Category Archives: Audio Book

Audio Book, Friends to Lovers

#WOTR23 #FriendsToLovers #Audio #FamilyStory – The Wedding Driver, Love in the Adirondacks by Jen Talty, narration by Skye Allen

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Love in the Adirondacks—where hearts come together like the moon and the stars shining bright in the sky, showing the boats the way home at night.

The Wedding Driver: He’s been making dreams come true for a decade. Never in a million years did he believe his dream was a boat ride away.

Tonya Johnson has been in love with the elusive Foster Landon for as long as she can remember. However, other than their mutual business arrangement of her wedding planning business and the fact that he takes newlyweds around the bay on his antique boat shortly after their nuptials, he barely gives her the time of the day. Well, she’s tired of being ignored and decides it’s time Foster Landon takes her out on a proper date.

Foster Landon had his heart broken once and he doesn’t plan on letting that happen again. While he believes in love, it’s not for him. Not anymore. That is until Tonya asked him to take him for a boat ride. And not a wedding ride. He should say no, but he couldn’t resist her smile. Besides, of all the wedding planners in the area, she brought him the most business. Who was he to say no? However, he wasn’t prepared to lose his heart and find himself wanting to become a groom.

Cover by Charity Hendry Designs

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Angie

I purchased this audio book.
I love a good romance and I needed something after reading a dark romance. I have read Jen’s stories before and loved the “feel good” love story so I knew this would be the perfect palette cleanser for me.
Tonya and Foster, LAWD ya’ll are a hot mess. They both want to be with the other but they both have fears….UBER FEARS. Tonya is afraid of losing her best friend. She would rather be with him as a friend then not at all. Foster, damn he has a giant-sized fear closet. He has every single right to be afraid but at the same time he is standing still while time flies by him.
When Tonya takes that step forward, it delights and scares Foster. He jumps forward and then runs the heck backward. I felt the couple had a lot of back and forth. Both afraid but also hurting the other with the indecisions. They both need to take a step back at times since they…well he mainly…runs for the hills.
I enjoyed the story except for the miscommunications but hey who wants to see hurt lovers? No one right!! But I did enjoy the twisted and weaving Foster’s past with his wife, child, and his past. I loved Tonya’s grandpa Maxwell. He was the best side character ever.
I didn’t realize this book was part of a series so now I want to go and listen to the story of Tonya’s sisters and their stories. The ladies were great big sisters who also gave their sister a kick in the butt when she needed.

Jen Talty is the USA Today Bestselling Author of Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense, and Paranormal Romance. In the fall of 2020, her short story was selected and featured in a 1001 Dark Nights Anthology. She is currently contracted to write in the With Me in Seattle series by Kristen Proby with Lady Boss Press, as well as Susan Stoker’s Special Forces: Operation Alpha and Elle James’s Brotherhood Protectors.

Regardless of the genre, her goal is to take you on a ride that will leave you floating under the sun with warmth in your heart. She writes stories about broken heroes and heroines who aren’t necessarily looking for romance, but in the end, they find the kind of love books are written about :).

She first started writing while carting her kids to one hockey rink after the other, averaging 170 games per year between 3 kids in 2 countries and 5 states. Her first book, IN TWO WEEKS was originally published in 2007. In 2010 she helped form a publishing company (Cool Gus Publishing) with NY Times Bestselling Author Bob Mayer where she ran the technical side of the business through 2016.

Jen is currently enjoying the next phase of her life…the empty nester! She and her husband reside in Jupiter, Florida.

Grab a glass of vino, kick back, relax, and let the romance roll in…

Age Gap, Audio Book, M/M, Part of a Series, Writers on the River Attending Author

#wotr #attendingauthor #seriesstarter #audio Reckless (Room for Love 1) by Kate Hawthorne narrated by Evan Carolina

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Pursuing your best friend’s dad is never a good idea, but Cameron Motel is feeling reckless. His life is about to change, and Luke is older, attractive…and he represents something Cameron has never had before.

