Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Complicated by Kristen Ashley ~ Review

Source: Purchased Audio book.

Exclusively written for Audible, available only in audio. From the New York Times best-selling author of the Rock Chick series comes a story of love, murder, and second chances....

When small-town Nebraska sheriff Hixon Drake meets Greta Dare, the connection couldn't be stronger, but the timing couldn't be worse.

Dealing with the fallout of a divorce he never wanted and setting up a new home for his kids, Hix becomes that guy, that one he never wanted to be, and puts a stop to things before they can even start. Protecting his kids and himself is his only priority.

Greta, on the other hand, has found the place for her and the brother she adores that's perfect for them - a sleepy little town in Nebraska. She's learned from life that there are no hopes and dreams. The only thing to look forward to is peace. And that's what she works hard to build for herself and her brother. Right up until Hix walks into her life.

Hix can't fight the pull and stay away from Greta for long. And Greta's finding it hard not to hope for something more with all the promise that is Hix.

But when the first murder that's happened in over five decades rocks his small, sleepy county, Hix has got to learn to trust again, convince Greta to take a shot with him, and at the same time catch a killer.

In other words, things are definitely...Complicated.







I love audio books and so when this came out as an audio book only release from an author that Jess loves, I grabbed it.  I'm so happy I did.  I've discovered another amazing author!

Kristen Ashley writes long complex books where you learn about a lot of characters and focus on many plot lines.  I completely enjoyed that experience.  It creates this genuine feel to a book where love takes time and life happens all around you.  She uses a brilliant combination of detailed scenes and summary to move the book a long over varying bursts of time.  And the main story may be one couple but there is so much more going on with the story that it's natural for the book to keep going.  I adore her style of writing.  It's more story and less angst.  It's more living and less rushing.  It's more enjoyable and less (or no) setting the book down.

The characters are complex and wiggle right into your heart.  Not just Hix and Greta but so many more.  I love Andy so much, Shaw and the girls too.  I dislike Hope and have stronger negative feelings for Greta's mom.  But there's the town too.  Lou and Faith touched my heart even though they are minor characters.  But this author has a way of weaving a town inside the pages of the story so that you care about all of them.  It's an amazing skill, really.  And it could have gone on, frankly.  I loved all the details that got covered but I really still want to know how things worked out for Shaw and the girls, for the town.  Isn't that the test of a great story?  Where you keep thinking about the characters and wish you could check in on them and just see what was new?  Old friends.  They've become old friends.

The story of Hex and Greta is definitely Complicated.  They are both recovering from prior marriages and come with different but equally challenging problems.  They each have sufficient problems to face as the story unfolds.  And their story isn't just about them falling for each other but about dealing with all those complications together.  It's a wonderful change from the typical romance trope.  Genuine.  Enjoyable.  Satisfying.  Oh, and of course there are hot, sexy, times including some headboard times.  ;)

So if you're into audio, you want this book NOW.  If you prefer reading it yourself (you will definitely miss out of the sexy voice of Lance Greenfield reading for Hix) you'll be able to grab this one in November.  Both of these narrators did an amazing job.  Erin Mallon does a great Greta.  And I'm picky about narrators, so...

Definitely recommend this one - you want it for sure.





                                          


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