Creek

Honorably Discharged, Book 1

By: Nora Phoenix, E.M. Lindsey

Narrated by: John Solo

Length: 8 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

Accepting my career in the Army is over after losing my leg is hard. But the obnoxious, good looking, glass-half-full surfer in my physical therapy sessions is worse.

And god help him if he doesn’t stop trying to give me advice.

Living in a home with three of my closest veteran buddies is a challenge as we all have our crosses to bear and wounds to heal from, but mine only seem to be getting deeper with every step forward I take. I already have to adjust to a new life as a civilian. I don’t need a sexuality crisis to go with it.

But Heath is making me question everything I thought I knew about myself. And while that should terrify me, somehow, he’s helping me feel braver than I ever have before.

Creek is the first book of the Honorably Discharged series, featuring a grumpy veteran with a chip on his shoulder the size of Texas, a sunshine surfer who can bring out the best in almost everyone, a bisexual awakening, found family, hurt/comfort, and a steamy happily ever after.

©2024 Nora Phoenix, E.M. Lindsey (P)2024 Nora Phoenix, E.M. Lindsey

Great intro

This was a great introduction to a new series. I enjoyed getting to know Sgt Grumpy and Point Break aka Creek and Heath. This had two of my favorite tropes, grumpy/sunshine and bi-awakening. It had a nice, natural feeling progression of the relationship.

I loved getting introduced to Creek’s found family and brothers-in-arms. I’m excited for their future HEAs (I have some theories already 😊) and getting to know them better.

It was great to delve into these MCs’ past. And though they have similar injuries, their journey before and after is very different. I like the care and research that went in to making it feel very believable and respectfully portrayed.

Last, but certainly not least, John Solo. His narration was absolutely fantastic. I loved what he did with all the characters and will be eagerly awaiting the next book.

Sweet and Swoony

So sweet and swoony!! It’s giving all grumpy, sunshine and hurt comfort you could want! 🥹🥹🥹

Full of feels!

John Solo was the perfect voice actor for this story and I thought the voices he chose for each of the characters fit the image I had of them in my mind when I read the book with my eyes.

Creek is a wonderful sunshine/grumpy, opposites attract story. It's the first book in a series about wounded soldiers and found family; it made me feel lots of things. I laughed and I cried and I loved everything about it.

Creek is a great gay-for-you/bi-awakening story about two guys who eventually figure out what they mean to each other after a not so happy beginning. I'm looking forward to reading/listening to the next book in the series when it becomes available.

Great Story & Narration🎧Gripping & Heartfelt!

This is a great start to an amazing new series written by the wonderfully talented Nora Phoenix and E.M Lindsey. The story not only captivated my attention the entire time, but tugged at my heartstrings too. Creek a sergeant in the Army, lost his leg in an explosion, and he is struggling with the loss and his life without his leg. He is in psychical therapy to learn to walk again with a prosthetics and he clashes with one of the other patients who also lost his leg, Heath. Heath started physical therapy three weeks before Creek, who he named Sergeant Grumpy because of his demeanor. He lost his leg in a motorcycle accident and is coping with his loss way better than Creek, because he keeps a positive outlook and has set goals, two being to ride again and to surf and catch a wave. The two are opposites in many ways, not just their grumpy/sunshine demeanor, but Creek is straight and Heath is gay. Despite their differences, the chemistry between them is undeniable, and they are drawn to each other like a moth to a flame. It was great to watch these two bicker and then get to know each other, and it was also great to learn more about them individually, too. I loved all the layers to the story and how it all played out, with a perfect balance of drama, angst, heartfelt emotions and a slow burn, but worth the wait romance. The writing, plot and world building are fantastic, as are the character growth and development. My heart went out to Creek, who was career Army, and with a career-ending injury and must rethink his life plans. He has a great support system, a found family, the guys he lives with and I am looking forward to their stories and learning more about them too. Nora Phoenix and E.M. Lindsey, thank you for this wonderful story and emotional roller coaster ride. 

🎧📚🎧 With John Solo at the mic you know you are in for a treat of a listen, he is a versatile voice artist, humanizing his characters, giving each a voice that is fitting and is believable in every role. His portrayal of Creek was perfection, showcasing his personality and grumpy demeanor, as well as his angst and inner turmoil and he was just as amazing as Heath, grasping all aspects of his personality from his determination to his vulnerable moments. And he was fabulous at performing the roles of all the secondary characters, too. He sets the perfect tone for the story, captures all the characters’ emotions and has you feeling every single one. John Solo is an entertaining storyteller and his performance elevates this already amazing story to another level. Thank you for another exceptional listen. 

Finding Love

"Creek" is a beautifully crafted story that delves deep into the struggles and triumphs of veterans adjusting to civilian life. The representation of disabilities is handled with sensitivity and realism, making the characters’ experiences relatable and poignant. Creek’s journey is not just about physical recovery but also about emotional healing and self-discovery. His grumpy, rough exterior contrasts perfectly with Heath's sunny, optimistic demeanor, creating a dynamic and engaging relationship.

The book excels in its portrayal of found family, with Creek’s veteran friends Nash and others playing crucial roles in his healing process. Each character is well-developed, adding depth and richness to the narrative. The hurt/comfort trope is expertly executed, providing moments of tenderness that balance the harsher realities of the characters’ lives.

John Solo's narration adds an extra layer of depth to the story. His voice brings the characters to life, capturing their emotions and personalities perfectly. The steamy romance between Creek and Heath is both heartfelt and intense, leading to a satisfying happily ever after that feels well-earned.

Overall, "Creek" is a touching and inspiring story about resilience, love, and the power of found family. It’s a must-read for anyone who enjoys character-driven romances with strong themes of healing and self-discovery.
I am looking forward to next installment in this series .

Fantastic Story and Exceptional Narration!

This is such a great story of perseverance and love. The dynamic between the 2 main characters is so well written and is very touching. The narration provided by John Solo is absolutely exceptional and really brought the book to life for me.

Great Premise but Boring

As a fan of Nora Phoenix, the majority of her books I really love. I skip her paranormal and BDSM as those are not genres I enjoy. This book sounded like my favorite tropes; contemporary, grumpy vs sunshine, bi-sexual awakening. I was disappointed. First, it’s not grumpy vs sunshine but instead grumpy vs something else. Second, it was boring. After a break of several weeks, I made myself complete the whole book, though I skipped some explicit scenes. Nora is great at world building and I normally get sucked in. But this was just boring. Third, it had non-sensical logistics but that is forgivable in a romance genre.

I liked the veterans with disabilities theme. I liked the Creek character, but did not relate to Heath’s character at all.

Mostly comprised of boring conversation

I was intrigued by the idea of this story, two men finding their way in their new lives after losing limbs. The emotions attached to those experiences were real, and in theory this book could have been great. In execution, I found the conversations to be slow and repetitive. The book lacked excitement for me. I also wasn’t into John Solo’s narration.