Wylde by Sawyer Bennett

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Audio Review: Wylde (Arizona Vengeance #7) by Sawyer Bennett, Narrated by Teddy Hamilton, CJ Bloom


A smooth operator with an angel's face and a bruised heart. Wylde is all of those things and more. Bennett continues to be as unpredictable as the characters that she writes. One minute, she goes full blast when it comes to naughty and the next she plays the strings of the heart like it's her own personal violin. This time around Bennett gives emotions quite the work out with a little help from her friends. Through the eyes of heartache, Hamilton and Bloom tear down the masquerade and expose Erin and Clarke for the work in progress they are. Friendship, family and what looks a lot like love, makes for a temptation that is not to be missed.

Kayley Loring is one of the most endearingly, frustrating authors I have ever come across. She shows a heart what it means to be human. Her characters remind us it's okay to be less than perfect. Back for More was not love at first sight for me. Lily is more than a little self involved and Wes comes across far too self righteous. What I failed to understand was that there was more to the story. Good thing I took a chance on the audio version. Loring lays the groundwork, but for me it was actually Cartwright and Hamilton that helped me find the gem that was hiding within. Although Wes and Lily seem different, their lives are quite similar. Both have been dealt some heartaching blows by life. Love seems determined not to be kind to them. In a world of unpredictability, the one constant is the bond they have with each other. What makes Back for More, the treasure that it is, are the lessons the characters learn as they get to know themselves and each other.

Make Me Yours can be as serious as a heart attack or as cheesy as a bologna sandwich. Yet somehow Tia Louise makes it work. Remy and Ruby aren't living the fairytale. They're working their way through the heartache of life and bias of society. There are moments that prove themselves a bitter pill to swallow and circumstances that remind hearts why love is so worthwhile. Rivers and Hamilton make even the tough moments a blessing to behold. Never have I ever felt so much.

Smart and sassy takes on humorously, heartwarming. Loring digs deep into the insecurities of life, love and happily ever after with a fresh, comedic voice. The Plus Ones will have hearts cheering, lips smiling and senses on overload. Hamilton and Cartwright tickle the eardrums with an amazing delivery of what women what and why men tend to be a bit clueless. Keaton and Roxy take high maintenance to the next level of irritating with adorable results. Love means war and everybody wins in the most delightful way.

If you've read Gaiman's other short fiction collections, most but not quite all of these stories will be familiar to you. They range from complete duds to absolutely delights, but they're all distinctively Gaiman.