Haze

By: Deborah Bladon

Narrated by: Amelie Griffin, Rudy Sanda

Isla Lane is an ambitious violinist, who yearns for the career her grandmother had and had always planned for her. Though determined to make her mark on Manhattan and follow her dreams, she just can't seem to get back on course. Consumed with pain from the loss of her grandmother, Isla thinks that she has found the perfect distraction, but this perfect distraction will challenge her in ways she couldn't have imagined.

Work is the sole focus of Gabriel Foster's life. His family depends on him to chart the course for all of them. He works tirelessly to keep everyone and everything in his life in order. When Isla Lane falls into his path, his entire world is set off its axis.

The attraction is immediate and intense. She's unlike anyone he's ever met. He's everything she didn't know she needed. As they explore what they can offer one another, they both realize that what they have left to give may not be enough. Contains mature themes.

©2015 Deborah Bladon (P)2017 Tantor

Gabriel should have a much deeper voice.

this narrator was not right , Gabriel is supposed to be an imposing character. this narrator did not go with the books character at all.

Boss romance. 1POV. HEA. Standalone.

Haze
Boss romance. 1pov. HEA. Standalone.

This is a boss/employee, rich playboy, 10+years older man, with a touch of bdsm. The story is based in NYC.
Isla is a 20 year old violinist working at a lingerie store that Gabe is the owner of. Gabe is a man The is running the successful family business and has to deal with stresses associated with it.

Narration is ok. AG seems a bit robotic, you can tell she is reading. RS is pretty good, but unfortunately his voices for other characters needs .... something.

The HEA is set 1 year in the future.
Overall it’s an ok listen for a free book.
With that being said....
The storyline was all over the place. Isla is supposed to be a violinist but there are only two scenes with her playing. A bunch of individual issues arise and the solution to all these issues is to pay them off. The story started off strong but then the storyline just scattered like marbles being tossed on a tile floor.

AN OK LOW ANGST DRAMA LITE LISTEN

Isla is working in a lingerie boutique while she ponders and plans steps that'll put her derailed life back on track - she's a gifted Violinist like her world famous Grandmother who took Isla under her wing when they realized her Mother had been exploiting her. Isla is beautiful, confident, intelligent, ambitious and spunky so there's no wonder Gabriel Foster is immediately drawn to her when he visits the shop. And Isla is equally drawn to the handsome, charismatic powerful businessman who is greedily eyeing her - so when he propositions Isla she's flattered and brazenly accepts. But things don't go to plan because she could never have expected what would follow.

Gabriel Foster is CEO of the family business empire and he lives by rules.. however, when he's sexually instantly drawn to the very alluring sales assistant, those rules temporarily waiver.. but they don't break. However, the more he sees Isla the more he likes her but Gabriel has to continually resist and fight his attraction because a) their age difference (she's 20 and he's 30) b) he doesn't date his staff.. and 3) his sexual desires aren't vanilla. But his rules get tested the night he sees her dancing at Skin - a Nightclub with a 'behind the scenes' sex Club that caters for the willing, the eager and the wild.

There was no mention of this being a sub/Dom bdsm story but that's where I initially thought it was heading.. however there was only very light play once these two characters eventually took things to the next level. It took Gabriel a while to give in to his desires for Isla who was consuming his thoughts and, once that happened, sexcapades followed. No dramas, very little angst, alternating POV's and the narration was ok.

Worth a credit? I liked this story.. but I just didn't love it and who knows why some of us think "wow" while other listeners think "meh" and you don't know whether it was due to the story, the characters, the narration or just you that failed to connect . So all I can say is that I'm ok with using MY credit.. but I hesitate in recommending it to you.. and unfortunately the books about Gabriel's brothers will sadly have to wait in my Wish List waiting for a 50% sale.

good story

if you follow this series, you'll enjoy this book. I've listened to it several times and enjoy each time. this book has hints of bdsm- it's talked about but not in your face. It mentions other people in the series so it's a must read. not sure why it's labeled a stand alone.