I have all of Jay's books in audiobook. Love her work!

Jay Hogan is an auto buy for me and this series did not disappoint!

Jay is a master storyteller and every word, every twist, every moment being carefully curated to keep you hooked, open your heart and fall with each and every character.

Together with exceptional narration, with voices, nuisances and easy differentiation of each character, Gary's performance elevates the story to new levels!!

Mads and Nick grow together and face so many hurdles both personally and in their quest for answers in this story. They're thrown together in book one and the balance and nuisances of their lives, personalities and desires are put to the test here. Stubborn and set, closed and guilty, scared and hopeful, both Mads and Nick face it all and are stronger for it!
I loved Gazza and hope so much that he gets his happy ending and am so intrigued by the ending! What could the letter say for Nick to be able to face his past!! Gah I need it all now!

I got my wish for the audio. Loved it just as much as the first read through, if not more. Gary Furlong always gives a great performance and this is no exception.
Book 2 of the series and it follows straight on from the end of the previous book. It’s essential that you read it before tackling this one.
Another excellent read from Jay Hogan.
Older MCs. Jay writes believable older MCs. These guys are 50+ and it shows. They aren’t physically perfect, no abs and smooth unblemished skin. Grey hair, soft bits, wrinkles, and natural body hair abound. And they are both set in their ways and sometimes reluctant to concede.
Which leads me on to the Relationship Progression. In this book the slow burn ramps up a tad as the relationship moves forward. We get their first intimate scene. Always hot - it is Jay Hogan, after all- but age appropriate. We also get several clashes as these two stubborn men butt heads and don’t want to give ground.
Or they allow Nick’s deceased husband into the relationship. Occasionally Madigan is jealous of the part he played in Nick’s life or Nick feels guilty about learning to love again. But thankfully they handle things like grownups and talk about him rather than ignoring his presence in their relationship.
The suspense plays a big part again and I loved it even though it was necessary to suspend disbelief on occasions. Doesn’t the best thrillers ask us to do just that and it is the quality of the creative’s expertise that allows us to do this. Here it is handled just the right side of that line, and in keeping with the characters.

I can’t wait for the next instalment.

🎧 Audiobook Review 🎧
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(⭐️) 4,5
Performance: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️️
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Nick Fisher and Madigan Church are back, and I was very excited to see how things would continue for them. Before reading this book, I highly recommend reading volume 1 of the Fisher & Church series, “The Meaning of You,” as the story picks up right where that one left off.
Nick is still reeling from the past and what they accidentally uncovered, and Madigan has become his rock.
The first part of the story focuses on their relationship. It's incredibly complicated, which I could understand as a reader. And their communication is just as complicated at times. I would have loved to shake them both and then lock them in a room where they could talk things out.
But apart from their relationship, they can't forget the young man they initially freed, only to return him to the wrong people. And so, with the help of Mad's assistant Gazza, our amateur detectives set out to find Lee, because they are determined to help him. The two have a strong sense of justice and a plan they are pursuing. From here on, it gets super exciting, because of course not everything goes as planned, and I was rooting for the two of them and hoping that everything would turn out well.
But apart from their relationship, they cannot forget the young man they initially freed, only to return him to the wrong people. And so, with the help of Mads' assistant Gazza, our amateur detectives set out to find Lee, because they are determined to help him. The two have a strong sense of justice and a plan they are pursuing. From here on, it gets super exciting, because of course not everything goes as planned, and I was rooting for the two of them and hoping that everything would turn out well.
As I said, the story was different than I expected at first, but still good. Very entertaining, with lots of suspense and even more emotion. A big plus for me was the age of the protagonists: 50+, which I found very refreshing.
I listened to the audiobook, and Gary Furlong did an incredibly good job, bringing this exciting story to life perfectly with the distinctive voices of Nick and Mads. It's a pleasure to listen to him. I can highly recommend this series, especially to audiobook lovers!
I'm now eagerly awaiting the next volume with Nick and Mads!

I am absolutely obsessed with this series and this instalment has been no different.

