I loved The Meaning of You, and I knew I’d grab The Question of Us as soon as I could get my hands on it.

And I did!

To no one’s surprise, I loved it.

Okay. So I had Madison (Mads) and Nick. Nick is slowly recovering from his grief over losing his husband and Mads is recovering from his kidnapping. What neither man – Madison especially – can get over is that they inadvertently handed a young man back to his abuser.

They think. That knowledge is driving them nuts so they embark on an adventure to Australia to determine, once and for all, if they’ve hurt someone who didn’t deserve it.

Except they are a forensic accountant and a restorer of old books. Who bring along Madison’s assistant in the book restoring business. Three men are determined to do the right thing, but with very few skills to help them out. A friend of Madison’s assistant gives the men makeovers, which are hilariously described and I would’ve loved to see, but they’re still risking a lot to help someone who might not want the help.

They quickly discover, though, that their worst fears have come true and there is a young man in need of help. Oh, and he’s a guy whose younger brother now needs rescuing as well.

So what do the Kiwi crew do? Try to initiate a rescue.

I knew disaster was coming, but I had to go along for the ride.

And what a ride it was. I’m not going to say more because I don’t want to give stuff away, but Mads and Nick might just survive. They might just come home to find another mystery. There might just be a third book coming my way.

OMG – please, Jay. Get it to me as quickly as you can. Because I’m truly loving this series!

Shout out to Gary Furlong who is one of my favorite narrators. He’s able to do that subtle differentiation between Aussie and Kiwi accents that just proves how damn talented he is. I can’t wait for the final instalment of this great trilogy! Obviously, I highly recommend this book!

About the story: I loved the first book and was waiting for this one impatiently and oh my.... I was not disappointed. I really enjoyed being be back with Madigan and Nick, I loved them in the first book, and still love them in this one.
The story and the suspense is very good, the interactions between Nick and Madigan, their thoughts and feelings feel so real. I love reading books about more mature men. It's very well written and I read it in one sitting, I couldn't put it down until I finished and I want more of them.

Regarding the audio: I listened to it after reading the book and I really enjoyed it. As for the first book of the series the narration is spectacular! Gary Furlong does such a wonderful job. I highly recommend and can't wait for next book.

I got an ALC and this is my honest review.

THE QUESTION OF US is the second installment in the Fisher & Church series. It cannot be read as a standalone as you will miss a ton of important information!

The Question of Us picks up right where The Meaning of You ends. You are thrust right into the aftermath of the traumatic experience they found themselves in. They are trying to figure out what they are to each other and what they want. Nick is still grieving Davis but wanting so much more with Madigan. He finds himself at odds with himself over what he should do. When he finally gets himself together he knows he'll be tagging along with Madigan to find the answers to the questions Madigan has about Lee and the men that kidnapped him.

I loved the suspense that is weaved into this. I was on the edge of my seat yet again. The moment Madigan and Nick gave into their physical desires it was truly explosive.

This is seriously one of the best audio series I have listened to. Gary Furlong does an amazing job bringing these characters to life. I find myself lost in this world that was created and not wanting to stop when real life makes me. It's a real problem when you listen at work and don't want to do the work your getting paid to do!!

I can't wait for what's next!

Edited January 2026

The audiobook really takes the book to the next level. Hearing the story out loud makes everything feel more alive, from the characters to the emotions. Gary Furlong adds personality and flow, pulling you into the story in a natural way. It’s easy to get lost in it, and it makes a great book even more fun to experience.

***********

“Nick Fisher. Fifty-four. Silver-fox gorgeous. Smile lines to die for. Exasperating. Intriguing. And sexy as shit. Temptingly seductive in that prickly, abrupt, bordering-on-rude, don’t-want-to-want-you, and certainly don’t-want-to-need-you kind of way.”

The Question of Us by Jay Hogan is the second book in the Fisher & Church series. Here we have Nick and Mads again, and these two fifty something silver foxes had me glued to the pages. You need to read The Meaning Of You because this story picks up almost right where that one left off, with all the guilt, grief, and unfinished business still hanging over them.

