Tag Archives: audiobook review

Audiobook Review: Beautiful Burn by Jamie McGuire

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Beautiful Burn by Jamie McGuire
Series: The Maddox Brothers #4 (full reading order below)
Audiobook Publication Date: May 24th 2016
Length: 10 hours and 33 minutes
Narrated by: Brittany Pressley
Links: Audible • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an audiobook in exchange for an honest review

Fresh out of college, Ellison Edson has fallen through the cracks of rock bottom. While staying in her family’s vacation home in Colorado, her behavior has finally gained the attention of her parents—but not in the way she hoped. Cut off from the millions she’s always taken for granted, and left alone to fend for herself, Ellie spirals further out of control, making a mistake she can’t take back.

Like his twin brother Taylor, Tyler Maddox is a member of the Alpine Hotshots, fighting wildland fires on the frontline. As arrogant as he is charming, Tyler’s nomadic lifestyle makes it easy to contain his relationships to one night. When he meets Ellie at a local party during off-season, her extreme personality and dismissive attitude fascinates him at first, but as his feelings deepen, Tyler realizes that the crippling inner demons of the woman he loves might be the strongest enemy any Maddox has ever faced.

The audiobook for the 4th and final Maddox Brothers novel, Beautiful Burn, is here! This is actually the first that I’ve read (listened) in the series, and while I didn’t love it as much as Beautiful Disaster (aka the original Maddox brothers book *wink*), it was a good read with a wonderful hero. I had a tough time liking Ellie, the heroine, but thankfully her narrator was top-notch, so I didn’t completely dislike her. Jamie McGuire delivers a well-written new adult novel in Beautiful Burn – it’s fast-paced, sexy, and intense – and Brittany Pressley’s narration made it even better. If you enjoy the series, then you just might enjoy Tyler and Ellie’s story too.

Ellie Edson is used to living the life of a pampered princess, with no responsibility or consequences for her actions. Until this time, one mistake leads her to be cut off from her family’s wealth. For the first time in her life, she’s scrambling to earn money to survive, and though it seems at first like she might fail, she eventually manages to find a job as a photographer. It’s nothing fancy or well-paid… but for once in her life, she’s somewhat content. She’s still dealing with her alcoholism and self-destructive tendencies, but being in a new environment helps. Of course, it also helps that the gorgeous, wonderful Tyler Maddox has set his sights on her, and isn’t giving up until she gives in to the idea of them.

Tyler, along with his twin brother Taylor, is a member of the Alpine Hotshots, traveling around fighting wildfires. He’s not your typical Maddox – dare I say, he might be better in that softer, sweeter way. He’s incredibly patient with Ellie as she fights against her alcoholism and their relationship. She thinks he’s too good for her – and he is, but he wants to be with her anyway. I loved Tyler and his determination to win Ellie over, not matter how frustrating she got. He was really the highlight and my favorite part of the story.

Brittany Pressley did a phenomenal job with Ellie’s voice – her narration was spot-on, and I even enjoyed the way she sounded voicing Tyler and the rest of the Maddox men. She’s definitely an audiobook narrator I’d listen to again.

I wish I loved Beautiful Burn more, but I was too frustrated with the heroine to love it like I wanted to. Everything else about this audiobook was fantastic – the writing, the hero, the narration – but the heroine brought it down for me, unfortunately. I am intrigued enough, though, to start the Maddox series from the beginning and experience more of Jamie McGuire’s writing. I would definitely recommend this audiobook if you have a lot of patience and love the new adult genre!

BEAUTIFUL BURN is now available on Audible: http://amzn.to/1PoluTV

3.5 hearts
lacey

Reading Order: The Maddox Brothers series

Beautiful Oblivion by Jamie McGuire Beautiful Redemption by Jamie McGuire Beautiful Sacrifice by Jamie McGuire 

#1 ~ Beautiful Oblivion: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Beautiful Redemption: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Beautiful Sacrifice: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Beautiful Burn: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

Here’s an audio excerpt from Beautiful Burn!

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Audiobook Review: Mister O by Lauren Blakely

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Mister O by Lauren Blakely
Series: Big Rock Standalone (full reading order below)
Audiobook Publication Date: May 10th 2016
Length: 7 hours and 55 minutes
Narrated by: Sebastian York
Links: Audible • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an audiobook in exchange for an honest review

Just call me Mister O. Because YOUR pleasure is my super power.

Making a woman feel ‘oh-god-that’s-good’ is the name of the game, and if a man can’t get the job done, he should get out of the bedroom. I’m talking toe-curling, mind-blowing, sheet-grabbing ecstasy. Like I provide every time.

I suppose that makes me a superhero of pleasure, and my mission is to always deliver.

