Someone forgot to add the storylines...

Ever-present in these books are: Sexual addiction, alcoholism, drug addiction. Absent from these books is: STORYLINE. I often wonder how this stuff gets published...and has the gall to be listed as "romance." This is objectification of women, sexism, sexual addiction, hedonism...Disappointed that treasured narrators take on these projects. As long as they do, the lackluster material will continued to be written. Give us at least a storyline....

5 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

3 “broken” brothers fall for 2 sisters & a BF

Parental neglect, over privilege, cavalier attitudes toward sex, alcohol, and drugs with unrealistic expectations about the struggle to fight addictions or to deal with consequences. And the guys were all too arrogant to be appealing at first.
The first story Clandestine is about the oldest brother and sister. Olivia Miller is a model/former model with the cliche issues of self esteem and self loathing. This causes her to be self destructive so she is anorexic and a cocaine addict and somewhat of an alcoholic. Spencer Lancaster is arrogant to the extreme, self indulgent, and mean and clueless to people around him but especially his brothers. Both are concerned about being caught by the tabloids but not their own self worth. Neither are very sympathetic or like-able and both are shallow and weak minded so while I hoped their romance would work out due to their great love, I found their drama very wearing and their story too long. Me Me Me or each other but not friends and family much. Her problems get miraculously fixed after an OD, a cry with her dad, and a quick trip to rehab while his are partially solved by realizing he is in love and that he wants his dad’s approval in business though he never really stands up and does what he’d like career wise which was to be an architect. The moms are marginalized by both and both have daddy issues. A sexy relationship but superficial through much of it. Secrets are their obvious problem but immaturity and cavalier attitudes toward their own substance abuse is a really the worst part of these two. Narration is ok but not great. Aaron Shedlock is pretty good but Lia Langola switches between over dramatic and flat modulations. 2 stars

Sordid
The second couple are the middle kids. Very passionate and instant attractions. Grant is an arrogant workaholic, bright in some aspects but very stupid with his choice of wife and how he deals with her. He also is self indulgent and self pitying through most of his story and at times very undeserving of Bridget, Olivia’s plucky but immature sister. If takes him forever to man up and ask for help. Since I had read the Price series first I knew the obvious solution lay with them, and those siblings were much more interesting. While these two deserved etheir HEA their story was pretty mediocre, though their chemistry was hot. Narration is ok. Virginia Rose plays up at a little girl voice too much and Christian Fox is good as Grant but terrible with female voices, especially Chelsea and Bridget. 2-3 stars

Explicit
The last couple had the most depth and were the most interesting though here again the idea of self redemption and being able to drop a cocaine habit, a party lifestyle, and a dependence for alcohol for the sake of a sympathetic woman is a bit far fetched. Pierce is the youngest and most self indulgent of the Lancaster brothers on the surface. While he also is self pitying and whines about lack of attention, he also has depth and is very sweet. He has a secret side that Lyndsey, Olivia’s best friend and Carson, Olivia’s half sister’s boyfriend can sense. Small word of the debauched and rich. Lyndsey is struggling from physical pain from a serious accident as well as daddy issues of neglect. Older brother Spencer from book one is very nasty through much of this book and girlfriend Olivia is again very self absorbed, and unfeeling and unsympathetic of another addict. She could have helped Spencer understand his brother but appears more interested in sex with her fiancé and jet setting than in being a good friend and understanding future sister-in-law. Just confirmed how shallow the first couple were. This last story had more depth. A worry subplot, characters that made the readers care, and the best narration. It rates 5 stars all the way

2 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

Flawed people find their paths

At first glance you could look at the characters, and find things to dislike, but really we are all flawed. These people are real. Along the way, they find their way, they find the right thing.

Clandestine
Spencer & Olivia - The Playboy and the Model. Spencer loves the ladies, and Olivia is a model with no self esteem. Issues with anorexia and drugs have followed her during her career. She's better now, until being in the limelight brings her back into modeling, and 'the lifestyle.' Really there's a lot of truth in this book, the pressures of the spotlight and 'fame' do often come with drugs and other issues. But this is a story of people who learn to rise above it and be better, and be better together.

Sordid
Grant & Bridgett
Grant has become the blacksheep of the family, and opens a rival hotel to compete with The Lancaster. Bridgett, well her sister is dating Spencer, the CEO of the Lancaster. Somehow she meets a stranger, who then becomes her boss at her temp job. Oh, and Grant is working with his estranged wife at the hotel to make matters even worse.

Explicit
Pierce and Lyndsey
Pierce, the youngest Lancaster and the party boy. Lyndsey, Olivia's BFF we meet in Clandestine. She's the reformed party girl, who's still recovering from a devastating car accident we saw in Clandestine. Pierce has screwed up once again and is working community service at the center that Lyndsey now works at. Pierce is very flawed, but he also grows up and works for it, and learns a LOT of tough lessons.

All in all these stories flow together nicely, they can be stand alone, but listening together you get a fuller picture. Yes they are imperfect people, but aren't we all? Isn't it refreshing to know that the imperfect can grow, and heal and be better. Earn happiness. Yes, that is a lesson we all can learn.

1 personne a trouvé cela utile

Loved these books!!!

This box set is awesome! I love audiobooks and was hooked on these books. I loved them all, but my favorite was Explicit. I loved these books so much I may just buy the paperbacks!! I would give this boxset 10 stars if I could!

great series

loved every minute of this series can't wait to read more from this author, perfect

What a series!

All the highs and lows! All the emotions! These are not romcoms. These characters have serious issues and learn how to over come them. Ava Harrison did a wonderful job with these stories and characters. And ALL the narrator's did an amazing job bringing these characters to life!!!! Definitely worth a listen and credit!!!

Awesome audiobooks

Wow loved all the 3 audiobooks,but the last one was my favorite really loved Pierce and Lindsey I cry so much with they story ,I will be looking for more audio books from this author 💜💜💜

Three Real Stories with Steam & Love

Ava Harrison has done it to me again! She continues to write stories that have a real feel to them, provide the steamy romance that I crave with twists & turns I can't see coming until I'm swept away with the story. Powerhouse narrators bring these stories to life as we listen along to the character development that is extraordinary.

My favorite of the stories is Sordid as I completely felt attached to Bridget (Virginia Rose). Grant is hell bent on revenge against his family, specifically father and Spencer. Christian hit it out of the park with the smart alec banter. Oh the whole thing goes to hell in a hand basket, he falls in love with Bridget (Olivia’s Sister) who may be a spy from Olivia & Spencer. Sooo twisty that I literally couldn't stop listening after about chapter 4 and went straight through the night!

I continue to be amazed by Ava's ability to take real people's addictions, betrayals, accidents and turn them into stories where I fall in love with the characters. This set is a must for romance fans who like real life portrayed in their audio finds.