“I saw him less. Heard his voice in my head less. Even though I knew it was a natural part of the process, it still felt disloyal. I hated the way our world, the one with him in it, the one I’d thought would last until we both tapped out from old age was already beginning to blur around the edges. The threads were quietly unravelling and would continue to do that until the pattern was gone and a new one appeared in its place.”

Nick and Mads are both carrying a lot. Nick’s still grieving his husband, and Madigan is drowning in guilt over Lee. They’re complicated, messy, stubborn, kind of infuriating, and sometimes their own worst enemies. They are trying to navigate feelings they don’t quite know how to handle, while trying to move past grief and guilt. I wanted to knock their heads together half the time, shake them, but I also wanted to hug them when watching their suffering.

“People haven’t always stuck around in your world, I know that. Your mother. Your father. Even Davis. I can’t promise that something won’t happen to me too, Nick, or that we won’t have problems like every relationship does. Maybe even big problems.”

The suspense plot was just as good as the romance. Their mission to help Lee had me holding my breath, and Gazza absolutely shone here. He’s the kind of character you can’t help but love (hoping he has his own book, or at least a HEA in the next one in the series). The tension improves by the last few chapters (when the plot focussed also on Gazza, Lee and Aron). It had me completely hooked. I literally couldn’t put it down until I finished.

“You’re gonna be okay. We’re gonna be okay. And if you can’t believe all those things I said about you right in this moment, that’s just fine. I’ll believe in them for you. And I’ll keep repeating them for as long as it takes until you believe them too.”

I love how the relationship between these characters in their fifties is portrayed. It’s tender, passionate, with no rush… This book gave me thrills, heartbreak, and hope. I can’t wait to see what comes next.

“…if it hadn’t been for them and what they did, I would never have met you. How’s that for a fucked-up revelation? After that, the anger disappeared and all I felt was guilty.”

I received an eARC from the author for free, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation.

The second book in the series… after the mess at the end of book one, Nick and Mads are quite busy. A bit of figuring out things between them and A LOT of putting themselves in danger, AGAIN! Granted, their goal is both granted and noble, but, man, do they have to be reckless all the time? My heart couldn’t take it!
And the ending? Let’s just say I need the next book like air!
Amidst all the chaos at least things between Nick and Madigan are settling down and taking form, be it because they are getting better at communicating or because the constant threats to their lives make them realise how deeply they feel about the other.
This book kept me glued to my Kindle the first time I read it, holding my breath for the action and smiling like a loon for the romance; now, with Gary Furlong's spectacular narration, it was even more amzing!

Audiobook Review:
Overall – 5
Performance – 5
Story – 5

After reading The Question of Us with my eyes, I knew the only thing that would make me like it even better would be to listen to Gary Furlong perform the audiobook. His voice acting is superb; he conveys all of the emotions the characters are feeling so much better than I imagined them in my head when I first read the book. There isn’t anything else I can say that I didn’t already say in my original review which is shown below.

*•.¸♡ 𝟓 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬 ♡¸.•*
This book is amazing but you really need to read The Meaning of You before you read The Question of Us. The series follows the same couple as they unravel the mysteries surrounding the death of Nick’s husband. There is no cliffhanger for the relationship in this story but readers are left with a humdinger of a teaser for the next book. 😊

The Question of Us had me on the edge of my seat and holding my breath almost from start to finish. If an angsty book isn’t your thing you might need to skip this one but just know that if you do, you’ll be missing a fantastic romantic suspense story.

This book is 105,000 words and for me that is a big book but I consumed this in one day with only short breaks. This story flowed so well that I thought it was much less than 105,000 words. (I mean this in the best way.) My sweet spot is usually 50,000-75,000 words because I know I can finish reading in one day so I was almost surprised that I blew through this one so quickly. I shouldn’t have been though…because I’ve devoured every Jay Hogan book I’ve read (I still need to read two of them). Jay’s writing is so richly descriptive that I could clearly see everything in my mind as I read.

