Enhance your life, listen to this book/series

Any additional comments?

I mentioned in my Borrowing Blue review that I don't usually listen to audio books. In fact Borrowing Blue was my very first one. And now Grounding Griffin is my fourth. I don't do audio because my brain just doesn't work that way, BUT this Made Marion series, and Michael Pauley are so good I need it any way I can get it. The ebook, the audio, my eyes are set on the pretty pretty paperbacks now. Michael Pauley is so very good at narrating these books and bringing everyone to life. I can't call them characters because I'm choosing to believe they're real and out there somewhere dangit! At this point I can just copy/paste one review for all of the books because they're all just fantastic and you should really really listen or give a read. Your life will be better for having done so :D Unlike Griffin I'm not a writer and I'm not good with words (inside joke from the book) so I can't adequately express how much I loved the content of the book, or how really awesome it is to hear the people you just read about on paper/kindle come alive and become living breathing voices. To hear the chuckles, and the sighs, the pants of breath during "cardio" scenes, the muttered and playful expletives. All of the little nuances that can be missed on paper are brought out with sound. It's just an experience. That's the best way to say it. Listening to this series is a fun, happy, wonderful experience.

So this was the book review left on Amazon for the ebook:

This review is for those of you who have not yet read a Made Marian Novel. If you had then I know you already have this book and you're currently devouring it, and you're not in need of reading reviews because you know how good they are. So for those of you on the fence about spending your money let me just tell you, I had two problems with this book.

1. I started reading a little before bedtime and kept on reading right into the morning. Thankfully my schedule was not thrown by the lack of sleep. But buyer beware! Once you start reading you're going to want to keep reading. (But it's totally worth it.)

2. My preferred place to read is in bed but I have an SO who goes to sleep before me. I laughed out loud and giggle-snorted so many times (and that's honestly an accomplishment with me) I'm not allowed to read Lucy Lennox books in bed anymore, or at least not at night when others are sleeping.

Actually come to think of it I have a third problem...I'm done reading Grounding Griffon. I wanted to read it so bad. I wanted to hurry and find out about Griff and Sam and their backstories and how they got to know each other and overcome baggage. And I read, and I laughed, and I fell in love, and I felt all the feels and then the book ended. I mean it didn't come to an abrupt end, and it wasn't a cliffhanger, and it had an HEA and an epilogue and it wrapped up quite nicely thank you, but....it ended. And I'm sad. I want more. These guys are so awesome and I loved how perfect Sam was for Griff. He knew just what Griff needed because there is no one formula for loving someone through hurt and ultimately having a healthy relationship. But Sam was just who Griff needed. (Oh, and something else, which may sound a little funny if you're from the states but it gave me a huge happy and if you're like me you'll love it too, Sam was intact! (not cut) I love seeing more of this in sex scenes. Foreskin is so awesome :) Anyway I've just been noting that in reviews lately because I'm seeing it more often and I know most people love that but it's hard to find in American books.)

And apparently come to find out, I'm a book boyfriend whore! I love these two. But my first loves are Blue and Tristan in the first book. And I loved Jaime and Teddy in the second. Jude and Derek were amazing in the third. And now Griff and Sam have my heart too. And I can't tell you who I love more. They're all amazing. Oh! and they're all in this book!! In every subsequent book since Borrowing Blue we get to catch up a little with at least the majority of the Marian family, but in this one! This one! We get all kinds of catching up wonderfulness with everyone. But back to my point...(I did have one). The books are all so funny. The men are all so amazing and sweet and lovable. I mean really to some extent I can copy and paste a review for one and apply it to them all when talking about how great the characters and the writing are. The writing has remained so consistently great, and yet I can't pick a favorite (<--- finally my point) because each couple has their own depth and their own unique story. The books may all be funny. And the guys may all be ridiculously lovable, but they're not cookie cutter stories or characters. You could read all four in a row and not feel like you just read the same story over and over. Although I'm pretty sure your cheeks will hurt like crazy from all the goofy grinning, and your heart will feel like it's about to explode from all the feels. But really of all the problems to have....

