AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: K. Bromberg's FUELED

Title: FUELED
Series: The Driven Trilogy (Bk 2)
Author: K. Bromberg
Narrators: Tatiana Sokolov, Sean Crisden
Price: $22.04 
Listening Length: 14 hours and 25 minute
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Audible.com Release Date: March 18, 2014
ASIN: B00IU0VGIC
Purchase from Audible.com or Tantor.com 




My Ratings

Plot:  4/5 
Setting:  5/5 
Writing:  4/5 
Originality of Plot:  4/5 
Characters Development:  5/5 
Ending:  4.5/5
Heat Level: 5/5
Narration:  4/5
Cover Art:  5/5 
Likelihood to Recommend:  4/5 

Overall:  44.5/50 = 89%

Synopsis

What happens when the one person you never expected suddenly happens to be the one you’ll fight the hardest to keep?

Colton stole my heart. He wasn't supposed to, and I sure as hell didn't want him to, but he crashed into my life, ignited feelings within me that I thought had died forever, and fueled a passion that I never knew could exist.

Rylee fell out of that damn storage closet and into my life. Now I don't think I'll ever be the same. She's seen glimpses of the darkness within me, and yet she's still here. Still fighting for me. She is without a doubt the saint, and I am most definitely the sinner.

How is it the one thing neither of us wanted—neither of us anticipated that fateful night—has us fighting so hard to keep?

He steals my breath, stops my heart, and brings me back to life again all in a split second of time. But how can I love a man who won't let me in? Who continually pushes me away to prevent me from seeing the damaged secrets in his past? My heart has fallen, but patience and forgiveness can only go so far.

How can I desire a woman who unnerves me, defies me, and forces me to see that in the deep, black abyss of my soul there's someone worthy of her love? A place and person I swore I'd never be again. Her selfless heart and sexy body deserve so much more than I'll ever be capable of giving her. I know I can't be what she needs, so why can't I just let her go?

We are driven by need and fueled with desire, but is that enough for us to crash into love?

Review 

FUELED takes readers on roller coaster of emotions.  Colton and Rylee have so many hurdles to jump over. Both are damaged emotionally, and have a hard time making this relationship work.  One pushes away, while the other pulls them back.  It's a battle they have against each other and within themselves.  It's heartbreaking to watch these two get SO close to love, only to have something or someone get in the way.    

I really love jumping into these two character's lives.  Damaged characters always make for the meatest reads! I felt that the change to dual POV helps the listener get deeper under Colton's skin.  I think he is misunderstood in the first book.  I know that it helped me understand a little bit more about why he did what he did.  It's like DRIVEN was Rylee's story and FUELED was Colton's.  Rylee got to move past her major relationship obstacles, and this is Colton's change to struggle through his.

The only part of the book that bothered me, was when Colton had his big childhood flashback.  I understand the storyline's place in the book.  The things that happened to him as a child, made him into who he is today.  I was honestly disturbed by listening to that part, and the details that was given.  I felt that the author got shock value, rather then furthering the backstory. This may or may not have been her intent. 

I was torn on the ending.  I have worked in motorsports in the past, and I have a lot of experience in the industry.  I pretty much saw this ending coming.  I'm just not sure if the average listener or reader would did as well, so I'm going to give the author the benefit of the doubt here.  This being said, the ending still kept me on the edge of my seat! The moments leading up to ending touched my heart. There is a sweetness that you rarely see in this book. When I put the audiobook down, I just couldn't believe that was it.  I had to know what happens next in their story! 

I was hesitant to pick up this audiobook for only one main reason, it's switch to dual narrators.  I have an issue listening to these kinds of audiobook, because I find it distracting each time they switch narrators.  For example, the female narrator makes the male voice sound one way, and the male narrator makes it sound like another.  I have also loved Tatiana Sokolov's narration in book 1.  All that being said, I surprisingly enjoyed this audiobook's narration.  I was very happy that I gave it a chance. Listening to Sean Crisden read Colton's POV, did bring a certain something to the audiobook.  It gave Colton an even more of a rough, sexy, edgy tone that is needed when Colton is in his own head.  He's Colton Donovan!  Titiana, as always, knocked this one out of the park.  Her voice just draws you into the story, and make you believe in it.  She's able to convey this stories highs and lows.  

I think FUELED really brought major heat, that some felt that DRIVEN was lacking. It has a great balance of heart, heat, snark, and action. I "race you" K. Bromberg, and I cannot wait to see what CRASHED has in store for us!