Audiobook Review: Heart of Stone by Dakota Willink

Author: Dakota Willink

Narrators: Lacy Laurel, Jeffrey Kafer

Series: Stone, Book One

Length: 14h

Publisher: Dakota Willink, LLC

Released: June 29, 2017

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Krystina Cole was a girl on a mission. She had big dreams and aspirations, none of which included a man by her side. She knew better than that – at least until she met Alexander Stone, the New York billionaire real estate tycoon. She saw the way that he looked at her, and the dark promises in his eyes. She was curious about his world and all that it entailed. But the shadows of her past haunted her, making her afraid to explore possibilities that she could never before have imagined… Alexander Stone was a man who knew how to get what he wanted. He understood the value of finesse, and the importance of patience and diligence to achieve the desired result. He was successful and wealthy, relying on his naturally sharp instincts to guide him through life. But a chance run in with Krystina Cole quickly turned his world upside down. Her quick wit and firecracker attitude was the complete opposite of what he wanted in a woman, and his instincts failed him at every turn… However, both Krystina and Alexander are clinging to the secrets in their past, and neither of them are willing to compromise. Krystina’s hardened heart makes emotional surrender a hard limit. But for Alexander, revealing his past could have devastating results.

 

Dakota Willink is a contemporary romance writer and editor, and the author of The Stone Series. She is an associate member of Romance Writers of America and a Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards winner.

Dakota has always had a passion for reading and writing. From the time she was an adolescent, she enjoyed curling up with a good paperback, reading genres that ranged from thriller and fantasy, to mystery and romance. She always dreamed of one day writing her own book, but had put her aspirations on hold to focus on her family and a career that would pay the bills. However, her heart continued to be with fictional characters – whether they belonged to a favorite author or if they were just stories that she made up in her own head. In 2013, Dakota gathered enough courage to turn her dreams into a reality. In between playing chauffeur to two very busy children and working her job during the day, Dakota began to put words on paper. Eventually, she began to describe her life as a book. Everything she saw or heard throughout the day, intertwined with her imagination for the creation of future writings. By 2014, with the support of her husband and two children, she gave up the security of a steady paycheck and began working on her first novel full time. Her first novel, Heart of Stone, was published in December of 2015. Less than a year after its release, the Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards recognized Heart of Stone as the 2016 Bronze Medalist in the romance category. Dakota resides in the Western New York area, where she enjoys spending time with family, her two Labrador Retrievers, and her spoiled rotten cat. During the summer months, she can often be found soaking up the sun on the Great Lakes with her family.

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Lacy lives the life of a full time wife, mother and household manager. Needing a temporary escape from time to time Lacy returned back to her first love - reading! After devouring everything she could get her hands on she thought, -what if she could mix her love of performance and literature in a professional capacity? Once getting involved in the world of book narration she quickly became hooked and when not with her family you can find her in her studio working hard to grow in her own storytelling abilities.

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Jeffrey Kafer is an award-winning Audiobook Narrator and professional voice actor. Spanning over 350 titles, he specializes in Romance, Thrillers, Sci-Fi and more!

 

I was expecting another Fifty Shades book but boy was I wrong. Each character was a little more complex than the ones in Fifty Shades, which I really liked. The book takes place in New York City and was described perfectly for me to understand. The characters were well thought out and developed. The storyline was written smoothly and didn’t seem to be any gaps. I could connect with Krystina and for someone in her mid-twenties she’s been through a lot. Alexander Stone, where do I begin with him. He’s your typical cocky, wealthy guy but don’t worry he’s not another Christian Grey.

                Lacey Laurel and Jeffrey Kafer did a wonderful job at narrating the Heart of Stone. I personally like it when there’s more than one narrator. It makes the book sound better and it’s easier to understand the different characters when there’s more than one narrator. I didn’t hear any background noises that would interfere with the narrating of the book either.

                So not wanting to give too much away, I really enjoyed the book. It kept up its momentum and it was engaging. I was hooked from the very beginning. Overall, I give Heart of Stone five stars.

   I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Dakota Willink. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.

