Invitation to the Blues

Small Change Series, Book 2

By: Roan Parrish

Narrated by: Greg Boudreaux

Eight months ago Jude Lucen fled his partner, his career, and a hospital in Boston after a suicide attempt. Now back in Philadelphia, he feels like a complete failure. Piano has always been his passion and his only escape. Without it, he has nothing. Well, nothing except a pathetic crush on the most gorgeous man he's ever seen.

Faron Locklear came to Philly looking for a fresh start and has thrown himself into tattooing at Small Change. He's only met Jude a few times, but something about the red-haired man with the haunted eyes calls to him. Faron is blown away by Jude's talent. What he isn't expecting is the electricity he feels the first time they kiss - and the way Jude's needs in bed speak directly to his own deepest desires.

Jude and Faron fall fast and hard, but Jude has spent a lifetime learning that he can't be what the people he loves need. So when the opportunity arises to renew his career in Boston, he thinks he has to choose: music, or Faron? Only by taking a huge risk - and finally believing he's worthy of love just as he is - can he have the chance for both.

Contains mature themes.

©2018 Roan Parrish (P)2019 Tantor

Emotionally Heartbreaking 💔

This book broke my heart and then mended it back together. My heart cried for Jude and all he was and went through with his mental illness, but the beautiful gentle way Faron put him and them back together whole and showed them both they are worthy was everything . Such a sweet, heartbreakingly beautiful story of ❤️ conquering all...
narration was superb. I felt every emotion in the authors words.

Beautiful!

I love the way Roan Parrish depicts mental health. This story portrayed depression and anxiety beautifully, just like in Rend. I love how she will give details of the most challenging side, but leave enough room to the imagination for readers to identify themselves or their struggles in it.

Amazing and deep

I laughed and cried right along with Jude. Wonderful story and great narration. Love this series.

beautiful navigation of intimacy

One of my favorite things about Roan Parrish books is how she depicts the characters navigating intimacy, particularly when one or both experience anxiety around it. I loved seeing Faron show Jude how his depression and anxiety was a beautiful part of him and not something to be "dealt with." The theme of contrast in art and in life were beautifully woven into this love story. Narration was perfect.

Such an amazing story!

Wonderful story, such beautiful characters! Narration was amazing. The story was so sweet and touching. The bedroom scenes were hot!

Deeply human and incredibly sexy

My favourite from this series. Great narration and, like always, beautifully written. Some of the best love scenes I’ve ever read. TW for past suicide attempt and depression and anxiety.

Amazing

Awesome audio book. I love the narration. It’s so entertaining and engaging. The pain, depression, anxiety are so strong. But also the love and connection. Amazing love story.

Awe-inspiring....

The most powerful of Roan Parrish’s books. Having read/listened to 8 of her books thus far, I am always struck by the honesty of her work, and the myriad of emotions her words evoke. This book though, stopped my brain and my heart multiple times. I could not stop reading it. Roan Parrish’s ability to illustrate with her words is truly incredible.

Greg Boudreaux was an excellent choice of narrator for this work. He effectively captured the essence of the characters, and made the voices distinguishable without being off-putting whatsoever. The single-narrator-model also worked really well here.

Fantastic story

This story is enthralling, at times heartbreaking, but ultimately beautiful! Roan Parrish is so great at creating multidimensional characters. I especially love her flawed, unique characters like Jude. Jude has a lot of issues that he’s dealing with and has a low self-esteem as a result of a very bad relationship and his own mental heath illness. Faron has some baggage of his own. He’s quiet and reserved, just the right person to balance Jude’s personality. Faron’s soft-spoken nature sets Jude at ease and his fierce inner strength helps Jude find his strength and self-acceptance. Faron doesn’t put pressure on Jude to be something he’s not. Jude is just the right person to balance Faron’s need for peacefulness and space when he needs time for himself. They fit so beautifully together.

Greg Boudreaux narrates each character so well. He alters his voice to suit each individual character. He portrays each mood and emotion just right, and I found myself getting lost in this story. I usually listen to an audiobook for a couple here and there, but I couldn’t stop listening to this one and finished in 2 days.

Romance is in the air…

I really appreciate how the main character finds love. He deserves it. He may suffer from depression but that is just a part of him. Not who he is as a person. Although this book is fiction, it helped me see things in a whole different light…and for that I am grateful. Thank you Roan Parrish.