Audiobook Review: Sweet Cheeks by K. Bromberg, Read by Sebastian York and Andi Arndt

Source: Purchased the Kindle ebook and audiobook on Audible.
Publisher: JKB Publishing, LLC
Release Date: November 14, 2016
Number of Pages: 347 (ebook)


Description from Goodreads:

An all new second chance love story by the New York Times Bestselling author of the beloved Driven series.

It all started with the invitation. To my ex-fiance’s new wedding.

I should have ignored it.Thrown it away. Set it afire. But I didn’t. I replied.

With a plus one.

And then my assistant accidentally mailed it.

Enter Hayes Whitley. Mega-movie star. The man who has captured the hearts of millions. But I gave him mine years ago. He was my first love. He was my everything. Right until he up and left to chase his dreams without so much as a simple goodbye.

When he showed up out of the blue ten years later, I should have known to steer clear. I should have rejected his offer to take me to my ex’s wedding. I should have never let him kiss me.

But I didn’t.

And now we’re left wondering if the pieces of the life we once shared still fit together somehow. First loves are hard to forget. The question is, do we want to forget? Or do we risk the chance and see what happens next?

Gah!!! I absolutely loved SWEET CHEEKS!!!

This was my first time with both Andi Arndt and Sebastian York as audio readers and with reading a book by K. Bromberg, and I will definitely be enjoying both audios and books from all three of them in the future! I really, really loved this audio! Seriously! I can't praise it enough! :D

SWEET CHEEKS was an absolutely adorable story about rekindled romance, and the name is incredibly fitting! The story was sweet, sexy, and most definitely cheeky and funny, too! I loved the characters, the plot and all of the banter and the little extra touches (like the social media posts) were so well done! This book had me hooked right away and I was constantly laughing, gasping and smiling throughout the entire thing!

The story itself is superb! I'm always a fan of second-chance romances, and I definitely love stories involving hunky high school sweethearts who become super duper famous movie star...I mean what's not to love, especially when the character is as divine as Hayes was! Not only was he an amazing actor and a real dreamboat, he was also one of the sweetest heroes that I've encountered in quite a while! He'd definitely made mistakes in his past, but he did an amazing job making up for all that he'd done. And Saylor! I adored her!!! She was smart, funny, confident (with a tiny bit of insecurity that made her super easy to relate to), and just all around amazing! I really admired her character, and loved getting to know her! 

Both Andi Arndt and Sebastian York gave fantastic performances, too! I'm pretty picky when it comes to audio readers so I usually listen to samples of each audio before I start it and I wasn't quite sold on either reader from the sample, but I did think they sounded interesting. I decided to give this audio a chance, and once it started, I was completely sold! I'm so glad that I bought this audiobook and I definitely now see the appeal of Sebastian York! His voice is PERFECT for audio and he did an amazing job as Hayes! So sexy and earnest...loved him! And Andi was amazing, too! She delivered Saylor's sassy lines perfectly and I really loved her performance! I think I still would've loved SWEET CHEEKS in paper or ebook, but I really loved the added dimension that Sebastian and Andi brought to both characters—they captured them wonderfully and really brought them to life!

If you're looking for a great second chance romance and want to also experience a wonderful audio experience, I highly recommend this one! I thought SWEET CHEEKS was amazing and look forward to listening to it again and again! :D

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Ahhh, just thinking about this book is enough to get me all giddy all over again!!
What a sweet romance!!

What do you think?
Does SWEET CHEEKS sound like a book you'd enjoy?

Audiobook Review: A MONSTER CALLS by Patrick Ness & Read by Jason Isaacs

Source: Received a sample copy through my work, Thomas Allen & Son, the Canadian Distributor for Brilliance Audio. All opinions are my own.
Publisher: Candlewick on Brilliance Audio
Release Date: September 27, 2016


Description from Goodreads:

The monster showed up after midnight. As they do.

But it isn’t the monster Conor’s been expecting. He’s been expecting the one from his nightmare, the nightmare he’s had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments, the one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming....

This monster, though, is something different. Something ancient, something wild. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor. It wants the truth.

