The Unfinished Line

By: Jen Lyon

Narrated by: Abby Craden

Jen Lyon, award-winning author of The Senator’s Wife, brings another intricately woven world of nuanced characters, solidifying herself as a skilled storyteller of women’s fiction.

When Kameryn Kingsbury lands one of the most coveted roles in cinema history, she’s certain it’s the most monumental thing that’s ever happened to her—until a twist of fate introduces her to Dillon Sinclair.

Dillon is unlike anyone Kam has ever met: bold, certain of herself, and fiercely driven by an ambition that has skyrocketed her to the top of her career. A famed British triathlete who remains on a quest to secure the one accolade she’s yet to achieve: an Olympic gold medal.

The connection between the two women is intense and unexpected, challenging Kam’s understanding of herself as she’s drawn into a relationship with Dillon. From the Hawaiian islands to the Santa Monica Pier, to the tropical paradise of the Keys, and the tranquil coast of Wales, a love story begins to unfold.

But when Dillon’s turbulent past collides with Kam’s overnight fame, the challenges escalate and the pressure of the relationship is heightened.

The Unfinished Line unravels a heartachingly beautiful story set amidst the arduous world of elite sports and the unrelenting limelight of Hollywood. Dillon and Kam’s journey explores the power of love, the sacrifices made to achieve success, and the dangers of reaching for perfection.

Content warning: This book contains topics and themes some listeners may find difficult, including struggles with mental health, discussions of suicide, and references to past sexual trauma.

©2024 Jen Lyon (P)2024 Jen Lyon

My chest aches

Wonderfully done. Jen and Abby had me listening into the night once again. This one hurts. It wouldn't hurt if there wasn't so much to love about it. I'm going to have to catch my breath before listening again.

My emotions!!

My first review… Jen Lyon and Abby craden you are absolutely amazing!!!!! What a ride you took me on.

I highly recommend

Jen Lyon addresses an important issue, and does it well over the course of this compelling story. Her well developed characters draw the reader into their fictional lives. I shared their joy, love,frustration, anger, fears, sorrows, and despair. The Unfinished Line ending is unusual. The author’s afterword is definitely worth the read/listen. It provides insight into Lyon’s creative process, and motivation for writing this book.

Beautifully Written & Narrated

The combination of Jen Lyon and Abby Craden is tough to beat. I highly recommend this love story, with all its ups and downs, happiness and heartache.

Dillon F#%*^ing Sinclair…where do I even start

Rarely if ever has a character made me feel SO much. Her relationship with Kam-Kameryn, her demons, her tenderness , her drive, her humor, her obsession. This whole novel is just so beautifully written, so heart wrenchingly real with so many charters that leap off the page right into your psyche and heart. Jen Lyon you delivered a masterpiece thank you 🥹

Jen and Abby for the gold.

This is truly an amazing book and the audioversion adds a whole new dimension. Follow along as Dillon and Cam navigate their challenging love story with all the emotion that went into the writing.

Stunning

I wasn't sure I could handle listening to Abby's performance of The Unfinished Line so soon after I read the ebook. The story wrecked me, but I had to listen to the brilliant Abby Craden Bring Cam and Dillon to life. Abby and Jen are quite the team and I'll always be bold enough to jump on board when they unite! Once again, I laughed and cried. The story left me drowning in emotion. Some say the best novels are the ones that never leave your mind. This one lives deep in my soul.

A Profoundly Stirring and Heartrending Love Story

UPDATED: 11/28/24 - Post-Audiobook Read:

Oh, Abby Craden!

As expected, Craden knocked it out of the park bringing Lyon's devastatingly poignant story into full life in emotional technicolor... every bit of tone, every bit of rhythm and expression, every bit of emotional gymnastics, interpreted and performed with such precision and fervour. It's yet another captivating "one-woman (person)" show, one where she embodied all the characters, leads and secondaries, with utter authenticity that I kept forgetting I was listening to only 1 person behind those affectingly distinctive voices.