BUT then I’m thrown for a loop when a certain woman asks me to teach her everything about how to win a man. The only problem? She’s my best friend’s sister, but she’s far too tempting to resist–especially when I learn that sweet, sexy Harper, has a dirty mind too and wants to put it to good use. What could possibly go wrong as I give the woman I’ve secretly wanted some no-strings-attached lessons in seduction?

No one will know, even if we send a few naughty texts. Okay, a few hundred. Or if the zipper on her dress gets stuck. Not on that! Or if she gives me those get-over-here-and-take-me-eyes on the train in front of her whole family.

The trouble is the more nights I spend with her in bed, the more days I want to spend with her out of bed. And for the first time ever, I’m not only thinking about how to make a woman cry out in pleasure — I’m thinking about how to keep her in my arms for a long time to come.

Looks like the real Adventures of Mister O have only just begun….

If you know me, then you probably know that Sebastian York is my top favorite male audiobook narrator ever. I fell in love with his voice back when I first listened to Dirty Rowdy Thing, and after numerous other audiobooks of his, I’ve come to the conclusion that his deep, smooth voice is like no other. He does the male POV so well, and he was just perfect as the voice of Nick Hammer. Plus, Nick and Harper’s story was just plain adorable. It’s a sweet, funny, sexy audiobook, and if you’re a fan of listening to romantic comedies, Mister O will be perfect for you!

Harper is off-limits to Nick. She’s Nick’s best friend’s little sister, and Spencer would kill Nick if he ever did anything non-platonic with her. But lately, Nick can’t seem to stop thinking about her, can’t stop being tempted by her – his attraction to her only grows as they spend more time together while Spencer’s off on his honeymoon. So when Harper asks for some lessons on how to seduce a man, how can Nick say no? And what happens when genuine feelings start to develop?

Nick and Harper are two of the most fascinating characters I’ve ever met. Nick, with his sexual prowess, hot tatted bod, and hipster glasses, is sexy nerd personified. He’s a well-known cartoonist, the creator of The Adventures of Mister Orgasm, and let’s just say he’s as well-versed in doling out those orgasms as his character is. Our heroine Harper is a freaking MAGICIAN. A magician! How many female magicians have I come across in the romances I read? That would be none, so to say I was excited about Harper’s character would be an understatement. Harper is a blast – she’s sassy, awkward, sweet, and all-around a fun, relatable heroine.

Harper and Nick are on fire together! Seriously, this audiobook was hot. But what I loved about Mister O wasn’t just the intense chemistry between the main characters – I also loved how much they made me laugh. Harper and Nick are wonderful and hilarious together, and the secondary characters cracked me up as well. Mister O is a seriously fun listen, with Sebastian York as the perfect narrator. Lauren Blakely delivers a well-rounded contemporary romance, and I can’t recommend this enough for rom-com lovers.

5 hearts
lacey

Reading Order: Big Rock series

Each book can be read as a standalone.

Big Rock by Lauren Blakely  

#1 ~ Big Rock: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Mister O: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Well Hung: Goodreads (Sept. 12, 2016)
#4 ~ Full Package: Goodreads (May 23, 2017)

Here’s an audio excerpt from Mister O!

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Audiobook Review: Pucked Over by Helena Hunting

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Pucked Over by Helena Hunting
Series: Pucked #3 (full reading order below)
Audiobook Publication Date: May 3rd 2016
Length: 10 hours and 37 minutes
Narrated by: Rose Dioro & Jacob Morgan
Links: Audible • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an audiobook in exchange for an honest review

Lily LeBlanc isn’t versed in the art of casual sex, but after seven years in an on-again, off-again relationship, she’s definitely willing to give it a shot. And who better to try it with than her best friend’s boyfriend’s best friend? What could possibly go wrong?

NHL player, Randy Ballistic, lives up to his last name on the ice and in the bedroom. His best friend and teammate has recently given up the puck bunnies and traded them in for a real girlfriend. And she just happens to have a seriously feisty, extra-hot best friend on the rebound. Randy’s more than happy to be Lily’s spring board back into the dating scene.

But casual sex is only casual until those pesky things called emotions get involved. Once that happens, someone’s bound to get pucked over.

I LOVED the audiobook of the previous Pucked book, Pucked Up, so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the Pucked Over audiobook! Especially since it’s Randy Ballistic’s story with Lily, Sunny’s best friend! I was so excited to see this player fall for his best friend’s girlfriend’s best friend – and Helena Hunting didn’t disappoint. Randy and Lily were wonderful characters, and their romance was as sweet as it was sexy. I didn’t completely love the narrators, but the story thankfully wasn’t affected by that. Fans of the series definitely need to get their hands on Pucked Over!

