This story is absolutely fantastic, and Gary Furlong has a way of bringing it to life that is simply wonderful. I cannot wait to see what happens next with these silver foxes. Highly recommend.

How refreshing to listen to MC’s that are over 50.
The cover made me want to listen so when i got the chance to review i didn’t hesitate.
Nick and Mads were thrown together by an unfortunate series of events they weren’t exactly amicable to each other especially Nick who was the epitome of the grump MC but he had his reasons. Eventually circumstances throw them together even when both of them were hesitant of trusting the other but when one of them is in peril the other goes out of the way to make sure he is safe.
I am eagerly looking forward to book 2 and hope there will be more Nick and Mads in the future.

First, I've read every one of Jay Hogan's books, I think! And I love them all! But this one was on the next level of heartbreaking, intrigue, and story telling. I loved every minute of it. I don't think I've ever cried in the first 30 minutes of a book. It took me a minute to get over that. But I trust this author 100% so I knew the hurt would be worth it. Gary Furlong did a wonderful job, as usual.

I loved this in print, and enjoyed it even more on audio with the very talented Gary Furlong at the helm. The characters are well-drawn and complex, the plot is surprising and twisty, and the narration near perfect. Highly recommend it.

Great chemistry between the main characters, good story. I don't prefer duets, and this was no exception, but we were forewarned so I knew what to expect. I love all of Jay Hogan's books, especially in audiobook form with Gary Furlong's narration. Great character development and very sexy.

Jay Hogan is becoming a must have author for me. I think there are a couple of books I haven't read or listened to yet, but they are definitely on my list. This book ticked all kinds of boxes for me including slightly older characters, questions that need answers, and an amazing cast of characters. I'm eager to see what the future holds for these characters.

Wow! Jay Hogan has given readers yet another great new series, this one giving mystery and suspense whilst dealing with grief.
The book actually starts with a non-MC POV which sets up the story's mystery and suspense, as well as leaving one of the MC's, Nick, dealing with the aftermath.
During one of the hardest times of his life, Nick meets Madigan, who's aunt is in the same care facility as his husband, Davis. There is a spark there but circumstances and emotions lead to things getting confusing for Nick.
The aftermath is a hard journey for Nick and Madigan just wants to be there to support his new friends. However, what develops (between them and in the story) is tense and takes a lot to work through. There is definite chemistry between the two older men and, though they both have different outlooks on relationships, Nick especially after the recent loss of his husband, it's full of ups and downs across the story whilst the two work to understand the secrets that Davis had been keeping.
It's a full on ride throughout this book with a lot of strong emotions throughout. The mystery is excellently written and the suspense kept me hanging on. I love Jay's writing style and it has my full attention right from the start. I'm really looking forward to seeing how this series develops.
**Audio review**
Gary Furlong is one of my all time favourite narrators and he fully brought this story to life. I felt everything right alongside the characters and fell into the story telling. I was on edge with the suspenseful moments and hurting in the painful ones. I can't recommend listening to this enough!

Jay Hogan’s books often come with content warnings that I pretty much ignore because I like to go into books without preconceptions. I remembered simply that this new series was about one couple.

So when Davis died, I was nearly broken. This might’ve been inevitable – the couple in the story being Nick and Madigan – but it still devastated me. As it did Nick, who spiraled downward. If not for Davis’s family, I suspect things would’ve been even worse.

Somewhere in all that grief, though, was the acknowledgment of feelings toward Madigan. So Nick walled himself off from the man who had been so kind while Davis still lived. Madigan’s persistence forces Nick to consider what moving on might look like.

Then a series of strange occurrences has Nick turning to Madigan for help. Madigan, for his part, has been attracted to Nick. He’s not going to make a move on the grieving widower, of course. Still, when Nick needs help, Madigan is all in.

Davis had secrets which, as each is revealed, has Nick questioning if he even knew his husband at all. I loved that his husband was a thriller writer. Jay certainly knows much about the publishing industry, and that knowledge comes out loud and clear.

Nick is a forensic accountant and Madigan restores and preserves books. Both fascinating careers to me (I took some accounting and auditing classes, but could never get the hang of balance sheets…a story for another day.)

The book’s conclusion is not entirely satisfying, but I know there’s more to come, so that gives me hope. Finally last, but not least, I have to mention Gary Furlong. He’s a favorite of mine and I loved everything about his performance. He brought this already amazing book to life by adding a new dimension. He and Jay make magic together.

Truly enjoyable and highly recommend.

THE MEANING OF YOU is the first book in the Fisher & Church series. It is a slow burn romantic suspense read.

I had zero expectations going into this audio and I am so glad I did because I could have never predicted how invested I was from the beginning to the end. I couldn't get enough. The unspeakable heartbreak, two broken men with baggage that come together to lean on each other, the suspense was my absolute favorite. I didn't need characters that were hot and heavy from the word go I loved how they built their relationship moment by moment and it was perfect.

I can't say enough about how well Jay Hogan wrote this one. I never share anything about the books I'm reading/listening with my husband but I couldn't not with this one. He dutifully listened everyday after work to what chapters I had listened to that day and where I thought it was going.
To say this book had me in a chokehold would be an understatement. I was so completely lost in this audio, the voices, the story had me wishing for time to slow down so I could finish. I had to know what was going to happen next.

I can't wait for what comes next but I have to say this one is going to be hard to beat as my 2025 favorite!

I was given a free copy of this audio to listen to and review by Neon Rainbow.

