A Torn Paige

Hidden Kingdom Trilogy Series, Book 1

By: L. Rose

Narrated by: Troy Duran, Aletha George

Length: 5 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's Summary

One, two, things are changing for you. Three, four, monsters at your door. Five, six, no one could predict. Seven, eight, you learn they're your mates. Nine, 10, it's time to fight again.  

Paige Alice has changed, but she's not sure if that's a good or bad thing.  

The good. Four annoying and different types of men, who she trusts with her life. A scary but faithful sidekick, and of course, her crazy family.  

The bad...Everything else.  

Contains mature themes.

©2019 L. Rose (P)2020 Tantor

I'd give it 2 1/2 stars if I could.

Very little actually happened in this book.
To me it felt like more of a protracted meet and greet and a vehicle for the idea that "you should be allowed to love whomever you want".
I can respect and appreciate an author choosing a topic they feel strongly about. That said, frequent and obvious repetition of said point of view starts to feel like nagging. We get it already! This book did have some funny moments. Page was mostly non whiny and generally rolled with all the crazy which was very refreshing. That's about all I can say in favor of this book. It just wasn't for me. I liked both of the narrators.


Here's a breakdown of the book for people like me who prefer to know what they're getting in to, so be warned.
** Spoilers Beyond This Point ***


Everyone meets Page and her "dog" Ezra at a restaurant during a hostage situation which was the most entertaining part of the story in my opinion. Also Ezra is the best character.

Page finds out she is definitely a ghoul which is kind of gross... but she is also the new queen and has a castle which makes up for all the necessary cannibalism... even though she's a barista and knows nothing about running a kingdom... but it's magic and she's a good person so just go with it.

While on one level I appreciate the lack of family drama. Pages sister and brother in law are freakishly excepting and move themselves and their two young children into her castle with her. No I'm not kidding, yes it was weird.

She finds out she has multiple really hot mates each of a different supernatural race which is apparently scandalous. (It's like these people have never read a paranormal RH romance before) I kind of wish a couple of her guys were less hot and had great personalities instead. It would have been a better book.
A couple of her mates get hot and heavy whth each other... and her too. I have to agree with another reviewer that thought the guys in this series seem more interested in each other than her.
She is introduced to her people.
"I present to you your queen... Queen Buttercup!"
Tragedy strikes and fade to black.

I went ahead and got the kindle version of the next book because I hate endings that stop in the middle but there's a good chance I won't finish the second book because I don't really care what happens to most of the characters and honestly I'm bored.

LOVED this book

I had heard how amazing this series was and when it popped up on audio, with one of my favorites Troy Duran narrating it, I had to pick it up. A fantastic RH story filled with action, adventure and seriously steamy heat, it was one that I binge listened pretty much all in one sitting. Aletha George is a new to me narrator, but I REALLY enjoyed her performance and will totally be checking out more of her work.
I will say one thing. THAT CLIFFHANGER! Luckily the next two books are out in eBook, but maaaaan it got me.
Highly Recommend!

to short

I really like the story but it was to short I ready to see what happens next and I hope the hell hound ok

Dark violent and funny

great read and characters actually use their brains in a world full of magic and Mayhem

Painful

This book was soooooo painful for me. So freaking painful.

Why?

The story itself was awful. Now. Granted. It had a huge hill to climb after I read about the gross human meat eating FMC. I don’t do well with things like that - cannibalism type stuff. It dropped me right back to The Walking Dead and the Wrong Turn movie and I was basically full of disgust through the first half of the book. This is supposed to also be romance and I couldn’t get passed the horrifying details the author gave the first 1/4 of the book. So that knocked off two stars right there for me.

Surprisingly, I have three amazing book group friends who LOVE this series. I don’t get it - cause I tried. But I was pretty upset most of the book.

So once the author stopped talking about eating human meat - the story was nowhere near good enough to recover.

Here’s the thing - the narration? Was 1000% 5 star material. It’s the reason I was able to finish. I’m so completely obsessed with Troy Duran right now and Aletha also did a bang up job. It was wonderfully narrated. But even they couldn’t save the story itself.

PROS:
Narration
The hellhound
M/M action

CONS:
No relationship buildup
1000% instalove
No depth
Human meat

List goes on and on.

Here’s the thing though - it’s clear maaaaaaany other people love this series. So don’t use my review as a reason not to read it. It looks like I’m one of few who didn’t like it.

A Wonderful New Series

L. Rose is a new author for me and I have to say, I am impressed. This book caught my attention immediately and Paige is awesome. The humor she finds in everything is awesome. As usual, Troy and Althea are amazing. Troy’s voice alone is orgasmic in my opinion. If you haven’t read this book, do it now. You will be so happy that you did.

Epic!!

I so freaking love this series!! Now being able to listen to it whenever and wherever i want is awesome. Can't wait for book 2 & 3 to release. Please, please, please be soon!!!

Troy Duran and Aletha George did an amazing job breathing life to these characters.Troy Duran voice is sooo...yum!! Aletha George was perfect for Paige and i could have listen to her voice all day too. Perfect narrator duo!

Love this book

I really enjoyed listening to book. I enjoyed the characters, how inner acted with each other. The readers maxed the the story come alive. I can't wait until the other books come out.

Got some insta-love!

The story starts as a slow burn. Midway there’s some dirty thoughts and by the end it’s full on Rh. Be aware that there is m/m action.
As far as the paranormal goes, it’s definitely something different as far as some of the types of character.
My only real hang up(come on this is a Rh fiction novel) is the sisters I’m coming too and I believe everything just cause you said so approach.
Overall, pretty good and I’m all in for the next book.
*Does end on a cliffhanger

Omg, I couldn't stop listening!!!

Absolutely amazing job on this book. L. Rose, went a different direction with her book then I've seen before. I really loved that Paige was not your normal supernatural. I love Aletha George, this was my first time having a book narrarated by Troy Duran but he did an awesome job. This book was just amazing, Paige is my boo and her men are hot! the story was well written and I can't wait for the next one.

Loved it!!

Lila Rose (L. Rose) is a go to author of mine. I've read every single book she has written. I've re-read this trilogy quiet a few time so when it came to audio I snatched it up straight away. The narrators did an amazing job with all the characters and the emotions in the story. I cried at a certain bit in the book when I read it but listening to the narrator put the emotion behind it make me cry like a baby. I'm really looking forward to the next book coming to audio.