Patrick Ness spins a tale from the final story idea of Siobhan Dowd, whose premature death from cancer prevented her from writing it herself. Darkly mischievous and painfully funny, A Monster Calls is an extraordinarily moving novel about coming to terms with loss from two of our finest writers for young adults.

“Compelling...powerful and impressive.” —Philip Pullman, author of the award-winning His Dark Materials trilogy

“Exceptional...this is storytelling as it should be—harrowing, lyrical, and transcendent.” —Meg Rosoff, author of the Printz Award–winning novel How I Live Now

“Brilliant and elegant, with all the thrills and ambition you would expect from the author of the Chaos Walking trilogy.” —Frank Cottrell Boyce, award-winning author of Millions and Cosmic

“Haunting, lyrical, powerful, and true. Patrick Ness has crafted a masterful story about grief and loss, love and hope that lingers in the heart like a ghost.” —Libba Bray, author of the Printz Award-winning novel Going Bovine

I have to preface this by saying that I've already read A MONSTER CALLS, and absolutely adored it. It's an extremely emotion read, and while it absolutely guts you, it's also breathtakingly beautiful and real. I consider A MONSTER CALLS to be one of the most profound stories I've ever read, and I know that it's one that I'll return to year after year, and no matter how many times I read it, it'll never ever get old.

Now that you know I already love this story, I have to let you know that I like to go back and listen to audio versions of books that I love so that I can get to experience them in a whole new way. When it comes to listening to an audiobook of a book you've already enjoyed, there's always the risk that the reader won't manage to convey the story as effectively as it comes across on paper, but that definitely wasn't an issue here at all. Jason Isaacs did an absolutely AMAZING job reading A MONSTER CALLS! He managed to flawlessly capture each and every one of the characters. His intonation was amazing, and I thought that this recording was perfection. Absolute perfection!

For new readers to A MONSTER CALLS who enjoy audiobooks, I wholeheartedly recommend this recording, and for readers who've already read and loved the book, you should definitely give this audiobook a shot the next time you decide to do a reread. You really won't regret it!

Not only is A MONSTER CALLS an amazing story (seriously, even if you don't listen to the audio...go read the book!), but this audio is a fantastic adaptation of the story, and it's made me love it all over again!

Who else loves A MONSTER CALLS?
 
And is anyone else a fan of going back and listening to an audiobook version of their favourite stories? If you are, which one has been your favourite to do that with?

I think A MONSTER CALLS or THE SCORPIO RACES are currently tied as my favourites to do this with...both are AMAZING!!!

Review: A Darker Shade of Magic (Shades of Magic #1) by V. E. Schwab

Source: Borrowed ebook from the library. / Purchased audiobook from Audible.
Publisher: Tor Books
Release Date: Already Released.
Number of Pages: 398 (Hardcover) / 11 hrs & 34 mins (Audiobook)


Description from Goodreads:

Kell is one of the last Travelers—rare magicians who choose a parallel universe to visit.

Grey London is dirty, boring, lacks magic, ruled by mad King George. Red London is where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire. White London is ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne. People fight to control magic, and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. Once there was Black London—but no one speaks of that now.

Officially, Kell is the Red Traveler, personal ambassador and adopted Prince of Red London, carrying the monthly correspondences between royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell smuggles for those willing to pay for even a glimpse of a world they’ll never see. This dangerous hobby sets him up for accidental treason. Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs afoul of Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She robs him, saves him from a dangerous enemy, then forces him to another world for her 'proper adventure'.

But perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, Kell and Lila will first need to stay alive—trickier than they hoped.

Fantasy has always been one of my favourite genres, but in the last few years, I haven't read it as much as I used it. Every once in a while though, I'll pick up a fantasy book and remember just how much I absolutely LOVE the genre! A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC was definitely one of those books that brought back my love of fantasy. It was an amazing story⎯intense, interesting, and centred on a world that was diverse and fantastically intricate!

 Kell is an Antari, a very rare magician that possesses a powerful way with magic and can travel between worlds. In Kell's world there are multiple universes all with their own version of London. There's Kell's London, Red London; the London of our own world, Grey London; a much more violent London where another Antari, Holland, lives called White London; and Black London, which has been separated from the other Londons for a very long time.

