OYENTE

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Brilliant blend of paranormal, mystery, & mayhem

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 10-16-24

Original Audiobook Review October 2024:
How can it possibly be 2+ years since I read Emperor of Dragons and an even bigger HOW has it been over a year and a half since the audio originally released and I didn't listen? Well, I remedied that!

I can't really think of anything new to add to my original review to express my love for Emperor and the whole intriguing paranormal world that Davidson King has created in Black Veil so I'll let my original words below speak for the story. As for the narrators, Tim Paige & Declan Winters, they sure nail Emil and Aldrich spot on. I can't say who narrates who but whichever way it is, balanced with King's words, they bring to life every minute detail. I've often said in my audio reviews that my love of the old radio shows of the 30s, 40s, and 50s is a bench mark I factor into my expectation and there's something extra about dual narration that brings OTR even more into a checkpoint. Paige & Winters leaves me not only expecting to hear the sponsor's message but I swear I can hear the sound effects man creating the creaking doors, howling winds, and flapping wings painting the whole picture of the magic and mayhem fueling King's storytelling.

Yep, Davidson King, Tim Paige, & Declan Winters are a triad of story presentation . . . well I'd say "made in Heaven" but considering the genre and world being explored I'll just say "not to be missed".😉😉


Original Review May Book of the Month 2021:
She's done it again!

From the very first page, Davidson King pulls you in to this paranormal world she has created. You find yourself so hooked that if you looked up you expect to see vampires, dragons, witches, oh my! Each character has burrowed in and won't let go until they are done telling you their journey.

I don't want to spoil anything, even the minutest detail because experiencing this journey is pure magic and not just in a paranormal way but in a "Holy Crap! Where did that come from?" kind of way. So this review won't be touching on any specifics plot-wise but more on an overall emotion grabber. When reading paranormal/fantasy, there is obviously a level of reality that doesn't even begin to enter one's mind but at the same time, when that fantasy world does begin to spark a flash of realism into one's soul, you know that you have found a winning gem.

And simply put, that is exactly what Davidson King's Emperor of Dragons has done: feels real.

As for the characters? Once again we see Cain and Jayce navigate and rule over Black Veil(so Cain is the one in charge of the territory but come on! We all know Jayce has a level of control where Cain is involved). This time around, the threat at large is not openly directed at their vampires but at the dragons which is where Aldrich enters the picture. Emil, one of Cain's top security vamps finds himself drawn to Aldrich and Aldrich is vice versa. Will they get the opportunity to become what it meant for them? You know my answer to that one: read for yourself.

Oh but the fun you will have finding out. I just finished reading this minutes ago but I know I wish I could experience it for the first time again.

Back to characters. There are new ones, there are returning ones, there are ones you will love with every fiber of your being, there are ones you will absolutely hate with a passion, and then there are those that will probably be a blend of each. I already have a couple of them that I think will be front and center of future entries and even though I just finished Emperor of Dragons, I'm already on tender hooks waiting for the next Black Veil adventure.

I know that Davidson King is all about the HEAs, the romance, and the heart but she is Queen of mayhem and danger too. I've read and watched plenty of fiction that involve world building universes, character driven drama, emotional battered heart and some are poorly done, some are well written, and then there are those that are exceptionally crafted. It is the exceptionally crafted ones that are storytelling at it's finest and Davidson King's Black Veil universe belongs in that category. To create something that can't possibly be real, that not only entertains but leaves the reader feeling lost when the final page is closed because they are no longer living in that world, well that's a whole other level of talent very few reach.

A final note: Some might say The Blood Boss and Emperor of Dragons can be read as standalones because they feature different couples, tackle different dangers, I honestly can't say that. For me, they have to be read in order. Not only are there characters from Blood that play a huge part in Emperor but I can't help but feel there is a larger picture at play here and each entry has a part in the complete adventure(hopefully there will be many layers to the complete picture because I am in no way ready to say goodbye to Black Veil). The author lets you in on things from book 1 so you wouldn't exactly be lost but I truly believe you'd be saying "huh, I wonder what happened there?" more than once. Not too mention, The Blood Boss is brilliant and was my personal choice for Best Paranormal Read of 2021.

