Cedar Ridge

By: Michael Robertson Jr

Narrated by: J. Scott Bennett

Length: 8 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

Nothing is known about what happens inside the walls of Cedar Ridge resort, except that 95 percent of troubled married couples leave with all their problems solved. A miracle, some might say, but also a mystery. Ready to give up, ready to finally say the word "divorce", Melissa Keaton receives an anonymous message on an online forum and soon finds herself on the way to Cedar Ridge with her husband, hoping the resort will be the answer she's been looking for. But the Keatons' problems have only just begun. They're no longer only trying to save their marriage. They're trying to save their lives. With a menacing storm, dangerous escaped convicts, and an abandoned resort with a haunted past, Cedar Ridge will have you holding your breath and squeezing your loved ones tight.

©2015 Michael Robertson , Jr. (P)2016 Michael Robertson, Jr.

Suspenseful but predictable

Cedar Ridge is a secluded resort for couples and the place Melissa hopes will save her marriage. But the couple's weekend retreat turns out totally different to what they had expected. This was a quick, but very intense and suspenseful audiobook. I thought I had the big twist worked out fairly early on, but it was still enjoyable listening to the end to have it confirmed. The characters were interesting and J. Scott Bennett's narration was great giving each character a distinct voice and providing a fluid, well-paced, and pleasant narration.
This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com

A different kind of therapy

I enjoyed this entertaining audiobook that contains some underlying messages on marriage that are well cloaked in a suspenseful story. Melissa Keaton is on the verge of divorce and in a last ditched effort to revitalize her marriage, she booked herself and her husband, John, into Cedar Ridge. The resort had an impressive record for saving troubled marriages, but the Keaton’s soon discovered that marital problems are the least of their troubles.
This story moves along at a good pace and has lots of action. A motel death, extreme weather, escaped criminals, ghosts and life-threatening danger, create an engaging plot. The narrator, J Scott Bennett, suited the book nicely. He showed the characters emotions well and I especially liked his portrayal of John, he made you feel the love John had for Melissa throughout the story. Told from both John and Melissa’s POV we see their varying views on their marriage, experience their emotions, fears and hopes. The plot is entertaining but a little predictable. The characters are varied, and I could not help but become attached to John and as he tried to cope with the unorthodox counselling methods, his wife’s dissatisfaction and everything else that happens at Cedar Ridge.

Just finished, really enjoyed

Just finished this one, courtesty at no cost from Audiobook Blast and the author in exchange for an unbiased review. In line with some other reviewers, I did realize how the denouement would go fairly early on, but that actually made it more enjoyable (for me) as I listened to it all play out. Also in line with other reviewers, I thought the narration was top notch; Mr. Bennett's voice does initially come across as a bit too falsetto, but that judgement evaporates within a few sentences, and he never misses a step with characterization, punctuation, or emotion. Two thumbs up and a definite recommendation!

"You must do whatever I say at all times".

Any additional comments?

I was hooked after the first couple chapters...but after around the 5th chapter I was starting to get a little bored and I found myself hoping it would pick up. Well it did!!! A few chapters later I was on the edge of my seat! From that point on it was a non-stop ride that I didn't want to end. The narrator brought each and every character to life so completely. There were parts in the early middle that had me questioning the story but everything came together at the end. This is an absolute DON'T MISS!!

This book was provided to me by the author for an honest review.

Interesting concept of marriage counseling

Any additional comments?

I really like how the scenario played out while the couple were going through marriage counseling. The author did a good job of ratcheting up the tension. This audiobook was provided to me for free through Audiobook Blast for my unbiased review.

Average book

This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com

First, I believe the narrator for this book made it worse than it should have been. I did not like the narrator's voices and inflections.

The story of the book was somewhat predictable and has been told before. The characters, while developed, discussed and theorized too much during the action points in the book.

Enjoyable.

While I did enjoy this, I'm still debating if this is a 3 or 4 start read!! Reason being is that despite being suspenseful, the "big reveal" was predictable and I had guessed what was happening fairly early on. Saying that, it didn't detract from the overall feel of the story, it just made for a kind of flat ending.

Plot wise (apart from the "reveal") it was fairly fast paced and suspenseful. The setting was great, a big secluded resort during a violent storm. It set the scene perfectly!! The idea behind it was also good, a retreat to save your marriage, with a 95% success rate but it's also shrouded in mystery. It gave for a very intense feel. It was the fact that it was so predictable that let it down so much.

Character wise, they were all well written and while some of them were hard to like, you still were rooting for them. I did wonder why Melissa was so adamant that there was something wrong with her marriage though!!

In all, while I figured out early on what would happen, I still enjoyed listening to this. It held my attention and had enough extra things happening to keep me listening and I think that was because of the narration!! This isn't the first book I've listened to that was narrated by J. Scott Bennett, and it won't be my last. He has a great range of tones and voices and always knows when to ramp up the tension!

Cedar Ridge

"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook Blast."

This book follows a couple as they go to a retreat for marriage therapy. Many unexpectedly things happen as their adventure progresses. Lots of action and mystery crammed into a short period of time.

I have to say I figured out the conclusion very early on, so I had to keep listening to see if I was correct.


The narration was well done, a very enjoyable listen.

A very enjoyable, suspenseful story!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The premise was fun and intriguing but the plot took many twists and turns which were totally unexpected. Unlike a couple other reviewers, I had no idea how the story was going to end. Without giving anything away, this book was suspenseful with a few different storylines that all came together at the end.

I thought the character development was very good….some of the characters I liked and some I didn’t. It was one of those books I wanted to continue to listen to until the various mysteries were solved. It definitely held my interest!

The story also called for some introspection on married life. I think there are some underlying messages that all of us married folk should heed! The narration was also very good and a pleasure to listen to. I totally recommend this book!

I received an Audible version of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Good mystery

Michael Robertson Jr. wrote a book with a lot of suspense and a very good setting. A marriage retreat was set in a rural area, and the couples were feeling that some strange things were happening. I felt as though the ending was predictable, but that didn't stop me from wanting to listen to more of the story. The narrator, Scott Bennett, did a great job giving voices to the different characters. HIs voice is pleasant and easy to listen to.
I was given a copy of this audio book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.