Broken Promise

Beyond Series, Book 1

By: Andrea Smith

Narrated by: Amanda Stribling, David Black

Previously published as Silent Whisper.

What does a mob capo want with a girl from the sticks?

Everything...

For 27 years, I've flitted through life clueless to the God-given abilities that lay dormant inside of me. In the blink of an eye, everything changed more than I ever could've anticipated.

She changed it.

Now I know that nothing is as it seems. I will never be the same again...but this isn't my story.

It's hers.

I'm just being forced to live it, resolve it, and ultimately try to move on after learning that our lives are going to be tangled far more than I would've ever imagined.

My name is Parrish Locke. And I can see the dead.

Adult content

©2014 Andrea Smith (P)2020 Andrea Smith

big ugly cries coming

Stock up on tissues, because you'll need them if you have a beating heart. Annamarie was self-serving, and it benefited Karlie the first time, but the last time it was pure mercenary. I empathized with Dom throughout the book and found him to be caring and stuck with the wrong family at birth. Things were just too convenient and I figured the culprit out quickly. It was a selfish move and I don't forgive the blighter!! It made me sick to my guts when I figured out what was going on. Karlie was a pawn of sorts and was used for anothers' happiness, and that angered me greatly. It was a shame that they felt Karlie's life was so disposable! Great epilogue. I voluntarily listened to a free copy of this and am giving an honest review. The narrators did a great job bringing it to life.

Fantastic Story & Listen🎧 Captivating & Heartfelt!

This book is awesome, Andrea Smith is one of my favorite authors and I love everything she does. I enjoy her writing style and the characters and storylines she creates. It is great to see another side of her creative mind a paranormal side. This book swept me right in and it captivated my mind from start to end. This is the type of book that is hard to put down, you need to know what happens next. The writing and descriptive details brings the reader and/or listener right along side the characters, allowing you to experience what they do first hand. The characters are complex and well developed, they likable and easy to relate to. Parrish Locke, a 27 year old model has a car accident and she crashes into a cemetery. She suffered a head injury, one so bad she is seeing a ghost, one with a message. What happens next is fascinating, there are amazing twists and turns in this book, some you do not even see coming. I do not want to say much more about what happens in this book, do not want to give anything away I will saw a lot goes on in this book, there are several different storylines and almost like a story within a story, one of which is a romance, a forever love of two people who were made for each other but could never be. There is never a dull moment in this book with plenty of drama, a bit of angst, action, some thrilling and suspenseful moments, heartfelt ones, and some hot romance. Andrea Smith, thank you for wowing me with another amazing book.

Amanda Stribling and David Black are fantastic narrators and voice artists. They did an amazing job portraying the characters and bringing them to life giving each their own voice and personality. You could hear how much heart they put into their performance as they capture the characters emotions and project it into their performance. They are entertaining storytellers and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for another awesome listen🎧

Love transcends all!

Andrea Smith surprised me with the direction that Karlie and Dominic’s story veered. Karlie was sensitive, headstrong and forgiving while Dominic was chivalrous , courageous, handsome and generous. Although unforeseen events were the catalyst for the truth being revealed, they triumphed in the end! Their love transcends everything, including betrayal, lies, foolhardy actions and even death! Amanda Stribling and David Black did a great job narrating too!

Lots of feels.

I was given this audio book by the author through Story Origins. A duel narration performed very well. The low, sexy voice given to Dominic was especially enjoyable.
This story is amazing. I was captured from the start. Dominic's strong caring and repeated promises to take care of Karlie if she would trust him. I loved these two together. But remember the title....Broken Promises...Is he going to break his word? Will she be crushed? This read is so complex. Full of angst. Full of feels. Full of mystery. Full of steam. I couldn't put it down!

I promise...

This is book 1 in Smith's new series Beyond. When I first started this read I couldn't figure out what Parrish had to do with Karlie and Nick's story but OMG - what a great couple of twists. I was so invested in these two characters and while I saw a few things coming there were certainly twists that were shocking. Can you really promise something...life holds no promises and most everything is really out of our control? This read is not only full of broken promises but a few fulfilled promises too! A love story that transcends time. I loved it and I can't wait to see what's in store for book 2 as it seems Karlie's adventures are just getting started!

Loved the dual narration for these characters - I think it really helps bring the characters to life!