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Great narration to give voice to an amazing read

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 04-15-24

Original Audiobook Review April 2024:
As it so often goes when reviewing audios I can't think of anything new to add to my original that goes into expressing my love of the story. I can't believe it's been over 2 years since I experienced Levity, and yes I said "experience" not just "read" because that is what Davidson King delivers: a story to be experienced, a story you get so caught up in you feel like you are living it not just reading it. Alexander Cendese and Philip Alces helps further that experience by giving voice to the characters of Welcome Boulevard.

I rarely, and by "rarely" I mean 99.9999% never listen to an audio without reading beforehand. Mostly because I listen as I work in the kitchen or on the computer and can zone out no matter how much I'm loving the story my mind will focus on what I'm doing at times. By reading the story first I haven't lost the plot and don't have to spend 30 minutes trying to find where I last tuned in. Zoning out on my part has nothing to do with the narration it's just how my mind works sometimes😉.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, the top(and only really) point on my checklist when reviewing audios is comparing it to old radio shows that I collect from the 30s, 40s, and 50s. Not comparing in plot but in pull, how it sucks you into the story, playing out in the same way families were entertained before the advent of television, making the listener see it without actual visuals. Cendese and Alces knocked this point out of the park, I was seriously expecting Harlow Wilcox or Don Wilson to interrupt with the sponsor's ad.

They Call Him Levity is just as amazing as it was in 2021. One last shout out to the author: I never thought of dual narration for audiobook before I listened to Davidson King's Snow Falling, the first in her Haven Hart universe, but after it really has become my favorite actually. Single narrators are awesome and probably have an even harder job but there is something special about dual that makes a story pop and perhaps that circles back to my love of old radio shows with a full cast but whatever it is I want to thank Davidson King for introducing me to it.


Original Review November Book of the Month 2021:
WOWZER! WOWZER! WOWZER! OHMYGOD!OHMYGOD!OHMYGOD!OHMYGOD! HOLY HANNAH BATMAN! and a hundred other phrases and exclamation points that say one thing: HOLY CRAP KING'S DONE IT AGAIN!!!

Okay, now that I got my blood pumping under control I'll continue.

Being a member of the author's Facebook group I've seen her talking and posting about They Call Him Levity for awhile now but I'll be honest, I never actually read any of her Tuesday Teaser posts because I knew it would make the wait for release that much harder. Davidson King did not disappoint. My anticipation may have been high which can be a little scary as there is always a chance of not standing up to one's hopes but I was 99% sure that wouldn't be the case as King has quickly become one of my absolute favorite authors and her knack for storytelling has always outshined my imagination.

Salvatore and Levity are wonderful together, from their first meet you know it's going to be a bumpy ride but also an incredibly entertaining journey. Levity just has a way about him that you know people gravitate towards him and in doing so he'll never be completely alone. Salvatore's love for his sister lets you know that he'll do whatever he needs to to keep those he loves safe. When you put that kind of devotion together, it's never going to be unwelcomed or boring. That level of chemistry, not only for each other but those around them is what makes this story burrow in to your heart.

They Call Him Levity has pretty much everything but science fiction, post-apocalypse, and the kitchen sink. There is drama, romance, friendship, heat, mystery, love, action, passion, and of course plenty of heart. Will Welcome Boulevard replace Haven Hart at the top of my Davidson King shelf in my reading psyche? Time will tell, personally I can't see it quite quenching that level of storytelling hunger within me although if I'm being honest it most likely be so close that it will come down to the fact that Haven Hart came first and nothing can quite top your original introduction to an author's work. But boy do I look forward to the trials and tribulations of those on Welcome Boulevard and I got a feeling there will be lots of mayhem lurking on every corner.

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A Fortunate Blizzard Audiolibro Por L.C. Chase arte de portada

Awesome Xmas read but heartwarming all year round

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 11-08-23

Original Audiobook Review November 2023:
How in the world has it been nearly 8 years since I read A Fortunate Blizzard? 8 YEARS?!?!?!?! And yet, even after 8 years there is so much about this story that I remember as if it had been yesterday. Perhaps its the weather factor that brings the 2 MCs together, perhaps its the health issues Trevor faces, perhaps the caregiving element that wakens Marc's heart, or maybe it's all the above and so much more that can't be labeled. Whatever part of the story it might be, I can safely say it's the writing and storytelling LC Chase provides.

