The Stolen Luck

By: Shawna Reppert

Narrated by: Charles Carr

How far will a good man go to save his home and loved ones?

Lord James Dupree must recover his family's stolen Luck, the elven talisman that has protected the Dupree lands for generations. Without the talisman, the Dupree vineyards are failing and creditors are closing in. The Luck is his only hope of saving his home and his family from poverty and ruin.

Despite his abhorrence of slavery, James wins an elven slave in a game of cards. The slave, Loren, provides the only chance to enter the Lands Between and recover the stolen Luck. Despite James's assurances and best intentions, Loren does not trust his new master and James finds it all too easy to slip into the role of slave master when Loren defies him.

As the two work together through hardship and danger, James finds himself falling in love with Loren. And when a hidden enemy moves against them, he must choose between his responsibility to his family and his own soul.

©2013 Shawna Reppert (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Great story idea.

The world building in this story was excellent, and the Luck’s backstory was based in a great idea. The loss of the Luck led to a wonderful travelling adventure undertaken by two enemies with a perfectly paced slow-burn build to love. I enjoyed vicariously living that adventure and the fall into love.

Then I got slapped on the up-side of the head when there was a twist in the romance I can’t give details about without spoilers. But I must say I felt cheated by the “detour” on the road to the happy ever after. I yelled at my device a lot in disbelief. I haven’t quite forgiven the writer for this snag in the romance momentum. It lowered my enjoyment in the couple’s ultimate success in their relationship. But that's just me. Others might say it's just brave writing to go somewhere unexpected.

I read a negative review that complained about the too-detailed sex scenes. I disagree because there was kissing and one tastefully described "love" scene: I thought that element of the story was tastefully done. In fact, it was all a bit regency-era politeness for the most part, including the fact that the narrator was very proper and polite in his narrating style as if he were from that era himself. This story may appeal to those looking for something different to the down-and-dirty fantasy romances flooding the book market at the moment.

Shocker... but not super great

This was shocker. It was better than expected; however, it wasn't a super great book. It was better than ok, but less that great, if that makes sense. Just in between. There was literally on one smex scene, which totally irritated me... There should have been way way more, and this would have been great.

A sale book or credit. Not really a buy

A Truly Lucky Find

If you could sum up The Stolen Luck in three words, what would they be?

Duty. Heartache. Love.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I almost want to say Devil, because he is wholly enjoyable with his faults. I love both James and Loren, though both have a bit of that "inner-turmoil-I-can't-talk-about-for-reasons" issue. It does play a part in the story, a rather large part really. And it's never the truly a "for everything that is good in the world just say it!" sort of thing. It's entirely acceptable and doesn't get to eye roll levels, which I consider a fine feat in this genre overall.

Have you listened to any of Charles Carr’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I don't believe so. I was exceptionally pleased with his performance. Having just come from one of the poorest narrations I had experienced, I paused the audio in under 5 seconds to state aloud to the narrator, aka my computer screen, that Charles was great. My assessment did not change during the duration of the book. His performance was absolutely exceptional.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes. I listened to it as close to one sitting as I could get between work and home. I was very eager to get back to it.

Any additional comments?

This is a book I listened to during my first free month of the Romance Package. I have every intention of purchasing it later and listening to it again. This book is wonderful. Despite the fact it contains magic and elves, it feels exceptionally real. There is desire, and love, and such pain. But there is so much against them. Trials along their journey, and an ever present shadow of what cannot be follows them throughout. Every moment of joy is countered with pain or betrayal. Life is not always kind, and it was refreshing to see a story that played with both the exhilaration and excruciating pain that love can be.

-Comment on Ending-

Part of me almost wished that it would have ended on a bitter note. As much as I loved the main characters and truly wished for them to have their happy ending, another part would have found great value in what it meant to truly give up their bond to the duty each, though mainly James, had to face. And it very nearly came to that. One could stop the novel just minutes before the end, and the end would have been with them separated. However, they are reunited and joyous. It is a good ending, offering sacrifice as well as reward.

Luck abound...

