Easy Evenings

Mangrove Stories Book 4

By: Mary Calmes

Narrated by: Greg Tremblay

Lazlo Maguire doesn't do relationships - he does transactions. Six months of the year, he's an expensive rent boy in Manhattan, and he moves so fast that settling down could not, would not, ever enter his mind...except for once. He meets Britton Lassiter, man to man, not as hustler and mark, and it's too good to be true when the lawyer wants to keep Lazlo, even if he has to share him with the job.

But Lazlo has his reasons to walk away from the man he's grown to love. The other six months of the year, he is laid-back Laz, a shopkeeper in the sleepy coastal town of Mangrove, Florida, where the artist he never allows himself to be in the Big Apple shines through. He lives for his time by the ocean, the place he hides his secrets and nurses his broken heart.

Then fate intervenes, and Laz gets the surprise of his life when he spies Britton in Mangrove - but it's not meant to be...not until Britton sees the change in him and wants to be a part of Laz's new life so that every evening can be easy...together. Hopefully the secrets that tore them apart won't come back to haunt them.

©2015 Mary Calmes (P)2015 Dreamspinner Press

Another great one.

I love this Mangrove series. Over the long weekend, I have listened to each of the stories. I love these shorter stories that Mary Calmes writes. Easy Evenings has all the feels. The characters are well developed and the story is stellar. Greg Tremblay brings a greater dimension to the tapestry of the story. I can't give it enough stars.

Always a Fan!!!

I love your shorts story, when I need a little pick me up of love and romance I can read or listening to one of your shorts story, it makes my lunch break and drive home relaxing and stress-free. Thank you

4.5 stars. One of my favourites in the series.

It is an exception for me to want to read a story about a prostitute finding love - in this case Lazlo finds love with Britton. It is only very good writing that can make me sympathise with the characters and Mary Calmes’ writing did it.

Despite EASY EVENINGS’ short word count, Mary Calmes was able to draw out emotions from me that had my heart squeezing for Lazlo. This story turned in a way I could not have predicted and I felt my emotions go up and down and around. I loved the experience.

As with my other favourite in the series, book 1 BLUE DAYS, I have already listened to this story multiple times and enjoyed experiencing the joy it brought me through the protagonists’ journeys. EASY EVENINGS wasn’t perfect – I felt Lazlo was a pushover letting his mother treat him the way she did for so long, and I felt she was an exaggerated caricature of a mean woman. But I didn’t care. I loved the pleasurable listening experience this story gave me.

Although all 5 Mangrove Stories are standalones, I recommend the stories be listened to in order. They flow better this way and are delightful romances. I’m glad I heard them in order, even though something about the Audible sample made me want to hear EASY EVENINGS first. I’m glad I waited – it was worth it. But if you hear them out of order, that is fine too.

I also recommend the Audible version for all 5 stories because Greg Tremblay is narration perfection. I have already re-listened to all of the stories in this series because they are wonderful entertainment and Greg Tremblay enhances the romantic experience.

My only complaint is that whether Audible or Kindle/Amazon, each book in the series is pricy for its length. On the flipside, as I am listening to them again and again, they’ve turned out to be a sound investment.

Greg, Mary and a kid! Wonderful!

Lazlo spends half his year in New York as a high paid rent boy and half the year in Mangrove selling wind chimes. He doesn’t like the two lives to mix.
Britton is a closeted lawyer who’s moved to Mangrove to start life over. He’s shocked when he sees the rent boy he used to see regularly (and in fact asked to give up the life and be with him permanently) living in the tiny town.

There’s a lot of miscommunication between these two guys: Britton wanted to be with Lazlo and can’t understand why he won’t give up being a rent boy. Lazlo sees Britton in town and thinks it’s his opportunity to take him up on the offer and is confused when instead of accepting him with open arms, he puts a restraining order on him!

Fortunately, the appearance of Kitty, Lazlo’s daughter, helps these two sort through their communication problems once and for all.

**

Like all the stories in this Mangrove series, these guys are amazingly hot together. They are so in love with each other it’s crazy and it just takes some talking to get them sorted out.

I thought Kitty was a delight – she’s the most perfect three-year old in the world! The hatred I feel toward Lazlo’s mother was rightly shown by Mia and Lazlo’s other friends – thankfully she got what she deserved!

The thing I love most about this series is the town and how all the people are so crazy, sweet and fun. I totally want to live there!

I love this series and highly recommend it!

Audio

Greg Tremblay can do no wrong when it comes to this mangrove series. He’s as wonderful as ever – giving us a lovely range of voices and emotions making us feel like we’re part of the story.



4.5 of 5 stars

Once upon a time. In a land far, far away...

Any additional comments?

Ok, maybe it was just down in Florida, there lived a young man...
Yep, nailed it as I was reading this book all that kept floating around my brain was the fact that this is like reading a fairy tale. Except definitely for adults.
Loved this story - it's a Mary Calmes sugar cookie which always works for me!