Geordie de la Rosa is a legend among wine lovers in Napa
Valley. His ultra-fabulous style paired with a penchant for leading impromptu
sing-a-longs has made him a star attraction at Conrad Winery. Co-owning a
well-respected winery was never Geordie’s aspiration but he likes the niche
he’s made for himself. He won’t deny that his job and his friends have helped
ease his heartache and grief after the death of his longtime partner.
Levi Yeager excels at the art of reinventing himself. He’s been a minor league baseball player, a college coach and now a restaurant owner. The problem is he doesn’t know anything about the food business. And when his chef quits unexpectedly, he’s afraid his new venture is doomed. But Levi isn’t a quitter. It may be the only thing he has in common with the beautiful, sassy man from the neighboring winery who agrees to help get his new business up and running. Neither man counts on their fast friendship or the wild attraction they feel for each other. However, they know they won’t stand a chance until they let go of the past and lean into forever.
Length: 7 hrs and 31 mins
Narrator: Nick J. Russo
Book 7
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Levi Yeager excels at the art of reinventing himself. He’s been a minor league baseball player, a college coach and now a restaurant owner. The problem is he doesn’t know anything about the food business. And when his chef quits unexpectedly, he’s afraid his new venture is doomed. But Levi isn’t a quitter. It may be the only thing he has in common with the beautiful, sassy man from the neighboring winery who agrees to help get his new business up and running. Neither man counts on their fast friendship or the wild attraction they feel for each other. However, they know they won’t stand a chance until they let go of the past and lean into forever.
Length: 7 hrs and 31 mins
Narrator: Nick J. Russo
Book 7
Audiobook Buy Links
Amazon Audiobook ~ Audible ~ iTunes
Ebook Buy Links
Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon Au ~ Amazon Ca
“My game is coming back. If I keep talking and you keep listening, you’ll eventually warm up to me. Where was I?”
“The psychology of alliterations,” I deadpanned.
“Right. Your tone is imperial, you use alliterations like a poet and you dress like a diva. You’re pleasant to strangers but you hold them at bay. You’re kind but controlled. Most likely you were an elite member of a royal family in a former life.”
“You’re probably right,” I said, amused in spite of myself. “Since you have me figured me, let me see if I can do the same.”
“Be my guest.” Levi made a sweeping motion with his left arm before resting it on his steering wheel. The casual gesture was ripe with potent masculinity. And I hated that I noticed.
I tore my gaze from his stubble jaw and cleared my throat. “You’re a newly out sports enthusiast at a crossroad.”
“Sports enthusiast at a crossroads,” he repeated with a laugh. “I guess that’s better than has-been athlete looking for a new gig.”
“As you said, I do have a way with words and I’m a firm believer it’s crucial to accentuate the positives.” I set my hand over his without thinking then pulled back when a familiar spark of awareness skittered along my spine.
Levi smirked. “You’re weird. I like you.”
“Thanks. I like you too. Platonically of course,” I added.
“Of course. What exactly is my crossroad?”
“I’m not sure. Perhaps you quit your job to try a new venture with this lover who dumped you and now you’re heading to LA to woo him back—”
“Not a chance,” he snapped.
I raised a brow at his vehemence. “Or…you’re going on a fact-finding mission to salvage what you can of your original idea and determine what comes next.”
Levi nodded. “Closer.”
“Have you thought about selling the diner?”
“Yes. But I’m not going to.”
“Why not?”
“I have nothing to lose. And you know what? It’s kinda liberating. No net required ’cause I’m already free falling. Have you ever felt that way before, Geord?”
Every fucking day.
Silence fell like a blanket between us. Soft and warm and safe. I didn’t want to break the quiet but I couldn’t allow myself to be pulled under either.
I licked my lips and whispered, “Yes.”
Suddenly, I couldn’t move and I couldn’t look away. Maybe I was a sucker for ruggedly handsome men who weren’t ashamed to reveal their vulnerable sides. I admired that he made free-falling sound like an adventure. I’d been doing it for nearly four years and my outlook was nothing like Levi’s. I worked my ass off to make sure no one knew how tired and raw and afraid I felt every damn day. I clung to the best parts of my past like a lifeline, hoping my ghosts would ease the inevitable ‘splat on the concrete’ nosedive I had coming my way.
Levi’s story was certainly different, but I recognized something in him I knew too well. A desperate spirit that wasn’t quite ready to give up. I’d like to think that sense of acknowledgment was why I leaned across the console, closed my eyes and pressed my lips against his.
