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Isobel Starling
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As You Wish (Shatterproof Bond Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Isobel Starling (Author), Gary Furlong (Narrator) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 out of 5 stars 486 ratings

WINNER OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDIOBOOK AWARD FOR ROMANCE
1 wedding, 2 best men, one hell of a love story!
Declan Ramsay was set to be the best man at his brother's wedding in Scotland, sharing the best man duties with the bride's gay kid brother Sam. Sam was abroad finishing his studies so the best men communicated by email for more than a year and wouldn't meet for the first time until a few days before the wedding
But on meeting Sam Aiken, Declan is surprised to see he isn't a kid at all, but a striking, athletic blond man with gorgeous green eyes and a wicked sense of humor. Declan is alarmed by the ferocious attraction he feels for Sam. And as the attraction is reciprocated, the events at Dunloch Castle change everything Declan has ever believed about himself.
But is Sam Aiken all he appears to be?

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  1. Book 1 of 6
    Shatterproof Bond
  2. Print length
    238 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    August 28, 2015
  5. File size
    1.0 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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From the Publisher

Shatterproof Bond, Gay Romance, Thriller, Series, LGBTQ, Scotland, True Love, M/M Romance,
Thriller, Gay Romance, MM Romance, LGBTQ,
Shatterproof Bond series, Thriller, Gay Romance, MM Romance, LGBTQ

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Isobel Starling was born in Germany to British parents. She has worked as a creative in the area's of Theater, Film and Fine Art. She lived many lives, has worn many 'hats' and could tell many tales (as long as there is an accompaniment of tea and cake! ) Isobel loves to read, make art and write about intimate relationships. She is a romantic at heart and is constantly on the search for inspiration and a new muse.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B012T8J92U
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Decent Fellows Press (August 28, 2015)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 28, 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.0 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 238 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 out of 5 stars 486 ratings

About the author

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Isobel Starling

Isobel Starling

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Isobel Starling loves writing M/M thrillers, mysteries, fantasy, and historical books. With over 50 titles, she's a #1 bestselling author in the USA, UK, France, and Germany. As well as English, German and French, her books are also available in Italian, and Spanish.

Isobel runs Decent Fellows Press, where she produces audiobooks by John Wiltshire, Anna Butler, LJ Hayward and Harper Fox. Of the 50 audiobooks Isobel has produced, 45 of those are with the multi-award-winning narrator Gary Furlong.

So far, Decent Fellows Press has won the Independent Audiobook Award for Romance 2018, and has one title nomination for the SOVAS (Society of Voice Arts and Sciences) Award 2021 - Thriller Category.

Isobel is totally against the use of #AI. She does not use AI generated cover art or any AI apps for book content. If you purchase books and audiobooks produced by Isobel you'll be getting a 100% authentic product, (Occasional pesky typos and all!)

For audiobooks Decent Fellows Press will always choose #realhumanvoice #noAI

https://www.decentfellowspress.com

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
486 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy this romance novel for its witty love story and magnificent lovemaking scenes, with one review noting its departure from typical M/M romances. The book serves as a great start to the series, with customers appreciating its beautiful setting and humor, particularly the Princess Bride references. The writing style receives mixed reactions, with some praising it while others find it stilted. Character development also gets mixed reviews, with some finding them good while others find them annoying.

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25 customers mention "Story quality"21 positive4 negative

Customers enjoy the story of the book, describing it as a witty love story with a good ending and magnificent lovemaking scenes, with one customer noting its perfect balance of heartwarming elements.

"...The two together are intensely passionate and the phrase “explosive chemistry” was probably coined with their eventual pairing in mind...." Read more

"...I enjoyed their love of the same movie and their banter. They were sweet and playful...." Read more

"...As the blurb says: "1 wedding, 2 best men, one hell of a love story!" This is exactly what we get. Declan and Sam have the perfect chemistry...." Read more

"...But in the end this is a very hot, very well plotted, and very uplifting start to what I hope will be a very delicious series...." Read more

14 customers mention "Readability"14 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be a great read, particularly enjoying Sam and Declan's characters, and appreciate it as a strong start to the series.