As for the audio version, not only did Nick J Russo's narration bring the characters to life so deeply it was as if I was watching the story unfold in my front yard it has given me the opportunity to enjoy the story over and over, as often as I want. Whether you are new to this story or ready for a re-visit as I was, you won't regret it. A Fortunate Blizzard may be a holiday story but it's a heartwarming tale of never giving up, living life to the fullest, and finding happiness and that is the kind of tale that can and should be enjoyed all year long.

Original Review December 2015:
I don't even know where to begin. Trevor's decision whether or not to continue dialysis is not an easy choice. I have no experience with dialysis, however, I do have lots of experience with hospitals and illness being the center of one's existence and it is tiring, so I completely understand Trevor's desire for it to end on his own terms, or at least the best he can do. Marc is the quintessential workaholic but once the two meet, suddenly not everything is as cut and dry as it was hours before. Watching Marc's heart open up is breathtaking. Maybe on the surface Marc is the holiday cliche that has been done to death in Hollywood but what LC Chase gives us is so much better than your typical holiday fare. When I reached the last page, I didn't want to let this duo go which in my personal dictionary is the ultimate definition of a great read.

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Great narration of a brilliantly written book

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 10-24-23

Audiobook Review October 2023:
I can't believe it's been 6 years . . . 6 YEARS! since I read Gummy Bears & Grenades. Despite the years, everything came back to me instantly, especially the original excitement and glee that only Dexter J Daley incites. I won't give any spoilers for those who are new to the series and truthfully there isn't anything I can add that wasn't in my original review as to how much I love this entry and this series as a whole. All I will say(as I've said in previous THIRDS audio reviews) is that Mark Westfield is brilliant and his narration continues to breathe life into Charlie Cochet's words perfectly. A gem not to be missed.

Original Review October 2017:
It would seem that Dex is about to have a bachelor party and Sloane is to spend the evening with his longtime friend and superior but the fact that he is also his soon-to-be father-in-law has him a bit on edge. Will everything go as planned for Dex's night out or will it go as most things Dex is involved with, chaotic and haywire?

I'm not going to say too much here but I will say that this entry is as all the THIRDS entries are: brilliant and fun. I don't want to give away any of what Dex and his pals face but I will say that I laughed from the first page to the last. Don't get me wrong, the whole series is fun even with all the drama the boys face and most of that is down to Dex's love of all things 80s but there is something special about Gummy Bears & Grenades that is beyond even Dex's 80s fetish. Lets face it, the title alone sets the tone for this tale.

Once again I think "Brilliant" is the only and the best word I can find to describe how much I love these Delta boys, their friends, and family. A huge thank you to Charlie Cochet for creating the THIRDS universe and I can't wait to see what comes next.

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RomCom & Dramedy best reads/listens of the year.

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 09-10-23

Original Audiobook Review September 2023:
I have been listening to audiobooks for way too many years to count, I go all the way back to when they were on audio cassettes and were never unabridged. In all these years I can honestly say I have NEVER listened to a book within a month of the original reading so that right there goes a long way as a testament to how much love I have for this story and the characters. It's been about a week since I finished listening and I am already seriously contemplating listening again . . . that is great storytelling in my opinion.

I really can only think of one thing to talk about that I didn't touch on in my original review: Zahra Bankston! How in the world did I fail to mention this brilliantly created character? I gave voice to how much I enjoyed June, Nora, and Bea but not Zahra?!?!?! We all know Nora is Alex's best friend but seriously Zahra is the second best friend he probably didn't even realize he needed or she would even contemplate the possibility of being. She keeps him, well I can't say she keeps him in check because there is no keeping Alex in check but she definitely calls him on his BS and holds nothing back doing it. Just love her! I want a Zahra in my life.

