Sweet fulfilled crush!

If you could sum up Jesse's Diner in three words, what would they be?

Perfect hopeful love

What was one of the most memorable moments of Jesse's Diner?

There are some wonderful funny bits, like Steve is trying to get an embarrassing story out of Tanner. I sure hope they were true life events. I laughed out loud!
There is wonderful chemistry between these characters and Tanner believes a relationship with Steve to be unattainable. Steve is his best friend's father. His mentor's widower. Tanner is a sweet strong man, and Steve is the older, confident man he's been crushing on for over six years. There are many wonderful lines: My favourite is Steve frustrated that Tanner had non noticed he's been trying to woo him "My flirting has no game". Brilliant.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

I loved them all. The thoughtful way Steve talked about his HIV status and what Tanner needed to know and understand before they embarked on a relationship was lovely. Tanner's sensible responses mature and honest.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Sometimes dreams come true.

Any additional comments?

This is a short and sweet novella. Highly recommended. Paul Morey's voice performance is solidly good and enjoyable. His Texas twang for Steve made my toes curl in a good way!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

new beginnings

this quick listen was very uplifting in teaching that when something heartbreaking happens that life does move on and you do not need to feel guilty about your choices.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

loved it reading, LOVED it in audio!

Any additional comments?

Tanner fell for Mike's dad, 6 years ago and never stopped. Steve is mourning the loss of his partner, and Tanner's mentor, Jesse. Tanner never thought taking Steve dinner, cos Mike asked him to check up on him, would change his life.

There comes along, once in a while, a book that gives you the warm and fuzzy feeling that lasts for days. THIS is such a book.

Tanner noticed Steve right away, and kept his silence all this time, because Steve was in mourning. Steve also noticed Tanner, but not quite in the same way. That they did was picked up. A single phone call pushed them both over.

Its written entirely from Tanner's POV in the first person. Not my favourite, as you know. But here?? Don't care. Tanner is so deliciously young and naïve, so smitten with Steve, I don't care. Besides, Steve has a lot to say and he more than makes up for it.

Its only short, just under and hour and a half reading time for me, but it packs quite and warm and fuzzy punch. There is no drama, no break up/make up, no danger, no crime, none of that. What there, is a beautifully love story of two men falling in love. THATS IT!! BUT I mean this in a good way, a very good way.

It's not as explicit as some Cardeno C books, but again, a good thing. What is here, is beautifully written, deliciously told.

This is book two in the Hope series, you don't need to have read book one, Jared is mentioned, briefly, so we get none of Jared and Lucas. I do wonder if the sheriff is next, after his midnight phone call??

Thank you, for the warm and fuzzies.

5 stars.

I bought my ebook copy.

AUDIO REVIEW

I was also given the opportunity to review this book in AUDIO.

Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian I Dig Good Books, I was gifted my audio copy.

Paul Morey narrates and he does a sterling job!!

When I'm READING a book, I much prefer to read books written in multi POV and in the third person. However, I've discovered, mainly with Cardeno C's help, that when LISTENING I much prefer single POV, in the first person. I loved this book when reading, and I loved it MORE when listening.

Morey's reading voice is clear and even, and I had no trouble with the sound or the reading. Morey's voice for Tanner was just as I imagined it, but for Steve, I found Morey's voice a much better fit that what I heard while reading. I do that, you know, hear voices when reading. I'm sure others do, but I do it more since using audio files. Morey's voice is PERFECT for Steve, and Mike too.

Morey narrates McFarland's Farm too, and I thought I had listening to it, but can't find the review if I did. I want to go back, and listen to it, just because :-)

2 hours and 49 minutes of warm and fuzzies all over again.


**same worded review will appear on Goodreads, Audible.co.uk, Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk**

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Wonderful narration of a sweet novella

What made the experience of listening to Jesse's Diner the most enjoyable?

Paul Morey nails the characters - Tanner comes across as unassuming whilst Steve as stronger yet full of care and compassion. Even though I had read the book, the narration added to my personal world-building rather than overtook it.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Jesse's Diner?

Rather than a moment, I loved the build up of the relationship from friendly dinners into something more.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

The restaurant-painting one :)

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

You can really feel Tanner's internal dialogue being worked through, and Steve's encouragement in all aspects of their relationship.

Any additional comments?

Although it's a short story, it has the depth and character/relationship development of a much longer one. A lovely supplement to the written book.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Sweet and heartwarming age-gap romance!

When Jesse passed unexpectedly, he left behind his partner, Steve. He also left his diner to his son Mike’s best friend, the shy, responsible, and inexperienced Tanner. A year later, Mike expresses concern about Steve’s state of mind and Tanner, who has always had a crush on Steve, is happy to check that Steve is okay, and so begins a charming courtship. This short age-gap romance was sweet and heartwarming with no angst. It was lovely to see two quieter guys find comfort and love in each other after the loss of someone they both held dear. At first audio narrator Paul Morey seemed to speak fast but my ear adjusted quickly and I was charmed by his performance.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

as good as the ebook

The story is always full stars, because if I wouldn't like the story as ebook, I wouldn't listen to the audiobook. I can't listen to an audiobook without knowing the book, that's not possible for me.

The performance from the narrator is also very important for me. I can't listen to a lot, because my English as a non-native-speaker isn't so perfect to follow a whole story over hours, when the narrator speaks too fast or too sloppy. Normally I have to SEE the person, who is talking to me in English. It took me a little bit, to come into the narrator, but at the end, it worked. I only have to take a few breaks between. I'm just not yet finish with the book, but I listen enough to give a review.

PLEASE READ MY RATING SYSTEM!!!

To my ratings:

5* - very very good
it's like an A+

4* - very good and will be often re-listening
it's like an A

3* - it's more then a one-time-listening.
it's like a B

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!