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There will never be enough Jem and Tean!

Revisado: 11-17-21 El oyente recibió este título gratis

**Audio reread/listen October 2021**

I already loved Jem & Tean fiercely but listening to all my favorite moments with them *which, to be clear, is all of them* just locks them up even tighter inside my heart. JF Harding has both their hilariousness and their heartbreak down flawlessly. I can't get to the next one fast enough. 🥰

Disclaimer: A copy of the audiobook was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

**First read January 2021**

4.5 stars. Killing me, Ashe is killing me!! *Notice that I write this as I have already run to the next book*

There is nobody in fiction who can play the tension in his stories like Gregory Ashe. And please understand that when I say this, it's not necessarily a good thing. 🙄 I love Jem and Tean so much already. I dunno, maybe I'm predisposed to love any of Ashe's characters? Or loathe them completely. 🤬 Either/or. But GA writes his soft-hearted, perplexing, mule-headed men in a way that they are irresistible to me.

I'm not even going to comment *much* on the development of the relationship between these two. The frustration part, that is a given. The most frustrating part is how they fit each other. So well, even the parts of them that shouldn't, can't, won't fit, they fit each other perfectly. The times that they're on page together is so damn entertaining, I can't take it. They make me laugh, oh my God. Then they break my heart. *sigh* The best-friend banter is excellent, and I love their dynamic together.

The crime/investigation part of the story is always compelling, and this was no exception. However, this time there were parts that were damn scary. And not just in the physical sense. Both Tean and Jem have endured so much emotional abuse in their lives, though in much different ways. Sometimes I wonder how much they can endure before they break. I'm so, so grateful that they found each other, because they truly do help each other through.

Already reading the next one, and I can already tell it's going to be rough. 😬 But it will be worth it.

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Unbelievable story & narration

Revisado: 11-17-21

I have no idea exactly when I finished this, and I'm about to do this phenomenal book wrong by not leaving it the review it deserves. But what can I say besides I'm lazy? LOL.

Andy Weir already wrote his way onto my auto buy authors list but damn, he really outdid himself this time. He gave me an apocalypse-type situation and a hero who was anything but a hero that was the only one who could save us all. And on top of that, damn if he didn't make me cry too, and I loved every single minute of it.

Ray Porter was new to me as a reader but he absolutely nailed every second of his narration, every character, every tense, nerve-wracking moment. The way he made every minute of this live was exceptional.

Sheer, utter science-fiction perfection. This is definitely going on my reread list.

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I love Adrien English! 🖤

Revisado: 08-20-21

**Audio reread/listen August 2021**

Even better on audio!! I love Adrien so much though I have to seriously question his judgment sometimes. 😳 And it's so weird to listen to Jake knowing all that's coming. I'm frustrated in advance!

Chris Patton is a new-to-me narrator but he did a great job with Adrien. 💕 Already listening to the next one!

**First read April 2014**

I really enjoyed this. As always, Josh Lanyon's stories are beautifully written and this first in the Adrien English series is no exception.

However, I did see the bad guy coming a mile away, which took away some of the tension I thought I should feel when things went down, and the ending felt a bit abrupt.

But I did like Adrien and I'm interested in where things will go from here for him, as well as what might develop with Riordan.

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A new favorite character, series and reader!

Revisado: 08-13-21

4.5 stars! Holy wow, this one went all out on the nail-biting factor. There were several places I didn't think Devlin *and Tom!* were going to get out *relatively* unscathed.

I genuinely love Sebastian. Considering all that he has been though, all he's seen and had to do, he has a surprisingly tender heart beneath all the casual insouciance that he shows to most everyone but those few closest to him.

This one was kind of a "locked door" mystery, with the newly appointed Prince-Regent being accused of the murder of a married Marchioness, who he claims was already dead when he found her. Supposedly waiting for him for a assignation she had invited him to by a secretly delivered note. Lord Devlin is pulled into investigating by Jarvis *the worst kind of political snake*, because the murdered woman is wearing a necklace belonging to Sebastian's mother, who drowned while wearing it when he was only eleven years old. Jarvis only wants to prove the prince innocent but Sebastian can't resist the lure of that necklace. And I'm convinced there are some dark and awful things represented by that necklace on the horizon for Sebastian.

