• Something in the Way He Needs

  • Family Collection
  • By: Cardeno C.
  • Narrated by: Ezekiel Robison
  • Length: 7 hrs and 6 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (274 ratings)

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Something in the Way He Needs  By  cover art

Something in the Way He Needs

By: Cardeno C.
Narrated by: Ezekiel Robison
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Publisher's summary

Controlled Asher didn't expect to fall for free-spirited Daniel, but they'll find what they desperately need in one another.

Police captain Asher Penaz's staunch professionalism bleeds into his home life, down to his neatly pressed attire and Spartan apartment. He enjoys being in charge and in control, so his sudden and powerful attraction to the lighthearted, free-spirited Daniel Tover throws him for a loop. In his entire life, Daniel has never gotten what he needs, so he moves to the next place, the next job, the next attempt to find something worth staying for, always landing at the top of his game, but never feeling like he belongs.

The chemistry between Asher and Daniel sizzles, but with all that fire comes the risk of getting burned. As both men struggle to learn themselves while getting to know each other, the lines of desire and control blur. If Daniel and Asher can walk through the flames together, they might find what they desperately need.

©2013 Cardeno C. (P)2016 Cardeno C.

What listeners say about Something in the Way He Needs

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

#TeamDaniel!

Any additional comments?

Ezekiel Robison is a phenomenal narrator. He brought these characters to life for me. Seriously, he made these characters real for me. My heart pounded, my stomach churned, I waited with bated breath to see what would happen next...and this is all because of just how phenomenal a writer Cardeno C. is. The story is so vivid and realistic for me that I was constantly on the edge of my seat the whole time.

I was totally invested in these characters and this story. Even though I am at odds because I absolutely love and adore Daniel...and just as vehemently hate Asher.

I think Asher is a selfish, inconsiderate, insanely jealous and possessive alpha male (in the worst possible way) asshole who I kept hoping would redeem himself in some way, but who ultimately let me down time and time again. I won't deny I was disturbed by Asher's behavior. The jealous possessiveness and rage-filled outbursts really concerned me. Why I continued to read the story is because of Daniel. Daniel is a treat.

Even though almost every single time Asher does or says something horrible we are assured almost immediately how much Daniel loved it or was turned on by it I didn't buy it. It didn't work for me. I just kept thinking, "Run, Daniel! Run!"

Robison perfectly narrates the whole thing. He brilliantly conveys the growly tones of Asher and the softer, more subtle nuances of Daniel's character. His narration held my hand through the ups and downs. Eventually Asher and Daniel get their hard-won HEA, but I'll admit it's one of the only times I have actively wished for a different ending.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

This Alpha Male has met his match!

What did you love best about Something in the Way He Needs?

Listening to Asher as he mellowed and grew as a person the more time he spent with Daniel.

What did you like best about this story?

The relationship between Asher and Daniel. How Daniel could calm Asher with a touch, while Asher's touch set Daniel on fire. They really complimented each other.

What does Ezekiel Robison bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Emotions, every single one of them can be heard in his voice.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Their first time having actual sex, what happens just before, during and right after.

Any additional comments?

4.5/5 stars...

Asher Penaz commands complete control in every aspect of his life. He is a no nonsense police captain when he's on the job and a brash, sharp, meticulous DOM when he plays. He doesn't do relationships, kisses, romance, boyfriends. No. Asher is confident in his life, until he meets an adorable blonde that blushes, has freckles and trips over his own feet in the middle of an empty room. Daniel Tover stumbles into Asher's life and neither of them will ever be the same. But when push comes to shove, can the cute guy that is most comfortable in his baggy jeans and flip flops, soften the rough edges that constantly surround Asher Penaz?

I was drawn into this book from the first stumble in the hotel lobby in Vegas, and pretty much listening intently with bated breath from that point on. Asher is the proverbial alpha male type. Large, brooding, commands compliance as well as your undivided attention. Daniel couldn't be more opposite, polar, in fact. The very definition of twink to an extent... short, slender, beautiful, blonde and clumsy. Asher has these rules he lives by and one by one, Daniel has him breaking them all. The rude, crude and usually socially unacceptable Ash begins unknowingly readjusting his life to accommodate Daniel. Cuddling, kissing, dating and shock of all shocks, he isn't tying anyone up and inflicting sweet torturous pain on them. It was an absolute pleasure to sit back and listen as Asher went on this journey of self awareness he didn't even know he was on. There was an almost constant monologue of Ash's inner thoughts as his relationship with Daniel continually grew and evolved. But with the sweets, come the sours. About six months in a small lack of communication causes a rift, and Asher does something Daniel may not be able to forgive him for.