As for the narrator, Ramon de Ocampo does the story justice. Familiar and fresh all at the same time. Because I watched the film prior to reading the story I was able to picture the film actors while reading and though it can be hard to do with an audio narration becoming the characters, De Ocampo's voice "fits the features" of the actors making it quite easy to continue picturing Taylor Zakhar Perez and Nicholas Galitzine as Alex and Henry. I'm not ashamed to admit I've watched the film multiple times in the past month but while listening to Ramon de Ocampo bring Casey McQuiston's words to life I swear I could see the written version playing out in front of me like my own little personal Saturday-in-the-park production and that speaks volumes to how incredibly blended voice and word is making Red, White and Royal Blue not only one of my absolute favorite reads of 2023 but also top audios.


Original Review August Book of the Month 2023:
I've had many friends whose opinions I highly respect say how much they loved Casey McQuiston's Red, White and Royal Blue and it definitely sounded good so I knew I would read it one day but that day had yet to cross my reading journey. A couple of years pass and I discover it's being made into a movie and that the film would be on Prime in August of this year so it seemed that the time may be getting nearer. Since I hadn't read it yet I decided to wait until after I saw the film so there wouldn't be any preconceived expectations of what should or shouldn't be in the film.

Glad I did. I loved both the book and the film, equally brilliant, equally entertaining and any changes that were made most likely for time constraint helped the film flow better but at the same time those scenes that got cut/changed helped to create a fuller visual reading experience in my mind's eye. So again both brilliant in their own way.

I'm not going to talk too much about the plot as I know I'm not the only one who is late to the reading party and I don't want to spoil the book or film. I will say I don't think there was a single character I didn't like. Well, sure there were a few I didn't like but you weren't suppose to like them for reasons I won't spoil. Red, White and Royal Blue is a wonderful rom-com dramedy that makes you smile, swoon, and sweat. Alex and Henry are the epitome of swoony-ism. Going from lust to love while navigating life in the public eye had me falling even more deeply for the pair, I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like to be in their shoes. In this day and age you'd think society would be more tolerant and accepting but we all know there is still too many who hate to accept differences in people. Humanity may have come a long way but there is still a long road ahead. I think the author has hit that part of Alex and Henry on point.

I've heard some say there is too much politics or at least too one-sided, that it makes all Republicans into the big bad and Democrats can do no wrong. I don't see it that way. Yes, there is more negativity from the GOP-referenced parts of the story but let's face it, like it or not that is how the American political scope trends: GOP = anti LGBTQ and DFL = ally. There are exceptions on both sides of the aisle of course but not many and I think the author has incorporated those viewpoints perfectly as to how it pertains to the guys' journey. I also feel that some people tend to forget this is a work of fiction not Political Science 101.

As for the friends and family of our star couple, I loved every bit of their interactions with the men and each other. I think June, Nora, and Bea have more scene time and they definitely steal the spotlight when they appear. Madame President Ellen Claremont is in a tough spot balancing her role as leader of the country and mother and though there were a couple of times I wanted the mother side to shine more I understood why the leader had to step up. As an American woman who is only a couple of months away from her 50th birthday, I firmly believe I will see the day we finally break through that final glass ceiling and have Madame President, but until that day arrives, fictional characters such as Ellen Claremont give us hope.

I can't believe I waited so long to read Red, White and Royal Blue and now that I have, I look forward to listening to the audio in the near future and though time may not allow this to be added to my annual re-read/re-listen list, it will definitely be explored again and again for years to come. What I wouldn't give to see a follow-up novel to see where Alex and Henry are once his mother's term is up or the pair dating now that Alex has been marked as the official royal suitor😉(and these are not spoilers because the meat and potatoes of the story is the journey getting here not whether or not they arrive).

So much goodness from yet another new-to-me author. I know not everyone enjoys rom-com, feel good, HEA yumminess and that's okay because it would be a pretty boring world if we all liked the same books just don't yuck in somebody else's yum.

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Another great mix of chemistry/humor/mayhem/heart

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 07-08-23

Original Review January 2019:
When Perry Foster set out to do some renderings of the run-down Hollywood Hotel, Angels Rest, he never expected to come to a stranger's rescue but when he heard the screams he went to investigate. When he returns home to find his boyfriend back early from his own investigation he talks Nick into going with him back to Angels Rest where a small cast of eccentric tenants make for an interesting weekend. Will Perry and Nick discover who or what is after Horace, the legendary horror actor before the final curtain falls for the last time?

