Tag Archives: audiobook review

Audiobook Review: With You by Nashoda Rose

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With You by Nashoda Rose
Series: Tear Asunder #0.5 (full reading order below)
Audiobook Publication Date: June 21st 2016
Length: 2 hours and 19 minutes
Narrated by: Mackenzie Hart
Links: Audible • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an audiobook in exchange for an honest review

Do not listen if you are sensitive to disturbing scenes, as the next novel, Torn from You, is a very dark romance.

Sculpt is an illegal fighter.
He’s also the lead singer of a local rock band.
No one knows his real name.
And from the moment I met him, he made me forget mine.

In order to convince Sculpt to give me self-defense lessons, I had to follow his one rule: no complaining, or he’d walk. I didn’t think it would be a problem. I could handle a few bruises. What I hadn’t anticipated was landing on my back with Sculpt on top of me and my entire body burning up for him.

I tried to ignore it. I failed, of course. And having a hot, tattooed badass on top of me week after week, acting completely immune to what he was doing to me – it was frustrating as hell, so I broke his rule. I complained. Then he kissed me.

Author’s note: This novella is a prequel. Listening to it before Torn from You is not required but is highly recommended.

Warning: huge cliffhanger. Like huge! However, With You is released on the same day as Torn from You the novel.

I love listening to the audio versions of books I previously loved reading, and the Tear Asunder series is one of the few dark romance books I enjoy, so I was excited for the audiobooks! Listening to With You didn’t disappoint – if you love audiobooks and dark romances, I highly recommend this novella – and series!

With You is the prequel novella to the Tear Asunder series, and tells the story of how Emily and Sculpt meet. Emily needs someone to teach her how to protect and defend herself, since she was attacked by a man recently, and Sculpt, while not the ideal man, is perfect for the job. But when Emily asks Sculpt to teach her how, he’s rude and a complete jerk, in that usual domineering, alpha-male way. But Emily is a tough girl, and she won’t back down from Sculpt, so he finally relents and agrees to help her out, starting them down a path towards a fierce, passionate love. But while it seems that these two are on their way to a happily ever after, everything changes one dark night.

Mackenzie Hart didn’t quite fit how I thought Emily’s voice would sound – it’s a little more mature than I expected, but I did appreciate the way she narrated this novella, and I’m definitely looking forward to her narration again in Torn from You. With You ends with a cliffhanger, but luckily, Torn from You is also out in audio! I really enjoyed listening this novella – and highly recommend it before starting Torn from You. The ebook is currently free, so if you get that you can also get the audiobook for $1.99. Fair warning though, this series is DARK and you’ll encounter some disturbing scenes. If that doesn’t turn you off, then you definitely need to start this series!

WITH YOU is now available on Audible: http://amzn.to/29TWAhr

4 hearts
lacey

Reading Order: Tear Asunder series

 
  

#0.5 ~ With You: Book Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#1 ~ Torn from You: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Overwhelmed by You: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Shattered by You: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Kept from You: Goodreads (Dec. 5, 2016)

Here’s an audio excerpt from With You!

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Audiobook Review: The Golden Dynasty by Kristen Ashley

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The Golden Dynasty by Kristen Ashley
Series: Fantasyland #2 (full reading order below)
Audiobook Publication Date: June 21st 2016
Length: 17 hours and 1 minute
Narrated by: Tillie Hooper
Links: Audible • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an audiobook in exchange for an honest review

Circe Quinn goes to sleep at home and wakes up in a corral filled with women wearing sacrificial virgin attire – and she is one of them. She soon finds out that she’s not having a wild dream, she’s living a frightening nightmare where she’s been transported to a barren land populated by a primitive people and in short order, she’s installed very unwillingly on her white throne of horns as their Queen.

Dax Lahn is the king of Suh Tunak, The Horde of the nation of Korwahk and with one look at Circe, he knows she will be his bride and together they will start The Golden Dynasty of legend.

Circe and Lahn are separated by language, culture and the small fact she’s from a parallel universe and has no idea how she got there or how to get home. But facing challenge after challenge, Circe finds her footing as Queen of the brutal Korwahk Horde and wife to its King, then she makes friends then she finds herself falling in love with this primitive land, its people and especially their savage leader.

