Portland Storm: The First Period

Portland Storm, Books 1-3

De: Catherine Gayle

Narrado por: Angel Clark

Breakaway

She's reaching for a breakaway pass.

Dana Campbell has spent the past seven years in self-imposed isolation for a crime she didn't commit. The danger is well in the past, but her panic attacks make it impossible to have a normal, healthy relationship with a man. Even her counselor has given up on her. She has to find someone she trusts to help her fight through the panic, or her seven-year ordeal will become a lifetime sentence. There's only one man she feels safe enough to ask.

On the Fly

Injury after injury has put Brenden Campbell's NHL career on hold for years. Now he's playing for the Portland Storm and determined to make it stick. Few things in life drive him more than being told he can't have something he wants, and what he wants most is to prove he belongs. Brenden also wants Rachel Shaw, the cute, little redhead who just got hired as the general manager's new assistant. But then she went and made herself off-limits, telling him: "I don't date." Those three words pretty much guarantee that he'll do everything he can to change her mind.

Taking a Shot

Katie Weber has had a crush on Jamie Babcock for almost two years, since he joined her father's pro hockey team, the Portland Storm, as an 18-year-old rookie. When cancer takes her health, her hair, and even her friends, she can't bear to go to senior prom...until Jamie intervenes.

Light the Lamp

Life's been rough lately for Noelle Payne, but she's not one to let negativity rule. So, she lost her job? She'll find another one. The bank foreclosed on the house? Well, she can live out of her car for a while. There's always an upside to be found...but now Noelle needs to find something to give her life meaning. She owes it to the universe to figure it out, too, because a stranger just saved her life.

©2013 Catherine Gayle (P)2016 Catherine Gayle

Bad Narration

I found the narration was very hard to follow. it would be much better or easier to follow if different voices were used. There were times
ex when Rachel and Soupy were both talking and you couldn't tell who was talking. otherwise a decent storyline.

Fun listen, not too steamy but NAME pronunciation

Where does Portland Storm: The First Period rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It's in the middle. I moved to the next grouping of books. Not too much steam but a lot of character building.

What did you like best about this story?

I like the honest look at relationships, mush some of them weren't so over the top.

What three words best describe Angel Clark’s voice?

Not a ton of different voices to read from, but good inflection on many points. But if you're going to read the names of WELL KNOW current and top players, people from all over the world where their names are their brand, please get the NAME pronunciation right. "Said - in" twins are "Sa - Dean" for one. If most people reading these books know any hockey at all, it makes it to where you just leave the world created and. Cringe.

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

She shoots she scores and other tales from in the NHL locker room

Ok

The first one with Alex was the best, except for the narrator. The voices could be a little better or have added a man’s voice. The other story with Rachel was great. The others are not so good. I would prefer no t to hear the one voice for the whole book and the last one just dragged. Too bad. I was looking forward to a good story.

I loved the stories of the Portland Storm team!

What made the experience of listening to Portland Storm: The First Period the most enjoyable?

This was the first time I have listen or read anything by Catherine Gayle and I was positively surprised.The characters are real, the rhythm is fantastic and as i read it while commuting I didn't want to arrive to work so I could listen a little more!!!

Any additional comments?

I am looking forward to reading the next three stories cause I am sure I will love them as much as this ones!!!

Fantastic first period in Gayle's series

If you could sum up Portland Storm: The First Period in three words, what would they be?

Exciting, emotional, heartwarming

What did you like best about this story?

meeting the team and their girls

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

the emotions

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

the end

Any additional comments?

Angel Clark really grasps the emotions of this poignant series debut, does a fabulous job on the characters, switching from female to male roles effortlessly, giving listeners a wonderfully compelling 360º novel experience.

Good story

Didn't want to put it down. Prefer to read a series. Got used to narration after the first book.

Hot Hovkey Set!

I have loved the storm series for years and have re-read the series often! this is the the first time I've listened to them and I have to say I love these characters even more now!

Good Deal for a single credit

28 hours for a single credit! Stories are alternating POVs, with a single narrator.

Breakaway: This is a SLOOOOOOW burn in a lot of ways. Fundamentally, because Dana is trying to recover from a sexual assault that occurred when she was in college. She seeks out Eric "Zee" Zellinger's help. He's her brother's best friend and someone she's known her whole life and the only man she feels she can remotely trust.

This is an emotionally difficult book to experience. Not only from Dana's POV, but also Eric's and to a smaller degree the others in their lives. In some respects this length of time is reflective of what it can take for some victims to recover (if they ever do) and the many small steps that feel insurmountable to them. It can make the book feel like it's dragging at times, but I prefer that to books that gloss over such heavy subject matter.

On The Fly: This is another slow burn as Brenden (Soupy) tries to win over wary single-mom Rachel. Another book that deals with sexual assault (this time of a minor) in a realistic way without being overly graphic. Though listeners sensitive to that subject may still find it to be too much as it’s impact is a major part of the story line.

Taking a Shot: Sweet novella giving us more insight into Jamie & Katie as they attend her senior prom. As Katie is still in high school, the steam is no more than a kiss. Also, Jamie & Katie's story continues throughout the the other books and they don't get their HEA until book 7, Dropping The Gloves.

Light the Lamp: This is my least favorite book of the series and the one I usually skip when rereading as I struggle both to connect with the main characters and in finding their romance believable. Noelle borders on being psychic/mystic/or some inconsistently defined supernatural empath. It just doesn't fit with the tone of the series or other characters. She's homeless and the reasons are ridiculously non-existent other than in some kind of construct in her mind.

This is also INSTA relationship, living together, etc with no foundation for any kind of meaningful bond between Liam & Noelle. The majority of the book takes place in a week and I just don't feel like Gayle justified Liam's feelings/actions or gives any reason to be confident these two have what it takes to make it last.

Overall: Gayle immerses listeners with the Portland Storm players and organization. I like how she continues to give regular insight into a lot of the players throughout the books. I admit, all I know about hockey is from romance novels - but her descriptions seem thorough while still engaging.

This is my first experience with Angel Clark. It took me a bit to get used to her male speaking voices (they sometimes come off a bit "squeaky"), but overall I enjoyed the production and her narration in the first book. For “On The Fly” Clark lacked the finesse she showed in the first book. The differentiation between character voices was minimal. Also, Rachel is described as having a Southern (Texas) accent and Clark only used it if the accent was immediately mentioned in the text or vaguely in sentences that used “y’all” or talked about Rachel’s time living there. She missed the mark to bring some individuality to these characters. Her narration improves as the series continues and overall it's enjoyable.

Incredible narrating!

Really enjoyed the Portland Storm series. The narrator is fantastic and there are some excellent plot twists.

Realistic Characters, and Yes! the Hockey's Right

Happy to find some modern romance with realistic characters who are facing real life issues. I enjoyed that the same characters are woven throughout and you get to know more about them as the series goes on. As a hockey player, NHL fan and hockey girlfriend, I was unexpectedly delighted on how spot on the author is about the chemistry and character of hockey players in general. It's still a romance novel, of course, so it's more warm and fuzzy than reality... But the team-is-your-family feeling of our community is oh so true to life, and I rarely see it written about so well!