Narration Dream Team

This book was a hard listen because of the subject matter. Story was well written and sensitively approached. The narrators were outstanding and emotions clearly expressed in their reading. Would love to hear these guys pair up on other projects.

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4 people found this helpful

I'm feeling generous, give it a try.

Let's start with the narration. I will listen to JF Harding any day of the week. However he was wasted in this book. So many reviews gush about the "perfect pairing" or how great Stephen Dexter is. Nonsense. Have you listened to Sarina Bowen's "Roommate"? If you have, you have heard the Dexter one trick pony narration. I could hear a line from that book over and over "we're having butter fried chick-en, mashed po-ta-toes..." I wanted to scream. Everything he does sounds the same. Sure, it has pleasing moments of gravel, but I do not like his women's voice work, and like too many narrators, he has a trademark cadence that is employed in every book of his I have heard. I have said in other reviews that I am 100% over the dual narration, this book is perfect example of why. The characters do not have equal page time. Dexter reads the larger part which immediately irritated me as I realized the structure of the book. Harding is completely wasted, and their vocal choices for the characters contradicts the other narrators choices. Why is this a thing?

Now the story. Nash does an overall pleasing job. It is trope heavy, but mostly well done. Cold, controlling father, misunderstood bad boy, the hardworking guy with the weight of the world on his shoulders - they are all there. I will be as careful as I can be, but there might be hints of plot ahead. Non plot irritants - Victor wears thongs? WTF is that about? He is a swimmer, not a go-go dancer. It is mentioned several times and it makes no sense. Also, we are expected to believe that the world of competitive swimming is rife with narcotics and alcohol abuse. Cocaine? Pills? I would believe a character, but a whole co-ed team? Then there is the issue between father and son which is constantly alluded to, but is never really resolved, just a single sentence that clears up nothing.

There are a number of little things at the end that make no sense, but you just have to let them go and enjoy the odd chemistry Nash has written, Detailing here would give away parts of the resolution. I do recommend for the well handled tropes. I think a better read than listen, but you can get through the audio. I have listened twice.

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3 people found this helpful

What a roller coaster of emotions!

Victor's and Ethan's crazy emotional very intense hate to love is absolutely beautiful! My heart hurt for Victor so much. An Ethan made me melt with him trying to give Victor everything he needed no matter what it may have been he gave it! I loved them both so very much!

I listened and read this and the narrators J.F. Harding and Stephen Dexter did an amazing job! Both really got into the story and drew me in right away and I connected so fast to each character because of the emotion the narrators put in while reading!

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3 people found this helpful

Terrific Story & Narration🎧 Gripping & Intense!

Wow, this book takes you on an emotional rollercoaster ride, one that you can not pull yourself away from. It is my first book written by Riley Nash and he certainly grabbed my attention with their impressive writing style and ability to create such a detailed and complex story that moves you like no other. The characters are realistic, easy to relate to and connect with, they are easy to care about too, even when they are at their lowest. And when we first meet Victor Lang, he seems to be at his lowest or spiraling towards his lowest, and his story is not an easy one and neither was his life. A former athlete, an Olympian swimmer, disgraced and scandalized after getting caught using performance-enhancing drugs. A scandal that ruined his career and possibly his life, he became a recluse, but his rich daddy enabled him over the years and now wants him to work. Ethan is a dutiful son, struggling to make ends meet with paying bills and making sure his mother gets the care she needs for her cognitive issues and care, since he can not leave her on her own. Working for a lawn company, he gets sent to the home of an athlete he and his cousin idolized when they were younger, that was before his career tanked because of the doping scandal. While working in his yard he gets a glimpse of Victor who catches him watching him, their first meeting was not a friendly one, but Victor’s father witnesses their interaction and since Ethan is the first person his son responded to, he wanted to hire Ethan to work with Victor. You would think his father was doing this out of the goodness of his heart, but their relationship is and has been a dysfunctional one. Ethan could use the money and hopefully get better care for his Mom. When he offered more money to accompany Victor for a modeling gig, his father set up, he jumps on it. These two could not be more different from each other, coming from completely different worlds, yet they worked and Ethan, who has a caring heart of gold is just what Victor needs, but Ethan also opens his eyes and reflects on his own life too. The author makes these two work to get thru their issues and to their happily ever after and their journey is not a smooth one, there are many obstacles and bumps along the way. There is never a dull moment in this book and there are scenes that wreck you, gut wrenching and heartrending scenes, but in the end you find out why, what and who and once the truth comes out, healing can begin. Riley Nash, thank you for this amazing story and emotional rollercoaster ride.

