Book Review: Eversea by Natasha Boyd

Title: Eversea
Series: Eversea #1
Author: Natasha Boyd
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Self-published: 06/05/2013
Republished: NPRB on 11/26/2013
Genre(s): Contemporary New Adult

DESCRIPTION

Eversea, a love story, is a Winter Rose Contest FINALIST 2013. Emilia Pisani of Simon & Schuster (judge) says "Great southern flavor!" and "Jack is an alluring leading man!"

An orphaned, small-town, southern girl, held hostage by responsibility and self-doubt.

A Hollywood A-list mega-star, on the run from his latest scandal and with everything to lose.

A chance encounter that leads to an unlikely arrangement and epic love affair that will change them both forever.

When his co-star and real-life girlfriend is caught cheating on him with her married and much older director, A-list hottie, Jack Eversea, finds himself in sleepy Butler Cove, South Carolina. Jack hopes the sultry southern heat in this tiny coastal Lowcountry town will hide him not only from the tabloids and his cheating girlfriend but his increasingly vapid life and the people who run it. He doesn’t count on meeting Keri Ann Butler.

Keri Ann has relied on herself so long, dealing with her family’s death and the responsibilities of keeping up her family's historic mansion, that boys and certainly the meager offering of eligible boys in Butler Cove have never figured into her equation. But fate has other plans. Suddenly face to face with the man who played the movie role of her favorite fictional character, Jack has Keri Ann yearning for everything she has previously avoided ... and Jack must decide whether this funny, sassy girl is worth changing his life for before his mistakes catch up to him.

MY THOUGHTS (Short and 'Squeet'!)

From the suitable and simply stunning cover through the mesmeric story to the dramatic conclusion, I was engrossed in Eversea. I was in a daze and not quite aware of what was happening around me. When I reached the last page, I wished only to continue with the story. (The ending is a cliffhanger.) Alas, the second book in the Eversea Series, Forever, Jack, is not expected until November 2013. *sighs*

My Authorgraph from Natasha Boyd I received on 08/02/2013!

  

 Holding My Autographed Copy - 09/14/2013!!!

HIGHLIGHTS

"The truth of the matter was no boy I knew lived up to the fantasy I’d created from the many books I’d read, and I wasn’t going to settle." ~ Keri Ann

~*~

"He was like a bright and beautiful rogue planet. He pulled the entire galaxy into a gravitational wobble until he got close enough to suck you in and tilt your axis head over heels." ~ Keri Ann

~*~

Keri Ann: “I can’t believe you are encouraging me.” I dropped my voice back to a whisper and thumped her on the arm. “Some good friend you are. You’re supposed to be protecting me from my mistakes.”

Jazz: “I am. Can you imagine how pissed you’ll be when we’re old dames and you blame me for talking you out of having sex with Jack Eversea.”

~*~

Keri Ann: “You have a habit of carrying me up stairs.” I laughed nervously as he effortlessly ascended.

Jack: “I’m part caveman, you know, I can’t help it. Something about you brings it out in me.”

---

Audiobook Review: Hard Evidence by Pamela Clare and Narrated by Kaleo Griffith

Title: Hard Evidence (I-Team #2)
Author: Pamela Clare
Narrator: Kaleo Griffith
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Released: 11/19/2012
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Genre(s): Romantic Suspense

DESCRIPTION

After the murder of a teenage girl, a mysterious man in a black leather jacket was seen lurking near the crime scene. Investigative reporter Tessa Novak has him in her sights as the culprit.

That man was Julian Darcangelo, an undercover FBI agent working with the Denver police. He's closing in on the trail of a human trafficker and killer. Tessa's accusations could blow his cover, and he wants her off the investigation.

But just as Tessa has made Julian a target of interest, she is now a target of the killer. And as they are forced to trust each other, their physical attraction escalates as intensely as the threat from a ruthless murderer who wants to see both of them dead...

MY THOUGHTS  

Prior to Hard Evidence, the only other audiobook I had listened to in its entirety was way back in 1988, mainly because I process the written word better than I do the spoken word. I read the I-Team books last year, and have closely followed the publishing progress of the audio versions. After listening to samples of the talented Kaleo Griffith I decided upon the second book in the series mainly because I was most interested in how he voiced Julian Darcangelo. I was extremely pleased with his interpretation of Julian and the rest of the characters. If I were to be critical, my least favorite "voice" would be that of Tessa. The Southern U.S. dialect is a tricky one for me to find listenable. Kaleo's delivery did not irritate me at all, but I didn't look forward to hearing Tessa the way I did the other characters. I read the Kindle version in June 2012, and as with all of Pamela Clare's current works, I appreciated nearly every aspect of it. After listening to samples of some of my favorite "reads" I didn't find another narrator who I wanted to start out with more than Mr. Griffith. His narrative voice is so clear, rich, and resonant—his cadence perfect. I've read some reviews in which listeners felt the need to increase the speed of the audiobook; that was not an issue with this book at all. I thought Kaleo handled the stammers, pauses, and character changes beautifully! Also, being that the I-Team books are steamy as well as suspenseful, I really appreciated his handling of the racier parts of the book. Oh yeah, very sensuously done! Overall, I was so pleased with this first real audiobook experience that I have already bought books 1,3, and 4. I'm sure I'll have 5 and 5.5 before too much longer. I think I'll always prefer reading, but with proven reads being narrated by such talented artists as Kaleo Griffith, I think it's safe to say that I shall end up selectively enthusiastic over audiobooks as well.

---