I nearly forgot to say that Nick and Madigan finally get it on but they have to go through some hard stuff before they do. This book has a solid HFN and if it wasn’t for the teaser/cliffy I’d call it an HEA. I loved everything about this book!

An advanced copy of this book was provided to me at my request; my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.

This book was amazing. The series is but the narration ups the emotions tenfold. I highly recommend the listen

Gary Furlong brings this suspenseful story and the distinct voices of Nick and Mads to life so perfectly. I highly recommend this series, especially for fellow audiobook lovers!

If you thought the tension in book one was high, this is a whole new level!

We're back with our favorite heroes: Nick is still healing from a past full of secrets, and Madigan has become his unexpected anchor. This time, they aren't just running from danger—they’re running towards it. We follow them as they try to rescue a young man from a dangerous situation, with incredibly high stakes.

What I love most about this series is that these are mature men dealing with real baggage. Their relationship isn't perfect. It's messy, confrontational, and deeply honest. Watching them learn to trust each other while navigating intrigue and high-stakes action is incredibly rewarding.

MM Romance - MCs 50+ - Sleuthing Together - Location New Zealand and Australia - Dual POV/1st POV - Same Couple Series - Fantastic Narration

It's been a while since I listened to The Meaning of You, luckily there were enough walks down memory lane to bring it all back.

I wasn't a big fan of the fight at the beginning. More specifically, I wasn't a fan of Mads' behavior towards Nick. I thought he was unnecessarily harsh and hurtful, as if he was the only one who's feelings had been hurt. Then I remembered, these two were both actually written as real human beings. They were set in their ways, one of them a bit of a bulldozer, the other one seemingly an indifferent grump. Having the life experience of more than a decade will do that.

And that also meant they were flawed, made mistakes and every now and then displayed less flattering qualities. But they also took responsibility and were realistic about their shortcomings. Even if they first had to overcome old habits and stubbornness. 🤪

I loved seeing how their relationship developed and how their chemistry increased naturally. It wasn't always pretty or easy but the way forward was never really in question. While getting closer emotionally they also took some huge steps intimacy wise, about bloody time if you ask me! 🤪 These moments were scorching hot and also sweet and precious. The tenderness, the appreciation and the trust was palpable.

Nick's late husband, Davis, was never forgotten and Mads really made a point of neither wanting nor expecting Nick to forget about him and the life they once had together. That was heartwarming and another indicator of the solid foundation they were building.

Mads and Nick, really well developed, complex characters acting and looking their age. They weren't perfect, they made mistakes and that made them believable and relatable. I'm a huge fan!

It's of course madness that a forensic accountant and two book conservators go off on an adventure to take down a violent sex trafficking ring. I don't think any of them should make sleuthing their day job. Some of their actions were almost comically OTT. As it ended on a cliffhanger I'm pretty sure there will be some questionable decisions and situations in the third and last book, too!

Oh, and then there was Gazza, Mads' assistant. Though younger than Nick and Mads he sometimes felt like the only adult. I really hope he will also get a HEA at some point, the signs were certainly there.

Favorite quote gotta be: "He who tops, mops." 😂

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CAWPILE-inspired rating system (original CAWPILE system by Book Roast on YouTube).

Characters 10/10
Relationships 10/10
Plot & Structure 8/10
Atmosphere & Setting (Worldbuilding) 8/10
Writing Style & Language 9/10
Intrigue & Interest 9/10
Logic & Conclusion 8/10
Enjoyment & Experience 10/10

Average Score 9/10
The StoryGraph Rating ☆ 4.75/5*
*Rounding up to 5 because of Gary Furlong's absolutely fantastic voice acting!