Stability.

Luke didn’t mean to get involved with his son’s best friend, but Cameron needed a strong hand and Luke was willing to deliver on his promises.

This thing between them is supposed to be a secret, but something as big as love can’t stay hidden for long. Then a single phone call sends Cameron farther away from home than he’d ever planned to go, and Luke’s subconscious keeps him grounded in the past unable to move on.

Cameron is gone, and to get him back Luke needs to do something big, something bold, something…reckless.

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56819087-reckless

Amazon https://amzn.to/3FO5oRu

Review by Twinsie Dee

i was given this audiobook by the author for an honest review

Luke was getting over dealing with a brake up with his partner, now it was just him and his son Eddie and his friend Cameron was over most of the time. Well, when Cameron had to listen to Eddie wack one out one of the nights he was staying over while Eddie was in the shower, Cameron thought he might as well jerk one out too while he was alone. Cameron didn’t time his ending very well and next thing he knew not only was Eddie back in the room, but Eddie’s dad was now looking at him and well it made him feel things he didn’t know if he wanted to feel. Luke and Cameron started hooking up behind Eddie’s back and oh did the steamy fling happen. Both were happy until Cameron’s dad died, and he was forced to move to help his brother’s run the family hotel. Will distance slip these two up, will the huge age gap be the issue, or will they make it work and be happy for the rest of their life. OMG this audio was amazing, and this story was just as great the brattiness from Cameron with Luke and the steamy chemistry between them was just woah steamy.

With over two dozen published romances to her name, Kate Hawthorne has built a recognizable brand around telling emotional stories that pack a figurative (and sometimes literal) punch.

Existing on a steady diet of wine and coffee, Kate spends her days dreaming up angsty stories full of heat, kink, and heart. Kate now lives in Louisville, where she writes romance, reads romance, and hides from the humidity.

2nd Chance, Audio Book, MC, Trigger Warnings

#WOTR23 #MC #ChildAbuse #triggers #Audio #2ndChance #Dancer #SEAL – Turbo, Steel MC Montana Charter book 11 by Michel Prince and Wren McCabe

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Michel Prince is the attending author.

Turbo Book 11 of The Steel MC Montana Charter by [Michel Prince, Wren McCabe]

In book eleven of The Steel MC Montana Charter: Porsche ‘Turbo’ DeGrassa isn’t one to sit still. While she’s always up for a challenge or a new project, she tends to take them on without ever completing anything. Never in her life has she had a place become more than a pass through to the next adventure, and yet, she’s now five years into living with the Steels in Montana and itching to find something or someone to finally keep her from spinning like a top through life.

For months now, Michael ‘Bugs’ Hanover, has been wondering why his daughter had become distant. The ordinarily bubbly eight-year-old now is reserved and quiet. When he discovers the unthinkable at pick up, he snaps, sending his daughter and him on a cross-country trek to hide out with former SEAL Thomas ‘Hack’ Creek and regroup. His daughter’s safety and future are his only concern. While justified by all rights to the wrong he committed, the law may see it differently. The last thing he needs is a stunning woman connecting with his daughter and him when the stop was supposed to be a harbor in a storm.

A wild woman, much like his ex that didn’t keep his daughter safe, was now the one the little girl ran to for comfort. For Porsche, stepping in with a broken child cannot be a temporary project abandoned for the next fun opportunity. While Michael needs to move on, Turnabout Creek offers him a life after service if he can find a way to stay out of prison. Will he strive to stay one step ahead of the law? Or will he fight for what is right and the chance to be with the Turbo charged woman dancing her way into his life?

Trigger Warning : Child Sex Abuse Discussed

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Angie

I was given this book and audio book by the author for an honest review.

The narration is on point as usual for this series.  Kat does the best voices and I love listening to her story telling!!