It has been four years since I read The Ghost Wore Yellow Socks where Perry and Nick meet and I normally would have re-read book one before starting The Ghost had an Early Check-Out to "refresh my memory" but I didn't and you know what? I remember everything of the boys that I fell for ages ago. Now I don't want to say too much about the plot since this is a mystery and so many points can be important and telling but I will say I loved every eccentric and crazy moment of Early Check-Out.

The occupants of Angels Rest is definitely a cast of characters that made Perry and Nick's "case" intriguing. I wanted to laugh, scream, and even pull my hair out at times. You know what Perry ran into when he chased after Horace's screams and yet there is always that inkling of doubt to just what it all meant and who was really behind it. Its these moments where doubt and certainty war within the reader that make this mystery standout and kept me guessing.

So often in series, the second entry can be more about the couple finding their footing and keeping the relationship moving forward but with Early Check-Out that doesn't enter into it. Sure there are fleeting moments of internal "What have I got myself into?" for the pair but it really doesn't become a factor of the story and I very much appreciated that element. I hope there will be more of Perry and Nick in the future because they are a pair that is not getting old anytime soon.

The Ghost had an Early Check-Out is definitely a story with present day attitudes and yet its got just enough of a classic feel that I expected the likes of Humphrey Bogart or Dick Powell to turn up asking questions with their own brand of sarcastic wit. Definitely a delightful blend of mayhem and fun to make this a winning read.

Overall Duology Review
Original Audiobook Review July 2023:
It's been 9 years since I originally read Yellow Socks and 4-1/2 since Early Check-Out, you'd think everything would be brand new after that long . . . it wasn't! Sometimes I wished my memory wasn't so good when it comes to reading and viewing as I miss that adrenaline rush you can only get from the first time but for me, knowing the work doesn't lessen the enjoyment, never has. Well this duology(though I do wish there were more than just the two) is just as entertaining in audio as it was in reading.

Not a lot I can say(or will say😉) about the plots that wasn't already covered in my original reviews so I'll just make a few comments on narration. I tend to enjoy audios of series more when it's the same narrator but different voice performers happen for a variety of reasons and life happens, certainly not something that ruins a series for me though I know it bothers some so that's why I mention it.

Who did Perry & Nick better, Max Miller or Michael Pauley? Hard to say. Miller might have a slight edge but for me that is much more likely to be the case simply because he brought the characters to life first, similar to the way I prefer an the first actor in a series who gets recast later on, neither is necessarily better than the other just who we meet first. As for this duology there was only a few days between listens but Miller was still first and therefore slightly more fitting. Pauley does the pair wonderfully and personally I chalk the difference in nuances to Perry and Nick growing, individually and as a pair, we all change over time and I look at different narrations in that way as well, making Pauley also very well suited when bringing life to the zany mayhem that the men find themselves facing.

As it was with the original discovering of the men and their mysteries, the blend of chemistry, humor, mayhem, and romance is spot on and never boring. Certainly won't be years before I visit this pair again.

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Great blend of chemistry, humor, mayhem, & heart

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 07-08-23

Original Review June 2014:
I enjoyed the characters real well. Perry isn't the typical hero and yet with the help of fellow boarder, Nick Reno, that's exactly what he becomes. Not only do they solve an intriguing mystery together but they also find something in each other that they really weren't looking for and definitely weren't expecting.

Some people just find a way of burrowing their way into your hearts and Josh Lanyon has an amazing way of repeatedly bringing us characters that do just that, and this book is chock full of them.

Overall Duology Review
Original Audiobook Review July 2023:
It's been 9 years since I originally read Yellow Socks and 4-1/2 since Early Check-Out, you'd think everything would be brand new after that long . . . it wasn't! Sometimes I wished my memory wasn't so good when it comes to reading and viewing as I miss that adrenaline rush you can only get from the first time but for me, knowing the work doesn't lessen the enjoyment, never has. Well this duology(though I do wish there were more than just the two) is just as entertaining in audio as it was in reading.

Not a lot I can say(or will say😉) about the plots that wasn't already covered in my original reviews so I'll just make a few comments on narration. I tend to enjoy audios of series more when it's the same narrator but different voice performers happen for a variety of reasons and life happens, certainly not something that ruins a series for me though I know it bothers some so that's why I mention it.

