Concealed Hearts

A Hometown Jasper Novel, Book 4

By: Nicky James

Narrated by: Nick J. Russo

Two closeted men in one rumor-hungry small town have no chance of keeping their love a secret.

Chief of Police Windsor Elkhart is a master deceiver. Not a single person in Jasper has a clue he’s gay, which explains the endless suitors all vying for his attention. Happily married to his job, he’s convinced life is good enough. Twenty years of abstinence is the price he chose to pay, all because of a secret he’s too ashamed to reveal.

Until Tomi Lee returns to town after a two-decade-long absence.

Shame and self-loathing have kept Tomi away from his home town, but can a simple message from a lonely police officer bring him back for good?

The people of Jasper prey on gossip. Everyone is watching everyone. No one is exempt. Falling in love is easy, but do two closeted men have any chance of building a sustainable relationship when they’re always trying to hide?

Concealed Hearts is a low/medium angst MM romance novel with two severely closeted main characters. It is part of the Hometown Jasper Series but can be listened to as a stand-alone.

©2020 Nicky James (P)2021 Nicky James

Utterly captivating

I read the kindle version of this book with some trepidation when it first came out; it pushes all my buttons (closeted characters, a sheriff, a small town), but as much as I enjoy Nicky James's writing, I wasn't a fan of the series. The first book was ok, but I didn't like the second (I don't do GFY books if I can help it), and the two main characters from the third book annoyed me to no end. So I was pleasantly surprised to find that the fourth time, in this case, was the charm.

Concealed Hearts was my favorite audiobook this year (so far), which is saying a lot because I listen to a LOT of audiobooks. It's one of three excellent books featuring characters who are in the closet that I read around the same time (the others being "The Jock" by Tal Bauer and "The Endgame" by Riley Hart), and my favorite of the three.

Nicky James tends to write books with a lot more angst; the Hometown Jasper series is, comparatively, a pretty easy read. Windsor (what the heck is this name) and Tomi are both gay men in middle age who have been closeted most of their lives who come together, and that's pretty much the plot. Well, more happens, mostly related to a struggling teenager Windsor is dealing with as sheriff of the Canadian town of Jasper, and Tomi dealing with issues having to do with his family, but the core of the novel is the romance between these two. It's rare to read a book where BOTH characters are in the closet, so the issues they face are similar to those in other novels dealing with this subject, but there are enough differences to keep it fresh. It's actually nice to have a book where a closeted character (Windsor in this case) is ACTUALLY closeted, and literally nobody--not his friends, not the women of the town, and not even other gay men--suspects he might actually be gay. Nothing says "stereotypes!" like a character in the closet and everyone in his life is like "I wish he would finally just come out already!" None of that here with Windsor, though Tomi slipped up in his youth and probably isn't as subtle as he would like to be.

Of the two characters, Tomi is smarter, but Windsor is braver, kinder, more likable (and more well liked), and has a better reason to stay in the closet. I was sort of afraid I wouldn't like Tomi because he was sort of a minor villain in the third book and I hated his brother, the protagonist of that book, but Tomi comes across as someone trying to do the best he can with the issues he has. But Windsor is the hero of this one, and is just one of the most wonderful characters I can remember coming across in m/m fiction. You never have any doubt that he'll do the right thing.

Nick J. Russo is an excellent narrator, always. Masculine sounding, never dull, never awkwardly over-excited during sex scenes, and perfectly well suited to narrating a book from two points of view because of the different personalities he can evoke with his voice, he's really one of the best narrators who consistently narrates in the m/m genre.

Anyway I can't recommend this highly enough. I loved the kindle version and I love the audiobook version.

LOVED

Oh. My. GODS. As soon as I realized who this book was going to be about, I lost it. And it did NOT disappoint! It was seriously amazing. I never knew I needed this story, but this will definitely get a relisten from me.

WILD!

Another GREAT story and another GREAT narration! I highly recommend. You will not be disappointed. ENJOY!

solid 4 stars

Would I listen to it again: yes ✔
Did the story keep me engaged: yes ✔
Was I invested in the characters: yes ✔

📖 Story comment: Good pace, likeable characters, nice flow. My heart hurt for these men and the way they felt the need to hide themselves.