Lily has finally gotten out of a seven-year on-and-off again relationship, and she’s ready to find a rebound man to make her get over her ex. And what better man to fill the role than the ultimate player who’s a pro at casual sex? NHL player Randy Ballistic isn’t ready to give up his bachelor life, so when Lily wants to use him for some fun times, who is he to say no? The chemistry between them is hot and dirty, and it seems neither of them can quite keep their hands off each other. But with Randy terrified of love and commitment, and Lily not wanting to enter another relationship again, what happens when feelings start to get involved in their ‘casual’ relationship? Will they be able to overcome their fears and fight for something worthwhile?

I liked Rose Dioro and Jacob Morgan as Lily and Randy for the most part, though sometimes both narrators sounded monotonous and boring. Pucked Up has a much better narrator than Pucked Over does. As for the characters, I really enjoyed Randy and Lily. They’re both flawed, real, and relatable, and again, sexy as hell together. This is definitely the steamiest of the series, though I wouldn’t say it was quite as funny as the previous books. My one complaint is that I would’ve loved to see more of Randy and Lily actually together as a couple – there just wasn’t enough of them in love! The secondary characters are a blast, as usual, and Violet is as insanely funny as ever.  Helena Hunting has created a wonderful cast of characters for this series, and I really can’t wait for more from her!

4 hearts
lacey

Reading Order: Pucked series

Pucked by Helena Hunting   

#1 ~ Pucked: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Pucked Up: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Pucked Over: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Forever Pucked: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

Here’s an audio excerpt from Pucked Over!

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Audiobook Review: Pucked Up by Helena Hunting

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Pucked Up by Helena Hunting
Series: Pucked #2 (full reading order below)
Audiobook Publication Date: May 3rd 2016
Length: 11 hours and 18 minutes
Narrated by: Joe Arden
Links: Audible • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an audiobook in exchange for an honest review

Miller “Buck” Butterson has been banging his way through life ever since a puck to the face fixed his messed up front teeth. After five years in the NHL, deflecting goals on the ice and scoring them with puck bunnies, Miller has decided he’s ready for a girlfriend. A real, non-bunny girlfriend to take on dates, and not jump into bed with after five seconds of conversation.

Miller thinks he’s found that woman in his teammate’s sister. Except, unlike team captain and all-around nice guy Alex Waters—who happens to date his stepsister, Miller’s media reputation as a manwhore is well earned. Beyond that minor detail, Miller doesn’t know the first thing about relationships or the time and effort they require.

Miller learns—eventually—that if he wants to make Sunshine “Sunny” Waters fall for him, he’s going to have to do a whole lot more than show her his stick skills in the bedroom.

I absolutely LOOOVED this audiobook!!! I’m actually surprised by how much I adored Pucked Up – I tried reading the first in the series, Pucked, but could never really get into it. I thought that Helena Hunting’s sense of humor just wasn’t my thing, but boy was I wrong. I honestly couldn’t stop grinning or giggling while I was listening to the Pucked Up audiobook. I loved it!! Miller was a wonderful hero, Joe Arden narrated him perfectly – I seriously had a blast listening to this book.

Miller “Buck” Butterson is used to puck bunnies chasing after him left and right, and while he used to partake in them, he’s a one-woman man now… if only the woman in question believed it. Miller has been crushing on his teammate’s sister Sunny Waters for a while, and he’s ready to do whatever it takes to make her believe that he wants her and only her. But the funny thing about life is that it never really goes your way, and every time Miller does something innocent, it’s blown way out of proportion on social media, which is what makes Sunny have doubts about him. The situations Miller gets himself into are actually pretty hilarious and over the top *cough* a spider bite on his balls *cough* but at the heart of it, he just hates that Sunny won’t trust him and believe him when he says that nothing happened. So what will it take for her to realize that she’s the only one for him?

Miller is seriously the sweetest, most adorable man ever. He’s a lot more sensible than his crazy sister (the heroine of book 1), thank god, but he’s still witty and humorous. I loved him so much! He’s so much more than the airhead jock that social media likes to portray him as – he’s serious about hockey and he’s super into charity and helping others. He’s humble about the philanthropic work he does, so much so that no one even knows this sensitive, caring side of him. My heart fell hard for this man, and even more so because of his love for Sunny. My heart ached every time she doubted his intentions and hurt him, but he really never gives up on winning her heart. He’s seriously perfect!

I’ve listened to Joe Arden before, but Pucked Up is definitely the best work of his that I’ve listened to. He embodies Miller wonderfully, and all the humor and sarcastic remarks came across really well. Pucked Up is only told in Miller’s POV, so there’s only the one male narrator, which I’m usually not a big fan of, but it totally worked here. If you love audiobooks that will make you laugh and smile, I can’t recommend Pucked Up enough! This is definitely an audiobook you need to use your credit on.

