Mitchell

Second Chance Series, Book 2

By: S.M. Stryker

Narrated by: Nicholas Donald Malcolm

Length: 6 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

From Amazon best-selling author S.M. Stryker comes an emotionally gripping, romantic suspense about first loves, best friends, and second chances.

Never having a family to call his own, Toby Mitchell grew up alone. Given away as a young child, he knew he would never be loved. He was a child caught up in the foster system, always being shuffled from one home to the next. He had no family. That is, until he was old enough to join the Marines. He finally found his family. While on a mission in Afghanistan, he sustained a job-ending injury that forced him out of the only family he knew.

Raven Whitehorse was raised without a mother. She had always felt that there was a conspiracy behind her mother's disappearance. She knew her mother would never leave her. After running away from home at 16 to try to find her mother, the search for her mother hits a dead end.

Raven takes any job available to stay off the streets as she works her way through school. After living on the streets, she knows that love isn’t kind. After landing a job with a new software company, she meets Toby Mitchell, the owner of a security firm that her new boss has hired.

Toby, wanting to put closure to his childhood, sets out to find his mother - the drug-addicted woman who didn't care enough about her own child to seek the help she needed. Toby feels that without this closure, he can't move forward with any type of relationship.

Raven needs to find her mother to see if the rumors were true and what really happened the day she disappeared. Was she the scared teen that couldn’t handle the pressures of new motherhood? Was she blackmailed to leave...or worse?

What secrets will they find, and how will those secret affect each of them?

©2019 Shelly Stricker (P)2019 Shelly Stricker

Pulled me right into the story

This story has so many different emotional events. The main characters both are from difficult backgrounds. I think the one that broke my heart the most was for Toby Mitchell. This guy has looked for love and belonging his whole life. When Toby and Raven come together it is so funny so visualize the big marine tongue tied because of a small woman. There is so much that happens between them. There is heartbreak, heartwarming and I even got a laugh when he thought he could spar with her!! I enjoyed the parts where the previous characters were involved. There are ups and downs with their families and friends. I didn’t think it was possible for an author to put so many different situations in one story and have it flow so seamlessly. I really enjoyed this story and am enjoying the series. I appreciate the Narrator, Nicholas Donald Malcolm who brought the characters to life. A good Narrator can make you see and feel the story. He does that. I was given a free copy and this is an voluntary review.

Fantastic Story & Listen🎧 Captivating & Heartfelt!

I thoroughly enjoyed this amazing book, it is well written and grabbed my attention right from the start and held it to the end. The characters are complex and well developed, I really liked the two leads, Toby Mitchell and Raven Whitehorse. Neither one of them has had an easy life, Toby was placed into foster care shuffled from home to home, Raven’s grew up without a Mom who disappeared under what she deems as suspicious circumstances. She ran away from home to find her, only to land on the streets but the kindness of another, Charlie, she was able to make something of herself and is currently working at a Stonework, that is where she meets Toby, he was on his way to Beckett. When Toby aged out of Foster care he joined the Marines and his comrades became his family but an injury forces him out. Toby is a bit of a loner and is still lost but Beckett convinces him to do his own security work and hires him. Toby reaching out to Raven was out of his comfort zone but he was intrigued by her and he finally does and it is the start of a wonderful friendship and romance. I loved how everything plays out in this book, it is well plotted with a lot going on, Toby helps Raven find her Mom, he is also continues to work for Beckett, providing security for Harlow, then dealing with his inner demons, PTSD and abandonment issues. Raven was so good for him, they were great together and for each other. There is never a dull moment in this book, there is plenty of drama, angst, twists and turns, some thrilling suspense, some heartfelt moments, heartbreaking ones and some hot romance. Thank you S.M. Stryker for terrific story and the emotional rollercoaster ride. Great job presenting and handling the mental health issues and PTSD, it is all real.

Nicholas Donald Malcolm is a terrific narrator and voice artist. He brings the characters to life giving each their own voice and personality. He does a great job portraying each of the characters and projecting their emotions into his performance. He is an entertaining storyteller and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for a great listen🎧

Saving the lost

We met Mitchell and Raven in book 1, now we get their story. Mitchell carries lots of guilt around...he believes that it was his fault that he hit an IED that almost took the life of his best friend. After being discharged from the Marines, Mitchell starts his own security company. He meets Raven when he starts doing contract work for Beckett’s software company. The pair hit it off but it’s difficult to have a successful relationship when there’s lots of childhood baggage...both had been abandoned by their mothers. The journey is tedious but the outcome is worth it for this couple and their friends.
I accepted a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to like it

I got half way through and couldn't continue. I tried slowing down the narration but it was like he was in a rush to get somewhere and wanted it over with.
I think the story had potential but I just couldn't listen. sorry

Emotions galore

Raven and Toby were heros in the game of life.
Both were dealt bad hands, but they parlayed them into eventual life lessons and success. So many people in the story got second chances, many paid it forward, and I liked the trickle down effects exhibited. At times raw and gritty, but in the end inspirational and uplifting story and characters. The narrator was good. I voluntarily listened to a free copy of this story and am giving an honest review.

love it!

Toby Mitchell, a former Marine, is haunted by guilt. He almost cost his friend's life when the vehicle hit an IED while on tour.
Mitchell is a.loner l, keeps to himself. When he meets Raven on the way to see Beckett, he becomes interested in her. Both have abandonment issues. Mitchell, by being in foster care and Raven, by her mother's disappearance. Their friendship blossoms into romance.
S M Stryker keeps this story interesting, with suspense, twists and turns, drama , and romance.
Nicholas Donald Malcolm is a wonderful narrator. He gives each character their own voice and personality. I was gifted this audio and offered my honest review.

Mitchell's story

I loved getting to see more of the story going on from Toby and Raven's perspective.

Narration was quickly paced.