This story is full of intrigue, despair, un-trust, trust, focuses on differing classes, and the potential for a love match between elfin folk and a mortal born. I enjoyed the story of Loren and James and though I will admit that it took forever for the love to be admitted, I understand the reasoning...the story by Shawna Reppert was well thought out and causes the reader to hunger for the hopefully inevitable HEA and the narration of Charles Carr adds fuel to the fire of hope and desire. Really enjoyed this tale...

I really enjoyed this book.

What did you love best about The Stolen Luck?

The story was well thought out and the characters had a believability to them that sustained the story. There was a strength and sweetness to Loren that i really liked.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I think Loren and Devil were my favourites. Loren because he had been hurt and abused but had maintained a sense of self throughout his trauma. And Devil because he was a horse and i like horses :)

What about Charles Carr’s performance did you like?

I didn't mind it however the voice he used for James was not the voice i heard in my head. But that is just personal preference.

If you could rename The Stolen Luck, what would you call it?

The Captured Vine. A Long Ass Journey to the Land of the Fae!
Misunderstandings, Meandering, Magic and Murder! Beware the horse with the wild eye!
Watch Out, that Iron's Hot!

Any additional comments?

nope -_-

well paced and narrated m/m romance with plot

a nice plot and intriguing characters. the setting was just detailed enough to feel authentic without taking center stage away from the characters

Wonderful Surprise!!

If you could sum up The Stolen Luck in three words, what would they be?

M/M romance fantasy adventure. (MM is not a word!). This is a story of a very good man who is "forced" to buy an elf slave in order to save his family. Owning a slave goes against everything he thought about himself, and he struggles with his conscious throughout the book. The elf has his own journey of discovery as he is challenged to rethink his belief that all "mortals" are less than animals. Since he has suffered horrible abuse at the hands of a previous owner, it is difficult for him.

What did you like best about this story?

I enjoyed the pace of the story, the blooming relationship between the MCs, the journey of discovery and the narration was wonderful.

Which scene was your favorite?

When Loren realized his true feelings in the shack during the storm.

If you could rename The Stolen Luck, what would you call it?

Journey to Love.

Any additional comments?

The narrator for this book really did a great job at bringing the characters to life. His various British accents were great b/c when Americans think of elves we always think of England. The author did a great job of pacing the relationship. However, this is NOT erotica in any way. There is very little sex and even then it is "implied" not explicit. This aspect did not effect the emotional dimension of the book, I think it may have enhanced it. I had never heard of this author, but she did a wonderful job.

A difficult journey of a book

This was not an easy or light read, for there is very little in the way of comedy. There are moments of lightness & a relative peace, but there is always, at the very least, a slight sense of tension & a shoe waiting to drop. It is good that it is dual 3rd person POV, so that we can know what James and Loren are thinking. They are complex characters and it is a fairly complex story. James & Loren are the only people, with the exception of James' mother & daughter, who you feel you can trust throughout, (though James is quite moody & excels at sticking his foot in his mouth). As they journey to "the lands in between," they meet many enemies & others who might be on their side, but who instead might be in league with their enemies.
It is a well-written story & a well-narrated audiobook, at least in my opinion. I'm glad to have listened to it & will likely listen to it again, somewhere down the line.

Author is offensive and censors others

I likes this book although i thought it was a tad slow. I added the authors page on FB to know information about other books she will be working on. On a FB Post I said i wouldn't want to vote for Joe Biden because hes done some bad things. The author said my opinion was akin to voting for Hitler, then deleted me comments.

Authors that censor others should not themselves be listed to.

I encourage you not to give this author your patronage as she is not worthy of it.

Disappointed ... Don't waste your time or money

Is there anything you would change about this book?

This book was descrbed to be something it wasn't and I was very shocked, I didn't realize this was a romance book between two men and it was very graphic in the details. Maybe it was just me, but I thought I was going to listen to a book about a fanasty quest, not two men having sex. I was very disappointed and I wish I could exchange it for something else.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Terry Brooks - Bearer of the Black Staff

What three words best describe Charles Carr’s voice?

Very well read

Was The Stolen Luck worth the listening time?

God no

Any additional comments?

If you like gay romance then I guess this is your type of a book, it's just not mine.