Audiobook Review: Moment of Silence by Karen Stivali Narrated by Robert Nieman #Review #Giveaway

Author: Karen Stivali
Narrator: Robert Nieman
Book: Moment of Silence
Series: Moments in Time
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publication date: August 31, 2016 
Cover Artist: Anna Sikorska
Length: 8 hours 4 minutes


Reviewed by Morningstar


Synopsis

Growing up, Jason Stern led a charmed life complete with devoted sisters, a father who was one of Brooklyn's most respected rabbis, and a mother who made the world's best babka. He headed to NYU ready for anything - except falling for the wrong guy, coming out, and getting disowned by his once-loving family. In spite of that, Jason managed to graduate with honors. He's got friends who treat him like family, and he's proudly running the largest LGBTQ teen shelter in Manhattan. Life is good, but he's still falling for the wrong men.
When charming, sexy Quinn Fitzpatrick begins work at the shelter, Jason falls hard and fast. Quinn is tall, blond, funny - damn near perfect. Only if Quinn's gay, even he doesn't seem to know it. If he does, he's not telling anyone. And he's about one ceremony away from becoming a Catholic priest.
Long hours of work turn to long nights of talking and laughter, and Jason dares to hope this time he's falling for the right guy. But Quinn's got a past to deal with and major decisions to make about his future. When Quinn leaves for a silent retreat, Jason knows the silence may change everything.

 Buy Links

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 Review

I love this series! With every book, she writes I fall in love with each character.

This is the story of Jason and Quinn. Jason works for a charitable organization that helps LGBT youth, and Quinn is the brother to Colin and a soon to be priest. Karen has this way she writes that just flows like silk. Each word and scene and book written has this smooth, effortless quality that makes her writing style one of my favorites to read. Add in that she once again created complex characters that make you think and love and hope, this story was a home run for me.

Jason has the hots for Quinn, straight almost a priest Quinn. He keeps it under wraps, but through working together, a friendship is born. There are funny and touching scenes with an undercurrent that the author teases us with. Through all of the build up, we have Jason going through a struggle with his family since his sister came back into his life. And life never stands still not for love or work no matter how much we would want it too.

Although the author writes her stories in one point of view, she gives us involved characters. Through Jason’s eyes, we get a glimpse of who he is and the struggle he goes through. One of the aspects I loved the most was that not once throughout the book did Quinn treat Jason badly just because he was fighting an inner battle over his sexuality or losing his family or what to do with his priesthood. He was open and caring and so much fun, really a perfect fit for Jason.

The narrator, Robert Nieman, has an excellent voice. One that portrays Karen’s sensual style of storytelling perfectly. I would have loved for the characters to have a unique voice on the audio so that it was easier to tell who was speaking but I still loved listening to it the way it was done.

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Random Review: Moment of Fate by Karen Stivali #Review #Giveaway

Author: Karen Stivali
Book: Moment of Fate
Series: Moments In Time #5
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publication date: February 24, 2017
Length: 244 pages
Cover Artist: Anna Sikorska


Reviewed by Morningstar


Synopsis

Bryan Dane’s been living the dream—photography student by day, up-and-coming rocker by night. His summer goals are to earn his last few credits, graduate from NYU, spend as much time in the recording studio as possible, and survive the next few months without sex so he can complete his yearlong goal of self-imposed celibacy. Everything is on track, until he meets Oliver Newcastle.

For years Oliver planned a marriage of convenience with his high school BFF, but now that she’s fallen in love for real, with someone else, it’s no longer convenient. So Oliver came out to his family, quit his job, and left small-town New England for NYC, an intensive summer study program, and a chance to find his own happiness.

From the moment they meet the sexual tension between Bryan and Oliver sizzles. But Bryan wants no part of a relationship, and Oliver wants to sew his wild oats—he just isn’t sure how. Oliver seeks Bryan’s help navigating the NYC gay scene, which throws them together in increasingly more sexual situations until they can no longer deny they're hot for each other. Bryan is desperate to keep things simple, but fate might have other plans.