I LOVE the characters in this - obviously Nick and Mads, but I honestly can’t get over the other characters - a really well fleshed out villain that you love to hate can’t be forgotten and both Freddie and Marty have stayed in my brain long after the book is finished, which you know makes it a good book! I tried not to race through the story and savour it, but I just couldn’t leave it alone.

Have to say though, that ending now has me clamming for the next book - going to have to go back and listen again until then!

I loved The Meaning of You, and I knew I’d grab The Question of Us as soon as I could get my hands on it.

And I did!

To no one’s surprise, I loved it.

Okay. So I had Madison (Mads) and Nick. Nick is slowly recovering from his grief over losing his husband and Mads is recovering from his kidnapping. What neither man – Madison especially – can get over is that they inadvertently handed a young man back to his abuser.

They think. That knowledge is driving them nuts so they embark on an adventure to Australia to determine, once and for all, if they’ve hurt someone who didn’t deserve it.

Except they are a forensic accountant and a restorer of old books. Who bring along Madison’s assistant in the book restoring business. Three men are determined to do the right thing, but with very few skills to help them out. A friend of Madison’s assistant gives the men makeovers, which are hilariously described and I would’ve loved to see, but they’re still risking a lot to help someone who might not want the help.

They quickly discover, though, that their worst fears have come true and there is a young man in need of help. Oh, and he’s a guy whose younger brother now needs rescuing as well.

So what do the Kiwi crew do? Try to initiate a rescue.

I knew disaster was coming, but I had to go along for the ride.

And what a ride it was. I’m not going to say more because I don’t want to give stuff away, but Mads and Nick might just survive. They might just come home to find another mystery. There might just be a third book coming my way.

OMG – please, Jay. Get it to me as quickly as you can. Because I’m truly loving this series!

Shout out to Gary Furlong who is one of my favorite narrators. He’s able to do that subtle differentiation between Aussie and Kiwi accents that just proves how damn talented he is. I can’t wait for the final instalment of this great trilogy! Obviously, I highly recommend this book!

About the story: I loved the first book and was waiting for this one impatiently and oh my.... I was not disappointed. I really enjoyed being be back with Madigan and Nick, I loved them in the first book, and still love them in this one.
The story and the suspense is very good, the interactions between Nick and Madigan, their thoughts and feelings feel so real. I love reading books about more mature men. It's very well written and I read it in one sitting, I couldn't put it down until I finished and I want more of them.

Regarding the audio: I listened to it after reading the book and I really enjoyed it. As for the first book of the series the narration is spectacular! Gary Furlong does such a wonderful job. I highly recommend and can't wait for next book.

I got an ALC and this is my honest review.

THE QUESTION OF US is the second installment in the Fisher & Church series. It cannot be read as a standalone as you will miss a ton of important information!

The Question of Us picks up right where The Meaning of You ends. You are thrust right into the aftermath of the traumatic experience they found themselves in. They are trying to figure out what they are to each other and what they want. Nick is still grieving Davis but wanting so much more with Madigan. He finds himself at odds with himself over what he should do. When he finally gets himself together he knows he'll be tagging along with Madigan to find the answers to the questions Madigan has about Lee and the men that kidnapped him.

I loved the suspense that is weaved into this. I was on the edge of my seat yet again. The moment Madigan and Nick gave into their physical desires it was truly explosive.

This is seriously one of the best audio series I have listened to. Gary Furlong does an amazing job bringing these characters to life. I find myself lost in this world that was created and not wanting to stop when real life makes me. It's a real problem when you listen at work and don't want to do the work your getting paid to do!!

I can't wait for what's next!

Edited January 2026

The audiobook really takes the book to the next level. Hearing the story out loud makes everything feel more alive, from the characters to the emotions. Gary Furlong adds personality and flow, pulling you into the story in a natural way. It’s easy to get lost in it, and it makes a great book even more fun to experience.

***********

“Nick Fisher. Fifty-four. Silver-fox gorgeous. Smile lines to die for. Exasperating. Intriguing. And sexy as shit. Temptingly seductive in that prickly, abrupt, bordering-on-rude, don’t-want-to-want-you, and certainly don’t-want-to-need-you kind of way.”

