Audio/New Release Review ~ Fearless in Texas ~ Kari Lynn Dell #AudioChallenge #2018NewRelease

Fearless in Texas by Kari Lynn Dell
Texas Rodeo #4
Narrated by: Johanna Parker
Release Date: April 3, 2018
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: I received a complimentary copy from Tantor Audio and I also received an eARC from the publisher via Netgalley. This did not affect my rating and my review is voluntarily provided. 
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #2018NewRelease, #AudioChallenge
Goodreads

Synopsis
After her life comes crashing down, Melanie Brookman is determined to claw her way back up again - and this time, she won't make the same mistakes twice. So when her friend sends Wyatt Darrington to help, Melanie keeps him at arm's length. He's exactly the sort of trouble she doesn't need. Wyatt has the perfect distraction for Melanie: rescue his failing bar. She reluctantly agrees and together they hit the road. As they spend more time with one another, undeniable attraction grows. But Wyatt knows that if she ever found out his closely guarded secret, any chance at happily ever after would be left in the dust...

In my review of Tougher in Texas, I said this about waiting for Fearless in Texas: 

"...since the stories keep getting more entertaining, I *know* it'll be worth the wait."  

And guess what? Dell DID NOT DISAPPOINT! Seriously, this series just gets better and better! I think I'm suffering from a book hangover. Dell delivered another compelling story with characters that are brilliantly brought to life. I'm chomping at the bit for the next installment!

Highlights:

• Character Development
  Dell excels here and this might be her best yet in this department. (it's a toss up between Melanie/Wyatt and Shawnee/Cole) With Melanie, we have this extremely intuitive gal who makes an art out of reading people. But she isn't so good at turning that talent on herself. With a little help, she does and she isn't all that fired up at what she sees. She does become introspective whenever she's sorting things out so to see her use that introspection on herself, be along with her as she decides on what to change and how to change it and then watch her execute was inspiring. In Wyatt, we have a man who yearns for a connection...a community...a family. Learning his backstory made his behavior and his actions understandable. But it saddened me that despite having the community  and family he longed for with Joe and Violet, the Jacobs family, and the rodeo, he still felt like an outsider. Witnessing Melanie give him his heart's desire was...well, heartwarming.
• Secondary Characters & Side Plots
  Dell has crafted quite a colorful cast and they along with the side plots add depth and complexity to the story. They also make me debate with myself over who I hope to see in the next installment. From Louie and Gordon, Helen and Rowdy, Grace...gosh! There's so many wonderfully drawn characters and then I get to spend time with some whom I've already met as well. *sigh* I love them all.
• Setting
  Up to this point, this series has spent most of its time in West Texas and as I've said, Dell captures life in West Texas well. This installment, due to Melanie's need to "get the hell out of Dodge", was spent in and around Pendleton, Oregon. What are the odds Dell would pick another place I'm familiar with? And she nailed the description of the town and the landscape. She's really about to put you there and I love that. Also, the rodeo took a bit of a back seat here but it still had its place and we get to spend time with the horses, cows, and rope. =)
• Thought-provoking
  I mentioned this in my review of Tougher in Texas but this I'm mentioning it again because it's worth saying. The Texas Rodeo series is romance but the romance is secondary to the story, in my opinion. I like that Dell has her characters take deeper looks at themselves, consider their mistakes and learn from them, figure out what they want in life and how to go about making that happen. And a common theme seems to be never, ever denying yourself love.

I suppose Fearless in Texas had a little different tone since the rodeo wasn't front and center but it was every bit as riveting as its predecessors. Dell wove together a cast of characters I couldn't help by love with a story that kept me captivated. I can't thank Anna enough for turning me on to Dell!

Parker continues impressing me with her ability to keep the pace just right and deliver on all the emotions. And for the most part, she keeps her voices distinct. She's become a favorite narrator of mine, honestly. And I'm once again anxious for the next book in the series!