Q&A with Narrator Lacy Laurel

 

• When did you know you wanted to be an audiobook narrator? I was listening to more and more audiobooks and I just kept getting the urge to do it.
• How did you wind up narrating audiobooks? Was it always your goal or was it something you stumbled into by chance? I just researched until I found ACX, and on their website it talked about what you needed, how to do it and I just went for it.
• Did you find it difficult to “break into” audiobook narration? What skill/tool helped you the most when getting started? No, it was not difficult to break in but to stay in is a totally different story.
• A lot of narrators seem to have a background in theatre. Is that something you think is essential to a successful narration career? I don’t know if it’s essential, I have a very limited background from when I was in school. I love theater. However now I do find training very important. Getting an instructor for the type of narration you want to perform, attend seminars and classes in both performance and audio technology – you should really know how to use the equipment you are utilizing and some ‘employers’ will only accept your work if you are using certain technology.
• What type of training have you undergone? I am seeing a coach for non-fiction (Sean Pratt-@SPPresents) and another for fiction (Andi Arndt - @andi_arndt). Between the two a variety of topics in narration and the business of narration are covered. I see improvement every time I have a session, which is really encouraging, I am lucky that although I may not have years of professional acting or collegiate acting training I am able to utilize my coaches to help me improve and to learn more about what it is that I do.
• How do you manage to avoid burn-out? What do you do to maintain your enthusiasm for narrating? For me it is a combination of things. Because of the performance aspect, if I am not feeing it, I try not to push through. I will walk away and do some of the many other things I am responsible for in real life. My hours are really flexible because I work out of a home studio, so sometimes it is just as simple as hanging out with the family. Other times, I find that listening to others narrate in the genre’s I work in really helps. Especially when they are good they will motivate me to want to get back in the booth.
• Are you an audiobook listener? What about the audiobook format appeals to you? Yes I am constantly listening! I love audiobooks! For me, I find myself listening while I am doing housework or playing the driver to the kids.
• What are your favorite and least favorite parts of narrating an audiobook? My favorite is recording, getting to immerse myself into another world. I also love the read through of the book; it really gets me excited and helps me to plan out where I am going to go. I guess editing is my least favorite part, but only in comparison to the other parts, I love to do it, just not as much as performing or reading.
• Is there a particular genre you feel unsuited for? Have you ever declined a project because you didn’t think you were right for it?
• What about this title compelled you to audition as narrator? It is exactly the story I would read as a consumer, and if it has my attention in that way then I want to audition because I know I will have fun with it while recording.
• How closely do you prefer to work with authors? I love having input from the authors, although every relationship is not the same. I do prefer it when even if they are not the ones who hire me, they have made the decision to have me be the voice of their book.
• Has anyone ever recognized you from your voice? I have had a couple of people recognize me as my pseudonym, and it was nice because I took it as they had taken the time to listen to my work.
• Do you read reviews for your audiobooks? YES! It is an addiction I wish I could drop!
• If so, which ones stand out to you most, positive or negative? The negative, but only because I always try to take something from them that I can improve on.
• Who is your “dream author” that you would like to record for? Dream author – I think CD Reiss, I love her work!
• If you could narrate one book from your youth what would it be and why? I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings – that book spoke to me in my soul on so many different levels I can’t even fully describe!
• What do you say to those who view listening to audiobooks as “cheating” or as inferior to “real reading”? Maybe to them, but as a mother of five kids, I know everyone does not learn the same way, receive things the same way and we are very lucky to live in a time that we have audiobooks as a way for people to enjoy books.
• What bits of advice would you give to aspiring audiobook narrators? Take advice from those who have been there, get a coach and study away!
• What’s next for you? Project wise I am getting ready to dive into Stepping Stone, book 2 of The Stone Series, Asher Black by Parker S. Huntington, Stryker by Tess Oliver, Fighting Dirty by Sidney Halston, and Dark Love Part 2 by JB Duvane.

Heart of Stone Giveaway: Kindle Fire 7

Aug. 25th: CGB Blog Tours Elsie's Audiobook Digest Aug. 26th: The Book Junkie Reads Jazzy Book Reviews Aug. 27th: Up 'Til Dawn Aug. 28th: Ginger Mom Reads The Bookworm Lodge Aug. 29th: Lomeraniel Aug. 30th: A Book and A Latte The Literary Apothecary Between the Coverz Aug. 31st: The Book Addict's Reviews Lynn's Romance Enthusiasm

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Release Blitz: Storm Runners by Nara Malone

Storm Runners (An Interactive Romance)

by Nara Malone

Release Date: 8/30/2017

Synopsis

A Pick-Your-Passion Interactive Romance

Trella gambled on hitting the big time as a singer/songwriter, vowing she’d be a star in a year. She wound up hungry, homeless, and jobless, with only a charity bus ticket to get her home. With a blizzard rolling in and planes grounded, the last bus out of town is a last chance to reach destinations for a host of strangers almost as desperate as she is.

When the storm leaves everyone stranded in a small town waiting out the blizzard, Trella takes the opportunity to turn her burgeoning fantasies into reality—and you’ll get to choose which path Trella takes to find the happy ending she desperately needs.

