This collection
includes Clare London's second two charming London-based novellas of the With a
Kick series – Pluck and Play and Double Scoop.
WITH A KICK: A new and enticing ice cream franchise, with a unique blend of full flavor, mischief, and romance. Patrick and Lee are struggling to make a success of their alcoholic ice cream shop in the center of tourist London. At the same time, their business partnership may take a turn toward the personal – if either of them can find the time and nerve to go for it!
Meanwhile, they cater to the wild and wonderful range of customers in the area, many of whom have their own romantic agenda. Will ice cream be the final ingredient they're all looking for?
Each story is a self-contained romance but will follow the history of the shop throughout.
Pluck and Play
Curtis is a cheery young entrepreneur secretly licking his wounds after being beaten up by his ex-lover. Handsome cowboy Riley is stranded in London without money. His consolation is his music, and his fascination is Curtis. Their music brings them together, Riley's guitar and Curtis' poetry. But when Curtis is threatened by his ex-lover, Riley intends to be the man to help.
Double Scoop
A sudden disaster strikes the novelty ice cream shop With a Kick, threatening the livelihood of its owner, Patrick, and also his assistant Lee. The last thing in the world Patrick wants is to hurt Lee, but deeply held insecurities prevent him from confessing his love. And how long will Lee wait to make his own move? Hopefully, the disaster brings a new opportunity for them to make a go of things.
Collection No. 1 has also been released, featuring Clare London's first two novellas, A Twist and Two Balls and Slap and Tickle, and also the two bonus short stories Nice and Snow and Smack Happy.
Audiobook Details
Length: 8 hrs, 58 mins
Narrator: Joel Leslie
Collection #2
Audiobook Buy Links
Amazon US ~ Audible US ~ Audible UK ~ iTunes
Ebook Buy Links
Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon Au ~ Amazon Ca
B&N ~ Google Play ~ Kobo
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
WITH A KICK: A new and enticing ice cream franchise, with a unique blend of full flavor, mischief, and romance. Patrick and Lee are struggling to make a success of their alcoholic ice cream shop in the center of tourist London. At the same time, their business partnership may take a turn toward the personal – if either of them can find the time and nerve to go for it!
Meanwhile, they cater to the wild and wonderful range of customers in the area, many of whom have their own romantic agenda. Will ice cream be the final ingredient they're all looking for?
Each story is a self-contained romance but will follow the history of the shop throughout.
Pluck and Play
Curtis is a cheery young entrepreneur secretly licking his wounds after being beaten up by his ex-lover. Handsome cowboy Riley is stranded in London without money. His consolation is his music, and his fascination is Curtis. Their music brings them together, Riley's guitar and Curtis' poetry. But when Curtis is threatened by his ex-lover, Riley intends to be the man to help.
Double Scoop
A sudden disaster strikes the novelty ice cream shop With a Kick, threatening the livelihood of its owner, Patrick, and also his assistant Lee. The last thing in the world Patrick wants is to hurt Lee, but deeply held insecurities prevent him from confessing his love. And how long will Lee wait to make his own move? Hopefully, the disaster brings a new opportunity for them to make a go of things.
Collection No. 1 has also been released, featuring Clare London's first two novellas, A Twist and Two Balls and Slap and Tickle, and also the two bonus short stories Nice and Snow and Smack Happy.
Audiobook Details
Length: 8 hrs, 58 mins
Narrator: Joel Leslie
Collection #2
Audiobook Buy Links
Amazon US ~ Audible US ~ Audible UK ~ iTunes
Ebook Buy Links
Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon Au ~ Amazon Ca
B&N ~ Google Play ~ Kobo
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Angela – ☆☆☆☆☆
Having loved the audiobook for Collection #1, I was thrilled when I heard that Collection #2 was being released. While the stories can be enjoyed as standalone reads (or listens), the appearance of common characters enriches the experience for series fans by creating the sense of community that really comes into play with both of the books in this collection.
While I’m unsure of their actual ages, Curtis and Riley’s youthful energy and outlooks on life gives Pluck and Play a new adult feel to their story. Curtis is such an earnest and hard-working young man that I had zero chance of not falling in love with the entrepreneur. Of course, Riley’s southern charm and laidback nature won me over immediately – and his well-aimed right hook didn’t hurt either. Not surprisingly, both men are more complex than they appear at first glance and they complemented one another so much, even when they were trying to prove their independence and self-sufficiency. I’ll admit that I was surprised with the almost sinister turn that Pluck and Play took when Curtis’ ex showed up. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a dark story or romantic thriller, but it had more of an edge when compared to the sweetness of the stories in Collection #1. But it was the situation with Curtis’ ex that ultimately showed Curtis just how important he is to the people in his life and how people he assumed considered him a helpful business contact actually saw him as a friend and member of their community. And that showdown in the alley was AWESOME! I may have listened to that scene a couple of times, it was so good. I loved Curtis and Riley’s characters so very much that I was sad when their story came to an end, but at least I knew I’d likely see them in the next book.
