Floodgates

By: Mary Calmes

Narrated by: Michael Anthony

Length: 7 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

Tracy Brandt considers himself a lucky man. He has a wonderful family, good friends, and a dependable job. His love life, however, features a cheating ex who, though out of the house, is not yet out of the picture - with a past that just might get Tracy killed.

Homicide inspector Cord Nolan wants nothing more than to show his best friend's little brother that he's a reliable man, but to do that he'll have to get Tracy to look past the player he used to be. It'll be a tough sell; reputation is everything, and Cord's is tarnished by his past indiscretions.

Tracy and Cord have spent five years trying to suffocate their fiery attraction under a blanket of grudging antagonism. When Tracy finds himself with a target on his back, Cord finally has the chance to ride to the rescue and break through the dam of Tracy's reserve. But he'd better be careful: if Cord is breaking the floodgates to wash away the past, he's going to have to hold tight to Tracy to make sure they're still standing when the tumult recedes.

©2014 Mary Calmes (P)2014 Dreamspinner Press

A great story

Sometimes you don't see what is right in front of you or you are blinded by past history - that's the story with Tracy and Cord. Mary Calmes writes a great story and this one has all the feels: love, betrayal, murder and finally recognition of what is real and enduring. I really enjoyed this story and loved Michael Anthony's voicing of the characters.

I love Mary Calmes, always a great story

Would you consider the audio edition of Floodgates to be better than the print version?

Haven't read the print version, not enough time in a day anymore so audio books have been my saving grace for years now.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Floodgates?

It's hard for me to say, I loved it all

What does Michael Anthony bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

narrators bring the characters to life, mostly for the good, like in this book!

Who was the most memorable character of Floodgates and why?

Tracey and I think and the "villian" in this story is sad and demented enough to make you wonder if he's to be pitied or put in prison

Any additional comments?

Mary always delivers a wonderful story with engaging characters, Mary Calmes books are my presents to myself, and it's been a very good year so far!

Classic Calmes, I loved it!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Of course, because it's a damn good book!

What did you like best about this story?

The banter back and forth between characters, I was in stitches, especially with Tracy and his family.

Have you listened to any of Michael Anthony’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not but I was quite impressed, will definitely look for more of his work.

If you could rename Floodgates, what would you call it?

Why do you even ask this question, what is wrong with the title? Why fix what isn't broke.

Any additional comments?

Cord Nolan met Tracy Brandt five years ago when he arrived at his then partner’s house for a party and tried, unsuccessfully, to pick up his partner’s younger brother. Since then Alex has gone to work for the DEA and Cord has been promoted to homicide detective. He’s also spent very little time in way to many beds, but still hasn’t been in the one bed he longs to roll around in, Tracy’s.

Tracy is fresh off a bad break up after catching his ex-boyfriend Brecken with another man. Little did Tracy know that the other guy wasn’t the only guy… well, person, that his ex was getting friendly with. After Tracy is attacked not once, but twice, his over bearing, over protective family close ranks, along with Cord to ensure Tracy’s safety. Tracy has been so busy trying to convince his ex that he is, in fact, an ex that he has missed the change in Cord. But when they are forced to spend several hours alone on a plane, no possible route of escape, Tracy is finally forced to see the man that now stands before him. Long gone is the player from all those years ago that tried to get Tracy to ride him to the store, literally. But it’s hard to start a relationship when there is a psychotic killer systematically knocking off Brecken’s exes.

This was a fast paced, action packed, thrill ride of a story. There was suspense and a bit of mystery with the death of one man, the attack of a pregnant woman and two subsequent attacks on Tracy, Cord is convinced they are all related, but how? And all the while Cord is working the case he is trying to keep Tracy safe and convince Tracy that he loves him and wants to protect him forever. The chemistry between them is electric and undeniable, though for the first half of the book they manage to keep their hands to themselves. But once they open that door and there is no going back, they can’t even be in the same room without a small touch, a hand on the cheek, brushing back the hair.

