Audiobook Review: Wild and Free by Kristen Ashley

Wild and Free by Kristen Ashley
Series: The Three #3 (full reading order below)
Audiobook Publication Date: August 9th 2016
Length: 19 hours and 17 minutes
Narrated by: Erin MallonAbby CradenStella Bloom
Links: Audible • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an audiobook in exchange for an honest review

Abel Jin and Delilah Johnson have lived their lives with holes in their souls, yearning for something they don’t understand. Until one night Delilah is in mortal danger, and a man who’s otherworldly strong and supernaturally fast saves her. Delilah is then cast into a world where fiction comes to life in the form of Abel, her destined mate, a vampire/werewolf hybrid who claims her at first breath as his. But Abel knows the danger isn’t done. He’s dreamed for centuries that his mate will perish, and he will stop at nothing to keep her safe.

For Delilah, she’s coping not only with a fantasy come to life but also with a mingling of very different families. Not to mention she has on her hands a man who doesn’t understand his true nature and has lived his long life thinking he’s a monster. Abel and Delilah together fill the hole that has been clawing at them for decades. But, finally finding each other, it also tips their destinies as the last of The Three. They must unite with the other destined lovers, who, with Abel and Delilah, are fated to save the world. Or die trying.

Wild and Free is the final book in The Three series, and while it’s not my favorite of the series, it’s a good conclusion that fans of the series shouldn’t miss. I took a while to finish up this audiobook, first because I’ve been crazy busy this past week, and also because I didn’t LOVE the main characters. Wild and Free is pretty slow paced, but I did enjoy revisiting the past main characters and some new secondary characters as well. Erin Mallon is a great narrator (I’ve listened to her narrate the Addicted series) and she does an incredible job with voicing Delilah and Abel. If you’re a fan of audiobooks and KA, I’d say you should give this a try!

Abel Jin is the only known hybrid vampire and werewolf, and his time to join The Three is fast approaching now that he’s found the one mate meant for him. Delilah is unfortunately thrust into this new paranormal world she knew nothing about, but with Abel by her side, she’s ready to fight to save humanity and all paranormal creatures alongside her mate.

The thing I was most disappointed about was that there wasn’t much romance development between Abel and Delilah. It was pretty much instalove and that was it. What was able to save this story though, was the side-plot romance between Yuri and Aurora. Every time the scenes would switch to their POV, I would always find myself hooked and eager for more. They are definitely the highlight of this audiobook!

Wild and Free is certainly not KA’s best, but I think that long-time fans of series would enjoy finding out what happens to The Three and how they finally get their HEAs. There’s a pretty epic battle at the end too, if you’re into that thing 😉 And again, the narrator was perfect – and I loved that the past narrators of the series were brought in again too. I only wish the main romance could’ve been fleshed out more, because then I know I would’ve loved every bit of Wild and Free.

WILD AND FREE is now available on Audible: http://amzn.to/2bI44zW

3 hearts
lacey


Reading Order: The Three series

  

#1 ~ Until the Sun Falls from the Sky: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • AudibleGoodreads
#2 ~ With Everything I Am: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • AudibleGoodreads
#3 ~ Wild and Free: Ebook • Paperback • AudibleGoodreads

Here’s an audio excerpt from Wild and Free!


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Audiobook Review: With Everything I Am by Kristen Ashley

With Everything I Am by Kristen Ashley
Series: The Three #2 (full reading order below)
Audiobook Publication Date: August 9th 2016
Length: 19 hours and 16 minutes
Narrated by: Stella Bloom
Links: Audible • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an audiobook in exchange for an honest review

One night, Callum is driven into the woods by instinct – an instinct to protect. In the form of wolf, he meets a young human child who he is instantly drawn to in a fierce way he doesn’t quite understand.

Sonia Arlington has lived a lonely life. She has certain abilities that make her strange and she has a rare disease that, if untreated, could kill her. Her father makes her vow that she will never let others discover her abilities. This forces Sonia to stay distant, always guarding against exposure.

Intelligence leaks that Sonia is Callum’s human mate. He is now King of the Werewolves and has war on his hands. He’s forced to claim his mate and integrate Sonia into a world that is strange and frightening.