Needless to say, what I felt ever so yearningly, from reading Lyon's story, that it triggered my PTSD, came rushing back into the forefront of my consciousness, hitting the depths of my core like a ton of bricks, only this time, Craden's outstandingly heartrending performance in those pivotal moments (scenes), really did me in, in tenfolds. The power of sound vibrations in the form of a voice can truly elevate the written word and transport the listener to a deeper emotional state. Just like what music does for lyrics. Craden's ability to tune in to the sound frequency vibrations of the emotions depicted by Lyon's soul-stirring words really takes the biscuit.

AND, SCENE.

As I said (below) in my review of Lyon's new gem, this audiobook superbly performed by Abby Craden, is a RESOUNDING MUST-LISTEN!! Go get it. NOW.

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(review of the book, 11/19/24)

Oh, Jen Lyon.

There are no words, really. But if you twist my arm, one word surfaces. Over and over again. Each time, ever so penetrating. Ever so aching. A simple word. Yet, it casts a long shadow over the depths of my soul.

GUTTED.

Once again, the feeling that haunted me almost 2 years ago, reared its ugly head again, awakening my PTSD of deep-seated grief and loss.

Coming up for air. I had to. Then. And now. One word surfaced then. The same word resurfaced now.

FLEETING.

Such as it is life as we know it. Or death as we know it. Two sides of the same coin. One can't survive without the other. And when both converge at the crossroads, it is then that we truly experience what it's like to BE.

SAVING GRACE.

Only in the BEST. POSSIBLE. WAY.

(believe me, you only have to read this GEM to know what I mean!)

To quote this philosophical saying, “When God closes the door, he opens the window” - Indeed, every cause begs an effect. Where there’s a closure, there’s always an opening somewhere. It’s how our universe works. To provide a constant FLOW in an infinite cycle. The FLOW of life (and death). Within the matrix. If death were a closing, surely life is the opening. And so they circle around. By design. Is life death’s saving grace and vice versa? Or is there another option?

There, there. If we were to believe that life is theatre, then there’s always another option. Yours truly is a firm believer in life, and all its benefits and misgivings, being nothing but theatre (multiverse concept excepted). And the endless intrigue in the game of “What If?” Therein lies Lyon’s genius. Her ingenious saving grace (imho!), to be precise. Very original, I might add, in fiction writing. Brings the otherwise devastatingly unforgettable, soul-stirring love story back, full circle, in the most predictably UNpredictable fashion. It is because of THIS curveball that sets “The Unfinished Line” apart from the others.

AND, SCENE.

Worth a Mention:

Truth be told, this story had me at "This is a love story, not a romance."!! Oh, nothing piques my innate curiosity like foreboding or foreshadowing! And this one checked all the boxes....and then some! Cheers for that, Lyon!

Didn't think this extraordinarily fateful story would give TSW trilogy, one of my faves, a run for its own money but BAM!! Whaddya know? I stand corrected and couldn't be more thrilled to be wrong because this book is a next-level heartrending, gut-wrenching experience. It's inherently on my 2024 short list of faves now!

Thank you, Jen Lyon, for giving us this delectably gripping, hauntingly intense, powerfully poignant love story that encompasses the entire spectrum of the human condition. AKA mental health. In full technicolor. Do not fear it. Embrace it. Unconditionally. Now, I can't wait to listen to the inimitable Abby Craden bring this to FULL life. Oh, the arousing emotions erupting from her always stirring, always captivating performance when she embodies the characters, the scenarios, the story. They will cut. Like a knife. Penetrating into the deepest recesses of the mind, heart and soul. The power of the auditory sensory perception to the psyche when the vocal artistry comes multidimensionally, alive.

A RESOUNDING MUST-READ.

And when the audiobook comes out, it will undoubtedly be another MUST-LISTEN from Craden. With such rich material from Lyon's genius to flex her gift, hands down it will be another ace. End of. You've read it here, first. There.

WOW!!!!

What an extremely well written and insightful book which is delivered by the incredible Abby Craden. It doesn’t get much better than this duo! Thank you!

ALL the feels!

Jen Lyon just crushed me with this story! Laughter then anger then laughter then heartwarming laughter then tears and so on. What a crazy emotional rollercoaster this book has been for me! It’s quite difficult to finish a painting with tears running down my face! I have so much love for this book! Thank you for telling their story! And this might honestly be my favorite book narrated by Abby Craden! She nailed all the feels! 🥰