This Guy

MM Small-Town Romance (Wood Hollow Stories, Book 1)

By: Lane Hayes

Narrated by: Nick J Russo

The football star, the lumberjack, and a small-town love story…

Silas

Not to sound dramatic, but I can’t decide if I’m a hot mess, a has-been…or both.

There’s nothing quite like being in the spotlight at my lowest point. I could use a break from LA and my agent just for a little while. But Vermont in the middle of a blizzard? Probably not a great idea. However, the sexy lumberjack who lives next door is a sweet surprise. And so are his kids and the town.

I like this place. I could be happy here…at least till my new season begins.

Cooper

My time is split between work and fatherhood. That’s it. Boss and Dad. Maybe that’s why the football star is a breath of fresh air. Silas is funny, charismatic, and cool.

My kids love having a celebrity living next door. And me? I can’t remember the last time I felt quite so alive.

Yes, I’m well aware this isn’t going anywhere. Our worlds are just too different.

Too bad, ’cause this guy feels like the real thing.

©2026 Lane Hayes (P)2026 Lane Hayes

Love at the Right Time

This author's reads are like nice hot cup of tea and cold morning. Always funny, heartwarming. and spicy. A blizzard is the catalyst for our MC's Silas, a tired football star and Cooper a single dad. Nick J Russo is an excellent narrator. His voice work is always on point, I can hear each individual voice, which makes this solid listen. The low-angst, funny moments, and spice are perfect listen.

A great sport romance audiobook

Silas is a recently retired soccer player who is divorced and isn't quite sure what to do with his life. Once the football season is over, he heads to a small town to spend a few days.

He meets his neighbor, Cooper, a lumberjack who is also divorced and has two children.

Silas gets caught in a snowstorm and is rescued by Cooper.

Nick Russo's narration is fantastic; it brings the text and the characters to life.

I loved it.

4.5/5 ⭐ 2.5/5 🌶️

ALC Review of This Guy by Lane Hayes

4.5/5 ⭐ 2.5/5 🌶️

I absolutely loved this book. It was short, sweet & had a very original storyline. Not once did I feel like I was reading something familiar. It gives small-town, gay Hallmark Christmas movie vibes but less cheesey. I also loved that it was easily consumable. I finished the whole audiobook in half a day while running errands & doing simple tasks at home. It turned a fairly mundane Sunday into an enjoyable & relaxing afternoon.

I really enjoy listening to Nick J Russo & he did a great job narrating this story. If you have the choice between just reading this book & listening to the audiobook or doing an immersive read, I highly suggest adding the audiobook to your cart.

Strangers to Lovers to begin this sweet series!

Silas & Cooper

"If anything, my first foray into a forced proximity situation with a perfect stranger wasn't so horrible."

"If you get a chance to dance, always dance."

Silas & Cooper were basically ambivalent friends who leaned into the tension in their situation and became lovers. That's not to say they didn't have a great connection, but it was a bit slower to ignite than some stories may show.

I really enjoy the simplicity that we get to experience from Lane Hayes' stories. Her small towns are sweet and inviting, and even the drama that exists in the background of the characters' worlds isn't as intense as it could easily be. It's great to read a sweet and fun romance that leaves me feeling happy and smiling. It's definitely nice to read about main characters that are my age. I still enjoy a lot of the college age stories, but it's nice to read about characters in their late thirties, early '40s.

Overall, their ending maybe felt a little rushed to me but I loved the story. I loved their fun adventures with one another. I love the natural ease they had both figuring themselves out. I absolutely loved the story and I'm really looking forward to exploring more of Wood Hollow and its residents.

I received an authorized copy of this book and am volunteering my honest review. (Mar 2026)

Audiobook Update (Apr 2026):
Narrated by Nick J Russo

I feel like this story went by a lot faster in audiobook form than reading digitally, and that's not actually possible for me 🙃. I think it's because of the way Nick made the characters feel so real, and each moment felt like you were stepping into their lives as it happened. This talent had to be a perfect collaboration between the narrator and the author for that effect to feel so present. I loved the story when I read it originally, and listening to the audio with such a talented vocal artist made it fun to experience all over again.

I received an authorized copy of this audiobook and am volunteering my honest review.

Finding love after failed marriages

4.5⭐️ 2.5🌶️ 4.5🎧

This was a breath of fresh air. Two men that happen to meet at the right time and are each others missing piece. Self discovery, growth and change.

Sillas is a retiring football player whom has no clue what to do next. He’s a divorce.

Cooper is a small town business owner and single dad. He’s also a divorced.

They both thought this was just a fling but slowly everything changed. This story was so incredibly sweet.

Thank you Gay Romance Reviews for this ALC in exchange for a review. As always I was not paid for this review and all opinions are my own.