Narration 5/5
Cover 5/5
Amount of Steam 4/5
Listened to through: Bookfunnel
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I love this series and this one picks up very soon after the first. These have to be listened to in order as the events build upon what happened previously and you will be lost. I love how Mads does not let Nick get away with his hot/cold behavior. Nick, for all his dickishness, does truly appreciate Mads for all that he is. There's a great amount of danger as Mads, Nick, and Gazza travel to Australia to check up on Lee...getting much more than they bargained for. Gary Furlong does an incredible job of narrating and bringing all these amazing characters to life. This story had me on the edge of my seat hoping everyone comes out in one piece. I can't wait to see what's in store for these me next, and hopefully I think they've earned a bit of much needed quiet time.

So much going on! I need to stop listening to these as they come out because I crave more immediately. The way every character is written I am fully invested. My Heart, Lee's story was emotional. I respect and adore all that is Madigan! He never gives up when it matters. The way Nick is still dealing with his grief feels so real it hurts. But I would not change a thing about this romance so far. Being in my 50's this second chance at life story hits home! I cannot even express in words how much Gary Furlong's narration brings out all the feels.

I love how Jay Hogan can take a couple of auld blokes, make them as sexy as sin, and then offer a refreshing and poignant look at love later in life. Mind you, this isn't just a sweet story about two silver foxes finding one other and falling in love. It's a gripping action packed thriller in which two older guys work together, with their merry men to blow apart a sex scandal involving young men.

The development of their relationship isn't all plain sailing. Nick is still reeling from the sudden death of his husband, Davis. If you've read the first book in the series, you'll be aware that his husband was secretly working to help free these young men from sexual and domestic abuse. Also, it was in the last book that Nick met Madigan, and almost immediately, there was a palpable attraction between them. However, both are as stubborn as the other, and there is a lot of heart searching that they need to overcome before they are even close to becoming a couple.

It's Davis's actions that originally pulled them into the dangerous world of high stakes human trafficking. This plot made me so delighted that Jay has ventured back into writing crime and adventure. Her action sequences are so intense and well organised. They show that these two guys, despite their age, are more than capable of handling themselves. I loved how the dynamic between them shifted from the quiet tentative romance, at the end of the first book to a thrilling partnership, with Nick's grief fueling his determination. Mad's pigheaded, mulish, and dogged bloody minded stubbornness pushes them on to safety, with a little help from the beleaguered Samuel, Nick's brother in law, who I happen to love.

The story succeeds on so many levels. It's masterfully written, Jay (who never ceases to amaze me!), has produced a touching love story, with a tense and thrilling plot. You find yourself rooting for everyone involved, not just to succeed in their mission but to find love and happiness with one another. All the characters are well written and have a role within the story. Gazza, Lee, Aaron Samuel, and Aunt Shirley are immense! If you're looking for a book that proves love stories can be exciting and dangerous, as well as romantic and sweet, this is a must read. It isn't a standalone, by the way. It follows straight on from book one, The Question of You.

Having just finished the audible of this, I'm just blown away. Gary Furlong really is one of the best narrators out their. Gary Furlong doesn't just read the story; he performs it with a level of empathy that mirrors Hogan’s writing style. If you are a fan of slow burn romances where the character growth is just as important as the plot, this audiobook is gold. Gary just brings the story/characters to life. In this case the audio version might be superior to the print version because of the sheer warmth/strength/ humour Gary brings to the story.

What an ending! I'm so happy there's going to be a third book. Sqeee 🤯🥰❤️

TW: This story features discussion of the death of a spouse who is not a main character and references to domestic and sexual abuse.

Always love Jay's books. I've loved them all. I like when authors take secondary characters from different series and give them there HEA in another series.

I love Jay Hogan’s books and this one is a comfort re-read that makes me happy every time I take the journey again. The narrator, Gary Furlough, hits it out of the park handling the American and NZ accents deftly so each character is instantly recognizable - and he gets the snark and tenderness just right for the spirited characters.

I love the series. All the books are so well-written and exciting. The audiobooks are also excellent, and the narrator does a fantastic job. Highly recommended.