Angela – ☆☆☆☆☆
I’ve been dying to listen to Geordie’s story since meeting him in Leaning into the Fall, so I was beyond thrilled when Leaning into Forever was released on audio. I knew, without a doubt, that Geordie would be the kind of character I could envision being friends with in real life and he was. I blame my excitement for not considering the ramifications of the timing of my listen. I cued the audiobook up the day after my partner of nine year’s birthday, the partner I lost seven years ago. For me, the showdown at the winery with Martin and the cemetery scene at the end of the book had me sobbing. Granted, I would have cried at both scenes on any given day, but being especially raw emotionally today, those scenes nearly gutted me. So I am extra thankful for the inscription on the headstone as it reminded me why I’d fallen in love with Geordie over the course of the book… his larger than life personality and sense of humor made it nearly impossible to not be happy when in his presence.
Despite being fabulous, it’s not hard to see that there are some days that Geordie is just going through the motions, surviving but not really living since Mike passed away four years ago. Geordie threw his entire being into making sure the winery that was Mike’s dream would be as successful as possible, and he and Wes worked hard to make Conrad Winery everything Mike wanted it to be and then some. In doing so, Geordie’s entire world became the winery and he’d settled into the idea of being a widower for the rest of his life. Needless to say, he wasn’t expecting Levi to turn his world upside and make him want to live and love again. I think because both Levi and Geordie are older than Nick and his cohorts, Leaning into Forever has a more mature feel to the romance. Because of that, their issue resonated with me on a more personal level. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve enjoyed each and every single audiobook in this series, with Leaning into the Fall being my favorite… although, Geordie’s story is giving Nick’s some serious competition – enough that I suspect my favorite of the two will depend upon my mood when asked. But I digress. I loved watching Levi come under Geordie’s spell and how that, in turn, breathed life and hope for something more into Geordie. And the chemistry… my goodness, the chemistry was off the charts. Thankfully the epilogue cleared up my tears and left me smiling at Geordie’s antics while shopping.
I love Nick J. Russo’s narrative performances and thought he did a fabulous job of bringing Geordie to life. Russo hit the right balance of Geordie’s larger than life personality with the over-the-top dramatics he showed the public and the private vulnerability of a man still grieving the love of his life. Those quiet moments when Geordie talked to Mike about his day, his thoughts, and his concerns were so beautifully done that I felt as though I was eavesdropping on someone else’s pain. [I told you I choked up and cried more than once.] Russo did a wonderful job on Levi’s voice as well as those of the other characters, but Geordie was, as it should be, the star of the show. I’m not sure whose story is waiting to be told, but I really hope this isn’t the last of the Leaning Into series because I adore them all and I’m not ready to say goodbye to this close-knit circle of friends.
Also Available in the Leaning Into Stories
Book 1
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For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the Leaning into Love Audiobook Release Blitz.
Book 2
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For reviews & more info, check out our Leaning into Always Audiobook Review post.
Book 3
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For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the Leaning into the Fall Audiobook Tour.
Book 4
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For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the Leaning into Touch Audiobook Release Blitz.
Book 6
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For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the Leaning into the Look Audiobook Release Blitz.
Lane Hayes is grateful to finally be doing what she loves best. Writing full-time! It’s no secret Lane loves a good romance novel. An avid reader from an early age, she has always been drawn to well-told love story with beautifully written characters. These days she prefers the leading roles to both be men. Lane discovered the M/M genre a few years ago and was instantly hooked. Her debut novel was a 2013 Rainbow Award finalist and subsequent books have received Honorable Mentions, and won first prize in the 2016 and 2017 Rainbow Awards. She loves red wine, chocolate and travel (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband in a newly empty nest.
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Nick is an award winning narrator with a fan following for his work in fiction, specifically in the romance genre. His performances in two of Amy Lane's books, Beneath the Stain and Christmas Kitsch, made him the recipient of Sinfully M/M Book Review's Narrator of the Year – 2015. When he's not in the booth, Nick enjoys spending time with his wife, Jessica, and kids, (aka their beagle Frank and cat Stella), drumming in his cover band, exploring rural back roads with his wife on his motorcycle, or being enthralled in a tabletop role playing game with his friends.
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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free audiobook copy of Leaning into Forever (Leaning Into Stories #7) by Lane Hayes, narrated by Nick J. Russo to listen to and review for this tour.
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