Strong Enough by Melanie Harlow, David Romanov Published by Audible Studios on December 26, 2017
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Joel Leslie, Bruce Cullen
Length: 8 hrs and 11 mins
Genres: LGBTQ, Romance
Amazon Audible
From USA Today bestselling author Melanie Harlow and David Romanov, comes an all new sexy and emotional MM standalone romance.
I wasn’t looking for Derek Wolfe.
I wasn’t looking for anybody. All I wanted was to start a new life in America. But when I found myself stranded here with no place to go, he came to my rescue, offering me a place to stay.
He’s smart, successful, and sexy as hell—I can barely sleep knowing he’s right down the hall. And when the chemistry between us explodes one night with fierce, fiery passion, it’s hard to deny there’s something real there.
But he does.
He says he was drunk. He says it was a one-time thing. He says he’s not into guys and what we did meant nothing.
He’s lying. Because it happened again, and again, and again. And it’s better every time.
I know we could be good together, and I want the chance to try, but I’m done hiding. If he’s not strong enough to admit the truth, I’ll have to be strong enough to walk away.
Melanie Harlow and debut author David Romanov do a wonderful job blending their writing styles in this touching M/M romance.
Maxim is a proud gay man in his early 20s who has just moved to Los Angeles from Russia. He exudes an abundance of wonder, gratitude, and optimism, despite facing some crappy luck and seemingly insurmountable obstacles. I liked him instantly.
Derek is a single male in his late 30s, with a perfect house, perfect job, perfect car, and a perfectly lonely life. His dreams of a wife and kids don’t align with his unwelcome attraction to Maxim. I felt such compassion for him as he wrestles with his bisexuality. I was startled, though, by how eager Derek is to get down and really dirty once he crosses the line with Maxim. It’s like going from zero to one hundred in three seconds.
The main conflict in Strong Enough arises from Maxim wanting to love Derek openly and Derek either being stuck firmly in denial or stubbornly in the closet. The plot progresses pretty much as expected, but is nonetheless quite enjoyable. I would have loved to know more about Maxim’s life in Russia before he decided to come to the United States.
About the audiobook:
I listened to the audiobook of Strong Enough and I read some listeners’ criticisms that Bruce Cullen’s narration sounds more fitting for a work of nonfiction than romance. It didn’t bother me though. Derek is so rigid and repressed, and I felt like the narrator effectively conveys all the frustration, confusion, and longing of the character. I’m no expert on Russian accents but I was satisfied by Joel Leslie’s portrayal of Maxim. I enjoyed his enthusiasm as well as his tentative speech, which includes him taking pauses now and then as if making sure his English is correct. It adds another layer of charm to the character.
Recommended for fans of:
M/M romance
New beginnings
Bars
Unexpected houseguests
About Melanie Harlow
Melanie Harlow likes her martinis dry, her heels high, and her history with the naughty bits left in. When she’s not writing or reading, she gets her kicks from TV series like VEEP, Game of Thrones, Succession, and Homeland. She occasionally runs three miles, but only so she can have more gin and steak.
Melanie is the author of the ONE & ONLY series, the AFTER WE FALL series, the HAPPY CRAZY LOVE series, the FRENCHED series, and the sexy historical SPEAK EASY duet, set in the 1920s. She lifts her glass to romance readers and writers from her home near Detroit, MI, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, and pet rabbit.
Great review! I had read this a few years ago and also enjoyed it!
Hmm… This might be one I like. I haven’t heard of it before, but I would be willing to try it. Thanks for putting it on my radar!