Evolution

I listened to/read Books 4 and 5 of the Rainbow Place series first, so I can definitely confirm that the books can be read as standalone. However, because of the recurring characters, I was quite anxious to get the others in this series.

Once again, I loved Hamish Long's narration. I think it is quite amazing how he is accurately able to continue a character's voice from one book to the next. A particular favourite is Quentin who is always full of joyful exuberance. I really enjoy how I can just sink into the narrative with no work on my part.

I liked finding out how Rainbow Place came about. The integration into the local background is beautifully described, as is the evolution of a rundown space to a tasteful cafe bar. It is testament to this author too that, while I wanted to shake Jason at one point, I could perfectly understand his actions and reasoning.

A 5 star read/listen and I am already into the next book, A Safe Place.

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One of my favourite series now in audio

I love this series set in a small costal town in Cornwall. This is the first book of the series and focuses on the physical building of Rainbow Place as well as the hope such a place provides for a community where queer people are forced away to be out and proud or deep in the closet to stay in town.
Into this town comes Seb, out and proud and fiesty with it, and he has a dream. To make a place that is queer friendly, a place where he can belong. I love Seb's attitude, his vision and drive, and his caring nature. But it is Jason that steals my heart. Deeply closeted, in part due to his job as a builder but mostly due to being brought up in a strongly homophobic household. His attraction to Seb is immediate, but the urge to hide is strong and while he is happy to see Seb in private when push comes to shove and he needs to step up he is frozen by fear. I adore characters like this who have to fight themselves and others opinions to be true to themselves.
A quick word on the narrator. He's a new to me narrator and I think he did a great job with this book. Plenty of emotion and a good range of voices.
A lovely story and only the start of the journey for Rainbow Place. I'm so glad the entire series is releasing this month and I can't wait to get my hands (ears!) on them. Happy Christmas to me.

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Fantastic

This is the first book in a four book series, it has a wonderful setting and the characters are fantastic. Seb moves from London to a small town in Cornwall to open a LGBT friendly café/bar, new in town he struggles to find out guys that catch his eye until he hires Jason to do the renovations for his business. Out and proud Seb and closeted Jason don’t appear to be a match made in heaven but the chemistry between them is too strong to ignore.
This book is neither light and fluffy or high in angst, it has enough of both to provide a great story that feels very real and natural. There is a great sense community throughout the book with some fabulous side characters, I’m sure we’ll see more of them all throughout the series. Acceptance, overcoming diversity and standing up for your beliefs are key themes in this book and handled beautifully by Jay.

Hamish Long does a fantastic job with the narration, there are a lot of characters and he gave them all an individual voice. I felt he really got across Jason’s struggle with coming out and Seb’s ongoing frustration with the setbacks he suffers both with the café and his relationship with Jason.

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Great story 5/5

A really well written romance. I particularly liked the part the cafe played in the story, and the reason behind its theme. It set it apart, a little, from other LGBT romances.
More than anything though, I really enjoyed the performance of the narrator. He's a very good reader and a pleasure to listen to. And he's especially good at character voices. I had to double check that the narration was done all by one person. Even the female characters sounded female.
I am looking forward to reading the rest of this series.

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2 people found this helpful

A Jay Northcote Gem

A story of struggling to start a business and the troubles that can happen good story with love and friendship winning through.

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A great start to the series.

I read this when it was released, and had forgotten just how good it is! Seb’s decision to create an inclusive community through the cafe, and the journey to succeed is nicely set up in the first book of the series. Great characters and gorgeous scenery. Hadn’t heard the narrator before, thought he gave a realistic performance and did a great job of voicing the different characters.
Looking forward to the rest of the series.

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Great start to a series

Firstly, this book (& series) is narrated by Hamish Long, who is my favourite narrator by a long mile. So as always he does a great job.

The story itself is very enjoyable - taking us on a journey of attraction and passion with an important theme of acceptance, equality and the importance of friendships and community.

Jason & Seb are both great characters and their somewhat roller coaster relationship is played out really well with a moving denouement.

I can’t wait to read the next in the series.

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Loved this book

Loved this book, the story is just beautiful and English .
Seb and Jason's story is really warm and endearing.
Hamish the narrator is very good, clear but passionate in the right places.
Overall a very easy to listen book that made me smile a lot.

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Loved the first in this excellent series

I am reasonably new to listening to audio books but Jay Northcote has been an auto buy author for me for several years since I first started reading MM books. This is my first audio of one of his, and having already read the book I loved the audio as it really bought the story to life. Most importantly (and strangely) despite being British and living in the uk this was my first experience with an English narrator. For this reason it took me the first few chapters to adjust, but Hamish really bought the story to life. None of the voices felt forced, and what I think is a sign of a good narrator - the female characters were voiced just as well as the men. I really enjoyed Seb & Jason’s story and seeing their relationship develop and grow. Although I already own and have read all 4 books in this series, I fully intend to complete the audio set too.

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Beautiful 💕

I absolutely love this book and I highly recommend it.
Hamish Long has done a brilliant job of bringing these characters to life 💕I'm secretly hoping he's narrated the rest of this series of books as I am definitely interested in listening more in this series 💕
Seb embarks on a venture to open up a safe place for LGBT people and their allies. Along the way he meets Jason the man he has hired to help make his dream come true.
Their attraction is mutual.
Dive in to find out if Seb achieves his dream of opening his cafe,and get the man of his dreams too.
This is the first time I have read or listened to Jay Northcote and I am more than happy to continue reading and listening to his books.

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