The Thorns Remain

By: Jennifer Hartmann, Chelley St Clair

Narrated by: Neill Thorne, Kelley Huston

Length: 14 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

Vengeance.

Hiding deep within the shadows of human nature, it smolders…

Simmers…

Waits.

Only, for me, it was no longer a hibernating beast.

The day I discovered the wrongs committed against me, vengeance clawed its way right through me. The beast had emerged from its lair with a burning need to destroy the man who tore my marriage apart.

And now?

Now, it was my lifeline.

My dark lover.

My. Whole. Purpose.

Revenge.

They say it’s sweet in the end, and I believed them. I could almost taste that honey on my tongue, like a balm I needed to quell the bitterness.

But it was all a lie.

I was blindsided.

And not once did I think about who I might hurt along the way. I never considered the casualties that may fall across my path of destruction.

No…

Revenge is not sweet. Retaliation does not end in reward.

Vengeance is not justice.

The promises whispered by that beast within?

They’re all hollow.

All it ever wanted was to be set free.

In the end, I never expected things to be worse than when it all began.

I never expected the wreckage left in my wake.

I never expected her.

©2021 Jennifer Hartmann and Chelley St. Clair (P)2022 Jennifer Hartmann and Chelley St. Clair

Beautifully tragic

5⭐️ 2🌶️ 4🎧

I’ve been meaning to read Evan’s book since I finished Lotus but life just got in the way and I’m so mad at myself for not making it a priority.

I loved this book so much! I felt so many emotions while reading it and even broke down crying at my kitchen table at one point. But it was all worth it in the end.

Evan was my kind of spiteful and petty. I loved him so much, even if his need for vengeance clouded his judgement so he didn’t see the full impact of his actions until it was too late.

Poor Josie just couldn’t seem to catch a break. I really admired her resilience.

Evan and Jodie’s story is not for the faint of heart but it was ultimately such a beautifully healing journey for both of them.

I really enjoyed the audiobook. Neille Thorne (lol I just noticed his last name) was wonderful as Evan and I enjoyed his Josie voice as well. Kelley Huston also did a wonderful job as Josie. The two of them really brought this book to life.

So vulgar.

The story would have been good without all the foul language. Don’t get why it is necessary to get emotional across

🥰⭐⭐⭐⭐

what an amazing story! it does take you on a wild ride. it keeps you at the edge of your seat. the narrators were amazing!

Best book

It’s been a long time since I enjoyed an audiobook this much without having to skip to the end. I absolutely loved the most the perspective from the MC. More books should be like this one. 100% recommend. Absolutely worth the credit.

Entertaining and emotional

I automatically buy any Jennifer Hartmann book, and I give this one two thumbs up. I like the narrator, but I felt like he was a little too intense at times. But I’ve heard Neill narrate other books and he does a great job.

Narrator

This is a new narrator for me, and I loved him! Loved that is was all narrarated by him as well. I pushed through the story line, although not my favorite from Jennifer Hartmann, u am glad I read it.

This hit my heart

I couldn't even guess the number of books Ive read and listened to in my life, but I've never had one hit me quite like this. I can't tell you how much of it was the story, the characters, or the amazing reading, but as I listened to this, I could feel the emotions of the main character. I felt them as dearly as if they were my own. I don't know what else to say, except that this book touched a place in my heart that I wasn't ready for, and I hope it has the same effect on you.

This book is going in my Favorite Folder!

This book is being added to my Favorites Folder which is saying alot. I only have a handful of books in this folder. This book had me engaged from the beginning and hooked until the end. I laughed and cried. It was a roller-coaster of emotions but very cathartic. Hartmann & St Clair did such an amazing job developing the story and the characters. I highly recommend this book. The narrator really brought the story to life.
To Note: The entire story is performed by Neill Thorne with the exception of the Epilogue. It is the only part performed by Kelley Huston.

A captivating journey of a lost and broken soul finding redemption and a stunning must listen to performance!

The Thorns Remain, written by Jennifer Hartmann and Chelley St Clair and narrated by the fabulous Neil Thorne was an absolute amazing listening experience! Right from the start the narrator’s raspy sexy voice pulls you right in to this story as the MC goes on a dark journey of vengeance and revenge. This book will tear your heart out as it takes you down a dark road of deceit, revenge, betrayals and finally redemption but man is it worth it!

Evan, our deeply emotional yet ruthless MC, is a man on a mission. He’s a man destroyed by another’s careless actions of betrayal and deceit—a betrayal so heart wrenching it takes this once lovable man and turns him almost into a super villain seeking vengeance against those that wronged him, without any care of the innocents in his path. An innocent such as Josie, the wife of the man that stole Evan’s own wife…

“Anger has became my fuel while my heart bleeds retribution.”

Josie on the other hand is clueless to the inner ramblings of Evan’s mind and his ulterior and falls perfectly into his trap. And really, she has such a beautiful peace and kind energy about her you can’t help but fall in love with her and feel for her as Evan starts down the dark path of revenge fueled by rage and vengeance. Yet, while his original intentions were to destroy the man he hates most by winning over his sweet wife, Evan’s plans soon go awry as he realizes Josie’s not at all what he thought she’d be…especially when she starts to make him feel again.

This isn’t a sweet beautiful unfolding of a romance by any means. No, it’s the awakenings of two souls connecting out of the ashes of betrayal and ruined relationships caused by the darkness of deceit and the slow beautiful growth of new connections. And while you’ll feel for both of these characters and hope for the best, you’ll also recognize the irony of their relationship and find yourself unable to look away from the inevitable train wreck that’s about to happen.

Overall this story was a brutal, messy, raw emotional and angst filled journey that will take you in an emotional roller coaster of a ride right alongside Evan and his broken heart as he find not only himself but also perhaps a new love and outlook on life. So if that’s your kind of thing, then buckle up my friend and prepare for an epic journey. And yes, while this book is definitely a slow burn, the emotional connections and angst (and the narrator!) makes it so enthralling you can’t stop listening so grab it today to see for yourself!

powerful book, powerful performance

** as a reader I appreciate when a reviewer doesn't regurgitate the whole book into their review. I want to know how the book made you feel. I don't want a play by play or the blurb. This book made me FEEL ALL THE EMOTIONS! heartbreak, rage, despair, frustration, love.

This book was intense, from the first page to the last. It gripped my heart and didn't let go. I needed to do some deep breathing to lower my blood pressure with some of the more intense chapters. Plus a couple of those hot scenes were... phew, like I would've needed a cigarette after listening if I smoked!!

Ethan, oh Ethan! He had so much hatred and anger inside him yet his heart was so full of love for his daughter. This book chronicled the cycle of his love, loss, betrayal, hope, forgiveness.

This book was a gut wrenching, nail biting, want to throw my phone but also had to keep listening kind of book!

It's about love, revenge, redemption, second chances, forgiveness.

Neill Thorne is hands down one of the most talented and emotional narrators I've ever listened to. I don't think ANY other narrator could've brought these characters to life the way he did. I felt all his feelings and thanks to Neill's ability to convey those emotions I could tell when it all clicks and he let's go.

Jennifer and Chelley together wrote such an emotional journey for this character and even though there are many other vital characters in this story, it's told from Ethan's POV.

As a reader, I appreciated the emotional ups and downs of this book in order to fully grasp the feelings he felt.