Secondhand Skin

A Soulbound Universe Novel

By: Hailey Turner

Narrated by: Gary Furlong

Nothing says you can’t steal a heart. Keeping it though? That’s another problem.

Wade Espinoza knows a thing or two about hoards. As a dragon, he’s got plenty. What he doesn’t have is a relationship, and he swears he’s not looking for one. But when he’s sent to Boston to answer a cry for help from another pack, he’s drawn into a mess of fae bargains centered around a selkie who Wade instantly becomes obsessed with.

Riordan Maguire is struggling to keep his selkie clan out of the clutches of a fae lord who will do anything to take over their territory. Partnering with the Boston god pack means coming face-to-face with the first person he’s ever wanted to willingly give his sealskin. Too bad Wade isn’t local and is something altogether strange that Riordan isn’t sure he can trust.

Amidst a growing danger in the streets and Boston Harbor, Wade and Riordan are desperate to find a way to keep everyone safe. For bargains are dangerous things to break, but so are hearts. Wade isn’t willing to shatter either of theirs in a race against time that could see Riordan torn from him forever.

©2024 Hailey Turner (P)2024 Hailey Turner

loved it

such a great story the Character development was outstanding.The world building was phenomenal and the love story was so sexy and my godds I want to try all the snakes

great story, good audio

First, I love this story in Hailey’s Soulbond universe. Wade has finally come into his own as more than the smart-mouth, snack-hoarding teen: he’s a thoughtful man, older than his years in many ways, with a strict moral compass. He loves his pack deeply, and has accepted he’s likely to be single forever. Technically this is a standalone, but it has so much more depth with the backstory of the main series and the other ancillary novel.

The narration is good, not great. Gary starts out having markedly different voices for Riordan and Wade, but at many points they flow together. The other thing that made me a little crazy was the accents drifting – sometimes people would sound like they had an accent, then later it would change or disappear. The worst was Carmen, who initially sounded like she was Italian – a fantastic touch, as I’d never considered the demon’s history! In the second half, that accent changed to be more Irish. Those details were a bit distracting. However, overall the pacing was great, the voicing was engaging, and I really did enjoy the book. Even my husband did, and he is not a reader of MM! But I made him listen on a long car trip.

Great book and audiobook!

"Secondhand Skin" was a great audiobook to listen to. The narration was good, Gary Furlong, brought the characters and the world to life and was a pleasure to listen to.

Wade finally gets his HEA and he is well paired with Riordan. It's just a swoon worth romance with bonuses featuring a lot of action and an energetic plot and pace.

This is labeled as a stand alone. It could be, but reading the Soulbound series is highly recommended. There are just too many mentions and appearances of other characters and events, that a new reader could get lost or overwhelmed.

I received a copy of this audiobook and this is my honest opinion.

I had no idea how much I needed this!

I loveeee the soulbound universe novels, and had no idea a Wade book was coming, but it was everything I could have ever hoped for! Boston being my home city made it even more special, as was already familiar with the places mentioned. I laughed so hard at the Mike’s Pastries scene! 😂 This was amazing, thank you so much Hailey Turner (and many thanks also to the wonderful narrator)! 🥰 Much lighter than the original Soulbound series, this was a wonderful romp with old and new characters, and it was amazing to see how much Wade has grown over the years. 💕

Gary Furlong is everything I want in a narrator!

Secondhand Skin: A Soulbound Universe Novel by Hailey Turner
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Ok so I read the book first and I was super excited to know that there was an audiobook. Gary Furlong did an amazing job of narrating this funny, amazing, story. I was already in love with Secondhand Skin, but after listening to the audiobook I'm just overall obsess.

Gary manage to engage me in a way that doesn't happened often. Even thought the book is told by dual POV, Gary manage to be give both main characters their own tone of voice. That was super exciting to listened to, I felt like I was discovering this book for the first time.

Secondhand Skin audiobook is a must get!

🔥 Cinnamon Roll MC
🔥 Hoarding Tendencies
🔥 Selkies
🔥 Love at first sight
🔥 Dragons
🔥 Force Proximity

Given Freely

3.5 stars for Gary Furlong.

I usually do like him as a narrator but here, at times, it was like he was speed reading during his narration. When he spoke with each of the character's voices for the most part he was great. I did not like his voice for Wade but the attitude did seem to match. Overall it was still good and enjoyable to listen to. He does still manage to bring the story to life.

3.75 stars for the story

We know Wade Espinoza as one of the members of the God pack of New York. He is a young dragon shifter with a penchant for snacking. Although things have settled since the battle of Samhain the pack is still busy. So when an issue in Boston pops up the one member available to help happens to be Wade.

There is a battle for territory going on in Boston and the person trying to take over is not playing fair. Niall has stolen the skin of a selkie and is using it as a bargaining chip to gain control of the Maguire clan. A clan that is led by Riordan. Niall has also taken captive the two alphas of the werecreature pack. Wade must work with Riordan and Ella, the dire for her pack, to stop the hostile takeover.

Let me start off by saying I love Wade and could not wait for his story. So happy that it is here. You have to know snacks would be part of the package but tbh I expected more lol. I am happy to see Wade venture on his own but I do prefer him with his pack. I am so happy to know that they won't be separating. Wade found his person. I appreciate how kind and understanding they were to Wade's emotions. The storyline was the usual chaos with special appearances from characters from previous books. I always like seeing that. There was also a surprise thrown in. Overall a good read. I hope there will be more of Wade. Honestly, I look forward to whatever Hailey writes next.

Excelent

I loved Wade and Riordan! Wade has grown so much as a person and yet is still the lovable dragon I’ve come to know. I loved Riordan for him.

As always, the author has balanced humour, danger, action, and love beautifully!

Snacking around Boston

I’m so happy we got a story for grown up-ish Wade! Riordan makes a good partner for him, with his patience and understanding. Plus, as a virtually immortal fae kin selkie, Riordan has a lifespan suitable for a dragon that will live a *very* long time. It’s less spicy than other Soulbound books (but appropriate considering Wade’s traumatized history), bordering on sweet at times. The action portion of the storyline fits right in line with the main series, with sufficient angst and twists keeping things interesting. Gary Furlong does a great job with the narration, giving it a similar vibe and pacing. Plus I really feel like he nailed Wade’s attitudes here.

While this technically is a “standalone”, it’s best enjoyed after all the rest for proper impact of Wade’s history along with characters and event references.

Loved the narrator and the book!

It was double first for me :) Gary Furlong is going to my list of favorites. Great acting, emotions, it was fun!

It was a bit hard in the beginning to understand who is who because it’s a first Hailey Turner’s book I am reading. I’m definitely going to read the whole series which chronologically goes before this book (and would recommend it, honestly).

Loved selkie skin transformation idea and bottomless stomach! It’s always the little details that create the bigger picture and characters :)

Wade is quirky and badass; Riordan is steadfast and levelheaded. They are a good pair and I especially loved the beginning of their romance but also the end of the book where they got their HFN 🧡 Love me tender love me sweet is the mood for those two :)

Also loved how fast paced it was, a lot is going on and it wasn’t boring. The mini gastro tour I had together with MCs, fae & other supernatural politics, hidden identities and support of each other in their found and real families will also stay in my memory :)

I am glad I gave a chance to Hailey Turner as a new for me author :)

So happy to see these characters continue.

Was lovely to see more in this setting and with these characters. Really enjoyed the listen