I’m seriously LOVING the Fantasyland audiobooks!!! I finished this 17 hour long audiobook in about 3 days – it usually takes me somewhere around a week for an audiobook of this length, but I just couldn’t stop listening to The Golden Dynasty. Both the story and narration were perfection – I honestly can’t choose whether this audiobook or Wildest Dreams is my favorite. All I can say is – when is the rest of the series coming out in audio!? I’m seriously dying to listen to the other Fantasyland books!

This second installment in the Fantasyland series opens up with Circe Quinn waking up caged with other women in a whole new world. Everything is different – the people, the culture, the language… thankfully she finds a translator there with her, but even a translator isn’t enough to prepare her for Dax Lahn, king of the Korwahks. He claims her as his bride, his queen, and Circe is reluctantly thrust into the politics of this strange, epic land. She can’t understand a word her husband says on her own – how will she survive has queen of the Korwahk Horde?

The Korwahks are primitive people. The men are all alpha males, with Lahn the most alpha of them all. Their brutish, primal culture is entirely different from the modern world, full of violence and savagery. It wasn’t easy to listen to, especially the things that Circe is subjected to do and watch. Some characters do questionable, disturbing acts, but somehow KA writes them in a way that’s fascinating more than anything. I found myself captivated by Lahn and his people, even though I didn’t agree with their ways. And Circe herself slowly starts to accept her husband and find qualities about him that make her fall for him. He’s a powerful, fierce warrior, but at his heart, he would do anything to protect his queen. I loved their romance and the way it slowly, naturally developed – and I adored that both of them learned to understand each other’s language!

The Golden Dynasty is another win from KA. I honestly can’t believe I haven’t read this series sooner, but I’m glad I waited until the audiobooks released. Tillie Hooper just might be my new favorite female narrator – her performance is stunning in this audiobook! I was so impressed with the way she spoke the Korwahk language. I’m sure it wasn’t easy, because some of the words seemed so difficult to pronounce, but her narration was flawless and sounded so natural. Now I’m eagerly awaiting the rest of the Fantasyland seires to come out in audio – and I’m hoping Tillie Hooper narrates them as well!

THE GOLDEN DYNASTY is now available on Audible: http://amzn.to/29rDf41

5 hearts
lacey

Reading Order: Fantasyland series

 
  

#1 ~ Wildest Dreams: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ The Golden Dynasty: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Fantastical: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Broken Dove: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#5 ~ Midnight Soul: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

Here’s an audio excerpt from The Golden Dynasty!

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Audiobook Review: Wildest Dreams by Kristen Ashley

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Wildest Dreams by Kristen Ashley
Series: Fantasyland #1 (full reading order below)
Audiobook Publication Date: June 21st 2016
Length: 18 hours and 49 minutes
Narrated by: Tillie Hooper
Links: Audible • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an audiobook in exchange for an honest review

Seoafin “Finnie” Wilde was taught by her parents that every breath was a treasure and to seek every adventure she could find. And she learns this lesson the hard way when they perish in a plane crash. But she never forgets and when she discovers there is a parallel universe where every person has a twin, she finds a witch who can send her there so she can have the adventure of a lifetime.

But upon arrival in the Winter Wonderland of Lunwyn, she realizes she’s been played by her twin and finds herself walking down the aisle to be wed to The Drakkar.

Thrown into inauspicious circumstances, with years of practice, Finnie bests the challenges and digs into her adventure. But as Frey Drakkar discovers the woman who is his new wife is not Princess Sjofn, a woman he dislikes but instead, his Finnie, a free-spirit with a thirst for venture just like him, without her knowledge he orders his new bride bound to his frozen world, everlasting.

But at the same time Frey plunges Finnie into a web of political intrigue that includes assassination plots, poison, magic, mystery and… dragons.

I absolutely LOVED Wildest Dreams!!! This might be my favorite audiobook from Kristen Ashley that I’ve listened to. Tillie Hooper’s narration is PERFECT, and the story is so epic and incredibly well-written. Wildest Dreams is my first non-contemporary book from KA, but I know it won’t be my last. For some reason, I was hesitant to read this book, but I’m so glad I got to experience it as an audiobook instead. I finished this 18+ hour long audiobook SO fast, because I just couldn’t stop listening! If you love a fantasy romance that will sweep you away on an epic adventure, get – this – audiobook!!