Audio Review ~ Tougher in Texas ~ Kari Lynn Dell (@kidell) #AudioChallenge

Tougher in Texas by Kari Lynn Dell
Texas Rodeo #3
Narrated by: Johanna Parker
Release Date: August 1, 2017
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: I received a complimentary copy from Tantor Audio. This did not affect my rating and my review is voluntarily provided. 
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #2017NewRelease, #AudioChallenge
Goodreads

Synopsis
Rodeo producer Cole Jacobs has his hands full running Jacobs Livestock. He can't afford to lose a single cowboy, so when Cousin Violet offers to send along a more-than-capable replacement, he's got no choice but to accept. He expects a grizzled Texas good ol' boy. He gets Shawnee Pickett. Wild and outspoken, ruthlessly self-reliant, Shawnee's not looking for anything but a good time. It doesn't matter how quickly the tall, dark and intense cowboy gets under her skin - Cole deserves something real, and Shawnee can't promise him forever. Life's got a way of kicking her in the teeth, and she's got her bags packed before tragedy can knock her down. Too bad Cole's not the type to give up when the going gets tough...

Hooboy! This series continues to get better and better! I've so enjoyed geting to listen back-to-back and now - I'm a little bummed I have to wait until April for #4. One the brightside, since the stories keep getting more entertaining, I *know* it'll be worth the wait. *wink*

Highlights:

• Characters
  Dell expertly brings her characters to life. I feel as though they're my friends and I adore them all for their little quirks. In Shawnee, I got a girl with a personality as big as Texas. She's always up for a good time and has many. But she's also a loyal friend, looking out for those she cares about even if she won't let herself admit it or really let anyone close. See, Shawnee experienced a few spectacularly tragic events when she was younger that keep her from looking or expecting deeper. She lives her life to the fullest on a superficial level believing the other shoe is definitely gonna drop. Cole is this big mountain of a cowboy. He's everything you'd want in a friend, co-worker, and yes, man. He's autistic so he has a few things that make him even more interesting as well as endearing. He also suffered a tragedy when he was young and that gives him another commonality with Shawnee - on top of rodeo-ing and being from West Texas. Cole - well, he just might be my favorite cowboy in this series so far with his lists and trouble getting words out... *sigh* He trips my trigger.
• Genuine, realistic settings
  As I said in at least one of my previous reviews of this series, Dell captures life in West Texas well. She also vividly brings to life the rodeo and all that entails. From the sounds, smells, and excitement in the arena and the chutes, as well as the drone of the road when traveling to the next locale, and lastly the gut-wrenching fear over cowboys and horses being in danger, Dell conveys it all with heart, emotion, and a genuineness that is indicative of someone who's lived it.
• Thought-provoking content
  The Texas rodeo series is romance but the romance is secondary to the story, in my opinion. After finishing Tougher in Texas, I realized Dell had made me consider a lot of things over the course of this series. Making mistakes and how we learn from them, letting go of a dream that's an impossibility to embrace a new and better one, not living a life dictated by how others see us - Tougher in Texas made me think about embracing life EVERY DAY. None of us know what tomorrow will bring so we shouldn't live guarded. Like the song says, we should live like we're dying - do it, experience it all. And never, ever deny yourself love.

Although Parker stumbled a few times with keeping her voices consistent and she also mispronounced a few Texas towns (something you wouldn't know unless you're from Texas), I'm still so enjoying her narration. For the most part, her voices are great and her delivery and pacing keep me engaged. So of course, I'm looking forward to the next installment!

Favorites of 2017 ~ Books & Audiobooks

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!