As Sonia attempts to adjust, Callum attempts to cope with the knowledge that his mate is mortal. He will have her beauty and gentleness only the length of a mortal life, making their union unbearably bitter, even as Sonia makes it unbelievably sweet.

If you know me, then you probably know I looove Kristen Ashley’s audiobooks. Amazing stories + amazing narrators = audiobook heaven for me, and KA’s audiobooks always deliver. With Everything I Am is the second book in her paranormal The Three series, and though it can be read as a standalone, I will warn you that if you experience one book in the series, you’ll probably want to experience the rest (that’s how KA gets you!). This one’s also narrated by Stella Bloom, who I love – I’ve listened to her narrations in the past and she’s absolutely fantastic at it. With Everything I Am is another audiobook win from KA – I loved reading it as a book and loved it even more as an audiobook. I highly recommend this one for PNR lovers!

Callum, King of the Werewolves, has been waiting decades to claim his human mate. But when rebel werewolves find out about Sonya and try to attack her, the time for Callum to reveal himself to her comes sooner rather than later. After he saves her life, he whisks her off to his isolated cabin to prepare her to enter his world… except that the very human Sonya still has no idea werewolves exist, and he has to convince her to be the queen of them.

Neither Sonya nor Callum get off to a good start with one another – in fact, neither of them wanted to even have a relationship in the first place. But as they get to know one another, a slow, genuine romance starts to form, and it’s seriously the sweetest! Sonya is one of my favorite of KA’s heroines. Despite how alpha, domineering, and pushy Callum is, she doesn’t roll over and let him do whatever he wants. I admired how tough she was, after all the heartache she’s been through, like losing her parents at a young age, dealing with a painful disease, and leading a lonely life. She’s sweet to the core, willing to lend a hand to anyone who needs one, and thankfully Callum sees that.

Stella Bloom was perfect as Sonya – I love her voice so much! And her Scottish/British mixed accent for Callum and the rest of the werewolves was spot-on. I loved all the slight inflections her voice took for every character – it made this listen all the more enjoyable. If you’ve read and enjoyed With Everything I Am, you definitely need to experience it again as an audiobook. And if you haven’t yet, what are you waiting for!? It’s a classic KA romance, only with a paranormal twist. You’ll be in for a wild ride with an alpha-male, an adorable heroine, badass yet surprisingly sweet werewolves, and an epic love story.

WITH EVERYTHING I AM is now available on Audible: http://amzn.to/2br1VuJ

5 hearts
lacey


Reading Order: The Three series

  

#1 ~ Until the Sun Falls from the Sky: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • AudibleGoodreads
#2 ~ With Everything I Am: Ebook • Paperback • AudibleGoodreads
#3 ~ Wild and Free: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • AudibleGoodreads

Here’s an audio excerpt from With Everything I Am!


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Release Day Review: Wild Embrace by Nalini Singh

Wild Embrace by Nalini Singh
Series: Psy-Changeling #15.5 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: August 23rd 2016
Links: EbookPaperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The “alpha author of paranormal romance” presents a stunningly sensual collection of four all-new Psy-Changeling novellas, in which taboos are broken, boundaries are crossed, and instincts prove irresistible…

Echo of Silence
In a deep-sea station, Tazia Nerif has found her life’s work as an engineer, keeping things running smoothly. But she wants nothing more than to break down the barrier of silence between her and her telekinetic Psy station commander…

Dorian
A changeling who can never shift lives a life of quiet frustration—until he learns how to let his leopard come out and play…

Partners in Persuasion
Still raw from being burned by a dominant female, wolf changeling Felix will never again risk being a plaything. But for dominant leopard Dezi, he’s the most fascinating man she’s ever met. She just has to convince this gun-shy wolf that he can trust the dangerous cat who wants to take a slow, sexy bite out of him…

Flirtation of Fate
Seven years ago, Kenji broke Garnet’s heart. Now the wolf packmates have to investigate the shocking murder of one of their own. And the more Kenji sees of the woman Garnet has become, the deeper he begins to fall once more. But even his primal instincts are no match for the dark secret he carries…

Nalini Singh is one of the few authors I’ve read who’s capable of writing so much in so little. Despite the novella length of each of the stories in Wild Embrace, they are all packed with heart and emotion. I seriously loved reading Wild Embrace – it’s only made me even more immersed and in love with the Psy-Changeling world. If you’re a fan of the series, you don’t want to miss out on these four stories!

