Interlude: First Noel

Executive Office Series, Book 4

By: Tal Bauer

Narrated by: John Solo

Step back to Jack and Ethan's first Christmas season and the tentative early months of their relationship under the world's spotlight.

Three months into Ethan's transfer-in-exile in Des Moines, Iowa, the pressures of dating Jack, the president of the United States, start to wear Ethan down. His weeks are measured by the days he works in Iowa, chasing counterfeiters and financial crimes, and the weekends he manages to steal with Jack back in DC. The media stalks his every move; he's isolated by his coworkers and loneliness hammers at his heart.

In DC, Jack tries to piece together a global alliance to take down the Caliphate, while the world seems focused on tearing apart his personal life. Hostility surrounds him from all corners of the globe, but a surprise offer from President Sergey Puchkov may pave the way for a tentative alliance...and perhaps the beginning of a friendship.

As Ethan finds himself in the middle of an investigation that rubs too deeply against his soul and Jack tries to balance leading the free world and keeping his and Ethan's relationship going, the two men must face what their love has become...and where they are heading together.

Contains mature themes.

©2017, 2020 Tal Bauer (P)2021 Tantor

Tal Bauer never disappoints but...

...the several "soul" mentions really got to me, given that Tal's writing is considered a"high bar".

Great story. Great narration.

This story was a nice interlude sandwiched in between action packed thrillers. Yes, there is still a sufficient quantity of action and suspense, but the reader gets a chance to see Jack and Ethan's relationship develop before the next two books full of heart stopping action packed scenes. This story can be read at any point after book one, but it takes place before book two.

I liked the hopefullness in this story. The right words said at the right time can make such a huge difference. I also appreciated how certain characters backed up their words with action. Those characters were taking a risk, but they didn't let fear of consequences stop them from doing what was right.

All the books in this series are an amazing read, but I think the core focus of this book is the reason why so many of the characters fight the "good fight" in all the rest of the books.

Once again, John Solo's narration was entertaining, and I enjoy hearing Jack and Ethan's voices brought to life.

A perfect interlude

Listening after reading all 3 helps to fill in the gaps. It’s like a reminiscing and just beautiful

Loved it

I so love this series. Their gifts to each other for Christmas had me crying some happy tears.

Perfection

I expected perfection with this narration, and I got it. This is a beloved series and John Solo delivered everything we could have asked for in the narration, and more.