A rough but satisfying ride

I really loved Les, but I couldn't really connect with Evan. And I loved their story overall, but I thought Evan basically bailed on Les when he hit rock bottom. So while it was a satisfying read, I struggled with some of Evan's behavior, but my love and Les kept me going until the end. Greg Boudreaux did a fantastic job narrating as always.

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Beautiful Story

This is a beautiful friends to lovers story that is made even better by the wonderful narration. You have angst, secret crush, romance, hot sex, and great banter. I really enjoy the musical setting and the fact that they are both musicians makes the connection between Les and Evan even stronger. They can really understand each other in a way others can't. The narrator did a great job portraying this story. I voluntarily reviewed a gifted copy of this audiobook.

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A story about music and love with fab narration

Dedicated is the first audiobook from Neve Wilder, and it's a story that translates well into this format. Narrated by one of my favorite voice-overs, Greg Boudreaux, this M/M romance is the story of two friends and band mates, Les Graves and Evan Porter. There's no denying how gifted Les and Evan are as musicians and songwriters, but after two successful albums, the third one turns out to be a miserable failure. Forcing them to work on songs for what could very well end up being their last album may sound like the solution to their problems, but when a private moment becomes public, faking a relationship seems to be their only sensible move. Will they be able to find their misplaced harmony or will they end up forever out of rhythm?

I've made it pretty much known how much of an angst addict I am, but I seriously have a thing for tension--sexual and otherwise--in the stories that I read, and boy, how this audiobook had that in spades! Neve Wilder did such a fantastic job weaving together a story of two men who become friends and musical partners and then much more. The tension was palpable and there was a whole lot of wonderful chemistry emanating from Les and Evan. Greg Boudreaux managed to surpass my already lofty expectations--as is usually the case when I listen to a book with him as narrator--and truly brought the author's story and characters to a level higher than I could have hoped for. Dedicated is one of my favorite listens of 2019. Five-plus stars! ♥

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Bring me more

Friends-to-lovers, a fake relationship and hot musicians secretly in love with each other. This book has it all. Add in a threesome scandal and the picture is (almost) complete. On top of that (pun not intended) you have the marvellous Greg Boudreaux narrating and it’s pure magic. Before I knew it I’d listened to the whole book and that dreaded voice saying “Audible hope you’ve enjoyed this program” echoed in my ears. I mean is there something that’s more annoying – or intrusive to your ears? Okay, so there really is, but still, I hate that sentence at the end of every audio, especially when it’s one I’m enjoying the hell out of.

Anyway, so back to the actual book and everything that’s Les and Evans, bandmates and best of friends. Six months ago they shared a girl and it was the starting point for everything that happened next. The threesome was on page as a flashback so fair warning – there are naked girl parts in this story. But like one of our guys said, she was more of a conduit between them rather than a huge presence. Said encounter is later sold to the media causing a bit of a frenzy so the team behind the band decides that the guys should pretend to be in a relationship – to get the “right” kind of attention.

Things get murky when their mutual attraction rears its head and their fake relationship isn’t fake anymore. They both want more but aren’t sure how to go about it. Les has been longing for Evan since they first met but have been too afraid to do something about it, so he’s been sleeping around – a lot. For Evan it’s a bit newer, but he’s wary of going there with Les as he doesn’t trust that he will be enough for the guy who has a new body in his bed every night. Especially since his libido isn’t set to overdrive – well part for where Les was concerned.

Dedicated is mostly a feel good story. There’s a lot of tension, lust and longing – and sexy moments as well. There might not have been any surprises coming my way, but that didn’t matter. I fell for these guys and was rooting for them to find their happily ever after.

Greg Boudreaux is one of my favourite narrators for a reason. He delivers every time. His performance is always sharp and on point. He gets the characters and the situations they find themselves in. He lives the story with them and makes the listener do the same, by adding feelings to the words and changing the pace and tone to match the situation at hand, be it funny, angsty or sexy. Boudreaux delivers every time. And if I were prone to swooning, his voice alone would have me flat on my back at the first sentence.

This was my first book by Neve Wilder, but it won’t be my last. I’m looking forward to see what will happen next in this series.

A copy of this book was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review for Love Bytes.

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Excellent band/musician romance, loved narrator

I always love band/musician books, (been a while since I read a good one, really) and this one is quite the ride!

Les and Evan are bandmates, Les writes the lyrics and Evan writes the music, and they have had a great career over the last few years, at least until their most recent album. At the same time, emotions and feelings are changing and causing conflict between their friendship. Les's go-to is sex, drugs, and alcohol, and it makes for tense situations when Evan is trying to keep their music and working relationship together.

I really enjoyed the mix of what's going on in the present mixed in with the big event that happened six months ago and also with interviews between Les and Evan so you can really see how well they snark, joke, and banter with each other. I just loved their friendship and of course, my heart broke for how much Les wanted Evan.

Also, although it was never really stated I feel like Evan might fall into a demisexual spectrum, with how he viewed sex in his relationships, which I enjoyed. I also appreciated his outlook on keeping his private life private, and then seeing how attracted he was to Les, once he let himself actually go there and want that for himself.

I'll be honest, I'm not so sure I needed allllll the details about Les' sex-capades? Like, there was a threesome - and I get that being a catalyst for everything that's happening in the present, but there was definitely a disconnect for me as a reader/listener in the first half with how long it took them to get together - fake relationship and all.

Greg Tremblay, as always, kills it with his narration. I just love his voices, and his voices for women and how I can always tell who's talking. LOVE the books he narrates!

I received an audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

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Good Rockstar Romance

I quite enjoyed this Rockstar romance. The rocky relationship between Ethan and Les was entertaining and kept me engaged, waiting to see how it evolves.
The narrator does a great job of voicing these men, bringing them to life.
There was a bit of everything. Angst, fun, drama and sexy times.

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Beautiful!

I loved this one when I read the ebook..it is even better in audio with Greg! I cannot wait for the next one!

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Super intense slow-burn friends to lovers!!

Greg Boudreaux did an amazing job narrating this story! He had such a wonderful take on Les and Evan’s voices, brilliantly reflecting Evan’s private, reticent nature in his performance, as well as Les’ almost wild depth of emotion. I especially loved how he managed to bring such vulnerability and heartache to Les’ voice.

The angst-filled longing in this story went to almost crazy heights and the intense slow-burn passion between Evan and Les took my breath away! These two characters tugged on my heartstrings something fierce. The push and pull between was like nothing I’ve read before. Absolutely amazing!

I loved reading about their friendship and how crazily in sync they were, the love that was there all along even if they didn’t yet realize it. Their music is an integral part of who they are, apart and together, and I think the author did a great job bringing that into the story. These are not just token musicians to fit a trope, but the real deal.

The epilogue was super romantic, swoon-worthy yet not sappy, and so deserved after everything they’d gone through.
Recommend this so so much!!!

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Music to my ears

Audio
Les and Evan were great! Neve always has the best books and these two with their ridiculous cluelessness about their feelings for each other were no exception. I believe that in most cases good books are even better in audio and Dedicated is one of them. I definitely recommend this audio!

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Neve Wilder never disappoints!

I have yet to listen to a Neve Wilder book that I didn't absolutely love and this book definitely kept that streak alive. In my opinion, this story has the perfect combination of angst and fluff and I'm always a sucker for a happy ending. I identify with Evan and Les tugged at my heart strings the whole time. I can't wait to listen to the next book!

Greg did an amazing job as well!