When Finnie discovers there’s a parallel universe where everyone has a twin and the twins of her parents are still alive, she doesn’t hesitate to find someone with the power to send her there. But when she arrives in Lunwyn, not everything has gone according to plan – her own twin has tricked her into switching places, so Finnie is now forced to marry Frey Drakkar, a fierce, savage warrior with the power to call upon dragons… and he hates Finnie on sight. So on top of navigating through this strange, fascinating world filled with magic, dragons, and elves, she has to make her new husband not hate her as much, and survive killers who want her dead.

Wildest Dreams really had it all. A well-developed world, characters that KA brought to life, and an epic romance that made me swoon. For a savage warrior, Frey was surprisingly sweet. Every time he mentioned Finnie being his ‘wildest dream’, my heart seriously fluttered. I adored the romance, the slow development of feelings, and I loved that even though Finnie and Frey are so different, they are so right for each other. I loved them together!

Tillie Hooper, the narrator, made what was an incredible book even better. I was so impressed with the way she was able to change her voice to fit each character’s dialogue, so no one person ever sounded the same. And props to her for being able to pronounce all the names in this book, because I know I wouldn’t even have tried to. She’s a brilliant narrator, and I know she narrates the second Fantasyland book as well, so I’m hoping the rest of the series will be narrated by her.

I will more than likely do another listen of Wildest Dreams, despite its long length, because it’s THAT good. I was sucked into this magical world KA created and I fell head over heels for the romance. Add in a flawless narration, and this audiobook was pretty much perfect for me. I can’t recommend this enough – if you have an extra credit, you NEED to use it on Wildest Dreams!

WILDEST DREAMS is now available on Audible: http://amzn.to/29TUBVM

5 hearts
lacey

Reading Order: Fantasyland series

 
  

#1 ~ Wildest Dreams: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ The Golden Dynasty: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Fantastical: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Broken Dove: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#5 ~ Midnight Soul: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

Here’s an audio excerpt from Wildest Dreams!

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Audiobook Review: Into the Fire by Meredith Wild

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Into the Fire by Meredith Wild
Series: Bridge #2 (full reading order below)
Audiobook Publication Date: June 21st 2016
Length: 8 hours and 26 minutes
Narrated by: Angelo Di Loreto & Stephanie Wyles
Links: Audible • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an audiobook in exchange for an honest review

Darren Bridge is living a bachelor’s dream. When he’s not running into burning buildings with his crew, he’s training the flavor of the week at his brother’s gym. Few women have ever been off limits…until Vanessa. Smart, beautiful, and legs for days, she’s unlike anyone he’s ever met. Too bad he’s sworn to leave her alone.

Overworked with no end in sight, Vanessa Hawkins hasn’t had a vacation in nearly two years. When Cameron and Maya’s destination wedding takes her out of the office for a much-needed break, she finds herself struggling to resist her attraction to the best man. Darren is dangerously good-looking with enough charm to make any hot-blooded woman want to drop her panties and enjoy the ride, no matter how long it lasts.

When they return to the city, Darren realizes the single life has lost its glimmer. But with everything else on her plate, Vanessa doesn’t have room in her life for a man, let alone a player. Can Darren find his way into her heart and convince her that he’s worth the risk?

I’ve only read one other Meredith Wild book (the first Hacker novel) and I enjoyed her writing, so I was excited at the chance to listen to her latest release, Into the Fire, in audio. Both narrators are new to me, but they were fantastic, and I’d definitely listen to them again. The romance, while a little cliché, was still enjoyable and I adored the main characters. Here, we have a story about a bachelor who forsakes his playboy ways for the one woman he loves – how can you not love that!?

Darren Bridge is a firefighter, and along with women, it’s his biggest passion in life. He’s happy with his job, and he never wants to settle down or get saddled with a relationship. He goes through women like water, since every woman he meets seems to want him, all except one – his brother’s bride’s best friend. Still, he’s determined to have her, wanting to experience their insanely hot chemistry in bed – but the more he’s around her, the more he wants her. So what happens when feelings start to get involved for him for the first time? Will he be able to give up his playboy ways for Vanessa?

