Saving Scarlett

Survivor & Savior Duet, Book 1

De: C.A. Varian

Narrado por: Shiloh James, Teddy Hamilton

"Saving Scarlett" by C.A. Varian weaves a tale of love and redemption, where an unlikely hero emerges from the shadows to rescue the woman he never expected to save.

In the heart of sultry New Orleans, Scarlett Prejean's life, filled with beauty and ambition, is marred by a haunting presence—her abusive husband, Joshua. As the proud owner of a cozy bookstore and a haven of coffee and literature, she seeks solace amid the unrelenting cruelty of her marriage. But fate takes a dark and unexpected turn when Joshua makes a chilling decision: he hires Bane, an assassin bound by a relentless code, to bring Scarlett's life to a tragic end. What Joshua doesn't foresee is the profound twist that awaits.

When Bane comes face to face with the battered and vulnerable Scarlett, an irrepressible urge to protect her takes hold, defying the very mission he's been given. Scarlett, carrying the scars of years of torment, finds herself under the care of her would-be executioner. In the intermingling of Scarlett and Bane's lives, they grapple with an undeniable attraction, their backgrounds clashing in stark contrast.

Scarlett wrestles with her feelings for a man marked as a killer, yet she glimpses the gentleness hidden beneath Bane's hardened exterior. Their love story unfolds amid a backdrop of treacherous secrets and betrayals, guided by the brilliant hacker, Phantom, who unravels the intricate threads binding Scarlett's destiny to the criminal underworld. Their journey is a tumultuous one, a blend of passion, danger, love, and vengeance. The burning question remains: Will Bane and Scarlett discover the love they so desperately crave, or will those who seek their downfall ultimately triumph?

Trigger Warnings: There are many mature themes throughout Saving Scarlett. It is not intended for listeners under 17 years of age.

©2023 Cherie Varian (P)2024 Cherie Varian

Performance 🥰

The story was great! I love a slow burn. I'm a COMPLETE sucker for it and this book delivered. I love that there was something of a buildup between the characters for them to feel things. I REALLY loved the choice of narrators though. Teddy Hamilton already soothes me lol but Shiloh James, she was perfect as the female narration and together made it feel more real.

An MC with questionable morals but good intentions

A story about a broken woman and a lethal man who has questionable morals but good intentions behind his actions.

Taking place in New Orleans, Scarlett is living in an unhappy marriage with a man who has a temper that's dangerous & abusive. She owns a small, cozy bookstore and finds refuge there despite the cruelness of her husband Joshua.

Without her knowledge, Joshua hires a contract killer, named Bane, to get rid of her. Bane is ruthless & there to get the job done but the situation gets complicated when things take an unexpected turn.

What Joshua doesn't realize is that things are about to get complicated for him as well. Bane has already met his wife and when he finds her bruised & battered, he makes the decision to defy the very mission he's been given. What's also complicated is that there's an immediate attraction between Scarlett & the man who could potentially end her life.

Some things I loved:
🧡I LOVED this idea of a contract killer falling for the woman that is his next target, so Dexter like.
🧡The situation Scarlett finds herself in with her husband definitely seems believable & I was totally sympathetic to her being stuck in an abusive marriage out of fear.
🧡The concern & love that Bane has for his sister & niece. It's very tender & sweet, totally protective.
🧡I love a morally grey character that deep down is a total softie but also could crack at the drop of a hat if someone messes with his people!
🧡Phantom, the hacker! He was such a fun side character & I loved whenever he was in the story.
🧡The way Bane is described, tatted, broody & dark. Wears all black. This is exactly how I like to picture my morally grey MC👌
🧡The forced proximity Bane & Scarlett find themselves in. It's inevitable that these two are gonna get together.
🧡The suspense both in the beginning of the story & towards the end. Things take a plot turn real fast and you're left wondering what the heck is gonna happen.
🧡The fact that Scarlett owns a bookstore & that's where she finds refuge💕
🧡Bane is described by the author as, "a lethal man with a poet's mind" Really liked this description of him.
🧡This cover! I think it's gorgeous & I love it!

The instant attraction between them is mutual. They both know it's forbidden & probably not a good idea especially once Scarlett finds out what Bane is initially there to do. You hear their inner monologues trying to talk themselves out of it. Scarlett just fell a little too quickly for me especially with the situation she's coming from & it didn't seem quite long enough to build trust with a man who just days earlier planned on killing you. In spite of this, it was nice to see Bane shift into "caretaking" mode with Scarlett like he had been with his sister & niece. They try to keep their feelings platonic but they can't. This is a slow burn my friends, but once it hits, these two create some definite heat!🔥

Despite a few plot issues I had, what kept me listening? The undeniable talent & voice of Teddy Hamilton.👏👏👏 and the new to me narrator, Shiloh James.

🎧Let's talk narration...It's in DUET with Teddy & Shiloh, this certainly helped elevate this story for me. Teddy's no stranger to narrating a morally grey MC. He definitely can keep my attention voicing on the grey side & I'm NEVER sad about it! I loved his portrayal of Bane as the "assassin killer." He was harsh & edgy but once Bane makes the decision to rescue Scarlett, he switches to a big ol' softie & I love listening to him in these types of stories! Give me the brutal, morally grey Teddy because he can DELIVER that all day for me! Shiloh James is a new narrator to me, and she did a great job. She was fantastic at portraying the abusive & helpless wife with emotion & voicing the complicated feelings she had over her attraction to Bane.