Will it be:

Bus line owner/driver, Greyson, who looks like he could double as the lead singer in a heavy metal band, and tempts her to explore the darker side of love.

Wounded warrior Diana, with her voice as sweet as Cajun honey, luring Trella to her with an erotic tale of southern heat on the bayou.

The two sexy gamer guys who enchant her with a VR fantasy world where two handsome knights wait to serve her every desire.

Where will love take you?

Buy The Book

Amazon US   Amazon UK

Experience Nara's virtual word and join the Release Day Partyhttp://www.naramalone.com/2017/08/how-to-visit-naras-nook-virtual-worlds.html

Meet The Author

Whether it's a shapeshifter romance exploring the primal power of the wild feminine, or BDSM romance where love digs into a character's shadows, Nara believes romance should open the door and push lovers into a new dimension: sexually, emotionally, and sometimes physically. 

Nara Malone is an award winning novelist and poet. As a freelance journalist and writer, her feature profiles on women entrepreneurs and her romantic short stories have been published in newspapers, magazines, and digital publications.

Nara lives on a small farm in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains. When she's not writing, she loves to run, hike, bike, and kayak. Every story she tells incorporates her love of animals, nature, and adventure.

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Blog Tour: Taboo & Kinky (Penthouse Pleasures) by Opal Carew, Jayne Rylon, Avery Aster

Title: Taboo & Kinky (Penthouse Pleasures) 

Author: Opal Carew, Jayne Rylon, Avery Aster 

Genre: Erotic Romance 

Release Date: August 22, 2017 

Hosted by: Buoni Amici Press, LLC.

One luxury building holds six penthouse apartments owned by kinky Manhattanites. Their sizzling stories will be told throughout the Penthouse Pleasures series from New York Times bestselling authors Opal Carew, Jayne Rylon, and Avery Aster.

From trailer trash to elite New York City lawyer, Casey Clark has transformed her life. There’s only one change she regrets. The one that left her blazing her trail alone. 

Her tough ex-boyfriend Jace West has made a career of protecting people in bad situations, just like he always did for her. When Casey finds something in her new penthouse apartment that could put her in danger, he’s the first one to volunteer to keep her body safe—even if it puts their hearts at risk again. 

Jace counts on his partner Ian to chaperone his alone time with Casey. Instead, it seems the guy balances out Jace’s rough edges with a suave sophistication Casey always craved. The combination has the potential to fill the void in her life that money, power, and ambition can’t…if she’s bold enough to take what she wants from each of them. 

Venturing into taboo territory, Casey could become the woman Jace has always needed. The kind who’s enough for not just one super sexy man, but two of them.

 

She’s an innocent young woman from his past whom he swears to protect. But the forbidden attraction between them threatens to override all reason.

Bonus: This story includes a short erotic audio that will melt your panties!

Kent never dreamed he’d be picking up Christina from the police station in the middle of the night. He hasn’t seen her since she was sixteen, but she was sweet and innocent.

When he gets there, he’s shocked to see that she’s a full grown woman… and very sexy. And she’s been arrested for soliciting. When she throws herself into his arms and calls him Daddy, then begs him to pretend he’s her stepfather, he plays along.

But the echo of that whispered word in his ear… Daddy… sets his blood on fire. He’d love nothing more than to take a firm hand with her… in the bedroom. But that can never happen.

KINKY is the second book of the Penthouse Pleasures series. This is a sizzling story of a young woman and the sexy older man who captures her heart. Their story is wrought with emotion and conflict as they struggle through the difficult journey to happiness despite past pain and a taboo romance that should never happen.

Warning: The hero is a sexy father figure who gets turned on when his "baby girl" calls him Daddy. And there’s a sexy neighbor who might just join in the fun. (Translation: Ménage a trois!)

 

Kinky ~ 18+

Kent stepped out of the shower and dried off then tossed the towel over the hook. He opened the door and as soon as he stepped into his bedroom, he saw Christina standing at the top of the stairs.

Her eyes widened, then her gaze fell right to where it shouldn’t be.

“Christina, what the hell?”

His heart pounded as he grabbed the throw from his bed and draped it around his waist.

“I’m sorry.” Her face blossomed a deep rose. “I didn’t realize the stairway led right into your bedroom.”

“All right. But why did you come up here?”

“I…” Her gaze had moved from his now covered cock—which was rising to attention despite the awkwardness of the situation—and drifted up his bare chest and settled on his face.

“I wanted to talk,” she said.

She drew in deep breaths, which made him all too aware of her firm, round breasts under the thin cotton of her pullover pajama top, and wrung her hands together. He wasn’t sure if it was anxiety, embarrassment, or both.

Concern swelled through him.

