Title: Love and Payne
Series: THIRDS Universe
Author: Charlie Cochet
Narrator: Mark Westfield
Release Date: November 22, 2018
Category: Mystery/Suspense, Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Werewolves/Shapeshifters
Length: 7 hours, 34 minutes
Austen Payne, THIRDS Squadron Specialist Agent (SSA) for Destructive Delta and TIN operative, has seen the worst the world has to offer, faced lethal killers, and helped bring down dangerous organizations. But nothing terrifies him more than falling in love. After years of undercover work, Austen is a master at defending himself and protecting his heart… until he meets Osmond Zachary.
THIRDS Defense Agent Osmond Zachary has a huge, doting family, yet something is missing in his life. After meeting grumpy, foul-mouthed, jittery cheetah Therian Austen Payne, Zach knows exactly what that something—or someone—is. Unfortunately Austen seems determined to avoid Zach at all costs.
When Zach foils an assassination attempt, he ends up in the killer’s crosshairs, and Austen is Zach’s best chance at staying alive. Zach hopes the crisis will bring them closer, but Austen has every intention of walking away as soon as the danger is over.
Happily ever after isn’t for guys like Austen, but Zach is determined to show him it can be…
5 Stars Story
2 Stars Narrator
Story:
I waited a long time for Austen and Zach to get their story so when I first read this book I loved it. I had absolutely no qualms about listening to the Audiobook and getting an extra dose of these two because Austen and Zach are some of my favorites. They’ve got excellent chemistry, great banter and a type of connection that just seems so natural and realistic. The way they are together that visibly displays what they mean to each other made me laugh because they are kind of oblivious to it while everyone else sees it.
I always think of Zach as this sweet, huge, lovable Teddy Bear and I absolutely adore him. He’s so good to Austen and is determined not to let Austen erect walls to keep him out.
Austen though is so different but I love him all the same. He’s a bit quirky and a lot sassy but absolutely lovable. He’s also very complicated. He has a heartbreaking backstory but it just adds to his charm.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I love this 'verse and the world of Therians. The THIRDS series and TIN books are a lot of fun. I’ve grown attached to the characters, their stories and Charlie Cochet’s extraordinary imagination. She has created a world that's unique, detailed and beautifully vivid. I highly recommend Love and Payne whether you want to read it or listen to it on Audiobook.
Narrator:
Mark Westfield is new to me and I have to be completely honest, he was not what I’d expected. His style is quite different from most of the narrators I’m used to and I’m not sure I particularly cared for it. It felt almost robotic or computerized and it made me repeatedly check to see if something was wrong with my download. I also noticed parts that were stilted as if he were adding unnecessary pauses to create effect or drama when it wasn’t needed. Unfortunately, this drew me from the story more than I liked. However, since I love this one, I was able to push past it and focus on what was happening rather than the narrator himself.
***Audiobook provided to Bayou Book Junkie through Audible by Dreamspinner Press for my listening pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.***
I'm familiar with Mark Westfield's narration style since I didn't read the THIRDS series but I listened to it so I can't tell you if the pauses were done for that since not having read the books I can't compare. If you are familiar with narrators there are others that are exceptional and compared to them Westfield is simply good but all alone not all that bad as others I have come across :).
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