So buy Grounding Griffin. Buy the whole Made Marian series. I can't imagine you not loving it, but honestly if you're still on the fence just read the sample because you should be laughing right from the get go. Enjoy!

9 people found this helpful

B+ rating...

My Review:
Overall: 4.0
Performance: 4.5
Story: 3.5

The setup for this one was really cute. Griffin is a newspaper reporter doing a story about how effective cheesy pet names are for picking up guys. Sam works at the bar where Griffin is practicing his technique. I love that Sam calls Griffin &quot;Foxy&quot; because that's always his opening salvo. Those first few scenes were brilliant and just so fun. A smile kept breaking over my face as I listened to those.

Griffin has had a really hard life. This is one of those things that I think would have been more impactful if I had been reading the book rather than listening to it, because that really should have been super, super emotional. And it's not that the narrator didn't do an incredible job with those scenes, because he totally did. Michael Pauley did an incredible job on the narration of this one. There's just an emotional depth from reading and internalizing the story that isn't there as much when passively listening to the story.

And that's kind of the issue with this book, too. There was a really lighthearted fun beginning (meet-cute) that truly was fun and cute, but by the end of the book, the whole vibe of the story had done a complete 180...turning much darker with Griffin's background, the missing kid, and the side-story with Sam's family. It made it feel like two totally different books.

But again, I am still loving the Marian family and the entire series. And I did love the solution for the conflict with Sam's career and how it tied back to the Marian family...perfection there.

3 people found this helpful

Sweet and angsty🍹🍸

This was a sweet, angsty opposites attract romance.

Sam and Griff were like two pieces of a puzzle who fit just perfect together.

I definitely recommend listening to this one in the series order, although it can be read as a standalone as well.

Lucy Lennox has a way of drawing me into her story with her words.

The characters were real, relatable and well fleshed out.

The narrator performed an enthusiastic Audio delivery.

2 people found this helpful

An exceptional performance of a wonderful story

Lucy Lennox has created a wonderful extended family and in this particular story very lovable complicated beautiful yet flawed characters in Sam and Griffin. I loved the story when I read it. I double triple loved it when Michael Pauley presented it as it added a whole extra dimension. I rarely read books twice. I've read this once and listened to it twice.
I love this so much that I say your satisfaction is guaranteed. If you like gay romance and you don't like this send me a private message.

1 person found this helpful

Fantastic series!!!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Grounding Griffin?

This book is filled with great moments, it's hard to pick just one. The Marian family is just so funny.

Any additional comments?

This book is filled with great moments, it's hard to pick just one. The Marian family is just so funny.
Lucy has a way with words!! "My cock for your ass" - and it's not what you're thinking... she's just that witty!!

I received an audio from the author for my honest review.

1 person found this helpful

amazingly written

I love this particular book. i see alot of me in Griffs character. It helped remind me that i need to stop expecting the other shoe and just enjoy events

Grounding Griffin

Omg this audio book was absolutely positivity amazing. I would highly recommend this audio book.

Unbelievable plot and unlikeable character

Sam should have ran as far and fast as he could. He deserves someone much better.

Grif is a self-centered arrogant little prick. The story itself is completely unbelievable.

I enjoyed the first 3 books in this series so I hope the rest are better than this was.

Michael Dean did a great job. I love listening to his narrations.

Griff and Sam tug at my heartstrings!.

Griff and Sam's story is very sweet. To learn of Griff's past, though, tugs at my heartstrings. I like seeing him grow, and I like that he and Sam encourage the other to follow their dreams. As with the rest of this series, I love the entire Marian clan! I would definitely recommend this book as part of the series!!

Engaging

Once again, a wonderfully constructed story that drew me in, making it difficult to stop listening. Wonderful character development and insight into the complexities of gay life and the healing of past traumas.