GAH!!  This book!!  We have seen Porsche in several of the books as a back up character or a dancer at the Roadside.  In Dreamers book we got to KNOW her and her back story.  I was super excited to see her get a book and knowing it would be with one of Hack’s buddies, I knew it would be good!!

Mike, Bugs, finds out the worst news ever by accident when he is picking up his daughter.  He runs to his friend’s town knowing SEALS help SEALS.  Little does he know this group also helps abused women and children.

Porsche, Turbo, is loving her live dancing but maybe is wondering about more.  It seems more and more people are shacking up and getting knocked up so she fears drinking the water.  But Porsche loves her live.  She does have some trauma she doesn’t want to deal with annnnd she really hates to take her medication for her mental health, but she loves her.

She gets a hair brain scheme to help the town and Chief raise funds for a town firetruck which causes a lot of funny moments and scenes between the men and their women to count.

When Porsche meets Mike the chemistry is sizzling off the charts but when Mike’s daughter, Syd, begins to open up and trust this woman, Mike begins to want ot know more about her.

Guys the story about Syd is crushing but the story of her recovery, loyalty, trust, and Love is what makes this book.  The last 2 chapters…one had me in tears with laughter but the last has me in tears for heartbreak!!  I absolutely oved this story.  Porsche was one hell of a woman and I will enjoy rereading this story a lot.  If I wasn’t 110% team Baldy, Mike might have stolen my heart with what he did to claim his woman!!

USA Today Bestselling author, Michel Prince, graduated with a bachelor degree in History and Political Science. Michel writes young adult, new adult and adult paranormal romance as well as contemporary romance.

“Ms Prince writing is like summer breeze caressing your body, slow and sultry.”-Amazon review of First and Ten.

“Michel Prince is a wonderful author with a real talent for writing.”-Amazon Review of Triple B Baking Co.

“Prince explores in her novels is interracial romance and friendships. Prince pokes fun at stereotypes, but never allows stereotypes to guide her plot. The focus is on creating two strong, independent characters who can stand on their own, but complement each other as a couple.”- Amazon Review of Silly Girl

“One Last Sunset is a well written story by the awesome Michel Prince that left me wanting to learn more about the rest of the Long family.”- Amazon Review for One Last Sunset.

“I could not put it down, and will definitely be looking for more from this Author.”-Amazon Review of Silly Girl.

With characters yelling “It’s my turn damn it!!!” She tries to explain to them that alas, she can only type a hundred and twenty words a minute and they will have wait their turn. She knows eventually they find their way out of her head and to her fingertips and she looks forward to sharing them with you.

When Michel can suppress the voices in her head she can be found at her son’s games in a variety of sports. She would like to thank her family for always being in her corner and especially her husband for supporting her every dream and never letting her give up.