Seeing the other Londons through Kell was one of my favourite parts of A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC. I loved how vast the world-building was, and V. E. Schwab's attention to detail was remarkable. Each world was absolutely unique, but they still held certain similarities that makes the connections between the worlds even more interesting and mysterious. And the magic was AMAZING! Kell's world has tonnes of magic and uses it freely. It's beautiful, and I really loved seeing everything in his world. In Grey London, magic has virtually disappeared and the only magic that really exists there is what Kell brings through himself. White London, is completely different. It's dangerous, and magic is a commodity that everyone fights for.

Clearly, I really loved the magical aspects of the story, but I also absolutely adored the characters! Kell was fantastic! He was so interesting, and I really enjoyed seeing the worlds through his perspective. And Lila (a.k.a. Delilah) was AMAZING! I loved desire for adventure, and greatly admired her strength. She didn't always make the smartest choices, but I really loved that she always fights for what she wants and she does all that she can to achieve her dreams. I also loved Kell's brother, Rhy, and I really enjoyed seeing their relationship with each other. The only thing I love as much as a budding romance is a fantastic bromance, and Rhy and Kell have an amazing one!

I read A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC just a few months after its release and I absolutely loved it. I was swept away by the magic, and desperately wanted more of Kell's world. So to prepare for its sequel, A GATHERING OF SHADOWS, I listened to the audiobook of A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC. While it was a totally different experience listening to the audio of the book, I still love it so, so much! The reader, Steven Crossley, was wonderful and he did a fantastic job bringing the story to life. It was just as wonderful, mystical, and magical as it was when I read it the first time!

Overall, I absolutely loved A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC! It was one of my favourite books last year, and this year, it's easily been one of my favourite audiobooks, too. It's the kind of story that will draw you in, possess you, and you won't want to stop reading until there's nothing left to read. It's compelling, intriguing, and just a truly remarkable story. If you're a fan of fantasy who loves magic and intricate, well-crafted world-building, you will LOVE A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC!

Thoughts?

Have you read A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC yet?
Are you desperate for A GATHERING OF SHADOWS, too?
And if you haven't read it yet, is it on your to-read list?

Audiobook Review: The Vigilante's Lover, Vol. 2 by Annie Winters & Tony West, Read by Gordon Anthony Palagi & Samantha Mantin

Source: Received a code from the author to give an honest review.
Publisher: Casey Shay Press
Release Date: November 4, 2015
Format: Audible Audiobook


Description from Goodreads:

If this is what it’s like to be a captive, Mia wants to be a prisoner forever.

The second volume of the addictive romantic suspense series from the desk of USA Today bestselling author Deanna Roy / JJ Knight

Jax may have kidnapped her. But now Mia wants to stay.

The man is skilled. Intelligent. And gorgeous. His life is dangerous and wild. Mia’s ready to do whatever it takes to avoid getting sent back to her small-town life.

Jax has other ideas. He can’t afford an untrained civilian tagging along on his plot to get revenge.

He’s a fugitive, and a powerful organization wants him dead. Nothing since his prison escape has gone according to plan.

Including his attachment to this over-zealous beauty who keeps surprising him with her cleverness and courage.

He can’t keep her. It’s dangerous. And she doesn’t have any clue what she’s getting into.

But Mia is nothing if not determined, and when they find themselves alone in an abandoned barn, Jax gives her one chance to prove herself.

One thing she must do. Without question or hesitation.

If she says yes, there is no going back.

 Wowza!!! This audiobook was just as sexy as the first one, and once again, it leaves off on an epic cliffhanger that leaves you desperate for more!!

The Vigilante's Lover series is really my first time at listening to romantic suspense, and it's been thrilling so far. This series is sexy, it's intense, and it's full of intrigue! The story itself is fantastic, and the characters are very compelling...especially Jax! I'm so smitten with Jax. He's a sexy, sexy dude. And Mia is very mysterious. She seems like she's just a plain, ordinary girl who hasn't really done anything exciting, but the further Mia intertwines into Jax's life, the clearer it becomes that there's something about her that none of them know about. It's extremely interesting and I'm very excited to learn more!

