
Love in Mission City: The Shorts
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Narrated by:
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Michael Dean
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By:
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Gabbi Grey
About this listen
Love in Mission City: The Shorts Box Set
Mission City is tucked in the charming Cedar Valley in southwestern British Columbia. If you love heartwarming, contemporary small-town gay romances, then come home to Mission City and fall in love with the men who live there. Romance blossoms in the unlikeliest places. And trouble has a way of finding them...
Page Against the Machine
Dickens has run his family bookstore for years in the quiet ambiance suitable for literary endeavors. When Spike opens a motorcycle repair shop next door, tempers flare and sparks fly. Will they be able to resolve their differences or are they just too stubborn for compromise?
The Lightkeeper’s Love Affair
Ben’s graduation celebration is disrupted by a winter storm. He and his beagle, Buddy, have the only room left in the hotel. When lightkeeper Isaac needs a bed, though, Ben’s happy to share. Platonically, of course. Except something about Isaac makes Ben want more. Not in it for the Money
August’s beloved sister has passed suddenly and the man finds himself in need of comfort. Turning to his employee feels all kinds of wrong, but Julian's arms feel too damned right to resist. Come morning, though, they have to look reality in the face. Is there a chance they find a forever love out of the tragedy?
Marcus’s Cadence
Cadence is trying to sell the home that had been his refuge during his tumultuous teen years. When his teenage crush, Marcus, shows up as a potential buyer, sparks fly. Is there just a real estate deal to be done or could his feelings be requited? (You don't want to imply sex/love is part of a deal)
Ace’s Place
After a fall from grace, Derek has moved to a small town for a fresh start. Harold, the local golden boy made good, catches Derek’s attention. But secrets and omissions cloud what could be the beginning of something special. Can they take a chance on being vulnerable enough to fall in love?
Please note—all five stories have been previously published
©2021, 2022, 2023 Gabbi Grey (P)2025 Gabbi GreyListener received this title free
I loved this story when I read it with my eyes back in August. I loved it all over again listening to Michael Dean perform the story. Below is a copy of my original review since I can’t add anything to it other than how much I loved Michael Dean’s performance.
Original review:
Sweet with just the right amount of heat.
Gabbi Grey has quickly become a favorite of mine. She writes great novella length stories and Page Against the Machine is no exception.
I know not everyone likes them, but I enjoy instalove stories, having known several real-life couples where it worked out well. Dickens owns a bookstore and his peace and quiet is shattered when a motorcycle repair shop moves in next door. Spike has finally opened his dream: a motorcycle shop all his own. He’s a bit surprised at Dickens’ reaction to his new venture.
I love how this story flipped the usual stereotype of the smaller guy always being the bottom. Spike is a manly man but he loves giving up control and he’s happy to be a dedicated bottom.
This story starts out with a great hate-sex scene but soon turns in another direction. When Spike needs help Dickens is right there to offer assistance and that starts off a sweet and tender relationship. I really loved this story!
The Lightkeeper's Love Affair
This one is really short and includes insta-love. The story is really sweet and I liked the characters a lot.
Marcus’s Cadence
This was short and hot. I love second chance stories and this was a really good one. I don’t expect the same things from a short story that I might from a longer book. I think Gabbi Grey did a great job of writing a short story that felt much longer.
Not in It for the Money
I think this was a very good short story about a man who's not out but he's in love with his employee. After his sister's death he finally gives into what he's always wanted and he learns that his employee loves him, too.
Ace's Place
This is an instant connection story with a cute dog and a very satisfying HEA.
Michael Dean did his usual great job performing all of the stories in this compilation.
A complimentary copy of this audiobook was provided to me at my request but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author and/or narrator.
A great compilation of stories.
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Listener received this title free
Love a short bundle
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Old friends who have been mutually pining for each other for years, and an event is the catalyst to them getting together.
Or strangers falling hard and fast into instalove.
All the stories, no matter how short, have at least one intimate scene. My personal preference would be for that time to be spent on relationship development and leave the physical stuff out.
If you like high heat, small town romance and are a fan of instalove or mutual pining then you might enjoy this collection.
A collection of short stories
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Listener received this title free
And now it has the voice of Michael Dean narrating all the shorts. His delivery is perfect, his pace is fantastic, the rhythm of his voice just right and, for one person reading all of these shorts, with their different characters he is able to give each a distinct personality, voice, sound and feel. That is quite impressive in my mind, and I listen to a lot of audiobooks so the narrator is important to me. I have also listened to quite a few narrated by Michael Dean and he has been able to make each unique. Listening to Page against the Machine, Dickens and Spike's story I could feel the initial anger between the two men, gradually softening to become more gentle.
The Lighthouse Keeper brings together two complete opposites, in every way, under very difficult circumstances but again, we are drawn in to their story, hearing more than the words they are saying, feeling ourselves become a part of their story and of course hoping that they can find the happy ending they deserve!
