Too sad for me.

This is for you if you love to read about psychologically damaged and long suffering characters trying to survive each day; those characters having to endure one bad event after another; and long detailed sex scenes. AND if you like cliff-hangers. This is part 1 of a 4-part serial. After 7 hours of listening I had to decide if I would listen to another 3 books about this couple.

I think it’s cleverly done how the hero and heroine meet and are unaware of each other’s true identities, so that it takes a while for their orbits to collide together and explode with the knowledge they eventually gain. I just can’t handle the sad and tough journey ahead for 3 additional books.

I read the positive reviews for this first book and took the chance on the audible version. Reviewers waxed lyrical about the narrators. Granted, they are good narrators, but they sounded cynical, negative and wounded the whole time (because that's how the story is written). Even the sex-scenes were heartbreaking to me. I had to stretch out my listening over a few weeks because the listening experience was intense and filled with foreboding.

I really wanted to like the book but this style of story and I don’t match. My advice: read the sample on Amazon - it has almost 2 chapters you can read for a taste of the writing - (I failed to do that) AND listen to the Audible sample if you are considering the audio book. You’ll be hearing these voices for about 28 hours (7 hours x 4 books).

32 people found this helpful

A CREATIVE & MULTI-LAYERED TEN STAR MASTERPIECE

Julie and Johnathan have truly written something special with this amazing four book series.. it’s utterly unique, sexy as sin, passionate and romantic, angst drama and suspense filled and each and every book is 100% enjoyable, compelling, entertaining and addictive. From the first book to the last, the range of feels within each are breathtaking, the twists are torturous wonders, the characters and storyline are multi-layered and deep.. and the banter is free-flowing perfection. Then there’s the hero and heroine’s lol inner monologues/dialogues (which I’m not usually a fan of).. but these mental musings are so humorous, amusing and insightful and I longed for more. The vast character development along their rollercoaster four book journey was mesmerizing and it led them into becoming the people they were always meant to be. Before the visible and invisible scars, before tragedy had struck, before duty had been served, before the years of hurt and rejection, before the loss of loved ones.. and before life-threatening danger. Forgiveness, understanding, a soul-to-soul bond.. and a sigh-worthy toe-curling love would eventually lead these soul mates into the beautiful calm waters of a HEA.. but they endured white-knuckle waves, raging seas, shark infested waters and a tsunami of feels before reaching them.

From Maddie and Tyler’s introduction in book 1, you learn of their very different lifestyles, their damaged haunted souls, their bitter and broken backstories, their beliefs and their fortuitous first meeting. And, while their heated attraction, seismic chemistry, invisible bonds and panty-melting sexy times pull them closer and closer, Fate, Destiny, Karma.. (and maybe even God himself) are all solemnly shaking their heads, waggling their forefingers from side to side in negative admonishment and collectively warning them and the listener to beware.. because there will be no happy ending for Maddie and Tyler until the last few chapters of book 4.

Worth a credit? One thousand x YES.. binge-worthy listening at its absolute finest.. each book leaves you craving the next and there’s no wonder it’s going to be made into something compelling for tv. Stupendous writing, talented authors, a well-paced flawless and unique plot line, twists and hooks, suspenseful and tension-filled drama, sensual passion-filled romance and some very hot sex scenes. And the entire dual POV series was stunningly brought to life by two well-loved narrators whose voices created the magic that mezmerized.. from the dusk of broken yesterdays, through the highs and lows of uncertain tomorrows.. and on to the new dawn of endless possibilities.. they captured, crafted and conjured every emotional scene.

20 people found this helpful

Holy Smokes, this is HOT!

What does Tad Branson and Ava Erickson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Where to begin.... Tad and Ava have become two of my favorite narrators. They bring these characters to life in a way that surpasses my imagination.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

There were so many great moments. Laugh out loud moments, sentimental tear moments and sob like my heart has been broken moments. I have to applaud the scene where the characters share their real names.

Any additional comments?

Since discovering JA Huss in 2017, I have systematically listened to nearly her entire back list. It seems like each book is better than the last. Great characters, suspense, intrique, love, laughter and let's not forget STEAMY sexy times. This collaboration with Johnathan McClain was highly anticipated and well worth the wait. I'm on my second listen of what i'm sure will be several before the next installment is released.

15 people found this helpful

omg...

You guys are the absolute best team of writers there ever was! The narration was awesome with Tad and Ava. And even though the books are scheduled three weeks apart, I don't know how I'm gonna wait that long without going out of my mind! Excellent, excellent story!!!!!

10 people found this helpful

Fantastic!

I have changed the title of this review 5 times because I just can't find the right words. JA Huss and Johnathan McClain should write (almost) all the books. This was phenomenal in every way.
Sin with Me is my first author narrated listen and I think it brought the narration to a whole new level.
I laughed out loud in almost every chapter (fellow commuters probably thought I was crazy) but it also had all the feels. Julie and Johnathan guided you through the understanding of their individual pain.
I have already listened to book 2 and am tapping my foot impatiently, waiting for book 3.
Start this series, you will not be disappointed.

5 people found this helpful

Oh Such Mixed Feelings!

Let me start by saying I just love love love J A Huss. I have listened to almost all her books on audible at least once. (Those >8 hrs)
I love her character development, her writing and hot sex scene. She is such a talented writer
This book sorry to say was not one of my favorites. It just seemed to lack depth, action or something. Maybe just too wordy
1- It is way too short. It was just getting started and it ended. At first I thought the book didn’t download completely.
I usually don’t even buy audiobooks less than 8 hrs. This one seemed even shorter than that. ( maybe that was including both EOBS by both authors [which I loved]) or because of all the bantering between the good angel and the bad angel. It was also filled with so much sarcasm. I felt like I was at a Deadpool movie. ( don’t get me wrong I loved Deadpool but...).
2- I HATE a cliffhanger! One where you have to purchase the next book to see what happens. Otherwise it is just an incomplete story or part I. WHY? No one likes that. I feel like it is such a ploy to just get more money. Very frustrating to me.
Julie is such a talented writer. Each of her books in a series could be read as a stand alone but yet they are all connected. BRILLIANT
Love Johnathan, love his narration. Love Ava as well.
Sorry! I am sad I am just a little disappointed in this one :(

5 people found this helpful

Love, love, love!

I love JA Huss, but this is my favorite book so far. I love the characters, the inner dialogue in Tyler’s head (so funny), and the storyline. Hot steamy scenes, smart and witty writing, and a great story. I can’t wait for the next book!

3 people found this helpful

Great minds...and all that

Absolutely intoxicating! Thank the powers that be for this union. This series is hot, stimulating, and complex.

3 people found this helpful

Great performances!!

My favorite thing about this audiobook was the performance by both Tad Branson & Ava Erickson. They narrated the hell out of these words and then some!! My overall feel about the story is the fact that (1) there was too much internal dialogue going on, mostly on Tyler's chapters. I felt action wise the story was like a tango... 3 steps forward and 2 steps back. (2) Nothing would have happened if from the get go they would have said their real names to each other. This is something that annoys me because then whole drama and circumstance rests on one fact, or the lack of disclosure of one fact. IDK... I thought the story was OK, just felt lack of connection with the characters and knowing that disclosing one thing would have completely changed the story just did not give me the "Wow" I was hoping for.

3 people found this helpful

Holy hell

I loved this book!!! This story grabbed me by the throat and I couldn’t stop listening!!!! I can’t wait for the next one!!!

3 people found this helpful