Love Blooms in an Unexpected Place

Where Love Grows is one of my favorite books by the amazingly awesome Jay Northcote! I was thrilled to hear that Hamish Long would be narrating the audiobook. His voice really created a wonderful landscape for me to visualize the Welsh valleys and Stephen's home.

Luke and Stephen are two different people who have been broken and hurt by their past and health conditions. Hamish's voice conveys the pain and struggle both men go through as they try to survive each day. Stephen struggles with a painful health condition that makes each day a struggle as he learns to adapt to living with constant pain and trying to forge a new path in life against the beauty of his gardens and the greenery of the Welsh countryside. Luke has to struggle with his addiction and the fast-pace environment of London and his corporate job. When Luke finds himself helping out Stephen through a mutual friend, their chemistry is slow-burning but explodes into something more.

Set against the beauty of nature and the countryside, one can't help but fall in love with the country and the men thanks to Hamish's voice and Jay's words. Stephen and Luke both have their own demons to sort out before they can decide if they should be together. The emotion and pain behind their separation really made me tear up. Well done, Jay and Hamish, for making listeners like me cry and fall in love all over again with Stephen and Luke! Worth more than 5 stars so this should be a must listen for everyone!

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Another Great Love Story

I’ve been in a reading slump lately and this book pulled me out of it. I couldn’t put the book down the night I started it, I was up til 3am before my eyes closed on their own... I’d only intended a few chapters but read half the book! Stephen and Luke both have tragedies in their past that they are working past and when their friend Will comes up with an idea that might help them both, Luke ends up leaving London for awhile to go help Stephen with his garden and some around the house stuff.

As their friendship grows, so do their feelings for each other but they are both terrified to get in deep and yet, it still works. The growth you see in both characters, along with the secondary characters and the animals really moves the story along and before you know it, you’re in deep with these guys and really rooting for them!

Jay does a fantastic job building relatable characters and stories that hook you from the beginning! I adore these boys!

Also Hamish Long might be my favorite British narrator. His narration brings the story to life in a way you don’t get from just reading the pages. It’s a flawless rendition and the emotion and inflection he pours into the story really helps you connect on a different level.

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Moving, heartwarming, absolutely beautiful story

Just because your struggles aren’t the same as others, doesn’t mean you can’t find common ground. This is something Luke and Stephen are about to find out.

This is an opposites-attract, hurt/comfort kind of story that will pull at your heartstrings until you let these guys in. It’s touching, but not too heavy. It’s a beautiful story, really. There is nothing I enjoy more than a story involving a person’s journey toward personal growth. This story involves two. Perfect!

I felt the flow of the story was realistic and respectful. Both of those traits are things I’ve come to realize is at the core of Northcote’s storytelling, and writing capabilities. Nothing feels contrived or out of place. When I read his work, it feels as though I am part of the story. I really enjoy stories like this.

I liked Luke and Stephen. They’re both flawed, but it’s their flaws that make them most relatable. Their friend, Will, was right. They both could benefit from each other, but will they realize that before it’s too late? Can they set pride and fear aside when feelings start developing, or will they stay in the familiar comfort of the solitary life they have created for themselves?

As always, it was my pleasure to listen to this book. Hamish Long and Jay Northcote are a dream team in the land of audiobooks. Northcote writes brilliant stories and Long gives them voice. I could listen to his voice reciting just about anything. His ability to differentiate between the characters is always amazing and, from my end, appears to happen with such ease. His talents are great, and I can’t wait to hear more from him.

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Painful, but so worth it.

What a lovely story. Two broken men who slowly find their way to one another. Such a beautiful love story. My first by Jay Northcote, and it will not be my last. Hamish Long is a such a talented narrator- real pro. His narration is sublime.

