Loved this couple

Jay and Corey what great characters these two are. Jay by no means has had an easy life after being kicked out of home for being gay, he’s lived a life that most would turn their noses up at but one must survive. Enter Corey who has the most caring and compassionate heart even if it has been hurt before but Corey and Jay just might be what the doctor has ordered. An enjoyable listen. Guillaume narrates some of the best gay books and just has a great ability to keep you entertained the whole story.

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All the emotional feels!

I know I’ve said this before but I greatly appreciate how caring and careful J.P. Oliver is when he writes stories that include homophobia topics and consequences of PTSD; he’s considerate and sensitive and for that, he made All For You a beautiful and enjoyable. All For You is Corey (Ty’s older brother) and Jay (Ace’s cousin) story. Due to his family’s rejection and homophobia, Jay suffers from PTSD, sometimes having panic attacks from time to time and because of this is closed of from everyone. When Corey see's Jay at Gavin’s coffee bar, he’s left with butterflies in his tummy. J.P. Oliver writes a love story about trusting, loving and living again and that you can find family in friends, no matter who you are. Guillaume Dubois does a good job, although now I’m starting to realize he narrates sometimes breathy and he goes real hard on the effeminate tone which I don’t think is really necessary but he still does a good job. A solid 4.6 for All For You; happy listening all!

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emotional...

This story takes you on an emotional journey of love and redemption. Add in the hot relationship between the MCs and you're on a love rollercoaster. Looking forward to next in series.

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EMOTIONAL BAGGAGE CAN BE UNPACKED IN A GOOD WAY

I really got into this book. I felt Jay’s pain and could understand Corey’s need to protect. Both come with heavy baggage that they must overcome. Corey’s is buried so deep, he seems to be buried with it. Jay’s baggage is heavy and he hates himself for the things he had to do in order to survive. They make a great couple and Corey’s nurturing ways help save Jay and he gets him the help he needs to deal with his problems.

This narrator knows how to change his voice for each of his characters and keep the listened tuned into the story.

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Sweet and sad listen

It's a bit of a heartbreaking story all around but is sweet none the less sticking with the theme of the series. Dubois does a good job with the narration, It's a quick and easy listen.

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"Wish I could've been there!" and What about Nick?

A nice story about gay community and caring for another gay man who is inwardly hurting while dealing with your own hurt. A little over a quarter of the way into the story there was a hint of something ominous to come and I wondered if it would answer the question of how Jay had become so traumatized.

The narrator, Guillaume Dubois, has a nice voice and I liked that he had a unique voice for the different characters.
He really seemed to enjoy pronouncing déjà vu the correct French way. His pronunciation of brusque and reconcile... not so correct.
I also noticed how, with every narrative sentence (particularly in reading the Corey portions) the last word would be read as if it were the period at the end of the sentence, and so the reading had a staccato feel to it that eventually became a bit monotonous. (The dialogue, however, was very natural and a welcome relief from the narrative portions, making me wonder if the book would be better if read without audio).

In chapter 8(9) we hear, I believe for the first time, that Jay has a beard. I had never, up to then, pictured him that way. But since the synopsis of "All for You" refers to "rugged mountain men" I guess I should have assumed that applied to Jay as well? Plus he had been homeless. He didn't sound rugged though. Corey, on the other hand, in chapter 8(9), is clean-shaven and sounded rugged.

My biggest complaint about "All for You" may be due to my not having read previous books of the series; and so, if readers of this review HAVE read them, you will likely rate this higher than my 3 stars. In particular, it seemed to me that the most interesting parts of the story were relayed through the BACKSTORIES of both Jay and Corey. (Each of their pasts sounded more interesting than their present, during which the story takes place).
The most energetic vocal outburst was a character's response to hearing about something from the backstory (or, rather, someone... who never shows up in the story itself) and the most poignant emotional response of a character was related to a previously-unmentioned character from his own backstory (who also never shows up in the story itself). It is one thing, as a reader, to "hear about" something/someone from the past and quite another to vicariously live through those events/characters as we read them in the real-time words of an unfolding story (versus being told, by a character, about what happened in the past and people they knew). You just don't get the same emotional impact that way... despite the forceful outburst I just mentioned -- that seemed (to me) a bit overdone -- by a present-day character who, like the readers of the book, are hearing about someone they never met or will meet.

If those backstories had been integrated into "All for You" -- perhaps beginning the book back all those years earlier (or cutting away to take readers back in time to when those events occurred so the reader can also live through it) rather than the whole story taking place over the few days of a relatively uneventful present -- the book would have been (in my opinion) far more engaging. While it was interesting to see Corey and Jay meet and ultimately connect, there really wasn't much present-day drama to make the overall story compelling. It's sort of felt like coming upon a crowd and finding out about what happened and why they're all still there (although what happened is all over by the time you arrive).
"Wow!" you say, "Wish I could've been here to see that!"

In my first paragraph of this review (above), I referred to "a hint of something ominous to come".
NO SPOILER.
Or maybe it is. Okay... stop reading.
Turns out ....
I warned you -- stop reading... this might be a spoiler...
I warned you.
As for the "hint of something ominous to come" that I was expecting...
it turns out there was no specific present-day event/experience that came.
Rather, the ominous event I'd braced myself for was [drum roll] the telling of the backstory and how it had led to the extreme trauma Jay experiences in the present-day. Basically what we knew all along.

From the sounds of the Epilogue, the next book may be a case of deja vu.

I had higher hopes for this book because J.P. Oliver is an excellent writer. Anyhow, it's not bad. I doubt J.P. could write a bad book. So I would still recommend, because sometimes we want a break from stories that have too much drama.

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Loved this story

This was my first experience with a J.P. Oliver book. I loved the story of Cory and Jay. And Guillaume Dubois' narrative was perfect. Looking forward to the other books in the series.

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Jay and Corey

I’ve been waiting for Jay’s story and it is even better than I expected. Jay has arrived at his cousin’s after living on the street for years. It’s taken its toll on his body and mind. Corey has always been the caretaker of the group, everyone’s big brother and protector. It translates well into him being an ER doctor. He takes one look at Jay and is smitten, but he sees the fear and brokenness. I loved that he was so determined to give Jay what he needed from the first moment. Letting Jay take the lead in their friendship and more, he’s always there willing to listen and give him the support he needs. I loved that it was Jay that was strong enough to recognize and ask for counseling. He takes brave steps to regain his life and forge a HEA with the man he’s grown to love. Corey has been caring around his own demons for far too long. He finally finds the courage to open up his heart and show Jay the pain of his past, letting him help fix what is broken.

The narrator does a decent job with clarity and pace. I like most of the voices that he has for the characters.

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Everything for Jay and Corey

I loved this story. I really appreciate how J.P. Oliver writes stories that bring to light the consequences of homophobia and PTSD.

Jay has PTSD due to his family rejecting him at a young age. He ends up on the streets. He gets help from a police officer and then goes to live with his cousin.

Corey see's Jay at a coffee bar and is smitten. He asks Jay's cousin to introduce them.

What follows his a love story and the fight to handle PTSD in order to live and love!

Great Story!

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Lovely emotional read

This is the third book in the For You Series with developed characters. Jay is scarred from the life he has lived on the streets and Corey is a doctor who is patient and is also very nurturing. While Jay struggles to just try to live a normal life Corey is patient, and his quite way helps calm Jay. This is such a beautiful story, I love the dynamic between these two characters with all the love, support and comfort that each man shows one another. The narration was very well done. I love this series.

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1 person found this helpful