Foxe Den 2: Summer Vacation

Skyler Foxe Mysteries #5.5

by Haley Walsh

Just like the original FOXE DEN: A Holiday Collection, there is no mystery to solve in this novella. Skyler Foxe is a high school English teacher, now out and proud. He’s “Mr. Foxe” to his students and just plain “Skyler” to his posse of friends and his boyfriend, high school football coach Keith Fletcher. In FOXE DEN 2: Summer Vacation, Skyler and Keith offer a Beach Party for the Gay-Straight Alliance kids; Two gay teens have an intimate moment in their own story; Skyler’s friend Mike de Guzman experiences Skyler’s favorite gay bar, Trixx; And finally Skyler and Keith go on a backpacking trip. This is a book of little extras, what the characters are up to when we don’t see them between the pages of a full novel. They have so many stories to tell that a full novel cannot contain them! This novella is Volume 5.5 and falls directly between DESERT FOXE and CRAZY LIKE A FOXE.

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

130 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 27, 2015

About the author

Haley Walsh tried acting, but decided the actor’s life was not for her. Instead, she became a successful graphic designer in Los Angeles, her hometown. After fifteen years of burning money in the ’80s and early ’90s, she retired from the graphics industry and turned her interests toward writing. She became a freelance newspaper reporter, wrote articles for quirky magazines, published award-winning short stories, and now writes an acclaimed gay mystery series, the Skyler Foxe Mysteries. She’s lived all her life in southern California, sampling wines and chomping chocolate. Yeah, it’s a living.

Reviews

[BWT · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short novella is so much fun with different POV from Skyler, Rick and Alex, and Mike de Guzman. I love it when Haley writes from other POV in addition to Skyler. Here we get some nice fun with a beach day, some sweet feels with Rick and Alex's first time, a side-splittingly funny night with Sidney's boyfriend, Mike, navigating Trixx, and a cute look into Keith and Skyler's backpacking hike adventure.

I absolutely LOVE Joel Leslie's narration of this series! Haley's Skyler Foxe stories have so many characters and it really allows Joel to spotlight his talent. He brings each character to life. It boggles my mind how seemingly effortlessly Joel is able to keep so many voices not only separate but completely distinct.

Absolutely worth the listen!

Audio copy of Foxe Den 2: A Skyler Foxe & Friends Summer Vacation provided by the Narrator in exchange of an honest review.

This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.

[Viv · Rating 4 out of 5]

*audiobook version*

This was another collection of short stories and I enjoyed it overall. I did feel a little weird about Alex and Rick's story (they are only 15 after all!). All I can say is that I am loving the progression of Skyler and Keith's relationship. I think it is great how much Skyler has grown over this series.

Another gem from narrator, Joel Leslie! He handles all of the character voices perfectly and it was flawless as usual. Now I cannot wait for Crazy Like A Foxe to come out in audio!

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

For some reason I always manage to turn the seasons around, maybe in a former life I was Australian – lol! Here we have Christmas with –5 outside and I’m listening to a delightful interlude in the Skyler Foxe mysteries set in the middle of summer, beaches, BBQs, swim wear, camping and sun cream. It couldn’t be further away from the truth sat here in my car wrapped up like an Eskimo to keep warm. But listening to this gave me at least all kinds of warm thoughts.

I love these little interludes between the full length stories as we take a break from all the action and sleuthing and it let’s us get to know our gang on a more personal level. It’s basically three short cameos and in the first Skyler organises a beach party for his students and the GSA. It was delight how Haley managed this with great understanding and empathy. Teenagers are not easy and have a whole world of raging hormones and emotional issues going on. It makes me suspect that Haley is a teacher in real life. The GSA takes off to the beach for the day and this was a great idea to create some great bonding between teachers and students alike. I was enthralled listening to these young adults talk about the many issues they face, opening up and beginning to trust each other more than ever, also one new romance on the way.

Alex and Rick get to deepen their love and understanding for each other, sweet. I loved how Haley deals with the sensitive subject of teenagers and sex. Here we have Alex and Rick who decide to go “all the way” this time rather than just having their teenage fumblings to date. This was all done with a great deal of empathy and I could feel the nerves and excitement coming from Alex and Rick as they talk and discuss it until they have the chance to go that extra mile. I could feel how this process made them grow up that bit more, teenagers becoming young adults who deepen their love and understanding of each other at the same time. I felt that maybe their first attempt at full on intercourse went a little more smoothly then I would have expected or even remember it from personal experience – lol! But hey, this is romance. Now they have broken through the final frontier then I guess for Alex and Rick practice makes perfect now.

The last episode had me laughing once again as Skyler takes to the wilderness. Yes, Sykler and Keith are very different here. Keith loves the whole “one with nature” thing, backpacking, camping, living on the bare essentials. As you can imagine not Skyler’s world but he gives it a go for Keith’s sake. Well, to be honest he actually does a very good job but after a few encounters with unmentionable wild animals, no home comforts and one spider bite, Keith decides to do camping Skyler style and book into a nice motel after giving up on the camping experience. I really liked how Skyler, determined not to disappoint Keith, gives it his best shot for his guy but some people are just nor destined to be at one with nature as others, Skyler likes his creature comforts too much. He is upset as he feels he has let his guy down by not being really able to cope or feel comfortable with the whole camping jock experience. However, Keith was wonderful too, realising his boyfriend is not really cut out for the whole wilderness adventure and that was also OK with him. I guess what I took from this little episode is, apart from some hilarious Skyler moments, they are both very different and have now learnt to appreciate and love the differences in each other more than ever.

