‘Break Through (The District Line Book 2’ by C.F. White #Audiobook #LGBT #Review #MM

Erryn reviews ‘Break Through (The District Line Book 2’ by C.F. White. The ebook was published May 29, 2018 and was 227 pages.The audiobook version of this story was narrated by Piers Ryman, released April 16, 2020 and is 7 hrs and 47 mins long. A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Why I read this book: I enjoyed book 1 and was anxious for book 2.

Should falling in love really get in the way of your lifelong dreams?

Sebastian Saunders is 3,000 miles away from home. Working for his father’s expanded business in New York, he’s left behind the music career he craved, the friends he relied upon, and possibly the love of his life. In a city that never sleeps, how can the nights cure a broken heart?

Jay Ruttman is in London, throwing himself harder into football and his quest to make it on the professional playing field. Locking himself back in the closet, how can he ever open the door, and his heart, again?

A chance encounter in New York where Jay and Seb rekindle their lost romance sets them both on a path to self-discovery and coming to terms with their past, their present, and their future.

This is the second part of the District Line serial, where half-time oranges are swapped for the Big Apple.

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My review:

I enjoyed the first book in The District Line series. The opposites attract thing worked for me. Jay is a Londoner who wants to be a professional footballer. Sebastian is a wannabe rock and roll star who goes to school to appease his father. They ran into each other literally and things sort of fell into place. Until Sebastian’s father decided his son belonged in New York instead of London.

This book picks up after Seb has moved to New York. He’s trying to adapt, plying clients while dodging his father’s assistant who always seems to be trying to get into Seb’s pants despite the fact he’s married. Seb’s doing his best in the Big Apple, but he misses Jay.

Jay, for his part, has a chance to move into the big leagues. He’s been scouted and this is his opportunity – if he can keep his head about him and not lose it again. Truthfully he’s missing Seb and when the opportunity presents itself so he can see his former love, he leaps at the chance – damn the consequences. And those were huge consequences. Part of me cheered because, yay, the two men are together again and part of me wanted to knock some sense into Jay for risking his entire career. Now, the romantic in me loved the two big gestures. Ah, swoon-worthy.

Life’s not simple and staying together and in the closet is a huge risk. For both men. In the end they both have to decide what they’re willing to sacrifice to be together.

This book ends on a solid HEA but there’s more to come and I can’t wait. Interestingly, the book takes place during 7/7 but it’s only mentioned peripherally. I can still remember that horrible morning. One not to be forgotten and nicely woven into the story without it taking center stage.

Piers Ryman narrated this book and he’s quickly becoming a fave of mine. He does Brit brilliantly although his New York/American was a little less consistent. But although it was noticeable, it didn’t in any way detract from the story. So, am starting part three shortly.

My rating:

9/10 Pots of Gold – Compares to 4.5/5 Stars

Website | Twitter: @CFWhiteUK| Goodreads

Brought up in the relatively small town in Hertfordshire, I managed to do what most other residents of the town try and fail. Leave.

Going off to study at a West London University, I realised there was a whole city out there just waiting to be discovered, so much like Dick Whittington before, I never made it back home and still endlessly searches for the streets paved with gold; slowly coming to the realisation that it is mostly paved with chewing gum. And the odd bit of graffiti. And those little circles of yellow spray paint where the council point out the pot holes to someone who is supposedly meant to fix them instead of stare at them endlessly whilst holding a polystyrene foam cup of watered down coffee.

Eventually I moved from West to East along that vast District Line, and settled for pie and mash, cockles and winkles, and a bit of Knees Up Mother Brown to live in the East End of London; securing a job, creating a life, a home, a family.

Having worked in Higher Education for the most proportion of my adult life, a life-altering experience brought pen back to paper, having written stories as a child but never having the confidence to show them to the world. Now embarking on this writing malarkey, I cannot stop. So strap in, it’s a bumpy ride from here on in.