At first glance, you might think this is going to be either an insta love story since Asher commands Daniel come home with him after only 48 hours of knowing one another, but it is far from. They fall into a comfortable existence, yes, but with each passing day they learn more about each other, grow closer and start to depend on each other. The whole of this book really is the relationship between Ash and Daniel in great detail. I think my favorite aspect of this story was how Daniel had this kind of calming influence on Ash. A man can't go from one extreme to the other over night though, so there were understandably some speed bumps along the way.

The story was narrated by Ezekial Robison and as I've said before, what he lacks in dialect, he makes up for with emotion. He had this big, loud, brash tone for Ash that was absolutely spot on. Daniel was never able to hide anything from Ash, even from the start; he is very much an open book. Robison was able to clearly express Daniel's moods with differing tones and inflections.

I will say, Asher does something toward the end of the story. It's a compilation of a bad week at work and that slight lack of communication I spoke of earlier combined with Ash's jealous streak the size of Texas when it comes to Daniel. This is probably the worst mistake I have ever seen a fictional character that I liked make. Up until this point, I had been so engrossed in this book that hours would fly by and it felt like 5 minutes. This really pulled me out of the story and had me thinking, what if that had went the other way, would Ash have put a stop to it? That is the only reason I knocked off a notch on my review. Sorry, I can't say, that would be a spoiler.

Overall, this was such a fun read. I was so engaged from start to finish, riding along as Asher learned the meaning of the word Love.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Who wrote this rubbish? Save your credit.

What disappointed you about Something in the Way He Needs?

I actually thought it was parody at first. But then it went on, getting worse and worse. The writing is terrible. The premise is ludicrous. The characters are two dimensional at most. There is no attempt to provide any credible motivation for the action. The dialogue sounds like a spoof. I only made it through 3 chapters.

Has Something in the Way He Needs turned you off from other books in this genre?

Yes, and by this author in particular. Her output is variable, but she usually writes fair to very good books. Next time I will be very wary before buying another one by her.

Did Ezekiel Robison do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

No - the voices for all but the two main characters are ridiculous caricatures. Well, actually the MC is pretty exaggerated too.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Bafflement that something so poor could ever be published in print, under this author's name (though I find it hard to believe she wrote it), and that after that it could be recorded for Audible. It's a terrible, terrible attempt at a book.

Any additional comments?

I am definitely returning this one.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Worthy.

I'm a huge fan of Cardeno C. I love his writing of MM/Shifters/Alpha, Omega, Characters. I have listened and have over 20 books of his in my library. My all time favorite of his is the book Johnnie, With the exceptional Greg Tremblay narrating it. Sorry I digress. I really enjoyed Asher & Daniel story. Ezekiel Robison, his narration of these characters, and bringing them to life, top- notch. He is becoming one of my favorite narraters. I do have just a little issue with Daniel. I feel that someone got off a little to easy. It should have been a longer stretch, and furiously showing his angry! That's the only reason I didn't give the story section 5☆s. Still, I highly recommend this book!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good Read

This book was pretty good. Not one of my favorite but an ok read. I’m not so much a fan of the small completely clumsy character Daniel, but I enjoyed when he stood up for himself. I loved the ending and Daniel redeemed himself some what.

The sex was hot, that was a big plus.

I enjoyed the narrators voice as Daniel, but not so much when he changed characters.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

unfinshed audio, but 5 star read

Any additional comments?

I purchased my ebook copy of this book, but was gifted my AUDIO copy.

Police captain Asher Penaz’s staunch professionalism bleeds into his home life, down to his neatly pressed attire and spartan apartment. He enjoys being the man in charge, and leather bars satisfy his need for dominance—so his sudden and powerful attraction to the lighthearted, free-spirited Daniel Tover throws him for a loop. In his entire life, Daniel has never gotten what he needs, so he moves to the next place, the next job, the next attempt to find something worth staying for, always landing at the top of his game, but never feeling like he belongs.

The chemistry between Asher and Daniel sizzles, so Asher invites Daniel home. As both men struggle to learn themselves while getting to know each other, the lines of desire and control blur. With all that fire comes the risk of getting burned. But if Daniel and Asher can walk through the flames together, they might find what they desperately need.

Control, thats all Asher needs, and Daniel sends that control spinning! After meeting him, right in the first chapter, Daniel evokes thoughts and ideas in Asher that he didn't know he wanted, needed, even. And Asher fights all the way pushing Daniel to his very limits.

Each man has his say, and you get each and every emotion, as if you were there in the room. You feel as Asher pushes Daniel, as Daniel pushes back, and when Asher finally pushes too far, when Daniel snaps.

I loved watching Asher unravel, and fall apart, faced with Daniel chipping away at his control, and it made for an amazing read.

