Unwrapping Hank

By: Eli Easton

Narrated by: Tristan Wright

Sloane loves a good mystery. He grew up as the son of two psychiatrists, so he finds most people tediously easy to figure out. He finds his way to Pennsylvania State University, longing for a rural experience, and ends up being lured into joining a frat by Micah Springfield, the hippest guy on campus.

Nothing in Sloane's classes is as intriguing as Hank Springfield, Micah's brother and fellow frat house member. Hank looks like a tough guy - big muscles, tatts, and a beard - but his eyes are soft and sweet. He acts dumb, but he's a philosophy major. He's presumably straight, but then why does Sloane feel such crazy chemistry whenever Hank is around? And why does Hank hate Sloane so much?

When Sloane ends up stuck on campus over Christmas, Micah invites him to spend the holidays at their family farm in Amish country. It's a chance to experience a true Americana Christmas - and further investigate the mystery that is Hank Springfield. Can Sloane unlock the secrets of this family and unwrap the heart hidden inside the beefcake?

©2014 Jane Jensen Holmes (P)2015 Jane Jensen Holmes

sweet cute story

loved this story found it sweet. i listened to it as part of the Escape package but i am moving it to my wish list now.

Loved this Eli Easton Book!

I read this book a long time ago and purchased the audio when it was released. I believe this is the 3rd or 4th time I have listened to the audio and it was just as good this time. The Narrator was perfect. I highly recommend!

Loved it!

I've never read the ebook but with this audiobook I don't think I lost anything. Loved Hank, Sloanne, Micha, Lilith and Kar. Even loved the dogs. It's filled me with Christmas spirit and a sudden longing for pie. So be warned. Only read Unwrapping Frank when there's pie nearby.

Unwrapped & loving it

I truly have enjoyed this story. The narration was well acted and genuine. Loved it.

A cute story with a slow build.

The relationship that blossoms between Hank and Sloane is cute but a little slow. I would have liked to see a little more tension between them at the beginning stages of their relationship but it was a good easy read.

Sweet story - really enjoyed it

What made the experience of listening to Unwrapping Hank the most enjoyable?

I almost let the cheesy cover-art turn me off and I'm so glad I didn't. In typical Eli Easton fashion, this is a very sweet story with great likeable (lovable!) characters. The story evolved naturally - nothing felt rushed. I enjoyed the current story as well as the backstories. In fact, I wish I could hear even more about Sloan's days in Europe and Hanks life growing up too. The brother and parents were also wonderful characters. I enjoyed it from beginning to end.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Unwrapping Hank?

There were lots of them - I just loved some of the laugh-out-loud inner dialog of Sloan. So cute and so funny.

Have you listened to any of Tristan Wright’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I don't think so, but I really enjoyed him in this.

If you could rename Unwrapping Hank, what would you call it?

I don't think I would rename it, but I would definitely update the cover-art! It looks so cheap and outdated, which is a shame for such a wonderful story. I hope other listeners can get past that and put this one on their wish list.

Easton brings the feels

I'm not sure what it is about Eli Easton's writes but she can suckerpunch me sometimes. This was and is one of those times.

My original review was kind of stupid so I've deleted it excepting the pic of Grinchy who is still TOTES ADORBZ!

description

Grinch became totally enamored with Sloane over the Christmas holidays at the Springfield farm. As a matter of fact, Sloane got a little attached himself. Who wouldn't? Wook at his face! Yes, baby talk to pictures of dogs. *shrugs* I own it at least.

This is such a sweet coming of age story that has characters that you root for and an emotionality to sneaks up on you. It's not overly reliant on the whole "miracle of Christmas" thing which I appreciate since I, myself, am kind of a grinch when it comes to "the holiday spirit". Can't we just be good to each other year round? Why does there have to be lights and a tree involved?

I digress.

Hank and Sloane are thrown together by Hank's older brother to come up with a theme for their frat's holiday party. Hank is standoffish towards Sloane and immediately takes a dislike to him. But the more time we spend inside Hank's head it becomes apparent that Hank is hiding from himself.

Sloane is temptation personified and the more they're around each other, discovering how much they have in common, the harder it becomes for Hank to deny what's happening.

Sloane is hipster adjacent. He's worldly thanks to his wanderlusting parents but there's a loneliness about him that's borne of not having a "home" to call his own. Plus his parents a bit flighty and he's an only child.

Whereas Hank's family is straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting with the cute dogs, humane raising of animals, kombucha making, living in the same town since forever and just... salt of the earth kind of people.

I really loved Hank who's a tattooed lumbersexual virgin and doesn't have a clue who he is or what he wants but through these few weeks of knowing Sloane and with some encouragement and the support of his family he gets a little closer to the answer. He's been fumbling around since his mother almost died of cancer when he was a boy.

That one event changed him in ways I don't think he fully understands, but the way Easton integrated that event into his character is what makes me like her writing so much.

The tension between Hank and Sloane builds along with the evolution of their relationship. The benefit of having both their perspectives helped that along greatly. Easton is always good for at least one sexy scene and she brought the goods here.

Honestly, I think this story is great regardless of the holiday twist or setting, but I surely did enjoy this pastoral Pennsylvania setting with the family farm, Hank and Micah's parents, the dogs, the pies but especially Sloane and Lilith's Christmas present to him.

As for the narration, it was good. Tristan Wright made Hank sound like Keanu Reeves which was sort of... jarring but he differentiated the voices and sold the story well enough so I'm not opposed to listening to him again.

Whether you read or listen to this story I'd recommend it to #NA, #enemiestolovers, #hurt/comfort lite or #contemporaryromance fans.

#LGBTQ #Christmas #OhTheFeels

Another adorable entry

Just absolutely in love with Eli Easton's work at this point. Her representation of modern gay culture is the one I find closet to heart and most relatable and each novel makes me gush more than the last. Narration was charming and effusive.

Loved this!

Any additional comments?

I’ve never read, or in this case listened to, an M/M romance before. “Unwrapping Hank” is my first and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

I loved Hank & Sloane. I really enjoyed following their journey to finding each other. They were both such endearing and funny characters. Especially Sloane. I found myself laughing out loud several times after listening to some of his internal monologues. ;)

There was only one love scene at the end of the book. It was quite descriptive and deeply romantic.

I also want to acknowledge the vocal talent of Tristan Wright. He has a great speaking voice and I enjoyed his artistic interpretations of the characters.

I highly recommend “Unwrapping Hank”. It’s an enjoyable holiday romance. I would definitely read (or listen to) another book by Eli Easton. :)

Cute and funny

Would you consider the audio edition of Unwrapping Hank to be better than the print version?

I like both. I am a big fan of Eli Easton

What did you like best about this story?

The witty snark between Sloane and Hank was hilarious.

Which scene was your favorite?

When Sloane and Hank must Hank organize the Frat House Christmas party together.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Had me laughing many times.