The Boys

De: B L Maxwell

Narrado por: Guy Veryzer

Syd Dufort is heartbroken when he discovers his fiancé has been cheating. Not wanting to wallow in front of his family for the holidays he decides to take the trip they’d planned as a honeymoon. Upon arriving in Iceland during the dark of winter, he immediately questions whether it was such a good idea.

Caleb Mies takes extra care to help the man he meets at the airport who is also staying at the remote hotel his family owns. Their family has a yearly tradition that’s not for the weak or heart, or those who choose evil deeds.

Caleb is drawn to Syd in ways he’s never experienced, while everything in Syd tells him to avoid the man who has shown him nothing but kindness.

Both men are hiding secrets that will be revealed during Yule. A dark holiday romance.

©2025 B L Maxwell (P)2025 B L Maxwell

Mystery and happiness

This adventure was so interesting with the voices provided by the narrator as well as some key points that were delectable.
I liked the pace and the accents, as well as the way the story was brought to life.

A love that burns bright

A cold winter, a darker secret, and a love that burns bright.

Syd thinks he's leaving betrayal behind when he boards a plane alone for what should've been his honeymoon. Instead, he lands in the frozen dark of Iceland, carrying heartbreak and trying to prove he doesn’t need anyone.

When Caleb steps in to help at the airport, Syd doesn’t expect more than directions. But the man’s calm presence and piercing blue eyes chip away at his defenses. Caleb is kind and grounded, with a protective streak—but he's hiding something too.

Syd’s dreams reveal what others hide, and something about Caleb’s family doesn’t quite add up. What starts as a lonely holiday becomes a connection neither expected. Trapped together, the walls between them fall as tension blurs into something deeper.

As the snow closes in, both must decide how much of themselves they’ll share. Intimacy builds, secrets unravel, and what began as survival feels like the start of something real.

They grow from emotionally guarded strangers into something more. Syd learns to trust not just Caleb but himself, while Caleb risks everything to protect a bond he didn’t plan to want.

Their relationship is built on raw honesty, tentative touches, and a bond strong enough to challenge tradition. They're not just surviving the storm. They're choosing each other through it.

A dark, steamy, MM monster Yule romance rooted in Icelandic folklore, blending forced proximity, opposites attract, and fated mates, exploring heartbreak, betrayal, identity, and found family. It’s about surviving emotional ruin and healing through unexpected connection. At its heart, it’s about being seen and chosen anyway.

The Elevator Pitch: A man reeling from heartbreak seeks solitude in the dark winter of Iceland, only to find himself drawn into a remote hotel’s chilling holiday traditions. As secrets tied to myth and monstrous justice unfold, he forms a powerful, unexpected bond with the enigmatic man determined to protect him. This is a dark, emotional MM monster romance filled with tension, trust, vulnerability, and love.

Audio: Narrator Guy Veryzer brings things to life with his expressive performance, distinctive voices, pacing, and tonal shifts. It’s a good listen that makes the connection between characters feel even more vivid.

So good.

I read this book in November. This audiobook was so good. Guy Veryzer did so well with the characters. The accents he does are stunning. Syd and Caleb are so cute.

Dark But Interesting

This was short and dark but very interesting to read. I finished this quickly. It was entertaining. Definitely worth reading. Guy Veryzer does an amazing job narrating the audiobook. He helped to make the story even more interesting.

I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion

Not my normal listen but really good!

What really stood out to me was the slow tension between Syd and Caleb. There’s a constant sense that something is off, and the secrets surrounding Caleb’s family and their Yule traditions kept me listening!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.