Audiobook Review: Dyeing to be Loved (Curl Up and Dye Mysteries #1) by Aimee Nicole Walker

Gabriel Wyatt is a big city Detective living in a small Ohio town. He expects a peaceful existence once he moves from Miami, Florida, but that’s the last thing he finds. Instead, Gabe discovers murder, mayhem, and one smart-mouthed stylist he can’t get out of his head.

Josh “Jazz” Roman is a small-town business owner with big dreams and an attitude to match. He finds himself in the middle of a case that brings the dreamy detective to the front door of his Curl Up and Dye salon. Josh learns that the biggest threat to him isn’t a killer; it’s a man who wants something from him that he vowed to never give again - his heart.

Both men deny that there’s something between them, even though they’re drawn together like magnets. Can Gabe convince Josh to let down his guard or will Josh let past hurts destroy his chance at a happy future?


Dyeing to be Loved is the first book in the Curl Up and Dye Mystery series. These books are written to be read in order. They contain sexually explicit material and are intended for adults 18 and older.

Listening Length: 8 hours and 49 minutes
Narrator: Joel Leslie



4.5 Impressed Hearts!

Wow, this was a fantastic read if I do say so myself. I admit I’m not always up for a murder mystery since often the romance gets pushed to the side as the main focus is finding out the whodunit, but this right here? The romance took center stage, and it was a really entertaining story that pulled me in, surprising me at how much I enjoyed this.

Set in small town Ohio, this focuses on local hair stylist Josh Roman who’s had more than his fair share of horribly disappointing relationships. When a friend is murdered, he clashes with detective Gabe Wyatt, as Gabe awkwardly puts his big foot in it, making it an upward battle to make amends to the feisty Josh. Oh how the animosity runs high! What also runs high is their attraction, try as they might to deny it. No doubt there’s lust between these two, but the dislike on Josh’s part is understandable and the main obstacle to their lurve.

What I adored was the juxtaposition between Josh and Gabe. Josh is not some limpid person. He’s full of personality and bite, albeit with a huge chip on his shoulder - a button that Gabe unfortunately pushes over and over again. Gabe in turn, is one hot piece of man in all the right ways who admits to his mistakes and doesn’t play games. These two fight, resist, fight, pursue, and fight some more, and there was plenty of uncontrolled angry heavily on the dislike but can’t help but love each other’s cocks and wanting more but too scared to admit kind of sex. Uh huh.

I listened to this story, and I have to say that the prolific Joel Leslie is slowly breaking through my defenses. He’s still a little jarring at times but the back and forth that fuels the yummy UST, peppered with just the right amount of emotional feels and snark, along with the hot hot smex was just so good. Again, I like romantic mystery - this just had all the other stuff that I love even more which is a total win! I’m only bummed that the audio for the next book is not out yet. Darn!

Thank you to the author/publisher for the audio in exchange for an honest review.




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