Spanish Siesta

Flying into Love, Book 2

By: C F White

Narrated by: Piers Ryman

Matt Robinson just got dumped. Again. With his sister’s wedding on the horizon, he needs a plus-one.

Kieran Barker has been in love with his straight best friend for far too long. It’ll never happen. Having already been left behind when Matt went to university, Kieran can’t take more heartbreak.

So when Matt invites Kieran to spend a whole week with him on the island of Majorca, Kieran can’t let himself think there’s more to it than lads on tour. All he can do is play the field to take his mind off the hot, rugby-honed body of his oldest mate. Sexy men are in abundance in Magaluf, right? Matt only wants to cop off with the bridesmaid anyway.

But when Matt’s overprotectiveness about Kieran’s late-night escapades borders on jealousy, can he even dare to think that there’s more to their years of flirtations than simple bromance?

And can Matt really acknowledge his feelings when they’ll soon be returning to England, with him back to the university rugby team and 200 miles away from Kiera?

Spanish Siesta (Flying into Love, Book 2) is a contemporary friends-to-lovers, bisexual-awakening, forced-proximity MM romance featuring a hotheaded rugby fly-half struggling with his emotions and an out-and-proud wannabe dancer suffering from unrequited love.

©2022 C F White (P)2022 C F White

Fun light angst listen

Spanish Siesta is a really well done fun, low angst friends to lovers, biawakening romance. Matt and Kieran are childhood best friends and Kieran has been in love with Matt for years. Kieran has stayed in their hometown while Matt goes off to university and Kieran is trying to use their separation to put some space between them as he can’t watch Matt with women anymore. Matt is dumped days before he’s off to his sister’s destination, and desperate for a date he drags Kieran along. It’s always fun reading about a “straight” friend who is super overprotective and tries to block all interest in Kieran. It’s through this that he starts to realize maybe what he thought was protectiveness might actually be something more. Very enjoyable and looking forward to book 3 in the series. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this audiobook.

A Good Friends to Lovers Story

I love a good friends to lovers story and this one fit that description. Keiran & Matt have been in each other's lives since they were kids and although they both clearly cared deeply for each other, other people's influence and opinions kept their relationship to a platonic level. Fortunately for them, things finally get a chance to be as they should be. I thoroughly enjoyed following their story as they finally got to their HEA and it was even better when you add in the narration by Piers Ryman.

I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion

A great story to listen to!

I'm a big fan of this author. She has an amazing talent for developing characters without throwing you in the deep in but also not stringing you along - if that makes sense. I've fallen captive to CF White's storytelling skills once again with this book.

The characters are easy to like and empathize with. I felt the storyline progressed at a good pace that felt right for Matt and Kieran, particularly with their history, Matt's family, and where both young men are currently in their lives. I feel like this is a perfect choice for anyone who just likes a good story you can get lost in.

The narration is wonderful. I love Piers' accent. I normally listen to audiobooks at 1.5 because my mind just works fast due to ADHD (slower typically loses me), but with his accent, I do have to make sure I don't have it set above 1.3x speed, but that isn't a hardship. He does an incredible job with the narration and his accent adds to the story - it does not detract. I think no matter what speed you listen to him at, you will enjoy his narration of this book. This is a fantastic author/narrator combo and an easy grab when they come out with another one.

Getting a clue

Loved the setting of this one. It would have worked anywhere, but the setting in Majorca made it much more plausible that Matt would be able to let down his guard and examine his real feelings for Kieran. I enjoy stories where one of the MCs starts to object when the other goes out and meets other guys, supposedly because he's looking out for his welfare, safety, etc. and MC2 is so confused by the behavior of his supposedly straight friend which is clearly verging into controlling territory. It's very well done here as is the dawning realization that Kieran might actually get what he's dreamed about for so long. I've enjoyed Piers Ryman's performances before and I was looking forward to hearing how he would portray Matt's growing jealousy and possessive feelings toward Kieran. He did a wonderful job with that and also with letting us feel Kieran's hope as he starts to see where Matt might be going with their relationship.

Bestest Mates to Lovers

Bestest mates for like ...forever is what Matt and Kieran are. You feel their connection straightaway and Matt's discovery and Kieran's pining finally comes to a head on this "spanish siesta". So many surprises...some expected and some unexpected that kept this interesting and oh so entertaining. Piers Ryman narration was fantastic. He conveyed all the emotions and personalities of the characters in a way that had me engaged from start to finish. Little emotional...a little angst along with the right amount of steam and a very satisfying ending made this a fun listen. NICE!!