Double Scoop is the cherry on top of the With a Kick sundae. It’s the story I’ve been waiting for since meeting Patrick and Lee in book one, A Twist and Two Balls, and London made sure that it was worth the wait. While Double Scoop is a May-December romance, Patrick’s self-doubt adds an extra dose of angst that would make any new adult story proud. I felt so bad for Lee each time that Patrick’s careless comments and actions chipped away at his hopes for a THEM. The affection Lee has for Patrick is one of the worst-kept secrets among the With a Kick community because Lee wears his heart on his sleeve, yet Patrick is blinded by his self-doubt and woe-is-me attitude. Fortunately for Lee and readers (or listeners), the guys have a great group of friends who not only pitch in to get the shop back up and running, but have no qualms about playing matchmakers and doing what is necessary to pull Patrick’s head out of his own behind – thank you, Brian! Even knowing that London would serve the perfect happy ending for the guys, I had my doubts once or twice, so I was beyond surprised with Patrick’s grand gestures at the end. It was, indeed, the cherry on top of the Double Scoop sundae.
I cannot express how happy I was to listen to Joel Leslie return to narrate Collection #2. Knowing that it was releasing, I decided to listen to the first collection again so that I could reacquaint myself with the rather huge cast of characters and in doing so, I was reminded as to just how talented Leslie is. As an American, I cannot attest to the authenticity of Leslie’s British and Turkish accents, but as a Southern girl, I loved the smooth, Southern drawl he created for Riley. The With a Kick audiobooks are a great example of why Joel Leslie is one of my favorite narrators: he creates unique voices for both small and large casts of characters, he’s consistent with characters’ voices across multiple books in a series, and he can convey such a wide range of emotion that at times I feel as though I’m eavesdropping on someone else’s life. I do so hope that London releases the final book in the series on audio as well and that Leslie is back at the mic for it because I’m not quite ready to say goodbye to the With a Kick community.
Also Available in the With a Kick Series
Collection #1
Audiobook Buy Links
Amazon ~ Audible US ~ Audible UK ~ iTunes
Ebook Buy Links
Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon Au ~ Amazon Ca
B&N ~ Google Play ~ Kobo
For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the With a Kick Collection #1 Audiobook Tour.
CLARE LONDON took her pen name from the city where she lives, loves, and writes. A lone, brave female in a frenetic, testosterone-fueled family home, she juggles her writing with her other day job as an accountant.
She’s written in many genres and across many settings, with award-winning novels and short stories published both online and in print. She says she likes variety in her writing while friends say she’s just fickle, but as long as both theories spawn good fiction, she’s happy. Most of her work features male/male romance and drama with a healthy serving of physical passion, as she enjoys both reading and writing about strong, sympathetic, and sexy characters.
Clare currently has several novels sulking at that tricky chapter-three stage and plenty of other projects in mind… she just has to find out where she left them in that frenetic, testosterone-fueled family home.
Clare loves to hear from readers, and you can contact her on all her social media.
Connect with Clare
Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Website ~ Goodreads
Joel Leslie is a UK transplant, growing up with American parents in a British commonwealth. A classically trained actor with an MFA in theatre from USC, he is often cast for his unique ability to deliver native, authentic combinations of American and British sounds. His great range and ability to bring characters to life with honesty, wit and versatility delights producers and listeners alike.
He is proud to have a strong following with m/m listeners and an ongoing relationship with some of the finest writers in the genre. He loves that every day he gets to share these beautiful, inspirational and empowering GLBT characters with the world.
His authors have praised him as “a narrator among narrators, a man whose ability to create different characters rests on the power of his voice and his impeccable delivery,” and a “true delight…" "his professionalism, good humor, and charm make him a dream to work with,” "Anyone else would only be second best.”
Joel has consistent access to his home studio for all production needs. When not in the booth he spends his time chasing after two loquacious wiener dogs.
Connect with Joel
Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Instagram ~ Website ~ Goodreads
Hosted by
Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free audiobook copy of With a Kick Collection #2 by Clare London, narrated by Joel Leslie to listen to and review for this tour.
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