Who did Perry & Nick better, Max Miller or Michael Pauley? Hard to say. Miller might have a slight edge but for me that is much more likely to be the case simply because he brought the characters to life first, similar to the way I prefer an the first actor in a series who gets recast later on, neither is necessarily better than the other just who we meet first. As for this duology there was only a few days between listens but Miller was still first and therefore slightly more fitting. Pauley does the pair wonderfully and personally I chalk the difference in nuances to Perry and Nick growing, individually and as a pair, we all change over time and I look at different narrations in that way as well, making Pauley also very well suited when bringing life to the zany mayhem that the men find themselves facing.

As it was with the original discovering of the men and their mysteries, the blend of chemistry, humor, mayhem, and romance is spot on and never boring. Certainly won't be years before I visit this pair again.

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Brill LGBT story of Old Hollywood

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 03-12-23

Original Audiobook Review March 2023:
It's been a year-and-a-half since I read Silent Sin and I loved listening to it just as much as I loved the original read. Greg Boudreaux brings the characters and the era to life in a way that keeps you on the edge of your seat even, if like me, you already read the story and know it. 98% of the audiobooks I listen to are books I've previously read because I tend to zone out occasionally and that is no reflection on the story but because I listen mostly while working on the computer or in the kitchen and before I know it I'm concentrating on the task at hand and not the story, knowing the tale previously allows me not to have to try and find where I "zoned out".

Anywho, back to the narrator. One of my boxes to tick that make an audiobook go from good to great is the expectation of hearing a sponsor's ad. Now for those who don't know what I mean, I have been a collector of old radio programs since I was 10 and if you have never heard an ORP from the 30s & 40s they have one sponsor unlike the multi-commercials of television today. Some shows incorporate the sponsor into the show others take a break for the ad in the middle. So when I say "expectation of hearing a sponsor's ad" what I'm really looking for is a narration that gets me so involved I feel like I'm listening to an episode of Screen Actor's Playhouse where they often would bring a radio version of a hit movie to the masses. Greg Boudreaux brings EJ Russell's words to life in such a manner and considering the setting is Old Hollywood I had a higher level of this expectation and he definitely delivered. I look forward to re-listening for years to come.


Original Review July Book of the Month 2021:
Silent Sin is brilliant!

I've been looking for a story set in Old Hollywood for about 3 years and when this popped up in a FB group rec request I one-clicked immediately. 2020 screwed with my reading mojo so unfortunately I just got around to reading it and I loved it! EJ Russell really sets scene of the silent era, incorporating real historical facts and scandals that add just the right level of reality into her fictional story. Don't worry, Silent Sin isn't a tell-all, Hollywood documentary but it definitely shows the author's respect for the past with the balance of reality and fiction.

As for the characters, watching Robbie's journey from "runaway" country bumpkin to studio chauffer to stand-in to ???(well I don't want to give away all the lad's secrets😉) is an uplifting, heartfelt tale of entertainment. Seeing Martin's journey of trying to stay true to who he is and who he lets the studio bosses and fans see makes you smile, laugh, and a few times you just want to shake him. When their paths cross you just know that it's fate but you also know it won't be easy but it will definitely be captivating. You can't help but want to wrap them both up in Mama Bear Hugs and tell them everything will be okay, of course there are a few times I want to smack them too and scream but that's what makes Silent Sin such a delight.

I have featured some of EJ Russell's books on my blog before but Silent Sin is my first read. For me it's the perfect introduction to a new author, Sin ticks so many of my boxes:
historical✅
romance✅
Old Hollywood✅
friendships✅
author's respect for the era✅
plenty of heart✅
I have to admit one of my favorite moments comes between Robbie and Martin's manager Sid, the actual activity happens off-page but we learn about it and it put the biggest smile on my face and a loud "YES!" in my internal monologue. Just another example of how the author has written more than romance and how sucked into the story I became.

Again, Silent Sin is brilliant!

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Another brilliant entry in an already great series

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 10-29-22

Original Audiobook Review October 2022:
Seb and Hudson are just as great as the first time I read them 5 years ago. Their chemistry is so palpable you can feel it in the air as you listen. I would have to say that Seb/Hudson is still my 4th favorite pairing in the THIRDS universe but the margins between them, Ash/Cale, and Calvin/Hobbs is so infinitesimal that it's more of a 3-way tie behing Dex/Sloane.