Friends to lovers

This is book 2 in CF White’s Flying Into Love. This book truly stands alone as there’s no crossover at all of the characters/events/locations with book 1.

I love friends to lovers tropes. At 22, Matt & Kieran have known each other for over decade. Kieran fell instantly in love with his best friend who remained clueless. I wish there had been a little more foundation for and insight into the depth of their friendship before we’re on the plane with them to Spain - because they already feel at odds and crumbling.

There’s some angst as Kieran seems finally ready to let go and Matt realizing that he wants more. Plus all the chaos surrounding Matt’s sister’s wedding. I could really feel Kieran’s anguish at thinking everything he wanted is being ripped away contrasted with Matt trying to come to terms with how falling in love with another man and his best friend will change his life.

Their make-up, reunion, and HEA were lovely. I like the way White even gave some HEAs to some secondary characters as well.

Narration:
Piers Ryman was enjoyable as usual. He’s a great match for White’s writing and characters. He does a good job giving them all unique sounds and personalities. Easy listen.

I received a copy of the audiobook from the author and am leaving an honest review.

A great story with fantastic audio performance!

Friends-to-lovers is one of my favorite romance tropes and out-for-you/bi-awakening is another. Spanish Siesta combines those two tropes with forced proximity/only one bed to create a really great story.

This book made me laugh and cry and everything in between. It’s such a great friends-to-lovers story. I love CF White’s writing and Spanish Siesta is no exception. I’ve said this before… the only thing that ever makes CF’s writing better is when Piers Ryman performs the audiobook.

There was a nice little twist in the story that I sort of saw coming but it was still a bit shocking when it happened. I thought it was a very nice touch to add to the story. Note that while Flying Into Love is a series the books are each standalones, connected only by the theme of “flying into love.”

A copy of this book and audiobook was provided to me at my request but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author or narrator.

***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***

Great story. Great narration.

A friends to lovers romance where both characters are two very different types of athletes is definitely my type of story. The execution of the story was beautifully done, and the narration was nicely performed.

I have already downloaded the next audiobook because I am in just the right mood for a romance with the type of angst this series is offering, and the narrator's voice is particularly soothing even during the angst filled moments.

An angsty friends-to-lovers romance

Kieran and Matt's romance had its fair share of angst and drama, but despite all the ups and downs the two of them won me over with their sweet connection.

If I'm being totally honest, this story did not get off to the most optimistic start. Matt was completely in denial about his attraction to men, Kieran was forcing himself to move on from a years-long crush on his straight best friend, and the two of them hadn't seen each other in person for multiple years. I wasn't sure there was any way their family wedding/vacation could turn things around, but little by little I started to pick up on their subtle cues. First it was the way Matt got so grumpy any time Kieran got hit on by another man, then it was Kieran's less-than-discreet ogling of Matt's body. As Matt came to terms with the idea that he might not be staight after all, Kieran was also fighting and failing to get over his feelings for Matt. The two of them were the perfect storm of emotions and sexual desire, and when they finally snapped it was hot as heck to experience. That supply closet romp didn't magically take away all the reason Matt and Kieran were hesitant to explore their romantic attraction, but boy was it a turning point that steered their formerly platonic friendship into steamy waters. The second half of their story was much less about "will they or won't they" and instead focused on "how can they turn their fantastic chemistry into something real". Once they'd opened the floodgates, there was no way to pretend that Kieran and Matt weren't perfect for each other, but the two of them had built up roadblocks and justifications for why their family and friends wouldn't accept their new togetherness. As sweet as their sexy explorations were, Matt and Kieran were also incredibly angsty and unsure for most of the rest of the story, and it took them all the way to the very end to decide if their relationship was worth the repercussions. I wish their journey had been a little easier, but it ended up all being worth it to see them happy and together in the epilogue.

**I voluntarily listened to a free copy of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.

Sweet!

This was a sweet and angst free, Friends to Lovers, Bisexual Awakening, Romance

Kiernan was sweet and adorable and Matt was such a hoot!

I absolutely loved this opposites attract featuring a sexy rugby player and a fiesty dancer coming together!!

This was a fluffy read overall.

I loved the characters and the plot was interesting and very compelling.

The narrator performed an amazing audio delivery and narration.