Michel has been awarded Elite Status with Rebel Ink Press in 2013, the service award for her local RWA chapter Midwest Fiction Writers 2013, 2014, won 2015 Sweetest Romance from IREA for Chrysalis, a 2022 finalist for the Minnesota Book Awards for The Amalgam and was a PAN member of RWA. She lives in the Twin Cities with her husband, son, and new puppy

~~~~~~~~~~`

Wren grew up in the Northern part of the USA. She enjoys spending time with family, curling up with a good book, coloring in her adult books and driving motorcycles, big trucks and fast cars to relieve stress after a busy week.

Born in a large family she is all about family values and morals.

Wren’s friends and family will agree she is never far from a pen and paper as she finds so many things in the world peak her interest and can inspire an entire story.

Audio Book, Dark, Dark Romance

#Audio #dark – Does it Hurt by H.D. Carlton, narration by Troy Duran and Michelle Sparks

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Does It Hurt?


Who am I?

I’ve forgotten the answer to that question long ago. Ever since I ran from that house, so desperate to escape, I left with only the clothes on my back and socks on my feet. After that day, I’ve only ever walked in stolen shoes.

Could I be a girl who is searching for the meaning of life in faceless men? They were all so forgettable. Until he came along. He took me under a waterfall and made me forget my name, and in return, I took his instead.

Enzo Vitale.

An enigmatic man that will only ever love the deep sea. Or rather the predators that inhabit it. Turns out, he’s not so different than the monsters he feeds. He lured me onto his boat like a fish in the ocean, seeking vengeance for my crime. Had I realized his intentions, and that a massive storm would leave us shipwrecked, I would’ve ran.

Now, I’m a girl who’s seeking refuge in a decrepit lighthouse with a man who loathes me almost as much as he craves me. He wants to hurt me, but the old caretaker of the abandoned island may have intentions far more sinister.

It’s no longer a question of who I am, but rather, will I survive?

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Angie

 I received this audio book from the authors PR firm for an honest review.

Man there is so much to say before I get into the review for this book.  I read the Adeline duet like everyone and liked it a ton. So when this book initially was released I didn’t grab it because I was afraid it wouldn’t live up to the hype in my head after Adeline.  I let it go for a bit and was getting ready to grab the book when her PR firm offered a review audio copy.  Audio is my JAM and I said yes!!  Troy and Michelle were amazing voices for the story and kept me fully invested.  I loved loved loved the audio so much with them telling the story.

Now when I jumped into the story I could SEE a similar vibe between Enzo/Sawyer and Adeline/Zade and I was ALLLL in.  However, the story changed directions and so did the characters.  Now I see a lot of Enzo hate because he isn’t Zade and I don’t think that is fair.  Enzo isn’t a great guy but yes he isn’t Zade.  But Enzo is a great anti hero initially.  He does some not nice things to Sawyer on the boat when he finds his “Little Thief”.  When the 2 are stranded on the island with creepy Sylvester the story changed its vibe again from an Adeline vide to a mystery/paranormal.  There were a lot of things going on but through it all, Sylvester was CREEPY!!  LOL 

I did enjoy the story and the twist of everything that was happening at the light house. I did enjoy the story of the survival and how Sawyer could change her life drastically.  I loved Enzo hating and then fully loving Sawyer.  I loved him pushing her and pushing her until she too was in love with him.  I absolutely loved the story for what it was…which is Sawyer and Enzo’s story.

What I didn’t care for …the sex filler.  Ya’ll I love me some sexy times but there were times I felt like oh hey lets just fill this chapter with sex and then move on.  I mean I skimmed a few sexy times because it didn’t move the story forward.  It was just filler.

So if you loved Adeline go into this with a different head space.  It isn’t as dark, there are dark themes, but understand Enzo and Sawyer are 2 different characters. Their story is nothing like Zade and Adeline.

 

About H. D. Carlton H. D. Carlton is an International and USA Today Bestselling author. She lives in Ohio with her partner, two dogs, and cat. When she’s not bathing in the tears of her readers, she’s watching paranormal shows and wishing she was a mermaid.

 



Audio Book, Football, Part of a Series, Reverse Harem, Writers on the River Attending Author

#wotr #attendingauthor #audiobook Feeling Forever (Tasting Madness 3) by Albany Walker narrated by Jacob Morgan and Vanessa Moyen

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They say the truth can set you free…. That’s exactly what I’m worried about.

