Talker (Talker #1) – Gay Romance Org

Title: Talker (Talker #1)
Author: Amy Lane and David Kaplan (Narrator)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: December 16th 2011
Genre(s): M/M Contemporary Romance
Length: 2 hrs 19 mins
Reviewed by: Belen
Heat Level: 2 flames out of 5
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Blurb:

Tate “Talker” Walker has spent most of his life hiding his scars under a bright punk facade, and until he sat next to Brian Cooper on a bus, it worked. But Brian has spent his whole life being the invisible man, and he’s used to looking below the surface. What he sees in Talker is a fragile and lovable human being. Brian is outwardly straight, but Talker is desperate for love, and when Talker’s behavior leads to some painful consequences, Brian is forced to come out of his closet—in dramatic fashion.

All I’m saying is get ready to have your heart ripped out.

Tate “Talker” Walker was horribly burned and disfigured as a child and has since covered his physical scars with tattoos and piercings. Though he doesn’t hide that he’s gay, his in-your-face body modifications are really just another way to hide.

Until he’s finally “seen” by Brian Cooper. Brian sees the real Tate and fall in love with him. But whereas Talker has a hard time being “seen” Brian has a hard time being “heard”. He doesn’t know how to communicate in real world settings very well. So even though he tries to tell Talker he’s gay too and in love with him, and does tell Talker several times that he’s loves him, Talker just doesn’t hear him.

Talker is desperate for affection and love, and though his friendship with Brian is all he could ever want, since Talker believes Brian isn’t gay he continues to look for love outside their friendship. After one such night goes horribly, terribly wrong Brian must fight for a way to finally be “heard” by Talker. Trigger warning:

Spoiler: Talker is raped by his date.

It was uber frustrating for me personally as miscommunication drives me nuts.

Although I mostly enjoyed the audio overall, there were a couple blips and my biggest issue is David Kaplan’s use of one voice. He doesn’t do character voices, which, when it was dialogue-heavy could be hard to follow especially as I was listening while working.

Other than those two small personal niggles, this was a sweet tale and made me look forward to the sequel.

Recommended.