"...I enjoyed this read quite a bit. What kept me from rating it higher is because of the unnecessary POV's of a couple other characters...." Read more

"...every line in the book, which gives us an entertaining, unforgettable reading experience This story has the perfect balance of heartwarming, sweet,..." Read more

"...But he also has a deft touch in the more serious times. Really well done and I'm glad to see he narrates the rest of the series, as now I can't..." Read more

"...plotted, and very uplifting start to what I hope will be a very delicious series. I've already bought the sequel." Read more

12 customers mention "Pacing"10 positive2 negative

Customers enjoy the pacing of the book, appreciating its beautiful setting and glorious storytelling, with one customer noting its well-plotted structure.

"I absolutely loved this story. It’s a wonderful look at one man’s journey to find what-and who-he truly wants after so many unsatisfying encounters..." Read more

"3.5* I loved the setting of where this book took place and I also loved the Scottish accent...." Read more

"...But in the end this is a very hot, very well plotted, and very uplifting start to what I hope will be a very delicious series...." Read more

"...Good luck Sam & Declan, the premise sounded good, the execution left a lot to be desired." Read more

11 customers mention "Humor"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the book funny, with one mentioning its playful and comedic timing and movie references.

"...They were sweet and playful...." Read more

"...Isobel Starling is a new author for me but her charm and wit made me fall in love with her story and her writing style right away...." Read more

"...I've always enjoyed his playful and comedic timing, which he does well here. But he also has a deft touch in the more serious times...." Read more

"Enjoyable. Wasn’t a huge fan of the entire Princess Bride quotation and referencing, but I enjoyed Sam and Declan a lot." Read more

5 customers mention "Princess bride references"5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the Princess Bride references in the book.

"...Add in quirky fun times and Princess Bride references, how could I not love this?!?..." Read more

"...I loved the quote from princess bride by. William Goldman. "Do I love you?..." Read more

"...I loved the Princess Bride references and the description of the Scottish Highlands and castle settings were just dreamy...." Read more

"This book starts out hilarious and I just love all the Princess Bride references...." Read more

8 customers mention "Character development"5 positive3 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the character development in the book, with some finding them good while others find them annoying.

"...God, I adored these characters. Sam is so lovable, bubbly and bright and outgoing-though at times hiding some bit of sadness that we don’t get to..." Read more

"...kept me from rating it higher is because of the unnecessary POV's of a couple other characters...." Read more

"The characters and story are good, but the pacing is a little off for me and the switches in perspective are really rough, with no indication of..." Read more

"...That matters to me, as it helps me connect with the characters and I certainly did here...." Read more

8 customers mention "Writing style"3 positive5 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing style of the book, with some finding it great while others describe it as extremely stilted.

"...It can make for a confusing read at times. This is the start of a series and at times seems a little rushed...." Read more

"...The writing is great, the story intriguing, and the twist at the end opens up a great possibility for the future...." Read more

"...also some major editing issues in the beginning of the book with jumbled sentences. But these things could have been fixed by now...." Read more

"...Added, the writing was extremely stilted (was this AI generated? Seemed like criteria was fed into a computer and this is what spit out)...." Read more

