• Storm

  • Ashes & Embers, Book 1
  • By: Carian Cole
  • Narrated by: CJ Bloom
  • Length: 8 hrs and 38 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (3,527 ratings)

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Storm  By  cover art

Storm

By: Carian Cole
Narrated by: CJ Bloom
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Publisher's summary

I felt the wind rustle, warning me, telling me to get out of its path - but I didn't. I never stood a chance.

A series of weather and road mishaps leave me trapped in the middle of a blizzard with a complete stranger. In the back of a pickup truck. For 48 freakin' hours.

A stranger with long hair, tattoos, and rippling with muscle. A stranger with an insanely sexy voice and a wicked smile that turns my insides to jelly. A stranger who holds me in his arms, calms me, and then sets a fire in me that I can't put out.

Some people chase storms for the beautiful thrill. What happens when the storm chases you?

Contains mature themes.

©2014 Carian Cole (P)2016 Tantor

What listeners say about Storm

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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AN ORIGINAL & WELL WRITTEN ROCKER ROMANCE

Evelyn is happy with her life... she's got a good job and she's living with her long-term one and only boyfriend in a committed comfortable relationship. She's on her way to a Seminar but her new Sat Nav has got her hopelessly lost... in the middle of nowhere... in a snow storm and, just when Evie thinks it can't get any worse.... it does and she ends up getting stuck in a ditch - stranded with no food, warmth or cell coverage. Then a huge scary man comes to her rescue but as he gets closer Evie sees he's wearing coal eyeliner, his hair is long with two parts dyed and he's got the whole goth look going on.... but he's also concerned, thoughtful and handsome.... and his name is Storm.

As the snow storm turns into a blizzard they start off in Storm's truck but they don't get far before disaster strikes again and Evie ends up stranded with a total stranger until the snow plough can rescue them. Which takes a few days (first in Storm's truck then in his cabin) and, during those long days of closeness and warmth, a solid bond and lifelong friendship was formed.... which would go on to shake Evie's world and make Storm's dreams come true. Because the stranger turned out to be a famous Rock Star, her boyfriend turned out to be a cheating b'stard and their 'solid' relationship, which she continually resisted and rejected Storm for, was weak and easily shattered.

This listen is so entertaining as Evie battles commitment vs. chemistry.... there's humor as Evie and Storm playfully banter, there's heavy petting as Storm tries hard to win Evie's heart, there's sexy times when he succeeds, there's tenderness and romance when Storm repeatedly comes to Evie's rescue... and there's a touching HEA too. The story is relationship driven as Storm tries to show Evie that she is in fact living in a loveless bubble - a bubble he's ready, willing and eager to burst.... but Evie is concerned that it'll be her heart that Storm's going to break. Evie's a sassy sarcastic stubborn spitfire, Storm's a sexy swoon-worthy seducer... and, at first, Evie comes across as a bit immature in her reactions but she grows up and grows on you too... and Storm's just all kinds of Mr. Wonderful. Told from Evie's POV, some good secondary characters and the narrator was great.

Worth a credit? Yes, it's an enjoyable journey of undeniable and unquenchable chemistry, soul connection, taking chances and risking it all for love. The Rock Band Ashes and Embers are made up of hot moody brothers and an equally moody Cousin who've yet to find 'the one'. Evie has a deaf cat, Storm has rescued an abused dog and further characters will be owners of abused/disabled animals - why the theme?... because a % of the profits from this book will go to worthy Animal Organizations.

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47 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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The main caharater was unbarable!

I have the romance package and have read many books in this particular genre and have generally enjoyed them. This seemed right up my ally. I was SO wrong! I love trashy romance novels. I am not looking for fine literature but this one is just insipid! I generally hate leaving a book unfinished to the point that a will read a sequel to a book that I felt was mediocre just so I can get the character's full story. However the main character in this is so vacuous and vapid I just couldn't bear to listen any more.
The book starts with the main character lost in a blizzard because a) she didn't bother to look over general directions to where she was going and b) she was not even paying attention to where she was going. Strike one. Then after realizing she is lost she picks up her cell phone to call her boyfriend and throws a temper tantrum when she doesn't have service. She throws her phone. Strike two. Then because she is indeed a thoughtless idiot she bends down while driving in a blizzard to grab her useless phone (she is using a GPS so the phone without service is a paperweight) and spins her car off the road. Strike three. Really I should have just called it here but I figured this was just the set up and maybe she was just having a rough moment so I continued on.
When the male lead, who saw her accident, stops (like any decent human being would) to see if she is okay, she flips out on him and accuses him of being an axe murderer. Strike four. After some tedious work on his part to get her to consider her situation rationally she finally accepts his help. Oh and he has to carry her to his car because she is as stated completely vacuous and is wearing high heels. Strike five. She then proceeded to complain to him that she is missing a very important meeting and that her boss is going to call her irresponsible. SERIOUSLY?!?!?! Yeah how dare her boss give her the very correct criticism that she is indeed irresponsible. Then Storm tells her her boss is a jerk. Strike six. That was really when I started to lose all hope for the book. I listened for another torturous half before I gave up and did something I have only ever done 3 times before. I returned it without finishing. Considering I read or listen to about 2-4 books a week that is saying something.