Overall, this was a good listen because of the talented narrators. Unfortunately, some of the plot points & character development needed a little more time to simmer for my taste but it didn't keep me from enjoying the story & finishing it.

This is a duet but it does come with an HEA & there's no cliffy. The second part of the duet is called "Keeping Caroline." This is the story about Bane's sister so this can be read as a standalone if wanted.

Wow

Well I can say I absolutely li e this book and cat wait til the next one comes out wow simply beautifull

Thrilling audio

✨🎧 Audiobook Review🎧✨
Title: Saving Scarlett
By: C.A. Varian
Narrated by: Shilo James and Teddy Hamilton

Overall story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Audiobook performance: 🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤

Duet
Steamy
Contract killer
Forced proximity
Touch her and die
Romantic suspense
***check triggers

📚Story review📚
Saving Scarlett is a story that takes you on a wild ride, filled with secrets, twists, and unexpected turns. It centers around the unknowing daughter of a mob boss who crosses paths with an alpha hitman, and their connection becomes the heart of the story.

The dynamic between these two characters is compelling and the romance itself is unexpected. But the chemistry between them is magnetic and raw, making it all the more intriguing. It’s the kind of love that builds quickly, but given the high stakes environment they find themselves in, it makes sense. Their journey is filled with plenty of drama, secrets, and a little bit of danger, which kept me hooked.

If you enjoy intense stories with complex characters, a dash of romance, and a plot packed with secrets, this one is definitely worth the read. Just be sure to check the trigger warnings before you dive in. There’s some heavy themes.

🎧❤️ Audiobook review ❤️🎧
This was brought to life by two phenomenal narrators who truly embodied their characters. Shiloh delivered a sweet and melodic performance that fit her character perfectly, capturing her essence with warmth and sincerity. Her voice felt authentic and natural, making it easy to connect with her character’s journey.

Meanwhile, Teddy delivered an equally stunning performance, showcasing his ability to convey complex emotions with depth and nuance. His narration made every scene feel vivid, and his skill in bringing characters to life is unmatched.

Together, these two narrators created a dynamic and engaging listening experience. I loved it!

Amazing!

Having read the physical book, twice, I can now see the scenes as if they were a movie playing in my head! The narrators did such an amazing job bringing C. A. Varian's work to life!

Awesome performance

This was a decent read (listen). The narrators were great, and there was a good amount of suspense and spice. I wish the plot was expanded on, but overall it was an enjoyable book!

Stunning Story as well as Naration!!

This is, at the time of my writing this review, a triple award winning novel. It's deserving of these as well as so much more! C. A. Varian painted a beautiful and terrifying work of art, with her description and emotion. Vulnerable yet resilient Scarlett, dark yet compassionate Bane as the main characters in this book worthy of becoming an Oscar winning movie. I didn't want the book to end! This is one in which the fictional characters came to life and will live forever inside my mind!

sooooo Good

great Story. Love that it was done in the duet style. Ohhhh and Teddy speaking French will make your heart race.

Love this story

What if an assassin that was hired to unalive you ends up being your savior, abused wife subject to a domestic violence and a husband that wanted to be rid of her. This unexpected romance that has dark and light finding true love is an amazing story

Great suspense

Overall Thoughts: I’ve been listening to a lot of holiday books that are light and cheery, so when a friend asked if I wanted to listen and review this book, I jumped at it, needing something dark and devious to listen to, plus it is narrated by Shiloh James, and Teddy Hamilton. I liked the way C.A developed the characters throughout the story and the way Scarlett and Bane’s relationship evolved through their journey to save her and get justice for her devious husband’s misdeeds. You instantly like Scarlett, and know that even though Bane is a contract k!ller, he is better for Scarlett than her husband. Phantom adds a bit of comic relief as the cheeky hacker, and even though there was some predictability, it was an enjoyable listen.

Narration: Duet narration, first-person present tense, dual POV, few flashbacks.

Tropes: dark, contract k!ller, abused wife, touch her and unalive, bookstore owner, cabin in the woods, on the run, saves his intended victim, retribution and revenge

Overall: 4
Spice: 2.5
Humor: 2.5
Drama: 3
Darkness: 3.5
Narration: 4.5

Scarlett is the wife of a prominent CEO, one who has been treating her like a punching bag for a long time. When she arrives home one night, her husband is there to teach her a lesson, one that leaves her battered and bruised and nearly catatonic. So when Bane breaks in to complete the contract her husband put out on Scarlett, he’s shocked to see he knows her.

Bane makes a split second decision that changes the trajectory of their lives forever, as he steals Scarlett away, try try and save her, all while trying to figure out how to take down her husband. Utilizing a hacker friend, Bane learns more about who Scarlett really is, a secret she doesn’t even know.

When the truth comes out and demons are laid to rest, will Scarlett be able to see Bane for who he truly is, or will their pasts keep them apart?