Good Start
4 out of 5 stars
Good Start
If, like me, you grabbed this series by Isobel Starling because you enjoy romantic suspense – you might be a little disappointed with the first book, As You Wish. Because this is fairly short (4 hours), firmly in the “establishing the relationship” category, and only remotely hints at any suspense or danger to come in the epilogue. That said, I actually thoroughly enjoyed it. Grumpy Declan Ramsay is the polar opposite to relaxed and funny Sam Aiken in all ways – including being straight. Or so he thinks. While in some respects this feels a little like “insta love” due to the fact that the bulk of the story occurs over a few days at their siblings’ wedding – Declan & Sam have been emailing for a year. They have cultivated a fairly solid friendship leading up to a wild week in Edinburgh. It was a lot of fun to experience Sam bring Declan out of his shell and his funk. Declan’s wonder, yet quick acceptance that he was not only attracted to but falling in love with a man. This man. Also, it must be mentioned that one of the hottest scenes in the book is when they are getting dressed in kilts for the wedding. I have no idea how Starling could make putting on clothes steamier than removing them – but she did. I digress. There’s a delightful banter between the men quoting lines from The Princess Bride that is also weaved into the story a few times. Fans will enjoy the references. The epilogue brings more questions than answers (in the best of ways) and I’m diving right into Illuminate the Shadows. Gary Furlong was terrific. I love the voices, accents, and personalities he gave to Starling’s characters. I think he really helped to differentiate the perspectives in a way that I wouldn’t have if I’d merely read the story. I’m not only looking forward to him in the rest of the series, but will be seeking out more narrations by him.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Carra at Making it Happen blog
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this, excellent start for the series-5 stars!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I absolutely loved this story. It’s a wonderful look at one man’s journey to find what-and who-he truly wants after so many unsatisfying encounters with women, and another man’s attempt to find love and settle back into a normal life-if his controlling father will let him.

    God, I adored these characters. Sam is so lovable, bubbly and bright and outgoing-though at times hiding some bit of sadness that we don’t get to find out about until the absolute end of the story. And Declan…there’s just something about a person discovering his sexuality and breaking free of expectations that endears Declan (and other characters like him) to me from the start. The two together are intensely passionate and the phrase “explosive chemistry” was probably coined with their eventual pairing in mind.

    Watching as Declan explored his sexual boundaries as he learns just what he needs and wants is emotional for the reader as well as Declan himself as he experiences it. He and Sam weave such a tight bond with each other, and as a reader I was just as devastated as Declan when their time together at the castle for the wedding comes to an end…especially the way it did.

    I’m really glad the way things tied up at the end, I don’t think I could have taken any other ending. I’m am totally hooked for this series and can’t wait to dive in to the next book. 5 stars for As You Wish, and I can guarantee no matter how this series progresses from here that I’ll still be re-reading this one in the future! Recommended for M/M romance fans 18+ for adult language and explicit M/M sexual content.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Solid story, rough editing
    Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    The characters and story are good, but the pacing is a little off for me and the switches in perspective are really rough, with no indication of switching from one to the other. It can make for a confusing read at times.

    This is the start of a series and at times seems a little rushed. The characters move pretty quickly into their relationship and fall into some heavy commitment quickly. There's reasons for it, but it does make the end reveals a little costly if this were real life. But it's a romance, so I am happy with some suspension of beliefs for a good story.
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  • Mindy Lynn
    3.0 out of 5 stars 5* I loved the setting of where this book took place and ...
    Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    3.5*

    I loved the setting of where this book took place and I also loved the Scottish accent.

    Declan and Sam meet over email when they are both given the job as co-best man for Declan's brother and Sam's sister's wedding. They get on well over emails but their first encounter doesn't go so smooth. Things are a bit awkward at the beginning but soon they tied to the hip and sometimes tied up in bed. *wink*

    The men become very close and share a lot of intimate time with each other barely leaving their rooms unless necessary. But I didn't mind because it wasn't all sexy times. I enjoyed their love of the same movie and their banter. They were sweet and playful.

    Although Declan has never been with a man or ever even been attracted to one he doesn't go back and forth about it. He is confused of course but he doesn't dwell on it. He accepts it and then indulges himself into Sam.

    Sam does jobs for his dad and doesn't have a great relationship with the man. But Sam only has his father and sister left seeing as his mother passed away when he was young. So even though he doesn't want to do the jobs his father arranges for him he does. He doesn't want to lose his small family and we get to see how much a prick his father is when Declan listens in on one of their conversations. Sam's father literally threatens to makes his son's life miserable if he doesn't bend to his will.

