Playing Patience

Blow Hole Boys, Book 1

By: Tabatha Vargo

Narrated by: Todd Haberkorn, Tatiana Sokolov

Life's been hard for Zeke. Being a punching bag for his alcoholic father has turned him into stone. Not even the dodgy trailer park he lives in can scare him. Fighting is his release and sex, drugs, and his guitar bring him peace, but deep down Zeke isn't quite as hard as he makes himself out to be. When he meets Patience, she finds all his broken pieces and puts him back together. She's a ray of light in his shadowed life and the last thing he wants to do is bring her into his dark world. Playing careless is easy, playing the bad guy can be fun, but playing Patience is impossible, especially when she can see right through him.

Zeke isn't the only one who's broken, and for the first time in a long time, Patience feels alive. Her black and white world gets a shot of color when she meets Zeke. With his tattoos, piercings, and blunt honesty, he's unlike anyone she's ever met. She wants nothing more than to let go and ride the wild side with him, but some wounds never heal and the broken pieces of Patience aren't so easy to find.

©2013 Tabatha Vargo (P)2014 Tantor

a little too melodramatic for me

it started out really interesting! I liked that Zeke was genuinely an asshole and didn't become a good guy the second he met Patience. I felt like the book got a little too melodramatic for my taste, but overall, I liked this one.

Not your typical love story

Would you listen to Playing Patience again? Why?

I generally do not listen to audio books twice.

What other book might you compare Playing Patience to and why?

I believe this one stands alone because of the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the couple..

Which character – as performed by Todd Haberkorn and Tatiana Sokolov – was your favorite?

Snowflake was my favorite .... as she battled her demons to fight her way to love.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I do not intend this to be a spoiler ... but there is non-consensual sex between a daughter and father.

Any additional comments?

This book was worth a credit!

Not for the weak of hearts

This is a sad and unfortunate story, that may connect to anyone with the similar mark of abuse. Story definelty affected me.

Truly a love story.

If you could sum up Playing Patience in three words, what would they be?

Anticipation, disappointment and salvation. Two damaged people from different worlds fall in love, but not easily or prettily.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Zeke. He makes bad decisions and can be a serious ass, but he is still learning what feelings are, while working his way out of the trailer park and avoiding the pitfalls that he doesn't even know are there (drugs, alcohol, violence, bad women). When he fell in love he was all in, and when he figured out what life is about he chose to live it properly.

Which character – as performed by Todd Haberkorn and Tatiana Sokolov – was your favorite?

Loved 2 narrators. It made the story more realistic and enjoyable. I loved how Megan was portrayed.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

People can surprise you.

Any additional comments?

This book has more to it than you think and is worth your time and credit. Very engrossing and entertaining.

grounded

this book is filled with love, compassion, happiness, sadness and turmoil. the main characters go through all the stages and deal with a huge amount of grief along the way.

excellent book

Any additional comments?

This was an audio book for me. It keeps you on the edge throughout the entire story. So much heart break and uncomfortable moments.

Drama! Drama! Good story!

Would you listen to Playing Patience again? Why?

Yes, I will listen to it. Zeke and Patience had a roller-coaster romance.

What other book might you compare Playing Patience to and why?

Have you listened to any of Todd Haberkorn and Tatiana Sokolov ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Tatiana yes - first time with Todd Haberkorn.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes, when Patience defended Zeke against his father. I like how Patience was getting Zeke jealous at the night club.

Did not like her

I was mad at her for not seeing that it was better for everyone that the mom took the blame

I loved this book when I read it, and it was even better listening to it.

I loved this book. Two broken souls who found each other. The way Zeke loved his snowflake was perfect.

Luv’d this! .•.•.rollercoaster of ❌⭕️’s

Solid 4.5 for this listen!
While the story is not super complex it is riveting, emotional, romantic, heartbreaking and intense!
This is one of the better new adult listens and contains alot of what romance readers like including sexy moments.
The premise is darker with both Main characters dealing with horrible family circumstances. The two, Zeke and Patience find each other and eventually anchor one another in a storm or chaos, violence, emotional and sexual abuse.
Because of the secrets they both hold, their journey is a roller coaster of denial, attraction, friendship and secrets culminating in an explosive scene towards the end that nearly breaks both of them.
The narration was so good it was beyond anything I can describe other than perfect!
Great listen available through my romance package, although I would have spent a credit for it!
5 stars narration
4 stars story
Story loses a star only because i would’ve liked more background and interaction with side characters to give it depth. It also would’ve made me want to know more about the others in follow up books.