One Heart That Beats for Two

By: Robert W. Ross

Narrated by: Autumn Juliet

Length: 15 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

From the number one best-selling author of Sentinels of Creation and Paradigm 2045, Robert W. Ross, comes a story almost three years in the making.

A paranormal love story of tragedy and triumph...One Heart That Beats for Two.

Caspian Lewis spent his first 22 years living a fairly typical middle-class American life. He attended school, went on dates, and, eventually graduated college. The one constant in his life from kindergarten to that day was his best friend, Elizabeth Winters. That is, until she kissed him.

Fast forward to the year 2079, and Dr. Caspian Lewis addresses a Loyola auditorium filled to capacity with past and present students. They have gathered both to wish a treasured professor well on his retirement and to hear a tale he promised to tell once and only once.

Ultimately, his is a story of love, loss, triumph, and tragedy. Caspian takes us back in time to the heady days of young and unexpected love, when Elizabeth set herself as a seal upon his heart with a love as strong as death. When tragedy strikes, her love is put to the ultimate test. Can Elizabeth pierce the veil that separates this world from the next in order to restore her one true love?

So begins an epic quest that reveals the depth of love one rarely sees outside of fairy tales. Three gifts have been given, but each is shrouded by magic, mystery, and sacrifice. Caspian, Elizabeth, and their truest friends set out to uncover what has been well hidden. Together, they must overcome fear, doubt, anger, and jealousy.

Only then can they find the last and most precious gift...One Heart That Beats for Two.

©2021 Robert W. Ross (P)2022 Robert W. Ross

So evocative!

Cried like a baby in the bathtub. The self-gift is so beautiful! I pray my kids have the type of relationships that Caspian is so blessed to be surrounded with! So wonderfully read by Autumn Juliet! The characters could be felt and understood. Commiserated and rejoiced with.

Wow, Different from his cannon, but great!

As macho as I like to pretend to be, this book just had me wrapped up and emotional. I cam to Robert via the sci fi and fantasy books he has written. Which I loved and can recommend by the way! However this book is a left turn, but you can't keep a great author down and this book is amazing.
Can't recommend it highly enough!

Inspiring, Humorous, Heart Wrenching and More

One Heart That Beats for Two is a powerful and moving story of two people who have always been in love, but it took a kiss to make their love a reality. To steal from Shakespeare, “The course of true love never did run smooth.” Caspian and Lizzie discover that their true love will be forever but not as they believed it to be. Going forth on a LizzieQuest, Caspian learns to love, deeply and wholly, and to trust. Their BFFs are there every step of the way, pushing to complete the LizzieQuest and even committing multiple felonies!

This is a new genre for the author, Robert W. Ross. He has made the leap from his two Sci-Fi Series to One Heart That Beats for Two. In Listening to this book, I discovered that Ross is still fun, still quirky at times but also a romantic who can deal with raw emotions. He delivers a story that is sensitive, painful, romantic, and hopeful. Furthermore, Ross captures the raw emotions one experiences through the loss of a loved one, disconnecting from friends and family, desolation, isolation, fear, discovery, living, and putting oneself ‘out there again.’ The dialog the characters have is rich, well developed, genuine, and impactful. Everyone needs that one person who pushes you to do your best in life, work, and love – Caspian has three of them. The characters are well developed and fit perfectly not only in the story but with the listener as well – everyone has that sassy bossy sister type, a goofy nerdy brother type, and a determined ‘I am modest’ brother type.

Ross weaves an emotional story that utilizes each character so that the listener’s experience is intense and full. The plot twists add to the emotional connectedness and enable the listener to appreciate not only the characters and the story but the opportunity to feel. This is an audiobook that you will NOT be able to stop, you will fight through your tears to see what happens next, and you will be glad to have experienced this book.

Ross not only uses some pop culture references to engage the reader, but he also quotes Shakespeare and blends him skillfully into the storyline. This is not your usual romance book with a supernatural flair and ghostly visits – it is an experience! It is just not possible to hear this engaging book and walk away unaffected.

the narrator, Autumn Juliet delivers a delightful performance that enhances and brings life to the story and characters. Her rich voice delivers the appropriate emotions and draws the listener in even deeper mesmerizing them. Her voice is authentic and striking, soothing or forceful when necessary to keep the story moving. Her unique voices for each character captured their essence perfectly. I have not heard Juliet perform before but am looking forward to hearing more from her.

Overall, this is a book that has several dimensions all of which are richly vivid. I highly recommend this book as it has something for everyone and a life lesson to witness.

Tragedy and joy with an ending to love

I have been a longtime fan of Ross’ writing. This story was so unexpected compared to his other works. There is a full range of emotions and interests packed into one book! It seriously has it all! There is Romance (nothing gratuitous), Comedy, Tragedy, a bit of Paranormal, Gamer Culture (lookin’ at you, Mass Effect), Iconography, Culinary Arts, and D&D!