Now, maybe, for some reason, I expected something else for this story after reading the blurb, I really don't know what, BUT I found this an unexpected delight! Don't get me wrong, I knew it was going to be good, I've not read a bad one from CC, I just seem to find it took a turn I didn't see! Its really weird, what I'm trying to say, but I hope my point gets across!

Suffices to say, I loved this book, and will be reading the second in the series next. These are a series, BUT can be read out of order and as stand alones.

**AUDIO REVIEW**

Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my AUDIO copy of this book.

Ezekiel Robison again narrates.

I said in my review for the audio of The Half Of Us that I would give this narrator a second chance and I did. I really tried to like his narration of this book, but I couldn't.

His voice again dips in random places, and the voices he gave to Asher and Daniel, Asher especially, were all wrong.

And because of the dipping, and the so very wrong voice of Asher, I couldn't finish listening. I'm so sorry that I couldn't and I know that some audio reviewers will love his work, but I am one who cannot.

My unfinished audio narration does not affect my original book rating.

5 stars for the book
2 for the narration.

**same worded review will appear on Goodreads, Audible.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble and Kobo**

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Ezekiel Robinson is fast becoming a favorite!

Ash is a cop and a Dom. He doesn’t do relationships. He doesn’t kiss. He doesn’t “make love”. He f***s.. The. End. When he runs into his police partner’s brother on the streets of Las Vegas he finds himself entranced. Daniel is everything he avoids. Daniel doesn’t “fool around unless he’s in a relationship”. Daniel’s clumsy. Daniel’s out of work. Daniel forgets to eat. But Daniel’s beautiful and amazingly talented in a variety of areas. Ash has to do what he can to keep him.

After a hilarious weekend in Vegas, Ash decides Daniel needs to move in with him and takes him to San Francisco, where he plans on keeping Daniel safe (from himself!). By now, he figures, they qualify as being in a relationship, so he should be rewarded by sex. And he is. Very, very hot sex!

But Daniel isn’t into the D/s scene. He’s not into pain, bondage or anything more than being held down and dominated aggressively. The questions are: Can Ash change? Does he want to? Will Daniel finally find a home where he can plant roots?

**

This starts the Family Collection, a series of four books. Each book shares characters within the series, but you can read them in any order or as stand alones.

Ash is kind of a tough character to love. He’s an asshole throughout most of the book. Daniel is perfection. There’s nothing he can’t do and he’s perfect for Ash. Ash continues to screw up – time and again – but Daniel keeps forgiving him.

I loved the dynamic between these two characters. Ash and Daniel really suit one another, but it takes a long time for Ash to work that out. When he does it’s amazingly touching and sweet.

I wish we’d seen more of them as a solid couple, because Ash had really hurt Daniel right before the end of the book and it was just barely resolved when the story ended. It didn’t leave a great taste in my mouth. But… I know they are a good couple and in the end, it was still a wonderfully sweet book.



Audio

I fell in LOVE with Ezekiel in the Half of Us which he narrated for Cardeno C earlier. He has such an easy voice to listen to and he does the humor and emotion and the smexy times so well! He gave Ash a great growly Alpha voice and didn’t make Daniel too effeminate or delicate and I really liked that. I loved his “drunken” scenes and how he handled all the various characters – including the women.

I highly recommend this narration as it only adds to this wonderful story.

5 of 5 stars

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars
  • VA
  • 03-29-23

I am too easily pleased for this to have bothered me

This is a sorry not sorry review. Spoilers Ahead. I’m such an easy going spirit that I’m not easily bothered, however, this had me so annoyed that I turned it off several times for a break simply to have break from the awful characters. I would usually love a character like Asher but he was actually just selfish and abusive. Oliver pissed me off like I dont care if talking about sex with your siblings is awkward an older brother would be livid if their F**k boy friend who likes to physically hurt their “hump-n-dump” partners. Daniel just got on my last damn nerve, I would not be able to be next to anyone who couldnt walk in a room without bumping into every furniture, thats not cute that’s damn annoying. The only thing he did worth while was checking Asher when he got handsy- i don’t know this was such a miss by the author I usually love their work.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Word to the wise, this is BDSM

I wish I had a warning about that when I bought the book. I adore Cardeno but stories about whipping and caning and the Lifestyle is not for me. I couldn’t finish it. But I suggest the authors other books, they are a great writer.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
Listener received this title free

Good Start

This is a good start to the series. There were some issues with timing for me, it moved along pretty quickly and there was little to no communication between the MCs then all is forgiven pretty easily after the conflict that I'm not even sure made much sense honestly. I really love this author but this one isn't a favorite. narration is done ok a couple of the voices were a little interesting to say the least.

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