The plot and the setting are marvelously well done by the author and I am well and completely hooked on this series, and happily so. The audio was superbly narrated by Davina Porter. With the first book, it took a few chapters to get used to some of her male voices but her performance is just stellar, and she kept me locked into the story. This was an awesome listen!

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Amazing historical murder-mystery

Revisado: 08-13-21

4.5 stars. I loved Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin from the moment he appeared on page. 😍 The third and youngest of his father’s sons, and after several terrible family tragedies, now the heir to the earldom. Only Sebastian has never followed the expectations of either the aristocracy in general or his father in particular, and being the heir is the last thing he wants.

The grisly murder of a young well known actress coincides with some political maneuvering and some rather questionable circumstantial evidence, and Sebastian finds himself accused of her murder. An unfortunate incident during his “arrest” makes it clear to Devlin that the only way he will be found innocent is to find the real murderer himself. So he escapes the inspectors and hides in the roughest parts of London, looking for the killer.

The story and the characters, not only Sebastian, were completely engaging, I loved every minute! The mystery was damn good and the period setting was very well done and lent fabulous atmosphere to the story. I’m genuinely looking forward to every book in this series! Thanks to the lovely Karen for the rec. 😘

The audio is narrated by Davina Porter, who is a new reader for me. I have to admit that her narration took me a bit to get used to. As a female reader, she had a very large male character cast to voice but before long, I was completely wrapped up in listening. Tremendous job by her and I’m already into the next one. ❤️

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What a life! 💕

Revisado: 07-18-21

Audio reread/listen July 2021

Holy hell, I forgot how much emotion there was to reading this. I went back and forth so much from laughing til I cried to just straight up crying, it was dizzying and utterly glorious and I loved it all to the very bottom of my heart. Family. 🥰

****

First read August 2017

I don't want to say goodbye. I know it doesn't have to be forever, I can come back and visit any time I want. I've so loved taking this journey with this wacky, crazy beloved family that I will miss going forward with them. But I'm so thankful that TJ still had one more story to tell, one more journey to take with them, so that all of us who love them so much would get the chance for a proper goodbye and to see them all happy, in the places they were all meant to be.

Of all books in this series, this was the most angst free. Not that things were perfect, because when is life perfect, ever? But oh, they came damn close at times here. The hilarity, the love, the damn feels. I definitely shed a few tears but they were all happiness and overflowing emotion.

Thank you TJ Klune, for the love & family.

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*Hands Ashe my heart* So stop ripping it out.

Revisado: 07-02-21

Audio reread June 24, 2021

I've been putting off this review for 2 weeks, and honestly, I've been sitting here with this screen open for the last 2 hours, still not knowing how to say all the twisted up, barbed-wire emotions this made me go through.

Usually in reading any story, I always have a feel for where it's going or who did it or what the characters are going to do. Not this time, and that was also true for most of the book. I was pretty much gobsmacked by the ending though I guess I shouldn't have been *the old 20/20 hindsight*. Maybe more that I didn't want to see the ending.

Through all of North & Shaw's stories, it's always impressed me how patient and understanding North is with Shaw. Yeah, they're always squabbling and Shaw makes North yell at him a lot, but a good deal of that is Shaw yanking his chain on purpose. That's just part of their best friend dynamic, and mostly I love it, it makes me laugh. This time, North's patience gets pushed too far and all the things he's buried down deep so he can function and be who he thinks he's supposed to be finally come out.

For the first time, I was so angry with Shaw that it bordered on the edge of dislike. It's never been a secret that both guys have big issues that neither one of them will deal with. And Shaw has always just kind of done whatever he wants, and North always gives in, to make Shaw happy. However, this time he just kind of rides roughshod all over what North wants, about almost everything. I do love Shaw and he's quirky, funny and soft-hearted but that doesn't excuse the way he disregards North, however unintentionally it may be in doing. Then some of Shaw's issues that he has been hiding come out in the most painful way possible for North McKinney and breaks the dam on his own, all those buried things that he swallows down all the time. And it freaking hurt. 😭😭 It seems that I spent a lot of this book either ragey or crying. *sigh*

As if all that isn't enough, Ronnie is back pulling his benevolent uncle routine, which of course nobody buys. Coincidentally, it appears that someone is trying to infiltrate Aldridge Acqusitions, which North has been sure all along has something to do with Ronnie's end game. (view spoiler) Making a bad situation even worse, Tucker is constantly calling North, winding him up over the phone, fighting him over the divorce. Me, right along with North, every single time:

*insert gif of my head exploding*

There are truly no words for how badly I hate Tucker and Ronnie.

