Absinthe of the Heart

(Sins of the Heart, Book 1)

By: Monica James

Narrated by: Vanessa Edwin

Length: 11 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's Summary

Two households, unlike in dignity, in the City of Angels is where we lay our scene...

London Sinclair was the boy my mother warned me about for as long as I can remember. His name alone has brought my family nothing but shame and suffering, so it’s no surprise we’ve been sworn enemies since the first moment we met.

With his bedroom eyes and cocky smile, he has all the girls under his spell. I have one more year of school left, and then I’m home free because I’m guarding a secret, one I’m ashamed to keep. 

The boy who is completely off-limits is the one who drives me, Holland Brooks, wild. I want London, and I think…he wants me, too. 

Some may compare it to a Shakespearian tragedy, as our surnames have fated our future, but when a single night changes my life forever, I can’t leave the City of Angels fast enough. 

Ten years later, I have atoned for my sins and return to Los Angeles a changed woman. I’ve come home to get married. But the moment London walks back into my life, one thing is clear. Ten years can’t undo that night - that single, sinful night when I gave into temptation - because I want to do it again.

©2018 Monica James. (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

A BEAUTIFUL BATTLEFIELD.. & A 5 ⭐️ TRIUMPH

This rollercoaster Romeo and Juliet type love story was fated from the start.. their families hated each other and, at the beginning, you’re given the reason why. So, from kindergarten on, London and Holland became arch enemies and the evil stares and seismic friction built between them.. but under their High School joint animosity something beautiful stirred and flared to life. But OMG and WOW, it catastrophically ended in betrayal, heartbreak and lies.. lies that would finally be revealed when these doomed lovers meet again 10 years later. The majority of the story is when they are in their late twenties.. and in that story there’s beautiful highs, swoon-worthy scenes, sex, touching sentiments and passion. But lurking in the shadows (and also in plain sight), are things that will shake their foundations, rattle their senses, threaten everything they thought they knew and will come close to destroying their worlds.

The highs are epically beautiful, the lows are nerve-wracking and tragic and the angst, drama, threats and villainous treachery breaks your heart for these two loveable characters who were very much in love. But Fate, Destiny and Karma were determined to throw a spanner, a ratchet, a hammer.. Hell, the whole bloody toolbox, in Cupid’s way.

Worth a credit? These are good sized well-planned, well-written and well-executed books, the pace was perfect, the well-placed sex scenes didn’t overwhelm the plot-line and Vanessa Edwin is now my absolute favorite female narrator because her male voice was perfect, sexy and awesome. She brought the multitude of never-ending feels needed for the dual POV plot and she alone made this love story a memorable audiobook. Yes, I guessed a few things, but Monica James had a lot more up her sleeve to wow me with.. and yes, IMO, this Duet would have definitely been worth 2 credits.. but joy of joys you’ve got nothing to loose here because they’re absolutely free with Audible Escape.. so many smiles and many thanks.

loved it

I really enjoyed reading this author.  I look forward to reading more books by this author in the near future.

disappointing tear jerker

It needs to be rewritten with a better ending. I felt like I was left hanging just when I thought there would be a resolution

Poor me

This story drags too much, I think she goes on and on it like poor me.

Drawn Out

This listen was more drawn out than it needed to be. Just get to the point without cutting the other person off.

sensational!!!!

monica james, makes some of the most captivating series love her work but this series by far is my favorite