Shades of Gray

A KGI Novel

By: Maya Banks

Narrated by: Adam Paul

Length: 8 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

The Kelly Group International (KGI): a super-elite, top secret, family-run business. Qualifications: high intelligence, rock-hard body, military background. Mission: hostage/kidnap victim recovery. Intelligence gathering. Handling jobs the U.S. government can't...

P. J. and Cole were sharpshooting rivals on the same KGI team and enjoyed a spirited, uncomplicated camaraderie. Until the night they gave in to their desires and suddenly took their relationship one step further. In the aftermath of their one-night stand, they're called out on a mission that goes terribly wrong, and P. J. walks away from KGI, resolved not to drag her teammates into the murky shadows she’s poised to delve into.

Six months later, Cole hasn't given up his search for P. J., and he's determined to bring her back home where she belongs. Bent on vengeance, P. J. has plunged into a serpentine game of payback that will make her question everything she's ever believed in. But Cole - and the rest of their team - refuse to let her go it alone. Even if it means sacrificing their loyalty to KGI, and their lives...

©2012 Maya Banks (P)2012 Penguin Audio

I love this series. KGI Rocks!

I've loved P.J. from The Darkest Hour, the first book in the KGI series. The story starts out with one night of smokin' hot sex. This heroine is strong, takes no prisoners and takes no crap for anyone or that is what she projects to the rest of the world. Cole isn't exactly your average hero either. He struggles with wanting to coddle and protect her but also leaving her enough space so not to injure P.J's pride. I do wish the book was a bit longer, I would've liked to have seen more of Cole, P.J. as well as the rest of the characters from the other books in the series. As much as I liked the ending I couldn't help but think that it was missing something. Yes, the bad guys are gone and KGI triumphed in the end but things will never be the same for P.J. or the men that tried so hard to save her but couldn't. Maybe Maya will gift us with a novella somewhere down the line that will tell us how P.J. is dealing with things.

I cried more during this book then any other in recent memory. The angst factor is really high in this book. After I was done I went right over and picked up a fluff read, His Teddy Bear by Eve Langlais. I needed that read after the emotional roller coaster of Shades of Gray.

I wasn't crazy about the narrator. He wasn't bad but not really good either maybe I just got spoiled by Fred Berman. He does such a good female voice. Once I got used to Adam Paul he was ok.

I SO LOVE THIS SERIES!!!!!!!!!!!!

What did you love best about Shades of Gray?

Whats not to love???

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

No, but please please please get Harry Berkeley back as the narrartor!! I love him! He is KGI!!!

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

I just love them all!!!!

Any additional comments?

Hurry with the next one please!!!

MY NEW FAVORITE BOOK IN THE SERIES!!

What about Adam Paul’s performance did you like?

I'VE READ SOME OF THE NEGATIVE REVIEWS ON MR. PAUL'S PERFORMANCE AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT ALL THE FUSS IS ABOUT. YES, CHANGE IS HARD FOR SOME PEOPLE. I, HOWEVER, FOUND MR. PAUL'S PERFORMANCE TO BE DIFFERENT BUT MOST ENJOYABLE. I HAD NO PROBLEM DISTINGUISHING WHO WAS TALKING BECAUSE MR. PAUL WAS ABLE TO VARY HIS VOICE AND ACCENTS. I DID NOT FIND HIS FEMALE VOICE TO BE IRRITATING AS SOME MALE AUDIO PERFORMANCES CAN BE. MR. PAUL WAS ABLE TO CONVEY THE SUSPENSE IN THE STORY AND ALSO THE TENDER MOMENTS. I HAVE ENJOYED MS. BANKS OTHER KGI BOOKS WITH HARRY BERKELEY AS NARRATOR. I AM EQUALLY PLEASE WITH MR. PAUL. WHO EVER READS MS. BANKS'S NEXT CHAPTER IN THE KGI SAGA, I WILL BE ONE OF THE FIRST TO PURCHASE IT!

Great book, terrible narration!

I love maya banks, she is a great author and I own several of her series. KGI is a great addition, hot determined, sexy, possessive , military men make for a great series. Shades of grey is a great addition to the series, with the gut wrenching plot twists that mark KGI Banks isn’t holding back the puches. This book isn’t for the faint of heart or for anyone who may have experienced sexual assault. I really love the way Banks shows how close a military team is, they are a true family, sometimes the only people the others have to turn to in a crisis and they’ll do or die for each other.
My one problem with this book is the narrator. It appears after book five the audio contract switched from recorded books to penguin audio, and the spectacular narration of Harry Berkeley was replaced with the oh so frustrating Adam Paul. Paul general narration voice is actually pretty nice to listen, but in some ways that makes the awe fullness of character voices worse, because I know he could do them nicely. Instead all of the males, strong, built military men, sound nasally and some nearly shrill, the women either sound masculine or nails on chalkboard shrill, and all the keys have a nice hick twang on top of the nasal tone. I nearly cried when Rio, my beautiful Spanish Rio, came on scene sounding like a high pitched southern hick. I kept gritting my teeth hoping it would get better, but it never did, and the longer I listened the more I had to grit my teeth. Finally I had to give up with 3.5 hours remaining and buy the kindle version. Maybe it wouldn’t have been so bad if hadnt had Berkeley’s awesome narration for the first five books, I don’t know. I know that with penguin in charge now there’s likely some contractual reason they can’t have Berkeley do the books but I know penguin has good narrators. I pray that they will have someone better redo these books. Because until they do I won’t be listening past book five.

Emotional ride

Any additional comments?

Please bring back Harry. Hard to listen to because I loved Harry reading or Phil Gigante. Was not impressed with this narrator.

Didn't mind the narrator!

None of the earlier books from this series are on offer to folk in my real life location, so I disregarded the reviews that didn't like the 'new' narrator. I'm very pleased I did as I found Adam Paul to be up to the task of reading this (at times) disturbing book. I'd have no hesitation about buying books narrated by him in future and, of course, you simply can't go wrong with a Maya Banks' book!

Narrator redeemed himself

Would you listen to Shades of Gray again? Why?

Liked Cole and PJ

What about Adam Paul’s performance did you like?

Thank goodness the heavy and hick southern accent was not a part of this book. The last book may me hesitate to listen to this one. Adam Paul would do better if he sticks to a light drawl if any and focus on the differences in the characters.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Preferred to break up over a couple of days.

Any additional comments?

I prefer one narrator for a series. Especially one that developed the sound of each character though out the series. Susan Ericksen does this the best with the In Death series by JD Robb.

Loved PJ, Loved Cole, didn't love Adam! Why change

This story is completely different from the others and I love this about Maya's books. Each book is so unique. This one has no super-powers or anything out of the norm. However, it does contain scenes that are graphic and hard to digest (brutal rape). The story is really good especially because PJ is portrayed as being very strong willed. Not your typical woman. Loved Cole's character, he is just perfect for PJ.

I wish the narrator did not change. Can't say I'm impressed by Adam; he's okay. Hard to get used to accents that never existed before. I'm currently in the middle of the next book and it gets worse.

Since you are already committed to this series, you need to listen to this book even with Adam. Sorry Adam. You will enjoy it because the story is worth it.

Great book, could not stop listening

other than the end where he says 'Bass Ackward' instead of ass backward, the narration was great. loved the storyline and the characters. kept me on the edge of my seat!

aweful narrator

I want to finish the series, but it's so hard to listen to Paul narrate. The narrator for the first books was amazing and his voice made me want to hear more, now I just want to finish the books Paul has done and hope the next one is better.