🎧📚🎧 And for the wonderful narration, J.F. Harding and Stephen Dexter are the perfect cast to bring these characters to life and do so with a complete understanding of the character they were portraying and were believable in every role they played. You could hear how much heart they put into their performance as they captured the character’s emotions and had you feeling every single one. These versatile voice artists are entertaining storytellers and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for another fantastic performance.

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2 people found this helpful

Heartbreakingly Beautiful

This was one of my favorite books of 2022. Getting to experience Victor & Ethan's story again in audio was amazing. It brought back all of the feelings from the first time I read this plus more. The narrators really brought these characters to life. They really put emotion into the story. From the absolute heart-wrenching bits to the sexy scenes to the pure emotional depth - the narrators did amazing. I couldn't tell which I loved more but they both did such a great job bringing their characters to life.

As for the story - it's not an easy read by any means. At first glance it's enemies-to-lovers with a fake dating trope thrown in there (and ONLY ONE BED 😎). But it is also so, so, so much more. This is a story about two broken boys who find their way together despite the odds. Of overcoming trauma and finding that one person who makes you feel safe, and loved.

The animosity at the beginning of the book is no joke and these two REALLY don't like each other. But then there is this beautiful slow burn that happens. There are some of the absolute sweetest small moments between these two that absolutely killed me (the gelato scene!!).

Victor is so very broken (check the TWs as there are a lot) and this boy hurt my heart. Ethan, despite having a lot of his own personal grief, responsibilities, etc., really takes it on himself to figure out how he can care for Victor. How to "save" him since it appears no one else will. Ethan is simply amazing - he is boyfriend goals and Victor? He is the most lovable, sassy, broken boy I think I've ever read.

This is a beautiful story and I absolutely loved it. I fell hard for these two.

And the writing was just plain beautiful. I'll leave you with some quotes:

““It hurts too much,” he whispers. “I need to quit you slow, or it’s going to kill me.””

"If love can see us now, it must be ashamed that it has nothing to offer."

"No one ever comes back for me. Until you."

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1 person found this helpful

Exquisitely told

Full disclosure, I adore Riley Nash and cannot believe they are already such an amazing talent. I resisted Hold Me Under because I thought it would be too emotional for me. I listened to — and absolutely loved — the other three books in this series. Figured it was high time to give Victor and Ethan their due. I knew a lot about Victor’s trauma from the other books, which really helped soften the blow for me; reader, please heed the trigger warnings. Despite being mostly “off page,” Victor’s trauma is evident in his every flinch, secret hideaway spot, and look of terror. Riley’s portrayal of Victor and his demons never touches on exploitation or “trauma p*rn” but it’s still utterly heartbreaking. Victor and Ethan (oh, Ethan!) are so desperately real, so noble in their brokenness, just so achingly alive in this book … if you somehow reach the end without tears you are a better person than me! Great story and great narration. Absolutely an A+ work of fiction.

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Wonderful, heart rending story

Right quick: I really wish there were more real enemy to lovers tropes. What I tend to see don't quite fit the bill for me because almost from the first chapter one or both of the main characters are halfway or already in love. Hold Me Under was a refreshing read because you could feel the disdain Ethan and Victor had in the beginning.

