Bender

By: M. Stratton

Narrated by: Derrick McClain

Length: 5 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

Since high school everyone thought Jake Bender would end up behind bars; after all, he comes from a long line of bad boys. He spent years away from the place he called home. When he finally comes back, everyone thinks he's just a punk kid all grown up who's now running a dive bar called The Night Club. What they don't know is he heads up a special task force that cleans up neighborhoods and makes them safe again.

Stormy Ryan has always felt more comfortable with her books than with people. She loves to spend her days within the pages of her books. When her second-hand bookstore is robbed for the third time in as many months, her employees quit, leaving her to run the shop on her own. With the pressure of having to deal with her shop and people, not to mention the declining neighborhood, she is at the end of her rope. When closing up her shop late one night, she is held up, and the neighborhood bad boy saves her, putting both of them at the forefront of a psychotic's obsession.

Being bad has never looked so good.

©2015 Michele Stratton (P)2015 Michele Stratton

Twisted

Loved how crazy and twisted the story was!
There were times when my mouth just hung open!

Loved this book!

Would you consider the audio edition of Bender to be better than the print version?

I will always pick audio over print! To me a good narrator can really bring a book to life, and that is what Derrick McClain did. I'm now a fan of Derricks,

What was one of the most memorable moments of Bender?

I hate to say that the most memorable part, was a painting that was done. The 2nd was the end, I love when you get to see how things turn out for H/H.

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

I have never listened to anything by Derrick McClain, but I will make sure I do going forward. He was great!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I'm not so much in to horror books, and this book does have a few gory parts but its not to bad.

Any additional comments?

This book is mix between horror, romance and suspense. If your into that mix then this is a MUST listen, you will not regret it.

Loved this book!!!!

Any additional comments?

This book goes to show you. you should never judge before you know someone. I love how in this story it just took one person to change the life of a troubled young man. I only wish we all could stand up to the "bad guys" to make this world a better place. Derrick McClain was wonderful in this story I would for sure listen to more of his books...

Complex Action - Thriller Mystery & Romance

Any additional comments?

This book had so many different elements it made it a tough one. It contained a mystery/thrill factor, romance, damage child grows up to be a superhero and more. It was more complex than I expected.

Everyone loves a hero and Jake Fender overcame outstanding odds to become that hero. He helps those less fortunate and in situations similar to his childhood, when he had no power - it is what he does.

Derek McClain did a fantastic job narrating. I would have been completely lost if it weren't for his ability to make each character sound as unique as the author had written. There was so much coming from so many angles and his performance maneuvered the way through it.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my review.

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Possible Spoilers..

OK, so it really was disgusting when Nutter cut those guys’ heads off and used their blood for his art. He had already put a large piece of canvas on the floor before they got there. He was a serious whack-job. And when Mick was stirring the stew and an eyeball floated to the top of it and he said how good it smelled. Ewww. One reviewer referred to Nutter as a “nut.” He was a murderous cannibal so he was a little more than a “nut.” Good grief, Mick and Nutter were some of the worst villains I’ve ever read about. I’m sure glad I don’t suffer from nightmares.

I did like Bender from the very beginning but, even though I liked her, Stormy was way to Pollyanna-ish for me. And the author gave her that “I can take care of myself” attitude a little too often; even knowing how crazy Mick and Nutter were and that they were after her. Bender and Murdoch did clean up the neighborhood but it was a bloody and icky story.

They did not make love in this book, they screwed, and it lasted for about a paragraph. So, don’t think you’ll find something hot and steamy here: they got their clothes off in about a sentence, he entered her for about a sentence, and then they were breathing hard after it was over. It was even blander than vanilla sex. I saw no point in the sex really.

There was a little swearing and the F-bomb was used 16 times.

As to the narrator: He was terrible. Stormy sounded just like a man. Why the heck would so many readers give Derrick McClain 4 and 5 stars for a woman sounding like a man? And Donnie, a NINE year old kid, sounded just like a grown man. Good grief! This narrator didn’t even try to change his voice. And when Bender and Stormy were hiding from the bad guys and Bender was whispering to Stormy do you think the narrator was whispering?
NO, he was not. He just read in his regular tone. It was too stupid for words. I would not listen to this narrator again.

Well worth reading despite triggers

For a while, I was uncomfortable with some triggers. However, the story is well written and we can get past it. Not going into any spoilers here. The plot moves along very well, and the characters are complex and easily believable.
DMcC is the perfect audio performer for this job. I can pretty much guarantee you that I, personally, would not have gone thru this book beginning to end with no skipping except for his voice interpretations. And that would have been a waste.
Thanks to AudioBook Blast for making it possible for me to be gifted with this book.

Bender can be my Knight in shining armor!

This book wasn't what I expected however I did like it. Lots of suspense, mystery, and some dark components. Very interesting storyline. I would consider this to be a thriller and it will have you on the edge of your seat!

Bender

Which scene was your favorite?

This story has everything. Intrigue, suspense, creepy characters ,hot guys and bad ass chick . The authorknows how to put the creep in creepy, the baddie's in this one are so bad that you can't help but root for them cause you actually start to like them.

Love and Redemption

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, but I would have to warn them that it gets really dark in some places. Not an easy read for all. I don't mind some dark stuff, but I was not expecting it to get as dark as it did in some places.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Bender?

I don't want to put up spoilers but there was some pretty heinous shit that was done by the evil that is in the book and that stands out still.

What does Derrick McClain bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I enjoyed his narrative very much. He did Jake Bender manly justice.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Honestly, Bender. I would also play up The Breakfast Club angle. What happened when Bender became an adult? Did he become the worthless criminal everyone expected or did he redeem himself?

Bender

Any additional comments?

This was a really good book.I was enthralled with the characters and their chemestry.Derrick McAlain makes the people in the story come alive.Bender was a 'bad kid' who no one gave a chance until one day someone did.He's been a caretaker or enforcer,whatever is needed and now he is about to retire...but there is one more job.She gives him lip and is never satisfied with an answer,but he must protect her from the danger that is following her.Can he do it?Can he get past the sexual tension between them?Read it and find out.
"I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via AudiobookBlast or MalarHouse dot com"