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Leap of Faith audiobook cover

Leap of Faith — Two broken performers find trust in the air

by C F WhitešŸŽ¤Narrated by Piers Ryman
šŸ”µ Worth Credit
āœļø 4.3 Editorial
šŸŽ¤ 4.7 Narration
9h 14m
✨

Vibe Check

Two broken performers find trust in the air

  • •Voice Vibes: Piers Ryman delivers distinct character voices with authentic English, Romanian, French, and Spanish accents that transport you into the international circus world.
  • •Emotional Flow: The slow-burn romance takes its time building trust between the leads, with mystery elements woven throughout to maintain tension.
  • •Spice/Tropes: Classic enemies-to-lovers and age-gap dynamics play out against an unusual circus backdrop, with earned emotional payoffs.
  • •Heart Verdict: Worth a Credit

Is this for you?

āœ…Pick this if: you love watching two guarded people slowly dismantle their emotional walls Ā· you want M/M enemies-to-lovers with character depth and classic tropes Ā· you enjoy slow-burn romance and don't mind a patient trust-building pace
āŒSkip if: you need your couples together by the midpoint or prefer faster burns Ā· you want light fluff and aren't in the mood to feel deep emotions Ā· you need constant momentum or mostly listen while heavily distracted
šŸ“šBest for fans of: My Confession, Heated Rivalry
Read Time4 min read
Duration9h 14m
Your rating?
Elena Rodriguez, audiobook curator
Reviewed byElena Rodriguez

Freelance designer, 53 books made her cry last year. Spreadsheet to prove it.

šŸŽ§ Catches audiobooks during morning stretches, craves painful accuracy about shattered dreams, can't deal with flat emotional delivery.

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"Sometimes all you need is a little push." That opening line hit different when I was listening during my morning stretches—there's something about hearing advice about taking risks while you're trying not to pull a hamstring that puts things in perspective. C.F. White's *Leap of Faith* grabbed me from the first chapter and didn't let go for the full nine hours. As someone who spent years in competitive dance before pivoting careers, Charlie Avrill's story of rebuilding identity after athletic dreams shatter felt uncomfortably familiar. The ache of watching your body betray the future you'd mapped out, the desperate scramble to find where your skills might still matter—White captures this with painful accuracy. ### When the Circus Becomes Home Charlie's escape into circus life isn't just a career change; it's a complete reinvention. When he crosses paths with Darius Lungo, a seasoned aerialist still raw from his partner's sudden departure, the tension crackles immediately. This isn't instant attraction dressed up as animosity—it's genuine friction between two wounded people protecting themselves in opposite ways. Charlie pushes forward recklessly; Darius pulls back defensively. Their dynamic in rehearsals becomes a dance of trust-building that mirrors the physical act they're creating together. ### Piers Ryman Behind the Mic Ryman's narration elevates every scene. His English accent grounds Charlie's internal monologue with warmth and vulnerability, while his Romanian inflections for Darius add an edge that suits the character's mysterious backstory. The French and Spanish accents for supporting circus performers create a genuinely international atmosphere—you feel transported to this traveling community of misfits and artists. Ryman's pacing during the training sequences builds tension beautifully; during one particularly dangerous rehearsal scene, I actually held my breath. ### The Slow Burn That Earns It The enemies-to-lovers progression here earns its slow burn. White doesn't rush the emotional beats, letting Charlie and Darius circle each other through shared meals, late-night conversations, and the forced intimacy of their act. The age gap adds another layer—Darius carries the weight of experience and loss, while Charlie brings hunger and something to prove. Their power dynamic shifts constantly, keeping the relationship unpredictable. That same push-pull tension drives [My Confession](/reviews/my-confession), though there the stakes are more psychological than physical. What surprised me most was the underlying mystery woven through the romance. Questions about why Darius's previous partner left, the circus's financial struggles, and Charlie's full history back in gymnastics create genuine suspense. White parcels out revelations at just the right pace, so you're never bored during quieter moments. The circus setting itself becomes almost a character. The descriptions of backstage chaos, the superstitions performers hold, the family-like bonds and petty rivalries—it all rings true. I found myself googling aerial silks techniques afterward, completely drawn into this world I knew nothing about before pressing play. Ryman handles the romantic scenes with care, bringing heat without veering into awkward territory. His emotional delivery during the climactic moments—both in the relationship and in the actual performance—gave me genuine chills. When Charlie finally faces his fears in the ring, the audiobook format made it visceral in a way print couldn't match. ### Who Should Take This Leap (And Who Should Sit It Out) If you need your couples together by the midpoint, you might find yourself impatient—this is a slow burn in the truest sense. But for listeners who love watching two guarded people slowly dismantle their walls, who want their M/M romance with genuine character depth alongside the tropes, this delivers. Skip if you're not in the mood to feel things; lean in if you want a story that earns every emotional payoff. ### Worth the Fall The ending satisfies without feeling saccharine. Both characters make genuine sacrifices and changes—neither simply folds into the other's life. It's a romance that respects the difficulty of what it's asking its characters to do: trust again after being abandoned, risk again after being broken. [Braving the Wilderness](/reviews/braving-the-wilderness-the-quest-for-true-belonging-and-the-courage-to-stand-alone) explores that same courage to be vulnerable from a nonfiction angle—turns out the fear of falling is universal. I listened to most of this during commutes and evening walks, and found myself deliberately taking longer routes to keep listening. The clean audio production meant no jarring transitions, and Ryman's consistent character voices made it easy to pick up where I'd left off. *Leap of Faith* is exactly what the title promises—a story about two people deciding the fall might be worth it. And Piers Ryman catches every emotional beat with skill that makes this audiobook the definitive way to experience White's story.

Aesthetic Report šŸŽØ

Audio production quality notes that may affect your listening experience

šŸŽ™ļø

Read by a single narrator throughout the entire audiobook.

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šŸ—£ļø

Narrator has strong accent - may require adjustment period for some listeners.

Quick Info

Release Date:May 28, 2021
Duration:9h 14m
Language:English
Audio Code:58694736

About the Narrator

Piers Ryman

Piers Ryman is an audiobook narrator known for his clear and enjoyable narration style. He has narrated complex characters and emotionally rich stories, notably in the audiobook 'Leap of Faith' by C F White. His performances are praised for their flawless execution and ability to convey nuanced emotions.

1 books
4.7 rating

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