My main complaint is that I never felt the draw or connection that Nash uses the attorney and Victor's father to indicate that is they sensed was between Ethan and Victor (in one scene Warren mentions to Ethan that atty Gray told him that Victor seemed to connect to Ethan) I just don't feel that the author showed us enough of this building connection either through dialogue or actions in the beginning so as a result it felt as if when our couple does get together it felt more contrived rather than organic.

Overall, I enjoyed HMU and the performers Harding and Dexter; they struck the right chords for me on how I thought Ethan and Victor would be.

Victor is a survivor. Although he is a character in Nash's book, his story is a very real experience for countless others worldwide - past and present. He came from a wealthy background and it still happened.... so you know it happens for those less fortunate than him....and many don't survive. I am so angry with Victor's swim team and most definitely the coach and Victor's father. May them and those like them meet their ends with the fire of a thousand suns! 4 stars - I won't listen again.

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This book is EVERYTHING

One of the best I’ve listened to this year, and I fly through books, so I’ve heard hundreds.
Riley Nash is a new author to me, and I’ll def be digging into her books. Her writing was very poetic, capturing the beauty of the story. The two main characters were beautifully written, and well developed. I loved how eccentric Victor, such an opposite of Ethan. It started a little slow but once it picks up, it takes off. The last 25%, I couldn’t put it down. I ordered the hard copy to do a second read through bc once everything comes out at the end, I’m interested ti go back and see if there were things I missed.
The less you know the better it is, go in as blind as you can, it’s enthralling and will not disappoint. This is one of those books that stays with you for days after.

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Emotional MM Romance

Book 1 of Riley Nash's elemental series is great! It has fake dating, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, and hurt/comfort vibes. If you have a serious broken boy kink like I do, this book is for you. Victor is broken and has been reclusively living at home for the last six years after failing a doping test that ended his professional swimming career. He’s built walls so high that they seem impenetrable.
Then Ethan quite literally crashes into his life. After Victor catches him spying as he showers, instead of landscaping his yard like he should be, his quick retreat sends him flailing into the pool. A very disgruntled and naked Victor has to rescue him because he can’t swim. When Victor nonchalantly asks him if he’s a pervert, it seems pretty justified!
After a series of events that neither of them are down for, they become fake boyfriends struggling against their very real instant connection (struggling because damaged Victor is a pretty big jerk, but don’t worry, you'll love him anyway).
Throughout the whole book, we are wondering right along with Ethan about what really happened to derail Victor’s Olympic career. The answers are darker than you may have bargained for, so check content warnings, if needed.
In the end, you'll just want to put Victor back together again as much as Ethan does. It’s an emotional book and feels very powerful to witness Victor hesitantly open himself up to love after telling Ethan they could only ever hate each other. The narration by J.F. Harding and Stephen Dexter is perfection for these characters.

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Bought this audiobook for the amazing narrators and stayed for the emotional and brilliantly written story!

I bought this audiobook blind based off of my love for the narrators and WOW, did I stumble upon a brilliantly written story!!! Immediately, I was captured into the intriguing plot and had to know more! This story is heavy and raw with broken characters, some dark aspects, deep emotion, hate filled tension, and all the angst in between. Ethan and Victor’s journey beings with the opposite of a meet cute and then takes you through all the pain with a push/pull that unravels into a beautiful HEA that makes it all worth it. It’s a very vague review but the secrets of this book are just better being uncovered as you read or listen! Also, the way in which the element of water was incorporated into this story was so poetic and absolute literary perfection by Riley Nash! This is my first book by Riley Nash and I cannot wait to listen to more!

My love for Stephen Dexter is STRONG so when I stumbled upon this audiobook and saw he narrated an MM romance AND it was with JF Harding, I had to have it! These two together in one audiobook is pure heaven for me! Their ability to bring out the strong emotions in this book was just outstanding!! You could just hear the pain and brokenness in their voices which makes you feel this story even deeper! I LOVED this duo for this book and cannot recommend this one on audio enough!

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