Heat Stroke

Beach Kingdom, Book 2

By: Tessa Bailey

Narrated by: Kale Williams, Kas Vadim

They can't be together. They won't stay apart.

Marcus “Diesel” O’Shaughnessy is a brash, oversized CrossFit enthusiast with a naked lady tattooed on his rippling forearm. Jamie Prince is a private school teacher with an extremely low tolerance for bull.

The two men have zero in common. Well, except for three things: they’re both moonlighting as lifeguards for the summer; no matter how hard they try, they cannot stay away from each other; and they both have secrets they’re determined to keep.

What happens in the shadows of the Long Beach boardwalk can only remain hidden for so long. The July sunshine reveals the hot, unrelenting connection they never expected, forcing Marcus and Jamie to decide: are they simply caught up in a temporary heat stroke, or have they found something worth rescuing?

©2019 Tessa Bailey (P)2023 Podium Audio

Smoking hot

Tessa can do no wrong to me, I love some of her charachters more than others, Marcus and Jamie are two of my favorites! This was my first M/M story ever, and it is still the hottest! Tessa is the queen of dirty talk, and that is here, but the sweet, the sweet is SO GOOD in this book! I have read this one over and over, I want their story to keep going, (It does a bit in Sink or Swim) but I need more!!!

Too perfect!

I honestly didn’t expect too much from this since the writer usually doesn’t do mm stories but she nailed every aspect of this story. The dialogue was fun and youthful. The story was realistic and steamy. The narrators gave it their all and had all (even the side characters) leaping of the “page”. Such a wonderful read my only complaint is I wish it were longer lol.

4/5 peppers for spice I love how they wrote the spicy scenes too very descriptive and I do love a verse couple.

My favorite of the Beach Kingdom

The humor, passion and love is overwhelming. The narration is wonderful and captures the different personalities so well. I’ve listened to this 6 times now and still laugh and swoon to all the best parts.

Marcus and Jamie are EVERYTHING!!

Let me begin by saying that i had high hopes for this book. Book 1 of the Beach Kingdom series, Mouth to Mouth introduced the heroes of this book Jamie and Marcus, and I was instantly excited to see how their relationship developed. Jamie Prince is an intelligent school teacher who spends his summers as a lifeguard and helping to run his families bar. He is responsible, hard working, smart and knows it... but not in a way where you would find him annoying. Instead it adds to his confidence which is sexy. Marcus "Diesel" O'Shaughnessy is outwardly strong, a Cross-fit enthusiast, overly muscled and flaunts it. He also works as a lifeguard and as a bouncer at Jamie's bar.

Jamie is an openly gay man who has been out since his youth, while Marcus is still exploring and discovering himself. Both men spend time discovering who they are, what is important to them, and what they can and can't live with. This story is filled with heart, emotion, longing, a little bit of angst and a lot of dirty sexy times. It was truly the perfect story for these two.

When i got to the end of the book, i was already planning my reread. I hope this one goes to audio too, because i would love to listen to two male narrators interpret this story.

Update 5/1/23: WE GOT AUDIO!! and it was such a great way to revisit Long Beach and Jamie and Marcus! Kas Vadim brought Jamie to life and I was blown away by Kale Williams Narration Marcus' was phenomenal! I love these characters so much!

So not what i expected

i usually purchase all books narratored by Kale Williams because he is the best narratore ever ! But i have never read this author and oh boy it was so good not so much angst but a lovely story of coming to terms with your sexuality , and both narrators did such a good job ! i give it 5 stars for sure

Marcus and Jaime are perfect

I love this story so much. So many heartwarming moments. and so many heartwrenching moments. Marcus is so sweet and confused. but he's always thoughtful and kind. it's impossible not to love him. And Jaime is the voice of reason I'm his family. so him putting himself in an uncomfortable position to be with Marcus is so endearing. I think both narrators were perfect in these roles.

Uncomplicated Point Of View!

I read this story quite a while ago & when I saw it was on audible, I could not get it fast enough! Jamie is a teacher who bartends & lifeguards with his brothers in the summer. Marcus is a big ole super simple Dude Bro who lifts weights, lifeguards & is a bouncer. He is crushing on Jamie & Jamie tries to pretend he does not care. Marcus is the biggest cinnamon roll EVA but he is fierce when it comes to Jamie! Kale & Kas who narrate got these guys Spot on! I am still smiling a day later! My favorite part is when Marcus is down on himself about not being smart & Jamie tells him " He has an uncomplicated point of view" SWOON! This is part of a series where Jamie's brothers meet their women, but this can be a complete standalone and you will enjoy every minute!

Humor, mild angst, and high heat

The general story is a fairly standard one (see synopsis), but it’s so well-written that I didn’t much care. The two MC’s are both extremely likable, the narration is very good, and the heat is nearly off the charts. The only reason it didn’t get five stars is because this is a standalone and there were two plot points that we didn’t get closure on.

So good!

This book was so good. The characters are well developed and it gives you a glimpse of how guys feel the societal pressures also.

My favorite audiobook this year so far

I don't have much to say about this except what I said in the headline; this is easily my favorite audiobook released this year (so far). I love when M/M books are written by authors who don't typically write M/M; they're far less mired down with LGBT politics, which is a breath of fresh air. Heat Stroke manages to tell a story about two men that wouldn't work as a story about a straight couple, but does it without ever becoming preachy. Marcus and Jamie's feelings remain the focus of the narrative. The blurb and some of the reviews I've read make it sound like this story is going to be bi-awakening or Gay For You, but it is neither (to its credit).

Kale Williams (who I'm familiar with) and Kas Vadim (who I am not) do an excellent job narrating. My one very, very minor complaint is that it's odd to have a dual narration when the book is written in third person. Other than that, I'll put this one in my short list to re-listen to over and over.