Brilliant blend drama/rom-suspense-lots of heart

Audiobook Review May 2021:
Not sure what took me so long to listen to My Whole World considering it was one of the best books I read last year but I listened to it now and I'm just as WOW-ED over as I was a year ago. Still won't go into details for those who have yet to discover Joker's Sin but the blend of drama, romance, humor, and all around yumminess plays out just as well in audio as it did on the page(or screen to be more precise). Philip Alces and John Solo bring the characters of Joker's Sin to life in a way that you aren't just listening to it, you feel as if you are sitting right there enjoying a drink at the bar or moving your feet on the dance floor.

As I said a year ago, Toby and Atlas complete each other but it's really more than that and before you ask "how can there be more than 'complete each other'?" It's hard to find the words but some people, in fiction and reality, no matter where their journey takes them, how old they are, no one else they meet could possibly ever give them a feeling of utter calm and peace, for me Toby and Atlas are one of those couples. Now if you've been following Davidson King's Haven Hart world you already know that "calm" and "peace" aren't exactly the go-to existence but she's all about the HEA and trust me, it's not easily found but they always get there. Frankly, being able to ride along in her world of mayhem that most of the men bring to the table, is a joy because despite the obstacles, there is also an overabundance of heart, friendship, and joy.

My Whole World is journey that I will be reliving for years to come.

Original Review May 2020:
EEEEP!!!! WOWWWW! and a thousand other expressions all saying: HOLY HANNAH BATMAN!

We all have different pictures of characters in our head and as a member of the author's FB group, I've seen her visions of Atlas and Toby. Now while her ideas are lovely I'll admit they look completely different in my mind's eye. As for Atlas, well partly because I'm not a huge fan of guys with long hair but mostly because I read My Whole World just a day after Star Wars Day where I #Maythe4thd out of marathoning, I picture John Boyega(Finn from the sequel trilogy) and Oscar Isaac(Poe from the same trilogy) as Toby. Now I realize that they are far from the character descriptions but that's who I see and since Finn and Poe's should-have-been relationship was never explored by Disney, in a way Davidson King allowed me to "see it through" and for that I can't say thank you enough.

Now onto My Whole World.

I was completely blown away at the amazing mix of romance, drama, suspense, action, humor, and heat. I wasn't amazed out of surprise because Davidson King's talent for storytelling is always topnotch but because as a spin-off of one of my all-time favorite series I had some doubts about being able to love a story set in the Haven Hart Universe without any of the characters I love so dearly. Well I needn't have had those doubts, sure I missed the Manos family and Black's organization but I am completely hooked on Atlas' bar, Joker's Sin and his employees.

I don't want to give anything away so I won't go into specifics but I will say this, in a place like Haven Hart you have an eclectic mix of good guys, bad guys, crime lords, and wanna-be bad guys and though you certainly aren't going to run into them every day, King manages to make them real. Toby and Atlas complete each other, they have their flaws, their weaknesses and their strengths, the yin to each other's yang. Whether their appearances in your mind's eye is similar to the author's vision or like mine almost completely opposite, there is no doubting that the two belong together.

One last note, if you're wondering as it's a spin-off you have to read the original Haven Hart series to "get" My Whole World, you don't. Personally, I highly recommend reading HH because . . . well it's a brilliant example of pretty darn near perfect storytelling but you don't need to read it prior to Joker's Sin.

2 people found this helpful

Great story

If you’ve read the Haven Hart series, you are familiar with the town, it’s quirks, and Joker’s Sin. My Whole World is a book all about the owner of the fantastic nightclub, Atlas. He’s got an intriguing life filled with an ashes to diamonds backstory, the blessings of gorgeous genes, and a fantastic personality that eats up the attention he gets while on stage. Toby is a meek, shy kind of guy who has a dreamy crush at the beginning of the story. An opposites attract kind of vibe. Like all Davidson King stories, there is a intricate storyline that is well thought out and keeps it interesting and moves the story along. I liked this book a lot when I read it, however, the audiobook makes Toby seem like a whiny wishy washy person and I had a hard time listening to John Solo’s performance.

2 people found this helpful

Arg!

I was really excited to listen to this book. The story is great as always. I really enjoyed Philip Alces in all the books. But...I am not a John Solo fan. At all! He almost sunk this listen for me. I really struggled to finish this audio. I'm sad. Sorry Solo fans. The cadence/drama of his voice drives me crazy. I will be reading future books.

1 person found this helpful

Please make mine on the ROCKS!

Atlas and Toby's story was smooth. Like having your favorite bourbon on the Rocks. After all we are reading about two night clubs that's part of the creative plot. Atlas, I pictured him like the author described, talk, dark, handsome, with long beautiful dreads. How sexy, right. Toby, I pictured him as a cutie pie twink in need of protection. And Atlas fits the bill. Toby was smart enough to cash in. Their story was good, really good. It was a thrilling that kept me glued to each and every page. The narration brought their story to life. I so highly recommend. Enjoy!

1 person found this helpful

another hit

I loved the book. My only wish would be for it to be longer.

1 person found this helpful

New series in Haven Heart

I am a big fan of the Haven Heart series and Atlas was in one of the books.
I didn't know what to think about Atlas being a character as I'd seen him in the other series and didn't think highly of him.
Thank fully the author gave us a smooth transition to a new series.
I also like the fact that this is Atlas's book and series.
It id not the Haven Heart series.
So it's different but still as well written as the author is good.

I like this new world.
the secondary characters are what will bring me back again because I love well rounded books that make me want to know more about everyone.

I will be listening to all these books! I am so excited!

PERFECT!👌🏽

This was the perfect story. I love the way it was blended together. Atlas and Toby fit so well together. Davidson King has taken us on a wonderful journey with the town of Haven Hart. The narrator's, Philip Alces, and John Solo did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life. I look forward in seeing where DK will take us next. wherever it is, I'm going. And I would recommend you all come too!☆☆☆☆☆

Perfect Blend

I loved the story of Atlas and Toby. These two were so great together. Listening to John voice Toby was utter perfection. His voice matched with how I pictured Toby sounding like.