated the slow rate their relationship progresses as they build trust and friendship on the way to forever. They have some steamy moments. They also have many moments where they are breaking down walls they have erected against emotional vulnerability. It was beautiful. Rye has a perfect acceptance of all people that I absolutely loved. The non-verbal communication they build between them was wonderful to hear. Charlie being able to differentiate between the many types of glare that Rye has was kind of funny and very touching.

I loved this audiobook with an emotional and steamy love story.

Building a Life

I was so glad that Charlie got a story of his own. He is such a caring person and needed his own person to share it with. Rye is willing to take a chance to have a better life. Things don't seem to work out in the beginning with enough time things have a chance to build.

Warning: Keep a full box of tissues close by

I have been moved, in one way or another, by every book by Roan Parrish. But this book, blew my socks off. As a lover of cats, this touched my heart deeply, my cat of 16 years cuddled with me as Greg Boudreaux’s outstanding talent enveloped me into this story! Thank you, Roan & Greg for a beautiful experience!
5⭐️!

great!

great book. so sweet. makes me love love. roan parrish has such great talent. so good!!

Beautiful

Roan Parrish writes the most beautiful wounded characters. They’re perfectly imperfect, and that’s ok. Love it.

Paired with an excellent narration by Greg Boudreaux.

Definitely worth a credit. ❤️

Well, I loved it

I was about halfway through the book, and I realize I was just listening to a wonderful story about love and discovery. Plus the cats! Sometimes these kind of books, get overpowered by their sexuality this does not certainly is part of the story, but it’s an endearing part of it. The characters grow and talk to you. I think it’s a wonderful story. I hope you enjoy it.

Pretty Awesome

Best Laid Plans was great. Could go on listening forever as they continued and grew older.
This is book 2 which I thought was even better than book 1, Better Than People. Book1 was great as well.
Both are focused on those involved, get very personal and lots of feelings etc.
If you know Tal Bauer’s gay novels on espionage, international affairs, and the US gov’t amidst gay interest, crushes and sex and love….well this is the opposite.
The author focuses on the characters lives and thoughts feelings, period. No big external backdrop or subplots.
I do recommend Tal Bauer’s book as well, they’re just very styles of fiction.

We never really hear or know of other ppl in the book unless they are in a scene with the primary characters. For example there is a lesbian couple we hear of and have some intro to thru Charlie’s connection and when then have been present w Charlie. That’s fine, it works, but I thought it could add some dimension to perhaps hear a chat with just the lesbians talking about their thoughts on a main character or how they play a role in the their lives through the eyes of the lesbian couple not always the main gay guys.
Also, Simon’s grandmother is very key in his life, and pillar of strength for Simon. Could be nice to hear a little more depth that focused on how she’s so great for Simon, and by extension all the primary gay boys here. Or even some of her personal observations of life, society, or heck even an experience baking in a cookie making competition bc we get she loves making cookies. And the main gate here could show up to support her as she does them. Just some thoughts on a little bit deeper context and character development.
I loved the book but thought it would take much to take a couple wrong turns and end up on Danielle Steele Drive. It’s definitely not like her. Just that it can get 2 dimensional here and there, with little connection or f/u to the lives before this book.
I did Audible. Def helped add dimension to hear the different voices presented by the narrator.
I never wanted to turn it off when I was driving and got to my destination.