Buy Links

Dreamspinner Press

Amazon

Review

The first time I ever read a Karen Stivali book I fell in love! It was a free read (still free BTW) called Tonight. I remember reading this wondering first, how was it freaking free and second, why didn’t everyone and their mother know who she was and buy all her books like now?! Because, for me, her writing was fantastic, it was the flow, the pace, the characters, the settings, the HEAT. She had it all. And she quickly became one of my favorite auto buy authors. Maybe that makes me bias, but I think I can be objective...mostly ;)

The world she created in the Moments in Time series is a world with very dynamic and fully fleshed out characters that I cannot help but connect with, cheer for, and swoon over. And Moment of Fate was no different. Bryan Dane is the down to earth rocker guy who was going to NYU for photography we met in book one, Moment of Impact. Finally being able to see him and know him was what I’ve been waiting for. He’s the guy that never shares his problems, never wants to depend on someone else, but is always there to lend a helping hand. Bryan is working hard to graduate, taking it slow this summer with his band, and oh yeah he has that whole year of celibacy thing. I loved the glimpses we got of him in book one, but seeing him deeper here, finding out his secrets; shed a whole new light on what makes him tick. He’s not as put together as he makes himself out to be, which honestly made me love him more. He’s a funny guy who really gives everything 110% when he sets his mind to it. So finishing this pact shouldn't be so difficult…or so he thought until he met Oliver.

Oliver is a new character, and although the story is completely from Bryan’s POV, I felt I knew as much about him as I did Bryan. Oliver seems sweet, naive, and full of life. After living a half-life; he chose, he’s finally out in the big bad city wanting to explore and learn about the side of himself he’s kept hidden. I loved his blog and Bryan reading it - in his sneaky stalkerish ways - because it felt like through them I, as the reader, got to know him better. The chemistry between these two was a super slow burn but was hot and ready to ignite at any given moment. Karen took their story slowly and I loved each and every scene between these guys. And can I just say talk about super-hot catch the kindle on fire sex scenes!!! I know in part it’s the chemistry and anticipation but believe me when I tell you there are very few authors that I can say write smexy so well and Karen is one of them. It should come with a warning to not read in public, for sure.

The journey of love is easy to see between them, even when they weren’t ready to admit it. The story talks about Oliver's need for a new experience, exploring to get to know himself, but in the end this is a story about Bryan letting go of the past, looking to the future, and letting people in. It was heartwarming, heat filled, with breathtaking writing, and a place wouldn’t mind going back to again and again.

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Audiobook Review: Moment of Impact by Karen Stivali, Narrated by Robert Nieman #Review #Giveaway

Author: Karen Stivali
Narrator: Robert Nieman
Book: Moment of Impact
Series: Moments in Time #1
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publication date: May 25, 2016
Length: 3 hours 41 minutes



Reviewed by Morningstar

Synopsis

Outside Collin Fitzpatrick’s dorm room is a dangerous place. Beyond his door the students of his small, conservative college think he’s straight, as does his Catholic family who'd disown him if they learned the truth. Inside, he’s safe with his incredibly sexy roommate Tanner D’Amico. Their room makes a perfect place to hide away and fall in love. The moment they cross the line from roommates to lovers, Collin becomes caught between their heavenly passionate encounters and the hellish reality that someone might find out and destroy everything. Tanner's not used to being so confined, and wants to show the world how much he loves Collin. But Collin’s not sure he’s ready for the impact stepping outside will make.

Buy Links

Dreampinner Press

Amazon

Review

When I had first stumbled upon this series by Karen Stivali it was after I read her free read Tonight. I fell in love with her writing style and knew that I needed to read The Moments in Time series and I was not at all disappointed.

I loved the story of Colin and Tanner! Colin is used to hiding things about himself. His conservative Catholic mom taught him that from an early age. What he finds by hiding in his room with Tanner becomes more than he thought it could ever become. But life isn’t as easy as just staying hidden from the world and the impact staying hidden can have on something wonderful, especially when live is involved. I love a coming out story; the way they develop, the growth of the characters, and how they handle the emotional and sometimes life changing events that happen.

Robert did a great job narrating this story. He was excellent at portraying through his voice the emotions that we expect to hear in this type of story. Although he didn’t give distinct and clear voices to each character he had a way with his voice that allowed that character's personality to shine through. Tanner has such a fun personality that it makes the story and their banter all the more better. Plus being able to hear those emotions, especially Colin with his coming out, added so much more to the story that didn’t come across as well with my own voice in reading.

I cannot wait to get to listen to the next two audiobooks in this series!

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