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22 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The Perfect Storm!


Storm was the perfect rising rock star character! Down to earth, lovable, caring and didn't play games.

After listening and falling in love with Torn by Carian Cole, I knew I had to go back and start the Ashes and Embers series, and WOW the first book was A W E S O M E ! I can't believe I waited so long to start this series! Cole has a unique way of bringing two characters together. It's not your typical two hurt characters resisting the pull and chemistry between them but rather the story of a character who's in a relationship but falls hard for another who ignites repressed passion and desires. Not knowing each other, these two characters are stranded and forced to be together while they wait out the worst of the blizzard in the back of a truck. They are open, honest, and not trying to impress each other. As they survive and work together, a bond is form along with a spark of chemistry.

The narration was outstanding! I've listened to CJ Bloom before, and enjoyed her performances. She is such an animated narrator who knows how to bring the written words to life. My only constructive criticism would be trying to distinguish between the character's mental internal dialogue and the characters spoken dialogue. Sometimes it was obvious, but Bloom does such a good job at animating all the dialogue, I found myself asking did the character just think that or speak that. This is just a minor observation, and did not impact the rating. I've listened to well over 600 audiobooks and know there is no perfect narrator.

All the positive reviews are spot on. I LOVED Storm (both the story and character)! Well worth the time, and definitely worth a credit. Another amazing author to follow!

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17 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Absolute must read

Oh how I absolutely loved both Storm and Evelyn. Storm is dark and brooding. Evie is vulnerable but strong. They both complement each other perfectly. Aria nailed this book, in my opinion.

Evelyn has been in a dead end relationship for 12 years. He is always away on travel. He is always brash and rather rude to Evie. I found myself wanting to throat punch him so Arian nailed that character too. She is in a snow storm traveling when she has car troubles. Cue the handsome Storm Valentine.

Storm has had a troubled past. He can be moody but he is lovable. He rescues Evie and they get stuck together. Now the fun begins. Evelyn has no idea who Storm really is so he can't help the attraction he has to her. Its not long before Evie starts wondering what is going on at home. He truly does her a favor and helps her see that Michael is all wrong for her.

In short, I absolutely loved this book. Go one click. I'm off to start book 2 this second.

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14 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

✫✫ 5 Stars ✫✫

I loved this book! It was different, fun, and sexy! This is a story about two very different people meeting in a very unconventional way! He is a rock god with a much deeper softer side! She is a sheltered, slightly prissy girl who thinks she has exactly what she needs in life. These two have great chemistry, super hot sex and seriously sweet relationship! I can't wait to start book 2 but I'm afraid it's going to be a emotionally hard one to get through!

The narration was good however I didn't love her male voice and would have love if they had used a male & female narration team.

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13 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Wait, what?

I enjoyed the performance. The characters were cute. I found the lead female a little difficult to relate to. I think it was really uncomfortable that the main character won't leave one relationship until she's confident in the next one. What happened to female independence? Why would she stay in a bad relationship over being on her own? I found that part of the story line to be almost offensive in its ridiculousness. Have some pride ladies.

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Get ready to cringe for 8 hours

A horrific and cringe worthy experience. Overall unbearable and so unnecessarily awful, the protagonist is non stop internalized misogyny staying with a guy who is clearly cheating on her while "falling in love" with another guy that doesn't even treat her that well. The whole time constantly putting down other women and being so degrading towards "sluts" as well as herself. All of which is really ironic considering she is essentially cheating on bf and engaging in the behavior that she blanket condemns for other women. Furthermore it has the whole obsession with virginity for no apparent reason, needing to make the protagonist "like a virgin." Why can't she just be a person in love? Why does she have to be reduced to a male fantasy? Who is this book even for?

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12 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good love story.

I liked the story line about the way people look on the outside is not necessarily what they really are on inside.

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7 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

crybaby

Evelyn is the biggest crybaby/complainer ever. It makes it impossible to listen to. I tried, I listened for almost an hour.

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6 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I'm hooked!

I loved this book so much. I couldn't put it down and I have the baggage under my eyes to prove it.

I enjoyed the narrator and would definitely listen to her again.

I'm dying to get into the other books in this series. I already got book 2 ready on my Audible app. Now I wait for the other books to be released on Audible.

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