Not bad but could have been better...

My general rating for the stories in individual books in the set:
A Building Passion - 2.5 stars
Passion Project - 3 stars
Restoring Passion - 4 stars

Spoilers alert!

I really wanted to like the books more; the premises of all three stories sounded interesting, with main characters trying to build their lives anew, facing difficulties on the way to the proverbial happily ever after... But I just didn't like them as much as I'd thought I would.

The first two parts feel as if nothing really happens in them; they feel like a really long introduction to book three (which I really liked, by the way). Book three has everything I want in a romance: strong emotions, real tension between the main characters, a serious obstacle / problem they have to solve and a test of their love they have to pass to stay together - and a bit of a criminal investigation to make matters more interesting:)

This kind of tension is what the first two books lack. OK, in "A Building Passion" theoretically Vanessa and Daniel must overcome their fear of entering a new relationship (both experienced bad heartbreaks in the past), but I just don't feel that anxiety in the development of their acquaintance and even the "stalking" plotline doesn't help - it isn't scary at all. In "Passion Project" Marly and Jack end up together - and I don't really know why; there are no clues as to how they gradually fall in love with each other...
Both "romances" lack the "romance" part - at least for me. In both cases it's instant sexual attraction and allurement, almost instant hot sex and then boom, the H and h are madly in love - but how do they fall in love? how does lust evolve into true, deep-felt love? I don't know... or maybe I just missed the clues because things happen "behind the scenes"? It's possible, as in both books we have time jumps between chapters - sometimes days, sometimes weeks pass between one scene and another without much of a warning...

Book three is the best of the three - it's shorter, with a definitely faster pace and the plotline more concise and emotionally tense. If the other two books were more like part three, the whole set would be much better.

Narration by Ms Hazen is very good, as usual. She does well most of the voices (you have to get used to some of the male voices she does in her interpretations but with time they stop bothering you). She is good at acting out dialogues and impartial in the narrative parts. Generally it's a very good interpretation of all three stories.

DISCLAIMER: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

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Awesome Series!

DIY Romance Series by Sandra Kyle, narrated by Kelley Hazen
A Building Passion: I thought this second chance at love was well written and the performance was so good. I really enjoyed the humor in this story and how it was delivered. I found this book to be sweet, and loved the fact that main characters learned to trust each other and deal with their issues
Passion Project: I really enjoyed this listen. It is fun and unexpected and for adults. The premise of the story is reminiscent of a television show, but the characters are very endearing. I enjoyed the various distinguishing voices the narrator performs. The story is a standalone listen and part of a series.
Restoring Passion: A Picture Says a Thousand Words. Vanessa and Daniel had it all until a picture appears and tears them apart. Restoring Passion is such a great story. Things are not always what they appear, and this book is perfect at that. I loved the twists the author, Sandra Kyle wrote. Kelley Hazen was spot on in her performance. She brings the characters to life with distinguishable voices and realistic emotions. This book is a standalone listen and part of a series.

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A Great Series

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the narrator and found it very entertaining even though I don't usually listen to contemporary romance. The main characters are well written and the story moves along well with a bit of humour and suspense. Renovating has never been so much fun. I found myself chuckling as I drove down the road. With the complete series, listen to the whole thing without stopping. It's well worth a listen.

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Great Collection of Books

DIY Romance Series: The Complete Contemporary Romance Collection was a great read by Sandra Kyle. This collection consists of; A Building Passion, Passion Project and Restoring Passion. They follow Vanessa and Daniel after Vanessa moves to Savannah, Georgia after she finds out that her fiancé is cheating on her. They cross paths as she is looking to do some DIY projects. I absolutely loved reading Vanessa and Daniel's story and can't wait to read more by Sandra Kyle. Kelley Hazen did a great job of bringing life to the characters.

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The complete DIY Romance Series!

A sizzling series set in Savannah. From moving to the area and buying a fixer upper, to a DIY home show... this series follows the possible relationships of a few couples.

A well written series by Sandra Kyle made even better with a fantastic narration. Kelley Hazan does it again!

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily left this review.

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Painful narration

The story was good, but the narration was painful to listen to. I will avoid other books narrated by Kelley Hazen.

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