    Later on in the book we are informed what exactly Sam does for his father and how Declan will be involved now. This allows us a bit of an insight on how the rest of the series will go.

    I enjoyed this read quite a bit. What kept me from rating it higher is because of the unnecessary POV's of a couple other characters. It only happens a couple times and it was distracting. I would have liked the flow to have run a bit smoother when the author was changing the POV of the MC's. It was confusing in the beginning to understand who was talking. As I read it got easier as I got use to the writing style. But a smoother intro would have been better. There was also some major editing issues in the beginning of the book with jumbled sentences. But these things could have been fixed by now.

    I totally think MM lovers would enjoy this one. Pick it up dolls!

    Happy reading! xx
    One person found this helpful
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  • cinnamon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Charming, witty love story
    Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    What an amazing story. Isobel Starling is a new author for me but her charm and wit made me fall in love with her story and her writing style right away. This is a lovely short story with just enough spice to make your body warm and your heart soar.
    As the blurb says: "1 wedding, 2 best men, one hell of a love story!" This is exactly what we get. Declan and Sam have the perfect chemistry. They not only connect physically, though their chemistry is sizzling hot, but as their relationship is building, their attraction is deepening, their online friendship is turning into a real connection neither of them have experienced before. The writing is great, the story intriguing, and the twist at the end opens up a great possibility for the future. My favorite part of the writer's style is the way her humour is woven into every line in the book, which gives us an entertaining, unforgettable reading experience This story has the perfect balance of heartwarming, sweet, hot, kinky, witty and funny. Highly recommended!
    4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Allan’s Reviews
    5.0 out of 5 stars So chewish your wuv
    Reviewed in Canada on August 23, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    It's a sexy Scotland romp, as Declan and Sam finally meet and find in each other what they've been waiting for: someone hot who can quote the Princess Bride (honestly, isn't that what we all want? If you don't know what an ROUS is, why are we even talking? Lose my number). What they end up having cannot be broken, not with a thousand swords.
    Report
  • Caroline
    5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful love story
    Reviewed in Australia on November 6, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    What a great book. Loved the plot, setting, characters, everything. A romance with all you would expect when two people make an instant connection while staying in connecting rooms for a week.

    Sam and Declan are at a castle on the shores of Loch Ness, w
    For the wedding of the respective sister and brother. Things heat between them quickly and continue to get hotter.

    Starling really captures the desire they feel for each other. This book is hot.

    I received a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
    Report
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating story of two super lovely men
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 31, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    This book is such a fun and witty read! The shift in Sam and Declan’s dynamic is super interesting—Sam is enlightening, outgoing and lovable, while Declan starts off all annoyed by him… until later he totally falls for him. Watching that change happen is super satisfying!

    I love the setting which is full of rich and intriguing details. There are a lot of little clashes, push-and-pull moments, and hidden feelings that make every interaction between them sizzle. I was really hooked and finished the book in one go.
    Report
  • li cran
    4.0 out of 5 stars Discovery ... Discoveries
    Reviewed in Italy on February 7, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Meeting in person after several months of organizing their siblings' wedding through
    emails, the sparks between the two protagonists go from prickly to hot , with a credible gradual buildup to interest in each other, instead of the usual fictitious instalust. After several days together, lots of heat and steamy moments, they are separated by circumstances and later, at the end, there's an even more surprising revelation.
    Sweet, strong, a bit overdone with the so-called Scottish brogue, but a beautiful development of a new relationship.
    Report
  • Maureen Crothall
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Read.
    Reviewed in Canada on July 3, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    A 'Gay for You' story, which I always enjoy immensely. Declan could never understand why he couldn't find a fit with any of the women he dated, then he met Sam and his world was blown apart. A really great story, sexy and sweet and leaving us with a hint of intrigue, which will carry on in the series, and I'm looking forward to it.
    Report

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