“What is it? Is there something wrong?”

“No… well, yes.”

Protective instincts bubbled through him. What was so important that she would come looking for him in the middle of the night?

“All right. Come in and we’ll talk."

He walked to the couch and sat down and she walked further into the room.

He was surprised when she sat down beside him instead of in one of the armchairs. His groin tightened even more.

Fuck, he’d just taken a cold shower to calm down his body from his lascivious thoughts about her. Now with her so close, the sight of her in her pajamas—which were modest enough, but her nipples peaked to points under the light, cotton fabric of the top—made him want to jump under a stream of frigid water again.

He should send her right back down those stairs. But if she needed to talk, he couldn’t turn her away.

“I think we should talk about what happened earlier,” she said hesitantly. “When I told you that you were the only man I trust.”

Fuck.

“Nothing happened earlier.”

“That’s not true. We had a moment.” Her green gaze caught on his. “We almost kissed.”

She rested her hand on his arm and the softness of her skin on his made him all too aware of his nakedness. Of the intimacy of the situation. Of how easy it would be to take her into his arms and…

He lurched to his feet, holding the blanket securely at his waist and paced.

“I think you should go back to your room.”

She stood up and walked toward him, determination in her emerald green eyes.

“I’m attracted to you.” She rested her hand on his cheek and sparks flared across his skin. “Are you going to tell me you don’t feel the same for me?”

His jaw clenched. “I’m old enough to be your father.”

“I’ve never had a father in my life. I don’t know what that’s like. But with you, I’ve always felt safe and cared for. I’ve always felt protected.”

She stepped closer and rested her hand flat on his chest, right over his heart, which started to pound faster. She pushed herself on her tiptoes and her lips brushed his ear.

“And I like the feeling.”

Fuck, his cock was aching with her so close.

She nuzzled his neck, the light flutter of her lips on his skin sent his pulse racing.

She cupped his face and found his mouth.

Time stood still as the overwhelming sensations of her body against his, the delicate feel of her tongue nudging between his lips, made his body harden.

His barriers crumbled and his arms glided around her. He pulled her tight, his mouth opening and he drove his tongue deep into her, tasting her sweetness.

She sucked in a breath, then wrapped her arms tight around his neck as he plundered her mouth.

His heart pounded as his cock swelled and he backed her up to the bed. Seconds later, she was on her back beneath him, her breasts crushed against his naked chest. His hand glided along her ribs, then he cupped one soft mound.

At the feel of it in his hand, her nipple hard and thrusting upward, heat surged through him. She arched her lower body, pressing against his aching shaft.

He tore his mouth from hers.

“Fuck, what the hell am I doing?”

The age thing was bad enough, but she was a virgin, for fuck’s sake.

She stared up at him, her eyes wide and filled with need.

“Don’t stop,” she pleaded.

He pushed away and surged to his feet.

“Christina, I want to protect you… not take your virginity.”

She stood up and grasped his hand, her small fingers curling around his.

“Please. You’re the only one I trust enough to do this with. You can help me past my fear of being with a man. I know you’ll be tender and loving—and won’t judge me or try to force me into anything more.” She gazed up at him. “And that’s what I need right now.”

She moved closer and rested her hand on his chest.

“I think you want to protect me like a father would.” She pushed herself up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his ear. “But you’re not my father. So you can do anything you want with me.”

She took his hand and pressed it to her breast again. The softness of it unraveled his resolve.

She leaned close to his ear again.

“Daddy,” she murmured.

“Ah, fuck.”

Her hand slid to his waist and the coverlet fell to the floor. His cock sprang upward and she wrapped her hand around it. As her feminine fingers curled around his hard shaft, he sucked in a breath, his blood boiling.

“I think you like me calling you Daddy.” She kissed his ear then nibbled his lobe, sending tingles racing along his spine.

Like was too mild a word. It was electrifying.

She squeezed his fingers around her breast as she ran her hand the length of his cock. When she began to stroke him, he knew he had to stop her. His groin tightened painfully and he was getting too fucking close too fucking fast. 

He grabbed her wrist, intent on pulling it away, but she nipped his ear, then arched her breast tighter into his hand.

“Oh, Daddy. I love you touching me like this.”

Fuck, he’d never been this wildly turned on in his life.

His grip loosened and she stroked him faster. 

Without thinking, he walked her backward until she was against the wall. She released his cock long enough to pull her loose-fitting pajama top over her head, revealing her generous, round breasts. His breath caught at the sight of them.

He claimed her lips, pressing his body tight to hers, excited by the feel of her soft, naked breasts crushed against his chest. As he claimed her with his passionate kiss, she squeezed his cock and stroked it. Moving faster and faster.

