Dex in Blue (Johnnies #2)

Title: Dex in Blue (Johnnies #2)
Author: Amy Lane and Sean Crisden (Narrator)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press LLC
Release Date: April 15th 2014
Genre(s): M/M Contemporary Romance
Length: 10 hrs 28 min
Reviewed by: Belen
Heat Level: 4 flames out of 5
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Blurb:

Ten years ago David Worral had plans to go to college and the potential for a beautiful future in front of him. One tragic accident later, he fled to California and reinvented himself as Dex, top porn model of Johnnies.

Dex’s life is a tangled mess now, but the guys he works with only see the man who makes them believe even porn stars can lead normal lives. When Kane, one of Dex’s coworkers, gets kicked out of his house, the least Dex can do is give him a place to stay. Kane may be a hyperactive muscle-bound psycho, but he’s also a really nice guy. What could be the harm?

Except nothing is simple—not sex, not love, and not the goofy kid with the big dick and bigger heart who moves his life into Dex’s guest room. When they start negotiating fractured pasts and broken friends, Dex wonders if Kane’s honest nature can untangle the sadness that stalled his once-promising future. With Kane by his side, Dex just might be able to reclaim the boy he once was—and if he can do that, he can give Kane the home and the family he deserves.

Johnnies: Book Two

This is wonderfully narrated by Sean Crisden! I enjoyed the character voices, the pacing, the intimate scenes, as well as most of the story. Which is great, because I was really looking forward to David/Dex’s story, and getting to see him fall in love with Carlos/Kane was a treat.

David “Dex” Worral has been working for Johnnies for nine years and has become the right hand man who keeps everything afloat. It’s Dex who schedules and handles most of the business. While his professional life is right on track, and it’s true he’s doing really well, it seems like the only thing missing from Dex’s life is someone to love who loves him back.

As it happens in romances, a character sometimes has to be with someone not worthy in order to see the guy who is worthy. After breaking up with his douche-nozzle ex, the “right” guy finally comes along and when Carlos “Kane” Ramirez shows up on Dex’s doorstep needing a place to stay, it turns into more between the two quickly, and they fall in love. It was a really sweet thing to witness the two bond and be there for each other through thick and thin. I love these two characters!

“I’m not smart,” he said, his voice rough. “But I know special. It’s special. Anything I gotta do to sleep next you. That’s what I’m gonna do.”

The only negative for me was I felt like much of the last quarter was unnecessarily over-dramatic. It put me off the flow of the story and jarred me. I really didn’t see the need and it felt like a sort of “Oh, things are going too well for the characters, I have to throw some angst in here!” and then a whole bunch of things happen that didn’t feel organic to the story.

On an unrelated side note, and it’s not a negative one, but I have to wonder: why does it seem like, in many of Amy Lane’s series, a baby or child will make everything perfect?

Bottom line: I enjoyed the story, the characters, and especially the narration. I would not hesitate to recommend this to anyone looking for a romance with a medium-level of angst, sweetness, hot sexy times, and likable characters.