Before I Knew

The Cabots, Book 1

By: Jamie Beck

Narrated by: Siiri Scott

Author Jamie Beck returns with an engrossing series about family, friendship, and starting over. In this first Cabot novel, a legacy of secrets tests old friends seeking a second chance at life and love.

On the second anniversary of her husband's suicide, Colby Cabot-Baxter is ready to let go of her grief and the mistakes made during her turbulent marriage. Her fresh start comes in the form of A CertainTea, the restaurant she's set to open along Lake Sandy, Oregon, with help from her family. But when her executive chef quits just weeks before the grand opening, Colby is pressured to hire old family friend Alec Morgan. His award-winning reputation could generate buzz, but their friendship has withered since her husband's reckless dare cost Alec's brother his life.

Distracted by guilty secrets concerning the tragedy that changed his and Colby's lives, Alec self-destructed and lost his famed restaurant. With his career in tatters, he's determined to use this opportunity to redeem his reputation and to help the woman he's loved from afar find happiness again.

But secrets have a way of coming out. When Alec's do, they might destroy the new life he and Colby have rebuilt together.

©2017 Jamie Beck (P)2017 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

From the beginning 'Before I Knew' pulled me in.

I enjoyed the book so much that I had my 85 year old Mother listen to it also. We are going to listen to the whole series.

Another great book by Jamie Beck.

This was another really good read. I got the audio version and the reader/narrator, Siiri Scott, did a very good job. I am looking forward to the next book, as well as others by Jamie Beck.

Somewhat predictable but held my interest.

The performance was great. The story was somewhat predictable but it did hold my interest.

great

I listened to the book on audible and I loved it . you'll enjoy this story .

Ok

The storyline was good the narrator was poor. The heartache of loss is great then blame of a losing someone to a rare is tragic but the story never got to the proper steps to heal it is deeper and i was disappointed that she didn't go there. But still a fan.

Great Story

The narrator over annunciates. She sounds like she's reading a story to a pre school group of children. Everything else about the story was wonderful!

Love after loss

Such a great story that portrays a realistic journey of what love after loss can look like. I appreciated the authors attention to detail with the main character and how emotions were key to this book. Anyone who has lost their husband suddenly and doesn’t think you deserve love after the grief should read this book!!

Debating on just reading it myself

If you could sum up Before I Knew in three words, what would they be?

Complex Family Drama

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The narrator has me debating on finishing the book by just reading it myself. When she reads as the female characters (Most of them anyway) it's fine. It's when she is reading the male characters, she makes them sound so malicious, which i don't believe that is what the author is trying to convey. I listen to audiobooks all the time and often narrators develop/define each character's voice very clearly so it's easy to follow along. There were times when i wasn't sure whose voice she was in. Except for the moms, she was really good with differentiating the moms voices.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

There were points where i was close to crying, the various relationships are complex. Some made more dramatic than necessary.

Any additional comments?

Read the book before listening.

Terrible narrationL

I couldn't listen. I turned it off after 45 minutes. I'm not sure if it was that she sounded angry, or if she just over annunciated everything, but I could not focus on the story. I have never done that before. I'll read the book.

Before I knew

I enjoy reading and listening to all books and don't know how to review a book just know that I love to read and listen at the same time.