Ross’ beloved character banter is ever-present and brought more to life by the narrator, Autumn Juliet. Where has this star been hiding?! She knocked it way out of the park with all the different characters and smooth narration. I never had to wonder who was speaking or who was present in the scene. And seriously, what a VOICE! This gal has got the makings of a great career.

I think this story would be a gem for anyone who has endured a tragedy or loss and asked “why? Why did this happen?” The author doesn’t belittle the grief and pain of loss or struggles, but rather draws directions for a path through those hard times. I’ll give a tiny spoiler that gives nothing away:

Love.

Love is the way through.

Pick this up now. Give it to a friend who needs a good cry, laugh, or wake-up call. But make sure to enjoy it yourself. And really, do yourself a favor and get it on audio. Let Autumn tell you the story. You won’t be disappointed.

Happy Listening!

Such a beautiful story!

It is hard to say how much I love this book. It is a beautiful and inspiring story that had me laughing my way through some chapters and crying my way through others. Robert W Ross has a brilliant way of making his characters come to life. Within the first few chapters you feel like you deeply know each of these characters. Autumn Juliet did a beautiful job of giving them voice. I highly recommend it!! It is heartwarming, and so inspiring!

Wow

Very well written and unique. This is definitely a book that I will listen to again. Hope that you continue on and create a series from the book.

Remarkable Story and Narration

I want to preface with I typically do not enjoy romantic stories but I received the opportunity to listen to this story and was joyfully surprised. The authors story was very well written and left me both dismayed and hopeful as the plot unraveled. The story had a perfectly effervescent finish and truly touched the heart strings. The narrator did an excellent job and did AMAZING at really making me believe there were multiple people talking. Her voice was so soothing and I could listen to it for a lifetime, I can tell from the voice that she is a very beautiful and talented person. I cant want to see other books she has narrated and listen to them! I think I might have a crush on her!

Apparently I DO like romance…

Ok so I am not usually a fan of romance stories. But since I absolutely adore Robert’s other works (Sentinels of Creation and Paradigm 2045) I thought I would give this a shot. Also I am a narrator SNOB! Nick Podhel has ruined me!
I typically don’t enjoy female narrators but Autumn was perfect to read this. Go Girl!
This book had me just standing in the middle of a room with no idea what I was doing because I was so drawn into what was going on with these very lovable characters. If you want a good listen try this out. You won’t be disappointed!

Truly Beautiful Love Story

After unspeakable tragedy, Caspian is left wondering: can one collect the broken shards of an almost realized perfect life? And, if it were possible, would it even be worth it? His family and friends are determined to bring him back from despair, something that just might be possible with a love stronger than death itself.

'One Heart That Beats For Two' marks a departure from the action, adventure, and fantasy that is author Robert W. Ross's bread and butter. Sometimes, when an author chooses to depart from 'their lane,' disaster ensues. Luckily for us, Ross's foray into a new genre is spectacularly marvelous.

For those who have read and enjoyed Ross, you will be pleased to find this book is wonderfully different and perfectly the same as his earlier work. True heart from real people along with his trademarks - musical, witty banter unmatched by any contemporary cohort, humor, pop culture references, homages, and easter eggs. (Ross even goes so far as to easter egg some of his own work, which was an absolute delight to discover.)

Ross, always sharply attuned to the female voice, really steps up his game in this book. I was continuously taken aback by how perfectly Ross captured the way women talk to themselves, to each other, to a group of 'their boys,' and to their partners. It's so refreshing to see a heroine who, while struggling with her own fear and insecurities, still be able to say "I'm a grown woman, I know my own mind, and quite frankly, I do not need you to tell me what I deserve."

Relative narration newcomer Autumn Juliet was a wonderfully pleasant surprise - she has a warm, rich tone free of any distracting idiosyncrasies and her pacing and prosody is on point. I very much look forward to hearing more from her.

While this book may not be the fast fantasy of 'Sentinels' or the righteous action of 'Paradigm,' 'One Heart' truly earns its place on the shelf. Whether it be page-turning exhilaration, tears of sadness or joy, or laughing so hard you scare the person sitting next to you on the couch, this is a book you'll be glad you read.

Good for the soul

Please, just do it. Sit back, relax and enjoy this warm hug to your brain. A tale filled with love, laughter, loss and happiness told by the hero storytelling of Robert W. Ross is something no one should miss. And if you've stumbled here and I know you enjoyed this book, collect your $200 a GO directly to Sentinels of creation for the same kind of feels, only with more fantasy & giggles and slightly less loss.