Vanessa is tough and smart, and I loved how she’s cautious with her feelings and heart around Darren. He’s always been a player, so how can she trust that his feelings are real? She makes him prove his love and loyalty, and she doesn’t make it easy for him. It’s a slow-going romance, but one that feels genuine and real. Meredith Wilder did a wonderful job balancing out the heartwarming and sweet side of Vanessa and Darren’s blooming romance with the steam that comes with their instant attraction.

The narrators Angelo Di Loreto and Stephanie Wyles made the story even more enjoyable, voicing Darren and Vanessa perfectly. I’m not sure if they’ll be narrating the next Bridge book, but if they are, I will definitely listen to it! If you love well-narrated audiobooks with steamy romances and a player who makes a 180 for his woman, I highly recommend Into the Fire!

INTO THE FIRE is now available on Audible: http://amzn.to/1XI4is5

4 hearts
lacey

Reading Order: Bridge series

  

#1 ~ On My Knees: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Into the Fire: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Over the Edge: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads (Nov. 22, 2016)

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Audiobook Review: The Allure of Dean Harper by R.S. Grey

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The Allure of Dean Harper by R.S. Grey

The Allure of Dean Harper by R.S. Grey
Series: The Allure #2 (full reading order below)
Audiobook Publication Date: June 7th 2016
Length: 5 hours and 37 minutes
Narrated by: Sara Ragsdale & Aaron Roberts
Links: Audible • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an audiobook in exchange for an honest review

From: LilyNBlack@Gmail.com
To: JosephineKeller@VogueMagazine.com
Subject: You’re a flippin’ idiot

Good morning my dear, naive friend,

I hope you’re enjoying a breakfast of regret and sorrow.

Why?

Because you sent me to work for Dean Harper, aka a control freak in a tailor-made suit. Sure he owns the trendiest restaurants in NYC, but c’mon Jo, his ego makes Kanye West look like the Dalai Lama.

He’s the type of guy that only hears the word “no” when it’s followed by “don’t stop.”

Working for Dean Harper would be like selling my soul to the devil…and before you say anything, I don’t care if the devil has punch-you-in-the-gut brown eyes and an ass to match. My soul isn’t for sale.

Regretfully yours,
Lily

The Allure of Dean Harper is one of my favorite reads from R.S. Grey – she writes the BEST rom-coms, and this one is a fantastic, hilarious enemies-to-lovers one. I’d been eagerly awaiting for the audiobook release, and I enjoyed listening to it as much as I did reading it. If you love listening to romances with endearing, witty characters, and several laugh-out-loud moments, then I highly recommend getting this audiobook!

Lily Black has just moved to New York to follow her dreams of making something of herself in the food industry, and her best friend Josephine (from The Allure of Julian Lefray) gets her a job at her friend Dean’s restaurant. Lily is making a killing at the restaurant’s bar, but when Dean comes in, he doesn’t like the way she’s taken over what belongs to him… and he doesn’t like the lustful feelings he feels for her. So sparks fly, tensions run high, witty banter ensues – R.S. Grey has such a talent at writing fun-filled, hilarious stories that crack you up and you can’t help but enjoy. If you’re a fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope, you definitely don’t want to miss this one.

This was my first time listening to either narrator (though I do think this is their first audiobook narration), but I have to note how much I really loved Aaron Roberts’ narration for Dean! He was really perfect for that character, and I would definitely listen to more audiobooks narrated by him. Sara Ragsdale was a good female narrator, though she did get a little nasally and high-pitched at times. It did fit with Lily’s character, so I’m not complaining too much – I did enjoy for performance overall.

I wish this audiobook could’ve been longer – I didn’t realize how short the story actually was! It’s a little longer than half the length of a normal sized audiobook I usually listen to. So I don’t know if the length is quite worth a credit, but if you own the ebook, the audiobook is only $1.99, so I’d definitely recommend going that route. Otherwise, it’s an incredibly fun audiobook to listen to.

THE ALLURE OF DEAN HARPER is now available on Audible: http://amzn.to/28NSDZQ

4 hearts
lacey

Reading Order: The Allure series

The Allure of Julian Lefray by R.S. Grey The Allure of Dean Harper by R.S. Grey

#1 ~ The Allure of Julian Lefray: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ The Allure of Dean Harper: Book Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

Here’s an audio excerpt from The Allure of Dean Harper!

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