Secrets never last long, but mine get exposed before I’m ready, leaving me betrayed by someone I love.

Now I have to pick up the pieces and hope it doesn’t end with me losing the men I love, or my freedom.

She thought she could scare us away.

Brutal words spoken in an effort to shake our foundation only serve as proof of why we belong together.

There’s nothing we won’t do to keep her, and we’re ready to prove it.

Feeling Forever is the third book of the Tasting Madness Series. This is a why-choose novel with adult themes and situations.

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62226062-feeling-forever

Amazon https://amzn.to/3YuLPV7

Review by Twinsie Dee

Waylynn just witnessed her mom telling the guys about her past before she was ever able to. and she is just so shocked and embarrassed to say the least. but once her mom leaves, she lets the guys ask questions and tries to explain the voices and her past the best she can, and the biggest bomb shell that the voices she’s always heard belonged to her guys. things finally settle down and they get back into a flow of life with, Bates introduces Waylynn to his mom and her husband, and they plan to have a big thanksgiving dinner with Bates’ mom and her husband and Waylynn’s parents of course Oz and Memphis. but Waylynn’s mom always has some shit up her sleeve because she has nothing better to do, but Thanksgiving with a surprise guest and a whole lot of crazy hits the fan and a whole new round of I’m not surprised but are you kidding me happens. Will Waylynn stand up to herself with her mom, can Bates, Memphis and Oz really protect her from her past. this is an amazing story with so much heart and love and emotions that get you wrapped up and makes you feel it to your core. I’m so sad this is the last book but what an amazing ride.

Albany lives in Michigan where she’s happily married to her high school sweetheart. She spends most of her time juggling her four children’s extracurricular activities, with her nose stuck in a book. When not reading you can find her writing her very own book boyfriends. Albany’s passion is writing romance with real characters that are far from perfect, but always seem to find their own happily ever afters.

2nd Chance, Audio Book, MC, Part of a Series, sibling best friend

#Review #MC #SeriesStarter #Audio #Ebook #SiblingBestFriend #2ndChance – Horse’s Bride, Devil’s Riot MC Book 1 by E.C. Land, narration by Ken Solin

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Horse's Bride (Devil's Riot MC Book 1) by [E.C. Land]

Horse

Years ago I lost the one woman who’s ever been able to rock my world. When she disappeared into thin air I stopped caring, fucking whoever, whenever.
The one thing I didn’t plan for was seeing her face in all of these women.
No one could ever compare to her and here she is, her ghost haunting me every day.
I thought that relocating with the club to start our new charter would be the change I needed to move on, but what happens when I see her again. Only this time, she isn’t a ghost.
She’s real.

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Angie

I purchased the audio and ecopy of this book.

I am a GIANT MC reader.  I was looking for something to read when a friend recommended this series to me.  I had audio credits and grabbed the box set for the first few books.  I am a huge audio lover so this made me super excited.  I have got to say this narrator was not one I cared for….sorry Ken.  I listened to the first 30% of the story and ended up buying the book to read the story. I found the narration for the book was not one I personally cared for.  I hope others may enjoy his voice but for me, I will pass on future books of his.

This book has me excited because I love a good 2nd chance and have found a love for best friends sibling. This book hits both genres and I didn’t know it.  Horse and Twisted, the President of the club are headed to the new town to see the new club house.  Horse soon discovers the “one who got away” or ran away is the woman he was ready to claim.  He also discovers this is also his best friend’s sister!!  Needless to say, he is concerned with how his president and best friend will feel about this but more important he wants to know why this woman ran from him.  He was ready to claim her and wants to know what happened.

Kenny fell hard for Horse and was stunned when he shows up in town with her brother.  She has never forgotten him buuuut she is scared to go back down that path after what happened.  First loves are hard to forget even when she shouldn’t love him.

The story is fun to meet new MC characters, see the dynamic of the members, the new town, and the new relationship.  I loved Kenny.  She was so strong and loyal but also afraid to tell her brother what happened to her 5 years ago.

I loved the chemistry between Kenny and Horse.  I thought they were so much fun to read.  The shower scene when she first saw him again was THE BEST!!!!