This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

Great book!

Loved this book. It has mystery with a touch of romance. I love Parrish and hope the author continues this in a series.

Bewitching!

In Chester, West Virginia, Parrish Locke is on a modeling assignment for Mountain-Step Ski-Wear, but the shoot's over early because of a possible incoming snow storm. As she navigates her SUV back to the Mountaineer Inn, she takes her eyes off the road for only a second and looks up just in time to see an eighteen-wheeler bearing down on her. Nothing could prevent the slippery, fish-tailing, out of control collision that sent her vehicle skidding almost into a cemetery.  As Parrish staggers out of the SUV, she spots a young lady standing alone in the cemetery, motioning to the headstone beside her. The ghostly being is trying to say something..."Let Dominic know, tell him everything." Suddenly, she doesn't see the ethereal spirit, but she feels its warmth as it merges with hers. Now it's time to find this Dominic person and tell him that the lady from the grave that read "Karlie Lynn Masterson" has a message for him. The story of Dominic Castellano and Karlie Lynn Masterson is a beautiful, bittersweet, mystical story of a good-hearted mafioso (yes, there is such a thing) and the lady of the evening he wants to make his own. Karlie Masterson's  parents were killed in a fire that was set on purpose to drive them out of their home. They wouldn't sell the land that a mob family had been trying for years to acquire. Karlie made it out alive, but only because a good man who saw the fire, refused to let her die inside. Dominic, who goes by Nick now, returns to that area of West Virginia to check on that same young lady. When he finds her in the brothel, he has to keep her for himself. But he's a member of the feared Castellano mob family and his dangerous life can be deadly for those close to him. Dominic realizes there's something different about the way he feels about her and comes to understand that he has never been in love...until now. He helps her turn her love of fashion design and creation into the successful DBK - Designs by Karlie business and she's never been so happy. But somehow, her design business becomes the focal point of an international investigation and Karlie knows she has to go on the run. She doesn't think she'll ever see Nick again, let alone be able to tell him she's pregnant with his baby. A series of miscommunications and lies keep Dominic from knowing he has a baby girl named Parrish, but a special power within a young woman who lived through a car accident brought them back together. Let me warn you that a full box of tissues is needed for the ending of ugly tears and tears of pure happiness! I didn't know how this was going to have a happy ending, but Andrea Smith more than managed to do it. She made me want to hug her!
I both read and listened to this book and the narration of Amanda Stribling and David Black is perfection! I didn't have to think while I listened, I just relaxed right into their voices. Beautiful story, excellent voices! 

Intensely heart-wrenching, touching story!!

Broken Promise an Audiobook by Andrea Smith is a fascinating ‘ghost’ story following the romance of Karlie and Dominic. Parrish is in an accident and suddenly she can speak to the dead. She is transported back in time to learn the story of Karlie and Dominic. This is a fascinating and unexpected story of redemption, truth, and timeless love. So much happens, I can’t really explain it all here. Suffice to say, this was an INCREDIBLY absorbing, heart-breaking story that sucks you in immediately and never releases you until the very end!!!!

It was narrated by Amanda Stribling and David Black. I like that both captured the essence of the characters. But, her tone seemed bored or blasé at times, but overall it was great. There were some mispronunciations by both narrators that bothered me….but, overall I really liked this Audiobook!

I am volunteering to leave a review for an Advance Copy of this Audio book.

Broken Promise

A-MAZ-ING!! I love absolutely everything about this book. So much happens and the twists keep you trapped to you earphones to the point that you can’t do anything else until the book is over. I need more! A perfect story in every way with amazing narration.

Righting the Past

Righting the Past

Parrish finds herself in the past learning the story of Karlie and Dominic and her place in all of it. It's a bit paranormal with Parrish realizing that she's a ghost whisperer but the bulk of the book is really the retelling of what happened to Karlie and then righting some things from the past.

There are some interesting twists and turns. The waterworks made an appearance toward the end in that bittersweet conclusion. I really enjoyed it including where Nick and Karlie "met". The mob stuff was there but that was more of a side note, annoyance from her POV. 

I switched between audio and visual. I liked the narrators, Amanda Stribling and David Black. I really like when the character voices remain constant regardless of POV and that happens here. 

Story: 4 stars
Narration: 4 stars