As I've said before, I collect old radio shows out of the 30s & 40s and an unofficial box I tick to judge greatness when listening to audiobooks is when a narrator's reading is so powerful when portraying multiple characters, I expect to hear the sponsor's ad. Once again, Mark Westfield has done just that as he puts voice to Seb & Hudson's journey.

And as always, Charlie Cochet adds more layers to her THIRDS' individual characters and overall paranormal universe of mayhem she's created.

Original Review October 2017:
We've learned snippets here and there throughout the THIRDS series about Seb and Hudson's past. When Seb marked Hudson he thought their love was enough to get them through anything life could throw at them. He was wrong. But since Dexter J Daley joined Destructive Delta it seems that Seb and Hudson are continually in each other's orbits. Now that Hudson is in danger, Seb is determined to keep him safe but can his determination be enough to get the job done and can it possibly be what tips the scales of love back in their favor?

As with the entries that featured Ash/Cale and Calvin/Hobbs, I worried that perhaps I would not be able to get as invested in Darkest Hour Before the Dawn simply because I absolutely love and adore Dex/Sloane so much. Equally as with Ash/Cale and Calvin/Hobbs, I needn't have worried because even though Seb/Hudson may not be on the same wavelength as Dex/Sloane for me they definitely burrowed into my heart right along side the rest of the THIRDS duos.

Darkest has plenty of what we come to expect from a THIRDS tale: action, lust, mystery, romance, drama, but above all it has the heart that Charlie Cochet continually weaves these other elements together with and add in the whole shifter factor and its a perfect tick to everyone's paranormal box.

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Perfect narration to a great story

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 10-20-22

Original Audiobook Review October 2022:
I am not going to say "I forgot so much in the 5 years since I read this story" because frankly it just wouldn't be true. Were there moments that didn't come back to me until I heard the scene? Sure, but never forgotten. I think that statement alone speaks volumes to how amazing this story really is, how much it sucks the reader in, how overwhelmed(not in a suffocating way but in a powerful way) one is by Laurent and the Beast's journey.

As for the narrator, Joel Leslie, I can't think of a better voice to portray both the sweetness and naivete of Laurent as well as the gruffness and overpowering Beast. I felt as if I was watching the whole thing unfold in front of me, not just in my head but right there in the room. To me that ability in audiobooks is what makes the difference between good and great. Joel Leslie breathes life into KA Merikan's characters so realistically that I can't imagine anyone else doing even half as good a job.

Spot on all the way around.

Original Review May 2017:
Paranormal, romance, motorcycle club, what's not to love? Laurent and the Beast is an amazing tale with a little bit of everything. I will say that I debated on appropriate tags, should I use paranormal, supernatural, or science fiction? Despite there being a science fiction element with time travel, I went with paranormal because of the how and why Laurent went from 1805 to 2017. No matter whatever category you decide on, just know that you will have read an incredible story that sucks you in from the very first word.

I have read some time travel stories before, not a vast amount but definitely a few, more often than not the main character is going back in time so when Laurent moved forward more than 200 years I expected mentions of automobiles, electricity, and clothing. I was surprised but delighted to see the author reflect on little things that most of us take for granted such as light switches, refrigeration, bathtubs, and especially Laurent's fascination with plastic. These might be small scenes that don't seem very significant to most but to me they stood out and made it all the more realistic, well as realistic as time travel can be, and showed the attention the author made to details which is always an important factor to me when dealing with historicals, frankly it can be a make or break moment and in this KA Merikan work it is without a doubt a make it moment.

Despite the many differences between Laurent and Beast there is actually many similarities and the chemistry is off the charts. This is a tale that will make you cringe but warm the heart, will make you hate a few but love even more, and short circuit your brain a time or two but when you hit that last page you will be begging for more. Luckily for us, there is more to come and frankly I'll be waiting in line when book 2 comes out. Although I have featured their work on my blog before this is the first time I've read anything by the duo that makes up KA Merikan but Laurent and the Beast will definitely not be the last.

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