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✫✫ 4 Stars ✫✫

Another great book by Jay Northcote. I love how different all of his books are.
This one is emotional with both characters having their own struggles and together they find a new way. I loved how even though neither was looking for someone, they not only found each other but they also found a way to work through and with their problems. Stephen is a bit of a downer in the beginning but Luke brings a little sunshine and courage back into his life. Luke showed Stephen that he could still do a lot of things he thought he couldn't any longer. I also really liked the changes in Luke throughout this book, he finds a life he knows will make him happy even if he is alone. Their love story is beautiful as was the road that led them there.

Hamish Long is a great narrator. He really does a great job at keeping the characters separate and has a voice I could listen to any day. I get very excited when I see his name on a new Jay Northcote audiobook.

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8 people found this helpful

Exceptional, deeply moving hurt/comfort love story

Story: I think this might very well be the best book Jay Northcote has written so far. There’s just so much emotion in this story. And the writing… it’s simply incredible. Such a pleasure to listen to, especially the almost poetic, evocative descriptions of nature and some of the MC’s internal musings. A book to be savored and enjoyed, never rushed.
Luke and Stephen get off to a rough start, but I very much enjoyed the slow but sure way their friendship developed. Stephen is a tough nut to crack. His heart, health, pride and self-esteem have suffered countless blows. He’s lost so much: his parents, his health, a job he loved, … and he finds it nearly impossible to believe he can have happiness again. He’s super prickly and antagonistic as a result, but so vulnerable underneath his hard exterior. Luke, on the other hand, is very open about how he feels and tries his hardest to form a connection with Stephen. He’s such a sweetheart and has his own cross to bear, unfortunately. Luke and Stephen both tugged on my heartstrings something fierce.
This book has an almost magical “Secret Garden” feel to it, with a prominent role going to Nature, with all its beauty and promise of growth and resilience. The garden slowly blossoming under Luke’s care wonderfully mirrors the progress both Luke and Stephen make as well.

Narration: Hamish Long is the perfect choice for this audiobook. His honeyed voice and wonderful ability to capture every emotion, however small or subtle, make this into a mesmerizing listen. I love the voices he does for both Stephen and Luke, though Stephen’s slight accent is especially enjoyable to listen to.

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Loved the story and narration was on point

First, Hamish Long, where have you been all my narration life? Narration was perfection!

Loved the story between Luke and Stephen. It’s definitely a slow burn but there is so much underlying emotion that I’m glad they had to work through it.

Not too angsty which was something I was in need of. This might be my first Jay Northcote
read but not my last!

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1 person found this helpful

fantastic love story

I adored this slow burn fragile love story. I'm not sure how I missed the book, but the audiobook is out now and utterly fantastic. Narration by Hamish Long was excellent as usual. I love the drawn out stark yet gorgeous love stories Jay creates and this is no exception

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I Liked It

I enjoyed this story about two damaged men helping each other heal. I liked both characters as they were dealing with life changes caused by health problems, Stephen adapting to life limited by medical disease while Luke managing life while dealing with psychological issues. My favorite part of the story was how gardening and music played a major part in their healing process. Narrator did a good job bringing both characters to life and telling this story. This was my first book by this author and narrator and I will be looking for more books by them both.

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Real Life Listen with All the Feels

First- loved the book! Character development was genuine and deep. I felt a connection with Luke and Stephen right away. With out risk of spoilers, the two broken, prideful men found their way through real life issues to find acceptance with themselves and each other. The story line flowed extremely smoothly. I love Jay's writing style concerning imagery, dialogue and plot. The romantic scenes were tasteful, sensual and so so very caring (which were truthful to the characters.) The story contains believable real life issues and that was refreshing. Real life, real people, real love. Real problems of insecurity reflected in us all by simply being human, so a definite theme to the book we can all apply to our lives. Purpose packed in each word. Narration is extremely important to me. I loved Hamish's tone and pitch, the richness of his voice. Each character was easily distinguished and different and packed with emotion. This author and narrator were both new firsts for me. Definitely wont be the last for either. Totally enjoyed! Cheers!

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