*~*Books & Audiobooks*~*

• How the Duke Was Won - I chose this book solely because it was narrated by Beverley A. Crick but I found a new favorite author in Lenora Bell
• The Nightingale - a powerful read about how war affected women during WWII from Kristin Hannah
• Red Rising - so realistic in nature and well written, so many parallels to our world today
• Rock F*ck Club - a female anthem, if you will, for equality - especially in our sexuality
• Outlander - omigosh! I adore Jamie and Claire!
• And I Darken - I'm only waiting til 2018 to read the next installment - and honestly, I'm so anxious over it - because the final installment releases in June of 2018. Sometimes I hate the wait.
• Texas Rodeo series - an incredible series revolving around small town West Texas and the rodeo circuit - great writing and narration (Kari Lynn Dell & Johanna Parker)
• New Camelot Trilogy - I listened to the first two - excellent narration - and read the final installment because I was too anxious to wait for the audio! I adored this trilogy!
• The Angel - such a unique story and so very well conveyed
• Steal the Light - it's making the list because IT. HAS. IT. ALL!

Honestly, this list was hard to compile. I mean, I read 160 books this year so it's hard to narrow it down to ~10. In the end, I realized it was just a good reading year. *grins*

Favorites of 2017 ~ Narrators

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

Audio Review ~ Reckless in Texas ~ Kari Lynn Dell #AudioChallenge #2017NewRelease

Reckless in Texas by Kari Lynn Dell
Texas Rodeo #1
Narrated by: Johanna Parker
Release Date: May 23, 2017
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: I received a complimentary copy from Tantor Audio. This did not affect my rating and my review is voluntarily provided. 
Rating: 4 Bookworms
Challenges: #2017NewReleasee, #AudioChallenge
Goodreads

Synopsis
Violet Jacobs is fearless. At least, that's what the cowboys she snatches from under the hooves of bucking horses think. Outside the ring, she's got plenty of worries rattling her bones: her young son, her mess of a love life, and lately, her family's struggling rodeo. When she takes business into her own hands and hires on a hotshot bullfighter, she expects to start a ruckus. She never expected Joe Cassidy. Joe came to Texas to escape a life spiraling out of control. He never planned on sticking around, and he certainly never expected to call this dry and dusty backwater home. But Violet is everything he never knew he was missing, and the deeper he's pulled into her beautiful mess of a family, the more he realizes this fierce rodeo girl may be offering him the one thing he never could find on his own. 
Contains mature themes.

So I listened to Reckless in Texas as I was driving "home" through the Texas panhandle and I have to say that it deepened my enjoyment and appreciation of Dell's description of the area - passing through the same towns, seeing the landscape and huge open sky. Dell did a mighty fine job in conveying the feel and culture of West Texas.

Violet Jacobs is my kind of gal. She enjoys life, living in the moment, as much as she can, while also working her family's rodeo AND being a mom to her precocious 5 year old son, Beni. She's lived on the edge a few times - Beni being proof of that - but is trying to learn from her mistakes. Sh's a strong, loyal, and good woman with simple dreams.

Joe Cassidy is a rodeo bullfighter. A momentary loss of control of his temper has landed him in Ernest, Texas, working for Jacobs Livestock. Joe is hardworking and loyal - living for a dream that seems impossible to anyone but him. He's a bit prickly and arrogant but in Violet, he's more than met his match.

I can't really think of anything I didn't like. Dell, as I said, adeptly brought the people of culture of West Texas to life and while only people from West Texas can really appreciate that, it impressed me. I enjoyed getting to know Violet's family, Delon (Beni's dad), and Violet's friends. Dell also captured the fell of the rodeo perfectly - I could almost smell the dirt, hay, and animal smelll as well as feel the excitement of the riders. Watching as Violet realizes Joe is and "edge" that's safe to maneuver along as well as seeing her draw Joe out there with her was captivating and heartwarming.

Johanna Parker was a new-to-me narrator and honestly, I wasn't sure about her at first. But it didn't take her long to win me over with her accents, distinctive voices for both females and males, and her pacing. And she nailed Beni! I'm excited to continue listening to this series.

I want to thank Anna @herdingcats&burningsoup for the review that piqued me curiosity about this series. I'm currently anxiously awaiting book #4 (releasing April 3!!) and enjoying the heck out of this series!!