Ruthless Scion

By: Theodora Taylor

Narrated by: Elle Cleviden, Jack Calihan

Length: 5 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

Forbidden love...

Holt Calson was born with an 11-figure spoon in his mouth to one of the wealthiest families in the world. The night we met, I only had 11 dollars in my purse, and it was all the money I had in the world. We were never supposed to meet, much less be together. But Holt didn't care. He just wanted me.

What Calsons want, Calsons get. And for one blazing summer, we had it all. Until...

Listener note: This is Part 1 of the Ruthless Second Chance Duet, the epically romantic story of Holt and Sylvie.

©2021 Theodora Taylor (P)2021 Theodora Taylor

Off to a good start

Book 1 is off to a great start; my only critique is that these books could have been put together as one book. The narrator nails Jamaican accent. Jack does a good job with Holt also! I’m hoping book two will answer lingering questions I have from book one, clear up the suspense.

I've waited for so long.

This is one of my favorite love stories of Ms. Taylor. I was overjoyed when I accidentally came across it this weekend. Too bad I couldn't get passed Jack Caligan's narrating style and I didn't appreciate his voice version of Silvie and Ender. Funny thing, when I read the book, the voice that I hear for Holt isn't the same. Ms. Elle Cleviden however, did a good job although neither should have attempted the voices of the children.

In the running for my favorite TT Novels (I + II)

I am a Theodora Taylor fangirl.

It did take me a minute to read the Holt I and II books. But unfortunately, I only came to it after reading the stories that came after (Rashid and My Ruthless Sheik, twice).

But, this story of Holt and Sylvie is high in the running for being my favorite TT story.

Why? Let me count the ways:
1️⃣ Sylvie is a Caribbean girl, like me. It's based in CT, where I am at the moment.
2️⃣ The conversations she has in her head are soooo funny! There are too many witty lines to mention. This was the first TT novel that I found amusing. Until it was not, I suppose
3️⃣ The portrayal of drug abuse to cover trauma, fear, and sadness was palpable. Coupled with the enabling actions of loved ones.
4️⃣ The way that Sylvie was with Wes is a beautiful lesson in how to speak to kids (I wish I had that as a young mother)
5️⃣ The lovemaking/sex scenes did not take over the story; it was not all about that

I listened for over two days, pausing only to catch a few hours of sleep. Yet, the story held me from beginning to end.

The only thing I did not like is that Sylvie let Holt off too quickly after he acted out about Baron. Or perhaps I didn't particularly appreciate how Holt went from sweet as mango to bitter as Carilla so fast. But, the story is the story, I suppose.

I would recommend this book to HEA enthusiasts. It's a lovely story with romance, drugs, racism, love children, unforgiving family members, rebounding from depression, and great and not-so-great parenting conversations with a side of delicious jerk wings.

Holt and Sylvie!

These two remind me of my Colledge days and in go away. aided can't wait for the rest of the story!! Great write!!!