Echo of Silence: If you’ve missed the old Psy-Changeling romance where the two characters are different species, like I’ll admit I have, then you HAVE to read Echo of Silence. The heroine, Tazia, is human, an engineer who’s captivated by her Psy station commander. As a Psy, Stefan is quiet and in control of all emotions. This novella is set before the Psy broke Silence, so it’s forbidden for Stefan to fall for Tazia, but when they start to work together in close proximity, you can feel the developing emotions between them. This story warmed my heart and is definitely my favorite in Wild Embrace.

Dorian: This is the shortest of the novellas, and not a romance, but I loved it anyway. We’re back with Dorian, getting snippets of his past and present, back from when he was struggling with his latent Changeling to now in his utter happiness and contentment with his mate and adopted children. We also see much of Dorian’s friends, including all the sentinels and Lucas. It was great to dive back into DarkRiver, because I’ve definitely missed them.

Partners in Persuasion: I loved the idea of this novella, with a romance between a SnowDancer male submissive and a DarkRiver female dominant. And obviously, Nalini Singh doesn’t disappoint – I was fascinated with this Changeling pairing role-reversal. Felix and Dezi’s romance is seriously the sweetest! It grew at a slow, genuine pace and put a smile on my face.

Flirtation of Fate: Kenji and Garnet is the main reason why I was most excited to read Wild Embrace, because throughout the series we’ve seen the chemistry between these two as they go head-to-head and we don’t know why they aren’t already together. Well, now we finally find out the reason and I’ll admit, Kenji’s reason for pushing Garnet away was a little disappointing. I didn’t feel like it warranted him breaking her heart and staying away for years. But other than that, it was wonderful to see these two, who have always been meant for each other, finally get together.

Is it too soon to already want more Psy-Changeling? I seriously can’t get enough of this series, and Wild Embrace has only just barely whetted my appetite for more. While this book isn’t necessary to keep up with the series, it’s still an incredible, entertaining read that gives you an even more in-depth glance at the Psy-Changeling world. I wouldn’t say you need to be all caught up to read this either – whether you’ve read all fifteen books out so far, or just one, Wild Embrace has all the PNR goodness that Nalini Singh is so good at delivering.

5 hearts
lacey


Reading Order: Psy-Changeling series

Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh Visions of Heat by Nalini Singh
Caressed by Ice by Nalini Singh Mine to Possess by Nalini Singh Hostage to Pleasure by Nalini Singh
Branded by Fire by Nalini Singh Blaze of Memory by Nalini Singh Bonds of Justice by Nalini Singh Play of Passion by Nalini Singh
Kiss of Snow by Nalini Singh  Tangle of Need by Nalini Singh Heart of Obsidian by Nalini Singh
Shield of Winter by Nalini Singh Shards of Hope by Nalini Singh  

#1 ~ Slave to Sensation: EbookPaperbackAudibleGoodreads
#2 ~ Visions of Heat: EbookPaperbackAudibleGoodreads
#3 ~ Caressed by Ice: EbookPaperbackAudible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Mine to Possess: EbookPaperbackAudible • Goodreads
#5 ~ Hostage to Pleasure: EbookPaperbackAudible • Goodreads
#6 ~ Branded by Fire: EbookPaperbackAudible • Goodreads
#7 ~ Blaze of Memory: EbookPaperbackAudibleGoodreads
#8 ~ Bonds of Justice: EbookPaperbackAudible • Goodreads
#9 ~ Play of Passion: EbookPaperback • Audible • Goodreads
#10 ~ Kiss of Snow: EbookPaperbackAudible • Goodreads
Collection #1 ~ Wild Invitation: EbookPaperbackAudible • Goodreads
#11 ~ Tangle of Need: EbookPaperbackAudible • Goodreads
#12 ~ Heart of Obsidian: EbookPaperbackAudible • Goodreads
#13 ~ Shield of Winter: EbookPaperbackAudible • Goodreads
#14 ~ Shards of Hope: EbookHardcoverPaperbackAudible • Goodreads
#15 ~ Allegiance of Honor: My Review • EbookHardcover • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Collection #2 ~ Wild Embrace: EbookPaperback • Audible • Goodreads


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Audiobook Review: Until the Sun Falls from the Sky by Kristen Ashley

Until the Sun Falls from the Sky by Kristen Ashley
Series: The Three #1 (full reading order below)
Audiobook Publication Date: August 9th 2016
Length: 16 hours and 26 minutes
Narrated by: Abby Craden
Links: Audible • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an audiobook in exchange for an honest review

Lucien has been living under the strict edicts of the Vampire Dominion for centuries but he’s tired of these ancient laws stripping away everything that is the essence of the vampire.