Then that ending. The first time I read it, I was truly angry *like Ashe should consult me. Well....🤔*. But on the re-listen, it really did have to happen, because something had to shake things up to make the both of them deal with all the trauma they carry. And to make Shaw back up and think about what a relationship actually means. 😒 The question really is, will they? Cross your fingers for Redirection.

Charlie David really is at his best with North and Shaw, he voices them so perfectly that I forget it's a performance or that I'm actually listening to a book and not just hearing North and Shaw.

Disclaimer: A copy of the audiobook was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

****

First read June 13, 2021

I'm serious, what is the problem with letting me be happy for 5 freakin' minutes, Ashe?? 🤦🏼‍♀️ I cannot with this right now. I need to think on this some more but back with a review after vacay, during which I am going to read the fluffiest, most sugary books I can find. *stink-eyes GA*

And I might actually, maybe like Pari just a little bit now. That's so messed up.

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esto le resultó útil a 3 personas

There will never be enough of this book-family

Revisado: 06-24-21

Audio reread June 2021

Ugh, I can't believe I forgot how bad some things hurt. I cried. 😭😭 But I laughed too, so much! I love these book-people even more! 🥰

I have to confess, Charlie David's narration was kind of grating at first. I felt a little bad for feeling that way, as it's not really his fault, I just hate it when they change narrators in an audio series, and Sean Crisden was so good with Bear, Otter, and the Kid. But by the end of the book, I had forgotten all of that and was just living in the story, so well done by CD on that! Loved it again! 💜

****

First read April 2017

I loved it so much! One of the things I loved the most was getting to see Bear & Otter work as a unit, a couple that was strong together. Bear was still Bear *he really does think too much* but he learned to trust Otter, to trust that he would be there.

All of them did so much growing together, all of them. It wasn't all easy, and there was pain and sorrow but they all had their family to back them up. LOL, one of my favorite things was The Kid's custody hearing, with everybody arriving late! That's family, can't take them anywhere. :) And gahhhhh, jealous, possessive, growl-y Otter is freaking hot!

TJ really knows how to bring out every single emotion you're capable of, all in one book. He writes characters that you don't merely love, you're invested in them and their lives.

While this deserves so much better than this as a review, sorry, I have to get back to The Art of Breathing.

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The audio made a much-loved story even better!

Revisado: 06-21-21

Audio reread June 2021

A genuine case of history repeating itself, because apparently I'm too dumb to read my own reviews. 🙄 I was wanting fluffy after a certain author stomped all over my feelings. Why in the name of all that's holy did I think TJ Klune was the place to go for that?? 👀 Selective amnesia is definitely a thing, because all I was remembering was all the laughs. And there are those and they're still hysterical because Bear, of course. *hugs Bear and his sweet, neurotic self* (view spoiler) But though I had forgotten the angst and things that were painful, every bit of the rest was just as magical as I remembered from the first time. I missed this book-family something fierce, all of them. 🥰

Except that Bear and the Kid's mom and Jonah can still go DIAF. 👿

Sean Crisden's narration was spot-on for all of them, his performance was genuinely perfection! More please! 💕

****

First read April 2017

I don't know why it took me so long to get to this series considering my love of all things T.J., but somewhere along the way I convinced myself that this was one of his funny, hilarious books. And it had its funny, hilarious moments but boy, did I pick the wrong thing as a fluffy read to make me happy after Enemy Within turned me inside out. Because this one did the same in an entirely different way.

And funny that, in the end, it really did make me all the happy I could want. *heart-eyes* I freaking loved every single one of these book-people *except for mom & Jonah, who can go suck it* and that's about all the review you're getting from me because I have to go read Who We Are right now!

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Best one yet!

Revisado: 06-14-21

Audio reread June 2021

Even when there's a book you don't think can possibly get better, anything can be made better being read by Greg Boudreaux! 😍

****

First read May 2020

Best one yet!! I absolutely love Quinn, Twig and all their clan and the world is so much fun! ❤️ I hope Meghan Maslow has many, many more cases and adventures for Starfig Investigations. 😍

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