IRL: In Real Life (After Oscar Book 1) by Lucy Lennox & Molly Maddox #Audiobook #Review #NewRelease #Series #LGBT #MM #Michael Pauley #RGRGiveaway

Erryn reviews IRL: In Real Life (After Oscar Book 1) by Molly Maddox & Lucy Lennox. The ebook was published February 5, 2019, 312 pages. The audiobook was narrated by Michael Pauley.  It was released on February 21, 2019 and is 8hrs and 48mins long. 

Why I read this book: I have read every Lucy Lennox book so one more wasn’t going to be a hardship.

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Conor: 

It starts with a drunken text pic. The kind I would normally never send. Only, instead of it going to the flirty hotel bartender, it goes to some random stranger who actually responds. 

I tell myself an unexpected night of hot as hell back-and-forth is the perfect way to blow off a little steam while I’m in New York closing an important business deal. Little do I know the man on the other end of the line is none other than Wells Grange: The most controlling, egotistical, emotionless SOB I’ve ever met. 

I spend my days squaring off against Wells in the boardroom, and my nights succumbing to the sexy stranger’s commanding texts in the bedroom. Within days, I’m falling for someone I shouldn’t, and I have to remind myself that none of this is real. 

Wells: 

The first thing I notice about Conor Newell when he sits down in my high-rise conference room is how delightfully nervous he is. Then I see his tie. The same geeky tie that’s held hostage on my phone. The one that belongs to my anonymous late-night texter. And it changes everything. 

I should confess. Tell the truth about who I am. Instead, I decide there’s no harm in flirting. After all, once our business is concluded, he’ll be out of my life for good. 

The more I get to know Conor, however, the more I start to fall for him. Which is a problem, because I made a vow long ago to never let emotions interfere with my life, either business or personal. Except I can’t stop thinking about him night and day. If it’s only in my head, though, it doesn’t count. 

After all, it’s not like we’re falling for each other in real life….

***Check out the giveaway at the bottom of this review for a chance to win one of several prizes***

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Book Links: Audible | Amazon  | Add to Goodreads

Erryn’s Review: 

There is a website that is the equivalent of Facebook for kinky people.  For obvious reasons, many people choose not to put their faces as their avatars (there are people who don’t do this for Facebook either – I happen to like my dog wearing rainbow glasses).  So on this kinky site, some people choose objects or cartoons while others select body parts.  Guess what is most prevalent for men?  Yep, you guessed it.  Dick picks and cock shots abound.  There have been some lively discussions in the community about the value of them. I understand the need for anonymity, but if you think a picture of your penis is going to entice me, we probably aren’t on the same page.  With an object or cartoon, I get a sense of who you are, of what interests you.  Other women (and men) feel that if someone is brave enough to take a picture of themselves and put it out there, then they’re worth getting to know.

Each to their own.

Now, I’ve read every Lucy Lennox book written and when she teamed up to do this series with her sister, I was thrilled.  I was also thrilled at how quickly the book was released on audio so I snapped it up and was very glad I did.  This book has it all – two gorgeous men, a cast of secondary characters (including three very strong women, something often missing in m/m romances), and a misunderstanding that might lead to disaster.

The misunderstanding was adorable and very fitting for this modern world we live in where relationships are often formed, maintained, and even severed in the virtual world.  How many of us have done something on our machines that we’d never do in person? Making a comment, being honest, or, truthfully, sexting.  Not me, but I can see the appeal of that kind of interaction, especially if you are very isolated in real life.  Plus, what’s the harm?

Although I’m not quite as geeky as Conor, I felt an immediate affinity with him.  He’s stuck in New York trying to get the best business deal he can, all the while feeling like a pretender.  He’s doing this for his mom and his heart is in the right place, but he’s not really prepared to come up against glacial Grange – better known as Wells. The man is business all the way and there’s never a break in the façade of a tycoon and entrepreneur.  Of course, all is not as it seems.  Despite his nerves, Conor is capable in business and despite the veneer, Wells does have a heart.  As his background is revealed, I did have some empathy for him and understood why he was the way he was.  His treatment of his assistant Deb and his sister Wynne assured me he wasn’t a total asshole.  The question was if he’d open enough to let Conor in.

In the end, I understood why Conor felt so hurt, Wells so guilty.  I wanted them to have a happy ending but knew they’d have to work for it.  Wells’ huge gesture was swoon-worthy but I was glad Conor understood the meaning behind it.

This is the first book in a planned five book series titled After Oscar.  I’m intrigued to see where this is going and was thrilled to see several secondary characters already being pulled in.  Here’s hoping there are more happy endings in store.

Finally, Michael Pauley’s narration. With just his voice, he was able to provide clear delineation between the two men.  I was never in doubt of who was texting, even without the phone numbers.  The text provided for the narration worked, despite all the tech jargon and smiley face emojis.  I am always thrilled when Michael is performing a book because I know the performance will be perfect, as it was.  Can’t wait for the next book…

Erryn’s Rating:

10/10 Pots of Gold – Compares to 5/5 Stars

Comment on this post for the chance to win one of several prizes including audiobooks, ebooks, and $5 gift cards

You must be 18 years or older to participate in this giveaway. Void where prohibited. Etc.

This giveaway ends on March 8, 2019 at 11:59 PM CST. GOOD LUCK!

Website | Facebook | Twitter: @lucylennoxmm | Goodreads

Lucy Lennox is finally putting good use to that English Lit degree earned way back in the 1900s.

She enjoys naps, pizza, and procrastinating. She has some snarky kids and is married to someone who is better at math than romance but who makes her laugh every single day and is the best dancer in the history of ever.

She stays up way too late each night reading M/M romance because that stuff is hot.

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Molly Maddox is the pen name for a New York Times bestselling author who started writing at an early age because her older sister, Lucy Lennox, was a writer and Molly wanted to be like Lucy in all ways (she still does). When she’s not writing, Molly likes to cook, read, take pictures of her dog and cat cuddling, and finds an odd satisfaction in folding sheets so that the top sheet is indistinguishable from the bottom sheet.She loves all things romance and is grateful every day she gets to write for a living.