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Galaxies and Oceans

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Galaxies and Oceans

By: N.R. Walker
Narrated by: Joel Leslie
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About this listen

Seizing his one chance to escape, Ethan Hosking leaves his violent ex-boyfriend, leaves his entire life, and walks into the path of a raging bushfire. Desperate to start over, a new man named Aubrey Hobbs walks out of the fire-ravaged forest, alive and alone. With no ID and no money, nothing but his grandfather's telescope, he goes where the Southern Cross leads him.

Patrick Carney is the resident lighthouse keeper in Hadley Cove, a small town on the remote Kangaroo Island off the coast of South Australia. After the tragic death of his lover four years ago, he lives a solitary life; just him, a tabby cat, the Indian and Southern Oceans, and a whole lot of loneliness. He's content with his life until a stranger shows up in town and turns Patrick's head.

Patrick never expected to be interested in anyone else.

Aubrey never expected to be happy.

Between Aubrey's love of the stars and Patrick's love of the ocean, these two fragile hearts must navigate new waters. If they can weather the storm of their pasts, they could very well have a love that eclipses everything.

Contains mature themes.

©2018 N. R. Walker (P)2019 Tantor Literature & Fiction Romance Heartfelt
All stars
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Wow, this was a hard listen. I got punched in the gut right from the first chapter.
It deals with domestic violence in sometimes graphic ways but is really a story of coming back from that.
This is such a powerful story, amazingly written and well told. It's not often a romance author is willing to approach this subject and N. R. Walker has done a brilliant job of it.
this will be on my repeat listen list

Man! what a story

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Joel’s narration is everything in this book. N. R Walker and Joel Leslie make an amazing pair through the romance of Patrick and Aubrey. Between Aubrey’s cheekiness and Patrick’s kindness, Joel’s tone, excitement and giggles brought the story to life. It’s like watching a movie where you can see the narrator smiling his way through. Also I cried. 10/10.

Joel spoils us again

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I love all of N.R. Walkers work, but this one is special. Aubrey's story is frightening and unfortunately, I fear, is very realistic with too many people suffering in similar ways. Complementary to Aubrey is Patrick's story of love and grief. Again a little too real. They find each other and see it through despite the odds. The ending is very satisfying, especially as some of the consequences of others actions get paid back.
Joel Leslie's narration is spot on. His character voices were so good. He is a genius.
I highly recommend this, and thank N.R. Walker again for a story that is about our corner of the world.

I loved this story

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Walker knows Kangaroo Island and weaves it beautifully through the story. Both protagonists are attractive and believable, with the lover lost at sea, the stars and ocean, and the Southern Cross laying an intriguing contrapuntal texture under the basic plot. Really enjoyed this book - rank it with Red Dirt Heart series and Switched!

NR Walker never seems to fail!

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This was devastating and uplifting. And Joel Leslie does a better Australian accent than Benedict Cumberbatch when he played Julian Assange (and that was pretty good).

Beside myself at 5am

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This is a second chance at love small town romance, featuring Ethan Hosking/Aubrey Hobbs and Patrick Carney, and is a standalone book.

Ethan saw a chance to run away from his abusive ex and he took it. He lived under the radar and used his grandpa’s name, Aubrey, so no one would find him. Aubrey ends up in the small town of Hadley, where he meets Patrick, the local lighthouse keeper - who is dealing with the loss of his partner.

These two were the cutest! So much caring and support between them, helping each other heal from their pasts and learning how to live again - together.

This was a slow burn but it was so full of emotions that it felt anything but slow to me. I loved this little town on Kangaroo Island, and I loved that these two broken men found a second chance at love. Super sweet HEA too.

Things to expect in this book are:
Standalone
MM romance
Set in Australia
Small town romance
Second chance at love
Age gap (27/41)
Hurt / Comfort
Size difference
Slow burn
Living with grief
Abusive ex
Touch starved
Bit of spice
A lot of emotions
Found family
Sweet HEA

Story of Aubrey and Patrick

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NR Walker never fails. And Joel Leslie's narration is one of the best I've heard, you can feel every emotion in his voice. The story and the narration had me close to tears at parts. I love it.

Gripping

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Even though the topic of domestic violence is heavy, this book deals with it very sensitively. Walker captures the essence of an abused person, the associated decrease of self esteem and confidence are well handled here. Ultimately there is a true and beautiful love story between Aubrey and Patrick. Their story is highly believable and the characters are beautifully created with depth and feeling. Walker excels here again.

Joel Leslie is again amazing and his Australian accent is on point.

Sensitive handling of domestic violence

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A beautiful story that takes you from the rural areas of New South Wales, the power halls of Canberra, the backpacking community in Melbourne, to a sleepy fishing village in South Australia. Aubrey and Patrick will melt your heart and will uncover what the Southern Cross mean to each of them.

I was mesmerised the moment Ethan/Aubrey remembered what his grandfather told him that he needs to look at the sky and follow the Southern Cross. I love it!

Mesmerizing!

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Firstly, this story was so beautifully written and delivered. It was so sad but at the same time so uplifting. I rarely cry when reading, but the poignancy of this story had me in tears. Secondly I was amazed that the narrator actually sounded Australian and very happy with his accent and portrayal of these two characters. As is his want, Joel Leslie did an amazing narration and has been one of my top favourite story tellers. I give this 5+ stars for both Joel and NR Walker

Poignant and utterly beautiful

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