As for the narration, I'm still really loving Gordon Anthony Palagi who read Jax's chapters, but once again, Samantha Mantin's chapters just weren't that great to me. I just find her voice fairly irritating, but thankfully, I did manage to get used to her, and Jax's chapters are so awesome that I don't mind quite as much. :P I'd recommend these audiobooks for Gordon Anthony Palagi's narration alone! His voice is fantastic!!! It fits perfectly with the genre, and always keeps my attention. 

I'm loving The Vigilante's Lover series so far, and can't wait to start Volume 3! I'd recommend these audiobooks (and their ebook counterparts) to romantic suspense fans, especially if you love secret societies...or rope. :P

What do you think?
Are you intrigued by The Vigilante's Lover series?
And what do you think of romantic suspense on audiobooks?

Audiobook Review: The Vigilante's Lover, Vol. 1 by Annie Winters & Tony West, Read by Gordon Anthony Palagi & Samantha Mantin

Source: Received a code from the author to give an honest review.
Publisher: Casey Shay Press
Release Date: October 6, 2015
Format: Audible Audiobook


Description from Goodreads:

Spies, vengeance, and one seriously well-dressed man

"If Bourne dressed like Bond and acted like Grey, you'd have Jax De Luca."
An addictive new romantic suspense series from the desk of USA Today bestselling author Deanna Roy/JJ Knight

Mia trembles as she reads the letter that arrives from Ridley Prison.

Seduction. Bondage ropes. Descriptions of things Mia has never experienced or known.

The man’s words are desperately passionate. He longs for a woman who must have given him a fake address. Mia’s address.

She plans to send the letter back. He’s a convicted felon.

But his words gnaw at her. She’s never done anything dangerous. And no man has ever talked to her like this.

So Mia writes him, pretending to be the woman he desires.

It's her one dark thrill in her dull, solitary small-town life.

The man is in prison for another fifteen years.

It's harmless. She is safe enough.

Until he escapes.

 I'm a big fan of Deanna Roy, so I jumped at the chance to listen to the audiobook version of The Vigilante's Lover, Vol. 1, and I wasn't disappointed!!!! :D

The story starts with plans for a jailbreak and sexy letter...so it definitely packs a punch right from the start, and it only gets more and more intense! As soon as I started listening, I didn't want to stop⎯the story reeled me in and kept me eagerly awaiting what was going to happen next!

 I loved both Jax and Mia! Jax was a walking mystery, super duper sexy, and I loved learning about his past! Mia seemed like just an average girl, who somehow got mixed into the middle of a crazy scenario, but I think there's more to her than she knows herself...and I can't wait to find out more about her backstory!

Throughout the audiobook, I was riveted to the story! The Vigilantes' world is extremely intricate and secretive, so it was interesting trying to figure things out just like Mia was. They have crazy advanced technologies, secret headquarters, intricate databases, and a hierarchy that seems extremely complicated. I loved the mystery of it all, and it was definitely suspenseful trying to figure everything out...and to figure out who Mia could trust!

As far as the audiobook version goes, the story alternates between Mia's POV and Jax's POV, and it also alternates between a male and female narrator. I absolutely LOVED the male narrator, Gordon Anthony Palagi! His voice was AMAZING! It suited the story perfectly, and it was an absolute pleasure listening to him. I was actually a little disappointed when I checked Audible and didn't see any other titles narrated by him. I wasn't a big fan of the female narrator though. Her voice just didn't really work for me, but as I got into the story, I didn't mind it as much, and Gordon's/Jax's chapters more than made up for hers. :P

Overall, I absolutely loved the first part of The Vigilante's Lover...the only downside was waiting for the next volume, but thankfully it's out now!! I can't wait to get started on volume 2! ;) I'd recommend The Viligante's Lover, Vol. 1 to fans of suspenseful romances, especially if you like your leading men a little bit naughty and mysterious! And I'd definitely recommend the audiobook because I absolutely LOVED Jax's chapters! ;)

What do you think?
Does The Vigilante's Lover, Vol. 1 sound like a romance you'd enjoy?