Hold Me Under

This was good but heavy going. Ethan, a landscaper, sets out to meet a childhood hero, an Olympic swimmer - it's a promise he made to his dead cousin.

This novel faces many traumas, particularly those of the swimmer, Victor, who is a man out of control, with a death wish. The author slowly reveals his story, why he is so confronting, his behaviour relentlessly objectionable. It's not a pleasant listen but the writing is beautiful, like poetry.

This is book #1 of the Water, Air, Earth, Fire series and I will borrow the next in the series in a few weeks. This is a long audiobook, 9.5 hours. The narrators are J.F. Harding and Stephen Dexter. I'm surprised I haven't come across Stephen Dexter before - but looking at his bibliography there are show more Romances that I do want to read. J.F. Harding is a Romance specialist so I surely have heard him before. His voice is deep, whispery, pained in this - when he signs off at the end, he has quite a different tone - what I'd call a non-fiction voice - interesting!

Aah, I have heard him before. He narrated one of the MCs in Unloved (The Unlucky Ones,) by Marley Valentine, another beautifully written novel about damaged young men. show less

I wanted a book that would make me feel, and wow, this book delivered. It's been a long time since I've been so engrossed in a book. I spent the entire day lost in its pages, and it felt amazing. There were moments when the angst became overwhelming, so I had to take a few ice cream breaks (which is exactly what I was hoping for).

I went in completely blind with this one. I do feel like this is one of those stories that you need to experience firsthand. Without giving too much away, I went back and forth with my feelings for Victor but I knew he had so many layers to unravel. Have you ever experienced that feeling of everything around you spinning out of control, while you're desperately trying to maintain some semblance of control, but show more it feels like it's slipping through your fingers? Your heart races and you have to take several centering breaths to avoid getting sucked into the chaos around you? That's exactly what this relationship felt like. Victor is the chaos and Ethan is the anchor, or trying to be anyway. They both have devastating stories and beautiful development. By the end, I was completely wrecked and in love with both of them.

Riley’s writing style is captivating. His words are poignant and hauntingly beautiful. I cannot wait to read and see what the rest of the series has in store. show less

This was dark-dark. I don't know if I would have picked it up without knowing that Victor and Alek are both ok in the background of reading Wet because it was so touch and go there for a minute.

Ethan is working a ton of jobs to pay for his mother's medical bills resulting from dementia. One of his jobs leads him to Victor's house. Victor is was a professional swimmer who was massively disgraced by blowing a drug test before the Olympics epically. After that, he fell off the grid and no one has seen him since. Ethan accidentally sees a whole lot of him while working on his landscaping and away we go.

Victor was putting up so many signs that extraordinarily bad things have happened to him and eventually the whole picture comes together show more and it's worse that you thought. Ethan goes from hating this entitled man to being his singular ride or die within the span of a few months. I don't want to spoil anything for anyone but this book hurt so good. show less

I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this one... the first part of the book was mostly me thinking that Victor Lang was a complete asshole! And then... the story began to weave together.

Ethan accidentally meets Victor (a disgraced swimmer) and ends up with a "job" of sorts. He has to pretend to be Victor's boyfriend and try and wrangle him away from impending disaster.

Of course, it's much more challenge than Ethan is prepared for. But, he seems to have a "slight" way with Victor - enough to make Victor's father extend his contract for enough money to help with Everything.

This book made me cry. It's hard to read in some spots. I won't like about that. But, it was SO worth it. I can't really write much more without ruining the book show more for you.

Definitely glad I discovered this one. show less