Anyway, I have a bit of a wait now until the next book comes out on audio but as soon as it does I’ll be grabbing it and pressing play. I’m enjoying the audio version so much I don’t really want to start reading the printed version. I’m having too much fun listening to Joel narrate these wonderful characters, so I guess I’ll just have to patient for now. Who knows, maybe I’ll end up listening to the Christmas short in the middle of summer – LOL!

[Natalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-read December 2018
3.5 stars

[Linda ~ they got the mustard out! ~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

What does Skyler do when he's not solving murders? He parties with his friends, loves his boyfriend and goes camping. Or attempts to go camping. :P This is a series of four short stories set after the end of Skyler's first year teaching at James Polk High. There's a beach party with the GSA kids, and Mike's first outing to Trixx, and Alex and Ryan's first time, and the aforementioned camping trip. This was a fun way to spend time with all these characters without murder and mayhem happening and to see how everyone gets along when they're just being regular people instead of the Scoobies. And Caretaker!Keith was pretty amazing, I have to say.

[Ami · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This novella is a good way to spend more time with Skyler Foxe without murder cases that seem to follow him around *lol*. Since I plan to catch up with the series, I decided to read this one first before moving on to book #6

Foxe Den 2: Summer Vacation is a collection of short stories, all happen right after Desert Foxe, during the summer vacation which also marks Skyler's first year as teacher at James Polk High. We have the GSA teachers and students having beach party, Alex and Ryan's first time, a first man-to-man kiss for Mike de Guzman (Sidney's boyfriend), and Skyler's first hiking trip in which we see a softer side of Keith being a caretaker for his boyfriend...

It's a lovely break and now I'm ready for more Foxe hijinks.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

***Audiobook***Narrated by Joel Leslie***All the stars for Skyler and friends! This is a series of short vignettes giving us a glimpse into Skyler's life when he and his Scooby Doo gang of friends are not tracking down murderers. Skyler and Keith take the GSA kids to the beach for an end of school year celebration. Alex and Rick spend some time alone exploring their feelings and their sexuality. The SFC (plus Sidney's partner/boyfriend Mike) enjoy a night out at Trixx. And finally, and most hilariously, Skyler and Keith go camping. I could so relate to Skyler with all his camping mishaps. That would be me, which is why my family doesn't even bother inviting me when they go camping. All in all, I enjoyed my time with Skyler and highly recommend this one to fans of the series.

Narration by Joel Leslie is stellar as always. As far as I'm concerned, he *is* Skyler Foxe. At this point, I don't think there's any way I could read one of these books. I have to listen to them! I am anxiously awaiting the release of Crazy Like A Foxe in audiobook so I can hang out with the SFC once again :)

I received a copy of this book from the narrator in exchange for an honest review.

[Peppermaud · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the music to the young boys first experience, from the swollen eye (which I have experienced) to MIKE OMG… I will never get tired of this series. (BTW… so happy to see no one died in this book lol… because I was waiting for it LMAO)

[Idamus · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars, I really dislike Joel, I don't think I've ever heard a good voice from him, so half a star off because of that.

I am quite amazed that Skyler is still alive though, if you look up too stupid to live you'll find a picture of him, I'm sure.

Fun though.

[Lada · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finally read the PDF file on laptop because the formatting sucks if I read it on my e-reader or tablet. Anyway, I've read all the main stories, so reading this was just for fun and reminiscing about Skyler and company while I wait for the next book to come out.

[Wide Eyes, Big Ears! · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Skyler Foxe collection covers a summer outing for the Gay / Straight Alliance, progress in Alex and Rick’s relationship, a entertaining night out for the SFC, and the camping trip from hell. Very enjoyable although I felt a little uncomfortable when Skyler laments not being masculine enough and Keith lists ‘masculine’ attributes of Skyler that surely anyone of any sex or gender would aspire to. 🎧 Joel Leslie provides his always excellent narration!

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The good thing about getting sick, is that you have a lot of time to listen to audiobooks; the bad thing is that you don't have the strength to sit in front of the pc and write reviews /0\

So, my reviews will be short and to the point: I liked it, better than the previous short story, but I still enjoy more the ones with a mystery :P

[Mike Oaks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sideshow

Cute short stories in the Skyler Foxe universe. No surprise that even the simplest events seem to have a little drama. I found this novella to be a nice break in the action. Now I’m ready for another mystery. 3.25 for perfect couples.

[Kristy Johnston · Rating 2 out of 5]

Again, I miss the mystery. I kind of just skimmed this one for the dialogue. I wish I hadn't already bought the Christmas novella.

[ReadToFilth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Standard fair for the series.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great side journey for the characters of the Skyler Foxe Mysteries. I enjoyed how the students that Skyler taught the year before made a pact to take another class of his for the following school year. I liked how Sydney's boyfriend took her test and turned into something funny and hot. And Skyler's camping/hiking trip with Keith was a bit amusing and I loved how Keith didn't just leave to take pity on Skyler but also made him understand that he is just fine the way he is and he doesn't have to prove himself with "manly" activities.

Joel Leslie gives another great narration for the series and I can't wait for the next one.

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe I read this series too fast, didn't have a sufficient breaks in between, I don't know. Whatever the cause, my biggest reaction to this little collection of stories is 'meh'. I can deal with the whole Gary-Stu-ness of Skyler but nothing here added to the depth of any of the characters (maybe a little bit with Mike, but none of the main people). Nothing really happened, just more reiteration on how great Skyler is at everything.

Just, meh.

[Roclaf Alter -Ego · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice assortment of stories in this collection. Fun read. The second story - Beach Party 2 is particularly sweet.