So he’s taking it back.

And this is because Lucien has been watching and waiting for decades for Leah to become available for a Selection and he will not be limited with what he can do with her. He will have her, all of her.

Therefore, Lucien is going to tame Leah, even if he gets hunted and killed for doing it.

What neither Leah nor Lucien expects is the strong bond that will form between them, connecting them on unprecedented levels for mortals or immortals. And what will grow between them means they will challenge their ways of life and their union will begin The Prophesies which makes them one of three couples who will save humanity… or die in the effort.

I am always so easily charmed by Kristen Ashley’s audiobooks, especially ones of books that I’ve already read, because she always finds the best narrators for her incredible stories. Abby Craden is a new-t0-me narrator but her narration for the heroine of Until the Sun Falls from the Sky is so on point. She was so enjoyable to listen to! If you love listening to the audio versions of books you loved, like I do, Until the Sun Falls from the Sky is one that I highly recommend. The narrator does the story complete justice. And if you’ve never experienced the fascinating paranormal world of The Three series, you definitely need to use your credit on this one!

Leah Buchanan comes from a long line of highly-esteemed vampire concubines, people who serve vampires for a period of time by providing them with blood and receive lavish compensation in return. Vampire sugar daddies, anyone? Despite how OTT this kind of thing is, I still found myself fascinated by this paranormal world and the characters, both vampire and human. At Leah’s first Selection, where vampires get to choose their concubine, she is chosen by the one and only Lucien, the most powerful of all vampires. But Leah isn’t happy about being chosen by the most highly-respected vampire of all-time – she wants nothing to do with vampires, and she won’t give in to capitulation to Lucien so easily, no matter how alluring and addicting he is.

Leah is strong, independent, and courageous – I loved how she was never afraid to stand up to Lucien, even though he could rip her in two without a thought. Lucien is… a giant jerk. At least in the beginning. He’ll stop at nothing to have Leah, completely submitted to him, and he’ll seduce her to get her to yield. He’s a little overbearing and very much a dominant alpha-male – but once you start to understand his feelings for Leah, things don’t seem as bad. He’s been waiting twenty years to have her, so his possessiveness and over-protectiveness is a little warranted. And once they’ve fully fallen for each other, your heart will definitely want to melt – these two are utterly perfect for each other!

Besides Leah and Lucien’s fascinating, addicting romance, there’s also a larger story that connects them to the future couples of The Three series. So if you’re going to get this first book, just be prepared to want to get the rest. And like I said before, Abby Craden does a wonderful job of bringing this book to life. Her dialogue of Lucien did get a little monotonous, but it was easily forgivable when everything else was narrated perfectly. I’m excited to listen to more of her in the final book of the series, because I seriously loved this audiobook!

UNTIL THE SUN FALLS FROM THE SKY is now available on Audible: http://amzn.to/2bvrAQh

5 hearts
lacey


Reading Order: The Three series

  

#1 ~ Until the Sun Falls from the Sky: Ebook • Paperback • AudibleGoodreads
#2 ~ With Everything I Am: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • AudibleGoodreads
#3 ~ Wild and Free: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • AudibleGoodreads

Here’s an audio excerpt from Until the Sun Falls from the Sky!


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ARC Review: The Curse of Tenth Grave by Darynda Jones

The Curse of Tenth Grave by Darynda Jones

The Curse of Tenth Grave by Darynda Jones
Series: Charley Davidson #10 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: June 28th 2016
Links: Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

If one door closes and another one opens,
your house is probably haunted.
—Bumper Sticker

As a Part-time PI and fulltime grim reaper, Charley Davidson has asked a lot of questions throughout her life: Why can I see dead people? Who is the hot supernatural entity following me? How do I get gum out of my sister’s hair before she wakes up? But, “How do I trap not one malevolent god, but three?” was never among them. Until now. And since those gods are on earth to kill her daughter, she has little choice but to track them down, trap them, and cast them from this dimension.

