Audio Review: Vespertine by Leta Blake performed by Michael Ferraiuolo

24 December of 2019 by ButtonsMom2003

Story: 5

Performance: 5

5.0Overall score

I have the best book hangover!

Vespertine By Leta Blake

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Rock Star, GLBTQ, MM

Released: December 16, 2019

Publisher: Leta Blake Books

Length: 14 hr, 18 mins

Synopsis

Can a priest and a rock star obey love’s call?

Seventeen years ago, Jasper Hendricks and Nicholas Blumfeld’s childhood friendship turned into a secret, blissful love affair. They spent several idyllic months together until Jasper’s calling to the Catholic priesthood became impossible to ignore. Left floundering, Nicky followed his own trajectory into rock stardom, but he never stopped looking back.

Today, Jasper pushes boundaries as an out, gay priest, working hard to help vulnerable LGBTQ youth. He’s determined to bring change to the church and the world. Respected, admired, and settled in his skin, Jasper has long ignored his loneliness.

As Nico Blue, guitarist and songwriter for the band Vespertine, Nicky owns the hearts of millions. He and his bandmates have toured the world, lighting their fans on fire with their music. Numbed by drugs and fueled by simmering anger, Nicky feels completely alone. When Vespertine is forced to get sober, Nicky returns home to where it all started.

Jasper and Nicky’s careers have ruled their lives since they parted as teens. When they come face to face again, they must choose between the past’s lingering ghosts or the promise of a new future.

Review

Reviewed by ButtonsMom2003

I have the best book hangover!

I’ve had Vespertine as an ebook in my library for quite some time and I’m not exactly sure why I hadn’t gotten around to reading it. When one of my favorite audiobook performers recorded this for Leta Blake I knew I had to listen to it.

I haven’t read anything by Leta Blake that I didn’t love and I haven’t listened to anything performed by Michael Ferraiuolo that I didn’t love; Vespertine didn’t break this record. It’s f**king fantastic. The story had me tied up in knots at times but I knew there would be an HEA.

Second chance stories and friends to lovers are romance crack for me and Vespertine has both tropes. Throw in a priest who can’t resist temptation and it’s a trifecta. A note of warning: the book deals with heavy subjects and includes references to drugs and addiction.

I felt so bad for both Jasper and Nicky. They really had loved each other when they were teens but certain things conspired to keep them apart.

The life that Nicky turned to was a wild one but now he’s ready to get off of that wild ride and stay sober. Vespertine doesn’t romanticize drug use; in fact, it points out the daily struggle that Nicky has to deal with to overcome his addiction.

Jasper loves serving God and he loves his work with LGBTQ youth. But when Nicky returns home he begins to question if he really has to sacrifice the love he has for Nicky in order to serve God.

Vespertine really hit me with all of the feels that I love in a romance and now I have the best book hangover. I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of the fantastic voices that Michael Ferraiuolo does for this, and every other book I’ve listed to him perform.