Incandescent

By: Christina Lee

Narrated by: Nick J. Russo

Delaney Roberts and Marcus Worthy-Davis have quite a few things in common. Both blue-collar workers in their 40s, they’ve experienced the tragic loss of their wives and meet through their monthly grief group. Their connection is immediate, their friendship solidifying over texts and barstool confessions, neither feeling quite so lonely in the other’s presence.

When Marcus reveals to the group that he’s considering dating, it shakes Delaney to his core. He’s nowhere near ready, not when he feels on unstable ground with his teenage son and has vowed not to uproot his life again. Even if it means pushing his own needs aside. Even if Marcus’ announcement stirs something else inside Delaney, something he’s kept at bay for 20 years, and he suddenly sees their more tender moments in a different light.

The first time Marcus holds Delaney during a particularly rough night, the ache in Marcus’ chest, the one he tries hard to ignore, only intensifies. And when their slow-burning friendship sparks into a blazing fire, they finally indulge in each other to satisfy their needs. Marcus knows the arrangement is only temporary, but he feels a rightness with Delaney he can’t easily explain.

Soon enough, their longing becomes difficult to ignore. But love after loss is terrifying, the familiarity with pain and despair too close to the surface. To fan the flames of their connection, they’ll not only need to make room in their hearts but also take an enormous leap of faith.

©2022 Christina Lee (P)2022 Christina Lee

Sweet, short, iffy narrator

It's a very sweet story and 8 enjoyed it but I do wish it was longer. Another hour at the end would have been great. The only real complaint I have is with the narrator. He has good range of emotion which was great but I could never tell from voice alone which of the two main characters was talking. He made older/younger characters sound different but not the two main characters and it was very frustrating at times.

Good from bad

Can a grief support group be heartwarming? This author managed to make it so.
Delaney and Marcus are both trying to deal with the loss of their wives. They meet through their monthly grief meetings. They find they are so comfortable with each other and have so much in common that a strong friendship develops between them. They really become a big part of each other’s life. Then Marcus decides to consider dating without telling Delaney first. This makes Delaney uncomfortable with their friendship, almost like he feels it more than Marcus. The developments in their changing relationship takes a little examining by both of them. This is a feel good story that gives hope that there is good that can come from bad events in a person’s life. As I listened to this story and believe the narration by Nick J. Russo brought so much to making this story so realistic. His ability to become the character and bring to life the characteristics and emotions of the character make the audio books so desirable.

Heartfelt and Beautiful!

Loved it ! brilliantly written and narrated! Storytelling at its best !
compelling and heartfelt...

Such a beautiful story

10 out of 5 stars for this one!!!
This is a new to me author and a new to me narrator. I loved them both. The Characters were so real and mature. There was no unnecessary drama to bring the two together and I loved that. I honestly can’t wait to listen to it again.

The dog is fine

A lovely bisexual story with grief, but at enough distance to handle...and the dog is fine.

5/5

The narrator is amazing! He really brings the emotions alive. Makes the characters come to reality. The story was really sweet and tender. Definitely a reread!

Love after loss

This is my first Christina Lee book. And I loved it. This rating is after a re-listen, I loved it enough to listen again and I know it won’t be the last time.

I really loved Marcus and Lane. It was wonderful to take the journey with them from friendship to more as they get to explore their bisexuality and experience love again after loss. I also loved Lane’s son Grant and the family dynamics.

Nick J Russo did a really good job bringing them to life. I have long been a fan of his narration.

Overly Formal and Unrealistic Writing Style

Excellent MCs but the book was disappointing. There is an author out there who writes overly-sensitive dialog that makes me uncomfortable because it’s unrealistic; no one talks to each other that way. This book had the same problem and more. While the book wasn’t boring, the dialog and the entire book was written extremely formally. Who writes like that or talks like that anymore? What men say ”Let me walk you to the door” to each other in this day in age? It’s like a writer from 100 years ago was cryogenically frozen and thawed out in the 2020’s to write a modern MM romance novel. They were given an awesome summary synopsis which their final book didn’t match. The formal writing and unrealistic dialog made it impossible to get engrossed in the story.

The narrator did not differentiate between the voices as much as I have heard him do in other books.