It wasn’t just the mystery and the suspense that was a constant current throughout the book, or the love story of Cord and Tracy as it grew and engulfed them. It was the way all the characters were with each other. I had so much fun listening to Tracy with his family, that scene in the bedroom with the musical coffee cup, that was hysterical. And the banter between characters as well had me in stiches half the time.

Narrated by Michael Anthony and I’m always in awe of a narrator that can take a wide cast of characters and give each one their own unique voice. Anthony truly brought Calmes words to life with little nuances and tone inflections, like Tracy when he looks at Cord and asks “What?” so innocently knowing full well what it is. And Cord’s usually exasperated sigh, that little sigh always made me chuckle.

Definitely a must for those that love Mary Calmes work as much as I do. There is mystery, suspense, lots of action, romance, passion and such a fun HEA!

Wonderful

I completely enjoyed this story. I always like Mary Calmes and it's great to have found a book while great characters and an interesting story.

A very good listen

This was amazing way to spend a rainy day a fire a nice lunch and a really great story, this author above all is a good storyteller. At the end of the story I knew the people who inhabited this story, that doesn't happen enough, thank you.

B+ rating...

My Quickie Review:
Overall: 4.0
Performance: 4.25
Story: 3.75

Aww, I loved this book. There were a lot of things about this story that I loved...Cord was an awesome hero. I loved how the author showed his want through subtle things. I loved that show of vulnerability about him.

Then there was Tracy's family...I loved them all so much. When he moves back home for his safety? Some of the best scenes in this book.

Full disclosure...while I know that I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook...I listened to it all within a matter of two days, I put off writing the review for a few days. And now I'm having a difficult time remembering details. The story didn't stick with me. So, yes it was enjoyable at the time, but it wasn't one of those stories that stuck with me because it touched me deeply. It was fun, entertaining, and in a few months, I'll be able to listen to it again and it will be like a brand new audiobook.

Matter of Time Lite

If you liked A Matter of Time you will like this book. It is complete with a "Jory and Sam like" MCs, namely Tracy and Cord. It has a good murder mystery and protector vibe, a loving family on Tracy's side, and all round fun listen. Although there are a couple of characters that seem to go nowhere; which leads me to believe there may be a sequel. The narrator does a good job overall and really kept me engaged. I actually like the audio better than the ebook. Worth a credit.

Actually better than the ebook version.

What made the experience of listening to Floodgates the most enjoyable?

Yes. The narrator had a pleasant voice, he inserted some acting into his narration but wasn't over-the-top.

Would you recommend Floodgates to your friends? Why or why not?

I don't actually know anyone else in my circle who reads m/m romance...

What about Michael Anthony’s performance did you like?

Pleasant voice, sounded like he actually enjoyed narrating the story, and characters were distinct enough that it wasn't hard to follow the dialogue.

If you could rename Floodgates, what would you call it?

It's All About Breckin.
Or
There's Something About Breckin
Or
Being Breckin

Any additional comments?

Story would have been a lot better if the whole thing didn't revolve around the ex-boyfriend. He wasn't even interesting or likable but everything was about him.

One of Mary Calmes best stories

I always loved Floodgates even though it's one of Mary Calmes's stories that hasn't seen much traction. I love it because it's down to earth, with no extravagant descriptions, with not a million side characters that have nothing to do with the story and not an oblivious but likeable by all MC.

Cord and Tracy have great chemistry and I just loved seeing a 5 year build up (the build up was off page) resulting in such a strong HEA.

As far as narration goes, I love Michael Anthony's voice but to be honest sometimes I couldn't distinguish between his Tracy voice and his Cord voice and there was very little performance and feeling.

One of my go to listens

I loved it. Loved the story, the crime mystery element. The family relations are wonderfully written.But the love story... Oh dreamy from hate to lovers - my favourite.

I have listened to it again and again.