Charm Me

Love in the Pacific Northwest #2.5

by Beck Grey

One chance encounter, and Duncan's defenses crumble like flaky pie crust.

Duncan doesn't "do" love. Not since his ex stomped on his heart and walked away. Now it's only hookups with no repeats. Until he meets Bill, a sexy bear of a pastry chef, determined to break through Duncan's walls one sweet treat at a time.

Genres: M M Romance, Contemporary, Audiobook, Short Stories, Queer

Audiobook

Published January 1, 2022

About the author

Beck is an author of LGBTQ+ lower-angst romance, writing inclusive happily ever afters, because we all deserve to see characters like us find happiness.

Incognito worker bee by day, Beck spends evenings and weekends devoted to writing stories involving hot characters, favorite tropes, and happy endings.

If you love character driven stories that feel real, without the heavy trauma, you’ve found your place. Welcome.

Reviews

[Shannon]

Charm Me
Love in the Pacific Northwest, Book 2.5

I Picked Up This Book Because: Wanted a quick read.

Media Type: Audiobook
Source: Book Funnel
Dates Read: 5/10/25
Rating: 4 Stars
Narrator(s): Gary Furlong

The Characters:

Duncan:
Bill:

The Story:

A quick and hot story. My first story from this author but probably not my last.

[Moraa]

I can't believe the author managed to fit so much character depth and growth into such a short book!

The MCs had fabulous chemistry both in and out of the bedroom (🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5 for the spice btw — I’m going to have to reread that soon). I especially liked Duncan’s complaining (weird, I know😂) and how firm Bill was when he was beating himself down.

Audiobook review: 5 stars
Gary Furlong was SUPERB (but then he always is)😭

Expect
- Age gap
- Size difference
- Opposites attract,
- Grumpy / sunshine
- Cross dressing

Audiobook freebie: 10.5.25

[Brianne McCallum]

I really loved Bills character. He is such a sweet loveable bear. For someone who has a crap family and has lost his husband of 10 years to cancer, he is still very well mannered. On the other hand Duncan is a total *** from the start for no reason whatsoever. He was so abrasive I almost stopped listening a couple times. His ex was against his job so he is pessimistic and thinks that's what any man would think so no point in dating or apparently even being nice to people in general, including the loveable baker. I really didn't see why Bill was interested in him at all.

Things do get better around the mid point after their first date and it ended up being a pretty sweet story with some sexy steam but Duncan's attitude does resurface again and for me it made this story just ok.

[Ed Davis]

This was short and sweet. It felt a little schmaltzy at times.

[Meeps]

The grumpiest of grumps meets the most cinnamon roll sunshine. A quick and "charming" tale that was a fun listen

[Jennifer G]

Duncan tried love. Now he knows that love isn't for guys like him. He has a dangerous job as a Marshall, and "relationship guys" don't want a partner who leaves them alone for stretches of time or makes them worry over their physical safety. So, Duncan decided a steady steam of hookups is what works for him. Then he walks into a small cafe and sees the sexy pastry chef, Bill. Bill is everything Duncan could ever want but can't have. Except Bill wants him too...

Bill is a sweetheart; Duncan takes some warming up to, but together they are perfection. Confection Perfection. Sweet and yummy. Duncan does his best to sabotage the relationship after the first weekend, but fate steps in and gives him a wake-up call. When Bill proves he's willing to take a chance, it allows Duncan to get out of his own way. This could have been a 4-star if there had been more to the story. Just as I thought it was getting started, it was over.

[Chasity Trimble]

🎧 This was a cute, easy audiobook that I enjoyed while listening, even if it didn’t totally wow me. I think a big part of that was the narration style.

There’s only one narrator and while he did a good job, I personally connect more with dual or duet audiobooks. I like hearing both perspectives, especially in romance and I missed that here. Because of that, I never felt quite as immersed in the story as I usually do.

The story has a fun setup and a light rom-com feel and the banter kept things entertaining. The romance itself was sweet and low-angst and the story was easy to follow, but it felt pretty straightforward and predictable. Nothing bad, just nothing that really grabbed me or stuck with me once it ended.

Overall, this is a nice, low-key audiobook if you want something simple and comforting but it didn’t fully deliver the emotional connection I’m usually looking for.

[Cas ✨]

This was a cute, short listen; the narrator did a great job bringing the characters to life and I enjoyed the chemistry & emotion that the author was able to establish in under 3 hours. Novellas are usually hit or miss for me because more often than not I’m left wanting more or feeling like I got only part of a story. This one was wrapped up in a way that while I could easily listen to a full length of these two, this felt satisfying.