E.C. Land is a MC and Dark Romance author who lives in the countryside of Virginia. She started her publishing journey writing MC romance, but she now has an undying love for writing in all sub-genres of dark romance.

Audio Book, Cliffhanger, Part of a Series, Reverse Harem, secret relationship, Writers on the River Attending Author

wotr #attendingauthor #partofaseries #audiobook Touching Oblivion (Tasting Madness 2) by Albany Walker Narrated by Jacob Morgan Vanessa Moyen

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Touching Oblivion: Tasting Madness, Book 2

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

She gave, we took, then I demanded more.

I had my reasons, but none of them are good enough to validate what happened.

I need her to forgive me, but I don’t know if I went too far this time.

Going through the motions.

Starting over in a new state, at a new school, is easy compared to losing something I never really had in the first place, but I’ve gotten good at faking it.

Too bad I feel like this time pretending I’m okay might actually break me.
Touching Oblivion is the second book of the Tasting Madness Series. This is Reverse Harem novel with adult themes and situations told in duel POV. 

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62226053-touching-oblivion

Amazon https://amzn.to/3CWYHdC

Review by Twinsie Dee

Waylynn was just accused of being a junkie because Memphis seen her pill bottle and it gave him a flash back to seeing his parents like that. She kicked both of the guys out and went totally quiet on them not returning text, phone calls and even thinking about dropping her class to stay out of the path of the guys. But finally, Memphis gets her to listen to him and tells her that he’s sorry and tells her his feelings for her. Waylynn forgives them and they are better then ever learning more about each other and in more ways then one Waylynn is learning to trust Oz and Memphis to the point where she is starting to tell Memphis a bit about her past and taking her walls down a little at a time. Things keep getting in the way for these 3 will they be able to keep their relationship strong and how will Waylynn feel about adding 1 more into her heart, rumors, pictures and secrets will either tear them apart for good or make them stronger then ever. I didnt think i could love these characters even more then i did but oh buddy did Albany make them way better the heartaches the emotions and the sexy scenes are hot that your going to need a fan to cool you down.

Albany lives in Michigan where she’s happily married to her high school sweetheart. She spends most of her time juggling her four children’s extracurricular activities, with her nose stuck in a book. When not reading you can find her writing her very own book boyfriends. Albany’s passion is writing romance with real characters that are far from perfect, but always seem to find their own happily ever afters. 

Audio Book, Mafia, Uncategorized

#AudioReview – A Dirty Business: Kings of New York by: Tijan – Narrators CJ Bloom and Joe Arden

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From New York Times bestselling author Tijan comes a raw, tempestuous romance between the criminal underworld and a parole officer that paints a thin line between right and wrong.

When Jess Montell meets Trace West at a hockey game, she doesn’t know his name or occupation. What she does know is there’s an instant attraction that’s impossible to ignore—or forget. And forgetting is exactly what she wants to do when she learns he’s not just a successful Wall Street suit but the heir to one of New York’s biggest Mafia families.

The last thing Trace needs is a romantic anything with law enforcement, and parole officer Jess has trouble written all over her. Too bad he likes trouble. Especially when it’s a brunette bombshell with attitude and legs for days.

She’s an absolute spitfire, and he wants to stoke that flame.

Trace didn’t ask for the Mafia life. Jess doesn’t want any part of it. They both know it’s safer to stay away, but the temptation is too hard to resist—no matter how great the danger.

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Melinda

I purchased this audio book.

I have to say I enjoy reading Tijans books and don’t pass up the chance to read her stories. You never know were the twist and turns are going to lead you and this book was no different. I enjoyed all the characters and cannot wait to read about the rest of them. Narrators CJ Bloom and Joe Arden did a great job I did not want to press pause at any point during this book. They truly gave life to Jess Montell and Trace West.

Jess is a parole officer and does not let parolees get away with anything even if they are not her parolees. Jess meets Trace who she later finds out is in the mafia…not only in the mafia but is the mafia. She tries to stay out of his business because of her job but she cannot stay away from him.