He groaned into her mouth. She pulled away and gazed up at him.

“Oh, Daddy, I want you so badly,” she whispered breathily.

“Ah, fuck!” The raging ache in his groin spiked, then incredible heat burst through him. He groaned as pleasure surged through every part of him, and he erupted in a fountain of hot come.

He was shocked at how much it turned him on when she called him Daddy.

He’d just come and he was still hard, for God’s sake.

He realized he was leaning against her, so he drew back, still panting.

She grabbed his hand and pulled him to the bed, then lay down on it. She pushed down her pajama bottoms, exposing her sweet, naked pussy.

God help him.

“Please. Make love to me now. I want you to be my first.”

He ran his fingers over the glistening white goo on her stomach. Smearing it over her creamy skin.

Instead of answering, he glided to his knees and pulled her to the edge of the bed. He widened her legs and stared at her intimate folds.

“You’re beautiful, baby girl. Do you like me calling you that?”

“Oh, yes, Daddy.” Her voice quivered with need.

He chuckled as he ran his fingertips over her, feeling the slickness of her arousal. “You’re so wet for me.”

He opened her folds and stared at her opening, so soft and inviting.

“You want me to push my big cock into your innocent little pussy?”

“Yes.” She licked her lips, her eyes wide and full of desire. “Please.”

He chuckled. Fuck, he couldn’t believe he’d soon be driving his cock into her untried passage. Because he’d gone past the point of saying no. She wanted this. And he certainly fucking wanted it.

He stroked over her folds again, eliciting a soft moan. Then, watching her, he pressed his finger inside her. Gliding in past the first knuckle, then to the second. He pushed another finger inside, delighting at the tight grip of her around him. Her eyes glazed and the look of need on her face made him ache to drive inside her right now.

But instead, he leaned forward and covered her pussy with his mouth.

“Ohhh,” she moaned.

He lapped at her folds until he found the little button inside. Then he teased it with the tip of his tongue. 

Her fingers glided through his hair and she pulled him tighter to her wet flesh.

“That feels so good,” she murmured, a note of desperation coloring her voice.

“You like that, baby girl?” he asked.

“Mmm. Yes,” she breathed.

He sucked on her clit and she gasped, then arched against him.

He began moving his fingers inside her. Surging in and out as he suckled her sensitive button.

She pivoted her hips up and down, as if riding his mouth and hand. He kept pulsing into her. His tongue quivered over her clit.

“Oh, God…” She gasped. “Oh, it feels so…”

Then she moaned, her body shuddering as the orgasm claimed her. He kept his fingers moving inside her, his tongue teasing, his gaze turned up to watch her beautiful face glowing with bliss.

When she finally collapsed against the bed, he slowly drew his fingers from her tight canal and gave her one final lick, then lifted his head, smiling.

She looked so wonderfully sated, he wondered if he should stop here. But she opened her arms to him.

He prowled over her, then captured her lips. She drove her tongue inside his mouth and stroked with vigor.

“Please, now, fill me with your big cock.”

He stared into her wide green eyes. “Baby girl, are you really sure this is what you want?”

“Oh, yes.” She pulled him closer and nuzzled his temple. “Please, Daddy. Fuck me now.”

Goddamn. He couldn’t refuse her. Because he wanted this so fucking badly, too.

Jayne Rylon is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She received the 2011 Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best Indie Erotic Romance. Her stories used to begin as daydreams in seemingly endless business meetings, but now she is a full time author, who employs the skills she learned from her straight-laced corporate existence in the business of writing. She lives in Ohio with two cats and her husband, the infamous Mr. Rylon. When she can escape her purple office, she loves to travel the world, avoid speeding tickets in her beloved Sky, SCUBA dive, and–of course–read. http://jaynerylon.com 

Opal Carew is the author of over a dozen romance stories in which she makes offerings of hope, success, and love to her readers. Opal loves crystals, dragons, feathers, cats, pink hair, the occult, Manga artwork, and all that glitters. She earned a degree in Mathematics from the University of Waterloo, and spent 15 years as a software analyst before turning to her passions as a writer. Opal lives with her husband and two teen-aged sons in Ontario, Canada http://www.opalcarew.com 

Avery Aster: A graduate of New York University and a resident of the Big Apple for twenty years, New York Times bestselling author Avery Aster writes popular fiction in several genres. Erotic Romance fans enjoy Avery’s The Manhattanites books, while New Adult readers can’t get enough of the Undergrad Years. For those who like a good thrill that’ll mess with their mind, check out Avery’s Psychological Suspense series, Piper Adler and other books at www.AveryAster.com