The Question of Us by Jay Hogan is the second book in the Fisher & Church series. Here we have Nick and Mads again, and these two fifty something silver foxes had me glued to the pages. You need to read The Meaning Of You because this story picks up almost right where that one left off, with all the guilt, grief, and unfinished business still hanging over them.

“I saw him less. Heard his voice in my head less. Even though I knew it was a natural part of the process, it still felt disloyal. I hated the way our world, the one with him in it, the one I’d thought would last until we both tapped out from old age was already beginning to blur around the edges. The threads were quietly unravelling and would continue to do that until the pattern was gone and a new one appeared in its place.”

Nick and Mads are both carrying a lot. Nick’s still grieving his husband, and Madigan is drowning in guilt over Lee. They’re complicated, messy, stubborn, kind of infuriating, and sometimes their own worst enemies. They are trying to navigate feelings they don’t quite know how to handle, while trying to move past grief and guilt. I wanted to knock their heads together half the time, shake them, but I also wanted to hug them when watching their suffering.

“People haven’t always stuck around in your world, I know that. Your mother. Your father. Even Davis. I can’t promise that something won’t happen to me too, Nick, or that we won’t have problems like every relationship does. Maybe even big problems.”

The suspense plot was just as good as the romance. Their mission to help Lee had me holding my breath, and Gazza absolutely shone here. He’s the kind of character you can’t help but love (hoping he has his own book, or at least a HEA in the next one in the series). The tension improves by the last few chapters (when the plot focussed also on Gazza, Lee and Aron). It had me completely hooked. I literally couldn’t put it down until I finished.

“You’re gonna be okay. We’re gonna be okay. And if you can’t believe all those things I said about you right in this moment, that’s just fine. I’ll believe in them for you. And I’ll keep repeating them for as long as it takes until you believe them too.”

I love how the relationship between these characters in their fifties is portrayed. It’s tender, passionate, with no rush… This book gave me thrills, heartbreak, and hope. I can’t wait to see what comes next.

“…if it hadn’t been for them and what they did, I would never have met you. How’s that for a fucked-up revelation? After that, the anger disappeared and all I felt was guilty.”

I received an eARC from the author for free, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation.

The second book in the series… after the mess at the end of book one, Nick and Mads are quite busy. A bit of figuring out things between them and A LOT of putting themselves in danger, AGAIN! Granted, their goal is both granted and noble, but, man, do they have to be reckless all the time? My heart couldn’t take it!
And the ending? Let’s just say I need the next book like air!
Amidst all the chaos at least things between Nick and Madigan are settling down and taking form, be it because they are getting better at communicating or because the constant threats to their lives make them realise how deeply they feel about the other.
This book kept me glued to my Kindle the first time I read it, holding my breath for the action and smiling like a loon for the romance; now, with Gary Furlong's spectacular narration, it was even more amzing!

Audiobook Review:
Overall – 5
Performance – 5
Story – 5

After reading The Question of Us with my eyes, I knew the only thing that would make me like it even better would be to listen to Gary Furlong perform the audiobook. His voice acting is superb; he conveys all of the emotions the characters are feeling so much better than I imagined them in my head when I first read the book. There isn’t anything else I can say that I didn’t already say in my original review which is shown below.

*•.¸♡ 𝟓 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬 ♡¸.•*
This book is amazing but you really need to read The Meaning of You before you read The Question of Us. The series follows the same couple as they unravel the mysteries surrounding the death of Nick’s husband. There is no cliffhanger for the relationship in this story but readers are left with a humdinger of a teaser for the next book. 😊

The Question of Us had me on the edge of my seat and holding my breath almost from start to finish. If an angsty book isn’t your thing you might need to skip this one but just know that if you do, you’ll be missing a fantastic romantic suspense story.

