Borrowing Blue

Good story but.....

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, the story is well written, fun, and the narration by Michael Pauly is top notch.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Borrowing Blue?

The bar scene when the two main characters meet for the first time. This scene sets the pace for the rest of the book.

Which character – as performed by Michael Pauley – was your favorite?

Tristan, he was the most complex of the bunch and that's saying a lot.

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

Another gay movie with good looking white privileged men that have no real problems.

Any additional comments?

I liked the story, it was fun and the narration took it to another level. The problem I have is the main characters; while likable it's the same old tired formula: two successful and incredibly good looking white guys, with amazing bodies, great personalities find each other and make a connection in their perfect privileged worlds. Throw in some trivial self-worth obstacles to make them seem like their three-dimensional and you've got another white-washed story about gay true love. Way to mix it up folks.

31 of 35 people found this review helpful

Introducing...The Marian Clan

Would you listen to Borrowing Blue again? Why?

Yes, I would listen to Borrowing Blue again. It was a fantastic story and beginning to a franchise. This review comes after listening to the first 3 books in this franchise. The outcome of this book is pretty predictable, but it's really good getting there.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Blue is my favorite character in this book. I connected with him and his reactions to everything happening in his life. I really like how Blue is pretty much the central character of the family.

Which scene was your favorite?

I liked when Blue finally finds out Tristan's connection to Simone and the wedding.

If you could rename Borrowing Blue, what would you call it?

I wouldn't change the name of the book.

Any additional comments?

I think that this story is a great listen. It's an easy listen with a happy ending. It's a great introduction to a large family, all with a story to tell.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Utterly charming!

Any additional comments?

I was utterly charmed by both the story and the narration. I liked both Blue and Tristan very much. I loved that even though this is a super fast insta-love sort of story, I totally bought into it.

But, most of all, I absolutely adored Michael Pauley’s narration. Terrific character voices, good pacing, and he’s brilliant at conveying the emotional moments. I just loved the narration!

If you like Alexa Land and/or like stories with big families, zany older folks (behaving sometimes completely inappropriately), humor, lots of hot sex, low angst, and oodles of romance…then you need to check this out.

As for me, I’m definitely going to pick up the second in the series and whispersync the deal to get Michael Pauley’s audio performance as well.

9 of 10 people found this review helpful

what a great story with sweet characters!

I loved it! romantic and sweet with enough family drama to relate to all of us. never have I experienced the "laugh out loud" moments as I did with this story. looking forward to more Marian!

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

A- rating overall

My Review:
Overall: 4.25
Performance: 4.5
Story: 4.0


This is the first book I've read by this author and I really liked it. On the surface, this is not a romance that should happen. Tristan isn't gay...at least not that he's ever admitted. Yes, he did a bit of experimentation in college, but then he met his wife, and then the interest in men was never there...until Blue.

Blue is at Tristan's vineyard for his brother's wedding. He immediately is drawn to Tristan, but doesn't understand how Tristan can be so new to all this, but yet so accepting and adventurous about it all. Note...I kind of loved that about Tristan. He really is a laidback guy who's up for anything.

The book was fun. The setting was incredible...hello, sexy vineyard. The dichotomy of both families being here was interesting, especially in the contrasts between Tristan's and Blue's acceptance. I loved the whole Marian clan and can see how this series is setting up so well. Note: the scenes that make up Tristan's 'coming out' were hilarious and unexpected. I kept laughing out loud.

I liked this one and am immediately going to go grab book #2.

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

Great story, bad audio

As much as I love this author, I tried giving the full book a listen, and I just couldn't get into it. The voice sounds almost like a Mac robot reader, but somehow even more into the uncanny valley at points: Certain vowels are extended, and the tone wiggles in ways I've only heard a robot speak. White at other points in the dialogue it does sound like "Michael Pauley" is a real person, and that it might just be the editing that's made the robotic sounding word endings. It distracts greatly from my ability to enjoy the story.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

I absolutely loved this book!

This book was awesome!!!'It was romantic and funny!!! The narrator was literally the best I've heard since I've started reading audio books! His transitions from one character to the next was next to flawless...and the differences in most of the voices...the characters was so good, that in the beginning, I wondered if there were two people narrating (I hadn't paid attention to the name of the narrator in the beginning), but once I checked, I realized that there was just one. Check it out! I will be looking for this author and narrator for more great stories!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Hot, sexy voice!

Michael Pauley has the sexiest narrating voice ever!

This isn't a big, conflict ridden novel. It sweet, funny and hot as hell. Get this audio version-you won't be disappointed. Pauley does the MCs and their romance pure justice.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

beautiful

What did you love best about Borrowing Blue?

how it comes together. it makes you feel happy sad and everything in be tween

Who was your favorite character and why?

Alex did not give up

What does Michael Pauley bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Amazing I love Michael Pauley he makes the book come to life

If you could take any character from Borrowing Blue out to dinner, who would it be and why?

the grandma she is the best and so funny

Any additional comments?

love the work of Lucy Lennox I think she puts feeling in her work and brings the world to life

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Very sweet

Blue Marian knows he is bound to meet his ex-boyfriend at his sister’s wedding. But he does not expect to find Jeremy with a young and handsome twink who is also wearing a wedding ring… The abusive consumption of alcohol that follows that encounter ends up with him kissing sexy and irresistible Tristan Alexander, who happens to be his sister’s fiancé’s brother, and also straight. But Tristan’s reaction to Blue’s kisses seem to indicate he is not as straight as he thinks he is. Soon, Tristan and Blue find themselves exploring a blooming relationship, which starts as an experiment of sorts, but it turns into something intense and deep in no time at all. Can someone fall in love in less than a week? And is it enough to survive a long distance relationship? Blue and Tristan have to decide if they want to find out….
So. I have a couple of issues about this story. On the one hand, it is well written and the characters are likeable, all the Marian family are really great, specially old aunt Tilly who seems to find a perfect counterpart in Tristan’s granny. Feelings run deep in this story, and there is a lot of intercourse, a real lot… Scenes well written but a bit overwhelming for me (too much of a good thing can become tiresome). There is love and a very happy HEA, so the book should have been a hit. But. There are two things I couldn’t see in the book. First, the fact that somebody who has more than one gay brother can marry a homophobic prick. I just don’t get it. How can you fall in love with somebody who despises most of your family? The other thing I did not get was the insta-love between Tristan and Blue. This is a very difficult topic for me, because I find it very hard to believe. It takes suspension of disbelief, and sometimes it does not even work. It is what happened here. I could feel the attraction and the lust between Blue and Tristan, but moving from that to I-love-yous in a couple of days… Too much for me.
Leaving aside my issues with the plot, Michael Pauley’s narration was just great. His ability to provide each character with a very special idiosyncrasy is outstanding. I loved how he personalised all the characters, specially Tristan, his performance of Blue’s lover oozes confidence and kindness. He finds and provides all his characters with quirks and peculiarities, and his narration is smooth and really easy to follow. Listening to this story was a very enjoyable experience.
Recommendable for fans of insta-love and very sweet HEAs

1 of 1 people found this review helpful