I loved Trace from the first sighting of him in the stairway. He was amazing with Jess. Trace knew she believes in upholding the law and he gave her space. He found a way to be there when needed. These two had explosive chemistry.

I fell in love with all the Characters of course they all have their good characteristics and sometimes I wanted to slap them over the head. Decisions and sacrifices will be made.  I was left hanging on that ending and I need to know what happens next.

Tijan is a New York Times Bestselling author that writes suspenseful and unpredictable novels. Her characters are strong, intense, and gut-wrenchingly real with a little bit of sass on the side. Tijan began writing later in life and once she started, she was hooked. She’s written multi-bestsellers including the Carter Reed Series, the Fallen Crest Series, and Ryan’s Bed among others. She is currently writing to her heart’s content in north Minnesota with an English Cocker Spaniel she adores.

To find what to read next of hers, go to www.tijansbooks.com

WALLSTREET JOURNAL, NEW YORK TIMES, AND USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR

Audio Book, Bikers, MC

#WOTR23 #Audio #Review – Making the Cut, Sons of Templar book 1 by Anne Malcom, Narration by Emma Wilder

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Making the Cut: Sons of Templar MC Series, Book 1

Gwen Alexandra does not need a man in her life. Especially not a man who looks like Chris Hemsworth and Joe Manganiello’s love child. One wearing leather, riding a Harley, and covered in tattoos.

Gwen can bet every pair of her Manolos that Cade Fletcher is trouble. From the moment she meets him, the attraction sizzles between them. Gwen has a problem when it comes to attractive men in motorcycle clubs. The last one she got involved with almost killed her.

After healing physically, Gwen decides to get a new start in a small town, half a country away from the man who nearly cost her her life. She isn’t in town five minutes when she runs into Cade, a man that is too sexy and dangerous for his own good.

She tries to keep away from him, to ignore the attraction between them. But the biker has other ideas, soon she is in way over her head. Her heart, and her life are in danger once again.

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Melinda

I purchased this audiobook. 

Anne is a new to me author and so was the narrator Emma Wilder.  I enjoyed the narration that Emma did on this one. All of the accents and voices she used for each character was great and she was consistent throughout the book.

Gwen moved to NY, found a guy she thought was good and had a vibe of “bad boy”. Only she realized a bit too late that the guy was a horrible man. She decided to go to California to start fresh. Her best friend, Amy, decided to join her. Once they are in California Gwen runs into Cade, a sexy biker. 

Cade Fletcher knows Gwen will be his. He has a lot of work ahead of him for every brick he manages to take down on her wall she puts up more. Cade had his wonderful moments but other times I was ready to throttle him. He did make a great alpha male that loved Gwen to a fault. Cade did what he could to keep Gwen safe but danger still seemed to find Gwen. 

There was so much drama, suspense and angst in this book.  It made it a page turner and Emma did a wonderful job capturing the characters and keeping me turned into the story. I am so ready to read Amy’s story and even Bull’s book.  I am so intrigued by these characters and need to know more about them.

Anne Malcom has been an avid reader since before she can remember, her mother responsible for her book addiction. It started with magical journeys into the world of Hogwarts and Middle Earth, then as she grew up her reading tastes grew with her. Her obsession with books and romance novels in particular gave Anne the opportunity to find another passion, writing. Finding writing about alpha males and happily ever afters more fun than reading about them, Anne is not about to stop any time soon.

Audio Book, True Crime

#TrueCrime – Small Sacrifices by Ann Rule

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Small Sacrifices

Ann Rule’s shocking and powerful account of the destructive forces that drove Diane Downs, a beautiful young mother, to shoot her three young children in cold blood. Includes 11 photos!