This book is 105,000 words and for me that is a big book but I consumed this in one day with only short breaks. This story flowed so well that I thought it was much less than 105,000 words. (I mean this in the best way.) My sweet spot is usually 50,000-75,000 words because I know I can finish reading in one day so I was almost surprised that I blew through this one so quickly. I shouldn’t have been though…because I’ve devoured every Jay Hogan book I’ve read (I still need to read two of them). Jay’s writing is so richly descriptive that I could clearly see everything in my mind as I read.

I nearly forgot to say that Nick and Madigan finally get it on but they have to go through some hard stuff before they do. This book has a solid HFN and if it wasn’t for the teaser/cliffy I’d call it an HEA. I loved everything about this book!

An advanced copy of this book was provided to me at my request; my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.

This book was amazing. The series is but the narration ups the emotions tenfold. I highly recommend the listen

Gary Furlong brings this suspenseful story and the distinct voices of Nick and Mads to life so perfectly. I highly recommend this series, especially for fellow audiobook lovers!

If you thought the tension in book one was high, this is a whole new level!

We're back with our favorite heroes: Nick is still healing from a past full of secrets, and Madigan has become his unexpected anchor. This time, they aren't just running from danger—they’re running towards it. We follow them as they try to rescue a young man from a dangerous situation, with incredibly high stakes.

What I love most about this series is that these are mature men dealing with real baggage. Their relationship isn't perfect. It's messy, confrontational, and deeply honest. Watching them learn to trust each other while navigating intrigue and high-stakes action is incredibly rewarding.

MM Romance - MCs 50+ - Sleuthing Together - Location New Zealand and Australia - Dual POV/1st POV - Same Couple Series - Fantastic Narration

It's been a while since I listened to The Meaning of You, luckily there were enough walks down memory lane to bring it all back.

I wasn't a big fan of the fight at the beginning. More specifically, I wasn't a fan of Mads' behavior towards Nick. I thought he was unnecessarily harsh and hurtful, as if he was the only one who's feelings had been hurt. Then I remembered, these two were both actually written as real human beings. They were set in their ways, one of them a bit of a bulldozer, the other one seemingly an indifferent grump. Having the life experience of more than a decade will do that.

And that also meant they were flawed, made mistakes and every now and then displayed less flattering qualities. But they also took responsibility and were realistic about their shortcomings. Even if they first had to overcome old habits and stubbornness. 🤪

I loved seeing how their relationship developed and how their chemistry increased naturally. It wasn't always pretty or easy but the way forward was never really in question. While getting closer emotionally they also took some huge steps intimacy wise, about bloody time if you ask me! 🤪 These moments were scorching hot and also sweet and precious. The tenderness, the appreciation and the trust was palpable.

Nick's late husband, Davis, was never forgotten and Mads really made a point of neither wanting nor expecting Nick to forget about him and the life they once had together. That was heartwarming and another indicator of the solid foundation they were building.

Mads and Nick, really well developed, complex characters acting and looking their age. They weren't perfect, they made mistakes and that made them believable and relatable. I'm a huge fan!

It's of course madness that a forensic accountant and two book conservators go off on an adventure to take down a violent sex trafficking ring. I don't think any of them should make sleuthing their day job. Some of their actions were almost comically OTT. As it ended on a cliffhanger I'm pretty sure there will be some questionable decisions and situations in the third and last book, too!

Oh, and then there was Gazza, Mads' assistant. Though younger than Nick and Mads he sometimes felt like the only adult. I really hope he will also get a HEA at some point, the signs were certainly there.

Favorite quote gotta be: "He who tops, mops." 😂

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CAWPILE-inspired rating system (original CAWPILE system by Book Roast on YouTube).

Characters 10/10
Relationships 10/10
Plot & Structure 8/10
Atmosphere & Setting (Worldbuilding) 8/10
Writing Style & Language 9/10
Intrigue & Interest 9/10
Logic & Conclusion 8/10
Enjoyment & Experience 10/10

Average Score 9/10
The StoryGraph Rating ☆ 4.75/5*
*Rounding up to 5 because of Gary Furlong's absolutely fantastic voice acting!

Narration 5/5
Cover 5/5
Amount of Steam 4/5
Listened to through: Bookfunnel
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