5 hearts
lacey

Reading Order: Pucked series

Pucked by Helena Hunting   

#1 ~ Pucked: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Pucked Up: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Pucked Over: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Forever Pucked: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

Here’s an audio excerpt from Pucked Up!

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Audiobook Review: The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson

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The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson
Series: Standalone
Audiobook Publication Date: May 3rd 2016
Length: 16 hours and 43 minutes
Narrated by: Bailey Carr
Links: Audible • Ebook • Hardcover • Goodreads
Source: I received an audiobook in exchange for an honest review

From Morgan Matson, the bestselling author of Since You’ve Been Gone comes a feel-good story of friendship, finding yourself, and all the joys in life that happen while you’re busy making other plans.

Andie has a plan. And she always sticks to her plan.

Future? A top-tier medical school.
Dad? Avoid him as much as possible (which isn’t that hard considering he’s a Congressman and he’s never around).
Friends? Palmer, Bri, and Toby—pretty much the most awesome people on the planet, who needs anyone else?
Relationships? No one’s worth more than three weeks.

So it’s no surprise that Andie’s got her summer all planned out too.

Until a political scandal costs Andie her summer pre-med internship, and lands both she and Dad back in the same house together for the first time in years. Suddenly she’s doing things that aren’t Andie at all—working as a dog walker, doing an epic scavenger hunt with her dad, and maybe, just maybe, letting the super cute Clark get closer than she expected. Palmer, Bri, and Toby tell her to embrace all the chaos, but can she really let go of her control?

It’s been too long since the last time I read something by Morgan Matson, which is a shame because I love her books! She writes the best YA contemporaries that feel so relatable and fun. The Unexpected Everything is seriously the PERFECT summer read/listen – I listened to the audiobook and absolutely adored it. It’s got cute, quirky characters, great writing, and DOGS. Dogs! I’m a dog person through and through, so listening to this audiobook was a blast. If you love the author or this genre, I highly recommend you pick up this audiobook to listen!

As the daughter of a politician, Andie’s used to her life being dictated by her father’s campaigns, but this summer, she’s ready to follow through with her plans and just have the best possible summer ever. But when a scandal causes her to lose her internship and ruin her plans, she’s desperate for something to do that will take her out of the house and away from her distant father. And she’s desperate enough to accept a dog walking ad that she sees as beneath her – but in between a humbling job, new and old friends, and a growing romance, Andie just might end up having a better summer that she could’ve possibly planned or expected.

Morgan Matson did a wonderful job portraying the various relationships Andie has with her father, her friends, and her love interest Clark. She has a difficult relationship with her father, who hasn’t been around since her mother died and he started campaigning. We delve deep into Andie’s hurt over his abandonment and neglect, which made it was so sweet to see this father-daughter relationship slowly grow into something stronger and healthier. Andie and her best friends are typical teenage girls trying to live the summer to its fullest, but secrets and jealousy get in the way and causes strains in their friendships. Not all friendships are smooth and easy, and neither can all friendships overcome their struggles. I thought the author was able to write this realistically, and even though it sometimes felt a little dramatic, I got that it was supposed to be dramatic for these characters.

Clark is probably my favorite character. He’s one of the most unique YA heroes I’ve come across, because he’s actually a well-known fantasy author who’s struggling with writer’s block! He’s adorable, awkward, and introverted – the perfect beta-male hero. I loved the dynamics of his and Andie’s relationship – mostly because of how terrible it starts, but gradually becomes something lovely and steady. In the midst of Andie’s life becoming a mess, Clark provides her comfort and stability (and some sweet kisses). Overall, I loved what an adorable couple they made!

Bailey Carr is a narrator with a great voice – but her narration is SO. SLOW. I’ve been listening to audiobooks for a while now, but this is honestly the first time I’ve had to speed the playing up at all. At 1.25x, it sounded as if it was a normal narration at 1x, so if you choose to get this audiobook, I highly recommend you speed up the narration. Otherwise, she did a fantastic job with portraying Andie’s voice and all the different dialogues.

The Unexpected Everything is the perfect book to experience during the summer. It’s light-hearted but meaningful, realistic, and easy to relate to. The changing dynamics of different friendships and relationships, coming across new experiences, going out of your comfort zone – all of it you can easily connect with. I’d say this is another winner from Morgan Matson!

4 hearts
lacey

Here’s an audio excerpt from The Unexpected Everything!

Also by Morgan Matson

Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour: Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Second Chance Summer: Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Since You’ve Been Gone: Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

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