And so the collection continues. One book flows perfectly into the next, listening from beginning to end, in order, makes sense but if you are familiar with the stories and the characters then why not switch it up a little, that is the joy of an audio collection such as this, it is easy enough to jump to your favourite! Whatever story you listen to, and I hope it will be them all, I know you are going to love these and go looking for more Gabbi Grey.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A perfectly flowing narration for a wonderful set
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Listener received this title free
M/M
short story
instalove
Opposites attract
As a Canadian reader I find it charming when I read books set in Canada. Tim Hortons should pay advertising for this book lol. I really enjoyed the plot from start to finish and enjoyed the world building. I loved the semi-psychic friend. This book can be read as a standalone but there is a bit of a spoiler at the end regarding the characters from The Lightkeepers Love Affair. So keep that in mind if you plan to read it.
I enjoyed both of the MCs. Dickens did come off as kind of a jerk for all of 5 mins at the very beginning that gave the book a enemies to lovers feel and I wasn't sure I would like him but they quickly changed their tune when they got a look at each other. This book was super sweet and the characters had great chemistry. There was medium steam and no angst. I loved that despite their outward appearances that they each had personalities in and out of the bedroom that were the opposite of each other and what I was expecting. Looks are deceiving.
I'm leaving off half a star because even though I dont mind fluffy, instalust/instalove books occasionally, this one felt to me abruptly rushed. It definitely could have been better developed. I do enjoy this authors other books but this one felt a little more choppy to me. It didn't flow as smooth.
The title was perfect for this combination of a nerdy bookshop owner and a motorcycle mechanic that liked to blast heavy metal and annoy each other.
The Lightkeeper's Love Affair = 4 stars
M/M
Short story
Forced proximity - storm - one bed
Both gay
Instalove
This was super sweet. I really enjoyed it but the epilogue had me doing a rewind to see if I had really heard that right. It might had been a little more realistic further out in time. Other than that it was the perfect meet-cute short story. The characters were wonderful, the story was interesting and it was the perfect balance of sweet and sexy with no angst or drama. I do wish it was longer but as it was written for an anthology collection, I understand.
Sweet stories
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Stories - a very nice variation of all sorts of characters in a lovely Canadian setting. Some were perhaps a little too unbelievably insta-love (for me), which is understandably difficult when there's not a lot of room to expand. This was mostly Marcus's Cadence and Not in it for the Money.
I was particularly charmed by the first story - pairing a bookshop owner with a severe dyslexic. Dickens was a bit too much at first but quickly grew on me. Spike/Fritz was super sweet. Stories where "expectations" about roles are reversed are always a favourite of mine.
On the whole a very pleasant listen and the stories fit well with the other Mission City books that I have read.
very good addition to the series
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The narration by Michael Dean was fantastic. He always bring the characters to life for me.
I received a free review copy and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.
Some stories needed more background
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Page Against the Machine: It was sweet and very romantic and the chemistry between Dickens and Spike was explosive. I also really loved the hurt/comfort aspect of the the story.
Ace's Place: It was sweet and romantic, the chemistry between Ace and Derek was great!
The Lightkeeper’s Love Affair: I a very sweet insta love and forced proximity romance. I really liked it.
Not in it for the money: A very emotional and romantic story. I really enjoyed it.
I loved the narrator. He was amazing!
great collection!
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Page Against the Machine
Gabbi Grey manages to paint quite an engaging picture in this fast paced novella. Mission City, British Columbia sounds like such a charming place where I'd love to visit.
There's great chemistry between Dickens and Spike, and it's fun to see how they overcome their differences to make an adorable couple.
The Lightkeeper's Love Affair
Gabbi Grey's does a wonderful job of creating so much chemistry in such a short amount of time - as is the case in The Lightkeeper's Love Affair.
Both of the characters in the story are ripe for love, and Grey establishes an attraction between them from the moment they meet. Their romance is incredibly sweet.
Marcus’s Cadence
Gabbi Grey's Marcus's Cadence lays the groundwork for a really nice full length romance novel.
I love the premise of characters meeting years later and exploring their mutual attraction. Plus Marcus and Cadence are both interesting guys, with creative backstories, and they have terrific chemistry. Gabbi Grey always writes a hot physical romance scene, and this one has a doozie.
Ace's Place
What a lovely story!
Gabbi Grey totally nails this one. In so few pages she builds a great dynamic between the main characters, and we want nothing more than to see them get their happily ever after. I'd love it if Derek and Ace got a full length novel.
A Lovely Collection of Gabbi Grey's Romances
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Dickens and Spike are neighbors who clash before they get closer. I thought they had great chemistry and it was nice to see them getting closer. In the next story there is insta-love, but despite the brevity, the chemistry was believable, the romance was sweet and I liked the characters.
The other stories are also short with interesting protagonists, second chance love, a cute dog and an incredible amount of romance.
The author manages to create enough chemistry in her stories to be believable despite the brevity and the backstories are interesting too.
An entertaining audiobook for in between.
Michael Dean did a brilliant job as always and it was a pleasure to listen to him bring the stories to life.
Short and sweet
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