I really liked that the author didn’t make grumpy Duncan a totally different person once Bill got past his gruff exterior. Yeah he’s a marshmallow inside but he’s still a surly asshole at the end and when I say I like grumpy/sunshine duos, I mean it. I don’t want love to change them 🤷‍♀️ Bill the baker is sweet & sunshiney enough for the both of them.

[Laora]

Audiobook
Bill is a pick myself up and make the best of it guy. Duncan is the half or even less full cup of a guy. He seems to be his own worst enemy relationship trust wise.
I do like how Bill and Jamie make it clear to Duncan that he needs to get out of his own way and accept he can love and be loved other than by his pet and one nighters 4*

Narration
Gary Furlong is one of my go to narrators. He has a very lively voice which makeas it so much easier to distinct between characters. 5*

Overall 4,5*

[Mommysuz]

This was such a nice and quick story. Duncan, a U.S. Marshal, has sworn off relationships after being burned by an ex who couldn't handle the demands of his job. Enter Bill, patient, kind, and exactly the person to break down Duncan’s walls. Despite its length, the story delivers healing and hope. Perfect if you’re in the mood for a short sweet romance.

I listened to the audiobook, and Gary Furlong did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life.

[C]

I got this audio book through bookfunnel and on a whim listened to it this weekend.

It is a short-ish listen but well narrated. Bill is sweet and has a sexy rumble. some of the things he says ...... wooooooo.

Their chemistry is fantastic even if Duncan is running scared.

I am now looking for other books by this author.

[Copper]

3.5
Lovely short story about a Duncan who's scared of commitment due to previous disaster and the cute baker Bill who breaks down all his defences.

A date that turns into a full weekend you have Bill being careful but falling and Duncan panicking while falling. They relationship is very cute and I enjoyed the story, it definitely left me wanting more but a solid shot story.

[Diane]

When a dangerous job torpedoes the end of a relationship one wounded man retreats into supeficial relationships for his own mental and romantic health.

Luckily he meets someone who challenges him and tears down the barriers he's erected.

I listened to an audio version of this book.

The narrator was Gary Furlong. His emotional delivers was definitely deeply delivered!

[Heidi Marshburn]

What a whirl wind romance! Duncan is a fella with walls as high as the heavens and trust issues that are almost impossible to break through.
But here comes Ole Bill, the sexy baker who is determined to love the walls down and the trust back. This was a great short listen! The narrator did a fantastic job with all the characters!

[Kayla]

These two were so cute! I really enjoyed the pairing of rough along the edges protecting himself and super sweet and understanding. They worked so well together, even even though it's a novella, you get enough with them to be satisfied with their story.

[Capreacula]

It's a lively glimpse into a maybe interesting series. The short format diesn't allow for a lot of story but the space was zsed nicely. One hurt grump and one sunshiny widow finding together without having to change who they are to be together. Good communication. Nice.

[Kim Stone]

A short novella, I listened to the audiobook. Main characters are Duncan, sworn off relationships and Bill a widower, an elder man. Bill is a wonderful man, and Duncan has many communication issues. A great story from the Love in the Pacific Nothwest.

[Katy Beth Mckee]

Ducan is the guy who doesn’t think he can have more. Bill is strong enough to go for what he wants. This is a quick story of two men deciding to try.

[Zoey Wilson]

this was an interesting read! Duncan was a little off putting for me personally but I loved Bill! He saved this book for me tbh

[Vivian]

3.5 ⭐️ audiobook- Gary Furlong did a great job narrating.

[Bookworm]

This was such a cute story.I listened to it in one go and it had me smiling the whole time.

[Kelly Jean]

Short, sweet, and a bit spicy. Nice little listen.

[Sabrina Morissette]

AUDIO

Duncan + Bill

Bill was a great MMC. Duncan, not so much. But their story was enjoyable to listen to.

[Jai Oni]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️1/2
Enjoyment: ❤️❤️❤️

[abookwithacupoftea]

Review for the audio

Sweet, short, entertaining. I liked it.

[Rita]

I read the ebook edition of this story. Likeable characters and a decent story. A bit more spice than I care for.

[Kez Marie]

This was a great audiobook. I loved their chemistry, the grumpy sunshine dynamic and how perfect they were for each other.
It's cosy, charming and sweet.

[Teresa]

good narration, quick easy story.

[Isabelle Mendoza]

Very cute very sweet I like that but very short the spice is like one chili pepper is very sweet and short that’s it



(Audiobooks version)