There’s just one problem. One of the three stole her heart a very long time ago. Can the Razer, a god of absolute death and destruction, change his omniscient spots, or will his allegiances lie with his brothers?

Those are just a few of the questions Charley must answer, and quick. Add to that a homeless girl running for her life, an innocent man who’s been charged with murdering the daughter of a degenerate gambler, and a pendant made from god glass that has the entire supernatural world in an uproar, and Charley has her hands full. If she can manage to take care of the whole world-destroying-gods thing, we’re saved. If not, well…

Those are just some of the questions Charley must answer, and quick. Add to that a homeless girl on the run for her life, a man who’s been framed for murdering a woman who is still very much alive, and a pendant made from god glass that has the entire supernatural world in an uproar, Charley has her hands full. If she can manage to take care of the whole world-destroying-gods thing, we’re saved. If not, well…

I love love love the Charley Davidson series!! I don’t know how Darynda Jones does it, but the humor in this series is flat-out phenomenal – without doubt, she writes the FUNNIEST books I’ve ever read. So if you love humorous paranormal/urban fantasy books, you should definitely read this series, if you haven’t already.

The Curse of Tenth Grave is another fantastic installment to the series, and it’s a must read for those who’ve been keeping up with Charley and the gang. So much goes on here and so many things about the characters are revealed – THIS was the book I’d been waiting for ever since we found out the truth of what Charley was. I wanted answers, and I got them in Tenth Grave.

Charley has gained her memories back, which means PI Charley is back, too! The fun- and trouble-filled mystery that we love that Charley and the gang get into is back in the game, and this time, Charley has to balance her PI side (helping a homeless girl with a curse and solving a murder) with her paranormal side (trapping a dangerous god), all while trying to fix some marital issues with Reyes. No big deal, right?

Given that the last book was so romantic, I was surprised that Charley and Reyes had some problems. But since they’re both keeping secrets from one another, it’s inevitable that they’d bump into a few problems in their marriage. Plus with everything going on with Beep, it’s a very trying and emotional time, though I had faith that these two would work it out together. And trust me, this couple comes out stronger in the end because of it.

“What other secrets are you hiding behind those sparking eyes?”
He grinned. “You have my heart. That’s where I had all my secrets.”
“Then I guess I don’t have the key.”
“Are you kidding? You forged the key.”

The Curse of Tenth Grave isn’t another filler installment – it’s packed with plot and revelations, I nearly couldn’t keep up. It’s another fantastic, fast-paced, hilarious book in a series I adore. Darynda Jones seems to never disappoint, and I only fall more in love with these characters with every new installment. I can’t wait to see where the author will take us next – I’m already dying for Eleventh Grave in Moonlight!

5 hearts
lacey

Quotes are taken from the arc and are subject to change in the final version.


Reading Order: Charley Davidson series

First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones Second Grave on the Left by Darynda Jones Third Grave Dead Ahead by Darynda Jones Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet by Darynda Jones
Fifth Grave Past the Light by Darynda Jones Sixth Grave on the Edge by Darynda Jones Seventh Grave and No Body by Darynda Jones Eighth Grave After Dark by Darynda Jones
 The Dirt on Ninth Grave by Darynda Jones The Curse of Tenth Grave by Darynda Jones 

#1 ~ First Grave on the Right: EbookHardcover • Paperback • AudibleGoodreads
#2 ~ Second Grave on the Left: EbookPaperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Third Grave Dead Ahead: EbookPaperbackAudible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#5 ~ Fifth Grave Past the Light: EbookHardcover • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#6 ~ Sixth Grave on the Edge: EbookHardcover • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#7 ~ Seventh Grave and No Body: Ebook • Hardcover • PaperbackAudible • Goodreads
#8 ~ Eighth Grave After Dark: Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#8.5 ~ Brighter Than the Sun: Ebook • Audible • Goodreads (Reyes’ POV novella)
#9 ~ The Dirt on Ninth Grave: My Review • EbookHardcover • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#10 ~ The Curse of Tenth Grave: Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#11 ~ Eleventh Grave in Moonlight: Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Goodreads (Jan. 24, 2017)


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