I enjoyed doing a "look back at the year" in 2016 so I figured it'd once again be fun to bring 2017 to a close by listing some of favorites. I hope you enjoy reading about some of my favorites and I'd be happy to hear about any of yours!
*~*Narrators*~*
- Beverley A. Crick - she's become a favorite of mine for historical romance because she creates an aural dramatic presentation with her delivery and accents!
- Andi Arndt - I became a huge fan when I first listened to Kylie Scott's Stage Dive series - which Andi narrates. This year she made an impression in Playboy Pilot
- Johanna Parker - even though she struggled a bit in the third book in a series I've been enjoying, she's still done a tremendous job giving life to a range of characters as well as life in West Texas and the rodeo
- Shaun Grindell - I first listened to him last year and wasn't sold on his narration. But after listening to him again this year in books such as Smut and The Summer Games: Settling the Score, I'm a fan
- Heather Wilds - I've only listened to her twice but I quite enjoy her delivery and she brought the characters in Until Harry to life
- Dave Gillies - I was certain I'd enjoy an historical narrated by a man but he made me a believer in Highland Spy.
- Sebastian York - I'm pretty sure if I listen to him, he's gonna make this list! *wink*
- Roger Wayne - he impressed me in both a contemporary and a paranormal
Until Harry by L.A. Casey
Narrated by: Heather Wilds
Release Date: July 19, 2016 (audio)
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: Purchased on Audible
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Challenges: Audio Challenge, #ShelfLove
Goodreads
Synopsis
Coming home is hard for Lane. Hard because her beloved uncle Harry has died suddenly, but also because of him. Kale.
Kale Hunt has been her best friend since childhood. But it was never that simple. He was Lane's reason for leaving home and moving to New York. Seeing him with someone else, in love with someone else, shouldn't have hurt. But it did. It really, really did. So she upped sticks and left, started a new life and cut herself off from her past.
But now she's back and all the feelings are right there. As if she had never left.
Emotions are running high, and tragedy has a funny way of bringing people together. But is Lane reading the signs right? Are they still just friends, or is there something more?
*Tissue Warning* I'm giving y'all fair warning. This story requires copious amounts of tissues...almost from the very beginning. It's an emotional roller coaster but it's an incredible one - well worth the tears and tissues.
Lane Edwards is home for the funeral of her beloved uncle, Harry. She's been away from home, in York, living in New York, for six years. She left after her best friend died and her other best friend became entangled in a serious relationship. Her decision to leave was met with dissention from her family causing a rift. Her uncle Harry, being the sneaky and cheeky man he was, brought Lane home and made her face her past - all posthumously.
This story is told both in the present and the past - and the format worked brilliantly. We were able to get to see Lane and Kale grow up together, see where and how they feelings between them developed, see where it all fell apart. We get to see the tight family dynamics between Lane, her parents and brothers, Nanny, and of course, uncle Harry. And in the present, we see Lane have a chance at mending fences with her family as well as with Kale. There's also the chance at more.
Lane and Kale both suffered a lot while Lane was away so there's more than their shared past to overcome. They both broke my heart, experiencing all their heartaches along with the. But I also got to be along as they put everything back together. And it was heartwarming.
I think I've made this story sound all sad. It's not all sad. It's poignant and very well rendered. And just so compelling. Heather Wilds narrates and she did a spectacular job! From the pacing to her accents, she made the story that much more compelling.
This was my first read from L.A. Casey. Needless to say, she made an impression. I'm eager for more.