🎧 Narrator comment: I enjoy Nick Russo as a narrator, he suits the characters, has good cadence, inflections and intonations and it's easy to distinguish the characters from each other. Overall an enjoyable performance and he bought the characters of Concealed Hearts to life

⚠ I received a complimentary copy of this book - it has in no way influenced my review. ⚠

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📌 Where does it fall on my personal scale? 7
• 1 not my thing • 2 didn't like the narration • 3 didn't keep my attention • 4 was good, but once was enough • 5 enjoyed it • 6 will listen again for the narrator • 7 goes on the "re-listen" list • 8 kept me up past bed-time • 9 recommended to family/friends • 10 own it in multiple formats • 11 keep a copy with me at all times
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Great Conclusion to the Series!

What a fabulous end to a fabulous series! I adored this book, Nicky James just sucks me in with everything she writes. I was right back in Jasper and felt like I was visiting old friends.  She just writes books in a way that just emmerse me into the story.  The details, the dialogue, the way the story unfolds...its just so so good!

This was Windsor and Tomi's story and I have been waiting for it since we felt their spark in book 3.  It did not disappoint.  Their connection was so strong, the way they came together was so sweet, and so heartbreaking at the same time since they were both hiding their true selves.  Their first times together were very intimate and very touching.  But this book was about so much more than their romance...it was about finding your true self, finding courage, taking chances and finding love that is all around you.  There was a secondary story here that melted my heart too and just added such a wonderful layer of depth to the entire series.  The town of Jasper, and many of the residents we have grown to know and love, are front and center and it was just perfect.  While I am sad it is over, it was a perfect end to this splendid and enjoyable series!!!!

Nick J Russo was the perfect choice to bring all the men of Jasper to life! He did such a good job with separate and distinct voices for everyone, fabulous accents, and bringing all the emotion!
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Excellent performance

Nick J Russo’s narration was fabulous. It just made the books and stories even better.

Not very happy about how the internal struggles were resolved through an external force rather than the breakthrough of each characters. But a warm story and a great ending to a series anyway

So good

I don't know why to say except this story is fantastic. I love when great books come to life in audio and this is no exception. Nicky wrote a fabulous series and Nick Russo did a great job bringing them to audio

loved the series

I loved the series. lots of sweet moment some giggles and hot bedroom action. touched on some heart wrenching string.

Wonderful Story!

I’ve been loving this Hometown Hearts series by Nicky James! Nick Russo has done a wonderful job bringing these men to life for me. He’s pulled me right into the story and made it feel new with his narrations. I loved Windsor and Tomi’s story. Nicky James has such a way of pulling you into a story and making you fall for her characters. I loved Tomi, complete with his perceived gruff and grumpy exterior. I even appreciated his OCD behaviors and need for order. I felt for him in his need to deny who he was to everyone, including his family. I also adored Windsor. He had such a kind heart. I loved how kind he was to the women who would fawn over him unsuccessfully. I also admired his patience with his staff and best friend who needled him about his love life endlessly. I understood why he felt he also needed to hide his sexuality and who he really was. Windsor just had the biggest heart for anyone who crossed his path. I really loved that about him. Tomi and Windsor were an unlikely match on the surface, but they each carried their own hurts and reasons for staying closeted for so long. I loved how they brought out the best in each other. My heart felt so much for these two as they tried to have it all - each other and keeping their sexuality to themselves. I loved the way their relationship unfolded and it made me love Windsor’s big heart even more. I love how their story wrapped up, as well as the glimpses of other amazing characters we met along the way with this series. Another fantastic series by this author!

Great conclusion to the series

THE STORY:
This is the final book in Mrs James's Hometown Jasper series, and I will miss this town.

Concealed Hearts is Windsor and Tomi's story. Chief Windsor cameoed in previous books and I was delighted when book 3 hinted that he would get his own story.
Tomi is Shay's older brother. While I did not warm to him in Forgetful Hearts, I was curious to read his story and understand why he felt he had to hide his sexuality, when his family was so understanding of Shay's sexuality and already suspected he wasn't as straight as he let on.

I was intrigued to read how Mrs James would keep two closeted men out of the gossip mill in small-town Jasper. She can tell a story!! She draws you in and makes you feel that you are there living side by side with her characters.
I loved how the relationship between Windsor and Tomi developed. Their coming together was more than just two closeted men hiding. It was two men learning to love and finding their true selves. It was two men putting it all on the line to help another person.

If you want a series with all the feels, all the banter, all the love... you can't go wrong with Hometown Jasper series!!

THE NARRATION:
Nick J Russo hit this series out of the park!! I absolutely loved his narration. His Windsor voice is exactly how he sounded in my head.
Nick's accents for the various character in this small town was outstanding!