Swept Up

By: Kayla Dawn Thomas

Narrated by: Rayna Cole

Length: 6 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

When life breaks you, love can heal you... or run you over.

A broken heart and a preference for solitude leads Web Baker to driving a street sweeper on the night shift for Basil City. His mother wants grandchildren, and his sister is intent on fixing him up with every dimwitted beauty she can find. Add that to the late night antics Web encounters on his nightly shifts and he has more than enough excitement to keep him on his toes, but nothing could prepare him for the woman who stumbles into his sweeper's headlights.

Kara Deleray has never learned how to be herself, leading to a lifetime of bad decisions. She hits rock bottom and ends up moving in with her best friend and her husband. With their help, she manages to land a job teaching English at Basil State University. Finally pulling her life together, a whiskey soaked night almost tears everything she's worked for apart.

©2014 Kayla Dawn Thomas (P)2015 Kayla Dawn Thomas

Web and Kara's Odd Romance

Summary: This is a complicated book. Webster Baker and Kara Deleray meet in a very unusual way and their relationship stays cool, then rocky for a while.

Additional Comments:
- Beginning could be seen as the adventures of Web picks up the pieces of Kara ...
- Kara's relationship with Darren didn't exactly put her in a flattering light.
- Romance isn't a genre I necessarily gravitate to. That said, I'd categorize it as mild/medium heat level. It wouldn't land on a "clean" fiction list, but the physical side of the relationship is handled with care.
- The author includes some pretty heavy-hitting topics. (Alcoholism, need for love/acceptance, mental illness and it's effects on family, etc.) All of these are also handled with relative grace.
- The main character's struggle with alcohol is genuine, but I personally got annoyed at her a few times. This tells me that the author has some skill at creating realistic characters. Web's a little too saint-like to be realistic, but I think that's fitting. He's not quite knight-in-shining-armor status, but he's up there.
- I didn't care for the way Kara's family was portrayed, (ie. that Christian = judgmental) but there are mitigating circumstances explained later in the story.
- A plot pt or two could be considered the "expected unexpected" but it works here.
- I heard the audiobook. The narrator doesn't fall on my list of favorite people to listen to, but she does a hands-down awesome job at male voices.
- My favorite scene by far is at the cowboy bar.

Conclusion: Kara and Web's journey together is a worthwhile one to watch if you enjoy romance stories.

*I received a free copy. The choice to review as well as the rating and words are solely my own.*

Just wasn't for me

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

At times she sounds like she is reading, I just didn't feel the emotions she was trying to bring across.

Any additional comments?

Written by: Kayla Dawn Thomas
Narrated by: Rayna Cole
Length: 6 hrs and 41 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:07-10-15
Publisher: Kayla Dawn Thomas

This was an ok listen nothing that really grabbed me. I really didn't care for the sleeping around and drinking with a student. That was a turn off for me yes he was in college but still you just do not do that. The book has some good points but for me the author just didn't draw me in. The narrator I didn't care for at all I didn't like her voice it wasn't smooth and at times it sounded like she was reading. Not everyone can like everything so please do not take my word for it. So many people have totally in enjoy the book and the audio. I do think I will go back at a later date and read to see if that makes a difference.

The characters were likable and it was at times a sweet story. For me the adults seem to come off more as teenagers again it could be the narration and not the story. Give it a try and see what you think.