On the evening of May 19th, 1983, Diane Downs arrived at Mckenzie-Willamette Hospital driving a blood splattered Nissan. Inside were her three children (Christie Ann 8, Cheryl Lynn 7, and Stephen Daniel 3) in critical condition, lying in the back seat suffering from fresh gunshot wounds. Downs herself had been shot in the arm and immediately told authorities that a “bushy haired stranger” flagged her down on the side of a nearby deserted road and proceeded to shoot her three children, and then herself. She claimed she barely managed to get into the car and drive off, leaving the man behind. Two of Downs’ children, Christie Ann and Stephen Daniel, were expected to make a full recovery, while Cheryl Lynn passed away shortly after arriving at the hospital. Downs’ strange and cold reaction to this news was what immediately heightened the suspicions of the hospital staff and authorities, contributing to her becoming the lead suspect. As the investigation continued, her version of the story became more convoluted and new evidence against her led to her arrest.

In 1989 SMALL SACRIFICES was made into the popular TV movie of the same name starring Farrah Fawcett, which earned her an Emmy nomination.

“This searching analysis of the shooting of three children in Oregon by their mother devolves into a study of personality….Under police questioning she recalled her childhood with a cold, domineering father who abused her sexually, her weak mother, a rape by one of her bosses, her failed marriage and many men with whom she had sex. One of these men, whom she claimed to love, did not want children, and that may have prompted the crime, speculates the author. The greatest strength of this book is the exploration by ex-policewoman Rule of the aberrant personality of Downs, who is now imprisoned and not eligible for parole until 2020.” -Publishers Weekly

“A harrowing pathological portrait, a nearly unthinkable triple-murder plot, a hold-your-breath police procedural and a tale of dedication and compassion all superbly combined to produce the most riveting true-crime account since In Cold Blood. From her heartbreakingly ironic rifle to her final satisfying “revelation,” Rule guides her readers through a Middle American world of violence and shopping malls, of sexual obsession and pizzas “”to-go,”” of child abuse and music videos…Thus begins this true tale of a modern Medea. His suspicions aroused by Downs’ apparent lack of interest in her children’s survival and by glaring discrepancies in her story, Assistant District Attorney Fred Hugi investigates What he finds will not only have readers gasping in horror but pondering the dark irrationalities lurking in American society as well. What could have been in lesser hands merely a sensationalist 80’s gothic becomes, thanks to Rule’s painstaking research and more-than-considerable literary skills, a work of resonance and revelation. Paced with masterful assurance, incorporating verbatim trial transcripts and diary entries, probing the reactions of the Oregon townspeople, this narrative maintains its breath-stopping tension to the very end. Sure to be talked about for a long time to come.” – Kirkus Reviews

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Angie

I purchased this audio book.

I am a true crime junkie and sometimes I need something true crime to read or listen too after I have read a bunch of romance novels.  Weird?  Maybe but I own it.  I remember watching this movie when I was a child thinking how can a mom kill her kids??  I just didnt understand at age 10.  Well fast forward and here I am a true crimer lover.  I had forgotten all about this story/case until a podcast I listen to did an episode on it.  I was shocked back to the 10 year old me watching the movie.

Listening to Ann Rule tell the retell this story is kinda crazy. I listened to her tell the Ted Bundy case and Cinnamon brown case.  She definitely has a way with words to describe what is happening.

The story is sad but if its about a mom trying to kill her kids I am guessing you already figured that much.  I didn’t know some of the information she gave from listening to the podcast.  But she does seem to cover the story from the beginning when Diane brings her kids to the ER claiming she was attacked and shot.

If you are a true crimer like me you will appreciate all the details Ann shares with the reader about the police investigation and the trial.

Ann Rule was a popular American true crime writer. Raised in a law enforcement and criminal justice system environment, she grew up wanting to work in law enforcement herself. She was a former Seattle Policewoman and was well educated in psychology and criminology.

She came to prominence with her first book, The Stranger Beside Me, about the Ted Bundy murders. At the time she started researching the book, the murders were still unsolved. In the course of time, it became clear that the killer was Bundy, her friend and her colleague as a trained volunteer on the suicide hotline at the Seattle, Washington Crisis Clinic, giving her a unique distinction among true crime writers.

Rule won two Anthony Awards from Bouchercon, the mystery fans’ organization. She was nominated three times for the Edgar Awards from the Mystery Writers of America. She is highly regarded for creating the true crime genre as it exists today.

Ann Rule also wrote under the name Andy Stack . Her daughter is Goodreads author Leslie Rule.