‘I think people walk into our lives for a reason. That for good, or bad, they have something to teach us.’

Madigan is 100% the person who has walked into Nick’s life to teach him that life can go on after the love he felt for Davis was all consuming. It was so beautiful to listen to their relationship slowly bloom as it interweaved with the suspense of finding out more about what Davis had been embroiled in before his death.

Could not stop listening to this - I do not want to wish away my life, but I can’t wait for the next one!

Absolutely recommend this - Jay Hogan is such an amazing and attentive writer - some of the themes of this book have been so carefully and considerately written. You could really feel the emotion and Gary Furlong (as usual) just complemented the writing so well with his amazing narration. Just wonderful!

I loved this story. It started off with a bit of a bang but it was necessary for the rest to come together so well. Nick is dealing with the loss of his husband the best he knows how and Mads comes along and shakes it all up. Nick then sees that he feels better when communicating with Mads and that is the beginning of their friendship/relationship. Nick learns some things about his deceased husband that he can’t explain so he decides to investigate and Mads is drawn into the mix. After a few attempts at their lives they figure out why this is happening but have to live long enough to stop it. Together they survive and end the story spooning very alive. I definitely recommend this book to everyone who loves mm mystery romance stories. The narrated story is even better, you can feel the pain and the love.

I loved this book, it's very well written, conveying so realistically and so sensibly so many feelings, it's heartbreaking and moving, but also fun and stirring. And the performance is excellent! Gary Furlong does such a wonderful job. I highly recommend and can't wait for next book.

I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about Jay Hogan writing a suspense romance, and even more uncertain about a happy-for-now duology (I generally prefer stand alones,) but she’s hooked me with The Meaning of You. Madigan and Nick are like oil and water, and the stress of the opening scene was almost too much for me, but I’m so glad I continued. Gary Furlong is a favorite narrator of mine, so this is a win all the way around, whether print or audio. Listen/read now so you’re ready for the second book!

Jay Hogan changes lanes for her latest book, the first in a romantic suspense series featuring two guys in their fifties who become the unwitting targets of some dangerous people when one of them discovers some unsettling facts about his late husband. The Meaning of You is a compelling listen in which the author skilfully weaves an intriguing and suspenseful mystery together with a beautifully developing romantic relationship.

The suspense plot here is well-thought out and superbly executed; Jay Hogan skilfully builds the tension and lays out the clues for listeners to follow while also dropping the odd red-herring to keep us on our toes. At the same time, she sets a corker of a romance in motion between these two, world-weary men who have experienced love and joy and heartbreak and loss, and who have to decide whether they’re willing to risk their hearts – or if they’re too set in their ways to want to go there again.

Nick is the grumpiest of grumps, and what Madigan calls being “self-contained and resolute” (read: stand-offish and pigheaded) can make him difficult to like at times. As we get to know more about him and his past, it becomes easier to understand why he would want to wall himself off and why he likes the idea of not having to deal with emotions, but he blows hot and cold towards Madigan for longer than I’d have liked. Madigan, on the other hand, is like a warm blanket in human form. Kind, gentle and caring with a lot of love to give, he’s not had a lot of luck with relationships, the couple of long-term ones he’s had ending when his partner would inevitably begin to complain about him being ‘old before his time’ because he’s a homebody and prefers a quiet life. Having someone as complicated, attractive and self-contained as Nick Fisher suddenly enter his life - who pushes him away one minute, only to seem to want his company the next - Madigan has to be very honest with himself about the risk to his heart Nick represents and realise he has to be prepared to walk away if he has to.

As this is the first in a same-couple series, don’t go in expecting lots of sex and/or an HEA, because while these guys have chemistry by the bucket-load there’s no bed-hopping here, which makes sense. Nick and Madigan have a lot of baggage to sort out, and I liked that they are both aware of it and, realising they have real potential as a couple, want to take the time to get things right.

Gary Furlong is a terrific vocal actor who can always be relied upon to deliver an excellent performance, and he’s at his very best here. Perhaps even better than ‘best’. He’s been narrating for Jay Hogan for several years now, so he absolutely gets her style and really knows how to bring out the humour and the pathos in her writing while delivering an expressive and nuanced performance. Given the nature of this story, there are a lot of intense emotions – some overt, some understated and/or unsaid - and all those moments are perfectly – and expertly – judged. The two leads are superbly characterised, too, Nick’s lower-pitched growly tone aptly depicting his anger and frustration with life, while the lighter notes of Madigan’s voice show him as more easy-going, and the growing connection between them comes through really strongly. The secondary cast is appropriately and consistently voiced and the differentiation is excellent; shout out to his portrayal of Madigan’s feisty aunt Shirley and the obviously loving relationship between them.

The Meaning of You is a poignant and beautifully written story about love, loss and moving on, combined with an emotional romance and an intriguing mystery plotline. Add in the flawless performance by Gary Furlong, and you’ve got a superlative audio experience.

Jay Hogan is a master of words! Every one weaved together to break your heart, keep you on the edge of your seat and tease you into falling in love and finding hope in a gruff and grumpy widower and a sweet, circumspect and lonely book restorer.

These two are magic together and their slow build and simmer of a connection is weaved perfectly along a thrilling mystery that had me on the edge of my seat. I like that most of the mystery is solved and the relationship established even if only just starting by the end. I'm intrigued and invested in what could possibly happen next.

And in an assortment of colourful characters and this is a well rounded story that will have you wanting more and I'm excited to see where Jay takes all these characters next!!